December 2022 Issue

The Arcadia Quill

The official student newspaper of Arcadia High School since 1952

Happy Holidays from The ArcadiaQuill

By STEPHANIE WANG News Editor

As students for Arcadia High School (AHS) gear up for Semester 1 finals—a week filled with stress and anxiety as they end the year—members of the Arcadia Quill blew off some steam by partaking in a Quill holiday tradition. Utilizing the window panels overlooking Campus Drive, members of the Arcadia Quill participated in the annual Window Wars, a competition between grade levels to decorate the best window.

For their window, freshmen writers painstakingly cut letters from red and green construction paper to form the words “FELIZ NAVIDAD”, signing their window with an additional “-9th grade”, and completing their design with a snowflake and a border of holly and tinsel.

Sophomores decided to take a different

approach, adorning their window with a variety of Christmas decorations, including Santa faces, stockings, and snowflakes—three of each to represent each of the three in-class sophomore staff writers. With the addition of ornaments, a crackling fireplace made of layered construction paper, and another border of holly and tinsel, the sophomores completed their symbolic, festive masterpiece.

Like the sophomores, junior staff writers and editors also decided to use Christmas decorations for their window. Dominated by a central Christmas tree outlined in green tinsel, the juniors’ window also featured a snowflake. Juniors also taped stockings to the edges of the tree and topped it off with a 3-D origami star to mimic the decorations of real Christmas trees. They didn’t stop there; using white yarn, creativity, and an impressive amount of dexterity, staff writers outlined the cursive words “ho ho ho” connected to an outline of Santa carrying a

sack in the center of the tree.

Senior Quill members, not to be outdone by their underclassmen, filled their window with festive cheer. Like the juniors, seniors also decided to utilize a Christmas theme to decorate their window, using brown and white construction paper, holly, and cotton balls to form a gingerbread house, complete with windows overlooking Campus Drive and a red tinsel heart wafting from a chimney on the snow-covered roof. Additionally, each senior in the class decorated and cut out a miniature gingerbread man from brown construction paper, using glitter and gel markers to outline faces, buttons, and scarves, before positioning their gingerbread men around the house—peeking out behind windows, walking up to the house, and even climbing on the chimney. To top off their creation, the seniors added a red tinsel heart wafting up from the chimney.

To judge the competition and decide a winner of the Window Wars, advisor Mrs. Lesley Lee invited AHS Principal Ms. Angie Dillman and Assistant Principal Ms. Karen Duberke on Thursday, Dec. 15 to assess the windows. While the freshmen, with their “FELIZ NAVIDAD”, won the approval of Ms. Duberke, who taught Spanish at AHS for 19 years before becoming assistant principal, the judges ultimately decided upon the seniors as the winners of the 2022 Window Wars.

With this festive holiday tradition, writers at the Quill had the opportunity to relieve some stress about the upcoming finals while also embracing the holiday spirit. As we approach the final weeks of 2022, we wish everyone the best of luck for their finals, and happy holidays!

swang@arcadiaquill.com

Photo courtesy of AHS

Establish Equal Pay in Sports

Michelle Ho’26 highlights the need for gender equity in sports pay Opinion • P6

Trending Gifts for Teens This Holiday Season

Ava Shaw’25 wraps the year off with the best gifts you can wrap for teens for the Holidays Features • P8

Arcadia High School’s Winter Concert

Lin Zhang’26 covers Arcadia High School’s annual Winter Spring Concert Arts & Entertainment • P12

Athlete Feature: Kenneth Martinez

Annie Jiang’25 features Boys JV Basketball Team’s junior Kenneth Martinez Sports • P15

SCAC ED Shreiner Memorial Toy and Jacket Drive

By HARINI DEVAGUPTAPU Staff Writer

With the holidays and cooler temperatures coming up, it is essential for people to have access to the necessary resources to keep their needs fulfilled. In order to meet their needs and assist members of our community, the Student Council Apache Commision (SCAC) hosted its annual Ed Schreiner Memorial Toy and Jacket Drive from Nov. 28 to Dec. 4. Toys, clothes, jackets, and blankets that were new or lightly used were accepted. All the proceeds from this donation were given to White Mountain Apaches. This drive is named after Mr.Schreiner who was the husband of the school secretary and an active member in the music booster club. He used to drive the truck full of donations to the White Mountain Apaches.

This drive was started in the 1990s to supply warm jackets for everyone and give holiday gifts for the children. The SCAC advisor, Heather Moore, shared how this drive has grown to include much more.

“When we donate, we are taking a moment to help other people who, by virtue of where they were born, are in a location that makes day-to-day life just that much harder,” she explained.

Moore talked about the specifics of this drive. According to her, the donations are directly given to the White Mountain Apaches in towns on the reservation that are struggling. Each year, the donations are alternately given to two towns: Cibecue, AZ, and Carrizo, AZ. She

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive

Arcadia, CA 91006

The Arcadia Quill

Editorial Board

Editors-in-Chief: Catherine Chan, Lilian Chong, Enzo Goebel News Editors: Stephanie Wang and Madison Yee Opinion Editors: Ashley Chan and Chloe Wong Features Editors: Darin Buenaluz and Pamina Yung Arts & Entertainment Editors: Anna Odell and Maryam Sadeghifard Sports Editors: Sophia Li and Sohana Sahni Media Editor: Amanda Chang Campus Focus Editor: Michelle So Publicity Manager: Vritti Godani

General Staff

Staff Writers: Ryan Chai, Nathan Chen, Niyah (Elliot) Davis, 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 Siegrist, Clarissa Suryapranata, Kaitlynn Trinnh Ziming (Sarah) Wang, Kathy Wong, Lin Zhang

Media Staff: Lauryn Chao, Skye Escobedo, Veronica Meyers, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Katrina Reghitto, Lorin Teng, Vanessa Valentino, May Wang, Olivia Zheng

Advisor: Mrs. Lesley Lee

cf.arcadiaquill@gmail.com

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 organization, 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 libelous, obscene, or otherwise offensive or inappropriate, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s justified standards. Rights are reserved to postpone, edit or withhold from publication anything submitted which does not meet the specifications.

Unsigned editorials represent the view of The Arcadia Quill Editorial Board. It does not necessarily represent the view of other Quill staff members. The Arcadia Quill refuses to print criticism which is not constructive and not supported by fact or evidence. The editors and adviser will make the final decision on all material appearing in The Arcadia Quill

The Arcadia Quill will not intentionally invade the privacy of any person or publish facts and quotes given off the record. Opinions will be clearly marked and found on the editorial pages or as designated on other pages (i.e.- front page). Signed opinion articles and commentary are the expressed opinions of the author and not of The Arcadia Quill and its editorial board, adviser, or Arcadia High School’s faculty or school board.

