Students use music for mutiple purposes: as a coping mechanism in music therapy, as a study tool and as a way of self-expression through playing it
WHAT'S ON RECORD?
features 5
Senior Sydney Palmer fulfills her childhood interest in marine biology on an educational board upon a boat during the summer
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Duolingo is great for extra practice, but will never fully replace an in-person language course
The Sea Hawks defeat Santa Monica in a blowout win, final score 28-14
news 2 Advisory advocates
Students are chosen to represent the student body
by Sanaya Bhatt
With the start of a new school year came more than new classes and teachers – the new Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC) also welcomed new students and is now back in session. The council has monthly meetings with four student representatives from each grade working hand-in-hand with principal Marvin Brown to help foster our school campus and environment. Freshman Mayella Kumphrey and sophomore Chloe De Villiers are two participants in the council this year and are “looking forward to enhancing their student experience,” De Villiers said.
“Leadership is something I have always been interested in and involved in, so when I heard about the PAC, I was excited to get more involved and use my voice. Being heavily involved with honors and AP classes and sports at Redondo, I want to make sure the programs are performing well and appropriately funded,” De Villiers said.
As the PAC develops, students are “increasingly engaged in shaping school policies,” and this involvement allows them to gain insight on what leadership can look like from a student’s position and how students’ voices are integrated into school policy and decision-making.
directly,” Kumphrey said.
The PAC had over 100 applicants this year, with many students showcasing impressive ideas. The application had a variety of questions that mainly circled around problems that students had identified on campus and the ways in which those problems could be fixed.
“The application asked questions like what our background and experiences would bring to the council, which I think is really important because it helps them assess what the different applicants could bring to the table based on their other experiences. We were also asked to identify issues on campus that we specifically had
he’s very knowledgeable and experienced, so he’s easy to talk to. We all talk about any issues and problems currently happening on campus, and also how we can avoid unnecessary problems in the future. Another important thing is that we also always try to talk about what’s going well, so we can keep in mind what’s working,” De Villiers said.
PAC members focus on both challenges and successes, creating a collaborative environment. It’s incredibly important that “all the students’ voices get heard, and we all have the chance to give our input and insight.”
“During the meetings we collaborate with the principal by sharing what we’ve noticed around us on campus, and students share their solutions on different problems. We do this by getting into assigned groups and brainstorming ideas together, and a representative of each group then goes and shares the ideas in front of everyone, including Mr. Brown,” Kumphrey said.
noticed, but more than that, provide a solution or potential fix for what we observed,” De Villiers said.
“The PAC has influenced my perspective on school governance by allowing me to see how students' ideas and perspectives can be very beneficial when considering problems that might be more on the student's side of things. Getting a perspective from someone outside of the faculty and around their peers every day allows ideas to be made that could benefit the students more
During council meetings, students work with the principal to brainstorm and discuss our campus’s most prevalent issues. Mr. Brown’s perspective as our principal is “essential to our group staying solution-oriented and working together to use input from as many perspectives as possible,” according to De Villiers
“We work with Mr. Brown directly, and
Overall, the council’s next steps will primarily involve honing in on specific issues that are prevalent on our campus and simultaneously making sure that all students’ voices are heard and incorporated into the discussion.
“Something a lot of us have noticed is repeated negativity on campus, in so many forms, and we also talked about stress levels and how students are developing with lots of pressure and with homework and assessments so early in the year,” Kumphrey said. “It’s also really important to us that student voices are heard, so if students want to contribute or have any ideas that could help benefit the school, we’re always open to hearing it.”
The Ecopond Initiative Club cleans up the koi pond
by Safi Hamilton-Torres
Inspired by their love for ecology and their goal of maintaining the cleanliness of our campus, the Ecopond Initiative Club meets weekly every Thursday in Room 216 to improve and maintain our school’s koi pond. They believe in making the most out of their club for the end goal of nourishing biodiversity at RUHS. In each club meeting, members learn how to care for a koi pond and study ecology in order to bring the pond back to life.
Senior Kristine Laine is the founder and other co-president of the Ecopond Initiative Club. Her dedica tion to improving the koi pond inspired her to create the club and establish the steps its members would take to reinvent the pond.
“We take the crucial steps for our pond's care to clean up any trash near the pond and vacuum the also provide leaderSTEM opportuthrough working hands-on activities such as testing the water inside the pond and then running diagnostics to understand what action we can take to improve our campus,” Laine said.
According to Laine, the club is an inclusive and engaging community that teaches its members new things such as how to measure nitrogen in pond water and how algae growth is affected by surrounding temperature. When Laine coordinates meetings, she takes a specific approach to ensure that everyone’s on the same page as she “starts from scratch to teach them the fundamentals.”
“I hope people take the initiative and bring their contributions to the labs and projects we conduct in our meetings such as the formal proposals we are working on for the changes we're planning
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to make to the pond. Within the proposal, we address what type of plants we are adding to the pond and why they're a good fit for our school,” Laine said.
Cofounder, vice president, and senior Zara Schwar has a long-term plan to invest in the koi pond’s ecosystem not only for aes thetic purposes but also to capture biodiversity on campus.
“Within the Ecopond Initiative Club, we're trying to help clean up and reinvent our koi pond while also adding biodiversity to our school's campus by starting with the pond. Our school's pond in general lacks biodiversity. By starting with our club, we slowly add the natural value back to our school’s pond and grow from here,” Schwar said.
According to Schwar, the Ecopond Initiative Club teaches its members how to maintain a koi pond and the science behind the pond's ecosystem.
“We are teaching people about the nitrogen cycle, cultivating a lab where they test the water content levels of our pond, such as nitrogen, and as well as how the sun affects algae growth,” Schwar said.
Club member and senior Jenna Shahid describes the dynamic nature of club meetings and shares the different projects that the club undertakes. Shahid breaks down the three stages within their club.
“The first stage is collecting data about the biome we have ready while the second stage is rebuilding and polishing the pond
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including: taking out the water, taking out the algae and then putting in new plants and fish. The third and final stage is collecting more data that we gathered from the tests and analyzing it,” Shahid said.
Shahid explains how the Ecopond Initiative Club can impact RUHS on a larger scale, even if only starting with maintaining the koi pond.
“We are always learning about how ecosystems work while impacting the environment on a smaller level within our school. Studying our little pond can impact nature on a much larger scale by understanding how we can enhance our existing biodiversity,” Shahid said. “If we all agree to consistently take care of all the nature at our school including the pond, it will only lead to improving RUHS's eco-diversity overall.”
Club members Rex Bakstad and Kavan Mistry care for the koi pond. PHOTO BY JENNA SHAHID
Advisory Council members collaborated in small groups at their first meeting with Mr. Brown.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SANAYA BHATT
Koi fish PHOTOS VIA LOVEPIK
Revolting children
RUHS theatre department performs Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
by Marlena Lipan
As fall approaches, so does the opening of the RUHS Theatre’s production of “Matilda the Musical,” based on Roald Dahl’s beloved novel. This performance provides everyone with the opportunity to be enveloped in a tale regarding a fiery rebellion against authority by school children. Depicting younger characters, “Matilda” varies from previous RUHS productions and “brings out everyone’s inner child,” according to senior Elli Baluyut, who plays the title character, Matilda.
Sophomore Ella Klug, who plays Matilda’s close friend, Lavender, shares how the unique choice of the show provides a new experience for the cast, crew and audience members.
da’ for an elementary school production or a middle school production, but us making it a high school production elevates the level that we’re able to do it at. There’s one song, ‘When I Grow Up,’ that I feel we can all really connect to because we’re all in the midst of getting older,” Klug said.
Aside from the difference in ambience compared to previous shows like the sinister “Sweeny Todd” or flashy “Chicago,” Matilda tackles a new set of themes. Sophomore Kai Batovsky, who plays Eric, a schoolchild, draws a line between the plot of the story and their personal experience with the show.
“It’s very nostalgic. We are getting to be kids again. It is a lot less about creating a character, and instead, it’s more about looking back on when you were a kid and how you felt, and just having fun,” Batovsky said.
Baluyut elaborates on Batovsky’s sentiments, telling how the show provides a melancholy undertone and relatable outlook for audience members.
“This [show] brings out the simplicities of life. It’s very cheerful with a dark element. It's amazing, seeing it all come together. From the projections and the choreography and the props, the technical elements, the acting elements, every single aspect produces this one, congruent, magical show,” Baluyut said.
The pride and success that the theater program holds is tied to the students’ self-motivated work ethic, which Baluyut shares.
“The crew comes in on days that they don’t even need to come in. Everyone puts in more hours than are required to ensure that we have a great show, and this is one of our drama department’s qualities. We pride ourselves in working really hard and making sure to go above and beyond,” Baluyut said.
According to Klug, the beauty of theatre is built upon the blocks of many facets, including the set, sound design, costumes, cast and crew, which rely on each other to maintain stability. She contributes her
input about the teamwork that goes into forming a high-quality production.
“[The theatre] is really a collaborative space. We’re really working hard to make sure that we’re not only sounding great and doing the choreography right, but that we are carrying the message across and that we’re telling the story to the audience,” Klug said.
The directive that Batovsky shares emphasizes the importance of collaboration and unity for the show’s success, highlighting every role in the cast.
“As an ensemble, we make it look like every kid on that stage has a full, fleshed out story, and has their own home life, their own problems that they’re dealing with. It makes it feel more real and immerses the audience. We are all cogs in this giant machine, and we have to work together and understand what everyone’s role is to have a coherent and put-together show,” Batovsky said.
The broader meaning of the musical is shared by Baluyut, as she emphasizes the power struggle that the characters endure, which eventually leads them to revolt.
“I hope that they understand the message of ‘Matilda,’ which is that if something isn’t right, you have to put it right, no matter how big or small it is or whoever you might be. I really hope they gath-
er that and feel empowered afterward,” Baluyut said.
Batovsky reiterates the universality of the production’s message, explaining the relevance that it has in our lives.
“Even if [the show] is about an eightyear-old, I think that anyone can relate to it whether they are 80 or a little kid. It's about going against the hierarchy, and against parents and teachers as well,” Batovsky said. “I really hope that the audience takes away that there is more to life than just obeying whatever an adult or a higher-up tells you. You can fight back, and you should. Fight back if you think it’s wrong.”
Around Redondo
Students discuss the significance of their favorite song lyrics
"Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect" by The Decemberists
“And try one, and try two
I guess it always comes down to Alright, it's okay
Guess it's better to turn this way”
“I feel that the lyrics and song as a whole represent someone who tries to be someone who doesn't fit into what others expect. I like these lines because I've fallen victim to doing that before because of what other people have said, so the song reminds me to always come back to being myself.”
-Ian Lee, Senior
"The Motto" by
by Francisco Villega
“You only live once, that's the
'“It really sets me forward and gives me inspiration for what I personally want to do. The lyrics really remind me to just push through, and it sets a goal mentally. I always want to keep going and because you only live once you should keep doing what you want to do and not let anyone stop you, that's the motto.”
-Abi Santiago, Junior
“It reminds me of that peace of being in nature, which to me is one of the most beautiful things. When I can sit in class and listen to it, it's really calming and brings me there mentally. I love that level of positivity.”
-Tim Brennan, Sophomore
"Take me to Church"
“No masters or kings When the ritual begins There is no sweeter innocence Than our gentle sin”
“I feel like it's really passionate and shows a lot of emotion, and I can appreciate that. It reminds me of my cousin because she told me it's her favorite lyric, too, so along with my feeling about the lyric, it reminds me of my relationship with her whenever I listen to it. It means a lot to me.”
