February 2023

LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL

1202 S. WARSON RD.

ST. LOUIS, MO 63124

FEBRUARY 2023

VOL. 72, ISSUE 6

LEARN MORE... about how various aspects of cultures transform in America to create a scrapbook of experiences

Editor's note

In the pilot episode of sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat,” Eddie Huang goes to school with a bowl full of noodles. The other white kids at his school deem his lunch “worms,” pass it off as disgusting and alienate him for it. To change his fate, he goes to a suburban supermarket to buy “white-people food,” which comes as a tray of Lunchables. Yet, Eddie can never reach the top of the pecking order. He is permanently the foreigner. Although TV is inevitably dramatic, Eddie’s story isn’t far from an experience many immigrants of color have when arriving in predominantly white areas.

In this month’s in-depth, we catalogue the experiences of many immigrant students across Ladue, some “fresh off the boat” like Eddie and some the children of immigrants. We also discuss the alienation of such students, which many times does not come in the form of overt bigotry, but a buildup of subtle, yet painful reminders that their histories do affect how people see and treat them. Overall,

we want to unveil these unique experiences that can often go unnoticed if not considered carefully.

We also dive into the question: “What are you proud of?” Before, we asked the question, “What makes you happy?” But beyond our happiness, we thought we could celebrate our prides. That's why for our editor photo, we chose the spreads we were most proud of. In this section, we cover a chess prodigy, Pakistani culture and a sociology teacher’s passions.

In other sections, we report on a neighborhood flood across from the high school, the new girls lacrosse coach and our favorite movies of 2022. We discuss the connections between African and American cuisines, personality quizzes and celestial events.

We hope you enjoy the February Issue of the Panorama, see you next month!

Panorama staf

EDITORS IN CHIEF

Max Eastman

Olivia Hu

Allen You

MANAGING EDITOR

Emmi Walker

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Mac Huffman

Mimi Zhou

ART EDITORS

Tarek Al Husseini

Erica Shi

PHOTO EDITOR

Sydney Collinger

NEWS EDITOR

Avery Anderson

FEATURES EDITOR

Riley Coates

IN-DEPTH EDITOR

Annie Zhao

OPINIONS EDITOR

Pranavi Chintha

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Olivia Chen

HEALTH & SPORTS EDITOR

Luke Lochmoeller

NEWS STAFF

Mahith Samarathunga

FEATURES STAFF

Katie Myckatyn

Laura Shareshian

IN-DEPTH STAFF

Rory Lustberg

Arti Jain

OPINIONS STAFF

Richie Jiang

Emily Liu

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT STAFF

Joseph Baker

Jay Heintz

HEALTH & SPORTS STAFF

Lathan Levy

Michael Zegel

WEB EDITOR IN CHIEF

Rory Lustberg

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vincent Hsiao

ARTISTS

Emilie Tian

ADVISER

Sarah Kirksey

Max EastmanOlivia HuAllen You

Table of contents

proud of?

What are you proud of?

Flooding in Foxboro

Connecting cuisines

News: page 5

Journey to Division I

For Italian exchange student and senior Vittorio Panvini Rosati, his participation in a year-long exchange program seemed like fate. Growing up in Arcore, small town in Northern Italy, PanviRosati enrolled in an exchange proafter a friend did the same. He was randomly assigned to live in the Ladue school district in St. Louis. signed up for the program one day it ended,” Panvini Rosati said. very lucky because they told me was no space. But a week later, they me. One of the students wasn’t goanymore, so they could take me.”

experiences of various individuals living in America

aly. After arriving, Panvini Rosati quickly noticed the cultural contrasts between Italy and his new home.

“In Italy, [students] stay in one classroom and the teacher changes,” Panvini Rosati said. “[Also], in Italy, we basically have one kind of food. But here you can [eat] wherever you want, there are restaurants for each type [of food]. You can really see the different cultures.”

American culture is very distinct in many aspects, especially education. As Panvini Rosati notes, this fosters a productive environment.

Our Policy

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | FEBRUARY 2023

why Americans are innovative and more creative. In Italy, we are very strict and in America, there is so much freedom.”

Features: Panorama surveyed different students to fnd out what they're proud of

Panvini’s decision to become a foreign exchange student was also driven by his life-long goal of going to college in the U.S. He believes that more doors will be opened in America.

A&E: page 26

Panorama policy

“You can choose your classes,” Panvini Rosati said. “It’s not like that in Italy. You

“If I’m going anywhere outside of Italy, it’s going to be the U.S.,” Panvini Rosati said. “I want to go to college here, all my dreams have been [here]. It’s more achievable to reach my goals, I have more opportunities here. I want to open a company and help people. I want to be someone one day.”

Panorama is a student-led monthly newsmagazine that strives to inform and entertain Ladue students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication hopes to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among students on important issues. Panorama aims to reflect the diversity of the population it serves and to observe the journalistic principle of doing no harm. All surveys are completely anonymous unless otherwise stated and results cannot be used against respondents. Panorama will not share the names of anonymous sources. Panorama is produced by the newspaper class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School, and students on staff make all content decisions. Panorama operates as a public forum by practice and is not under prior review by administration. All opinions

IN-DEPTH15

Sports: page 29

expressed in the Panorama do not necessarily reflect those of the Ladue School District, nor do individual opinion columns necessarily reflect those of the rest of the Panorama staff.

Scholastic Journalism Associations

Panorama is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll and the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association. Panorama earned a Pacemaker in 2021, was a Pacemaker finalist in 2019 and has been a CSPA crown recipient since 2019.

Credits

Front cover photo illustration by Mimi Zhou. Front cover design by Mimi Zhou. Back cover design and illustration by Olivia Hu. EIC photo by Mac Huffman.

Infographic: pages 12-13

LADUE BLUE

Anonymous

The Caito Family

Jim & Kathy Davis

The Gaither Family

The Gyawali Family

Allison Hawk

Heidi Long Real Estate

June Ogden

Husseini Family

The Patney Family

The Riddle Family

Bill & Rowena Coates

GOLD

Amarakone Family

The Anderson Family

The Chang Family

The Daun Family

Freeman Family

Sponsors

Dennis & Judy Holcomb

The Jain Family

Karen & David

Kurtzman

Southern

Lochmoeller Team

The Logan Family

Myckatyn Family

Olesia & Michael

Myckatyn

The Petersen Family

The Emmi Walker Family

SILVER

Anonymous

The Biernacki Family

The Hawkins Family

The Jansen Family

The Jurgiel Family

The Kirby Family

Marc & Krista Luckett

The Lustberg Family

The Ortliebs

The Tobin Family

FRIENDLY Anonymous

Anonymous

The Bauer Family

Nancy Beals

The Brennan Family

The Brunnquells

The Caster Family

The Childs-Klein Family

The Claybaugh Family

Jerry & Pat Coates

Benjamin Collinger

Salon Elysium

Dom Fenoglio

Heather Garrett

Interior Design

The Levy-Kurtzman Family

The Li Family

The Liu Family

Lynne & Mike

Lippmann

Debbie & Harvey

Lustberg

Chris & Joanne May

The Pearlstone Family

The Ramos Family

Tim, Liz, Allison & Abby Rea

Schonbrun Realtors

The Smith Family

Amit & Brianne Sood

The Walker Family

Tracy Zuckett

Worldwide Rams

by Avery Anderson news editor

Decades of dance

by Mahith Samarathunga news staff

After months of prepping and planning, Dance Marathon hosted its final event at the high school Feb. 4 to celebrate the amount of money students have raised. When the first Dance Marathon was organized 10 years ago, $20,000 was raised for the Children’s Miracle Network. This fundraiser raised over $70,000 for kids.

“It’s such a rewarding experience,” senior Addie Kerner said. “There’s no actual reward or recognition or anything really. It’s just amazing to see what everyone can accomplish. We spent so much time working so hard on the event.”

This year, the Dance Marathon team spent nine months planning and fundraising towards their goal. With the support of two sponsors, Micheal Farrell and Lauren Fisher, the students’ primary fundraising goal has been achieved.

”The students wanted to do this on their own,” Farrell said. ”They just needed some guidance from adults in the building and I was more than happy to help them.”

$ 72,279

During the event, there were many memorable activities. Many students participated in throwing pie at their peers and teachers, cornhole and face painting.

“I think towards the end it is really fun,” junior Kate Margulis said. “We do the huge reveal, which is obviously a fun part. I think my favorite part was the pie in the face.”

A new tradition is starting at the Ladue High School April 26 called Rams Around the World. It is a student inclusion group run by Jennifer Tuttle, Rebecca Rubin-Schlansky and Ladue students who are a part of the inclusion committee.

“We asked the students to come up with ideas so we could make something happen this year,” Tuttle said. “They all spoke really highly of the elementary school passport nights. That’s where Rams Around the World comes from.”

Money raised in 10 years $ 577,601

24

300 students sponsors & donors

Even though the Executive Board says it’s a lot of work, it’s a worthwhile endeavor.

“It’s really cool to see what we all can accomplish at the event, which is [a] combination of all of our efforts,” senior Naomi Lang said.

Dance Marathon has touched many students’ lives. The amount of effort students put into this cause has not gone unnoticed.

“It has true power,” senior Sam Deutsch said. “Participants from all different grades from all different walks of life unite on a common goal of just helping change the future of kids’ health. I think that’s a powerful thing.”

