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
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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
