Starting next school year, the administration will remove all Advanced Placement (AP) classes, following the removal of most AP humanities and art classes, Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said.
Slattery said she considered removing AP classes for some time, but finally decided to do so this year because many teachers felt restricted to teaching the AP curriculum in their classes. Slattery added that many AP classes caused extra stress for students because the content of the classes was condensed into a shorter period of time and teachers moved more quickly to prepare for the exam.
“We said to faculty, ‘If you don’t want to teach APs anymore and if you want to create new honors classes because AP doesn’t work for you anymore, you have the freedom to do that,’” Slattery said. “APs really constricted innovation in the classroom.”
Slattery said one of the most pressing problems with the school’s AP courses was the confusion they created in the college admissions process, since admissions teams have viewed APs as more rigorous than honors classes, when that has not been true for the school.
“At most high schools, honors courses are less rigorous than AP courses,” Slattery said. “That’s not the case here, but colleges look at a student’s application and don’t know whether the student is taking the hardest classes, and I don’t want to disadvantage our students in the college process.”
Rowan Callaghan ’25 said he recognizes the long-term benefits of removing APs, but he believes there may be drawbacks for students applying to college during the transition period.
“In the long term, it’s probably a good thing, because colleges see the AP classes as harder than honors classes, but oftentimes it is the opposite,” Callaghan said. “Presently, it is bad for us because college admissions people are seeing honors courses and thinking they’re less impressive than APs, but there’s just less APs available to us right now.”
By Erin Ryu
Phones will be banned during the school day on campus next school year, the school announced. The administration is enacting a similar policy first instated by the Middle School in an attempt to encourage connection and minimize distractions, Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said in the email.
Slattery said she has observed a growing reliance on phones during school hours, with a lack of social interaction on campus
and some students increasingly relying on their parents for help.
“I see plenty of people talking to one another, but I also see plenty of times when people are sitting at a lunch table, all of them on their phones,” Slattery said. “We’re losing interaction. I’m also worried we’re making kids less resilient because they can have an immediate response to their distress, and they never are allowed to sit in discomfort.”
The phone policy was first proposed by Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Ari Engelberg ’89 to the administration. After administrators agreed, the school announced the policy and joined the Coalition to Limit Access to Smartphones and Social Media (CLASS) in cooperation with a group of other independent schools, including Marlborough School and Windward School, across Los Angeles dedicated to discouraging phone use among adolescents.
Engelberg said he and the school decided to collaborate with other institutions because they were also working to curb
phone usage among students.
“All of the research around limiting cell phone and social media usage suggests that a collective effort is most effective,” Engelberg said. “We knew that working with our peer schools made sense. When I checked in with colleagues at those schools, it turns out they were also thinking about ways to limit phone usage on campus. It was pretty natural to call them all together and develop a framework for a joint statement and a working group.”
Baseball alum pitches for Dodgers in World Series
By Eden Conner
Baseball alumnus Jack Flaherty ’14 started for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Oct. 25. He pitched five shutout innings, recording three hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
Flaherty’s outing was reminiscent of his start for the Wolverines at Dodger Stadium on May 31, 2013, when Flaherty pitched
a shutout in the CIF Southern Section Division I championship game. Flaherty was a four-year letterman at the school, and was drafted as the 34th pick out of high school in the first round of the MLB draft. He played alongside current MLB pitchers Max Fried ’12 and Lucas Giolito ’12. During his time at the school, Flaherty played under Athletic Director and Former Baseball Program Head Matt LaCour.
Benjamin (Ben) Ellis ’28 was a caring son and beloved member of the school community. He had an unmatched desire to learn in the classroom, and was an eager Latin student and dedicated member of the Middle School Robotics Team.
Before Game 1, LaCour said in an interview with KTLA that he was looking forward to watching Flaherty play, but also felt some nerves going into the game.
“We’re all proud of Jack and everything he’s done in his career, but tonight is a little bit more special,” Lacour said. “When we get to game time, it’s butterflies in there, hoping things go well and living and dying with every pitch.”
Pitcher Jackson Alex ’25 said
ly his family’s pet cats, and never hesitated to share other interests with his peers around him. In his time at the Middle School, he established himself as a kind soul to his peers on campus, and expressed himself in a unique and authentic way. Ben will be missed by his peers, teachers and the community. In loving memory of:
Ben especially had a passion for animals, especial-
Flaherty’s impact on the school’s baseball program is apparent, with coaches often referring to Flaherty as a role model for players.
“You have to bring that same intensity and commitment that [Flaherty] and everyone else that came through the program that’s held success brought and match it every single day,” Alex said.
Flaherty is slated to start Game 5 against the Yankees in The Bronx, New York on Oct. 30.
AWAY FROM PHONES: Students use their phones on the Quad during a break. The Upper School is planning to restrict phone usage on campus during school hours next year, a policy that follows a similar policy enacted at the Lower School and other schools across the country to limit phone use.
PRINTED WITH
School to replace all AP classes
In contrast, Abby Landres ’26 said she disagrees with the school’s decision because it creates unnecessary obstacles for students who want to take AP tests for college credit and their transcript.
“I definitely don't like it,” Landres said. “I think that as a student who's really relying on AP test scores for college applications, it [makes it harder] to show my skills in certain categories, especially since [this year] there are more opportunities for APs in science and math classes, and I’m stronger in humanities. Also for international universities, AP tests are all you can rely on to show your academic achievements.”
Chinese Teacher Bin He, who stopped teaching AP Chinese Language and Culture this year, said he has wanted to switch the AP course to an honors course for some time.
“I’ve wanted to change it for many years because I also see the shortcomings of the AP curriculum,” He said. “Students didn’t have enough time to digest the [material], and at the end of the year, students just worked on test prep instead of learning anything new from the class. We aim to nurture understanding of Chinese language and culture and move beyond the constraints of standardized testing.”
Sofia Giovine ’26, who took AP Italian outside of school last year, said that it is challenging but doable to prepare for an AP test outside of school.
“Whether or not you should take an AP test outside of school depends on how much work you have and how well you know the subject,” Giovine said. “Last year, I took the AP test for a language that I already knew fluently, and I was also taking another AP language course. It is definitely more work, but if you know the format then it’s fine. It just takes time.”
MEMORIAM: Students and
the
after
on Oct.
to commemorate the one year anniversary
attack, as well as those who were taken hostage or killed by Hamas.The ongoing conflict marks the fifth between Israel and Palestine since 2008.
Jewish Club honors anniversary of Oct. 7
By Luca Gonzalez
Following the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks, Jewish Club hosted multiple events to remember the victims killed over the course of Israel-Hamas war, as well as the hostages still in captivity. They organized a commemoration of the victims and hostages from the Oct. 7 attacks.
The commemoration was hosted on the Chalmers Patio by Jewish Club and consisted of poems by Israeli authors read by members of Jewish Club, songs of Israeli freedom and peace and accounts of the individuals lost.
Coordinator of Jewish Life Sarah Rapaport and History and Middle East Studies teacher Dror Yaron also both gave speeches during the event.
President Rick Commons said
finding a proper way to commemorate those who were killed in the attacks or are still in captivity is a sensitive topic. However, he said the best way to discuss the impact of Oct. 7 has been through the stories of individuals.
“There has been a lot of struggle in figuring out how best to honor the victims and commemorate the horrors without compromising the experience of so many others who have suffered since,” Commons said. “For many of us, individual stories are the most impactful. The more we can tell the stories of those who were victims or who are still suffering, the better.”
a understanding about Oct. 7 and the lives lost requires patience and continued learning while always giving respect to those affected.
“This is an opportunity to gather as a community to bring awareness, commemorate and give space for people to grieve,” Rapaport said. “There’s opportunities through our coursework, and history classes to understand more about how this event absolutely shifted and changed the landscape in the Middle East and for Jews globally.”
Rapaport said cultivating
Following the commemoration event, the Jewish Club organized the construction of a sukkah for and later built a sukkah
— a hut built during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The two-week Jewish holiday takes place every October, celebrating the sheltering of Israelites from the wilderness and of the fall harvest.
Senior Leader of Jewish Club Maya Karsh ’25 said Jewish Club wanted to demonstrate the importance of happily celebrating Sukkot instead of using it as a holiday to further be affected with grief, providing an opportunity for those suffering to engage in festivities and temporarily step away from the trauma surrounding the conflict.
“We had a photo of the hostages in the sukkah to bless and represent them,” Karsh said. “We really wanted to emphasize celebrating the holiday with joy.”
Phones to be prohibited next year
Zoe Vourgourakis ’26 said she believes the phone ban will lead to an increase in usage and further isolate students.
“As we know, restricting things will only make them more desirable, and therefore more likely to be abused,” Vourgourakis said. “We had a similar policy prohibiting the use of phones at the Middle School, which caused kids to become even more isolated from others due to the prospect of being caught on their phones by teachers in popular areas. If socialization is what the school wants to promote, why not allow students more opportunity for socializing instead of taking away a useful tool for it?”
Upper School Counselor Brittany Bronson said the counseling team is open to supporting students who have heavily relied on their phones as an emotional outlet.
“The hope is that soon students will realize that not having their phones during the day will not be as impactful as they envisioned,” Bronson said. “But of
course, there are the challenges of students trying to find their way around these new rules and have their phones somehow. The entire counseling team is here to support the student body.”
Sophia Wong ’27, who was subject to the Lower School phone policy last year, said she supports the policy based on her experiences without a phone at school.
“The phone policy is a step in the right direction and I’m glad that the school, and many other schools, are taking action,” Wong said. “Coming from the Middle School, where phones were banned the whole day, I saw a drastic shift in how we interact with each other during our free time and how much more isolating the culture here is. [The phone ban] will definitely shift us away from this culturally imbedded habit of being so reliant on our phones and foster greater connection among students, even if this is subconscious or not immediately noticeable at first.”
Engelberg said although resistance toward the policy is understandable, the research shows the policy will yield significant ben-
efits over time.
“Of course any major policy change is going to be met with fair questions, and there are still a number of outstanding questions even now about how a restriction on cell phone usage will work at the Upper School,” Engelberg said. “But, the research about the toxic effects of overuse of cell phones and the distraction they create on school campuses is compelling, so there weren’t a lot of principled challenges to the idea. I’m sure there will be a few bumps on the road when the policy goes into effect, but with a little patience, understanding and a willingness to adapt, we’ll get them smoothed out.”
Instead of asking students to come to school without their phones, the school is considering providing students with pouches to store their phones during the school day, Slattery said. These pouches would limit phone usage during the day but still allow students to carry them on their person in case they need to be accessed during an emergency, such as contacting a parent.
IN
faculty gathered on
Q uad
school
7
of the terrorist
L. Wood Dror Yaron TECHNOLOGY CLEANSE: Students on the Quad use their phones during break. Next year, phone use will not be allowed during the school day.
• Continued from A1
PREFERENCES: Eligible
Seniors polled to compare presidential picks relative to preferences shown in voting trends
By Holden Kim
Several members of the senior class are casting their ballots for the 2024 presidential election taking place Nov. 5. They must decide whether to cast their ballots for Former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris.
With the 2024 presidential election closing in, national and battleground state polls suggest that the race for the White House is currently tied, according to a New York Times and Siena College poll.
ing for future elections. Long lines formed as students took advantage of the opportunity to register for voting waiting to ensure their vote counted in the upcoming election.
Throughout the fall, several students and clubs hosted multiple voter registration and pre-registration events on campus, attracting significant turnout from eligible seniors and juniors pre-register -
Among the school’s senior voters, Vice President Kamala Harris emerges as the preferred candidate, according to an informal survey. Seven random seniors who are eligible voters were asked who they would vote for, and all of them said that they would be voting for Harris.
Jacob Massey ’25 said that he believes that most seniors at the school support Harris.
“I think almost everyone who’s eligible will vote for Harris,” Massey said. “At most 10% will vote for Trump.”
Students’ support for Harris appears driven not only by clos -
er alignment with her policies but also by a desire to cast an “anti-Trump” vote. Sam Cleland ’25 said that Trump’s actions in his first term as well as his criminal activities disqualify him as an eligible candidate, and emphasized that Harris’ vision resonates more strongly with him.
“In addition to the fact that I don’t agree with Trump’s policies, such as supporting corporate interests, tax cuts for the wealthy and cutting social security, Jan. 6 and his court convictions have shown me that he is not fit for office,” Cleland said. “Kamala Harris would take this country forward and fight for everyday Americans, unlike Donald Trump.”
Massey said he wasn’t too sure whether to vote for Harris in California, due to Harris’ overwhelming odds of winning the state in this election.
“If I lived in a swing state, it
National Merit Semifinalists named
By Colin Ho
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) selected over 16,000 students as National Merit Semifinalists, including 32 members of the Class of 2025. In California, students needed to achieve a score index of 221 on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) to be selected as a National Merit Semifinalist.
Seniors who are selected as National Merit Semifinalists will be able to compete for nearly $28 million worth of scholarships, which will be offered in Spring 2025, according to the NMSC website. The NMSC expects 95% of the Semifinalists to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists to win a National Merit Scholarship and earn the Merit Scholar title.
Will Putzer ’25, a National Merit Semifinalist, said that one’s score is not indicative of them as a student.
“PSAT scores are not a reflection of academic prowess, they merely tell you about a stu -
dent’s standardized test-taking ability,” Putzer said. “Viewed from this lens, being a National Merit Semifinalist has little importance. For many colleges, this is a minimal dent in a towering grand total. Becoming a Semifinalist is solely based on your selection index, which is solely based on your score.”
Upper School Dean Jesse Rueter said that being a National Merit Semifinalist is a significant achievement that could open up valuable opportunities, including the potential to become a National Merit Finalist, which could lead to substantial scholarships from universities across the country.
Many public schools, such as the University of Oklahoma, the University of Alabama, Texas A&M University and the University of Florida will give scholarships, and select private schools such as a the University of Southern California (USC) give a half-tuition scholarship for students who are National Merit Finalists. In order to become a finalist, students must first be a Semifinalist, and then
apply in the fall of their senior year for finalist standing. Finalists receive a $1,000 scholarship no matter what college they go to, but certain colleges will give extra scholarships to students.
Finn Slootweg ’26 said that he decided not to take the PSAT because of the extra stress it causes for students and will not be considered for the National Merit Scholarship. Slootweg said that he doesn’t think that achieving National Merit is a necessary box to check when applying to college.
“I don’t think it’s that important for college applications to achieve National Merit,” Slootweg said. “So many people at school try to achieve it, so I think that it doesn’t really set you apart from the people that you’re most likely to be competing with, which are your classmates. Personally, I decided not to even take the PSAT because I have a lot of other things to worry about. So I didn’t really want that to cloud my focus and bring me unnecessary stress and sadness if I didn’t get a score that I thought was good.”
Students weigh in on VP Debate
By Hannah Hendifar
The vice presidential debate on Oct. 1 provoked different reactions in students and faculty, as the candidates engaged in a display of civility while debating hot-button issues, leaving the community divided as to who came out on top.
would be a no- brainer for Harris,” Massey said. “But she doesn’t need my vote in California.”
Some senior voters expressed a lack of enthusiasm for either candidate. Clara Conrad ’25 said she will cast her vote for Harris but expressed her dissatisfaction with the options available.
“I will be voting for Kamala Harris due to the threats that Donald Trump poses to our country, but if I got to choose the candidates for this election, I wouldn’t pick either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump to stand as a candidate,” Conrad said.
As many of the year’s seniors prepare to make their voices heard in a pivotal election, turnout seems to be high. Although some stand behind Harris’ policies and support her as president, others are only voting for Harris in an attempt to prevent Former President Trump from winning another four-year term.
Republican vice presidential candidate Ohio Sen. JD Vance straightened his hot pink tie, and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz slipped a friendship bracelet onto his right hand moments before the two faced off in a debate at the CBS News Center in New York on Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. PST. This was the only vice presidential debate occurring this election cycle, taking place weeks after the first and only presidential debate between Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris Sept. 10.
Jonah Gaetz ’27 said Vance appeared as the more reasonable candidate in the debate.
“JD Vance won the debate,” Gaetz said. “He is on the ticket to lend reason to Trump. Walz is on the ticket to add balancing flavor to Harris. He is most effective at a state fair in jeans admiring a butter sculpture.”
Sierakowski said the candidate’s discussion of immigration was especially prescient for her.
“Part of what stood out to me is the return all the time to immigration from both candidates,” Sierakowski said. “They are asking them questions about the economy and family, and they kind of always brought it back to immigration. That’s something personal to me because I’m an immigrant and my family are immigrants, so the fact that it continues to be painted as a major issue is interesting to me.”
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
PRESIDENTIAL
seniors register to vote as they prepare for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris remain in a competitive race, with national polls reflecting a close contest as Election Day approaches on Nov. 5.
KAYLA GRAFF/CHRONICLE
Sam Cleland ’25
Reimagining Honors English
Juniors reflect on their struggles dealing with the rigor of Honors English III: Imagining America after the previous grade pre-requisite was dropped.
By Alex Reisner
A record number of juniors are enrolled in Honors English III: Imagining America this school year. However, there have been a higher amount of students that have struggled in the course, according to the English Department. Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, the school enacted a policy to remove the grade requirement to enter Honors English III and Honors U.S. History.
The enrollment in Honors English III has continuously increased each year since the policy was enacted. Following the removal of the grade requirement in the 2022-2023 school year, the percentage of incoming juniors in Honors English III has increased from 55% in 2022-2023 to 75% this year, according to Upper School Dean Sharon Cuseo. As a result, the sections of non-honors English have decreased to half the amount it was before, decreasing from 10 sections to five after the grade requirement was removed.
sign-ups is due to a possible misunderstanding among students of the rigorous expectations of the course.
“People wanted to give [the class] a shot,” Cuseo said.
“There may have been an erroneous sense of how hard the honors course would be, particularly in Honors English III. It’s actually a lot harder than one may expect and students are discovering that.”
English Department Head
Larry Weber said a reason for students’ struggles in the course is due to a false sense of their ability to do well in Honors English III.
“There is a ‘for better or worse’ caveat to opting into Honors English III,” Weber said. “We had a large increase in enrollment this year into Honors English III over the last year, and some students have discovered that maybe they didn’t make the best choice for themselves as they’ve really struggled this fall.”
Cuseo said the removal of grade requirements for honors classes affords students greater access to courses that interest them.
