ISSUE 3
STAFFLIST
EIC, Tabitha Labrato
Creative Director, Abby Marcil
Sophia Pinilla
Anisa Velazquez
Lexi Kreimeier
Alexis Brown
Isabella Dabage De La
Espriella
Tia Kearney
Katie Jones
Kassidy Saba
Brianna Piderit
Marriana Gutierrez
Emma Edy Morris
Angelika Ziemecki
Rose Jackson
Alexa Martin
Jackie Esguerra
Vallerie Kolczynski
Lalo Ambris
Jaime Schmidt
Jamie Mandeville
Eden Znaty
Tyler Jones
Jocelyn Campo
External Director, Tia Kearney
Lindsay Zifrony
Tanya Thatayatikom
Advertising Director, Emma
Roush
Eva Berggren
Marisa Balzano
Grace Reed
Katerina Dardha
Vanessa Memmo
Kylee Mukeba
Alexa Casanueva
Lauren Shoemaker
Jackie Ouellette
Janelle Forte
Sales Director, Alex Pittman
Jewel Lopez
Attie Crews
Emily Ensel
Brynn Estberg
Digital Director, Isabel Choi
Assistant: Megan Mohrmann
Assistant: Brianna Bascle
Manuela Guimarães
Emma Felton
Taylor Farscht
Bella Puleo
Isabel Gonzalez
Lindsey Solomon
Samantha Ortega
Audrey Kramer
Lauren Orie
Daniella Curatelli
Dalton Lain
Priscilla Chierico
Kamilla Knyazeva
Kate D’Amario
Jasmyn Garvey
Sophia Poole
Events Director, Alyssa
Bynum
Victoria Baiter
Nicole Sackett
Carolina Fabregas
Taylor Radigan
Sabrina Francke
Instagram Director, Abbey
Kent
Sophia Santiago
Hannah McGonagle
Gabriella Johnson
Isabella Sugar
Tik Tok Director, Quentin
Mantilla
Taylor Smith
Katiana Redchuk
Sophia Elliott
Marlowe Mitchell
Mia Lopez
Merchandise Director, Delaney
Hanson
Ali MacCloud
Antonella Paz
Keira Wilkinson
Caitlyn Beck
Marcela Canal
Carson Tyll
Sienna Kelley
Maya Cain
Christine Fontaine
Alanis Santos
Photography Director, Lalo
Ambris
Olivia Rodriguez
Tess Passinault
Kaylee Sibelle
Milena Shakhnazaryan
Alejandro (Alex) Suarez
Michelle Poreh
Jordyn Daigle
Katrina Oro
Layla Mathews
Kevin Farley
Enrique Armas Galarza
Sammy Crown
Widad Muhammad
Jordyn Daigle
Katrina Oro
Layla Mathews
Kevin Farley
Enrique Armas Galarza
Sammy Crown
Widad Muhammad
Videography Director, Kevin Farley
Joelle Stressler
Renee Rivas
Britnee Blake
Jenna Rosenbusch
Tristan Reale
Destiny Rogers
Molly DeKraai
Viviano Rojas
Blake Boyar
Amber White
Mary Tierney
RJ Banez
Matthew Stember
Beauty Director, Brynn Lewin
Addison Nance
Emily Rojo
Haley McPherson
Alli Pryor
Emma Kornatowski
Veronica Escajeda
Katelyn Boada
Mariana Avila
Graphics Director, Luis Arriaga
Sydney Baksa
Sydney Barrow
Maria S. Gonzalez
Lauren Wakeman
Lindsay Merrill
Margaux Campion
Katie Esguerra
Camila Denker
Kate Fernandez
Mallory Reale
Doron Yablonka
Ashley de Cardenas
Sophia Diaz
Sofie Dericks
Layout Director, Stella Humberg
Taylor Kirby
Abigail Endsley
Clara Celedon
Katie Boucher
Chloe Evers
Ninah Gibson
Writing Director, Lexi
Fernandez
Editor #1, Noelle Knowlton
Editor #2, Racquel Gluckstern
Editor #3, Addyson Crosby
Editor #4, Jayna O
Lucia Villanustre
Matias Civita
Bella Ferretti
Sophia Yunaev
Cristina Angee
Hope Fell
Dana Liberto
Lydia Coddington
Mia Serrano
Isabella Santiago
Nikki Cohen
Lucas Zaret
Isabel Wilder
Isabella Botero
Lauren Butrum
Sophia Ferraro
Blake Fiadino
Adrian Botton
Lauren Hamilton
Natalie Willis
Lindsey Limbach
Payton Raine Muscato
Layne Schulte
Carly Woollard
Emily Montarroyos
Brand Ambassador Director, Kayla Crooks
Victoria Rodriguez
Olivia Fleisher
Kaley Dunn
Mia Hammer
Beatricci Da Silveira
Sabrina Pierre
Julia Garber
Anna Perez
Wiktoria Cascardo
Kelly O’bryan
Karen Toussaint
Abigail Urban
Aiven Davis
Dani Hernandez
Stefanie Urban
Krista Escalona
Maggie Awad
Lauren Kohler
Haley Thomasson
Isabela Baynard
Kaylan Williams
Hannah Everingham
Ella Maguire
Alexis White
Bree Spoonley
Sophie Ramb
Kaylee Valenzuela
Finance Director, Fatima
Hamad
Olivia Bradley
Julianna Coates
Camila Kassner
Productions Director, Manuela Guimarães
Ally Price
Claire Hutton
Runway Director, Katie Kissane
Aja Soleil
Bethany Newcomb
Stephanie Matos
Morgan Hooks
Maya West
Riley Dauval
Ryleigh Taylor
Lauren Vives
LETTERS
DIRECTOR’S
Tia Kearney, External Director
A few years ago I would not have believed the growth, love and creative freedom I have found from being a part of Strike Magazine. As a graduating Senior I will forever be grateful for all the friendship and opportunities I have found within Strike. Love y’all forever & always :,)
Alex
Pittman, Sales Director
Big shout out to the best sales team this semester! I cant begin to express how grateful I am to have been a part of Strike during my college career. The friends and new experiences I have gained are something I will remember forever. Strike outtt ;)
Abbey Kent, Instagram Director
I am so happy and lucky to be surrounded by such kind, hard-working individuals that lift each other up. I am so proud to be contributing to Strike and could not be more grateful for my team, other directors and teams, and Strike as a whole.
