TIS THE (BTS) SEASON: T-wolves rejoice with greatly missed friends and excitedly anticipate the new school year on registration day.
With every school year comes new routines, expectations and re alities, and whether you’re a fresh man reminiscing on middle school or a senior still looking for the 1400s building, the pack is back after a much needed summer of relaxation and rewinding. While we’re all at different points in our journeys, let’s take a look at this school year from a glance. New Schedule A block schedule is in place with odd and even periods occurring every other day. Late start will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, and 35-minute tutorials will take place on Tuesdays
because our numbers are growing very fast, and it finally feels like the beginning of a normal year for us,” junior Anika Akshantala said. “We hope to attend many in-person events, especially the Berkeley Invitational, which was held online last year.” As for VAPA, marching band concluded band camp last week and is ready for a season of flag chore ography and tunes to iconic hits by EltonBeJohn.sure to follow @nhstwolves, @twolvesathletics and @nhs.howler on Instagram for future updates on school events. Check out The Howler Online for exclusive content as well. So, buckle up for another roller coaster of a school year, and tune in tomorrow to the first football game of the season at Portola High School.
By Karen Wang News Editor
Elle Chan The Northwood Howler TA(KANG) RISKS: Senior Jonathan Kang is ready to “figure it out” by proudly leading The Howler into its 24th year of publication. in my life have come from trying new things—I still love playing the oboe and I’m now a leader on The Howl er—and I’ve met some of my best friends through those new groups. Although that voice in the back of my head made me apprehensive about my ability to succeed, it was ironically only by diving in headfirst that I was able to develop into who I am today. Of course, success is never guaranteed, but that isn’t to say fail ure is necessarily a bad thing either; failure teaches you important lessons and can make you even more excited to seek new opportunities. So learn. KeepAsgrowing.Iwas writing this article, I was reminded of a (very) brief con versation the past Editor-in-Chief and I had about leading The Howl er. When I asked what advice they had for the next year of turbulent yet rewarding Howler leadership, I was naturally expecting some sort of monumental or awe-inspiring ad vice—something to provide a clear roadmap of the future and guide me towards success. All they said was “figure it Althoughout.” at the moment I frank ly thought it was uninspiring advice, in retrospect, it taught me a lesson that rings true for most things I do: Get out there and try new things, fig uring it out as you go along. After all, no amount of proverbial wisdom will teach you what actually engaging with the opportunities around you is like. So step just a little bit outside your comfort zone every day and try not to listen to the voice holding you back. Venture out and be willing to try out new Whetheractivities.you’re a freshman in Marching Band or a senior writing college apps, it’s never too late to set a new standard and define who you want to be. As the back-to-school nervous ness begins to kick in and you start this new chapter of your life, seek to confront your fears by believing that you really are cut out for whatever you set your mind to. You’ll figure it out.
Campus Mural Summer News Recap SwimLittleViewpointA&ESpotlightSportsMissJunk
By Jonathan Kang Editor-in-Chief
Volume XXIV, Issue I: August 18, 20224515 Portola Pkwy. Irvine, CA 92620 Follow us on Instagram www.TheHowlerOnline.org@nhs.howler
Summer Recap Over the summer, T-wolves have been diligently preparing for school-year activities. In late July, ASB participated in CORE leadership camp at UCSB with students across multiple high schools, bonding as a group and re fining skills for their respective po sitions. Freshmen interested in ASB can look forward to freshmen elec tions on Aug. 25. In early August, Speech and De bate held their annual summer camp for a week of case-writing, research and preparation for competition read iness.“I’m super excited for this year
Elle Chan The Northwood Howler
I’m not cut out for this. As I sat in my first band class ever, anxious ly clicking the keys on my oboe and nervously darting my eyes around at all the confident players with far more experience, those words rang in my ears. Later as I sat on the floor of The Howler as a brand new freshman surrounded by intimidating upper classmen and daunting assignments, those words rang a troubled sound in my ears, subtly insisting that I was not ready for success. For those of you going into this next year ready to start an entirely new school experience by exploring different clubs and activities, you may also have those words stuck in your head as you search for a place to belong. But instead of shying away from that feeling, I urge you to seek out new opportunities and embrace that nervousness by engaging in the schoolThecommunity.mostrewarding experiences
INSIDETHISISSUE
Meet Jonathan Kang: The Howler’s newest Editor-in-Chief
Campus from a glance: Back to School Edition and Thursdays. Next week will start with an odd day, while the following week will begin with an even day, al ternating each week. “With fewer daily transitions from class to class and the potential for greater in-depth classes, we be lieve that this is the best schedule for our school community,” Assistant Principal Eric Keith said. “For some students, this will be a transition, but we hope that everyone will see the value the block schedule affords.” Covid Protocols While masking and social dis tancing are no longer required, stu dents are encouraged to monitor potential COVID-19 symptoms, ac cording to the California Department of Public Health. COVID testing kits are also available at the front office free of charge.
