The Paw Print October 2017

the

PAWPRINT

Volume 7 • Issue 1

Color Spectrum • Solar Eclipse Justin Perez • Haena Lee • Blades Horsin’ Around • Hateful Rivalries

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news

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back to school

Story and Photos by Raylene Factora The tables turned for parents on Aug. 29 when they attended Back to School Night, taking the places of their children in their teachers’ classroom.

“I came because I wanted to learn more about the school that my daughter attends. She’s a sophomore now, so we are starting to think about college. I just came to check out the curriculum and make sure everything was in check,” said parent Courtney Porter.

Parents made their way to all their students’ classes on a timed schedule, following the bell, and teachers

presented their curriculum for the year and answered any inquiries posed.

“I think Back to School Night is important so that parents can really see what their kids are learning and get a feel for what they’re doing in class,” said Sally Rush, art and art history teacher. “Also, it’s great to just make those connections with parents.”

After two hours of class , parents left the school more enlightened about the place their kids spend most of their lives in.

S LAR ECLIPSE Story by Erin Eskoff and Iman Baber Photos by Erin Eskoff

An uncharacteristic chill hung in the usually warm southern Californian air.

People waltzed around wielding and wearing glasses resembling old 3D glasses found in movie theaters. Dozens of faces were turned up towards the sky. On any ordinary day, one might consider these occurrences odd, but on Aug. 21, the moon made its way across the sun, causing a solar eclipse.

Dubbed “The Great American Eclipse,” the phenomenon was visible throughout the entire North American continent, and residents living within the path from Oregon to South Carolina experienced totality, when the moon completely covers the sun, resulting in a gradual increase in darkness, similar to a sunset.

During the days prior to the eclipse, Hart District teachers prepared students by making announcements on WRTV as well as phone calls and emails to parents, ensuring that they would know the importance of wearing the solar goggles provided.

Finally, the big day arrived. Crowds of eager Wildcats emerged from their classes, scurrying to get a good spot to view the eclipse. Across campus, students donned their vividly colored goggles and turned their eyes up toward the sky. As the eclipse gradually reached its peak of 60 percent covered by the moon, the sky dimmed down while the sun shrank to a crescent.

The shadow of the eclipse gave off a reflection of the trees on campus, and temperature noticeably dropped a few degrees.

Anyone scrolling through social media that day was showered with pictures and videos of either the eclipse or friends sporting the glasses, exhibiting student’s excitement about this rare event.

The last time a solar eclipse occurred in 2009, West Ranch students were still wheeling around backpacks and playing handball in elementary school, perhaps impairing their analytical capabilities of the rare event that was happening.

“I don’t really remember it at all,” said senior, Shreyas Hariharan. “It wasn’t really a big deal because I didn’t understand it.”

Eight years later, and their second time around, students had different thoughts.

“It’s a very cool experience and it’s exciting that I got the opportunity to see it in real life,” said sophomore, Ninna Tamisen.

Luckily “for anyone who missed this event,” they will have another opportunity to experience a solar eclipse in 7 years in 2024. And maybe then, some of West Ranch’s students will be the ones analyzing eclipse data, taking pictures of totality, or changing the world in a new light.

cats and dogs -- Olivia, Sophia, Ossie & Petunia -Story and Photos by Allison Alben

Meet Ossie Summerell. And of course, you can’t forget his sister Petunia Summerell, the Boston terrier-chihuahua mix. These two have the privilege of living with West Ranch sophomore Olivia Summerell and freshman Sophia Summerell.

Ossie the pug found his new forever home this past July. Before, he was found wandering around Orange County and was eventually taken to the Orange County Animal Shelter. However, Ossie is eight-years-old, and older dogs are notoriously harder to adopt. But, even in his old age, he’s still ridiculously adorable.

“He’s the laziest dog I’ve ever met. Ossie is a huge attention hog, and I know he’s tiny, but I swear this dog eats his weight in food every day,” says his owner Olivia. This food addiction is something to be witnessed first hand.

