Girls Golf Team Win at CIF Division 1 Championship
By KATHY WONG Staff WriterThe Arcadia High School (AHS) Varsity Girls Golf team recently won the CIF Divi sion 1 Championship with an outstanding performance, reaching a huge milestone in school history. The girls were ecstatic when they found out about the news, as they were expecting to take home 4th or 5th place.
Sophomore Zoe Sprecher, senior Team Captain Qiman Hu, and senior Team Captain Erica Lee shared how they felt about this accomplishment as a team and as individuals.
“Overall I felt really good about the results we had because we pretty much played to the best of our ability,” Sprecher shared.
The team talked about how they were up against very competitive schools including Troy High School, Muldrow High School, and Santa Mar garita High School. The Apaches knew they had to give it their all in order to take home a trophy.
“When we heard the news of win ning, we were very happy because we knew that we just won our CIF divi sion two years in a row. Last year we were in Division 2, and when we won it raised us to Division 1,” Hu stated.
Lee also provided her thoughts: “I’m extremely proud of how we fin ished individually. It’s gonna be a very new experience. I think any of us has ever gotten here before, including the coach so it’ll be really cool.”
Hu, Sprecher, and Lee have all been on the team for at least a year now, so the experience of winning CIF was one of the most memorable experiences on the team.
Sprecher stated, “I’d say my most mem orable experience is definitely winning the Division 1 Championship because it is a re ally big deal and I feel really happy with this accomplishment.” In contrast, both Hu and Lee had completely different responses com
Vaughan and the French Exchange Program
pared to Sprecher.
“The most memorable experience is getting dinner with our team after every League match. I think it’s a great bonding experience between us and our coach and we always have a lot of fun,” expressed Lee.
Being on a sports team usually means hav ing mandatory and long practice hours, and stu dents on an athletic team are often faced with
when I get home. The second I get home from school, I start working on homework. That way at night I can free up more time to practice and work on my game, it’s all about scheduling and time management.”
Sprecher said, “Normally since most of our practice is optional …, I normally go to the li brary after 5th period and stay there until 4:30 to get as much homework done as possible.
work on or improve on.
Hu said, “With our busy schedules, a lot of the time we don’t get to play practice rounds before the tournament unless we’re gonna miss school. Instead, we could work on meeting together to pull up imagery of the courses that you can find online and we can talk about strategy or things we can watch out for before a match so that we’re all bet ter prepared when we get to the tournament.”
Conversely, Lee reflected, “I don’t think so actually, I think we have a good practice regimen before our matches and we take into priority how important these matches are. We just make sure that we perform to the best of our ability by prepar ing for it beforehand so I think we’re doing a pretty good job.”
Sprecher shared how she’d like to im prove as an individual, “One thing I would like to improve on for future matches is definitely my putting because pretty much for most of my matches I always hit midapproach shots into greens within a reason able chance at birdie.”
News • P5
the struggle of balancing classes, homework, and other extracurriculars. Fortunately, this is not the case for the girls golf team and they are given as much flexibility as needed by Coach Greep. Despite this, the girls shared the different methods they have to get homework done in an orderly fashion without wasting time.
Hu describes, “Usually the way I schedule it is that I don’t try to procrastinate my work
Then after there, I go out to go practice until around 7 or 7:30. Once practice is over, I go home, eat dinner, and do the rest of my home work like every day.”
After winning the CIF Division 1 Cham pionship, the girls reflected on themselves as individuals and as a team. In the wake of their success, they still focus on what they need to
Band Review and Field Tournament at Mt. Carmel
Sohana Sahni’24 covers the Marching Band and Color Guard at Mt. Carmel Band Review and Field Tournament. Sports • P11
November is Native American Indian Heritage Month
Features • P9
Overall, the girls feel really proud of each other and themselves for their im pressive win, both this year and last year, making it a record two-time CIF champi onship in the history of Apache sports. No doubt they’ll continue thriving as a team and getting better with each match. Con gratulations Varsity Girls Golf Team on this amazing accomplishment and keep up the good work!
Campus Focus • P16
kwong@arcadiaquill.com
/arcadiaquill
Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91006
The Arcadia Quill The Arcadia Quill
Editorial Board
EICs: Catherine Chan, Lilian Chong, Enzo Goebel
News: Stephanie Wang and Madison Yee
Opinion: Ashley Chan and Chloe Wong
Features: Darin Buenaluz and Pamina Yung
Arts & Entertainment: Anna Odell and Maryam Sadeghifard
Sports: Sophia Li and Sohana Sahni
Campus Focus: Michelle So
Media: Amanda Chang
Publicity: Vritti Godani
General Staff
Staff Writers: Ryan Chai, Nathan Chen, Niyah (Elliot) Da vis, Harini Devaguptapu, Juliette Fang, Jose Gama, Eleanor Gladson-Pang, Michelle Ho, Michael Hum, Amish Jha, Annie Jiang, Emily Lee, Caroline Li, Lisa Li, Justina Liu, Zhilin Liu, Samantha Luan, Victoria Thalia Mair, Emmaline Pan, Breeanna Pham, Ava Shaw, Sofia Payan Siegrit, Clarissa Suryapranata, Kaitlynn Trinnh, Ziming (Sarah) Wang, Kathy Wong, Lin Zhang
Design Staff: Lauryn Chao, Skye Escobedo, Veronica Meyers, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Katrina Reghitto, Lorin Teng, Vanessa Valentino, May Wang, Olivia Zheng
Advisor: Mrs. Lesley Lee
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy
The Arcadia Quill acknowledges the systemic inequities persistent in our country and community, and therefore we maintain a dedication towards equity, diversity, and inclusion. As a student-led orga nization, we strive to inspire high school students to use their voices to discuss issues that affect them in conjunction with our goal to provide a space of journalistic integrity and professionalism. We expect ourselves to be inclusive and respectful of everyone regardless of identity—including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic identity, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ability, and religious belief. We strive to put our values into action by doing the following: Highlighting the stories and experiences of students from backgrounds that have historically faced inequality. Assessing how The Arcadia Quill can improve by taking steps to avoid contributing to cultural appropriation and systemic injustice. Working to educate our staff on the impact of systemic inequality, and equipping them with tools on how to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within their own means. Following standards set by Arcadia Unified School District to confront systemic injustice including racial inequity. We hold ourselves to high standards in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these efforts by The Arcadia Quill, please email eic.arcadiaquill@ gmail.com.
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 fact-checking.
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 libel ous, 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.
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 Edi tors, 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 com pletely 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.
The True Spirit of Thanksgiving
The True Spirit of Thanksgiving
Since the first gathering of the Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621, Americans have made the last Thursday of every November a day of thanksgiving. Often full of big feasts and football games, the day that we spend express ing our gratitude has become a unique tradi tion not seen in many other cultures around the world. Yet the true spirit of thanksgiving seems to have been lost in our day and age.
Every day has become almost indistin guishable from one another. Another day of get ting through school or the job that defines your role in contributing to society. Another day of coming home to complete a never ending list of tasks and obligations, with some being more mindless than others. Another day of question ing, “What did I miss out on today?” The in satiable desire to display our productivity and worth to both ourselves and others drives our mindset from when we wake up to when we go to sleep.
And yet, in spite of all that we do ev eryday, we forget to acknowledge what allows us to go about our day. The car in the driveway we use to commute. The place we call home that provides a roof over our head, a place to sleep, and a space where we don’t have to worry about the outside world. The people who make up our friends and family who are always there to provide support in whatever way they can. We, as a society, are prone to overlook the for tune of having our daily necessities and luxuries so easily accessible. As a result, we do little, if not anything, to consciously express our grati tude on a regular basis. The “thank you” that comes here and there cannot suffice our need to truly appreciate the things we have and the life we live.