Emma Rousch, Advertising Director
To my amazing team, you never fail to amaze me with your creative ideas and drive bringing them to life. Thank you for an amazing semester and being passionate about Strike. I will dearly miss all of our graduating directors, but cannot wait to see what next year holds for us!
Isabel
Choi, Digital Director
Thank you so much to my amazing digital team, assistants, and Strike family for this past semester. I’m so proud of everything we have created together, and I can’t wait to create even more together in the future. I love you all forever<3
Alyssa Bynum, Events Director
I am so grateful for this past semester and the opportunity to work alongside the most talented & creative minds of Strike Magazine. A special thank you to my enthusiastic and eager events team, I could not have done it without you. Let’s celebrate Issue 13!!!
Lalo Ambris, Photography Director
I want to thank all of my wonderful and talented photographers for going above and beyond with this magazine! This truly could not have happened without you! You guys rock, love y’all!
Kayla Crooks, Brand Director
I am so grateful and blessed to be a part of this amazing magazine. Each semester we supersede what we’ve done before. Issue 13 will be nothing short of amazing and I am beyond excited to see it in print. Thank you to my team and directors. I love you all!
Kevin Farley, Videography Director
Big shoutout to the videography team!
I’m so grateful to be part of a team with such creative and hardworking individuals who produce amazing work! Each individual has a different style and I think that’s what I love most about being the director is seeing that shine through in their work ! Love y’all !
I’m so grateful to be apart of issue 13 and I’m so proud of my team for all their hard work. This was my first semester as beauty director and I absolutely loved the experience. I can’t wait for the next issue!
Lexi
This semester with Strike Magazine has been one for the books and Issue 13 proves that. Happy to see everything fall into place and I’m incredibly grateful for my team of talented designers. Couldn’t have done it without y’all.
Katie
I’m so proud of the creativity my team brought this semester and I couldn’t be more grateful for all of the opportunities Strike has given me in this position. I owe it all to Strike!!!
Strike Magazine has been such an important part of my life since my freshman year, and I am forever grateful for my outstanding team and my fellow directors. To be a part of such a talented, creative group of individuals has taught me so much, and I know that Issue 13 will reflect our hard work. Saying goodbye to our magazine is bittersweet, but I could not have asked for a better experience. Love & hugs to everyone, and, as always, Strike Out!
Fatima
To my amazing team and fellow directors, thank you for making my last semester with Strike Magazine an incredible one. This magazine helped me find myself, my passions & some amazing people. Strike out <3
So thankful that Strike Magazine was the best part of my college experience. I am incredibly proud to have worked with such amazing and creative people. Thank you Strike and thank you Ally and Claire ! xx
Stella
Shoutout to my team -- Chloe, Taylor, Katie, Clara, Ninah, and Abby -- you guys keep me sane. We schemed, we scammed, we slayed. Love you all!
Quentin
Such an incredible issue! I am so proud of my team and all the amazing directors that brought this vision to life! I am so grateful to be a part of something so special <3
So grateful for the impact that Strike has had on my college experience over the past 3 years. A special thanks to my merch team - you guys are awesome! <3
Delaney Hansen, Merch DirectorDIRECTOR’S
LETTERS
Brynn Lewin, Beauty Director
Luis Arriaga, Graphics Director
Fernandez, Writing Director
Hamad, Finance Director
Manuela Guimarães, Production Director
Kissane, Runway Director
Mantilla, TikTok Director
Humberg, Layout Director
A LETTER from the
To say that I am proud of Issue 13 would be a tremendous understatement. When Abby and I discussed the theme for our final issue of Strike Magazine, we immediately knew that we wanted to pay tribute to the issue number, since so much discourse surrounds the number and what it means. We wanted to encapsulate the superstitions that “13” brings, the joy of your teen years, the beauty of the 1300s, and everything in between.
To my terrific staff of talented people, thank you all so much for your hard work and dedication to creating such a beautiful magazine. Everyone played such a key role in the production of this issue and I am continuously impressed with the creative genius that is present within this staff. Additionally, I cannot give enough thanks to Abby Marcil, the most amazing Creative Director, who would do anything for this magazine. You are a terrific photographer, artist, creative, professional, and everything in between. Abby, it has been such a pleasure to work alongside you.
To my outstanding group of supporters, both friends and family, thank you for cheering me on and allowing me to do what I love. I am so thankful for the people who are constantly in my corner, allowing me to rant to them, bounce ideas off of them, and lean on them in my hardest times. I love you guys.
I am filled with so many emotions when looking at the cover of my farewell issue. While I wish I never had to have a “final” issue with Strike Magazine, I couldn’t imagine a more stunning issue to end on. From cover to cover, Issue 13 is filled with so much love, and hope every reader can feel this.
I started Strike as a staff writer for volume 6 and I can still remember agonizing over my first article topic, being so nervous that my pitch wouldn’t be “creative enough.” If staff writer Tabitha could see the Tabitha that has served two years as EIC, I don’t think she would believe that I have been able to pitch full issue themes, shoot ideas, and countless article topics. I have grown up within this organization and it has given me so much more than I could have ever asked for.
Strike Magazine, thank you for being the most meaningful part of my college experience. Thank you for showing me how creativity can go hand-in-hand with professionalism. Thank you for giving me the best people and the best memories that I could have ever asked for. Thank you for helping me to gain confidence in myself and my ability to lead such an enormous publication. Thank you for taking a chance on a shy writer and turning her into an assertive Editor-in-Chief. Thank you for letting me thrive and for letting me fail, allowing me to learn so many lessons that I will take with me far beyond graduation. I love you, Strike Mag, you are officially a teenager! I am so proud of how much you have grown up under my leadership and I hope to continue to watch you flourish for years to come.