Dance Marathon has left its mark by creating a meaningful change around the community.

“It’s really nice knowing that you’re doing something good for your community,” Margulis said.

It is only the inclusion committee’s second year in existence, and as their kick off event, students will be able to participate in a district-wide event where students from different cultures will have booths. These booths will showcase the traditional clothing, food, music, dance and entertainment all set up in the multipurpose room. Language and culture socities and clubs at the high school will be participating in the event.

“I’m excited to be a part of the planning committee for this,” senior Sela Masaki said. “At Reed, I remember loving passport night and it being one of my favorite events of the year. We have an amazing range of cultures at Ladue, and I hope that this event will tell people that they are loved and celebrated.”

LEFT: Dance Marathon Executive Board holds up numbers to show how much money they have raised. The student body was thrilled to see the amount Dance Marathon raised. “I was surprised on how much money it ended up being,” senior Nick Tabscott said. “I am glad it’s going to a good cause.” (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

Dance Marathon raised over $70,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network

Flooding in Foxboro

Residents of Foxboro neighborhood apply for flood relief from federal government

by Allen You editor in chief

In 1965, Category 4 Hurricane Betsy wreaked $1.42 billion worth of damage upon Louisiana and Florida, the most of any Atlantic hurricane until then. It washed away not only the possessions of the afflicted; for some, it took their lives as well. In response, Congress passed the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, which created federal flood insurance and mandated the mapping of floodplains (or areas highly prone to flooding) and restricted development along those areas. Many wisely avoided settling the floodplains, but many others were already there, including the Foxboro neighborhood of Ladue.

“The floodplain maps were developed in the 1970s,” Anne Lamitola, Ladue’s Director of Public Works, said. “That's when they were adopted by the federal government, and cities had to adopt them so that the residents of our communities could get flood insurance. Well,

Mapping out Deer Creek

Ladue's fight against troubling waters

RIGHT:

Foxboro was built 20 years before that. Ladue was incorporated in 1936 and a lot of the development occurred prior to the delineation of the floodplains.”

The neighborhood and many others were thus allowed to remain on the floodplain. And when the historic rainfalls landed July 26, 2022, Deer Creek swelled above capacity, drowning Foxboro.

“It was probably around 3 a.m. when [the firemen] told us to leave,” former Foxboro resident and senior Fischer Thompson said. “The rain was bad. It was coming down really heavy and the outside [of our house] was flooding, but at the time the inside of the house was not flooded.”

Despite surviving previous floods, this intense flash flood left the neighborhood in utter disrepair.

“We were really hoping that there would just be a little damage to the out-

side and if there were to be water inside, it would just be on the first floor and minimal damage,” Thompson said. “But then as we came back, it was through the floor. In the basement, the water came up to the top step, basically to the first floor, and then the first floor height, [there was] maybe an inch or two of water.”

The severity of damage depended on elevation. Thompson reports that the house across from his own had water “up to their chest.” But more than just submerging the homes, the flooding destroyed livelihoods.

“It was really tough to see all of our belongings and all the stuff that we've worked for get destroyed,” Thompson said.

The residents hit hardest by the flood were forced to move wherever they could find shelter. With the Foxboro homes ir-

Close up aerial map of Ladue high school/Foxboro

built

top of Deer Creek. "The City of Ladue is participating in two federal food buyout programs: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)," Amanda Griffn, Ladue's Stormwater Engineering Manager, said. "Property owners that are included in the buyout programs appeared before Ladue City Council last year to request that their properties be included in the buyout programs. To be eligible, properties had to meet requirements set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)."

Ladue high school Foxboro neighborhood

“It was really tough to see all of our belongings and all the stuff that we've worked for get destroyed.”

Fischer Thompson, senior

The Foxboro neighborhood sits right across from Ladue high school. From the map on the other page, the entire neighborhood was

on

(Photo by Sydney Collinger)

(Maps courtesy of Anne Lamitola)

reparable, the former residents put together a plan to get emergency relief buyouts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This was only possible since President Biden approved a disaster declaration for the St. Louis flooding, which made them eligible for federal aid. To get to FEMA, residents had to ask the Ladue City government to step in.

“Several property owners came to the city council and asked for help,” Lamitola said. “They shared their stories and explained how horrific it was to have to be rescued by the fire department and everything through that flood. So the city said, ‘Yes, let's proceed with investigating.’”

A process like this, in total costing $5.13 million, is likely to take around two years, according to Lamitola. Papers must be pushed through federal and state offices before money can end up back in Ladue. But, if federal aid can come through, the city’s share would only be around $650,000, and the residents can be sure they’re fully compensated for flood damage.

“There's three Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs, but then there's also Flood Miti-

gation Assistance (FMA),” Lamitola said. “And so we're working on both. Some of the houses qualified for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and some qualified for FMA. There's different percentages of funding. FMA is the 90% or 100% that the feds will pay. We're trying to get as many of those but three of them are HMGP, which is 75% funding.”

With FMA and HMGP, the federal government agrees to grant state and local governments funding to mitigate risks of flooding and disasters. In this case, the Ladue City government is seeking to mitigate flood risk by demolishing the eligible Foxboro homes and compensating the resident’s financial losses. Once demolished, the city will decide how it wants to use the land for the future.

“We have a group called BOSTA, the Beautification, Open Space and Tree Advisory Committee, so I think that committee will evaluate options for the various uses,” Lamitola said. “It could be within the open space category. It could just be landscape. And then, ultimately, our city council, they're the ultimate decision makers, they will have to decide. The commit-

tees make recommendations to the council.”

Some have advocated for a new parking lot for Ladue high school. However, FEMA restricts grant applicants from developing further on hazardous land, which disallows paving the land. Not only that, but the city would also be liable for any car damages that occur on that land. So the most likely option is that it will be converted into a trail, according to Lamitola.

“We're going to be building an eight- to 10-foot-wide trail along [the city’s molt site],” Lamitola said. “We're going to try to connect it up to our business district. So it could be something like that, but it also could just be a mulch trail or an aggregate trail in just more of a wooded state.”

For now, the homes stand in a state of limbo, uninhabited but also unable to be demolished.

"We've got to appraise the property," Lamitola said. "We have to make an offer. They have to accept. We have to close. Then, they record the deed restrictions, which has to be open space. Then, we get to clear the land. So 15 steps later, [we get to demo]. There's lots of red tape."

1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Regulatory Floodway

0.2% Annual Chance

"Deer Creek is subject to fash fooding in Ladue," Anne Lamitola, Ladue’s Director of Public Works, said. "There is really not an enclosed storm surge system. There's some portions of the system that are enclosed. Deer Creek is an open channel, and there's been too much development so close to the creek."

proud of?

illustration

My proudest moment was winning nationals in third grade at a chess tournament8"

by Laura Shareshian features staff

by Laura Shareshian features staff

Freshman Luke Ye’s passion for chess began when he was 6 years old. It started with two hours of after-school chess club every day. But as his interest in the game grew, he decided this first schedule was no longer enough.

“I wanted to pursue chess deeper, [so] I tried to study on my own,” Ye said. “Every day, [I would get] back after chess club, [and] go study on my own for another one or two hours. I got better then.”

Three years later, Ye took his first steps inside the giant playing hall hosting the United States Chess Federation's SuperNationals. It’s aptly sized; Ye’s competition in

RIGHT: Luke Ye plays in a tournament Feb. 18. Ye

the serious and tense environment, a staple of events. "Playing in chess tournaments is something I look forward to every time," Ye said.

(Photo

the K-5 Championship is just a portion of the massive tournament. It was overwhelming, but Ye's excitement to play took over. Soon, he was playing great games, surrounded by supportive competition.

“My parents knew that I was doing very well in the tournament,” Ye said. “They didn't really try to tell me that.”

So until the championship’s conclusion, Ye’s successes were measured in celebratory trips to McDonald's for ice cream. It was only when he tied for first place that Ye realized the force of his performance. Ye's 2017 win marked the beginning of a greater enthusiasm and commitment to chess. More recently, he won the Missouri Chess Association's 2019 State Open. On continuing chess, Ye holds a reso-

lute attitude, focused on learning from mistakes.

“When I make a mistake in a game and blunder the game away, [I'm] upset and I go back and try to learn everything to prevent that from ever happening again,” Ye said. “And learning new things — especially from my own mistakes — it's a very important aspect of chess. That's also something I like about it.”

His resolve has made him a candidate master, a title reserved for players with exceptional performances at tournaments and a rating of 2000 or above. This official recognition was a moment of pride for Ye, a payoff for years of practice.

“I want to keep doing it and getting better," Ye said. "It's just that sense of self-improvement."

enjoyed

courtesy of Luke Ye)

TOP RIGHT: Sophomore Emaan Waheed sits with her family in traditional Pakistani dress. They celebrated Waheed’s aunt’s wedding in Pakistan Dec. 2021. “Weddings are a very big deal in Pakistani culture,” Waheed said. “There are many traditions that go into a celebration.”

RIGHT: Sophomore Emaan Waheed smiles while wearing traditional Pakistani clothes. In her culture, red is a symbol of love and affection. “The clothing is one of my favorite aspects of our culture,” Waheed

FAR RIGHT: The Waheed family displays their hands which are decorated with mehndi. Putting on the designs brought the women and girls in her family together. “When we're all together I speak Pashto,”

(Photos courtesy of Emaan Waheed)

am proud of my culture8"

by Katie Myckatyn features staff

From getting good grades to learning an instrument, today’s world has many things to be proud of. For sophomore Emaan Waheed, pride holds a very complex and personal place in her heart.