Staff members are guided by the Canons of Journalism of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, a code of ethics which outlines the principles of responsibility, fairness, and accuracy.

Corrections Policy

Corrections will be printed when brought to the attention of the staff. Original stories will carry bylines but additional contributors to a story will be listed on the byline.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism of any form will not be tolerated. Story ideas and article content are to remain completely original with the exception of the use of outside graphics/images/quotes, which are to be duly credited.

Quotes

Quotes are representative of a single opinion; they do not represent the beliefs of the student body and staff. Quotes are to be written in past tense with the correct style guide format.

mso@arcadiaquill.net

Graphics courtesy of Michelle So

ASB HOSTS ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

bonding event

By STEPHANIE WANG News Editor

On Dec. 2, ASB hosted an All-Academic Team bonding event, where members of Arcadia High School’s (AHS) academic teams from all grade levels destressed over refreshments and games as they created new friendships and connected with friends on other teams.

At scattered tables around the multipurpose room (MPR), members of AHS’ academic teams snacked on cookies, chips, and other refreshments as they mingled with members and teacher advisors from other teams. As they scooted between tables and across the room in wheely chairs, participants had the opportunity to put their skills to use in traditional card games like Spoons and Speed, unconventional card games like Exploding Kittens, board games like Monopoly and Connect 4, and even games of chess and Minesweeper.

“I played chess with one of my friends, Xing, and it was a really intense game until I blundered and lost, but it was still very fun!”

said junior Jack Lu, a member of Math Team. “I also met a lot of new people and discovered that we had a lot in common. I enjoyed being able to hear all the laughter and excitement in the room during the event.”

Indeed, the event allowed members from AHS’ many teams, who often don’t interact with each other, to meet and bond over shared interests, as students dressed in red Science Olympiad shirts and blue Science Bowl hoodies excitedly conversed with members of Speech & Debate and Constitution team clad in black jackets over games of chess and Uno. Some

particularly studious participants even used the time to discuss homework and classes with classmates they hadn’t even known competed on other academic teams.

“It was great seeing people from other academic teams in one setting,” said senior Darren Kuo, a member of Quiz Bowl and History Bowl. “Even though being competitive on an academic team can be stressful at times, this event was a great way to relax and meet new people—I was able to have a conversation with people I’ve seen before but not spoken to, and although we are from different teams, we were able to find a lot of

Class of 2025 Hosts

common ground, like dealing with physics homework.”

As the clock neared 4:40 p.m. and the afternoon sky beyond the window blinds of the MPR darkened into evening, participants cleaned off the tables, posed for photos with new friends, boxed leftover refreshments, and loaded away board games before rearranging folded tables and chairs back into neat rows to conclude an exciting event.

With academic teams playing an irreplaceable role in enriching AHS’ diverse environment, the bonding event provided a rare opportunity for members of all teams to interact, allowing these students to take a breather from preparing for approaching finals and various academic competitions. Thank you to ASB and everyone who showed up, and we look forward to future bonding events and more activities involving our school’s academic teams later throughout the school year!

swang@arcadiaquill.com

Photos by STEPHANIE WANG

“Charmed by You” Bonding Event

By ELLIE GLADSON-PANG Staff Writer

The Arcadia High School sophomore class kicked off the month of December with a bang—or rather, with beads, bracelets, and bonding. The ASB Sophomore Council put on an unforgettable event on Dec. 2 for the Class of 2025, surely drawing the ire of jealous freshmen, juniors, and seniors.

Soon after the final bell rang, sophomores began to gather in the rally court, encircling the central table and its spread of craft supplies and hot chocolate. Everyone had fun participating in the planned activities, spending multiple hours in the cheery and spirited environment with friends; first, students got a warm cup of cocoa, before moving on to collect bracelet and letter-writing supplies. Even as the line grew, students still continued to crowd the stationery and craft supply-laden setup, as music played over the loudspeakers, amplifying the upbeat mood.

After grabbing a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows from the ASB volunteers, the crafting fun commenced. A huge variety of beads awaited students, allowing them to freely select whatever glow-in-the-dark charms, brightly colored beads in every shade, shiny pearls, and any letter of the alphabet they could possibly want on their bracelet or phone charm.

Lastly, stationery of every type was available for sophomores to use in the final activity: writing a card to their senior selves. All the sophomores had to do was write a letter, adorn it with stickers, sign it, and seal it. ASB took care of the rest, collecting the finished products for safekeeping until senior year in 2025.

Speaking of ASB, these “Charmed by You” festivities can all be attributed to the efforts of the ASB Sophomore Council. Vice President sophomore Keely Sun, explained a few details of the extensive planning process.

“Class councils such as Sophomore Council work hard to represent their class to the entire ASB, and to raise funds and plan activities for everyone to come together and enjoy,” said Sun.

“Our process begins at one of our weekly meetings, and an event is born through lots of action plans, minute by minute run throughs, and conversations within our council and advisors.”

Bonding events like this one are certainly no easy feat to

pull off! President sophomore Amber Cheung revealed that the event took “about 3 months

of planning,” adding that she thought the event had a “fantastic outcome.”

Bracelet making, letter writing, and a warm cup of hot chocolate certainly did seem to be a success with the student body. It’s definitely true that the bonding event was a resounding success, for reasons that Cheung detailed further.

“Each grade level at Arcadia High is around 700 students, which makes it nearly impossible to get to know all your peers. ASB class councils create bonding events for each individual class to allow students to meet new people and bond with their friends,” said Cheung.

Cheung’s Vice President agrees with this point. “Events like this are a great way to promote school spirit, student bonding, and more through a relaxing after school activity.

Bonding events are a great place to attend with your friends and other students seem to really enjoy it,” expounded Sun.

The entire Class of 2025 owes some gratitude to their ASB class council for the fun afternoon that evidently took lots of planning. Now, we look forward to the next event they throw. Thank you, ASB!

Holiday Spirit Week

By JULIETTE FANG Staff Writer

As we prepare for the holiday season at home, ASB has put students in a festive mood here at Arcadia High School (AHS) with their Holiday Spirit Week events. From Dec. 9 to Dec. 12, ASB hosted the Holiday Spirit Week, complete with a theme for each day. Photos from the week can be found on ASB’s Insta gram.

Monday was Zoom Meet ing Monday, where students dressed up with professional attire on top, but casual wear on the bottom. This was reminiscent of dressing up for virtual classes during the pandemic, with formal tops giving the impression of professionalism, while unseen pajama pants secretly provided comfort.