I hope you all love issue 13 as much as I do. Thank you all for everything you do to support our wonderful organization. We are grateful for our wonderful community that helps us do what we do, and this issue could not be made possible without all of the staff members, businesses, models, and artists that work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring our vision to life.
Once Editor-in-Chief, always Editor-inchief. I will bring a little bit of Strike Magazine with me wherever I go. With love, pride, and gratitude, I give you: Issue 13.
For the very last time, Strike Out, Your Editor-in-Chief, Tabitha Labrato
A NOTE FROM THE creative director
My fourth and final issue of Strike Magazine has arrived, Issue 13. Tabitha and I were super excited to create our issue around the theme “13.” We know there are varying opinions over the number “13,” with some it may be their favorite number and others try their best to avoid it. We knew our staff would be able to come up with creative concepts and really bring out their unique perspectives around the number “13.”
I’d like to thank my talented and hardworking Shoots Team for coming up with and executing ten extraordinary shoots. I’m so fortunate I was able to lead such a creative group of people. Thank you to all the directors of Strike Magazine for your support, organization, and hard work to help put this issue together. You all are so talented and I’m so happy I was able to work and learn from you all.
To Tabitha, thank you for being the best Editor in Chief Strike Magazine could ask for. The impact you will leave on Strike Magazine is unforgettable. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead alongside you for the past two incredible issues. I have learned so much from you and you’ve helped me grow more confident. I wish you the best and I know you will achieve everything you will put your mind to.
I will miss Strike Magazine greatly, the experience I’ve had while being a part of this publication has been unforgettable. I am forever grateful to have met and worked with such an amazing and talented group of people. I appreciate every single person who I’ve worked with throughout these past two years and I wish you all success in your future endeavors. Special shoutout to my parents, Anna, Rene, and Matt for being my number one supporters and inspiring me everyday. Thank you Strike Magazine for helping me become more confident, express my creativity, and to further recognize my love for directing and photography.
For the last time, Strike Out,
Your Creative Director Abby Marcil
TODAY is the day I’ve had circled on my calendar for months: Friday, October 13th. I awoke with the sunrise, excitement coursing through my veins. As I found myself face-to-face with my reflection in the mirror, a strange feeling overcame me, one that left me feeling as though my skin was more of a canvas than an extension of my body. It felt surreal and oddly comforting. I hated my bare skin. There was nothing unique to it. Sure, there was a blemish here, a scar there, but I couldn’t help feeling an overwhelming lack of individuality. I didn’t feel like my own person. My parents never understood my mindset. They would always say the same things, “Why would you want to tarnish the body God gave you?”, “You know tattoos are a sin, right?”, or my personal favorite, “You’ll never get a job once you get a tattoo.” I would always leave the conversation feeling outraged as if I lacked any control over my life. That would all change after today. Today, I am putting my foot down, and I will no longer allow myself to be constrained by my parent’s beliefs. And what better day to do so than Friday the 13th?
Shoot Staffers: Jaime Schmidt, Rose Jackson, Lexi Kreimeier, Marriana Gutierrez, Isabella Dabage
Beauty: Addison Nance
Model: Marisa Vercamen, Trent Cintron Photographer: Kaylee Sibelle, Katrina Oro, Abby Marcil
Videographer: Isabella Dabage
Layout: Ninah Gibson
WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SKIN
The Rebirth Personas Of Public
The Renaissance, which began in the fourteenth century, served as a pivotal moment in European history, allowing for a cultural, artistic, political, and economic “rebirth.” Such a movement emphasized perfectionism and created dozens of infamous paintings such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Although the Renaissance took place roughly 720 years ago, society has retained its emphasis on perfectionism through its consistent evolution, based on the accepted standards during a specific period in time.
Whether it be consciously or subconsciously, we are in constant pursuit of excellence, or at least to achieve the image that society has deemed “perfect” for the time being. Growing up during the rise of social media, we stared at hundreds of images a day from models and celebrities who, the majority of the time, uploaded edited photos of themselves to conform to society’s standards, showing us that this was the way to be accepted. So, as the years went on and we grew up to emulate these hoaxes, perfection became easily attainable, forcing society to change its definition—imperfect perfectionism.
Botticelli’s Birth of Venus is another argued masterpiece born during the Renaissance. As a symbol of love and beauty, the body of Venus has been our aspiration for centuries. However, many critics claim that the proportions of Venus, such as her elongated neck, torso, and pose, are realistically impossible. So, why does society constantly emphasize the ideal of something physically impossible? The answer is simple, we allow it to.
With imperfect perfectionism, we struggle to make the distinction between reality and fantasy. To combat this, we post content on social media under the false impression that the photos we chose genuinely highlight our reality. Yet, we overthink those photos before and even after posting. We question whether or not the sunset should have been on the second or third slide, whether the lighting is too bright or too dark, and if these photos will make us seem authentic and genuine, that we are trying but not trying too hard. So, as we regularly offer up the version of ourselves that we want to be perceived by society, we expand the definition of perfection and allow it to maintain its power over us.
Revival
Rebirth
Shoot Staffers: Jaime Schmidt, Rose Jackson, Lexi Kreimeier, Marriana Gutierrez, Isabella
Dabage, Lalo Ambris
Beauty: Emily Rojo, Mariana
Avila
Model: Vanessa Grimaldo, Haley
Nichols
Photography: Lalo Ambris
Videography: Joelle Stressler
Layout: Taylor Kirby
While overthinking our “casual” social media posts has certainly become a symbol of our desire to conform, it can also be compared to the perceived “threat” of social liberties. In the 1300s, hoards of people would assemble to witness the heinous act of a public beheading, becoming numb to such atrocity. However, this method of public consequence that became mundane to us centuries ago has taken a less literal and less gruesome form: the “decapitation” of our public personas as a tenet of modern-day cancel culture.
