Sophomore Samantha Davidson helps operate family owned Mama D's restaurant
Sibling stereotypes, age gaps and unique dynamics highlight how family roles shape sibling relationships Celebrating marginalized communities should not be a single month dominated by commerical interest
Boys lacrosse faces off against Brentwood in an early season matchup
PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA FODELMESI
PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABELLA MARTINEZ
PHOTO COURTESY OF MINKYUNG JO
PHOTO COURTESY OF INDIANA CONNOY
PHOTO COURTESY OF MALIA UJIKI
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARISA ROSARIO
PHOTO COURTESY OF ELISE ERNST
PHOTO COURTESY OF WESTLEY REESE
PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON MARTINEZ
news 2
Go Sea Haw s
Cheer places third overall at NHSCC
by Hayden McMahon
Their hearts beating with adrenaline and stage lights shining on them as they stepped onto the mat in perfect synchronicity, the cheer team put their trust in their training, coaches, captains and each other as they competed for a national title at the National High School Cheer Championship (NHSCC). The cheer team competed with teams from around the country at the beginning of February in Orlando, Florida, placing third overall and earning the honor of a national podium medal for the second year in a row.
Varsity captain junior Lauren Moskowitz remembers her first time competing at a national level at the beginning of 2024, but this time, she had a different amount of pressure and responsibility due to her role as a captain. After hours of training to prepare for this moment, all she could focus on was the mindset of her and her team.
“I was confident in my cheering, and deep down I knew that I could do it, so all I had to do was not psych myself out. All year our coaches focused on making our stunts and choreography perfect and making us feel prepared to compete, so I had faith in the team,” Moskowitz said.
According to Cheer Coach Lisa Hedspeth, all of the training, focus and precision teaches the girls life skills. It is impossible to perform well if the athletes do not get along well and do not trust each other, so they learn to work out any conflicts in their own time. They also learn to remain composed under pressure and transform their nervousness into useful energy.
“I always remind them that pressure is a privilege and that even making it to nationals is something to be proud of and grateful for,” Hedspeth said. “They knew that they were there to represent our school and community, and that they had the support of everyone back home and the many who came to watch them.”
According to varsity captain junior Mya
Mourad, last year’s gold medal put all eyes on them during this competi tion season.
“It was really crazy to be announced as national champions at a few com petitions this year, and even though it was an honor, it made other teams step up their game a lot, which put us in a sort of pres sure cooker,” Mourad said.
Even though the competition felt rough this year, cheer team grateful for ive and jority of were, during Mourad remembers mingling with other teams and feeling very uplifted by how nice they were.
“Our coaches are very friendly, so we were able to make some really good connections with other teams. A New York school called Ursuline was especially sweet, and they gave us stuffed animals and kind notes,” Mourad said.
According to Moskowitz, there should always be room for respect and kindness, even if it is a direct competition. She believes that because cheer is such a team-oriented sport, everyone learns to help each other make the best of a stressful situation.
“That’s the beauty of [cheerleading], we all have a spirited energy, and we all chose this sport to have fun. We would meet up with random teams in the hallways and just start dancing, and I just love that ability to branch out and have a good time, regardless of the pressure,” Moscowitz said.
Not only were the cheerleaders able to
find a mutual support system with teams from across the country, but they’ve also developed long lasting friendships with local teams. According to Hedspeth, their ties with Mira Costa and Edison run deep.
“I just love how our team can turn what is considered a rivalry in other sports into a friendship. I have been friends with the coaches at Costa for years and their support for us at nationals was so heartwarming,” Hedspeth said.
The cheer team’s win last year was monumental, especially considering that it was their first time competing on that level. They had practiced their stunts and arranged their team so that they were set up for success. Their main goal going into this year's competition was to maintain their podium-level status.
“Our coach always tells us that no team deserves to win backto-back and that it is more of an added bonus than anything, so we went into this year’s nationals with that mindset and goal of getting on that podium,” Mourad said. “I am so proud of the team as a whole for working so hard all year to go home with a national medal.”
Since competition season has come to an end, the coaches and captains are now focused on supporting as many other sports teams as they can at RUHS and training for next year. The captains plan to train hard and adjust their team to perfection for next year.
“We did a great job of keeping morale up, but next year, I plan to make sure there are no communication issues between the captains and the rest of the team. We will also be much more experienced with these competitions, which will give us a better idea of how to train,” Moscowitz said. “I am so proud of how well our team did this year, and now I just hope we can stay at this level next season.”
The Arts, Media and Entertainment panel gathered in the library to talk to students interested in the industry
by Stella Harper
In the library, all the chatter stopped as the presenter began to talk. The six volunteer speakers sat in a row facing the crowd of students and peers. The reason the students had gathered there that day was to learn about the arts, media and entertainment industry and what those jobs in those fields entailed. One of those students in the crowd had shared that the event had piqued her eagerness to learn what new job presentations RUHS had to offer at our school.
“If it's a chance to talk to professionals I feel like I should take that [opportunity] and get insider advice and knowledge to see if I might want to pursue that path,” freshman Georgia Hughes said.
The panel included a movie director, a personal assistant and others who had volunteered their time to make students aware of possible career options. From
being raised by a music teacher and being involved in multiple plays outside of RUHS, entertainment has played a big role in Hughes’ life. Although Hughes is unsure about pursuing career in entertainment, she attended the panel to educate herself on different career possibilities.
“I love entertainment in every form. I like to make people laugh and smile, and I have a fascination with imagination. Especially what children can come up with,” Hughes said. “Childlike imagination is one of the most powerful things in the world, and I know that whatever I want to do [in the future] would involve teaching adults how to relearn that childlike imagination.”
Freshman Violet Garcia also attended the event since the Drama Club’s meeting spot was also in the library. She wanted to hear the speakers because she was curious about their opinions on the topic.
“I felt a connection to the part where
high tide staff
editors-in-chief
Scarlett Mische
Marley Van Pelt
Stavyah Naveen
Cristina Couch
digital director
Ethan Chi
news editors
Leyla Evenson
Payton Rothluebbers
features editors
Daniella Gross
Ava Anzivino
opinion editors
Claudia Turner
Priya Ramcharan
entertainment editors
Isabella Kohler
Meara Fay
sports editors
Celeste Ernau-Vargas
Jayla Dorbor
writing & copy editors
Kat Otey
Deeksha Prasad
Delilah Aguilar
online editors
Lauren Choy
Rena Felde
Valentina Masoni
Deeksha Prasad
Amina Raïss
Sam Schwartz
Marlena Lipan
Kate Brucia
Katarina Sapina
Aaliyah Roberson
adviser
Kerri Eastham
staff writers
Sanaya Bhatt
Aashka Bhuptani
Allison Lee
Kayli Mai
Hayden McMahon
they talked about AI because I also enjoy writing [in my free time]. I liked that several of the speakers said they really didn’t like AI which made me more engaged hearing their point of views,” Garcia said.
The speakers spoke about how there is a fine line between AI serving a helpful purpose and AI becoming a crutch or inconvenience. Garcia enjoyed how the speakers bounced their ideas and opinions off each other.
“I really did like how the topics they covered made everyone in the audience feel, and I also noticed the speakers were engaged with each other as well,” Garcia said. “The whole room felt more like a conversation rather than a speech.”
Garcia was already familiar with the panel, as one of the speakers was her friend’s dad.
“It felt a lot more [meaningful], being able to know the person and because of that, I had more of an interest in what they were saying. As well as understanding their point of view more and the words they didn’t say out loud,” Garcia said.
While Hughes didn’t have that connection with one of the panelists she still appreciated the tips and advice. Altogether the experiences shared by the speakers was inspiring and motivational.
“It was really cool when one of the panelists said that ‘everyone in this room has their own story and background and everything that you can contribute is valuable,’" Hughes said. "I've been thinking about my [own future] career and it reminded me that there are steps to take towards that.”
Fi Borgese
Blaze Braff
Ziva Chabot
Kaitlyn Chang
Evie Comeaux
Bella Engleman
Maria Gaggiano
Ellie Gasparovic
Safi Hamilton-Torres
Stella Harper
Carly Jacecko
Kate Lanzdorf
photographers
Grace Amici
Dalilah Almeida
Abigail Bierwiler
Mia Cielak
Josselyn Dawson
Lorelai Land
Haylee Lawrence
Kathan Mallya
Samantha Milzcus
Talia Pattishall
Ava To Evan Teal
Grace Tayag
Matthew Vitt
Emery Min
Isabella Nguyen
Ashley Peterson
Melissa Pilato
Sophie Rebbeck
Khloee Tange
Francisco Villegas
Matthew Vitt
Samantha Kim
Allison Sutton
Panelists at the event. PHOTO BY ROBERT PACKARD
Junior Jessi Martin at NHSCC. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN MOSKOWITZ
Under the spotlight
Band hosted a preview concert before their upcoming competitions
by Bella Engleman
Around of applause echoes through the auditorium in the wake of the last note of a fast paced symphony of brass, woodwind and percussion. This event saw Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and both Jazz A and B perform three to four songs each. Frederick Steiner, the band teacher for all four classes, prepared his students for months leading up to this concert on Feb. 18. This is Steiner’s first year teaching, and organizing the preview concert.
“It’s especially important for us because in March and April, all our different performing groups go and play to are judged at festivals," Steiner said. “The concert tonight is a really important benchmark for us. A goal to shoot for, to make sure we will be ready for those festivals.”
The setlist featured 14 songs, including arrangements like “One More Dream,” performed by Jazz A, and the three part “English Folk Song Suite,” performed by Wind Ensemble, that according to Steiner, were carefully chosen for the festivals, a variety of challenging, yet manageable arrangements for the students.
“When you are preparing these types of performances to be judged at festivals, for the concert band and wind ensemble, there’s actually a list that you have to pick
practice they put in beforehand.
Music is a great way for people to bond, and [when] people cheer, you feel good. It's like all the time you put into it pays off.
RAIN SHAABAN SOPHOMORE “
the music off of, and for jazz bands, you try to pick selections that have a variety [of music]. There’s only a certain amount of time you can use when you perform on stage, so you try to fit it all into the space you have,” Steiner said.
Freshman Cameron Akhavan, a saxophone player in Jazz B, said his band went into the concert confidently, and he didn’t feel particularly nervous after the daily
“I thought it went great, although the concert was longer than I expected, all the bands sounded really nice and we’ve definitely improved a lot,” Akhavan said. “Performing on stage is fun because the acoustics in the theater sound a lot better than just the band room, and it’s interesting to hear how our band sounds to other people, instead of just to us,” Akhavan said.
Out of all of Jazz B’s lineup, Akhavan’s favorite piece performed was "Well, You Needn’t" by Thelonious Monk.
“It’s particularly challenging, but we’ve been working hard on it, and now the whole band is more confident,” Akhavan said.
According to sophomore Rain Shaaban, a flutist and pianist in Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, she’s really excited for the festivals, especially the opportunity of competing and getting feedback from the judges, as well as getting to spend the event with her friends.
“Getting to play for others is really great because they enjoy it, and everyone has a good time. Music is a great way for people to bond, and [when] people cheer you feel good, and it’s like all the time you put into it pays off, so I think it’s really rewarding,” Shaaban said.
Shaaban sees good time management skills as important to balance all the time spent practicing and rehearsing in band with grades and homework, while also “priori-
tizing your own well being.”
“A lot of the band practices are non-negotiable. You have to sacrifice a lot of things that you love, like watching movies and reading, things you enjoy doing outside of school you have to prioritize for the weekends,” Shaaban said.
For Shaaban, the one of the most challenging parts of performing was the atmosphere, the bright lights and nerves, but once she started playing, “it’s like that all goes away.”
