22 minute read
AHS thanksgiving traditions [pg
from November 2021
What is #BOOKTOK? AHS Thanksgiving Traditions
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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.
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.
By ANNA ODELL
Staff Writer
Bird Watching 101
The California Roll Was Not Made in California...nor 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.
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.
By SOPHIA LI
Staff Writer
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 theAP test. We wouldn’t want to have any otherAPUSH teacher!
cchan@arcadiaquill.com pyung@arcadiaquill.com
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, inArcadia. 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 toAmerica, 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. DearAma, 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 ofAma 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
AHS BAND AHS BAND AT MT. CARMEL 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. The band scored well on the marching and showmanship, only losing in the music category to Rancho Bernardo High School. This was what was expected of the students as well as directors Kevin Sherrill and Tom Plunkett, and it gave them the focus to keep on improving in the future.
Mr. Plunkett, voiced his thoughts on the band’s performance, believing in the band.
“The performances will just get better and better exponentially,” he said. “That day was a bit of a weird day, but that definitely wasn’t our best runthrough. By getting that mature and dark sound, the music will be given even more life.”
One of these students, freshman Henry Zhao, said how he felt about Arcadia’s performance on the street that afternoon.
“I think Mr. Plunkett is right,” Zhao said. “Our introduction isn’t the best, and we should practice more specific chunks.”
After a short rehearsal and break for an early dinner, everyone geared up to play in what’s arguably the hardest part of any musical competition: the field show. Even though the judges do not receive a copy of the music score, the marching judges know what every part of the march is supposed to sound like, and the lines are often exposed, allowing those to see who is in line and who is not. Furthermore, any changes to the way a note is played must be exaggerated on the field for it to be noticed by the music judge, meaning changes in music are harder to be accounted for.
When everyone was ready to play, Arcadia did a visual and a musical warm-up to finish up any final preparations before the singular run-through. Nervousness rippled throughout some, while others’ focus and determination were bolstered. Finally, the playing began. The band earned sweepstakes which is really good! With awards 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 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 song in your car while driving with the windows down at 9 p.m., or just walking around campus, it fits the mood perfectly and encapsulates the fall spirit. The liveliness of her lyrics “I love these roads where the houses don’t change, where we can talk like there’s something to say” makes me feel as if I were in the song and reliving a moment with my friends. This song is filled with senses of nostalgia and bliss.
Next is “1979- Remastered 2012” by Smashing Pumpkins. This hit was released in 1995, and to this day still lyrically aligns with our generation. When you’re with your friends and feel like this is a moment that you’ll remember when you look back on, make sure to have this song on.
“It’s the year my dad was born, and this song sums up his youth,” said junior Mellanie Grbavac.
This song elicits sensations of growth and change, a relatable feeling. Lead singer of the band Billy Corgan wrote this song specifically talking about a transition from youth to adulthood. He mentions being in high school and having adult responsibilities, yet still having to rely on his parents. It’s an awkward stage we all go through, and this song captures it perfectly while still maintaining a soothing and calm beat. It is the emotions of being close to adulthood, but not quite there yet.
Like a release from all past feelings and starting fresh with a new season, this song grasps onto all those emotions and puts it into one song that shows a want for a change– “Only You” by Mac Demarco. This song is clean and has an amazing meaning that always makes my heart sink. Whether you relate to the lyrics or not, this song is absolutely beautiful with a beat you can vibe to whenever you want. A change and a release are what this season pushes forward.
“I love listening to Mac Demarco,” said junior Mason Temple. “His songs are fall classics.”
Through the repeated lyric “I’m done crying over you”, Demarco understands what is best for him. Even though he knows that one person is able to make him feel things he’s never felt before, the attachment is toxic and the person has a grasp over him that only she 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!
