Is pumpkin spice really that nice?

Keira Jarrett, Lisette Corral and Gabi Hynes

Gabi:

I LOVE pumpkin spice!!!! I countdown the days until I can buy a $6.23 pumpkin cream cold brew from Starbucks. But my love for pumpkin spice does not just end at beverages. My pumpkin obsession extends to candles, bread, cake, pie, donuts and so much more. There is nothing better than coming home after a long day and lighting a pumpkin spice candle, drinking a pumpkin spice latte, eating a pumpkin spice donut and finishing whatever work I have to get done. Pumpkin spice is the perfect fall flavor and fall is my favorite season. Pumpkin ties into a lot of traditions that I do during the fall. One of my favorite fall activities is making pumpkin pie with my grandma. I also love carving pumpkins with my friends and family. I love going to pumpkin patches and picking out the perfect pumpkin to carve and enjoying the fresh pumpkin treats that they are selling. Pumpkin spice is nice. I don’t care if it is basic. Pumpkin spice is basic because it is good. #pumpkin spice is life.

Keira:

See, for the longest time, I was a pumpkin spice hater–any sort of pumpkin flavoring really. Pumpkin pie, no thank you. Pumpkin spice lattes, I’ll pass. Even pumpkin scented candles boiled my blood. I refused to try anything pumpkin because I had such a hatred for it…until I tried Dunkin’ Donuts pumpkin donut. It was life changing. I couldn’t believe I had been missing out on pumpkin treats! So the next day, I went to Starbucks and decided to get a pumpkin spice latte. I had found a new found love for pumpkin; it had been the best decision of my entire life to get this latte. I took one sip and immediately regretted it. The latte was one of the worst things I had ever tasted. I was so confused! Was pumpkin spice really that nice? My answer to that question is: only the artificially flavored pumpkin spice treats have my approval! Lisette: Truly the idea of pumpkin spice sickens me. How does one name it pumpkin spice, but it doesn’t taste like pumpkin? I have always been a picky eater. I do not like condiments, and I eat pretty plain food. I don’t like coffee, and I order just hot chocolate. The thing with pumpkin spice is that I feel like I’m eating a vegetable; imagine eating asparagus pie. During fall time, everyone should get hot chocolate and definitely not pumpkin spice. It even smells funny. I get it: pumpkins are cute and everything, but they are so overdue. In a way, I’m bored of them. I just am not so crazy about pumpkin spice, especially just because it is fall.l Not enough people even eat it or drink it for it to be so popular. It is very hit or miss. I also feel like everytime I’m eating it, I’m eating a candle.

above. Gabi Hynes spreading the Pumplin Spice love! She likes to bring in Pumpkin flavored cupcakes to her Journalism class to share! Photo by Lisette Corral above.Keira Jarrett can’t help but be a fan of the pumpkin flavor during the fall months. photo by Gabi Hynes

above. Lisette Corral looks at the prop Pumpkin with disgust. She is not a fan! Photo by Keira Jarrett

Short, brunette, pretty, brown-eyed. Automatically one looks for appearance. How someone looks and behaves tends to define who they are right away. It’s sad but normalized. We have all done it: judged someone due to the way they look and behave.

The worst part of it is that we judge ourselves for the way we look on the outside, and we let it define us. I am a part of that problem. The insecurities never go away, and they make us look at ourselves in the mirror and think that we will never be good enough. In high school especially, we have the idea of an American dream: high school style.

Wanting to be popular, have social status, look the way others look. It’s wrong. But this is not what gets you through high school. From my senior year to my freshman year, I have learned a lot. I learned that I don’t need to be perfect, I don’t need to always know what I’m doing, my outside is nowhere near my inside. It is the complete opposite.

I have to stop judging myself and others because the friends I have made are because of the person I have grown to be. The flaws I have embraced, the immaturities that I have further matured in. High School puts a lot of pressure on you, on me, on everyone, but you don’t always know what you’re doing, you don’t have to know who you are.

The feeling of being lost, not knowing where you fit, whether it is academically or even socially, going through all these battles because that is what high school is all about. Will I ever know who I am? Where do I fit? Till this day, i don’t know who i am, what i do know is my outside is not who i am, better yet what is seen of me.