“I’m always pretty nervous because I'm a shy person but once you’re actually on stage, and you're playing it's like, ‘Oh I've done this a million times. I can do it,’” Shaaban said. “It’s an exciting feeling once you're on the stage because all these people are expecting things from you, but you’re in one big band, so no one's watching you specifically—except your parents—so you’re just making sure that you’re playing your part.”
Around Redondo
Students share their favorite moments with their siblings
by Allison Lee
“My favorite thing about my twin brother Oliver is that he likes doing the same things that I like to do. We're in [theatre] together. We get along so well because we are the same age, and we have the same friend group, so he understands all the references I make. So we get to bond over similar things, and he’s kind of like having a way too personal friend.”
-Bailey David, freshman
“I have three siblings. They’re all half siblings. The oldest is 31, my second youngest is 30, and my sister is 26. It’s really different having older siblings, since they moved out early on. Being able to meet up even though they have their own families and their own lives, we are just able to reconnect and have fun.”
-Kenji Lim, sophomore
“My favorite moment I share with my 8-year-old brother is being able to drive him around and treat him to special treats and stuff. Especially if he had a hard day at school, I like being able to drive him around and maybe get some boba. Anything I can do to bring a smile to his face."
-Em Tran, junior
“I have six siblings. My youngest sibling is 5-years-old, and the oldest is 25. My favorite moment I’ve shared with my siblings is definitely Christmas Day when we all open presents. I get to see everyone’s reactions, their faces, smiles and everything. Just when we’re all in one space, and it’s really positive. Family gatherings are always super loud, and it always feels like there’s a bunch of people in the house, which is nice because it gives a sense of community.”
-Indiana Connoy, senior
1. Frederick Steiner conducts the band.
2. Frederick Steiner talks to the audience. PHOTOS BY ROBERT PACKARD
features 4
Like MOTHER like DAUGHTER
Kenzie Kish helps to manage publicity in her role of Vice President of Communications in the South Bay National Charity League chapter
by Sophie Rebbeck
Paper bags and ribbons were piled high on a table in the front of the Roundhouse Aquarium in Manhattan Beach as young girls and boys ran around to look at the different aquatic life in the glass tanks. When the kids turned their attention to the table, members of National Charity League (NCL) gave them step-by-step instructions on how to use the supplies to create their own toy jellyfish, turning their trip to the aquarium into a memorable experience.
“It was one of my first ever volunteer jobs,” freshman Kenzie Kish said. “I know I loved the aquarium as a kid, but sometimes other little kids don’t find it as interesting. So if they find something that they enjoy, then they will pay more attention to the actual meaning behind the aquarium.”
For Kish, helping organizations in her community has always been her passion, either through donating money or volunteering at different establishments. So when an opportunity came up for her to join NCL, she immediately took it.
“I joined in seventh grade, which is the first year that you can join the program. It runs through senior year of high school, so I’m about halfway through volunteering, and it's such a rewarding experience,” Kish said.
NCL is a philanthropic organization of mothers and daughters that annually provides close to three million hours of community service to 6,000 charities in the United States. The organization also supports over 25 non-profits in the South Bay
area, such as the Beach Cities Toy Drive, the Cancer Support Community South Bay and the Lovejoy Foundation. According to freshman Kayla Bullen, members such as Kish spend anywhere from 15 to over 100 hours a year volunteering at different organizations around the South Bay and meet with other NCL members to prepare for work on the various philanthropy projects they carry out in the community.
“There are a lot of different positions within NCL, and we all work together to help the community,” Kish said. “I remember being called one day by my friend who's in NCL, and she said ‘I’m at a meeting with all the nominating commitee and we decided that you would be the best for the VP of Communications next year.’ And I was like, ‘Sure, why not?'”
Once she steps into her role as vice president of communications, Kish will be in charge of communicating important meetings, dates and locations to the members of her chapter of NCL, as well as sending out announcements in collaboration with the mothers in the group. Another position in NCL is digital media, which Bullen currently holds.
“This year, I’m NCL’s digital media person, so at all of our meetings I take photos and send them to our social media chair to be posted online,” Bullen said. “But, my first year I was in charge of telling everyone etiquette tips during our meetings, like how to
be polite and greet people nicely.”
After leaving Girl Scouts, Bullen and her mother joined NCL to continue community volunteering, finding multiple new places to help out all around the South Bay.
“My favorite place to volunteer at is a place called Sunrise Senior Living. I play games with the senior citizens, like Bingo, and they taught me how to play Blackjack,” Bullen said. “I help them with parties and deliver the residents’ favorite snacks, so I’ve formed a lot of fun friendships with the people there.”
Currently, the members of Bullen's NCL class are focused on expanding their subgroup of the greater South Bay chapter by integrating more students from Redondo into their program, as most of their members currently reside in Manhattan Beach.
“Personally, I just want to make more connections and more life experience," Bullen said. "With volunteering you make a lot of good relationships, and it just feels nice helping people.”
Sophomore Samantha Davidson helps operate family owned Mama D's restaurant
by Sanaya Bhatt
Red and white checkered tablecloths, the clatter of forks and knives against plates, and the laughter of families and friends enjoying dishes piled high with food can be heard at Mama D’s, a family-owned Italian restaurant in Hermosa. Multiple Mama D’s locations have popped up in the South Bay since the original location in Manhattan Beach was opened by Chris Davidson and his family in 1992. Sophomore Samantha Davidson, Chris’s daughter, works at Mama D’s and hopes to continue the family legacy.
“My dad, over the 35 years he’s had these restaurants, has always tried his best to make them cozy and to give them a family atmosphere. Almost like the 1950’s, where you walk into a diner and you see a regular and know their order. Every night, my dad goes table to table with the people who come in, to talk to them, get to know them, tell them about the restaurant. He does magic tricks for little kids, too,” Davidson said.
Growing up watching her dad manage the restaurant, employees and various locations, Davidson grew a passion for the work that goes into running a business and the role that she herself plays in the restaurant. At the restaurant, Davidson usually han-
dles the takeout, delivery and phone orders at the back register.
In addition to the work she and her family do on the floor, Mama D’s has a behindthe-scenes method that fosters the welcoming, efficient atmosphere.
“Working at the register is harder than it sounds, especially because we have a whole
system that no one really knows about. It’s called the 14 key points, and it includes making sure every customer gets fresh bread within 15 seconds, they’re greeted in 30 seconds, they get their drinks in a minute, and it goes on. We also have a mission statement, and we’re all really committed to
making sure we stick to it,” Davidson said. “The mission statement highlights our dedication to giving our guests a superior experience by being friendly, focused, having a positive attitude and playing to win.”
From a young age, Davidson has hoped to continue working at the restaurant, potentially taking on a higher role when she’s older.
“Since I was young, I’ve learned so much about the restaurant and about how it works just by watching. When we were little, my childhood best friend and I would go to the hostess
stand outside and pretend to greet people, and even when I couldn’t help out in the kitchen, I would greet people at the front. I have so many memories there that it’s hard to imagine doing anything else,” Davidson said.
Chris Davidson has watched his daughter go from spending time around the restaurant as a child to taking on an extremely important role within the business.
“I’ve watched her grow unbelievably. If
she wasn’t too young, she’d be my manager. She runs the store, she knows the mission statement, the 14 key points, she can recognize in a second if the bread doesn’t taste the same or the music is too loud,” Chris Davidson said.
In addition to the ways she helps out with the managing and service aspects of the restaurant, Davidson’s close relationship with her father and the integration of the whole family into the business helps to cultivate the familial environment of Mama D’s.
“People love when they see the father-daughter duo. I’ll go to a table, and then I’ll call her over, and she’ll put her arm around me and we’ll talk to them together. That’s family, and people love family,” Chris Davidson said. “My nephew works for me, both of my daughters work for me, and my mom herself was Mama D, so the whole family is integrated into the business. When people see the family, they love it, because we’re all in this together and we’ve all got each other's backs.”
For Davidson, working with her family so closely has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her job at Mama D’s, and being part of this community is one of the driving factors in her decision to hopefully carry on the family business one day.
“My dad created this amazing place, and I’ve never been in a restaurant like Mama D’s. It has a certain atmosphere, where when you come in, you’re family,” Davidson said. “I’ve always said that I want to take over the restaurant. I have plans to go to El Camino and take business classes, and if I do that, I’d love to manage it one day. It really is my dream.”
NCL members gathered together making Valentines Day cards PHOTO COURTESY OF KENZIE KISH
Grace Walker creates Lion's Heart service club by
Marlena Lipan
After 80 hours of sorting books at the Redondo Beach Library, a love for community service was sparked in sophomore Grace Walker— leading her to create the Redondo Beach Lion’s Heart Chapter, a branch of a nationally recognized service club.
“The main [purpose] of Lion’s Heart is to spread service to others. It is a place to emphasize how what you do for others can make an impact in your community, whether big or small,” Walker said.
One project that the chapter plans to take on is a bake sale to aid communities impacted by the California wildfires. The proceeds will go to LA Strong, an organization that assists fire victims.
“If I had been placed in their shoes, I would be going through so much pain. They’ve shared their experience with the team and it helps me understand that I’m helping, even if it’s by giving them extra food or clothes,” Walker said.
Organizing service projects for everything from shelter animals to environmental restoration, the chapter aims to serve various community needs.
“[Volunteering] has made me more empathetic, seeing and hearing about what others go through. Many people aren’t as privileged as myself, and I am very grateful [for my privileges]. Ever since starting the club, I have started appreciating what I have more than ever before,” Walker said.
While many other student-led service clubs in Redondo Beach meet in school, the Redondo Beach Lion’s Heart Chapter is an independent, off-campus club that meets about once a month, whether it is at a coffee shop or in a member’s garage.
“It’s empowering because there are a lot of clubs that have been around for years, and it’s powerful to start and become the root of something new,” Walker said.
Because she is in the founding group for the Lions Heart Chapter, Walker has the responsibility of building club membership from the ground up.
“Currently we only have six members, but we hope to get many more. My community in school has changed because I have reached out to people and stepped outside of my comfort zone, trying to get more people involved [in the club],” Walker said.
As president of the club and a player on the varsity girls lacrosse team. The club members appreciate Walker’s ability to run the club efficiently. Sophomore Alessa Gutzman has witnessed Walker’s leadership from the beginning.
“Grace provides structure. She prepares us an agenda, which has the topics that we are going to touch on for that meeting. They are normally an hour, and she has always been well-prepared,” Gutzman said.
Walker’s goal is to achieve the bronze division of the congressional award. She’s shared strategies to achieve the award with the club, aligning with her methodical approach to her club president title and her academic career as a whole.
“Everything [Grace] does has a purpose. She doesn’t carelessly take a class just because everyone else is taking it. She knows her limits, but she also knows how to push herself. She’s very passionate about what she does all around,” sophomore Claire Visovsky, another club member, said.
The club helps contribute to each member’s service hours, increasing their chances of being recognized.
“[The award] is cool because you can do it together while also doing your own separate thing. You really, truly have to make time for it , without getting school credit for it,” Visovsky said.
With the opportunity to go to Washington, DC to receive the award, Walker and her club must accomplish a service hour requirement along with physical fitness, exploration, and personal development to receive it.
“It is made to highlight well-rounded individuals,” Walker said. “If we ended up receiving that certificate, it would truly commemorate our hard work, and signal our success as a club.”
FILM frenzy
Eight a.m. on Friday morning to 5:00 p.m. on Monday evening. That’s how long senior Grace Carroll had to create her 1st place award-winning segment titled “The Cyborg,” under the wildcard prompt that was revealed at 8:00 a.m. Friday.