While you shouldn’t guilt-trip yourself into looking for positives—you’re still allowed to feel disappointed and sad—it can be healthy to look at the glass half-full. Prioritizing grati
tude and a positive outlook throughout our daily behavior is vital in order to remain content in one’s life. While it may seem overwhelming and an impossible task to accomplish, mak ing this change in your life is simple and much easier than it seems. Expressing gratitude is straightforward and uncomplicated, and you can start with the people who surround you. Thank your loved ones for the positive con tributions they make to your life. Thank your teachers, your peers, everyone around you who makes a positive impact on your life. Thank your health, your ability to wake up everyday and keep living. Most importantly, thank your self for all you do everyday. Your ability to stay resilient, to handle all the obstacles life throws at you, and to keep the motivation to keep on going is admirable, so don’t take it for granted!
The importance of being grateful is often promoted within society as a vague maxim— something which is presented to be necessary with no proper justification or explanation. As a result, the value of gratitude within your life is often downplayed and seen as unimportant. Nonetheless, thankfulness can make you a hap pier person. By appreciating what you already have rather than single-mindedly pursuing what you lack, you can be more appreciative of what surrounds you and be more content with your own life. Being more self-aware also strengthens your relationship with the people around you, as you are more appreciative of them and the impact they create on your life. Giving thanks can take many forms, whether it be meaningful actions, sincere gifts, or kind words—at The Quill, all staff write monthly appreciation articles during the Thanksgiving season.
This Thanksgiving season, go back to the origins of this age honored holiday and begin to develop your own relationship with gratitude. Be patient, be kind, and most of all, be thankful!
Seniors of Merit at Work (SMW) partnered with Foothill Unity Center to host a food drive at Arcadia High School to provide for the elderly people and individu als with disabilities, low income, or insecure housing.
The food drive had success col lecting almost 4000 items and raising almost $200. On behalf of Foothill Unity Center, PTSA, and SMW, we thank those who came together to help, as well as the entire Football team who contributed to gathering and loading the proceedings.
Foothill Unity Center, founded in 1980, has been a major food source for many families. It is a multi-service agency with multiple programs to help people come out of poverty and get back on their feet.
“The food drive was first started in Arcadia 1932 during the Great De pression era. It benefits over 1,200 local families,” stated SMW Chair
senior Joanne Zhao.
Zhao explained how it is im portant to give to this food drive as, “these donations significantly impact our community, especially as the holiday season approaches.” These donations were taken to Foothill Unity Center by SMW members for distribution. Zhao shared that, “SMW also works in conjunction with the Parent Teacher Student As sociation (PTSA) to ensure the Food Drive goes smoothly.”
There are many people who aren’t able to get a proper meal, and are on the verge of becoming home less. This problem is more real than we may think, and it’s important to understand their situation. A small
donation will make a big difference, and each donation comes together to make a big impact.
The goal was to help these people have a full meal, especially with Thanksgiving coming up to give them the support they need.
From Oct. 27 to Nov. 9, donations were open in fourth period classes, directly to a SMW member, or to the SMW advisor, Ms. Claudia Grubbs. There were also food donation boxes in the front office and the library.
“SMW is deeply committed to collecting as many donations as possible in order to benefit our local community,” Zhao expressed.
Students were able to donate canned food with pop tops, toiletries, baby items, socks, board games, and small water bottles. Money, checks, and gift cards were also ac cepted. However, homemade foods, perishable items, and glass were not allowed.
Madame Vaughan and the French Exchange Program
By STEPHANIE WANG News EditorAfter two weeks of immersing themselves in American culture, a group of French exchange students from Lyon, France, concluded their trip to the U.S. – an annual program organized by Arcadia High School’s (AHS) French program. From visiting Universal Studios to listening in on classes at AHS to dressing up for Hallow een, these students lived the lives of Ameri can students during their trip, making lifelong friendships with their AHS hosts along the way.
Although AHS’s French students may look forward to this once-in-a-lifetime experi ence each year – both to host a French student as well as to travel to France themselves – this exchange program owes its origins to the an nual efforts of AHS French teacher Madame Christina Vaughan and Madame DécombasDeschamps, an English teacher in Lycée Du Val De Saone, a school in Trévoux near Lyon, and their close friendship of 15 years.
After meeting online, and then in Paris in 2007, Madame Christina Vaughan and Ms. DD, as Madame Décombas-Deschamps is called by her students, switched lives for a year, from teaching each others’ jobs to living in each others’ houses and driving each others’ cars.
“During that year, I lived in France and taught English in a French high school,” she said. “I brought my kids, brought my dog, brought my husband – we swapped lives.”
After establishing a close bond and real izing that conducting an exchange program be tween their schools was something they were both interested in, Madame Vaughan and Ms. DD put their plans to action beginning in 2011.
Since then, they have continued the pro gram each year (except in 2020 due to the pandemic), with Madame Vaughan coordinat ing every part of the American side of the ex change program herself year after year, from buying plane tickets, to insurance, to collecting money, to organizing excursions and dining.
Organizing the program has been espe cially difficult this year, she said, as the most recent group of French students arrived in October, instead of in February, when the ex change program usually occurs. In addition to many of her senior host students working on
their college applications, Madame Vaughan herself also finds October a busy time of year, as she and other teachers are still trying to ease their students’ transition into the school year.
“Some of my [students] are still like, ‘What do you mean? I have to conjugate a verb?’” she said, referring to teaching her students the basics of French grammar.
Nonetheless, she still enjoys seeing the work she dedicates towards organizing the exchange program every year – both to host French students as well as bring her stu dents to France – pay off for the invaluable experience she’s able to give her students.
“It’s like a second job,” she said. “And yet I would do it over again in a heartbeat.”
When she takes her students to France, her students stay with their respective host families in Lyon and have the chance to ex perience a few weeks in the shoes of their French counterparts – riding the French school bus, going to the grocery store to prepare sack lunches, and attending French classes.
During the day, they also visit numer ous tourist attractions, including Roman ru ins, cinematography museums, and a music museum. Madame Vaughan especially enjoys visiting the museums, as Arcadia isn’t far from the birthplace of Hollywood, the epicen ter of the entertainment industry worldwide.
“The first filmmakers were actually French, not American,” she said. “Since we’re from Hollywood, it’s an appropriate visit.”
By night, AHS exchange students are able to sample French cuisine in the heart of Paris, not just “chicken nuggets and pizza,” as Madame Vaughan humor ously described the standard field trip fare.
But even as AHS students are able to spend their Spring Break relax ing overseas, their two-week long ex cursion in the French countryside is also an educational experience.
Just as the French exchange students visiting America “discover[ed] American culture, schools, habits at home, home life, foods, and transportation”, AHS stu dents in France are able to put their hardearned French proficiency to use as they immerse themselves in French culture – an experience that Madame Vaughan finds im mensely valuable, regardless of what career
path her students choose to pursue in the future.
“Maybe these kids are not going into international relations or politics or diplo macy,” she said. “But they’re going to real ize, ‘I actually can travel and use this lan guage. I can actually understand culture and politics better. I can understand the chal lenges in Paris and France, versus the chal lenges [of] racism here in the United States.’”
As an educator who wishes to best prepare her students for life past high school, Madame Vaughan finds the exchange program especially rewarding in the context of the current politi cal condition of the country and wider world.
“We have so much fighting and disrespect in our world right now,” she continued. “And when you know another culture, when you know people, you have an easier time under standing their culture, their ways – not judging them for the things that are important to them.”
year after year, as she and her host stu dents see the French exchange students off to the airport for the plane back to France, she finds that her hopes come true, as both AHS and French students have diffi culty parting ways with their new friends.
“Everybody is crying – the guys are crying, the girls are crying, the French kids are crying, the Americans are crying. They’re all crying,” she said. “It’s one of the best moments of the whole trip, because the tears mean that it worked – that they connected, that it was meaningful.”
With the October exchange a profound ex perience for both French students and their AHS hosts, Madame Vaughan is excited for what’s to come later in the year. In February, another group of French exchange students will arrive in Arcadia, and in April, Madame Vaughan will bring a group of her own students to Lyon, where they will spend Spring Break.
