The Wellness Center connectin g students to care Story by Chika Winston and Quynn Lubs
As teen stress becomes more prevalent in high schools today, the West Ranch administration is continuously working to find ways to help students decrease the amount of anxiety they suffer from. To open up the new 2019-2020 school year, students were greeted with a brand new Wellness Center on our campus. Nancy Phillips, our school’s new social worker in the Wellness Center, explained what this little room in the 400 building means for students. “It’s a quiet space. There are fidgets in here and coloring books and things so they can calm themselves down and relax for short periods. We’ll have pet therapy, yoga, mindfulness and lunchtime speakers.” About 20 percent of teenagers experience depression before they reach adulthood according to “I Need a Lighthouse,” a depression and suicide education awareness program. Phillips told The Paw Print, “I’ve been a school social worker here for the Hart district — this is my fifth year — and I was a teacher before that for about 10 years. I’ve just seen kind of a spike in students who have a lot of anxiety from the rigors of academics, and just life in general.” The Wellness Center creates a safe place where students can de-stress without having to worry about the overwhelming environment of high school. Many students are already using the Wellness Center to their advantage. We spoke with one student who has been coming to room 421 since the beginning of the school year. “I struggle with anxiety and I just thought it was cool that they created this nice, safe, welcoming space in the school. It’s very relaxing. It’s a great place to just take a break and let my mind relax and unwind from all the stress,” said junior Aviva Brynjegard-Bialik.
“It’s a great place to just take a break and let my mind relax and unwind from all the stress.”
The Wellness Center offers students a well-needed escape from the torments of high school. The room is able to blur the disconnection between students and administration, as it shows exactly how far the administration is willing to go for their students’ mental health. Students can come in to the Wellness Center any time between 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also schedule a private appointment with Nancy Phillips by visiting the Wellness Center page on the West Ranch website.
for students
Story by Allison Alben and Mary Waugh Get Enough Sleep Although sleep is one of the most important things for high school students, rarely do students get the recommended nine hours of sleep due to late night studying or video games. Despite the common belief that cramming for a test until 3 a.m. will improve your score, staying up late actually lowers your brain productivity the next morning. So trash the idea that the more you study, the more you learn. All-nighters have proven to hurt students more than help. Instead, arrange time during the day to study and finish homework so that you can go to bed early and be energized for school the next day. Eat Well and Hydrate While this seems simple, a balanced diet can be difficult to maintain during school. For instance, most sleep-deprived students aren’t making a pancake-and-egg breakfast at 6 o’clock in the morning. In actuality, there have been many early mornings where I’ve ordered a Starbucks coffee and called that breakfast. In order to avoid this, students should stock up on snacks that are easy to grab on-the-go including granola bars, oatmeal, yogurt and fruit. Hydration is just as important as maintaining a proper diet. Although the certain amount of water you “should” drink per day is relative based on your height and weight, teenagers in general are recommended to drink about six to eight cups of water per day. Whether it’s in a Hydro Flask or Dasani water bottle, students should keep water with them to stay hydrated throughout the school day. Stay Active Yoga is a great way to keep your muscles flexible and toned, and is also a great method for releasing stress. For instance, yoga focuses on your breathing. You’re encouraged to release any negative aspects of your life with every exhale. Got a math test that you’re not prepared for? No worries -- the soothing music combined with the candle-scented room will quickly ease your stress. West Ranch’s new Wellness Center now has yoga classes every Wednesday before school. So grab your yoga mat, and start your day off right by relaxing! Have a Hobby Besides taking care of yourself physically, it is important that you take care of yourself mentally. That means taking a break every once in a while to decompress and relax so you can keep doing your work to the best of your ability. And the best way to do that is with a hobby. You can do some arts and crafts, read a book, play some video games, take your dog on a walk around the neighborhood or whatever else you desire. The possibilities are endless! It has been proven that taking the time to do something else can dramatically boost your productivity, so the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by your homework, step away, take some deep breaths, and go do something else that you enjoy for a while. Organize Your Work The easiest way to get organized is with a few simple binders and folders. If you gather all of your papers for each class and put them in a specific folder, you can save five minutes that it would have taken to dig through your backpack to find your homework. And when you can use those five minutes to do some last minute studying, every second counts, so this will be a major life-saver. Organization can also mean cleaning up in general. Shove clothes in the closet where they’re supposed to be, and gather your textbooks somewhere near your desk. If you can see the floor, you’re doing it right. After all, your life may be messy, but your room doesn’t have to be.
Photos by Chika Winston and Quynn Lubs
September 2019
HO CO Story by Brooke Johnston, photos by Timothy Kang and Imogen Yang
As the sun began to dip behind the mountains on the warm evening of Sept. 14, hundreds of students prepared themselves to “Twist and Shout” all night long. A line snaked its way into the Hyatt Regency Valencia for West Ranch’s 2019 Homecoming Dance. Students took a much-needed break from their mundane routines and transported themselves into a world of crisp red guitars, vinyl records and Freddie Mercury. The theme of the night — Rock and Roll — was deeply embedded in the atmosphere. A dramatic cheetahprint carpet ran through the garden, and buttery yellow lights hung above tables where students slipped into in lighthearted conversation. Even before entering the venue, no one could refrain from foot-tapping and headbobbing thanks to the KISS cover band that set the tone for the upcoming festivities. They serenaded the lively crowd, guitar strums dancing with students’ laughter in the air. As soon as the doors opened, a wave of people hurried into halls embellished in purple, gray and gold. Arcade machines like “Guitar Hero” lined the space, and giant cardboard cutouts of the Beatles eyed incoming dancers from the end of the hall. Long tables of snacks turned the collective hunger for a good time into sugar cravings. Spoonfuls of cookie dough, bags of chocolate popcorn, vibrant cupcakes and gooey Rice Krispie Treats glimmered enticingly from shiny silver packaging. After grabbing some fuel, students filled up on water and juice that they would sweat out entirely. Students belted out tunes like “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the karaoke room, unseasoned singers hiding behind oversized glasses and old-timey props. In the warm evening air outside, giant groups of friends pressed
together to fit in the photo booth frame. The main event, of course, was the dance floor. Videos of mustached rock stars lit up the screen behind the DJ. A striking chandelier loomed above the bodies filing into the space, and giant cut-outs of vinyls, crowns and rock stars convinced students that they were really at an ‘80s dance. Energy ignited the room from the very beginning of the night, and people from every corner of the West Ranch campus came together and let the music move them. Whish! Eyes alighted and cheers rang out as beams of sparkling fireworks shot up from the stage. “Jump around! Jump up, jump up and get down!” After many hours of spirited dancing to vigorous electronic beats and classics like “Jessie’s Girl,” the homecoming court entered the scene. The crowd gave a resounding applause as Neiko Pittman and Elle Park were crowned Homecoming King and Queen for 2019. This year’s dance was a rocking success that won’t be easily forgotten. Students got to “Come Together” and shake off everyday stress. “My senior homecoming was really special because I got to dance with all my best friends and have a fun, carefree night,” senior Chase Eisenberg reminisced. “The special memories I made will stay with me forever.” As the clock crept past 11:00, students stumbled exhausted out of the venue, but not after grabbing a cupcake for the road. The thrill of the night left students singing the lyrics “Don’t stop me now!” the whole way home.
