C Magazine Vol. 11 Edition 1

We’re back! C Magazine is excited to share our first issue of the 2022-23 school year, created with the help of our new staff. We hope you get the chance to curl up with a fall drink of your choice and explore our newest profiles and features.

Our cover highlights some of the many student responses to our most recent multimedia experiment: an empty blackboard with the phrase “Before I Graduate. . .” written on it. On page 14 “Before I Graduate” by Lily Daniel, Siena Dunn and Audrey Guo, showcases the student body’s response to the title question through their verbatim responses.

“City of Color” on page 34 by Brooke Hudacek, Anna Markesky and Saachi Nagar, dives into the culture and history of San Francisco’s Mission District by portraying its infamous art: the community’s street murals. The bright and colorful murals have come to represent the vibrance of the Mission District’s community.

From its rich-kid stereotype to its iconic Silicon Valley location, Palo Alto has been featured in a diverse set of films over the years, a fact unknown to many residents.

“Suburban Cinema” on page 18 by Martina Meyerfreund, Zeke Morrison and Caitlyn Oda explores the extensive history of Palo Alto as a movie setting.

Our recurring Featured Artist package has brought attention to countless Paly artists through the years. Now, with “Featured Artist: Where Are They Now?” on page 26 by Wendy Li, Jake Papp and Sarah Sheaffer, C Magazine gives an update on some of our past featured artists.

Featuring the controversial topic of STEAM, in “The Rise of STEAM,” Esther Chung, Mary Henderson and Isaac Hillesland bring to light different opinions on emphasizing one subject over another. They emphasize the new trend of people bridging both STEM and art to create STEAM.

As you flip through the pages of our newest issue, we hope that you find a story that sparks your interest, and continue to keep up with our future content.

Happy reading!

Evie Coulson, McKenna Rausch, Milena Rodriguez and Jasmine Tabrizi Editors-in-Chief

By Brooke Hudacek and Martina Meyerfreund

By Milena Rodriguez and Ella Rosenblum

By Lily Daniel and Siena Dunn

thanks TO OUR SPONSORS

Annette and Tom King

Chris and Carrie Daniel

Ed Dunn

Ellen and Victor Meyerfreund

Emma Joing

Eugenie Van Wynen

Henderson SFIS Isabelle Hau

Judy Cummings

Laura Prentiss

Liza Baskind

Mary Meiser Neelam Sethi

Peggy Morrison Suyan Ling

Tal and Yoav Samet

The Coulson Family

The Hong Family

The Oda Family

The Quartz Family

The Rodriguez Family

The Rosso Tabrizi Family

The Sotnick Family Yuxuan Ruan

Publication Policy

C Magazine, an arts and culture magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Magazine Journalism class, is a designated open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership. C Magazine is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

Printing & Distribution

C Magazine is printed 5 times a year in October, January, February, April and June by aPrintis in Pleasanton, CA.

C Magazine is distributed on campus and mailed to sponsors by Palo Alto High School. All C Magazine stories are available on cmagazine.org.

Advertising

The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts, providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with C Magazine, please contact business manager Eunchae Hong at businesscmagazine@gmail. com.

Letters to the Editors

The C Magazine staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserve the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to eicscmagazine@gmail.com or to 50 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301.

staff

Editors-in-Chief

Creative Director

Kellyn Scheel

Managing Editors

Kaila Chun, Isaac Hillesland, Julie Huang, Caitlyn Oda

Evie Coulson, McKenna Rausch, Milena Rodriguez, Jasmine Tabrizi Online Editor-in-Chief Kylie Tzeng

Online Managing Editor

Creative Adviser

Audrey Guo

Multimedia Manager

Ella Rosenblum

Photo Director

Olivia Hau

Social Media Managers

Anna Markesky, Casey Walters

Wendy Li Staff Writers

Business Manager

Eunchae Hong

Sarah Bakhash, Jeslyn Chen, Esther Chung, Scarlett Cummings, Lily Daniel, Siena Dunn, Mary Henderson, Brooke Hudacek, Miya Joshi, Martina Meyerfreund, Zeke Morrison, Saachi Nagar, Jake Papp, Uri Ponte, Alma Samet, Sarah Sheaffer, Willow Steele

Adviser

Audrey Guo and Kellyn Scheel

Brian Wilson Cover

Illustrators

Renny Argast, Sarah Bakhash, Esther Chung, Lily Daniel, Siena Dunn, Audrey Guo, Sarah Sheaffer, Kellyn Scheel

Table of Contents

Anna Markesky

Table of contents

The Rise of

STEAM

Letting go of the pressure by defying the expectation to choose a traditional career path

As students approach their ever-looming graduation, the pressure of finding a path to pursue begins to pile up, creating a bundle of stress and burden. This is a familiar concept for many students at Paly, but even more so for those choosing to pursue contrasting subjects: STEM versus art.

Renny Argast, a Paly junior passionate about art, feels trapped by the division of these two catego ries.

“It is very stressful because I have to balance my time between art and STEM, as I value my grades over my personal endeavors,” Argast said. “As for my future, a major in arts is looking more and more un stable as I get older.”

This feeling of uncertainty comes mostly from how difficult and strenuous starting and keeping a steady job in the arts is. These worries accumulate a tremendous amount of pressure on aspiring art ists.

For Argast, choosing to pursue art in the future feels like a leap of faith.

“People put a lot of value on having a stable income, which is important but it is not the most important thing,” Ar gast said.

The instability students feel is also brought on by the social pressures associated with liv ing in Silicon Valley. Living in the heart of technology in the country comes with an intense focus on the STEM fields. Many students feel pressure to excel in challenging STEM classes and extracurricular pursuits as opposed to arts-related classes in

order to ensure a successful future ahead.

Vivan Trach, a Paly senior involved in a girls robotics team, is one of the many students who have first-hand experience with the narrow-minded school culture.

“Culturally, art has a big influence and it is vital, but it is easily overlooked because art is more like a quality of life improver and many people may not see that as important as

This normalized myth that artists have a pointless role in society is deeply embedded within our society. Not only have students submitted to this culture, but parents also have this ideology of linking art to failure.

“[Art] is easily overlooked because art is more like a quality of life improver and many people may not see that as important as [curing] cancer.”

– Vivian Trach

With such immense parental expectations, students often feel the need to meet and exceed them. Living in a place known for its work with technology, it is not a surprise that many students such as senior Caleb Chan have parents in more STEM-relat-

“Both my parents are in STEM so it’s something I’ve always been around and [followed] along, like engineering,” Chan

Another factor that further complicates one’s ability to choose a career path is the issues surrounding gender stereotypes in STEM. Typically, we see STEM represented by men in the media and often viewed as a masculine subject while women are underrep-

resented for their STEM abilities and potential.

These gender stereotypes lower girls’ self-confidence and interest in pursuing STEM careers.

“Although I definitely can major in computer science...I despise the misogyny, sexism and the guys in computer science, and that’s the only reason why I am not majoring in [it],” Trach said. “That’s a big deterrent.”

Even if women choose to pursue STEM-focused careers or majors, there is a stereotype that they are inclined to take specific STEM disciplines- particularly soft sciences rather than hard sciences.