More Men Should ParticiPate in houSehold dutieS
By KAITLYNN TRINH Staff WriterEver since I was little, I’ve observed the same pattern: men go to work while women stay home and take care of the house. Being young, I never knew what the problem was; actually, I believed that there was no problem with this dynamic whatsoever. Growing up in a home that adhered to traditional gender roles, I thought it was only fair for my mom to do the housework because my dad was the breadwinner for my family. Looking back, my stance on gender roles was definitely flawed. Although traditional gender roles are somewhat outdated, especially in this day and age, I’ve been surrounded by these roles my entire life, sometimes unknowingly. Becom ing more aware of traditional gender roles has opened my eyes stereotypes women ten have to face and fight. In hopes of an increasing ly equal world, women should not be stereo typically confined to the house hold by soci etal norms, and more men should take the initiative to participate in household duties. Universally, there is sup port for women to pursue careers, but as an increasing number of women enter the work
force, is it proportional to the number of men willing to aid in housework?
Currently, men are more likely than ever to embrace the idea of gender equality because humanity is more open to change nowa days, but they are still inac tive when it comes to house hold chores.
The amount of house work has declined by 23% over the past half-century. Most of this decline is be cause of new technological inventions: dishwashers, laundry machines, dryers, vacuums, etc. Moreover, men have also doubled their participation in housework since the 1960s, but women still do the majority of chores.
Men are less likely to take care of chores that are inside the home. Usually, men take the initiative of chores outside the house, such as car upkeep and yard work, whereas women are more likely to handle indoor tasks, like cleaning or cooking. However, why do men prefer outdoor tasks? Well, the chores that men do often occur on a weekly basis versus a daily basis–cutting their participation to an all-time low. The housework women partake in happens nearly several times a day.
Why is it important for gender inequal ity to be addressed and fought in the realm of household chores? For one, masculinity is strongly associated with earning a high income and avoiding feminine activities such as cook ing, dancing, and shopping. However, now that more women are entering the workforce, the
gender roles must expand in relation. A ma jor reason men refuse to do household chores is because it is stereotypically “unmanly”. This “unmanly” excuse is outdated, and men splitting household chores with women should become nor malized.
University of Utah’s assistant pro fessor Dan Carlson’s study shows the satis faction couples experi ence when various tasks are split. The research demonstrated that housework between the two genders was not split equally, ultimately affecting the satisfac tion and affection shown in relation ships. For women, it was primar ily about dishwashing. If a woman were to complete it all by herself, she felt discontent; however, if she split it with her partner, she felt satisfied. Additionally, men were at their happiest when they shared errands with their spouse and were the least happy when they did more chores.
Performing household chores daily is just as effective as partaking in most physical activities when it boils down to achieving good health, including keeping your heart healthy and extending your lifespan. However, doing too much housework perpetuates the opposite effect: poor health. A study executed by Dr. Huong Dinh found that
usually women are suffering from health problems since they have the tendency to overwork themselves from partaking in too many household chores.
“[The inequitable] division of house work [explains] why women have poorer health beyond the threshold of 3 hours per day. In order to achieve equity in health, there should be a balance in the distribution of household task[s] among men and women,” explained Tilman Brand, a researcher from the University of Bremen.
Not only is splitting housework ben eficial for women both psychologically and physically, it also benefits men by strength ening their relationships with their spouses. Now that times are changing towards a more progressive, equal society, traditional gender reotypes need to be com pletely revamped into ‘genderless roles’–spe cific duties shouldn’t be placed upon people based solely on their gender. As a more open-minded and liberal generation of adolescents emerges, it is time for a “gender revolution” in which we, as a society, eliminate traditional gender roles.
ktrinh@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of CANVA.COMReform Our Education System
By MICHAEL HUM Staff WriterA series of recent challenges to college applications shows how the American edu cation system is attempting to improve among its worldwide peers. However, our education has a lot to improve upon. According to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), American students glob ally score 25th in science, 24th in reading comprehension, and 41st in mathematics out of 70 countries sur veyed. So, is there truly a way for Ameri cans to improve their education?
The national curriculum’s short comings can be traced back to the presidency of George W. Bush when he passed the No Child Left Behind laws, which implemented a series of standardized tests to assess students’ knowledge and changed the cur riculum to attempt to make stu dents pass proficiency tests. The problem with the law is that they don’t determine subject mastery. As a result, many teachers only focus on finding a way to master a test instead of a
subject, and as a result, the rigidity of what the students have learned is sacrificed to boredom, and demotivation. Addition ally, the attempt to lower racial inequal ity for academic success by stan dardizing the cur riculum has failed. The non profit or ganization Brookings Institute commented that the problem is not with the curricu
lum but a general lack of funding or care to improve students’ education.
The best way to improve our education is to remove our stan dardized curricu lum and replace it with more general guidelines that al low for more au tonomy so that teachers can re lieve students’ stress. Singapore and Finland, two countries re nowned for their education, both score near the top entries for PISA scores, with Singapore scoring 1st and Finland scoring about 13th worldwide.
If America were to adopt a new curriculum based on the Singaporean and Finnish systems, the main changes would be twofold. One change would be to revise our curriculum so that exams that determine proficiency can be reduced, and two, the standard should be easily modified so that any teacher can teach the best way they can. The second is finding a way to lessen students’ workload. American students, on average, spend about five hours more time schooling
than the global average, so finding a way to in still a flex ible reper toire with shorter school ing times will be a vital step in reform ing our educa tion sys tem. Ad ditionally, a way to increase awareness of education’s value would make the change long-term.
Education is one of the most prominent, direct factors that shape a person’s life and impact our society’s future. A higher quality of education is shown to correlate with higher income levels and a lower employment rate. As people chase their dreams, revising the curriculum for our schools is one of the ways to reform America’s education system.
mhum@arcadiaquill.com
Graphics courtesy of CANVA.COM
British Monarchy, Return Your Stolen Jewels
By AVA SHAW Staff WriterFor centuries, the British Monarchy has been a public spectacle. Their lavish lives and powerful global influence have made the famous family a prominent force in both pop culture and human history. While this may seem like cause for admira tion, a colonial past still plagues the monar chy. For nearly 400 years, the British Em pire was an imperialist power, controlling one quarter of Earth’s land at one point. The empire had colonies on every continent, but their territories were mainly located in Africa, South Asia, and North America. Unfortunately, numerous precious artifacts, especially jewels, were stolen from several of these colonies. The British monarchy’s loot not only has great monetary value, but also important cultural value for its rightful owners. Despite outcry from former British colonies, the monarchy continues to abuse its power by keeping these stolen jewels.
One of the most famous items of loot is the Kohinoor diamond, which was alleg edly stolen from India. Its origins can be traced back thousands of years ago, where it was discovered in an Indian mine and held significance in Hindu beliefs. The gem is believed to have a special curse and originate from the temple of the Hindu god
Krishna. It is certainly disrespectful that the British keep the diamond simply for its value, whereas in India, the gem holds more than just monetary glory, but also a deeper meaning. The Kohinoor diamond is a startling 105-carats and belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II as one of her Crown jewels. Queen Victoria and Queen Al exandra previously wore the cov eted diamond as well. This symbol of imperialist history is on display at the Tower of London.
In 2016, the Indian Cultural Ministry stated that they were making “all possible efforts” to return the jewel, yet the Kohinoor diamond still remains in the wrong hands, thousands of miles away.
The British government claimed to see no legal basis for the diamond’s repa triation. This declaration may be true on physical paper, but from a moral stand point, India has rights to the Kohinoor dia mond. The British government continues to indirectly inflict imperialism on India, jus tifying their conquering of the nation and decisions made while in power by claiming ownership of their loot.
