C Magazine Vol. 6 Edition 1

24 Empowerment Education

31 Face the Music

40 A New Type of Street Art

ISSUE N°01 oct. 2017 vol.6

C

EDITORS’letter

Dear Readers,

We are hoping that in the beginning of this year our staffers will find new opportunities and that our readers explore new avenues of arts and culture.

Our first edition explores our community and the people who make it unique. In an attempt to reach the corners of our culture that are not commonly accessed, C Magazine strives to inform our readers and empathize with each person that makes our community, society and relationships what they are. Our cover story, entitled Empowerment Education, focuses on special education and Paly’s efforts to participate in the movement for inclusion. Artists Who Do Wrong highlights the flaws of the music industry which allow for improper conduct and how listeners are invited to be more aware of the music and art they consume. C Magazine touches on Racial Passing– an issue of identity and prejudice that most people are not in tune with.

Much of what we cover regards people and their behaviors, and we hope that readers become aware and appreciate those featured in our magazine. But we have not forgotten that many of the opportunities that color our community with joy and entertainment are in need of exposure, as well. We felt that our readers would benefit from the many things that are unknown and addressed. Our readers will find out about how Public Transportation takes us to new memories and thrills, and how Unknown Classes at Paly can serve as new educational outlets.

The staff behind C Magazine has worked hard to put together an edition that entertains and informs, and opens minds to things they hadn’t thought about before.

Chiara Biondi, Hannah Darby, Amanda Hmelar, Ally Scheve Editors-in-Chief

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Chiara Biondi, Hannah Darby, Amanda Hmelar, Ally Scheve CREATIVE DIRECTOR Katie Look WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lhaga Dingpontsawa PHOTO EDITOR Ryan Gwyn MANAGING EDITORS Maddy Buecheler, Alexis Pisco, Rosa Schaefer Bastian

STAFF WRITERS Charlotte Amsbaugh, Gabe Cohen, Angie Cummings, Emily Filter, Jaime Furlong, Sam Guernsey, Isabel Hadly, Darrow Hornik, Leon Lau, Claire Moley, Mattie Orloff, Benjamin Rapperport, Grace Rowell, Lia Salvatierra, Talia Stanley, Jack Stefanski, Gigi Tierney, Maya Wilson, Maddie Yen

COPY EDITORS Charlotte Cheng, Hollie Chiao

ILLUSTRATORS Bo Fang, Andrew Huang, Leon Lau, Katie Look

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Lara Nakamura

ADVISER Brian Wilson

PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL, 50 EMBARCADERO RD. • WWW.CMAGAZINE.ORG • @C__MAGAZINE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

22

CULTURE

06

SNIPPETS 04 06 08

FUNKY FASHION IN THE STARS HIT THE ROAD

10 13 14 16 19 22 24 30

CULTS EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN C MAG PERSPECTIVE:

PASSING JUDGEMENT ENCAPSULATING OUR HISTORY AGAINST TYPE BOOT UP! COVER:

EMPOWERMENT EDUCATION BOBA BEWARE

31

ARTS 31 34 36 38 40 44 46

FACE THE MUSIC GET THRIFTY INSIDE OUTSIDE LANDS PAUSE, PLAY, SHUFFLE ARTISTS OF THE MONTH:

A NEW TYPE OF STREET ART DOODLES MISERABLE.

funky fashion jasmine adrien

“Nowhere. I make trends.”

4 | SNIPPETS

Unique style is hard to come by these days. We asked Jasmine Martin-Partovi, Adrien Tompert, and Isa Cossio about where they get their fashion inspiration.

“Inspiration for my outfits comes 100% from Instagram.”

e

isa “I get clothes from my mom or thrift stores or flea markets.”

TEXT AND DESIGN BY CHIARA BIONDI HANNAH DARBY AMANDA HMELAR AND ALLY SCHEVE

SNIPPETS | 5

palo alto shuttle

The city of Palo Alto provides many free shuttles that go all across town. Many students can take the Embarcadero Shuttle to school, as it stops right in front of Town and Country. All of the Palo Alto Shuttles are free and wheelchair accessible, so next time the crew needs a ride to the mall, consider taking the shuttle instead of asking your parents!

Bay area ferries and boats are a great option for riders interested in gaining easy transportation, as well as an experience. Boats go to and from Sausalito, Golden Gate Park and more. Water taxis and ferries like these can provide a unique and economical experience for those looking to cross the waters in the area.

The MUNI transportation system is a huge network of cable cars and busses that, for a very cheap price, can serve as a way of getting around the city all day stoping at exactly 80 stations.

Buying a Highway 17 Express day pass gives you access to transportation for the Highway 17 Express Bus as well as rides all around Santa Cruz.

For seven dollars people of all ages have access to a method of getting to Santa Cruz, plus plentWy of rides around the famous beach county.

Amtrak is a great resource for long distance travel. A weekend getaway to spots like Santa Barbara or even Portland are all within reach! Amtrak even has trains going across the country that could make for a winter or spring break like no other. Amtrak also provides a 15% discount for those with a student I.D.; so go and get out there Vikes!

AMTRAK

6 | SNIPPETS

BART, also known as Bay Area Rapid Transit, is an excellent way of getting around the bay. Although there aren’t any stops in Palo Alto, the easiest access to BART is by taking a northbound CalTrain, and getting off at Millbrae. By doing this, you can hop onto a BART train and travel to most neighborhoods in San Francisco, Berkeley, or as far as Concord and Martinez.

HIGHWAY 17 EXPRESS

Caltrain is a safe and convenient commuter rail line that runs through the Peninsula and Silicon Valley. It is divided into six zones; the Southmost point is in Gilroy and Northmost point ends on 4th and Kings Street in San Francisco. Pricing is relatively inexpensive and provides eligible discounts up to 50% for anyone 18 and under. Tickets are bought from dispensers at the stations and vary based on the number of zones you travel through. For specialized events at AT&T park, Stanford stadium and the SAP center, the service will run extra trains to subsidize for the surplus of commuters - so consider public transportation as an option for attending any event at those locations!

The Muir Woods Shuttle is a bus partnership between Marin Transit and the National Park Service to provide an easy way to enjoy one of the Bay Area’s greatest beauties: Muir Woods National park. Service hours are quite seasonally selective. Currently, it’s running on weekends and holidays until October 29th. The round trip fare rests at a cost of only $5.00.

MUNI

Bay Area feerries/boats

The Bay Area Ski Bus is an incredible resource for anyone who wants to hit the slopes, or even just the snow. The service provides a variety of options, the most unique including a lift day pass to the destination (snacks included!). It is also an option to only pay for transportation by shuttle, excluding the lift ticket. There are a variety of pick up locations, a few being in Menlo Park, San Jose and Walnut Creek. The only downside to the ski bus is that it requires waking up bright and early as boarding occurs from 4:00 am to 5:30 am. Get some rest on your way up, breakfast is included!

ART BY LEON LAU AND LIA SALVATIERRA

BArt

CALTRAIN

ROAD

TEXT AND DESIGN BY LIA SALVATIERRA AND CHARLOTTE AMSBAUGH

Muir Woods Transit Shuttle

Bay area ski bus

hit the

your day in

the bay FREE

Destination: Around Palo Alto Method: Palo Alto Shuttle

UNDER $5

Destination: Palo Alto to San Fransisco Method: Caltrain

UNDER $15

Destination: Palo Alto to San Jose to Santa Cruz Method: Caltrain, Santa Cruz METRO ~ Highway 17 Express

UNDER $20

Destination: Palo Alto to San Fransisco to Muir Woods Method: Method: Caltrain, Caltrain, Golden Golden Gate-SauGateSausalito salito Ferry, Muir Woods Bus

UNDER $50

Destination: Palo Alto to San Fransisco to Angel Island Method: Caltrain, MUNI, Angel Ferry (Blue and Gold Fleet Company)

UNDER $150

Destination: Palo Alto to San Jose to *Santa Barbara Method: Caltrain and Amtrak Train

*not pictured

UNDER $200

Destination: Bay Area to *Ski Resort Method: Bay Area Ski Bus

*not pictured

|7 9SNIPPETS | SNIPPETS

it’s in the

stars A beginner’s guide to astrology

DESIGN AND TEXT BY ANGIE CUMMINGS, SAM GUERNSEY AND GRACE ROWELL • PHOTO BY RYAN GWYN

Background

Zodiac Signs

Around 4th century BC, Babylonians studied the sky and noticed that the stars and planets moved. This started the art of astrology. Romans later adapted this concept to predict life events. Many leaders used astrology to make decisions, for example, when to start a war, or when to harvest crops. At first, astrology was used to predict weather patterns throughout the year, primarily for agriculture. Then, the Babylonians began to use it to predict natural disasters and events in the course of human interactions, such as war and large successes.

Because of this, it was customary to have astrologists to counsel kings, emperors and later on, everyone else. Astrology is the study of movements and positions of celestial bodies in relation to the the earth, and is used to predict traits, personal emotions, and interpersonal events and interactions. Because of this, it is not an exact science and its accuracy is determined by each person who observes it. When you are given a horoscope, whether it be for one day or even a year, your moon and sun sign, corresponding house and ruling planets, among other factors, are brought into account.

Ultimately, it is up to you to interpret what astrology means. When astrology was created, it was believed that earth was the center of the universe. While this theory has proven faulty over the years, astrology has evolved to become the study of how everything in the universe moves in relation to us.