This public disavowment of someone’s character online is born of our current standards for acceptable behavior, paired with the permanence of the digital sphere. When our historical counterparts chose to condemn someone so publicly, it served as a warning to all not to partake in any sinful behaviors. Now, deleted posts and old videos are all republished for all to scrutinize the controversial actions of the “cancellable” target. For some public figures, they lose brand sponsorships, work opportunities, and a chunk of their fanbase. Once the online persona is attacked and “killed,” the public searches for its next target. But, contrary to the permanence of a beheading, axing a public persona is not as withstanding.
Cultural trends tend to oscillate between extremes on the social spectrum, causing the temporary emphasis on holding one individual accountable to shift as the internet names the newest target to criticize. Not only does this delegitimize the cancellation of the initial target, but it allows them to rebrand in a warped attempt at trying to salvage their public image while people are distracted by the actions of others. This concept of “no one can say anything about me that I have not already said about myself,” trumps any calls for accountability or public apologies, as reposts only fuel the “cancelability” and just publicizes them more.
The shortcomings of these “virtual executions” have given the people who choose to rebirth themselves as controversial public immunity. Sheer volume alone makes it increasingly difficult to follow who is “in” and who is “out,” causing fans and artists alike to stop trying and curate a persona based off of whatever their platform is – wart, racist comments, and all. Like public beheadings going out of style, cancel culture no longer inspires the same fear that it used to. And with that, a new form of accountability will eventually take its place.
The irrational belief that the number thirteen represents bad luck, possessing the evil power to wreak havoc and cause psychological destruction to those who find themselves in its realm, has been a longstanding superstition in Western culture since… Well, nobody knows for certain. The number thirteen is typically seen as bad luck, cursed, or haunted, in American culture. However, some buildings utilize this floor for mechanical purposes, as to not waste space but also to keep up with the belief for the sake of others… or so they say. Others base their fear on conspiracy theories, such as the government using the 13th floor of its buildings to carry out secret projects. Thirteen is often associated with negative symbolism, such as the superstition that death falls upon whoever dares to be the thirteenth guest at a dinner party. The number in terms of dates, coincidentally, hasn’t been so lucky either. Haven’t you noticed that something sinister always happens on Friday the 13th? They didn’t make a movie out of it for nothing. Still, few strive to break down this superstition and prove to others and themselves that there is nothing to fear from a number, like Sarah, Anthony, and Amber. The group has checked into rooms on the hotel’s 13th floor. They are seeking rest from their travels, and hopefully, that is just what they’ll find, because it’s just a number, right?
The old floorboards cracked under the three pairs of feet as the group slowly crept from the elevator. The walls around them were unsettlingly dull, gray splits in the wallpaper littering the corners. On one part of it, big wooden letters boldly displayed the number thirteen, which stared back at them
dauntingly, as if it was calling to them. Chills slowly crept down Sarah’s back, as her eyes darted from Anthony’s, then Amber’s, and then back in the direction of the wooden letters. Sarah didn’t want to be the one to make them turn back, they’d visited so many hotels and were visibly exhausted. Sarah wanted nothing more than to peel her sneakers off and lay her head on a cardboard pillow. Wanting to do just that, she edged forward, searching for their room number. As they passed beat-up doors in the dimly lit hallway, an ominous chill sailed through the air. The hair on the back of their necks pricked up in unison, and Sarah turned around to check on Anthony and Amber. For just a moment, rather than being met with the faces of her best friends, a flash of ivory white skulls with yellow teeth were staring back at her, slowly opening their mouths as if they were going to consume her whole. Fear washed over her entire body and she slammed her eyes shut. When she reopened them, Amber and Anthony were staring back at her with confused and scared looks on their faces.
THE 13TH FLOOR
Writers: Payton Raine Muscato & Mia Serrano-Salow
Editors: Racquel Gluckstern, Noelle Knowlton & Lexi Fernandez
TEEN
ANGST
WRITER: LEXI FERNANDEZ
SHOOT STAFFERS: ALEXA MARTIN, VALLERIE KOLCZYNSKI, JOCELYN CAMPO
BEAUTY: EMMA KORNATOWSKI, HALEY MCPHERSON
MODELS: EMMA GRIGGITH, SHANNON KERN
PHOTOGRAPHERS: JORDYN DAIGLE, JOCELYN CAMPO
VIDEOGRAPHER: AMBER WHITE, VIVIANO ROJAS, JOELLE STRESSLER
LAYOUT: KATIE BOUCHER
From Moments to Memories
Outside, it was a crisp fifty-four degrees, and rain collided against the window in her bedroom in a torrential downpour, the rhythmic sound welcoming a stillness in her mind. With nothing better to do, she decided to clean her room, which was, admittedly, a total mess. Although she fully intended to sort through her clothes, wash her bedding, and vacuum the floors, she came across an old, tattered Converse shoe box filled to the brim with photos and notes from years ago.
Feeling nostalgic, she sat in the center of her bedroom floor sorting through photos, comforted by the soft fabric of her favorite sweatshirt. Several minutes passed, and she came across a series of pictures of her and her best friend, where they were, not to her surprise, having reckless, teenage fun. As the sound of the rain quieted, she remembered how eager the two of them had been to graduate, to be done with high school, and to move on to the next chapter of their lives. The kind of trouble they caused was never the type that would hurt anyone, and it was done out of a certain restlessness, a sense of urgency to grow up. And although the days of sneaking liquor into the bathroom at homecoming and sneaking out of their fifth-period history class were long behind them, their friendship remained.
The secrets they shared, the boys they chased, and the memories they made were precisely what helped shape her into the person she was today, and she realized this, overwhelmed by an unidentifiable emotion. Getting older meant spending less time together, seeing as she attended college in their home state, while her best friend ventured off to Tennessee for her degree. Nevertheless, their friendship stood the test of time, and whenever they stayed up late sharing stories on the phone, it felt as though they'd never been apart.
Moments that were seemingly insignificant to her before had soon become her most cherished memories. Perhaps it just took actually growing up to realize just how meaningful those laugh-until-you-cry moments were. There were times that she couldn't help but find herself missing the days when her best friend was always by her side, convincing her to go on yet another unpredictable adventure.
