Humor: Bad advice

NEED (BAD) ADVICE?

You asked (really), we answered (badly)

SAEHEE PEREZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Class of ‘23

In love with a straight girl. Please help

Unfortunate situation, but try looking into the root cause of the issue.

Have you ever considered that you turned her straight? If not, consider it a possibility and move on to the next girl. Or, give her the benefit of the doubt—maybe she’s not actually straight. Try hitting on her, and if it goes poorly, pretend you normally flirt with all of your friends.

Class of ‘25

I need advice on how to consult two of my friends that have a bad friendship

Class of ‘24

How do I figure out what I want to do with my life? Career, major, college? Marriage? Home? How do I know what I want? Make them fight to the death.

If you haven’t decided your college and major before entering middle school, I’m not sure if McLean is the right place for you. At this point, avoid thinking about it for as long as possible. It’s not like you’ll suddenly figure it out in the next year anyways.

When it comes to home and marriage, try talking to people your age first. I’m not sure what kind of junior would ask their high school publication about their future marriage life.

Class of ‘26

I have a crush on this girl that I wanna take to homecoming, but I’m not close with her and she’s in two of my classes

Ask her to homecoming, and drop the classes if she says no.

10 Qs WITH MEGHAN PERCIVAL

PYSCHOLOGY & photojournalism TEACHER yearbook adviser

Reporting & top photo by Sarah Soltani Bottom photo courtesy of Meghan Percival

1

What are three items on your bucket list?

I want to go to Australia and New Zealand. I would like to spend a month on a boat, like a sailboat or cruise ship. And I would like to do a really big road trip of the United States and visit the states I haven’t seen yet.

2What is your all-time favorite movie? While You Were Sleeping. 4

If you could only listen to one artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?

Lizzo.

8

Shark diving, bungee jumping or skydiving?

Skydiving.

3

If you could open any restaurant, what would its name be and what food would be served?

It would be called Saucy, and everything would come with a dipping sauce. Even the dessert could have caramel sauce or chocolate sauce. I love sauce. 5 I’ve been rewatching 9 Community. I really love it. I think it would be great if there was a new series very similar to Community but based on a dog park. I have some ideas.

6If you were a fall food, what food would you be?

What was your most recent Why did you decide TV show binge? to teach both Photojournalism/Yearbook and Psychology?

They’re both about learning more about people. I think psychology gives us a scientific lens to explore what makes people think the way they think and do the things they do. Journalism tells people that their stories are important and shares those stories with a greater audience, so I think they are An apple cider donut. actually more alike than people would think at first glance.

7Do you have any pets?

My golden retriever, Rory [named after the Gilmore Girls character]. I really like the show. I liked that Rory loved books and coffee and that she could talk fast and had quirky neighbors.

10

What superstitions do you have?

I make a wish when it’s 11:11.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT DID YOU KNOW?

Behind the scenes of McLean’s newest information outlet

HALEY RIGGINS REPORTER

Caught in action — Woobin Cho films math teacher Adam Newburger and counselor Greg Olcott for the closing of their Sept. 20 episode of Did You Know? The duo uses various locations around McLean as their studio.

Who is Behind did you know?

Viewers know them as the McDudes, McPals, McLads and McFriends. Greg Olcott, McLean’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Wellness Lead, and math teacher Adam Newburger were asked by administrators to take on this project.

“Whether it’s helping students transition to McLean, communicate or problem solve, it gives me a way to get students the resources they need,” Olcott said.

Video editing is a long-time hobby of Newburger’s. His prior experience gave him the qualifications to provide technology assistance for the production of Did You Know?

“[Newburger] is like the DJ Premier making these videos,” Olcott said.

What is the point of Did you know?

The purpose seems simple: distributing schoolwide information from a single source.

“It’s very easy for everyone to do what we’re supposed to do when you all hear it from the same person,” Newburger said.