The 12 zodiac signs are represented by 12 constellations that correspond with each month of the year. Your zodiac sign is dictated by where one of these 12 constellations is in the sky on the day of your birth. The 12 signs are divided into four groups.

Fire signs include Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. Earth signs consist of Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn. Air signs are Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Water signs include Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Fire signs are usually passionate and temperamental. Earth signs tend to be grounded, loyal and stable. Air signs may seem forgetful and spacey on the surface, but deep down are full of action and ideas. Water signs are typically sensitive, impulsive and imaginative.

Retrograde

When astrology was created it was believed that the planets and stars orbited around the earth. Everything humans saw and understood was from the viewpoint of earth, and because the planets and stars actually orbit around the sun, from an earthly perspective, it can appear that other planets are “moving backwards.” This period of time where a planet appears to move backwards is known as retrograde. Depending on the planet and what parts of your life it governs, it is said that you will encounter different challenges during a period of retrograde.

For example, Mercury is in retrograde more often than not, thus influencing communication, travel, transportation, and technology. There is always a retrograde in process because the planets are constantly moving. Because of this, there are ways to use this time to renew and rebuild. During Mercury’s retrograde, you can get in touch with old friends, study, complete a project, or clarify your thoughts. It all depends on the planet!

Ruling Planets Astrologers have assigned each planet to a specific zodiac sign, adding depth and quality to each one. Additionally, each planet has unique actions and events that are associated with it. When referred to as the “planets,� astrology is a term of convenience, as the Sun and Moon are included. The remaining eight of the ten planets of astrology are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

Sun Signs and Moon Signs While your sun sign dictates your personality, your moon sign represents your emotions and mood. The moon is the second most important factor in your horoscope, the sun being the first. Your moon sign is determined by the extact time, date and location of your birth. Your sun sign is only dictated by your day of birth.

Astrological Houses Similar to a clock, the zodiac chart is split into 12 sections, or houses. Each house is associated with a set of traits and one specific sign. The first house is located near the 9 o’clock position on a standard clock, and throughout the year, it moves counterclockwise. As the year goes on, every planet and constellation cycles through all of the houses. When the chart is rotated, the planets begin to highlight the traits of that specific house, thus demonstrating the parts of your life that will be focused on. There are four main astrological houses and eight less significant ones. The planets are affected by the characteristics of the house they are in. The main four houses have to do with the most important aspects of your life. The first house is the house of self. When your sign resides in this house it will influence your personality and how others perceive you. The second house has to do with your possessions, values, and self-esteem. The third house is the house of communication, including your immediate environment and intellect. The fourth house refers to home life, roots and upbringing.

SNIPPETS | 9

Cult

T

U RE

TEXT AND DESIGN BY JAIME FURLONG, ISABEL HADLY AND GIGI TIERNEY ART BY ANDREW HUANG

Constructing a new definition of the word “cult.”

he word cult is typically used to describe a group with an autonomous leader — an autocrat that may drive members to carry out senseless actions that have historically included mass-suicide, animal sacrifice and murder.

The definition of a “cult” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure, object, or idea.”

Because of stereotypes and false representation, organizations referred to as cults are subject to prejudice and can frighten people who are unaware of the ongoings within these groups. Consequently, they may become isolated and detached from society, creating an even greater negative speculation.

In Western culture, there has been some evidence of violent, unethical organizations, creating dramatised negative connotations of cults. The Manson family, for example, while not religiously motivated, were infamous in the late 60s for murdering nine people and painting the phrase “helter skelter” at the scene of the crimes in their victim’s blood.

Another cult, Heaven’s Gate, became famous in 1997 after its 39 cult members killed themselves by drinking cyanide. It’s leaders, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, believed that their dreams were visions that told them they had been chosen to lead their followers to what they called “the spaceship”.

These examples have encouraged the prejudice of cults throughout history. One way to end this prejudice is by taking a look inside of cults. It may be revealed that a cult is peaceful and brings people together because of shared values that, in contrast to the Manson Family and Heaven’s Gate, does not harm society.

Palo Alto is the home to an organization called “The Magics,” who do not identify as a cult, but are brought together by a common belief: contributing to the common good

10 | CULTURE

and addressing social and environmental ills through valuescience.

Although the interview was too vague to come up with a conclusive leader, there is a clear hierarchy amongst the Magics. Andrew, an interviewed member who did not want to be fully identified, said that he was the apprentice of Hillary Hug, who is separate from co-founder David Schrom.

Before joining the Magics, Andrew originally took a valuescience class at Stanford, which delved into the meaning of value — how to discover what one wants and then how to achieve it. The class taught that values are based upon science, and that through accurate predictions, one can better discern and reform their beliefs. For example, the class teaches about the importance of meditation, exercise, and the social and physical benefits to living life according to one’s personal values.

Along with practicing valuescience, members of the Magics come together in order to learn how to embrace full cooperation and self-responsibility; traits that ensure cooperative living and undisrupted practices. The twenty members of Magic live together in three adjacent houses in residential Palo Alto.

The members range from ages 13 to 71, with the adolescents being the children of those already members in the Magics.

“At any given time, about a third of residents at Magic are international, a third to half are female, and a fourth to a third are people of color,”Andrew said.

The diversity of the Magics emphasizes that they do not confine to a certain type of ideal member, although they do require an application and interview process. They then consider and accept those who they deem to be a good fit for their group, and who are willing to commit to valuescience and work hard for a mentally and physically healthy lifestyle.

Andrew reflects on the benefits of living cooperatively with the Magics, “I’ve learned many things useful to living well: healthful habits for diet, sleep, exercise, and thought; cleaning, maintaining, repairing; health, cooperation, and stewardship,” he said. “I think many Magic residents appreciate living with people who care and are interested in good housemates.”

Palo Alto community may categorize The Magics to fit the general definition of a cult due to the lack of knowledge about the organization, however, this does not mean they should be perceived in a negative light.

The Magics are unique in the fact that their members live together and they all practice specific beliefs – valuescience and healthy living -- that aim to benefit the lives of the members that join. It is a private organization, yet they host public events, have open dinner invitations at their living space and offer several community service opportunities to increase community involvement.

The Magics, who value the ideals of community and science, urge one another to live better. They keep their eyes wide open to political, social and economic worldviews that others make take in too blindly because they are accustomed to the values by which they were raised by.

“A critical part of my experience was their assistance in scrutinizing my worldview, much of which I’d acquired by accident of birth, with critical inquiry and skepticism normally lauded as a standard for scientific peer review,” Andrew said.

With an informed perspective, one can understand that not all groups that share the definition of a cults share the same negativity associated with the word. The unknown can be frightening, but gaining perspective on groups like the Magics helps to unify the diverse and unique population of Palo Alto.

CULTURE | 11

Need some cute stationary kits? Come on down to Loggon, a local Japanese stationary store!

12 | ARTS

520 Bryant St, Palo Alto (650) 494-4352 Hours: 11-8

Exploring the

UNKNOWN

Ever year, Paly students choose new classes.

But do they really know about all the classes offered ?

TEXT BY CHARLOTTE CHENG AND TALIA STANLEY • DESIGN BY HANNAH DARBY

INTERIOR DESIGN Do you enjoy making your room look nice?

Are you inspired by your friends’ lovely homes? Do you daydream about your

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

perfect house? In interior design, students ranging from freshman to seniors can create their own floor plans, select fabrics and arrange furniture for their dream home. In a blended class setting, students will learn architectural and furniture styles: line, design, form, color and texture, as well as combine them into the living environment that best reflects who they are. The class interweaves finance into the curriculum, offering advice on how to best change the look of a room on a budget.

Early Childhood Development is a class at Paly that students can take to learn more about child growth and development in infants, toddlers and preschoolers. It fulfills the Career Tech Ed (CTE) requirement or the History and Social Science requirement. After learning basic principles, students can participate in the implementation of an early childhood curriculum. As well as in-class learning, students will have the opportunity to observe students at Greendell School in Palo Alto regularly. After finishing the course, Paly students will have knowledge regarding how young children differ in development and have learned about ways to provide opportunities that support physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive development for children.

BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

TEACHING SEMINAR & PRACTICUM

In the principles of biomedical science, juniors and seniors are introduced to the principles and mechanisms affecting the human body. Students learn about how the body meets the demands of everyday tasks and also how it can be influenced positively to increase efficiency and performance. The course includes topics such as human physiology, basic biology, medicine and research processes. In addition, students have the chance to design their own experiments targeted at solving problems.

If you are interested in pursuing a teaching career, Teaching Seminar & Practicum is the class for you. It fulfills the Career Technical Education elective credit and the only prerequisites are a 3.0 GPA and a strong desire to develop leadership skills. Divided into four sections, there are different focuses for each quarter of the school year. These focuses include: The Professional Educator, The Learner, The Learning Environment, and Future Trends in Education. To really get the feel of being a leader in a classroom, students taking this course have the opportunity to work with the teachers at Paly by leading activities, tutoring, and assisting with field trips.

CULTURE | 13

Passing JUDGEMENT

A reflection on being white passing and the ignorance I have experienced within my community

M

TEXT AND DESIGN BY ANGIE CUMMINGS • PHOTOS BY RYAN GWYN y dad is black and my mom is white, but I have white skin.