-Maddy Jenkins, Freshman
"The Fool on the Hill" by The Beatles “Day after day, alone on a hill, the man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still”
by Hozier
Drake
motto”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAUREN TAYLOR AND RUHS THEATER ARTS
features 4
Lighting up the STAGE
by Delilah Aguilar
Peralta joins the cast of new musical "iPasaje!" to foster his love for acting
It’s not every day somebody gets their big break, especially not at the age of fifteen. Freshman Noah Peralta recently landed his first big acting job as a character in the musical “¡Pasaje!”. “¡Pasaje!” is a coming-of-age story fea turing a young protagonist, Andy, who is navigating his Mexican roots. Peralta plays the younger brother of Andy’s love interest, Guicho, a “wannabe thug” within the neighborhood. However, this wasn’t Peralta’s first acting job, he’s a part of a DDO kids agency that sends him jobs to audition for including com mercials, modeling and TV shows.
doing school work, or just trying to prepare myself,” Peralta said.
Peralta is able to overcome scheduling challenges and continues his role as a student-athlete on the JV Basketball team while actively making long commutes throughout the
“I’ve been acting since I was 8 years old, I’ve always loved dancing and singing and acting on stage allowed me to do both. I knew from a young age I wanted to pursue it as a career. I auditioned for numerous musicals before landing this gig,” Peralta said. “Hearing I got the gig felt amazing. When I went on cast opening day to meet my co-actors, I just couldn’t get over how awesome it all was, and I remember thinking, “this is what I want to do.”
Rehearsals can run long, meaning some nights Peralta can’t get home until one in the morning.
“Going to work is about an hour and a half drive, so it can be a hassle to get there. On the drive up I’m usually trying to get in the right mind space, reviewing my lines,
he prefers a swiftly paced lifestyle.
“I love staying active and acting. I cannot stick to one thing, I want to try it all. I’d much rather keep myself busy and move on a ‘go, go, go’ mindset than slow down, stick to one thing and burn out. By doing multiple things at once, I’m given more accessibility to devote more of my time to things I’m passionate about,” said Peralta.
positive and cooperative attitude on set.
“Seeing [Peralta] ‘in the zone’ is so refreshing. He can get nervous and overthink at times, but he takes direction very well. He’s the type of actor to go off his instincts and allow himself to be experimental. He knows how to take it seriously, and he constantly comes in saying ‘I love my job,’” said Avila.
Peralta attributes the majority of his
have a big role in his success by supporting him and driving him an hour out for rehearsals. It is so impressive that he’s in high school and he’s already landed a show. He always shows up with a smile and a ready-to-go type of attitude, so I think he is a bright light that was needed in the show. He isn’t shy and has never been afraid to show us who he is,” said Avila.
Peralta brings a “radiance and energy” the rest of his cast appreciates. His castmate Karol Avila compared their relationship to that of siblings and appreciated his
support to his family, noting his mom helped him pursue his acting dreams at a young age by investing in his talent and finding an agent., Mmeanwhile, his dad has always been along for the ride, supporting him during each job he lands.
“I admire him so much, and his parents
The musical will be shown at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in the city of Sierra Madre until Nov. 3. Peralta as well as his castmates urge students to “make the drive and watch Noah's performance”, His castmates praise the “passion” he carries at such a young age and how hard he’s willing to work.
“Noah is immensely talented, I feel he is going to go very far in Hollywood, and I’m lucky to have met him. He’s an intelligent kid with a lot of wits, he memorizes all his lines he’s always prepared to show up and put his all into his work,” said Peralta's castmate, Maximiliano Garcia.
“People should come to check out the musical, especially for Noah’s performance. If you want to see the beginning of a movie star’s journey, that is definitely where you need to be because Noah Peralta will be a star at some point and if you want to see the beginning of his journey, it's happening right now, in real-time.”
Seniors Carley Arthur and Petra Napier co-coach a youth boys AYSO team
by Lauren Choy
Seeing that they’re bringing joy to the boys through the boys’ smiles and excitement in games and practices, seniors Carly Arthur and Petra Napier are motivated in coaching and leading a youth, all-boys soccer team.
“Soccer for me has always been a calm place and acts as my therapy. I think coaching has that same role. Even if I've had a really terrible day, I try to remember that for these kids, I don't know what happens other than [what goes on] at practice,” Arthur said. “So I just try to be my best version of myself and it's only an hour that I have to ‘act’ and then after that, I can return to my normal life and worry about everything else. It’s not really a possibility to just stop showing up, and I can tell they look forward to the practices because they get to see their friends and use up some of their energy so that’s what keeps me going.”
Inspired by a friend who also coached a youth soccer team, Arthur and Napier began coaching their own team at the end of July under the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), where they also play on a team. Coaching 10 second to fourth grade boys, Arthur and Napier prepare plans for practices and refine the boys’ skills for upcoming games.
Transitioning from player to coach, Napier has developed a newfound understanding of coaches’ dedication and mindset.
“I didn't realize all the time and preparation it took to make the lineup, figure
have to do things that would work on skills, but are also fun for them, which all adds another level of difficulty,” Napier said. “Then if people don’t show up, we have to change the whole schedule we worked on for so long. I’ve definitely grown appreciative of coaches and have gained respect for them.”
Boys not passing the soccer ball, friendship cliques forming within the team, no one listening, and boys being disruptive are just a few of the challenges Arthur and Napier face when coaching. Despite the difficulty of adjusting to the transition, Napier and Arthur's strong friendship allows for smoother communication without needing to, as Arthur said, “walk on eggshells” as they would with a stranger.
online communication with parents and other adults. We've just fallen into these roles and it works for us.”
Coach of Arthur and Napier’s AYSO team, Chris Otey, adds that communication helps them “pass on what they learned from soccer to the next generation.”
“We're so comfortable with each other that we can communicate if something isn't working, and we're able to adapt to what the other person thinks. It'd be harder with someone I didn't know because I'm shy and introverted sometimes,” Napier said. “We've also developed our individu-
“On the field when they're playing for me, they communicate so well, which [translates over] to them being able to communicate with each other about the kids,” Otey said. “It's important for them to coach because the kids that they're coaching can relate to them better than the adults who would normally coach them. They were just recently at that age. They're not as competitive [as adults] and not as strict with the kids. Happy kids play better than stressedout kids.”
Despite having a strong connection to the kids due to them being teens, the two still did several additional online and in-person training courses focusing on topics like concussion and assaults. Spearheading the team (White Cobras), Napier
technical soccer skills, which they learned in training and from prior knowledge, they are also in charge of creating a team with a camaraderie spirit.
“We always do these games where you have to work with a partner or your team because some of the kids are more focused on themselves and don’t like to pass [the ball]. We're really trying to make sure that we adjust the games that we play to expand their skills in that way,” Napier said. “So, the kids who are just focusing on dribbling and running past defenders have to focus on passing with other kids. And then we always do these talks at the end of practice like ‘What did we work on today? And what do we need to focus on?’ That sportsmanship always comes up and we talk about that a lot.”
In unifying a team, Napier and Arthur have taken on this new responsibility that can be “stressful at times” when balancing their busy schedules of academics and extracurriculars, but in the end, they are motivated by seeing the progress little by little.
“There’s this one kid who does not like to pass, but he loves midfield and you need to pass a lot in midfield. I tried to teach him different ways to pass,” Arthur said. “Then I told him ‘if you don't pass, you're coming to defense,’ which he hates. So in games, whenever he'd pass, he'd look over at me and be like ‘you saw that?’ He started passing a lot more, so I found it really cool to see their success and improvement buildup, which has helped me continue on with
1. Arthur and Napier talk to the team mates before a game. PHOTO COURTESY OF NAPIER 2. Arthur and Napier observe the Cobras playing a game. PHOTO BY ROBERT PACKARD 2
1. Sierra Madre Playhouse Sign PHOTO COURTESY OF NOAH PERALTA
Peralta [third from left] performing a song with cast. PHOTO BY LUQUE PHOTOGRAPHY
Four sophomores create a podcast to discuss shared love of music
by Safi Hamilton-Torres
In the midst of undertaking English work in class, three close friends devised a plan to establish the Between the Beats podcast, where they review new and classic hip-hop/rap music from various artists. Sophomores Cruz Garcia, Aidan Westerland, Nathan Marshall and Vince Cotugno then became involved in a year-and-a-half commitment, gathering every weekend and bringing their own research to review albums on their own grading scale.
Garcia explains that the group independantly produces the podcast with lent equipment from Westerland's mom.
“We originally started with Aiden's gear because he had two microphones and two headphones. Vince then bought a lot of equipment later on which we added to our setup. To start the podcast, we set up our recording and have a conversation about whatever's going on in our lives to get used to speaking into the mic. We then count down and record. I do all the intros. We edit the audio if there is anything unnecessary that wouldn't add to the conversation,” Garcia said.
Garcia also explains what procedures he uses to judge and review an album and how they are graded based on a scale.
“I listen to every song, and then I look at the lyrics on Genius. Then, I'll pause the music and then to take notes. I write down every little note I have about that song and then I base the music for how deep their lyrics are and production quality on a scale of one-10,” Garcia said.
Cotugno, the editor of the Between The Beats, processes and edits the podcast audio, making it finalized to post an episode.
“I use recording software, which is a recording box itself. I plug in my headphones and mic, which record all the audio. It then plugs into my computer, which has the audio software to capture the conversions, as well. Once I save the file, I can make cuts to the audio. Once I make the edits, I finalize the file for it to be ready to upload to Spotify,” Cotugno said.
Cotugno explains the real motive behind their podcast and why they were so effectively able to establish it and commit to meeting each week to record, as well as how their podcast can inspire others.
“Our minds think alike, especially since we are all good friends, which made it so easy to create a podcast one day. I would say that most of the time our opinions meld well, which I think is one reason we created it because we all had similar ideas that mostly complemented each other. We're more on the positive side of reviewing songs, but at the same time, we're not afraid to say when we do not like a song at all,” Cotugno said.
Westerland explains the kind of topics and albums they review while revealing.
“The 14th episode of the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers was the most controversial review. I was influenced by my dad and because they're into martial arts. But I found it. I found some of the songs good and some of the songs okay and bad, and the other guys just found it like they were either good or bad. This was the album where we agreed to disagree, with many different contrasting opinions on the songs,” Westerland said.
Westerland sees the Between The Beats podcast as more than just having fun with his friends and reviewing albums, he sees this as an opportunity to motivate others to do what they love. According to Westerland,
“Our podcast could help people get out of their comfort zone and feel inspired to be more comfortable voicing opinions. They can not be afraid to give their views on music that they like and not like and to know it's ok to not agree with what their friends say.”
Come sail away
Senior Sydney Palmer fulfills her childhood interest in marine biology on an educational board upon a boat
by Leyla Evenson
Signing up for an excursion to explore marine biology led to senior Sydney Palmer spending part of her summer braving a hurricane's treacherous waters. She spent three weeks off the shore of Massachusetts aboard a research tall ship named the S.S. Corwith Cramer as part of a program called the Sea Educational Association. Palmer's appreciation and interest in marine biology and oceanography, however, didn’t begin recently.
“Our school would always take us for field trips to Aquarium Pacific in Long Beach. Growing up that was such a magical thing to me,” Palmer said. “They had touch tanks, so you could actually one-on-one see these [animals] that you'd only see on television. It was incredible. I remember thinking that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.”
Sydney Palmer’s mother, Pamela Palmer, also noticed that passion for marine life and the ocean in her daughter when she was young.
“There used to be an aquarium that was where the Cheesecake Factory is, and she had told me that that was somewhere she would want to work when she got older. That's when I first started realizing that she was really interested,” Pamela Palmer said.