“I am proud of my culture, of our beautiful language, our music, our clothes, our traditions, I’m proud of it all,” Waheed said.

Waheed, a first-generation immigrant, moved to the U.S. from Pakistan when she was a baby. While her family makes it a priority to return to Pakistan as often as possible, the U.S. is where she’s resided for the past 15 years.

“I kind of lived in a parallel world where I have my American personality and then I have my Pakistani personality,” Waheed said.

While Waheed has never had a problem with sharing her cultur-

al experiences, she had previously struggled to really embrace this side of herself.

“I sort of grew up in an American bubble,” Waheed said. “When I was younger I would think that the food I ate, the clothes that I wore or the holidays that I celebrated made me different and weird.”

Recently, Waheed has faced her uncertainty head-on by making efforts to connect to her roots. Finding success in such efforts continues to strengthen her pride in her cultural identity, and has provided an opportunity for her to learn more about her ethnic group. Specifically, learning the language Pashto has created an indestructible nexus to a whole new realm of knowledge surrounding aforementioned ethnicity.

“The ethnic group that I’m from is the Pashtuns,” Waheed said. “I’ve been able to learn more about how we have many different customs and important values, such as hospitality, honesty, respect and many familial values.”

Waheed’s newfound emphasis on cultural self-identification proved a rewarding experience, resulting in a new fulfillment from forming deeper connections to her heritage. Furthermore, the embracing of her roots has swelled both her confidence and general happiness, continuing the process of extinguishing doubts about herself and making her ethnicity more than just a label.

“It’s taken me a long time to get where I am now and I’m not fully there yet,” Waheed said. “But I can safely say that I’m proud of the skin I’m in.”

In her cultural exploration, Waheed has delved into the world of mehndi, or as it’s commonly referred to in the U.S., henna. In Pakistani culture, mehndi is a form of body art and temporary skin decoration made from the henna plant and commonly worn during holidays, festivals, weddings and other good occasions. The practice of baring mehndi is associated with positive spirits and good fortune.

“When I was younger my mom or my aunt would put it on for me and they were both very good at it,” Waheed said. “It’s such a special and heartwarming moment with your family, and even more it’s a shared experience of female bonds and empowerment while you’re creating beautiful designs and memories together.”

So, she decided to take it into her own hands.

“It became something I really wanted to learn, so I’ve been slowly teaching myself,” Waheed said. “There have been times where I've just splattered it all over my hands, but I’m getting better and it’s been just really nice to have a hobby that’s also culturally connected.”

From Pashto to henna, Waheed’s journey of ethnic self-discovery continues to bring her back to her roots. Her new focus on cultural introspection pushes the boundaries of considering her culture a label.

“If I had to give any advice to somebody, I would advise to just take small steps to explore who you are in the culture that you're a part of,” Waheed said. “Make the e to be proud of who you are. I'm proud of my culture.”

“I

Connecting cuisines

Interlinking African and African American foods and their impact on American's tables

Key ingredients: Cassava and plantain

Even though fufu originated in Ghana, it's now popular across West Africa. Versions of the recipe are popular in the Caribbean because enslaved people brought their traditions with them across the Atlantic Ocean.

KUKU PAKA

East Africa

Key ingredients: Chicken, coconut milk, lemon and tomato

Spices: Garlic, red pepper fakes, onion and paprika

History: Pork was an essential protein in Southerners' diets, however, enslaved people were rarely given enough to live off of. So, when working in kitchens, women would take scrap meat and grease. They combined the meat and fats with the collard greens and other leafy greens they grew to feed themselves and family.

MAC & CHEESE

Origin: Southern U.S.

Key ingredients: Cheese, cream and noodles

Spices: Garlic, onion and paprika

History: Mac & cheese was popularized in the U.S. by James Hemings, the frst American chef trained in France and enslaved by Thomas Jefferson. Hemings was brought to France by Jefferson on a diplomatic trip where he learned about the recipe. Back in the U.S. Hemings put his twist on the recipe, and it quickly became popular. While his recipe fourished and was shared across the dinner table, Hemmings committed suicide at 36 to escape enslavement.

Spices: Bird's eye chili, coriander, cumin, kashmiri chili and turmeric

History: Nearly every African culture has some form of curry. While they have

SHIRO

Origin: Ethiopia and Eritrea

Key ingredients: Chickpeas, tomatoes and onion

Spices: Berbere and garlic

History: Shiro is often served during Abiy Tsom (Lent), Ramadan and other fasting holidays. However, it's a staple dish year-round because of its low cost.

BERBERE

Origin: Ethiopia and Eritrea

CANDIED YAMS

Origin: Southern U.S.

Key ingredients: Butter, brown sugar and sweet potatoes

Spices: Cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg

History: After being ripped away from their homeland, Africans had to adapt to American culture and agriculture. Yams are a staple root in various African dishes, but they couldn't be grown in the U.S. due to the environment, so displaced Africans adapted. They substituted sweet potatoes for the yams because they were similar in taste and texture and grew in the environment.

Spices: Cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, paprika, tulsi and white pepper

Use: Berbere is a light, yet powerful spice mix. It's commonly crushed into powder for wat, a thick stew, or sprinkled on grilled meat.

Scan to see the recipes behind these dishes

Passed through the generations

Q&A with sophomore Sam Wilbert on her love of cooking and reconnecting with African cusines

Q: What was your reaction when you started learning about African cuisines?

A: I felt like I was mourning a loss of culture. [It] made me start thinking about my grandma [and] listening to her stories and some of the older people that I haven't listened [to]enough.

Q: What are the similarities between African and African American cuisines?

A: [When I was in Nigeria,] I saw this jollof rice, which is like jambalaya. They're both

spicy rice, they're just named different. Of course there's a whole bunch of culture in each food, [and they're] different, but not that different. It's culture that was brought over from Africa to America. It evolved over time and it became our food now, but I feel like there are a lot of similarities.

Q: Who taught you how to cook?

A: My grandma. Growing up [she was] my world, she taught me everything. I know how to [do things] the traditional way because of her.

Q: What is your experience with African culture?

A: My stepdad is Nigerian, so in 2019 we went and it was a culture shock. The Prince from their village came out, he didn't even know my stepdad, but there's this community aspect [of the culture.] As Black Americans, we have a community, but it's different to African culture. They didn't even know us, but they're like, 'he's us, he's our people, he's family.' There was no hesitation to bring people in.

Becoming American

Scrapping together the cultural experiences of various individuals living in America

Coming to America

by Mimi Zhou associate editor

Fatima Jahangir

Pakistani exchange student and junior Fatima Jahangir knew that studying abroad would afford her many opportunities and open new doors. But, moving from her hometown of Quetta, in western Pakistan, came with its challenges.

“You have to fill out an online and application to see if you’re eligible,” Jahangir said. “Then, we were called to Karachi, the capital city, and we had a lot of tests and an interview. We wrote a letter to our host family.”

Based on these factors, candidates were selected and assigned to various cities across the U.S. Jahangir arrived in St. Louis in early August. But while it took time to become acclimated, Janahgir eventually found her place.

“The first month was terrible,” Jahangir said. “Because I was adjusting here, everything was different — and homesickness. But [now] it’s like a vacation with homework. I have friends here and I have a whole family here. [Coming to the U.S.], I wanted to explore and [meet] new people. [With] my host family and my friends, we have made a lot of cool memories.”

In addition to her desire of interacting with different people, Jahangir also

hoped to gain valuable experiences for future success.

“There’s a lot of benefits if you an exchange program,” Jahangir said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s going to help me a lot in my future in my college [accents for] resume. So I have a higher chances of getting into a good college."

Jahangir came to the U.S. seeking new opportunities and avenues. Though her home country of Pakistan was not limited in opportunity, it was dwarfed by the vast array of possibilities in the U.S.

“I just wanted to do the best for my future,” Jahangir said. “There are a lot of people [who] choose to come here so they have better opportunities.”

(photo courtesy of Fatima Jahangir)

An individual’s story is created by the legacy their ancestors left, written by the language they speak, absorbed by the meals they eat and molded by the culture one fosters around them. Just like America, an individual's story is a melting pot of experiences. In the following pages, we examine what constitutes the American experience — why individuals come to America and how their original cultures transform upon arrival. We explore how various aspects of identity undergo certain changes to find a comfortable place in the larger American story. We look at how cultures can be diminished and amplified.

Vittorio Panvini Rosati

For Italian exchange student and senior Vittorio Panvini Rosati, his participation in a year-long exchange program seemed like fate. Growing up in Arcore, a small town in northern Italy, Panvini Rosati enrolled in an exchange program after a friend did the same. He was randomly assigned to live in the Ladue school district in St. Louis.

“I signed up for the program one day before it ended,” Panvini Rosati said. “I was very lucky because they told me there was no space. But a week later, they called me. One of the students wasn’t going anymore, so they could take me.”

We begin by discussing the motivations and opportunities behind individuals coming to America. Next, we trace the impact of language and cuisine. Finally, we investigate the role that names play in creating a unique identity within the context of culture. America's strength comes from the vast diversity of experiences that its inhabitants bring. Chapter by chapter, the American story continues to be written.