I am white passing. Racial passing is when a person who appears as though they are from one racial group actually belongs to another or multiple racial groups. Although I was aware my dad is black and my parents stressed to me that I am also African-American, up until middle school I thought of my race as white since that is the color of my skin. But now I’m not so sure it’s as simple as that. Half of my identity has gone unnoticed for many years, and over time I have begun to realize the effects on myself, family and others. This aspect of my racial identity has evolved from a burden, due to the varying reactions I have received, to a chance to educate others about an unconventional topic.

Growing up biracial with one ethnicity constantly going unseen has proved to be difficult. One common reaction I continually receive from my peers is that they think I am outright lying or joking about

14 | CULTURE

the color of my father’s skin; some people have even asked me for photographic evidence of my dad’s race. Although this is a recurring response, it has never ceased to weird me out–why would I lie about that? Is that something people really joke about? The worst part of this encounter is having to defend myself. Not only is it an awkward thing to do, but I am never sure of what to say; do I have to provide some kind evidence of my “blackness”? Or do I just let them think what they want? I’ve learned to go along with it and describe my father’s personality as a means of humanizing him. I want to ensure that they do not just take away the fact that he is black, but that they understand the kind of person he is and the relationship I have with him.

Additionally, often times people decide to dissect my appearance and personality in search of African-American traits. Responses like “Oh I kinda see it, you have black-people lips!” “Does that mean you can twerk?” or “You’re like a reverse oreo, you’re white on the outside

“Now I see the insensitivity of doing this.

Half of my family isn’t able to simply ignore their blackness and how, for them, there’s no way to get away from the injustice and continual discrimination surrounding them.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGIE CUMMINGS but black on the inside–cause you’re kinda sassy.” These things are incredibly offensive to say to a person’s face. Analyzing someone’s race into stereotypical traits invalidates part of their identity. By deciding that certain aspects of my personality or physical features define who I am, people deny me a sense of self and true individuality. It’s as if this part of me is just a set of stereotypical traits people have learned about on TV or social media, and not an actual aspect of my identity.

Most people have the common decency not to say, “Woah you’re black, so that means you can say the n-word, right?!” However, I have still received this comment. Yes, I am half black, and no, it doesn’t mean I can say the n-word. Probably the most revolting part of this response is that this white person almost seems jealous that I, someone who also looks white, might be allowed to say the n-word. Personally, I am not at all comfortable saying the n-word. It is something that has been taken from being used as a derogatory term by white people towards the black community, and turned into a word that carries connotation of camaraderie within the African American culture. Since I have benefitted my entire life from white privilege, it feels wrong to use that word when I haven’t experienced half the struggle of someone living with darker skin.

One of the continual hardships that the black community faces that I, as white passing, have never had to face is having a complicated relationship with law enforcement. Many parents of black children have to talk to their kids about how to deal with the police even if they are not delinquents. One day when I was in the car with my dad and my older sister, who also has black skin, he began to tell her that if she comes in con-

tact with the police she must stay quiet, be overly respectful and be careful of everything she does. At the time, I didn’t think about it too much because I assumed it was just a conversation any parent would have with their 16-year-old. However, I have never received such a talk because authorities don’t assume that I am a threat.

Even though I do have white privilege and a majority of people would not suspect that I am part African-American, it is still a part of who I am. I know that being black has affected my father his whole life and, because I’m white passing, I’ve been able to witness people’s small biases and poorly covered-up prejudices about black people. I have sat with people who don’t know me very well and will say something they definitely would not have said if there was a black person in the room. Often times, all I can think about are the white people who clutched their bags a little tighter, the policemen who lingered a little closer, or all the store attendants who have watched a little more carefully when they see the 6’2” black man who just so happens to be my dad, walking down the street. My dad is cheesy, loving, and sometimes pretty annoying (as most dads are), but I know that sometimes people see him as a threat. Thinking of this tears me apart because there are so many people who will let an African American man’s appearance dictate what kind of personality he has and what kind of life he lives when he is most likely someone’s loving father, son or husband.

I used to think that maybe the solution would be for me to simply ignore the fact that I’m half black because then I wouldn’t have to deal with these awkward encounters. Now I see the insensitivity of doing this. Half of my family isn’t able to simply ignore their blackness and how, for them, there’s no way to get away from the injustice and continual discrimination surrounding them. Especially in times like this, no one should try to erase aspects of their race, culture or ethnicity that aren’t treated the same as everyone else’s because there are others that don’t have that easy way out of all the bigotry directed at them. Instead, it’s a time to embrace that part and advocate for those who do not have a voice.

CULTURE | 15

Encapsulating C Mag investigates an alleged time capsule buried on campus.

TEXT, DESIGN AND ART BY MADDIE YEN AND MAYA WILSON PHOTOS BY RYAN GWYN

Our History

I

n the winter of 1918, eager students of Palo Alto High School marched through town towards their new school. The students stood in awe of the bright performing arts theatre with its Spanish style roof and arched arcades; something still in place today.

Upon arriving, Paly students buried a time capsule on school grounds. At least that has been the legend passed down from the Zschokke’s, the family that donated the land on which Paly currently sits.

Time capsules are often made to show future -Arne generations what life was like in the past. A Paly time capsule that was buried one hundred years ago could reveal what student life was like in 1918. What was important to people back then? What were people’s worries? What were the current trends? What did students do for fun? How much homework did students have?

According to Arne Lim, a Paly alum and the math instructional lead, “The legend that got

passed through the Zschokke family was that there was a sundial [on campus] and perhaps there is a connection between [the] sundial and [the] time capsule,” Lim said. “The problem is we don’t know where the sundial was.”

If this time capsule exists, the planning committee behind Paly’s centennial celebrations thinks that it would be a great idea to open it to kick off the festivities next fall. Another idea is a self-guided tour through the significant campus spots.

“This [the centennial] could be a huge deal where Lim a lot of students could be involved,” Lim said.

The goal of the centennial festivities is to remind the Paly community of the campus’ rich history. Finding the time capsule would give us a glimpse into Paly’s past and leaves us with the question: if we were to make a time capsule that would be opened one hundred years from now, what would we put into it to reflect life at Paly today?

“This [the celebrations] could be a huge deal where a lot of students could be involved,”

What do you think is inside of the time capsule?

“Maybe objects like Paly clothing.

Something that would have captured what happened in that time. Also maybe [Paly] publications” -Alyssa Leong (11th grade)

“Maybe there would be old trophies and parts of the old buildings that are significant to Paly’s history in its old and new location.”

-Leila Khan (10th grade)

“I think there could possibly be some really cool photos, and maybe some pieces written by students.

There could also be some sort of student handbook” - Emma Staiger (12th grade)

C Mag’s time Capsule 4 1 5

3

2 1) iPhone 7

2) Polaroid camera

3 ) Birkenstocks

An essential for any teenager wishing to stay connected to the outside world.

Another throwback item allowing us to capture moments of life in a retro way.

This 80s comeback provides stylish comfort.

4) Fidget spinner

5) Hydro Flask

It’s the new Silly Bandz.

Let’s be real; hydration never goes out of style.

CULTURE | 17

Come Join!

4 weeks group & private instruction, uniform, belt, t-shirt, student handbook, DVD 18 | CULTUREE

Registration $199 Palo Alto, Ca 94306

650-325-4946

paloaltoussd.com

Box Me In, I Dare You

breaking the constraints created by personality types

TEXT AND DESIGN BY ISABEL HADLY AND BENJAMIN RAPPERPORT • ART BY KATIE LOOK AND ISABEL HADLY

CULTURE | 19

N

otice the student who sits quietly at their table; they are poilet but shy, and do not often raise their hand in class. In other words, this person is an introvert. On the other side of the spectrum, there’s the student who always has something to say; they challenge the teacher and have a friend in every class. This is an extrovert. From the beginning of their schooling most children are put into a box based on their personality, categorized as an introvert or an extrovert. But it is not as simple as these two groups. When looking at personality, one should recognize that our external environment plays an extensive role in how we react to experiences. By being constrained to these personality types, it is predetermined what type of learner, worker, and friend you are going to be.

Paly students are subject to these stereotypes as well. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test is a personality test that is incorporated into the required liv-

ing skills class at Paly to identify which personality type students fall into. When James Hamilton, a guidance counselor at Palo Alto High School, was questioned about the reason behind why students take the test he said, “The personality test breaks people down into different personality types and shows what

The test was created by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers.

These women had no scientific schooling and based the MBTI off theories they formed from their research but the test is not based on fact.

The MBTI test is not only used in schools but also by many industries. Your personality category follows you through your life and can influence the career you choose, the people you associate with, and the risks you take. The question we need to ask ourselves is: should we let tests like these put us in a box and put restrictions on how we define ourselves?

Sarah Raposo, a Ph.D. Candidate in Psychology at Stanford University who specializes in personality psychology, states that, “There are other really important parts of you that your personality does not capture, like your goals.”

A majority of people do not know the actual definition of personality. Many people determine their personality by how they interact with their surroundings and their peers. This

"There are other really important parts of you that your personality does not capture, like your goals."

20 | CULTURE

- Sarah Raposo

people who are those personality types have tended to be happy doing.” However, when we look closer into the origins of the test there is less scientific evidence then one would predict. When asked about the origins of the test Hamilton responded, “Where it originates from I do not know.”

usually limits people to categorizing them- are automatically closed. Raposo feels naming selves as an extrovert or an introvert. Person- yourself a personality type can have dangerous ality tests such as MBTI prevent people from effects. “People make decisions all the time learning about themselves and force them into to put themselves in environments that aren’t a box. perfectly suited to their personality. “[For exRaposo helped elaborate on the idea of ample,] if someone who is more introverted a person having multiple personality traits, has a goal of becoming more extraverted or of “Probably the five most well-known traits are openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (or tendency to feel negative emotions). This collection of traits leads to a much richer and more

nuanced view of someone’s personality than grouping people into categories,” - Sarah Raposo Raposo said.

