Arcadia High School’s Grease
By AMISH JHA Staff WriterThe Arcadia Stage Theater Company is back with another play after they set the stage on fire last year with two blockbuster plays, Peter and the Starcatcher and Mamma Mia. This semester, they are showing Grease on November 10th, 11th, and 12th at 7 p.m.
Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Grease is based on the 1978 movie of the same name. It tells the story of Sandy, who has just joined a new high school as a senior. She realizes the boy she had her summer fling with goes to her new school. However, this guy isn’t the same one she fell in love with. We see their relationship develop into a classic and loveable high school love story.
The lead male “Danny” is played by Kevin Wu (senior), and the lead female “Sandy” is played by Ariel Alcazar (senior). Other lead characters include “Rizzo” played by Katie Siriani (senior), “Kenickie” played by Jared Daniels (senior), and “Marty” played by Amber Comanescu (senior).
“Grease is a musical about high school kids in the 1950s set in the Rydell High School; it is full of dance and songs,”said AHS’ Advanced Theater senior Peter Yan.
The students have been preparing since early August when they had a boot camp to prepare and audition for their desired roles. After the roles were decided, they started daily rehearsals
lunch and after school.
“We have rehearsals daily after school which include acting days, choreography days, and music rehearsals,” said senior AHS’ theater student Amber Comanescu.
To promote their production, members of the theater have put up posters in just about every single classroom, as well as around the entire city. They have also been posting about the play on multiple social media platforms.
If you are interested in attending this play, tickets are available on their website or through any Intermediate or Advanced Theater student. The tickets are currently on sale for $10 for any AHS student and $15 for general admission.
The cast believes that Grease is looking to be an absolute extravaganza. With the immense preparation from the members of the theater and the play’s interesting plot, many are excited to see this play be performed at our own school.
Screamin’ Eagles Invitational
By ELLIE GLADSON-PANG Staff WriterHosted by the Gabrielino High School (GHS) Speech and Debate team, the Screamin’ Eagles Invitational took place for the 8th year on Oct. 15 at GHS. Through three rounds and a final in all high school speech and debate events offered in California, high school teams from around Los Angeles County competed fiercely for winning spots.
Any competitor would acknowledge the fact that a speech and debate competition is the culmination of long hours of hard work. Perseverance and extensive preparation are just the bare minimum for a competitor to have a successful day at a tournament. For the dedicated members of the Ar cadia High School (AHS) Speech and Debate team, this was true once again as they put on yet another hugely victorious performance at the Screamin’ Eagles Invitational.
The day was off to a rocky start; competition commenced early in the morning, but heavy rains complicated the morning for competitors. However, students were excited to be together and compete as a team on the GHS campus.
Events during this competition in both Varsity and Novice Divisions, included Original Oratory, Informative, Original Advocacy, Extemporaneous Speaking, Im promptu, Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Program Oral Interpre tation, Original Prose and Poetry, Oratorical Interpretation and Duo. Each event is difficult in its own way, but AHS competitors did extraordinarily well in all of the events they were in.
“Competing definitely went a lot better than many of us were expecting, as our competitors
included many novices as well,” said sophomore Natalie Huang. Novices are competitors in their first year of high school speech competition, and this group includes Huang herself. Generally, students new to Speech and Debate need time to adjust to the skills before they begin to perform their best in rounds. However, it would seem AHS’ novices adapted much more quickly; 3 novices from AHS placed in the Novice Impromptu event, with freshmen Tiffa ny Zhang and Jasmin Sivakumaran winning 1st place and 4th place, respec
At the end of the grueling morning-to-night day of competition, AHS had many other results to be proud of too. Juniors Minnoli Shukla and Euan Laru-An, both Varsity members, placed in Oratorical Interpretation and Dramatic Interpretation, respectively.
“Minnoli and Euan’s speeches were very impressive to see in class, so know ing they placed was also great, and I’m happy for them!” said Huang.
Overall, AHS’ showing at the Screamin’ Eagles Invitational can be a point of pride for our school. We can be proud of their courage, creativity, and hard work toward prepar ing for this event. Besides great scoring, the AHS Speech and Debate team will surely grow and learn from this experience.
“I was so glad to have an outlet through my original oratory speech at Screamin’ Eagles,” stated Huang. “Since it was my first official speech tournament, I learned so much about the basics of writing my speech, and I got some great feedback for my presentation skills both in class and from the judges.”
Congratulations to Huang and the entire team, and best of luck at the next tournament!
epang@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of Gabrielino High SchoolUpcoming
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Give The Women of iran a choice
Mahsa Amini was shy and never provoca tive or political. She was a beloved daughter and an older sister. Outside, she went by her Persian name “Mahsa,” meaning “like the moon”. At home, she went by her Kurdish name “Zhina”: “full of life”.
On Sept. 13, while visiting Tehran, Iran, Amini was taken into custody by the Iranian government’s morality police for fail ure to comply with the mandated hijab dress code. Within a day of her detainment, she was taken to the hospital in a coma, badly bruised, bleeding, and concussed. Her family prayed for her recovery. Three days later, Amini died. She was only 22-years-old.
Amini’s death ignited protests throughout Iran and promoted international discourse on the limited freedoms of Iranian women. While the Iranian government claimed Amini suffered a heart attack while at a clinic, eyewitnesses blatantly disproved the attempted cover-up. Demands for justice have led to demonstrations and public displays of Iranian women and allies cutting their hair, showing grief and rebellion.
Ironically named the “morality po lice,” the organization is part of larger Iranian law enforcement forces and has played a key role in cracking down on any opposition. They have aggressively enforced the country’s dress codes, which require women to cover their
hair and wear a loose-fitting robe known as a “chador”. This restriction on freedom wasn’t always so; Iran’s conservative values were a direct result of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, in which a fundamentalist movement led by Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew a pro-Western leader. Overnight, Iran went from one of the Middle East’s most liberal societies to one of its most restrictive.
As new leadership was ushered in, basic rights were ushered out.
The ultra-con servative Islamic practices based on Shari’ah (Islamic religious) law were imposed upon citi zens, stripping mainly women of their right to choose what to wear.
hijab-related enforcements have only caused
greater resistance against wearing it. However, this reignites a prior debate on the legislation in parts of Europe, including France, where wearing a full face cover ing is banned, as they have been claimed to hinder fa cial recognition in crimes. Protesters denounce these laws, seeing as hijabs and other pieces of religious apparel serve as symbols of Islamic heritage when worn in non-Muslim
From this inter national perspective, one may observe the duality of women fighting against the hijab in Iran while wom
en in France fight for it. It may seem that there should be a default response to the contrast ing protests on both sides of the spectrum. However, clothing is ultimately a symbol, an extension of the context in which it is worn. Some see religious garments as restrictive, while others view them as empowering. The battle for human rights sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini is not about whether or not religious coverings are “good” or “bad”, but rather about the right to choose whether or not to wear these religious coverings.
It is not our place as Americans to tell the people of Iran how to live or run their country, yet we, as human beings, also have an obligation to stand up for those who are in peril. This is not a call for Westernization, but rather a call for universal human rights. The world is constantly changing, collec tively ebbing towards equality. The U.S. has done its part in placing sanctions against the morality police, but more needs to be done to denounce the country’s missteps. Whether it’s through raising awareness on social media or making direct contributions to a growing anti-fundamentalist movement, the women of Iran deserve to know that the world is standing behind them in their plight to secure their hu man rights.
arcadiaquill@gmail.com courtesy of Michelle So courtesy of FONTSPACE.COMWASTEWATER TESTS INDICATE COVID PRESENCE LEVELING OFF IN LA COUNTY
By VICTORIA MAIR Staff WriterAccording to Los Angeles health officials, a viral analysis of material in Los Angeles County wastewater systems has appeared to show a general plateauing of CO VID-19 in the community. The new research provides more comprehen sive virus testing results, which has allowed officials to better analyze the situation.
While conceding that the infec tion numbers are incomplete due to the prevalence of at-home test ing, the county has been reporting downward trends of virus transmis
sion in positive tests for weeks. However, results from official testing are generally not reported to health authorities.
With the goal to counter this shortcoming, the officials have been monitoring the concentrations of COVID-19 that are found in the four wastewater systems. The concentra tions of COVID in the two larg est systems have mostly declined throughout September, although one of them has reported a small increase in the past few weeks. The two other (smaller) systems have reported stable viral concentrations, with slight increases in the past few days.