The Great Star of Africa was also tak en from its rightful owners by the British
Empire. At over 530-carats, this Crown jewel is the largest clear cut diamond in the world. The Great Star of Africa was taken from South Africa, which was rec ognized as a former British colony until 1961. The jewel was made from the Cul linan diamond, the same diamond also used to cut the Second Star of Africa. The Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1905 and was a prized product of Africa’s abundant supply of valuable minerals and resources. It was sold to the British and fell into the hands of King Edward VII two years later. Although the transaction was done “will ingly,” it is wrong to call the purchase le gitimate, given the unfair power dynamic between colonizer and the colonized. The Great Star of Africa was worn in a 1937 coronation, where it sat upon the head of King George VI, and like the Kohinoor diamond, the Great Star of Africa is cur rently on display at the Tower of London. Showcasing the diamond as a prized pos session is not as glamorous as it seems; it is rather a glorification of colonialism. Outraged by this fact, South African parliament member Vuyo Zungula said, “South Africa must…demand the return
of all gold, diamonds stolen by Britain.”
This statement was made shortly after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II was announced. But even as growing concern continues to be voiced on this issue, the British royal family in particular has yet to release any sort of formal statement regarding the return of any of its loot.
The British Monarchy should be held accountable for its imperialist his tory and return its stolen jewels at once. The royal family has a darker past than what most of Western media portrays them to have. By holding onto these pre cious gems, the institution fails to show remorse. It is impossible for former Brit ish colonies to gain back everything lost by the powerful empire. As colonies, South Africa and India were treated with racial inferiority, and faced poverty, ex ploitation, a lack of free will, and a gen eral systemic disadvantage. The return of these stolen jewels could mark a tentative new beginning, or an era of repayment.
By surrendering artifacts such as the Ko hinoor diamond and the Great Star of Africa, the rightful owners of these gems can feel a sense of empowerment, taking back a piece of culture from their once oppressive colonizers.
ashaw@arcadiaquill.com
Graphic courtesy of TOPPNG.com
Sugar substitutes are not a healthy alternative
Artificial substitutes are deemed as a healthier alternative for those with diabetes or addiction to sugar and many who watch their caloric intake because of the nutrition label of zero sugar soda. Oftentimes, com panies state their sodas have zero sugar and little to no calories. Since zero sugar sodas taste similar to normal sodas, this creates a false sense for those that are looking for a
But sugars aren’t without their bene fits—they offer nutrients that stabilize your metabolism and provide a stable source of energy. Moreover, upon closer review of scientific studies, it is clear that sugar substitutes pose certain health risks. Longterm usage will increase the risks of chron ic health problems. Instead of opting for a diet soda, pour a glass of water. Sweeten it naturally with added fruits. Sugar sub stitutes should be avoided as much as pos
elee@arcadiaquill.com
Graphic courtesy of KINDPNG.com
arcadiaquill.com
BEHIND THE BUTTERFLIES (CRUSH VS. LOVE)
By KAITLYNN TRINH Staff WriterStrolling through the hallways, you skim the area, searching for that certain someone. Catching a glimpse of them, you physically feel your heart skip a beat. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t revolve around you; they stride past you. Nevertheless, you still feel satis fied having seen them for three seconds. Even though you have never spoken to them before, you somehow feel a sense of attraction toward them, and you can’t help but like them.
What are these feelings? Is it love or a crush? What is the difference between love and a crush?
Those strange feelings you can’t articu late into words when describing that particu lar someone that’s called a crush. Although there’s no clinical definition for a crush, there are many characteristics associated with one that differentiates it from profound romantic engagement: love. Crushes are mainly rooted in fantasy. The beholder tends to project their values and ideals onto their crush, causing un realistic expectations and infatuation.
“You have little pieces of information [on] what you see, [therefore], you [feel] drawn into that person,” remarked New York City-based therapist Dr. Bukky Kolawe. A crush is different from a romantic relationship or interest, where you’re familiar with that person, and your no tions are based on real-life experiences.
To put the difference into perspective, if you are crushing on someone, you may believe that the attractive person that passes by during the passing period between 2nd and 3rd peri ods may be kind and caring; however, you have no way to prove your supposition or fully trust them since trust is built over time and through an established connection. What you feel is not a romantic interest but a crush.
“I’ve had experiences with crushes, but none have blossomed into love,” stated sopho more Jason Huang. “One memorable crush developed in ninth grade. She was in my fifth period, and I always looked forward to seeing her in class. I always felt excited around her and could feel the butterflies stir in my stomach, something I’d never experienced. I’d always imagine what she was like and have little fanta sies fog my head.”
Though there are differences between a ro
mantic interest and a crush, what makes them so similar and difficult to differentiate? Both dynamics make you “feel”. To put it differently, the feelings of a crush and romantic interest both release mood-boosting hormones dopa mine and oxytocin to the brain.
According to Stephanie Cacioppo, an as sistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago, “a crush and love act on different planes,” heav ily differentiating the two aside from possess ing the same biological reaction. Crushes feel like uncontrollable urges because they occur spontaneously, compared to love, which takes quite some time to develop. This explains why crushing may feel like a spiral where you have no grip.
“Maintenance of a crush can be stopped with strong willpower from the frontal lobe, meditation, discipline, and practice,” explained Cacioppo.
Despite the varying differences between love and a crush, a crush can bloom into a ro mantic relationship, so, don’t lose hope!
“My first crush [developed] in ninth grade. I always felt excited when I was around her, and I finally asked her to be my girlfriend,” remi
nisced sophomore Kevin Louie. “After a few months, my crush developed into love. When she was just a crush, I did not know her much, so I did not ‘love’ her. When we [established] a relationship, I became attached to her and began to love her.”
“With crushing, you’re ok with the dis tance because you’re not fully [attached and reliant],” stated Dr. Kolawe.
Nevertheless, an attachment system is cre ated if you begin to share real-life experiences with your crush. Once a relationship is estab lished, the body and brain can react differently, like feeling sad or alone when the person isn’t physically present.
Putting aside the differences between a crush and real love, they both share the same ability to bridge people together. If you current ly have a crush and are debating on pursuing them, go for it! You never know where it can bring you; you may thank yourself a few years from now, either because you dodged a bullet or found true love!
ktrinh@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FLATICON.COMVEGAN AND VEGETARIAN PLACES TO TRY
VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN PLACES TO TRY
By HARINI DEVAGUPTAPU Staff WriterFinding good vegetarian and vegan places can be quite difficult, but over the years it has become easier to find good options for restau rants with good quality food. A vegetarian diet excludes all meat products while a vegan diet excludes all animal products such as dairy, meat, and eggs. Becoming a vegan or vegetar ian can be due to the health benefits or a choice of lifestyle.
People change their diets and become vegan or vegetarian considering many reasons. Some people feel that animal factories used to get meat are inhumane and torture for the ani mals. It is also to help the environment from the pollution we get from the masses of livestock and their wastes. It can also be from health con cerns with the quality of animal products.
Although, animal products have a good source of the supplements our body needs and when we don’t get enough of them, there are some health concerns. But there are good ways for vegetarians and vegans to receive those through healthy whole foods.
There are good ways to stay healthy and full with good vegetarian and vegan food op tions that taste good. There are plenty near Ar cadia. Here are four recommendations for res taurants.
Happy Buddha Kitchen is a restaurant in Temple City with vegetarian Vietnam ese food. There is a wide variety of options to choose from on the menu, and they specify that you can let them know if you have any allergies or food restrictions. You can get items such as egg rolls, beef noodle soup, and clay pot peppered fish, and all the items are vegetarian contrary to their names. The flavors are au thentic with all the meatless dishes. This restaurant is a wom an- and family-owned and operated business.
White Springs Cafe is a place with enjoy able and delicious vegetarian and vegan Thai food options. Their menu and options are made cleanly and wholeheartedly at good prices. The
ambiance and location of the store are cozy and make you feel comfortable. The store is near N. First Avenue Street. I went there after school with my family, and it had a good environment, and the food was good quality. I liked the pad thai, the beyond veggie burger, and the stir fry mixed vegetables. There are quite a lot of menu items to choose from that are exciting. The res taurant is a family-owned business, and the food is made using organic nonGMO whole foods.
