November 2021 by The Arcadia Quill

the arcadia quill @arcadiaquill

ISSUE 3 VOLUME 69

NOVEMBER 2021

EST. 1952

Anita May Baldwin Statue

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ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL By KAI WETTERAU

180 CAMPUS DRIVE ARCADIA, CA 91006

Staff Writer A new statue was unveiled on Oct. 25, honoring Arcadian Anita May Baldwin for her efforts in improving Arcadia after its founding in 1903. It is located directly on the side of the property of the Le Méridien Hotel on Huntington Drive and was constructed by Southern Californian artist Alfred Paredes. This monument has been worked on with great input from many groups, from the Arcadia Historical Society and the City of Arcadia to the descendants of the Baldwin family themselves. It shows the true extent to which Anita Baldwin ran Arcadia after her late father, Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin passed away in 1903. Being a woman, it was hard for Anita to take her father’s projects, as she faced much discourse and discrimination from the Arcadians in power at the time. Her most famous accomplishment in Arcadia was redeveloping the nationally recognized horse race track, the Santa Anita Racetrack, along with Joseph M. Smoot. This came after the track had closed down and was burned to the ground, making the modernization quite

to the teenagers out there [pg 7] Being a teenager is hard in a multitude of ways. Keeping up with your friends, carrying the expectations of your family, and finding time to have fun can be overwhelming at times. To all the teenagers out there, here are some rules to live by and remembe and ways to stay positive (from a fellow teen)... Photo courtesy of WE HEART IT

the feat to accomplish. Baldwin also founded a hospital in Los Angeles and allowed some of her family’s land to be used as a training ground for the Ross Field Balloon School during World War I. The statue, titled, “A Legacy of Charity,” truly shows how much goodwill Baldwin did throughout her life, as well as commemorating someone who changed Arcadia for the better and making many parts of it what it is today. It will sit near the monument of Lucky Baldwin, constructed in 2013, allowing these two figures to be collectively recognized as two parts of a greater whole. The sculptor tasked with creating this masterpiece was Alfred Paredes, who had already gone and made the Lucky Baldwin statue earlier. He is from Thousand Oaks, a Californian through and through, and had been ready to take this opportunity up with great dignity and respect. In a public comment, he remarked, “I am once again honored to be given the privilege and challenge of continuing the Baldwin family legacy through the art of public monuments. Anita Baldwin was a woman of great character with a generous and charitable spirit.” This

what's inside

AHS thanksgiving traditions [pg 8]

Photo courtesy of THE DAILY MEAL

comes amongst his work on many other pieces of work at the same time, such as “Side-by-Cyclops.” He has been proud of his work on the statue and has Anita Baldwin shown sitting down gracefully as she stares in the distance. Another public statement sent out by current Arcadia mayor Sho Tay was released, saying “We are very excited to be bringing Anita back to Arcadia. I would like to thank the Shen, Liu and Chen Families, Jeff Lee, the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation, Heather D. Gibson and Margaux L. Gibson, and the Arcadia Historical Society, for their generous donations.” Clearly, Anita May Baldwin was an influential figure in the history of Arcadia, and is now correctly dignified as such. Her statue, a symbol of her legacy, will live on for the upcoming years, and most probably for decades to come.

kwetterau@arcadiaquill.com Photo Courtesy of AMANDA CHANG

band at mt. carmel [pg 13] Our Arcadia High School (AHS) Marching Band performed its annual competition at Mt. Carmel High School all the way out in San Diego where the members performed in a parade and a field show on Oct. 30. Each member who participated did their best... Photo courtesy of ARUNA ANATHANARAYANAN and DIANA BABAPOUR

POLICY

Staff Writers: Caitlyn Chau, Serena Chin, Aahana Dutta, Dhruti Kulkarni, Kai Wetterau, Stephanie Wang, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Emmaline Pan, Vanessa Valentino, Darin Buenaluz, Kate De Prima, Sabrina Lo, Lorin Teng, Michelle So, Henrina Zhang, Ashley Chan, Wesley Chen, Sohana Sahni, Anna Odell, Maryam Sadeghifard, Kira Camacho, Vritti Godani, Madison Yee, Sophia Li Media Staff: Caitlyn Chau, Vanessa Valentino, Lorin Teng, Kate De Prima, Wesley Chen, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Emmaline Pan, Madison Yee Advisor: Mrs. Lesley Lee

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NOVEMBER 2021

Social Media & Comments Social media will be used to promote appropriate media, to promote published content, and to engage with Arcadia and Arcadia High School’s community. The Editorial Board reserves the right to remove comments deemed inappropriate, offensive, or threatening. The information posted on social media platforms (i.e. Instagram) will be held to the same standards as all other reporting in terms of information gathering and factchecking. Bylines If more than one person works on a story or an editor has to rewrite a significant portion of a story (as determined by the editor), all names of contributing writers will be listed on the byline of the article. All articles, graphics, photos, and other media, with the exception of staff photos, will be bylined with the photographer or contributor’s name. All bylined writers will be held accountable for their work and the information contained within. Editorial Policy The Arcadia Quill will not print anything in our publication (online or print) that is deemed libelous, obscene, or otherwise offensive or inappropriate, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s justified standards. Rights are reserved to postpone, edit or withhold from publication anything submitted which does not meet the specifications. Unsigned editorials represent the view of The Arcadia Quill Editorial Board. It does not necessarily represent the view of other Quill staff members. The Arcadia Quill refuses to print criticism which is not constructive and not supported by fact or evidence. The editors and adviser will make the final decision on all material appearing in The Arcadia Quill.

Editors-in-Chief: Kylie Ha, Robison Lee, Anya Yang News Editors: Leslie Chen and Lilian Chong Opinion Editors: Catherine Chan and Enzo Goebel Features Editor: Jorge Espinoza-Gonzalez Arts & Entertainment Editor: Pamina Yung Sports Editor: Zoe Lin Media Editor: Amanda Chang Campus Focus Editors: Ashley Zhao and Chloe Wong Publicity Managers: Becky Chen and Rebecca Tao

The Arcadia Quill will not intentionally invade the privacy of any person or publish facts and quotes given off the record. Opinions will be clearly marked and found on the editorial pages or as designated on other pages (i.e.- front page). Signed opinion articles and commentary are the expressed opinions of the author and not of The Arcadia Quill and its editorial board, adviser, or Arcadia High School’s faculty or school board. Staff members are guided by the Canons of Journalism of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, a code of ethics which outlines the principles of responsibility, fairness, and accuracy. Corrections Policy Corrections will be printed when brought to the attention of the staff. Original stories will carry bylines but additional contributors to a story will be listed on the byline. Plagiarism Plagiarism of any form will not be tolerated. Story ideas and article content are to remain completely original with the exception of the use of outside graphics/images/ quotes, which are to be duly credited. Quotes Quotes are representative of a single opinion; they do not represent the beliefs of the student body and staff. Quotes are to be written in past tense with the correct style guide format.

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NOVEMBER 2021

ms. wang

By LESLIE CHEN & ASHLEY ZHAO Editors

APPRECIATION

matter the inquiry, Ms. Wang answers with an educator’s professionalism and a genuine devotion to see her students succeed. Although the challenge of preparing for the AP exam in May was only amplified by the pandemic, Ms. Wang was never short on review materials for her students. Her “need statement” tests helped foster a solid grasp of the formulas and concepts essential to know for the AP test. A surplus of mock tests and timed free response questions were always available to students looking for extra practice. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Ms. Wang’s class is not just finding derivatives or limits, but the life lessons she instills in her students. She pushes for her students to ask questions, have confidence in their abilities, and work for their goals. A good grade isn’t handed out like candy; it’s earned through students’ own efforts. Even if her exams aren’t especially easy, high grades are definitely achievable with hard work and determination. In her class, students strengthen their math skills and foster a strong work ethic. No matter the challenge, Ms. Wang time and time again has shown that she is a teacher whose passion for math and education shines in every class she teaches.

Teachers play a vital role in their students’ development, both inside and outside the classroom. A great teacher is one who provides guidance and assistance, serves as a support system, and most importantly, instills in each student a love for life-long learning. With COVID-19 relocating classes to distance learning, teachers had to all of a sudden modify their lesson plans to adapt to a new block schedule. Not only that, but many students struggled to maintain focus and build a solid connection with their teachers. But even with the unprecedented challenges of online school, Ms. Sharyn Wang provided every one of her students with an invaluable, enriching learning experience. Among the many courses offered at Arcadia High School, AP Calculus AB is an intimidating one, jampacked with complicated theorems and brand new concepts. However, Ms. Wang’s clear and patient explanations ensure that no student is left behind feeling confused. When going over homework, mistakes are never condemned, rather patiently analyzed, as she takes the time to work with students individually to figure out what went wrong. She is always open to questions during class or after school during her daily office hours, where students can pop in to clear up lchen@arcadiaquill.com misunderstandings or have a quick chat. No azhao@arcadiaquill.com

p a

gov team unit 5

By ANYA YANG

Editor-in-Chief

tory reminder of the various trips we’ve taken (Japanese supermarkets, Valencia, ice cream, and more). Jenny Park, feisty and compassionate, is always there to offer a piece of wildly delicious cake from her lunchbox. Her adaptability makes her the ultimate person with whom to undertake a two-person Chambers, and she never fails to make the group smile. Our excursions remind me to find joy in spontaneity. Memories of a special visit to Six Flags on a regular Thursday night encourage me to seek out the neon-colored moments of life with the people who make me happy. Spontaneous driving lessons down windy Arcadia streets provide me with practical threepoint turn knowledge, but also prompt me to reverse out of my comfort zone and speed through the haze of uncertainty. I’m thankful to everyone in Unit 5 for making Gov Team feel like family. There’s a sense of familiarity when I step into J-207, knowing that our trusty table group is about to be the loudest one in the room yet again. And nothing compares to the moral support from each member; with every venture I’ve taken on, I’ve gotten nothing but encouragement in our lovely purple Messenger group chat. To Unit 5: I hope our adventures after Sir Garry’s coach meetings never end. I can’t wait for the $3 Pizookies next week, and the week after that. Thank you for making Gov Team amazing.