“I think that life is

ther evaluation of the thought process and creativity involved in both, similarities begin to arise between the two activities.

complicated and you might decide in high school that you’re going to do one thing and then end up doing somthing totally different.”

– Tracey Atkinson, Art Teacher

“A lot of people tend to assume that since I am a woman, I want to do something like humanities or psychology and not something like computer science or neuroscience,” Trach said.

Although this is an issue that is still deeply embedded within our society’s culture and history, in the past decades, women have debunked the “standard norms.”

“The misogyny in STEM makes me want to one-up men and show them that women can do other sciences like data science too,” Trach said.

Men, just like women, are constricted by stereotypes and penalized if they act outside of their gender roles. For instance, many are hesitant to pursue the arts due to the fear of appearing too “feminine” or “weak.” Males are often shaped to be “strong” and “tough,” which contradicts the common stereotype of artists being “emotional” and “soft.” With this misrepresentation, many men avert from pursuing an art career in fear they may be perceived as foolish.

Despite all of the negativity surrounding STEM and art, there are also many positive aspects of the intertwinement of the fields.

At first glance, painting a scenic view and solving a complex algebraic equation may seem tremendously different, but upon fur-

The corresponding skills required to be successful in both art and STEM activities has led people to incorporate an “A”representing art- in STEM to cre ate the acronym STEAM.

This change has brought many people together within both communities. Tracey Atkinson, an art teacher at Paly, believes that the change is for the better and blending the subjects together will enhance both fields.

“You have to be able to solve problems, you have to be able to think and you have to know how to revise,” Atkinson said. “There really is so much overlap between the two [fields].”

Others believe that the differences between art and STEM are too great and the subjects are better off divided.

“I wouldn’t say there are rules because obviously there are not, but there is more structure [in STEM],” Chan said. “In arts you could pretty much do whatever you want whereas there is more order within STEM.”

Although everyone has different perceptions of the division or combination of STEM and art, there is one aspect they can agree they both share: pressure.

All of the pressure put on students by their parents, peers and teachers to be successful and know what they want to do with their lives is enough to make anyone feel lost.

“I think that life is complicated and you might decide in high school that you’re going to do one thing and then end up doing something totally different,” Atkinson said. “You do yourself a disservice by saying, ‘I’m only going to do this one thing.’”

Text and design by ESTHER CHUNG, MARY HENDERSON and ISAAC HILLESLAND • Art by RENNY ARGAST and ESTHER CHUNG

C Mag Game Night We’re all in for

they frequently played games with their family and friends. Candyland, a colorful, nostalgic game, certainly had this effect on C

In an attempt to bring back nostalgic feelings and memories, C Magazine hosted a game night for its staff, complete with countless games and snack favorites.

With the rise of the digital age, the occurrence of game nights have drastically decreased. Many people have opted for digital entertainment, like streaming platforms, instead of spending quality time with their family and friends. Consequently, many fun childhood memories and traditions have taken a backseat as our lives become increasingly busy.

A game night isn’t just about playing board games. It encourages team building and fosters new connections. Through friendly competition and teamwork, playing games allowed the staff members to get to know each other in a setting outside of school.

“I really like the sense of community that you have and the healthy competition,” senior Olivia Hau said. “I think that [playing games] is a really great way to compete but in a fun, friendly and non-hostile way.”

Besides the fun of the actual games, the game night created a fun, inviting atmosphere.

“There’s really fun music playing and everyone is talking, laughing and playing their games, so it’s very fun and you feel a sense of community,” junior Saachi Nagar said.

Due to the many options of games to play, the C Magazine staff was able to experience different games and try out new ones as well.

“You don’t have to be interested in a particular topic because there’s games that everybody can enjoy,” senior Evie Coulson said.

Overall, staff members enjoyed the community created at Game Night and were able to relax and enjoy spending time with each other.

Some games took staff members back to their childhood when

“I used to play [Candyland] with my family and all of the characters [in the game] have a special place in my heart,” Nagar said.

While some games require strategic planning and concentration, like card games, others are more competitive and hands-on.

“I like the socialization and strategy [of games],” senior Isaac Hillesland said. “I like the politics of board games and it’s just a lot of fun.”

Though during C Magazine’s Game Night most of the staff members chose games that require focused strategy, an exception to this is Twister. Twister is a well known and popular game because of the entertaining moves from the players and silly mood created.

“The fun and silliness of [Twister is my favorite part],” Hau said. “When people fall all over each other, it’s a really good bonding experience and it’s a good icebreaker to get to know people.”

Everyone enjoyed game night because they experienced playing their favorite games in a large group. Though most board games don’t allow a big group of people to play at one time, staff members found that card games like Uno and B.S. were more ideal for large groups.

“I like big group games because I feel like it’s more competitive, and I like to be competitive,” junior Siena Dunn said.

While our lives are still extremely busy, occasionally taking time for these small pockets of planned fun social interaction are important.

As a staff, we all work collaboratively to produce a magazine, so Game Night was the perfect time for everyone to bond.

“We’re all relaxed, there is no work to be done,” senior Julie Huang said. “We’re all just having fun together and sharing the good times.”

Text and Design by SARAH BAKHASH, KAILA CHUN and KYLIE TZENG Art by SARAH BAKHASH and KELLYN SCHEEL

Photos by OLIVIA HAU and KYLIE TZENG

Issac Hillesland (left) and Uri Ponte (right) take on Connect 4.

Audrey Guo (left) and Caitlyn Oda (right) concentrate on their UNO game.

Martina Meyerfreund (left) and Scarlett Cummings (right) having a good time.

Alma Samet (left), Saachi Nagar (center) and Anna Ghereghlou (right) snacking and making their way through Candyland.

Rock On!

Sweating, Paly senior Maya Quinlan clings to the climbing wall, desperately searching for a rock to hold onto among the many jutting out just beyond her reach. Without a proper handhold, her foot could slip and she could fall from the wall at any time. This is the adventurous world of rock climbing.

Why would anyone willingly subject themselves to such an experience? For one, those who climb note that the community built when climbers come together to share their passion is an excellent motivator for self-improvement.

Former C Mag Editor-in-Chief Emma Joing reflects on the sense of community she has gained through her love of rock climbing.

“I only became a better climber because I was surrounded by other like-minded people who were really passionate about climbing and were really driven to try hard and get better,” Joing said. “They pushed me to be better.”

Support from other climbers is necessary throughout the route a climber must take for each climb. This not only improves the climber’s stamina and effort but also

“It’s much easier to finish a climb when somebody gives you advice on how to do it, so that’s a lot of where the support comes

ers to bet ter themselves by using critical thinking and strength while laying the groundwork for a stronger community.

Paly junior and rock climbing enthusiast Anne Threlkeld has witnessed firsthand the importance of seeking help and feedback from people trying to solve similar puzzles at the gym. She mentions beta, which is a term that explains the “correct” route for completing a climb.

Quinlan, 12

“People are super open to asking questions and learning from each other and a lot of people will share beta, which is how you would solve a problem,” Threlkeld said.