“The inspiration for the mural came from a photo I found online, with soccer players standing togeth er,” junior Kriti Laddha said. “To make it more Northwood-focused, we requested the yearbook staff to get a reference photo of the Northwood sports captains doing the same pose.”
Provided by Ginee Zambrano
ACCENT/A&E2 August 18, 2022 The Northwood Howler New (Academic) Year’s Resolutions: Northwood Edition
Elle Chan The Northwood Howler NORTHWOOD’S TRUE COLORS: Northwood’s school spirit shines through in the athletic director’s office.
By Rita Lai Accent Editor
A Marvelous Mural Masterpiece
By Noelle Escalante A&E Editor Northwood has recently reached a new height, with a group of students coming together over the summer to paint the first and only mural on campus. The creative minds behind the new swatches of color on North wood’s walls are revealed through its inspiration, sketching and painting process.The mural is seen in the athletic director’s office right next to the in door gymnasium. The mural takes up the whole wall on the right when you first walk in, showing student athletes in Northwood colors, accompanied with immense detail. “It took us about a month to begin painting the mural from when we’re told we were going to make one,” junior Arya Wategaonkar said. “During that month, we drafted dif ferent designs for the mural and each person pitched their own idea, then we settled on a design shortly after that.”The mural is painted in a realism art style, depicting the 2022-23 sports captains with their numbers facing outward, leaning on one another. Each student represents a different sport, including football, volleyball, baseball, basketball and more.
The mural took three weeks to complete, with the painting process beginning early July and concluding early“TheAugust.painting process was actu ally surprisingly fast,” senior Kaylie Chao said. “Sketching took around three days, and then we originally set a full week for blocking colors, but started on details within the first three days of Thecoloring.”newmural will not only hold the legacy of Northwood’s Class of 2023 sports captains, but will also highlight students’ ability to spark change within their own environment through their art and creativity. “One thing I hope future North wood students see from this is that they can try it too,” senior Audrey Li said. “It was really fun to paint, and I was able to use my talent to create something memorable.”
It’s that time of year again when we make promises to ourselves about never procrastinating ever again and proclaim that our commitments to extracurriculars will definitely not wane. Still, it’s good to give our selves the benefit of the doubt, and with Northwood’s hard-working community, maybe these following resolutions will succeed after all. I hope to grow closer to other students by becoming more involved in school activities and being a part of our Northwood traditions like postgame team bonding, spirit weeks and dress-up days. I plan to surround myself with motivating students that encourage one another to maintain high grades and healthily manage time to succeed in and outside of the classroom. With guidance from those around me, I hope to go into the year with a healthy mindset and recognize my mistakes to be able to move on, grow and ultimately, make this up coming school year one to remember. Kathleen Zhu (9) My goal for this year is simply to not slack on my work because I don’t want to spend my time cram ming in school, trying to get my grades up, when I can keep them a certain way throughout the year. I’m also trying to maintain stable mental health because that will overall help me in so many ways. Lastly, I want to take my time with certain hobbies and work and not rush myself with other stuff that doesn’t really help me out. I really want to try to enjoy being at school and to put more of my focus into drama and helping with the plays and musicals.—Ginee Zambrano (10) I aim to become more sociable and helpful to others through proac tively befriending people, especially in marching band and the clubs that I am a part of such as Math Olympiad and French club. I’m trying to start a STEAM for All club and I am hoping to attract new members, and continue to provide opportunities for others to explore their passion. In terms of time management, I really hope that I will be able to complete all of my school work on time with out overstressing myself, while also having the time to relax and enjoy life outside of —Williamschool.Deng (11)