To be accepted into the educational program, Palmer went through an application process of writing an essay and doing an interview. According to Pamela Palmer, Sydney Palmer found the opportunities to pursue her career of choice by herself, being a “self-starter.”
switch the sail over, and if you don't do it quickly enough, the sail could break. We all had to work together during the rain and the hail and the crazy wind and pull it over,” Palmer said. “We'd be steering through crazy weather, ensuring that the sails weren't flipping over and that no one was getting whacked overboard.”
Though the group did have to deal with the dangerous hurricane weather, Palmer found that it wasn’t all bad, and enjoyed the experience.
“It was a lot of fun and really crazy, but
she could climb up to the very top of the ship, the crow's nest, and had the opportunity to spot the Milky Way as “there was barely any light pollution.” Past that, she also witnessed a mother humpback whale with her baby and a pod.
“Suddenly we heard screaming all over the boat. We look over to the starboard [right] side, and there's a whale breaching. It was doing one of those cool flips. It was so magical seeing that for the first time,” Palmer said.
Outside of her nautical summer adventures, Sydney Palmer is currently applying to colleges, holding on to that childhood interest in marine life. Now, Palmer works as a volunteer at the Roundhouse Aquarium in Manhattan Beach, feeding animals, cleaning tanks and interacting with visitors almost every Saturday. Issues of climate and environment are very important to her, making her want to pursue it in college.
The world needs more people in the [marine biology] field because of global warming. If you want something to change, you have to go out there and do it yourself.
“She's always open to new experiences. She's not afraid at all to do something really challenging,” Pamela Palmer said.
SYDNEY PALMER SENIOR “
During the trip, Palmer worked with 20 other high school students of varying grade levels to do research on phytoplankton.
“We basically put these nets into the water, and after about an hour of letting them sit, we'd pull [the phytoplankton]back on board and look into them under microscopes in the lab, which is really cool,” Palmer said.
During their trip, however, Palmer and her team were hit by Hurricane Debby. Though they were not caught in the middle of the storm, they still received the rough weather from the outskirts of it.
“There was a point where we had to jibe at 2:30 in the morning. Jibing is where you
it was learning how to deal with that stress and anxiety and learning that if you need to be sent down into the engine room to check on the boiler and the heater, the gas tank, and stuff like that, you just have to do it,” Palmer said. Besides the hurricane, an average day consisted of seven-hour research shifts, processing data and working in the lab, working on deck to handle sails or navigation, or rotating sleeping shifts. While they were awake, Palmer and her group saw a variety of natural wonders that Palmer remembers as some of her favorite parts of the trip.
“We saw some sea sparkle, which is when the phytoplankton glow. The phytoplankton will release light. It's so pretty. I remember that we were hosing down one of the nets after collecting some data from it, and as we were hosing it down, the net would glow bright green,” Palmer said. Palmer additionally got harnessed so
“The world needs more people in this field because of global warming. Ever since I was little, I always thought that [climate change] was horrible and that, if you want something to change, you have to go out there and do it yourself sometimes. My love and my worry for the sea is definitely what's really pushing me towards that field,” Palmer said.
Similar to her daughter's sentiments towards the changing environment and marine conservation, Pamela Palmer also feels the importance of environmental preservation and careers geared toward making an important impact.
“It's one of those careers that desperately needs help. I love that she's interested in doing something with her future that is focused on fixing things, helping the environment, studying animals and how to best counteract the impacts of climate change,” Pamela Palmer said.
Sydney Palmer’s journey proved to be both demanding and exciting, providing her with not just knowledge and new experiences but with clarity in terms of her future as well.
“The journey on the S.S. Corwith Cramer was definitely a really big turning point because before then, I had no idea if I really wanted to go into that field or if I was just going into it out of obligation because I've liked it since youth,” Palmer said. “Ever since then, I felt like yeah, this is it. This is what I want to do.”
1. Palmer keeps a lookout on the boat deck. 2. Palmer pulling nets of phytoplankton onto the boat PHOTOS COURTESY OF SYDNEY PALMER
BOOKED TO BALL
Senior Zeke Johnson and junior Taylor Boice take their athletic careers to the collegiate level
by Francisco Villegas
Dedicating days each week to sports camps to show your skill, spending hours reviewing game footage to find your best plays for a highlight tape, creating social media pages just so a coach might see your potential—all for the promise of being a college athlete. Many Sea Hawks pursue this dream and among them, after a lot of hard work, are senior Ezequiel Johnson and junior Taylor Boice, who have futures in football and volleyball, respectively.
“I just feel like I'd been playing for so long, and it's like a full time job trying to get recruited. It's just relieving because it's the result of so much work.
TAYLOR BOICE
JUNIOR
Johnson started his recruiting journey as a junior, after last football season, which was his first season on varsity. Going into that season, Johnson was more focused on getting playing time than receiving division one college football offers. However, after a successful season that earned him First-Team All Bay League honors, which recognized his six interceptions, he started working toward recruitment.
“After the season, I met with Coach Keith, and he helped me put together my highlight tape. First, I made a rough draft, and then he put my best plays first because he knows which plays are most impressive, which you have to do because coaches only really watch the first 10 seconds of your tape. Then, I picked colleges and
filled out online questionnaires where I put my stats and highlights in, and I made a Twitter profile. After a couple months, coaches started following me and messaging me,” Johnson said.
The attention Johnson has received comes as a result of not just his effort, but the help of his family. Johnson’s mom and dad helped him visit colleges around the nation, including Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania and Sacramento State University, where he received official offers. With all of his options, Johnson has to think about a lot of factors when deciding where to attend.
“I'm considering the price, because the Ivy League schools don't give sports scholarships of any type. Aside from that, I consider how nice the facilities are, as well as the location of the school because I want to go to a school close to some type of family,” Johnson said. “From coaches, I like to see them be tough and demanding, but still have a good relationship with their players. Above all of that, the biggest thing for me is their academic edge. I want really good academics, and football is helping me get into the school and also get it paid for .”
ance from her mother, who was key to the process as the recruiting coordinator and owner of her club, Southern California Volleyball Club.
On the other hand, Boice has already made her choice, committing to the University of California, Irvine, after years of working towards her recruitment. Her early commitment reflects not only her efforts but also the guid-
“I started recruiting in seventh grade by just emailing schools that I thought I'd be interested in. By then, I knew I loved to play and my mom helped me a lot with setting my expecta-
couldn't. I think that helped me a lot in deciding to pursue recruitment so soon. A lot of it was just emailing them as much as I could and if I saw them at a tournament or another event, I would go up and introduce myself, really trying to get on their radar. By the eighth grade, I started to get more camps and that's when I started focusing my research more based on who's getting back to me,” Boice said. For volleyball, recruiting day comes in June and when she finally was able
to realize all of her work, it was a special moment for Boice.
“I was really happy. I just feel like I'd been playing for so long, and it's like a full time job trying to get recruited. It's just relieving because it's the result of so much work. Recruiting day is so stressful since you don't know what you're gonna get, because you don't receive anything before that day,” Boice said.
Both Boice and Johnson have had unique journeys to get to where they are now, and it has given them unique insight into the process. Both noted that it's important not to look at others' paths, but instead advised other recruits to focus on their own.
“I would say don't get caught up in comparing yourself to the people who are getting a lot of attention because everybody's recruiting journey is different, and everybody peaks at different times,” Johnson said. “Just keep working and don't compare yourself to other people, because that's just how you get discouraged. Just keep working on yourself.”
From books to the board
Freshman Kaitlyn Otey dedicates time to improving her chess skills
by Kate Brucia
Freshman Kaitlyn Otey sits across from her opponent. Though they don’t say anything, their mutual devotion to the game of chess and respect for one another’s strategy forms a connection between them.
“Did I ever think that I would be friends with an 80-year-old Russian guy and also a 12-year-old chess prodigy? No, but we're great friends,” Otey said. “The good thing about chess is that sportsmanship is such a huge thing that you become great friends
game afterward and you get to hang out, and that's how I've made a lot of good friends.”
Otey has met many of her chess friends through the Alondra Park Chess Club, which she joined two years ago to challenge herself. She taught herself how to play chess when she was little, and joined an after-school program when she was seven, but she really “fell in love” with the game when she began competing in tournament chess in March 2023.
“I like being able to sit down for a couple of hours and basically think about nothing else. I love being able to focus on one thing and strategize. I like winning a lot, but I also like learning new things all the time, and that's what chess does for me,” Otey
Otey has competed in tournaments both nearby and in farther cities such as Chicago and Las Vegas. Otey has also placed in a few tournaments, something Matthew Robertson, her coach at the chess club, thinks is no easy feat.
“Chess is incredibly hard, [but] tournament chess is particularly hard. Your opponent is trying to do the same thing you're trying to do: win the game. It crea difficult dynamic. You have to always keep an eye on what your opponent's trying to do while you're formulating a plan. That's really difficult for a lot of younger players to understand,” Robertson said. “You can tell a good player is starting to go on the right
track when they analyze a little more seriously. When they start taking the game a little more seriously, they're willing to play some tournaments, to practice and do whatever it takes to get good at it. It takes a lot of devotion.”
Otey dedicates time to improving her game every day by reading chess books, playing online games and going to the Alondra Park Chess Club meetings twice a week. So far, she has competed in 42 events, achieving a rating of 1191, placing her in the 78th percentile of all juniors and the 83rd percentile for all females, according to the US Chess Federation. Chess ratings go up after beating a player with a higher ranking, and go down after losing. For comparison, Grandmasters, the highest title a chess player can obtain, have a ranking between 2500 and 2700. Otey thanks her parents for these opportunities and for their support.
When Otey first started competing, she struggled with confidence because many of the youth players at her level were much younger than her, but as she improved, she became more self-assured and willing to make riskier moves.
“My parents are the biggest supporters of my chess,” Otey said. “I'm very grateful my parents make the sacrifice to come stay with me while I'm playing all this chess, going on trips and supporting me emotionally. If I'm having a rough couple rounds, they're there to tell me to pick myself up and to keep going. [They get] me in that winning mindset, because a lot of times I struggle with confidence in chess, and they tell me that, yes, I can win, I just need to go for it.”
“[Playing chess has taught me] a lot about keeping my confidence and my ego in check, believing in myself and making sure I'm thinking things through rationally before I make any decisions. You really do have to calculate every line when you're thinking of making a sacrifice,” Otey said. “It’s helping me be more accepting of other people and try to think about other people's hidden skills. It’s taught me that there's nothing bad enough that you really can't recover from it. No matter how bad things get, you can always try your best to make them better.”
1. Otey competes at a chess tournament.
PHOTO BY LENNART OOTES COURTESY OF MICHELE OTEY
2. Otey poses with chess board. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAITLYN OTEY
CHESS PIECE
by Daniella Gross
An unintended cameo from an earbud in sophomore Allison Perch's ID card photo at first came as a mistake, a detail missed by the cameraman, but now, they see the photo as a perfect representation of themself.
“I listen to music whenever and wherever I can. Even when I am asleep, the music’s on. The funniest thing is that I love [listening to] 80’s rock and punk [while sleeping], songs that you would not usually fall asleep to,” Persh said. “I find it soothing to wake up to that beat, to wake up to something I really enjoy.”
Having little to no personal music preferences, Persh sees themselves as someone who loves every genre of music, finding something they like in almost any style. This versatility in music taste has allowed Persh to better connect with their peers, finding the words in the lyrics of songs instead of expressing them aloud.
“If you can’t find the words, music will convey them for you. I am not good with words at all, something I have actually used music to work on. If [a song] means something to me, I am going to use it as a way to communicate,” Persh said. “There is a very short EP [extended play track] called ‘Starry Cat’ and it is one of the most emotional [songs] I’ve heard in my life. It is this indie bedroom pop song that doesn’t have any lyrics. I thought, ‘This music artist doesn’t need words to communicate,’ so I felt better about not always having the words.”