The prompt required submissions to focus on helpers in the community—Carroll decided to focus on RUHS instructional aid and baseball coach Andy Ammentorp, who has a neurological disorder called essential tremors which causes him to have rhythmic shaking in his hands and vocal cords.
“I saw the prompt and immediately went to talk to Mr. Andy Ammentorp. I told him I was interested in interviewing him and then during, 3rd period I went and filmed an interview with him. I also filmed some b-roll of the special education classroom and baseball. A lot of ‘The Cyborg’ really required learning to be adaptable in a short timeframe,” Carroll said.
As RUTV’s executive producer, Carroll and STN [student television network] coordinator senior Kendall Keenan participated in the STN’s Fall Frenzy 2024 contest under the wildcard broadcast for the western region.
“Mr. Sheehey always talks about how the best STN-winning stories have some form of tugging at the heartstrings involved. So as someone who has received a lot of help in his life for his medical condition, it was really interesting that Mr. Ammentorp’s career at Redondo is helping other people,” Carroll said. “It was just a great story because he's someone everyone sees all the time. We've all walked by him, but you don't really know his story unless someone goes out and tells it.”
Seniors
Grace Carroll and Kendall Keenan win first place in the Student Television Network Fall Frenzy contest
by Lauren Choy
that it was easy to watch because you were enthralled by the story. It was educational as well because I had no idea this condition existed, but now I'm realizing that my grandpa has something similar. So I think that it's a well-rounded piece, which probably caught the attention of [the audience],” Keenan said.
Her ability to create this easy-flowing and structured segment didn’t just arise from her time in the classroom. Carroll has received recognition in her work with broadcasting journalism before, winning the RUHS student of the year in advanced digital production last year as well as attending Medill Cherubs Northwestern Journalism Institute program this past summer.
“'I’ve always been someone that's a storyteller. When I was a kid, I would do creative writing in school. I did theater for a while, which is where I started to appreciate visual expression,” Carroll said. “I’ve known I wanted to be a broadcast journalist since seventh grade. Specifically, I've known I wanted to go to Northwestern since then. I also knew I wanted to be on the Today Show since seventh grade. I've had big aspirations for a while, and RUTV was the first step towards that.”
Under her role as executive producer, Carroll has increasingly emphasized the need for RUTV members to submit their works to STN in order to uplift the program and gain more recognition. Keenan joined RUTV because of Carroll’s influence a few years ago, and notes that Carroll's changes this year have “turned the program around in the most positive way."
“When Grace and I have a normal conversation, we're like sisters. But when we work together on a project, we have the same thought process. We have similar ideas and really click well together,” Keenan said. “I just submitted a letter of continued interest to Purdue and talked about how I plan on joining Purdue's news channel, even though I’m not majoring in journalism. That was all because of everything that RUTV has taught me, most significantly because of Grace.”
Additionally, adapting to given circumstances was a major part in the creation of “The Cyborg” segment and spotlighted what journalism is really about.
I've always been someone that's a storyteller. When I was a kid, I would do creative writing in school. I did theatre for a while, which is where I started to appreciate visual expression.
GRACE CARROLL SENIOR “
The competition and STN in general focuses on celebrating the creation of broadcasting, editing and film, which is ex actly what Carroll intended to do with her submission. On “The Cyborg,” which is titled as what Ammentorp sometimes jok ingly calls himself, Keenan helped with camera work and additional sup port, but noted that Carroll was the real mastermind of the work.
“She organized everything so well
“What I took away from the process was that broadcast journalism and journalism in general doesn't have to be this crazy, fancy endeavor. I didn’t have a microphone. I didn’t have a $3,000 camera. It's about being adaptable. It's about having a storyline in your head of what you want to show people and how you want to make people feel,” Keenan said.
Applying to colleges with an intended major of journalism, Carroll’s recognition for “The Cyborg” is just the start of her future career. But for Carroll, remembering where she started and came from is what led to her achievement.
“When I look back at all the pieces I've done over the last four years, I feel like I have improved in some way. Sometimes it's hard to watch my own pieces. But I think that growth is something that happens over time, naturally, when you're putting in the work,” Carroll said.
Starting in Intro to Broadcasting as a freshman, Carroll climbed her way up the broadcasting program to the highest position of executive producer.
“I really did make the full progression of what's possible here at RUHS. I know that that will continue throughout college and my future,” Carroll said. “My experience really is a symbol that you can use this class pathway and other class pathways as a way to really earn something for yourself.”
1. Grace Carroll [left] and Kendall Keenan [right] proudly display their first place award from the STN competition . 2. Kendall Keenan [center] and Taylor Roth [right] planning a broadcast and Grace Carroll [left] providing feedback PHOTOS COURTESY OF KENDALL KEENAN
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Junior Nicholas Collins starts up his own photography bussiness to pursue his passion for the art form
As he hears the familiar clicking sounds from his camera, junior Nicholas Collins knows that he’s about to experience the most exciting aspect of his job: seeing the client’s reaction. Collins owns his own photography business, Portfolio by Nicholas Collins, which he’s been working towards for about three years.
“[This business] has given me so much more confidence in my photography,” Collins said. “I’ve come to realize that it’s not only the raw photo that matters but the time you take after to edit. Not everything is going to be perfect right away. You have to work on it, and revise it.”
For Collins, making his photography more well-known throughout school was a challenge. He started building his portfolio by taking pictures of his friends to show how credible his skills were.
“Starting the business is the hardest part,” Collins said. “Once you get the wheel rolling, you can start charging more, and peo ple will trust you.”
Collins got his first camera as a freshman. He became more familiar to students as a photographer by taking photos for ASB at football games as a sophomore. Collins’ idea to start a business
came from students at these games asking for photos. His interest in photography was sparked by an iPhone, after his grandfather bought the family bundle before the pandemic.
“I was obsessed with the iPhone 11,” Collins said. “My grandpa took me out, and we had a whole day where we just took photos on our phones, and that started [my passion for photography].”
To capture a good photo, Collins must make his clients feel comfortable and relaxed. To do this, he gets to know his personnel better and connects with them in a way he didn’t before, starting with simple conversations about photography.
“I remember when I wasn’t close with one of my clients, I just knew them from ASB,” Collins said. “It was cool because not only did I get to take her photos, but I bonded with her. We had dinner after and talked a lot. I got to know her better as a
Collins’ main goal while on the job isn’t just to take a good picture, but to instill confidence in the clients he photographs. To him, knowing that he had a part in their self-confidence is what is most fulfilling about being a photogra-
“It feels so good when people repost the photos on their own account because it means they genuinely like it,” Collins said.
“I’m just so proud every single time that someone smiles at their photos; it’s a really rewarding feeling.”
Collins’s involvement
by Kate Lanzdorf
online was a huge factor in familiarizing people at school with his business. Having his business accessible through recommendations on social media makes gaining publicity much easier.
“I love social media. I’m the marketing director for theatre here [at RUHS], and I have so much love for editing things,” Collins said.
can just get so much more exposure than posters or flyers.”
“You can use social media as your portfolio for someone to see, and you
Junior Cayenne Lawrence got her headshots taken by Portfolio by Nicholas Collins. She and Collins have been childhood friends since first grade.
“[Collins] is an amazing photographer and can make whoever he’s taking pictures of feel comfortable and be able to open up to be natural,” Lawrence said. “He comes up with awesome poses, and he executes them very well.”
According to Lawrence, while creating
the atmosphere, Collins brings his unique sense of inventiveness to the photo shoot.
“He’s really creative. When we did the photo shoot, we didn’t have a black backdrop,” Lawrence said. “He got the idea to use a tablecloth from Dollar Tree, so we walked there and ended up using that as a backdrop.”
Collins considers himself a perfectionist. He puts his greatest effort into any project, whether it’s big or small.
“In school, if I have a slideshow in class, I’ll make sure it looks good even if that’s not required. I just like having that extra flair,” Collins said. “Whenever I put my name on something, I want it to be the best quality work I can offer.”
Collins applies his attention to detail to photography. It’s regular for him to be diligent in his work, so he carries this mindset into handling his business.
“I’m hands-on in the process of taking the photos and after the fact as well. I can take 1000 photos, and just sift through them all,” Collins said. “I don’t mind going through all of those photos to find the best one. Starting Portfolio by NC has helped me realize that tedious work isn’t necessarily busy work. It just helps you get the best outcome.”
Collins never realized what a great impact photography would have on his life. Portfolio by NC began as a small business taking headshots of his friends and has now blossomed into a project he plans to bring with him after graduation.
“No matter what career I choose, I’m going to continue photography,” Collins said. “My plan for the future is to work, but also put more and more into my business until I can eventually branch off on my own. I just love photography so much.”
Junior Juliette Jacob volunteers with the Lovejoy organization to spend quality time with animals
by Samantha Kim
On weekends, junior Juliette Jacob may be seen out and about walking different dogs every week. Though she has a few pets of her own, these dogs aren’t all her pets; the dogs that she walks on the weekends are part of her volunteer work at The Lovejoy Foundation.
Lovejoy, which is a nonprofit organization, focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating and finding new homes for dogs. On weekends, the organization sets up tents outdoors where volunteers can come and play with the dogs or take them out on walks around the area. Volunteers of all ages come to care for the dogs and those who come weekly, come excited to see the dogs grow or even get adopted.
“Most of the puppies get adopted pretty fast, but a lot of the dogs there are there for a long time, so I have been going back and seeing most of the same dogs that have been there since I started,” Jacob said.
Jacob, after finding out about the organization through her friends, found motivation to volunteer beyond the typical obligation to accumulate volunteer hours.
“Getting the volunteer hours is an added bonus, but I just love animals,” Jacob said. “Something that’s really great about volunteering with animals is that you get to help those animals that don’t usually have the constant bonding and attention.”
Jacob also saw the volunteer opportunity at Lovejoy to be the “most accessible” to her due to the “easy hours on the weekend,” and also found it to be approachable for those who love animals but aren’t in the position for pets.
“When it’s like ‘oh, I’m not in a position right now to get another animal or another puppy,’ volunteering is a time where you can hang out with animals that want that love and will greatly appreciate it,” Jacob said.
While volunteering, Jacob meets all kinds of dogs, big and small, and loves spending time with all of them.
“When I go, there’s always puppies there that I love to connect with,” Jacob said. “I feel like there’s a stigma around big dogs or pitbulls, so I just love to walk a variety of them. A lot of the big dogs love to tug on their leashes so sometimes I’m getting pulled down the street, but I love to walk them because they’re all very loving.”
Before finding herself volunteering at Lovejoy, Jacob, since a young age, had always loved animals and wanted pets of her own.
“I used to beg my parents to get me a dog,” Jacob said. “I used to watch TV shows [with animals and pets] all the time when I was younger, which is when I really realized what a pet was, which to me meant a companion you can be around. I would always see golden doodles and they would come up to me and I would think, ‘oh this cute fluffy dog just loves to hang out and be around people.’”
Jacob’s developing love for animals was observed by her mom, Kristen Jacob, who remembers the many pets they had in their house along with an early memory of Jacob gravitating towards animals.
“Juliette’s love for animals involved a lot of pets in our house. She’s had a turtle named Speedy, some sort of lizard named Oakley, a couple of fish and a couple of cats,” Kristen Jacob said. “She has always loved animals. I think when she was 5 or 6, she did the toy testing at Mattel and was able to choose a Barbie, and she chose the vet Barbie.”
Jacob currently has three pets now, a dog named Rocket and two cats, Mr. Whiskers and Bandit, and her special relationship with each is seen by her mother.
“With any pet, there’s just a bond be-
tween the animal and the human and she has a little bit of a different relationship with each one,” Kristen Jacob said. “Certainly with our dog and our cats, they’re excited to see her when she comes.”