Today was one of those days.
With the thought of cleaning her room long forgotten, she reached for her phone and was suddenly startled by the blaring ringtone. Her best friend's contact appeared on the screen, illuminating her face, and she answered the call with a smile.
" I was actually just about to call you, " she said, " I was cleaning my room and found our old box of pictures. "
"
Rainy days call for reminiscing, " her friend replied. " Want some company? "
The two of them talked on the phone for hours, gossiping, reliving the time her parents caught them " borrowing " from the liquor cabinet and sneaking out to go to a party, and simply enjoying each others' company.
She soon realized that maybe growing up and getting older wasn't so bad after all, especially not if you had a best friend to navigate such an experience with.
power of our minds. The “222” we may see every day at exactly 2:22 pm will unfortunately not bring us eternal happiness. Sometimes, what we think gives us energy is not as powerful as it may seem at the moment. When we notice our angel numbers in a random place it may feel like the universe is communicating with us, but it can also be a facade and a manipulation of the mind. Sometimes, it is coincidental or even our circadian rhythm that forces us to turn our heads at the same time every day. It is better to associate symbols of luck with happiness than actual luck. Manifestation is as powerful as what we physically do. No number, symbol, or superstition will magically make us be the people we wish to be. We attract what we put into the world, not what a charm does for us. It is up to us, the physical mind and body, to create ourselves into the versions our “lucky charms” wish to.
Shoot Staffers: Angelika Ziemecki, Alexis Brown, Tyler Jones, Lalo Ambris, Emma
Edy Morris
Beauty: Brynn Lewin, Emily Rojo
Models: Gia Floyd, Yamile Abuid, Rafael
Olivia
Photographer: Milena Shakhnazaryan, Abby Marcil
Videography: Joelle Stressler, Renee
Rivas
Tik Tok: Taylor Smith
Brand Ambassador: Bree Spoonle
HOUR 1THE3th
...Look
...Look in the Mirror
in the Mirror
Shoot Staffers: Jackie Esguerra, Sophia Pinilla, Katie Jones, Eden Znaty
Model: Max Mitchell
Photographer: Abby Marcil
Layout: Clara Celedon
THE FINAL BETRAYAL
Written by: Matias Civita Editors: Lexi Fernandez & Racquel GlucksternThere are very few figures in history to claim to have nearly as much influence as the prophet of Christianity, Jesus Christ. His teachings continue to be preached worldwide nearly two millennia after his death. Viewed by Christians as the son of God and the ultimate redeemer of humanity’s sins, billions have sworn their devotion to him. Jesus died when he was betrayed by one of his twelve apostles, Judas, and crucified by the Romans occupying his homeland of Judea. Judas would later be excommunicated from the circle of apostles and replaced with Matthias, leaving Judas to be considered the outcast thirteenth apostle.
At the last meal Jesus Christ shared with his apostles during Passover, most scholars agree that an apostle will have to betray him as one of the least contested events to have happened in Jesus’ life. Here, Jesus is said to have predicted this through divine intuition. It is noted by many that Judas Iscariot was the thirteenth guest to arrive at the Last Supper. It added a new meaning to the day of Passover for Christians, while the Jewish understanding of this day was that of commemoration for the day that God had redeemed them from slavery and granted them freedom.
Despite the betrayal of Christianity’s most revered figure other than God himself, Judas’ actions and role in the Bible are crucial to the Christian religion. Judas’ act as the betrayer of Jesus led to his crucifixion, which, in turn, confirmed his divinity when he was resurrected three days later. After being brought back to life, he appeared to each of his apostles, urging them to spread his gospel of forgiveness all around the world.
While all four canonical gospels portray the same story, the Gospel of Matthew gives Judas the motivation of having betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, which he attempted to return out of guilt after Jesus’ death. Such an occurrence furthers an anti-greed and wealth sentiment that is prominent throughout Jesus’ preachings. There are multiple instances within the Bible (most notably in the Gospel of Matthew) where Jesus speaks of rich men having difficulty reaching Heaven and wealth being a master that cannot be worshiped in tandem with God.
Today, Judas’ name is synonymous with infamous traitors such as BruTtus, who assassinated Julius Caesar. The idea of those closest to us betraying us is one that scares most, which is likely the reason Judas has remained in the cultural consciousness so prominently outside of Christianity. But within it, it serves as a crucial lesson on greed and sin.
The Power Within The Deck
Although we may be accustomed to the traditional deck of cards that displays kings, queens, and jacks, the tarot Deck has grown in popularity as a tool for assisting individuals to interpret signs that are supposedly sent from the universe, such as a repetitive appearance of items in one’s life like numbers or an animal, and more. Hand-painted tarot cards were initially presented in Italy in the fourteenth century. Like other playing cards, the tarot was initially used as a game, eventually gaining popularity and spreading throughout Europe. Initially, there were four players, each of whom had eighteen cards—plus a “dog pile” of six cards. The bidding phase then proceeded. Each player was essentially attempting to demonstrate the strength of their belief in the points that their cards contained. There were ongoing tricks played amongst the participants, and the basic rules varied based on the culture of the players. The most valuable cards within the game were known as the “Honors’’ which consisted of the Fool, the Magician, and the World.
However, the tarot deck has evolved to possess a mysticality that has contributed to its influence and modern popularity. A Frenchman named Jean-Baptise Alliete wrote a book in the 18th century that offered comparisons between the idea of divination and tarot cards. He incorpo-
rated an element and a connection to astronomy into each card, allowing people to use the deck as a tool for introspection instead of a game. In the early 1900s, tarot cards were made available in the United States, and the Rider-Waite deck served as a manual for others to learn the meanings of the cards. Due to its mystique, the deck has been exaggerated in the extent of its powers and is often used in carnivals and other events. Though, the tarot deck was never meant to be used to foretell the future; it was meant to help people connect with their intuition and seek answers to questions.