The next day was Tartan Tuesday, where students dressed up in their favorite plaid-patterned outfits. Some popular garments included red plaid pajama pants and flannel shirts.

White-out Wednesday had students dressing up all in white, in honor of the winter snow that always eludes Southern California.

“It’s good to…dress up and have some fun, and see other people dressing up the same as

you,” said Historian freshman Flora Tan.

lowerclassmen dressed up in cowboy attire

ranch, and the upperclassmen were thousand island sauce. Dur lunch, ASB provided hot choco and temporary tattoos. For the ities, students were brought to their elementary school with four square and tug of war.

“I like the hot chocolate [because] I didn’t have lunch that day,” said freshman Olivia Fortuna.

Bringing the week to a close, Frosty Friday saw students dressed up in their best holiday gear, from Santa hats to ugly sweaters. At lunch, students had the opportunity to take photos with Santa at the Rally Court. Pep Band also played holiday classics, such as “Jingle Bell Jam” and “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. Holiday songs also played over the PA system in between classes, making the whole school sound festive and fun.

“I also thought the music performance was pretty cool,” commented freshman Elaine Zhou. “I like that we had hot chocolate.”

This year’s Holiday Spirit Week was a great way for students and faculty to enjoy fun activities and come together for the holidays. Thank you to ASB for organizing this wonderful event, as well as to all the students and faculty who participated!

jfang@arcadiaquill.com

SCAC ED Shreiner Memorial Toy and Jacket Drive

said that last year, the proceeds went to Cibecue, a town of 1,700 people at the

weather in the winter. Providing them with the necessary winter clothing can take away a lot of suffering and keep them sheltered.

Moore further elaborated on the importance of this drive. “The way I see it, this drive is about helping people. We live in Los Angeles County where there is access to thousands of opportunities in lots of different industries. We live in a place where we have everything we need in the same place, with lots of opportunities. We have the capability to give people the necessary resources they need,” she said.

On the White Mountain Apache reservation, “due to historical forces that left Native American communities across the country with submarginal land far away from population centers and transportation lines, people do not have access to the same opportunities that we do,” Moore explained. Along with that, there isn’t a population that can support a vibrant

The items collected from this donation will be making many people warm and cozy during this colder winter, and keep people happy with new clothing and toys during the season. Many people will be satisfied and thankful, have the weight of buying clothes off their shoulders, and be able to give children an

extra special gift for the holidays.

Ora Henry, Public Relations for District 1 Tribal Council talked about the impact this drive made to the people. “Aww, just to see the kids get ting gifts and bikes was amaz ing...This year we had more kids than adults and it was a great turn out! I was happy to see that!

They even had a surprise visit from the White Mtn. Apache Princess [who] joined in with the community and she had a lot of fun “So many pretty things but my mom [chose] a small car” she says.

Ora Henry, Public Relations for District 1 Tribal Council, shared his appreciation of the drive. “Wow, every year it [is] wonderful to see the staff members of Arcadia High School!! [There] was a great turn out from the town of Carrizo and CBQ (Cibecue)!! Thank you so much!!

“I am so thankful to Arcadia High School. Everyone who has thought of the White Mountain Apache People. I have seen so many thankful community members; they look

Photo by AHS ASB, Graphic courtesy of FREESVG.ORG

By MICHELLE HO Staff Writer

The fight for gender equality is no small matter, and its effects reach nearly every part

Establish Equal Pay in sPorts

“Women’s bodies have a lower center of gravity and therefore better balance; they tend to be more flexible, and their bodies more efficiently convert calories into energy giving them greater endurance,” said Liesl Goecker in the article, All the Arguments You Need: to Advocate for Equal Pay in Sport.

It is important to remember that there are distinct differences between a man and a woman’s body; that’s why the sports they play differ so much in style and strategy. In addition, the sports indus

gument. There is some evidence that shows that women’s sports are less competitive. For example, when female athlete teams play against one another, the higher ranking team usually wins easily with a definitive score. The score in men’s sports, however, can go either way, regardless of the ranking of the players.

“The recent women’s football World Cup match between the #1-ranked U.S. team and #34-ranked Thailand was an easy romp, ending 13-0; the score at the end of the most recent men’s football match between #1-ranked Belgium and #34-ranked Serbia was a much tighter 2-1,” said Goecker.

The conclusive score of the women’s game shows how there is clearly a leap in skill level between the #1 ranked and the #34 ranked teams. However, when teams of the same ranking in the men’s game played, their score was much closer than the women’s score, with the #1 ranked team winning by just 1 point.

While women may have less competition due to less players and more differentiation between skill levels, this, again, compares men’s and women’s sports side by side as if they are

professional teams focus more on the training and development of the men’s team. In an article by The Guardian, writer Caitlin Murray writes about the difference between the income of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team’s head coach, Jill Ellis, and several other male soccer coaches, who are paid significantly more.

“The availability of quality, trained coaches may be lacking in their community or these coaches may be more focused on the boys’ programs that have more money for training,” said Women’s Sports Foundation.

Throughout the U.S, several female athletes and teams have stood up against unequal pay and are working to level the pay gap. The U.S. Soccer Federation announced that this year, both the men’s and women’s national teams would be receiving equal pay. This is a huge win for the female athletes, and other sports are being encouraged to follow by example. Top female tennis stars such as Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams have fought for equal pay in tennis, trying to equalize pay in the majority of tournaments. Since 2007, the

Therapy Through Writing

By VICTORIA MAIR Staff Writer

Everyone is an author with a neverending series of stories. Sometimes the stories are never expressed, and instead are hidden from the world and buried within one’s heart. However, there are ways to express these stories while still keeping them hidden: writing. Personal, expressive writ ing is a simple yet powerful self-care tool that is freely available to all of us. Writing promotes healing, stress reduction, person al growth, and inner peace.

“I learned at a young age that I could read if I wanted to escape the world, and I could write if I wanted to understand the world in which I lived. And this dual source of comfort really got me through ev erything, small problems, and large ones,” said best-selling author Ann Hood.

To benefit from the healing power of writing, you don’t have to be able to write as masterfully as a New York Times bestselling author. A personal journal can be a lifesaver, where the blank page can turn into a safe place for you to write authenti cally and share your truths. Your personal journal is similar to having a therapist

you with nothing other than yourself, something that you do in order to come closer to who you really are,” said Nicoletta Demetriou, an ethnomusicologist and tutor in creative writing.