As her mother described, Jacob has a bond and finds companionship with her pets, and naturally, for the dogs she meets through Lovejoy, she describes the relationship with them to be a “little different” than with her pets, but she still deeply cares for them.
“I’m not with the Lovejoy dogs as much as I am with my own pets, but I still see the animal shelter pets as my own pets. On the weekends when volunteers can come in and walk them, it’s a really good time for them to socialize. With my pets at home, they always have people around them,” Jacob said.
Jacob finds happiness through spending time with the dogs but also finds that it can be an outlet for stress relief and love.
From the dogs’ perspectives, they would also form different relationships with the various volunteers who walk them, but Jacob feels that no matter who it is, they are just happy that people are there.
“Half the time, they are in the shelter and in their own cages, so they’re just happy to go out with you and hang out with people. It’s a little different with every dog, but I can definitely feel the love coming from the dog. They’re just very interested in you too, and you can tell that they enjoy being able to go out and walk,” Jacob said.
Like the dogs when she is volunteering,
“With animals, I feel like you don’t have to be a big people-person,” Jacob said. “Sometimes you don’t want the pressure of communicating with people, and being with animals is a lot less pressure. You just get to be with an animal that will love to be with you no matter what.”
1. Cayenne Lawrence poses to play guitar.
2. Collins sets up his photography equipment to begin shooting one of his clients.
3. Lawrence poses in front of one of Collins' improvised photo backgrounds. PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICK COLLINS
4. Jacob spends time with one of the Lovejoy animals.
Lara Garabedian speaks on her Armenian community
by Kaitlyn Chang
At 3:30 p.m. every Friday, junior Lara Garabedian has three hours of school left. These hours are not spent at RUHS, however, but rather at the Armenian Relief Society Armenian School, which she has attended for over 10 years.
Garabedian started going to the school because of her mom, who attended when she was a kid. The group of students there knows each other well, especially growing up together and being surrounded with their culture.
“[The Armenian community] is very close, and we just relate to each other in a different way [than school friends]. It’s just a tight community because there are so few of us,” Garabedian said.
One of Garabedian’s sisters, freshman Lily Garabedian, has also gone to the school since she was 4 years old and understands the impact it has had on their lives.
“I think it’s important to learn the language. In case you go to the actual country, you connect better with the people that live there. It’s important to learn where you are from and all the history behind it,” Lily said.
Throughout the time that the sisters attend school on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., they learn Armenian reading and writing, history and singing. Lily and Lara are in the same class, and learn the same topics for history. When it comes to reading and writing, the older students are given a higher level, and are tested on it, as well. Lily finds that going to the school allows her to have a stronger relationship with her family because of a deeper connection to their heritage.
“I think [Armenian culture] makes us closer,” Lily said. “[My grandma] really loves when my sisters and I understand the language and we speak it. I think that it’s important.”
In Garabedian’s experience, the Armenian community at RUHS is not widespread. As a minority, she understands the vitality of spreading her culture amongst others.
“A lot or all of our ancestors are Armenian and they’re really strong with [their connection to the culture], but they lived in Armenia,” Garabedian said. “Here in the U.S., there aren’t many [Armenians], so I think it’s important to learn it [the culture] and spread it.”
Although there are many fun moments shared between the community at the school, like dinners at the end of the year with lots of food, the community also leans on each other for support during tougher times.
“The community as a whole has gone through so many struggles throughout the years. Having a community to relate to, you have a strong bond because you guys have struggled together,” Garabedian said. “In the Armenian genocide in the 1900’s, Armenia got destroyed. [Many] of our ancestors had to leave their home and spread out throughout Europe, and then they came here. But that isn’t really talked about. It’s an ongoing problem and not a lot of people know about it, but having the community from Armenian school, it’s nice to talk about it and see ways to improve our community and make it more well known throughout the world.”
For Garabedian, an important part of spreading the word of Armenian culture, its history, language and more is preserving the information for the future.
“[Armenian culture] is not really well known. It’s not really talked about at school, a lot of people probably don’t even know it exists,” Garabedian said. “So being able to tell other people about it and know it myself to pass it onto my kids or further into the generations, that’s really important.”
VENTURE TIME!
Venture Crew facilitates an outlet for Redondo students interested in outdoor activities and adventure
by Maria Gaggiano
Offering a variety of activities ranging from backpacking and sailing to service projects like environmental restoration, Venture Crew, a program inside the Boy Scouts of America, helps venturers learn exclusive skills from outdoor endeavors to leadership roles. According to Venture Crew advisor, Chris Keller, Venture Crew allows scouts to participate in high adventure activities that are geared towards high school and college-age scouts.
“They get to do their own activities. Scouts can start BSA in 5th grade, [but] it’s clear 5th graders can’t do the same things that 12th graders can. I mean, we’ve done hiking trips where we hike up to 10 miles a day. This branch gives the scouts an opportunity to take part in more challenging, riskier activities,” Keller said.
Venture Crew tackles demanding outdoor activities while strengthening leadership skills, such as communication and organization.
“We take on all different adventurous activities. It could be hiking, backpacking, doing water sports—we do so much. Right now, though, the Venture Crew is planning a South Bay ‘campery.’ It’s a type of camp where all troops in Los Angeles are invited to work alongside each other and explore the outdoors together,” freshman Hailey Elias, a second-year member, said.
Bringing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to the scouts, like visiting different countries and camping in several states, Venture Crew guides young people to build on life skills and explore personal interests.
“Last summer, the girls' troop took a trip to Norway to go sailing for a week. It wasn’t just about traveling and exploring, there was so much preparation leading up to
the experience. Practicing my sailing here in Redondo is what led me to start competitive sailing for the Redondo Team at King Harbor. [The experience] opened my mind to the different opportunities all over the world,” Elias said.
Now in her second year with the crew,
ed his own goals to the group. Concerned with the recent increasing frequency and intensity of the California wildfires, Carson wanted to help forest services who have felt a strain to keep the trails maintained for the public to enjoy.
she reflects on all that the program has brought to her.
“When I first joined, it was more comfortable because we had several girls in the troop, Venture Crew has fewer girls now though. We have camping measures where boys and girls separate in terms of tents, but during the day we’re a joined group and do all our activities together. I haven’t felt excluded, they’re all really good people,” Elias said.
Involved with the crew since 2021, senior Paul Carson has implement -
“We went out to the San Gabriel Mountains and did volunteer trail restoration work. The opportunity came together when we were backpacking and met a Forest Ranger, by chance. With their contact, I took the initiative in organizing a trail maintenance day with my Venture Crew and the San Gabriel Mountain Trail Builders. We spent the day clearing out fallen and overgrown bush, it was slow work but very rewarding,” Carson said.
Venture Crew has a high involvement with risky outdoor activities as well as giving back to the community. Through these experiences, Carson has found a deeper connection with the environment.
“You could say that in Redondo Beach we’re a little disconnected from our national environment, from forests and parkland. Being able to have an outlet that helps me explore the world has been really great, it’s one of the things that makes me love the program most,” Carson said. Venture Crew provides niche experiences and lessons unique to their program.
“I’ve been given the amazing opportunity to lead and to serve at the same time, throughout my exploring,” Carson said. “Growing my skill set and being able to organize events from the ideas stage, to the planning stage, to the execution stage—all while being able to serve the community and also my fellow scouts. Venture Crew has brought so many opportunities for me and many experiences to grow from.”
1. Senior Jordan Kisiler, Sophomore Noah Kisiler, and Freshman Hailey Elias are participating in Venture Crew's senior event. In snow shoes, they backpacked for one night at Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs
2. Members of Venture Crew stopped by another one of the southern islands of Norway and stayed there for the night. As depicted, they are eating 18 boxes of pizza for lunch and talking to the Norwegian scouts.
3. Captures the Venture Crew on a boat PHOTO COURTESY OF HAILEY ELIAS
Age gaps shape sibling dynamics, affecting closeness, responsibilities, rivalry and the role that parents should play in fostering these relationships
by Payton Rothluebbers
With siblings comes chaos in rushed school mornings, boredom in long road trips and comfort in spending late nights talking; siblings are irreplaceable. According to the American Psychological Association, eight in 10 kids grow up with siblings. However, rushed mornings, road trips and late nights
"Larger age gaps between siblings negatively affect personality traits of the youngest child in a two-child household. Specifically, a larger birth gap leads to more disorganized behavior, more neuroticism, and more introversion. For small gap ranges (gaps of less than 4 years or a gap of 2 or 3 years), we find that a larger gap leads to less self-esteem, more introversion and more anti-social behavior."
INFORMATION FROM INSTITUTE OF LABOR ECONOMICS
look different for all kinds of siblings. Age gaps largely affect sibling dynamics and relationships.
“From the moment you’re born, your family dynamic defines who you are and where you stand in the world,” therapist Kimberly Nicolson said. “[Large age gaps between siblings] can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be a really difficult thing. When siblings have age gaps, it can be harder to create a closer relationship. Older siblings might take on a mindset that their younger siblings [aren’t mature enough to relate to], so they don’t talk about their experiences the same way that siblings closer in age often do. Unconsciously, it creates a divide.”
Sophomore Violette Alshin shares a close relationship with her sister, who is two years older than she is. Alshin partially attributes their closeness to their small age gap and similar maturity levels, leading to them being treated as equals for most of their lives. According to the National Library of Medicine, shared learning experiences foster more intimate relationships between siblings, which are more likely to occur if siblings are at similar maturity levels.
“I don’t think we’d be as close if we had a large age gap. Currently, we’re essentially at the same level in life. If she was in her 20s, experiencing the world and growing
into an independent adult, I wouldn’t feel the same freedom to tell her things that I do now. There’s a confidence that comes with a close age range,” Alshin said.
Differences in maturity levels affect multiple aspects of sibling relationships. While they can affect closeness within re lationships, they also pour into mental health through parentification. According to Nicolson, parentification is the process of an older child taking on a parental role over their younger sibling. Although paren tification occurs throughout all types of age gaps, it is seen more often in large age gaps because as a child grows older, they can take on more responsibility.
“Adolescents go through so much change and challenges already. They need autonomy, independence and sometimes selfishness. This is the time to find out who you are; you shouldn’t have to take care of a small child. Even for older siblings who love to take care of their siblings and are great at it, although that’s a beautiful thing, they can fall into neglecting them selves very easily,” Nicol son said. “They don’t have as much of an opportunity to focus on themselves. In some cases, it can cause resentment towards their siblings or themselves, and it leads to anxiety and burnout.”
"Best" age gaps?*
Developmentally
Sophomore Avalina Orejel is the older sibling to two brothers who are 2 and 4-years-old. Along with the positives that come with building relationships with them, she can also get overwhelmed at times.
“I’m more of an authoritative figure to them. I have to be more of a role model because they’re so little, and they’re watching me as their example. Siblings that are close in age often fight and argue. They get to have a more playful and fun relationship. I can’t really have that with my siblings because I’m a lot bigger than them,” Orejel said. “I just have to be a better person for them.”
<21 months apart: Lower test scores in math and reading
>3.5 years apart: Higher academic performance
Relationship Impact
<4 years apart: Closer bond, but more conflict
>3.5 years apart: Less conflict, but tends to be based in admiration rather than "closeness"
Interactions between siblings that are close in age versus siblings who are not close in age are very different in na ture. According to Nicolson, they both offer unique learning opportunities.
“For siblings with smaller age gaps, they often get reinforcement and confidence in getting to learn things along with one another. With bigger age gaps, the dynamic is different. Older siblings often get that confidence by passing information onto the younger one, and the younger sibling gets to rely on their older siblings and have that role model,” Nicolson said.