There are a lot of different components to the program. Did You Know? fulfills the mandatory SEL lessons provided by the county and is a way to teach students skills they need to be successful at McLean.

“Whether it’s self-regulation, communication or stress management, [Did You Know?] is a great platform to get our student body the resources they need,” Olcott said.

Where Did it originate?

Advisory was McLean’s attempt to provide important information and SEL lessons to students last year. McLeaders and teachers struggled to get the same information out to all students in a manner that respected McLeaders’ and teachers’ other commitments. “I felt bad that we were asking those students to do so much more than they already were,” Olcott said.

Having Did You Know?available at the click of a button helps take away pressure created by advisory last year.

“It makes it easier for all the teachers because they can focus on doing all [their own] content,” Newburger said. “It’s something I’m really happy we can take off their plate.”

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT watching?

The first episodes of Did You Know? were focused on school rules and expectations, but upcoming episodes have a lot of screen time to fill, and Olcott and Newburger want students to contribute.

“We need students to help us see what needs to be covered,” Olcott said.

The duo is working to catch the attention of viewers for 10 to 15 minutes on topics ranging from math homework to TikTok.

“We’re trying to get as many people involved as possible because the more people that are in it, the more people that will want to watch it,” Newburger said. “It’s more fun for us and it’s more fun for all of you.”

academics abroad

Transfer students adapt to life in the U.S.

SOPHIA WEIL REPORTER

MIO OGINO – JAPAN

Junior Mio Ogino is from Fuchu, a city on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan. She lived in Concord, Massachusetts, for three years. In March 2022, she got the opportunity to return to the U.S., beginning a new adventure in McLean.

In many Japanese high schools, students must follow stricter rules than those in the U.S. She had to wear a uniform and could not dye her hair or have piercings.

“It is really strict [in Japan], but in American high schools, students get to express themselves through how they want to dress,” Ogino said.

She appreciates students’ ability to showcase their individuality in the classroom.

“American students have their own thoughts and opinions, and I was really surprised by that,” Ogino said. “I was asked about my opinions in class.”

Ogino is grateful for her smooth transition to McLean and how she has been treated at school.

“I thought I was going to be treated [differently] when I came [here],” Ogino said. “I’m really glad that I’m treated like the other students at McLean.”

WESAAM TAYEB – SAUDI ARABIA

Sophomore Wesaam Tayeb moved from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after convincing his parents to move to the U.S. three months ago. Tayeb has been introduced to a new life in McLean.

In Saudi Arabia, Tayeb was taught using American curriculum, but he has noticed some significant differences between each nation’s educational practices.

“In Saudi Arabia, boys and girls were in separate buildings. I’ve never studied under a female teacher,” Tayeb said. “Now that we’re in the 21st century, things are [becoming] open minded, but [it] isn’t like it is here.”

Tayeb has also seen some cultural differences between the two countries.

“In the same group where you are sitting, there are Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus,” Tayeb said.

Tayeb plans to remain in the U.S. for college and hopes to continue to pursue his passion for basketball.

“I played basketball since I was young in Saudi Arabia, and I just dreamed to come play here,” Tayeb said.

Neyla Benomar-Iza – FRANCE

Junior Neyla Benomar-Iza moved to

McLean from Cap d’Agde in the South of France last August. She is enrolled as a foreign exchange student and is currently living with a host family for one year.

Although she has faced some challenges speaking English and transitioning to life in the U.S., she is surrounded by people who are helping her learn.

“My English teacher is nice, and there are other students who don’t really speak English well, so I’m not alone,” BenomarIza said.

She enjoys high school and is looking forward to living life in the U.S. to the fullest.

“I like prom, homecoming, Halloween and football games,” Benomar-Iza said.

She encourages other transfer students to enjoy their experience and to be confident as they transition to a new school.

“[Students moving to another country] don’t need to be scared, and people are friendly,” Benomar-Iza said. “They can just go and believe in themselves.”