“The policy definitely gives people a chance to try out honors courses,” Cuseo said. “There aren’t many opportunities to do that outside of English and history. Given that people feel limited because of the [Advanced Placement] AP and honors maximums, the policy allows for a balance to allow more opportunities for students that otherwise aren’t able to access [those classes].”
Cuseo said the increase in Honors English III
Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said a student’s mediocre performance in sophomore English may have led to poor grades in Honors English III.
“I don’t think that teachers are intentionally trying to weed people out,” Slattery said. “Now that there are more classes, particularly in junior year with English and history, where there no longer is a grade requirement. Teachers are just saying, if someone didn’t do particularly well in the preceding class, they might not get as good a grade. They’re just grading kids honestly, so it’s not really realistic for somebody to expect that if they performed modestly in sophomore English and then took Honors English III as a ju-
nior, their grade would go up.”
Weber said the unpredictability of when a student will improve their writing skills in English is an important reason for open enrollment into Honors English III.
“We think it’s more sound and fair for students to choose among clearly delineated options than for us to separate them into categories that can become a little imprecise on the margins,” Weber said. “Since growth as a reader and writer isn’t perfectly predictable, it’s tough to name the best timing for someone to take on more of a challenge.”
Slattery said even with the increase in signups for the course this school year, the amount of people that dropped was normal compared to past school years.
“The attrition out of [Honors English III] didn’t seem huge,” Slattery said. “There’s always a handful, but it didn’t feel particularly anomalous.”
English Teacher Stephanie Chiang teaches both English II and Honors English III. Chiang said she understands how the transition between the two classes causes stress among students, and believes a big part of that stress comes from the limiting timed assessments of the honors course.
“Timed anything can be very stressful,” Chiang said. “In Honors English III, every single unit has a timed aspect to the assessment. The last assessment of the English II class was personal writing and that felt very different from the other timed analytical writing where students are restrained to a specific passage or a poem. These assessments feel limiting in terms of time restraints and that can create a lot of anxiety for the students.”
Raya Soper ’26, who is
also in Honors English III, said her confidence in her English skills has been weakened by the higher expectations held by the Honors English III teachers.
“I received high grades in my English class last year, so it took me by surprise when I received a lower grade than I expected in Honors English,” Soper said. “When I first got my grade back it definitely upset me, but I now understand the high expectations of Honors English and will hopefully improve on the next essay.”
“
Even with the increased enrollment into Honors English III, the other open enrollment course, Honors U.S. History, did not experience the same inflation of students in enrollment. Cuseo said the consistent enrollment into Honors U.S. History is due to students having a stronger understanding of the difficulty of the class.
harder in terms of the difficulty of grading as well as expectations compared to last year. Although I did well in English the prior year, the start of this year has been surprisin gly more intense. The texts we read are much more complex, and the teachers don’t really provide many examples of themes and connections that can be made in the book.”
Since growth isn’t predictable, it’s tough to name the best timing for someone to take on more of a challange.”
Larry Weber English Teacher
Chiang said another reason students may struggle in Honors English III is due to the increased difficulty of the texts that are read.
“The texts are a lot harder in Honors English III,” Chiang said. “That is a big part of the rigor of the course. The books feel a lot more dense in terms of the language and the class is more fast paced.”
Some students feel the expectations for Honors English III were not clear during the enrollment period for class signups. Christian Yue ’26, who is currently a student in Honors English III, said he was surprised by the rigor of the class.
“I had no idea what Honors English was going to be like,” Yue said. “I found it much
Honors English III student Ruby Jacobs ’26 said even though she considered dropping the course, she understands that she will grow as an English student by the end of the year and is willing to put in the work to become a better writer. “This class has definitely been a big step up from English class last year,” Jacobs said. “Even though I considered dropping the course after I struggled in the fall, I eventually decided to stay in the class. This class has definitely caused me some stress. I really do want to improve my writing skills and I believe the high expectations of Honors English will truly help me improve by the end of the year. The feedback the teachers provide is invaluable, and the high expectations of the class supply me with the extra push I need to motivate me to improve.”
Teachers from various departments participate in first Interdisciplinary Teaching Cohort meeting
By Erin Ryu
The Interdisciplinary Teaching Cohort, a coalition of teachers across departments, met for the first time Aug. 30. Upper School World Languages Teacher Bin He started the program this school year. The cohort aims to foster collaboration across departments, including English, performing and visual arts, science and mathematics. The departments will share resources and discuss strategies to improve student learning.
He said the idea to create the cohort stemmed from his previous teaching experience at the school and what he observed from his colleagues’ approaches.
“The inspiration came from my experiences during my first year at Harvard-Westlake, where I explored many interdisciplin -
ary approaches,” He said. “By my third year, I created my own interdisciplinary course, China Studies. In working with teachers from various departments, I noticed that many of them were also incorporating interdisciplinary elements into their teaching. This sparked the idea of creating a longterm platform where educators would be able to connect, share their work and collaborate more effectively.”
Kutler Center.
“ Both [Klein] and I felt that it was a good project to support.”
Jim Patterson Director of Kutler Center
“[He] came to me and [Upper School History Teacher and Interdisciplinary Studies Department Head Larry Klein] last spring with an idea to create a cohort of teachers who were interested in applying interdisciplinary concepts and learning to their classrooms,” Patterson said.
School hosts Pollyanna Conference
By Ella Jeon
The school hosted the eighth annual Pollyanna Conference on Oct. 19, where representatives from 25 different middle and high schools around the Greater Los Angeles area gathered to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals through presentations, panels and workshops. The theme for the event was “Exploring Gender in 2024 and Beyond.”
Student Leadership for Inclusion, Diversity and Equality (SLIDE) Co-Chair Dylan Wuo ’25 said he thought that the conference highlighted the variety of student gender identities and how to integrate the evolved definition of gender into the school environment.
Director of Kutler Center and Summer School Programs
Jim Patterson said he decided to support the project because it aligned with the goals of the
“Because the Kutler Center supports all interdisciplinary initiatives, both [Klein] and I felt that it was a good project to support. At least one of us will attend each meeting throughout this year and support [them] in whatever way we can.”
Upper School Visual Arts
Athletes visit school, participate in Paralympic sports competitions
By Holden Kim
The school partnered with Angel City Sports, a Southern California-based Paralympic organization, to host Courage Weekend, an adaptive sports event for active-duty service members, veterans and first responders Oct. 19. The event offered free athletic training and sports competitions for participants with and without disabilities, promoting physical fitness, athletic achievement and camaraderie within the veteran and first responder communities.
Roughly 200 athletes participated over the weekend, competing across 10 adaptive sports, including boccia, disc golf, pickleball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, sitting volleyball and archery. Admission was free for all participants, and food vendors
Luna Grill and Pizza Hut offered
meals for athletes and spectators.
Music was performed by singer-songwriter Standen Evans, while Fox 11 and KTTV anchor Sandra Endo served as event host.
Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Ari Engelberg ’89 initially said the school had reached out to Angel City Sports in order to highlight how its athletic facilities could serve as a valuable resource for the broader community.
“We approached Angel City when we were developing the plans for River Park because we wanted to build early and strong partnerships with community sports organizations that could take advantage of the facilities there when they aren’t being used by HW athletes,” Engelberg said.
“Our goal is nothing more than to share our facilities with deserving groups and individuals.”
Charles Whitehead is the President of the Paralyzed Vet-
erans of America California, an organization which partners with Angel City Sports. Whitehead said he believes that showcasing the athletic capabilities of individuals with physical disabilities is important.
“The goal of this event is to get more first responders and veterans to be more involved in sports and community events and to show that people with physical disabilities can remain active,” Whitehead said.
Participating athlete Allen Fowkes said the event had strong ties to the school and described the campus facilities as a welcoming venue for adaptive sports.
“[Angel City] has worked with [the school] for a few years, so they have a really good relationship,” Fowkes said. “I really like the facility. Everything is accessible and it seems they have everything worked out for this event.”
Teacher Alexandra Pacheco Garcia said she chose to become a part of the group because her projects often incorporate material from other departments.
“I decided to join the cohort because I’m looking for new opportunities to connect with other disciplines and trying to find different ways to connect what my students are learning to other aspects of their academics,” Pacheco Garcia said. “There’s a field trip to Puerto Rico over spring break where we get to see this place through the lens of art, language and science. We have a Spanish teacher as well as a science teacher who are both going to be helping to provide a lens for different places that we will be visiting, such as the rainforest, the caves or the bioluminescent bay.”
“The theme for the conference was gender, and how those of different genders are able to feel a sense of belonging within the school community,” Wuo said. “We dove into different experiences from co-ed schools and single-gender schools. One thing that we discussed with other students is if the terms ‘co-ed’ and ‘all girls/boys’ schools are appropriate because there are transgender students as well.”
SLIDE Co-Chair Clara Berg ’25 said the students split up into groups to give presentations to the educators and that hearing other student perspectives allowed her to consider experiences beyond her own.
“One of the groups performed a skit about how language can impact genderqueer students, which was eye-opening for me, and many others who do not experience the same daily challenges as nonbinary folks,” Berg said. “Seeing a school day from their perspective helped me to identify the ways that I could improve the way that I address people and help genderqueer students feel more included.”
EXCHANGING IDEAS: Teachers engage in discussion during the first Interdisciplinary Teaching Cohort, talking about ways to improve learning strategies for their students, collaborations with teachers from other departments and possible partnerships with outside organizations.
AP Gov. class hosts speakers
By Jack Fener
Students in AP (Advanced Placement) U.S. Government and Politics classes and the Directed Study, “The Election” listened to polling experts and a political consultant ahead of the presidential election in November.
The speaker events consisted of virtual webinars with Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball and Communications Director Camille Mumford, election consultant Frank Luntz and an in-person visit from political strategist David Simas (Rowan ’24). After hearing a brief description of the individual speaker’s background and their opinions on recent election trends, attending students and faculty were able to ask the experts questions.
Rex Grube ’25, who takes AP U.S. Government and Politics, said the goal of Kimball and Mumford’s visit was to learn about the complicated polling process.
“There’s a lot more that goes into the polling process than what it seems like on the surface because it’s really easy to just look at a poll and look at the numbers and think that’s it,” Grube said. “But when you really get into it, they have to do a lot of different processes to make sure that their polling is accurate. It was really interesting to learn how it’s developed over the years to become more accurate, too.”
Avery Kim ’25 said he enjoyed the opportunity to learn from specialists in the political field, especially Luntz.
“I find [the meetings] very interesting, and I think it is very cool that the school is able to bring such significant experts in the election field,” Kim said. “I also really appreciate that they had an enthusiasm to talk to us, especially Frank Luntz. He very much enjoyed talking to us and even respected our questions and our opinions.”
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
Global Affairs Club attends LA World Affairs Council speaker event featuring Rick Caruso
By Luca Gonzalez
Global Affairs Club attended a speaker event with former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso at Loyola High School, hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council (LAWAC) on Oct. 16. Students had the opportunity to speak to members of LAWAC and other global affairs organizations and enjoy provided appetizers before hearing from Caruso himself. He then addressed the self-proposed question: “What can Southern California learn from cities around the world?”
Later, he also opened the floor to answer questions offered by the audience.
This is the first event of many that the Global Affairs Club will participate in organized by LAWAC this year.
Last year, the Global Affairs Club attended three LAWAC organized events, where they visited the LA Zoo to discuss
climate change and environmental conversation, met Mayor Karen Bass as well as two American diplomats.
Caruso said other countries can learn from the amount of cultural diversity in LA as it is something that they often lack.
“I’m critical in the leadership of the city, but I still believe LA is the greatest city in the world by far,” Caruso said. “The fact that we have so many different communities with so many different cultures that all live and work together is incredible, and we should celebrate that. Other cities are very homogeneous, but LA is not. You go [to LA] for the Filipino community, the Black community, the Latino community, the Italian community and the Chinese community. And if you haven’t done it, you should
definitely go around and see all of these communities because they really are spectacular.”
Caruso said there is a necessity for collaboration between cities in California, and that they should not be taking isolationist stances by only focusing on their own issues and goals. He said this has been a common mistake that cities have made and that it should be changed.
“Every city is very dependent on the state for many reasons,” Caruso said. “You incentivize the cities to build more housing or do what you believe is in the greater interest in California, and you share that equally among every city, rather than getting into local control and mandating changes in local zones. I think that all cities have a problem.”
Club member Joya Roy ’26
said she appreciated the opportunity to listen to Caruso and to speak with some members of the LAWAC.
“Getting to hear Rick Caruso speak was amazing, especially since I’m used to hearing him speak on TV,” Roy said. “So seeing and hearing him speak in person was really cool. I also enjoyed getting to talk to grownups who have jobs related to the city and global affairs.”
Club member Ryan Acosta ’26 said he noticed how Caruso compared the issues of other cities to LA, particularly ones that LA struggles with.
“Caruso provided examples of how other cities in America, specifically ones in Texas, dealt with issues in Los Angeles like homelessness and public safety,” Acosta said. “It was interesting how he mentioned how the city of Los Angeles can find inspiration from other cities, possibly those around the world.”
School hires campus ambassadors
By Yuna Jeon
The school hired two new campus ambassadors, Bryttani Ford and Juan Valdivia, as an extension of the upper school security team. The ambassadors’ role at school is to assist and welcome visitors, parents and college representatives as well as regulate student activity on campus.
Ford said she hopes to foster a sense of community through interactions with a wide range of different individuals.
“We are also here to connect with faculty, with students and anyone who is on campus, which has been a pleasure,” Ford said. “My favorite part of this job is having the opportunity to work with everyone. I can end up talking to anyone, anywhere. I have also gotten to know a lot of different parents at the school, which has definitely been really cool.”
Valdivia said he hopes to
be a resource of support for all students so that they feel safe on campus.
“The most important thing is making sure the students feel secure and safe, not just inside the campus, but also among each other,” Valdivia said. “If they’re not feeling good or something is happening that is off, we reach out and try to be a support system for them.”
Ford said that the role of campus ambassadors is to ensure students’ safety and accountability throughout the school day.
“Us ambassadors are not trying to give you guys a hard time in the morning when we are asking you to check in, or when you are trying to check out,” Ford said. “We are just trying to make sure that you are where you are supposed to be so we know where you are in case anything happens.”
Valdivia said he was able to make connections with fel -
low staff members before the school year began.
“During the summer, I got to know the other staff and I also attended Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training,” Valdivia said. “I got to engage with the staff and got to know them before I got to know the students, which was good for me. It is fun seeing the students because it reminds me of my youth, since they have so much energy.”
Raya Soper ’26 said the campus ambassadors have had a beneficial impact on her everyday experience at school.
“I have definitely noticed a positive difference in our community with the addition of the campus ambassadors,” said Soper. “They are so nice and welcoming when I see them in the morning, and already make me feel more safe around campus. I feel like I could easily approach them if I were to need help with anything.”
LEARNING FROM LEADERS: Former Mayoral Candidate Rick Caruso speaks to the school’s Global Affairs Club and other attendees about holding elected officials accountable for improving Los Angeles, while highlighting the importance of celebrating the city’s many vibrant cultural communities. LUCA
FRIENDLY FACES: New Campus Ambassadors Bryttani Ford and Juan Valdivia pose together near the north entrance to the Upper School.
YUNA JEON/CHRONICLE
L. WOOD Joya Roy ’26
Theater students attend trip to New York City
By Ella Jeon
Students in Advanced Performance Studies traveled to New York, New York from Oct. 9-13 for a field trip led by Performing Arts Director and Teacher Sabrina Washburn. During the trip, the group attended shows and workshops while exploring the city.
Washburn said although their trip was delayed by one day, the group was still able to experience and enjoy plenty of productions and activities around Broadway.
“We missed out on about a day of programming but made it in time to see our first show, ‘The Outsiders,’ Washburn said. “On the second night, we went to see a play called ‘Good Bones’ at the public theater, and on Saturday, we
saw three shows: ‘Hadestown’, ‘Oh, Mary!’ and ‘Suffs.’”
Performing Arts Student Jack Smith ’26 said going to New York City allowed the students to surround themselves with a theater environment and helped create an understanding of everything that goes into putting on larger productions, in anticipation of the school’s Winter Musical “Hadestown.”
“The purpose of the trip was to experience some of the best theater around right now, as well as to learn from professionals in the industry,” Smith said. “We saw five shows and did a workshop with two members of the cast of ‘Hadestown.’”
Performing Arts Student Calla Fox ’25 said she appreciated the opportunity to learn audition skills, original choreography and music firsthand from current Broadway actors.
“The most memorable part of the trip was the ‘Hadestown’ workshop we did,” Fox said. “The cast members taught us two dances and gave us all individual coaching on some songs from the show, which was amazing.”
Washburn said she hoped the trip allowed students to fully be immersed in the theater world.
“I was hoping to accomplish a greater understanding of the theater world, to go see
Librarians offer access to UCLA library
By Erin Ryu
The school library announced that it will partner with the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) to grant current Honors and AP students library cards. Students will be able to access the Arts, Music, Powell, Young Research, Rosenfeld, Biomedical, Science and Engineering and Geology Libraries to check out books and utilize UCLA resources on-campus. Cards will be issued to students after submitting an online request form to the Mudd Library.
Upper School Librarian Kacie Cox said the school is continuing the partnership after a brief hiatus as a consequence of the pandemic.
“Harvard-Westlake has taken advantage of [the library] starting in 2013,” Cox said. “When COVID-19 hit in 2020, the program was put on pause. We decided this year was a good time to restart the program because we already had a few students asking about it. We are currently working with our
UCLA representative to see if they could open up registration for all of the students going forward.”
Upper School History teacher Erik Wade said he decided to sign up his students for a UCLA a library card because of the library’s collection of a variety of educational resources.
“Given Harvard-Westlake is a college preparatory institution, it makes sense to ensure students have access to UCLA’s holdings,” Wade said. “My students are exposed to historians who access archives at their respective universities and beyond. To be able to do so as a high school student, an opportunity I never had, is a no-brainer. The students who are interested in ethnic, gender and LGBTQIA+ studies topics will be able to have access to subject guides and resources that UCLA librarians and scholars have developed and contributed to. ” Wade said having access to university-level resources will help students when conducting their own research.
“In an age where disinformation and misinformation appear to rule the day across our news or social media feeds, it’s nice for students to know they will have access to quality information, evidence and facts,” Wade said. “This is truly the most important foundation for any type of discovery: personal, institutional and communal. I hope this will push my students to be more curious because they will have more opportunity to explore, in-depth and breadth, the questions they’re asking and locate some answers.”