According to the National Library of Medicine, younger siblings tend to look up to their older siblings as role models while
lings who have small age gaps with their older siblings still look up to them as role models, they tend to have more competitive dynamics as they grow older.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure. My sister and I experience school very differently. She puts in 110 percent and studies every day. She’s very on top of her work. Me, on the other hand, I do work whenever it’s assigned and I try to retain the information in class more than studying,” Alshin said. “Even though I might get a 95 percent, she’ll get a 99 percent, and so I just need to remind myself that we’re not the same person. I’m not her, and that’s okay. I
as new children are born, it is not hard for kids to notice these shifts. In some cases, siblings might rightfully feel like this shift is unfair.
“My sister was my mom’s first kid, and she was very strict on her. Parenting was still new to her, so her rules were different. For example, technology was so much newer and my mom didn’t trust it as much, so my sister didn’t get to experience it as much as I did. My sister gets upset about it sometimes because our mom isn’t as strict on me,” Yokota said.
Parents hold a special influence over sibling relationships despite the unique dynamics between siblings.
“Sibling relationships in general are so special and important. My main message to help these relationships thrive is to parents. It falls on parents to foster environments where siblings don’t have to be overly responsible or dependent on one another,” Nicolson said. “At the end of the day, siblings inherently just have love for each other.”
Sibling relationships vary widely, formed by unique challenges, responsibilities
mind people as Elle’s sister,” Cowan said. Opposite to Cowan's increased connection with her sister, senior *Angela, one of three siblings, feels that most of the responsibility in the family falls on her shoulders despite being the youngest. Angela’s eldest brother has autism, depression and anxiety, and her other brother struggles with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), which has posed difficulties for Angela.
“I never really thought to compare myself to other siblings' dynamics, but as I’ve gotten older, I realized how different it was, because you would think of older brothers as the ‘I’ll protect my little sister,’ but because of my brothers’ mental disorders, they were not like that at all,” Angela said. Angela recalls one situation that dis-
“The limitations of a child with disability exposes their siblings to internal and external tensions over a long time period. Nevertheless, siblings in families with a disabled member not only provide emotional support that cannot be provided by their parents, they also act as a proxy for caretakers, and play a special role in the family system.”
INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH (NIH)
her siblings' lives leads to feelings of “isolation” from friends and especially from her brothers. Additional tasks and responsibilities within the household gave Angela a sense of maturity as well as an increased standard for success. The NIH study echoes this idea, recognizing the potential familial effects of children's disabilities, touching on the available resources for siblings like Angela. “When I was younger, I felt the pressure to do well, especially because my oldest brother was a high achiever, and my younger brother did not graduate high school. So between the two, I wanted to do well,” Angela said. “I felt the pressure at first, and I think I’ve grown past that to want to do good for my own well-being. I strive to do good, but now I don’t feel pressure to.”
Oftentimes with siblings like Angela, the
sister she lives with, Mad die, has slowly formed a bond with Leto.
“I never really saw a close relationship as attainable since we aren’t biological. But as I’ve grown over the years and I’ve gotten closer to her, I see that being attainable. Maddie has a half-sis ter, Junie, and they are super close. When I was a kid, I used envious of their relationship, because Maddie looked up
One month? Not enough opinion
by Matthew Vitt
ACelebrating marginalized communities should not be a single month that is dominated by commerical interest
black fist or a rainbow. These are the go-to symbols corporations use to change their company logo whenever Black History Month or Pride Month come around. Usually, I ignore it. I mean, a logo isn’t going to affect me—I know that after a month, maybe a month and a half, the company will quietly switch back to its original profile picture, as if nothing happened.
I grew up not realizing there were different heritage months, especially the ones I was “supposed” to celebrate: Hispanic Heritage Month and Black History Month. Com ing from these two backgrounds, I knew one thing for certain: I was part Latino and part Black year-round—not just during February, September, and October. I’m an Af ro-Latino, and yeah, I’m proud of it, but do I need a couple of months to tell me to be proud? Not really.
Let me preface this by saying that I don’t think heritage months are inher ently harmful—I just think they are per formative gestures that only serve to re duce already marginalized communities to a month of celebration.
When do you hear super conserva tives complain the most? During these months, when corporations push per formative activism. Take Pride Month of 2023—Target found itself at the center of this debate. NPR reported that Target’s sales dropped by five percent in their first quarter after Pride Month due to backlash over their LGBTQ+ merchan dise. In response, popular conservative voices like Brett Cooper and Matt Walsh declared to corporations that fell into the over commercialization of these months that “If you go woke, you go broke.” Whether or not you agree with them, one thing is clear: many people get annoyed by what they see as corporate virtue signaling and the forced emphasis on these celebrations. Perhaps, if we make these celebrations year-round then conservatives won't feel as if people are being used and overshadowing others.
pedestal—one constructed from a well-meaning, but limited, perspective. The first History Month actually began as a week-long observance. In 1976, President Gerald Ford expanded “Negro History Week” into Black History Month to celebrate and recognize the Black struggle and the progress Black Americans had made in their fight for equality.
These months carry deep significance for the communities they aim to honor. For those who
knowledgment, a product of a divided society that assigns identity and significance to a single month.
Perhaps the issue lies not in the existence of History Months but in how they are integrated into our education system and cultural consciousness. The stories and contributions of marginalized communities deserve to be celebrated year long, and woven naturally into our understanding of history and society, not just restricted to a des-
light, celebrate and acknowledge their contributions and experiences. Supporters argue that without these dedicated months, the stories and achievements of these communities might be overlooked entirely.
The struggle for freedom, civil rights and representation doesn’t disappear without a heritage month. And sure, some argue that these months provide time to focus on historically marginalized communities. But why aren’t we doing that year-round? If we can integrate these months into the curriculum, then perhaps we can destigmatize talking about these marginalized groups. We then won’t confine the celebration of these people to only one month, but fully celebrate them year round.
Why should I wait for a designated month to be told that I, as an Afro-Latino, am important? I already know I am. I don’t need a shallow corporate gesture or a month-long acknowledgment that fades away when the cal-
At the end of the day, these months only deepen the divisions in an already fractured country. Instead of setting aside specific times to acknowledge different cultures and histories, why not integrate them into our education and everyday discourse? Why not make Black history, Latino history, Asian history, and all histories a part of the national conversation year-round? We shouldn’t need a scheduled month to make it acceptable to talk about these issues. They should always matter. magna. In vitae turpis massa sed. Ultrices
And when do you hear super liberals complain? When these months aren’t celebrated enough. With President Trump’s recent crackdown on DEI initiatives in federal agencies, fears arose—primarily among the Left—that Black History Month, Pride Month and others were under threat. Some worried that eliminating these celebrations would erase the very people they were meant to honor— an exaggerated reaction in my opinion, but I digress. Just because there’s no designated month doesn’t mean we, marginalized communities, cease to exist.
During History Months, it often feels as though the marginalized community being celebrated is placed on a
Yet, it seems as if society only finds it acceptable to discuss these communities during their designated month. In my own educational experience, discussions about Black History Month are typically confined to History and English classes, where they are presented as appropriate for that time of year. It feels as though these educators view it as necessary to talk about influential figures during February, only for those narratives to disappear once the month is over, lost in the other eleven months of the year.
This could be attributed to the limitations of the curriculum. After all, teachers only have about eight months to cover all of their material. However, it feels wrong that marginalized communities are reduced to a “token” ac-
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editorial: sibling dynamics
by High Tide Editorial Board
Siblings are often described as built-in best friends, lifelong confidants and the only people who truly understand what it was like to grow up in your family. They are witnesses to our childhoods, the only ones who share the inside jokes born at the dinner table and the unspoken understanding of family dynamics. Yet, while many siblings experience deep bonds, others feel an invisible barrier that grows wider with time. The years between siblings can shape their relationship, creating differences in interests, experiences and how they relate to their parents. But rather than allowing these gaps to create emotional distance, we should recognize the value of sibling relationships and actively work to strengthen them.
High school, in particular, plays a critical role in shaping sibling bonds. As teenagers navigate friendships and academic pressures, siblings can serve as a source of support and stability. Even if siblings attend different schools or are at different stages in their academic journey, these formative years provide opportu-
nities to bond over shared experiences.
Younger siblings may mature at a different pace than older ones, altering the way they interact and relate to each other. As siblings grow up, their perspectives, priorities and experiences shift, which can either bring them closer together or push them further apart. A once-distant sibling relationship in childhood may strengthen in adulthood as shared experiences become more meaningful, or conversely, once inseparable siblings may find themselves drifting apart due to differing life paths.
Despite differences among sibling relationships, one truth still stands: siblings are the longest relationships we have. Too often, people regret not building stronger bonds with their siblings until later in life. It’s crucial to nurture these relationships now before the distance becomes too great to bridge.
According to Psychology Today, the three distinct characteristics that make a sibling relationship a crucial one is the everyday contact, emotional Intensity and involuntary nature of the relationship. Furthermore, the article em-
phasizes how sibling relationships provide the foundation for “developing thinking and relationship skills” as siblings, regardless of age, will always teach one another. This unique relationship allows people with siblings to see each other’s point of view, experience life lessons and develop skills including “cooperation, providing support, sharing and being kind.”
So take the time with your siblings. Find common interests, check in on each other and recognize the value of having someone who will understand your past in a way no one else will. One day, when your parents are gone, your sibling will be one of the only people left who truly understands what your childhood was like. Don’t wait until it’s too late to strengthen that bond. Take the time now to build a relationship that will last a lifetime.
It's time to talk about BookTok
Books promoted by TikTok have no real literary value
Iremember when reading was lame. Man, those were the times. Go to morning CDC at 6:45 a.m. Settle down in a beanbag chair leaking pearly white beads out the seams and pull a battered copy of “Harriet the Spy” out. Read under the desk during class. Get made fun of for reading under the desk during class. 2016—you’ve got to miss it.
Now, it’s a little bit different. Reading isn’t necessarily lame anymore; I, at least, have seen way more people with nonschool assigned reading in hand than I did back in 2016. Nothing quite as intellectual as “Harriet the Spy,” though, so props to Louis Fitzhugh and 8-year-old Deeksha.
Booktok, a subcommunity on TikTok focusing on book recommendations, reviews, and other book-related content, has taken the reading world by storm. Publishers Weekly reported that in 2019, the last pre-pandemic, pre-rise of BookTok year, unit sales of print books numbered at 689.5 million. In 2021, that number reached a record high of 843.1 million. In 2024? It’s dropped to 782.7 million, but that still easily outdoes the years leading up to the pandemic—years 2015 through 2019 didn’t even break 700 million. Is it great that people are reading? Without a doubt. Reading is an integral part of society. It’s how we build our intellect, develop critical thinking, improve communication, foster our sense of em-
pathy and learn about new people, places and ideas. Reading is and always has been a tool for societal advancement and personal development.
But even if, according to Publishers Weekly, sales at Barnes & Noble have been growing steadily since 2022, that doesn’t necessarily mean the books that are being bought are the kind that’ll check the above boxes.
The books that go viral on TikTok all tend to follow a trend—books like “It Ends With Us,” by Colleen Hoover, or “Icebreaker,” by Hannah Grace, have a certain sexual quality to them that seems to be the main appeal.
In the 21st century, we’ve started to shift away from the idea that talking about sex is taboo. It isn’t the Victorain Era anymore— sex and Voldemort aren’t synonymous (that which shall not be named). However, we have to draw the line between a literary work and pure pornography somewhere, and overconsumption of “smutty” or “spicy” books, as booktok deems them, is miles past that line, in comparison to jokes and innuendos.
Pornography is defined by Merriam Webster as “the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement.” So, yes, many of the books espoused by booktok—“Twisted Love,” “Ugly Love,” “Beach Read,” “Haunting Adeline” and “Fourth Wing,” just to name a few, can essentially be considered porn with a plot.