The next restaurant is located in Pasadena called Namaste Spiceland. This is a place with veg etarian Indian food, which is my favorite. The food is made with quality and fresh ingredients, and there are a vari ety of different Indian food options at a reasonable price. I love to get the Dahi Puri ($6.99) and Samosa Chaat ($6.99) as appetizers and the combo 1 ($9.99) which comes with two vegetables, basmati rice, chapati/puri, pickle/ onion, and raita. There is also an Indian grocery
is also an Indian grocery store as well. There weren’t many Indian options near me, and after this opened, my family and I occasionally went there, and it was a pleasant experience.
The last restaurant is an Indian restaurant located in South Pasadena called Radhika Mod ern Indian. They aren’t limited to just vegan and vegetarian but the vegan and vegetarian items they have are of good quality and taste wonder ful.
French Teacher at Arcadia High School (AHS) Christina Vaughan appreciated how the food was, “absolutely phenomenally flavored and prepared to bring the leftovers [she] had for lunch. And that’s all that matters!!” This res taurant offers foods such as biriyani, different naans, vegetables, and lassi and sweets.
Food options for vegetarians are becom ing more common, and it’s important to know where you can find them and the quality of the food. Staying healthy and having a good selec tion of different varieties of foods is vital and can be achieved!
hdevagupyapu@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FREEPIK.COM and FLATICON.COM
November is Native American Indian Heritage Month
By CAROLINE LI Staff WriterIn addition to being the month of Thanksgiving, November is National American Indian Heritage Month and has been since 1990. Seeing as how Thanks giving is a celebration of Native AmericanEuropean relations, it seems all too fitting that the month itself would be a homage to the Native American story as a whole. This is the history of how November became Na tional Native American History Month;, the Arcadia High School (AHS) library’s plans to spotlight books written by Native Ameri can authors, and how we can all participate in understanding Native American history.
The first instance of a national holiday
Native Americans are still affected by the cul tural and lingual extermination their ancestors were subjected to and that they deserve recog nition of their rights and lands.
“I think including more Native American history in schools is of the utmost importance,” said Mr. Gerry Wang, one of AHS’ U.S. His tory teachers. “The history of Native Ameri cans is one of tragedy, and marginalization that many historians clas sify as genocidal. In fact, one of the biggest [Native American] genocides took place in our very state…and has been recognized by our state government as such. We can not work towards justice until the people of this country learn this ‘hard’ history, as in it’s bound to take people to uncomfortable places mentally and spiritually. But once we learn about it, then we can recognize it, and then we can start the process of heal ing, restitution, and closure.”
They are real people with real struggles. And as future leaders and history-makers, students of all people should know that history is a tool for confronting present issues, not locking them away in the past; when used effec tively, history dedicated to the recognition of op pressed communities promotes the dissemina tion of knowledge that is too often omit ted from our history textbooks and yet still affects marginalized communities to this day.
and powwows are held, which feature tra ditional dancing, singing, and celebration as well. In honor of the month, the AHS li brary has compiled a list of books written by various Native American authors that can be found on their Instagram and library booklist.
commemorating Native American heritage occurred in 1915, during the presidency of President Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge issued a proclamation that the second Saturday of each May would observe American Indian Day, but different state legislatures went on to celebrate on different dates (some even on Columbus Day, which was formally recognized as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2021). To this day, it is generally celebrated sometime between the fourth Monday of September to the fourth Thursday of No vember.
75 years later, President George H. W. Bush passed a resolution declaring Novem ber to be National American Indian Heritage Month, which it continues to be to today.
As history has taught us, Native Amer icans’ past is fraught with tragedy and in justice; however, it would be ignorant to assume that this is no longer the case. Many descendants of the Native Americans who were subjected to the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and other counts of Native Ameri can persecution are still struggling to make their voices heard. Holidays of commemo ration allow them to do just that. “We just have been struggling for so long for the vast majority of mainstream America and culture to recognize that—that we are not just in history books,” said Alannah Hurley, executive director of United Tribes of Bris tol Bay and Yup’ik fisherwoman. “We’re still fighting for our lands and our waters and our way of life… We have struggled for so long with being made invisible by main stream society.”
Activists like Alannah teach us that
“Mainstream America needs to let Native Americans center themselves in their own story and show…who they are, and what their culture is, and what they would like us to know about their cul ture. Rather than us centering ourselves in the story,” said Mrs. Heather Moore, another U.S. History teacher at AHS. “First and foremost, it’s about respecting Native American culture and traditions, and understanding that Native Ameri cans are not just confined to a history book; Native American tribes are still around today. And they’re in a situation that is the effect of centuries of policies, stereotypes,
In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, Potawatomi envi ronmental biologist Robin Wall Kimmerer describes her experience trying to teach herself Potawatomi in honor of her ances tors, who had been forced to renounce the language by American settlers.
She jokes that, when trying to commu nicate in Potawatomi with her sister, they “freely insert high school Spanish words to fill in the gaps, making a language we call Spanawatomi.”
Kimmerer goes on to explain that there are only nine fluent Potawatomi speakers left in the world, and that she is not one of them. This seemingly innocuous example is one of the countless ramifications of cultural erasure, which ultimately make up
The best way non-Native American individuals can commemorate the heri tage of these persecuted communities is by making a genuineeffort to educate ourselves and advocat ing for their voices to be heard. While heritage months are a time to cel ebrate, they are also op portunities for education and cultural connection.
Let’s make the most of this month by interacting with resources that enable us to understand these individu als—not just through their portrayals in history, but through reading their books, listening to their songs, and learning their traditions. Because even though it seems as if every month is some history month or other and it can get tiring to hear the same things over and over again each year, there is real value in doing our part to recognize the struggles our present is built on.
If you’re interested in learning more, here are some interesting articles on Na tive American veterans, traditional dances, and ceremonies (which vary from tribe to tribe), and the library has a great list of Native American authored books (fourth slide) that you won’t regret squeezing into your booklist.
marginalization, greed, etc… To begin to undo all of that is a monumental task, but one that everybody must step up to try and tackle.
“There needs to be policy conversations in which Native American voices are central to say, ‘What do you need in your life to help you be the best you you can be?’ And then how can the community at large, America at large, assist with that…It’s about listening and respecting… Native American needs from their perspective, not from the perspective of outsiders saying ‘this is what you need.’”
As our teachers put it, Native American voices exist outside of the vacuum of history.
the unheard tragedies playing out in the back drop of American culture: indigenous culture ignored, endangered, and in many cases, gone extinct.
So what can we do to celebrate National Native American History Month? You can start by checking out the month’s official website, which features a variety of events, essays, and guest speakers that offer unique insight into the real experiences of indigenous individu als. Aside from that, each tribe celebrates in a different way. Most often, people watch or per form traditional dances, gather with family, and eat good food. Like other holidays, ceremonies
Thank You, Books
By CAROLINE LI Staff WriterPractically speaking, books are the most useless things in the world. Unless you’re short on firewood (which I imagine they are excellent for) it’s hard to see the value in wrinkly old pages written primarily by wrinkly old men, especially when YouTube and Netflix exist and will probably get you more bang for your buck without forcing you to struggle through twenty pages of flowery prose and exposition.
I agree that my time might be better spent finishing those
twenty math problems due tomorrow. Or the many, many articles I have yet to write. But somehow, somehow, despite all the angry red marks on my agenda and notes-to-self and promises to actually get some work done this time, I always end the day, no matter how much work I have yet to complete, with a book in my hands.
That’s why I hate books. Books are evil. They annihilate my grades and pile up on my shelves faster than I can get through them, and they’ll always keep coming because no matter what I do there’s no way I can actually read every book there is.