Though they have never experienced formal music therapy, Persh recently graduated from a therapist. Utilizing music as a communication tool has also allowed Persh to help them before therapy sessions.
“Music has been very impactful for my therapy journey. Before sessions, I remember playing Mac Miller when I was especially sad. And when I was feeling really good about myself, and I was winning, I played Lady Gaga. It helped set the tone and mood for how I wanted the appointment to go,” Persh said. At the age of 10, Persh learned the drums. Though this hobby didn’t stick, something their teacher said regarding music did.
“He said, ‘Before anyone had language, they were using sounds,’” Persh said. “And I thought, ‘Yeah,’ before people had language that they could understand, they were using beats and rhythm. Music really is a universal language. I thought that was the coolest thing, that music can help people connect. Though I don’t understand Spanish well, I like this Dominican Rapper, and I understand what emotions he is trying to convey,” Persh said. Finding words in music also led Persh to find expression, often taking themes, messages or goals away from their favorite artists.
“My idea of confidence and my idea of who I want to be is truly centered around
MUSIC FOR THE MIND
Music serves as a powerful tool for emotional support, helping students navigate their challenges
the ideas presented to me through music. I am really big into philosophy and existentialism, which I found represented while listening to the Smiths, and nihilism in bands like Joy Division,” Persh said. Through finding themselves, Persh has also unlocked specialized ways to retain more information when they study with music. While studying for Spanish, Persh tends to listen to Beyonce by circumstance, and when they take tests in the Testing Center, they turn on Beyonce to better recall information and recognize patterns, something that Licensed Clinical Social
helps me feel grounded as it goes between ears. It is nice to listen and remind myself that everything is going to be okay and my panic attack isn’t going to last forever.”
This tactic was especially helpful when Borgic traveled to Costa Rica and Panama with ninth grade biology teacher Kelly Lewis and Education First Tours this summer, finding solace in her playlists at a crowded venue.
“I had a panic attack inside a restaurant that was super busy, both visually and auditorily overstimulating. I was able to put my headphones in and drown it out with white noise, then I switched over to a bilateral instrumental mix. It slowed the panic attack, and I was able to go outside and take my medication needed to stop it. It is a great pre-anxiety tool,” Borgic said.
Shashoua explains this process of pan-
Worker and Therapist Kimberly Vered Shashoua notes is a brain “hack.”
“There is this huge connection between music and memory. So if you were listening to a song to pump yourself up, let's say every single time before a basketball game,” Shashoua said. “It is a quicker way of getting into that same state of mind, having all of those hormones cascading in the same way where you don't have to physically work yourself through, you can put on some music, and your body will respond.”
Furthermore, the body's response to familiar patterns in music can aid those who have been diagnosed with autism or ADHD, who might feel overstimulated by lights, music or crowded places. For junior Myra Borgic, who struggles with both ADHD and panic attacks, she has found music to be a reliant calming strategy.
“I listen to music most when I am walking around during passing periods. I find it nice to have my jams and be able to tune out the world, especially when it gets really loud in the hallways,” Borgic said. “My most important playlist is my panic attack playlist. It has a lot of bilateral music that
ic attacks, when the autonomic nervous system, which is the nervous system out of an individual’s control, can become activated, making things like the heart racing and stomach-churning difficult to manage. However, breath control can sometimes be slowed.
derstanding the mechanism of the brain, finding recently that music has the ability to activate various brain centers simultaneously.
“The part of the brain called ‘arousal’ which controls excitement, adrenaline and music makes someone feel activated and energized as well as provides positive stimulation,” Shashuoa said. “In addition to feeling energetic, you will have endorphins, which are feel-good chemicals being released.”
Three months ago, senior Ray Echevarria engaged in formal music therapy to see how it would make him feel, hoping to get into a more positive mindset, which involved listening to various types of music and observing their effects.
“It definitely improved my mood overall and helped me relax and study. It is very comforting to relate to music and be able to play it continuously,” Echevarria said.
“I had a Walkman, and I would listen to music on it all the time. I put my headphones in, and I didn’t have to worry about my phone, I didn’t have to worry about anything. I would just listen to my music. That’s it, that’s all I cared about. Played it loud and didn’t care if anyone heard it,” Sierra said. “It helped me tune things out and calm myself down. Listening to metal releases a lot of anger, and it gets out a lot of energy while I am [engaging in recreational activities] like skateboarding.”
Observing the physical aspect of music, junior Jeffrey Kesselman who has been drumming since the 6th grade in Jazz band, Marching band, and various concert bands finds drumming to be a unique form of release.
sounds makes us feel. If we think about rap which has a very percussive sense, it can be very cathartic because we're just getting things out. You feel it, whereas something more lyrical can make you feel a little more calm or wistful,” Shashoua said. “Finding a community where this music makes other people feel the same way you do, where you love the same part of the song that other people do, where something about being seen, figuring out who you are, really connects and activates your whole body in all of these ways, there's something magical about that.”
idea, so I need to focus more while studying them,” Chung said.
classical music while studying.
In addition to breath control during overstimulating scenarios, Shashoua elaborates on why music is an important form of communication, finding that a lot of people have “improved fluency and ability to talk when listening or singing along to music.” Borgic, who has participated in numerous theatrical musicals and plays both on and off campus, uses singing in this way, to extract pent-up words and emotions.
“Music can be a target for breathing during a panic attack, as your breath can match the tempo of slower music to relax your autonomic nervous system,”
Shashoua said.
Shashuoa, who has a degree in neuroscience and often incorporates music into their patient's sessions, acknowledges that humans are at the very beginning of un-
“I find that singing helps me process my feelings for the day, because I would say I am a pretty shy person in class, and sometimes I don’t always say what I want to. So music helps me express those things that I've been meaning to say, but I didn’t have the words to say them,” Borgic said.
Similar to how theater has provided a safe space for Borgic, senior Daven Sierra feels that listening to his niche style of music on an older form of technology has provided him a sanctuary during stressful times.
“Drumset engages the whole body–music with a physical element. It feels different to play a drum set, to control the pulse and the rhythm. You get to clear your head, similar to exercising, while drumming, which is an important aspect to me because exercise is another way to de-stress,” Kesselman said.
This connection between physicality and playing an instrument has a greater effect on well-being, something that Shashoua differentiates from simply listening to music alone.
“The newest research into trauma is that there’s a lot of physical aspects, it is not just something bouncing around the brain. So getting your body involved in playing music or even dancing with the rhythm, increases the cathartic benefits, and feelings of euphoria and reduces stress. Often, playing music, much like meditation, allows you to focus on a physical aspect so that your mind is occupied in a way where you are more involved than passively listening,” Shashoua said.
Kesselman, in this sense, uses drumming to improve his mood when he is feeling sad or doesn’t want to think about external stresses. He prefers playing drums in Jazz band, as he is more immersed in the music, allowing an outlet for his school day burdens.
“Drumming on its own is fun, but drumming along to music or with music is even better than that because losing yourself in the music becomes easier,” Kesselman said. “Jazz band class in the middle of the day can be a break from stressful classes, where if I have math in the morning, and English in the afternoon, band breaks up the day and feels like less work, though we still have an agenda.”
Band classes at RUHS, Kesselman notes, include a diverse crowd of students, but the one commonality is their passion for playing music together.
“There could be two students that absolutely despise each other, but they will both be having fun playing the same song because to both of them, music will be an outlet, even if they have nothing else in common,” Kesselman said.
The connections that music can create, whether it be in your brain, in conversation or in someone's mental health journey is a shared passion amongst people, a spark that enables well-being and understanding for many. It is an accessible therapeutic tool just one click away.
“Music can be fantastic because we capture things lyrically, and then the way that the
Music can enhance focus and reduce stress in students depending on their mentality in studying
by Jayla Dorbor
Leaningforward in her chair, sophomore Sayat Brook skips through songs on her playlist searching for the most calming one, so she can finish up her homework. Students like Brook use music constantly throughout their day.
“I listen to music all the time: when I’m getting ready, passing periods, and when I get home. I’ll change the type of music I listen to based on what I’m doing,” Brook said.
“When I’m studying I’ll listen to more quiet indie music like Phoebe Bridgers, [whereas] when I’m getting ready or cleaning I’ll listen to R&B, rap, or pop.”
According to psychologist Sean Woodland, music can help people be productive by claiming their minds; however, it depends on the person.
“[Music] can help people process information better, but depends on how it fits to [their] sensibilities and speaks to [their] emotions in a calming way that allows you to have more inner peace," Woodland said.
Listening to music may help in these certain situations as Doctor Joe Kaizer explains that when people listen to music, their brain produces serotonin, which in turn regulates your stress. This is why students' brains may be calmer while listening to music.
“The amygdala is the part of our brain that is used for the fight or flight response, and essentially regulates fear and anxiety. So when you start to [produce serotonin], your connections with the amygdala essentially decrease [and in turn] and reduce stress,” Kaizer said.
There is not a universal genre of music that can help people produce serotonin and reduce stress. For example, while Brook likes to listen to many different genres, she specifically likes quieter, more peaceful music when she’s studying.
“If it’s dead silence I don’t like it and I can’t focus, it’s better if there’s subtle background noise, even if it’s [just] white noise,” Brook said. “Sometimes I'll listen to music with no lyrics, but if I do listen to music with lyrics [it has to be] quiet and a [softer] instrumental or the artist [has to have a quiet] voice.”
Sophomore Caleigh Chia grew up playing piano so she enjoys listening to
“I like to listen to instrumental music because it helps me focus and relax better and not think about the lyrics as much,” Chia said. “I like sonatas and sonatinas by Bach and Beethoven and some other composers like Chopin and Debussy.” Woodland explains that understanding music could contribute to its calming nature, which could play a role in how classical music affects people like Chia.
“Composers do a lot of work to make it so all of the instruments complement each other well. That sort of agreement between instruments can be very pleasing to hear. The more you learn about that process, the more you appreciate it,” Woodland said. Overall, the effectiveness of listening to music while studying depends on if it helps to produce serotonin and calm someone's mind.
“Some people connect to the words and some people connect to the beat and the rhythm,” Woodland said. “Those aspects speak to them on a visceral and emotional body level and that changes how people feel when listening to music.”
Sophomore Ella Chung is somewhat an example of the latter. She likes music while studying STEM subjects, but not as much while working on humanities.
“For math and chemistry there is only one answer you’re looking for, but for humanities, like in history, there are many different ways you can interpret a text or an
85 % YES NO 15% Doyou listen to whilemusic study?you
Empathy is hard. Have
Oit anyway.
Editor Kat Otey urges apolitical students to take interest in how politics affects them and their community.
by Kat Otey
ver a hundred new laws limiting trans access to gender affirming care, healthcare, workplace equality and privacy were passed in the United States alone. Did you know that? If not, and if reading those words doesn’t make you feel the least bit anxious, that’s your privilege.
I make the choice to become involved with queer rights activism or feminist interest groups, but even if I wasn’t as passionate about politics, I would still be forced to sleep with one eye open simply because I was born queer and female. I can’t afford to be apathetic about anti-trans legislation because it directly impairs my right to exist.
According to Pew Research Center, only 34% of people ages 18 to 29 report closely following the 2024 presidential election. And that’s a national election—never mind the passing of individual legislation or state and local policies. Only 25% of people in the same age range report actively searching for political news. Another 75% describe keeping up mostly by “happening across” information.