According to the Department of Public Health, plateauing COVID concentrations could mean that transmission of the virus has stopped decreasing in the county. However, health officials said that all other monitoring efforts still indicate a low level of concern, and they hope that transmission is not increasing at this time.
There still continues to be a decline in the COVID-19 metrics of LA County, with a report from the county indicating a seven-day daily
average of 1,297 new cases, down 8% from a few weeks ago. Despite the decrease in COVID cases, of ficials remain wary of another winter surge in infections, similar to the one that occurred two years ago, known as the Omicron variant.
According to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, a resurgence of the flu could also occur this winter after two years of low infection num bers. She also encourages residents to ensure that they are up-to-date on flu shots and COVID vaccines.
“Both flu and COVID are likely to infect more people when the days are shorter, and the temperatures are cooler,” said Ferrer.
According to Ferrer, this is because people spend more time indoors where the respiratory system easily accumulates and can jump from person to person. Cooler weather also allows the flu and SARS-CoV-2 particles to linger longer in the air and travel further. Though there is uncertainty about how this winter will be, considering the surge of flu and COVID-19 that will most likely occur, it is evident that as the cooler weather sets in and
X AHS
cases increase, the risks will increase for some more than others. Risks are elevated for older residents and those who have underlying health condi tions, experience greater exposure, or are unvaccinated.
“As we prepare for the upcom ing holidays, one strategy for reduc ing risk for those most vulnerable for bad outcomes should they become infected, is for everyone, including those at lower risk, to get the fall COVID-bivalent booster and the flu vaccine soon,” said Ferrer. “This is because those at lower risk, includ ing children, can easily transmit both flu and COVID-19 to those more vulnerable.” The COVID-bivalent booster provides protection against the original virus strain and the Omicron variant.
“If COVID became stronger again in the winter I would feel upset and sad,” said junior Lola Antonelli. “I feel that life is finally getting back to normal because we are allowed to have more social gatherings, and you don’t necessarily have to wear a mask anymore. I think if COVID was to hit us hard again it would really impact our economy and
Makers & Players
By MICHELLE SO Campus Focus EditorIf you were to walk into the Arcadia High School (AHS) Library on Oct. 3, you would have been in for a surprising sight: dozens of high school students huddled over smooth stones, painstakingly adding details to their miniature canvases. The atmosphere was rich with a youthful buzz, reminiscent of elementary school art class. Students passed around markers, waited in the queue for their desired colors, and complemented each other on their work.
This childhood rejuvenation was exactly the effect our school librarian, Ms. Shannon Will, hoped to achieve. She teamed up with Dr. Deja Anderson, the school wellness counselor, to create Makers & Players. The collaboration between the AHS Library and the Wellness Center has led to a series of fun activities that will be held during lunch in the library every two weeks, from Oct. 13 to Dec. 1.
The unusual name is a combination of the two types of activities occurring throughout the semester, which vary from competitive to calming.
“We were thinking about either having [the activities] be creative or
games. And so we decided, ‘Why don’t we call it Makers & Players,’” said Dr. Anderson.
Ms. Will and Dr. Anderson planned these fun events, intending to allow students to destress while exploring various artistic interests.
“Last year, Ms. Will and I saw that when we did creative activities, like painting and crocheting, students really liked that,” said Dr. Anderson. “We figured, what a great space to use, and what a great way of merging two departments. Like [Ms. Will] will often say, the library is an extension of the Wellness Center.”
The past two events–rock painting and button making–have already far exceeded the expectations of both hosts.
“I think there are certain activities like rock painting or button making that students sometimes will think, ‘Oh, it’s too juvenile or too childish,’” said Ms. Will. “But then they end up participating and really loving it!”
Since the start of Makers & Players, the exposure for our school’s Wellness Center has gone up. As the school year progresses, students are finally learning about the many resources available to them on campus.
“I feel like we are getting more visitors to the Wellness Center,” said
Dr. Anderson. “More students are feeling comfortable checking in with me. No one has said anything yet, but they seem to enjoy having that place to go when they’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or just want someone to talk to and be that outlet.”
For Ms. Will, her favorite part has not only been seeing engagement increase but also getting to know the many students.
“As a librarian, I see so many students on a daily basis, and getting to know them through activities like this has been really fun and meaningful,” she said.
If you are interested in participating in these stress-relieving activities, check out the flyer above for upcoming events. Meanwhile, both Dr. Anderson and Ms. Will added that students can tag the AHS Library (@arcadiahighlibrary) or the AHS Wellness Center (@arcadiawellness) on Instagram with photos from prior events or just give them a follow for future updates. As always, the Library and the Wellness Center are safe spaces open to all students, so don’t be shy to check them out sometime!
mso@arcadiaquill.com
Photo courtesy of AHS Wellness Center
everything will change.”
LA County reported 1,682 new COVID-19 cases a few weeks ago, raising the cumulative total from throughout the pandemic to 3,456,407. There were also six more virus-related deaths reported, giving the county an overall death toll of 33,603. In addition to this, accord ing to state figures, there were 496 COVID-positive patients in County hospitals. Of those patients, 64 were being treated in intensive care.
County officials mentioned that about 43% of patients with COVID were hospitalized due to a COVIDrelated illness. The rest were admit ted for other reasons, and some of these others only learned that they were infected after testing upon admission.
Although the pandemic is still ongoing, and the community follows the advice given by Ferrer, there have been continued indications of COVID-19 and other diseases through wastewater tests.
vmair@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONSHomecoming Dance 2022
By AVA SHAW Staff WriterOn the evening of Oct. 1, the Skirball Cul tural Center became the site of a one-of-a-kind celebration as an astounding 1,100 Arcadia High School (AHS) students flocked to the Los Angeles museum for this year’s Homecoming dance. At the event, students enjoyed a lively dance floor, an array of food and drinks, as well as several other activities, including games and photo opportunities.
The theme for AHS’ 2022 Homecoming was “Everlasting.” This theme was well-suited for the Skirball Cultural Museum, a location that impressed many of the guests. The modern two-story venue had stylish furniture, a beauti ful lily pond, and perhaps best of all, clean rest rooms. Dance-goers dressed for the theme with their semi-formal attire, as many students opted for elegant dresses and suits.
“I wore a royal blue baby-doll dress with black heels for Homecoming,” said sophomore Ariana Hernandez. “To accessorize, I wore a silver opal necklace. I curled my hair and did natural makeup to complete my look.”
Doors opened for the dance at 7 p.m. Be fore entering the museum, students had to pass a quick security checkpoint to ensure safety for all the staff and guests. Once in the venue, guests could check in their belongings and had immediate access to all of the night’s amenities.
Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages were offered for all attending. As “hand pass items”, students were served hot dogs in a blanket, veg etable spring rolls, mini cheese pizzas, and mini
chicken brochettes. In addition, crudite with ac companying dips, fresh fruit, and other small desserts were stationed at tables for students to serve themselves. Staff members provided soda, water, lemonade, and Shirley Temples (grenadine with Sprite) as beverages.
Featured in an outside area of the Skirball were a foosball table and two pingpong tables, at which people enjoyed some friendly competition. In another section of the museum, there was also a double-shot basketball station for attend ees to play at.
“The game tables were a nice ad dition to Homecoming,” said senior David Mendoza. “They gave us some thing fun to do as an outlet to rest. Be ing in the mosh pit took up quite a bit of energy.”
As means of memorabilia, a photobooth and caricaturist were also avail able. Although the lines were long, students took pictures or were drawn in wacky illustra tions. Guests found delight in posing with their friends for a fun photo to take home.
Many students also took advantage of the upbeat dance floor, complete with color ful lights and blasting music. A D.J. played a mix of various songs as attendees sang, danced, jumped, and even crowd surfed to the music. Both nostalgic and newer tunes were played, including rap, pop, Latin music, and other hits. The song to conclude the night was the beloved “Love Story” by singer Taylor Swift, during which the crowd sang their hearts out.
Homecoming royalty was announced at the dance floor as well. Students cleared the
ler Yu as Homecoming King, and Eliza beth Savage as Homecoming Queen. The royalty was cheered on as they danced together in front of the crowd. Their peers were eventu ally called to join in.