I realized this fact upon my first visit to the Arcadia Public Library, a Great Dane of a library that made my elementary school’s library seem like a Chihuahua in comparison. I could barely recite my times tables at the time, but the sheer enormity of the catalog was enough to make me wonder how the heck there were enough people in the world to
write this many stories. I remember listening to hours tick by as I wove through colonnades packed with shiny, plastic-wrapped spines, often until my parents threatened to leave me behind if I didn’t hurry and check something out.
I spent so much time at the library that, to this day, many of my happiest memories are buried somewhere between the first and last pages of its books. If I close my eyes, I can still remember how it felt, reading to the comfort ing sounds of deadened footsteps and chatter, eyes gliding through lines like scissors through silk, imbibing on every painterly observation of exotic locales, loving, fighting, and dying alongside every character whose eyes I saw the world through.
Every one of those books held a person and their story. A world utterly foreign to my own. It still makes me sad to think that no mat ter how hard I read, I’ll never be able to read every good book out there. But then I think to myself that if there’s anything I hope will never change from now to the day I die, it’s to always end the day, no matter how many more assign ments I still have to finish, with a book in my hands and a story in my heart.
cf.arcadiaquill@gmail.com
Thank You, My Dogs
By MICHELLE HO Staff WriterEach year, as November approaches, many people find themselves thinking about the things and people they’re grateful for. Things like their job, their house, their mother, their father, and their grandparents. There are hundreds of things that you could be thankful for. As childish as it may sound, I am grate ful for my three dogs, Rolland, Highland, and Daisy.
Rolland is the largest of the three, being a golden retriever. His wide, brown puppy eyes always make me smile, no matter how upset I may be feeling. Rolland’s attention-seeking personality gives him a clingy but adorable persona; his favorite thing to do is shove his snout under your arm, looking for pets and scratches. Despite his larger size compared to the other two dogs, he has always been gentle and forgiving, allowing the other two to bark, snap, and growl at him. However, Rolland refuses to give up playing with either dog, and he loves to lick and clean Highland with his tongue every night, though he might get nipped in the process.
Highland is the embodiment of ‘so ugly he’s cute’. His terrier-mix lineage makes his light brown fur scruffy and stick out in awk ward places, and his snaggletooth from his un derbite gives him the appearance of a grumpy old man. Unlike Rolland, who is a family dog that loves spending time with all members of the family, Highland has made a connection with me. His tail is always wagging when he
sees me, and the way he rolls around on the bed is adorable. Highland also does this little ritual where he will go up to a person and randomly ‘boop’ their leg with his nose, as if to make sure they’re still there. He acts almost like a human, sleeping in late into the mornings, taking his own seat at the dinner table, and growling in annoyance when someone wakes him from his sleep. I often wonder if he actually understands English.
Daisy can be described as a literal ball of fluff. She is a toy poodle, weighing only about three pounds. She has curly, fawn-colored fur, and eyes that are as black as boba pearls. Despite her small size, she dominates the other two dogs, driving them away with just a growl. She definitely favors my mom, though my older brother will come in second, and I come in third. The way she sprints to my mom after sighting her across the house is so endear ing, her little legs going at maximum speed to reach her. She has a little obsession with pom-pom balls and tissues, as those are the only things she can really play with. Daisy spends most of her day lounging on someone’s lap or being carried in someone’s arm.
All three dogs have a huge impact on my life, with the
ability to make me laugh or cry. They motivate me to wake up in the morning and help me sleep at night. They clean my tears from my face with licks and kisses, and wag their tail in happiness when I play with them. The sheer joy on their faces is something I treasure, and I strive to be the cause of it. I am grateful for the time I will spend with them, and will cherish every moment of it forever.
firstinitiallastname@apachepowwow.net
firstinitiallastname@apachepowwow.net
T h e L i n k B e t w e e n P e r s o n a l
S t y l e a n d I d e n t i t y
By VICTORIA MAIRStaff Writer a light and bright melody bopping along. There is the strings section with instruments that make long, sweeping, dramatic sounds, such as the violin, the harp, or the cello.
Everyone has a style, but whether or not that style is being expressed is the question. Personal style is when someone shows up expressing a specific kind of beat or rhythm in their life. Everyone in our society has a specific en ergy, movement, and feeling, all wrapped up in their identity. This brings a special aura to the people surrounding them.
Research on shame, conducted by Brene Brown, reveals that body image and appearance are nearly universal shame triggers. This situation is caused by certain environments, relationships, and life cycles. A person often cares for their appearance not because they are super vain or obsessed with their image, but because they want to connect, and want to be seen. However, this is where the tricky part comes into play. A person wants to be seen as attractive. A
Thirdly, the brass section, where there are instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, or tuba. This is the loudest section in the orchestra and expresses a powerful emotion. Last but not least, there is the percussion section, where such instruments as the bass drum and the timpani keep the beat for the whole orchestra.
Like each of these instruments, the people in this world were made to express their different qualities and characteristics. However, according to Molly Bingaman, a personal stylist and mas ter
body consultant behind The Lady Bird Style Lab and Salon, “just like an instrument, if you don’t take care of your appearance and your style it tends to fall out of tune.”
Falling out of tune is accustomed to our daily lives since the world is filled with a multitudinous number of people. People tend to observe, admire, and take an inter est in the different styles that others are expressing. As a result, it may encourage someone to follow that same style, until they realize it isn’t in tune with them.
In order to understand your signature style, the first step is to understand the way you move. The key is to choose clothing that has the same kind of energy you ex press. Each person reso nates
with one of the four groups of the orchestra.
The first group represents the people who are light and bright; people who are creative and constantly experiment with new ideas in order to continue being ener getic. These kinds of people would express that energy by wearing bright colors, or fabrics that move and have a lot of anima tion. Whereas the second group is moving slowly and more fluidly, and it expresses the characteristics of someone who is comfort able and relaxed. The third group expresses those who move at a quick, cutting pace. Their energy is wired to accomplish things and gives a substantial feeling. This energy is expressed through textural clothing with a movement quality of being fierce and sharp. Lastly, the fourth group expresses no move ment. The people in this group aren’t going to move unless they know it is the right move. These people need a lot of alone time and express a bold look.
“When it comes to style, it really
woodwind instru ments, such as the oboe, and the flute, which express
A Dancer’s Mystery:
By KATHY WONG Staff WriterBallet: the epitome of grace and elegance and one of the greatest forms of art, and has always been the foundation of all dances. This art form originated in France in the 15th century where it was first taught to the nobility and the courts. In the 16th century, the wife of King Henry II, Catherine de Medici started funding ballet in the French court. One century later, King Louis XIV, as a dancer himself and having performed in numerous roles, greatly helped in the process of normalizing and publicizing ballet.
In the 19th century, the romantic tutu was established. Ballet soon spread to Russia, and its popularity grew as Russian choreographers and composers put together the most classical and well-known ballets including, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. The classical tutu, most commonly known and worn, was later established around this time to show a ballerina’s legs and the challenges of their movements and footwork.
People often assume that ballet is effortless, but in reality, it is anything but easy. Ballet is considered one of the hardest sports in the world as it is intense, competitive, and dangerous. Generally, ballet is so difficult because it is tough on a dancer’s body. Ballerinas have unwavering determination and any mistake they make will
not affect their relentless efforts. They must have good flexibility and technique, which explains why the dancers commonly start dancing at a young age. It takes about 8-10 years to become a professional dancer, and most dancers retire at the age of 35. Even after retirement, there are often long-term effects which include eating disorders, arthrosis, sesamoiditis, ulcers, and many
Being a ballerina means endless hours of practice while wearing pointe shoes, resulting in extremely bruised and blistered feet. Still, ballerinas must maintain the ethereal image that they are known for no matter how painful it could be.
Although ballet is generally hard, there are some steps in ballet that are challenging and that most ballerinas will strive to master. Some of the most difficult steps to master in ballet include grand jetes, en pointes, pirouettes, fouettes,
Grand Jetes is one of the hardest jumps in ballet, and it requires the dancer to leap into the
air for a brief moment while attempting to do the splits and gracefully landing.