I mean this with absolute sincerity: good for them, good for you, if this applies. Political news isn’t a fun read, and trying to follow politics can often—simply put—suck. I also would not like to be spending the time and energy I do researching, talking about and stressing over politics. Unfortunately, there is a significant degree to which I don’t get to make that choice, and neither do many people like me. We are the strangers in the “spotlight”—the hot topic issues of
75% of people ages 18-20 decribe keeping up mostly by "happening across" information.
34% of people ages 18-20 report closley following the 2024 presidential election.
25% of people ages 18-20 report activley searching for political news.
the political sphere call into question our rights, including that to simply exist.
Not being in the spotlight is your privilege. But what would have happened if the spotlight landed on someone you knew, instead of a stranger? What if it was your sister? Or your best friend? Your sister is clearly uncomfortable. She didn’t ask for the spotlight. Do you raise an objection then? Or do you stay quiet? Which is to say, are you still prepared to stay away from politics when politics won’t stay away from you? Eighty percent of Americans, according to a Pew Research Poll, report feeling “angry” or “frustrated” with the actions of politicians, yet few are prepared to do something about it. And yes, there is something you can do about it. There are a lot of things. But not all of them are easy. The idea that empathy, support and being informed “costs nothing” is nice, but ultimately it is harmful because it’s not true. This is where many arguments that support broader political involvement go wrong: they assume that it’s as easy as diving right in. If people can scroll on Tik Tok for four hours at a time, surely they can spend half an hour researching the policies of their state representatives. But political burnout is real: 90% of Americans report feeling “exhausted” when they think about politics (Pew Research Center). The sheer amount of information, the complexity and often the negativity of it makes it harder to consume and triggers burnout much faster than other forms of media.
Even talking about politics can feel uncomfortable and discouraged, especially in the hyper-polarized climate that political conversation is known for. Discourse and disagreements are often seen as net negatives, the popular consensus being that they get in the way of change and progress and amiability. But these are exactly the conversations that are absolutely necessary. You don’t have to make everything your problem; that’s the quickest path to activist burnout, paralyzing fear and feeling overwhelmed or helpless. Pick an issue that you care about, or that you’ve seen directly affect someone close to you, or that seems the least soul-crushing and start one of those conversations. We live in a world in which empathy has been beaten out of politics. The general population has been alienated from the people they elect by the infinite distractions of the modern world. Ordinary people are discouraged from being involved, caring about one another and valuing their own voice. At the end of the day, the big scary world of “politics” is really just a mountain of issues and arguments and interests in a trench coat. It might not be as fun for you as keeping up with celebrity drama, but at the end of the day you may be surprised to find that actually, the decisions being made do affect you, too.
Politicians aren’t celebrities: you can’t turn your back
on them and continue on with your life, unhindered. I would highly encourage you not to give someone the power that comes with being a part of our government, and then turn your back on them. Technically, you can,
KAT OTEY SENIOR “
Saying,
'I
don't
follow politics' is in itself a political statement, as well as an expression of privilege
because I can’t definitively tell you where your political opinions should or should not stand. But in being “apolitical,” you have made your stance clear. Saying,“I don’t follow politics” is in itself a political statement, as well as an expression of privilege. And like all statements, it is one you have the right to make, but also one you are not free from the repercussions of.
letters to the
editor
The High Tide encourages greater input of perspectives from both students and staff. If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at hightideonline@gmail.com
We reserve the right to edit for content, grammar and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed. Please keep letters to a maximum of 250 words. Longer guest opinions are also accepted.
editorial: to beat or not to beat
by the High Tide Editorial Board
Music rings a minute before the bell with each passing period, plays at school functions such as rallies, dances and sports games and provides comfort for students outside of school. Its presence in the classroom, however, is less consistent. The RUHS Parent Student Handbook states that “Students may not wear headphones during class time unless instructed by a teacher to do so.” Despite not explicitly denying student accessibility to music, given teachers’ varying policies and the recent restriction of music sites such as Apple Music and Spotify on school chromebooks, music is still largely limited.
There is validity in some teachers' decision to have no headphones. Headphones are a physical and cognitive barrier between a student’s attention and a teacher's instructional period. It can come off as disrespectful in any setting to listen to music while others are talking. In a classroom, losing focus when material is taught can be detrimental to a student's
learning and success. As a result, “no headphone” rules and phone pockets are more common than not, acting as a precautionary method to maintain student attention.
However, with the increased accessibility of technology, such as Airpods and other bluetooth electronics, getting around these restrictions is easier than it used to be. As a result, the implementation of the headphone restrictions is harder to enforce within the classroom. This is why it is important to work towards a compromise that can help students be comfortable with music and help teachers not have to work around potential loopholes. There is also the potential for inconsistencies as the opportunity for students to utilize music is often dependent on which teacher they have or which period they’re in.
The debate over music in the classroom reflects broader questions about student engagement and cognitive diversity. Not all individuals respond the same to music or the same types of music. In fact, some people are more productive while listening to music than with-
out. Beyond a tool for enhancing focus, music is a coping mechanism: a characteristic especially valuable in stressful school situations. With this understanding, it is advantageous that students are given the opportunity to listen to music during class.
Although listening during lectures and other auditory directions can detract from comprehension, not all class time is defined by this setting. SSH and independent work, for instance, are times when the accompaniment of music can be beneficial.
The different components of classroom experience and student learning habits should factor into future school headphone policies. The success of any compromise, however, rests on mutual respect. If students cannot respect teachers’ conditions, or if teachers cannot acknowledge and accommodate students’ diverse cognitive preferences, then music will continue to be a point of contention rather than a tool for enhancement and music cannot solidify its concurrence in the classroom.
Cinema without borders
American movie watchers should open their minds to exploring the beauty of foreign films
by Priya Ramcharan
You might not realize how restrictive American cinema is. In one night of searching on Netflix, you’ll see about 30 variations of the same movie. The teen comedy, the action, the witty legal drama. Hollywood is a business that has perfected the “formula” of the plot. I’ve begun to feel like I’m double-dipping in the same cultural pool, with slight variations, over and over again. It’s truly numbing. But every now and then, there’s a film that just throws cold water on my face, and more often than not, it’s a foreign film.
The movies we watch in our small American towns usually echo the lives we live. For example, “Dazed and Confused” (1993) follows high school seniors on their last day of school in the 70s as they get high, drive around, hook up and face the future. It portrayed a wave of rebellion among the kids of the middle class, encapsulating the youth culture of the time. As a proud American girl, I can appreciate whatever comments the film made about being a kid lost in the market economy, but to what extent is that movie really challenging what I know? It’s showing me a world I live in, with experiences I could maybe relate to, but how compelling is it really? Now compare that with “City of God” (2003), the story of teenagers in 1970s Brazil taking different paths to navigate the drug wars in Rio De Janeiro. Same time, same age, but the stories of the two films hold completely different values and express a stark contrast in culture, all because of the geographical distance between
Ithe filmmakers. Global cinema contains multitudes of stories and contradictions which are not evenly distributed among theaters. Stepping outside the cultural familiarity of American films might actually blow your mind.
Take the 2023 Japanese film “Perfect Days.” The film is a slow meditative love letter to simple daily routines, as it tells in beautiful color the story of a toilet cleaner in Tokyo enjoying peaceful moments with nature. Contrast that with the values of living in America, such as productivity and success, and even an emphasis on romantic relationships. Those norms don’t always carry over seas. The norms in question are often dictated by the politics of the country. For example, a classic American TV- family in the 1950s is far different than in 2024, given the social changes among women, people of color and even the legalization of gay marriage. Those social changes can also be tracked in foreign countries as political movements shape the stories on screen. In Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude’s, “Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World,” a single young woman in Bucharest is abused by “contemporary capitalism” while the film frequently flashes back to Ceausescu's Romania under communism where similar struggles were shown with another single young woman. The stylistic choices that the filmmakers make, such as the way they direct their actors or use color, are a refreshing change from “the next big Spiegelburg movie.”
Though the differences of foreign cine-
ma can be eye-opening, the similarities can be even more telling. Recently I saw a film by the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa called “High and Low” (1963). It’s one of the best movies I’ve seen, but not because it tested anything I know, but rather because it showed me why I know it. “High and Low” is an air-tight police procedural crime film, with a plot you could see in any Harrison Ford film today. However, those movies actually take inspiration from this one, the film forging the trope we know today due to its sheer attention to detail. Kurosawa’s films have influenced our blockbusters such as "Star Wars" and "Superman," which took after his 1950s Samurai films. The hero's journey trope in the U.S. was also written with homages to Bhuddist and Hindu plays and mythology. People from thousands of miles away who have never met can end up writing the same stories, and as 21st century movie goers, we get a new and fresh way to relate to those stories.
To start your adventure into the world of foreign film, there are sacrifices you’ll have to make. The language barrier is an obvious repellent to many ambitious movie watchers, but I’d encourage you to learn to love it. The fact is if you don’t speak the language, a lot of the meaning of the film will be lost in translation, so you’re never going to understand the dialogue of the film as much as a native speaker. But the meaning doesn’t just come from the dialogue. As I said earlier, the director’s style and the actors' mannerisms all convey meaning in a different way than most American films.
Pay attention to the big screen rather than focus on the little words at the bottom. It might impact you more. As you watch, the subtitles might get confusing and you could lose the plot. I’d say, just let it go. Resist the urge to start frantically googling a summary or looking up names of characters, just let yourself get confused, because if it’s a good film you won’t have to think about it, you’ll just feel it. The language barrier is there, but films are visual story-telling that transcends that barrier. To avoid it feeling like a chore, don’t start with the black and white art house film from France. Instead, start with the popular ones such as “Parasite” or “Pan's Labyrinth.” If nothing else, you’ll get a mini travel guide for a new country. Though it may seem daunting, stories from abroad are important. Those stories are the ones that will challenge you, and show you the communities that exist outside your own. Those stories are the ones that will help you see the impacts of your own actions on the countries next door. Those stories will make you a better person.
Duolingo is great for extra practice, but will never fully replace an in-person language course
by Deeksha Prasad
’ve got a pretty solid morning routine. Have all five of my alarms go off consecutively. Finally drag myself out of bed on the fifth. Brush my teeth, shower, pick my clothes out and do my makeup. Somewhere in between all that, I’m almost always inclined to grab my phone and get on Tiktok, just to wake myself up a little more and resist the overwhelming urge to just climb back into bed. You know, normal teenage phone-addict behavior.
Every now and then, if I’m lucky, my “for you page” gets graced by a little green bird doing some type of mind boggling shenanigans. There's no wake up call like an animated bird threatening to burn down your house if you don’t log onto his app. Duolingo’s social media presence is, without a doubt, iconic. They keep up to date with the trends, their comment replies are hilarious (please, go stalk their TikTok page—it’s worth it), and their staff is, on occasion, dressed in green spandex with bird masks shoved onto their heads. Really, it’s a riot.
Duolingo is arguably the most popular free language learning app currently available. On the App Store, it’s second place on the education chart, only behind an AI math helper. And according to the Google Play Store, the app has over 500 million downloads, a statistic that blows many of the other language learning apps’ downloads out of the water. Also, almost every single person I know uses Duolingo. That pretty much solidifies its popularity in my mind.
guage. In the past, I’ve studied languages in three different ways: through a course at RUHS, a course at El Camino College and, of course, through Duolingo.
Education is always what you make of it—while some people can see a class as effective and informative, others can find it boring and forget the lecture’s contents at the first opportunity. Because of that, I do think that an online course from some-
get started with it. It also offers 43 languages, outdoing RUHS’ three and El Camino’s six. But if you think you’ll achieve fluency through the app, you’d be sorely mistaken. No owl, no matter how passive-aggressive, is going to get you there alone.