Self-compassion is one of the superpowers that writing can lead one to discover along with gratitude. Focusing on gratitude throughout a journal is as easy as writing five things you are grateful for

extent that she keeps at least 10 diaries, all based on her hobbies along with the people she’s met and the advice they’ve given her. According to Watson, journaling became a safe environment for her to explore her creative side. Like self-reflection, journaling fascinates us through the gradual unfolding and slow speed of our thoughts as we continue on with our lives. When Watson experiences a nega

edge my own personal worth. For one, I would make certain decisions based on other people’s perceptions of me. As a matter of fact, I am still recovering from that innate fear of not being good enough for others, and I happen to be recovering through writing. When I open my journal to write down my daily stories, I am able to remind myself of who I am and how much I am truly worth. When reading my past stories a bit into the future, it is evident to me that–like everyone else in our world–I am special in my own way.

It took me a while to realize that stepping into the role of an author gives people like me the privilege to be the hero of our own story. Writing has the power of reflecting both the good and bad moments of our lives, as well as the obstacles that have yet to be overcome. Adversity is embedded

By AVA SHAW

Staff Writer

The holiday season signifies gathering, tradition, and a celebration of cultures around the world. For many, one of the greatest parts of the holiday spirit is giving! Those who celebrate Christmas may recall waking up to a pile of presents wrapped beautifully under the tree. Additionally, receiving sweets and gold may resonate for those who celebrate Diwali.

Teens can be quite difficult to buy for, as trends arise just as quickly as they die out. Here is some inspiration to help you conquer this year’s holiday shopping for the teens in your life.

Cloudsharks went viral across various social platforms in 2022. The quirky and comfortable shoe is made to look like a cute cartoon shark. They come in various sizes, colors, and styles, including fleece lined and rainboot versions. However, the most popular Cloudsharks remain the original, which is essentially like a pair of slides. Cloudsharks are lightweight, easy to clean, and add a unique touch to any outfit.

Many teens have been embracing the cozy winter season, which is perfect for wearing sweatshirts. Some notable brands include Essentials, as well as Pacsun. As for a more cost-effective option, hoodies can also be found at local thrift stores. When looking for a sweatshirt to gift, it may be helpful to consider that a more oversized look is often favored. Many tend to gravitate towards a more baggy and minimal style, but it is ultimately important to give thought to the recipient’s own personal fashion sense.

Music is an essential part of the day for many teens, whether that be listening to songs while doing home work, or while getting a workout in at the gym. A subscription to Spotify premium would be an excellent gift for any music lover. It includes wider access to new releases, unlim ited skips, the ability to download

songs, and several other features. In addition to Spotify, a subscription to an entertainment streaming service is also a great route to go. Services such as Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and Crunchyroll, offer a wide range of binge-worthy shows and movies. Although not the most budgetfriendly option, if you are looking to spend extra for the holidays, Apple Airpods Max would make a terrific present. These sleek wireless headphones come in a selection of colors and are also compatible with even non-Apple devices. Not only do they provide high-quality sound, but Apple Airpods Max are also fashionable and comfortable for daily use.

Finally, for the reader in your life, books are always a safe, but still beloved gift option. From a romance novel by Colleen Hoover, to a graphic novel in a Manga series, the selection of books is truly endless. If unsure

HOW TO TAKE BETTER PICTURES

By MICHAEL HUM

Staff Writer

Thanks to the rise of social media, more people are taking pictures, either for their personal enjoyment or to post for others to see. For many, taking a picture seems to be simple: point it at the subject and press the shutter button, and that’s a picture. However, better-quality photos are harder to achieve. If you want to take better pictures, here are some tips (and many sample pictures) using a smartphone.

The main settings you can adjust during a shot are the aperture, exposure, shutter speed, and white balance. Aperture sets the depth of focus; shutter speed, how quickly a camera can shoot a subject; white balance is how neutral colors look; and exposure is how sensitive the camera is to light. Here are some general recommendations.

Aperture: The blurrier the background, the lower (numerically) the aperture. Portrait mode on iPhones as well as the aperture setting featured in Android’s pro mode (the one denoted by an “F.”) can adjust the aperture.

Exposure: The darker the environment,

the higher the exposure should be. Android has an exposure setting (denoted by ISO.) For ISO, generally, anywhere between 100-3200 is a good compromise for a wide range of light. For phones, tap on the subject and either drag the focus square up or down (iOS) or adjust the top slider with the sun icon (Android).

Shutter speed: The faster a subject moves, the higher the shutter speed should be (either by its denominator, like 1/200, or by the value, like 200) if you want the subject to be clear.

However, shooting at a faster shutter speed will result in less light making it into the camera’s sensor, so compensate with a numerically smaller aperture, greater exposure, or more lighting.

White balance: This setting sets the appearance of neutral colors. Generally for cooler light, the higher the color temperature (in Kelvin) a camera needs to balance, and for warmer

light, the lower the color temperature. If you want a completely neutral white, phones can do this setting automatically with success, while filters and settings can help modify colors.

Other factors also impact your photos. Composition rules help frame pictures so they can convey more information beyond the physical photo itself, or make it more satisfying for viewers to look at. The most famous rules are the rule of thirds, which split a picture into three rows and columns, where the most important parts of a subject fall within the lines, or the golden ratio, where the subject should ideally be placed where the Fibonacci spiral begins. Another important thing for composition is positive and negative space, the amount of space the subject takes. Generally, for things like portraits, the positive space should fill in most of the image. However, the use of

about what specific book to get, a gift card to a bookstore like Barnes & Noble, is also a great idea.

Students at Arcadia High School are also eager for this holiday season.

“As for fashion, something I’m hoping to get for Christmas is a Nike tracksuit jacket,” said sophomore Kylee Alexander. “Gold or silver earrings are also on my wishlist.”

“It would be nice to get a Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD, which is a part that would improve the function of my computer,” said senior Bryant Shaw.

“This year I have been really into makeup and beauty, so I would love to receive some Korean makeup products for Christmas,” added sophomore Lyann Chu.

Gift-giving is surely a pillar of many modern holidays, but it is also important to remember that the true essence of holiday spirit lies in love and gratitude. Material things cannot be compared to giving back and appreciating those that make our lives special. Happy holidays!

TRENDING GIFTS FOR TEENS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON HOW TO TAKE BETTER PICTURES

negative space helps with identifying things like movement or establishing a landscape.

“When you are starting photography a useful tip to use is following the rule of thirds,” commented junior Peter Zheng.

“By placing the subject on one of the vertical lines of a frame, it draws attention to the big idea and incorporates the background along with the subject,” he said. “I use the rule of thirds mainly with landscape photos. When you want to tell a story with a photo you want to try to capture the subject while they are in motion.