Liv Lee ’26 said she is looking forward to utilizing the library card program as it will provide a productive study space for her schoolwork.
“It’s really exciting because I live really close to the university, so it’s an amazing opportunity for me to be able to experience the library as well as use the resources available there,” Lee said. “As a person who loves studying in aesthetic spaces, I think it will provide a good study environment for me to focus on my work.”
Peer Support holds weekly meetings
By Kara Jazaeri
Peer Support held its first and second meetings of the school year on Oct. 7 and Oct. 14. Peer Support is a student-led on-campus program designed to provide Upper School students with a safe space to connect with peers.
Leader Jack Letterman ’25 said leaders came together before Peer Support’s first few meetings to discuss the guidelines, a crucial aspect of the program.
“The first couple of meetings are arguably some of the most important because you’re dealing with a new group,” Letterman said. “In preparation, we heavily stress the rules. We need to get those down, and we need to get those across because it sets the precedent for the year.”
Trainee Sophia Wiczyk ’26 said the first few meetings helped students fall back into the routine of Peer Support.
some original shows and to bond as a group,” Washburn said. “I also hoped to inspire the students as they continue on in their advanced studies this year.”
Washburn said part of the trip centered around observing the connection between various types of art and how to develop upon old ideas to create new pieces of work.
“We did a private tour of some pieces at the Museum of Modern Art that was really focused on storytelling and looked at the link between different art forms and the way that they can inform, influence and inspire each other,” Washburn said. “We’re hoping to take some of those artworks and use them as inspiration to create some theatrical pieces later on in the year.”
“The first one was just getting to know our group,” Wiczyk said. “The second one we got to do more of the traditional [Peer Support] activities, which definitely helped people, especially the sophomores who had never done it become more familiar with it.”
Isla Saperstein ’27 said she found the meetings more lively than expected.
“I think they were really fun and I was happy that there was so much energy within the groups,” Saperstein said.
Wiczyk said joining Peer Support last school year helped her comfortably open up to others, inspiring her to become a trainee this year.
“Peer support helped me talk in a safe space where I knew that nobody was going to judge me, everyone was going to support me and I knew that what I said wasn’t going to be repeated to everyone I know,” Wiczyk said.
Peer Support will continue to hold meetings every Monday.
LEARNING FROM THE BEST: Advanced Performance Studies students pose together in a photo at the ‘Hadestown’ workshop where students had the opportunity to receive coaching and learn about choreography, music and audition skills from current Broadway actors.
L. Wood Sabrina Washburn
Have a Seat
Science Teacher Nate Cardin has crafted up Volume 34’s crossword puzzle for this issue. Hint: the circled letters in the puzzle’s longest across entries connect to the theme, which reveals a playful message when read vertically.
ACROSS:
1. Place for a queen bee ... or for fans of Queen Bey
5. Take care of the bill at a restaurant
8. Pulverize, like potatoes
12. Story published in in- stallments (that sounds like a breakfast food)
14. Female sheep
15. Supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community
16. “Heavenly” Las Vegas MINDFREAK illusionist: 2 wds.
18. What someone might do on a banana peel
19. “Sounds right to me”: 3 wds.
20. Frolic proudly, like one of Santa’s reindeer
22. Heading for a list of tasks: Hyph.
25. “OK, that wasn’t the truth”: 2 wds.
26. 2020s version of a ‘90s fanny pack: 2 wds.
31. Shocked or surprised, in modern slang
32. “Golly!”
33. Gender-affirming treatment that might include estrogen or testosterone:
36. Pass along to one’s IG followers, perhaps
39. Athlete on the court at the beginning of a game
42. Wooden golf peg
43. Flightless Australian bird
45. Emotionally demanding and high-maintenance
46. AR / VR mixed-reality headset from the makers of the iPhone: 3 wds.
51. What we breathe
52. Folded Mexican food
53. Potato sack material
Chron-nections
56. Emotion sensers in fantasy fiction
62. Single-stranded genetic molecule: Abbr.
63. Small single-serving condiment pouch: 2 wds.
66. Contribute
67. Anna’s “Frozen” sister
68. Indulges
69. Pedicure digit
70. Not shallow
71. Seemingly paradoxical idiom “___ is more”
DOWN :
1. Group of cattle
2. Colorful part of the eye
3. American Express alternative
4. “Piece of cake!”
5. Like a square ___ in a round hole
6. Sense of wonder
7. Restaurant review app
8. Chicken tikka ___
9. Dusk-to-dawn cram session: Hyph.
10. Piece of cake
11. Promoted excitedly
12. Poli ___ or ___-fi
13. Endures
17. Gaming novice, slangily
21. Curved chest bone
23. Bluey, for one
24. Praiseful poems
26. Baby bird’s sound
27. New Year’s Day event in Pasadena: 2 wds.
28. ___ and aah
29. Jamaican music genre adapted by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Reel Big Fish
30. “Are we there ___?”
31. Young Spanish woman: Abbr.
34. Have another go at
35. Attempt
37. Accelerate (with “up”)
38. Give off
40. ___ Arbor, Michigan
41. Weightlifter’s unit
44. Canada’s neighbor to the south
47. “Old Town Road” rapper ___ Nas X
48. Cleaned the whiteboard
49. Slurpee alternative
50. Robust, energetic quality
53. Charli XCX word written on a lime green background, per a popular meme
54. Option + Z command
55. Drained of color
57. “Ant-Man” star Rudd
58. Wile E. Coyote’s supply company
59. Boxing ring victories: Abbr.
60. That girl’s
61. Wall, Sesame, and Beale: Abbr.
64. Take advantage of
65. Word used to call out a liar, slangily
Colin Ho ’26 has designed this issue’s Chron-nections. Find four groups of four words that share a common category. Each word belongs to only one category. Have fun, good luck and puzzle away!
Presentation Managing Editors: Georgia Grad, MeJo Liao, William Liu, Nathan Wang
Executive Editors: Alex Dinh, Everett Lakey, Max Turetzky
News Editor: Jack Ryan
Assistant News Editors: Luca Gonzalez, Colin Ho, Yuna Jeon, Ella Jeon, Alex Reisner, Erin Ryu
Opinion Editors: Sabrina Hamideh, Olivia Phillips
Assistant Opinion Editors: Audrey Kim, Ellika LeSage, Eila Shrokavi
Features Editor: Saisha Kumar
Assistant Features Editors: Sienna Dall’Olmo, Kayla Graff, Lydia Gugsa, Lyla Kavanagh, Andrea Ricabal, Celine Wang
A&E Editors: Crista Kim, Katelyn Kim
Assistant A&E Editors: Annabelle Cheung, Analeigh Nava
Sports Editor: Hana Mehdi Williams
Assistant Sports Editors: Wynne Davis, Connor Merrihew, David Rothbart, Max Nam
Satire Editor: Hannah Shahidi
Digital Editor: Alex Lee
Business Manager: Hailey Cho
Advertising Director: Mia Morgan
Art Director: Amelia Charelli
Illustrators: Annabelle Cheung, Juana Markman, Anika Norton, Eva Park, Zara Groves, Tehmina Malhotra, Alexa Liu, Sabrina Simek, Abby Juarez
Freelancer Writer: Alex Nickoll, Nate Verny
Layout Assistants and Staff Writers: Gideon Ames, Alex Bakhtiari, Hudson Barber, Beau Cartwright, Emmeline Chan, Sophia Chang, James Corman, Mila Detmer, Aidan Elson, Donna Enayati, Jack Fener, Charlotte Fowkes, Jackson Friedman, Evalina Gerencher, Darya Ghassemieh, Zara Groves, Tali Gurule, Audrey Herrera, Jackson Hubbard, Téa Hunnius, Riya Iyer, Kara Jazaeri, Chloe Kim, Holden Kim, Hailey Kramar, Tess Latham, Sophie Lee, Jean Park, Mattea Pisani, Luke Rascoff, Andrew Rindone, Abby Ryan, Maddie Saada, Oona Sawyer, August Sone, Angel Song, Nicole Um, Jacob Waxman, Jake Yoon
CEO of HW Media: Max Turetzky
Chronicle Adviser: Billy Montgomery
Director of HW Media: Jen Bladen
HWTV and Broadcast Adviser: Max Tash
Assistant Adviser:
Publication Information:
Founded in 1990, The Chronicle is the Harvard-Westlake Upper School’s student-led newspaper. Now in its 34th year, The Chronicle strives to report stories accurately and to uphold its legacy of journalistic integrity. The newspaper is published eight times per year and distributed to students, parents, faculty and staff. We are members of the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Private School Journalism Association. Be sure to check out the HWMedia+ app for more content from our publications.
Putting Down the Phone
When Steve Jobs announced a revolutionary new type of smartphone in 2007, neither he nor anyone else could have predicted its unprecedented impact on society. Almost all of us have been raised with constant access to an ever-present mobile device, giving us readily available updates on everything from the latest social media trends to our friends’ current locations with just a few clicks. 95% of American teenagers now have a smartphone, according to Statista. The fundamental changes phones have brought to our psychology, culture, social lives and education are incomprehensibly enormous and equally as dangerous.
We spend hours each week mindlessly refreshing our social media feeds to catch up with the news or our classmates’ vacations, chatting with friends through faceless text conversations and procrastinating on work in favor of quick dopamine hits from shortform content. As much as we teenagers hate to admit it, we have lost something tangible through our obsession with our phones. Real-world connections and meaningful passions are traded away for instant gratification.
Though many students are obstinately opposed to the new phone policy, the school-wide phone ban will give us a new opportunity to foster empathy and create deeper bonds with one another. It is saving us from ourselves. Face-to-face interactions are more than just a nostalgic idea, they’re a critical part of development that fosters our growth as individuals and members of a community. Without phones, we can become more emotionally and socially present, both in our learning environment and with the humans around us.
The educational harms are even more apparent than the social
about us
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION:
The Chronicle strives to be a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes all who wish to contribute. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee works to ensure that every member of the Harvard-Westlake community is recognized, included and given a voice.
The Chronicle's publications will aim to represent this diverse community and provide a variety of perspectives on the topics that they cover.
EDITORIALS:
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of staffers and are written by the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editors-in-Chief, Managing Editors and Section Editors.
ADVERTISING:
Looking to place an advertisement in our paper? Questions pertaining to advertisements may be directed to The Chronicle's Business Manager Hailey Cho at hcho2@hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or school.
harms. Our attention spans are obliterated by ubiquitous 15 to 30-second video clips, which train us to become easily distracted. Even at school, students often spend their break time on the Quad staring at their phones instead of talking with their friends. Despite the ban of phones in class, the most screen-obsessed kids can be seen peeking at them under desks, which undermines a teacher’s control of the room and distracts students from the learning at hand. At this point, the best solution increasingly seems to be an outright ban — allowing these urges to be fully put to rest.
Phone usage permeates every facet of our lives, whether at home or at school, alone or with friends. Excessive phone usage has profound implications on our mental health. The more time we spend on our devices, the more likely we are to experience symptoms of anxiety, depression and loneliness, according to research from Columbia University. Social media feeds create a cycle of comparison and self-doubt, making it harder to focus on personal growth and well-being. The most prominent example is Instagram’s stories feature, which offers an endless photo gallery of classmates dancing at concerts or traveling to exotic locales. We only see the highlights of other people’s experiences, which triggers an ever-present fear of missing out.
We should approach the next school year with an emphasis on healing and connection, and that requires us to see each other face-to-face, not separated by the invisible barrier of our phones. It is natural for students to be wary of such a huge change, but we need to put our trust in the new policy and make an active effort to create a stronger community in line with the administration’s phone-free vision.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Letters may be submitted to chronicle@ hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited to conform to Chronicle style, space and format. We are committed to uplifting the voices of marginalized or underrepresented individuals and groups in accordance with our efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
PUBLICATION AWARDS:
UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS:
Though we always strive to be as accurate as possible, staff members identify inaccuracies and receive feedback from readers.
The Chronicle publishes corrections when we discover a factual error within a piece. We will continue to uphold transparency even in the face of mistakes following the publication of each issue.
MEMBERSHIPS:
OIt is time to reform
By Holden Kim
ver the last century, Americans have largely faced a binary choice in politics: Democrat or Republican. The choice is not just a product of modern politics; the Electoral College has long necessitated a two-party framework, a trend that has largely persisted throughout American history. Over the past fifty years, the political landscape became even more polarized. The entrenched two-party system further deepened existing partisan divisions and pushed both parties toward ideological extremes. Against this backdrop, the majority of American voters today report feeling inadequately represented by either party and express frustration with the U.S. electoral process. Six in 10 Americans said they lack confidence in the future of U.S. politics, while eight in 10 said they believe these political parties are more focused on beating the other than solving real problems, according to a Pew Research report from Sept. 2023.
Despite Americans’ widespread dissatisfaction with the
Halloween should embrace innocence
By Eila Shokravi
About a year ago, the administration sent an email to all Upper School students warning them to be careful attending Halloween parties because of the increase in teenage overdoses due to alcohol and drugs in Los Angeles. As I read through the message, I reflected on my past experiences surrounding Halloween: going to party city, picking the perfect costume, decorating my home and trickor-treating. Over the years, the standard of innocence during the time of Halloween shifted. I realized that I now struggle to find a socially acceptable, provocative costume and Halloween parties to attend. I found myself trying to identify when Halloween transitioned from a holiday of innocence to an opportunity for children to act too mature for their age.
Over the years, overly-sexualized content on social media replaced innocent videos and memes. Many online personalities have embraced “adult lifestyles,” Instead of trick-or-treat, adults celebrate Halloween with
the electoral college
status quo, two party dominance hinders independent and third-party candidates from gaining significant traction on the national stage. Although third parties such as the Libertarian and Green Party consistently field presidential candidates, they struggle to garner
the national support necessary to mount a serious challenge for the White House. Even in the 1992 presidential election, where independent candidate Ross Perot received over 18% of the popular vote, his strong performance was essentially rendered meaningless due to the Electoral College’s winnertake-all system, as he failed to win a single state and therefore received no electoral votes. Perot’s candidacy highlights a fundamental problem with the Electoral College . When nearly
one-fifth of voters support a candidate, a large portion of the electorate is effectively disenfranchised. As a result, many Americans feel forced to choose between one of the two major party candidates, despite feeling ambivalent about either.
Frustration over the lack of pluralistic candidate choice is especially prevalent amongst young voters. 46% of voters aged 18 to 25 would opt to vote for a candidate other than the Democratic or Republic nominee, according to a poll conducted by Harvard's Kennedy school in 2024.
One possible solution to address the structural bias inherent in the current Electoral College system would be to implement a system of proportional representation. Under such a system, the current binary paradigm would be replaced by a proportional distribution of electoral votes based on the percentage of the popular votes received by each candidate. This solution is feasible, as some states have already implemented similar approaches.
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
parties and provocative outfits.
Even if an influencer wants to party, drink and dress a certain way, they need to be aware that much of their audience is children. Social media can influence the health and lifestyle decisions that teenagers make for themselves, according to Raising Children Network.
Instead of trick-or-treat, adults celebrate Halloween with parties and provocative outfits.
Most influencers attend parties and post content from them. Alix Earle, a popular content creator on social media, regularly posts “Get-Ready-With-Me” videos to attend clubs or college parties. This content includes pre-gaming, doing drugs and drinking. Influencers encourage these decisions and market the holiday as a chance to partake in them.
Apps should enforce age restrictions during the sign-up pro-
cess. The average age which children begin using social media is 12.6 years old, and about 56% of American youth have social media accounts, according to CNN Health. Influencers are not directly responsible for the actions that derive from their content. Having these age restrictions will prevent under-age minors on social media from being easily influenced to dress provocatively, attend parties, drink and do drugs. Enforcing age restrictions will put an end to the root of the problem of under-age children getting influenced by social media because under-age children will not be on social media at all. Using social media to promote Halloween parties and substances increases the risk of legal and health complications for minors. Drinking under age is harmful for minors because alcohol can cause youth to have accidents and get hurt, according to the NIAAA. Halloween parties are problematic as they encourage children to participate in activities that may be harmful or inappropriate for their age group.
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
LRestrict internet lingo
By Ellika LeSage
ast weekend, I found myself trying to explain the word “rizz” to my dad. It was difficult to convey the meaning of the word because it is not just a straightforward definition — it is tied to a whole concept. “Rizz” does not simply mean “charisma”; it embodies a specific way of interacting, often in social or romantic contexts, which comes with a set of connotations shaped by online culture. “It is short for charisma,” I said, “but kind of in a modern way.” My dad, a doctor who cares deeply about precise language in his profession, seemed puzzled. As we talked further, I tried to clarify the meaning of other terms like “aura” and “demure” which, in some online spaces, have evolved into descriptors that hardly resemble their respective dictionary definitions. I realized that if language keeps shifting like this, I would often feel misunderstood when talking with my dad. Our conversations would become a constant struggle to bridge the gap between how words are used online and the meaning he expected. It struck me then: the language landscape, once stable and predictable, was now rapidly changing — and not necessarily for the better.
The influx of new words born out of internet subcultures is not just a creative revolution. In many ways, it is disruptive. We now face a tidal wave of viral slang that warps how we speak, write and think. In the age of
TikTok and Twitter (X), words become linguistic trends for a month, only to be replaced by the next viral buzzword. What might seem like harmless fun can erode the accuracy of our ideas, resulting in challenges that prevent our self-expression. Slang, of course, has always been part of the English language. Every generation brings its own phrases and expressions into the mix. But the sheer speed at which new vocabulary is created and discarded today introduces a kind of linguistic instability. These words do not stick around long enough to become universally understood or integrated into the mainstream. Instead, they emerge, go viral and fade out, often leaving confusion in their wake. This linguistic disruption creates generational divide, leaving many people unable to fully understand each other.
In a July podcast, linguist Anne Curzan explained how social media and texting are transforming the language used by Gen Z, reshaping not just slang but also how we interpret traditional grammar. In her conversation, she highlighted how phrases like “for the plot” and “drop the lore” illustrate young peoples’ playful repurposing of language to narrate their lives and share personal backstories. These expressions are deeply influenced by video games and social media culture.
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
ILLUSTRATION BY AMELIA CHIARELLI
The electoral college sustains a two-party dominance, limiting voter choice.
ILLUSTRATION BY ANNABELLE CHEUNG
ILLUSTRATION BY AMELIA CHIARELLI
Should Classes Have Assessments?