Solving the route logically is an extremely strenuous aspect of climbing, as the routes vary in difficulty depending on each individual climber’s skill level. This is where help and support from other climbers come in.

This encouragement from teammates and acquaintances isn’t necessarily a cornerstone of sports in general. The culture surrounding some sports foster a sense of

competition that alienates athletes from one another.

“I’ve noticed that when [I’ve done] other sports, it kind of felt like it was getting more intense and more toxic at a younger age,” Joing said. “It was like you had to be really good at the sport.”

The community at Planet Granite and other climbing gyms combat the idea of sports as a competitive environment through a culture of kindness.

Quinlan has experienced this kindness during her climbing sessions at Planet Granite. She illustrates her experience as a new climber when she started at the beginning of her junior year in high school.

“I really enjoy the community and how friendly everyone is,” Quinlan said. “The way you look doesn’t really define how good you are at climbing or what your level is.”

Joing had an encouraging experience when she started climbing as well, which has led to her positive outlook on the sport even if you are a nervous beginner.

“If you’re going to go to the gym and you’re kind of scared that people are going to be judging you because you’ve never done this before, don’t be scared about that at all,” Joing said. “If you’re not super good, nobody’s going to look down on you. They’re going to cheer you on.”

There is no judgment or pressure from

More than just scaling a wall, the sport of rock climbing connects the thrill of challenge with the warmth of community

“The way you look doesn’t really define what your [climbing] level is.”

Maya

Text and Design by SCARLETT CUMMINGS and JULIE HUANG • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL

others, only encouragement from fellow climbers to help complete a successful climb. Furthermore, the people that build up this environment create a better place for anyone regardless of any level or strength, which creates a unique and passionate community.

For senior Evie Kramer, climbing has never been a solo effort.

“It’s all about the people, honestly, especially as I’ve gotten older,” Kramer said. “From the start, it’s always been about climbing with my family and my friends and the people that I love. Really, climbing is the side piece to the connection [that] I get from it.”

It’s undeniable that being part of the climbing community fosters unique bonds built on support and encouragement, but even a community as close-knit as this one features never-ending debates on issues like the importance of strength versus critical thinking.

Although strength won’t determine the amount of climbers’ encouragement, some think it helps climbers complete a climb. Paly senior Reed Schulman appreciates the physical element involved in climbing.

“You’re either strong enough to do something or you’re not,” Schulman said. “Once you reach a certain level of strength, you have the guarantee of being able to do something, whereas if you’re not as strong, [it isn’t possible].”

dition to strength play a significant role. Anyone can climb with the right mentality, strength does not define whether you can climb significantly better than others.

“A lot of times, people think they can just hop on the wall and muscle their way through a climb,” Joing said.

When rock climbing, a person’s critical thinking and physical strength intertwine to create not only successful climbs but also the most effective environment possible. A person’s strength is important up to a certain point, after which the ability to think on your feet becomes crucial.

“From the start, it’s always been about climbing with my family and my friends and the people that I love. Really, climbing is the side piece to the connection [that] I get from it.”

Evie Kramer, 12

Similarly to Reed, Quinlan highlights the relevance of strength when climbing, and how strength can help you improve quicker than others, but if you lack it, people will still continue to support others and their endeavors. However, she also calls attention to the benefits of a positive mentality vs. a negative mentality.

“Especially in this sport, I think that strength matters,” Quinlan said. “The people who are really good are usually pretty buff, especially when it comes to bouldering. It takes a lot of strength to get up harder graded climbs.”

Although she mentions the significance of physical strength and stamina, she also highlights the importance of having the right mentality when it comes to completing a challenging climb.

“I think that the way you’re feeling during that day mentally is also pretty important,” Quinlan said. “Some days, I’ll show up, and I cannot climb at all, whereas on other days I can complete many climbs.”

Others also believe that on the climbing wall, factors in ad-

“Once you get to a higher level, especially in professional rock climbing, there’s a lot of [problem] solving in different ways,” Threlkeld said.

Striking a balance between physical strength and analytical thinking is key.

“You’re not going to get better if you’re just using your brute strength to try to do a climb,” Joing said. “There’s a lot more skill, a lot more thinking and mental capacity that goes into learning how to tap into that and use it to your advantage on the wall.”

Finding the right way up a route, or problem-solving through different holds is arguably the most predominant principle of climbing. Because of this, anyone can rock climb, even those who do not possess much innate physical strength.

“You can be a way better climber than someone who’s just super strong,” Joing said. “ I know people who are super weak but understand their body, understand these techniques and understand the mental game that goes into climbing.”

What works for one person may not work for another, so there is never a single “correct” way to finish a climb.

The way someone completes a climb can be different from how someone else is able to achieve beta.

“There’s a lot of diversity in body types,” Threlkeld said. “There’s a lot of variety in how different people solve problems; people who are taller would do something completely different than someone [who’s] five-foot-one.”

How people choose to solve their climbing puzzles will contrast depending on the individual, due to height, strength, and stamina.

These challenges can come in a variety of levels, made by climbers who grade the system by doing the route over and over again. Once the climbs have been completed and placed on the wall, they will have a sticker that describes the level of the climb.

Paly senior Anna Wingard describes her take on strategizing in climbing and how it has helped her grow stronger and become a better climber overall.

“When I first started, I had no strength at all,” Wingard said. “I was never an upper body strength type of person. I always played lower-body sports. What got me going was thinking about the climb, looking at it, and being able to strategize to see where to go next.”

Wingard was able to assess her climbs with an intense evaluation of the rocks, where they lead, and where to place her hands in order to achieve beta. However, not all of the strategies that climbers use are going to work, meaning their initial thought process may have to be tweaked to obtain a successful outcome.

“Sometimes I would do one thing, and I failed. I would then try something else, and get it. I’ve also gained strength and I think that’s why I’ve been able to excel,” Wingard said. “Critical thinking is really important, especially at the beginning.”

Improvement can come in many different forms, and the opportunities to progress and accomplishments are endless.

The amount of strength or experience that someone has does not hinder their ability to rock climb successfully. That is what students believe make this sport so special.

Rock climbing can bring climbers self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment after completing a climb successfully. It connects individuals to a community of people who share the same love for the sport and similar desires to improve their skills. Even though there’s always a chance that their hands may slip from the climbing wall, the sport of rock climbing holds the ability to bring people a sense of peace and security.

“I enjoy it so much that I look forward to going in the gym every day,” Joing said. “I look forward to climbing if I’ve had a really hard day at school, I just go in the gym and I climb; I don’t have to worry about anything.”

Be a princess.” “Skydive.” “Pass calc.” All answers to the same question: what is one thing you want to do before you graduate?

Between Sept. 19 and 22, C Magazine installed a black chalkboard on campus inviting students to respond to the prompt, “BEFORE I GRADUATE…” By the end of the day, the board was covered with dozens of rainbow-colored, handwritten phrases that revealed the varying hopes and dreams of Paly students.

The inspiration for the wall came from “Before I Die,” a public art project started in 2011 by artist Candy Chang to encourage candid discussions about mortality. Since then, Chang’s project has expanded to 5,000+ walls worldwide, many of which were created by volunteers and each taking the form of a black chalkboard with the stenciled prompt, “Before I die…”.