I do know that I have had many successes in my time at McAuley with a sense of belonging, how I have made connections and opportunities because it isn’t about what you are, but rather who you are going to become.

above. Neptune and Triton, Neptune’s largest moon, seen in an image taken by The James Webb Space Telescope.

image provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lily O’Connor

On September 21, the public received a photo of Neptune in infrared light. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured Neptune and its rings, which have not been seen for over 30 years. This photo has provided experts with more information than they have received since the 1980s. The distant planet appears a faint white color in the new image rather than its famous blue hue. The James Webb Space Telescope was ready for use in December 2021. It is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. It was made to try to learn more about the creation of the universe. The telescope uses a Near-Infrared Imaging (NIRCam) to capture infrared or invisible light. Neptune is considered an “ice giant” because of its atmosphere composed of heavy gasses. The main gas its atmosphere is composed of is methane. Methane absorbs invisible light, so in the new photo, Neptune looks pale and transparent with bright white spots. “Not gonna lie. I ugy-cried when I saw THE FIRST JWST NEPTUNE IMAGES! ‘OMG - LOOK AT THE RINGS’ I was yelling, making my kids, my mom, even my cats look. More than 20 years in the making, and JWST delivered,” tweeted Dr. Heidi B. Hammel, an interdisciplinary scientist and a planetary scientist focused on Uranus and Neptune. The first and only other time Neptune’s rings were photographed was in 1989 by Voyager 2. This was also the last time there was a new picture of the rings until now. Besides the rings, Voyager 2 also discovered five of Neptune’s moons. Voyager 2 was a space probe launched by NASA in 1977. As the farthest planet in our solar system, Neptune was the last planet the spacecraft visited. It was also the planet it got closest to, passing above Neptune’s north pole a mere 3,000 miles away. The photo Voyager 2 took of Neptune shows thin, faint rings and a bright glowing orb. The other photos that it took are the most common images of the planet, depicting Neptune as a bright blue shade.

Since the late 1980s, there have been many new innovations in the realm of DNA testing. We’ve relied on fingerprinting, blood tests and saliva samples to help identify diseases.Well, in July of 2022, a new contender entered the ring of DNA testing: teardrop samples.

Like blood, saliva and urine, tears contain DNA. However, up until recently, it has been harder to collect DNA from teardrops because there is very little liquid compared to when scientists collect DNA using other methods.

But, on July 20, 2022, a team of scientists, researchers and engineers at Wenzhou Medical University took study participants’ tears and combined them with a solution which made it easier to analyze the DNA in their tears.

“We wanted to demonstrate the potential of using tears to detect disease,” says Fei Liu, one of the biomedical engineers on the team. The solution they used helped to isolate the sacs which contained the DNA they needed to conduct the study.

The data they gathered shows that DNA in tears helps to detect dry eye disease because it has a distinct print compared to that of healthy eyes. Scientists also believe that the data they gathered could help to track the progression of diabetes, breast cancer and other diseases.

Before the researchers at Wenzhou Medical University made their solution, it was very hard to test DNA through teardrop samples. Their previous methods were impractical because only sacs with a high enough density could be analyzed, and that was not something the scientists could predict. Using the old method of testing required very high effort, but yielded a low reward. However, it was beneficial to conduct tests because they’re good indicators of certain diseases. Still, people were often discouraged from doing it. With the new method the researchers adopted, it’s easier to analyze the DNA because the sacs become isolated faster.

With this new technology, researchers are eager to find more diseases which could be tracked through teardrop samples, and they are even trying to look into whether or not the DNA can detect heightened levels of stress and depression.

“This is just the beginning. Tears express something that we haven’t really explored,” said Luke Lee, a bioengineer on the team.

Hopefully, we will get to see the efforts of the team come to fruition in the coming years. Their work is crucial in finding ways to detect disease, and it is only a matter of time before they make another groundbreaking discovery.