Nobody can control what you read on
your own time. If someone wants to pick up a “spicy” Colleen Hoover book, be my guest. I won’t come into your house and rip it out of your hands. But when people are reading that at school? When it’s the only thing people are reading? As I see it, that’s cause for concern.
We often forget that access to literacy instruction wasn’t always as easy as it is now; I’m lucky to live in a society where I get the chance to be educated and have the opportunity to read freely. I’m not saying everyone needs to pick up a classic or a litfic novel as soon as they get into reading, but, I do think it’s an undeniable truth that some books have more value than others. First and foremost, we read to learn. To make ourselves more educated and empathetic people. In the same way that you don’t mark porn on your Letterboxd account, I don’t think that reading exclusively BookTok smut is true reading.
by Deeksha Prasad
books that the smut is a plot point rather than a key aspect of why they sell.
Thirty-eight percent of young people consult BookTok for book recommendations, and 59 percent say that BookTok has helped them discover a passion for reading.
INFORMATION FROM PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
Reading is also a form of entertainment—so yes, not everything you read has to be something with a grand message about society or a plethora of facts you’re likely to forget after a couple days. I’ll be the first to advocate for this—I annually reread an eight-book middle grade fantasy series simply because I like it, not for its particular profoundness. But, balance is important; even if we read for fun, I think it’s important we still stray towards books that are actually books, not glorified porn on the page. Even then, there’s an incredible value in picking up something that teaches you something new, or makes you think critically about the material. Reading is one of the most amazing things in the world; truly, just think about it. Entire characters and stories and worlds are born in our imaginations from a few lines in ink. Why waste the incredible capacity we have to read on material that ultimately provides us with nothing of note?
Can sex play a role in a narrative? Of course. But there’s a way for it to be done tactfully and in a way that’s actually relevant to the plot of a novel, and I doubt you can make the argument for most BookTok
And if you’ve read this and perhaps feel a bit targeted, I implore you to consider: if you’ve got the time to swing by Barnes & Noble and pick up the latest Colleen Hoover installation, then you’ve also got the time to pick up something a bit more substantial.
Online tests aren't an accurate or effective tool for defining personality
by Emery Min
If your favorite color is green, you love snakes and you can often be found doing evil, then congratulations— you're officially a Slytherin. Maybe you can drop that into conversation once or twice as an icebreaker. Maybe you’ll disregard it completely. Or perhaps you’ll spend the next hour going through online quizzes, trying to unlock the intricacies of your life as a “Harry Potter” character, from your wand, to your patronus, to which character would take you to the Yule Ball.
Although the “Harry Potter” example is a tad simplified, chances are that you’ve run into some similar form of personality categorization online. Horoscopic astrology has been used since around the first century BCE to determine a person’s character. Chinese zodiacs date back to the at least Han Dynasty and suggest that people have different traits depending on what year they were born in. More recent models used to assess personality, such as the “Myers-Briggs Type Indicator” (MBTI) test, define individuals by their fundamen tal traits.
For centuries, people have sought ways to define their personality, and the recent invention of social media has only creat ed an increase in this trend. I’ve spent a fair share of time filling out quizzes, and there’s no lack of categorizing testing available. There are over 58.2 million posts related to MBTI on TikTok, and countless videos listing archetypes that present an ideal combina tion of aesthetics and person ality traits that have originated from the app.
Some employers also use personality tests to evaluate potential candidates and help foster relationships between colleagues. According to The New York Times, personality testing is roughly a $2 billion in dustry (unsurprising, given how many tests demand a fee
for your results), and approximately 100 million workers around the world take psychometric tests each year at the request of companies like Scotiabank and McKinsey & Company.
However, despite the massive popularity of tests like these, they often fail to hold up under scrutiny. No scientific evidence has ever been found demonstrating that blood type or astrological signs—Western and Eastern alike—have any impact on a person’s personality. Instead, the “accuracy” of these tests are often influenced by confirmation bias, (our tendency to search for and view information in a way that will confirm our previous biases). And when you answer questions in personality tests, you will inevitably have biases, both conscious and subconscious.
But more than these tests being unfounded, they also can be harmful if the test-taker becomes overinvested in their archetype. The most popular personality test, the MBTI, defines a person’s personality in four simple letters with two possible options for each, making for 16 possible types. Although the test results include percentages of each trait, the types themselves fail to
consider this nuance. Someone who is considered 51 percent introverted is sorted into the same box as someone with 98 percent extraversion. Becoming overly concerned with advice and content based upon these extremes means disregarding the unique aspects of your personality. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung created the basis for what would eventually become the MBTI test— and he acknowledges the faults in a system that relies on extremes. As Jung put it in a Vox article, “there is no such thing as a pure extravert or a pure introvert. Such a man would be in the lunatic asylum.”
Even so, it’s understandable why people, teenagers in particular, are drawn to personality tests. In times of social upheaval and change, it can be appealing to have a more tangible understanding of who you are. Developing a sense of self and discovering your own identity through lived experience can take years—whereas a personality test may take less than 15 minutes. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix solution to an identity crisis, regardless of how many personality tests you take. Defining yourself using a rigid
set of traits, especially those derived from factors out of your control like your date of birth or blood type, is restricting and ultimately fails to encapsulate who you are as a person.
This is not to say that you should never read your horoscope or click on an online personality quiz again. I enjoy filling out the questionnaires and discovering which aesthetic or random object fits me best based on my birth month just as much as the next person. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using these categorizations as entertainment. It’s fun—no disasters have come from discovering which “Harry Potter” house suits you best or which “Monster High” character you’d be in another life. However, there’s a certain line that should be drawn. As stated by The Myers-Briggs Company, it is unethical to use the MBTI test for hiring, as the test was never psychometrically evaluated for hiring. Despite this, some companies still display preferences for certain MBTI types while hiring—for example, according to the newspaper Korea JoongAng Daily, a cafe in Seoul prohibited those with certain personality types from even applying. This form of hiring relies on stereotypes and assumptions which don’t fully represent who a person is.
Recently, I took an enneagram test that was supposed to determine which of nine possible types I was. The results were inconclusive. Instead, the test suggested that I do more research by reading additional books and taking more tests to determine my true type. And a couple of years ago, I probably would have done it. But nowadays, rather than go down an impromptu rabbit hole, I’ve decided to take a step back from obsessing over personality tests. So in the future, maybe consider the possibility that your personality expands beyond just four letters.
Sophomore Grace Tayag, junior Maddy Bain, and freshman Ryan O'SulIivan model what it's like to be trapped in their MBTI PHOTO BY HAYLEE LAWRENCE
SHIELDS UP COMPLAINTS DOWN
"Captain America: Brave New World" is a sharp, comicaccurate film that blends action, social commentary and wit
by Kat Otey
There are some people (chronically online Redditors, mostly) who will tell you that Captain America isn’t Black “in the comics.” Obviously, this is a halfhearted attempt to disguise racism with “oh, but canon says—” arguments. There are also people who haven’t read the comics who argue more along the lines of, “Captain America is Chris Evans, who is the racial equivalent of a pumpkin spice vanilla latte with whipped cream.” I’m here to tell you that’s not true. Not the Chris Evans pumpkin spice latte part. The other part.
Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, took up the mantle in the comics from a retired Steve Rogers as of Issue 25 of the Captain America run that ended in 2014, and debuted in his own Cap (Captain America) run beginning in 2015. Sam’s live-action Cap design takes inspiration from both the Falcon design and a character called Patriot, a Black man who has been established as a protege of Steve Roger’s Cap for years, notably in the first Young Avengers run that began in 2005 and in Marvel Rising animated productions in 2017 and 2018. So, actually, casting Sam Wilson as Captain America in the fourth Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installment isn’t just an interesting new direction for the films but an explicitly canon-compliant one. After all, comic fans are always complaining that the movies aren’t “comic-accurate.”
Fortunately, I went to see this movie with none of these people but instead with my mother, who knows nothing about superheroes and was just excited to see Harrison Ford (a refreshing perspective). She wasn’t disappointed: there was a lot of Harrison Ford in this movie. Arguably too much. Before the middle-aged women come for me, let me explain.
“Captain America: Brave New World” is the fourth installment of the Captain America movies sprinkled throughout the timeline of the MCU. “First Avenger,” “Winter Soldier” and “Civil War” all focus on Steve Rogers’ Captain America. “Brave New World” is the first movie and the second MCU project, the first being the 2021 TV series “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” (TFATWS), to focus on the story of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). The basic premise is that established at the end of “TFATWS:” Sam is now established as the new Captain America and is working more or less in alliance with the U.S. government, despite being at certain times ideologically opposed to their actions—for the greater general good. The main point of contact Sam has with the government is with the fictional President of the United States, Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford).
I’ll be real with you. The actual plot of
the movie will be confusing if you’re not caught up on the MCU lore. The characters reference the events of former MCU projects including “Eternals,” the 2008 “Incredible Hulk” (I know, I didn’t watch that one either), “TFATWS” and “Black Widow.” I actually enjoyed that. New MCU projects “fail” or underperform because they try to bring in new comic characters but never fully commit all the way. Movie fans don’t tune in because they don’t know or care about the characters, comic fans don’t tune in because they seem to completely disregard the actual comics in order to market to the movie audience (who aren’t watching) and then everyone leaves feeling somehow both confused and bored.
And no, the movie wasn’t exactly comic-accurate (sorry comic Joaquin fans), but it felt more like it was trying to be a comic book movie instead of a mass-marketed, overproduced mess.
As an avid fan, I pride myself in saying I did understand the plot (for the most part). But as someone who enjoys consuming media through the lens of current socio-political events, what I really felt made the movie stand out was the commentary on real-world issues and events that it both directly addressed and inspired in its audience.
The “Captain America is Black” discussion is present just as much in-universe as in real life. A lot of the movie centers around Sam and his struggle to prove himself and fill the shoes of Steve Rogers, a larger-than-life figure in the eyes of many. Several times, Sam expresses his regret that he didn’t take the same serum that turned Steve superhuman. It feels as if he’s asked to be something bigger than himself—not just in terms of superhuman fighting ability, but also as a Black man who has taken on the mantle of the American superhero. As Bucky and Sam address in “TFATWS,” there is an added layer of historical and current implications of a Black Captain America. Sam struggles to be true to his beliefs while feeling like he has to embody an “ideal” representation of his community in the eyes of everyone watching him— which is everyone. While the super soldier serum may be fictional, the performed “ideal example” that has been pushed on many minorities including African Americans facing systematic racism historically is very real.
The movie also brings back Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), the only Black man to take the super soldier serum who was subsequently imprisoned and wrongfully experimented on, as a side
character. The introduction of Bradley in “TFATWS” was one of my favorite parts of the show, and it was one of my favorite parts of the movie as well. The politically aware viewer sees in both Bradley’s backstory and his role in the movie commentary on the racism built into the US prison system, military, and government.
Obviously this is ultimately a comic book movie made by one of the biggest commercial franchises of the past century, which is owned by arguably the biggest commercial franchise of the past century (Disney), so any socio-political commentary is at best vaguely acceptable to the majority. It’s not going to be making any radical new statements, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important in its potential to reach a wide audience that can then have those deeper discussions about real world issues. Ultimately, "Brave New World" is a very fun movie. I don’t think it tries to do too
much. The conflict was interesting enough that it engaged me throughout the movie. I know an issue a lot of people have with Marvel movies is their propensity for quips and seemingly unnecessary jokes. Although personally that doesn’t usually bother me, I kept an ear out and can confidently say there are only two or three times I felt that a quip hater would be rolling their eyes. I think Anthony Mackie is great, as are most of his supporting actors. I definitely wouldn’t call it a masterpiece or a think piece or a uniquely must-see movie. But I could definitely make a think piece based off of it, and many people already have and will continue to, especially in regards to the themes I talked about earlier. So if you’re a little more pretentious about your media consumption, you go watch said think pieces. I would recommend you watch it, and even more than that I would recommend you talk about it.