When Chang created her very first wall, she wasn’t planning a global phenomenon. Rather, Chang was grieving the loss of someone “like a mother to [her] for fifteen years” and painted “Before I die…” on the side of an aban-

doned building in New Orleans both as a sort of memorial and out of curiosity for how people would respond. On her website, Chang wrote, “It was all an experiment and I didn’t know what to expect.”

Since then, the “experiment” has exploded, with walls still popping up in 78 countries and 36 different languages.

“It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life to see this little experiment grow into a global project,” Chang wrote. “I am continuously inspired by everyone’s walls, which have revealed

One wall with dozens of responses; Paly students reflect on their hopes and dreams before these

just how much we are the same.”

We created our own wall with the same objective—to inspire connection within the Paly community. However, after consulting the Wellness Center and school administration, C Magazine changed the wording to “BEFORE I GRADUATE…” in order to put the focus back on our time at Paly.

Nonetheless, student responses to “BEFORE I GRADUATE…” also managed to “offer profound moments

of communion and kinship,” one of the goals listed on the “Before I Die” website. From the mass of responses on the wall emerged the common themes of personal ambition and the desire for happiness and close connection. These similarities unite Paly’s student body, if just for four days before our four years draw to an end.

“Get into CSSSA summer program :)”

“Do a backflip” “ASK ALICE TO HOCO!!”

“Run a marathon”

Text, design and photos by LILY DANIEL, SIENA DUNN and AUDREY GUO

Photo illustration by LILY DANIEL and AUDREY GUO

“It’s really cool... seeing [the] variety of desires and thoughts people have all combined into one place.”

-Charlie Wang, 11

Ever wondered what your town would look like in a movie? Here is Palo Alto’s portrayal on the silver screen

Text, design and photos by MARTINA MEYERFREUND, ZEKE MORRISON and CAITLYN ODA • Art by ESTHER CHUNG

Stanford’s Lasuen Mall, featured in “High School Musical 3” (2008) when Gabriella attends Stanford University.

Left: The Stanford History Corner, featured in “High School Musical 3” (2008). Right: California Avenue, featured in “Escape to Witch Mountain” (1975).

Film, as a medium, has a magical ability to transport a viewer into the world it depicts. Among the myriad of factors that go into producing a film, the location of a film stands out as a crucial consideration for filmmakers. Palo Alto, having been featured in many movies over the course of cinematic history, is

Emilia Spitz, an arts and entertainment writer based in the Bay Area, discusses the necessity of establishing a background while hinting at underlying

“When looking for a story set in a particular location, you’re either thinking about the attributes that make that location unique, or what social phenomenon is happening in that loca-

Specifically, Palo Alto, a symbol of technological innovation, is often depicted as the land of opportunity in films. “The Social Network” (2010) is a prime example of this type of portrayal. In the film, Palo Alto is referenced as the place to be if you want to be successful in the world

Edward Corpuz, the video production teacher at Paly, details the ways in which Palo Alto is represented positively.

“[Palo Alto] is the center of technology for the world,” Corpuz said. “It’s a place of innovation, of creativity and a lot of money, and you’ll see that in films.”

The opportunities and accomplishments associated with Palo Alto attract filmmakers across the globe. Additionally, the beautiful scenery of Palo Alto is a major factor in filming here. The picturesque town has brought directors of the TV show “Silicon Valley” (2014) downtown, to Local Union and to the Stanford Dish.

Dylan Duncan, a Paly alum and junior at Columbia College Chicago majoring in film, describes the charming environment of Palo Alto.

“There’s trees everywhere, there’s nice houses, there’s a bunch of parks, it’s very green and it’s a beautiful area,” Duncan said. “I think that that would draw a lot of people because it’s a small, quiet town.”

However, Palo Alto isn’t always shown in a positive light. When glamorized, it features abundant nature, paved sidewalks, beautiful buildings and bountiful business opportunities. But when criticized, it portrays a world based on competitive environments filled with out-of-touch and egotistical individuals.

Paly senior and Paly Film Club President, Bennett Hardy, resonates with the negative portrayal of Palo Alto in films.

“Palo Alto is depicted in movies as the rich, spoiled kids, in sports competitions [such as] in McFarland USA,” Hardy said. “They’re known as the egotistical, daddy’s-money-type people.”

“McFarland USA” (2015) isn’t the only movie that paints a cynical, yet not necessarily honest picture of Palo Alto. For example, “Take Your Pills” (2018) specifically

mentions Palo Alto when referring to the impacts that harsh expectations and lots of competition can have on students. While the portrayal of Palo Alto in films may contribute to a toxic narrative, there is still some truth to the story.

“What people don’t realize is how much [of a] toll the expectations take on the students,” Duncan said. “We are going to Ivy League colleges [but] we also [have] one of the highest suicide rates in the country.”

Besides the negative portrayal of Palo Alto students in films, an aspect that is missed in movies is the diverse communities within greater Palo Alto that, in some ways, stray far from Palo Alto’s typical depiction.

For instance, East Palo Alto, an incredibly diverse cultural melting pot, is rarely mentioned in movies.

“Less than five miles away from where we’re sitting here at Paly, across the freeway, into East Palo Alto, there are diverse communities,” Corpuz said, “There’s innovation there. There’s creativity, and there’s art. That’s the story that I’d want to tell.”

It is hard to know why East Palo Alto has

been left out of films, but perhaps people believe it has been excluded because filmmakers don’t think it supports the story that they are trying to tell.

“We shouldn’t take the narrative that we see on screen as a truthful representation, even in documentaries, because there’s always a little bit of artistic touch and things that the directors need to do in order to show us the story,” Spitz said.

Of course, while creative liberties might always be taken in order to tell a better story, in the future it is possible that we will see portrayals of Palo Alto that more fully encapsulate the suburb.

“I hope to see one day that there’s a realistic representation of Palo Alto in film,” Hardy said. “There’s films coming out soon that might have a realistic representation [of Palo Alto], but you never know. It’s good to see yourself represented.”

Left: Exterior of Stanford’s basketball court, featured in “Flubber” (1997). Right: St. Thomas Aquinas Church, featured in “Harold and Maude” (1971).

“[Palo Alto] is the center of technology for the world.

It’s a place of innovation, of creativity and a lot of money, and you’ll see that in films.”

- Edward Corpuz, Video Production teacher

“I hope to see one day that there’s a realistic representation of Palo Alto in film.”

-Bennett Hardy, 12

Photos by OLIVIA HAU • Design by JESLYN CHEN and OLIVIA HAU

is a big influence in our society to look a certain way, when

Eliza Gaither, 11

“There

there are many ways to beautiful.be ”

isn’t defined by how look.you

“Beauty

It comes from the kind of person you present yourself [as].”

Oliver Marburg,

Artist:

Featured From the Kitchen

Where Are They Now?

Featured artists have always been an integral part of C Magazine. Their individual art forms, whether they be music, cooking or fashion design, have been showcased in an individual profile throughout the magazine’s history. Now, C Magazine has brought back some favorite past featured artists to explore how their passions have evolved from their first exhibition on our pages and to hear their hopes for work in the future.