During our photography session, several leaves were at risk of being consumed simply by being in our hands.

Petunia is quite the contrast to her brother. This 11-yearold girl is very nervous around people, and she actually avoided the camera as much as she could. Petunia, though she is a mix that might be found in shelter, has lived with the Summerells all her life. “She’s really more of a cat,” says Olivia with a laugh. “She’s not that into being held or pet; she’s more content to watch from afar.”

As different as this brother and sister duo are, they are still part of the same family. And now, they can be a small part of our family here at West Ranch.

ossie

petunia

spectrum Creation is what Wildcats do best. West Ranch is filled with innovative students with a passion, which is why we created this series: to showcase those people. All of the students featured in this series share a love for creation and showmanship, and each individual was assigned a color to work with in order to display their talents.

remy tetreault STORIES AND PHOTOS BY ALLISON ALBEN

Blood. Passion. War. Love. Pure embodiments of the color red. Who wouldn’t want to see all of these aspects blended together in one cohesive piece? And who better to bring these together than West Ranch’s very own senior Remy Tetreault.

As talented as Tetreault is, art hasn’t always been his main focus and passion.

“I’ve always liked art, but I really started getting into it during sophomore year when I took Art IA with the amazing Ms. Rush,” says Tetreault.

Luckily for us, it didn’t take too long for his style to mature. Now, upon seeing his work, you can clearly tell that it emulates an expressive Van Gogh-esque form, with bright colors and subtle undertones of the real world. Armed with his oil pastels, Tetreault set out to make a beautiful work of red for our interview.

“I was supposed to represent red, so I was trying to come up with aspects

seen as war, but it can also be seen as love and passion, so I tried to combine that all here into this scene of a house, and kind of use red in a different way instead of trying to be blatant with it. I wanted to combine it and blend it in, like in the piece with a table, and with the background, where the red is blending in there rather than just there, so it’s kind of subtle,” said Tetreault as he admired his picture.

“The focus of my piece was how red is a corruptible color.

The funny thing is I was sort of fighting as I brought in other colors.”

joy kim STORY BY AERIN CHOI PHOTOS BY AERIN CHOI AND SAM HARTUNG Her fingers move effortlessly from key to key. A strong breath lets out a high-pitched, gentle key from the woodwind. Her body moves automatically in response to the tune laid out on a sheet of music. As she plays each note, it is evident that Joy Kim was meant to play the flute.

Kim, a West Ranch senior and member of band, plays the flute, a less conventional instrument than the piano or

“Continuing to play is important, because I’m doing something that I enjoy.”

violin. However, she didn’t always know that this instrument was her calling.

“I actually started with piano when I started doing music, but it didn’t really turn out well because I didn’t like it, so I started violin, but I didn’t like that either.

I started to play the flute, and I enjoyed that a lot. I just stuck with it,” Kimsays about finding the right instrument.

Joy started playing at the young age of ten, and has been finding herself in the music ever since then. She plays in the West Ranch band to express herself and further her abilities every day. Kim has played in honor groups and received many awards for her musical talent, but the most important thing she’s gained from the flute, she says, is leadership.

Kim hopes playing the flute will be a career option, and that her perseverance in learning new pieces will pay off in the future. She looks to do something she is passionate about after school.

max lin STORY BY AUDREY KIM PHOTOS BY AUDREY KIM AND SAM HARTUNG Behind every video that airs on West Ranch TV there is a cameraman with a vision. Everyday, we get a chance to see the world through their eyes or, in this case, their lense. The quick smiles. The spontaneous dabs. The uncontrollable laughs. All the little moments that often go unnoticed are captured and strung together by filmmakers into a memory that will last a lifetime. A student who is able to channel his energy and talent into creating such videos is none other than Max Lin. “I kind of first started getting into video production after I took the elective here at West Ranch. I realized that this is something that I have an interest in and a passion for,” says Lin. Like any other extra-curricular, making videos is a major time commitment.