By increasing the shutter speed of the camera you can make that happen. In addition, if you want to incorporate flow into a photo you can give the subject space in the frame to travel.”

Hopefully, with these guidelines, you can take better pictures when you’re out on a trip or just strolling around. But, what’s most important is your own creativity. Your phone and these settings can help, but you have to shoot the photo. Happy photographing!

mhum@arcadiaquill.com

Photo by Michael Hum Graphic courtesy of FLATICON.COM

ashaw@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FLATICON.COM

Pasadena’s Parrot PoPulation

By JULIETTE FANG Staff Writer

When walking around Pasadena, it’s common to hear the unmistakable screech of the city’s iconic parrots. For the most part, residents of Pasadena, Temple City, Alhambra, and Arcadia simply coexist with the birds, but some consider their unmistakable screeches to be an unwelcome annoyance.

“I remember in elementary school, there was this giant tree and there would be parrots there all the time,” recounted freshman Olivia Fortuna. “We all thought they were annoying…because we [didn’t] want to hear the screaming parrots.”

Although there are differing opinions on the parrots, they have still become a characteristic part of local wildlife. However, the green-cheeked Amazon parrot (more commonly known as the red-crowned parrot) is not actually from around these parts, instead hailing from northeastern Mexico. So how did these Latin American birds make their way into our front yards?

Over the years, several urban legends have been created telling their own version of the parrots’ origins. One of the most well

known tales claims they are descended from a few lucky birds who escaped a burning pet store 50 years ago. Another states that they were released from Pasadena’s Busch Gardens when it closed in 1937.

In reality, the parrots are descended from those who were poached from their homes in the 1970’s and ‘80’s to be sold in the pet trade. Unsurprisingly, the wild--caught parrots proved to be troublesome pets, and many were released into the skies above the San Gabriel Valley.

Since their arrival, the red-crowned parrots’ population has boomed to more than 2,000, making it onto the list of California state birds. Unfortunately, while the parrots here have been thriving, their native counterparts have become endangered. Due to poaching for the pet trade, only around 2,000 red-crowned parrots remain in Mexico.

Alongside the red-crowned parrots, several other non-native species of parrots live and interbreed in Southern California. Some prominent examples include the yellow-headed parrot and the red-lored parrot. Similar to the redcrowned parrots, most of these other varieties come from Mexico and are endangered.

Fortunately, the key to helping to save these endangered avians may lie right here in Arcadia, Monrovia, and Pasadena. Although

their population is dwindling in their native habitat, the parrots here are thriving due to an abundance of fruit and flower trees, and shelter in abandoned buildings. Should the birds go extinct in their natural habitat, their species can continue to live as Southern Californians.

“They may save their species from extinction,” said freshman Hazel Wong. “That’s amazing; I love [the parrots] now.” By watching how the parrots have integrated into our regional ecosystem, scientists can observe how endangered species can find sanctuary in new, urban environments. Local scientific organizations, such as the California Parrot Project, have also dedicated themselves to documenting parrot numbers and observing their behavior.

As stated on the California Parrot Project’s website, the parrots “are here, for better or worse, and continue to pose interesting biological questions.”

We can observe these parrots as well, right here in Arcadia. According to PetHelpful, up to 750 birds can be seen roosting at once around Arcadia and Temple City. They’re best seen (and heard) around dawn or dusk, and particularly enjoy roosting in eucalyptus, sycamore, and live oak trees. With the abundance of trees, Arcadia’s Arboretum is one of the best places to

spot these feathered friends.

“If I see [a parrot] out in the wild, I’ll be like, ‘Woah, it’s a pretty parrot!’,” said freshman Arwen Aguba. “But if it’s squawking… then I’ll be annoyed.”

Despite the occasional rude squawking, there’s something amazing about our parrots’ role in local culture and ecosystems. Hopefully, more people can look past them as a nuisance and realize their role in the survival of their species.

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

jail as drunk driving had not been an extremely serious issue that came with prosecution.

This unacceptable fact brought motivation to Cari Lightner’s mother, Candace Lightner, to take action and speak up about this issue. This resulted in the establishment of a non-profit organization known as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which rapidly grew across the nation. Lightner made sure the public knew how significant the issue of drunk driving was, and had legislators enact even stricter laws regarding this matter which included prosecuting offenders with jail time and license suspensions. This eventually led to President Ronald Reagan setting the legal drinking age at 21 and appointing Lightner as part of a commission to address the problem. In 1990, the Supreme Court ruled that police sobriety checks on public roads are constitutional. All 50 states adopted the blood alcohol level limit to be 0.08. Up to this day Lightner continues to promote the importance of anti-drunk and drugged driving.

the risk of mortality also goes into those of innocent pedestrians walking into the path of the drugged drivers.

“Always take caution on the road,” commented Arcadia High School junior Channing Huang. “Drunk driving impairs your judgment and increases the likelihood of a fatal collision.”

By CLARISSA SURYAPRANATA Staff Writer

As the holiday season approaches and many people are driving home to visit their families, pedestrian deaths increase in the month of December mainly because of drunk or drugged drivers. In general, around 27 people die daily in a drunk driving accident, and more than 10,000 people in total suffer fatal injuries each year across the United States. The majority of casualties from alcohol-related driving accidents

occur on New Year’s Eve.

Since 1981, officials from all over the country have made great efforts to raise awareness of staying sober while driving in December, which has been declared National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.

In May of 1980, 13-year-old Cari Lightner was killed by Clarence Busch in a drunk driving accident. It had been found out that this wasn’t the first time Busch drove while intoxicated when he was arrested by the police. At the time, Busch was very unlikely to be admitted to

Besides alcohol, drugs also contribute to traffic deaths. MADD has expanded its mission statement to also include drugged driving. Mixing alcohol with opioids can increase sedation in drivers and severely af fect driving. It has been reported that there was a significant jump in the number of drivers killed while driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Aside from drivers,

Taking this into consideration, there are many ways to lessen the number of fatalities of drunk driving or even prevent them from ever happening again in the future. One would be installing ignition interlocks in vehicles to measure alcohol on drivers’ breath. This keeps vehicles from starting if drivers have a blood alcohol content above a certain level of safety. Another possibility is to implement a group of police patrolling at a certain time and area where drunk driving accidents are most common in order to reduce crashes. With all that in mind, it is highly encouraged that one takes responsibility after consuming alcohol in order to control the

number of accidents caused by drunk driving overall. Doing this will slowly decrease the number of deaths this time of the year, and hopefully ensure a peaceful holiday.

csuryapranata@arcadiaquill.com

Photos Courtesy of FLICKR.COM and ZOCALOPUBLICSQUARE.

jfeng@arcadiaquill.com

Photo Courtesy of FLICKR.COM

Welcoming the New Year the New Year Welcoming

By Harini Devaguptapu Staff Writer

2022 is coming to an end, and with that is the start of a new beginning. Before we step into the new year, we should have time to spend for ourselves to get refreshed and relaxed. We have time to reflect on the year we have lived and prepare for how we are going to live in the upcoming year.