Panvini Rosati moved to the U.S. in early August, leaving behind his life in Italy. After arriving, Panvini Rosati quickly noticed the cultural contrasts between Italy and his new home.

“In Italy, [students] stay in one classroom and the teacher changes,” Panvini Rosati said. “[Also], in Italy, we basically have one kind of food. But here you can [eat] wherever you want, there are restaurants for each type [of food]. You can really see the different cultures.”

American culture is very distinct in many aspects, especially education. As Panvini Rosati notes, this fosters a productive environment.

“You can choose your classes,” Panvini Rosati said. “It’s not like that in Italy. You

have less pressure here and more time for yourself to develop. I feel like that’s why Americans are innovative and more creative. In Italy, we are very strict and in America, there is so much freedom.”

Panvini’s decision to become a foreign exchange student was also driven by his lifelong goal of going to college in the U.S. He believes that more doors will be opened in America.

“If I’m going anywhere outside of Italy, it’s going to be the U.S.,” Panvini Rosati said. “I want to go to college here. All my dreams have been [here]. It’s more achievable to reach my goals; I have more opportunities here. I want to open a company and help people. I want to be someone one day.”

(photo courtesy of Vittorio Panvini Rosati)

Languages

by Mimi Zhou associate editor

Each language spoken around the world offers its unique challenges to navigate. Even harder is to learn a second language. Now, think about trying to master three languages.

Speaking German, Hindi and English fluently, freshman Sanvi Prasad’s relationship with language is particularly strong. Prasad was born in Jena, Germany. Growing up, she spoke Hindi and German at home. When her family moved to Berlin, she attended an international school. Prasad’s exposure to English proved useful when she moved to St. Louis last October. Relocating to a new home on a different continent came with its challenges.

Prasad’s early exposure to English proved useful when her family moved to St. Louis last October. Relocating her entire life to a new continent came with challenges.

“The most difficult part is probably moving away from a place that you've known your whole life and then moving to a place you've never been to,” Prasad said.

Prasad has had to adapt to a new school, new people and a new culture. In the midst of finding a balance, Prasad has tried to maintain her vast portfolio of languages.

“I’m scared of forgetting [my languages],” Prasad said. “I call my friends and talk to my family in German. We talk about memories we have and do traditions we used to do in Germany.”

Prasad’s life is especially intertwined with language. It molds culture — how individuals communicate, think and interact.

“Language is a really big thing,” Prasad said. “Language surrounds you everywhere. You can't go anywhere without having to talk to someone."

At home, Prasad’s interaction with language is further shown.

“It's complicated,” Prasad said. “I prefer to speak German but sometimes it is easier in Hindi when I talk to my parents. My parents speak Hindi more [often]. So I'll respond in German, and my sister adds something in English. So it is a blend of different languages.”

Prasad and her family’s special mix of languages also points to a larger cultural identity. Beyond language, Prasad sits at the intersection of her many different cultures.

“It can be very confusing,” Prasad said. “One question that has always confused me is, ‘where are you from?’ Because I am Indian and German. So that leads me to think, ‘Where am I from?’”

With these heavy questions weighing on her, Prasad finds herself at a difficult position. No matter how hard Prasad tries, it is inevitable for certain aspects of her complex identity to be eventually be diminished.

“It will happen," Prasad said.

"I'm trying to adapt to the American culture. I could imagine going back to Germany and being surprised [of] their culture. Even though I grew up there, there are things that I forget. I can't really control that, but I try to keep in touch with my culture.”

photo by | MIMI ZHOU

Cuisine

by Annie Zhao in-depth editor

People often seek what’s more comfortable to them rather than to be exposed to unknown territory. This alienation of other cultures, especially a culture's food, has become increasingly relevant in society. People cherry-pick their favorite ethnic foods, but often dismiss other parts of a culture’s food as a whole.

“Food is a big part of culture,” English teacher Shruti Upadyay said. “To me, food is what people congregate around and food is what unites families as they sit at the table and interact about their day. There is history behind the food you have — the tastes of the food, the spices that you use, the ingredients that you use.”

Upadhyay’s family and ancestry comes from Gujarat, and they are “primarily vegetarian.” So, learned from her mother and grandmother, she cooks Indian food and her children especially enjoy a dish of homemade bread with shredded zucchini, carrots, garlic and lots of spices that she prepares. Thus, culture is ingrained and intertwined with what someone eats and how they will eat it, like with chopsticks, with their hands or with fork and knife.

“When I was a kid, I brought paratha, the bread that you make,” Upadhyay said. “I had a kid in elementary school that goes, ‘Oh my god, what does that smell like?’ and I said ‘It's just garlic.’ So, because you are not aware of something or because it's different, this doesn't mean that it should be a bad thing. Instead, we should be curious about [new foods]."

This trend of unawareness amplifies itself during childhood, especially around elementary school, where kids aren’t exposed to food that varies from their culture’s food. When senior Artur Breternitz brought Cassava root, many kids questioned what it was to him “out of curiosity,” yet he also saw comments with “malicious intent” thrown at other people who brought food. Wavering from simple interest to plain hostility, these remarks tend to force kids to shun away the prospect of bringing ethnic foods to school.

“I have never brought homemade food to school,” senior Ruth Workineh said. “So, in elementary school, I [ate] whatever the school would provide, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches [or] chicken sandwiches. Now, I’m very proud of my heritage and my background.”

As students grew older and went on to high school, some grew out of the mindset of acknowledging others’ feelings and rather focus on their own wellbeing. Shame turned to appreciation. This sense of understand brought homemade food back onto the table for consideration.

“I stopped being self-conscious about my ethnicity and stopped thinking about what people think about my food,” junior Sarah Liao said. “Now, [my culture] is something I can be proud of now. When I was younger, I always felt a little different and had a need to conform to society.”

Even though student’s attitudes towards ethnic food shifted, the media's ignorance persisted. In James Cordon’s “Late Night Show,” the challenge of “Spill Your Guts” was where celebrities either answered the question or ate the food. The exotification of certain types of food as “disgusting” or “grotesque” serves to be harmful as some cultures view those same foods as everyday dishes to enjoy.

“On ‘Spill Your Guts,’ [celebrities] ate the 100-year-old egg, which is similar to a fermented duck egg,” Liao said. “[But], I love and enjoy eating it. So the fact that they were making fun of it and saying how gross it was is not okay. It’s not respectful. The reason why they yuck those [types of] food is that it's not part of their culture, and they're not used to it.”

Food is part of one’s identity that should be treated and viewed with respect. Media’s portrayal of ethnic foods as “unusual” permeates biases against various cultures. Thus, the alienation of certain types of food leads to a loss of appreciation and understanding of different cultures.

"For my kids, food is a medium to keep the culture alive," Upadhyay said. "Our culture gives an individual a sense of identity. If we want to build a more empathetic world and have more cohesiveness, then you have to at least value that people have differences and learn from those differences. There's always something to learn from another culture."

photo courtesy of Sanvi Prasad, Sarah Liao, Ovya Diwkaran & Artur Breternitz

P

"It's sad that we claim to have grown so much, but we’re still exoticizing other cultures."

Ruth Workineh, senior

Names

by Arti Jain in-depth staff

by Rory Lustberg web editor in chief

The moment a child is born, they have an identity. Regardless of whether they can babble, giggle or speak, all are known by a singular word: their name. Often, names are simply thought of as a means of identification; but in reality, their meaning goes much deeper than that.

“A lot of times, we'll get names that are handed down through the family, or a name that means something to the parents,” junior Ovya Diwakaran said. “So your name is something that you're proud of — your identity.”

Names with meaning are common among students. Especially for students that are a part of multiple cultures, their names provide a basis of their identity that is unique to them and encapsulates their history. Junior Sarah Liao provides an example of this.

“My first and last name represents the joining of two cultures that I'm part of: American and Chinese,” Liao said.

With unfamiliar names, mispronunciations and misspellings often occur, regardless of race or culture. However, Diwakaran observes more mispronunciations of her name than what she dubs "common names."

“You can't really use the excuse that, ‘Oh, it's hard,’ or ‘It's different,’ because there are common names out there that are [not pronounced how they look], that peo-

ple have accepted as the norm,” Diwakaran said.

This false representation of names goes beyond a simple mispronunciation. Often, students are negatively impacted by the ways that others mispronounce their name. Senior Artur Breternitz recounts a time he experienced this, taking the joy out of an otherwise ecstatic moment.

“In seventh grade, I got a 36 on the English part of the ACT, and they had a ceremony to celebrate people who did well, like a talent identification program,” Breternitz said. “They only called out six kids who got 36 on [the English section], and I was one of them. But, they pronounced my name so wrong that I didn't even recognize it was me that they were saying, so I didn't stand up. In the stairwell when people were leaving, I was crying with my mom because I thought they never called me.”

Students experience these situations on a regular basis, not just at certain events. At school, teachers often pronounce their students’ names wrong. While some correct their teachers, others let it slide, due to an acceptance of the consistent mispronunciation.

“It’s very important that we make an effort to [say a name] right,” teacher Stephanie Bellville said. "And I always tell students to correct me, and students will often say, ‘Oh, it’s okay,’ and I [say], ‘No, it’s not, it really is not.’ And I’ve made mistakes before. Sadly, I’ve made the same mistake again at times, but I make an effort to own it and be responsible for it and to do everything that I possibly can to get it right.”