Perhaps what made Homecoming most enjoyable was cherishing the moment with friends. Sounds of laughing, singing, and pure hap piness completed the vibrant ambiance of the
“Homecoming was a fun experience, especially at such a nice venue like the Skirball. Even with all the activities, my favorite part was still spending time with all my friends. I was very tired afterwards and definitely got great sleep that night,” said sophomore Aiden To.
As the music came to a stop and the clock neared midnight, staff helped escort students to exit at the front of the museum. Guests gathered their belongings and said their goodbyes as they piled into cars to be taken home. The dance may have ended at 11 p.m., but the memories AHS students made at Homecoming were “Everlasting.”
ashaw@arcadiaquill.com
Photo courtesy of ARCADIA DCIAdvanced Placement Exam Information
By SOPHIA LI Sports EditorWith the deadline approaching, stu dents looking to take an Advanced Place ment Exam (AP) should start the process of registering. This “101” guide on AP Test Registration will detail everything stu dents, parents, and guardians need to know!
From Sept. 5 to Nov. 6, the price is $115 during these sales dates. However, af ter Nov. 6, the price increases by $40 to $155 per test. AP exams and orders will be made through the website Total Registration, which can be found on the school’s website, at ahs. ausd.net. To sign up, students must already have a College Board account with their teacher’s AP Classroom. Before signing up, it’s important for students to read the AP Exam Terms and Conditions to prevent any mis steps on the date of the exam. Students should also familiarize themselves with the 2023
AP Exam Dates to get an idea of the order of their tests and how they should study for it.
“This year, I’ve signed up for AP English Language and Composition (AP Lang), AP Chemistry (AP Chem), AP Calculus BC, and AP Computer Science Prin ciples (Comp Sci P),” ju nior Caley Chan shared.
“I’m most confident in AP Comp Sci P because I’ve already taken AP Computer Science A, so I know that some of the knowledge will transfer over. I’m look ing to work more on AP Lang and AP Chem, specifically because AP Chem is pretty
tough, but I have a good teacher; as for AP Lang, I’m not entirely sure what to expect.”
“For me, I’m registered for AP Art History, AP Lang, AP Environmental Science (AP Env Sci) , and AP Calculus BC. I really like the content taught in AP Env Sci, andI love nature as well, so I’m most looking forward to that test!” junior Jenna Lam said.
In other cases, if stu dents are tak ing AP exams outside of Arcadia High School, they must email Mrs. von Kriegenbergh at mvonkriegenbergh@ausd.net. If students want to apply for an AP exam fee reduction, they’re
able to do so through the AP web page. For stu dents who want to cancel any exams nearing the test date, they may do so by emailing Mrs. von Kriegenbergh by Nov. 5 to cancel. If not done so before Nov. 5, students will have to incur an additional $40 College Board cancellation fee.
In all, as students across the country are preparing to take their upcoming AP exams, it’s important to know what to expert and make sure the registration process is smooth! How ever, keeping a good balance between school work, social life, and one’s own personal well ness is crucial! It’s important for students to be cautious about overburdening oneself with AP exams, and strive to have a balance between ac ademic rigor, exhaustion, and stress. Neverthe less, good luck to all students taking AP exams!
Photo courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM
Ear PiErcing: an imPortant cultural tradition
By AVA SHAW Staff WriterEach culture is defined by the unique traditions that bring its people together. The piercing of a young child’s ears is an ex ample of one such custom. The practice of piercing children’s ears spans across several continents and various cultures, even hav ing existed for centuries in some areas of the world. Despite its commonality, the ear piercing of youth has faced criticism, with many raising concerns over safety and bodily autonomy. However, with the correct pre cautions, piercing young childrens’ ears is a safe practice and an important part of one’s heritage that should continue to be celebrated.
The ear piercing of youth is most prevalent in Latin American cultures, as well as in some parts of Asia and Africa. The custom is often associated with femi ninity and can be seen as an “automatic” choice because it has been done for genera tions. Many communities find normalcy in piercing the ears of children as young as in fants, with the service even being offered at hospitals in countries such as Mexico.
Critics often analyze the tradition at a surface level, believing the practice to be solely for cosmetic reasons. However, in many cultures, ear piercing holds greater sig
nificance and a deeper meaning. In the Hindu religion, for example, ear piercing is known as a ritual called Karnavedha. This ritual is sacred in Hindu culture because many believe that hav ing pierced ears allows for valuable spiritual connections. Similarly, in Ke nyan communities, ear piercing is a common occurrence for both male and female children. The event is often viewed as a rite of passage, marking a transi tion of maturity for young in dividuals. Fur thermore, in Kenyan cul ture, earrings are frequent ly worn for more than just aesthet ics, and stands as a symbol of iden tity and bravery.
The main point of controversy with pierc ing kids’ ears is related to their safety. Critics cite infections as a cause for concern; however, with guidance from a pediatrician, ear piercing is actually a safe practice. Research finds that complications with piercings are unrelated to age and can happen at all ages. If the pierc ing recipient is young, their parents or guardians must be responsible for car ing for their piercings to ensure a smooth recovery. If the piercing and accompanying maintenance are done properly, no medical troubles should occur.
Is sues relat ing to
bodily autonomy also present themselves, but getting ear piercings done is not as invasive of a process as it may seem. It is inevitable that not all individuals will want to wear ear rings, which is an entirely valid choice. Ear piercings at a young age may not be consen sual, but there is freedom that comes with it. Earrings are not permanent, so if one is un comfortable with earrings, they can have the ability to not wear them. Earrings should be viewed similarly to other jewelry like necklac es or rings, which are easy to take on and off.
Similar to many others with Filipino heritage, I got my ears pierced at an ex tremely young age. I am grateful to my par ents for this decision because I have been spared of any painful memories from get ting the piercings done. Even though I don’t wear earrings all the time, I do enjoy having the choice to wear them whenever I desire.
Criticism of ear piercing traditions may be rooted out of ignorance with crit ics turning a blind eye to its significance in certain cultures. This custom is far from an infliction of pain for selfish cosmetic reasons, but rather an instance of uphold ing one’s heritage in a safe, beautiful way.
ashaw@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of CANVA.COMStop overuSing Cgi
By JULIETTE FANG Staff WriterNowadays, whenever we watch mov ies, it’s common to see the use of computergenerated imagery (CGI). CGI utilizes com puter software to create special visual effects in movies, television shows, commercials, animations, and other media. Using CGI is a way to create scenes that would other wise be impossible and is a great example of technological advancement in filmmak
CGI in the first place. Yet, filmmakers are starting to use poor quality CGI that breaks the viewers’ immersion in the actual film.
For instance, many noticed the over use of CGI in Cats (2019), where sloppy and strange looking visual effects made viewers squirm. All unrealistic CGI does is fail to im merse the viewer in the film and can distract the audience from the plot and characters.
It’s important to note that low-quality CGI is not to be blamed on the workers who create CGI and visual effects (VFX). On the contrary, these CGI and VFX artists are in credibly hard working and talented. How ever, producers are notorious for impos ing sudden deadlines and rushing projects, which understandably leads to sloppier work.
An example of this can be seen in Mar vel’s new trailer for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, where despite having a budget of $25 million (per episode), the CGI looks incomplete and messy. This is most likely due to the fact that CGI and VFX workers at Marvel have started to speak out about how Marvel’s over whelming amount of work and
rushed deadlines put strain on the quality of their work, not to mention their mental health.
In an interview with CNET, ani mator and VFX specialist Peter Allen com mented that “You bid on a number of shots and hope that on average they don’t end up being too complicated or difficult, or that the client gets too caught up in minor details and keeps sending shots back for more work.”
Another issue is that CGI is being used in place of practical effects (special effects that are created physically, not digitally) when it’s not needed. For example, the dinosaurs of Stephen Spielberg’s classic, Jurassic Park (1993), were entirely made of practical effects such as animatronics. By using animatron ics instead of CGI, the appearance and move ments of the dinosaurs seem more realistic. In contrast, one of its successors, Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), sacrifices emotional depth and character complexity for an overload of loud and poorly executed CGI dinosaurs. Moreover, CGI consumes far more resource than necessary, ultimately making the overuse of CGI wasteful. Using CGI in a scene where simple practical effects can be used eats up more of a film’s precious budget. This is particu larly problematic when money and resources are being wasted on CGI that doesn’t even appear realistic, can be created with practical effects, or are unable to capture the audience’s attention. Overdone CGI also changes the way people peceive films and other media. As CGI creates more and more over the top scenes, it has less of a shock value on the audi
ence. Instead, we wonder what filmmakers will do next to top it. Why have relatable, real life scenes when we can have overly dramatic and costly computer generated scenes? Television and film should have the audience thinking about the piece of media itself, not how great the special effects are.