From the outside, Unit 5 may seem like just another subunit of Gov Team. But take a look inside, and you’ll see that there’s a lot more to us than the Bill of Rights. Unit 5 is a team that chases adventure, success, and Constitutional excellence all in one fell swoop. We celebrate the hours spent reviewing Supreme Court cases with a 10 p.m. boba run in the middle of a thunderstorm. Alex’s trusty car dodges both lightning bolts and curfews to obtain highly sought-after (albeit slightly mediocre) Boba Ave Oreo milkshakes. The group dynamic comes alive with the quirks of each member. My four teammates are all special in their own ways, and our personalities mesh in a way that can make even the most boring meetings an adventure. Yana Verma, fueled by Daiso Legos and a desire for excellence, leads the lively conversations over late-night Thai dinners and uplifts the team in moments of distress. She pushes us to do our best, and we always do when she’s around. Rachel Wang, hard-working and kind, is quick to lend a helping hand– whether it’s with a bad parking job or a last-minute draft revision. Her house, familiar to us with its roaming cats, serves as the ultimate rendezvous point for Unit 5. Alex Fang is perpetually ready for adventure. His car’s lemon-scented air freshener is familiar to everyone, and it serves as an olfac- ayang@arcadiaquill.com

o i t n a i m c e o r nt p

NEWS

MIT SCIENCE BOWL INVITATIONAL

By KIRA CAMACHO

Staff Writer The Arcadia High School (AHS) Science Bowl team participated in the MIT Science Bowl Invitational on Nov. 6. The National Science Bowl (NSB) is a highly competitive academic event among teams of high school and middle school students. They compete in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and questions in science and math. There are four students on each team, an alternate student, and a coach. \ Because of COVID, the competition took an online format this year. MIT organized and sent out a set of Zoom links to rotate teams around. They also organized an online system for the buzzer. Senior Ophelia Lu explained that the team communicated through Discord when they weren’t playing. “The event was pretty well organized,” said Lu. “Our coach received timely email[s] with new Zoom links. I would say it was quite smooth for us. The buzzer system was good most of the time too.” During the competition, a wide variety of difficult questions were asked. Since each person studying each topic would be too difficult, the team divided and conquered. Each student specialized in various subjects and subtopics. “We specialize in different subjects but there are overlaps. Within each subject we have subtopics too,” said Lu. “For example, one bio specialist can be especially skilled in genetics while another is in anatomy. But as bio specialists we all know those subtopics at least a bit, it’s just how much we know about each subtopic.”

Each individual on the team has a different strategy to study. Junior Brian Lam, for example, studies off of different websites. Lu finds that the textbook on different subjects helps the most.Lu said her specialties are biology, chemistry, energy, earth, and space. Some of the other topics include math, physics, and astronomy. In addition to individual studying, the team also practices together Fridays after school and Sunday mornings with old science bowl questions from the DOE website. The team’s hard work for this difficult competition really paid off. Last year, the team made it into double elimination with 16 teams remaining. This elimination produces first, second, third, and fourth-place teams. The competition is out of teams and not schools because some schools send multiple teams. The top two high school teams receive trips to one of the National Parks. The top three middle and high school teams receive a trophy, medals, and photographs with officials of the Department of Energy. The top 16 middle and high schools also earn a check for their school’s science departments. As their score increases, so does the amount of prize money. This year, AHS placed 3rd out of 48 teams in the nation. Congratulations to the Science Bowl team, along with notable mentions: Jeshwanth Monath, Sonia Zhang, Brian Lam, Xing Liu, and Ophelia Lu!

kcamacho@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of MAXPIXEL.COM

THE U.S. IS BACK IN THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMEENT arcadiaquill.com

By MICHELLE SO

Staff Writer

NOVEMBER 2021

ald Trump drew out of the Paris Climate Agreement, encouraged a more coal-based economy, and removed funding from ecological preservations. Although the carbon emissions in the last four years have been decreasing, they have not followed the downward trend predicted prior to Trump taking office. At COP26, President Joe Biden apologized for his predecessor’s actions towards climate change, saying “I do apologize for the fact that the United States, in the last administration, pulled out of the Paris Accord.” So, how will this affect you? As an individual, there will be no immediate impacts from the U.S. coming back into the Paris Accord. However, more legislation will be focused on reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that make it into the atmosphere. This may happen in the form of greater tax reductions for using clean energy such as solar or electric cars, as they do not require burning limited resources to acquire energy. Biden’s plans may also be overly optimistic, as his current goal is to cut U.S. carbon emissions in half by the year 2030. His aggressive approach is seen as both unrealistic and long overdue, as the world is dreadfully approaching the 2℃ maximum. “The United States, if I have anything to do with it, we’ll do our part,” he vowed.

The 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) is a conference in which United Nations leaders gather to discuss strategies to combat climate change. This year, hosted by the UK and Italy, leaders met up in Glasgow, Scotland from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was an international treaty signed in 1992 that laid out the basic guidelines for countries to effectively combat climate change. The plan involves expectations that nations rise above borders to work against global warming. Since then, the treaty has been updated several times, including once in 2015 in Paris, France. There, the threshold of global warming was set to 2℃ to avoid permanent damage to the Earth. That alliance, known as the Paris Climate Agreement or the Paris Accord, has made headlines again due to the U.S. rejoining it. As a major world power, the U.S.’ decision holds much significance in terms of influencing smaller countries around the world. With this year’s goal set to reach net zero carbon emissions by the end of the century, it is crucial that there is as much global participation as possible. With the Trump administration in office in the last four years, the U.S.’ climate policy took a turn for the worse. All progress towards mso@arcadiaquill.com going green reverted to square one when Don- Graphic courtesy of NOUNPROJECT.COM

LA COUNTY STARTS TO LIFT MASK REQUIREMENTS

By MARYAM SADEGHIFARD Staff Writer With the decline in COVID cases, Los Angeles (LA) County is taking its first step toward lifting mandates. Mask requirements in LA have been very strict, requiring all to wear masks when inside any facility and not allowing entrance to grocery stores or other places if you do not comply. On Nov. 4, LA County Public Health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer explained the criteria that those in LA county must take for this mandate to be lifted on large outdoor events and indoor events with less than 1,000 people. In order for the mandate to be lifted on these gatherings, we first must have three weeks with moderate virus transmission as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “That means it must have a cumulative

seven-day new case rate of less than 50 per 100,000 residents.” reported CBS. At this current time, LA County is at 83 per 100,000 residents in COVID cases. In an estimate given it states by Nov. of next year the mask mandate for this given criteria will be reached. The other criteria which needs to be met involve low hospitalization numbers, full vaccination rate of those 12 and older, and no news of new variants that could potentially cause more havoc. Even if the criteria is met, in indoor settings all that are present must be fully vaccinated with proof; there must be a vaccination verification system set in place. These strict

guidelines ensure a safer future for the upcoming years. “As of Oct. 28, 80% of county residents aged 12 and up have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 72% are fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Ferrer. Going at this rate of vaccinations, it is hopeful that by the time winter holidays arrive, there is a possibility of reaching 80% full vaccination rates for those 12 and up due to the dropped hospitalization rates in LA County since summer. As of now, mask mandates are still required throughout the county, vaccinated or not, and in restaurants or venues. Masks can only be taken off when eating or drinking. There have also been other mandates instituted

on Nov. 6, which states those who enter bars, breweries, etc. must be fully vaccinated to be admitted. This change does not affect high schoolers, but reinforces a safer environment. The most recent mandate that will be taking place is on Nov. 8, where the vaccination mandate will be taken into effect in LA. Proof of full vaccination will be required to enter businesses, gyms, theatres, etc. A future filled with promise, we hope that by next year, considering the current mandates put in place in LA County along with the new mandate taking place on Nov. 8, the mask mandate will slowly be lifted. As long as strict mandates, such as these are taken seriously, Dr. Ferrer suggests it will be likely to be lifted with time.

msadeghifard@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of PIXABAY.COM

NEWS

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NOVEMBER 2021

The First Gender Neutral Passport in the U.S. By ASHLEY CHAN

Staff Writer

The U.S. has issued its first gender-neutral passport marked with an “X” in the gender category. This is a significant milestone for those who identify as neither female nor male, as it acknowledges them and allows them to express themselves as who they truly are. Dana Zzyym, an intersex military veteran, was the recipient of this passport. In 2015, Zzyym filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Colorado against the State Department because they were denied a gender-neutral passport. Zzyym’s birth certificate identified them as male, and their driver’s license identified them as female. In 2016, the ruling

was in favor of Zzyym; however, the case was reopened since the State Department did not recognize gender markers outside of “F” for female, and “M” for male. In 2018, it was discovered that the State Department violated the law, and Zzyym was finally able to obtain a passport with their proper gender identification. In a phone call covered by The New York Times, Zzyym said, “It was nice to finally get it after all this time. It was an exciting moment in time when I got to open the envelope. There was a big gasp, a combination of excitement and relief.” Before Zzyym was given their new