MEGA HOT CHICKEN A tooth-shattering crunch gives way to juicy, succulent chicken meat before an addicting flavor hits you — that pungent, salty mix of garlic, cayenne and chili peppers that releases a barrage of fiery spice into your mouth. Although your throat is burning, your face is sweating and tears are starting to well up in your eyes, you almost inexplicably reach for another bite. As the spice wells up in your mouth, you feel a rush of adrenaline and endorphins that send you into a chicken-eating frenzy before you finally lean back, sighing in satisfaction. That is the magic of Nashville hot chicken. Popularized nationwide by restaurants like Howlin Ray’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken, hungry SCV residents once had to make the venture to Downtown LA in order to get a taste of this trendy food. But that all changed in July when Mega Hot Chicken came to Santa Clarita. Located in the shopping center on Cinema Drive, Mega Hot Chicken offers Nashville hot chicken tenders and chicken sliders in five ascending levels of spice. Eager to face off with the heat, I decided to go head to head with the spiciest chicken in SCV.
THE TENDERS
Coming in at 1,200,000 Scoville Units and containing the spiciest chili pepper in the world, the Carolina Reaper, Mega Hot Chicken’s Lightning Tenders came out dusted with plenty of chili pepper on top. A small whiff of the chicken breezed towards me, almost singeing my nostrils; it smelled more similar to gasoline than it did to fried chicken. I thought I was good with spice, so confidently, l took a bite out of my chicken tenders. How foolish was I. While at first the spice was manageable, it quickly built up, eventually culminating into an explosion of pain and expletives that wouldn’t end for half an hour. But that wasn’t the worst of it — in that span of time, I had the closest thing to what I can only describe as a hallucinatory experience. Immediately after feeling the pain, I ran to the cashier, in desperate need of my eventual savior — a cookies and cream helados. I tore open the freezer, grabbed a popsicle, and slammed my wallet on the table. I waited for one minute which became five minutes and then ten, with an inferno burning in my mouth the entire time. Frustratedly, I snapped, “Have I paid for this already?” With a confused look, the cashier, West Ranch alumnus Chase Neeley nodded at me, explaining that in my spice-fueled frenzy he had opened my wallet, swiped my card, and put it back into my wallet. The 10 minutes I thought I waited was in reality less than 10 seconds. Over the next 30 minutes, as I drank copious amounts of water, and relished in my cold, milky ice cream, slowly, but surely, the spice finally died down. As I crawled out of the restaurant, my head was bowed in shame, knowing that the real fight would come in six to eight hours. Today, the hot chicken had won.
LOVE RAMEN Need an upgrade from that 75 cent instant ramen sitting in the pantry? Santa Clarita has a new option. On Jul. 26, Love Ramen opened its doors in Canyon Country, and it comes to no surprise that it draws in the ramen lovers of SCV. Upon walking in, eyes are immediately pulled to the Japanese art on the walls. Their signature Japanese character logo is seen throughout the restaurant. The space is relatively small considering the many customers they get. Love Ramen offers pork, chicken and vegetable-based ramen. If someone is not a noodle person, they have plates of rice, protein and vegetables. Appetizers and desserts are also available. After ordering, the employees hurried to put in orders for the chef. The food came out relatively quickly, first being the seaweed salad and spicy garlic edamame. The seaweed salad was light and refreshing but still tasty, perfect for an appetizer. The garlic on the edamame was caramelized golden brown and had a rich flavor; the extra garlic was saved for the ramen. Even though they had many hungry customers this night, the rest of the food still came out within 15 minutes. The staff was working diligently to serve each table. When the ramen arrived, the savory smell was instantly present. On the table was the Tori Rich Ramen, which is a creamy chicken ramen. The medium spice gives just the right amount of burn, although the spice level is completely customizable from mild to extra hot. The noodles were the perfect chewy texture, and the broth had a strong umami flavor that was delicious. This ramen comes with various toppings like fried onions, half an egg, crispy seaweed and tender chicken, all which compliment the soup well.
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The crunchy onions are a nice contrast to the soft, creamy egg and the chewy noodles.
The portion was generous, with each bite being a flavorful experience. The Spicy Chicken Tori Ramen and Takoyaki, or baked octopus ball with mayo, sweet sauce and dried fish flake on top, was served in a very elegant manner of plating. The sauce and mayo were zigzagged across the plate and over the vertically placed Takoyakis. The broth of the ramen had an intense depth of flavor since they slow boil a whole chicken for eight hours to create the base. It was truly impressive. The base elevated the dish; however, the ramen wasn’t as spicy as expected. The Takoyaki, however, was excellent. The mayo and sweet sauce alongside the fish flakes complemented each other very well with the hot Takoyaki balls. This is by far one of the best ramen places in Santa Clarita. For those looking to satisfy their ramen cravings, Love Ramen is the place to go. If Canyon Country seems far, a new location will be opening up on Newhall Ranch Rd. The people of Santa Clarita can come to try something new, as this restaurant has a lot of unique tastes and flavors to offer. It is definitely worth a try!
TEA CISION
Santa Clarita is full of places to get boba drinks, like Ding Tea, It’s Boba Time, Cozy Tea and Juice and Bobamaster, just to name a few. At the beginning of September, one more shop got added to that list. Teacision, which opened just a few weeks ago, is a new boba shop in Newhall that specializes in tea. Though it was decorated with several beautiful potted plants and artwork, the interior had very dim, dreary lighting.