En Pointes is a technique where dancers put their entire weight on their feet while wearing pointe shoes. En Pointes require a high level of pain tolerance and it often takes years for a dancer to perfect this technique.
Pirouettes are another technique that takes years to master. Although a common move in ballet, it takes a good position and balance to truly become proficient in this move.
A fouette is a “whipped throw” and among one of the most difficult turns in the history of ballet. This technique is where a ballet dancer must balance on their feet while raising one leg and spinning at the same time. An immense amount of determination is required to achieve this turn. wearing pointe shoes. En Pointes require a high level of pain tolerance and it often takes years for a dancer to perfect this technique.
Pirouettes are another
technique that takes years to master. Although a common move in ballet, it takes a good position and balance to truly become proficient in this move.
A fouette is a “whipped throw” and among one of the most difficult turns in the history of ballet. This technique is where a ballet dancer must balance on their feet while raising one leg and spinning at the same time. An immense amount of determination is required to achieve this turn.
Grand Adage is yet another part of a successful ballet routine. It requires strength, steadiness, and self-control to lift your legs to the front, back, and sides while maintaining good balance.
The journey toward becoming a ballerina is a challenging but rewarding career. Ballet dancers may face many obstacles along the way, but all these do not make ballerinas think twice about pursuing the techniques and dances. So watching a ballet in the future, don’t let the illusion of their ethereal image underestimate the talent and hard work that goes into their performances.
kwong@arcadiaquill.com Photo Courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM RAWPIXEL.COM
By ANNIE JIANG Staff WriterIllustrations are often used to explore any contextual information, they are frequently connected to communication methods and historical conversations. Traditional artworks are shown as a certain expression before the explicit digital art that can be seen nowadays.
The art most of us are familiar with is drawing, the process is by drawing on a flat surface using a mark-making tool like an ink pen, graphite pencil, chalk, charcoal, or crayon.
It is clear that many drawing techniques have been used throughout history, and there are many different kinds of drawings now. However, when we shift our focus to the digital world that consists mostly of components of pop culture, many undervalued works of art that include powerful representations of culture and history are often disregarded.
Arcadia High School (AHS) sophomore Kate Wang expressed her thoughts on current art trends: “Besides digital art, I really like some [of] the traditional paintings such as GuoHua,[Traditional Chinese painting]. But I feel like some traditional art paintings are underrepresented right now.”
As one of the world’s oldest artistic traditions, GuoHua may be one of the art forms that is underestimated under the context of pop culture.
Any work painted in ink, with or without color, over a basis of Chinese paper or silk is classified as GuoHua, meaning native painting in China. It’s a way to identify contemporary
Chinese paintings made using classical techniques. Similar to calligraphy, Chinese artists use pictures to build their civilization and address pertinent concerns.
Originating from landscape painting during the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) until the Tang dynasty (618–906), artists mostly depicted the human form under the setting of landscapes. They were able to represent the distinctive characteristics of animals and plants to demonstrate their ambition. Much of what we know about early Chinese figure painting was preserved on silk banners, lacquered artifacts, and tomb walls at burial sites. Numerous ancient tomb murals were intended to protect other their souls to heaven. teachings of the Chinese or everyday settings.
AHS art teacher Ms. Bradley emphasized GuoHua’s cultural importance through Fan Kuan’s painting—Travelers By Streams and Mountains. She claimed that it is “one of the seven wonders in the world” to her, and appreciated the analysis that can be found in the form of GuoHua.
“The brush work is fresh yet complex,” Ms. Bradley said. “Painting in ink requires the artist to think in advance to anticipate where the paper is to be left untouched and where the brush strokes would be most effective. This requires that the artist understand the underlying structures found in nature.”
Chinese paintings were originally created for the imperial to enjoy, but over time understand they were opened up to the general public.The topics have also changed a lot. But the underlying purpose of depicting society has never changed. The Chinese Artist Association has later pursued the appreciation paintings of Mao’s China when the Communist Party took place, and the Chinese government today has offered the opportunities for younger generations to embody the aesthetic sensibilities through different museums.
Through the themes and painting methods,
2022 Arcadia Cross Country League Finals
The Pacific League Finals took place at Santa Anita Park on Thursday Nov. 3. In this meet, Arcadia High School (AHS) competed against rival school Crescenta Valley High School (CVHS) in the battle of determining League Champion and which team will move onto CIF Prelims.
Going into the race, both teams shared one goal, and that was to come out victori ous, and in that tunnel vision, both teams had very different strategies. On the Boys Varsity team, the scoring 5 finished 3-4-6-11-13 which contributed to the final scoring of 37; and on the Girls Varsity team, the scoring 5 finished 1-10-14-18-22 which resulted in the final score of 65.
Although this was the last race of the season for many, the opposite is said for sophomore Sophia Leung, as this was her first cross country race all season. After being out for previous races due to a stress fracture in her shin, she made a powerful comeback compet ing in the SophFrosh/JV race with a finishing time of 23:51.
When asking Leung what contributed to her success at Finals, she stated, “I think doing different workouts on the course and on the track definitely helped me prepare to run at faster paces more consistently.”
Although this race was a first for Leung, for senior Kaitlyn Hsu, this will be her last race in high school cross country. When asked how she felt about this, she stated, “To be honest, I cried after the race finished because I was sad that it was over.”
Finishing in the top 5 in Boys Varsity, senior Weber Lin went out onto the field with a plan: starting the race out with a mile time of 5:05, then negatively splitting the second mile by five seconds, and to go crazy the third mile. Although the splits during the actual race weren’t in conjunction with the goal pacing, Lin still achieved his goal of going under 15 minutes for three miles with a finishing time as well as a personal record time of 14:44.
Lin stated that the team’s strategy was to “stick with a teammate who is a little faster and try to hang on. For me, that means keeping up with Brandon, Kenta keeps up with me, William keeps up with Kenta, etc.”
Although the team didn’t come out first in League, AHS Varsity Cross Country team will be moving forward into CIF Prelims being held on Friday, November 11 at Mount San Antonio College. Good luck to those partici pating at CIFs and congrats to the AHS XC team in completing another great season!
By BREEANNA PHAM Staff Writer bpham@arcadiaquill.com by Angela Ren and Rachel SawMARCHING BAND AND COLOR GUARD AT
MT. CARMEL BAND REVIEW AND FIELD
TOURNAMENT
By SOHANA SAHNI“Who’s Who in Navy Blue” by John Phillip Sousa.
Sports EditorThe Arcadia High School (AHS) Marching Band recently traveled to San Diego in order to participate in the Mt. Carmel Band Review and Field Tournament on Oct. 29. As usual, the Apache band put on a fantastic show, earning them many awards and honors. In the Band Review, the Apaches won Band Sweepstakes and 2nd place in Color Guard. During their Field Show performance, the band won Band Sweepstakes once again, Color Guard Sweepstakes, and Percussion Sweepstakes.
Beneath the sweltering sun, the Arcadia Marching Band and Color Guard prepped to begin the parade. Under the direction of Kevin Sherrill and Tom Plunkett, the band performed
After starting the parade off with a tantalizing performance by senior drum major Kaden Cho, the band began a jaunty mid tempo march. The color guard preceding the band continued in a playful dance, tossing their yellow, black, red, and white flags in the air and carrying a bright red Arcadia sign.
With loads of school spirit, the band marched forward in melodious glory, with a strong brass and woodwind performance consistent throughout the song. After stunning in the parade Band Review, the band moved on to their Field Show performance.
Led once again by senior drum major Kaden Cho, the Marching Band and Color Guard performed their song titled “Searching for Serenity” for their field show performance.
Starting off with a whimsical tune, the performance began at a slow tempo, led mainly by the higher register woodwinds. The band moved in synchronized figure eight motions, performing waves across the field, and marching in flawless harmony. Eventually, the tempo began to speed, with the Marching Band emphasizing their skilled percussion section, and the song began picking up pace. As the performance continued, the music swelled and ebbed in tempo and intensity, and the song ended in a triumphant trill of brass and woodwinds.