“When a person obtains identity gender marker, they “felt like [they were] in prison...You’re denied a status of being human, documents that reflect their true identity, and it’s like I was not a citizen of this country they live with greater dignity and respect,” because I was denied access to leave and only said Jessica Stern, the U.S. diplomatic enfelons and prisoners are not allowed to travel.” voy for LGBTQ+ rights, in an ABC News Zzyym’s advocacy for a gender-neutral article. “We see this as a way of affirmmarker on the passport transcended boundaries ing and uplifting the human rights of trans on gender that would benefit generations to come. and intersex and gender-nonconform“I feel good about standing up for myself ing and nonbinary people everywhere.” The creation of the “X” marker and other intersex and nonconforming people,” Zzyym stated. “In the long run, I started this law- is groundbreaking in the U.S. Hopegender-neutral marker will suit to get legal recognition for intersex and non- fully, the binary people, and I did this for the future. For soon be approved, and be used by many intersex kids to be able to say, ‘Hey, I happen to who identify as neither male nor female. be a human being who happens to be intersex.’” Prior to the creation of a new gender marker, the policy for altering a gender marker on a passport demanded medical certification, which was only applicable to those who transitioned from one gender to another. In June, the Biden administration announced that a new gender marker on passports and citizenship certificates would be created for those who do not conform to traditional gender identities. As of now, people are allowed to self-select their gender as male or female without medical certification. However, the “X” marker achan@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FREESVG.COM is awaiting approval from the Ofand MAXPIXEL.NET fice of Management and Budget.

SMW's Lanyard and Blanket Fundraiser By SOPHIA LI Staff Writer

Known for their striking maroon blazers and formal appearances, members of Seniors of Merit at Work (SMW) at Arcadia High School have a lot to offer this year. SMW is a leadership organization that values integrity, citizenship, scholarship, and service to school and community. The organization consists of 50 members and has had a long and proud history of serving their community throughout the Arcadia district. From helping out at the graduation ceremony to leading the freshman orientation and volunteering at back to school night, SMW’s calendar this year has been filled with a variety of activities. “I’ve been a part of many different service organizations, but SMW really stands out because I’ve been able to take all of the small things I’ve learned during the past three years of high school and apply it when helping all types of people in the community, whether it be at AHS or local events. It’s heartwarming to see people look relieved knowing we’re there to help them when we enter a venue wear-

ing our blazers, or when people thank us for spending a Friday night helping their organization,” senior Swetha Somasundaram said. “As an SMW member, my goal is to not only further my love and commitment to community service but to also encourage those around me to do the same. I hope others look to SMW as inspiration to actively participate in their own community,” senior Kristi Wu also described. One of the big events of the year was helping out at the graduation ceremony. Not only was it their first event of the year, but it was also the most memorable event for seniors Andy Li and Matthew Chung. “Working with so many others and being able to see my older friends graduate was really cool,” Li mentioned. “It was also the first time some of us were seeing each other because of the pandemic and being able to cooperate and connect with each other so easily was an amazing experience. Working such an event and getting to see all our older friends and SMW Bigs graduate was really an opportunity we might never have gotten elsewhere,” Chung also remarked. “My favorite/most memorable event was the Crystal Ball. This was an event where a

bunch of rich and successful doctors gathered together for an auction/fundraiser for the Methodist Hospital. This experience was very surreal. Everyone looked really fashionable and snazzy. One of the people there spoke Cantonese and I was able to converse with him. He was very cool and made the experience a whole lot better. At the end of the night, I was super tired but it was super worth it!” senior Wayne Chan, another member, expressed. Recently, SMW began their Lanyard and Blanket Fundraiser, which started from Oct. 27 and extends to Dec. 2. Members have been advertising and selling lanyards for $4 and blankets for $17. Each member needs to sell five lanyards and four blankets, for a total of $88. “We’re fundraising for SMW so that we can put together bonding events as well raise money for a charity SMW members decide on for themselves,” senior Parisa Haq commented. However, selling all of the amounts needed has not been as easy as it looks. “Fundraising has been somewhat difficult because a lot of organizations sell items around this time of the year. Additionally, since there are so many SMW members it can be difficult to find people who haven’t already been approached

about the fundraiser,” senior Alex Fang said. Lastly, Haq added that she’s excited because “we’re the first year that isn’t divided by gender and we have a name change this year so I’m really excited for future SMW generations to carry on our legacy.”

sli@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of Seniors of Merit at Work, PNGEGG.COM, and THENOUNPROJECT.COM

OPINION

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NOVEMBER 2021

T HE BENEF IT S OF MEDITAT ION AND WHY WE SHOULD TRY IT By ANNA ODELL

Staff Writer

Meditation is a great and effective way that helps many people relieve stress or even reduce the symptoms of their health problems. It’s considered a “mind-body complementary medicine” that works by putting a person in such a deeply relaxed state that any stress, overwhelming thoughts, and anxieties can be addressed and eliminated in a peaceful way. When the word meditation is brought up, the first thing many people think of are cross-legged hippies saying “oohm” over and over again. This however, isn’t necessarily what meditation is. Sure those things can be included in meditation, but for the most part, it’s much more simple and effective than we’ve been led to believe. Many doctors believe that engaging in meditation can have incredible benefits. “Some research suggests that practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression, and insomnia,” Nccih. gov said.

Meditation has proven to be especially effective in calming anxiety. “Researchers reviewed more than 200 studies of [meditation] among healthy people and found mindfulness-based therapy was especially effective for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression” Apa. org said. Research involving Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines showed that when meditation was practiced, the part of the brain that involves processing fear and threatening situations shrunk, whereas the prefrontal cortex, the area that deals with awareness, became thicker. When this area becomes thicker, our capacity to manage and process fears and anxiety increases. “Meditation also has benefits for your physical health, as it can improve your toler-

FEMININE FEMININE PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS: NECESSITY, AA NECESSITY, NOT AA NOT LUXURY LUXURY

By ASHLEY CHAN

Staff Writer

Periods are a natural process that all women go through, and yet, there is a sense of shame associated with them. Due to the stigma surrounding menstrual cycles, some people treat feminine hygiene products as luxury items. We must end period stigma, and understand that period products are necessities, not luxuries. Menstruation is a highly stigmatized issue. Girls at Arcadia High School hide their pads and tampons in fear of being ridiculed. When a girl needs a pad, another girl

may provide it, but not without purposefully sneaking it under a table so that her action is not recognized. Not only that, but people around the world ask women if it’s “their time of the month” because it would explain their “mood swings”, right? No. That’s not right whatsoever. All that this is doing is putting down women and making them feel lesser because of a biological process that they do not have control over. Periods are natural processes that need to be more widely accepted. Stigma about menstruation has led to a phenomenon called period poverty. Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary prod-

ance for pain and help fight substance addiction,” theinsider.com said. Physical health can be improved through meditation as it decreases metabolism, lowers blood pressure, and can improve heart rates. Furthermore, there have been instances where meditation has significantly improved the quality of a person’s life. In one case, a woman named Cassandra Metzger who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia said “meditation saved me from despair more than once.” Metzger had tried everything from muscle relaxers to pain killers, none of which brought her the relief she needed. Not until she discovered meditation. According to brainandlife.org “During episodes of acute illness, I was saved by know-

ing that the experience of pain was just one moment in time—maybe an excruciating moment, maybe a long moment, but still a moment. I learned this by meditating,” Metzger said. Meditation is known to have many benefits and doctors agree that it can benefit the mind and body by reducing anxiety, lowering heart rate, etc. Headspace.com has great information on meditation and their app is a great way to start meditating. It’s full effects aren’t fully known yet, however by doing more research and breaking down the stereotype of meditation, more people will be inclined to practice it and we will know just how much it can do for us.

ucts, education regarding menstruation, hygiene facilities, and waste management. According to UNICEF, “Globally, 2.3 billion people live without basic sanitation services and in developing countries, only 27% of people have adequate hand washing facilities at home.” A multitude of organizations supporting women have expressed their concerns and stances regarding the double standard the Pink Tax creates. Women Who Money, a finance organization that provides financial information to women, stated that “women pay an additional $1,400 a year due to the pink tax.” “35 U.S. states tax period products as non-essential items, whereas men’s grooming products and erectile dysfunction medication are not taxed,” the American Medical Women’s Association, an organization of women physicians and medical students that is a voice for women’s health and women in medicine, said. Furthermore, a study in the Huffpost, an American news blog, revealed that almost two-thirds of low-income women were unable to afford the steep costs of menstrual hygiene products in the St. Louis area. Anne Sebert Kuhlmann, director of the master of public health program at St. Louis University, said, “We had women tell us that they had gone to the emergency room for the sole purpose of getting a pad and the mesh postpartum underwear they provide, because they didn’t have underwear and they didn’t have period products—and they had nowhere else to go.” In California, Governor Gavin Newsom passed a bill that requires low-income schools to provide students with free menstrual prod-

ucts. These schools include grades six to twelve, as well as community colleges. This bill’s requirement will begin in the 20222023 school year, and private schools in California are encouraged to follow suit. “Our biology doesn’t always send an advanced warning when we’re about to start menstruating, which often means we need to stop whatever we’re doing and deal with a period,” Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia said in an article from NBC News. “Just as toilet paper and paper towels are provided in virtually every public bathroom, so should menstrual products.” Although making period products free in public schools will not completely eradicate period poverty, it is a step in the right direction. To continue making positive changes, there should be education for children, both boys and girls, in school that would discuss information on menstrual cycles, which would help destigmatize periods. We need the world to understand that feminine products are necessities, not luxuries.