When people consider their personality, they should take into account much more making new friends, they too may go to the than whether someone who can perform on loud party,” Raposo said. stage in front of a crowd or controls the lights It is also important to realize that the hubehind the scenes. By grouping people into man brain does not stop developing until categories prejudice is created between peers around one’s mid-twenties to early thirties. and, more importantly, within ourselves. If Therefore, our perspectives and opinions are you are confined to a category, certain doors constantly changing as we learn more through

"Your personality does not determine who you are or who you are going to be."

experiences. This completely contradicts the importance of personality types as one's results vary day to day. It is important to understand that the human psyche is a complex assortments of emotions and deciding that all of those thoughts can be narrowed down to constraining categories is preposterous. As a high school student with an infinite amount of possibilities for the future, teachers should be creating a place where people feel free to explore the nooks and crannies of their personality. Rather than encouraging students to conform to their personality type they should be taught they they have the freedom change, explore and take chances.

As Raposo states, “Personality is a term that captures an individual’s general tendencies that differentiate them from other individuals. Your personality does not determine who you are or who you are going to be.”

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B OOT UP !

LEARN HOW YOUR COMPUTER WORKS AND WHY PEOPLE ARE BUILDING THEIR OWN

TEXT BY JACK STEFANSKI • DESIGN BY LEON LAU AND JACK STEFANSKI • ILLUSTRATION BY LEON LAU • PHOTO BY RYAN GWYN

A

personal computer, PC, has many uses, including surfing the web, making spreadsheets, writing essays and playing the latest video games.

Most consumers buy boring, pre-assembled computers, but it is becoming more popular for people to build their own. This allows the computer to be more personal and stylish, which is generally less expensive than a pre-assembled one with the same parts.

A modern computer consists of eight main parts. The Central Processing Unit, CPU, which carries out the instruction of a computer program and does all of the calculations required for a computer to work. It is the most vital part of the computer.

The CPU gets very hot so it needs a cooler. In most desktop computers, the coolers are large pieces of aluminum cut to maximize surface area that act as a heat sink. In laptops, they are usually copper pipes that channel the heat to ventilation areas.

The motherboard is used to connect the components of a computer and consists of complicated circuits. It also contains most of the ports used for accessories, such as the mouse and keyboard.

The Random Access Memory, RAM, is used to quickly access information vital to system operations, and can be thought of as a cache of storage for the information most prevalent to the function the computer is performing.

All programs are stored on either a Hard Disc Drive, or a Solid State Drive. A Hard Disk Drive uses a read and write system with a mechanical arm and storage platter, while a Solid State Drive stores info on a series of mi-

crochips and has no moving parts.

A video card, or graphics card, contains its own processor, the Graphics Processing Unit, and its own set of Random Access Memory, known as Video Random Access Memory.

The graphics card essentially serves as a secondary system that processes all of the video information. It turns the pixels the right color and place at the right time and it can perform this function at varying speeds and resolutions depending on the power of the graphics card.

All of these parts need power, which is where the Power Supply Unit performs the simple task of delivering power to all of the components.

A case is used to provide a good-looking place to hold the parts. All computer parts are standardized to fit perfectly in cases.

Both the CPU and graphics card require cooling. This is usually done by large aluminum radiators that attach to the CPU, but some people use liquid cooling for their computers. Liquid cooling uses a series of tubes with liquid in them that run across metal contacts on the parts and then through radiators with fans attached which cools it. This runs in a loop around two hundred times per hour or faster if the parts are hotter.

This causes the parts to stay cooler and the system to be quieter. The tubes used for liquid cooling can either be soft flexible tubes or hard tubes that have to be shaped by hand with a heat gun, which allows someone building a computer some creative license in how they mold them.

There is also a lot customizability in the color of the coolant used; any color of the rainbow can be used, as well as liquids that

CPU COOLER

CPU

MOTHERBOARD

look like pastels– some that have a sham- Caribbean logo sculpted on top of the case as poo-like effect. However, this can affect the well as covering the whole PC in faux stone liquid’s ability to carry heat. and moss to model the scenery of the movie.

Some people take things to the next level, “A normal water cooled PC built with by doing it for a living. “Modders,” as they are custom panels, etc... would take me about a affectionately called, create PCs with a theme month,” Gregory says. in mind. They keep this theme in mind for the This is mostly due to the difficulty of workentire process. They are called “Modders” be- ing with the materials they use. “There are alcause they modify nearly ways materials which can every part in some way, do the job, it just depends “There are always materials which whether you are willing it can be anything from can do the job, it just depends cutting and painting an to put in the extra work whether you are willing to put in the to achieve the results you acrylic sheet, to adding a design to a part to com- extra work to achieve the results you are after.”, Gregory said. are after.” pletely disassembling the Gregory also works Corey Gregory case and painting or rewith a lot of large hardplacing half of the parts. ware manufacturers; They may also add on to companies pay him to use the case by attaching sculpture to it. their parts in his builds the computers are then Corey Gregory is a Modder who goes by showcased at trade shows such as Computex “Designs by ifr” on YouTube, and does this as and the Consumer Electronic Show. a second job. He documents all of his creThe YouTube videos that Modders and ations on his YouTube channel and displays tech-focused YouTubers make give great inthe truly amazing PCs he has made. One PC sight into the art and creativity of building with a Pirates of the Caribbean theme had a a PC and how the devices you use every day skull and crossbones from the Pirates of the work.

RAM

GRAPHICS CARD

HARD DRIVE

Neglect of inclusion is, in essence, a form of exclusion. At Paly, there are programs focused on creating an accepting and supportive community for all people.

TEXT AND DESIGN BY EMILY FILTER, LARA NAKAMURA, ROSA SCHAEFER BASTIAN • PHOTOS BY RYAN GWYN

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t’s easy to assume that our physical differences and our various opinions are what set us apart from one another. However, it is important to remember that although these differences can potentially divide us, they also have the power to bring us together. Efforts to support students and help them reach their full potential, such as special education programs, have positively impacted students whose relationships with their peers may be under strain due to unacknowledged differences.

The discussion about special education and the program’s students is surrounded by copious misconceptions. People often believe that students need constant assistance while doing the little things or that they are somehow less able, when in reality, what they often need is empowerment to fulfill their own full potential. Today, there are systems in place within schools in order to uplift students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to better prepare them for the future.

T

he special education department at Paly consists of more than 200 students; however, within that, multiple programs exist. There is an Autism Spectrum Program called Academic Communication, Occupational Therapy programs, which focus on enhancement of a student’s motor skills and organization, and the Post-Secondary program, which helps adults from ages 18-21 stand on their own and maximize their exposure to real life experiences. Additionally, there is the Futures program which provides the chance for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities to receive an education that prepares students for life after Paly. The class has four focal pillars of learning: functional academics, vocational skills, community based instruction and general education inclusion.

The greater part of the class is practicing skills that students normally wouldn’t think twice about. “It is just skills that [others] can take for granted,” Erika Oakson a special education teacher at Paly said. “We’re still working a lot on reading and writing skills and spelling skills, reading for information, emailing and stuff like that.”

Students also work on math skills that are often related to money. Students practice calculating budgets and using math to schedule everyday life events, such as planning out their week and scheduling appointments.

Every Friday, the students go on outings within the community using public transportation. They have gone to the Cantor Arts Museum, Stanford Shopping Center and Downtown Mountain View for lunch. This provides an opportunity to practice skills such as understanding the bus

systems and social interactions in public.

“Community-based instruction is one of my favorite things because there’s always opportunity for in-the-moment learning,” Oakson said. “There’s always unpredictable things out there that we need to talk about and discuss. It’s a lot of math, a lot of time, a lot of money, a lot of reading and really understanding what is going on... just applying all of those skills we’re learning on campus.”

Vocational training is also a large part of the students’ curriculum. By focusing on preparation for future employment, vocational training allows students to learn skills that may be applicable in a future employment. These skills are then applied in their student-run beverage businesses: Rise & Grind Paly and the Smoothie Business.

All students in the Futures program have various needs and require different amounts of help and attention. Not all students in the Futures Program have the opportunity to experience many classes in a standard education classroom. Due to varying needs, students spend different amounts of time in the Futures classroom versus the general education classroom.

“Obviously, it’s a lot easier to include someone with a significant disability into an elective class, like physical education or a photo class, because there’s not a rigorous academic component,” Oakson said. “There still have to be modifications; obviously, it would be easier [making modifications] than in, say, an eleventh grade US history class. As you get higher in grade, the academic gap gets bigger, so it’s very important that everyone’s included, because everyone deserves to be.”

Decisions as to which students get put

into which classroom are decided by teachers in the special education department.

The Instructional Leader of the entire special education department, Laura Bricca, helps the case managers decide what the best fit for their student is. Heather Johanson, the Inclusion Specialist, also has a large influence on the placement of students into some selected general education classrooms.

Johanson goes from class to class and sees what the students are learning and what she can do it make it more inclusive. “How do I get this student to be the most included as possible, access that curriculum, be able to work in a group,” Johanson said of her evaluation process in the in classrooms.