To avoid almost constant mispronunciations, many students will give a different name when

they go out to restaurants or order food for pickup. Though this saves them time in the moment, Diwakaran observed the reactions of her family immediately.

of workers struggled with name pronunciation didn't introduce someone because they didn't know how to say their name didn't talk to a coworker because they didn't know how to say their name didn't call on someone in a meeting because they didn't know how to say their name

Source: PR Newswire

Scan to see a poem by Ovya Diwakaran about her experience with name mispronunciations

“I noticed that when I [changed my name at a restaurant] once with my mom, she was a little sad because she [said], ‘I gave you this name, and I love this name. And I want you to feel comfortable in this name. And the fact that you change it to make it easier for someone else makes me sad,’” Diwakaran said.

"Ovya" means "God's painting" in Tamil, allowing Diwakaran to connect with her sister Diya, who's name means "God's light."

“This is my name, right?" Diwakaran said. "I was given this name by someone who loves me and it's a beautiful name. And I shouldn't have to change it. But a lot of times, it's just more convenient. But I think it's kind of sad that I change it to be convenient. But I think unfortunately, it's the reality."

Students often view their name as a fundamental aspect of their life and regard the pronunciation of it as essential.

“Your name can be something that's very personal to you,” Breternitz said. “It essentially encapsulates who you are. People should respect others' names because that's basic human decency. If someone has a name, you should say it the right way. You should say it the way they want you to say it. There's nothing gained from disrespecting someone else's name and there’s nothing that can ever be productive.”

Diwakaran feels similarly. She appreciates when others reach out about the pronunciation of her name, rather than assuming and saying it incorrectly.

“You should make an effort to pronounce [my name] right because it might not be something you see all the time but it's part of my identity,” Diwakaran said.

“When I submitted my voter registration form, the government changed [my name] to Arthur, so I almost couldn't vote.”

Artur Breternitz, senior

"My full name is Emma June Bangert, and it's the same name as my great-grand- mother. Her husband would call her June Bug, [my nick- name]."

"In Latin, [my name means] 'the road of flowers,' and then in Russian it means 'motherland' and then in Czech it means 'family.'"

"My middle name is Tyrone. I was named after my grandfather. He died before I was born."

What does your name mean to you?

Student perspectives on the meanings of their names

"In Italian and German, [my name] means that you're serious and a money maker, so that means I'm really hardworking, because I do work a lot for all the stuff that I want."

"The word 'Sylvia' means 'woman of the forest,' and I really like that because my mom loves nature, and I've been raised with that value."

"My parents named me Alex because of Alexander the Great, since he did important things. My Chinese name came from [a] Chinese emperor."

Emma Bangert (10)

Alex Wang (9)

Sylvia Hanes (10)

Ernie Batsell (11)

Rodina Elasbali (12)

Boston Lee (12)

photos by | RORY LUSTBERG AND ANNIE ZHAO

illustration by | TAREK AL HUSSEINI

Pano perspective

25 out of 25 Panorama staff members agree

Before a stranger becomes a friend, an enemy, partner or anything else, there needs to be an introduction, most of the time, starting off with “Hi, my name is ___.” The act of simply stating your name creates a connection between you and the former stranger, opening the door to a new relationship. Given the power to get one’s attention, to address someone in a personal manner and to form a sense of identification, the way a name is pronounced is more than just a common courtesy.

The dread of hearing repeated mispronunciations is no better understood than in the context of roll call on the first day. It takes the expected course: the flow of familiar names interrupted by an awkward pause, the slow sounding out of the name, then finally, the butchered pronunciation. However, it’s not the pronunciation that brings forth anxiety, but the lack of effort to do better. Others substitute the name with generic pronouns such as “you,” “she,” “him” or “they” to avoid the discomfort of actually attempting the pronunciations.

Saying a name correctly is a sign of not only respect, but decency as a human, making it critical that everyone makes the effort to do so. Once an introduction is made, ask them how to pronounce their name and repeat it. It’s not just about repeating the name until you get it right, but showing that you want to

learn how to say their name, and that saying their name correctly is not an inconvenience to you, because it shouldn’t be. Similarly, if you see someone mispronouncing another person’s name, correct them. Pronunciations go uncorrected because mispronunciations become accepted. Don’t let others believe that it’s okay if their name is said incorrectly because they’re “used to it.”

The same carelessness can be attributed to oneself as well. By the fourth or fifth attempt, it’s easy enough to give up and to allow them to call you by their closest attempt as to not make them feel awkward, but their discomfort should not cloud the fact that names deserve to be said correctly. Some, rather than going by an incorrect pronunciation, go by another name completely simply to not deal with an awkward situation. This approach, however, does nothing to solve the problem, but only perpetuates the idea that people with unfamiliar names must accommodate for other people’s convenience. Even if the situation seems unimportant, such as giving a name for a Starbucks order, give the name that you go by.

In order to make everyone in the Ladue community feel accepted, we must pronounce names correctly. For those with unfamiliar names, the same effort must be made in order to normalize a culture in which they are not seen as a hassle.

The Ladue Community needs to make an effort to pronounce names properly

Accommodate, not tolerate

It’s

by Pranavi Chintha opinions editor

In our fraught political landscape, one term has become key: allyship. But for all the talk of how people need to be allies and support communities, there’s been very little discussion of what exactly that means — and without that conversation, acceptance becomes nothing but a thin veil for tolerance, tolerance that holds us back from progress.

It’s not enough to simply recognize that we live in a diverse society with people of different sexual orientations, gender identities, bodies and minds, it’s important that we accommodate for the large and diverse scope of people rather than just the majority. Without accommodations, these people are dehumanized, seen as their social identity rather than a person. But these accommodations are seen as an inconvenience for the majority, so the fight for equality becomes a problem seemingly best solved by changing their identities rather than dealing with our own biases and lack of knowledge.

EQUALITY

Each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Recognizes each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.

For example, some believe that people with ASD, autism spectrum disorder, lead less than ideal lives because of their disability and not because of the lack of accommodations given to them. It’s a part of one’s identity, much like anything else that makes up who they are. The desire to “fix” them stems from thinking you’re superior to them, that their lives are something to be looked down on.

our parents and our grandparents, and while there has definitely been progress, the journey towards achieving not just equality, but equity has become halted.

While no one is likely to admit that they have a prejudice or bias against others, they will make it apparent through subtle, but significant ways such as pitying disabled bodies, believing that their lives need to be fixed, that their disability is such a huge disadvantage for them that they can’t lead successful lives. This ideality is a perspective that’s often sympathized with rather than criticized because it seems as if they care about the people in question despite what this message implies.

How can we fully recognize people unlike us to be human if you believe that the very thing that makes them “different” is something that needs to be fixed? For someone who’s able-bodied and someone who has never known a life not being able to rely on that privilege, it’s harder to imagine a life where that’s not the case. It becomes easy to default to the idea that they live despite their disabilities rather than with them. The solution to the problem should not be fixing them as people but fixing the systemic issues in order for everyone to get equal opportunities. We want to believe we’re a generation that’s much more accepting, that we understand a lot more than

Accessibility by the numbers

Information and statistics on various disabilities

EQUITY LEARN MORE

17% only of students with learning disabilities received accommodations in higher education settings

3.3 million wheelchair users in the United States

Our own idea of acceptance has become so black and white. It’s in the decision to accept someone that we then fail to acknowledge our less apparent, yet still significant, internal biases. In order to not just accept, to not just tolerate other groups, but to treat them as humans and to accommodate them the same way the majority has been accommodated for their entire lives.

5 million need mental health treatment every year

deaf individuals in the United States

In the United States, the unemployment rate for autistic people is as high as 85%

140% Autistic professionals can be up to more productive than the typical employee when properly matched to jobs

Sources: HBR, NCLD, Physiopedia, WICHE

not enough to just “accept” others, but to recognize our internal biases

about ASD from The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a non-proft group run by and for autistic people.

Piece by piece

Steps to pick up an art-related hobby and stick with it

Play frst, work later

Why we should pursue art-related hobbies throughout our lives

by Richie Jiang opinions staff

We all remember music class in elementary school: tweeting away at recorders, banging boomwhackers and singing “Lean on Me.” And of course, there was art class too, where we could draw misshapen zoo animals, spill paint and eat Play-Doh to our hearts’ content.

As fun as it might have been to display our utter lack of talent when we were younger, the majority of us don’t continue with an instrument as we grow older. It’s estimated that 74% of adults have played an instrument at some point in their lives, but only about 34% currently play an instrument.

If you’re part of that 40% that used to play but no longer do, consider picking up the instrument again. And if you’ve never played before, when is a better time to start than now?

Playing an instrument comes with a myriad of benefits. Besides being a great romantic tool (if you’re good, that is), playing an instrument can improve your brain function, reduce stress, improve your patience and perseverance and develop your appreciation for

music. And of course, there’s the music itself. There’s nothing quite like the challenge of learning the basics of your instrument and the elation that follows when you successfully play through a song or piece for the first time.