aodell@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

achan@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of 9-MAGAZINE.COM and THENOUNPROJECT

OPINION To The Teenagers Out There... opinion.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

NOVEMBER 2021

By SOPHIA LI

Staff Writer

Being a teenager is hard in a multitude of ways. Keeping up with your friends, carrying the expectations of your family, and finding time to have fun can be overwhelming at times. However, it’s important to note that being comfortable with ourselves and being positive is one of the key essentials to a fulfilling life. Though it may seem like school and extracurriculars are all that matter now, there is so much more later on that life has to offer. To all the teenagers out there, here are some rules to live by, things to always remember, and ways to stay positive that may help a teen out (from a fellow teen)! Don’t listen to what other people have to say about you. It’s none of their business, and people assume without asking. It might just be that they have their own problems and are taking it out on you. Especially block them out if you wouldn’t go to them for advice. For example, if you’re at a concert, dance and sing your heart out. Everyone else is either too busy having a good time or worrying about how they look, too, so just focus on yourself and having a good time. When you’re in your teenage years, you care about what others think of you. When you’re 40-years-old, you won’t care about what anyone thinks of you. When you’re 60-yearsold, you might finally realize that nobody was thinking or judging you in the first place. “Even though it can be hard to block out

other people’s opinions about you, always try to be confident in who you are as an individual because people want to get to know the real you,” said Julianna Sandoval, a senior at Arcadia High School. You are beautiful! When you’re crying, when you’re laughing, always. No one else is like you so you’re uniquely beautiful in your own way. Show yourself some love. Practice affirmations to remind yourself of all the things you have done. Life can get tough sometimes, and sometimes you may feel like giving up. But on those days, remember the times that you had overcome to get to where you are today. Know that no matter what, you can do what you set your mind to. Oftentimes we are more capable than we think. “Never be afraid of failing and try everything no matter what. If you never try you’ll never know if you’ll succeed,” sophomore Emily Tran added. Be a good person to everyone, and treat people equally. Be kind, thoughtful, and respectful. Never bully someone or go out of your way to hurt someone. “Bullying someone is as easy as throwing a stone in the sea, but you never know how deep that stone goes,” said my elementary principal, Danae Popovich. Additionally, treat your elders extra special because they deserve it. Even if they have ways that you disagree with, they have been through so much, and elders that are around you care for you. Show them some love. Being by yourself doesn’t mean you’re

lonely. It may just mean you’re putting your- With the people you’ve met, the experiences self first. Or it may mean you’re working on you’ve had? The chances are probably near-zeyourself. It’s okay to be by yourself because ro. So sign up for that club, try out for a team, you don’t have to worry about anyone else. Be- or talk to someone new; you might just end up ing by yourself allows you to think deeper and finding a new passion, or making a friend for to have better creativity. Although it may seem life,” Ashley Lin, a senior, expressed. like it, not everyone has to be the loudest in the Remember to stay positive and look for room. Sometimes it’s the people who are the the good things in life. Practice appreciation. most reserved and to themselves that can do Smile and laugh, and listen to/dance to your things better. favorite music to give yourself a break. If not, “From my personal experience with run- get outside and get some sunlight! Even taking ning cross country, over quarantine, there were a walk around your street helps. Hug and high only six runners on the team, and we met up to five yourself at your little accomplishments practice once a week. The rest of the time, we throughout the day. It can be hard to stay posiall ran alone. Running by myself gave me a lot tive and look at each day as a new opportunity. of time to think and it felt like I was making Challenges can overwhelm us at times, but it is more improvements. I could focus on myself crucial to let yourself know that you are stronand I pushed myself harder when I was by my- ger than the challenge. self because I wasn’t thinking about the people “Everyone is going to have off days, and around me,” Kaitlyn Hsu, a junior, stated. know that while things can get stressful and Never be afraid to take on new adven- chaotic, there are good things ahead if you tures. There is so much out there in the world, just push through. Speaking from personal exand you should take advantage of that. For perience, college applications and essays are example, go see the world at night, watch the a stressful time, but I know that it’s simply a beauty of the city at sleep, and appreciate the bump in the long road of life,” expressed sebeauty of the darkness. If you have time, watch nior Cadence Chen. and wait for the sunrise, too. Last but not least, remember that you can. Know that if you keep living life the way Life may be tough at times, but no matter what you are right now, things will not change for comes your way, you can overcome those huryou in the future. It’s important to bring change dles. to our lives, even if the experience may be uncomfortable at times. “If you were frozen in time as you are sli@arcadiaquill.com right now, never able to do anything new, Graphic courtesy of ISTOCKPHOTO.COM would you be satisfied with the life you’ve led?

Musicians Should Know When to Retire By KIRA CAMACHO Staff Writer

Two Beatles, two Who(ligans), three Rolling Stones, two members of Rush; the dwindling numbers of classic-rockers are slowly bringing the era to a close. No matter how many pass, their music and stories will still live on. However, there comes a time when older musicians should know when it’s time to stop. It’s their responsibility to be realistic about their talent as they age, and really think about if they’re able to give a quality show. Upon seeing members of various iconic groups pass away, I started to think about what the groups would do without their core members. Led Zeppelin almost immediately disbanded after their drummer died in 1980 because he was such an integral part of the band. On the other hand, bands like AC/DC were never afraid to fire and replace band members. When one member passed away, or was out, someone was simply hired to take their place. Out of the five original (pre-Cliff Williams) members, only two remain. Though some of these rockers still have the drive, and most importantly, talent, to continue, others don’t. For some reason, these other bands don’t realize that they don’t have what it takes to continue on the road of touring. Genesis’s reunion tour was this year, and it was definitely interesting. The tour included Genesis members Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, along with Nic Collins, Daryl Stuermer, Daniel Pearce, and Patrick Smyth. Honestly, the musicians did great. Phil

Collins’ son, Nic Collins, sounded amazing. Phil Collins, on the other hand, had to sing in a chair. This isn’t exactly a bad thing, if you can still give an amazing performance in a chair, so be it. But Phil Collins couldn’t. While the musicians were going on solos, Collins just spun around in his chair. He just sort of seemed awkward. His age and inability to give an exciting performance really showed. Collins can’t play the drums anymore, and his voice just wasn’t as good as it once was. Aging isn’t a problem; it’s going to happen to everyone. It’s just sad to see your favorite rockstar in that state, yet still trying to tour. If you can barely get out the words, stand on stage, or play your instrument, it’s really time to stop. I’m sure Genesis fans are more than happy to see the band, but watching the tour videos as a non-hardcore fan just made me cringe. Though Phil Collins should get off the road, many other older bands are still going strong. The Grateful Dead has cleverly revived their band, and sound, with Dead & Company. This band includes the original Grateful Dead members; Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann. They are accompanied by newcomers John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, and Jeff Chimenti. Unlike with Genesis, their mixture of old and new really worked. I believe it’s because Bob Weir is still able to tour. Without the late Jerry Garcia, Weir is the heart and soul of the old Grateful Dead. His presence and skill in the shows make the band work. On top of that, he can still play and sing pretty well! Plus, he can do all that while standing.

The remaining members of the Grateful Love. Dead chose great newcomers to join them on- Some musicians, specifically Jimmy stage. John Mayer does a great job improvising Page, seem to feel guilty about their retirement. on the songs in a way similar to Garcia, but Page has repeatedly expressed his want to get he doesn’t seem like he’s attempting to replace back onstage and tour, but he’s 77-years-old. Garcia. Jimmy Page has performed for plenty of years, I also think this is a great idea because and even though I’ve never had the pleasure of they’re blending in the old with the new. For seeing him live, I think he’s done quite enough. one show, you get fresh takes on the Dead’s Musicians basically owe their entire career to classic acid-test tunes. Even the name, Dead & their fans, retiring when fans regularly beg you Company, is smart. They’re not promising to to continue must make retirement feel selfish. still be the same fresh-faced band, but a rendi- Jimmy Page is one of the rockstars who tion of it. Maybe it’s John Mayer holding them has let his career take its course, and even all up, but it sounds like the original members though he indicates his want to tour, he doesn’t. of the Dead have definitely passed the test of In early 1975, Page broke his finger, and altime. most instantly, Led Zeppelin fans were already As we’ve seen, a few bands can keep on noticing a difference in his playing. Similarly, truckin’ ; a few can’t. It’s really about know- I can’t imagine how different his guitar style ing when is the right time to stop. For example, would be now. But unlike other musicians, a band that is closing in on retirement is the Jimmy Page has accepted his circumstance and Beach Boys. They’ve been a band for 60 years, made the right decision to stop touring. starting in 1961. The entertainment industry proves that In my opinion, they’re definitely not as it’s hard to stop when you have something bad as Genesis, but they’re obviously not the good going. This has happened countless times same. Unfortunately, they will never be the in film, television, and music. Producers, artsame band. The Beach Boys can’t just bring in ists, and filmmakers just don’t know when to fresh musicians to revive the band. The world’s close the curtain on a project when it isn’t good favorite Beach Boy songs were built on the har- anymore. It’s especially hard to end something monies of the deceased members. Even now, that makes money, or provides lots of jobs. having different people singing “Wouldn’t Though there’s so many factors to postponing It Be Nice” makes it sound odd. Bringing in retirement, hopefully these rockers won’t connew voices might keep the band on tour, but it tinue to tour if they can’t put on a good show wouldn’t be The Beach Boys. I don’t think it’s anymore. quite yet time for the Beach Boys to leave, but that time is approaching quickly. If not for all of the remaining members, definitely for Mike kcamacho@arcadiaquill.com