However, it is undeniable that the payoff is well worth the hours of filming and editing that go into the process.

Then again, the workload isn’t much of a burden when you love what you do, so for Max, it’s a win-win situation.

“Video production in my life is super important. It’s something that I really

enjoy doing and will enjoy doing in the future. I’m down to continuously do it.

I never really get bored of it,” says Lin. Pursuing a passion is one thing, but earnestly committing to it is another. One of the best ways to push through the difficult times is to look for encouragement in others. In Max’s case, he finds some of his drive through the diligence of his peers.

“Two of my inspirations are WRTV alumni: Skyler Brigmann and Alex Burnsall. After watching their videos I became inspired by the way they filmed things and the quality of their videos.

Not only are they my inspirations but also people like, for example, Tyler Shea and Joel Yoon. They’re both really good at making their videos and that’s what inspires me to keep going,” says Lin. Just like the talented upperclassmen before him, Max is hoping that his knack for filming will open doors for him in the future.

“I’m hoping that my path in video production will take me, eventually, to college and then hopefully into a career. I plan on making videos and music videos for celebrities and music artists,” says Lin.

justin perez Story and Photos by Hannah Kim and Siena Zarrell Graphics by Siena Zarrell Every rally, the hip-hop team stuns the audience with a show-stopping combination of clean choreography and remixes of popular songs. Once the dancers are in position and the lights dim, the energy in the gym immediately transforms. There’s one dancer, in particular, who stands out from the rest-- Justin Perez. This junior has been choreographing and starring in the performances since his freshman year.

When Justin dances, you can always expect mesmerizing motions followed by the cheers of his many friends in the audience.

In addition to practicing combinations, Perez spends two to four hours working on the choreography to create an intricate yet smooth routine.

“The way I do it, I put on headphones; I really hear the beats in the background because it’s harder to hear when you just play it through your phone. It takes a while to actually do specific dance moves to those beats and to get it on time,” explained Perez.

Although Perez has a natural ability to perfectly execute dance moves, he still faces obstacles when trying to create new routines.

“It’s like a writers block, writers do it too; they don’t know what to do next so it takes a while sometimes. It could

take a couple days to figure out what I’m doing at that exact part,” said Perez.

To overcome this roadblock, Perez draws inspiration from YouTube choreographer Matt Steffanina and the Kinjaz, a group of male dancers known for their creative storytelling through detailed dance combos.

In addition to his passion that has grown over the past four years, Perez’s bond with his younger brother, Miles, has grown as well. The brothers are sure to schedule multiple classes a week to improve their dancing skills

of the Perez family for many generations.

“My dad danced when I was in high school too; he was a breakdancer and danced with his brother. My mom doesn’t dance, but her side of the family dances,” said Perez.

Throughout his years as a dancer, Justin’s parents, his two brothers, and sister have been a constant source of support for him, especially throughout his decision to audition for the hip-hop team instead of baseball.

This decision proved to be a great one, as the hip-hop team welcomed him with open arms despite being the only boy on the team initially.

“It doesn’t bother me as much. They’re all very welcoming.

Usually during auditions, at first, we have a lot of guys but then they usually leave. I like everybody there. They’re like my family and I’ve been there for three years now.”

For the hip-hop team, it’s easy to overcome differences because they share the same passion for dance. To many, it seems uncomfortable to put yourself out there in front of your peers in such an intimate way, but for Justin and his teammates, it’s actually comforting.

“I think it’s just the way you can express yourself through dance. It’s really fun to see people smile at the rallies and clap for you and they like watching dancing.”

“I think it’s just the way you can express yourself through dance. It’s really fun to see people smile at the rallies and clap for you.” and strengthen their bond together.

Since being introduced to the world of dancing, the brothers began to prioritize dance classes as their passion for it grew.