True, being forced to learn an instrument as a child might leave a negative impression. Consider my case. I took violin lessons in elementary and middle school, but quit at the start of high school. For a year or two, I didn’t touch my violin at all. However, after making the monumental discovery that one can play more modern songs on classical instruments, I began to play again. Of course, it was harder without a teacher, and with my mom reminding me of how I never practiced this much while she was paying for lessons. But, being able to pursue an instrument at my own leisure allowed me to explore creative interests and destress.

Besides a childhood aversion, there are plenty of other reasons to justify not picking up an instrument: we say we’re just not talented enough, or it takes too much time and money, or it’s just not our thing. In some cases these might be genuine difficulties, but in other cases they’re simply excuses we tell ourselves to avoid having to step outside our comfort zone. If

Statistics about art

68% 68% of Americans said they are eager to use their creativity more often 79% 79% said they love the process of creating something from scratch

85% 85% of those who begin learning an instrument quit within two years

Sources: artsy.net, hellosimply.com

Scan here for a list of different creative hobbies and resources to pursue them

you're even slightly interested in learning an instrument, just try it. Furthermore, these problems can actually be easier to solve than you think. Many beginner instruments can go as low as $100, or can be rented. From there, you can learn with the help of free online lessons or in person teachers.

However, if you feel that learning an instrument truly doesn't suit you, or are simply looking for a cheaper option, you can pursue another art-related hobby such as painting, drawing or photography. Most of these hobbies only require a few cheaper supplies from a local arts-and-crafts store, and like learning an instrument, there exist plenty of free lessons online. And just like learning an instrument, these other art-related hobbies allow you to express your creativity in different ways.

The importance of expressing your voice through an art-related medium cannot be overstated. You don't have to be a creative genius to enjoy the benefits of producing something artistic with your own hands. Each of us have unique perspectives of life, and to go through life without creating or playing something that can help others,

even our own selves, gain a better understanding of ourselves is to do ourselves a disservice.

and

1. Buy the necessary materials at music, arts-and-crafts stores or online. As a beginner, it's best to start cheap.

2. Get started by trying lessons inperson or online. Don't be discouraged if you don't make a lot of progress at frst!

3. Stick to a schedule of doing the hobby. Set goals on what you want to learn or create, but most of all, enjoy yourself!

illustration by | RICHIE JIANG

illustration by | EMILY LIU

Self-fulflling psychology

Personality tests give inaccurate and restrictive representations of one’s personality

by Emily Liu opinions staff

There are many ways in which we can describe ourselves. Some may say that they’re tall or perhaps funny, while others would mention that according to their MBTI, or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, they’re an extrovert or that a quiz told them they would most identify with a golden retriever. Regardless, we’ve all either taken a test to discover our personality type or have at least dug through the deep recesses of Buzzfeed to understand which pop culture icon we were. Aside from being simply entertaining, people find themselves drawn to these external sources as a means of defining who they are, what they value and how they function. This purpose is misguided, however, as these tests, even the most legitimate, are an inaccurate viewpoint on the intricacies of one’s personality.

The allure of categorizing ourselves under these arbitrary factors stems from an innate aspect of human nature. Individuals struggle to strike the balance between tribalism, or the desire to be a part of a particular group, and individuality. While they wish to be recognized for what makes them unique, they also seek to feel welcome into a select group and understand their role in society. Personality tests simultaneously satisfy both of these desires, and the sense of affiliation based on personality makes them feel less alone in their preferences, which then brings comfort.

Despite what many would like to believe, none of these tests are scientifically or psychologically valid. The assessments are commonly self-reported, meaning they only tell you only what you already believe about yourself, which fails to account for the possibility of self-deception.

The methodology used to create these tests is also internally

Learn more about personality tests

A history on personality quizzes

flawed. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, in particular, is based upon outdated theories for personality, and attempts to assess dualities that don’t really exist. For instance, introversion and extroversion are malleable qualities that cannot be definitively assigned to an individual. Rather, all human traits are context-based and shift as we change and grow over time.

As a result, these personality indicators can be extremely harmful as they breed selective attention, causing the individual to attempt to act in accordance with their type in every situation, while, in different contexts, you will likely act and behave contrary to your label. Although, when your label is regarded as central to who you are, you may not give heed to those instances when the label doesn’t fit.

In truth, personality quizzes and the results they give are merely an counterproductive way to identify and distinguish yourself, and even worse, judge others.

Sources: Digiday, Indiana University Bloomington, Leaders, PubMed, The Guardian, The Myers-Briggs Company, The New Yorker, Vox

Statistics on usage, implementation and accuracy of personality tests

MBTI in Employment

89 of the Fortune 100 companies report using MBTI in the hiring process.

50%

Studies show as many as 50% of people that take the MBTI assessment arrive at a different result the second time, even just fve weeks later.

80 million

2,500 Each year, over people complete a personality test

10,000 2,500 200

7.8 96%

On average, quizzes on Buzzfeed are created per day, and l;ajgw;o of all users who begin a quiz fnish them.

The frst formal personality test, the Woodworth Personal Data Sheet, is created to assess the psyche of World War I soldiers. 1988

The frst form of the MBTI is published.

1962

The Bernreuter Personality Inventory becomes the frst multi-dimensional measure of personality.

Best picture goes to-

The Panorama staff review their picks for best movie of 2022 ahead of the Oscar's

Tár

Allen You

“Character study” isn’t enough to summarize “Tár,” the bustling 2.5 hour flm set in the high-class, cut-throat orchestral conducting world. Lydia Tár, a Machivellian-type conductor at the top of her craft, has amounted a résumé that’s unreasonably impressive. The plot centers around her rehearsals of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic. Early on, the stakes are set, as Mahler’s Fifth is supposed to be her magnum opus, and her conducting begins to crumble under the weight of her personal problems. The flm is an outstanding examination of art and the life of the artist, with rich writing from director and screenwriter Todd Field. Field explores the often toxic and hidden institutional power that upholds and surrounds the highest forms of art. Its cinematography is sleek and mellow so as to not distract from Cate Blanchett’s Oscar-worthy performance as Lydia Tár. It is undeniably gripping, deservedly a Best Picture nominee and my favorite movie of last year.

DIRECTED BY: Todd Field Released Oct. 7 Stars Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant and Mark Strong

Bones and All

I watched this in a secluded area in the middle of Colorado over winter break under a darkness only given off in these parts of the world. I wouldn’t say it was a mistake to watch this in the dark, but it certainly helps to be ready for what lies ahead. Many scenes left me suspended, both speechless and anxious, and the entirety of the movie left me feeling like I’d been watching it for an eternity. I mention my setting because, in some ways, it resembles the setting of "Bones and All," even though the characters never fnd themselves in Colorado. The main character (played by Taylor Russell) moves around because of the appalling confict and, because of this, feels desolate herself until she fnds Lee, a “disenfranchised drifter.” The movie follows her journey through this confict, with and without Lee, in an artful way that makes one almost forget the premise of the movie until the very end. The performance was phenomenal and believable in combination with the cinematography.

DIRECTED BY: Luca Guadagnino

Released Nov. 18 Stars Timothee Chalamet, Taylor Russell and Mark Rylance

Being a cannabalistic romance, "Bones and All" used more than 10 liters of fake blood subsitutes including:

Sydney Collinger photo editor

Dark chocolate Corn syrup

illustration by | OLIVIA CHEN & EMILIE TIAN

Cate Blanchett, who played Lydia Tár, fully immersed herself in the flm by learning how to:

Play piano Conduct Speak German

Current box offce earnings: $14.5 million

Current box offce earnings: $13.8 million editor in chief

Maraschino cherries

Top Gun: Maverick Avatar: The Way of Water

Mimi Zhou associate editor

"Avatar: The Way of Water" is by far the best movie released this year. It had been a while since I last watched the original Avatar, but nonetheless, the moment the theater lights dimmed, I found myself immersed into the world of Pandora. To say the least, the animation is stunning and the storyline is beautiful. I watched the movie in 3D and it was truly a life changing experience. I’m sure that even without the 3D effect, the breathtaking visuals would be just as magical. Though the story is set in a fantastical world, at the heart of it are very real values. The family at the core of the movie refect remarkably human emotions and worries. I love how the world was expanded. The introduction of the reef people and the immersion into their life, the way of the water, is done incredibly. The various creatures, plants and other environmental elements added a sensational touch to the flm. The movie was paced perfectly, managing to cover a complex storyline in a digestible manner. In every aspect, "Avatar: The Way of Water" proved to be the most outstanding movie of the year.

DIRECTED BY: James Cameron

Released Stars Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldana, Bailey Bass and Kate Winslet Dec. 16

"Avatar: The Way of Water" introduces a new ocean Na'vi clan: the Metkayina. They ride "ilu" creatures, heavily inspired by Earth's animals, to traverse the waters.

Luke Lochmoeller health & sports editor

I usually don’t go to the movie theaters to watch a movie that just came out unless friends are pushing me to go or something else is pressuring me to go. I usually just wait until the movie is out on one of my many different streaming services. Having watched the frst "Top Gun" movie that came out in 1986 a bunch of times, I was uncharacteristically interested in the second movie because of the frst's intense action scenes. The sequel did not hold back in this regard. There were many different action scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat all movie long. Another reason I enjoyed the second "Top Gun" was based on how well they recreated the frst one with a much more high-tech edge. This completely enhances the action and fghting scenes throughout the whole movie, bringing the already great action scenes into the modern age. The fnal mission at hand in the second "Top Gun" was tough and seemed nearly impossible, which made the build-up and completion of the mission worth watching and is what made this movie fantastic.