Yet, as popular as the app might be, I’m confident in my belief about its application: I don’t think that Duolingo is the way to go if you’re trying to achieve fluency in a lan-
bility—not everyone is going to have space in their school schedule for a language past a certain point, and not everyone is going to want to take an online course. You can access all of its resources within a few clicks of a button; it takes significantly less effort to
Duolingo offers a skill tree of lessons that teach vocabulary, phrases and sentences. The drills vary between translating back and forth, speaking out loud, and identifying vocabulary multiple-choice style to strengthen the skills taught by the app. It implements a decay-type algorithm based on a forgetting curve; when you strengthen a skill, the time before it decays— makes you re-practice the skill—is extended, but no matter how strong you become at the skill, it will eventually decay again. While that’s helpful for when you’re initially learning vocab and phrases, it gets a little redundant as you become more and more comfortable with the subject matter. At times, the translations can be a little iffy and the app tends to use convoluted or unnaturally structured sentences to showcase the usage of a certain grammar structure or vocab word. In my experience, learning grammar and tenses, as well as in
what situations certain word forms should be used, has been made a lot clearer to me through structured lessons rather than through Duolingo.
Duolingo also lacks the nuances of languages and doesn’t include more colloquial words and expressions. Learning a language isn’t always about just words—it’s also about the culture, history and shades of meaning behind it—and these aren’t things you can find out through Duolingo. While the app can help you memorize phrases and string together sentences, it definitely won’t teach you idiomatic construction. It also won’t be as useful in being able to form accurate and quick sentences in a real-time conversation in a foreign language—that can only be achieved through having conversation with a native speaker to practice. The same goes for reading quickly—the exercises on the app will never be more helpful than picking up a book in the language you’re aiming to learn.
All this to say, while it’s a bit lofty to hope you’ll start speaking like a native through the app alone, that doesn’t mean it’s an entirely unhelpful resource. Duolingo is actually a great place to build a foundation in a language—if you’re using it in tandem with a more structured way of learning a language. It’s been most helpful to me as a way to get in daily practice, rather than my main source of learning and growth—and I do feel that’s the best way to utilize the app. And if you choose to use it alone, while it won’t make you fluent, you’ll be able to confidently ramble your way through enough semi-coherent sentences—just enough to impress a friend or confuse a waiter. Pick your poison. Just remember not to miss doing a lesson a day, or that green owl will find you.
entertainment 12
brat TAKEOVER
Charli XCX's remix of her hyperpop hit album "Brat," "Brat and it's completely different but also still brat," puts a fresh spin on the iconic songs by Meara Fay
Between Brat Summer and Brautumn, the Bratdemic has taken over. British hyperpop artist Charli XCX, born Charlotte Aitchison, released her iconic album, “Brat,” on June 7, and it instantly became a cult and a “club classic.” Even if I can’t yet set foot in a club, it's clear that “Brat” has captured that scene. When Charli sings “I wanna dance to me,” it's easy to agree—her music demands movement, especially the tracks on her new remix album.
Released Oct. 11 by Atlantic Records, “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” is the counterpart to Charli’s hit album filled with remixes featuring a variety of artists. And when I say variety, I mean variety. The remix album has everything from a classic The 1975 ballad in “I might say something stupid” to a Spanish remix of “Club classics” featuring Barcelona native Bb trickz and “Rewind” featuring hyperpop rapper Bladee. Most importantly, Charli was able to “work it out on the remix” with her fellow pop icon Lorde on “Girl, so confusing,” in which they coined the newest and predictably iconic phrase for making amends with a past friend.
Currently, my favorite song off the original ”Brat” album is “Sympathy is a knife,” in which Charli sings about her jealousy of another female artist—rumored by fans to be Taylor Swift. The lyrically sad song with a sick beat (which is exactly Charli’s expertise) begins with “I don’t want to share this space; I don’t want to force a smile; This one girl taps my insecurities; Don’t know if it’s real or if I’m spiraling.” In the song, Charli reveals her internal struggles with confidence in this song, despite her stardom, a continuing theme in the album. In the remix, featuring soprano superstar Ariana Grande, the artists describe the struggles celebrities experience even when they’re ”finally on top,” calling it a knife. Contrasting with the original, the knife shifts from the Charli’s internal, self-scrutiny to external, public scrutiny from fans and media. They sing in the remix, “It’s a
knife when you’re finally on top, ‘cause logically the next step is they wanna see you fall to the bottom.” “Brat” is Charli’s most successful release to date, making the remix’s release four months later fitting. Charli has taken pop culture by the reins, influencing everything from everyday fashion to even Kamala Harris’ campaign marketing. With this new level of stardom inevitably comes strife, but through this remix, Charli voices those struggles for both herself and the many other artists who are unable to themselves. Although I do think that melodically the original song is superior, the remix remains catchy while providing added depth and stunning lyricism to the meaning of the song.
The song from the album that’s been on constant repeat— in my AirPods, while I’m showering and the FM transmitter of my Toyota Camry—is the “Talk talk” remix featuring Troye Sivan. For the past month, Charli has embarked on a dual concert tour with Sivan called the “Sweat” tour. For pop fans (especially the girls, gays and theys), this has been the raunchy, hyperpop equivalent to Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.” Because of this, it was only Charli and Sivan’s responsibility to release a duet that’s a banger, and “Talk talk” is exactly that. The song begins with Sivan’s vocals taking the spotlight,
a talent of his that is often overlooked by many. Much like the “Sympathy is a knife” remix, this completely differentiated from the original. Without a few identical lines and beat drops, the remixes could seem unrelated. In the original song’s chorus, Charli repeatedly sings about wanting someone to “just talk to” her. Even though I think that the chorus of the original “Talk talk” is super catchy and fun, objectively the remix is superior in all ways. In the remix, Charli finds that person in Sivan, and his verse adds a new depth to the meaning of the story. Sivan's lyrics, while suggestive, don't literally imply romance with Charli; he plays a character within the thematic world of “Brat.” This chorus makes the song one of, if not the most, catchy song on the album, and the excitement from the chorus is well maintained throughout the entirety of the song, making it a more fun song to listen and dance to. Even though I don’t relate to anything discussed in the song, Sivan and Charli make it so exciting and captivating that you can’t help but dance along and feel like you’re a part of the situation yourself. This song will probably be stuck in my head every day for the next year, making it one of my favorite songs overall. Charli and Kiwi pop prodigy Lorde may seem alike and have the same hair, but
fans of the two know that both their music and personalities starkly contrast. In actuality, the two maintained a sort of rivalry for multiple years until “working it out on the remix” of Charli’s “Girl, so confusing.” Many listeners easily identified Lorde as the subject of the original song, in which Charli describes the complexity of the two women’s relationship and their previously conflicting stardom. In a Billboard interview, Lorde revealed she felt misunderstood after hearing “Girl, So Confusing” following the release of “Brat,” prompting the collaboration on the remix. On top of Charli’s already very honest song about her struggles of jealousy and insecurity in her relationship with Lorde, Lorde added to Charli’s confession with her admittance of her mistakes. Lorde sings, “I was trapped in the hatred and your life seemed so awesome; I never thought for a second my voice was in your head.” In this statement, Lorde confesses her prior resentment towards Charli’s success. She later goes on to realize her mistakes, singing “Now I totally get it; Forgot that inside the icon, there’s still a young girl from Essex,” the icon being Charli. This song demonstrates a healthy relationship between two friends with internal conflicts and provides a positive example of “Talk talk-ing” things out and forgiveness. Not only is this song super catchy, but it is also relatable to many other girls and provides a positive example of conflict resolution.
In a way, the “Brat” remix feels like a resolution to the original album itself. Charli candidly addresses her struggles depicted throughout the original songs, and the remixes help her either resolve these conflicts or find peace. Although I can’t review every song, I earnestly believe that “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” follows exactly what the title describes: it uses the essence of “Brat” to reimagine entire songs through a new lens, adding nuance and depth to the meaning of the album as a whole.
"Agatha All Along" was cringe-worthy and failed to live up to its predecessor "Wandavision's" heights by Ava Anzivino
It’s Spooky Season, the best time of the year. Most of my time is spent taking Spirit Halloween trips, carving pumpkins, and of course, doing a little Halloween binge-watching. To satisfy Halloween junkies like myself, Marvel released “Agatha All Along,” a spin-off show of Marvel’s “Wandavision” series, highlighting antagonist Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn). As a “Wandavision” fan, I had high expectations for the new series and the eerie, Halloween vibe it emulates. However, I was quickly disappointed by the cheesy performances and cringey writing. The series follows the all-powerful witch, Agatha Harkness–who is revealed to be the antagonist at the very end of “Wan-
davision” as she breaks out into her trademark song, “Agatha All Along.” The story begins three years after the final episode of Wandavision, as Agatha finds herself trapped as a regular human, stripped by Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) of all of her witch power. Agatha panics to find a way to gain her magic back when she quickly realizes her solution: the Witches Road, a dimension that very few witches can access and even fewer survive. The Road supposedly grants the lucky witch(es) who survive it their deepest need, and with Agatha in need of her magic, she’s willing to take even the most severe measures. With the help of Agatha’s teenage stalker played by Joe Locke, she assembles a coven to travel the Road with, in attempts to seek the gifts that lie at the end of it. Immediately, the show struck me as cringe-worthy. In “Wandavision,” Agatha’s character was dramatized to match the sitcom-esc vibe of the show, winning the audience through her comical lines, musical numbers, and her powerful performance during the big plot twist that reveals her villainous intentions. Hahn perfectly executes the quick switch from the classic, cheesy sitcom character, to a threatening evil-do-
er, making Agatha very popular amongst Marvel fans. The script went downhill for poor Agatha, which was unfortunate considering the fact that this was Hahn’s opportunity to once again showcase Agatha’s duality. Instead of Agatha appearing as the nefarious supervillain she was once made to be, her lines and mannerisms in the series were laughable–and not in a good way. It seems as though the writers’ goal was to make her appear as a fierce, powerful woman, but it came off as forced feminism with a side of wince-worthy lines that made the show hard to take seriously.
The same could go for most female characters in the series. While I’d hoped that all the witches would emit a tone comparable to the song “Season of the Witch” (the Lana Del Rey version, obviously), their lines felt so forced. I’m a massive Aubrey Plaza fan, who plays Rio Vidal, a fellow witch who’s introduced early in the show, and even her performance rubbed me the wrong way, as the lines given were hard to execute without sounding awkward. They stuck to corny witch cliches, which hurt the spooky, high stakes atmosphere the show was trying to build.
I will give credit to Agatha's teenage stalker, who is yet to be named, because he kept me invested in the show. He's played by “Heartstopper” star Joe Locke, who does a great job at capturing the youthful, comical quality in his character. He’s able to steer a little farther away from the
required “Gen Z" appealing character that is randomly inserted into modern day television shows just for views, and makes the character seem authentically boyish and juvenile. The chemistry Locke’s character has with Agatha is perfect and the duo was hilarious, despite the fact that the material they were given wasn’t exactly top notch. Without the corny writing and cliches used throughout the show, it could be considered a good plotline; it delivers with its eeriness and mystery, but those aspects of the series are quickly, and unfortunately overshadowed by Marvel’s poor attempts to incorporate humor and more obvious entertainment factors. If they’d left it alone, the plot would have spoken for itself, giving the fans the scary, binge-worthy series that it was marketed as. All in all, I didn’t find the series all too exciting, a huge let-down considering the positive uproar Agatha caused in her role in “Wandavision.” The writers’ constant use of cheap lines and stereotypes dampens the sparkle Agatha once had, ruining the potential the show had to highlight Agatha’s character. In the future, Marvel should invest in writers who care less about appealing to the Gen Z audience for the profit, and think more about portraying their characters authentically, like they did with Agatha prior to her internet fame. So was it “Agatha All Along” or was it really “Agatha All A-Wrong?”