“It’s always a team decision, so no one person makes the final decision about what programming a student is going to receive,” Bricca said. “It’s always done in a collaborative team effort.”

The whole special education department is happy with what the Futures program has become and the opportunities students have been provided with.

This program has given students a greater academic flexibility and created more inclusion within the Paly community.

“Erika Oakson, hands down, I think, is MVP,” Johanson said. “She has revolutionized the program. Seven years ago it used to be that this population of students that sort of stayed in their room, in the back of the school and they only ate lunch in one place… there were not a lot of vocational programs and the ones [Oakson] has developed are amazing. Between the smoothie business and the coffee cafe, these students are out and doing amazing skills, and that is all [Oakson].”

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Aarun Visuthikraisee, a junior in the Futures Program, has a wide variety of interests. From swimming in the pool, to performing on stage, Visuthikraisee’s range of hobbies fill up most of his spare time. Visuthikraisee’s large interest for music began his passion for instruments such as the trumpet and piano.

Visuthikraisee has been playing the trumpet for the Paly Pep band since his freshman year. Visuthikraisee attends every home football game and plays the trumpet while cheering on the team.

As a result of his love for trumpet, Visuthikraisee took up playing the piano as a new way to learn more about music. Over the summer, Visuthikraisee had a blast at a week long jazz camp where he learned to play many new pieces.

Besides music, Visuthikraisee has a love for performing arts. He has spent his time performing for an acting company called Youth Drama For All (YDFA). YDFA gives both special and general education students the opportunity to participate in theater and pursue acting as a hobby. Theater was a new form of art that he never ventured in before, but YDFA helped him quickly find joy in acting.

Visuthikraisee continues to discover both new forms of performing art as well as pursuing his passion for swimming. When he’s not playing an instrument, you can find him swimming breastroke in the clear, blue water of the swimming pool.

A senior in the Futures Program, Joseph Worku, often featured on InFocus, is recognized across the Paly campus for his outgoing and cheerful personality. Worku is one of three seniors in the Futures Program, and, although he is sad to leave the Paly community, he is ready to graduate and see what’s in store for him after high school.

After watching many different films, Worku found a spark of interest in creating his own. Recently, Worku completed his very first film, “The Adventures of Joseph and Mr. Wallace.” This chronicles his adventures with Mr. Wallace, his teddy bear. “It’s a movie about us going on an adventure to visit Disneyland,” Worku said. His short film was inspired by his trip to Disneyland as a child, where he loved going on the “It’s a Small World” ride.

Similar to the majority of high school students, besides film, Worku enjoys spending time with friends.

Worku has been a Best Buddies member since his freshman year and loves hanging out with his buddy, and other club members, as often as possible. Worku and his buddy from last year, Kate DeAndre, class of 2017, often spent time together going to the movies. “My favorite thing about Best Buddies is I like to hang out, talk and chat,” Worku said.

There are also times where the entire Paly Best Buddies program gets together for larger events. One of the events that occurred at the end of last year was the pool party at the DeAndre’s house. “I had a wonderful time having a pool party,” Worku said. “I swam and watched Despicable Me.” Worku has great appreciation for the Best Buddies organization and is sad to leave the chapter at Paly. He has made so many lifelong friendships because of it and will always the fun he had here.

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As one of the three seniors in the futures program, Sophia Lieb has become a dedicated and hardworking student leading up to her senior year. From fashion and design to her position in Best Buddies, Lieb demonstrates her heartfelt love in all of her interests. Lieb is highly invested in the Best Buddies organization, as she is currently one of the seven club officers for the 2017 school year. Her role as Buddy Director gives her the responsibility to check events on the calendar and keep everyone updated on meetings. This school year Lieb hopes to be paired with a freshman so she can educate a younger student on the Best Buddies chapter and be a mentor to someone new to Paly.

The Best Buddies club has created great excitement throughout her life and has offered many opportunities. Last year, Sophia represented Palo Alto High School at the 2016 Best Buddies Game Changer Reception where the Palo Alto chapter was recognized as the Game Changer in Friendship. Along with a majority of the other students in the Futures Program, Lieb feels Best Buddies has given her everlasting memories.

Lieb also enjoys singing in her free time. She has been a member of Palo Alto High School’s choir all the three years leading up to her senior year. Her time in the choir gave her the opportunity to perform in front of a large crowd, which is one of her favorite things to do. In the future, she hopes to become a professional singer so she can perform on the big stage like many of her celebrity idols.

With the opportunities she’s had at Paly, Lieb has made many friends, making her time here more enjoyable and memorable. She has gotten a chance to try out many different activities and discover her passions and she will keep these skills with her throughout her life.

“It just hit me one day that I should be making my own superheroes,” a junior in the Futures Program, Mark Pace, said. We all love heroes: whether they’re on the silver screens or on the pages of books, the action-packed lives of our favorite world-savers never fail to spark something from our imagination. Pace’s personal passion for superhero comics fills the pages of his handmade comic books with stories of heroes inspired by his very own life.

This year, Pace is taking Paly’s Game Design course, where he is gaining expertise to use while transferring his ideas to life. His stories are mainly inspired by fond memories, such as his summer trip to Warner Bros Entertainment Studios in Hollywood, or just characters that he really likes.

In the Game Design course, Pace is currently making his own video game. “I am making a golden toad fight back an evil scientist,” Pace said. “He’s planning to poison the water supply.”

Along with Game design, Pace enjoys drawing using computer applications to create colorful animations and short films. His short films are uploaded to his YouTube channel, Palo Alto Comics, which is also the name of his production company.

Pace’s love for creation began with comics, which is still his favorite form of art today. Pace is currently working on two projects, both of which are homemade comic books. The books are filled of detailed pictures and colorful superheroes. Pace has been working on these comic strip stories for the past year and believes they won’t be completed until 2018.

Throughout the years, Pace has taken many different art classes at Paly in hopes of discovering new styles he is passionate about. Whether it is drawing, blowing glass, or designing and animating films and games, he loves discovering the forms of art that help him live out his artistic passions best.

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G

eorgetown University alumni Anthony Shriver founded the Best Buddies program in 1987. Shriver decided to take action when he noticed a severe lack of inclusion in his community and global communities between those with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). He made it his mission to close this gap by eventually founding Best Buddies. Today, Best Buddies is an international organization focusing on building strong relationships between people with and without IDD and constructing a basis for integrated employment and leadership.

The Best Buddies organization is inclusion-based and follows three main pillars of development: building one-to-one relationships, working to further integrated employment and overall leadership growth.

Their one-to-one friendship building works to improve set social skills while at the same time fostering friendships between those with and without IDD. Their work on integrated employment guides people with IDD through providing for themselves, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to find employment in their area and play a role in their local community. The leadership development pillar empowers people with IDD practice techniques such as public speaking and building leadership skills to become better community members.

The three pillars of Best Buddies empower and support people with IDD. Best Buddies International has spread throughout all 50 states as well as 45 different countries.

Chapters have been started in middle schools,

28 | CULTURE

high schools and universities around the world. Today, there are 2,151 chapters across the entire globe.

Best Buddies Citizens is another branch of the organization that focuses on socialization throughout the adult community. People with IDD are paired with other local community members and, by spending time together, share a mutually-beneficial and enriching friendship.

Best Buddies is separated into six different categories: matching, meetups, events, communication, email, and organization monitoring. People are matched in their “friendship pairings” based on shared interests and hobbies.

These friendship pairs require a yearlong commitment, but typically exceed this as the friendships form. The organization requires joint activities at least twice a month.

Events are planned by the Best Buddies Chapters within their school or community.

The “buddies” are supposed to communicate with one another at least once a week through email, phone calls, or face to face

It's always a team decision, so no one person makes the end final decision, it's always done in a collaborative team effort.

- Laura Bricca

interations. E-buddies, the online version of Best Buddies, talk at least once a week through email for a span of at least a year. Staff members offer support and ensure communication and interaction is running smoothly within friendships. The program contains two different types of advocacy opportunities: Best Buddies Ambassadors and Best Buddies Promoter Chapters. Ambassadors are people with IDD who work to educate others with IDD on how to properly advocate for themselves and their peers. They also work to teach people to improve their public speaking, higher their self-esteem and to be confident.

Promoter Chapters, are Best Buddies chapters at schools without a special ed-

ucation program, but have a goal to advocate for their peers with IDD. Paly is lucky enough to have an award-winning Best Buddies program that has been around for five years. Last year, Paly was selected to win one of the four Game Changer awards for the region of Northern California. This award highlights inclusion in friendship, employment, leadership. Paly was awarded with the Game Changer in Friendship award for the academic school year of 2015-16.

The chapter currently holds roughly 100 members and seven officers.

Palo Alto High School’s Best Buddies chapter meets twice a month at lunch and has monthly events outside of school.

After signing up, members have two options to decide their commitment to the club.

Peer Buddies are placed into one-on-one pairs; friendship pairs meet up on a weekly basis, either outside or inside of school. Peer buddies also complete monthly friendship updates to track the progress of the friend-

ship. An associate buddy does not have one specific friendship but instead creates and starts friendships with multiple students.

“I will see some of the students in Best Buddies walking across campus and just giving high fives, and not that cheesy ‘hi’;

eral ed student and a special ed student.”