The mystery within the tarot decks continues with card number 13, which often signifies death. Although death may be categorized as a doomed stage in life, in the world of tarot and spirituality, card number 13 can be associated with a metamorphosis of the self. By reading into the symbols of the card, clarity can be brought about signaling a new journey or beginning. The card is usually depicted with four figures greeting the Grim Reaper. The four characters consist of a young girl, a king, a man that looks like a pope, and a child holding a bouquet of flowers. These characters display how death doesn’t discriminate based on race, religion, age, socioeconomic status, or gender identity; the Reaper is the equalizer of the people. He dismantles hierarchy. Each of these characters shows an interpretation of death differently: the king displays how death disregards a person’s power, the pope is trying to negotiate with death, the girl is turning away—almost denying death, and the young boy is greeting death with flowers and open arms.
The thirteenth card possesses many dualities, for you can view this card through different lenses. The card’s principal meaning is to show the beauty of letting go of the old and stepping into a transformation of the self. Life is a cycle; without death and change, there can be no way for new aspects and entities to enter your life. Without letting go of things, there is no space for change and growth. The ability to grow as a person allows for a sense of freedom. Once you let go of the old, you choose what you bring into the new. There is a lot of fear surrounding death in our culture and an insistent obsession with youth. We don’t want to see death but, in reality, there is beauty in ending things that don’t serve you.
Writers: Natalie Willis & Emily Montarroyos / Editors: Jayna O & Lexi Fernandez
Shoot Staffers: Angelika Ziemecki, Alexis Brown, Tyler Jones, Lalo Ambris, Emma Edy Morris
Beauty: Addison Nance
Models: Brianna Souffran, Everett Reed, Roxana Chen
Photographer: Tess Passinault
Videographer: Tristan Reale
Layout: Abigail Endsley
Humans are imaginative creatures. We love to dream of an ethereal future, and we will do all we can to make it there. Whether it be designing life-transforming technology or sending a man to the moon, humans have always been persistent. Apollo 13 was a successful failure, something familiar to all of us on a much smaller scale.
In the past, the Apollo 13 mission was viewed as a potential catalyst for the futuristic society that never came to be. Society collectively hoped the mission would bring about a Star Trekesque future with flying cars, eradicated diseases, and hightech specs.
The society conceptualized for the 2020s and beyond never came to be. By now, we should have been flying through the air in cars or using jet packs to reach our world’s highest peaks. If these fantasies became reality, there would be tall, futuristic buildings made entirely of glass, and our energy would be entirely clean and sustainably sourced.
Still, we are forced to keep all four wheels on the ground. There are no holograms of historic figures floating in the air as beacons of transcendence, and there’s no cure for cancer. We, as humans, have an innate desire for
success, but those all too often become failures, instead. The Apollo 13 mission was simply a predecessor to the rest of our successful failures. On a small scale, we strive for validation in the unhealthiest ways, ranging from academics to corporate winnings. We will always have the desire to be the best and gain glory by becoming the savior of society. This isn’t a reality, but failing upward is always better than never trying at all.
Ever since many of us were young, we have always been amazed by the night sky. Its vast darkness, filled with little beams of light dazzling and dancing among each other, forming constellations and showing glimpses of galaxies far beyond what the naked eye can see. It wasn’t until we grew older that we realized the same night sky we grew so fond of when we were younger had also captured the attention of many who came before us. To them, the night sky symbolized a new beginning— a future yet to be discovered.
t u rnin g
Shoot Staffers: Jackie Esguerra, Sophia Pinilla, Katie Jones, Eden
Znaty
Beauty: Mariana Avila
Model: Summer Purks
Photographer: Abby Marcil
Videographer: Jenna Rosenbusch, Blake Boyar
Layout: Ninah Gibson
She hangs up and sifts through her nail polishes, trying to find the perfect color for the special day. Flirty Pink, Now You Sea Me, Miami Beet, or Mint Candy Apple. She always had a hard time picking a favorite color; if she picked just one, she felt bad for leaving the others out. Because of this, her braces are bubblegum pink, her iPod is blue, and her nails are soon to be a “Mint Candy Apple” green—until they inevitably chip at softball practice like they always did somehow. Then, Maddie arrives, J-14 and Double Stuf Oreos in hand. They liked to ip through magazines, page after page of teen heartthrobs.
After a few hours—one sleeve of Oreos down and ten fingernails messily painted—it was time for Maddie to go home.
“I gotta go, my mom said to be home before dark.”
“Okay, you promise you’ll wear a skirt with me tomorrow?”
“Pinky promise. I’ll come over tomorrow night for some cake and ice cream. Oh, and you too, I guess,” she said, grinning.
The following night, she, her family, and Maddie gathered around the yellow cake with chocolate frosting (her favorite) in the dining room. As she fidgeted with the ru es on her skirt, her mom lit the big, waxy numbers that read “13” on her cake. She knew once she blew those candles out, there was no going back. But she wasn’t afraid, she was thrilled and ready to take on whatever came her way. Some days will be harder than others. Some days, the world won’t seem as vibrant as it was when she was a kid. Whether it be “Mint Candy Apple” green or bubblegum pink, one day she’ll be wishing for just a little more splash of color in her life. But, for now, she is free.
she is thirteen.
THE LURE TO THE FORBIDDEN
WRITTEN BY: LUCIA VILLANUSTRE
EDITED BY: RACQUEL GLUCKSTERN & LEXI FERNANDEZ
LUCK THE DRAW OF
Shoot Staffers: Anisa Velazquez, Tia Kearney, Brianna Piderit, Jamie
Mandeville
Beauty: Emma Kornatowski, Emily Rojo
Models: Kamilla Knyazeva, Anjulina Chukwu, Monica Francis, Nelson Sawyer, Amarachi Ujagbor
Photographer: Olivia Rodriguez, Abby Marcil
Videographer: RJ Banez, Matthew Stember
Layout: Chloe Evers
“Is it better to try and fail than to not try at all?”
THE WORST PART IS WE NEVER LEARN.