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Teacision’s environment was a compilation of missed opportunities.
It could have presented itself as a more cheery place with its floral aesthetics, but it was actually a bit depressing — it seemed too dark to be a social place for people to hang out with their friends, study and do homework. Teacision’s menu is completely tea-based. Sizes for drinks come in regular or large, and they can either be iced or hot. Customers can choose between green tea, black tea and a non-caffeinated chrysanthemum tea as their base. Milk can be added to make milk tea, which can be blended into a smoothie, while any milk-less flavored tea order can be blended into a slushie for an extra 50 cents. For toppings, Teacision has taro, yogo jelly and honey boba. One topping can be added to their drinks for free with the exception of fruit-flavored popping boba for 75 cents. It would not be recommended to get their honey boba — it was flavorless and didn’t have the amazingly chewy texture it should have, even when it was freshly made and ordered around the time the store opened. Usually the boba is the best part of the drink, but it ended up being the worst part here. Lastly, customers can choose three different flavors for their tea from their list of 36 flavors, which include various fruit flavors and more dessert-y flavors like marshmallow or chocolate cookie dough. The prices range from around $2 to $5, which is pretty cheap in comparison to other drink-selling shops. The employees seemed very new, shy and inexperienced — they were very quiet and unengaging. The manager or owner of the store basically did everything for the cashier while he was on the phone. After ordering, the cashier made me repeat my order because she did not catch it the first time. Despite all of that, the teas themselves were delicious and wellmade. The flavors taste exactly how they intend to, and the sweetness levels are true to the level ordered. The tea is the only thing worth coming back for, but all of the other boba establishments are capable of making high-quality, tasty tea as well. It seems that the only reason one would go to Teacision is because it is the closest boba shop to their location. Overall, Teacision has inexpensive and wonderful custom teas, but it is lacking in good service, interior decoration and boba, which is usually what people look forward to in their drinks. This shop is not too special or unique — it does not have anything that other boba and tea shops do not. Teacision deserves a three out of five paws; their tea is phenomenal, but that is all it has going for it.
Story and photos by Chika Winston As the drummer starts with a beat, soon to be followed by the two guitarists, the four band members stand atop the stage — sweat trickling down their faces but cheeks engraved with smiles — where they overlook the small crowd in front of them. Today, they are here to perform. The singer grabs her mic, ready to breathe the first note, focused and attentive to the sounds surrounding her. Now, it is time to perform. This is Space Rat. Space Rat was created in a small garage with two aspiring musicians, Hart High Seniors Jacob Dadlani and Declan Collins. West Ranch Senior Ben Hernandez soon joined the small duo. With Dadlani on drums, Collins on bass guitar, and Hernandez on electric guitar, all they needed was a singer to turn their small trio into an official band. West Ranch Senior Austyn Malynn joined the band, bringing her vocals and songwriting talent, bringing together the final piece that the band needed. “I think it was just a situation where two friends both share this love and talent for music, so why not?” Malynn said, “I joined because I have always thought it would be cool to take this thing that has always been apart of my life and go out and explore it and share it with others.” The band has only been together for about a little more than a year, but they worked tirelessly since the formation of the band, trying to balance school, band practices and performances. Space Rat considers themselves a mix of alternative and progressive Rock. They have covered classic rock covers from artists like Van Halen to AC/DC, but their original music moves them to a progressive rock feel. Despite being a small band, the four have quickly made a name for themselves, even performing at parties and places like Vincenzo’s. Malynn said, “It’s a lot of fun just jamming and laughing with people who love music as much as you do.” Space Rat has big plans for the future, from releasing an extended play, recording and performing at gigs and concerts. We are so excited for their future!
Austyn Malynn
Q: As the band’s songwriter, where do you get inspiration to write your songs? A: They just come to me without having to think hard about what I want to say because the truest lyrics aren’t as much a product of thought as they are my subconscious finding its way out of my mind and onto the page. Q: When did you begin songwriting? A: I began writing songs in the first grade, and it’s just been something that has been apart of me ever since. Sometimes I write for fun, sometimes it’s because I’m inspired, and sometimes I write because there is something inside of me that is just easier to say to music.
Ben Hernandez
Q: What is your favorite part about performing? A: My favorite part about performing is that I get to share music with people and to see them enjoy it makes me enjoy it. Q: How do you guys practice and come up with what to perform? A: We discuss what audience that will be at the gig, how much time we have, and what we feel comfortable with, and what we need to work on.
Declan Collins
Q: What is the plan for the band after college? A: As far as it can go really, but when we go to college, I don’t see us remaining a band like Space Rat. We may just evolve, some members might go with others, or we may all go our separate ways. As the band currently is, no, but I wouldn’t mind still playing with some members after high school, as most if not all of us will likely continue doing music related things. Q: What are some of your inspirations with forming this band? A: Originally probably just any of the band Jacob and I were listening to that we decided we wanted to be like, which could range anywhere from Led Zeppelin to Animals as Leaders
Jacob Dadlani
Q: What do you do to prepare for the gigs you play? A: I have a strict pre-show ritual involving Tic Tacs and Coke. That’s all I will say about it. Q: Who are your inspirations when it comes to the band? A: I just get inspired by listening to and watching some of my favorite bands like Chon, Animals As Leaders, and blink-182 and they inspire me to be a better player.
Story By Alyssa Chang and Jarunun Wongphatarakul Photo and Graphic by Katie Luo and everything in between.” West Ranch High School Walusko describes that the chances of things going wrong junior James Walusko’s days are will increase if he does not keep the calm viewpoint. filled with balancing school work, When studying to become a pilot, James always keeps practicing the trumpet and training a positive and passionate attitude as he patiently learns to become a pilot. all the small details involved with becoming a pilot. “Both of my grandparents were pilots, It’s not easy to be so focused on one subject at a as well as my great grandparents, which really young age, but James’s exceptional attitude motivated me to follow the family tradition,” and passion makes it possible to said Walusko. “Also, it’s overall just super fun and pursue what is thought of as almost interesting.” impossible. As Walt Disney once The load of schoolwork, tests, sports and other after said, “It’s kind of fun to do the school activities creates stress for most high school students, impossible.” while Walusko is slowly but steadily working towards his lifetime Though Walusko knows goal. that it won’t be easy to Walusko confidently states, “Compared to my friends, it’s relieving become a professional because I don’t have the stress from school. Now I have a real goal pilot at such a young to work towards.” As he watches his peers struggle identifying their age, he is determined goals, Walusko is thankful that he knows “the short term problems at to keep thriving in school aren’t going to matter a lot when there’s a main goal.” order to pursue his Currently, he’s participating in ground school, which is where he dream and be able learns the most information about becoming a pilot from a professor to fly a plane once that teaches advanced details of flying an airplane. Last year, he again. participated in a summer camp at California Aeronautical University West Ranch in Bakersfield, where he will be attending college. At the university, High School looks he was taught the basics of flying such as how to read the forward to and instrument panels and controls, as well as given the cheers on Walusko opportunity to fly with a flight instructor. pursuing his dream Walusko states that he was able to and being able to fly a plane “for a little over an thrive as a young pilot. hour: take off, landing
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Both of my grandparents
were pilots, as well as my great grandparents
Though most may be surprised that a high school student can fly an airplane, James believes that he is just a high school student moving ahead towards his goal. When flying an airplane, the most important thing is “definitely being able to keep your cool.”