CGI works best when it’s used in a way that suspends the audiences’ disbelief. This can mean high quality graphics, as seen in Life of Pi (2012), where one of the main characters, a tiger, performs lifelike movements and sports realistic features, to the point where the audi ence forgot that it was all computer generated.
CGI that’s well done would create a bal ance amongst the actors, settings, props, and CGI. Avatar (2009) achieved this perfect equi librium by using special technology to blend CGI over the actors’ movements, which cre ated thin, blue aliens whose movements and features weren’t so outlandish that they looked fake. High quality, sweeping shots of scenery also worked to immerse the viewer in the Ava tar world, in addition to the special technology that made even the minor details seem realistic.
CGI certainly has its benefits; it can tranport the audience to a whole differ ent world and can create scenes that would otherwise be impossible, especially when it’s executed well. However, when CGI becomes overly relied on, its pitfalls can make it more of a burden than a benefit.
The Desensitization of the Phrase “I’m Going to Kill Myself”
By CAROLINE LI Staff WriterTrigger warning: this article discusses suicide and mental health at length. If you suspect your mental or physical well-being may be distressed by reading about these topics, please consult the mental health re sources at the end of this article.
stress. We are charged with the tireless task of juggling exhausting amounts of coursework, extracurriculars, high school drama, and physical changes—of ten at the cost of our physical and mental health. So it’s not surpris ing that there has been a disturb ing rise of the perfunctory “kys” (which stands for “kill yourself”) and “I’m going to kms” (kms stands for “kill myself”) in teen conversations. These histrionic hyperboles’ purposes are to serve as humorous expressions of frus tration over our shared struggles; however, they have the unintended consequence of making it more diffi cult for the warning signs of someone truly struggling with suicidal thoughts to be differentiated from the jokes.
this recent trend (and a massive uptick in online communication in general) is social media. Platforms such as Instagram, Snap chat, Twitter, and Facebook strongly ap peal to adolescents, primarily by virtue of their usefulness as an outlet for creativity, communication, and the exchange of new and diverse perspectives.
makes it king—anyone with an email ad dress can make an account and build a presence. Those with extensive audiences can engender real change in the world with their platforms by shouting for si lenced voices to be heard and amplifying movements with hashtags or informational posts. Connections are forged between people who ordinarily would never have met, and sources of inspiration and edu cational enrichment are produced and dis seminated to consumers. Even the divide between role models and the people they have touched, once a gaping chasm, has been reduced to a mere crack with hourly tweets and stories that allow fans glimpses into their idols’ personal lives.
All this means is that it’s now easier than ever for people to open up about their private lives to an audience of peers and anonymous strangers alike. One might then ask:
How can social media be bad?
Overuse of such platforms has long
been reported to be linked to depression and other mental health risks by their ad dictive natures, manipulative algorithms, and competitive markets for internet fame. In addition, social media’s excellence as a tool for wish fulfillment means that us ers are free to cherry-pick the best parts of their lives while hiding the ugly, which
views on sensitive topics can hold great influence over our own treatments and values on them. With how impression able teens are, even a single instance in an Instagram group chat of “I want to kill myself” not being taken seriously could be enough for the seeds of desensitization to take root in a teenager’s mind.
say online; considering the surfeit of inter net platforms dedicated to connecting, edu cating, and communicating, we should be promoting discussion about mental health, not discussion making light of it. And if you truly do believe that you or someone you know may be at risk of resorting to suicide, you can call or text 988 or 1-800-
A 2017 national survey found that 76 percent of all American teens from ages 13 to 17 use Instagram, a statistic that, when contextualized by a 2018 study that found that children from ages 8 to 18 were the most susceptible to outside social influ ence of any age group, suggests that al lowing adolescents to engage in the co pious amounts of interaction enabled by social media allows for extensive influence from outside sources, which may lead to the spread of dangerous habits and values (such as the normalization of suicidal ide ation in casual conversatio
In the context of the evidence pre sented above, our peers’ treatment and
Healthy Young Minds, “We know that teenagers suffer all sorts of challenges as they navigate the murky waters of grow ing up. We also know that rarely do these kids take their own lives. Nevertheless, some of them do, and parents and pro viders alike must share the burden of the inexact science of determining where the greatest risks lie.”
How can we help?
Since we often lack specific infor mation about each individual’s private emotional health, the best way we pas sively help those who are seriously con sidering suicide is to choose our words carefully and be cognizant of what we
timately go to making our community a more empathetic and supportive place.
If you or someone you know is strug gling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text 988 or 1-800-273-8255 to connect to suicide prevention resources.
Always be respectful and empathetic; don’t lash out at others or at yourself. The length of this article itself alone should indicate that this is a deeply nuanced is sue with many gray areas. We’re here to support each other, not to tear each other down.
LOCAL CAT RESCUES
By JULIETTE FANG Staff WriterMany of us who own a cat can recog nize the feeling of love and affection we feel towards our furry feline companions. Of these pets, many are adopted from shelters or other animal rescue centers. These places often play a key role in giving pets a chance at a loving home, in turn helping the community by pre venting thousands of animals from roaming the streets.
Right here in the Los Angeles County area, there are many cat rescue centers that work tirelessly and overcome many obstacles in order to provide care and support for cats. One of these organizations, the Cat Posse, is based in Pasadena and Altadena and has been rescuing cats from off the streets since 2008.
“I always wanted to help animals in any way that I can as they don’t have a ‘voice’, and although we can’t help all of them, we do our best to help as many as we possibly can,” stated Sharon Clark, the Cat Posse’s founder and owner.
Rescue organizations take in approxi mately 6.3 million animals per year, with 3.2 million of these being cats, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Of these animals, some cannot be cared for by their owners anymore
and can find a new home through cat res cue organizations instead of being abandoned. Twice as many are strays rescued from the streets, oftentimes requiring medical care for diseases and parasites picked up from outside.
Cat organizations “would be kind of help ful for people who can’t take care of their cats anymore,” and “they rescue cats, that sounds nice”, according to Arcadia High School fresh man and cat lover Hazel Wong.
Many animal shelters and cat rescues are sadly forced to euthanize many of their animals in order to prevent overpopulation. But some, “no-kill” animal shelters stand out because they
shelters also play a vital role in the community. Some of the animals taken in are lost pets that have been separated from their owner, especial ly after natural disasters. When this happens, volunteers and workers at these places work to reunite owners with their animal companions.
Rescue organizations and shelters also pro vide important benefits to keeping cities clean and healthy. According to People for the Ethi cal Treatment of Animals (PETA), there are a whopping 70 million stray cats and dogs roam ing American streets. This is a lose-lose situa tion for both animals and humans, as animals run the risk of catching diseases, being hit by
do not euthanize any of their rescues.
“Without ‘no-kill’ rescues like ours, so many more animals would die needlessly,” said Clark. “People reach out to us every day to help animals, and it is so overwhelming, but without private rescues, more cats and dogs would go to the city and county shelters and humane societ ies, and the euthanization rate would be higher than it already is.”
Indeed, according to a report made by the ASPCA, about 920,000 cats and dogs are eutha nized each year. This number would be much higher, but because of the hard work of Clark and the Cat Posse, many animals are saved from this fate.
cars, and starvation. An uncontrolled number of stray animals may spread parasites, infections, and other maladies such as rabies to humans.
Animal shelters greatly curb this num ber by not only taking in many of these stray animals, but also by encouraging spaying and neutering programs, preventing animal repro duction from creating even more animals that may be euthanized.
While many of these cat rescue organiza tions are essential parts of the community, be ing a part of them is not easy. Healthcare and maintenance for these animals cost thousands of dollars, and these organizations run mostly on donations and their own money. Volunteers
and workers often have to work extremely hard and are put under emotional and physical strain.
“Being an animal rescuer is very, very hard,” said Clark. “You never have time for yourself; you see how selfish many humans are, and you never have any money as you spend everything you have on the animals. And even though you feel wonderful when you place a cat in a wonderful home where you know they will be loved and taken care of, you still feel bad be cause you couldn’t rescue another one that you can’t get out of your mind.”