In order to become part of a peer or associate buddy pairing, you must first be interviewed by a club officer to see if you match well with another buddy. “We try to match students on interest and who we think will kind of click just like anywhere else,” Erika Oakson, a Futures Program teacher, said.

“Some people click more than others.” As a result, many students in the Best Buddies chapter at Paly who do not have an IDD do not end up receiving a buddy pairing for the year. Club members not chosen as a peer buddy participate as associate buddies, and are still invited to all monthly club meetings and events throughout the school year.

The Best Buddies organization has increased the social companionship in many students with and without IDD. Throughout the school, it has provided the opportunity for members to meet new people and make new friendships, effectively building and overall more inclusive school environment.

I will see some of the students in Best Buddies walking across campus and just giving high fives. I know you, I'm stopping to talk to you. It's a true authentic interaction.

- Heather Johanson

it’s truly genuine,” said inclusion specialist Heather Johanson. “I know you, I’m stopping to talk to you because I know you. It’s a true authentic interaction, not like a pity interaction. It is truly the understanding of somebody else on both sides and it’s so powerful between a gen-

CULTURE | 29

TEXT A ND DESIG N BY

T

K IE LOO CHARLOTTE CHENG AND MADDIE YEN • ILLUSTRATION BY KAT

boba beware

he recognizable cups with the air-tight plastic seals are all too familiar. You see the drinks everywhere, but the question has always lurked in your mind: what is in these obscure balls sinking to the bottom of my tea?

Within the past couple of years, boba has grown to be especially popular around the Bay Area, and there is now an abundance of boba shops that can be found.

These locations include Teaspoon, T4, TPumps and many more. C Magazine ventured to various boba shops to expose the truth behind the suspicious drinks.

According to the Huffington Post, boba, also known as tapioca pearls, comes from the root of the cassava plant, which is found in South America. The pearls are floury white and hard when they are first extracted, but later earn their bounce and brown tint from being soaked in a bath of sugar water.

One of the more popular boba places in Palo Alto is T4. Maddy McNee, a senior at Paly and T4 employee, recognized that there is a flaw with the way T4 makes their drinks.

“People ask me how many calories are in a drink and we really don’t know because there are so many components that go in and it is really complicated to calculate,” McNee said.

This issue persists in many boba places; the calorie count in the drinks are not on the menu and employees rarely know the answer.

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Recently, Teaspoon, a popular chain amongst the local boba spots, opened in Palo Alto with a great amount of excitement surrounding its reveal. When we asked an employee where they had sourced their boba from, they didn’t seem to know. “I know it’s from the Teaspoon headquarters but not sure where before that,” Paly junior and Teaspoon employee Angela Liu said. If the employees are uncertain of where their boba comes from, how are we, vulnerable consumers, supposed to trust it?

Boba has become such a fad in culture today, but sadly many people are blind to the chemicals they are consuming. German researchers from the University Hospital Aachen have found tapioca pearls to contain a cancerous chemical known as polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. Along with these cancerous chemicals, there have been many studies regarding the obscene amount of sugar being put into these drinks. According to many health experts, boba tea poses many health risks such as obesity and diabetes. They have claimed that a 12-ounce serving could contain over 490 calories.

The boba trend will continue and who knows when the downfall will be. More boba shops will open and more tapioca pearls will be consumed.

The next time you sip from the familiar plastic cups, remember – there may be health detriments!

FACE THE music A closer look at the horrific pasts of abusive artists

TEXT AND DESIGN BY GABE COHEN AND CHARLOTTE AMSBAUGH • PHOTOS BY RYAN GWYN

ARTS| 31

"FROM THE BEGINNING OF POPULAR MUSIC, THERE HAVE BEEN MEN WH

. hat makes an artist good? Is it their influence on culture?

Is it how they brand themselves? Is it who can get the most streams? While all of these factors are important, what makes an artist good is if their music can make you feel something. If their lyrics or melodies can make you feel any emotion, they have succeeded as an artist. But there seems to be a common trend amongst artists who most would label as “good.” Their music can make you feel all types of ways, but their actions can only make you queasy.

The music industry is no stranger to abusive figures.

From the beginning of popular music, there have been men who continuously showed patterns of abuse towards women. Phil Spector, a famous producer of hundreds of Motown songs from the sixties, had an infamous tendency to take advantage of the many singers he recorded. Spector symbolized the abuse seen from the music executives that have always riddled the industry. But these higher-ups still have nothing on the dozens of artists who used their notoriety to take advantage of young women. Chuck Berry was incarcerated for having sex with a 14-year-old in 1962. While Berry might be recognized as the pioneer of rock and roll, we must recognize him as the pioneer of rock and roll and sexual misconduct.

Rock and roll is one of the two genres of music that have the greatest frequencies of harassers, the other being hip-hop. The list of rock musicians who have indisputably abused women is seemingly never-ending. If you like a famous rock band, there is a high chance that at least one of the members has engaged in abuse. John Lennon beat his first wife Cynthia before their divorce, and later even admitted it in the lyrics of The Beatles’ 1967 song “Getting Better.”

Jimmy Page, the guitarist from Led Zeppelin, was accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl and locking her in a closet for a week before raping her. David Bowie, Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones, Steven Tyler, and James Brown are all other examples of artists who have been accused of sexual misconduct. Ozzy Osbourne even tried to kill his own wife in 1989.

Abusive artists have not gone away; in fact, they seem to be more prevalent than ever. In 2008, a violent altercation between well-known R&B singer Chris Brown and Pop

W

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WHO CONTINUOUSLY SHOWED PATTERNS OF ABUSE TOWARDS WOMEN.”

artist

Rihanna went viral. Brown was charged with two felonies of assault and sentenced to five years of probation in 2009.

Due to the case being followed by fans on an international level, it appeared that all of Brown’s fans and followers had simply disappeared. However, at the end of the trial, this was clearly was not the case. Since 2009, Brown has created and launched the successful fashion brand Black Pyramid, signed to a modeling agency and released four studio albums, with plans for the release of a fifth this October.

Controversy also swirled around rapper XXXTentacion and his highly anticipated album “17”.

Days before the album’s release date, news of XXXTentacion’s involvement in a series of allegations got out. The rapper is set to stand trial October 5, facing multiple charges of aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation, as well as false imprisonment that occurred in October 2016. He pleaded not guilty to all counts. Details of the case are grim, but the abuse goes from breaking the alleged victim’s phone to keeping her locked in a bathroom for several days. Prosecutors have several hours of testimony, police reports, images and an incriminating recording all supporting their case. In the midst of this, XXXTentacion released his album which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and has been praised by the likes of Kendrick Lamar and was placed on XXL’s Freshman List of young and upcoming rap artists. The album itself plays on the attention and drama of the abuse case, with songs and lyrics making direct references to the case and has a theme of violence throughout.

All of the bad press surrounding the rapper seems to have only launched him into more fame.

Phil Spector wasn’t the first artist to abuse women and XXXTentacion won’t be the last. In between the two, we saw artists like Dr. Luke abuse and torment pop-artist Ke$ha, and Eminem’s abusive past come to light. Hardly anything in the media can be hidden from the public eye, especially in the lives of celebrities. The artists only seem to attract more and more attention, both positive and negative. At the end of it all, it seems that all the negatives are overlooked, but the question remains: when should a music lover’s loyalty end for the sake of their morals?

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Practice makes perfect There’s a learning curve to thrifting. The more you do it, the more you understand the layout and easygoing vibe of the sacred garment halls. You’ll get the hang of sorting in the right places without getting lost in all of its magnificence.

TEXT AND DESIGN BY JAIME FURLONG AND SAM GUERNSEY PHOTOS BY RYAN GWYN • ART BY KATIE LOOK MODELING BY IDA SUNNERAS JONSSON

Y

ou walk through the shiny front doors of a thrift shop in hopes of discovering a cute tank top, but once you step foot inside you are met with racks and racks of scratchy-looking knit sweaters that your grandma might wear to Christmas dinner. While it might be intimidating at first, the reward of thrift shopping exceedingly outweighs the initial discomfort. In a sea of distressed jean shorts, graphic tees and allwhite shoes, it’s easy to go the simple route and stay within the confines of the current trends. The answer to your wardrobe dilemma? Thrifting.

Thrift shopping is not only fun, but rocking thrift store attire propels you out of the norm and into a more unique realm of style. If you take the time to uncover those precious gems, you’ll realize nothing beats the feeling of finally finding that perfect piece – and knowing you’ll be the only one wearing it.

Learning how to sift through the mess to find your piece of treasure isn’t an easy task. Lucky for you, we’re about to reveal the tricks to master thrifting.

Keep your eyes peeled With dozens of racks of clothes surrounding you it’s easy for your prize to get hidden; make sure to pay respects to each rack and to use a keen eye. If you spot anything colorful or sparkly, you better take a look.

Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it This is your opportunity to broaden your horizons! Just because something you find isn’t normally your go-to style or pattern doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a shot.

$20

Tie-Dye Shirt Buffalo Exchange, San Francisco

$15

Purple Tanktop American Cancer Society, Menlo Park

$7

Striped Shirt Thrifttown, San Francisco

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$15 Ralph Polo Long Sleeve Thrifttown, San Francisco

$4

Orange Halter Top Savers, Redwood City

Stick with it The key to thrifting is patience and determination. Without it, you won’t strike gold. You should spend at least five minutes looking at a single rack because if you look hard enough, you might just find the most dazzling pair of pants you have ever seen.