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Dody Garcia (left) and Anne Konrad (right).
A New Era in Sports With many talented sports programs here at West Ranch, from our talented volleyball teams to our award winning tennis teams, the coaches and athletes can attribute much of their wide-ranging success to the backbone of the entire operation: the athletic directors. With over 15 years of experience under their belts, new athletic directors Ms. Dody Garcia and Mrs. Anne Konrad hope to continue to lead a successful program here at the ranch. Having been coaches for individual programs in the past, Garcia and Konrad are excited to see the impact they can have on West Ranch athletics as a whole. “There is always room for improvement with anything whether its teaching kids sportsmanship or helping our coaches increase their level of intensity with the competition that we play,” said Garcia. “We just want to continue the excellence that has been here before.” Being an athletic director comes with a lot of new responsibilities. Garcia and Konrad work anywhere from eight to 12 hours daily, sometimes longer, engaging in a variety of tasks all dedicated to the coaches and the athletes. “We interview coaches, complete all of the paperwork for scheduling and for the students’ physicals, and anything that has to do with paperwork for the students that we need to verify their participation,” said Garcia. “We do grade checks, schedule other games, and then we just monitor, observe and supervise all contests.” This is the first year in history that there has been two athletic directors, and there are no two better individuals for this position than Ms. Garcia and Mrs. Konrad. There are many advantages to
Story and photo by Harneet Arora Graphics by Harneet Arora and Noah Neri
dividing this position for everyone involved. “Having a co-athletic director helps all the programs in the long run because now there are two contact people for the coaches to reach out to and for all the student athletes,” said Mrs. Konrad. “We are able to be at more events, and we are able to cover more of the responsibilities that we have by splitting duties as far as the administration part and the supervision part. So I think it takes a load off of one person. It’s still a lot of work, but Ms. Garcia and myself work really well together, and I think that we can try to make things as efficient as we can for our coaches and our athletes.” With new athletic directors and new athletes, the student body has high expectations for the 20192020 school year. This will be the beginning of a new chapter in the sports department that will benefit both student athletes and coaches.
“WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING A GOOD HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE THAT INVOLVES ATHLETICS AS WELL AS ACADEMICS.”
ACES ON Story and photos by Jasleen Arora
You may see her only a couple times a week in the classroom. However, most of the time she is perfecting her hits and serves down at the West Ranch tennis courts. West Ranch senior Jordyn McBride is a top state and nationally ranked tennis player. She is top 10 in the state of California and top 40 in the country. “It’s exciting, and I’m trying to move up my world ranking as well for my age by playing a lot of ITF tournaments where you play against girls from all over the world. I think my ITF [world] ranking is now in the thousands.” Being a nationally ranked player requires a lot of dedication and commitment outside of school so McBride has chosen to be partly homeschooled . “It really depends on the personality and person, but with my schedule it works very well,” said McBride. “I can see how some people wouldn’t want to give up the social aspect and having teachers explain the material directly to them for all their classes as opposed to learning it online.” Her schedule can be a little chaotic at times, but, for McBride, it is what gives her the best chance at exceeding and getting to her goal of being first in the state. Due to this different schedule, Jordyn McBride has had to adjust her routine to make room for eight to 10 hour practices. And
JORDYN MCBRIDE
while some may think that being homeschooled means she can sleep in a normal school day, it is actually just the opposite. She starts off her mornings waking up at 7 a.m. and practicing for two hours at the Paseo club before doing a half hour of weight training at the gym. She then spends the next few hours either taking American Government at West Ranch or learning online. After doing school work, she meets up with the West Ranch tennis team during period 6. She then spends another two hours at the Paseo Club playing tennis from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. to finish off a very long day. “I think what’s great is the balance,” said McBride. “I still get to go to school and have the social aspect, but I also have more time for tennis while still being on the West Ranch tennis team. It’s a perfect fit.” The amount of time that McBride spends playing tennis has definitely paid off. She recently announced her commitment to USD which has relieved a lot of stress from doing college applications and rerouted her focus on playing her last season at West Ranch. Overall, McBride’s hectic schedule keeps her busy while giving her the opportunity to improve and reach her fullest potential.
CAMPUS
Story and photo by Brooke Johnston Up. Down. Up. Down. Annette Roberston bounces the ball slowly, the sound it makes when it hits the court in time with the heartbeat dancing between her ears. All she can hear is its rhythm, all she can see is green as she tosses the ball to the sky, all she can think about are the words “match point.” It happens in a blur — she serves, charges the net, and slams a volley out of her opponent’s reach. West Ranch is home to a huge population of star athletes, but new arrival Annette Roberston is particularly impressive. Securing a spot on the Varsity tennis team is difficult enough, but doing so as a freshman is a feat to behold. Although she plays for four to six hours every day, training isn’t enough — competition is necessary for steeling the nerves and adjusting to a variety of opponents. She competes in tournaments twice a month and even beat the highest ranked player in Korea in The World Jr. Tennis Tour Championships this September. Competing in tournaments is often a lonely venture; however, as an incoming freshman, Robertson will partake in the whole new ballgame of team tennis. “This is my first year being on girls tennis, so I can’t wait to feel what it’s like to be in a team,” she said delightedly. It is said that a player with endurance and a “high tennis IQ” outshines the competition, and Robertson clearly scores well in both categories. Throughout her many years of competition, she’s transformed breakdowns into lessons that fortify her mental stamina. She admitted, “I’ve faced a lot of things mentally and physically. I get injured from over-exhaustion, but the majority of the time, it’s mental. I get negative a lot, so I’m working on trying to be more positive.” Robertson is primarily a singles player thanks to her endurance and quick thinking. However, life isn’t easily conquered solo; she stressed how her family and coaches
keep her steady on the path to success. The athlete expressed a special adoration for her mother, saying, “She has been with me my whole life. If she wasn’t there with me, I don’t know if I could’ve been normal.” Her parents and coaches taught Robertson valuable lessons, but the time she’s spent in grueling competitions helped her learn numerous on her own. “Keep working hard and there’ll be a time when it’ll pay back. I have a hard time being patient,” she confessed, “but my coach always tells me that I focus too much on leaving results. What I have to focus on is what I have to do in the situation, and how I can make things better.”