Provided by Kiara Kuriakose
I hope that I will get straight A’s, be involved in school, make an impact this upcoming year, try my best in everything and ultimately, have fun. I’d like to join Speech and Debate, class council, ASB, YAT and Key Club. I strive to improve time management and organization. Trina Truong
Provided(9) by Trina Truong
This new school year, I want to be able to maintain a balance between classes and activities that just provide some joy in my life. I’m also going to try to remain fully in the present, as cliché as that sounds. Especially since it’s my last year, I’m going to continue being a part of the school productions which I’ve been do ing for a while now. I also hope I’ll be able to attend most of the senior events. I plan to actually go to prom this year and go to more sporting events other than football. I just want to experience my senior year to the fullest.— Kiara Kuriakose (12)
Provided by William Deng Elle Chan The Northwood Howler Saba Nabaeighahroudi The Northwood Howler
VIEWPOINTThe Northwood Howler 3August 18, 2022 “Elite Prep is the reason I got into the college of my dreams.” Katie C. • Stanford University Elite Student – SAT Boot Camp • Elite Premier Tutoring • AP Psychology • Research Proposal Program • Elite College Solutions Elite Prep Irvine–Newport Beach (949) 252-9124 | eliteprep.com/irvine Elite Prep Irvine–Northwood (949) 654-8523 | eliteprep.com/northwood Test Prep • Tutoring • AP Courses For Credit • Dual-Credit College Courses Academic Enrichment • Extracurricular Programs • College Consulting Schedule a free consultation with an Elite counselor today
August 18, 20224 CENTERSPREAD
CENTERSPREAD 5August 18, 2022
VIEWPOINT The Northwood Howler6 August 18, 2022 Rather than working on each element of the college application process independently, HS2 Academy crafts a cohesive and intelligent strategy that leverages each student's strengths We offer customized academic planning, supportive academic and life mentoring, standardized test preparation (SAT I, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams), as well as courses and tutoring for a wide range of academic subjects. HS2 Academy has 7 centers throughout California and has guided students in submitting more than 100,000 college applications since 2002. HS2 Academy 860 Roosevelt, Irvine, CA 92620 (949) 733 9888 E N R O L L T O D A Y ! College Consulting 2022 Fall Programs About HS2 Academy 2022 Fall Class Schedule 8/22/2022 12/25/2022 Academic Enrichment Test Prep Foundations Homework Club & Tutoring ACT/SAT Boot Camp Registration Link: https://www.hs2academy.com/home/productdetail/113733 Harvard (1) Stanford (3) Yale (1） John Hopkins (4） UPenn (4） Columbia (3） UChicago (2） Caltech (2） Cornell (4） U Virginia (3） UC Berkeley (61) UCLA (42) USC (23 ） U Michigan (10） UIUC (30） Emory (1） Boston U (24） NYU (18） C L A S S O F 2 0 2 2 A C C E P T A N C E S A C O M P R E H E N S I V E E D U C A T I O N S T R A T E G Y 1. HS2 Molecular Modeling Apprenticeship / HS2 2022 秋季醫學 研究線上學徒班 9/19 10/8 Apprenticeship training ＆ 10/10 11/5 Research To register: https://www.hs2academy.com/ho me/productdetail/114190 2 Harvard Crimson Journalism Internship/ 哈佛⼤学校刊新闻 实习 3 2022 Fall UC Credit Course/ UCR/HS2 線上2022 秋季⼤學學 分課程 2022 UCR Online Fall College Credit Course: ME 004 Energy and Environment To register: https://www.hs2 academy.com/home/productdetail/114192 4. 2022 Fall HS2/UCR High School Students Virtual Internship Program/HS2/ 加州⼤學河濱分校⾼中學⽣線上實習項⽬ To register: https://zhi.hs2academy.com/home /productdetail/1
Classifieds:AlburgerNorthwood High Students and faculty members may place classified ads in The Northwood Howler by contacting the Business Manager at: northwoodnewspaper@gmail.com The Northwood Howler is published by Northwood High School as an open forum for exchange of news and ideas. Views expressed in The Northwood Howler do not necessarily represent opinions of the NHS administration or the Irvine Unified School District.Signed letters to the Editor are welcomed and encouraged. They can be placed in Adviser Marina Alburger’s mailbox or de livered to Room 1102. The Northwood Howler reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and clarity. Advertisements do not necessarily represent the opinion of the newspaper.