The best part? You know you won’t be seeing them on four other girls when you sport them on Monday.

CULTURE | 35

NOutside LandsF INSIDE

TEXT AND DESIGN BY HOLLIE CHIAO, CLAIRE MOLEY AND RYAN GWYN • PHOTO BY HOLLIE CHIAO

EMPIRE OFTHE SUN

T

he stage went black and the crowd cheered as a deep voice began to slowly chant the band’s name to a beat.

Suddenly, the lights illuminated Luke Steele, lead singer of Empire of the Sun, wearing his usual bold eyeliner and elaborate outfit. The energy was immediate at Twin Peaks, one of the two larger stages at the festival.

As soon as the music began, the entire crowd jumped up and down in sync. Their set consisted of fan favorites such as “Way to Go,” “Walking on a Dream” and “We Are the People.” Empire of the Sun has become very popular with their alternative electropop style and have already sold millions of records worldwide.

After three songs, a group of dancers

36 | ARTS

K. FLAY

came out on stage dressed in shiny body suits and gold headpieces. Their quirky costumes were eye-catching to say the least, but fit in nicely with their upbeat tracks and brightly lit backdrop. Their set evoked an energetic, feel-good vibe, and I smiled at the sight of such a blissful crowd.

My voice lost amongst the hundreds of people singing along, Empire of the Sun closed their act with one of their most popular songs titled “Alive.” Luke Steele left the audience roaring with cheers as he took two of his guitars and smashed them on the stage as the lights went dark. The band exceeded expectations with their performance at Outside Lands and made it a highlight of the festival.

T

he set was low-key, but there were no props needed. The flashing blue lights, emo hair reminiscent of Avril Lavigne’s peak punk era and deep bass were enough for a crowd-wide jam session.

While producing her album “Life As a Dog”, Stanford graduate Kristine Flaherty lived in the Bay so it was no surprise that the crowd proudly sang with her. The heart-wrenching “Blood in the Cut” and the pounding bass of “High Enough” were balanced with her upbeat hit “It’s Strange,” featuring Louis the Child, who played later that day.

K. Flay’s twist on indie rock music exonerated female power, and her clash with vulnerability and confidence was

RECAP While Outside Lands attracts festival goers from across the state with huge headliners and delicious local food trucks, what we have come to appreciate about the festival is the discovery of lesser known performers like Empire of the Sun, SOHN and K. Flay, to name a few.

To us, they are no longer “that one featured artist” or the creators of “that one song,” but rather artists that we had the chance to connect with through their live music.

SOHN

an emotional rollercoaster. Unafraid to address topics such as sex, drugs and love, K. Flay’s presence was dangerous.

Everything from her songs' underlying themes of loneliness, hope and heartbreak to her minimalistic outfit felt familiar to the head-banging attendees. After being blown away by her set at the Lands End stage, I followed her to the GastroMagic area, where she performed acoustic versions of some of her most popular tracks. She played down her former outfit with a jean jacket and hat, giving the small crowd an intimate college dorm vibe. Her soft, raspy vocals shone even brighter without a bass guitar or drummer in the back, filling each song with new, raw emotion.

F

rom the moment Christopher Taylor, professionally known as SOHN, made his entrance, the crowd at the modest Panhandle stage was paralysed. It all started with his hat and cloak, a bold statement on his part. Backed by talented instrumentalists, SOHN proceeded to transfix those watching with multi-layered, incredibly textured sounds.

Long before his Outside Lands performance, SOHN had drawn his own path in the music community with his dark, indie-electronic music. His songs are enveloped in beautifully designed synth layers accompanied by a unique drum machine and his angelic vocals. From the first note, the

crowd was stunned; I’d never heard anything like it live. The melancholic but uplifting songs paired beautifully with his voice, and the other instruments worked in perfect harmony. After playing some of his huge numbers such as “Hard Liquor,” “Conrad,” and “Signal” from his newest album, “Rennen” (2017), the singer wouldn’t leave the crowd without playing the biggest hits of his career. “The Wheel” and “Blood Flows” from his debut album, “Tremors”, were a powerful end to his set. Overall, SOHN’s charisma and talent made up an incredible show of the likes that I’d never seen before.

ARTS | 37

Artists of the Month:

Nathan Kim and Peter Martin

A new tyPE C

urious eyes widened and heads turned as surrounding students, startled and confused, watched two freshmen zoom past them on motorized desks, speeding off at 27 miles per hour. It was truly a sight to be seen. Nathan Kim and Peter Martin had been toiling away on their creations for months and it was finally time to unveil them to the rest of Paly. At 8 a.m. on the last day of school, Nathan Kim and Peter Martin raced out to their vehicles and took off.

Subjectively, art can be defined by each person’s individual experience. As art has travelled on a path from traditional to con-

38 | ARTS

temporary, it has created diverse movements and styles, and in our modernistic society, engineering has proven itself as an artistic outlet in a multitude of ways.

Art can also be considered the end product of a skillset, such as cooking or carpentry. “Engineering itself is not an art form,” Martin said. However, he does believe that it can be done in an artful way and that their go-karts exemplify that concept. “It’s the appearance that really makes it art,” Martin said.

They compare their creations to other, more alternative design formats, such as performance race cars or mid-century modern

furniture. Reflecting upon this spin on more traditional art forms, Marin and Kim claim that this is the first time their creations have ever been acknowledged as art.

Kim and Martin’s engineering background is rooted in the skills and exposure they gained from their fathers. Martin’s dad worked on medical devices, so he had access to a shop in his garage from a young age. He was deeply influenced by his father’s work: “The idea of being technical with your hands got passed down to me,” Martin said.

Similarly, Kim says that his access to equipment and familiarity with designing products stemmed from learning engineer-

TEXT AND DESIGN BY LIA SALVATIERRA, BENJAMIN RAPPERPORT AND GRACE ROWELL PHOTOS BY RYAN GWYN

of STREET ART ing concepts from his father. “I have all the stuff you need to work with metal; it’s been like that ever since I was a kid," Kim said.

"I’ve gotten to know the tools fairly well. I was taught to use all of them by age 11.”

These paternal influences are what ultimately provided the two with the experience, tools and supervision necessary to create.

The pair have been close friends since eighth grade and have thrived off one another’s creative spirit, continually devoting hours of time and effort to their work. For years, Martin has been piecing together his garage into a fully functioning, small scale

workshop that now includes a 3D printer and many other high level fabrication and metal tools. While both have dabbled in producing many other pieces of work, the journey from tinkering with small gadgets to constructing the famous go-kart desks all began in the Paly autoshop.

The young, eager and innovative freshmen were overwhelmed by the cavernous building in which Auto class is held, as it was filled with dusty cars and gleaming equipment. In that building, an imaginative vision was formed, and soon after, the concept for the iconic motorized desks began to take shape.

“We were sitting in the auto shop freshman year, excited to be in such a space, and we pretended to drive the desks like they were cars," Martin said. "We then got the idea of making it a reality, and from coming up [with where] the parts would go and how much it would cost, we got some desks and started building.” The playful idea spurred the beginning of a 6 month adventure.

Their goal was to have created a fully functioning desk kart by the end of the year, allowing them to leave the last day of school in style, speeding towards summer. This sent them into a building frenzy, seeking out supplies, spending hours in Martin’s garage,

ARTS | 39

and welding various metal parts at 2,000 degrees celsius, sparks flying. As the visual aesthetic and overall designs of the devices began to materialize, their approaches started to diverge. “One of the things that was kind of surprising to me was that at the beginning, I thought they’d be pretty similar, but we actually took different approaches to solving the same design issues,” Martin said.

Even while working together, their karts began to develop into separate beasts.

After a summer of racing around and testing the limits of their karts, they decided to enter them in the Maker’s Faire in San Mateo. They set up a booth, surrounded by craftsmen who had been perfecting their art and visual pieces for years. Visitors quickly began flocking to their table in hopes of a chance to ride the desk karts. Tip jars were set up, representing each kart respectively, every dollar and coin measuring the quality of their craftsmanship. The two later tri-

“We then got the idea of making it a reality, and from coming up [with where] the parts would go and how much it would cost, we got some desks and started building”.

- Peter Martin

They spent every weekend testing, adjusting and retesting to try and fix every problem that would occur. By the time finals week rolled around, the karts were still not completed. Kim and Martin had a choice to make: karts or studying? Obviously, they chose their karts.

umphantly headed home, the karts in the back of their truck, and Editor’s Choice award in hand.“It felt pretty good," Martin said. "Not many people were getting those.”

This may have been the first time they made money off the karts, but it would certainly not be the last. Kim offers a lap

around the quad on the desk kart for one dollar. When the pair were asked if they would ever sell their go-karts, Kim was open to the idea whereas Martin was not.

Despite the opportunity to make a profit on their designs, the two heavily discussed the many transactions that took place in

“I see art as an extension of yourself. These go-karts are an extension of ourselves, and they are very different, because Nathan and I are very different, so order to obtain the necessary parts. The Art is considered personally expressive, list of products grew longer, but they and just as a painter uses a paintbrush to were able to purchase them from sites like convey their emotions and communicate the process EBay and Craigslist, or through a visit a story to the viewer, Kim and Martin use to Alan’s Steel Yard, located in Redwood welding and fabrication tools to express that each of us City. “Batteries are really expensive, so the their creativity and their problem-solvnew battery pack cost me $350, but outing skills. Not only is there an element of side of that, it puts the total cost [of the functionality in the karts, but also visual went through kart] at $450,” Kim said of his total costs. appeal plays a significant role in the way The karts have proven to be profitable, people see art, including Martin. “I see defines us.” and are essentially considered as signifiart as an extension of yourself,” Martin - Peter Martin

cant investments of time and money.