FEATURES

What is #BOOKTOK? By VRITTI GODANI Staff Writer

Over the past few months, #BookTok has taken over the internet. With genres ranging from romance to thriller, #BookTok accommodates people with all sorts of interests. Videos posted under the #BookTok usually consist of common literary tropes, book recommendations, and book reviews and has received up to 25 million views. Some of the top authors on #BookTok includes Elle Kennedy, Colleen Hoover, and other romance writers. Out of all the genres on #BookTok, romance seems to be the most popular. Romance novels such as It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover and The Deal by Elle Kennedy initiated the emergence of #BookTok. Novels that take place in a college setting are usually the ones that gain the most popularity on #BookTok. However, #BookTok also praises classic novels like Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Junior Julienne Granadino stated that “The Deal is one of my favorite books. I heard about it first from a TikTok and I read all the books in the Off-Campus series after reading that book”. As mentioned before, Colleen Hoover is one of the biggest authors on #BookTok. It Ends With U, Ugly Love, All Your Perfects, and Maybe Someday are all romance novels written by Colleen Hoover that have grown popular on #BookTok. Contrary to most of the popular books on #BookTok, most of her books are about mature adult relationships and mention triggering topics, so please be

sure to consider that before you read any of her books. The Off-Campus Series, which takes place in a college setting on the east coast and follows the adventures of a group of friends, written by Elle Kennedy has also become a well-known #BookTok name. Other popular books on #BookTok include They Both Die at The End by Adam Silvera, which follows Mateo and Rufus, who discover that they only have one day left to live. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is an adaptation of Homer’s Iliad as told from the perspective of Patroclus, who follows Achilles into war, not knowing that the next few years will test everything they know and keep close to their heart. Additionally, there is no lack of thriller and mystery books on #BookTok. One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus is one of the most popular mystery books on #BookTok, and follows 4 high school students who go into detention together, but only come out with 3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn explores the silent killers of marriage when the wife of the main character goes missing. We Were Liars is a dramatic book with an unexpected ending that has left most of the readers, including me, with a dropped jaw. Not only did #BookTok revive the enthusiasm towards reading, but it also created a large community of young readers from all around the world on TikTok. #BookTok reintroduced a form of entertainment that most of us have forgotten about or left in our childhood. Overall, #BookTok brought back the joy of reading in many young adults.

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NOVEMBER 2021

AHS Thanksgiving Traditions By ANNA ODELL Staff Writer

While in today’s day and age most people don’t celebrate a ‘harvest’, Thanksgiving is still a day to commemorate everything that we have been blessed with or are grateful for. Every person’s celebration is unique to their family. These traditions are important to each individual because it’s a time for families and/or friends to come together and celebrate one another in addition to the things they’ve overcome in the past year. Thanksgiving is a holiday dedicated to acknowledging all the things a person is thankful for. Everyone that chooses to celebrate Thanksgiving has their own traditions that are unique to them. Especially at Arcadia High School, there are, unsurprisingly, many different Thanksgiving traditions amongst the students. “Usually my family just eats duck together in the evening,” states Nathan Liu, a junior at Arcadia High School (AHS). This is the way he has celebrated Thanksgiving for as long as he can remember. He can count on this yearly occurrence as he knows that the tradition of eating duck with his family won’t change in the coming years.

His experience however, is different from other students at AHS. “My dad makes dinner for us and we stay home for the day,” comments junior Emily Kwon. Thanksgiving, for her family, means enjoying the togetherness this holiday brings. It’s the little things like these dinners that Emily enjoys because she gets to spend quality time with her family which is often taken for granted. “Some relatives come over and we all say grace at the table and then we eat the dinner that my mom and aunties prepared for us,” adds senior Odessa Hairapetian. Seeing her extended family is what matters most to her on this day. During the height of COVID-19, it was challenging to get together with anyone other than immediate family members. Meeting with cousins, aunts, and uncles is priceless for her, seeing as how those kinds of interactions were heavily restricted over the past year. “On Thanksgiving, during the day, we start off by preparing the food for the Thanksgiving dinner. Throughout the rest of the day we play games such as Jenga, Monopoly, or Apples to Apples until the dinner is ready. During the meal we say thanks and ‘dig in’ and after we all pass out,” says junior Camila Cosme. Lasting pretty much the whole day, her Thanksgiving consists of giving thanks and making sure each person feels loved and appreciated. It’s a very important aspect of their celebration because sometimes, thanking our loved ones can be easily forgotten. aodell@arcadiaquill.com

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NOVEMBER 2021

FEATURES

Bird Watching 101 The California Roll Was Not Made in California...or Japan By MICHELLE SO Staff Writer

Birds have played a large role in civilizations for thousands of years. In the grassy plains of early society, hunter-gatherers fed their families with the breast meat of pheasants. Bird calls were used to lead towards water, and sometimes, away from danger. Later, plumes of feathers sat atop royals as a symbol of status and luxury. Today, birds have a larger role than just food or clothing; they take center stage in a growing culture revolving around birdwatching. In the crisp spring mornings of the pandemic, I would wake up early and begin my day with quite an unusual routine. I would open my windows and, accompanied with a mug of tea, sit silently whilst listening to the cacophony of birds outside. The symphony outside gave me hope. As animal habitats continue to shrink due to human activity, it felt ironic knowing that this time, I was the one confined to a small area. While I was stuck in my room doing online school and hiding from the raging pandemic, the birds outside could fly freely. Even now, when quarantine confinement no longer exists, I still find simple pleasure in birdwatching. It’s an activity that encourages one to venture into the outdoors, yet, on the other hand, can also be done through the windows of one’s home. Additionally, it requires no human contact! Here’s the way I like to think of it: spotting different birds is like gem collecting. You may know the names of many, but certain birds are rarely seen in Southern California. So, spotting the arching white neck of a Snowy Egret or the astoundingly bright Vermillion Flycatcher is just like striking gold. So, how can you get started? The first step for any aspiring birdwatcher is to learn your local bird species. There are nearly 10,000

species of birds around the world, but only several hundred can be found in California. The identification process can be made easier by purchasing a field guide to bring along until you begin to recognize different bird species without it. Body shape, patterning, and color are all things that are used to differentiate birds. Going to local parks or any area with a naturalistic landscape would be a way to get started. The Peck Road Water Conservation Park is just 10 minutes from AHS. The area of land was set aside for the preservation of the ecosystem and is bike and pedestrian accessible. Another great location is the Santa Fe Dam. This recreation area is a bit further from Arcadia but is still considered local. The pond makes it a great area to spot aquatic and wading birds such as American Coots, Mallards, and Green-winged Teals. Of course, the famed Arboretum is another great location to go birdwatching. There are so many different biomes built into the park—desert, bamboo forest, Australian woods, etc —that it has also become home to a diverse group of birds. Here, I’ve spotted Mourning Doves hiding amongst the leaf litter, American Robins pecking and plucking at worms, American Crows that caw eerily in the forest, Canada Geese that squawk angrily at visitors, and, my favorite bird of all, the Red-whiskered Bulbul The simple connection between us lasted a brief minute before it flew away, but it was not something that I will forget anytime soon. Birdwatching is such an easy way to grow an appreciation for the wilderness. The more people understand nature, the more we will want to protect it.

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By SOPHIA LI Staff Writer

From fashion to food trends, everything has its starting place. For sushi, it started in Japan. However, the California roll wasn’t invented in Japan, nor in California. It was actually invented in Canada, and believe it or not, Salmon rolls were also invented in Norway. Here is a brief history on sushi: 1971: Sushi was not popular in Japan, as many people found it yucky. People back then only mostly ate tempura and teriyaki. This changed when chef Hidekazu Tojo, a sushi chef, wrapped the rice outside of the much-despised seaweed to hide it instead of wrapping it on the inside. Despite initial backlash, it turned out to be a success, as people enjoyed eating it. Initially called the InsideOut Roll, it contained imitation crab, avocado, and cucumber, which were daily staples in one’s diet in Japan. As the years went by, more additions were added, like salmon and tuna, and customers loved it. It was such a success that Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries appointed him as the nation’s cuisine ambassador. However, salmon and tuna weren’t consumed as much as the Inside-Out Roll. Although Chef Hidekazu Tojo came up with the California roll, salmon and tuna sushi weren’t popular and were rarely eaten up until about 1995. In fact, salmon sushi isn’t Japanese! It isNorwegian! Before that, most salmon was pacific salmon, and it usually contained parasites so it wasn’t that popular among consumers. 1986-1991: Norway had caught too much salmon on hand, and needed to sell it to another country. They chose to sell it to the Japanese, due to their love of raw fish. Bjørn Eirik Olsen is a Norwegian business man who worked on these matters. He worked with a committee to try to convince Japanese consumers that Atlantic salmon was safe to eat raw, attempting to boost