Classes need testing
By Audrey Kim
In middle school, I was studying for a math test when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. My math teacher made the test opennote, and said she would make the questions easier. I immediately stopped doing homework for the last couple lessons of the unit and did not review the unit. Without testing, students lose motivation for their classes, leading to an unproductive learning environment.
As we progress into a future where education takes on different forms, the desire to experiment and try different class structures becomes more prevalent. Sometimes, though, the traditional method of testing material provides the most benefits for students.
Although most classes at the school follow a traditional assessment schedule, with unit tests and cumulative assessments breaking the year up into chunks, some classes do not have traditional tests. AP United States Government and Calculus and Statistics both fall under this category, according to the course handbooks. These classes typically have mini quizzes and projects, but no unit tests.
Tests have been an integral part of class scheduling and learning for a necessary reason: to make students learn everything in the unit. Even though they are a source of complaint for many students, tests aid in making learning more efficient, requiring students to study and brush up on unit skills they may not be as solid on.
STATS AND FACTS
Tests are a way to summarize the key points of the unit and for students to test the skills they learned throughout. Without assessments, there is no way for
The traditional method of testing material provides the most benefit for students.
students to ensure they understood all the content in a given unit. Frequent quizzes may help with the most recent lesson, but no cumulative assessment means no assurance that a student knows how to apply the skills learned across many different lessons. They may not go back and study past lessons if they only have one-lesson quizzes to study for.
Another point of contention around tests is that they encourage cheating to get ahead in a class. There are many ways to try and alleviate that environment, though. Teachers already encourage students to meet with them during the studying process, and more enjoyable online study materials can be offered to increase engagement during studying. Studying for tests is the best way to cement units of study into long-term memory, and after taking a class with no tests, students may find out that tests aren’t such a chore after all.
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
Classes don’t need tests
By Nate Verny
After five years of taking tests in every core class, I finally had the opportunity to take a non-exambased academic course: AP United States Government and Politics. This class, unlike any I had taken before, swapped out tests and quizzes for large assignments like discussion posts and essays. I was initially skeptical but as the weeks went on, I found myself impressed by the simplicity and effectiveness of this approach. The discussion-based lessons allowed me to learn more deeply and with greater enjoyment than in any previous history course. This no-test curriculum stands out as superior for a key reason. Traditional exams only capture a narrow and often inaccurate window into a student’s knowledge. Sitting for an exam on a single day, within the confines of an hour, cannot possibly reflect weeks or months of learning. Non-test classes, like AP Government or Honors Urban and Ethnic Studies, allow students to showcase their knowledge more comprehensively through takehome discussions. This approach, which encourages deep thinking and critical analysis, far surpasses the snapshot evaluations of highstakes testing. Similarly, in math classes, such as Calculus or Statistics, periodic quizzes work as more frequent check-ins without the stressful burden of major assessments, focusing on learning rather than just grades. In these classrooms, learning is prioritized over the final grade, fostering a health-
Are you more likely to take a class without tests?
Yes: 72.5%
No: 27.5%
Build community with consistency
By James Corman
Goats visiting campus. Food trucks serving poke and shaved ice. Field days with ice cream sundaes and relay races. These are all community-building initiatives that have been organized both by Prefect Council and individual clubs in recent years, and they all fall short in one way: they are sporadic, onetime events, not sustained solutions to the lack of rapport among students. Pressure at the school is intense, and competition can get in the way of building a strong school community. In order for the school to build a community where students have meaningful connections with each other, it is imperative that the strategy shifts from inconsistent and arbitrarily-placed events to frequent and consistent community-building events. Prefect Council holds the most power with respect to scheduling student events, and prefects should thus make a concerted effort to schedule activities outside of school spirit events. “Consistent” events such as Homecoming Formal and Fanatic Fest are consistent in that
they happen every year, but true community-building events must take place multiple times throughout the school year. The school administration holds the ability to bolster community by establishing certain initiatives such as retreats and bonding time during school days. In order to ensure students find smaller communities where they feel like they belong, the school should consider making it mandatory for Upper School students to become involved with at least one club or student association, with students
It should be mandatory for upper school students to become involved with at least one club or student association.
attending it as often as they are able. According to Brandeis International Business School, clubs help students connect with new people
ier relationship with the material. Additionally, non-testing classes tend to cultivate a more collaborative, rather than competitive, environment. In test-heavy environments, students are often focused on receiving the highest grades, which fosters tension and even animosity among peers. This atmosphere can hinder collaboration and discourage students from supporting each other’s learning. By contrast, non-testing curricula can create a sense of cooperation. In classes like AP United States Government and Politics or AP Human Geography, students can view and engage with each other’s discussion posts, resulting in meaningful dialogue and a sharing of knowledge. This exchange fosters a collective learning environment where students become partners in the pursuit of their own learning. Such collaboration strengthens both academic and social cohesion, creating a more supportive and engaged classroom. Finally, non-testing classes are simply more interesting. Contrary to the belief that rigorous testing is necessary to ensure learning, these classes offer proof that engagement, not stress, leads to deeper understanding. Learning becomes more engaging and enjoyable without the stress of looming assessments. School should be about fostering curiosity and passion for learning, not about the anxiety that accompanies high-stakes exams.
Do you feel that there is more work in no-test classes?
Yes: 17.2% No: 82.8%
Do you feel less stressed in classes without tests?
and discover new strengths. Regularly attending club meetings can also provide a group of people that the students can lean on. However, many less-involved students do not join clubs, opting to study or engage in other activities such as socializing with friends, studying for tests or spending time on their devices.
Although Peer Support is one of the few consistent community initiatives the school offers that prides itself as a safe space for students, it is not accessible to a large majority of them. This is because it meets later than most after school activities, and ends after the late bus leaves. It is therefore more difficult for students who live far from school or take the bus to stay at Peer Support for its full duration. A successful community-building initiative must be accessible to all students, and in order for Peer Support to be more accessible, it should be at a time when all students on campus are present and have the option to participate. Peer Support is not organized directly by Prefect Council, and the events that Prefect Council does
spearhead, including food trucks and animals visiting campus, are sparsely placed throughout the year. The success of Prefect Council events is overshadowed by how rarely they occur. Prefect Council must take a note from clubs and schedule their events with more consistency. There are many possibilities for consistent community-strengthening initiatives that the school
* 229 students polled Yes: 45.9%
Staff writer James Corman ’27 argues that the school must hold more consistent community-building events in order to build more inclusion within the Upper School.
to put in place, and a more tightknit school community can be a reality within the foreseeable future. As far as the present, with the school’s emphasis on promoting mental health, one would think community-building would be further emphasized. Yet the current sporadic and little-publicized events often go under the radar of even the most diligent students.
• Continued on hwchronicle.com • Continued on hwchronicle.com
and
Studio City residents speak on presidential election
By Riya Iyer and Chloe Kim
With Election Day upcoming on Nov. 5, the Studio City local community reflected on candidate choices and major issues. Studio City residents are generally passionate yet divided over the upcoming presidential election. As of Oct. 26, current Vice President Kamala Harris is leading Donald Trump 49% to 48% in national polls, according to the New York Times and Siena College.
Leon David, a former Democrat who now operates a proTrump merchandise booth across from Ralphs, said free-
dom of speech and peace are the most important election issues for him.
“The biggest thing that matters to me in this country is that we have a right to free speech,” David said. “I see the Democrats on the left trying to take that away. They did it with COVID-19. They did it with any talk of the vaccine. They did it with any talk of the election. They did it with any talk of anything that they don’t agree with.”
David also said the president should maintain peace and bring an end to the ongoing wars in the world.
“The second biggest issue to
me is I want peace, and I don’t want people to die from wars,” David said. “When Trump was [in power] there were no new wars. Now we have two wars going on and a possible third war starting because we are portraying weakness, and we give money to the people that terrorize.”
Sam Roberts, a recent college graduate raised in Texas, said human rights and nature preservation are essential topics to consider when voting for the next president.
“I would hate to see things go in a backwards direction in terms of people’s rights and their ability to live as they please,” Roberts said. “And
Shawarma and gelato stores open
By Abby Ryan
Big Daddy’s Shawarma, a restaurant offering Middle Eastern cuisine, and Freddo, a gelato store, recently opened along Ventura Boulevard on Aug. 26 and Sept. 27 respectively, and have given the Studio City community new dining options.
Big Daddy’s Shawarma is located at the intersection of Laurel Canyon Blvd. and Ventura Blvd. The new restaurant combines Middle Eastern street food with Southern California style. Shawarma is typically slow-roasted, marinated meat served on pita or flatbread.
Margaux Schlumberger ’27 said she is enthusiastic about Big Daddy’s Shawarma’s opening.
“I’m a big fan of shawarma in general so I’m excited to get to try a new variation of the dish,” Schlumberger said. “Especially considering how convenient the location is compared to the Upper School.”
Abby Juarez ’26 said the restaurant opening has her looking forward to being able to leave campus for lunch as a senior.
“I love the food at Big Daddy’s Shawarma,” Juarez said. “I enjoy food that’s flavorful and spicy so I’m excited to go off campus next year.”
Freddo is a chain of gelato stores with 150 locations worldwide. The first of this chain opened its doors in Buenos Aires in 1969, with the new Ventura Blvd location being the chain’s first in California. Another location is set to open in West Hollywood. Inspired by its Italian roots, the chain has continued to make gelato around the world.
Yari Milakin ’27 said, although he has not tried Freddo yet, he looks forward to visiting it for his love of gelato and the location’s close proximity to campus.
“Due to its proximity to the school I am very excited to be able to have it,” Milakin said. “I’ve always been a lover of the various
types of gelatos, so although I have not tried this brand yet, I am ecstatic to see more stores like Freddo opening up.”
Charlotte Im ’27 said she looks forward to having the gelato and is planning to visit the store with her friends.
“I love ice cream so I would love to try it,” Im said. “Especially because my friends and I need a new ice cream place to go to after school. The Salt & Straw flavors are getting a little boring.”
Schlumberger said she is excited to try the new gelato from Freddo.
“I’ve always been a fan of good ice cream and trying new flavors and shops so I’m really excited to be getting another one close to Harvard-Westlake,” Schlumberger said. “After trying ice cream from around the country on trips with my family, I can’t wait to see how the neighborhood measures up.”
more locally, I feel helping out with environmental awareness and housing crises is important. I know there’s a couple propositions that could really steer things in either direction.”
Finally, some citizens do not wish to cast a vote for either candidate of the election.
In the most recent 2020 election, national voter turnout only represented about 66% of eligible voters, despite being the highest turnout of any presidential election to date, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Christian Meza, an employee at Ralphs on Ventura and Coldwater, said the upcoming
election will be unfair and that his interests are not represented by either candidate.
“I don’t believe we have a fair election,” Meza said. “I think that we don’t really have a choice. I think both candidates for me personally, they don’t do nothing [anything] for me as a regular, average worker, average person. For me, a big issue is healthcare and medicare, as well as the crazy discrepancy in rent and unaffordability. I’m a guy that works 40 hours a week, 48 sometimes, and a couple of years ago, that was enough to get a one-bedroom apartment. Now I have to go above and beyond just to make ends meet.”
ELECTION BEGINS: In preparation for Election Day, former Democrat Leon David organized a pro-Trump merchandise stand between Ventura Blvd. and Coldwater Canyon Ave. The stand sells clothes
banners advertising for Donald Trump. David said he supports Trump’s stances on freedom of speech and war. Other community members spoke about issues regarding people’s rights.
NEW OPENINGS: Big Daddy’s Shawarma and Freddo opened up near Ventura Blvd., expanding food options for students and Studio City residents.
PURSUING PERFECTION
The VITRUVIAN MAN
Students and faculty discuss the impacts of male body image and its prevalence in social media, society and athletics.
By Lydia Gugsa
Procrastinating while doing his homework on a Friday night, Finn Slootweg ’26 was scrolling through social media when he came across a post titled “How to Get Buffer and Faster,” where a man was seen working through an intense fitness routine, lifting dumbbells and running on a treadmill. Although Slootweg scrolled past, the video lingered in his mind, causing him to wonder why his social media feed would suggest it to him.
Slootweg said the pressure to conform to a certain body type, especially coming from social media, can push men to adopt extreme diets or workouts to fit a specific image of masculinity.
physical and mental toll associated with one’s perception of their body image can vary between team and individual sports.
“My experience with social media is that it feeds you a lot of people that you want to look like or that you idealize,” Slootweg said. “Most men want to feed into societal norms and look super muscular, masculine and built. Social media will feed them a lot of men who look like that. It forces them to feel a sense of urgency to try and change their body.”
Body image is a combination of the thoughts and feelings that you have about your body, according to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration. This can include feelings of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their physical appearance. A positive body image can lead to confidence and self-acceptance, while a negative body image may result in feelings of shame or insecurity. According to the National Library of Medicine, one study found that the percentage of men dissatisfied with their overall appearance has nearly tripled to 43% in the past 25 years, and that nearly as many men as women are unhappy with how they look.
“If you under-perform in your sport, for example, one-on-one sports like wrestling or track, it does take a toll on your body,” Johnson said. “For team sports, like basketball, volleyball and football, you have your team to rely on. Since you’re all working together, it doesn’t feel like anything is completely on you. For individualized sports, it’s a lot more on your body than it is when you’re on a team. When it’s more on you, it feels like you’re not up to standard of being able to run fast enough, or pick up your opponent. Under-performing in a solo sport can give you a reality check of where you think you’re supposed to be because that person might be or look stronger, faster and better than you at the sport, and you feel as though your body cannot handle the pressure of that sport.”
Slootweg, a transgender man, said gender dysphoria, distress from a mismatch between gender identity and assigned sex at birth, plays a huge role in body image for transgender people.
“ We don’t actually know if a person is training ten times or ten hours a day, not eating and not fueling themselves or if they’re bulking up.”
Kat Scardino Sports Psychologist
Sports Psychologist Kat Scardino said it is dangerous to compare one’s body to others’ due to the unrealistic standards set by social media.
“Specifically, when you’re a transgender person, people have a certain vision for what you should look like if you’re going to pass as like that gender,” Slootweg said. “Therefore, I think that a lot of transgender people have a harder time with their body image, and also dysphoria in general. A lot of times with gender dysphoria, it can make you feel that you need to look a certain way because society thinks that you’re only trans if you look a specific way. Not all trans people feel as big of a need to pass like other trans people and that plays a really big, part in their body image issues amongst trans people because society has an image of what a trans person like, and what a trans man needs to look like.”
An article from The Cut, a digital magazine by New York Maga-
ucts to show men, especially teenagers, how to take care of their body.
Scardino said a fixed mindset can lead to unhealthy habits and a dis torted view of fitness.
“I’ve worked with male athletes who, when they feel a certain way about their body, may feel more confident going out to perform,” Scardino said. “If you’re feeling really strong, you might feel stronger out there to perform, but there is a healthy and a very unhealthy way of those two things having a relationship.”
Slootweg said that although oth ers might feel pressure to conform to standards of masculinity, he would rather do what makes himself happy.
“I’m a pretty self sufficient person,” Slootweg said. “I don’t necessarily care a lot about what other people’s opinions of me are. I mean, I do care to a point, but not deeply. For me, it’s more about how I feel, and I don’t think that the way that society feels, or what society deems is acceptable or the norm really affects me as much as it affects other people, because at the end of the day, I would rather be happy and be me than be sad and conformed to what other people think I should be.”
Callum MacLachlan ’26 said not having to pay as much attention to how his body looks has allowed him to feel more confident in himself.
“I love my body,” MacLachlan said. “I used to feel pretty bad about my body in seventh grade, but now that I’m on the other side, having a positive body image definitely adds confidence. I’m a very loud guy, and if I’m worried about people judging me, I’m mostly worried about them judging me for my personality, not for my looks. It led to be a lot more outrageous, while a lot of other people would have to fit into society more and fit into norms.”
A study from the Newport Institute, a mental health treatment center for young adults and teens, showed that after viewing images of physically fit men, men perceived themselves as weaker, less attractive and in worse shape than they previously thought they were.
Slootweg said unrealistic masculine ideals harms both men’s bodies and their emotional well-being.
“Masculinity pushes the idea that men are supposed to think that they’re supposed to be able to gain all this muscle, but in reality, it’s really a small percentage of people who are able to do that,” Slootweg said. “So, the fact that society makes them feel that they’re not allowed to think about that is the reason why some develop mental health issues.”
Up to 2.4% of the male adult population who suffer from body image also suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), according to The Recovery Village, a rehab center that treats addiction and mental health issues. BDD is a mental health condition where a person becomes excessively preoccupied with perceived flaws or defects in their physical appearance, even if those flaws are minor or not noticeable to others. In some cases, BDD can lead to eating disorders.
Slootweg said he feels that a lot of male fitness culture contributes to eating disorders. “A lot of times, men will use the phrase ‘Oh, I need to go on a cut,’ as something more than that,” Slootweg said. “In actual gym culture, cutting would be eating enough protein or cutting down on carbohydrates. But a lot of times, men, when they say they’re going on the cut, they really mean that they’re just not eating. I think that they use this term as a way to try and trick themselves into thinking that they’re contributing to this masculine idea when
By Kayla Graff and Lyla Kavanagh
17 years ago, Dwana Willis (Gian ’26) tapped her foot impatiently as a three-minute timer ticked down beside her. She held her breath as she squinted at the pregnancy test in her hands. After seeing the two faint pink lines revealed, Willis felt elated. A wave of relief washed over her; she finally felt optimistic about her ability to bring a child into the world. After a long and costly journey of finding a sperm donor, multiple doctors and several failed intrauterine inseminations (IUIs), Willis had become pregnant through in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Willis said her successful IVF procedure reassured her after her tumultuous fertility journey.
“Once I knew that I was pregnant, [I felt] an overwhelming sense of joy,” Willis said. “[After] having so many failed IUIs, the inability to get pregnant was really kind of concerning. I went into a depression, and it felt like I wasn’t a woman. I wasn’t enough.”
IVF is a series of medical procedures in which eggs are collected from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm outside the body in a laboratory setting, according to Mayo Clinic. The eggs and sperm can be collected from the person attempting to conceive or obtained through donors. The fertilized eggs are then transferred to the uterus, where the fetus develops. The procedure is commonly used by same-sex or single parent families as well as people with fertility issues or genetic disorders. Around 2% of babies born in the United States (U.S.) are conceived through IVF, according to CNN.