“We started to love it when we got upset that we couldn’t make classes because it was something we really liked,” Perez said with a smile.

Some families pass down precious family heirlooms, but the Perez family passes down a hobby. Dancing has been a part

haena lee Story by Sydney Young and Nicole Augusta Photo by Hannah Kim Graphics by Siena Zarrell Many people will say that robots are the future. But for West Ranch senior Haena Lee, robotics are a huge part of her life right now.

Starting from as young as 5th grade and actively participating until 8th, Haena Lee has devoted her time and effort to become active in FLL (First Lego League), a competition that involves pre-programming robots built out of legos to complete tasks within a two and a half minute period.

As high school approached, the allgirls team transitioned to FTC, a more advanced competition where the robots are made out of metal instead of legos, with the ability to customize and add to your robot if you have the tools such as raw aluminum or steel.

“The first 30 seconds of the 2-and-ahalf [minute] match is autonomous and the rest is remote controlled. It’s about a 12 by 12 or 16 by 16 field [with] a blue alliance and a red alliance for each match.

Each has two teams that have to work together to outscore the other,” said Lee. The competition season is a fierce one for each team that requires sometimes up to 40 hours a week. Creating a robot from scratch is a task that pushes both your mental and physical abilities but at the same time allows you to build yourself in many different aspects.

“Every year I learn so much, not just about building robots but interacting with other people, how to behave professionally, how to communicate with others in a professional manner or even just maintaining relationships with others,” said Lee. After placing second in the LA regional championship, their next step was securing a win at their next international competition in Australia.

With only three girls on their team competing against teams of up to 10 members, tons of additional work had to be put in to compensate. But the

girls were eventually able to prevail and take home the gold while having experienced it in a whole new country surrounded by people all over the world.

“We made it to another international competition and we made it to 1st place; finally first place. All our hard work paid off, and it felt great,” Lee exclaimed.

In the science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, fields, men are the vast majority of participants. Pressures, criticism, and the desire to fit in are just some of the many hurdles women have to overcome. However, with the support of dedicated mentors and coaches, Haena and her team have been able to break the barrier and showcase the overwhelming strength and intelligence of an all-girls robotics team.

“Our coach wanted to make an allfemale robotics team so we can create an environment where there is less pressure and to encourage us girls to believe in ourselves and to stay in STEM, that we can do it,” said Lee. As such a big factor in her life, robotics has allowed Haena to master not only the concepts, but also the relationships and interactions that come with teamwork.

“I definitely wouldn’t be the same person that I am today if I wasn’t in robotics. So many of the principles I live by have been from being in robotics for so long,” said Lee. “Especially girls, you may believe you can’t do this because ‘I’m not smart enough for robots.’ When I first started off I thought that, too, but here I am. No matter what others tell you, you can do robotics. You just really have to believe in yourself and be confident that yes, I can do this.” From the excited gleam that she gets in her eye when she talks about robotics to the confidence that is radiating off of her, you can tell that she believes in herself, and that she has a great love for this topic. And she wants you to love it, too.

bite

DOUGHLICIOUS Story by Mary Waugh Photos by Mary Waugh and Mina Jang

Located downstairs in our Valencia Westfield mall is a small boutique selling colorful, edible cookie dough that has been taking over Instagram feeds. This trend of edible cookie dough mashed together with a surplus of toppings is sure to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. And until now, cookie dough lovers would have had to drive miles to get to the closest edible cookie dough shop. Now, this sweet treat is only minutes away.

Crowds have been swarming the shop ever since Doughlicious opened in our Valencia Westfield mall on July 1.

But how can we eat this dough without worrying about getting sick from the raw ingredients? Unlike regular cookie dough, Doughlicious makes their dough withpasteurized eggs and heated flour so that consumers won’t get salmonella.

Salmonella is an infection that is often caused by contaminated food, like raw eggs. Each dough is made up of one of four bases: a chocolate base, peanut butter base, cookie base, or sugar base.