California, a typically arid state prone to wildfires, will likely see recordbreaking high temperatures and the effects of climate change inaction. “A lot of the people at our school evacuated during the Silverado fire a year and a half ago,” senior Christy Han said. “I hope we don’t have to do that again.”
PHOTOGRAPHERS Neil AndrewGodseLee Aryav Nagar AyaTylerTakase-SonguiTruong
TH: Any advice for incoming freshman swimmers? CL: Number one, I would say, is to reach out to the older kids. I know it might be a little scary, but I promise that all of us are nice. And if you’re scared to ask, the captains are always there to pump you up. It’s not going to be easy at the beginning, but I promise it’s gonna be worth it. DH: Keep your academics and swimming organized. It’s hard aca demically sometimes to fit everything with your swimming, but finding the balance is key. Incoming freshmen really need to challenge themselves outside the water just as much as they do in the pool.
Kansas was the first state to have a vote on abortion rights since the Su preme Court’s decision. Despite be ing a historically conservative state, 59% of voters voted to continue pro tecting abortion in the state constitu tion on Aug. 2. Three Supreme Court members have also written a dissent to the decision of the majority, stat ing that “whatever the exact scope of the coming laws, one result of today’s decision is certain: the curtailment of women’s rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens.”
“I remember that one cup of bubble tea used to cost me 4 dollars without any toppings,” junior Amelia Liu said. “However, the price has ris en to around 6 dollars in most stores.”
Diving in with Chris and Derek
Overlooking Northwood’s pool, two faded record boards bake under the sun. The five year old record will soon be officially retired and the fresh names Derek Hitchens and Christopher Leung will take their place. During the 2022 swim season, Hitchens broke the school record for the Boys 100 Fly and Northwestern University-commit Leung broke the school record for the Boys 200 IM. Both athletes rank in the top 20 Cali fornian swimmers for their respective classes and look forward to another record-breaking season this spring.
Ellie Chan The Northwood Howler
Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jonathan Kang MANAGINGEDITOR Eugenie Chang COPY EDITOR Karen Bruce THO EDITOR Kevin Sohn MANAGERBUSINESS Aniket Kamat PHOTO EDITOR Elle Chan GRAPHIC EDITOR Saba Nabaeighahroudi ADVISER Marina
SPORTSThe Northwood Howler 9March 10, 2022
TH: When did you start swim ming and how come you’ve stuck with it for so long? CL: I learned how to swim when I was 4 years old, but only start ed swimming competitively when I was 7. I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty reluctant my first couple years of swim. I started loving it during mid dle school and though I would like to say it’s a fun sport, it’s actually so hard. I think one of the only reasons why I can get through it is the friends I’ve made. Having friends to talk to or struggle with during practice is one of the things that keeps me going.
Mission Statement: To serve as a medium for school news and the expression of student ideas while adhering to the highest stan dards of journalistic integrity.
By Annie Lee Viewpoint Editor
Saba Nabaeighahroudi The Northwood Howler
The deadly consequences of the heat waves should be viewed as a cau tionary tale for the rest of the world. The U.S. continues to be short staffed by a thousand firefighters, making the containment of fires and protection of people and property much harder.
THE WORLD IS ON FIRE: Heated responses to Supreme Court decisions, wildfires and inflated prices. be legal in all or most cases and 57% of adults critical of the court’s deci sion. “I think that it was the most in considerate decision to leave the right of abortion up to the states,” junior Kristen Lew said. “Abortion is a ba sic human right, thus our entire coun try should protect it.”
Soaring Inflation Gas, groceries and even backto-school supplies have all skyrock eted in price as consumer price has jumped up 9.1% from last year.
DH: When I first started swim ming at the age of 5, just putting in the time to get comfortable in the wa ter, learning my strokes and eventu ally start swimming laps was an ac complishment for me. It was not until a few years ago when I had a serious talk with my older brother, a former Northwood swimmer, that I realized I needed to start to take swimming se riously if I really wanted to improve. With that motivation to improve, swimming has become a part of who I am and I cannot think of letting that part of me go.