“I can’t imagine myself without tennis.” Clearly, tennis claims a dominant position in the rising athlete’s life. The best stars love the roles they play, and Robertson is no exception. “Tennis has taught me a lot of things. It has changed my life, personality, the way I act, and basically everything. I can’t imagine myself without tennis.” She’s enthusiastic about the upcoming year, but her heart is always looking to the broader future. However, the excitement isn’t reserved for her own accomplishments. “I want to be able to go to college for tennis,” Robertson began, “because I want to be able to help my mom in every way I can. I want to make her life easier.” A recurring theme permeates Robertson’s thoughts: the future. The diligent player is fueled by her overarching goals, but also remembers to take life one point at a time. Cats, stay tuned for updates on the girls tennis season, and say “hi” to Annette on campus.
DEMOCRATIC Story by Ryan Factora With eleven candidates having qualified for the the fourth DNC debates, which are expected to be scheduled on October 15th and 16th, it might be hard to keep track of everyone. Here’s a brief glimpse at the top 5 candidates in the DNC nomination race.
JOE BIDEN
National Polling Average- 27% Plan for Rural America- Like many of Biden’s other proposals, the Plan for Rural America is aimed at rebuilding the lower and lower-middle class. This plan seeks to expand the Obama-era microloan program for beginning farmers, partner with farms to eventually achieve net-zero carbon emissions and invest $20 billion in rural broadband internet infrastructure. Biden also hopes to tie his expansions of the Affordable Care Act into this plan, by doubling funding for community health centers which are predominantly in rural areas.
ELIZABETH WARREN
National Polling Average- 18% Affordable Higher Education for AllWarren’s plan to address the student loan crisis is ambitious — a plan that would cancel up to $50,000 in student debt for 42 million Americans with household incomes under $100,000, apportion additional funds to states that demonstrate increased enrollment of minority and low-income students and give the opportunity to attend public colleges for free. While the price tag ($640 billion for the debt cancellation and $1.25 trillion for free college) seems steep, Warren argues that the economic stimulus caused by the plan will offset the cost, and her Ultra-Millionaire Tax will be more than enough to pay for the rest.
Ambiguity On Health CareWarren has often been cited as the “compromise” candidate between the more left-leaning Sanders and the more center-leaning Biden. However, her supposed acceptance of Medicare for All without providing an actual substantive policy proposal for healthcare has opened her up to immense criticism from both sides. Center-leaning Democrats decry her support of Medicare for All, while more left-leaning Democrats doubt her ability to create a Medicare for All proposal as comprehensive as Sanders.
Voting Record- With a voting record that opposed school busing for desegregation, was ardently in favor of supporting the Iraq war, was cozy with the banking industry, was in favor of the war on drugs and supported the expansion of deportations and detention for immigrants under the Obama administration, Biden’s former stances seem to be antithetical to the vision of the new Democratic Party. While some herald Biden’s more conservative views as the key to appealing to centrist America, others see it as an impediment to the progress of the Democratic party.
BERNIE SANDERS
National Polling Average- 16% Medicare for All- Sanders’ signature policy, Medicare for All, seeks to emulate the single-payer healthcare systems that are prevalent in Europe and other developed countries. To fund this, Sanders would institute a variety of measures, including a more progressive income and estate tax, a tax on offshore profits and a 4 percent household income-based premium. Moreover, to reduce the cost of drugs, Medicare for All would include the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act which would immediately cut the cost of prescription drugs to their median price in five other countries.
Too RadicalSanders’ selfproclamation as a “Democratic socialist” has been rhetorically weaponized by opposition to criticize his chances against Trump in a potential presidential race. Some believe that his comparatively radical and transformative policies, many of which are aimed at creating a stronger welfare state, alienate many centrist Americans, which could potentially cause him to lose voters to the GOP. Moreover, others argue that Sanders’ leftist edge splinters the Democratic Party, forcing a wedge between the liberal and progressive wings of the party.
KAMALA HARRIS National Polling Average- 6% Equal Pay Proposal- Marketed on her website as “The most aggressive equal pay proposal in history,” Harris’ policy aims to close the wage gap between men and women. Harris’ policy mandates that companies obtain “Equal Pay Certification” by proving they are paying women the same as men for equal work value. The penalty for not being certified is a 1 percent fine of profits for every 1 percent wage gap that is allowed to persist. The money collected from this fine would be used to fund universal paid medical and family leave.
Criminal Justice Record- While Harris seems to be vocally outspoken against aspects of the criminal justice system, many critics argue that her actions seem to undercut her vision. From actively defending the death penalty in California, to endorsing the three-strikes law, which imposes a life sentence on a third “strike” including any minor felony, to refusing to enact change around solitary confinement, Harris’ “Smart on Crime” approach seems to be the exact same as the “Tough on Crime” aproach that she criticizes. This has left many to question whether she will actually enact the criminal justice reforms she heralds.
PETER BUTTGIEG
National Polling Average- 5% Election Reform- Many of Buttgieg’s policies are aimed at reforming the election process to reduce corruption. He has proposed a variety of options to do this, including abolishing the electoral college in faavor of a popular vote, fighting against gerrymandering by establishing independent, statewide redistricting committees and even restructuring the Supreme Court to allow for 15 members. Buttigieg has also pushed for allowing political representation in Congress for Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
Vague Policies- Opponents of Buttgieg criticize his website’s bare-bones description of policies, decrying them as being vague and abstract. As opposed to other candidates who detail out flushed out policy initiatives, Buttgieg instead advocates for simplistic idealistic policy propositions. Many cite Buttgieg’s inexperience in the federal policy arena as a reason for the indeterminacy of his policies, arguing that he does not have the necessary political chops to take on the GOP.