DIRECTED BY: Joseph Kosinski

Released May 27 Stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Connelly

Budgets for each "Top Gun" flm

$15 million

$170 million

2022 1986

Producers paid over $11,000 an

Current box offce earnings: $2.2 billion

Current box offce earnings: $1.4 billion

Manta Ray fns Plesiosaurus neck

Dolphin intelligence

Upcoming cosmic viewing opportunities for amateur astronomers

March 1: Venus-Jupiter conjunction

bunch. Bright and frequent meteors will light up the sky with their bright and long tails.

June 19-27: Planets in a row

In mid to late June, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn line up in a row across the sky. For the best viewing opportunities, look to the southeast horizon in the morning twilight. If you can't find it, use a stargazing app or a star map. If you have any stargazing gear, such as a telescope, you will also be able to see Uranus, the sixth planet in a row, and the moon will possibly join this row at some point.

Sept. 26 - Nov. 22: Orionids

From a dark location, you will be able to see about 10 or 20 meteors per hour on the peak night of the shower, which falls around the morning of Oct. 22. This year, the moonset will be around midnight on the peak night, and this is beneficial because it blocks the view the least. While the meteors look like they are pouring from the constellations called Orion the Hunter, you will also be able to see shooting stars anywhere in the sky.

During the beginning of the year, Venus and Jupiter began to inch together in the night sky. On March 1, they reached their closest point. Though they were millions of miles away from each other, they appeared to be touching to our eyes. Venus and Jupiter are two of the brightest planets, and seeing them seemingly overlap was astounding to view. There was also a possibility that Neptune, Mars and Saturn were visible along with the conjunction.

Aug. 31: A super blue moon

When looking at the night sky Aug. 31, the moon will appear to be brighter and larger than normal. This is because the moon is at its closest point in its elliptical orbit, making it a supermoon. There will also be supermoons on July 3, Aug. 1, Aug. 31 and Sept. 29. This year, August will have two full moons, which also makes it a blue moon. Blue moons are somewhat rarer than supermoons, occurring every 2.5 years; the last one was in August 2021.

Nov. 8: Total lunar eclipse

At around 3 a.m., the western U.S. and the Midwest will get a partial show of the eclipse, while the East Coast will get the full show. A lunar eclipse is a beautiful happening, as the moon takes on a reddish hue; it may also give the night sky a red-orange tint to it. NASA refers to the lunar eclipse as “all the world’s sunrises and sunsets” happening on Earth at the moment of eclipse.

Sources: Accuweather, NASA, Smithsonian Magazine and Star Walk

illustration by | ERICA SHI

SIDES

The sides include many traditional side dishes such as Mexican rice and pinto beans, along with different types of dip. They offer salsa, queso and guacamole. For many places getting a good-tasting guacamole can be troublesome; it either doesn’t taste fresh or doesn’t taste as good as if you make it from home. But at Ladue Taco, it tastes pretty good for what you’re getting.

Tacos can be served with hard shells.

TACOS

Ladue Taco has a wide variety of tacos that are served with corn or flour tortilla. It comes with lettuce, pico de gallo, cilantro and queso fresco, which is a traditional South American cheese. Each taco includes either chicken, beef shredded, steak or ground, pork, vegetable and shrimp. My personal favorite is the breaded mahi-mahi, which is breaded chicken with mangos.

C L A Y T O N R O A D

The chips and guacamole are especially delicious.

DESSERTS

Churros come in favors like caramel, chocolate and apple cider.

They offer many things on the menu, but finding something that can satisfy your sugar cravings can be a tough pick. There’s tres leches cake, sopapilla and churros, a classic sweet treat with cinnamon sugar covered around a pastry stick. The churros are a must get and really set Ladue Taco apart from the rest.

LADUE TACO

MENU

QUESADILLA with pico de gallo and sour cream

TRES LECHES CAKE

light sponge cake with cinnamon

INDIVIDUAL TACO with choice of meat

CHURROS with Nutella packet

GUACAMOLE WITH CHIPS

freshly made in house

$10. 99 $4. 50

$5. 00

$5. 00

$8 50

Let’s taco ‘bout it

A review of a hidden gem on Clayton Road, Mexican restaurant Ladue Taco

by Joseph Baker a&e staff

Finding a place to eat can be an absolute hassle, especially a new place that’s different from the usual local restaurants, like Chipotle or Panera. Ladue Taco has been open on Clayton Road since October 2022 and has recently been rising in popularity, offering a great alternative option to other locations. Ladue Taco opened as a complementary business to Companion, its neighboring cafe.

A look at Ladue Taco

distance from high school:

15 min. walk

3 min. drive

operating hours:

4-8 p.m.

A co-owner of both businesses, Jodi Allen, has a history in the food industry. Allen comes from a family with a history steeped in food. She has been in the business for around 30 years.

Growing up in the food business helped Allen succeed. The idea of having a second business came when her now business partner and longtime manager Rodrigo Silva came up with the idea of hav-

ing a taco stand right next to Companion. Companion is open for breakfast and lunch whereas Ladue Taco operates during dinnertime. This restaurant has been Silva’s dream, as someone with a strong connection with food.

“I always wanted to start a food business and give something to the community,” Silva said. “It was something I was good at and I loved to cook.”

"I always wanted to have a business because I love to cook and make people happy.”

Jodi Allen, owner

Boys volleyball begins

With 13 different sports offered and over 25 separate teams, Ladue is ready to expand their list of sports with the inclusion of boys volleyball this spring. With a new sport comes new opportunities, experiences and challenges within the community. Starting anything new can be a challenge but can end up be even more difficult with a sport when one has a lack of experience and lack of foundation.

“The end goal of any program is to compete with many players. when you introduce a new program, there's no tradition, there's no legacy, there's no expectation. So, what I want to do is just teach the game,” volleyball coach Chris Geisz said.

To Geisz, proper guidance can help spur development of the team.

“In order to start a brand new program, you need good leadership," Geisz said.

Sophomore Jacari Hayes believes the team will have nothing but benefits.

"I think it'll be a great opportunity for guys to try volleyball who have never tried it before," Hayes said.

The sport will be open to guys who have never even thought of playing before and to the more expereienced, like senior Jimmy Gu.

"I play volleyball in my church on and off on Thursday nights and I've always liked jumping," Gu said.

However, to players, the bar hasn't been raised to a high standard yet.

"I don't expect too much," Gu said. "I'm here to have fun and try something new."

Lacrosse revived

After an extensive search, girls lacrosse finds a new coach Carrie Lampe

by Michael Zegel health & sports staff

Uncertainty is a feeling that often comes with a lot of sports, but in the case of girls lacrosse this year, it was uncertain if they would even have a season. It hadn’t been a secret that the previous head coach was heading towards leaving, making the top spot open for anyone to step up. Coach Carrie Lampe rose to the occasion due to her coaching experience.

“I started coaching lacrosse nine seasons ago at Rockwood Summit and I started off as a C team coach and then JV coach and then varsity assistant,” Lampe said. "While I was there, we won state in 2019 and then I've had a few undefeated seasons.”

This coaching job was left unfilled for a long time, until Lampe heard about the opportunity.

“I didn't know about this opening until coach Lindsey Porter had told me and one of the other lacrosse coaches in the area about it,” Lampe said.

While Lampe has much coaching experience, her time spent playing the game of lacrosse differs from that of other coaches.

“Although I've never played lacrosse even a day in my life, I do feel like that gives me an edge because I see the game differently,” Lampe said. “I started [playing field hockey] on the team and then I went to Missouri State. I later tore my ACL, so I was on the roster but I never actually played a minute on the field. I actually learned how to coach from that experience.”

Even with never playing lacrosse, Lampe has found her new calling that she enjoys.

“[Coaching] is my favorite thing to do," Lampe said. "It's my passion. I love doing it. I know some people work to live and other people live to work. And I definitely fall in the second category.”

Senior Mia Wallis feels an extra sense of responsibiliy since she is one of few seniors who has been a part of the program for the past three years.

“I feel somewhat responsible, because in previous years, captains did lots of planning in collaboration with the coaches,” Wallis said.

Apart from helping the coaches, Wallis tries her best to teach the girls who are new to the sport.

“I've always tried to help because I know how it felt to be new to a sport," Wallis said.

LEFT: Coach Carrie Lampe teaches freshman Tatum Curran the proper form to hold a lacrosse stick. This is Curran's frst year playing. "These girls have a lot of passion and they're a solid program as a whole," Lampe said. (Photos by Sydney Collinger)

ABOVE: Lampe calls the team over for a post-practice huddle to end the day. That was the frst of many huddles in the season. "Coaches talk about team chemistry but I really, really care about team chemistry," Lampe said. "So, I have a lot of plans with that."

TOP: Senior Chloe Gaither rows at practice with her teammates at the SLRC. This practice was rainy and cold as the team prepared for the upcoming spring season. “I think one of the things with rowing is that you always want to push yourself to be better,” Gaither said. “At the collegiate level, you are constantly surrounded by the best athletes who will always be pushing you to be the best that you can.” (Photo by Mac Huffman)

BOTTOM LEFT: Gaither poses with several medals she has won in her past two years of rowing. The team does not compete in many regattas during the season, so when they do, they are a big deal. “Winning awards and medals is a refection of my hard work and my teammates’ hard work,” Gaither said. “Not only does it show how you performed against everyone else, but it also shows just how much time and effort you put in.”