THE GAME OF
Is it better to try and fail than to not try at all? For most of us, every signi cant decision we make takes substantial consideration and thorough evaluation. We weigh the pros and the cons in charts, graphs, and group chats before reaching any semblance of a decision. We pursue scenarios that result in a predetermined outcome. We know where it will take us and how it will all play out. We shy away from things that are not guaranteed and are unfamiliar to us.
But if we refrain from trying new things, how will we grow? Are we locking away versions of ourselves by refraining from taking chances? Sure, not everything goes exactly as we expect it to, but instead of viewing that as a loss, we should focus on what we have learned from the new experience. Life isn’t going to be perfect whether you play it safe or not, so there’s nothing to lose when taking a chance. ose who truly rise above are the ones who roll the dice and place the bets when others are too
WRITTEN BY DANA LIBERTO, LAYNE SCHULTE, & NIKKI COHEN EDITED BY ADDY CROSBY, NOELLE KNOWLTON, & LEXI FERNANDEZgoal in life, is to have the mindset of no longer gambling happiness. I want to make every hour studying, every moment, and every sip worth it—not just in the long run, but in the present moment. Life is too short to waste it on things that have already been wasted.
As a society, we are motivated by our wants, cravings, and desires. Typically, these are provoked by powerful emotions. We will not stop until the heart is happy, even if that means risking our mental health and well-being. What’s more important: love and passion, or maintaining one’s personal balance? You chase a er someone you’re madly in love with, even if the feeling is not reciprocated. However, to keep ourselves sane, we convince ourselves that they are. We are all guilty of it—it is human nature to follow your heart even if it logically does not make sense.
e worst part is we never learn. e heart wants what it wants in a constant cycle that ends in heartache, even though you envisioned it would end the way you dreamed it would. If we all follow our hearts rather than our head, why is it that we still feel such an ache? Has empathy disappeared?
afraid to even try. e next time you nd yourself at a fork in the road, consider taking the road less traveled. Let’s see where it takes you.
We inherently put all of our eggs in one basket, even if that basket has a massive hole in it, or the eggs are no longer viable. An obvious example of this is when students pursue a degree for a relatively taxing career. It may take until the third year of medical school to realize you are burnt out, exhausted, and unhappy. But you already put three years of e ort in and don’t want that hard work and dedication to go to waste. is is a re ection of the sunk cost fallacy. You could be gambling away a chance for happiness over a chance for success. Less noticeable examples of this concept include buying a cup of co ee that nauseates you at the rst sip, but you spent $6.78 on it! You can’t let that money go to waste. But isn’t the money already wasted? Whether you drink the co ee or not, your $6.78 is gone—already spent. You might as well throw it away or get a new co ee that you can get your calories’ worth of enjoyment. My advice, and current
e heart is powerful. It beats over 100,000 times a day. Every cell in your body gets blood from your heart. Your heart continues to beat even when it is no longer within you. How are we supposed to ignore the electrical powerhouse within us, even when the mind is telling us not to? We, as humans, are powerful, hungry animals. Our passion, our love, is what drives us to pursue what is racing deep in our minds. Our hearts cannot be tamed.
If we refrain from trying new things, HOW WILL WE GROW?
SHOOT STAFFERS: Anisa Velazquez, Tia Kearney, Brianna Piderit, Jamie Mandeville BEAUTY: Brynn Lewin, Emily Rojo
MODELS: Shadaria Jackson, Tia Kearney PHOTOGRAPHER: Kevin Farley, Widad Muhammad VIDEOGRAPHER: Mary Tierney LAYOUT: Chloe Evers
“HER SENSUALITY. HER WOMANHOOD. HER WORTH.”WRITTEN BY Noelle Knowlton EDITED BY Lexi Fernandez
I’m all but washed up in the tide of her breathing. Hozier croons a reverent ballad, her siren song. It is like the sea. e sonic soundscape of his whispers caresses her like the lull of the crashing surf, echoing in her mind as if reverberating the distant hum within a conch shell. His rippling falsetto smooths the shore in an opalescent gleam, as glossy as the saltbrined hair slicked down her back, receding into the night.
Engulfed in a stillness, she surrenders herself to the unrelenting sway of waves of waves of waves. Shards of moonlight shatter the current of glassy oblivion as she slips below the surface, gilding her descent into the obsidian abyss in an aura of incandescent silver. Her dress bores up in the ebb and ow of the water, silken and bare in the shadow of his touch. She becomes consumed by the water, lling the recesses of her lungs as he was once all-consuming.
Choking down the water, each swallow sealed her fate. But her watery grave became her refuge.
e part of him that lived within her died And she was born anew in a briny baptism that cleansed her of the lth of his desires.
Drowning.
In the sea of love. Where everyone would love to drown.
ey better bind him to the mast, lest he never returns to Ithaca, as she herself is past the point of no return.
Transformed into a creature of temptation, forged by his image of her.
She serenades him with her homeric hymn, an anthem of femininity like Stevie Nicks’ hypnotic rhapsody, our witchy woman, a modern Circe.
She saunters in the moonlight— a divine, mythical, celestial being bathed in the glow of her muliebrity.
She has reclaimed her allure. Her sensuality. Her womanhood. Her worth.
As she lures him to the water’s edge with this refrain, he presumes that he will be blessed with the opportunity to claim her, to degrade her.
But when they embrace, his fate is sealed in a kiss of death and she drowns him in the very waters that puri ed her of him.
cup unsalted butter,* softened cup firmly packed light brown sugar
cup unsalted butter,* softened cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar large eggs (100 grams) tablespoon vanilla bean paste
2/3 cup granulated sugar large eggs (100 grams) tablespoon vanilla bean paste
2/3 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
2/3 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
3/4teaspoon (2.25 grams) kosher salt cups semisweet chocolate morsels*
3/4teaspoon (2.25 grams) kosher salt cups semisweet chocolate morsels* flour, baking soda, and salt.