Norway’s economy by selling fish. However, they weren’t that convincing and had a hard time making profit. Even when the committee put salmon on top of rice to call it salmon rolls, people didn’t appeal to it. In business meetings, they offered their salmon, which others didn’t like. “It took actually 10 years to have a proper breakthrough in the market,” described Olsen, to Great Big Story producers. However, with all things, the more popular something is, the greater the demand becomes, which increases the price. Back then, sushi wasn’t as prized and well sought after as it is today, as it was considered a staple food and didn’t cost excessive amounts. Nowadays, an 8-piece roll of sushi can cost anywhere from six to twenty dollars! “My favorite sushi restaurant is in Silverlake and it’s called Silverfish. I just like to have a plain salmon roll, and I like to eat it with soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger,” junior Caitlyn Vaughn commented. Caitlyn loves to eat sushi, and has been eating it since she was 13-years-old and recommends everyone to try it. Despite sushi becoming more and more popular with prices increasing, there are still restaurants nearby that sell sushi for cheap. The most low-cost sushi places around the LA Area include Sushi Stop and Go Go Sushi. Sushi Stop and Go Go Sushi both are the most affordable sushi restaurants nearby, with prices as low as $7. For example, Sushi Stop sells 8-piece dragon rolls for $7.59 and eel avocado rolls drizzled in a teriyaki sauce are as low as $5.95. Go Go Sushi also offers sushi rolls, under their category of ‘Basic Rolls’ at affordable prices, like their salmon roll for $5.19 and there’s a location in Monrovia. sli@arcadiaquill.com

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NOVEMBER

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By CATHERINE CHAN & PAMINA YUNG Opinion Editor, Arts & Entertainment Editor It’s finally almost the end of a long school day, and it’s time to head to H-Hall for sixth period AP U.S. History (APUSH) with Mrs. Heather Moore. Students trudge through the doorway, put their cell phones in the caddy, and plop down in their seats. Exhausted by the previous five periods, Mrs. Moore’s microphone brings her students back to life as she never fails to rejuvenate them, overcoming the hurdle of sleepy juniors. Whether it’s her wholesome welcoming smile or her soothing voice, students feel at ease in the business atmosphere of APUSH. Each day in her classroom begins with either a Hamilton reference or historical background music as students ease into their table groups. Her classroom, decorated like a history museum, evokes awe when looking at all the things ranging from the portraits of each of the U.S. presidents on the wall to the pictures of various national landmarks and monuments to the stuffed Jefferson doll mysteriously balancing on the top rim of the white board. In contrast to the boring textbook, Mrs. Moore has the unique and rare ability of storytelling and bringing history to life. Her lectures leave students on the edge of their seats, especially on Halloween when she tells the story of Tecumseh’s Curse. She is able to not only channel her enthusiasm to her students, but also keep them engaged with their reading from the textbook. Students truly grow in Mrs. Moore’s class during discussion sessions when she uses a deck of cards to choose participants. Each card corresponds to a student’s seat and with each one drawn, she pulls a student out of their comfort zone to act as a historian by sharing their analysis of historical documents with the class. Mrs. Moore then builds upon the student’s contribution and gets the rest of class engaged in the topic. She also motivates students to visit during office hours to find answers to their grueling questions. Mrs. Moore’s connection with her juniors goes above and beyond as she cultivates a bond unlike any other teacher, such as the time she prepared the class tea from the same tea company involved in the Boston Tea Party. While difficult to get through the tough skin of angsty juniors, her toy kitchen is always available for students to play with and de-stress. Mrs. Moore’s class has consistently helped her students push through the end of bleak school days and given them confidence for the AP test. We wouldn’t want to have any other APUSH teacher!

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NOVEMBER 2021

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APPRECIATION

By AMANDA CHANG Media Editor Even when my day could have been better, I always have something to be grateful for. However, I literally would not be able to be here today without my grandparents. It was because of them that I am able to be here, alive. That I am here, in California. That I am here, in Arcadia. That I am here, writing this article. Dear Agong, thank you so much for your hard work that allows me to be here––for studying by candlelight, for making investments in our future, for always being at work. Thank you for bringing Beigong, his wife, and his eight children to America, so that they would no longer have to be farmers in Taiwan, so that we could always have family around, and so that I would always feel loved. I’m sorry that you cannot be here to enjoy this empire of family, love, and fun that you established. But you are well-remembered and loved. Although you were always working, your children still have fond memories of you from vacations, and it’s why they love traveling so much. The yearly trips I take with my cousins bring so much joy, fun, laughter, and lifelong memories that we will always cherish. Dear Ama, thank you so much for your constant support––for being the matriarch of the family, the brilliant manager, the bridge that connects us all. You are always there to provide and assist us, to make us better, and to offer us your knowledge. We are so lucky that you are the reason that our family is always dining together, playing poker, and laughing about our inside jokes. You are so strong, amazing, and caring, all in your own special way. You mean more to us than we could ever fathom. Dear Ama, thank you for always smiling––you always wanted to play with me, smell the flowers we cut for you, and make us laugh by putting Play-doh on your toes. You had a heart of gold and a smile that was just as beautiful. Even after your accident, you still knew how to enjoy life, and I only wish we had visited you more. Thank you for all of the lovely memories you provided us with when you were still around. I hope you loved them just as much, even if it was just for a couple seconds before you forgot them. You are very much missed. Dear Akon, thank you for your incredibly diligent effort throughout the years––for working as a busboy while going to university, for making sacrifices to save money, and for taking care of Ama in the nursing home day in and day out. You are the craftsman, gardener, and faithful one of our family; the backbone and the head. You never fail to be compassionate, and are always willing to listen when needed, or tell stories when asked. We love the funny videos you send, the jokes you make, and the loving acts of kindness you do for us, whether it’s cutting fruit for us or constantly taking pictures to remind us of how much you love us. We love you, too. I love all of you. Wo ai ni. achang@arcadiaquillcom

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A&E

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NOVEMBER 2021

AHS BAND AT MT. CARMEL By KAI WETTERAU

Staff Writer

Our Arcadia High School (AHS) Marching Band performed its annual competition at Mt. Carmel High School, all the way out in San Diego where the members performed in a parade and a field show on Oct. 30. Each member who participated did their best and gave the show a good run-through, with Arcadia being judged as expected, getting sweepstakes overall and second place for its division in music. They left in the morning, traveling far and wide to represent the high school and show off their hard work which they had been working on since June. In the early afternoon, the band marched a short distance in a competition block, under the command of Drum Major and current senior Elise Fong, performing for both spectators and judges to hear. The percussion and auxiliary did fairly well, offering up their potential and receiving sweepstakes in their respective categories. Marching Band is divided into divisions when judged, and the position of sweepstakes is the best score out of all the divisions, meaning it is better than first place.

After a short rehearsal and break for an The band scored well on the marching and showmanship, only losing in the music cat- early dinner, everyone geared up to play in egory to Rancho Bernardo High School. This what’s arguably the hardest part of any musiwas what was expected of the students as well cal competition: the field show. Even though as directors Kevin Sherrill and Tom Plunkett, the judges do not receive a copy of the music and it gave them the focus to keep on improv- score, the marching judges know what every part of the march is suping in the future. Mr. Plunkett, posed to sound like, and the lines are often exvoiced his thoughts on the band’s perforposed, allowing those to see who is in line and mance, believing in the who is not. Furthermore, band. “The performancany changes to the way a note is played must be es will just get better exaggerated on the field and better exponentially,” he said. “That for it to be noticed by the music judge, meanday was a bit of a weird day, but that definitely ing changes in music are wasn’t our best runharder to be accounted for. through. By getting that mature and dark sound, When everyone was ready to play, Arthe music will be given cadia did a visual and a even more life.” One of these students, freshman Henry musical warm-up to finish up any final prepaZhao, said how he felt about Arcadia’s perfor- rations before the singular run-through. Nervousness rippled throughout some, while othmance on the street that afternoon. “I think Mr. Plunkett is right,” Zhao said. ers’ focus and determination were bolstered. “Our introduction isn’t the best, and we should Finally, the playing began. The band earned sweepstakes which is really good! With awards practice more specific chunks.”

guard got sweepstakes as always, alongside the percussion. The winds in the band overall got first place in their division overall, as well as the high visual award commending any choreo or horn snaps (when an instrument is quickly moved up or down from set to playing position and vice versa). As a burgeoning member of the band, freshman Rogers Yu explains his thoughts on Arcadia’s overall performance that day. “The band did pretty good,” Yu said. “With this in mind, I do believe that we could’ve done a lot better. We had people absent, and we didn’t perform as well as we did in rehearsals. Not everyone was together, and it was probably from people being nervous or underprepared.” The AHS Marching Band went home with sets of awards, returning back to the high school later that night. With this, the organization performed well and will continue to get better as the marching season nears its end.

kwetterau@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of ARUNA ANANTHANARAYANAN AND DIANA BABAPOUR

FAVORITE SONGS THIS MONTH By MARYAM SADEGHIFARD Staff Writer As the season switches to fall, music tastes also switch. For the month of November, my music reel compared to summer changed drastically. Following the vibe of the fall season, my top three favorite songs correlate with that perfectly. Starting at number one is “400 Lux” by Lorde. Not only is this a family-friendly song you can listen to with your parents in the car, also listening when the windows are rolled down while driving through your neighborhood captures the aura. Even though released around 2010, it’s a timeless piece. The rhythm falls in perfect harmony with cloudy weather which we’ve been

graced to have. Whether you’re blasting this it perfectly while song in your car while driving with the win- still maintaining a dows down at 9 p.m., or just walking around soothing and calm campus, it fits the mood perfectly and encap- beat. It is the emosulates the fall spirit. The liveliness of her lyr- tions of being close ics “I love these roads where the houses don’t to adulthood, but change, where we can talk like there’s some- not quite there yet. Like a release thing to say” makes me feel as if I were in the song and reliving a moment with my friends. from all past feelings This song is filled with senses of nostalgia and and starting fresh with a new season, this song grasps onto all those bliss. Next is “1979- Remastered 2012” by emotions and puts it into one song that shows Smashing Pumpkins. This hit was released in a want for a change– “Only You” by Mac De1995, and to this day still lyrically aligns with marco. This song is clean and has an amazing our generation. When you’re with your friends meaning that always makes my heart sink. and feel like this is a moment that you’ll re- Whether you relate to the lyrics or not, this member when you look back on, make sure to song is absolutely beautiful with a beat you can vibe to whenever you want. A change and have this song on. “It’s the year my dad was born, and this a release are what this season pushes forward. “I love listening to Mac Demarco,” said song sums up his youth,” said junior Mellanie junior Mason Temple. “His songs are fall clasGrbavac. This song elicits sensations of growth sics.” Through the repeated lyric “I’m done cryand change, a relatable feeling. Lead singer of the band Billy Corgan wrote this song specifi- ing over you”, Demarco understands what is cally talking about a transition from youth to best for him. Even though he knows that one adulthood. He mentions being in high school person is able to make him feel things he’s and having adult responsibilities, yet still hav- never felt before, the attachment is toxic and ing to rely on his parents. It’s an awkward the person has a grasp over him that only she stage we all go through, and this song captures can elicit. That should never be the case.