The most popular dough flavors include Samoa, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Unicorn, and Snickerdoodle.

“We switch up the flavors quite often, but everybody’s go-to is the original chocolate chip” said Bree, the Manager of Doughlicious. they can make at home.

Unlike the chocolate chip dough, the addition of Unicorn dough has not been a huge hit. The dough is made up of a cotton-candy sugar cookie base

laced with edible glitter on top. And like Starbuck’s Unicorn Frappuccino, this glittery blue and pink dough seems to look better than it tastes. But not everyone seems to cling to the idea of spending money on cookie dough that they can make at home.

Some people may just prefer to make and eat their own cookie doughat home despite the risk of salmonella while others favor baking actual cookies.

For these reasons, this edible dough may not be worth the time and money.

Although this dough is worth a try, the price for a cup of dough is costly.

One scoop starts at $4.25, two scoops costs $7.25, and three scoops is $9.00.

Keep in mind that one scoop of dough may look small, but it is definitely filling. The staff also assured me that if you do decide to get more scoops, or just don’t finish your dough, you can always store your dough in a fridge where it will stay fresh for later.

If you are one of the many high school students who are reluctant to spend their money, you may be better off looking up a recipe on pinterest and making your own edible cookie dough. Further said, Doughlicious is not for everyone, but it does make for a good social media feed.

Horsin’ Around Story by Bryce Fenenbock and Daniel Lee Photos provided by Audrey Park Equestrian isn’t the most popular sport out there, but it is certainly one of the most unique. Consisting of a series of events including dressage, endurance riding, eventing, and show jumping, equestrian utilizes horses as the sport’s main component. While the concept seems foreign to many students, it is has become second nature to Sophomore Audrey Park.

“I rode for my first time when I was just four years old,” said Park. “I took a little break to try out new sports, but nothing drew me in the same way riding did. So when I was nine I decided to take on riding again.”

For Park, it turned out to be one of the best decisions of her life.

Since taking on riding full-time, Audrey has been awarded a handful of prestigious titles in the nation, including a first place finish in the Equestrian Trails Inc. National Convention. While boasting an incredible resume, to her, the best part of the sport comes from outside of the competition.

“The bond I’ve made with my horses has been my favorite part of riding.

Nothing beats spending time with them and it’s so unique to be able to have that kind of experience,” said Park. “When I’m riding, if there is a small miscommunication between Monty (her horse) and I, everything can fall apart. We really are a team and work off one another.”

A huge problem that Audrey runs into, however, is misconceptions of the sport.

“When people think of equestrian they immediately think that the

horse does all the work. I can’t even explain how far that is from the truth and it bugs me so much whenever I hear that. It takes a ton of control, discipline, focus, communication, and leg strength to perfect each ride. I’ve seen amazing horses with riders that weren’t on the same tier and it just doesn’t work out.”

Every Saturday Audrey goes to practice at Don-E-Brook Farms at eight in the morning. She arrives an hour early to saddle up her horse and warm up,then proceeds to have a lesson from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. She practices for about an hour and a half every week. Now, that may not sound like a lot, but Equestrian requires special equipment and a very specific designated space. The horse’s resting time must also be accounted for.

“It’s hard to fit practice into my schedule and I’d much rather be sleeping in on a Saturday morning, but this sport means a lot to me and I enjoy doing it. So I make sure that I give it my all in every single practice.”

As dedicated as Audrey is to riding, she excels in a variety of other extracurricular activities as well, such as violin. She is an American String Teacher’s Association state finalist and holds the title for both the 2017 San Fernando Valley and 2016 Santa Clarita Concerto Competition. Audrey has performed with the Honors Performance Series International Orchestra and has performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Audrey truly defines what it means to be a Wildcat, achieving excellence both in and outside the classroom, and her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed.