People can help out these cats and dogs by fostering or adopting animals and providing do nations. Many people only want to foster kittens or the more outgoing cats, but shyer or older animals must also be taken care of. People can also foster cats until they get a permanent home as a more temporary way to help.
Besides taking in a cat, people can help by donating. The price of healthcare and mainte nance of caring for cats can cost thousands of dollars per month, so funding is what places like these need most. You can support the Cat Posse and other organizations like it by donat ing money, food, or supplies such as litter, or adopting or fostering a cat.
Photos by Juliette Fang courtesy of FREEPIK.COMThe Satisfaction of Homemade Copycat Treats
By SOHPIA LI Staff WriterRecently, I’ve noticed an upward trend of homemade, copycat versions of fan-favorite treats made by successful com panies. Up until a couple of months ago, I was unconvinced that one could remake my favorite Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin that was similar enough to pass as the original. It just didn’t click for me. How could a homemade baker, let alone an ama teur like me, replicate the fragrant, cozysmelling, one-of-a-kind baked good that a $100 billion company can batch-process?
Despite my incredulity, I gave in after seeing the muffin recipe for the fourth time, it appeared on my social media. The result was unbelievable. Not only was the muffin I made, in my humble opinion, better than the store-bought ones, but it was also so relaxing to make! Every bite of the muffin transported me into memories of watching autumn’s amber dusk fall, the sweet taste of hot apple cider that warms the soul, and the festive flavor of pumpkin spice. It was like I was living in a different reality; my life must have been a lie. All this time I’ve gone to Starbucks for a muffin when I could have easily made the copycat, which is healthier, more cost-effective, and capable of filling my house with fall galore.
It didn’t end there though. After my
endeavor to perfect the copycat Starbucks muf fin recipe, I set out to recreate my next favorite food: an acai bowl. Similar to Starbucks, up un til a couple months ago, I’ve been going to VitaCane for acai bowls, costing up to $10 for a 12 ounce bowl and $11.95 for a 16 ounce bowl.
After much research and practice, I’ve been able to per fect the ratio of acai packets, fruit, and liquid needed to craft my homemade bowl. Not only is it a healthy and tasty after-school snack to help escape the heat, the acai bowl is a great treat to share with family mem bers and friends.
The versatility of making homema detreats is beyond what words can express; by making your own snacks, you can control the ingredie nts of the treat and can directly imple ment yourpersonal preference in your food. Want a pick-me-up after school? No problem!
An acai packet, half a cup of mango, half a cup of mixed fruit, and a couple splashes of milk will do the trick. On the run after a morning workout heading off to school? A muffin can easily be thrown into a lunch box for a snack at school.
Other success ful copycat recipes I’ve made include Tasty’s Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chipotle Chicken, and Crum bl Cookies. WIth homemade foods, excess oil, fat, sug ars, and additives are out of the equa tion. Recipes that have fewer ingredi ents are generally better for overall health, and can be digested better by the body. Addition ally, homemade treatsare a great way to spend time with family members, as coolomg at home allows quality time with loved ones. are a great way to spend time with family members, as cooking at home allows quality time with loved
ones. Especially because most homemade foods are shared between family members, the food can contain special memories of their time spent together. My mom even knows the Chipotle Chicken recipe by heart now, simply from the amount of times we have made it together!
All in all, homemade treats might seem intimidating at first beacuse one might not think they can achieve the standard of a res taurant commodity, but they’re well worth the shot from the satisfaction it brings peo ple to its affordable pricing and versatility.
With endless options, homemade treats have a variety of flavors and recipes, and they should be enjoyed by people from all over!
sli@arcadiaquill.com Photos by SOPHIA LI5 Japanese Foods You Have to Try
By LORIN TENG Staff WriterRice is a staple in all Asian cuisines, but there is a bigger variety of Asian dishes that aren’t centered around rice. All Asian cuisines have something worth tasting: pho (Vietnam), dim sum (China), kimchi (Ko rea), and pad thai (Thailand) to name a few. In this article, I will be sharing five Japa nese food items I recommend trying that are full of flavor.
Mochi: With a wide variety of flavors, such as matcha, strawberry, and red bean, this classic Japanese snack is sure to get your mouth watering. It is made from glu tinous rice flour, giving it a chewy texture. Traditionally, mochi is made by pounding steamed glutinous rice in a large wooden mortar with a wooden mallet to get a nice, sticky texture. Although it can be eaten as both a savory and sweet snack, many prefer eating mochi as a dessert.
“I like mochi because it tastes super good and it’s fun to chew,” Arcadia High School (AHS) junior Henrina Zhang said. “It also has a bunch of different flavors and colors which makes it fun. I love sweet things, so mochi is definitely one of my
favorites.”
Dango: Similar to mochi, this dessert is made from rice flours, specifically rice flour mixed with uruchi (non-glutinous grain) rice flour and glutinous rice flour. Dango is served on a stick, usually three to five small balls. Subtly sweet, this dessert/snack pairs well with a cup of green tea, specifically matcha green tea.
If you want to try mochi and dango, I rec ommend going to this place in downtown L.A. called “Fugetsu-Do” which sells handmade tra ditional mochi and rainbow dango. Little Tokyo is a pretty awesome place to visit if you’re crav ing any type of Japanese food, whether a meal, dessert, or snack.
Sashimi with Tempura: Sashimi plus tem pura is my version of the perfect lunch or din ner. Sashimi is sliced up raw seafood or meat and is eaten with wasabi, soy sauce, and pick ledginger. Tempura is seafood, meat and veg etables dipped into a batter and deep-fried until golden brown.
“I love tempura because I like anything fried, and the crispiness of it is addictive,” said AHS junior Darren Lee.
“Whenever I go out to eat sushi, I al ways or der shrimp tempura along with it,”said junior Anushka Rajendra. Just like Lee, she “ likes
tempura because [she] just likes fried things in general, and fried shrimp is really good.” “Whenever I go out to eat sushi, I al ways order shrimp tempura along with it,”said junior Anushka Rajendra. Just like Lee, she “ likes tempura because [she] just likes fried things in general, and fried shrimp is really good.”
Soba Noodles: Soba (meaning buckwheat in Japanese) noodles are noodles made out of buckwheat and can be eaten hot or cold. It’s traditionally made by combining buckwheat flour, a bit of wheat flour, and water to form a crumbly dough, rolled out the dough into a flat sheet which is then folded and hand-cut into thin noodle strands.
“I like soba because it’s really flavorful,” said AHS junior Nikini Wathuthantrige. “Plus, it has a really nice texture and is just overall pretty good.”
Unagi no Kabayaki: “Unagi” is Japanese for freshwater eel and Kabayaki is a sweet and salty Japanese sauce poured over the grilled eel’s belly or back. Usually served on a bed of rice, this dish served with miso soup is perfect for a cold day. Eel is unique and a delicacy; it is also difficult to cook properly and eel chefs are a completely different profession from sushi
chefs.
With over two thousand years of cul tivation, Japanese cuisine has so much to offer, from sushi to green tea to mochi. The next time you try Japanese cuisine, remem ber that it took years of hard work and dedi cation to make it to perfection.
lteng@arcadiaquill.com
Graphics courtesy of RAWPIXEL.COM
Erriyon Knighton: The Next Usain Bolt?
By KAITLYN TRINH Staff WriterErriyon Knighton is only 18-years-old, but he’s already being held at the same standard as Usain Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medal ist. The young Floridan teenager is scary fast. Although he’s still young, he currently owns the under-18 and under-20 200-meter records. Considering everything he’s achieved at such a young age, it’s no wonder Knighton is becom ing a news sensation. Despite being formerly believed to be impossible, many avid racing en thusiasts have begun discussing the possibility of Knighton breaking the 200m world record of the Olympic sprint legend, Usain Bolt.
Four years ago, at the beginning of high school, track and field wasn’t even on Knigh ton’s mind.
“You could have asked me what the 100m was and I wouldn’t have known. I knew nothing about track,” Knighton remarked.
Back then, the only thing the teenager was focused on was American football, playing wide receiver for his high school team. With his ideal height of 6’3 and weight of 170 lbs, Knighton was capable of thriving in football, but his aspi rations soon changed when his coach timed him for the 200m.
After this one run, his coach realized his potential in track and field and advised him to concentrate on track.