Los Angeles obstetrician gynecologist (OB-GYN) Howie Mandel said fertility treatment and reproductive care allows
BU LDING E ERY AMILY
Members of the school community discuss the accessibility and affordability of fertility treatments and their role in creating families.
have otherwise.
“I have seen hundreds and hundreds of families built thanks to assisted reproduction,” Mandel said. “Obstetrics and gynecology is one of the most rewarding fields in medicine. OB-GYNs see new life on a regular basis.”
Willis said IVF provided her and her wife the opportunity to have children as a same-sex couple.
“As a same-sex couple, one of the jokes I make is that we both have really low sperm count,” Willis said. “With that being the case, we would be unable to have the joy of having children [without IVF].”
This September, Republican Senators blocked the Right to IVF Act for the second time. The bill aimed to require cost coverage for infertility treatment in large group health care plans, according to NPR News. In response to legislation against IVF, Governor of California Gavin Newsom signed legislation requiring large group health care service plan contracts and disability insurance policies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility on Sept. 29, according to USA Today.
Willis said the affordability and accessibility of IVF treatments is important for not only same-sex couples, but also heterosexual couples.
“[IVF] needs to be accessible to any and everybody that wants to have children,” Willis said. “Infertility and being unable to conceive is also an issue with heterosexual couples. If the woman is unable to either produce enough eggs, or there’s something going on internally that prohibits her from being able to get pregnant, then that’s an issue. People also always forget that the man could very well have a very low sperm count, and he could be the issue.”
Although IVF us-
couples has increased in recent years, heterosexual couples still account for over 90 % of IVF patients, according to the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority. The heterosexual parents of Shimon Schlessinger ’26 chose to have him and his twin brother through IVF because of fertility issues. Schlessinger said IVF is important because it allows people to have children when they feel ready for it.
“My parents wanted to have children, and when my mom was getting pregnant with me and my twin brother, she was in her mid forties,” Schlessinger said. “It wasn’t a very viable option for them to have us naturally, so they decided to do IVF. There shouldn’t be a rush to have children early if you’re not ready for it.
Extending the time frame that women are able to have children [in] and giving more people the opportunity to start a family is an important benefit to IVF.”
Nationwide, the average cost for IVF treatment ranges from $14,000-20,000, according to the Pacific Fertility Center of Los Angeles. Mandel said IVF treatment is expensive due to the extensive procedures, training and equipment required.
“I don’t think that IVF is ‘so expensive’ considering what has to be done,” Mandel said. “Consider the years of training of the reproductive endocrinologist. Four years of college, four years of medical school, four years of OB-GYN residency and three years of a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. The nurses, the anesthesiologist, the laboratory embryologist, supplies, sterile equipment and numerous hormonal medications all have associated costs. Even though [they are] not inexpensive, the costs are very reasonable [when you] recognize these specialists are assisting families in reproduction [and] creating new life.”
time, one vial of sperm was like 400 bucks, and we needed more than one. That does not include the cost of keeping it stored, [or] the cost of the medical procedure. On some levels, it could be prohibitive for a family who doesn’t have either medical insurance and or the finances to even be able to have children.”
Willis’s son, Gian Ngo-Willis ’26 is half Black and half Asian. He said while adoption is a great option for many LGBTQ+ couples, one of the reasons his parents chose IVF is because they felt it was important to have a child who reflected their unique ethnicities and culture.
“It’s important to have access to IVF because of LGBTQ+ relationships,” Ngo-Willis said. “If there is no IVF, there is no opportunity for people in those situations to have a child. [My parents] specifically wanted to pursue IVF because they wanted a more accurate representation ethnically and culturally of themselves. They also wanted that added factor of having their children be a part of them. IVF accessibility is important for all people, but there’s an underlying tone of equality for LGBTQ+ couples.”
Reproductive rights have become an issue since Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court case protecting a woman’s rights to an abortion, was overturned in the 2022 case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Since then, 13 states passed legislation criminalizing abortion at all stages of pregnancy, nine of which do not have exceptions for rape or incest, according to CNN. Despite this, 63 % of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research Center. While presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have differing views on abortion, both have announced plans to require healthcare coverage for IVF nationwide, according to CBS News.
Mandel said the upcoming election will not play a significant role in the cost or accessibility of IVF in most states.
“I do not believe the upcoming election is important regarding IVF affordability,” Mandel said. “As for accessibility, [it is important ] in very few states but not in California. I do think the election is very important regarding the role of government in people’s lives. There are significant differences in how the two major political parties address people’s reproductive rights and choices people make about their bodies.” Although he was conceived in a different way than the majority of his peers, Ngo-Willis said he does not see himself differently
“I have never once thought of myself differently from other people,” Ngo-Willis said. “The fact that I have two moms or that I was made through IVF barely ever crosses my mind. My parents were always very upfront with me that our family wasn’t stereotypically normal, but I never thought of my-
Hallways of Heritage
By Andrea Ricabal
As the rhythm of music fills the air, the streets of Durango, Mexico, pulse with life. The smell of sizzling tacos and sweet churros mingles with laughter as families gather to share stories of those that came before them and the obstacles they overcame — each tale a tribute to ancestors who faced adversity with resilience. For Admission Administrator and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Assistant Citlaly Madrid, the memories of her first visit to her parents’ hometown in Mexico are filled with vibrant scenes and new experiences. From her grandmother’s snack shop to her father’s plots of land, Madrid said each corner was filled with nostalgia and history of her family.
process was complicated and stressful, and, once I arrived at college, I felt lost and confused. However, once I found a strong support system, college became more manageable, and now I can help my brothers through their own college experiences.”
As of 2023, 56% of all undergraduates are first-generation college students, and out of that 56%, 60% are Hispanic or Latino, according to Forbes.
“When I was eight, I visited my parents’ hometown for the first time,” Madrid said. “I was able to meet my entire extended family for the first time and experience Mexico with all of my cousins. It was startling yet incredible to see where my parents grew up and experience for myself the different lifestyle there.”
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, coinciding with the independence days of many Latin American countries. The United States (U.S.) Congress first made the Hispanic Heritage observance a one week event in 1968 before they designated the celebration to a month in 1988, according to the Pew Research Center.
As the oldest daughter of Hispanic immigrants, Madrid said the complexity of higher education was a hurdle. Growing up in a house hold with immigrant parents, Ma drid said she took on a larger role, and felt it was challenging to go through the college process with limited guidance.
eration student was difficult at times,” said Madrid. “The application
History Teacher Ingrid Sierakowski faced similar challenges as a first-generation student and an immigrant. However, her lived experiences led her to create her own curriculum centered around her heritage. She was born in Guatemala, but immigrated to Los Angeles (LA) at a very young age. Raised by a single mother with the help of her grandparents, she attended a Los Angeles Unified School District school purposed for teaching immigrants. Sierakowski said the school helped her acclimate to American culture.
“I was in a classroom with a lot of kids from Latin America who didn’t know English [and] were learning about the city,” said Sierkowski. “We went on a lot of field trips [and] learned about language. So, a year of just studying English and [the] culture of Southern California.”
Sierakowski was surrounded by a close community of neighbors from Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. She said being raised by other figures helped her stay motivated while her mother was providing.
“My mom was working a lot [so] we’d have our neighbors
babysit us,” said Sierakowski. “I grew up around [an] environment [that emphasized], ‘You’re focusing on school,’ ‘You’re focusing on maintaining the effort’ and ‘this is a sacrifice we’re all making.’ It was [a] ‘We’re all in it together’ mindset.”
Sierakowski attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she initially majored in English; however, she changed courses and became a history and political science major. Later, she went on to pursue a PhD at Yale University. Like Madrid, Sierakowski said she faced obstacles being a first-generation college student, but from the impact of comparing herself to students around her.
“erything [and] I’ve read all of the literature on it. I designed the course initially for the [New York University] class, the Latin American Studies course [at the school] is a different version of that. It’s pretty cool that Harvard-Westlake lets me do that.”
Joshua Cadenas ’26, said he decided to take the Latin American studies course because it initially intrigued him, and he realized that the class is extremely helpful in allowing him to understand more about his own culture.
It’s
“It was challenging being the first in a lot of situations I was in, being the first in my family to go to university, or just being Guatemalan and going to Yale,” Sierakowski said. “Going [from] UCLA, which is a publicly-funded state school, to [Yale] was hard. A lot of my peers were undergrads at Yale, Harvard or Brown, so it was challenging, but it was also really rewarding to feel like, ‘Oh, I’m doing the things that I want.’”
pretty common for children of immigrants to be put into a role that doesn’t belong to you.”
— Gabriela Herrera Resource Specialist
“I wanted to take the class because I thought it would be interesting,” Cadenas said. “I realized how much I did not know about Latin America and its culture or even the different places on the map. It’s really cool that we have classes here that can help people learn about other cultures and also more about their own.”
Academic Resource Specialist Gabriela Herrera said she used education to overcome her challenges. She was born to an immigrant mother who arrived to the U.S. from Mexico in the 1980s.
Sierakowski said her personal experience and study of Latin American culture led her to teach Latin American Studies at the New York University (NYU) School of Professional Studies. Later, she created the Latin American Studies course under the Interdisciplinary Studies and Independent Research Department (ISIR).
“I taught in New York City, and
“It’s pretty common for children of immigrants to be put into a role that doesn’t really belong to you,” Herrera said. “You’re an adult before it’s time to be an adult. You’re translating for your parents, figuring out the systems and explaining the systems to them [or] explaining to them how or why we can’t do something a certain kind of way.”
Herrera said the magnet program at her school exposed her to ities. After high school, she went on to attend college in Mexico for
L.Wood
Ingrid Sierakowski
Faculty and students reflect on how their immigration stories, familial history and educational experiences shaped their lives.
gree. As a first-generation student, Herrera said she found it difficult to navigate the higher education system without much guidance. She said she had to be proactive in seeking out information and resources on her own.
“I knew I wanted to study psychology, so I had to figure out what [credits] transfer, what didn’t transfer, all the redos and what paperwork I needed to do,” Herrera said. “I had to do all of that and figure it out on my own. That is how I discovered I was really good at finding resources.”
Latin American and Hispanic Student Organization (LAHSO) leader Zarah Colmenares-Cifuentes
’26, is the daughter of Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants. She said her parents immigrated to the United States in their teen years and faced many struggles along the way. Colmenares-Cifuentes said once she was older, her parents taught her of the obstacles they faced as immigrants.
she was fortunate to have a supportive environment that helped her to thrive despite the challenges of being an immigrant and first-generation student. She was born in Mexico City and raised in the predominantly Hispanic, working-class Pico-Union neighborhood in LA. The neighborhood has an 81% Hispanic population, according to Statistical Atlas Martinez said her high school helped her parents with the college process by offering classes to first-generation families.
“ Steoreotypes hurt the Latino and immigrant community, and our ability to succeed and thrive.”
— Michelle Martinez History Teacher
“They have taught me the good and bad things in life and to be grateful for any opportunities that come my way,” Colmenares-Cifuentes said. “Once I got older, they talked to me about the struggles they faced in their youth years and how coming to the U.S. was a blessing. My mom and dad came to the U.S. when they were 16 years old. Leaving their families was the biggest struggle, but they had the support from their parents and understood why they were making this decision.”
Upper School History Teacher Michelle Martinez said
“My parents didn’t have any information on the college process or what I needed to take in high school,” Martinez said. “Luckily, [Pacific Palisades High School] offered parent college classes to inform first-generation parents in their native languages and had counselors who understood that we didn’t have the ‘unspoken’ knowledge needed to succeed [in] that next step [of] our education. I was very privileged to be in an environment that was supportive and aware of these barriers in the early 2000s.”
Colme nares-Cifuentes said her parents hoped for their children to have a safe and less difficult life than they did while simultaneously keeping their culture alive.
“Both of my parents have always wanted their children to grow up in a safe community and not go through the conflicts they went through,” Colmenares-Cifuentes said. “My parents exposing my sister and I to these two different cultures gave us a chance to grow and learn more about the history and the challenges each one faced. Hispanic Heritage Month
gives us the time to reflect on that and appreciate it.”
Abraham Avalos ’26 said he feels it is important to embrace his Hispanic culture and sharing a similar culture to teachers makes him feel more represented within the community.
“I think we should all embrace our culture and heritage more, especially at school,” Avalos said. “Having teachers who share the same Hispanic background helps with that. It’s like we’re celebrating who we are while learning, and it makes a big difference when you know your teachers understand and represent where you come from.”
a strong work ethic not only shaped his own life but also set the course for his family’s future.
The ‘American Dream’ is used to describe the idea that anyone can come to the U.S. and achieve success through hard work and determination, according to the Pew Research Center. Godoy said that the idea of the “American dream” was much more attainable back then than it is in today’s society.
Colmenares-Cifuentes said she also feels a stronger connection to teachers who share in her cultural background.
“When it comes to teachers who share the same culture as me, I find it easier to communicate with them not just in an academic way but also in a personal way,” Colmenares-Cifuentes said. “I gain a sense of trust because I know they would be able to relate or understand where I am coming from.”
Visual Arts Teacher Gustavo Godoy said he grew up in Riverside, California. His family is a blend of two contrasting cultures — immigrants on his father’s side and Midwesterners on his mother’s. He said his father’s family came to the United States from Mexico when he was a young boy, facing significant challenges. His father eventually made his way to the U.S. and pursued a college education. Godoy said his father’s commitment to education and
“Back then, the ‘American dream’ was a real possibility in ways that I think are difficult for most who come across the border under similar circumstances today,” Godoy said. “I learned so much about having a strong work ethic and intellectual curiosity from my dad, who would not be where he is, and nor would I, had he not prioritized his education.”
Although Hispanic Heritage Month is a yearly celebration, the current election creates a spotlight on Hispanic immigrants. Border policy is one of the main points of discussion throughout the election, which caused many Hispanic families to feel discriminated against, according to PBS News.
“Stigmas still persist about the Latino community, particularly in this election year with the focus on migration and the border,” Martinez said. “Stereotypes hurt the Latino and immigrant community, our ability to succeed and thrive in the United States. Latinos have long contributed to the U.S., and there needs to be more effort to understand the positives of the Latin community.”
L. Wood Gustavo Godoy
Students and faculty discuss the financial implications and the potential legal risks of throwing expensive private parties for profit.
By Sienna Dall’Olmo
Muffled sounds of music and flashing neon lights spill out of the front door of the house as Liam*, a host of many high school parties, stands with a list of names in one hand and collects cash with the other. A line of eager teens snakes down the block, each ready to pay their way into this Saturday’s party.
As the line moves forward, two girls whose names are not on the list offer up crisp $100 bills each in the hopes that he will let them past the gate and into the crowded backyard. Liam said kids who are not on the list will regularly pay above the typical entry price of $15-$20 due to the appeal of the parties and the lack of competitors.
“There is not really any competition [with other party hosts], so we end up having everybody coming to [our] parties,” Liam said. “Everybody does pay to get in. We have our set prices and whoever shows up that is not on the list has to pay a bit more because we didn’t account for them in capacity. If we aren’t making as much profit, we bump up the prices by $10 and make close to an extra $1,000.”
Reggie*, a third host working with the same group, said they now have adults from event insurance companies working behind the scenes to advise them on matters that require adult oversight, like liability or alcohol.
Adults who host or permit underage drinking in their homes or other properties in their control are subject to fines and are liable for any injuries which occur as a product of the drinking, under the California Social Host Liability law. This year, for the first time, the hosts said they secured event insurance that protects them from liability for any incidents that may occur at the parties. With this insurance in place, Reggie and the other hosts said they are relieved to no longer be personally responsible for any issues that may arise. Despite the risks, Liam said hosting parties comes with a lot of benefits as well.
Griffin*, another one of the hosts, said each party typically brings in enough profit to both invest in future parties and provide personal income.
“We usually make about $6,000 total per party,” Griffin said. “We are always making more money than the last time which allows each of the party hosts to pocket a good amount too.”
High school party planning consists of finding a venue, hiring DJs, buying decor and, the largest expense, supplying alcohol. Liam said he and the other hosts are willing to spend large amounts of money on each of these aspects, as long as they still make a profit by the end of the night.
“It takes a lot of money for each party,” Liam said. “The tent that we rent is about $1,000 every time and security is [usually] $220 a night for three guys. We pay the DJs $500 and they decide how to split that among themselves. We also pay somebody over the age of 21 about $1,200 to get us the alcohol. All
“There are two reasons why you would want to run [the parties],” Liam said.“The first is honestly to throw good parties for the seniors, since it’s our last year. The second part is obviously the money, because we are in this for the business side of it too. As long as we are making money every time, we are willing to throw two to three times a month.”
Liam said parties thrown by students at the school tend to be more expensive and extravagant than parties thrown by kids at other schools.
“We really care about throwing good parties,” Liam said. “We all work our a**es off in school during the week. When Saturday comes around, all anyone wants to do is [have fun] with each other. It’s work hard, play hard. We don’t have that luxury of [having fun] during the week.”
High school parties can be exclusive and have limited capacity. 38% of teens reported they do not attend any parties in a normal month, according to a study done by CBS. Liam and other hosts said the entry list is made through the social media platform, Facebook. Hosts create an event on the app and invite kids through their profiles. In vitations through the app ensure that only hosts can select who is allowed en
try. Ryan Hung ’26 said the exclusivity in attending parties can lead to tension between friends.
“I think that the parties can be exclusive,” Hung said. “My friends and I don’t have trouble going to them, but the Facebook lists gives it a sense of exclusivity. It can be awkward if some people you know can’t go because everyone tries to get in. Sometimes, I have multiple people texting me to get in even though I don’t run the parties.”
Griffin said the demand to get into these parties can become so intense that some people attempt to sneak past security.
“People can get pretty rowdy when we don’t let them in,” Griffin said. “At one house, we had ten kids rip open the neighbor’s fence to get into the party because security wasn’t letting them in. People try to create their own ways of getting in all the time.”
and that all brings us joy.”
Liam said that despite the administration’s awareness of the parties, there are no serious risks if they remain separate from the school.
“The school for sure knows about the parties,” Liam said. “[But], as long as we don’t affiliate with Harvard-Westlake, or our photos aren’t on the Facebook, then it should be fine. With parents, I think they know that their kids are going to be partying and getting drunk. Nowadays it’s just kind of the culture.”