As the two have grown into strong engineers with challenge-focused mindsets, their brilliant designs serve as an extension of their own technical imagination.

said. “These go-karts are an extension of ourselves, and they are very different, because Nathan and I are very different, so the process that each of us went through defines us.”

ARTS | 41

An inside look into four Paly music lovers and how their individual tastes brought them to find what they love to listen to.

Oscar Scherer

Leela Srinivasan Junior Leela Srinivasan’s generally listened to popular songs she had heard on the radio, until she started taking electric guitar lessons. When she began taking lessons three years ago, Srinivasan was exposed to a conglomerate of old school songs from the 80’s.

“The songs they picked for electric guitar weren’t as mainstream [and] I wanted to get into the kind of music I was playing,” Srinivasan said.“I enjoyed it at a different level. When you play the music you also listen to, you begin to appreciate it more.”

Since she began playing the guitar, Srinivasan has discovered numerous artists including The Kooks, The Cure and Stevie Nicks. She explained how she always gets excited and loves discovering new artists from the songs she learns in her lessons.

One of Srinivasan’s favorite albums is called "Inside In Inside Out" by the Kooks.

“I like it because it has a good mix of relaxing songs," Srinivasan said. "I feel like I can listen to it at any time.” She explained that she enjoys the musical yet simple vibe. Her favorite song on the album is “Sea Side” because she knows it well and finds that it is very relaxing, From both listening and playing her songs on the guitar, Srinivasan finds music to be a huge stress reliever. “It is a great way for me to just feel free," Srinivasan said. "When I listen to a song or play one, I forget everything else.”

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Scherer's interpretation of "Frizzle Fry" by Primus

Srinivasan’s interpretation of "Inside the Inside Out" by The Kooks

If you flash back about five to eight years, you’ll remember a time in your life where you were packed in overcrowded classrooms with the rest of your fifth grade class, being forced to learn the basics of playing an instrument. By the time sixth or seventh grade rolled around it was time for most to return the instrument to the music store and cancel the monthly rental fee. But not everyone could let it go. Senior Oscar Scherer took the opportunity given to him and transformed it into a passion.

Many hobbies have stemmed from his fifth grade music class. He currently has his own radio show on KZU Stanford 90.1 and he plays instruments ranging from the trombone to the melodica.

He spends a chunk of his Saturdays at the flea market randomly selecting vinyls to take home and listen to on his record player. Doing so aided him in discovering new music and drove his curiosity to explore a breadth of musical genres. His all time favorite album is the 1990 Primus album "Frizzle Fry". “There’s honestly nothing quite like Primus,” he said.

He described the funk metal album as wacky and having just the right amount of political opinion. Scherer explained that Primus explored uncharted territories as they merged funk, rock, alternative and metal. He discussed the difference between listening to this album on iTunes as opposed to listening to it on a record player. He feels that it’s a unique experience to listen to the fades between songs on his record player– a feature that he believes goes underppreciated when listening to the album on an iPhone instead of on vinyl.

Music has become something Scherer cannot imagine his life without and he hopes to continue music, at least part time, as he moves out of high school and throughout adulthood.

TEXT AND DESIGN BY CLAIRE MOLEY AND ALEXIS PISCO

Patrick McCole Junior Patrick McCole is the go-to guy for music; he’s the kid with the headphones in the MAC making music on his laptop.

After a childhood packed with learning to play instruments from the clarinet to the piano to the guitar, McCole has always wanted to “push the limit of what is expected in redefining music for [him]self,” McCole said.

It wasn’t until he was in eighth grade when he dropped those more classical instruments that he discovered his passion for creating music using the software Ableton.

An album that has inspired some of his work, and one of his all time favorite albums is Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx’s 2011 electronic soul album, "We’re New Here". The album is the closest thing to what McCole dreams of achieving– “a creation that has never been seen before,” he said.

He explained that Jamie xx used electronic techniques to remix samples of 70’s American soul and jazz poet, Gil Scott-Heron, to create the 35 minute long album. Albums such as this have inspired him to want to keep pushing his limits. McCole aims to continue producing music as an adult, but as more of a hobby and not necessarily to make a profit.

Makoski’s interpretation of "Miracle Mile" by STRFKR

Eliot Makoski Junior Eliot Makoski has had a long journey developing his music taste. while he once listened to what was popular on the top charts and the radio, his current music choices have morphed into a collection of rock and indie songs.

“Once I got my own Spotify account,

McCole’s interpretation of "We’re New Here" by Jamie xx and Gil Scott Heron

I was able to use their weekly playlists– those with 30 songs that Spotify thinks you would like– to find my own songs that I genuinely liked,” Makoski said. Rather than listening to mainstream music, he realized he prefered a more alternative sound.

Makoski enjoys being able to discover his own songs independently. “It is a good feeling to find music that I really enjoy and that other people might not know of,” Makoski said.

He has a large variety of favorite artists.

He enjoys listening to bands such as The Smiths and Future Islands, but also enjoys artists such as Travis Scott. “I have favorite artists for a lot of different genres because I don’t want to limit myself to just listen to one type of song,” Makoski said.

One of Makoski’s favorite albums is "Miracle Mile", by STRFKR. “I think that every single song is good, and there isn’t one that I don’t mess with,” Makoski said.

He explained that when he listens to music, he really appreciates and pays attention to the lyrics of songs. “Once I shifted my taste, I started to actually care about what the artist was singing about because it made me feel so much more connected to the song somehow,” Makoski said. “That is one of the main reasons why I stopped listening to a lot of pop music out there.”.

“A lot of music has actually helped me get through some hard times,” Makoski said. He feels that his music taste has artists that are really expressing their thought through their lyrics, which he finds much more moving.

Makoski embraces all genres of music; however, he encourages people to be true to their individual taste. “I think that people should just listen to whatever kind of music they really like,” Makoski said. “I also think it’s important that you don’t force yourself to like a song just because it is popular or what your friends like.”

ARTS | 43

TEXT AND DESIGN BY LEON LAU AND MATTIE ORLOFF

A

s the school year begins, the margins of many Palo Alto High School students’ notebooks fill up quickly with sketches as the clock ticks through class.

Many unconsciously pick up their pencils and begin to create their own style of doodling.

Each individual has their own doodling preferences, whether it’s doodling images of objects, faces or abstract patterns. Free-form scribbling, although sometimes not as visually appealing, is another popular form of doodling. Studies have shown that as a person’s stress levels rise, the urge to doodle increases.

Doodling is a very popular means of passing time among students. But why is doodling so pleasing and addictive? Students often times do not even doodle on purpose, but the desire to fill in little hearts in the margins may be too strong to suppress.

MIndless drawing can help with a wide range of situations from relieving boredom and frustration to helping a student study to being an outlet for creativity. Students also can utilize doodling as a means to visualize their notes as they write them, which can enhance retention and generate new ideas related to the subject the student is learning.

Since minimum attention is required for doodling, it is possible to both doodle and listen to what the teacher is saying. Unlike other activities students could do in class, doodling does not cause a cognitive overload.

Doodling in class may be more beneficial for students than purely sitting still in class. Some students at Paly have decided to share their doodles with us and give us insight on why they doodle.

I think it’s very relaxing to draw the same thing over and over again; it relaxes me and it looks satisfying, as well. You also are able to get really good at drawing that one thing if you draw it over and over again.

-Sam Guernsey

I like doodling because it feels almost like an exercise in creativity. I like that, in a way, I have to challenge myself to see what I can create. The idea of making arbitrary strokes on a page and having them become something random is satisfying to me.

-Julie Cornfield

I like to doodle because it calms me down when I’m stressed, and is something that is relaxing. I tend to doodle cartoons, and just really free draw whatever comes in mind.

-Carlos Diaz

I draw because I have a cylinder in my brain. This cylinder gets filled with ideas and it gets clogged often. So I draw to empty this cylinder out and keep fresh ideas in my brain. Drawing is an escape with infinite possibilities at your fingertips.

-Adrien Tompert

I mainly doodle to pass time in class. I usually go through phases of what I draw, which used to be a lot of unicorns and realistic eyes. Lately it has been more waves, mountains, and lettering. Most of what’s in the pictures are things I’ve drawn a lot of times before. -Maryanne Fu

miserable.

miserable. i’m miserable. my stomach feels sick. there’s a pit. or a hole. there’s something that makes me short of breath. and hard of speaking. my eyes become damp. soon to be followed by tears. contain them. don’t let them fall. don’t let anyone know. you’re crying because you’re homesick? aren’t you almost eighteen? yes and yes. but you don’t understand. my brain. it’s attacking me. it’s telling me no. telling me to feel sick where i am. to feel short of breath every time i think about it. so i must leave. that is the only solution. there is no other way to get rid of this virus invading my brain. invading my almost every thought. no more crying in the shower. crying in the shower because it drowns out no more of it. i’m done. i want to be done. so please just let me leave, so i can be free of this sickness, my sickness.

TEXT AND DESIGN BY DARROW HORNIK ILLUSTRATION BY BO FANG

my anxiety.

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ISSUE N°01 oct. 2017 vol.8