“Sorry boo, we’re through” shows that he knows she only wants him when he is most vulnerable and insecure. He recognizes that and cuts off the relationship. Even though this song is talking about a relationship with someone, it can also be applied to so many other situations, like understanding that something isn’t good for you and taking the initiative to change that. To me, fall is about letting go of the past while we go into the new year, and this song shows that perfectly. These songs not only have amazing beats, but the lyrics apply to my life and so many others in our youth so well. Each song has its own meaning, with similar beats, and 2010-esque fall vibes. Happy November!

msadeghifard@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FREEPIK.COM

NOVEMBER 2021

A&E A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H A S H L E Y W E A R P, A D VA N C E D A R C A D IA S TAG E M E M B E R

By ANNA ODELL

ae.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

Staff Writer

Known for its incredible performances, Arcadia Stage Theatre Company is composed of many talented students. One member in particular, Ashley Wearp, a junior at Arcadia Highschool playing the part of “Narrator Slank” in the Peter and The Starcatcher production, has lots to say about being in the group and everything it entails. A main reason the productions are highly praised is the countless hours spent in rehearsals after school. “Normally we spend more than 20 hours a week in the Performing Arts Center, but during tech week it’s around 42 hours a week,” Wearp stated. These long hours are to ensure that the viewers get the best performance possible. Wearp understands how much work this is and continues to put in, along with her peers, the most effort possible to perfect each show. She stated that theatre is “a lot of work and mentally hard sometimes to be able to keep up with friends and stay connected with people without losing contact.”

Although she sacrifices some of her ductions. His efforts help not only her but social life, she also said, “It is so worth it to every person in any level of theatre. see the hard work being pulled off.” Wearp said her favorite part of theatre After putting in so much effort into is being able to fully be herself and talk to each production, the relief and pride she some of her now closest friends and see the feels for herself and her group are boundhard work she does pay off. Being able to less. Even though theatre is time consuming have so much fun while also doing what she and stressful at times, the end result makes loves is amazing for her. everything worthwhile. Wearp believes that Advanced Theatre “The shows that is an irreplaceable expeare put on are so stunrience. To be able to enning,” she said. joy all of the work and Being a part of have a great time while this association has also pulling off amazing taught Wearp many performances is what things from learning she loves most. She “how to stay on top of knows that this is an [her] homework” to experience that she will “becoming a better actress.” never forget and, at the end of the day, being She credits her growth as a performer a part of the amazing team is what helps her to Mr. Steven Volpe, the man in charge of grow as an actress. each and every student and production. “Volpe is constantly there for us no matter what,” Wearp stated. aodell@arcadiaquill.com Photo and graphics courtesy of She recognizes and appreciates all of ARCADIA STAGE THEATRE the work he puts into the group and the proCOMPANY ductions. His efforts help not only her but

AH S DANC E DE PA RT M E NT ’S C H AR I T Y S HOW I S BAC K

By AAHANA DUTTA

Staff Writer

The Charity Show will be held on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. The show will feature five dances by the Beginning and Intermediate dance classes, with each class doing a different choreography, and it will also feature five additional student-choreographed dances by the Orchesis Dance Company. These dances will include a wide range of dance styles and genres. Arcadia High School (AHS) Dance Department started hosting the yearly Charity Show over 20 years ago. The purpose of the Charity Show is to give back to the community, and also bring together the Dance Department and the community. Every year, the Dance Department selects a charity and donates all the money they receive from the show to the charity. However, due to the pandemic, this year, all of the funds will be donated to the AHS Dance Department itself. In order to ensure the safety of all the audience members, tickets will only be sold at half-capacity, so that people can maintain social distancing.

Tickets can only be purchased online using this link. The flash sale lasted from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, during which tickets could be bought at a $5 discount, with general admission being $10, and VIP admission being $15. After the flash sale, tickets are being sold at a normal price of $15 for general admission, and $20 for VIP admission. Students who study at any of the Arcadia Unified schools with a valid ID card can use the code “ausdstudent” to get a $5 discount on any type of ticket during the normal ticket sale. However, a student ID card must be presented at the gate if a ticket is bought using the student code. Seating is assigned, and seats can be chosen on the purchasing website, but it is recommended that if a party is going together, the tickets be bought at the same time. Tickets at the door are also available for $20 (general admission) and $25 (VIP admission). ”I know that the dancers, myself, and the rest of the Dance Department staff are really excited about the performance,” said Ms. Bree Genite, the Orchesis lead director. She also said that “the students are really excited about the performance” and that they are happy to be back in person.

If you know a dance student, you can also support them by filling out their name, ID number, and dance period when prompted to. “As a performer in the show, there is much pressure and expectation for a dancer’s movements to be executed swiftly,” said Hally Nguyen, a Beginning Dance student. “Every movement is made with intention and placed with purpose, and adds incredible emphasis to the song and piece itself.” The Dance Department is excited to bring back the Arcadia community together, once again, and hopes that the community enjoys what the Dance Department has to offer.

adutta@arcadiaquill.com Graphic courtesy of FREEPIK Photo courtesy of ARCADIA STAGE THEATRE COMPANY

SPORTS

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NOVEMBER 2021

The Start of Winter ATHLETE FEATURE: Sports at AHS ZOE SPRECHER By SOPHIA LI Staff Writer

tremely excited to return back to normal. As a senior, this season is extra special, and I’m really looking forward to making new memories and enjoying this last year,” Senior Girls Varsity center midfielder Joyce Pang expressed. Besides from soccer, the Girls and Boys Basketball teams have been able to get the rhythm going with their training as well. As the season is starting, both teams have been doing a lot of conditioning to get everyone back into shape, including everyone’s favorite, running. “During preseason, we had about an hour of practice dedicated to conditioning with box jumps, ropes, weight balls, and so much more. Now during the season, everyday we have the last 10-20 minutes of practice reserved for conditioning, mainly running. We’ve also been working on teamwork on and off the court, communicating through plays and press and cheering each other on as much as we can,” Junior Girls Varsity pointguard Cayla Shu described. Both the Girls and Boys Basketball teams also have high hopes for their games. The Girls team has their first game on Nov. 15 against Glendale High School. “I’m excited for this season, as a lot of our team was injured for a while, including myself, but the majority of us are back and ready to play. I think we have a great chance at coming out on top this year if we work hard and work together,” Shu explained. “We were practicing a lot starting from October, and I’m pretty excited to see what we can do during the season,” Senior Boys Varsity point-guard Ethan Weng said. All in all, both the Girls and Boys Soccer and Basketball teams at AHS have gotten off to a strong start. From training to team atmosphere, it seems that there will be an eventful winter season of sports ahead of us!

With many fall season sports coming to an end, it’s that time of the year where winter sports like soccer and basketball are starting up again. Many students at Arcadia High School (AHS) are excited to get back into the swing of things to kick off their sports seasons again! As for Girls and Boys Soccer, training started at the beginning of the school year. Both the Girls and Boys teams have trained separately, putting in their hours on the field. “We started sixth period training right as school started, but it was really light since we still have club training going on,” Sophomore Girls Varsity player Jade San Jose said. Jose is a left fullback, and along with other Varsity players, trains at Los Angeles Soccer Club. Despite just joining in March of 2021, she has already improved a lot to be on the Varsity team. As for the girls training at school, the team kicked off their official training after school on Nov. 1. “Our first practice was a little iffy, because it’s always the first practice,” Jose mentioned. It seems the same goes for the boys side as well. “The first couple weeks of training have been a bit unusual since our team is new, and we haven’t had much time to develop together. We’re all very unfamiliar with each other, but I look forward to growing with the team this season,” Sophomore Boys JV center midfielder Zachary Chung remarked. Now, as games are approaching, many of the soccer players can’t wait to show off their training. After having their season cut short by COVID-19, this time proves a chance for many of them to shine. “I’m excited to have a good season, since this season we get to actually know the players and see how we are as a team,” Jose described. “I wasn’t able to play in sophomore year after tearing my ACL, and last year’s season sli@arcadiaquill.com was cut short due to COVID-19, so I’m exPhoto courtesy of FLICKR.COM

By SABRINO LO Staff Wrtier

A reason Sprecher loves golf is because of the challenge in the game. Whereas with other sports, the weather can determine whether you play the sport or not, Sprecher shared that in golf, you can practice and play in any circumstance. No matter if it’s hot, humid, windy, or even raining, it won’t stop her golfing. Being one of the youngest on the team may not always be easy, but Sprecher enjoys it. She believes that having young players does not matter, for it is actually an advantage! Not only does her experience playing in tournaments help the team, but she also shared that junior Erica Lee, the number one player on the team, in addition to Sprecher herself, can bring the scores down by a lot in the tournaments. “Being a freshman is really fun. It was really enjoyable talking with the other girls on the team during practice.” Golf is known for being an individual sport, so what does it really mean to be a part of a golf team? To Sprecher, it’s not just the results. “To me, being on the golf team is a great honor and experience,” Sprecher said. “It really taught me that golf is not just an individual sport where I can be completely focused on the task at hand; it taught me a lot of teamwork and how to work well with the team.” Sprecher added that she will be trying out for the golf team again next season, and looks forward to defending the team’s Division II title.