Finding diseases through teardrops

Lilly Daggy

Evelyn Ivers

Get up, McAuley! The first schoolsponsored competitive cheerleading team is making its way to McAuley this year. The Mother McAuley athletic department is creating a competitive cheerleading program to represent the Mighty Macs! “I’m so excited to help grow the program and represent McAuley!” said Sarah Fitzgerald 12. The competitive cheer team will compete in their very first season during the 2022-2023 school year, creating McAuley’s 14th athletic team! Most people think of cheerleading as what you would see at a major sporting event such as football or basketball. Competitive cheerleading routines do not contain the typical cheers and routines you would see on the sidelines of a football or basketball game. These routines are two minutes and 30 seconds long and are composed of many different elements and skills. Stunting, tumbling, pyramids, jumps and dancing are the main elements that make up competitive cheer routines. “I can’t wait to learn more about cheerleading and hopefully bring more girls into the sport!” Taylor Curran 12 stated. These routines are also scored by a panel of judges in competition against other high school teams. The competitive cheer team will participate in many different competitions throughout the year against teams from across the state. After being sanctioned in 2005, competitive cheerleading is one of the newest sports in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the governing body of high school sports across all of Illinois. The sport is rapidly growing as there are now hundreds of teams from all across the state competing each year. Teams compete in different categories based on size (small, medium, and large), and there is even a coed category. Obviously, McAuley’s team will not be entering the team in that category! Competitive cheer will join basketball and bowling as a winter sport, so the season will take place from early November to late February. Throughout the season, teams will compete against other teams in the state which will end in the IHSA State Series. The state series begins with the sectional competition where the top five finishers in each sectional will advance to the state final competition. The sectional competitions are randomized based on location, school size and team size. Tryouts will be taking place on Oct. 24, 2022 for the 2022-2023 season. You do not want to miss this milestone opportunity to represent the Mighty Macs!

left. Scan the QR code for the google form to receive information about tryouts!

graphic by Evelyn Ivers

Coach Lewis takes center court

Daniella Hall

The Macs are back, and they have a new head basketball coach by the name of Coach Lewis. With over 15 years of coaching and experience playing professional basketball, Lewis is starting at McAuley as the Assistant Athletic Director and Varsity Basketball Coach. Lewis’s emphasis on being a team player and his viewpoints on playing basketball align with the values of the McAuley athletic program.

“I think one of the most important things is being resilient and not giving up,” Lewis said. “I think it’s just being able to have a positive outlook no matter what the circumstance is.”

Having learned the game through coaching the AAU level, being a grad assistant coach at a university, playing professional basketball, coaching high school basketball and later coaching travel basketball, Lewis knows the game like the back of his hand. Now, he is looking forward to beginning his McAuley coaching career.

“Once we get started, I can get used to just learning how the team plays, tendencies, and they can get used to me coaching too,” Lewis said.

When asked to describe his coaching style, Lewis emphasized being a team player and player accountability.

“I think as somebody who’s played the game, I can relate to the players relatively easily because I would never ask them to do something that I haven’t done myself,” Lewis said. “I would let them know that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as they’re trying hard.”

Lewis discussed how the actual coaching will not begin until after tryouts; however, the Macs basketball players are currently preparing for the season through workouts, open gyms and more. When asked about his goals for the season, Lewis discussed teaching, learning and ultimately winning.

“I want to win right away, so the learning will be accelerated,” Lewis said. “I have high expectations for the team this season.”

Lilly Coakley

Since last season, state runner-up title varsity volleyball player Tess Hayes 12 has been extremely busy. Hayes’s love for volleyball started when she was in grammar school and will continue the next four years at Michigan Tech University. Hayes says she always knew she wanted to play in college following the footsteps of her older brother, Danny. She also encouraged younger girls to keep working hard and putting in 110%. Playing in college can be very different for high school athletes. “I am feeling ready to play at the college level. We have seven other commits on the team, so I’m prepared,” Hayes said.

Hayes is a setter for Mother McAuley’s team and will continue to play that position in college. Hayes believes McAuley will accomplish some major goals this season. “The main goal is definitely to win state,” Hayes said excitedly. It doesn’t seem too far from reality with seven other girls on the team committed to play in college.

Hayes had a very good season last year, going all the way down to Illinois State University for the IHSA State Championship. “I would like to see our team play even more unified,” Hayes said. She knows it’s important to have a strong team with strong values to prepare herself for college. For the most part, Hayes and her teammates have been extremely successful last season and this season. The girls were successful in beating Edwardsville Highschool at state to play against Metea Valley in the final.They won second overall.

Being Hayes’s last season at McAuley, this is the last season to accomplish all those goals, but it seems she is extremely confident it will all get done!

photo provided by Tess Hayes

Tiffany Gonzalez

Senior Olivia Villasenor is passionate about her art work, and she is excited about her upcoming paintings and drawings. She has taken an art class since freshman year. Villasenor is now a senior at Mother McAuley. Her inspiration for art came from the music she would listen to: “I usually get a feeling or idea that I really want to express but struggle to do so with words,” Villasenor said. Her art journey began the summer before second grade, and it was the moment she realized she was going to take this seriously. Villasenor sat down with a pencil and paper and there it began.