Climate Change Story by Cynthia Rahman and Lauren Guss Graphics by Jessica Son On May 1, The UK parliament declared a “climate emergency.” Not even a month later, New York City declared one, too. And now the City Council of Los Angeles is going further to initiate its declaration. As the urgency to protect our environment rises in activists and few politicians, what does this “climate emergency” really mean for us? In reality, a declaration of a “climate emergency” may mean nothing more than a sort of political move. Unless strong actions are taken by the federal government and urgent agreements are made on a global scale, it’s impossible to make solid changes. Certain cities and countries may declare a climate emergency however, without a collective effort from people around the world, a city alone cannot stop climate change. Ms. Solarez, the AP Environmental Science teacher at West Ranch, expresses that, “We have excess greenhouse gases that people are emitting into the atmosphere for a variety of reasons, mostly from fossil fuels but also air conditioning, the number one greenhouse gas that we’re releasing.” Other concerns include eating meat, which releases more methane in the environment. These are the few sources among many which cause a
be? Our beaches, our state parks are going underwater, so what’s the cost of that gonna be versus moving away so we don’t have these problems? People are starting to use stronger language because now there’s money involved.” If infrastructures are destroyed, farming is slowed down and sea animals die en masse from climate change. It will not only hurt the environment, but it will also deeply hurt the economy. Rebuilding any damage will cost humans a great sum of capital and only divide the people. While the rich will be able to move to undamaged areas, the poor are going to be stuck. Politicians are not only going to have to constantly support people in terms of food, but also housing. Climate change will become, once again,
“It makes me feel like we need to step up and make changes in our lifestyle to help the earth.” collective detrimental impact on climate change. The reason for many politicians and environmental activists to advocate for climate change solutions is due to the economic expense that is yet to come in the future. “The emergency is that there’s not going to be a tipping point. I don’t know if we are going to have a point like that,” says Ms.Solarez. “People are becoming more vocal about it because we have seen increase warming, we have seen record heat waves every year for the last ten years, we have seen coastal erosions. As the ice caps are melting, the sea levels rise, and those are things we’re seeing happening now that are costly. So it’s become a shift to solving these problems to minimize cost because if the highway goes underwater people are gonna want it rebuilt, so what’s the cost of that gonna
another factor to divide social classes. There’s already a great gap between social classes in our world, and further damage to our livelihoods will only make this gap wider. Grace Parker, a freshman at West Ranch High School shares that, “It makes me feel like we need to step up and make changes in our lifestyle to help the earth.” Humans live in a society where there’s enough economic inequality in terms of food, education and shelter. At the end of the day, this “climate emergency” is a warning that, without a collective effort from all people around the world, the so-called “apocalypse” may be a huge economic and social mobility downfall.
s i n a f h o r r e m d atio n i F h n t u one: EThical or o r n T ry n o e v t? e Story by Reya Metha In today’s world, privacy has gone extinct. About 49 million Instagram influencers, celebrities and brands had their accounts breached on May 20. Their private contact information, including their location, email address and phone number, were exposed. There have been so many data breaches recently, which is hardly surprising. But what if hackers no longer needed to put so much effort into finding someone’s private information? What if there was a website where you could see all that information laid out clearly? Now, with the rise of TruthFinder looming on the horizon, the sun is setting on a world where people can trust that their personal lives are locked away. In simple words, TruthFinder is a website where you can look people up and find indepth reports on them. The site uses public records, including government documents and social media profiles, to find everything from parking ticket violations to arrest records. The report includes every single thing about an individual. There may be things from their past, long forgotten now, that they may not want to be public. To get a report on someone, type their name into the database (minors won’t show up) and click open report on the search subject. The site goes through four steps, during which it asks questions about the search subject (a pathetic way of building unnecessary suspense), asks to include relatives in the report, shows some agree and confirm checkboxes, verifies that the user is not a minor and asks for a name and email. Throughout all of this, TruthFinder advertises itself relentlessly. After the steps are completed, a timer starts counting down
from five minutes, yet another way to build “suspense.” A little box pops up to confirm that the user is “ready to learn the truth” about the search subject. Then the big cliffhanger -- a subscription plan must be picked to continue. They charge about $30 for a month of unlimited reports. This is pretty much just as much as any other website like this will charge, and TruthFinder definitely gives more reliable information than any other, but is that really a good thing? To know that the only thing that stands between a creepy random stalker and your address and personal information is $30? TruthFinder is a complete invasion of everyone’s privacy. There are so many reviews of this site that gush about how it helped them find out something about someone, or helped them reunite with an old friend. But what is never mentioned are the instances when the use of TruthFinder resulted in a negative outcome. For one, if a person looked up to a close friend but then found out that he/she had a pretty heavy police record, that person’s perception of his or her friend’s character may be affected, resulting in a strained relationship. For another, a random, creepy online stalker could be looking to steal a person’s identity. TruthFinder doesn’t show anything that isn’t already accessible, as they only use public records. However, by making them so easily attained in one place, more people will be able to access the reports. TruthFinder may be a blessing to some and a nightmare to others, but in the end, it’s incredibly important to know that your information is out there, whether you like it or not.