Though people can go to great lengths to get into parties, these events can also offer positive experiences for attendees. Throwing or attending parties, no matter the size, can have lasting benefits for mental health, according to the BBC. Kai Kuklinski ’26 said he attends parties because they give him an opportunity to meet new people and unwind with friends.
“For a lot of people, having these parties is a really good thing,” Kuklinski said. “It allows you to spend time with friends and also meet other people you wouldn’t talk to usually. Other than parties, you’re never going to really get a large group of people to all hang out together like that.”
“
Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said the school is aware of which students put together the parties and informs them of potential dangers at the beginning of every year.
“We typically know who the people organizing the parties [are], and it’s not, in and of itself, a violation of school rules to organize,”Slattery said. “Last year, I happened to have a good relationship with a number of the kids who were planning things and I would have conversations with them and just make sure that they understood [the risks].”
Liam said the party host position gets passed down to seniors from year to year and is determined by multiple factors.
Stuff can go awry. Worry less about the legal ramifications. The moral obligation that you have is significant.”
Beth Slattery Head of Upper School
Gwen*, a student at the school, said she sometimes finds her schoolwork leaves her too overwhelmed to attend parties regularly.
“I feel pretty neutral about having parties on the weekends,” Gwen said. “It personally stresses me out to have a party every weekend. I’m too stressed about school on a regular basis to be going to a party every weekend.”
Griffin said that he enjoys putting
“Last year, we kind of already knew we wanted to do it,” Liam said.“There were other people that wanted to do it, but it’s kind of just based off who has the funds, the equipment and whoever has the most amount of people wanting to go to their party.”
Slattery said that students planning the party should recognize the potential long-term effects on their mental health if any serious incidents occur during the event.
“One of the things I remember saying last year to one of the students who was involved in the planning is, if somebodywere to be injured or killed on your watch, you’ll never get over that,” Slattery said. “It will change your life and you need to understand that stuff can go
CLOCKED IN
Students discuss why they work during the school year and how they balance their part time jobs with other commitments.
By Lyla Kavanagh
Picking up a discarded T-shirt, Dean Kim ’26 stretches his aching back, legs sore after a long shift. Stomach grumbling, he wonders how much longer he has to wait until his ten-minute break. After a week of homework, managing his club and trying to stay connected with family and friends, Kim spends part of his weekend working at Hollister. Kim said the time management skills he has learned at his job help him balance his various commitments in and out of school.
Fitch in addition to balancing her commitments to school and soccer. Thompson said her time spent working taught her to maintain a level head and positive attitude when dealing with situations at work that are out of her control.
“Having a part-time job really affects how I approach completing my school work,” Kim said. “As I’m in my junior year, the workload has increased, but I’ve learned to manage my time better by doing homework at school in advance. I know [the workload] can get overwhelm ing sometimes, but the skills I’ve learned over the years and [from] having a part-time job have taught me to manage my time well.”
Upper School Dean Erik DeAngelis said working a parttime job can demonstrate a student’s re sponsibility and time management skills on their college application.
“When a college sees that a student works an actual job, they are probably gaining confidence that they have a really good work ethic,” DeAngelis said. “At a job, you are learning at a young age to be accountable to other people, to keep a schedule, to be trustworthy and to learn how to interact with people very differ ent than you. You’re learning a lot of basic life skills that you don’t get through an extracurricular activity or through volunteer service and that is a reflection of character.”
Kim said his job has taught him to independently resolve conflicts and communicate efficiently with his team.
“I work a part-time job so that I can gain experi ence in the real world,” Kim said. “I want to be able to know how to in teract with people and un derstand the value of money. By working a job, I gain skills like lead ership and responsibility. I have to manage my own work schedule, so, if I can’t make a shift, I have to communicate with my team and find someone that can cover for me. If one of my co-workers needs someone to cover for them, it’s my responsibility to try to help them.”
Bella Thompson ’25 babysits her two-yearold neighbor three times a week and works as a sales associ ate at Abercrombie and
“[I’ve learned] patience, especially from my babysitting job, and my Abercrombie job,” Thompson said. “I’ve also learned how to deal with many different people in busy times,” Thompson said. “On my first day [at Abercrombie and Fitch], I was working the cash register, and there was a customer who was rude to me. There were a lot of things I didn’t know how to do yet, and [the customer] was very impatient. I learned to stay calm in that situation and not let it affect the rest of my day.”
Kim said he believes students at the school are less likely to work part-time jobs during the school year be
ous academic environment and conflicting time commitments.
“Due to the nature of Harvard-Westlake and its rigor, students don’t really have a lot of free time that they can allot to part-time jobs,” Kim said. “Students are overwhelmed with either homework, sports or other extracurriculars. Part-time jobs require responsibility and a certain amount of time dedicated towards maintaining that job.”
staying up really late to do homework, [will see] their academic performance and overall wellbeing decline. Jobs can go either way.”
Erik DeAngelis Upper School Dean “
You’re learning life skills that you don’t get through other activities and that is a reflection of character.”
Director of the Learning Center Julee Madkins said a student’s ability to balance a part-time job and schoolwork is dependent on a student’s genuine interest in their work.
“If the job is something that brings meaning to student’s lives and helps them feel fulfilled, then [a part-time job] can be a good thing,” Madkins said. “How
For many students, working during the school year is a way to help their parents pay for college tuition. The average student in California graduates with $37,810 in student loan debt and will spend one to two decades making loan payments that range from $200-300 a month, according to the Education Data Initiative. DeAngelis said students work for a variety of reasons, some of which are financial.
“There are two types students who work jobs,” DeAngelis said. “There are those who really need a job to support their families, and also people who want a job because maybe they think it’s going to look good for them later
Alix Grube ’26, who is not able to work during the school year because of other commitments, said she recognizes the privilege of being able to prioritize school over earning money. “The weekends are pretty much my only free time and days off from sports, so having a part-time job would definitely affect my time management,” Grube said. “A job would be something I could pursue in the summer, just not during the school year. I’m also really grateful for having the privilege to not have to work during the school year, and be able to focus on schoolwork.”
Kim said his relationships with his co-workers at Hollister have expanded his worldview and offer him new perspectives about the diverse array of communities within Los Angeles.
“My job has shaped my understanding of the LA community because I’m interacting with different people of different cultures and socioeconomic statuses,” Kim said. “I work with a really diverse group of people, and even though we’re similar in age, everyone has a different story and a different reason for working. I believe it’s really important to interact with different types of people and hear what kind of problems are going on in
Thompson said she appreciates meeting different kinds of people
“I’ve met a lot of new people,” Thompson said. “My co-workers are so different from the Harvard-Westlake bubble we’re in. It’s been nice to have an opportunity to see so many different
L. Wood Dean Kim ’26
Current students and teachers who are no longer at the school reminisce on how they have shaped each others experiences.
By Celine Wang
On the third weekend of May, the late spring coated the school in a soft, golden glow. Former Middle School Science Teacher Elliot Parivar stepped through familiar doors for an alumni reunion, the air filled with hums of laughter and conversation. A woman came up to him, smiling warmly. Parivar, reflecting on his 33-year career, felt a wave of pride as he realized this woman was one of his former students.
“She [said], ‘I’m a dermatologist in San Francisco, and I want you to become my patient,’” Parivar said. “I said, ‘I’m not in San Francisco. I’m 300 miles north of you in Humboldt County.’ She [said], ‘I don’t care. You have to come down to San Francisco. You become my patient. I will give you VIP treatment.’ So I did. I made an appointment and she was so happy. She spent 45 minutes with me in the office. These kids I taught who are now making a difference in this world. So as an educator, I couldn’t be prouder.”
“I
Since his retirement in 2022, Parivar said he has remained connected with over 500 of his former students through social media. Parivar said he has been filled with fond memories of his former students. Now adults, they often credit him for their success and career paths. Mary*, a former student of Parivar, said to him in a personal thank-you letter shared by Parivar that he inspired her decision to pursue science.
learn, to be lifelong learners, and to be good people,” Mary said to him. “I can’t thank you enough for starting me on my path to being a physician. If someone ever asked me about the most important teacher I ever had, it would undoubtedly be you, and I can only hope that my own children are lucky enough to be inspired by educators such as yourself.”
John Xu ’25, former student of Parivar, said Parivar left a lasting impact on him through his inspiring teaching methods.
“I had my first and only class with Dr. Parivar online in 8th grade,” Xu said. “Although confined to the borders of video boxes on zoom, he was still able to deliver a phenomenal experience in interactive and visualized sciences, helping me to grasp the introduction to multiple fields of science easily. For example, Dr. P’s encouragement enabled me to create a Rube Goldberg project that I’m still proud of to this day. He was always my biggest supporter in trying unorthodox ways to approach labs and projects.”
am forever grateful to [Parivar’s] outstanding teaching in establishing a strong foundation of creativity in my mind.” John Xu ‘25
“You have inspired so many, not only to pursue careers in STEM, but [also] to look
As a well-loved teacher, Parivar is a recipient of the Garrett Hardin Distinguished Service Award and three-time recipient of the Senior Tribute Award. However, he said he was initially nervous about his career path.
“I never taught children prior to this,” Parivar said. “I was [wondering] how this is going to work out. Am I gonna regret this decision? What if I don’t like teaching seventh or eighth graders? It was the best thing that happened to me. All of a sudden I realized, this is so much fun. These kids are so excited to be here. They’re so self motivated, smart and good people. And there I was, 33 years later, holding the same job.”
Parivar is now spending his retirement cooking, gardening, biking and traveling.
Like Parivar, former Math and Computer Science Teacher Derric Chien said he thoroughly enjoyed teaching students. As a teacher at the Upper School for six years, he now tutors students in the same subjects outside of the classroom. Chien said he is still in contact with his former colleagues and students.
“I still keep in touch with the kind of teachers who were my friends when I worked there,” Chien said. “Just recently, I went to Homecoming with some of the teachers, and I kept in touch with teachers from both the Math Department and the Science Department, and even some from the Foreign Language Department. Right now, the sophomore class that I taught when I was in my last year are seniors and I still keep in touch with some of them.”
Alexa Chang ’25, a former student of Chien, said he had a clear love for teaching and his students when he was at the school.
teacher taught. The students will tell me stories about how it is going in class and that brings back memories.”
Similarly, former Upper School History Department Head Dave Waterbhouse is still connected with the community at school. Also as the former tennis, basketball and mock trial coach, Waterhouse said he held multiple jobs over his 40 years of teaching at the school. He said that despite no longer being at the school, he is still in contact with his former colleagues.
“You could tell how enthusiastic he was about teaching and our class in general had a really strong bond,” Chang said. “I remember how emotional he got on our last day of class [when] he shared how his professors at Berkeley inspired him to teach and wear his bow tie everyday. He sent an email to our Block 4 class, writing messages to each person in the class [and] I still have it pinned.”
Chien said students that he currently tutors, with some being students of teachers at the school, remind him of his former colleagues.
“I also like teaching in the classroom, but I also love learning about teaching by talking about it with my friends, and those are my fondest memories,” Chien said. “I taught both [math and com puter science], but now I tutor in both math and science. Whenever I tutor a student, I like to ask them what teacher they have. Sometimes I [get] reminded of how that
“I am still in a fantasy baseball league with [Upper School History Teacher Larry] Klein and [Middle School Physical Education Teacher Robert] Ruiz, and I play golf with Ruiz,” Waterhouse said. “I keep up with what’s going on. I’m always really happy to come by and see how everything’s doing and what changes have took place.”
Although he retired in 2020, Waterhouse still keeps up with the activities of his former students. Recently, he saw a notable former student, Matt Weiner ’83, in a magazine. In an interview with the Atlantic, Weiner said Waterhouse inspired him in his job as the showrunner and creator of the TV show Mad Men.
“He said in the article that he was inspired by a class that I was teaching in which he had to portray Joseph McCarthy, and we had this debate with him,” Waterhouse said. “That was really fun because he was a good actor. He really got into the role, and he remembered that, and he said that’s why he was interested in the 1950s and why he was interested in creating the show Mad Men.” · Continued on hwchronicle.com
L. Wood Alexa Chang ’25
Arts & Entertainment
By Kayla Graff
After adjusting the volume, compression and reverb, Sarah Parmet ’25 listens to the fourth draft of the song she wrote and recorded. Still unsatisfied, she clicks back to the editing space and makes more changes. Only after several rounds of revisions is she finally ready to upload the finished song to music streaming platforms. Parmet has already released two singles, and said creating music is a big part of her identity.
“Making music isn’t really a choice but a part of me,” Parmet said. “There’s this amazing feeling when I open a track and the possibilities are endless. I have this urge to create and try so many things. I get swept into it, and all of a sudden, I’ve spent three hours composing at the piano or mixing vocals.”
Musicians and community members discuss the process of entering the highly competitive music industry as an emerging young artist.
ate about music should release their work.
“There are a lot of talented students, and now there is no limit to getting music out,” Robles said. “There’s no reason not to [release music] if you have something musically to say.”
Nate Arnold ’25 also releases music independently. He launched his first experimental project (EP), “Gush,” in August and said he is largely self-sufficient when it comes to recording, producing and distributing his music.
Many aspiring artists like Parmet release music digitally. Platforms like DistroKid, which Parmet uses, allow artists to quickly and easily distribute their music to different streaming platforms, according to the platform’s website. Because of the ease of uploading music, over 100,000 tracks are uploaded to Spotify and other digital streaming platforms daily, a number that has rapidly increased over the past few years, according to the magazine Variety.
Upper School Choir Director Zanaida Robles has seen many of her students release music over the years. Robles said students who are passion -
“I basically can do every part of the music process myself,” Arnold said. “Writing the songs on guitar, drums, bass, piano and voice parts [is] all me. I record almost everything at home using the few mics I have, mix and master my music, bounce it into one audio file and use a website to distribute it onto streaming platforms.”
Over the summer, both Arnold and Parmet attended GRAMMY Camp, a highly selective music industry program where high school students learn how to build careers in music. Many program alumni lead successful careers in the music industry, such as Chappel Roan, who was recently awarded VMA Best New Artist.
Parmet attended the electronic music production track. She released two singles: “Roulette,” a collaboration with fellow GRAMMY camp attendee Sophia Bella, in 2024 and “Player” featuring Sophia Choi ’25 in
2023. Parmet said being a part of the program connected her with a supportive community of young musicians.
“GRAMMY Camp was completely life-changing,” Parmet said. “It was the first time I’d been around a group of people who loved music as much as I did. Everyone there is so incredibly talented and wonderful, and we all support each other.”
Arnold attended GRAMMY Camp’s audio engineering program and said the experience provided him with valuable mentorship and support.
“The mentors I had were an infinite knowledge bank of everything music-related, which allowed me to ask all the questions I had,” Arnold said. “The supportive feedback I got after showing my music to fellow campers and my extremely talented and experienced mentor, Yáng Tan, made me increasingly confident about my music.”
Whitney Enenstein ’24, a first-year music industry major at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California (USC), plans to minor in songwriting. She released her first EP, “trust issues,” in Sept. 2023 under the name Whitney Stone, and her most recent EP, “blind spot,” released Oct. 18. Enenstein said writing and producing her first EP took years of dedication.
“It took me multiple years to write and revise the seven songs that appear on [trust issues],” Enenstein said. “I recorded them last summer in a studio with a producer with whom I love working and collaborating.”
Arnold said he loves making
music because of its ability to affect listeners emotionally.
“Music has the power to move me in a way that nothing else can,” Arnold said. “There’s a certain indescribable feeling that good art gives you. Sometimes this feeling is communicated through the tensions within the chords, the melody or the sound production. I love it more than anything.”
Robles is an independent artist who is frequently commissioned to write music for choirs across the country and has released a single. She said the criticism associated with sharing music can contribute to an artist’s growth.
“It’s really rewarding to put yourself under the pressure of knowing that once [your music] goes out, it’s going to be available to be criticized and critiqued,” Robles said. “But that [pressure] makes you be your best and makes your overall musical output better over time, so you become a better artist as a result of putting your work out there.”
the mid-level category or higher, according to Billboard.
Although the probability of becoming a well-known musical artist is low, Enenstein said she is looking to build herself a career in the music industry.
“I plan on being an independent singer-songwriter for as long as I can and then hope to manage an artist,” Enenstein said. “However, since it is still so early in my career, I never know where I’ll end up. I am so excited to continue pursuing music at USC and beyond.”
Parmet said she has future plans to expand her musical horizons.
“ Music has the power to move me in a way nothing else can. There’s a certain indescribable feeling good art gives you.”
Nate Arnold ’25
“Sofia Bella and I are going to start working on our first EP which is projected to release around February” Parmet said. “Right now, I’m focusing on collaborating with and experimenting with new sounds and genres as much as possible. Some of the GRAMMY Camp kids and I are working on a Christmas EP.”
Arnold said that he, like Enenstein, is planning to pursue a music career for as long as possible.
The music industry is notoriously difficult to break into, according to Billboard. In 2023, 710,000 new artists were added to the music data company Chartmetric, with 87.6 percent of them falling into the “undiscovered” category. Only 12.3 percent reached the “developing” category, and just 0.05 percent were put in
“I want to continue to put out songs, grow an audience and become my own artist while also helping others achieve their musical goals by producing and mixing music for them,” Arnold said. “This pursuit will probably take me my whole life, [but] that doesn’t bother me because that just means I’m gonna be creating awesome music as long as I live.”
L. Wood Sarah Parmet ’25
Whitney Enenstein ’ 24
Nate Arnold ’ 25
Sarah Parmet ’25
SPOOKY STREAMINGS SPOOKY STREAMINGS
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice again STREAMINGS
By Analeigh Nava
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to the 1988 classic “Beetlejuice,” released Sept. 6. It continues themes from the original movie, but adds greater emotional depth to the supernatural world.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is rated Parents Strongly Cautioned (PG-13), featuring comical animations juxtaposed with dark themes like death and gruesome images involving the spewing of guts and dismembered bodies.
However, the humor provides a satirical relief. This makes the film particularly suitable for young teenagers, thanks in part to the inclusion of a relatable character, Astrid Deetz (Jenna Ortega). She makes angsty and sarcastic responses, bringing a teenage perspective to the table.
The film reunites Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) and Lydia (Winona Ryder) as they face new supernatural chaos. Lydia’s daughter,
Astrid, becomes entangled in the afterlife after trusting the wrong person, who is later revealed to be a ghost. Rory (Justin Theroux), proposes to Lydia despite being questioned by Astrid. Rory’s true intentions of using Lydia for fame are later exposed by Betelgeuse.