We are filled with inspiration for how to move forward with our year and how to make the best of it. By completing resolutions for the past year and creating new ones for the next year, we may be preoccupied with the idea of it all. We may get distressed because we didn’t meet certain expectations for the year, but it is important to accept what you have done in the year, and move on. Letting go of what will become the past, and stepping into the future. Moreover, it is important to make plans that are realistic which will make a difference in what you achieve in the coming years.

We have all lived through a long year, and we deserve to take a step back and appreciate everything that we have accomplished and everything we have around us. We can do this by soaking in every moment and cherishing the incredible times we all have, and filling our moments with as much peace and happiness we possibly can as we ease into the year. This will move the negative feelings of the new year and encourage hope for a fulfilling year ahead.

Although the idea of letting go of this year and moving into a new one may be hard to process, it’s important to think and process the time we have lived and move forward the best way we can by putting the best version of ourselves and starting fresh. Confronting and accepting the parts of ourselves we wish to move past, and focus on becoming and doing the best for yourself. In hopes of a good year, prepare to work hard to achieve everything you want and need for a better future.

There will be difficult and challenging moments, but the best thing to do is to keep working towards what you need to achieve, making a plan to keep moving forward and working towards a place where you can finally be free, fulfilled, and happy.

Working toward making new connections and relationships is also important. Talking to people who have truly worked hard to get to where they are now, and are currently working to achieve something, can be inspiring and help us motivate ourselves. Building these relationships can bring us to a place where we are encouraged to work for the better. Meeting people who make you feel good, and feel peace and strength, is something that is truly essential and working toward this for the year is beautiful and will help make your progress of the year to come better.

In the world of chaos, there is so much the world has to offer. There is rich deep rooted history, beauty, culture, and nature surrounding us and it’s important to appreciate and immerse ourselves into that world which can offer us peace, and strength, and can encourage us to get the best from the world, and ourselves.

There are many ways to approach the New Year, and stepping into the New Year with the best intentions will help relieve the tensions that come with the time. You can get into it being strong, and fulfilled knowing that you are doing the right thing.

firstinitiallastname@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of RAWPIXEL.COM

Arcadia High School’s

Winter Concert

Right after the success of the Fall Concert, the musicians at Arcadia High School (AHS) began working their way through new pieces in preparation for the Winter Concert. Stepping away from the traditional orchestral pieces, this concert features some holiday-themed pieces from the pop-industry, such as “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. Despite normally having separate performances, the orchestra is also collaborating with the choir to bring festive music to the ears of the audience on Dec.16 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).

“Playing as a whole group is a very enriching experience for me. Because the performance is a group work, I was able to communicate with other instruments besides my own, making new friends. On stage with everyone around me, I was able to unlock my skills and enjoy music,” said AHS freshman Alice Wang. In PAC, audiences will quietly pick their seats as they wait for the curtains to open. The first orchestral group to perform will be the Premier Orchestra, presenting the audience with Inverno by Vivaldi, Greensleeves arranged by Scharm, and Jingle Bells Gone Wrong by Barnard.

“Having the stress of performing in front of an audience motivates me to practice harder, which improves my techniques. Every concert, I also get to hear the other groups perform and learn what I need to improve on,” said AHS freshman Dorinda Yang.

by: LINDA ZHANG staff writer

The Arcadia Chanteurs had also played alongside this orchestra performing their beautiful rendition of “Gaudete,” “See Amid the Winter Snow,” “Wish You Merry Christmas,” “Text Me Merry Christmas,” “Basque Carol,” and “Festive of Carol.” “It was a great experience and this is our first concert of the school year joined by orchestra and concert band. and it’s amazing to see so many people showed up to watch us sing,” said AHS senior Arcadia Chanteur Nathalie Chiu. Although stepping on the stage and playing in front of such a large audience will inevitably create some stress for the musicians, it also pushes them to notice and fix their imperfections. Not only is a concert a chance for the students to showcase their hard work, it is also a valuable learning experience, for students are always tasked to reflect on their performances afterwards. Being one of the most prestigious public school music programs in Los Angeles, the Arcadia Music Program provides rewarding experiences for its students. Here, students get to collaborate with one another, dive into the history of music, and learn about the mechanics of music theory. Although not everyone is going to pursue a musical career, playing music is definitely an enriching activity.

WEDNESDAY

By JUSTINA LIU Staff Writer

A new and seemingly popular show on Netflix, Wednesday, has been watched by many people at Arcadia High School (AHS). Wednesday is an American supernatural comedy horror television series based upon the character Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family. The movie was created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and stars Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, with many other famous actors such as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Isaac Ordonez, and Jamie McShane. Four out of the eight episodes of the series are directed by Tim Burton, who also serves as executive producer. The show was released on Nov.23 to generally positive reviews by critics, who praised Ortega’s performance.

The show revolves around Wednesday, who attempts to solve a monster mystery at her school. While attending Nevermore Acad-

emy, Wednesday Addams attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a killing spree and solve the mystery that em broiled her parents 25 years ago.

“I really like the story plot of the series, and it’s very mysterious. It keeps me wanting to watch more of the series! I hope there’s even a second season to the series!” stated junior Luna Qiu.

Wednesday is ex pelled from her original high school after dump ing live piranhas into the school’s pool where the boys water polo team was practicing after they bullied her brother, Pug sley. This leads to her parents, Go mez and Morticia

Addams, enrolling her in Nevermore Academy in Jericho, a school for monstrous out-

“The series has a very cool concept and the actors who play the characters are fantastic! [My favorite character in the series is] Wednesday because she’s someone that I look up to.” said junior Shuhao

Wednesday has a cold and emotionless personality in the film. Her defiant nature makes it difficult for her to connect with her schoolmates and causes her to run afoul of the school’s principal. However, she discovers she has psychic abilities that allow her to solve the monster mystery.

“Wednesday

features characters who I think people my age wouldn’t like in real life. It showed me that everyone can be likable if you spend enough time learning about them, just like how the audience learns about Wednesday’s characters” said junior Euan Laru-an.