Gently stir in chocoa 1-tablespoon scoop, leastn spatula, remove from completely on wire racks. airtight container at room tem-
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sugar
all-purpose flour
Shoot Staffers: Alexa Martin, Vallerie Kolczynski, Kassidy
Saba, Jocelyn Campo
Beauty: Emily Rojo
Model: Mikell Mills
Photographer: Alex Suarez, Jordyn Daigle, Joceyln
Campo
Videographer: Britnee
Blake, Blake Boyar
Layout: Clara Celedon
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Throughout history, we have observed significant changes in women’s societal standing. My friend’s grandmother was not allowed to have a credit card in her name, and at the same age, her granddaughter was able to tour law schools. The majority of my relatives got married directly after high school or college, and the college experience I’ve come to know is devoid of commitment. The list could go on forever, but the bottom line is it is less common to see a June Cleaver in the media than it is to see an Annalise Keating.
Women in contemporary Western society are less susceptible to falling victim to strict gender roles, a feat made possible through the feminist movement: women’s suffrage, access to education, division of labor within and outside the home, and equitable pay with men, to name a few. Thanks to the efforts of Betty Friedan, bell hooks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and countless others, women are afforded the ability to decide their futures independently and confidently. While the aspiration to have children and focus on parenthood applies to some women today, it is comforting to know that these are choices they can make rather than a fate they must accept.
Gender roles are undoubtedly more fluid today than they were in previous decades - an incredible gift in many respects. Having the ability to pursue a career I am passionate about, keep a last name I am proud of, and even run in the Boston Marathon are all decisions I would not be able to
make if the restrictions against women still applied today.
Those who identify as a woman are all too aware of the fact that despite the significant strides that have been made, discrimination based on sex and gender is alive and well today - and likely always will be.
Last year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which recognized the right to an abortion, in a 6-3 ruling. The cost of feminine hygiene products is on the rise. In the workplace, women still earn less from a financial standpoint than their male counterparts. In addition, workplace harassment contributes to a slew of other challenges such as mental health conditions, the existence of the glass ceiling, and disempowerment in one’s capabilities.
Feminism is the effort to ensure women and every individual are afforded the same rights and freedoms as those who inherently possess societal privilege, free from discrimination based on gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation. There is still progress to be made- but we must be encouraged by the fact that the efforts of the aforementioned feminist icons and the ones to come are not in vain. As we approach significant milestones in our lives and demonstrate our right to decide our future, we must reflect upon how different life for women in Western society looks than it would have been fifty years ago. It is with that perspective that we can truly resonate with the sentiment ‘How I love being a woman!’
Stop asking others for directions to places they’ve never been.
There is truth in the sentiment that the most powerful of individuals are those who do not require validation from anyone. They know their own mind, and they are confident in their ability. There is no such thing as a threshold for an individual’s authenticity or one’s selfassurance- it simply does not exist. The concept itself is, naturally, abstract, for the possession of such strength begins and ends with one’s mind, and it is left to us to utilize this tool as we deem appropriate. If there is one thing we must remember, let it be this: what we give power to has power over us.
With each day that we navigate, judgment is an inevitable element of our existence. To say that we are free of unwarranted critique from those who observe our behavior would encourage a belief in such a falsehood, and there is simply nothing to gain from lying to ourselves. Instead, find catharsis in the fact that judgment is inescapable- this notion should serve as a motivator to be unapologetic in our self-expression. Take into consideration the pang of regret that we experience when reflecting upon missed opportunities and understand that, whether it be out of fear of judgment or avoidance of hearing the word “no”, the possibility of experiencing something great was abandoned. To go about each day yearning for reassurance from others is to relinquish our capacity to live for the most important person- ourselves.
By abandoning the notion that we must seek external validation, we develop such a captivating presence that fills the rooms we walk through, catches the attention of the people we see in passing, and instills confidence within ourselves, unlike anything we’ve ever come to know. There is no need for our hands to be held as we decide to step outside of our comfort zone, to take risks, for we were capable of instilling such a change all along. Our perspective serves as the landscape around which our reality revolves. It is often the case that we do not recognize, ever, that our decisions need not be confirmed by those around us, or that we
are capable of individualistic change, or that we would ultimately like ourselves, even just a little bit more, when we stop paying attention to everyone else.
Such logic is not devoid of all reason, for it is not to say that we must act without regard for others. Rather, we must seek a more meaningful understanding of ourselves, of our existence, as opposed to finding purpose on a surface level. Living to please others may make us more well-liked; however, we are often suppressing our capacity to articulate our thoughts with confidence in doing so. There are far too many mediocre things in life, and we must not let ourselves be one of them. Authenticity, especially in a society defined by an innate desire to impress others, and to keep up with the times, is difficult to come by. Those who live unapologetically demonstrate a level of genuineness that we should all aspire to reach. They listen to others without interrupting, speak without hesitation, and offer assistance without the expectation of a reward.
Ultimately, we are going to be judged by others for the decisions that we make and the words we speak, so it is in our best interest to pursue what gives us purpose. We must not give the potential critiques of others the power to define our human experience, for we will never find authenticity in others’ perspectives. There is never, under any circumstance, a reason that we should apologize for the emotions we feel, the things we long for, or our desire to put ourselves first. Let this serve as a reminder that it is perfectly okay to be selfish at times. And remember, what we give power to has power over us.
Shoot Staffers: Tabitha
Labrato, Abby Marcil
Beauty: Emma
Kornatowski
Model: Sarah Kwara
Photography: Abby
Marcil
The number thirteen is a polarizing, mystical, powerful number. It means different things in different contexts, but one thing is for certain: symbolically, it is strong. There is a concealed magic to it that communicates intense bad luck, or astonishing good fortune, depending on the perspective of the individual who encounters it. The angel number thirteen is indicative of new beginnings, hope, guidance, and peace: referencing death but ultimately pointing toward rebirth. While powerful on its own, the number thirteen draws much of its power from the numbers 1 and 3 individually. 1 signifying newness and birth, and 3 representing hope, wisdom, balance, and positivity. The merger of these two numbers is guaranteed to make something that stands apart from the rest, a number so commanding that people can’t help but feel it’s meaningful in some way, shape, or form.