Astrid offers a youthful perspective on her strained relationship with her mother, reflecting the familiar tension many teens experience. While the concept might seem cliché, it works well with the movie’s plot and ties into the original “Beetlejuice” theme, where Lydia Deetz also struggled to connect with her family. Now, Astrid steps into that role, adding new energy to the narrative as Lydia’s daughter.
Astrid feels isolated by her opposing beliefs to her mother’s — not believing Lydia’s supernatural “powers” — seeing herself as the last “normal” one in the family. This emotional conflict deepens the chaotic plot, with
tension between Astrid and her mother driving risky decisions that nearly cost Astrid her life, but ultimately lead to a happy and humorous ending.
One of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” greatest strengths is its ability to maintain the emotional focus on familial ties and belonging amidst the chaos. At one point, the film almost drifts to a love story between Astrid and Jeremy, which could have taken away from the deeper themes of familial relationships. Thankfully, it is redirected back to the heart of the narrative — Astrid’s relationship with her mother — through a clever plot twist. The film avoids the unnecessary clichés of a typical teen romance and delivers a more meaningful conclusion. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” manages to blend heartfelt and emotional arcs with supernatural humor, making this a unique and fantastic sequel.
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
Uglies: A dystopian beauty tale
By Zara Groves
The young adult dystopian craze, once a cultural phenomenon, seems to have lost its luster. With “Uglies” (2024), the latest attempt at resuscitating the genre, the trope feels more like a botched face lift than an actual movie. “Uglies,” based on the 2005 book series by Scott Westerfeld, creates a world where society eliminates the divisions of class and greed via a great equalizer: beauty.
On their 16th birthdays, all teenagers undergo a life-changing procedure to make them physically perfect. Those aged 15 and below are called the “uglies”and reside outside the towering city inhabited by the “pretties,” where the rest of the world remains unknown. Tally Youngblood (Joey King) is just months behind her best friend, Peris (Chase Stokes). As he gets
his procedure done, Peris turns into a shell of his former self and dismisses Tally as insignificant to his new life.
As Tally anxiously awaits her own transformation, she meets Shay, another “ugly” with the same birthday. They spend their time riding hoverboards and secretly reading books about the outside world. However, as the fateful day approaches, Shay reveals her intention to reject the procedure and live authentically by escaping to the Smoke, a resistance group. When Shay is reported missing, Tally embarks on a mission to find the group and bring Shay back so she can finally undergo the operation to turn pretty.
Once Tally reaches the Smoke, she meets David, the leader of the resistance. However, as secrets begin to unravel, Tally’s world is turned upside down, and she’s forced to reckon with the prob-
Embrace fall: Top entertainment this season
By Annabelle Cheung
With autumn just around the corner, here are some of the best movies and TV shows that capture the essence of the season. Whether you’re looking for heartwarming stories, Halloween fun or an autumnal atmosphere, this list has something for everyone.
“Stranger Things” (2016)-
Set in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, the show follows a group of kids as they uncover a dark government conspiracy and face off against supernatural forces after their friend mysteriously disappears. This critically acclaimed series blends horror, friendship and 1980s nostalgia.
“Gilmore Girls” (2007)-
Set in the charming small town of Stars Hollow, this beloved series follows the lives of single mother Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and her daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel). Stars Hollow’s autumn festivals and coffee shop scenes combined with the characters’ outfits create the perfect show for autumn. The show’s focus on family, friendship and life transitions feels especially fitting for fall’s nostalgic and cozy mood.
“Hocus Pocus” (1993)-
This Halloween favorite follows three witches who are resurrected in modern-day Salem and wreak magical havoc on the town. With its spooky and fun storyline, Hocus Pocus is an essential movie for getting into the Halloween spirit.
“Corpse Bride” (2005)-
Tim Burton’s stop-motion animated film tells the whimsical tale of a man who accidentally becomes engaged to a ghost in the underworld. The film’s gothic visuals and enchanting romance evoke the spirit of the season.
“Twilight” (2008)-
Set in the misty town of Forks, Washington, the first film in “The Twilight Saga” introduces the love story between Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), a high schooler, and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a vampire. The infamous blue tint of the film and the overcast setting of dense forests and misty weather provide the perfect setting.
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001)-
The first film in the Harry Potter series introduces viewers to the magical world of Hogwarts, where young Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) embarks on his journey as a wizard. Hogwarts’ grand halls, enchanted forests, and the student’s first semester is a beloved choice, especially as the first semester of school progresses.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)A coming-of-age drama that follows a shy teenager, Charlie (Logan Lerman), as he navigates high school friendships, love and personal trauma. The story unfolds over the school year, with key moments set in autumn, a season that reflects Charlie’s own transformation and personal growth.
lems of her old belief system.
The first major flaw of “Uglies” — the writing — becomes evident within the first two minutes of the film. The movie relies heavily on exposition, explaining the world in dense detail while doing nothing to further the plot. It feels as if the viewer is being force fed the story, with little nuance or subtlety. The writing also makes the movie very predictable, and every struggle is resolved instantly. For instance, Tally’s journey to the Smoke, which should have been a challenging endeavor, is instead completed in a brief montage. This ultimately undermines the film, leaving viewers with little sense of payoff.
The pacing of the movie is erratic, making it feel wholly unrealistic. The film was rushed, with crucial character development quickly skipped over.
• Continued on hwchronicle.com
ILLUSTRATION BY ANIKA NORTON
ILLUSTRATION BY ANNABELLE CHEUNG
Falling for October Students share costume ideas
By Analeigh Nava
Halloween is just around the corner, and students are excited to show off their costumes! Some are classic favorites, while others are ideas that are completely unheard of. Halloween is not just about the candy — its a chance for students to express themselves and bring their favorite characters and themes to life. Costumes are a fun way to connect people by sparking conversations and creating bonding moments over shared interests. They bring excitement and help break the ice, making it easy for people to celebrate together. Students have their own ideas of what the best costumes are, ranging from monsters and villains to heroes and royalty.
Starting off strong, Callum MacLachlan ’26 plans to dress up as “The Bog Monster,” who has an eerie but interesting backstory. MacLachlan said the monster lives in the North Pacific seas. Here, two explorers wander off in a swampy bog, searching for a mythical treasure. However, one explorer catches a glimpse of a pair of glowing red eyes lurking in the shadows of the trees. Petrified by the sight, he is so traumatized that he becomes sick, passing away the next day. The second explorer survives, left to
tell the chilling tale.
MacLachlan said he is most excited to hide and give everyone a good scare.
“I’m going to be wearing this costume before Halloween because I’m so excited to scare people,” Maclachlan said. “What I like most about my costume is that it’s very scary. I can camouflage in the bushes and I can jump out and scare people as they walk by. I’m definitely showing off my Halloween spirit this month.”
In contrast to the spooky costumes, some people see Halloween as an opportunity to go all out with glamorous and colorful dresses. Couples this year are looking forward to matching with a classic prince and princess costume. Sofia Strauser ’26 said she and Barron Linnekins ’26 plan to dress up as Beauty and the Beast.
“I thought it was funny how the costumes kind of match our relationship,” Strauser said. “He’s a lot taller and bigger than me so I thought it was kind of fitting for him to be the beast.”
The Disney costume options are so plentiful that there are many different opportunities to match with friends. Linnekens said he would also like to involve his friends as other Disney characters.
“We wanted to involve our friend group as well,” Linnekens said. “Since we’re all close,
we thought it would be fun for them to be other Disney princesses and princes,” Linnekens said. “We wanted it to be six people, so there might be two princes and four princesses, that way we’re all sort of matching.”
Besides these graceful and enchanting costumes, some students are taking a different approach and moving on to more adventurous choices. Jasiri Johnson ’27 said his costume is inspired by one of this summer’s biggest movie hits, “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
“I actually wanted to be Deadpool last year, but I ended up choosing something different,” Johnson said. “This year, though, I really want to dress up as him because of the movie that came out earlier. I would love for someone else to dress up as Wolverine with me, it would be something exciting and new.”
No matter the age, everyone should feel free to dress up as anything they would like. Whether it be Cinderella, Shrek, a favorite aunt or something completely original, the point is to have fun — sharing some laughs, giving someone a little fright or just enjoying the spirit! Halloween might not be as sentimental as other holidays, but it’s the perfect excuse to let loose and get creative. Embrace the playful side of life!
Fall trend predictions
By Annabelle Cheung
As the leaves begin to change and temperatures dip, it is the perfect time for cozy, bold and timeless fashion pieces. From classic silhouettes to rich fabrics, here are some predictions of the upcoming fall clothing trends.
Silk slips, typically delicate undergarments worn under other clothing, can be perfect daytime layering pieces. Inspired by Sabrina Carpenter’s signature concert style, babydoll tops and lace-adorned garments are also gaining popularity, offering an effortlessly chic and feminine vibe.
With the resurgence of leopard print fabrics, this season is bringing a twist with different animal textures. Cowhide leather instead of the overdone cow print brings a fresh look to outfits, especially on cowboy boots.
Expect to see fitted sweaters and cardigans this fall, especially jewel tones. Perfect for a balance of casual and elegance, this ’90s-esque trend brings a nostalgic yet modern touch to autumn style.
Plaid and gingham, design patterns which ruled the summer, are perfect transitional staples for fall. They are typically seen in heavier fabrics like wool and flannel.
Leather jackets are always a fall classic, and there is shift away from tight fitting leather jackets towards the oversized. Coming in different colors and washes, leather jackets are a staple to any wardrobe.
Soft and luxurious, suede is making its mark in jackets, boots and bags. The smooth texture offers a softer alternative to leather while still maintaining the same level of sophistication and style.
There is no shying away from mixing metals this fall. Vintage-inspired, eccentric or simple pieces that feel one-of-a-kind can elevate any outfit. Layer silver, gold and rose gold chains, or opt for bold mixed-metal earrings and rings.
Bag charms, a la Jane Birkin, are becoming more popular. Whether it is a sentimental charm or a quirky trinket, decorative bag accents are becoming a popular way to add detail and individuality to an outfit.
Kitten heels are a fall staple. Known for their comfort and style, kitten heels have a short heel height, making them more practical for everyday wear. Solid colors, patterns or a cute appliqué detail make these items versatile and charming. They can be incorporated into heels, boots or sandals. Whether in leather jackets, boots or bags, red leather pieces add depth and richness, making it the go-to color for autumn.
The club fair guide
By Hannah Shahidi
Red Cross Club: Learn how to save lives. All you gotta do is hawk tuah on that CPR dummy!
Environmental Club: A fasttracked way to becoming an enemy of Prefect Council through balloon popping. If you really want change, though, you’re better off sending an all school email about East Coast Prep Day.
Economics and Fiscal Policy Club: Aspiring investment bankers only. Exceptions may be made for aspiring consultants on case-by-case basis.
Songwriting Club: HA! Good luck living up to Whitney Enenstein ’24’s musical legacy.
Global Affairs Society: Not many people know this, but Presentations Managing Editor Nathan Wang ’25 and Executive Editor Alex Dinh ’25 are secretly in a relationship. When you attend a Global Affairs event, you’re really just third wheeling one of their dates.
Investment Club: Rejects of the Economics and Fiscal Policy club.
Cinephiles: No way. You have a LetterBoxd account? Please go and tell EVERYONE.
Slam!: Solving global warming one Haiku at a time.
Ethics Bowl: Retired debaters who developed trauma by being yelled at in 3x speed.
Board Game Club: Come for the games, stay for the emails.
Robotics: Varsity Athletes.
HWOP: Laughter is the best medicine. That’s why all hospital patients need is amateur high school improv.
Comedy Club: Perpetually in The Elbow’s shadow.
The Elbow: By the time you’re reading this in print, the Elbow has probably published four issues.
Civic Leaders of America: Didn’t win the Model UN leadership election? Why do I have an opportunity for you.
Model UN: I have a pretty neutral opinion on this club. I guess you could call me Switzerland.
Surf Club: Do you want to join this club? Or do you just want to impress Executive Editor Everett Lakey ’25?
Westflix: You’re in this club for one of two reasons: getting admitted into NYU Tisch or getting admitted into the Westflix afterparty. Both are equally selective.
KHWS: Don’t listen to what everyone else says — Mitski is soooooo underground.
Peer Support: Definitely not a cult. Wink.
Venture: ED1 to Wharton. ED2 to Babson.
Speech Team: Was debate too hard or something?
Art and Business: I can’t believe your parents are making you have a backup plan if the career as a ceramicist doesn’t work out.
The Greens: By far the best club on campus.
Puzzle Solutions
Nik Khamenia commits to D3 Amherst over Duke and UNC
By Alex Nickoll
In a decision that shocked the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Tuesday, Nikolas Khamenia ’25, No. 35 on ESPN's high school basketball Class of 2025 rankings, announced his commitment to Amherst College in Massachusetts. Khamenia, who had offers from every top Division I (D1) Program, had recently narrowed his list down to the University of Arizona, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Gonzaga University, University of North Carolina (UNC) and Duke University. However, a last minute push from Amherst Coach Marlon Sears convinced Khamenia to go the Division III (D3) route.
Khamenia, a recent three-on -three Federal International Basketball Federation (FIBA) gold medalist, said Amherst is a place he would grow the most intellectually and as a person. He also thought he would benefit from smaller classes at the rural liberal arts college, allowing him the chance to connect more with his professors as he looks to study art history and philos-
ophy. Driven by his love for the humanities and dark academia aesthetic, Khamenia is now on track to pursue his PhD. Fthemore, the 6’8” forward said he was worried that at a big university like UCLA, he might get lost, but at Amherst, he would literally be the biggest man on campus. Additionally, Khamenia is looking forward to averag ing 185 points per game with zero assists.
The great opportunity to travel abroad during his junior year also fac tored into the un expected decision. At the D1 level, Khamenia would have to stay on campus the entire four years. However, at Amherst, he would have the opportunity to travel to Eastern Europe during his junior year to connect with his ancestral roots. Instead of competing in March Madness, he will spend March backpacking through the Bialoqieża forest. In fact, there will be even madness in that.
school’s first ever five-star recruit and has already started drawing a game plan for Khamenia. He told ESPN that Khamenia will play 40 minutes a game. Offensive strategy will be to give the ball to Khamenia and have everyone else move out of the way.
Sears is thrilled to land the
While the D3 to NBA pipeline is much less common, it has been done before. Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson started his college career at Williams College, an Amherst rival in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) conference. Khamenia said he is keeping his NBA dreams alive, but also is preparing for a life outside of basketball as he looks to become a true Renaissance man. I look forward to seeing how far Khamenia will go on the court and in the classroom. Come back next week as we discuss where Cameron Boozer is committing. He has narrowed down his list to Duke, Virginia, Purdue and Bucknell.
KHAMENIA KOMMITS: Nik Khamenia ’25 poses with a Duke-branded ball and an Amherst Jersey. He will join the Amherst Men's Basketball team next fall. He is projected to play all five positions on the court and coach.
ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA LIU, PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF NIK KHAMENIA
1) Ways to cook an egg Poach, Fry, Sous Vide, Boil
2) Types of Bears Polar, Black, Brown, Sun
Senior commits to Duke over UCLA, Gonzaga
By Wynne Davis
Boys’ basketball forward
Nikolas Khamenia ’25 announced his commitment to Duke University on Oct. 22. Throughout his high school career, Khamenia averaged 19.8 points per game on 20 minutes played per game. Khamenia accumulated offers from several schools, including Purdue, Tennessee, Illinois, Oregon, Ohio State, Stanford and Michigan. Khamenia ultimately chose Duke over Gonzaga and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
In an interview with 247Sports, Khamenia said his basketball career to this point has been a “journey”.
“I’ve worked every single day for the last four years, and even before that,” Khamenia said. “I’ve had a great support system with me. I just stayed in the gym. I didn’t look at no rankings. I just believed in myself.”
Khamenia said when making his decision, he wanted to go somewhere where he could feel comfortable and grow on and off the court.
“I am looking for a school that I can call my second home, a place I am going to go and grow on and off the court as a person and a basketball player,” Khamenia said. “Narrowing down my list was hard in itself, and ultimately I chose the places I had the best relationships with the coaches and felt comfortable in their plans
for me.”
Khamenia’s stock as a recruit rose significantly during the summer, when he accumulated the majority of his offers. The forward won two gold medals over the summer, winning the AmeriCup in Buenos Aires and the 3X3 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. In addition, Khamenia won the PRO16 league with BTI, awarded MVP honors for his performance.
Khamenia said he was excited to receive his first offers, as it is a dream of his to play basketball at a Division 1 school.
“Starting off the process of getting recruited was one of the most fulfilling moments of my career up to this point,” Khamenia said. “Having college offers was something I always dreamed of and I was blessed to see my hard work paying off.”
Khamenia said going on official visits gave him a clearer picture of team dynamics at each program.
“I got to hang out with everyone and see the chemistry between the teams,” Khamenia said. “It definitely helped me get a feel for where I’d fit in. The process of coming to the decision has been very interesting, with a lot of thought going into it, a lot of meetings with college staff coming to campus and talking to me and trying to figure out ultimately where I’ll take my next step.”
At UCLA, Khamenia said he saw Pauley Pavilion and met with head coach Mick Cronin, who shared his vision for Khamenia’s potential role in the Bruins’ lineup, that currently includes former boys’ basketball guards Trent Perry ’24 and Christian Horry ’24. After a practice session and a tour of the athletic facilities, he sat down with academic advisors to discuss balancing academics and athletics.
Khamenia said his visit to UNC Chapel Hill (UNC) gave him a strong sense of what life as a Tar Heel would be like. Touring the Dean Smith Center, Khamenia said he had the chance to meet with head coach Hubert Davis, where they discussed his
potential role in the team’s offense. He then observed a practice, gaining insight into UNC’s playing style. When he visited Duke, Khamenia said the Duke community made him feel very welcomed during his visits to the school.
“While going on my visits, it just felt like a home.” Khamenia said, “Just being able to play with those guys, seeing them practice and be ing there for two days, it just felt like the place for me.”
With Khamenia committing to the Blue Devils alongside top recruits Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Duke continues to show their recruiting strength, previously landing notable players like Cooper Flagg, Isaiah Evans
and Khaman Maluach. Khamenia said if he were to give advice to young athletes trying to begin the commitment process, it would be to make sure to enjoy things along the way and be grateful for any help they can get.
“Enjoy the process and continue to work because as fast as all the success can come it can go even faster,” Khamenia said. “Be appreciative of the ones that helped you get to that point. Be proud of yourself and maintain humility to always want to get better.”