(Photo by Sydney Collinger)

BOTTOM RIGHT: Gaither pushes off the dock with her teammates at a practice with the SLRC Feb. 8. The team practices very often, despite poor weather. “We practice six days a week, Monday through Sunday, excluding Thursdays,” Gaither said. “We practice on the waters during weekends in the winter and on the [ergometers] and throughout the week. but as it starts to get into spring season, we’ll be on the water fulltime.” (Photo by Mac Huffman)

Journey to Division I

Senior Chloe Gaither’s experience with the St. Louis Rowing Club brings her to University of North Carolina

by Lathan Levy health & sports staff

Chloe Gaither has recently officially signed to be a part of the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) rowing team. Her journey has not been very long, with just over two years of rowing experience under her belt. However, the mental fortitude and physical strength she has gained from the sport shows. With six practices a week, the amount of time dedicated to being a competitive rower requires a strong mentality. Gaither’s official offer from

Committed athletes

UNC came with a very difficult and daunting challenge.

“In order receive my offer, I had to get a 2k time of 7:24 on my 2k [race],” Gaither said. “I had come back from my visit to UNC and the head coach told me that if I wanted to receive an offer, I had to drop drop six seconds [from my previous time].”

Gaither was intimidated by the challenge even though she knew it was possible. She tried to work strategically with her coach at SLRC to get the time required to get the offer, and in the end, she was able to obtain the required time.

“I told my coach what UNC had

Taylor Babb • Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville

Max Eastman • Pomona College

Chloe Gaither • University of North Carolina

Olivia Goeke • Davidson College

Aiden Goldstein • DePauw University

Jacob Goldstein• Gettysburg College

Zion Hampton • Illinois College

Dylan Hawthorne • Butler University

said and she told me it was going to be a long process but I was going to get there if I put in the effort,” Gaither said. “I was able to drop six seconds just two days after returning from that trip [to UNC].”

As her time in high school comes to an end, Gaither reminisces on how rowing impacted her high school experience.

“Once I joined the team at SLRC, I felt an immediate sense of camaraderie and friendship that I had never felt before and I wanted to keep coming back,” Gaither said. “I had never felt that way about any sport or really anything I had previously done in my life before.”

Logan Malott • Missouri Baptist University

Will Moore • Purdue University

Sam Siegel • University of Dayton

Bea Talbott • Conneticut College

Meera Upadhyay • Eastern Illinois University

Mary Vetter • Saint Louis University

Adonis Whitley • Missouri Valley College

Josh Yin • Princeton University

Students who are officially signed to play college sports

From friends to foes

by Luke Lochmoeller

sports editor

Seniors Oliva Goeke and Mary Vetter both started field hockey at a very young age. As the girls have played together for over eight years, the dynamic duo has developed a friendship with not just the game, but with each other.

“We have been playing with each other since sixth grade when we started [at] Aim together,” Goeke said. “We had started off playing for the Aim Field Hockey Club then later we switched to the Gateway Field Hockey Club.”

Establishing a relationship like this with another teammate over the years can greatly increase one's enjoyment for the sport. Also being able to predict what the teammate will do can enhance the ability to make a difficult play.

“She's pretty much my best friend on and off the field, so ingame on the field we're able to play together and I know where Mary is gonna make her cuts,” Goeke said. “We're just so close I just know how she plays so that really helps.”

The recruitment process can be both mentally and physically draining. The pressure of choosing a school to play for, watching your friends succeed and even just getting into contact with some of the schools and coaches can make it seem unrealistic or even scary.

“[It was] very stressful, and probably the hardest moments of my field hockey career,” Vetter said. “Especially since I began looking during COVID and I couldn’t really do any visits. Also, many coaches couldn’t respond until this year so by the time they did a lot of their spots had already been taken.”

hockey statistics

While Vetter had Goeke by her side in the same situation, the stressor of Goeke having already solidified her route of playing at Davidson University unintentionally made Vetter’s process feel more rushed. However, she persevered and ultimately made her final decision to attend St. Louis University (SLU).

to the

Field hockey is the national sport of Holland

“Going through recruitment with Olivia honestly made it a little bit harder, only because it felt like she’s already committed, and I still haven’t,” Vetter said. “So it was just a little stressful to see she’s fully committed and knows where she will play and I didn’t.”

On the other hand, both of them felt that having a friend going through the same process was almost a weight off their shoulders.

“It was nice being able to get through our struggles together and being able to talk about what we were both going through and we could relate to each other,” Goeke said. “That made us closer and that helped our friendship.”

Both SLU and Davidson play in the Atlantic 10 conference, meaning Goeke and Vetter will be facing headto-head on the field for the next four years.

“I'm very excited [to play against Mary],” Goeke said. “Freshman year I don't know how much playing time we will get but once junior and senior year rolls around, I think it's gonna be really fun. We spend a lot of time together right now so it is definitely gonna be hard to leave her but I think seeing her [while playing] and being able to talk about everything that has

happened is what I'm looking forward to most.”

Watching two friends shift from teammates to Saint Louis University and Davidson University rivals Constance

Going from a high school athlete to a college D1 athlete is a very big step up, games are out of state, and the competition is upped immensely and is overall a massive health and time commitment.

“I’m definitely most nervous for the hard practices and all of the games and traveling,” Vetter said. “I’m really scared to miss so much school and constantly have stuff to do so I think it might get hard to manage my time well in order to be successful.”

While Vetter is also nervous for “the big step-up,” Goeke has taken a rather optimistic point of view about moving forward.

“I can’t wait and I am really excited to be a part of a team because it’s almost like a sorority with built in friends," Goeke said. "They are always there for you and just happen to play the same sport as you.”

Playing a sport with your friend is a fertile breeding ground for competition between friends which unknowingly could drive the two apart. However, Goeke and Vetter made sure that didn’t take place.

“When we're on the field together, we try to connect and go together as best as we can instead of competing against each other and I think it's one reason we were able to stay such good friends, especially playing through a tough game,” Goeke said. “Stuff gets competitive and things can arise but mostly since we're playing together we try to work together and not take the glory for either of us."

"I think its going to be hard to leave, but once I do and start playing it will be worth it once I get to see Mary and catch up."

Olivia Goeke, senior

M.K. Applebee brought feld hockey

United States in 1901.

Field

First formal club created in 1861 named "Blackheath football and hockey club" There are no Sticks and players can only use one side

BOTTOM LEFT: Goeke and Vetter stand holding their senior night gift. It was a sad night for them, as they were close with the graduating seniors. “We played with them for three years and some longer with club teams so saying goodbye was sad,” Goeke said. (Photo by Laura Amore)

BOTTOM RIGHT: Goeke and Vetter have just signed to commit to their schools. They were both smiling with excitement. “Olivia and I had been looking forward to signing day since we were freshman when we decided we wanted to play college,” Vetter said. (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

TOP RIGHT: Senior Olivia Goeke winds up as she prepares to shoot. Goeke was shooting from the corner. “I was shooting forehand, but normally I would shoot a backhand or chip shot,” Goeke said. (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

TOP LEFT: Senior Mary Vetter dribbles the ball upfeld. Vetter was alone on a breakaway. "This was an important fast break; it was during our game against summit,” Vetter said. (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

Truth behind the melting pot

A look at the history of immigration events and policies in the United States

1831 1849

The Trail of Tears began. It was an ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of around 60,000 Native Americans

1892

The Know-Nothing Party forms. It was the frst U.S. anti-immigrant party and was created due to the increasing number of German and Irish immigrants.

1882

Ellis Island, the frst U.S. immigration station, opens in New York. The frst immigrant through the station was Annie Moore, a 17-year-old from Ireland. In the next 60 years, more than 12 million immigrants would enter the country through Ellis Island.

1917

1879

The Carlisle Indian School is founded. The school was created to remove indigenous children from their families and communities to assimilate them and stop the spread of Native American culture

The Chinese Exclusion Act passes after being signed by President Chester Arthur and prohibits Chinese immigration. Starting in the 1850s, a steady fow of Chinese workers came to the U.S. Although they only made up 0.002% of the population, white workers blamed them for low wages.

1942

The Immigration Act of 1917 creates a literacy requirement for immigrants and prohibits immigration from most Asian countries. It was created due to the increased xenophobia from World War I

After President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066, the U.S. forcibly relocated and incarcerated over 125,000 people of Japanese descent

President Barack Obama signs Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) which protects eligible immigrants who came to the U.S. when they were children from deportation. DACA gives undocumented immigrants protection from deportation and a work permit.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Immigration and Nationality Act which transforms U.S. immigration. It ended national origin quotas that previously favored certain racial and ethnic groups. Over the next fve years, immigration from war-torn regions would more than quadruple

President Donald Trump issues two executive orders limiting immigration from six majority Muslim countries (Chad, Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia) as well as North Korea and Venezuela

In 2021, approximately 84.8 million immigrants and their U.S.-born children live in the U.S. and make up 26 percent of the U.S. population. This is a decline of approximately 950,000 immigrants compared to 2020.

Sources: Bloomberg via Getty Images history.com, Getty Images, Migration Policy Institute, UC Berkeley, William Murphy, Wikipedia

infographic by | OLIVIA HU