BLADES

Photos and Story by Sarah Ziskind Lift one foot and glide, lift the other and glide again. This sounds quite easy, but, in reality, rollerblading is a difficult sport. To rollerblade with grace requires balance, foot-eye coordination, and core strength. Today, most would rather pick up a bike or a pair of roller skates, but things were not always this way.

In the ‘80s, beaches were filled with bladers in funky colors and thin framed shades, which gives blading that retro vibe in today’s world. Senior Jaryn Santos has grown to love rollerblading and all of its quirks, making him an athlete of a dying sport.

“I was sleeping over at my grandpa’s house and I was super bored, but his bike was too big for me,” Santos recalls, “I saw my mom’s old roller blades and I decided to try them out.” What happened that one summer’s night has stuck with Santos from seventh grade to senior year.

“I’ve always had way more energy than my friends,” said Santos.

You will never see him sitting still or walking. Instead, he will choose any other way of travel, something that requires a lot of energy.

“I was a part of West Ranch’s track and cross country team for two and a half years before I quit, said Santos, “It was hard to focus on school and my family has a history of bad knees, so the two things didn’t quite mix with running.”

Though he is no longer running competitively, Santos took it upon himself to maintain his shape. During free time he enjoys going on runs and hikes along with rollerblading.

“Exercising is important to me because it forces you to get outside. It’s common, especially with people my age, to get lost in all of the social media and internet, and it’s sad. Going outside to breath the air and experience the Earth is something the internet can’t replace.

Rollerblading improves my mental and physical state.” Too much internet and even too much studying can have a negative effect on the mind. Exercise helps to relieve stress by releasing endorphins in the brain which are your body’s natural painkillers, according to health blogger Trisha McNary.Santos’s energetic and positive attitude is living proof that exercise helps.

“I try to get my friends to go rollerblading with me whenever they are free,” said Santos, “It’s a way to spend quality time and hang but it’s even better because we are all benefiting from the exercise.

It helps having people alongside you to push you, like how a team works.”

Jaryn takes pride in his uniqueness.

“I could have followed what most guys in SCV did and learned how to skate but nothing feels as freeing as the blades do,” said Santos, “It feels as I’m flying and all I can think of is going faster and faster.” With skating you have to focus on staying on top of the board but with blading you are connected to the wheels which is why it gives the greatest flying sensation.

Santos cannot stress enough how important it is to go out and be active.

He hopes others will find an activity they love so they can feel freer and healthier too.

TUMBLING INTO THE FUTURE Story by Harneet and Jasleen Arora Photos by Mary Waugh

After the US women’s gymnastics team made headlines during the 2016 Rio Olympics, gymnastics has been gaining more interest amongst everyday people. The sport consists of many different events including vault, uneven bars, floor exercise, balance beams, and more where individuals can showcase their skills.

Some people may find it very hard to balance on a single beam, let alone perform handstands and flips on one. Well, for West Ranch senior gymnast Kayla Chan, this is her normal routine during her rigorous practices.

Gymnastics has proven to be very demanding as Chan practices five days a week from 3:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. She often uses her free time at school to complete her homework, but as she has been competing since the age of 8, Chan has learned to balance her busy schedule with her school work. Over the years, Chan has developed a passion and love for the sport.

“It’s a lot of fun being around a big group of people all the time. They kind of become your second family and they are always there to push you and make you better,” said Chan.

Unlike other team sports, gymnastics allow Chan to express herself individually while still being part of a team.

“I think it’s just very different from all the other sports out there. There’s very few people who do gymnastics and it’s starting to grow a lot more because of the olympics and all of the achievements that the teams have had. It’s just a lot of fun and it’s a different way to express

yourself through tumbling or dance and it’s a very different team sport,” said Chan.

Chan’s program consists of ten levels; ten being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

Chan has competed in multiple levels since she started gymnastics as a young girl, but level 9 was the high point of her career.