The Hallyu Wave is
Drowning Me Story by Jaeeun Park, graphics by Timothy Kang
I can clearly remember my childhood and the usual routine I would have after school. After finishing my homework, I would scramble up to my grandmother watching K-drama, lying next to her on our warm heated mat. I’d be intrigued by her show’s cliche, dramatic plot of a rich, good-looking company heir’s tight-lipped mother pushing a briefcase packed with cash at his “average” girlfriend, telling her to take it, on the condition that she would break all ties with her son who “can do much better.” My cynical grandma would then look at me and go, “Of course he can do much better, he has everything. He can find someone of his status,” while I looked at her wideeyed. These were the days I enjoyed the most in my childhood, before I first heard of the term hallyu. What is hallyu? The term refers to the metaphorical wave of South Korean culture, especially entertainment, that has swept over the world, enlightening people that there was a treasure trove of talent and innovation within the small East Asian country. Products from South Korean beauty brands line the shelves of stores like Urban Outfitters. Samsung products are being called rivals to Apple’s. Korean music groups have been reaching international fame, making it to the Billboard music charts with new releases and attracting attention for their unique style. Jada Ocuma, a freshman fan of the music, explained, “I became a K-Pop fan because my friend showed me a picture of Jungkook from BTS, and I thought he was really cute, so I searched him up and immediately got addicted
to BTS after a day. At first, my family was iffy about me liking K-Pop so much, but as they got more familiar with how the music spreads a good message about loving yourself, they supported me.” Nowadays, everyone has heard of BTS, the boy band shattering world records left and right with their popularity, or BLACKPINK, the quartet of attractive 20-something-yearolds who were the first Korean act to perform at the famous Coachella music festival earlier this year. These are only two examples of the hundreds of idol groups out there, struggling to stand out and gain popularity to make a living. The facets of the K-Pop industry in South Korea are perfectlysynchronized choreography, stunning visuals of the artists, and professionalism. The apparent difference between Western concerts and those of K-Pop earn the latter international fans everywhere. BTS on their own sold out their most recent Speak Yourself extended world tour at the Rose Bowl in California, Soldier Field in Chicago, and Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. People recognize the music I listen to and go, “I love that group! Who’s your favorite member?” There are more “People react to: K-Pop” videos on social platforms and more of the cursed, painful repetitions of “hello” in Korean when people figure out your ethnicity. Korean dramas have also been received very well by global viewers. More and more K-dramas are appearing on Netflix, more stadiums being bought out for K-Pop groups’ concerts, and more beauty brands are being sold in cosmetics stores all over the U.S.
“I love Korea! I have a Korean fruend.”
Not that I don’t appreciate all the hype about the country; all this attention makes South Korea’s economy better, and it’s nice to not always be in the shadow of its more threatening neighbors, China and Japan. Though I feel that I should be happy that Korean culture is becoming more common overseas, I can’t help but to feel a bit uncomfortable from the attention. I don’t want my culture to be looked at from bigoted views. Before the spread of hallyu, listening to a certain genre of music made me one of those people to some. Labeled in their minds, a fangirl that shrieks and screams. Many students around me share similar experiences of times they were viewed differently for their taste in music. A fellow Korean-American and avid fan of the culture, Donnah Moon, asserts her view on the subject. “I don’t make fun of [others] when they listen to profane songs about explicit activities or illegal substances, but some people judge me for appreciating the concepts of loving yourself.” She continues, “I don’t understand how people can be so insensitive, categorizing others at a glance.” Stereotypes are inevitable, us being human, but people don’t have the right to look down on complete strangers for an interest they don’t share. I fear being stigmatized. A similar spread of culture, last time from Japan, built anime and J-Pop a cult following, as well as an equal amount of ridicule and stereotypes. The term “weeaboo” paints a picture of an obese 34-year-old who spends all his time in his parents’ basement obsessing over 2-D anime girls. It’s usually used in a case where a person is unhealthily consumed
“I know that band! They’re the Chinese ones right?”
with their addiction to Japanese culture, so that they lose social skills with a negative connotation such as above. Nowadays the word “koreaboo” has become a term with the same definition but describes Korean culture. It has developed from at least part of the stigma that surrounds Japanese entertainment. The open-minded way fans respond to the language, food and habits are a drastic change from what generations have experienced before mine. To those who have faced discrimination in this country as foreigners to the natives, it must surely be unsettling to be received so warmly by others now. Even Ivy-League colleges offer courses to learn Korean, high in demand by the student population who before would have considered it obscure but are now signing up at a rapid pace to be able to relate to their favorite celebrities. In Korea, I never find the words I say or hear unnatural at all, but seeing them changed into English words makes me cringe a bit. I don’t think I’m the only one who dies a bit inside when a complete stranger knows one word in Korean and calls me “oppa,” a word females use to describe a familiar older male or an older brother. Moon also chimes in, “It’s okay when kids are genuinely curious and want to know how to say certain words in our language. But when people come up to me and say random, sometimes offensive words assuming I’ll be pleased, I can’t help but cringe.” Am I allowed to be uncomfortable? This culture was built through the rich history of a long-overlooked country that definitely doesn’t belong to me alone, but sometimes it feels like I’m the only one who feels this way.
on putting yourself first By Iman Baber Lying in the bottom drawer of my desk is a journal I have owned for seven years. It’s first thirty or so pages are filled with the doodles and chronicles of nine to twelve year old me. Rereading the innocent entries, I can’t help but smile at the crooked handwriting, cartoonish people, and the excitement through which I recounted my day to day activities. However, as I progressed through my tween and teenage years, the entries became less and less frequent. Months or even years would pass before I wrote another thought or story in it. The pages on which I have most recently written, often with entry dates months apart, follow a similar pattern. In junior high, I started turning towards the journal as a crutch -- no -- more as a trash bin, in which could discard my deepest debilitating emotions and thoughts. I wrote in it at times when I would feel small and unworthy. These few, sporadic pages are filled with lists of goals I screamed at myself to meet, but never met. These pages are filled with me questioning why I am the way I am, and why can’t I change. These pages are filled with letters to people, apologizing for being me. These are pages are ones which I want to tear out and throw away. In a sense, the journal has almost become a trash bin I never empty out, and I am forever reminded of its existence. The journal is a rather prominent and dramatic example of my self-belittling nature. But it outlines a habit I feel that has been a part of me for forever. I remember feeling incredibly stressed every time I order at a restaurant, because I have always felt like it is wrong for me to want and ask for something. I apologize towards everyone, even if it isn’t my fault. I always feel as though it is something that I have done. I can never say no to anyone, even if it is someone who has asked for a million favors and has never returned one. I have broken down several times, late at night as the clock nears midnight and the house is quiet. The to-do list impedes my brain, and I just blubber, scolding myself internally. “There are kids out there who have sports and a job. There are kids who only get two hours of sleep and they are succeeding. There are kids who run clubs and are leaders. And you can’t even finish this math homework?! How are you going to succeed in life? At this rate, I don’t even think you will.”