The Arcadia High School (AHS) Girls Golf team has achieved tremendous results during the 2021-2022 season, and freshman Zoe Sprecher, on Varsity, tells us all about it and her golf career. Sprecher started playing golf when she was around 8-years-old. She began to play at a competitive level at the age of nine 9. Her father was the one who introduced the game to her. At first, Sprecher explained, she wasn’t extremely interested in golf. However, one day when she was watching golf on television, things changed. “I saw the name Tiger Woods, and my father told me that he is the GOAT of the golf game,”Sprecher said. “When my father told me that, I started to get into the game of golf more by the age of seven.” Her father then proceeded to teach her the game of golf, and he is one reason why she is on the team right now. In addition to going 30-0 this season, the six Varsity girls did something that hasn’t been done since 2009 at AHS. On Nov. 2, the girls won the California Interscholastic Federation Division II Southern Section Tournament. This competition was played against a few other schools that are in Division II as well. Winning this tournament granted the girls the opportunity to compete at Riverside City College to play against the Division I schools. “This is such a big moment for the team because this is the second D2 girls golf win since 2009. This is such a great honor to play in this tournament, and we are looking forward to defending our title.” Sprecher shared. The girls won with a team score of 384, winning by five shots. For those who are unfamiliar with golf, the lower the score, the better slo@arcadiaquill.com the record. Photo courtesy of AUSD FACEBOOK

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NOVEMBER 2021

BASEBALL TRYOUTS AND A NEW TEAM By KAI WETTERAU Staff Writer With the beginning of a new season, the Arcadia Apache Baseball team is in need of new members to replace those graduating as well as those whose skills could be checked again to look for improvement. As such, tryouts have been held on Nov. 15 and 16, allowing those interested to participate in a chance to participate in a sport they have a passion for. These students are willing to dedicate time and effort into making their team as successful as possible, showing their resolve. The tryout, taking place over two days, did not include the freshmen already in the period six class, but instead will look for those outside the program to be invited in. Nine participants, performing a range of activities, have been rigorously assessed and watched by many, and these people lat4er decide who gets on and who doesn’t. The students also have had to bring their own equipment, providing another trial they must pass to have a shot at joining the team. The athletic clearance form also plays a big part in this, with it doing the traditional aspects of offering evidence that someone can play baseball while staying healthy, as well as being a way to prove someone currently doesn’t have COVID-19 and so can perform while not being at risk of exposing themselves to it. Tryouts test a trainee’s proficiency in fielding, batting, and running. Each component is vital to the game, and so should be checked individually and in conjunction with one another. The fielding tests involve being able to throw a baseball across the field and so catching it when it’s thrown back. This is combined with the skill of being able to catch random balls that are hit off or rolled up to a trainee; the ball then must be sent to the right base to get someone out. The batting tests are more traditional; players stand in the batting box with a fence surrounding them and a pitching machine. This machine shoots baseballs at them that they have to

hit, which is yet another showing of how good someone is at the game. The more hits and the farther they are sent out, the better. Thirdly, running is simply tested by watching potential teammates run up and down the bases, with those who are fast enough not getting out before the ball reaches the base. All three categories are combined together in mock teams, meaning that people can see how a game might play out if these students are on the team. Players have had to focus on doing their best to impress others, and so have tried their hardest to do well. Freshman Matthew Mercado explained how he felt about pushing himself during the tryout. “I felt comfortable when I was batting, but a bit anxious of whether or not I would make the team. The flow of the tryouts for yesterday and today were simple: on Monday, we started with batting in the cages, then warmed up with throwing. We were then catching fly balls in the outfield and throwing it in. We finished with ground balls hit to shortstop and throwing to first base. For the second day, we were in the batting cages, then were told the results of our tryouts. With all of this in mind, I unfortunately didn’t make it.” Existing team members also expressed their feelings about the playing, fairly impressed with those trying out if they were watching. Freshman Zachary Sakti, who is already on the team, expressed himself on the tryouts. “The people trying out were hitting in the batting cage off the machine. On Monday, they practiced base running on the field all while the varsity team was playing. All in all, I would say that these tryouts went well.” All the players in the tryouts did well, showing that Arcadia’s full baseball roster will pack quite a punch. They will be ready for whatever teams they may face in the near future.

kwetterau@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of ARCADIA APACHES FACEBOOK

SPORTS

AHS Cross Country Team Qualifies for CIF Preliminaries By DARIN BUENALUZ Staff Writer Both the Boys and Girls Cross Country teams of Arcadia High School (AHS) have continued to perform at nothing short of excellence throughout the duration of their season this year. Recently, the Boys Cross Country team qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals. To get some insight as to how the team has achieved this feat, I spoke to junior Brandon Chang, who is one of the team’s finalists for the competition in Fresno on Nov. 27. The road to the CIF finals has been no walk in the park, as the past several weeks have been constant practice and competition for AHS. Despite this, Chang and his teammates accepted the challenges put in front of them and came out on top, managing to initially qualify for the CIF preliminary round. “We participated in a few large competitions, like the Woodbridge Classic, where the competition was tough. However, we took it as an opportunity to set personal bests and prepare ourselves for the even tougher competition in CIF,” said Chang. After entering the preliminary competition, things didn’t get any easier. Squaring off against some of the best schools in Southern California on courses that aren’t the easiest to traverse, the true capabilities of each individual runner on the AHS Cross Country team were put to the test. According to Chang, “I’d say that the CIF competitions have so far been substantially challenging, as both CIF preliminaries and finals are at Mount Sac (a notoriously hilly course). We are more susceptible to making errors during our race as the steep hills are very unforgiving.” One of the teams that has been dominat-

ing thus far is from Newbury Park High School, located in Ventura County. Recently, all seven of its competitors qualified for the CIF finals, leading the pack in Ventura County’s heats. This team, alongside other schools such as Loyola and Great Oak, will be some of the fiercest competition that AHS has been put up against. However, despite the adversity coming from both the terrain he will be running on, as well as other runners, Chang feels prepared for the upcoming competition. “I’ve focused on maintaining a relatively clean diet and an efficient work rate in order to maximize the amount of sleep I get. My only expectation heading into CIF finals is to give it a good effort and run smart,” said Chang. Furthermore, Chang and his teammates are a tightly knit group. Since the beginning of COVID-19, they have done their best to do their workouts and run together. This is not only to keep everyone in shape, but also motivated and never feeling alone in their efforts to remain one of the best cross country teams in the region. “The overall chemistry of the team is good; we joke around and tease each other a lot. But as soon as we do a hard workout or race, we cheer each other on. We all want to help each other perform well and create a lively atmosphere,” stated Chang. The CIF finals will be one of the largest hills for the AHS Cross Country team to climb this season, but as Chang and his teammates have displayed, there’s not much that has kept them down from the top seed of cross country teams.

dbuenaluz@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of BRANDON CHANG

CAMPUS FOCUS

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NOVEMBER 2021

appreciation article month. time

aldi REBECCA TAO

DARIN BUENALUZ Staff Writer

Publicity Manager

“As people, it is common to feel that we never have enough time on our hands, when sometimes we have more time than we know what to do with. However, time is often viewed as a resource meant for everyday use, similar to the gasoline in a car or the electricity that powers lights. While this is certainly one way to use time, time has other, deeper purposes. Time is a tool, a way to bond with others, and a medicine. For these reasons and many more, I am truly thankful for time.”

“I prefer a stream-lined shopping experience, and Aldi delivers just that—not as many options as Trader Joe’s, except if you’re in the cheese section. Prices are much cheaper, shockingly so, when the GT Kombucha there costs 40% less than the same bottle from Albertsons. After shopping—filling up two entire reusable burlap grocery bags—I’m filled with less buyer’s remorse than if I shopped to the same volume in a Sprout’s or Whole Foods escapade. Yet, Aldi is able to deliver the same fresh, organic produce that is available at those stores. I usually get my fill of zucchini, broccolini, blueberries, and bananas during my weekly visits and my selection has consistently been fresh and tasty.”

my dogs

ZOE LIN Sports Editor “I have unconditional gratitude for my two dogs and the little ways they affect my daily life--their unusual sleeping positions, the way they play with each other, the odd little sounds they make––--it all brings a smile to my face. There’s never a dull moment in the house with these two around. Their vibrant personalities make for an amusing atmosphere at home. Even when I’m in a poor mood, I know I can always count on my dogs to cheer me up. And of course, with the stress that comes along with school and college applications, my dogs become a reliable source of emotional support, keeping me company when I need it the most. Whether it’s staying by my side or providing a reassuring lick, my dogs are pros when it comes to helping me get through my stress and worries.”

November 2021

Articles inside

AHS thanksgiving traditions [pg

to the teenagers out there [pg