PHOTOS VIA
Bread, Espresso & overpriced
Despite quality food, the prices of the Bread, Espresso & are not justified
by Rena Felde
Ihauled my friends with me to the 7 a.m. opening, fearing the bakery would sell out early like previous disappointed reviews suggested. My worries were partially affirmed. At 7:15, there was already a line and the product cases were barren. With five or fewer bread options available, the line moved quickly, and we checked out within 15 minutes.
Bread, Espresso &, a renowned Japanese bakery and cafe, made its Redondo Beach debut at the end of January and brought with it the famous “mou” bread, which means soft in French. The cubeshaped milk bread loaves are fragrant, buttery and come in a variety of flavors ranging from chocolate raspberry to eda mame and bacon.
I picked up a melon matcha bread, curry mou and clam chowder in a mou for $36, which was far from ideal for a few pieces of bread, but I kept an open mind, knowing that this bakery prioritized quality.
I began with what I was most looking forward to, the curry bread. I was drawn to the cute presen tation: a swipe of mashed potato with small spears of carrot, string bean and potato. I was pleasantly surprised by the plentiful amount of curry within the mou. The strong Japanese curry flavor with ground beef evenly distributed throughout was satisfying. The mou was perfectly rich and buttery and complemented the curry spices well.
After I devoured the curry bread, I took on another Japanese classic, melon bread—honeydew-flavored and adorned with a criss-cross green topping to replicate the exterior of a melon. The regular melon bread sold out, so I was left to choose the matcha version. It had a crunchy exterior and not-too-sweet, soft interior. The texture was pleasant, but I barely got any melon flavor, as the matcha powder topping dominated the profile. Though I appreciate Bread, Espresso & 's avoidance of the artificial taste that melon bread usually has, I missed the distinct flavor of melon.
I admit the various mou flavors and
served a measly salad, an orange slice and a miniature yogurt parfait. To top it all off, the honey was served in a container like one I would find at Denny’s. For being the co-star of the dish, I would expect nicer presentation. Though nothing on the plate was “bad,” the cost-value tradeoff was not worth it.
I went on a Friday morning, and the early morning crowd was bearable, so I assume other weekdays aren’t bad either. The line began to wane at 7:45 a.m., but I expect the number of patrons to fluctuate throughout the day because they restock with another batch of mou at 1 p.m.
and not very flavorful. The side salad was lackluster with only minuscule amounts of pesto dressing. The bread bowl was delightful, of course, but I would rather spend $6 instead of $21 and just get the plain loaf.
My friend ordered a honey and butter toast plate. For $17.40, she was also
The cafe is small but comfortable. With full tables and bar seating, the ambiance was calm and homey. An elderly waiter delivered me my meal, and I was surrounded down for a proper breakfast and individuals quickly stocked up on bread simple
sentation and uniformed
Espresso & serves an authentic Japanese cafe experience unlike such as 85°C. However, each
larger chains. Aside from the cleanliness and efficiency, a less favorable Japanese trait was the amount of plastic use I saw. Each bread you purchase is served in its own plastic bag, and there are also complementary water cups made of plastic. I understand the convenience and neat presentation plastic packaging offers, but it was unnecessary since I dined in. It
is nice to have items packaged for transport, but I wish they offered me the option to enjoy my bread on a tray.
There were likely many more items I would have enjoyed, but nearly all of the flavors I wanted to try were sold out: the azuki whip mou, hōjicha cream bread and melon bread, among others. I look forward to returning when flavors are more consistently available.
Don’t go for the meals, as the minimal and plain sides make the steep prices hard to digest. Instead, opt for two or three specialty breads that speak to you. Check out Bread, Espresso & for quality mou and a cafe and bakery experience reminiscent of Japan. Just give them a few months to optimize their operation.
Tate McRae's new album, "So Close to What," lacks original lyrics
by Kate Brucia
I’ll say it right out of the gate: I love pop. Give me some Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams and Taylor Swift all day. If you’re still acting like you hate pop music, it’s time to give it up. There will always be a place for catchy choruses, a fun beat and lyrics about love, heartbreak and everything in between. If these sound like the recipe for a great song, you’ll love Tate McRae’s new third album “So Close to What.”
The 15 tracks showcase McRae’s recent adulthood, embrace her sexuality and certainly don’t discourage the frequent comparisons to Britney Spears that McRae receives, lining her up to become one of the best pop stars of our generation. That being said, if you’re looking for an album with groundbreaking production or unique songwriting, keep looking, because McRae’s album is undeniably predictable and presents almost nothing new to an
overpopulated genre.
The album opens with “Miss Possessive,” beginning with a sampled clip of Sydney Sweeney telling the listener, “Get your hands off my man.” Though the song is undeniably stuck in my head because of the bass beat and biting lyrics, I must admit that I rolled my eyes at yet another song about a woman mad at another woman for trying to “‘steal”’ her man, without any mention of the man being a cheater. Many may relate to the themes of jealousy and protectiveness in a relationship, but I can’t help sensing an undertone of anti-feminism. Someone tell McRae the days of blaming the “‘other woman”’ are over because I don’t want to listen to another song about it.
“Sports car,” a single released in January, and “Dear god” feature distinct and appealing rhythms complimented by provocative lyrics in McRae’s whispery voice and sultry tone. In “Dear god,” McRae begs to forget the memories of her ex, reminiscing about what they used to have yet praying she can move on. Both songs are favorites of mine, well-rounded in writing and production.
Another stand-out of the album, “bloodonmyhands (feat. Flo Milli),” manages to break up the very similar tunes of the other songs with a faster pace and a rapper feature. McRae and Milli’s styles complement each other, with the song well-balanced between McRae’s self-confident verses and Milli’s brutal honesty, making for the best feature on the album.
The other feature feels more like a publicity stunt than a song to be taken seriously, but I can get behind it. “I know love (feat. The Kid Laroi)” strategically features McRae’s celebrity boyfriend of a year on a song about the natural high of new love.
McRae and Laroi do have good chemistry in the song, and it’s a fun play if you know the real-life story behind it.
“Purple lace bra” piques my interest, as McRae describes feeling misunderstood and used by her partner. She questions how to get her partner to truly hear her, telling the heartbreaking tale of those who feel forced to sexualize themselves in order to gain attention. She knows she has more depth to her, but only feels seen on a physical level, which I appreciated as a more niche topic for a song, in comparison to the cliches McRae often relies on.
The album ends with “Nostalgia,” about McRae’s family members and the regret she imagines them feeling about how their lives turned out. Unlike most of the other songs, it is acoustic, allowing McRae’s voice to shine through. While it is a well-written song that will tug on your heartstrings, it isn’t at all cohesive with the rest of the album and feels out-of-place amongst strong backtracks and themes of love and heartbreak.
Overall, McRae knew her audience for this album, and she delivered exactly what they wanted. At the age of 21, she can produce music that will thrive in a digital landscape by creating viral moments like collaborating with her boyfriend or featuring Sydney Sweeney. While I believe she has the capability of creating more artistically advanced music, I applaud the way she has managed to claim her spot in a saturated field, and this album helps to further cement that.
1. Matcha melon mou bread and curry mou bread.
2. Nearly empty display case.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RENA FELDE
STICK-ING THE WIN
Boys lacrosse faces off against Brentwood in an early season matchup
by Sam Schwartz
Boys lacrosse showcased their offseason’s work in their season opener with a double digit win against Brentwood. The Sea Hawks used their time of possession to their advantage holding Brentwood to only 1 goal all game as they defeated the Eagles 11-1 on Friday the 21st.
As the boys lost a large portion of their team with the graduatingg class of '24, there are many spots to be filled. With that loss, the team lacks some depth according to junior goalkeeper Lucas Alvear.
“Something we really focused on in the off season a lot [was] our conditioning because we were down players. We didn't really have much depth because we lost a lot of seniors [last year], so we did a lot of running and a lot of conditioning, and it helped us in the first game to outrun them because they didn't have much depth either. But I feel like we put in more work on the stamina part of it, so we were able to last a little bit longer,” Alvear said.
ignited in the second quarter after a couple of goals according to sophomore August Haynes.
“Since it was a low scoring game at the very start I was kind of scared, but once we got it going, then it was just like a normal game,” Haynes said. “I think, after the first goal, all the first game jitters were kind of gone. Right when Marc [Maden] got that second goal, we were fired up, and [our momentum] just kept going from there.”
First quarter, we possessed the ball really well. I feel like they had the ball on offense, like, twice and we shut them down right away.
LUCAS ALVEAR JUNIOR “
The first quarter showcased heavy defense from both sides as the Sea Hawks only led 1-0 by the sound of the buzzer.
“First quarter, we possessed the ball really well. I feel like they had the ball on offense, like, twice and we shut them down right away. I think we only scored one goal, but we had a lot of possession with the ball and we got a feel for their defense and were able to pick out who we wanted to attack a little bit more,” Alvear said.
With a lot of fresh faces on varsity, the boys were off to a slow start in the first quarter, however, the Sea Hawk’s fire was
In the second and third quarter the boys found their groove, outscoring their opponent 7-1 over the span of the two quarters.
“Our mindset kind of changed in a way that we became more aggressive in the second and third quarter and never gave them a chance to come back. And then the fourth quarter was kind of just us stalling them a little bit. We knew they were tired. We were more in shape and more athletic. So it kind of shifted from more of a passive, feeling-out mindset to a more aggressive mindset, and then just closing up the game [mindset],” Alvear said.
The boys led by seven heading into the final quarter.
“We have this call called Hobart, and we just started using it to chill out [when winning]. Third quarter, I would say we're just trying to score, since it was still only 5-0. We just wanted to keep scoring to seal it, because in lacrosse, you can get five goals pretty quick. But I would say going into the fourth quarter, we started just chilling out
and holding the ball,” Haynes said. Although the boys emerged victorious, there is always room for improvement, the boys have better competition heading their way as their season progresses.
“I think subbing off the field better and more cleanly. Also playing cleaner with our offense [because] sometimes things just get sloppy. I think our defense also sometimes presses out too hard, we need to fix these because those little mistakes can lead to goals,” Haynes said.
In a large margin win like this, the boys executed well in many aspects of the game, especially on the defensive side of things, according to Alvear.
“We knew who their main offensive players were, [for example] number 23 was a threat. So we kind of knew to put our better defenders on him, to force him to pass
the ball and make somebody else beat us. Once the players who weren't as good had
the ball, we were able to press out and take the ball from them. We were also just communicating really well, like, when one of our guys got beat, there was always a slide or someone there to help them out,” Alvear said.
1. Senior Marc Maden in-contact against Brentwood. 2. Senior Ethan Maleman mid-play. 3. Junior Dylan Scanlan in process of scoring.
PHOTOS BY GRACE TAYAG
Fly high
The crowd buzzed with excitement as warm ups progressed before Loyola and Redondo boys varsity volleyball took the court for their first game of the season. The game had its ups and downs but unfortunately, Redondo ended up falling short, only winning two of the five sets. As the season ramps up, this loss brought much needed motivation to the team to work together for future games.
Senior middle blocker Bobby Bennett had lots of court time during the game and worked to foster individual morale and communication between players. According to Bennett, it wasn’t six individual players on the court, but a team working together with the same goal, only six players weren’t standing with the rest.