Villasenor is currently enrolled in AP Art and Design. She loves to draw people both in realism and in her own personal style. She has also been a part of NAHS since sophomore year. It was always satisfying for Villasenor to be able to express her thoughts and emotions. “It was an outlet to shut out from the world for a minute and just be in your own world,” said Villasenor. “Coming into the world of art lets out all your creativity and is able to set you free.” She loves to draw anything that comes to mind or ideas she might have.

Senior Olivia Villasenor envisions herself taking a career path in art. “I just go with the flow of my art,” Villasenor said. No matter where Villasenor might end up, her art will surely make an impact on many people.

photos provided by Olivia Villasenor

Have you heard the fin-tastic news, McAuley? Well, it’s o-fish-ial. The Mother McAuley Liberal Arts fall musical is bringing the production of “The Little Mermaid” to the community this November. This year’s musical is about a young mermaid named Ariel who falls in love with a human prince, Eric. While her father forbids the relationship, Ariel confides in a sea witch, Ursula, who promises to change Ariel’s fins into legs in exchange for her beautiful voice. Though we all had a blast watching last year’s production of “Meet me in St. Louis,” this year’s show is going to present a whole new insight into the McAuley theater department.

“I chose to do the musical because ‘The Little Mermaid’ has been my favorite Disney movie since I was little,” said Ava Zvejnieks 10, playing a featured tapper and a part of the dance ensemble. “I always wanted to have Ariel’s hair as a kid, so I’m really glad that I get to be a part of this show!”

When asked about the most meaningful aspect of “The Little Mermaid” being their senior show, the upperclasswomen responded with very well-thought out answers. “I think that ‘The Little Mermaid’ is really a show about discovery, which is very fitting as we start to apply to college and think about our lives outside of McAuley,” said Catie Shultz 12, playing Sebastian in the show. “‘The Little Mermaid’ is also a staple movie from my childhood, so it’s really special to me to get to work with this story that I loved so much as a kid.”

Not only are the cast members thrilled for the performance, but also the behindthe-scenes members, the stage crew, have a lot in store for this production. “This year, Mother McAuley is renting a fly system, which will bring a new level to the already impressive theater department,” said Head of build crew and student fly system manager, Caroline Deiters 11. “The wave lights are a very exciting feature to the set, as well as the flying system that will hold a number of the actors to make them appear to fly,” said Sound Designer Katie Wainwright 10. I’m hooked! There is no fishy business. This show is going to be one fin stopper!

graphic provided by Ms. McCasland

Family-friendly fall flicks

Lily O’Connor

Hocus Pocus 2: Feeling nostalgic of your childhood this Halloween season? Well I have good news for you! “Hocus Pocus 2” was released on Disney+ on Sept. 30. It is rated PG. The new movie will feature the original witches played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy. This time around the witches are brought back to life by three high school girls played by Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham and Belissa Escobedo. Have a fun throwback movie night this Halloween. Rewatch the original “Hocus Pocus” and then watch the sequel!

Spirit Halloween: The Movie: If you’re looking for a spooky movie night this October, look no further than “Spirit Halloween: The Movie!” It is rated PG-13 and was released on all Video on Demand (VOD) platforms on Oct. 11. The horror movie follows three friends who dare to spend the night in a Spirit Halloween store located in a deserted mall. It stars Rachael Leigh Cook, who also stars in the 1999 film “She’s All That,” and Christopher Lloyd, who plays in many movies, such as the “Back to the Future” trilogy.

Pinocchio: If you’re looking for nostalgia but you’re not into Halloween, then Disney+ has another option for you. The live action “Pinocchio” was released on Sept. 8. This movie is a remake of the classic 1940s animated Disney movie “Pinocchio.” Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will star as Pinocchio, and the movie features other big names like Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo and Luke Evans. It is rated PG so this movie would make for a great fall family movie night!

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Are you an action movie lover or a Marvel fan? Luckily, the second Black Panther movie will be in theaters on Nov. 11. Although the lead Chadwick Boseman sadly passed away in 2020, most of the original cast will be in the new movie. This includes Tenoch Huerta and Letitia Wright. There are lots of theories about what is coming next in the Marvel Universe, so make sure to tune in! The movie is rated PG-13. If you are a big fan, you can even buy tickets right now!