“I only started running track in the ninth grade [when the season began],” Knighton rem inisced. “By the end of that year, I realized that I was kind of separated from the pack and faster than most people.”
What followed was the exponential rise in his new sport. During June 2021, at 17-years-
old, he made the USA Olympic team, becoming the youngest American male to reach that feat in 57 years. By the end of the Olympics, Knighton was able to secure 4th place in the 200m and beat Bolt’s under-18 record multiple times.
Fast-forward to a year later, Knigh ton was hard at work once again. Setting a time of 19.49 seconds at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Invitational, he obilerated the previous best record set by Bolt–earning himself the under-20 200-meter record, placing the 4th fastest man in the 200-meter.
Can Knighton really surpass the Olympic legend, Usain Bolt, in current records?
Knighton’s sonal re of 19.49 makes him est man in doesn’t as one or ering his has pro results cantly compared to his rivals.
The competitive rivalry be tween Knighton and a rival has the potential to last for years to come. Knighton stole the head lines when he became the 4th fast est man in the 200m history at the LSU Invitational. However, who was the fourth fastest man prior to that day? 25-year-old Noah
Lyles.
Although Lyles redeemed himself by win ning the 2022 Diamond League and becoming the 3rd fastest man in the 200m history, this hasn’t discouraged Knighton. His loss against Lyles has only motivated him to strive to work on himself to further improve his running.
“You still [got to] stay hungry and want more,” announced Knigh
Though Knighton didn’t win first, he still gained invaluable championship expe rience and his hun ger for more only demonstrates his dedication and motivation.
“Al though I’m not involved in track [or cross country], I’ve been keep ing up with the Track and Field [events] in the Olym pics,” mentioned Arca dia High School’s junior Vanessa Chen. “Seeing Knighton lose against Lyles during the 2022 Diamond League sad dened me, but I felt em powered when he didn’t allow his loss to define him. Momentarily, he felt mad and sad, but once his emotions were intact, he showed sportsmanship and only vowed to
improve.”
The current world record, held by Usain Bolt, is 19.19 seconds and was set back in 2009 when Bolt was 22-years-old. At 17-years-old, Knighton’s previous best time of 19.93 is only 0.09 seconds slower than Bolt’s. It took Bolt until 20-years-old to achieve a time faster than 19.75 seconds, so considering Knighton’s rapid progression in speed, there’s a possibility he could beat the world record.
Between the ages of 17 and 18-years-old, Knighton improved his 200m time by a whop ping 0.35 seconds. As for Bolt, he was 21-yearsold when he set a time lower than the current record of 19.49 seconds held by 17-year-old Knighton.
“Running the 200m as a 1st place Frosh/ Soph [runner] in the 2022 Pacific League Fi nals, with a time of 24.30 seconds, I feel that Knighton is very inspirational to me. Obtain ing the fourth-fastest worldwide time of 19.49 seconds at only 18-years-old motivates me to strive to improve as well,” stated Arcadia High School’s sophomore Gibran Roslan. “Track is one of my main priorities and I always perse vere to achieve better than before, so knowing that a teenager is close to ‘doing the impossible’ comforts me to believe that anything is pos sible.”
Currently striving towards becoming an Olympic champion, Knighton has plenty of time on his hands.
“I get called young everyday,” Knighton stated. “I am going to be 24 in 2028, that is in two more Olympics and still kind of young. I think about that all the time.”
ktrinh@arcadiaquill.com Photo by WIKIMEDIA COMMONSRoger Federer Announces His Retirement
By MICHELLE HO Staff WriterRoger Federer, often referred to as the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T) of tennis, has officially retired from the sport at the age of 41. Tennis fans mourn over the loss of one of the ‘Big Three’, including fellow greats Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Federer announced ment at the 2022 Laver he played his final bles with long-time Swiss player’s pres fessional court will achievements will be many years to come. born on August 8, in Basel, Switzer land. As a young child, he played soccer and began playing tennis at 8-years-old. After realizing his poten tial in tennis, Feder er quit soccer when he was 12-yearsold, choosing to focus solely on
tennis. By the age of 14, Federer was already Switzerland’s junior champion, and in 1998, he won the Wimbledon Junior Championships and the Orange Bowl Junior tournament in Miami, Florida.
Beginning his adult career, Federer de buted in the Swiss Davis Cup, reaching top 100 in ATP rankings and placing at number 64. Throughout his profession, Federer would go on to win 20 Grand Slam titles in singles, his last Grand Slam win in 2018 at the Australian Open.
“The stats speak for themselves as far as the 41-year-old Swiss maestro is concerned: 20 Grand Slam titles, 28 Masters 1000 titles, six Year-end Championships, 103 career titles, 310 weeks as World number 1…[m]oreover, Feder er is the only player to have won five consecu tive Wimbledon as well as US Open titles,” said Subhadeep Roy.
Federer’s fruitful career clearly shows that he was talented, but what made him so success ful? Many who have seen him grow and adapt throughout his career will note how the young 16 year old player matured quickly into a pro fessional mindset, able to remain focused and calm on court. In addition, the Swiss player’s aggressive and quick play style allows him to dominate on faster-paced grass courts, with his
regular baseline technique and the occasional serve-and-volley to finish the point quickly. Fe derer’s elegant one-handed backhand gives him the iconic shot that tennis lovers recognize and will certainly miss upon his retirement.
Even with all his amazing accomplish ments, Federer is, ultimately, a human with hu man ailments. Injuries due to his knees and his age have weakened the tennis player, and after several surgeries and a number of recurring injuries, Federer has been forced to withdraw from several tournaments; the cause of his re tirement can be largely attributed to the damage his knees have sustained.
“Even though we all didn’t want him to re tire, he had to one day as his knees and Bodley can’t support him forever…he’s had a legend ary career and changed the sport as a whole,” said Arcadia High school freshman Lucas Xue.
Tennis lovers got to see his amazing tennis play one last time at the Laver Cup 2022, where he partnered with Nadal in a doubles set. The game ended with a loss to Jack Sock and Fran ces Tiafoe in 4-6, 7-6, 11-9. Despite the loss, Federer remained happy and let his emotions display freely, often cracking jokes with Nadal and just enjoying playing tennis professionally one last time.The match itself was emotional and quite light-hearted.
“It does feel like a celebration. It’s exactly what I wanted at the end, exactly what I hoped for,” said Federer.
After the match, players from opposing sides alike gathered around Federer, lifting him into the air to honor the G.O.A.T. of tennis in his last tournament. Most emotional of all was Nadal, Federer’s archrival since he arrived on court as a competing power against Federer. Through many tears and hugs, Nadal talks about the loss of such a great tennis player.
“A lot of years, sharing a lot of things together…when Federer leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving, too,” said Nadal.
“Federer’s retirement is a devastating loss because just as I started getting serious about the sport, my favorite player retired…he’s a champion off and on the court,” said Xue.
The retirement of Roger Federer has put sorrow into the hearts of many people, but he will continue to impact professional and ama teur players alike. Even off-court, Federer’s incredible career will be analyzed and praised as a prime example of the best tennis player of all time.
by FLIKRASTANA OPEN: NOVAK DJOKOVIC
CRISTIAN GARIN
By LISA LI Staff WriterSerbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, now ranked 7th according to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), secured his victory over Chilean tennis player Cristian Garin during the Astana Open on October 5, with an astounding 6-1, 6-1. This match was his debut for the 2022 Astana Open and resulted in another absolute victory.
Before flying to Astana, Kazakhstan, Djokovic had acquired a trophy for the Tel Aviv Opening in Israel with his 89th career title. He won against Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic in the final match on October 2, scoring 6-3, 6-4. This rejuvenating victory helped him prepare for the new Astana tournament and made him feel confident, as claimed by Djokovic himself.
As for the match against Garin, Djokovic presented an impeccable performance as he dropped six points on his serve. Overall, he broke Garin’s defense three times in the first set, and twice in the second set without facing a single break point. He won the last five games and secured the victory in a span of 62 minutes.
According to the report made by James Richardson published on Tennis 365, Djokovic “was laser-accurate with his groundstrokes and Garin didn’t seem to stand a chance”.
Others speculated that Garin was under enormous pressure with Djokovic as his opponent.