By Rachel Yokota Sports Editor
The Howler: Last season was huge for Northwood as record after record fell. What are your expecta tions for the coming season? Christopher Leung: Our team did really well last year and we’re not losing that many seniors, so I expect us to do pretty well again. Hopefully we’ll be the top public school in CIF and I’m really excited to see how we’ll do this year. Derek Hitchens: Northwood has a tradition of having some very fast swimmers, which has resulted in repeated league Championships, CIF and even a State Championship win, so expectations are set high with this team. TH: Your 400 Free relay with alumni Jason Kim and sophomore Will Chen was a second off the school record when the 2022 season ended. What are your thoughts? CL: We did have Jason gradu ate, but Will and Derek are young and rising sophomores so we just have to fill one more spot on the relay. But I’m pretty confident our Northwood team can do that pretty easily. DH: Going into that race, we all were definitely nervous, but as Jason, Chris, Will and I hyped each other up, it seemed like there was nothing to fear.
Blazing hot summer events have yet to cool down Responsibilities tend to collapse like a house of cards over summer break, a prime time for venturing to picturesque destinations and testing the limits of ruined sleep schedules. While these good times pass too quickly, several newsworthy events this summer have lasting impacts that students who overly immersed in studies or relaxation should catch up on.
CENTERSPREADEDITOR Richelle Gunawan VIEWPOINTEDITOR Annie Lee SPORTS EDITOR Rachel Yokota JUNK EDITOR Annabel Tiong BUSINESS TEAM SwaraTashviKulkarniMehta
7August 18, 2022
The Northwood Howler
Various events precipitated the accelerating inflation, which has been the largest increase since 1981. Dur ing the pandemic, people stockpiled food and essentials and spent a lot on home furnishings and utilities. After lockdowns and social distanc ing guidelines were lifted, spending became geared towards services like restaurant meals. Because of the mil lions of unemployed people and the disruptions in transportation, supply chains and businesses could not ac quire enough workers or materials to meet the sharp surge in demand, so the prices of goods increased instead. Some critics blame inflation on Presi dent Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coro navirus relief package, while others criticize the Federal Reserve for not raising interest rates quick enough to combatInflationinflation.has more severely af fected low-income households, since a disproportionate share of their in come goes towards necessities. Ad ditionally, underprivileged families tend to be more dependent on their monthly wages, but there has been a 3.6% decrease in the average work er’s hourly wages from last summer. To further combat inflation, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Aug. 16. The legislation calls for a 15% minimum tax on companies with assets of over $1 billion to aid deficit reduction and tackles global warming and healthcare costs by in vesting billions in domestic produc tion of clean energy technologies and lowering prescription drug prices. As America continues to battle with economic instability, proposals for stabilizing the American economy are bound to be a topic debated by candidates for the midterm elections in November.
NEWS EDITOR Karen Wang ACCENT EDITOR Rita Lai A&E EDITOR Noelle Escalante
GRAPHIC ARTISTS Sophia Ho Madeleine Pham Isabella Torrales Abby Warnock STAFF WRITERS ShreyaOliviaAithalCai Rhea Gupta JayceeElenaHendricksonHiguchi Lucy Kim Megha Kishore Ally KaylieVeneziaWang
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The overturning of Roe v. Wade may set a precedent for reconsidera tions of cases like Loving v. Virginia, which legalized interracial marriages and Obergefell v. Hodges, which le galized same-sex marriages. Justice Clarence Thomas alluded to revis iting these cases in his concurring opinion where he argues that “be cause any substantive due process decision is ‘demonstrably erroneous,’ we have a duty to ‘correct the error’ established in those precedents.”
ALL OUT SPRINT: Sophomore Derek Hitchens (right) and se nior Christopher Leung (left) race to the finish at Meadowood Pool.