And the list goes on and on. Of course, we all need an inner conscience to guide us through this chaotic world. My inner conscience just happens to be a terrifying mix of overcritical and overdramatic. She berates me over every little mistake now and every little mistake before. She panics and she questions if I’m really doing enough. Am I a good person, or am I just selfish and lazy? Do I really deserve good things? Do I deserve to have anything? All these pent up feelings recently reached an epitome, one in which I realized that I had to do something to curb this tendency of mine. I decided to turn to my journal again. I turn past the joy filled stories written by a young me. I turn past the self belittling lists and letters, and I turn to a blank page. I write new goals for myself. Goal number one: accept the fact that I can’t be perfect. To make mistakes is to be human, and I can’t punish myself for eternity because of the mistakes I make. Goal number two: learn to say no, and stop saying sorry. I am not responsible for the feelings of other people. I am only responsible for myself, and should learn that saying no does not make me selfish, rather I am placing a barrier about myself. Goal number three: learn that it’s ok to want something. I shouldn’t feel bad asking for something I want, and shouldn’t punish myself if I do get something for myself. Goal number four: learn to recognize my own hard work. I need to stop worrying about if I am doing enough, and instead, appreciate my own hard work and successes. I know that meeting these goals is going to be easier said than done. I find myself struggling to stay true to these new rules I have outlined for myself, especially in this crucial year, that will quite literally determine where my life goes on from here. But there’s only one me. Learning to appreciate all the ways I am “me” will only make me better, and see the beauty in the uniqueness that is me. I know what my first step is going to be. I decide to “empty out the trash bin”. Slowly, I read through those dark few pages, the words of which my inner conscience repeats in my ears. Slowly, I tear each of them out, ripping them into small pieces. And so, I say goodbye to the self belittlement and tears, and I accept the fact that it is okay to put myself first.
Story by Emily Yoon If I could have the powers of any superhero, I’d choose Loki, the Norse god of mischief. As one of the most complex Marvel characters of all time, not only does Loki rock a leather ensemble and flashy golden horns, he can transform into anyone he wants, anytime he wants. I sure would like to be able to do that. Being a teenager in the age of social media has, in some ways, been a jab to my self-esteem. From Instagram models gracing my feed with their slender, sultry presence, to filters subconsciously making my eyes bigger and clearing my skin, I’ve been conditioned to aspire to an image of a more perfect, taller, big-eyed, clear-skinned, fully made-up me. And of course, there’s the ever-looming idea of “reputation.” Years ago, I would have had no problem raising my hand to participate in a pep rally. Today, I shy away from even the fleeting presence of a WRTV camera. Why? I don’t want to present to the whole school a “me” that isn’t pretty. I mean, if I can’t stop the icebergs in Antarctica from melting, the Amazon from burning or Jeff Bezos (different Amazon) from underpaying his workers even though he’s the richest man on the planet, I’d at least like to have a fighting chance at being able to control the way people think of me. I believe that’s part of what attracts me to theatre. Being able to work on the way I deliver every line and perfect my dancing until I’m doing it in my sleep is wonderfully comforting to me. Being onstage and know how I’m going to act and find refuge in the feeling that I’ve done it 100 times before is definitely a security blanket. And of course, there’s the outside validation. I can’t help smiling a little each time one of my gal pals comments “cute!” on one of my posts. Every “You did great onstage!” is a reason to keep going because I know that my reputation is heading in the right direction. I can’t shake the feeling that somewhere in the future, there’s a prettier, more composed, universally likable Emily. And my life has, in some ways, become an epic quest where I look for her. I acknowledge that this is a very toxic mindset. For some, it’s the beginning of an eating disorder. Telling oneself “just dye your hair and you’ll be beautiful” or “just skip this one meal” pertains to one central idea: You can modify your way into being satisfied with yourself. Have I been conditioned to look for ways to control my image? I’d argue that the problem lies deeper. Surrounding myself with people who make me feel good and doing things that bring me praise, I realize the problem. Outside validation is my source of happiness. And as battling drug addicts will do anything for a pill, I’m scouring my little suburban bubble for ways I can be recognized. I audition for as many productions as I can, waiting for the thrill, the adrenaline rush that comes with being cast. Every time my name appears in a program, it’s another reminder that someone thinks I’m good enough. That is, until a fellow performer posts on their story that
they’re performing at So-and-So venue, and I ask myself, “Why am I not doing that?” I don’t know where my obsession with my self-image ends. I keep telling myself it’ll improve when I “glow up,” or achieve a coveted role on a casting list. But I know that’s not true. I’m stuck in a cruel cycle of constantly having to prove myself to myself. I’d argue that my unhealthy self-obsession is not an intrinsic problem. Like anyone and anything else, I am a product of my environment. The culture of teenage girls hating themselves festers in the presence of the companies that profit off this self-hate: Flat Tummy Company, with their lollipops that substitute meals, and every image of an “ideal girl” in commercials, with blonde hair, blue eyes and clear skin. For all the insecurities girls have, there’s a corresponding industry that used marketing to create it and will now reap its benefits, selling products that range from anti-acne cream to “Flat Tummy Pops”. Girls learn that they are nothing unless they are “pretty”. And where teenage girl-hating culture fails, college application culture picks up the ball. We’re forced to cram our schedules with a million clubs and extracurriculars to have even a fighting chance at beating each other for an envied spot at an Ivy League. “You have to look good for colleges,” our parents tell us. With every club teens join that isn’t interesting to us, we become used to the mindset that we are the sum of our accomplishments. The theory behind both of these mindsets are the same. The idea that people can modify themselves into being “better” people by changing the way they are viewed by others is wildly misinformed. Not only does this motivate people to pursue occupations that don’t appeal to them, but it’s disregarding the fact that people are so much more than the small slice of life that they display for all the world to see. I’d love to say that being attractive and having a million extracurriculars doesn’t matter. I’d love to say it’s what’s on the inside that counts. But unfortunately, these things do matter. Colleges look at us as statistics on a page. Companies look at us as a way to exploit low self-esteem. If anyone is going to look at us as people, it’s us. This cycle of self-deprecation and the idea that we are the sum of the things we do and the features residing on the skin on our head is disgusting. And it’s not going to stop until we push back and demand that we be accepted for who we are. For me, it starts with accepting myself. I am going to look in the mirror tonight and see not the blemishes on my skin, but the brilliant explosion of thoughts and feelings and humanity behind it. I will perform because it makes me happy connecting with characters that someone else poured their heart into creating. And I will promise to love myself tomorrow. Because loving ourselves is a rebellion. It is saying no to the culture of self-deprecation, of only appreciating ourselves when we’re beautiful on the outside. Against all odds, we will learn to cherish the things that make us human.
the rebellion of loving yourself
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