“The uncle [in the series is my favorite character] because he is the only one with a genuinely bright personality in the series. Even her roommate who is offsetting Wednesday’s gloominess is a little dry like cold gemstones.” said junior Melanie Jiang.

The show has been very popular in the U.S. and especially at AHS. Many of our students have watched the show during lunch with their friends and have ubiquitous good reviews on the movie.

jliu@arcadiaquill.comwow.net

Photo courtesy of WIKIMEDIACOMMONs.COM

Will Twitter Survive Elon Musk?

By KAITLYNN TRINH Staff Writer

Twitter is by far one of the most renowned social media platforms. It’s a simplistic platform that’s accessible to nearly everyone and is easy to navigate, allowing users to share their interests quickly, engage in trends, and stay up to date with the latest news. In 2022 alone, over 450 million users actively use the app monthly. However, a recent change was suddenly announced, shocking almost all Twitter users: one of the wealthiest people in the world took over Twitter. In a $44 billion deal with some legal challenges, Elon Musk officially bought Twitter.

Musk ultimately revealed his ulterior motives, explaining why he bought the company. He describes himself as a “free speech absolutist,” desiring to make the platform a place where freedom of speech is true to its name. With his announcement, many internet trolls thought he would not moderate against hate speech, but he reassured users that the platform will not become a “free-for-all hellscape,” ultimately ruining the trolls’ plans. Though even with his reassurance, trolls are discovering loopholes to the moderation, recently increasing the amount of hate speech.

However, that doesn’t mean people

aren’t testing the boundaries. Soon after buying the company, there has been a chaotic response from the Twitter audience. An organized campaign of internet users began to spread anti-Semitic posts under the hashtag “#TheNoticing” in regard to Musk’s speech stance. With over 1,200 tweets under the hashtag, many posts promoted harmful stereotypes about Jewish people, which are still online to see. Additionally, there was a spike in the usage of the Nword. According to The Washington Post, the usage of the word increased by 500% 12 hours after his takeover.

Seeing a rise in the usage of racism, LeBron James, a famous NBA star, tweets, “I don’t know Elon Musk and, tbh, I could care less who owns Twitter. But I will say that if this is true, I hope he and his people take this very seriously because this is scary.”

Wit both negative and positive opinions on his takeover, Musk ignites heavy backlash for other planned changes for Twitter. For example, there’s plenty of backlash regarding the firing of many Twitter employees. With the company’s priorities changing, there have been many reports of workers panicking about their job.

Musk is also working on the hugest revamp yet, the blue check mark for verified users. In order to be verified, The Verge reported

that users would have to pay $19.99 a month to verify their validity.

“Elon Musk buying Twitter was probably his worst decision at the worst time,” mentioned Arcadia High School (AHS) freshman Stephanie Liu. “He’s just encouraging internet trolls to ruin the platform for everyone. It feels draining to open Twitter now.”

Though the backlash overpowers the positivity, some people believe that Musk’s takeover was necessary.

“I believe that Elon Musk buying Twitter was a good thing,” stated AHS sophomore Jaiden Chou. “Elon Musk is constantly trying to improve the quality of life for humans. Now, Elon Musk is working to enhance not only the real-life world but to the online world. Maybe he’s struggling right now, but soon, users will

realize the importance of his control.”

Currently, Twitter is still facing undying controversy over Musk’s takeover, causing further damage to its reputation. Yet, it begs the question–will Twitter really withstand Musk’s takeover?

ktrinh@arcadiaquill.com

Graphics courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONS.COM and UNSPLASH.COM

Girls Water Polo vs Temple City

By MICHAEL HUM Staff Writer

The Girls Varsity Water Polo team has been training hard to start off the 2022 winter season strong, and in this non-league game, they faced off against the Varsity Water Polo team from Temple City High School (TCHS). The game was held on Nov. 28, marking it the first game held after Thanksgiving break.

The game started off with Arcadia High School (AHS) leading the game 2-0; although

Thanksgiving break and needed a game to get back into their competitive spirit. The team hopes that by working on their areas of improvement, they can re-emerge after this game as a more competitive team.

“One area we need to work on is the manup situation,” Coach Clark further explained.

“This is when the other team has a person ejected from the game for a short penalty period, and we have a 6-on-5 advantage in the pool. We did a good job in drawing those ejections on the other team, but we did not do a good job in setting up the 6-on-5 offense and

Athlete Feature: Alina Ong

By AVA SHAW Staff Writer

The Arcadia High School (AHS) Girls Varsity Soccer team officially kicked off their season with an exciting game against Marshall Fundamental High School. This year is sophomore Alina Ong’s second year on the team. She began playing soccer at 10-yearsold, when she joined the American Youth Soccer Organization. Ong was formerly a ballet dancer, but with encouragement from her dad, she transitioned into soccer. Soccer was the ideal choice for her, as she sought to become more fit, and wanted to follow in the footsteps of her two older brothers, who also played soccer.

Ong is currently a striker for both the high school’s team as well as her club soccer team, Tudela Futbol Club Los Angeles.

a winning mentality, and a good “soccer IQ”, or the ability to make strategic game decisions. She is also a strong believer in hard work and perseverance, which is something she has improved on over the years.

“Soccer has taught me to never give up and keep trying. I have carried this mentality into everything I do,” Ong said. “Winning is obviously ideal, but personally the most important thing is playing to the best of my ability. At the end of the day, win or lose, what is most important for both scouting and personal growth, is how I, myself played.”

Luckily, throughout her soccer career, Ong has never faced any major injuries. However, something that previously held her back was a lack of confidence. As she has played more and more, she has learned the value of having confidence. Finding confidence has allowed her to break free from the fear of failure, and march closer to achieving her full potential.

goals. Ong

by halftime, TCHS gained enough points so that they led by 5 points. The halftime score was a loss for AHS, resulting in a score of 4-9, with Temple City maintaining their five-point lead for the remaining two quarters for a final score of 9-14. Team members Liv Hernandez, Bella Cohen, Makena Guy, and Angie Ying contributed to Arcadia’s nine-point score.

“We knew the game would be a competitive one,” commented Coach Janice Clark.”

“We were hoping to get a good nonleague game to help us improve at the start of the season, and Temple City met that expectation. TCHS had a number of strong players, so we needed to drop an extra player in the center to help defend (the goal). The drop defense is something we’ve been working on, so the game gave us a good chance to put it into practice.”

The recent game served as a practice game for the Girls Varsity Water Polo team, who have recently regrouped from their

scoring the advantage goals.”

Although Arcadia lost this game against Temple City, it is the first step in a long goal of attempting to finish near the top so they qualify for the League Championships.