Khamenia and the boys’ basketball team will begin their search for a third consecutive state championship this winter season on Nov. 19.
Water polo enters playoffs as fourth seed
By M ax Nam
The boys’ water polo team is gearing up for playoffs after placing fourth at the North South Water Polo Challenge, hosted at Sacred Heart Preparatory School in Atherton from Oct. 17-19. The Wolverines then defeated Loyola 11-9 on Oct. 23, finishing regular season play with a record of 14-9.
In an expanded 12-team playoff format, the team will be the fourth seed at the top of Pool D. After three games of group play, the top teams from each group will advance to face each other in semifinal matches beginning Nov. 9.
The team started the North South Challenge with a 12-9 loss in an exhibition match to De La Salle prior to the tournament, followed by a 16-7 win against San Ramon Valley to open the tournament. In the quarterfinal match, the team escaped defeat with a comeback victory over Sacred Heart Prep 12-10, but then fell to JSerra High School 1310 in the semifinal. In third place match, they lost to Oaks Christian 9-8.
Boys’ Water Polo Program
Head Jack Grover said the team struggled with following their strategies early in matches, which affected their ability to capitalize on opportunities.
“The part that was the most frustrating, where we have the most room to grow, is executing a game plan properly,” Grover said. “We knew what kind of defense we were going to see against all the teams that we played and had specific game plans for how we were going to attack it, and we weren’t doing it until after the third offensive possession. When you’re not executing game plans, you can’t really expect to win in a sustainable way.”
The team faced additional challenges during the tournament, with several key players missing games due to misconduct penalties. Attacker Jack Shapiro ’26 said the team had to adapt to these absences.
“The biggest challenges we faced was being down a few key guys during specific games due to game misconduct,” Shapiro said. “We had to adjust, and the next guy had to step
up in order to bounce back as a team.”
Going into playoffs, Shapiro said the team needs to fall back on their strong culture in times of adversity.
“When we focus on the positives and stay positive even in the hard times, we will end up being successful,” Shapiro said. “But when we start bickering and getting negative, nothing good ever comes out of it. We will take these lessons into the rest of the season and make sure to stay positive with each other and support each other because we are all brothers.”
The Wolverines will face San Marcos High School and Corona Del Mar High School at home Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 for group play. If the team advances past the group stage, they will most likely face the number one seed Newport Harbor in a rematch of last year’s semifinal where the Wolverines lost by one goal due to a questionable call in the final seconds. The team has yet to defeat the Sailors this year, with their last win against Newport dating back to the 2023-2024 season in the South Coast Tournament.
FAMILIAR FOES : Attacker Connor Kim ’25 makes a pass over a lunging Newport Harbor defender in the Elite 8 tournament.
A BLUE DEVIL BORN: Boys’ basketball forward Nikolas Khamenia ’25 announced his commitment to Duke University on Oct. 22. Khamenia will join recently recruited athletes Cayden and Cameron Boozer.
Field hockey prepares for TOC playoffs
By David Rothbart
Varsity field hockey will prepare for the upcoming Tournament of Champions (TOC) which will begin on Oct. 29. The field hockey team faced Glendora High School on the team’s senior night at home and won 5-2 on Oct. 18. The team’s record is now 13-2-1.
Midfielder Maggie Koo ’26 said the team’s collaboration and relationship have been crucial to their success this year.
“If we know each other off the field it’s easier for us to connect passes on the field,” Koo said. “There’s just a certain chemistry. Because we’re all so tightly knit, we just play better. There is something about knowing the person you are passing to, that just makes the team play smoother and more effectively. I know I can count on my teammates to help me out when I feel surrounded in our games.”
Koo said the team maintains its focus with a day-by-day mentality, treating each practice an opportunity to be better.
“It’s obviously a long season with some weeks having multiple games, but we just try to focus on improving every practice and playing the best we can every game because it’s all we can do,” Koo said. “We’ve started to connect on the field, and I think you can see that in our passing and communication. The team has really grown this season and we are definitely going to perform well during playoffs.”
Goalie Abigail Juarez ’26 said that the upcoming tournament will be difficult, but the team is prepared and ready.
“The competition will be tough,” Juarez said. “But we’ve been working hard and I trust our preparation and believe in our team.”
The team’s next match will be the played at home in the first round against an opponent to be determined Oct. 29.
Football suffers consecutive road losses, cut from league playoffs ahead of final season game
By Connor Merrihew
The football team lost to Crespi High School 7-0 on Oct. 18, moving to 3-5 overall, and 1-2 in league play. Ahead of the team’s road game with St. Anthony High School on Oct. 25, the team currently sits at fourth in the Del Rey League, just outside of the top three teams that qualify for the playoffs. The team lost to Salesian High School
“upcoming games are winnable as the team continues to strive to make playoffs.
“We still have a great shot at playoffs,” Avalos said. “These next games coming up are all 100% winnable. We have a great team with a great mindset.”
We still have a great shot at playoffs. These next games coming up are all 100% winnable."
Abraham Avalos ‘26
34-0 Oct. 4 and beat Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary 3816 at Homecoming on Sept. 28. The team moves on to play a stretch of crucial league games, which will ultimately determine their playoff chances. Guard Abraham Avalos ’26 said all the
An improvement to the team comes from the return of starting quarterback Aaryan Mehdi Williams ’27. After missing most of the season due to a meniscus tear, he will finish the season as the starting quarerback. Avalos said Mehdi Williams’ return has improved the team’s positive morale as the season ends .
“I feel great and confident about having Aaryan back,”
Avalos said. “It really sucked that we had to lose him at the beginning of the season, but we have him back now and we’re starting to get back into things. Things are definitely looking up from here, now that we got the pass and run game dialed in.”
Safety Dylan Fullmer ’27 said the improved team chemistry allowed the secondary to communicate and defend the offense, while simultaneously helping the defensive line stay on the exact same page.
Fullmer said the team’s victory at Homecoming provided a large boost in team morale, as both offensive and defensive teams exectued well.
“All members on either side of the ball clicked, coming together to make rushing attempts futile while clamping the secondary,” Fullmer said. “The offense saw success both through the rushing and passing game.”
“Our team has really come together lately,” Fullmer said. “Our chemistry helped strengthen the defense, which makes it easier for the secondary to lock down opponents and keeps the defensive line working together.”
The Wolverines lost to St. Anthony High School 42-7 on the road Oct. 25th. This was their penultimate game of this season, and with the loss to the Saints, the Wolverins have been elimated from the Del Rey League playoffs. The Wolverines will finish their season with a final home game against La Salle High School on Nov. 1st.
Girls golf ends regular season strong
By Max Nam
The girls golf team secured a 182-228 victory over Marymount High School in their final match of the regular season Oct.15. The team finishes with a record of 8-5. The team also competed in the Mission League finals Oct. 21.
As the season ends, a common theme for many players has been balancing school and sports, especially for seniors managing both college applications and the fall season. Co-captain Kaydence Kim ’25 said time management and organization have been very important when she is dealing with her heavy workload and golf schedule.
“Balancing school responsibilities with golf, especially as a senior with college applications looming, can be a real juggling act,” Kim said. “For me, it all comes down to time management and staying organized. I rely heavily on a detailed calendar to track practices, tournaments and academic deadlines.
It also helps to be upfront with both my teachers and coaches, letting them know about conflicts ahead of time.”
Kim said learning how to manage time is one of the most important skills to have as a student athlete, both on and off the course.
“For the younger players on the team, my biggest piece of advice is to start learning how to manage their time early,” Kim said. “The workload only increases as you get older, so developing good habits now will pay off later. They should also never hesitate to ask for help, whether it’s advice from upperclassmen or talking to a counselor or teacher when they have a heavy workload.”
Co-captain Elynne Park ‘25 said the camaraderie and encouragement from her teammates helps her face challenges in matches.
“During matches, I was able to overcome difficulties because of the support and strong friendships I had with my teammates,” Park said. “Although golf is an individual sport, it is rare to be in an environment where you are not just playing for yourself but for your whole team.”
Reflecting on her role as team captain, Kim said being the captain has been deeply fulfilling, as she takes pride in guiding the team, representing the school and building a strong sense of community and teamwork.
In addition to managing schoolwork, players reflected on how every match taught them something new, contributing to the team’s overall development.
“Being captain of the golf team feels incredibly rewarding,” Kim said, “It’s more than just about my individual performance. It’s about fostering a sense of unity, motivating my teammates, and bringing out the best in everyone.”
FINISHING STRONG: The girls’ golf team takes a team photo as they celebrate their last game of the season with a win against Marymount.
ON THE RUN: Quarterback Aaryan Mehdi Williams ’27 accelerates past defenders during the Homecoming game against Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School. Mehdi Williams played for the first time since tearing his meniscus during his second game of the season.
L. Wood
Dylan
Fullmer ’27
L. Wood
Kaydence Kim ’25
Girls’ tennis team gets ready for CIF playoffs
By Max Nam
The varsity girls’ tennis team is heading into the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) singles and doubles playoffs with an overall record of 12-3 and an undefeated league record of 8-0. After winning the Mission League on Oct. 22, the team is shifting their focus to the CIF playoffs.
Reflecting on the season, Emily Stutsman ’26 said the team’s first tournament in San Diego served as a major turning point in terms of building confidence. The tournament, held from Sept. 27-28, resulted in a 3-1 record.
“The highlight of this season for me was the Point Loma tournament,” Stutsman said. “It was the first tournament our team had participated in for years, so it was not only exciting, but also a great bonding experience. The tournament gave us a chance to see how we measured up against some of the top teams in the state. We performed well, and that boosted our confidence and provided the motivation we need to tackle playoffs with momentum.”
Fiona Tseng ’28 will be competing in the playoffs for the first time. While Tseng said the adjustment to high school
tennis initially came with nerves, she said her teammates have helped her gain confidence throughout the season.
“Being on the team, especially as a freshman, was a bit scary in the beginning as it was all new to me,” Tseng said. “But with the guidance, support and warmness of everyone on the team, I quickly became comfortable and more confident. My teammates are always there to hype me up and cheer me on during matches, which has helped me so many times, especially on match days where I’m not playing or feeling my best.”
Stutsman said her preparation for playoffs differs from her regular season practice.
“The main mental difference between playoffs and the regular season for me is preparation,” Stutsman said. “I am more deliberate with my preparation on and off the court leading up to playoffs which gives me more confidence during matches.”
Sunny Lu ’25 said she is approcahing the upcoming playoffs with a balance of mental and physical preparation.
“I just try to think about the present and one point at a time,” Lu said. “If I start thinking that each playoff match could be my last, it gives me more motivation because I
want to perform the best I can. I use that thought to fuel my energy and keep myself in the zone during the matches.”
Lu also said the importance of preparing in a way that mirrors the intensity of playoff competition is critical.
“For both the mental and physical side, I play more practice matches so I can get myself familiar with the competitive environment,” Lu said.
Girls’ volleyball ends fall season on high note with win over rival
By Connor Merrihew
The varsity girls’ volleyball team finished the final game of their season with a 13-15 record, winning their final match 3-0 against Notre Dame High School on Oct. 17. The team did not qualify for Mission League or California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs.
In the middle of the season, the team had a 1-8 losing skid during league play. Despite their mid-season struggles, middle hitter Maya Stillwell ‘26 said the
team has shown improvement from last year’s performance.
“This season was another year of continuing to build the foundation of what we want the volleyball program at HarvardWestlake to be,” Stillwell said.
“We made a lot of progress towards this goal by getting even a little better every single day at practices and in games.”
The team’s growth from last year has been particularly evident in non-league play, where they went 11-7 and picked up key wins against Rancho High
School and Iolani High School in the Durango Fall Classic.
As the season comes to a close, Stillwell said the team aspires to make further progress and continue building the foundation of the volleyball program.
“Going into next year and into our last game, I hope we can continue this progress and keep strengthening who we are as a team and as a whole program,” Stillwell said.
Setter Grace Ge ’28 said she is happy the team finished the final three games of the season
“If I don’t practice in a setting where there are a lot of nerves, then in the actual tournament, I won’t be able to stay focused. I use practice matches as a way to practice as close to the playoff competition environment as possible.”
With the regular season behind them, Stutsman said players are focused on honing their skills and maintaining their strong team dynamic as
“
they look to make a deep run in the playoffs. She said the team’s dedication to improvement, along with the confidence gained from a successful season, has them poised to take on the challenges ahead.
The team will continue preparing for the upcoming CIF singles and doubles playoff competition, which will begin on Oct. 28 at Los Angeles Valley College.
This season was another year of continuing to build the foundation of what we want the volleyball program at Harvard- Westlake to be.”
— Maya Stillwell ’26
on a positive note going 2-1, and that she looks forward to the future of the program.
“I’m proud of how we’ve turned things around this season,” Ge said. “All our hard work during the year is really paying off, and I’m excited to be part of the future of this team and a member of the volleyball program. I hope we can
do even more next year.”
Lauryn Lewis ’26 said the team has grown a lot throughout the year and made a lot of memories.
“We’re such a tight knit group of girls who genuinely have the best times together,” Lewis said. “It was a short season but the memories we made will live forever.”
Cross country aims to win league
By David Rothbart
The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams attended their sixth meet at The Palos Verdes Cross Country Course on Oct. 11. The boys finished first out of 11 teams, and the girls finished fourth out of six teams. Charles Abemayor ’26 placed fourth with a time of 10:19, and Saisha Kumar ’25 also placed fourth with a time of 13:13 in the girls’ race.
Two years ago at the same meet, only two Wolverines were able to break 11 minutes in the two-mile race. This year, four runners earned times under 11 minutes.
Abemayor said the boys’ team’s improvement was a result of their willingness to work hard and adapt.
“Everyone on varsity is running more and training harder,”
Abemayor said. “We’ve adjusted big things and small things that have made us all a lot faster. A lot of times it’s the little things like our mechanics that can slow us down even if it’s just something small. Obviously in practice we run a ton but it’s just as important to make sure we have the right form.”
Oona Sils ’26 said the team has been preparing well for important upcoming races.
“We’ve been training months for this,” Sils said. “Coach Sharpe has made it so we as a team start peaking when it matters most through his practices.”
Abemayor said the team is focused on their upcoming league and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) meets.
“Even though we raced last week, the larger emphasis was on the training,” Abemayor said. “We wanted to race our best but
we trained throughout the week, looking forward to races like league finals and CIF. The season only has a few races left, and we hope to place highly in CIF meets and hopefully make the state meet. We will continue to train hard until then.”
Aaron Escalante ’26 said he has high expactations in the finals, not only for the team but also for himself.
“Finals are one of the biggest meets of the year,” Escalante said. “Coach is expecting a lot from us, but after our last meet, we’re expecting a lot from ourselves. I was injured last year but my performance freshman year was not what I wanted and honestly I am excited to compete. We’re gonna show out.”
The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams’ next meet is the Mission League Finals on Nov. 5 at Pierce College.
FINAL KICK: Robbie Louie ’26 nears the end of the two-mile race. Louie will next compete in the Mission League Finals on Nov. 5.
SERVE AND PROTECT: With another win, the girls’ tennis team enters the tournament with an 8-0 league record and a 12-3 overall record. They look to end their season strong in the CIF singles and doubles tournament.
WOLVERINES ONLY WOLVERINES ONLY
BY OTTO STOTHART Otto Stothart
Growing up in Barcelona, my connection to water polo started early, almost as soon as I could swim. I was five when I first jumped into the pool for a game, following in the footsteps of my two older brothers. For as long as I can remember, water polo has been a part of my life. I was a very energetic kid — I really couldn’t sit still and couldn’t focus on much of anything. The only time my parents remember me being quiet and actually focused was when I was watching my older brothers’ games.
I lived in Barceloneta, the beach town located by Barcelona. It’s a touristy place, but it’s also known for its beachside athletic clubs where Spain’s best water polo teams are located. Growing up, I had one of these clubs, CNAB (Club Natació Atlètic Barceloneta) just a twominute walk from my house. They were the best in Spain, and being able to watch really high-level games in person was a really special experience. Those games were some of the only ones where a big crowd showed up, and it made me love the sport even more.
Once I moved to the United States, I joined LA Premier Water Polo, Harvard-Westlake’s club water polo team. There, I met many of my current teammates on the high school program, who I’ve played with since we were on the 12-and-under team. Having played on LA Premier for so long, I fostered not only strong
chemistry with my teammates in the water, but also some of the best friendships I’ve ever made. Some of my fondest memories come from Junior Olympics, the largest club water polo tournament in the country. We won gold in the 12-and-under division, and back-to-back gold medals in the 16-and-under division.
I then joined the high school water polo team in my freshman year when I enrolled at Harvard-Westlake. As the youngest of three brothers, I followed in the footsteps of my brothers Ilias Stothart ’22 and Mot Stothart ’20, who went through the program before me. Getting to play alongside my brothers in practices and games was truly a once-in-alifetime experience. Inside the water, it brings out the best competition out of us, but outside the pool I look up to them for guidance as my role models.
Water polo has also taught me a lot about hard work. While it might look like just a game of strength, I think it’s much more about strategy. I’ve spent a lot of time at Corpses Family Pool trying to get better. During the summer, when we’re swimming long course twice a day, it’s not very fun, but the feeling when you get home is pretty nice. Just knowing that you’ve done something hard is special. The satisfaction comes from knowing you’ve given everything you have to a game and that you’ve pushed
yourself beyond what you thought you were capable of.
Water polo became an outlet for me in a really special way. It allowed me to express emotions I didn’t even realize I had. Outside of the pool, I like to think I’m a pretty calm person. But when I step into the water, it’s as if something switches, as I’m sure anybody who has watched me play can see. The water feels like a different world, and there, I express whatever emotions I’m feeling — sometimes even a bit too much. Whether it’s joy after scoring a goal or anger when something doesn’t go my way, water polo allows me to let those emotions out in a way that nothing else does. It feels like a way to express the emotions I hold in on land.
Lastly, being part of a team has been one of the most rewarding aspects of playing water polo. There’s something about going through the highs and lows of a season with the same group of people that creates a really special bond. Some of my closest friends today are people I met in the pool when we were just kids. We’ve grown up together, both as athletes and as people. We’ve had each other’s backs through it all: the tough losses, hard practices and wins. Water polo has given me more than just a competitive outlet — it has given me a community and a family. The sport is something I’ll always be grateful for.