A Transition

Since his last feature in C Magazine, Alex Thom has had to find a new love for food

dding the final touches to his favorite pasta dish, cacio e pepe, and serving it to his family for the last time, Paly alum Alex Thom prepares to embrace a new reality.

Since his feature in C Magazine almost two years ago, Thom has transformed his passion for cooking as he moved on to college.

“I applied to Cornell which is well known for its agriculture school,” Thom said.

Thom is currently a sophomore at Cornell, majoring in food science. This major has allowed him to expand his passion and love for food in a different way, as he does less hands-on work and more problem-solving and research within the food system.

“I have not had much time to cook when I am at college,” Thom said. “Whenever I go home for breaks I try to cook a lot.”

College life has restricted Thom’s ability to cook due to busy work hours and limited supplies. Thom went from cooking almost every day during his senior year of high

school to almost never cooking while living at college. Now, when coming back home for school breaks, Thom makes the most out of the time he has in an environment suited for cooking.

“Over the past summer I was cooking a lot,” Thom said. “This summer and last summer I was working for a family friend as a private chef.”

Thom still finds the same love for cooking as he continues to practice his skills in the kitchen. Whether it be for friends, his own family or even strangers, Thom is still very passionate about cooking.

“I know a lot of people who find cooking to be a chore and it’s something they don’t enjoy doing,” Thom said. “But for me, it’s a way of relaxing and making the most out of the time I have at home.”

Thom has found much enjoyment in an activity many people dread having to do every day. He is able to turn cooking into a fun and creative art form.

“It really just comes down to the basic

enjoyment and the relaxation I find from cooking,” Thom said.

Thom has put a lot of commitment into cooking and continues to find enjoyment and relaxation in it after all these years. With col lege making it difficult to find time and continue to pursue his passion for hands-on cooking, Thom found a balance that works for him.

“For me, [cooking is] a way of relaxing and making the most out of the time I have at home.” Alex Thom

Behind the Mic

In 2018, walking out on stage at the Palo Alto Teen Arts Council was terrifying to then junior Emily Tomz. Being watched by peers who had known her since childhood made her performance anxiety spike, and the expectations surrounding her feel intimidatingly high. Four years later, Tomz has finally found an environment where she can rock out comfortably with friends and family, experiencing considerably less stress than she underwent in high school.

After the split of her previous band at the start of college and the social isolation in wake of the COVID 19 pandemic, Tomz was forced to stop performing in 2020, but was able to develop her guitar and vocal skills while continuing to write lyrics on her own.

Emily

Without the opportunity to perform, Tomz turned her attention to the process of making the music itself.

“Music has always been this outlet for me,” Tomz said. “Sometimes I just sit down at the piano or guitar and start playing.”

Writing lyrics and creating chords on guitar led Tomz to gain more technical experience and improve her ability to artistically express herself.

“I try to improvise and find some chords,” Tomz said. “If I really liked the chords, then I’ll try to write something that fits it.”

Music has also allowed Tomz to find a likeminded crowd of fellow students at her new school who are interested in song production.

She’s formed a group with friends from her soccer team, and they often meet up to have jam sessions and enjoy each other’s company.

“I think it was way harder in high school, because you’re in front of literally all your peers, but in college you don’t know people as closely,” Tomz said. “I think my confidence has improved immensely over the years.”

Through all of the ups and downs of moving away from home, the pandemic and the struggle to recruit new band members, maintaining the same level of practice she once had has been difficult, with writer’s block and inhibition preventing Tomz from continuing her usual flow of inspiration.

“I feel like maybe I’m just more particular with what I decided to write about and the lyrics I like to use,” Tomz said. “Maybe I’m hard on myself, because before I would kind of let stuff flow and write random stuff all the time. Maybe it’s time for more of that.”

The last few years have not been without struggle and Tomz’s experience with music has changed drastically, but she has continued to improve her talents and works to get back into her natural flow of creation.

To her, the future is full of opportunities– she wants to start a new band and eventually return to her performing roots.

“Sometimes it’s scary performing, especially when you’re performing the songs that you’ve written yourself… but I’m just not really gonna care,” Tomz said. “Music will never go away for me.

“Music has always been this outlet for me. Sometimes I just sit down at the piano or guitar and start playing.”

Tomz

Emily Tomz’ ability to express her emotions through music has always been strong; years later, she’s been able to improve her confidence alongside it

Art on The Mind

game called “Flower Shower” boots up, and a familiar charming 8-bit art style appears. Using the arrow keys and spacebar to control a deer, the deer jumps and catches large flowers, while shaking off insects and avoiding branches. This is one of Paly alumna Faustine Wang’s new games that she created. Since her feature in C Magazine’s March 2021 article, Wang’s relationship with art has naturally progressed.

“I think [my interest] has slightly changed, but generally it’s still the same,” Wang said. “...

In a way it’s like a continuity, but I’m [also] discovering new things.”

Art has been a part of the majority of Wang’s life and as such the process has become ingrained into her mind.

“Honestly, at this point [art] is almost like a habit,” Wang said. “[It’s] kind of just something I do. I think that a lot of people might say [art] is like a passion. I describe it more as a habit.”

Creating art has become more personal to Wang. She no longer caves into the pressure to constantly show others what she has drawn.

“In the past, I had the pressure of having to post [art] onto Instagram,” Wang said. “I actually have not posted in a long time but I think it’s okay. I make art for

Furthermore, Wang continues to mix

her interest in computer science with her talent for design. One aspect of art that ties into Wang’s interest for game design is user experience, or the focus on a users’ feelings when using a product.

“I… recently learned about user experience design, user interface design, and just design in general,” Wang said. “It seems like a very direct way of creating a visual and interacting with your audience.”

In addition to her creations in her freetime, Wang also works as the Art Manager for ACM (Association for Computing Machinery)

people majoring in cog sci actually end up going into user experience and user inter face,” Wang said. “By learning how people think and process information, we are able to pay more attention to user-friendly and human oriented design and art.”

Given their relation, Wang views cogni tive science as an extension of her art.

“For me, because I like to make art that kind of expresses information and symbols, I can find nuggets of information that I find interesting in cog sci and put them into my art,” Wang said. “Recently, I found the ethical issues and also the implications of artificial intelligence interesting. [Artificial intelligence] is also something that cog sci people like to work on and use to study cognition. So… exploring that through art is interesting as well.”

studio, a game design club.

“We [at ACM studio] have to make sure that we [are] able to create something that is visually pleasing, and also something that helps make a story come alive,” Wang said.

Despite Wang’s dedication and passion for art, she is not studying an art related major. Instead, Wang is majoring in cognitive science at UCLA.

“I ended up going into cognitive science, because it was intellectually interesting to me,” Wang said. “In addition to art, I really like to think about philosophy, psychology and how people think.”

Interestingly, Wang finds that cognitive psychology and art are actually related.

“I’m learning more about how cog sci [cognitive science], design and art meet [at] this one discipline because a lot of

In 2021, Wang and her friends created Artruism, a nonprofit organization that commissions art for charity. Over the summer they hosted a series of art workshops at an elementary school in Sacramento.