“We have some work to do before we get to our league matches, but we have good talent and potential,” said Coach Clark. “We will continue to work on melding our individual skills into cohesive teamwork. Our goals for the winter season include competing well against other Division 4 teams in upcoming tournaments, finishing in the top half of Pacific League, and making the CIF playoffs.”

We wish the Girls Varsity Water Polo team well with their future games. Go Apaches!

mhum@arcadiaquill.com

Photo by KATRINA REGHITTO

“When you have confidence, you can do whatever skill you put your mind to,” elaborates Ong. “Having this trait has made me a better player. Plays that I used to think were too risky, are now something I am willing to go for.”

Currently, Ong’s main priority is soccer, but she also values keeping her grades in good shape. In the future, she sees herself playing collegiate soccer, but not pursuing a professional career in the sport. Ong doesn’t have a specific dream school for college, but is looking for a place with a nice location, a style of soccer that matches her abilities, and fitting scholarships.

Her favorite memory of soccer thus far is scoring in a first round CIF game. Ong also won Offensive MVP when she was a freshman, for the 2021-2022 season. She enjoys making her supportive team and coaches proud, whom she is incredibly grateful for, by working hard. Ong is thankful for everyone who has supported her throughout the years and is greatly looking forward to this year’s season!

by LORIN TENG

ashaw@arcadiaquill.com

Photo

ATHLETE FEATURE: KENNETH MARTINEZ

By TONGYU (ANNIE) JIANG

Staff Writer

With the Arcadia High School (AHS) Boys JV Basketball season starting, their practices are filled with hard-work and excitement. Kenneth Martinez, a junior at AHS, is overjoyed to take part in and engage in both the growth of his personal skills and his team.

Martinez’s first experience with basketball was when he was in the fourth grade; he played the sport primarily as a hobby up until high school. For Martinez, the fact that he is currently playing on the JV squad for AHS is a source of great pride.

“I didn’t try out for freshman year due to COVID-19,” said Martinez. “But during sophomore year, I made the JV squad and was welcomed with open arms by my teammates

and coaches.”

This year is his second year being on the team, and Martinez states he “absolutely love[s] the team”.

Nonetheless, playing basketball at AHS requires a huge commitment. The JV practice routine requires waking up early for the two hour practice before school starts. Waking up at 5:30 a.m. is certainly not an easy thing to do, especially for Martinez, who’s currently trying his best to balance academics and his own part-time job.

It is undeniable that many athletes

going to continue playing basketball till I can’t lace up my Jordans anymore.”

Martinez enjoys basketball because it encourages friendship development and teaches the value of working well with others. He has made some of his best friends and had “countless great experiences with them” whilst on the team.

The AHS Boys JV Basketball team consists of many more bright and self-assured individuals, just like Martinez, and we can already tell that they are going to have a fantastic season as a result of their combined efforts. Good luck on their future games, and make sure to support the AHS JV Basketball team for all the great things they are going to accomplish!

ajiang@arcadiaquilll.com

WORLD CUP GAME: BRAZIL V.S.

SOUTH KOREA

By VICTORIA MAIR

Staff Writer

As the World Cup games continue to excite multiple countries around the world, on Dec. 2nd, Brazil played against South Korea (also referred to as the Korea Republic), in a tough match, fighting to make it to the quarterfinals. Both of these sides were playing for a place in the quarter-final where they would face Croatia, who secured their place in the final eight by beating Japan in a penalty shootout in their Round 16 encounter.

Playing with a swagger, the Latin American country led with a score of 4-0 in the first half. From the penalty spot, 12 yards from the goal, player Vinicius Jr. opened the scoring before the forward player, Neymar, also scored an additional goal from the penalty spot. Then

came another forward player, Richarlison, and midfielder Paqueta, both key players who were able to contribute goals of their own. Given the way Brazil and the Korea Republic played, the game was expected to become intense during the second half.

Just as there seemed to be no more hope for South Korea, midfielder Seung-Ho Paik, decided to make an astonishing difference and scored a goal for Korea Republic to make it 4-1. The ball was whipped in from a free kick and cleared as far as Paik at the edge of the area, and he unleashed a fine half-volley that arrowed past Allison and hit the back of the net; restoring a little dignity to the Korean team.

“Brazil is a very well-balanced team, and with the return of Neymar, the team worked really well together and was able to play a

really good game scoring 4 goals in the first half,” said Arcadia High School junior, Jasmine Abuomar. “My favorite part was seeing the Brazilian team dancing together and their fast and precise goals.”

Throughout the game, Brazil had quite an incredible performance. An absolutely dominant first half put the game to bed by the halftime whistle. The goals scored by Vinicius, Neymar, Richarlison, and Paqueta ensured that they had the cushion of a four-goal lead heading into the interval. They took their foot off the gas in the second half and Korea Republic managed to score a consultation goal through Seung-Ho Paik. However, their effort was too late and too little.

“The game was pretty tough, but Korea tried their best and did not let the country down. I am so proud of the team and will always root

for them no matter what,” said (AHS) junior Anjelina Kim.

Both teams showcased their hard work throughout the entire game; Brazil continued to stay strong as one of South Korea’s team players, Seung-Ho Paik, did what he could to save his own. As the Korean Republic are headed home, Brazil is looking forward to a quarter-final clash with Croatia.

Both teams showcased their hard work throughout the entire game; Brazil continued to stay strong as one of South Korea’s team players, Seung-Ho Paik, did what he could to save his own. As the Korean Republic are headed home, Brazil is looking forward to a quarter-final clash with Croatia.

Photo courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

vmair@arcadiaquilll.com

Photo by Katrina Reghitto

“I’m going to get a Samsung galaxy A53. My mom’s been nagging my dad to get me a new phone for a year now, because she thinks my current phone screen is too small. And it’s all cracked.” -Matthew Zhou (11)

“[I received] holiday socks that had reindeer on them, like fluffy woven reindeer. Too bad I never wear them though.” -Cameron Huang (10)

“During winter break, my family goes on a ski trip to Mammoth! On the night of Christmas Eve, we have a big dinner which theme changes every year. We also make it a small competition to cook the best dish (it gets a bit competetive!).” -Helena Wang (12)

Imagine a scrumptious holiday feast...What is something you MUST have on the table?

“I always have fish for celebrations. My mom always buys it then cooks it, or buys it cooked. I don’t know the fish species, but it’s usually spicy.” -Matthew Zhou (11)

“I’m not sure, maybe a turkey or something [similar]. I’m a meat eater.” -Cameron Huang (10)

What is one interesting gift you’ve received recently?

What’s one of your family’s holiday traditions?