Not something to smile about Smile 2
By Claudia Turner
lacks a fresh storyline and proves to be a boring
watch
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me for purchasing that 24 dollar ticket on opening weekend. Luckily for the “Smile” franchise, I’m gullible enough to assume they might do something different this time around. Unfortunately for horror fans
ratively pointless. There was no reason to kill off this character besides shock value, and it served as an excellent reminder of this franchise’s core problem of refusing to let their main sympathetic characters survive. Looking back at how Smile 1 ended, with the main character, therapist Rose
genuinely well done gore aspects it had, and there was a theme of injuries going on that could have been way more effective then the repetitive dark apartment jump cuts.
to derail her life, tour, and public
The movie starts with the “entity” now possessing the cop from “Smile” (Kyle Gallner), who kills a dealer to pass on the curse, then gets hit by a car and dies, all before the movie hits the five minute mark. Though this is an appreciated (if a bit flimsy) attempt to tie the two movies together in a chronological manner, it’s also a clear demonstration of one of the “Smile” franchise’s main flaws: its deaths are so nar-
reveals that an important character is actually a hallucination; predictable scares made even more predictable because I had already seen them before. There was one creative jumpscare I will give the film props for —a scene inside a scene where Skye is watching a video on her phone— but other than that, the rest of the jumpscares were rather flat and predictable. Sure, they upped the anxiety level, but none of them were effective in conveying real horror. I wish the movie had played more into the
Here lies my core problem with the movie. True horror has an emotional aspect to it; you can’t derive real fear from momentary frights or gross-outs. The “smile” itself is just too gimmicky and not scary enough to carry the movie like its writers so desperately need it to, and all other “scary aspects” of the film are underbaked and not well thought out. The “entity” is clearly a stand-in for trauma, but this metaphor is both too simplistic and also creates some pretty strange messaging for the viewers. If the entity is trauma, that means no matter what you do after a traumatic event to try and heal and move on, that trauma will always control your life until the point of mental collapse and suicide? I’m not saying your horror can’t be depressing—in fact, I’m a big lover of depressing films—but this set-up removes all agency from the characters and turns them into simplistic vessels for suffering to be projected onto until they eventually get thrown away for the next vic-
Now, the film wasn’t all bad. You could clearly see the jump in budget from the first one, and Naomi Scott plays the role of Skye perfectly. Her embodiment of a pop-star who’s whole life is controlled by her manager mom was excellently done, and her vocal abilities shined in the non-thriller aspects of the film. And for a while there, they had a really engaging storyline surrounding Skye and the brother of a former victim of the entity, who wants to briefly stop her heart to kill the demon. They effectively strung me along with this one, until (of course), the whole plot line get’s retconned as another hallucination that left me both very confused and very disappointed. If you enjoyed the first “Smile” film, or if
you're looking for some quick scares to go see with your buddies this Halloween, I’m sure “Smile 2” is right up your alley. But for annoying artsy film lovers such as myself, who like horror movies that give them something to ponder over rather than multiple heart attacks in a row, you’d be better off on your couch, rewatching “Hereditary” for the 20th time and giving yourself something to really smile about.
something to ponder over rather than multiple heart attacks in a row, you’d be better off on your couch, rewatching “Hereditary” for the 20th time and giving yourself something to really smile about.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” fails to live up to the timeless original film
By Aaliyah Roberson
As a a long-time fan of the DC universe, there was no question as to whether I was going to the theaters to see “Joker: Folie a Deux” and experience the insanely iconic clown in person. That was until I saw how it was received domestically following its release on Oct. 4, 2024. The sequel to the critically acclaimed “Joker” (2019), which won Joaquin Phoenix, the star of the film, his oscar for best actor the following year, was on track to be a hit. However, this was quickly proved wrong as it made $119 million worldwide on a budget of $200 million and received a score of less than 35% on Rotten Tomatoes. While I questioned if these opinions were fact or fiction, I decided it was better to see for myself. So as I sat in the warm leather chairs waiting for on a Satur day night, I was able to come to the con clusion that the critiques held some truth.
story of “Joker: Folie a Deux” is set rough ly four years after the events 1
of its predecessor and follows failed comedian (and psychopathic killer) Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) as he struggles with life and finding love after his dual identity. In the film, Fleck must answer for his deadly actions from the first film, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals (or was it six), by standing trial for his crimes. Early in the film he meets Harlee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) in prison and quickly falls for her, willing to do anything to be with her.
There are a few reasons why I believe going to see this film was a disappointment, one being that it was a musical. For
dured the horrible conditions of their prison life, I was quite surprised. My main issue with the decision to make a story about manic criminals into a musical is that it didn’t really bring anything to the story. At times where tension was growing and I became invested in the film, the opening chords would play for yet another song and I couldn’t bring myself to care. Throughout two hours of a somewhat drawn out courtroom hearing, it got old quickly hearing what sounded like the same two songs being performed repeatedly in sequences mostly sung in Fleck’s head. I’m not entirely surprised they went this route, however, because if you have Lady Gaga, why not use her? If they had done so productively, and without the dramatic interruptions of captivating scenes, this film would’ve touched more people in the audience, including me.
Another problem was the film’s depiction of Harlee Quinn, who is supposed to be the Joker’s even crazier partner in crime. While Harley Quinn is often celebrated for her bold and unpredictable nature, this film reduces her complex character to a series of shallow antics, missing the depth that makes her truly compelling. Imagine my surprise when instead of the manic sex-positive icon we know her to be, she came across as a mere groupie of the Joker superfan club. When I first saw the casting of Gaga for the role, I believed it had so much potential. However, the only things her character did throughout the story was sing and attempt to convince Fleck to be Joker. Her character truly held little depth beyond this point which didn’t hold up to the traditional charismatic, insanity that is Harley Quinn.
One true highlight from the film was the amazing cinematography done by Law-
rence Sher which captured raw emotions from a distraught Fleck and tense moments of the courtroom. I genuinely thought the lighting styles in this film held more impact on the story than some plotlines themselves which kept me in my seat for the duration of the film. There were times when the Joker’s makeup felt like a completely different personality just because of a change in camera placement and this attention to detail created the iconic Gotham-esque feel I strived to feel.
A great film should be able to be concluded with an even better ending that leaves the audience striving for more, which was yet another thing this film was unable to accomplish. It felt rushed and was left on an extremely improbable note that added nothing to the plot other than confusion. While I would like to say it was trying to set up for a future film in the Joker universe, this is highly unlikely now that the director Todd Phillips revealed he is moving on from the DC universe, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This reaffirmed for me that this sequel feels like it isn’t a continuation of a previous story, but a whole new narrative.
While I had hoped the deranged clown would continue his violent rampage and havoc that made the original film and timeless character so memorable, the film made Arthur Fleck seem more contemplative and aware that was too drastic of a change to love on the first watch. The storylines of “Joker: Folie a Deux” did not live up to my, along with many others, expectations for this film especially following its iconic predecessor making it ultimately fall short.
PHOTO VIA ROTTEN TOMATOES
1. PHOTO VIA WIKIPEDIA
2. PHOTO VIA IMDb
sports 14 Victory on the gridiron
The Sea Hawks defeat Santa Monica in a blowout win, final score 28-14
by Ethan Chi
While Santa Monica High delivered the first blows to Redondo’s defense, the Sea Hawks refused to be beaten down. After their second loss of the season to North High, varsity football redeemed themselves by defeating Santa Monica (Samo High) in a 28 point comeback game, on Oct. 14. The boys closed out Samo’s homecoming match with a 28-14 victory, adding to Redondo’s impressive record of 6-2, and maintaining their spot as second in league.
The first quarter started off slow for the Sea Hawks, with Redondo’s slew of incomplete passes and sacks leaving the boys struggling to gain yardage. And after a turnover to Samo possession, Redondo was scrambling on defense, quickly giving up their first touchdown only with three minutes into the game. For senior running back Ethan Maleman, the first quarter felt like an energy drain for the team.
“It was pretty frustrating. We couldn't get things going either side of the ball. We knew we weren't playing very well, and that we needed to pick it up,” Maleman said. “There were a lot of heads laying down in the locker room, and at that point we knew we didn't want to let us playing poorly at the start to affect the rest of our game.”
The rest of the first half told a similar story, with Samo making consecutive 12 yard pass receptions, waltzing their way to first and goal. Although the Sea Hawk’s defense tried to push back, with senior linebacker Milo Youker making consistent tackles that pushed the vikings to fourth down numerous times, it wasn’t enough. Samo ended up scoring within seven minutes of the second quarter with a trick play, leaving Redondo trailing by 14 points by the end of the first half, and in need of making up some ground.
“At that point we knew we were playing from behind, and everyone was a little low, side line was low, energy was low, heads were down, but the locker room at half time was just like, we need to get back in there, and we need come back because it really never over until it’s over,” Maleman said.
The boys made up some ground in the third quarter, with junior quarterback Cole Leinart throwing consecutive pass completions, bringing Redondo to the 30 yard line within the first three minutes of the half. A strategic hand off to sophomore Lucien Iglesias allowed this running back to sift through Samo’s defensive line and make it all the way to the end zone. Just like that, Redondo was back in the game. Leinart credits these game changing runs to Redondo’s strong offensive line.
“Every single play from the offensive line was great. Myself, Maleman, Lucien, Zeno, we all get a chance to run the ball tonight, and that's all from the offensive line. Nothing happens without them," Lienart said. They were balling the whole entire night, and honestly is what helped us gain some of that momentum back especially at the start of the second half.”
With Samo back on offense, the Vikings were dangerously close to Sea Hawk territory, but a Samo fumble, picked up by defensive lineman junior Michael Ricardo changed the tide, and brought possession back into Redondo’s hands. The boys capitalized on this turnover, with Leinart making a monumental deep pass to junior Bo Ausmus into the endzone, leading to a 30 yard pass completion and touchdown for the Sea Hawks. But even though the game was tied, Maleman notes the match was very much not over.
“Last week, we tied it up at 14-14, and they ended up coming back and winning
the game. And so that lit a fire underneath us. You know, just because it's a tie doesn't mean you know it's over. Just because we're down doesn't mean it's over, and so we just need to fight to come back and play,” Maleman said. “But once we got that tie we knew we had energy and the mo mentum to win.”
Redondo’s defense was tight on Samo the entire third quarter, with senior safe ty Zeke Johnson making an interception, leading to a Redondo possession for the rest of the quarter. Dominating on offense, Leinart notes he saw the opportunity and took it, running the ball into the end zone, which finally broke the tie and gave Redon od the edge.
“We were hyped. I mean, if you're here, you know, the sideline was jumping, every one was having a good time. We were just having fun. That's the biggest thing. We're just playing football and having a fun time as a team,” Leinart said. “That's just the po tential that our team has once we're going, I mean, it's pretty hard to stop us. And we just felt like it wasn't over, but we had the flow, we had the motion, and we were just going.”
The boys had a smooth transition into the final quarter. The boys racked up yet another touchdown, solidifying their vic tory under Samo’s Friday night lights, 2814.
“We just didn't want to pick our foot up off the gas. We wanted to not let them come back at all, put it on their neck and make sure we take home that win,” Male
man said.
“Going into our game against Pen
Swinging into victory
Girls golf makes a swift comeback, defeating El Segundo in a close match of 235-261
by Cristina Couch
Asingle stroke in their previous game separated varsity Girls Golf from a win against Santa Monica and an undefeated season record. In hopes of reinitiating their winning streak, they returned home (Alondra) Tuesday, Oct. 8, defeating El Segundo 235-261. Freshman Rose Callewaert finished one below par at 36, followed by junior Katelyn Kang and senior Team Captain Jalene White-Short at 47 and 49 respectively.