“Being able to bring art into education was very interesting,” Wang said. “I think that art is able to bring good into [our] lives,” Wang said.

Though Wang’s main focus in college is not art, she still believes that art is important to the world.

“I think we like to think about art and entertainment as separate from computer science, but in reality, we as humans need art,” Wang said. “[Art] intertwines with a lot of different disciplines which is able to make our world a nicer place to live; I wouldn’t want to live in a bland, purely utilitarian world. Art just creates more soul and spirit.”

“By learning how people think and process information, we are able to pay more attention to user-friendly and human oriented design and art.” Faustine Wang

After Faustine Wang’s game “Bounce Battle,” she has continued interwining cognitive science and art while designing more games

Fashion A Touch of

In her bedroom in New York City, a young blonde woman stands before her term finals piece, an elegant pink garment for her draping class. Now a sophomore at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Paly alumna Amanda McVey has managed to turn her dream since seven years old into a reality.

Since her feature in C Magazine almost two years ago, McVey’s love for fashion design has continued.

“I think [my love for fashion design has] just grown,” McVey said. “It’s expanded and it’s all encompassing.”

As a fashion student in college, McVey is given many opportunities to design and create her own pieces. To begin, McVey is given a theme, typically a designer or a season. McVey then performs trend research, where she finds what brands and themes are in season.

“It [trend research] kind of feels like be-

ing a spy,” McVey said. “I can see what’s going to be trending a year from now, whether [it’s] this kind of color, this kind of shirt [or] skirt. We can get as specific as that.”

McVey then draws out variations of a design before choosing the best from each category of clothes that she is designing. After thinking through fabric swatches, McVey moves to the final rendering of the outfit. If McVey is creating a physical design, a muslin form, using cheaper material to test patterns, is created from the drawing before she sews together the final fabric.

For each of her assignments, McVey tends to design around her self-defined aesthetic.

“I would say [my aesthetic] is refined, elegant, sophisticated and also modern,” McVey said. “Really just appreciating subtleties, like subtle luxury.”

Since her favorite pink cocktail dress from the 2019 Parsons School of Design summer program, McVey has created more designs that she holds close to her heart. For a project where she was required to pair a theme and another artist, McVey paired the theme of soft, fluid fabrics inspired by Madeleine Vioneete, a designer from the 1920s and 30s, with painter Georgia O’Keefe.

“I really love it, it’s a very elegant piece,” McVey said.

Looking to her future in the fashion industry, McVey wants to be part of a fashion brand.

“I would love to see myself work my way up in a brand and potentially become a creative director,” McVey said.

Specifically, McVey wants to join the team at Ralph Lauren.

“My design aesthetic personally aligns with the brand,” McVey said. “If I’m de signing something that doesn’t feel like me, it’s harder to be passionate about it and re late to it.”

Though McVey has been enjoying her time at FIT, there are hardships when it comes to fashion design. “[FIT’s] program is so rigorous; it becomes your whole life,”

“[Fashion] touches everyone... I love being able to be creative and to express myself and for other people to express themselves in such an interesting way”

Amanda McVey

As Amanda McVey continues to work in the fashion industry, her love of fashion only grows

McVey said. “You pour yourself into it [and] it does take a lot from you and it can be draining.”

McVey has had to accept that there are certain aspects of her life that she must prioritize more than others, such as her modeling career. While McVey still works for her company Dennis Basso, her focus has shifted more towards fashion design.

“I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that I only have so much time to pursue the things I want to do,” McVey said. “At this time, fashion design is my focus.”

McVey continues to pour her heart into design and school, taking on a positive mindset in face of difficulties.

“I think what makes me come back to [design] is that I just love creating,” McVey said. “[I] can be struggling along in the process,

but when it’s done, it’s like, ‘wow, I made that and look what I put out into the world.’ Even if it didn’t come out entirely how I liked it… I always learn something, and I think that’s what matters the most.”

Though McVey is aware her future is uncertain, she has no doubts that fashion design is what she wants to do now.

“[Fashion] touches everyone, whether they want to be involved in the industry or not,” McVey said. “We all have to wear clothes, and clothes all say something about us… they can be expressive and an art form. I love being able to be creative and to express myself and for other people to express themselves in such an inter esting way.”

Text and design by WENDY LI, JAKE PAPP and SARAH SHEAFFER • Art by SARAH SHEAFFER

Photos courtesy of ALEX THOM, EMILY TOMZ, AMANDA MCVEY and FAUSTINE WANG

Dynamic Ceramics

Two Paly moms’ journey through starting their small business

took together was from a ceramic artist named Malia Landis,” Semba said. “She does amazing sculptures from porcelain clay featuring birds, feathers and shells. It showed us how versatile ceramics are. We made some pieces in her class that I still treasure.”

Semba and Thom also share a connection to ceramics through cooking. One of the things that they find most exciting about their pieces is how they can be a functional household object, in addition to a work of art.

The plates and vases we use in our everyday lives are not usually seen as pieces of art. But for Nicole Thom and Tina Semba, Paly parents and small business owners of Studioblue Ceramics, these ceramic products represent hard work and creativity. Thom and Semba realized their passion for ceramics through the encouragement of family and the accessibility of the Palo Alto Art Center. Neither had taken an art class before signing up for an adult ceramics class, which helped them discover their artistic talent.

“When I found out that there were classes at the Palo Alto Art Center, I just thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that sounds so fun,’” Semba said.

Through the guidance of their Palo Alto Art Center instructors, Semba and Thom began to develop a love for ceramics.

“One of the first classes we

Both Semba and Thom travel frequently and find most of their inspiration from a combination of Pinterest and what they see in restaurants on their adventures. For example, Thom’s trip to Japan sparked an appreciation for the craftsmanship of their ceramic ware, specifically in restaurants due to the active ceramics culture.

“When I was in Japan I looked at different styles [of pottery, and] when we would go to dinner, [I would] see what they were serving meals in,” Thom said.

“We both like to cook and I started noticing that there are a lot of ceramic artists that have their ceramic ware in popular restaurants,” Semba said. An unexpected challenge for Semba’s work in ceramics was the closure of her studio due to the pandemic. Working at home for the first time,

found it was difficult without the materials and guidance provided by the art center.

“I figured out a process and then I bought a slab roller,” Semba said. “It gave us more flexibility as we weren’t restricted to the hours that the studio was open.”

she

“When I was in Japan I looked at different styles [of pottery, and] when we would go to dinner, [I would] see what they were serving meals in.”

Nicole Thom

Thom and Semba are able to continually change their ceramic work by experimenting with different ceramic mediums.

“We find there is enough variation in using different clays and glazes that we purchase,” Semba said. “The interesting part is designing new tableware and vases from simple shapes and adding to them.”

Semba and Thom wanted to further their investment in ceramics by

Art Center’s holiday sale.

“We make so many pieces, and we can’t keep them all so it’s fun to sell a few pieces so we can make more,” Semba said. Later in their business process, Semba was shopping at a small boutique in Portola Valley, Ladera Garden and Gifts, and noticed that they were selling ceramic ware.