“Our band did an amazing job implementing the new choreography we were given in our show and really focusing on being visually pleasing, filling the role of finding serenity,” said junior tuba player Mariam Malki.
The Mt. Carmel show was a success in many aspects for the Apaches, and students in the Marching Band are proud of their high placement and multiple awards.
“My favorite part of the Mt. Carmel band review would definitely be winning 4 out of the 5 sweepstakes trophies against Rancho Bernardo, who placed first at our championships last year while we placed second,” said Malki.
Overall, the AHS Marching Band and Color Guard put on a fantastic show at the Mt. Carmel Band Review and Field Tournament. Come out and support your Apaches at their next show, at Arcadia Festival of Bands!
Photo courtesy of AUSD.NETATHLETE FEATURE: DESTINY DELGADO
By AMISH JHA Staff WriterSenior Destiny Delgado has been a center back on the Arcadia High School (AHS) Girls Varsity Soccer team since she was a freshman. We sat down and talked about her history with the sport and what it means to her.
Delgado started athletics in elementary school, playing both softball and soccer. When middle school came around, it was time to pick one sport to pursue.
“Soccer was the clear answer. I fell in love with the sport and playing it,” said Delgado.
Delgado then joined a local club soccer team at the age of 14-years-old, and now travels across the state to compete. “My club team and I train three times a week for an hour and a half. [On] the high school team, we train every single day for 2 hours, besides weekends.”
Delgado believes that only training with her team and club is not going to make her exceptionally better, so in addition to her
team practices, she visits a personal trainer and strength trains three days a week. Additionally, she does 1v1 training twice a week. “It’s a lot, but I have to put in as much work as I can to reach my goals,” said Delgado.
Something that pushed Delgado back in her soccer journey was her knee injury last year. During practice, she injured her knee after getting pushed down by a girl while trying to score a goal.
“It’s been hard coming back from my injury because my knee is still in pain, but every mistake is a learning lesson and it has
not only made me a better player, but a better overall person,” said Delgado.
Delgado’s biggest achievement with soccer is getting called to ID Camps, which are recruitment events which feature different sports. A dream of hers is to commit to a college for the sport.
“My dream school is UC Santa Barbara, and I was invited to their ID Camp in
December, which was very exciting,” said Delgado.
I talked to Delgado about her hopes for this season, as last year was an amazing year for the Girls Varsity Soccer team and they made it to the semi finals of CIF Southern Section.
“I have very high expectations for this team, we are such a young talented team and I believe we will win CIF this year. Last year was a fantastic year for us, we made it all the way to the semi finals, but unfortunately lost against Sierra Canyon. It was a heartbreaking loss for us, but we have grown and have a lot of excitement for this season,” stated Delgado. Overall, Delgado is looking forward to a prosperous year, and we cannot wait to see what she will accomplish.
ajha@arcadiaquilll.com by Skye Escobedo“What happens when your dad and I are long gone? Then you two have to take care of each other,” our mom says. Like clockwork, our mom guilt-trips my brother and me into being civil with each other after yet another petty sibling fight. My dad jokingly rolls his eyes while my brother and I tell our mom to knock on wood in our superstitious fashion. But, our mom is onto something because it works. I stop seeing my brother as my enemy, and I see him once again as my GoGo, my older brother...
During the pandemic, when my friends and I drifted apart because of lack of interac tion, my brother was there for me in their stead. He took me out to new bubble tea places, bought me Kentucky Fried Chicken, and became my tutor when I didn’t understand concepts due to distance learning. His acts of service did not go unnoticed; I just hope that my reciprocation of his kindness by being his personal alarm clock and my daily “How are you?” was enough to show that I appreciated him.
Even though he is at college, he doesn’t let my family or me forget about him for more than a couple hours. He texts about his life at UCLA to our family group chat, calls at night to give advice on my college applications, and comes back home whenever there is a special occasion to celebrate like a birthday or a holiday. His presence through these small ac tions assures our mom that he’s okay, gives our work-aholic dad a reason to take a break, and reminds me that he still has my back.
To my Gogo–my Philadelphia Eagles loving, elephant adoring, partyer of a brother–thank you.
This year, thankful for... is
My Rabbit
By Harini Devaguptapu Staff WriterCloud Devaguptapu, my rabbit, gave me so much. In a time where I had loneliness surrounding me, he helped me realize that it’s okay to be alone. His presence alone made me realize that my company was the best company I would need. He encouraged me to talk to myself, be free and courageous when I was with myself. I was always uptight and confined when I was by myself, but when I was with Cloud, I let myself go loose and enjoyed my self. I would talk to Cloud, and talk to myself and just play with him and dance around as he sat there judging me, but also minding his own business. Weirdly enough, he respected me....
Thank you, you little white fur ball, for being the way you were, and coming into my life. I appreciate it more than words can say. Your company allowed for my life to be filled with great bliss and every moment was good. I loved every second I spent with you. Although I don’t know where you are, I’ve made peace with it the best I could. I hope you’re living a great rabbit life wherever you are. I hope you’re running around with the other rabbits on the grass, eating lettuce and occasionally a sweet treat like a banana or an apple, your favorites. You impacted my life greatly, in ways I never knew a rabbit could. You’re my family, my home, and you will always be my little guy. I love you.
Emmaline
By Vanessa Valentino Staff WriterWith autumn comes a season of gratitude, and with Arcadia Quill comes an opportunity to properly reflect on what I’m thankful for. For me, it’s easy to forget all the blessings in my life. It’s only in contentment that I realize the extent of my appreciation, and it’s even rarer for me to put it in words. This year, one person I’m especially thankful for is Emma line: my best friend, my Cognate, and the Ro meo to my Juliet (not literally, I’d hope). She’d also be pleased to know that she’s the person I most associate with Taylor Swift.
When it comes to the longevity of friendship, the two of us are unreasonably pessimistic—and yet, still optimistic for the longevity of ours. But even if we’re not the future godmothers of each other’s children (as suming we can pull), I’ll always be grateful for her. Whether it be sitting on the floor of a dark bathroom stall, filming reflection videos over strawberry shortcake, or inventing scenarios that progressively get absurd, I’ve appreci ated every moment with her, and I’m always looking forward to our future adventures, even if they’re only every Aug. 11. (We’ll complete our bucket list one day, parent approval or not!)...
On a softer note, I’m also grateful to receive her abundance of love, and for the safe spot where I’m kindly and patiently listened to. Genuinely, she makes me happy, and I think that’s all a good friendship really needs. Talking to her is familiar to me, and it brings a sense of belonging and comfort. We are, as Emmaline had once phrased, a constant. Between us, the term friendship is stripped down to its bare truth: that we make each other happy, that we’re there for each other. I’m grateful for this.
Sea Cadets
By Darin Buenaluz Features EditorOne way or another, the military has always been part of my life. Yet from the documentaries I enjoyed watching as a child or summer vacations I spent on the beaches of North Island, I never fully understood what that meant to me. That changed when, as an aimless freshman, I joined the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Sea Cadets made me who I am today.
During the program, anything that I considered special about myself was thrown out the window, as I was consistently reminded that I was no different from anyone else and would be treated as such. This definitely was a mental and cultural shock for me, but one that I needed. When your accomplishments are recognized with minimal praise and your flaws are pointed out in a blunt fashion, your mind becomes stronger. Sea Cadets helped humble me as a person and recognize that there is always something I can do to improve myself. Sea Cadets made me who I am today...
Even after joining the Sea Cadets, I am still not perfect. There’s no shortage of uncer tainties in my future, nor am I an impeccable Petty Officer who has perfected the military style of leading others. But I am a better person than I was before. I’ve come to have a greater appreciation for those around me, and I recog nize the importance of having discipline in my life. And now, as I finish my last few months in the program and prepare my junior Petty Officers to take the reins of my division, I can truly say that Sea Cadets has made me who I am today.