During the first set of matches, Djokovic demonstrated a combination of speed and strength, with each stroke being precise and powerful. The most spectacular highlight occurred during the second set when Djokovic at one point ahead
After a series of energetic strokes, was away from the net. Djokovic then proceeded to hit the ball lightly with a backhand, contributing just enough force to let it past the net. This caught Garin off guard and though he immediately sprinted forward in an attempt to
service, commented on Djokovic’s performance as “flawless”. Djokovic also claimed that he was quick in adjusting to different conditions and surfaces throughout his career.
“Coming into this tournament I feel
confident, I feel excited, I feel motivated,” said Djokovic, “so I think that helps as well to adjust quickly.”
In conclusion, the Astana Open victory is yet another confidence booster for Djokovic, who just came out of the Tel Aviv Opening with his third title of this year. There would be more matches forthcoming, and deep respect for all the tennis players who endeavor to bring achievements to their careers.
mli@arcadiaquill.com Photo courtesy of FLICKR.COMATHLETE FEATURE: ELIZABETH CHAN
By VICTORIA MAIRteammates, are on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Staff WriterJunior Elizabeth Chan has been running track at Arcadia High School (AHS) since freshman year. She was first introduced to track when she was 13-years-old, but she has enjoyed participating in a team ever since she turned 15. As a member of the Girls Varsity Track team, Chan is one of the jumpers, who focuses on jumping events such as the Triple and Long Jump.
Chan began having dreams of participating in the track team when she was in middle school. She initially attended a track meet that was held at the high school, and she thought it was so cool to see the athletes sprinting toward the finish line.
Chan believes that being an athlete on the AHS Track team is a great way to stay healthy, make new friends, and have fun. She also believes that being an athlete has led her to be a better student by providing her confidence, chances to work with others, and motivation to remain successful in her academics.
Besides her love for this sport, being part of the Track team takes hard work and involves a lot of commitment. According to Chan, practices usually take around two and a half hours every weekday, and track meets, which are prepared by her and some
Chan and some of her teammates host the track meets at school, a place that everyone is familiar with, for the sake of not getting lost or funding an entrance fee. Track meets are competitions that consist of different events including sprints, jumps, and throws. However, when AHS hosts big track meets such as the Winter Championships or the Arcadia Invitational, there is a lot of hard work involved. Chan and her teammates have built two pole vault pits and cleaned up the area after the event ended. Track meets are to display an athlete’s skill in their event, and to showcase the abilities that can be learned by watching different events. These events are also how coaches from each school in our league determine who wins League Championships.
“Being in track is hard work,” said Chan, “and since I’m not naturally fast, it’s a challenge to reach my expectations.”
As a young athlete, Chan was inspired to embark on this new journey with the support of her senior peers during freshman year, her older brother, and her friends, who have always encouraged her to do her best in any event she’s involved in. The most challenging part for Chan as a jumper is to remember to take care of herself.
“Last year, I injured my knees because I decided to ignore what my body was telling me and continued to push through,” explained Chan. Chan currently still has the injury, but
she learned to have control for her health and future.
Her first big success came when she persisted in improving her Triple Jump, even though at first, she feared she wouldn’t make it into the sand pit. According to Chan, she was barely able to make it considering the fact that the athlete is supposed to land on their bottom. However, with patience and practice, Chan became stronger, and now she is flying over her personal record, which is currently 33 feet and 7 ½ inches for Triple Jump.
“The toughest aspect of being an athlete is the ability to be optimistic because there will be a lot of times where you fail, or something goes wrong,” said Chan.
During competitions, to calm her nerves, Chan focuses on tuning everyone out and takes deep breaths. Although she’s under pressure, she focuses on the present, remains calm, and keeps her objective in mind: getting a new personal record.
Chan’s advice for anyone with plans in joining a sport in high school is to make new friends. She explains that making new friends in your sport will make the experience so much more exciting and fun.
vmair@arcadiaquilll.com Photo by Victoria MairWHAT IS MODERN ART?WHAT IS MODERN ART?
By MICHELLE HO Staff WriterThere is more than one meaning to the word “art”: beauty, significance leisure, skill, patience, virtue. Art has been around since the first humans created; every art style in history has played a role in how modern art is depicted today. Throughout time, many art movements have come and gone, with some of the most impactful and lasting styles being line art, impressionism and post-impressionism, and surrealism. These styles of art are some of the most important art movements that have helped shape and define what mod ern and contemporary art is today.
To begin, a few Arcadia High school (AHS) students gave their opinion on what they consider to be the definition of art:
“Anything made by the hand” is art, freshman Cadye Wang says.
When asked what her opinion of modern art is, Wang stated frankly, “it has no effort, but [de pending on your per spective and imagina tion] it is still good.”
Art is “a reflec tion of the artist, whether it be the men tal or physical state they are in,” describes Ellie Wu, a freshman taking the elective Art at AHS.
“Art is anything creative that is origi nal to you,” says AHS freshman, Amelia Bowser. One of the most influential and still ongoing movements line art.
From sketches, carvings, paintings, prints, line art has been incorporated into tially every art movement, including contempo rary art. Dating all the way back to the times cave drawings, the ancient history of line art influenced every part of modern art. Today, art is still in use, now taking on a more abstract and geometrical look as opposed to the simple ways it has been utilized in the past
Another art form, impressionism and postimpressionism, originated from France, building on natural landscapes outdoors. The style when a group of artists known as the “Anony mous Society of Painters, Sculptors,” Printmak ers, etc. set up an exhibition in Paris. The
of impressionism include unblended colors, bold brush strokes, and bright pigments to depict natural light and outdoor scenery.
“These days, light remains a key consider ation and component across all types of contem porary art and design,” said writer Melanie Dim mitt in 10 of the Most Influential Art Movements and How They Are Still Used Today.
The influence of artists like Vincent van Gogh from the impressionism and post-impres sionism time period still have their effect today
realism was to ‘jolt’ the viewer out of their comfort zone with its strange and often unusual depictions. Surrealism has influenced today’s contemporary art, adding surrealistic touches to its designs.
Today’s modern and contemporary art can be defined as “abstract” and “conceptual”. The idea of abstract art is to allow the viewer to understand and interpret the art piece in their own way. There is no factually “correct” way to describe abstract art.
Eden Gallery writes, “it is nonobjective art that does not aim to represent an ev eryday external reality.”
The conceptual art of this era can be largely at tributed to the rise in im pressionism, post-impres sionism, and surrealism, stemming from previous rational and realistic styles of art. Historic art move ments have evolved over time, and changed according to society. The impact of each art movement has its own unique influence and added to what artists today consider current and modern art. Rather than the artist’s emotions dictating the mes sage of their project, modern art work is free for interpre tation and allows viewers to express themselves within the work. After all, as Irish novelist Margaret Hunger ford once wrote, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
mho@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONSOrchestra’s Fall String Concert
By LINDA ZHANG Staff WriterThe Fall String Concert is an an nual event that takes place in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Oct. 15. The concert presents the orchestras from Dana Middle School, Foothills Middle School, and First Avenue Middle School, as well as the four Orchestras of Arcadia High School (AHS). The students have worked very hard since the beginning of the school year in prepa ration for the concert, which is an enrich ing experience for young musicians. As for many, it is their first time performing in an auditorium that can seat 1,163 people.
“It is very inspirational to my middle school strings to hear the players from AHS’ orchestras playing so professionally and beautifully. It hopefully inspires the students to stick with music when they go to high school. It certainly has that effect on parents who realize just how amazing the AHS string program is,” said Mr. Morton, the musical director of FMS.
On the day of the concert, students ar rive at the PAC in their uniforms. Foothills
Middle School’s uniform is characterized by its green vests and Dana Middle School’s uniform is symbolic for its red ties and dresses; both First Avenue Middle School and AHS have black and white uniforms.
During the concert, while the previous group is cleaning up, the next group rehearses for the final time before stepping onto the stage. The concert alternates between one middle school orchestra and one AHS orchestra, with the Symphony Orchestra conclud ing the concert. The per formance of each or chestral group usually starts with tuning, with notes given to the orchestra by the Concert master. Then, the conductor is applauded onto the stage. Raising the baton, the musician’s
eyes are glued onto it as they settle in their playing position. Taking in a deep breath, the bows of the musicians start moving, filling the auditorium with rich and colorful sounds.
Each orchestral group performs three pieces in differ ent styles, such as baroque, classi cal, romantic, and contemporary. As the conductor puts down his or her baton, the audi ence applauds and the curtain closes.