“It was packed with ceramics [so I] I asked [the shop owner], ‘Do you have any local artists’ pieces in your

All of the pieces in the store were commercially made. Semba told the store owner, Mercedes, that she was a local artist and was interested in selling her pieces at the store. They packed up their wares and brought them to Ladera Garden and Gifts. Through word of mouth and chance meetings, their business began to flourish. Mercedes liked their

pieces and made a big order of their work, and Semba and Thom have since done multiple sales at her store.

“[Mercedes] gave us a check, and it said Studioblue Ceramics. I went to the bank and they said you can’t cash that … we had to get our name registered,” Semba said.

Semba and Thom created an account under the name and began having regular business meetings to plan out sales. Semba and Thom enjoy the business they have created from their passion, but find it equally important to not take things too seriously. Having fun and being creative is their priority. “We feel lucky to have found a way to express our creativity and share our love of ceramics for giving as a gift or using in your home for all things beautiful, fresh flowers or delicious food,” Semba said. “We are always so grateful when people choose our pieces to bring home.”

“We feel lucky to have found a way to express our creativity and share our love of ceramics.”

Tina Semba

How San Francisco’s Mission District murals illustrate the Bay Area’s rich cultural influences and history

Walking through the Mission District of San Francisco is an adventure for the senses. Your eyes take in the bright colored murals painted on every wall while your ears hear the sound of laughter and traffic and you can smell delicious food drifting through the streets from family owned taquerias nearby. Just by walking through the neighborhood, you can grasp a sense of the rich culture and history carried by those who live here.

The Mission District is home to countless bright and vibrant works of art. Lively street art ranging from graffiti signatures to large murals cover nearly every possible surface. The murals visually immerse their viewers in the culture of San Francisco’s Mission District, depicting recent political movements, immigrant histories and the underrepresented communities. Far more than pretty paintings, the murals offer a visual way to immerse oneself in the stories of the area with representation, history and culture.

For over 50 years, artists have found this neighborhood of San Francisco to be a safe haven for artistic expression. In the 1970s, the Mission was filled with art galleries, festivals and performances, cultivating a creative environment that would soon foster a street art movement.

Some of the first muralists in the area called themselves Las Mujeres Muralistas, Spanish for “The Muralist Women.” They were a young group of Latina and Chicana artists who formed a collective to paint murals in the Mission District, often featuring messages of womanhood, beauty and

cultural change.

After building up an artistic reputation in the community, they began receiving commissions and inviting new artists to join the group, one of them being Susan Cervantes. Cervantes recalls Las Mujeres Muralistas to be one of her first inspirations.

“I was inspired to see women on scaffolding and painting a mural on a huge two story building,” Cervantes said. “I really loved the way they worked together as a group collaborating so I thought it was something that would be great to be shared with all kinds of people.”

At the time, Cervantes was teaching painting at the Precita Valley Community Center and thought that Las Mujeres Muralistas commission would be the perfect opportunity to get the community involved. Cervantes’ painting class gradually shifted to a mural painting class as her students started painting on a larger scale. Continuing to create artwork as a group, they began signing under the name “Precita Eyes Muralists.”

“We worked collectively so we didn’t put anybody’s name on it or any one person that designed it,” Cervantes said. “It was a collaboration so we signed it as Precita Eyes Muralists.” Cervantes strongly believes that including the community in aspects of every mural is what sets San Francisco apart from other street art heavy cities.

“I think [we] are different because we involve the community,” said Cervantes.

Other artists, such as Daniel Gálvez, find the District’s art to be very impactful, specifically the way it incorporates their community into their art.

“[It has] a classic theme that represents the neighborhood,” Gálvez said. “The murals in the mission are reflective of who lives there, what’s important to them, what things they celebrate and who their heroes are.”

When invited to paint a mural in the Mission District, Gálvez valued how his work would reflect the community. When deciding what to depict, he asked around to learn what was important to residents in the area. Gálvez found his answer when talking to the director of El Centro Legal de la Raza, a legal services agency that protects and works to advance the rights of marginalized groups.

“They said that The Carnaval was a really big event just starting to develop,” Gálvez said. “[It] was really just showing Latino pride and had all the kind of Latino music involved and a lot of people with costumes. It was just something that was kind of a celebration of what the neighborhood was about.”

This theme of a reflection of the neighborhood allows residents such as Octeio Loza, who has lived in the area since 1973, to be understood by people worldwide. Looking out from his home, Loza recounts seeing people from all over the world coming to view the murals that fill his street.

“Pre-pandemic we were looking at 800-900 people, most from London, Australia and France,” Loza said. “It’s really interesting, you meet a lot of people from all over the world.”

While many do not enjoy the noise that comes

along with heavy tourism, Loza admits it is part of living in a city and an area so many people want to see.

“I’m so glad to have people stop by,” Loza said. “In my opinion, [the murals are] for everybody to come by and see and enjoy and appreciate. Hopefully people can talk about it and send other people out here.”

Loza received a commission from artist Lucia Gonzalez-Ipolito for a mural to be painted on his garage. After approaching Loza to ask if she could paint the mural, he gave Gonzalez-Ippolito complete artistic freedom. The mural depicts the social and political changes of the Mission District and San Francisco, with a specific focus on the gentrification of the area.

“I thought it was something new and cool,” Loza said. “I’m really happy with the result. It hits a nerve and sends a message. I like how everybody sees different things when they look at it.”

No matter what perspective you view the murals of San Francisco’s Mission District from, there is no denying the beautiful culture and history reflected in their paint strokes. From themes of gentrification to women empowerment and everything in between, the murals encompass all aspects of the surrounding community. Each mural portrays the neighborhood and its residents in a unique and alluring way.

“There [is] something special about a mural that becomes a part of people’s lives,” Gálvez said. “They were there for free, [on] a walk to work … [people] would see them there, and it became part of their lives. Here was art, enriching the lives of people.”

“In my opinion, [the murals are] for everybody to come by and see and enjoy and appreciate.”

Octeio Loza, Resident

“The murals in the mission are reflective of who lives there, what’s important to them, what things they celebrate and who their heroes are.”

Daniel Gálvez, Muralist

Text and design by BROOKE HUDACEK, ANNA MARKESKY and SAACHI NAGAR • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL

St and South Van Ness

Carnaval by Daniel Gálvez (1983) Women’s Building

Photos courtesy of DANIEL GALVEZ

Photos by ANNA MARKESKY

Featured Abigail Artist: Karel

After a long evening of cheer practice and an even longer day of sophomore year, Palo Alto High School sophomore Abigail Karel slumps down at her desk. With heaps of homework and little time, Karel struggles to finish her workload when faced with an unconventional responsibility: completing another batch of pages for her upcoming novel before its looming deadline.

For a 16 year old, Karel harbors the rare achievement of being a published author. With six books out and another on the way, Karel is steadily building a career for herself in the world of words.

Karel first started writing around age eleven, when her school hosted a National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) competition. The goal of the competition is to write an entire 50,000 word manuscript only in the month of November, and while many participants fail at the month-long challenge, it often sparks inspiration for a long-term project.