The Supreme Court’s official reversal of Roe v. Wade on June 24 ended nearly 50 years of federal pro tection of women’s abortion rights by granting states the authority to regu late abortion Immediatelypolicies.after the decision, legal fights broke out in both states with trigger laws to criminalize abor tion and states planning to codify abortion rights into state laws. Cur rently, 9 out of 10 states with abortion bans do not have exceptions for incest or rape cases and all 10 criminalize abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Three other states have gestational limits where abortion is banned after six weeks of pregnancy, claiming that the point at which a cluster of cells emits electrical signals is when a fetus should be considered a human with constitutionally protected rights. While pro-life supporters have rejoiced at the overturn of Roe v. Wade, pro-choice activism has flood ed social media and advocates for legalized abortion still make up the public’s majority opinion, with 62% of adults believing abortion should
VIEWPOINT/SPORTS
The revoking of Roe v. Wade could jeop ardize the progress made by women and LGBTQ groups in protecting substantive rights under the Due Pro cess Clause. Europe Heat Waves Persistent heat waves across Europe induced thousands of heatstroke deaths and triggered ravaging wildfires during June and July. Over five European countries have already declared states of emer gency. The U.K. announced that temperatures surpassed 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit, smashing the U.K.’s previous high est temperature record. Spain and Portugal recorded 1,682 heat-related deaths over the course of two weeks. In addition to damages caused by wildfires, the severe heat has prompt ed various unprecedented infrastruc ture problems, such as melting roads and warped train rails. “Europe has experienced an in sane heatwave this past summer,” se nior Bruce Duong said. “Given this, I am concerned about if we will be in direct contact with wildfires as we were in recent years.”
For the first time in 12 years, I laughed. Only Howler kids. Just like that, my life’s frus trating puzzles seemed to click together.The students would carve out my insides like greedy vul tures, leave, and new ones would come in next year, and the year after that. I’d continue to scoff at the freshman, wince at the sopho mores and dream about my obit uary. I would continue to be a caf eteria icebox, just as I always had. But that was enough for me. My saudade now takes on a new meaning: “a longing for long ing itself.” As a famous poetess put it, “I long for the longings I don’t have.” No longer do I feel incom plete, as I am where I am meant to be. I am saudade, for all the things I no longer wish I had.
Aries: In the past, you knew exactly what you wanted and weren’t afraid to go get it, whether that be joining every club you were remotely inter ested in or enthusiastically loading up on APs. While doing so, you tend to miss less noticeable opportunities right in front of you. Don’t be afraid to partake in tasks that may seem trivial like picking up someone else’s trash. Keep the campus bright and your future brighter.
Taurus: You’ve kept it comfortable at school during the past few years, hanging out with the same people, attending the same tutorials and go ing to the same places during break. Get. out. there! Go to a football game, dress up on spirit days (ESPECIALLY pajama day), and take someone else’s table at lunch if you get there first. First come, first serve. You’re gonna serve.
Gemini: Before, you had issues with being indecisive, feeling overwhelmed by the freedom high school grants. But don’t be swayed by all your friends asking you to join this or join that. Instead, decide your interests early on this year and don’t hesitate to seek them out. In fact, try coffee as a natural frog repellent if anyone asks you to join Key Club again.
Sagittarius: Don’t chase, attract. You’ve been working hard over the past few years to get the things you want, dutifully asking organizations, classmates and teachers for every opportunity and extra help. But this year, let things come to you. My recommendation: Remember all the assigned readings and what’s due next class. People will start packing towards you like wolves. Capricorn: This year, all your pa tience will pay off. You’ve been chip ping away at your goals one step at a time, embodying that “slow and steady” mentality. I’m sure it’s unsettling to feel like you’re falling behind, but keep going because you’ll get there. School is never a race—don’t rush to finish your work (unless you’re trying to play games) or to get to the lunch line before the bell rings Just look at how far our football team has come. school Wolf Nabaeighahroudi
Leo: Do you ever get… tired? Of course, everyone appreciates you helping them get through history lec tures without knocking out by crack ing jokes (respectfully) and playing NitroType, but it takes a toll on you. Rather than trying to keep the atten tion all on you, bring others into the spotlight and make them feel special. You’ll end up with a bunch of new friends, and most importantly, plenty of study guides shared with you.
Aquarius: Keep doing what you’re doing. Northwood needs more people like you- keep coming up with those crazy ideas and pitch them to your teacher, the admin or The Howler. I know how creative you can be when you’re inspired, so surround yourself with things that provoke thought and challenge you to improve our school.