“We stayed together, and it was really shown in the fourth set when we had just lost the second and third sets. We were still able to stay in it and come back as a team to win the fourth and dig deeper in the fifth. A lot of teams wouldn't have been able to handle that. They would get down on themselves and give up, but we didn't do that. We picked ourselves up and gave ourselves momentum,” Bennett said.
As challenging as the season already is, the team has many new players this year. Some moved up from JV, and others are new to playing volleyball for school. Additionally, the team lost valuable players when seniors graduated last year. Learning how new teammates play adds additional pressure to returning players, such as Bennett. The game against Loyola broke
the invisible barrier between returners and newbies. Many substitutions were made to get a feel of everyone's technique.
“It’s hard to coach a team where there isn’t a lot of history between players, and that's what’s great about our team is that nobody's spot is safe. Everyday we’re at practice and people are fighting for playing time. It keeps everyone on their toes, so nobody can get too comfortable because if you do, there’s someone right there eager to replace you,” Bennett said.
The boys volleyball team loses close match against Loyola in the fifth set
by Carly Jaecko
asset to the team and make them all play more well-roundedly.
“I made some errors, but my touches were more positive than negative, which I felt really good about. Our defense was our strongest just because they didn’t send over any balls that landed on our court without anyone being there and going for them. In future practices, we’ll work on blocking and communication at the net, with where everyone should stand and jump,” Bebe said.
It felt good to break that ice, and now we can go into future games more confident in each other and comfortable with each other.
CONNOR BEBE SENIOR “
Another senior on the team, libero Connor Bebe, spoke enthusiastically about the game apart from the loss. He felt confident in his playing and felt he contributed to the game positively. From his point of view, the strongest part of their playing was defense, mainly through passing in the back row but also through blocking in the front. Besides this game being a step in the right direction for the blockers, for future games, he elaborated that strengthening and strategizing his team's blocking would be an
After a challenging matchup against one of Re dondo's toughest compet itors, Bebe feels closer to the boys and senses better camaraderie among them, which is crucial to team work in upcoming games. He elaborated on the effort from all players, on and off the court.
“By the end of the game, we were actually communi cating with each other, and that wasn’t just between re turning players, but also with new players that we have never been on the court with before. It felt good to break that ice, and now we can go into future games more con fident in each other and comfortable with each other,” Bebe said.
The team's next game is Friday, March 7 against Edison High School.
“I knew the first game would be the toughest, and now that it’s behind us, I
can feel a new connection between all of us, and we are all equally excited to move into the season,” Bennett said. “I can also tell the new guys are more comfortable, which is beneficial for us because now we can communicate better on and off of the court. I think it’s going to be a great season.”
Despite strong fourth inning, the baseball team loses to San Juan Hills
by Isabella Nguyen
While the boys were energized by the cheers from their teammates as each stepped up to the plate, Redondo ultimately came up short, falling to San Juan Hill 12-7 on Feb. 18. Second baseman senior Michael Hines, describes the nervousness when walking onto the field to their first game.
“It’s gonna be a little stressful. I mean, we had a lot of nerves coming out. Our hitting settled down after a few innings, but that’s normal. Means you care,” Hines said.
The game started out rough for Redondo during the first inning. On the opposing team, #19 managed to make it home at the expense of his teammate, followed by another opponent successfully sprinting home. The Sea Hawks managed to put out the opposing team's first baseman on a ground ball, before their rivals managed to earn two more runs. During the bottom of the inning, the team struggled against the Stallions, unable to earn a run. Junior Ian Brown, an outfielder, recalls the plan the team formulated.
“Our main strategy was mostly not trying to get [the runs] all back in one inning or two innings, but to chip away and be mentally strong,” Brown said.
In the top of the second, the opposing team earned three more runs, placing the score at 8-0. Although down in score, the team remained strong in the mental and physical battle, allowing them to make a comeback. `
“It’s really easy to get out of it when you are down eight runs in the second inning,” Hines said. “It can be demoralizing and you just quit. But our team, we didn’t quit. We
stayed in it, and I’m pretty proud of us for that.”
Their resolve paid off, as sophomore third baseman Parker Leoff hit a double that allowed senior left fielder Matthew McCauley, and junior first baseman Mikey Ricardo, to make it to home. The Stallions advanced by two more runs during the third inning, placing the score at 10-2. The game picked up for the team during the fourth inning, as the Sea Hawks managed to strike out another player and get two more outs, preventing the Stallions from making a run. When batting, the Sea Hawks scored another three runs, adjusting the score to 10-5, maintaining a strong mental game.
“This is the mentality, [that] there’s no point in working this hard, just to get halfway through. Obviously, we were down a lot in the first two innings, [but] we just kept chipping away. We didn’t try to go for too many big innings, just a couple of small innings,” Brown said.
Through the fifth inning, the Stallions failed to score any runs, while the Sea Hawks advanced with another run made by Brown. However, during the top of the sixth inning, San Juan Hills managed to widen their lead after scoring two more runs. This was quickly met with junior shortstop Keijiro Hattori successfully scoring a run for Redondo, bringing the score to 12-7. During this time period, the team supported each other through the game, keeping morale up.
“We all love each other. We’re all in it for each other, and we play as a team. That’s what helped us get in this game again,” Hines said. “One person doesn’t define the
whole game, so if you have a bad game, you have other guys to pick you up.”
The seventh inning passed, with neither of the teams scoring any runs, solidifying the score as 12-7. Although losing the game, the team managed to make an admirable comeback, largely attributed to their team chemistry and strong mental game.
Coach Ted Silva, plans on refining certain skills that the team needs to improve on.
“There’s a lot of things from the pitcher and catcher that we need to clean up, [like] finger signs,” Silva said. “Defensively, we’ve got to take care of the baseball, [we] threw the ball away a little bit. We weren’t ready to play. [We were] one step slow today for whatever reason. Maybe there were nerves. Maybe we were unsure, but we can’t play timid.”
Through intensive training, the team plans to win the following games against Yorba Linda, Downey, and Canyon during the season, and to take any future losses as a learning experience to im-
prove and continue forward.
“There’s a lot of things we can clean up,” Silva said. “There’s a lot of things we can be better at. There’s a lot of things we did do good [at] tonight, but at the end of the day, we lost. We’ve got to clean that up, we’ve got to get ready to go.”
Junior Jordan Serrato pitches the ball. PHOTO BY AVA TO
1. Jack Melton runs and prepares to jump and spike the ball.
2. Senior Shane Friedman jumps as he sets the ball.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF Shawn Visuals
Sibling stereotypes and birth order theory shape family dynamics with expectations influencing relationships, self-esteem and the roles siblings play in the family
by Jayla Dorbor
“Why can’t you be more like your sibling?” a phrase used too often by parents to try and motivate their children that often just leads to more stress. According to Doctor Shawn Sidhu in an article, when parents compare siblings it “has the dual effect of shattering the self-esteem of the sibling who feels judged, while driving a wedge between the siblings and pushing them further apart.” Parents often compare their children to each other, but don’t understand how they unconsciously treat their children differently. This can affect their children’s relationships with their siblings and their parents.
Sibling stereotypes often show the youngest sibling getting the most attention and is the “spoiled one.” Freshman Azike Nwankwo, the middle child in his family of three, notes his experience with this treatment.
“The youngest gets the most leeway for punishments, but I’m treated pretty much the same as my older sister,” Nwankwo said. “She’ll scream and cry all morning and my parents won’t do anything to punish her like they did to us.”
As the youngest sibling of two, senior Jordan Jacobson is aware of this special treatment as compared to her older brother.
“I have less rules. When we were younger, specifically, [my older brother] got a phone first so he only got two hours of screen time but I had none of that. [My parents] have more leniency with me about going out and they don’t check my grades or anything like that,” Jacobson said.
Many siblings, like Jacobson, often feel this leniency with the youngest sibling is due to parents learning more as they have more children and realizing they can be more lenient.
“My brother wouldn’t do well in school sometimes so [my parents] would take something, like his phone, expecting it to help, but it wouldn't really. So, when it came to me, they realized that doing it this way doesn’t really work out. They try not to limit certain things for me because of that,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson echoes the sentiment that most younger siblings are spoiled but that she enjoys the spoiling and extra attention
she gets from being the youngest. However, there are also cons to these privileges.
“I don’t mind [the stereotype]. I like being spoiled, so I encourage it. I like liv ing up to the stereotype,” Jacobson said. “Sometimes I do feel guilty, though, when I get more things or attention than [my brother].”
While being the youngest has its bene fits, there are also drawbacks, like living up to the expectations of your siblings. Soph omore Ella Chung, the oldest of three, ex plains this aspect in her relationship with her younger siblings.
“I feel like [the pressure] is more on the younger siblings because they have to live up to the older siblings,” Chung said, “My brother doesn’t care about school as much as I do and he doesn't do his homework so my parents always get mad at him and say ‘you should be more like Ella.’”
Some younger siblings, however, be lieve they’ve lived up to the expectations of their older siblings, or even surpassed those expectations. For example, sopho more Keira Woo, the middle child of three, feels she’s surpassed her brother in certain expectations.
“Sometimes I do [feel pressure to live up to my older brother], but also he hasn’t been doing that great, so their expectations aren’t as high,” Woo said, “My parents usu ally say I’m more responsible so when they go out I'm usually in charge.”
Jacobson also feels she’s lived up to these expectations, partly because her and her parents got to learn from her brother’s experience.
“I could see [the pressure], but I think it was just the fact that he faced it all be fore me. Like when you’re going to college and you have an older sibling the parents don’t know what to do at first, so it was a really stressful time for him,” Jacobson said. “When I went through [the college application experience], it was easy and they weren’t worried about me because they knew how it worked.”
I feel left out because they don’t talk to me as much. It would be nice to get more attention.”
This unfair treatment of some siblings over others can be nice at times, but can also be harmful for students like Woo. Her older brother is off to college soon and her younger brother is little, allowing her to fall into the “forgotten middle child” stereo-
OLDEST CHILD
- Displays self-reliance
- Abides by rules
- Imitates the behavior of their parents in looking after younger siblings
MIDDLE CHILD
- The most independent of the siblings
- Ambitious
- Thoughtful - Sociable
The unfair treatment also comes in the form of giving some siblings more responsibility than others. The common stereotype that the oldest is the most mature and responsible is true according to Chung.
“You’re your parents first everything so all the expectations are on you. For instance, if you don’t want to take the trash out your parents will say ‘You’re the oldest,
YOUNGEST CHILD
- May feel a need to compete or catch up to older siblings
- May develop an outgoing personality, humor and social intelligence to elevate themselves in the family dynamic
you should be the most responsible,” Chung said.
According to the National Library of Medicine, siblings can have the same or even more influence on each other than their parents. This can cause the oldest, like Chung, to feel like they have to be a role model for their siblings.
“I’m definitely more mature, my younger siblings are very immature so I do want to be a role model for them,” Chung said, “I want to be successful in school and things like that so I can help my younger siblings for when it’s their time since it’s going to be that same thing that I’m doing right now.”
Although it may seem like the special treatment of some siblings is due to favoritism, sometimes it isn't. Jacobson explains how she gets a lot more attention since her brother is away at college and how she transitioned from the youngest child mindset to an only child mindset, helping her see the value in their relationship.
“My parents are pretty good about not having a favorite, but right now my brother’s at college, so it’s like I’m an only child, so I get a lot of attention. I don’t think it’s a favoritism thing. I think it’s just the fact that I’m home more,” Jacobson said. “I do get a lot more freedom and independence when my brother’s not home, and I like that more, but I also miss him. It’s not really a parental thing, just in general I miss him. My brother [and I] hang out a lot, so the more he’s gone, the more I miss him.”
ONLY CHILD
- May receive more attention from parents and will not experience conflict or competition with siblings
- May be high achievers, complete more years of education, and have secure, higher-paying jobs