“[The NaNoWriMo competition] was when I wrote my first bigger-ish piece,” Karel said.“[That story] was my first understanding of how I could be whoever I want through [writing].”

parents [said] ‘that’s a cute hobby,’ but then I was really putting in effort and trying my best to make my goal happen.”

Through writing, Karel felt she discovered an outlet from which she could convey her ideas and actualize her imagination.

“I never really knew how to express myself when I was younger, but when I started writing, it showed me how I could express myself through my words,” Karel said.

As Karel became more serious about her writing career, she took her first professional step: publishing a book.

Karel self-published Arkimine in February of 2020, a fiction novel following the life of a teenage girl who lives in a quarantined community built to protect its inhabitants from a contagious blood disease. Shortly after in August of the same year, Karel self-published Before the Shadow Hits the Night, Arkimine’s sequel.

- Abigail Karel, 10

“It was very cool for me to [know] I’ve created a whole world [with] just my words, and it’s going to be whatever I want [it] to be,” Karel said.

While Karel has enjoyed her career as an author so far, she has also experienced some hardships, the biggest one being the process of publishing.

At first, people did not believe that a middle schooler had what it took to become a published author. However, Karel kept writing to prove to others that her ambitions should not be dismissed as childish fantasies.

“[People thought] ‘look at this twelve year old thinking she could be amazing, how cute!’, but I kept telling [people that] I wanted to be a writer and I wanted to be published,” Karel said. “At first my

“When you write your first novel, it’s really hard to work your way to the point where you can publish,” Karel said.

After the initial release of her first book, reaching a big audience was difficult, but Karel made sure to celebrate the little victories as well.

“I got a few people to read it which I was very happy about,” Karel said. “So slowly little things start building up, because it’s not

Text and design by EUNCHAE HONG and ALMA SAMET • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL

“I never really knew how to express myself when I was younger, but when I started writing, it showed me how I could express myself through my words.”

An aspiring published author

sophomore’s path to becoming a

like what you’re expecting in a movie, where you write one thing and it’s perfect.”

Due to the rise in technology, many people have started to stray away from traditional methods of reading.

“As social media grows, people read less and less and if they do read, they try to read on Kindles or on their phone, like ebooks,” Karel said.

Although her potential audience has been decreasing in the past years, she is not letting anyone get in the way of her dreams.

“For now, I plan on keeping up with [writing],” Karel said.

Even though Karel is a published author, she is still only a sophomore in high school, so finding the balance between her two lives, of author and student, is difficult.

“It’s hard with extracurriculars, because I’m juggling, in class, doing a page or emailing back my illustrator some notes about the covers, or I’m doing work [during] my prep at school,” Karel said.

With little to no time to rest, Karel finds the balance difficult, but not impossible.

“[Sometimes] I don’t do my homework because I have meetings with my advisor to talk about my book, so you can basically say, I don’t really get a break until I sleep,” Karel said. “It’s definitely hard to juggle it, but I somehow make it work.”

Though she has experienced many obstacles in her career as an author, Karel chooses to focus on the aspects of it that bring her joy, such as the actual product of her hard work.

“The book I’m writing now is by far my favorite, because it’s about my grandparents’ love story and how they met,” Karel said. “[This is] the one I’m most connected with, because it’s real life and my family.”

Through hard work and talent, Karel’s overarching goal is to see one of her books on the big screen.

ON THE ROAD

GETAWAY CAR | TAYLOR SWIFT

“I love Skate. It just makes me want to dance!”

TATE HARDY, 11

“Getaway Car is a great song. I love the bridge.” anna Thieman, 12

SKATE | SILK SONIC

MIRRORS | JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

“Tame Impala’s music is fire. I’ll never get sick of it.”

SCARLETT CUMMINGS, 11

“Mirrors has a great beat. It reminds me of my dad.”

ANNALISE BALENTINE, 12

LET IT HAPPEN | TAME IMPALA

MR. BRIGHTSIDE | THE KILLERS

“It gets the vibes going. Overall, it’s a great song.”

IAN JOHNSON, 12

“Anyone can sing to it, no matter your music taste.”

TREY COLLINS, 11

THE SPINS | MAC MILLER

PAPER PLANES | M.I.A.

“This song makes you scream your heart out.”

MEREDITH GLASSON, 11

WANNABE

“This song makes me want to fly.”

CALEB WONG, 12

ALL TOO WELL | TAYLOR SWIFT

| SPICE GIRLS

“I grew up listening to this song. It’s a classic.”

SIRISHA MITRA, 11

“This song is so inspirational, it shaped a generation.”

THERESA HART, 12

CLASSIC | MKTO

CMAG CURATED THE PERFECT PLAYLIST TO BLAST AT FULL VOLUME WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN AND YOUR HANDS UP

THE FULL PLAYLIST HERE ON SPOTIFY!

Text and design by OLIVIA HAU and MIYA JOSHI • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL FIND

TAKE IT

Hopping off the CalTrain, Outside Lands attendees walk to their next bus stop. To get to the festival, many people use public transportation for its efficiency and affordability.

After a short walk from the train station to the park, hundreds of thousands of music lovers are seen crowding the entrance to Golden Gate Park on a hot August afternoon, preparing themselves for the long event ahead.

The Bay Area festival established in 2008, known for

the fantastic food, art and music variety suited for everyone, has become a popular event among Paly students.

For Palo Alto citizens, what makes Outside Lands especially alluring is its proximity, making it trouble-free to book tickets. From August 5th to 7th, artists ranging from headliners SZA to Post Malone to Green Day and many more take the stage, attracting people of all ages through its inclusion of both old and new artists.

The festival’s grassy, scenic location in Golden Gate in-

San Francisco's Outside Lands is a music-lover's magnet for Paly students

Text by SIENA DUNN and WILLOW STEELE • Design by SIENA DUNN • Art by SIENA DUNN and KELLYN SCHEEL • Photos courtesy of TREY COLLINS, MATEO DIAZ-MAGALONI, VICTORIA EBERLE , PHOEBE KIM and DJ SHELTON

“"Many Paly kids attend because of the good vibes. It's different from rap festivals, and overall feels very safe."

Mateo Diaz, 12

cludes stages located in Lands End, Twins Peaks and Mark Meadow, creating a unique and attractive environment.

Aside from Outside Lands’ appeal to the general public, it is also a charitable organization that gives back to the community by funding regional music and arts programs accumulating over 1 million dollars in donations.

For example, Outside Lands partners with Eco Lands whose message promotes sustainability; local community organizations, national NGOs, a farmer’s market, and hydration stations for reusable water bottles. With the help of Outside Land’s partners, the festival has diverted 90% of their landfill with about 385,000 lbs of waste redirected.

Overall, this environment-friendly, beautiful and accessible annual occasion is a must for any music lovers in the Bay Area.

“"There were a ton of art installations, like murals and sculptures, and delicous diverse food selections."

Victoria Eberle, 11

“"Seeing Green Day live was fun because they were super interactive and I've been a fan since I was in preschool."

Phoebe Kim, Stanford freshman

“"It's like a little party that has music for everyone that the Bay Area doesn't have consistently."

Trey Collins, 11

“"They tend to always have classic rock or older artists that I would never see just by themselves."

DJ Shelton, History Teacher