By AnnABel Tiong Junk Editor Horos-Coping with BTS season Saudade. A word derived from the Latin solitas, or“sol itude”. It was first used in the Great Portuguese Discoveries, by the women and children left to mourn those who disappeared in shipwrecks or died in battle. It is a constant feeling of absence, a wistful longing to be complete and my favorite word. I am like the Portuguese chil dren, watching the waves of faces pass, year after year, their crook ed smiles replaced by identical blue screens and carefree gazes replaced by worry lines, leav ing nothing behind for me but a sinking feeling of loneliness. And mold.Everyday, at exactly 12:56 p.m., the cafeteria ladies breathe out their hitched sigh of relief while shuttling trays of leftover pizza together. Bags of oven-baked Lays and discarded wet bean burritos (upon closer examination by the hungry student) are strewn all over the counters, some even be ginning to ice within my recesses. Trapped by glass walls and the commotion of passing period, I feel an empty ache. I have ful filled my duty for yet another day. And tomorrow and the day after that, I will do the same. In the searing post-lunch time rush silence, I preoccupy my thoughts with how I would write my obituary, if I had one. What was the point of my high school experience? Did I make the most of my time at Northwood High? Well, at least I can say with cer tainty that the sophomores—par ticularly the ones that unwrap cones, break off the chocolatey bottoms then try hiding them as if my dark corners will conceal their sins—have a special place in my nicely flame-decorated end ing credits.But besides that, I hate school. Every afternoon feels like an annual inspection by an over eager dentist. Hands picking off shards of ice, swirling around in smug indecisiveness, chunks of stray food finding their way along my edges. This unfulfilling misery couldn’t be all my life was meant to be. I must be missing some thing.At least, that’s how I always felt, until this fateful summer break.Idon’t know if it’s because I’m aging, or if the pandemic isolation just hit me a year late or that I got a fresh shipment of ice (this seems unlikely), but I just felt… colder. There was a pit of solitude burn ing through the tips of my stain less steel tops. I would never admit it to the chip racks, much less the hot food containers. I’ve always believed high school life was pointless, so why did I feel such despair this summer?The clear windows seemed particularly menacing as they reflected my embarrassment in counting each passing hour. I even began missing the sopho mores, the clammy fingers, the leaky drips of chocolate. One afternoon in late Au gust, the door suddenly clicked open and the lights flickered on.
Pisces: I’m going to take a wild guess, one that totally wasn’t read off astrology-zodiac-signs.com, but you’ve been conflicted lately, strug gling to decide which classes to take or which people to hang out with. Be cause you are so intuitive, you have a hard time seeing the bigger picture. Take some time to cool off, and share your struggles with others. Also, re member to take a good yearbook pho to because it helps with your mindset.
Virgo: Take a good look at any of your old notes. Worth selling on Chegg, right? You tend to be ex tremely detailed, touting that “I’ll do it myself” attitude. But burnout is real, and while your diligence is admi rable, there is some truth to “Work smarter, not harder.” Don’t lie— you’ve probably wanted to try being the kid that studied the night before and somehow aced the exam. I’m not promoting anything, but hey, life’s all about trying new things.
Advice for the signs on how to make the 2022-2023
year your Alpha
By AnnABel Tiong
The Northwood Howler
Libra: Everything is unfair. And school in particular is a breeding ground for unfairness. People can study less but get better grades. People can cut to the front of the lunch line while you sweat furiously sprinting all the way from the 1400s just to get a spot 40 kids away. Try not to focus on these everyday injustices. Instead, help whenever possible, and you can start by not leaking the quiz questions to the next period.
Scorpio: You probably felt a bit out of place at least once last year, whether it be an event you regret attending or in a classroom that gave you mild imposter syndrome. Note that you don’t need to seek people’s understanding, as long as you understand yourself. Just focus less on what others think and more on solidifying your socioeconomic and political identity, and the rest will come naturally.
year: Saba
The Northwood Howler8 August 18, 2022 Tickle Ur Inner T-Wolf Little Miss Northwood
FINDING THE SP(ICE) OF LIFE: An unexpected ‘cheese’y encounter. Elle Chan The Northwood Howler
Cancer: Stop caring. Seriously. If you take every little thing to heart, wheth er it be failing a math test, having an awkward interaction with an old friend, or showing up in an ugly outfit, it’s all part of high school. When you learn to invest less of your feelings into en deavors, you’ll be so much more free. You might even get the courage to volunteer to go first for a presenta tion and earn that extra credit.
By AnnABel Tiong Junk Editor
Freeze the Day: Heartwarming memoir of a Cafeteria Icebox
It was too early to be anyone who worked at the cafeteria. I peered cautiously across the aisle. Standing before me was a grinning kid with a camera set around their neck. “Let me just… get one quick shot.” And with that, they took a picture of me (nota bly, without consent) and ran off.
For example, I spend a lot of time with Timby for my inspo. Just an example.