“From the fall concert, we can have a memo rable experience not only playing music with our friends, but also growing musically as a group. During this process, we can furthermore appreciate and enjoy the music we have played,” said AHS freshman Nathaniel Lim.“I believe the Fall String Concert is an enriching experience
to do so,” stated AHS freshman Cathleen Lu. Not only is the concert an opportunity for orchestra students to demonstrate the product of their hard work, it is also a chance for them to gain valuable performance ex periences. The concert provides motivation for students to drill their musical techniques, as well as forcing them to deal with stress and errors, which are important life skills.
In other words, students will truly appreci ate music when they see the effect that it can create on other people, such as the audience.
lzhang@arcadiaquill.com
Photo Courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM and FREESVG.COMThe Repainting of the Sign
By SOFIA PAIN SIEGRIST Staff WriterI’m sure you’ve seen the Hollywood sign on TV, while driving to Universal Studios, or maybe even while on vacation. Either way, this iconic sign is an international representa tion of the movie industry and its growth over the years. As the Hollywood sign’s 100th an niversary approaches) a restoration project has been initiated to commemorate this special event. Let’s take a deeper look into the
was intended to last for about 18 months it has stood in Los Angeles for nearly 100 years.
After the sign’s creation,it was neglected due to a few events. The first of which was in Sept. of 1932 when Peggy Enwistle committed suicide by jumping off the sign. World War 1 also led to a decrease in real estate activity in this area, thus a de cline in the maintenance level of the sign.
During the 1960’s a lack of mainte nance caused a few of the sign’s letters to fall and parts began to decay. The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Board then pro moted the sign to official landmark status. Howev er, it wasn’t until the late 1970’s when any modi fications were made to revitalize the sign.
The total cost of this project was $25 mil lion, mainly paid partly by actors and famous TV personalities. The Chamber of Commerce,
who started the sign repair, took a few let ters off the sign and it became “Holly wood.” After its ultimate comeback the sign debuted in multiple films and contin ued being recognized around the world. In 2012, the Hollywood sign was repainted thanks to Sherwin Williams and the Trust.
Now, in 2022 the process of repaint ing of the sign is expected to take about 8 weeks to complete. It will be coated with Emerald Rain Refresh, which is formulated with Ultra-durable coating and self cleaning technology. Emerald rain also provides UV and weather protection. After, the sign will require less maintenance and also last lon ger without needing many repairs. Dugan–a commercial painting company in Los ange les– is responsible for prepping and paint ing the sign- about400 gallons of paint will be used in total. The process live can be seen on Hollywood sign’s official website. Though seemingly unimport ant, the Hollywood sign is a representa tion of the growing entertainment industry in the United states and
courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM Courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONSLGBTQ I History Month
By CAROLINE LI Staff WriterNote: Since the creation of the acronym “LGBT” (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) or “LGBTQ” (with the Q standing for queer/ questioning), it has become LGBTQ+ (which includes labels such as intersex, asexual/ agender/aromantic, and more). I will be using LGBTQ to refer to the historical appellation and LGBTQ+ to refer to the modern one.
October happenings are often overshad owed by the approach of calendar kingpins such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the onset of ECGBS (Early Christmas Gift Brain storming Syndrome, or as I like to colloquial ize it, EGGS). This is why it may come as a surprise to hear that the month of October is officially recognized as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) History Month—not to be confused with Pride Month, which is in June—and has been for nearly three decades.
LGBTQ History Month originates with Rodney Wilson, a high school history teacher who, at the time, was teaching at Mehlville High School in St. Louis, Missouri. Wilson thought there should be a month dedicated to teaching the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and chose October, the same month
that features Coming Out Day (a term used to describe an LGBTQ+ individual “coming out of the closet” to disclose their sexual, roman tic, or gender identity) on Oct. 11.
“LGBT history gave me self-confidence as a gay person and strengthened my resolve to live, as best I could, an honest, open and integrated life,” said Wilson, who came out during a lesson about the Holocaust in 1994, making him the first openly gay K-12 teacher in Missouri.
Every October, Wilson’s website features 31 inspirational LGBTQ+ icons, one for each day of the month, accompanied by a video and biography with links to resources for more information. This month’s icons include Hans Christian Anderson, Robinia Asti, Richard Avedon, Ninia Baher, and Genora Dancel, and more that can be found on the official website.
The LGBTQ+ rights movement is perhaps most known for the Stonewall Riots in 1969, which took place in New York City in response to a police raid and the arrest of several patrons and owners of Stonewall Inn, a gay bar (a bar where LGBTQ+ individuals could socialize without fear of harassment).
These riots were commonplace. As Grant Rindner, staff writer of Oprah Daily, writes, “In the ‘60s, gay bars were frequently raided by police, in large part because it was both illegal to sell alcohol to gay people and to dress in drag.”
But rather than running, as the victims of previous raids had, Stonewall’s patrons rebelled. Molotovs were thrown, barricades were set aflame, and protests were organized, but most important of all, the incident both set a precedent for and instigated LGBTQ+ movements to come.
IRodney Wilson, formerly history teacher at Mehlville Louis, Missouri, is the founder History Month and the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Network). Wilson was the an article about gay history Historical Society and has and proponent of LGBTQ+ twenties.
Marsha a drag queen cate for gay Street Transvestite ies (STAR) participated and was a Front, although friend and vera, were events for
Sylvia Rivera (1951-2002) was a drag queen, tireless veteran, and advo cate for Black, gay, and transgender rights. She identified as a transgen der woman and to this day is one of the most prominent faces of several events throughout LGBTQ+ history, including the Stonewall Riots.
formerly a high school Mehlville High School in St. founder of both LGBT St. Louis chapter of and Straight Education the first to contribute history to the Missouri has been an advocate LGBTQ+ rights since his
“It’s no easy feat to march up to a history, filled with persecution... then choose to spit in its face.”
Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992) was queen known for being an advo gay rights and co-founder of the Transvestite Action Revolutionar organization. Johnson also participated in the first Gay Pride rally member of the Gay Liberation although both she and her close fellow advocate, Sylvia Ri eventually banned from many being drag queens.
Stonewall was one of the first instances of violent rebellion against the LGBTQ com munity’s oppressors. It is widely considered to be both the impelling force and the cohesive string behind several worldwide LGBTQ+ movement coalitions and protests that formed in its wake, as well as the rise of many modern LGBTQ+ icons: Sylvia Rivera, drag queen and tireless advocate for Black and gay rights; her close friend and fellow drag queen, Marsha P. Johnson; Stormé DeLarverie; Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, leader and elder of the LGBTQ+ community, Black transgender woman, and survivor of Attica State Prison; and so many more participants, including LGBTQ+ youth thrown out of their homes for their identities and tired veterans of the cause.
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, the “Stonewall incident was perhaps the first time lesbians, gays, and transgender people saw the value in uniting behind a common
cause. Occurring as it did in the context of the civil rights and feminist movements, the Stone wall riots became a galvanizing force…Stone wall soon became a symbol of resistance to social and political discrimination that would inspire solidarity among homosexual groups for decades.” The extent of their impact on the course of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in America was made evident in 2016 when Stonewall Inn was named a national monument by President Barack Obama.
Stonewall teaches us that it was not long ago that individuals were excluded and impris oned for their sexualities and identities. Only seven years have passed since the legalization of gay marriage in all fifty U.S. states in 2015, and there are still several openly homophobic. Stonewall teaches us the importance of recog nizing the histories of marginalized communi ties. To continue on to a new era without com memorating the history that enabled it leads to, at best, the community’s struggles falling into obscurity, and at worst, the offenses of the past being repeated.
Coming out has the potential to be both one of the most terrifying experi ences in one’s life and the most
gratifying. It’s no easy feat to march up to a history filled with persecution, prejudice, and oppression, then choose to spit in its face. It takes a lifetime of seeing one’s friends abused and being abused oneself. It takes decades of police raids on gay bars. It takes a nation persecuting its citizens for marrying—for its citizens promising to love and support each other until they die—just because they are of the same gender.
Not coming out is in no way synony mous with cowardice. Too many people have lost their lives in doing so. But for those who have and who are in a safe space to celebrate it, LGBTQ History Month is more than just a month—it’s a remembrance of the com munity’s predecessors, leaders, and heroes, as well as a testament to tenacity in combating institutionalized homophobia in our society. It is a month of celebration.
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