“Last week we were a little understaffed, because it was a weird day for us to play on Wednesday, so we didn't have as many players as we normally do. This week, we had all of our star players and they all played great,” first year golf coach Greogry Erskine said.
After their standard warm up of range hitting, putting and chipping balls followed by a pregame huddle, the girls separated into their designated groups and awaited tee off.
“[Before the first hit, I tell myself to] go slow, because if I go too fast, I'm gonna top the ball and it's going to go five feet. I try to have a goldfish memory. So, say I did top the ball and it went like two feet, I try to forget about that swing, and all of that. And I try to just focus on my next swing,” sophomore Clarie Visosky said.
Redondo gained an early lead of nearly 20 strokes as the girls progressed through the first three holes. Within that time, the players acclimated themselves to the unfamiliar layout of the course.
“Before the season started, we did a few practice rounds [at Alondra], but most of the girls didn't get to actually play the back nine, because we always normally play the front nine. That's what's different [about this game], but sometimes it's actually more fun because it's new,” Callewaert said.
To add another element of surprise, the course was aerated the day before, a biannual process that keeps the grass short by punching and filling thousands of holes on the greens with sand. These conditions make the green unusually coarse, and consequently harder to put on.
“Every hole is unique and different. [Back nine], they're not necessarily harder [than Front nine]. They're just different shapes, and there's little hazards they're not used to. So they have to adapt. For example, on the first hole, so many girls were hitting to the right, and it's in the trees, because they're not used to playing it. You really want to stay left, but it’s something that, if you don't do it a lot, you don't really notice,” Erskine said.
By hole four, midgame fatigue started to kick in, but Redondo maintained their lead. Both White-Short and Visosky agree that, however, after hole six, their mentality rejuvenated in anticipation of the last hole.
“When you get so excited, you rush, and you're just like, I’m going to finish it. But I think especially as varsity players, that's something you learn to manage. You learn to stay calm. And you're like, even though we’re on hole seven, it doesn't mean that the game's over. There's still more and you still have to stay strong. I treat it like I'm on hole four,” White-Short said.
Despite the unfamiliarity of the course and its aeration, the girls adjusted well according to Erksine. Further, their preseason focus on putting translated to their performance on the rougher greens.
“Sometimes they would be taking three or four putts [on the greens]. So my goal for them was, let's try to get two putts or better,” Erskine said. “We all worked specifically on the little three foot putts. And I had them do that for like 45 minutes, just
making close putts. So that way when they get up here, they don't get super nervous over those short ones. I’ve seen a big improvement.”
The girls hope to keep their nearly clean sheet through CIF, leaning on the community they’ve created to stay consistent as they compete against the top teams.
“Golf is a really social thing. Us girl, we've been friends for so many years and we’re spending four hours in a round together. For us it's all about having fun.
We’re a sport that isn’t hard on ourselves and we’re here to lift eachother up and support each other in the sport and in general,” White-Short said. “When you’re more relaxed and happy with the environment you’re playing in, you perform better. That’s why we have girls that have been on this team and want to be on this team for their whole high school career.”
Girls tennis loses in a dogfight, 10-8 against Bay League opponent Peninsula
by Sam Schwartz
Though girls tennis beat Peninsula earlier in October, they came up just short the second time around. Losing 10-8 the girl’s bay league record falls to 3-4, with only Costa left.
For their match against Penn, the girls worked on building their mentality more than their physical preparation, according to junior Keely Gould.
“[We worked on] expressing confidence in ourselves and being positive knowing that the match was going to become really close, so [we] could stay calm under pressure,” Gould said.
With every point counting, tensions were high. The only thing the girls could do was focus on their own matches, according to Gould.
“I think everybody on the team was really nervous because we didn't really know what the game score was and how it was gonna end while we were playing. Every game and every match mattered. So I was just really working on playing each point individually,” Gould said.
Winning all three of her matches, sophomore Kareena Yang believes supporting her team was ideal to have success.
“I didn't change much throughout the entire three matches. I didn't think I really needed to. So in between my matches, I was mostly focused on cheering my teammates on to help them do better,” Yang said.
Another part of the Sea Hawk’s success came from Gould and her doubles partner Sierra Sanchez, as they began to find holes within the Peninsula defense.
“We adapted to [Penn’s] playing style and found where we could win the most points,” Gould said. “Finding ‘the ocean’ or the open court is really good because you
can target that. [Also] knowing what your opponent is good at, like placing their balls to your backhand or to your weaker shot, or if they poach a lot on your returns, tells you where you need to place your [shot].”
Progressing with their season and hopes for CIF, the girls began to execute better in their doubles matches, though they hadn’t gotten the results they wanted against Peninsula. Although she doesn’t play doubles, Yang saw improvement in the team’s doubles play.
“We executed the best in our poaching in doubles, we were very strong at our volleys and we got a lot of points off of that. Even though we didn't win most of our matches in doubles, we still played and executed that really well,” Yang said.
Nerves played a big role in the girls' defeat, which according to Yang, is often a contributor to the team’s losses and an influence in their overall chance to face finer teams.
“We can improve upon our team mindset. I think we sometimes go into the matches feeling very nervous or tense, and that affects how we play because we make a lot more mistakes than we should. If we improve on that, then we definitely have a better chance of beating the better teams,” Yang said.
With only Costa left on their schedule, the Sea Hawks will look to better Costa’s starting decisions for their best chance at a rivalry win.
“For Costa, I think we're gonna switch up our lineup to put maybe one of our singles players into doubles,” Yang said. ”I think that we're going to stack our doubles more, [because] I'm pretty sure that Costa will too. So I think if we have our good players playing singles, we'll have a better chance of winning.”
Sophomore Aleksandra Brzozowska begins the point with a serve. PHOTO BY ROBERT PACKARD
Chloe Nimeh concentrates as she lines up a put.
PHOTO BY TALIA PATTISHALL
SYNCING UP TO PLAY
For student musicians like senior Peter Ota and sophomore Gigi Grabher, music has been a foundational part of their lives, cultivating confidence and fostering a sense of community through performance by
Payton Rothluebbers
Hundreds of songs play all around campus; the soft click of AirPods cases shutting, the unwinding of wired earbuds and the rhythmic beats spilling from classmates’ speakers. Amidst this auditory backdrop, each student carries a distinct musical narrative that has shaped their identity and influenced their academic journey.
Music is a constant in some peoples’ lives, such as that of senior Peter Ota, a current trumpet player in the marching band.
“I grew into the habit of having music in the background. Just the idea of having background noise, with or without lyrics, it’s always been there,” Ota said. “Throughout my childhood, I’d always have music playing throughout the house. My dad is always interested in new songs every day. He’ll say, ‘Peter, look, a new song,’ and almost analyze it with me.”
Ota’s sentiments are echoed by fellow musician, sophomore Gigi Grabher, who plays drums and bass. Grabher views music as an essential outlet for expression and connection. Grabher’s journey with music began at a young age and has played a crucial role in navigating life’s challenges.
“Music has genuinely shaped my entire life. It’s been in my life since I was 4 years
my parents’ music tastes. I definitely heard a majority of rock music growing up from both of them. I didn’t listen to pop or K-pop when I was younger. I found BTS when I was in fourth grade, and they introduced me to that kind of music,” Curry said.
Similarly, senior Viet Nguyen discovered his music preferences on his own, as his parents’ influence on his taste was limited.
“My parents aren’t super into music. They’re into it as much as any average person. Most of the music I heard from them was just radio music or music from their culture. Their tastes didn’t really influence me that much. Over time, as I got older, I started listening to different genres [on my own],” Nguyen said.
No matter what music people consume or how influential it was to their childhood, music has its ways of helping people. Researchers at McGill University have concluded that music releases dopamine along with other helpful neurochemicals, soothing stress and improving overall mood.
“[Music] has definitely always been comforting,” Ota said. “I’ve always been able to sit down and calm myself down or do homework with music. It helps me sleep. On a daily basis, music just helps me
old. It’s helped me in every situation,” Grabher said. “Recently, I just drove my sister to college, which was really difficult because she’s my best friend. She’s always been there for me. But having music and being able to write music gave me an outlet, and I ended up writing three songs about it.” As well as music serving as an outlet for them to express themselves, Grabher also believes that music has created stronger connections in their life.
“I started playing drums when I was 4. I taught myself, and then after that, it created my whole life. Starting lessons drew me close to a lot of the teachers, and I feel like I got closer to my family too, because they were realizing that this was such a big thing for me. It really influenced my life as I grew up,” Grabher said.
While Grabher attributes their music taste to their parents as their parents introduced them to “rock and midwest emo, and [they] stuck with it,” junior Cate Curry doesn’t believe that her parents’ tastes in music influenced hers at all, considering that the music she enjoys is a stark difference from them.
“My music taste is really different from
function better as a person.”
Since music has played a significant role in childhood experiences, its influence continues to permeate the school environment, thanks to the convenience of modern technology. With the ease of slipping on AirPods or earbuds, students can integrate their favorite tunes into their daily routines, whether in class or while studying at home.
“A lot of the time, [listening to classical] music while studying or doing work can distract me. I develop a fixation on the music rather than doing whatever I’m doing. I hear all of the things I would change or mistakes [in the music] and it brings out the perfectionist in me,” Nguyen said.
The Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice states that almost 75 percent of students study with background music. Additionally, cognitive psychologist Brian Anderson’s research has found that its effectiveness is trivial. According to Anderson, music does improve memory, however true multitasking is impossible, meaning that music can often serve as a distraction. Listening to music while doing academic work can take students’ minds off of the work, but this fact can be both posi-
tive and negative.
“I listen to music and I sing when I study. I don’t know if it helps because I get sidetracked sometimes, but it [makes studying] fun. My work generally gets done faster when I’m listening to music, because it’s distracting. It makes me forget that I’m doing work,” Curry said.
The effect of music on academics reaches further than just having it on while studying. According to the National Association for Music Education, learning to read sheet music has a handful of benefits, especially in adolescence, including the facilitation of language and mathematical development, improving memory and more. A study conducted by the Art Education Partnership concluded that music students score 25 percent higher on standardized testing compared to their peers; additionally, another study by the University of Wisconsin found that students who received musical training improved problem-solving skills by 36 percent. For people like Nguyen who have been reading sheet music since childhood, these benefits can be “hard to notice, since it’s a gradual improvement.” However, the benefits have been easier for Grabher to recognize, since their experience with sheet music has been more sudden.
“I can’t read sheet music because I taught myself to play [instruments], but
I’ve been going to lessons for it and trying to learn. It’s definitely difficult, but it brings me out of my shell. It makes me try harder, and I’ve noticed that it helps with math,” Grabher said.
Music's impact on self-expression is also evident in performance settings, where it fosters a sense of belonging and connection.
“Performing provides a lot of confidence for me. It pushes me out of the box. When I’m performing in the Marching Band, I feel very connected to the community. I have all these people with the same passion as me, and we all get to perform together,” Ota said.
The thrill of being on stage can transform any initial anxiety into a powerful sense of release, as experienced by Grabher.
“I get a little nervous before performing, and then once I start playing, I get this feeling. I forget about all my problems,” Grabher said. “[The music] comes back, almost like muscle memory. It’s such a rush of adrenaline, and it feels so good. I ride that adrenaline high. When I’m done, I get so pumped up that I’m shaking. It’s so exciting.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PETER OTA AND GIGI GRABHER PHOTOS OF CDS BY KATHAN MALLYA