“I qualified to Western Nationals so I competed in my region and I represented region 1. There are three other regions that go to Western Nationals and I placed fourth all around and second on bars,” said Chan.

Chan participated in a total of four events including vault, floor exercise, bars, and beam.

After years of strenuous practice and hard work in each event, Chan was devastated when a shoulder injury left her unable to further her career in bars.

“I dislocated my shoulder three times and I tore my labrum. I loosened my ligaments and I fractured the head of my humerus. It kind of set me back a little bit because I’m trying to do college gymnastics so I was behind on the recruiting process and showing colleges my skills. It also took me out of training for about six months; it was just a lot of recovery and it was very frustrating but I think I came back stronger because of it,” said Chan.

Chan possesses a unique talent for gymnastics which will only make her stand out amongst other students. With the amount of commitment involved in the sport, she is bound to succeed in college both in and outside of the gym.

CHILDHOO

STRUGGLE

OD: THE

E IS REAL

By Iman Baber

If the prospect of maintaining perfect grades, choosing a major, and deciding what to do with the rest of your life seems daunting, you’re not alone. My own heart rate instantly quickens and I get stressed out when I realize that I only have four more precious years before I will have to make a place for myself in society. The constant burden of choosing the most challenging classes to deciding my path in life feels heavier on my shoulders after each and every day. I’ve never really considered just one career my whole life, and now I feel as if the whole weight of the world is pressuring me to just pick. All ambitions, ideas, and adventures must be narrowed down to one tiny pinpoint out of the enormous view I have of the world. But wait. I’m barely 20 percent through my life and society is already having me walk down a road I’m not sure I am ready to journey on. I am already expected to be academically, socially, and street smart. To be a mature worker. Just like the rest of us.

Just like you. A kid who grew up too fast.

From one grade to the next.

Accumulating new amounts of stress year after year. There’s a trend to this.

Ever since our first steps from our own little planets into the outside world, it was almost as if we were stepping onto a conveyer belt and into society’s factory. I’m automatically reminded of that scene from “Monster’s Inc.” when Sully thinks he’s seeing Boo go through the garbage disposal system. Our brain is what’s going through the factory; our emotions are like Sully. We go through a

variety of functions repeatedly through the course of our young lives: learn, learn, test, test, learn, and repeat. And the consequence of this? Stress, conflicting feelings, and our lives revolving around the prospect of building our future.

Living to build a life for ourselves?

What kind of life is that supposed to be? And that’s not even the worst part.

I remember a while ago, while spending time at the mall, I saw a group of three girls. They couldn’t have been any older than nine, but they were acting, dressing, and talking like high schoolers. I couldn’t believe it. Is it now that being a child is “uncool” and no longer acceptable? Apparently, yes.

You have to be socially outgoing and appealing in order to stay in front of the pack. In the eyes of society, a teenager is obviously much more desirable than a child. But are the consequences of this ideology being considered? During our first years, our brain is undergoing rapid development, mentally and emotionally. Our emotional responses gradually become complex and so does our understanding of the world. Think of the numerous consequences of telling a growing mind that an adult is the thing to be. And as we grow into a teenager?

By now we are considered “adults,” so, naturally, we should have the mind of one. But our brain is only 80 percent mature. Our frontal cortex, the logical part of our mind that thinks through things, is still under development.

All of our actions are guided by our amygdala, the part of the brain that incites immediate emotional reaction.

That is why we do crazy things and make a lot of mistakes. And when the “mindset of an adult” is thrown into the mix? Imagine what could happen.

I like to think of childhood as a mound of clay. We spend our time molding and shaping the clay, creating an image of ourselves that we like. We explore and dare to imagine bold dreams.

Nowadays, it’s like a hairdryer is being held over us. We are frantically trying to create something, and by the time we are “dry” it’s not even clear what we have become. And after adding the pressure of our future and the expectations of the world on us? Most of us break.

If my article has added to the stress already balancing on your shoulders, I want to tell you to relax. Life is too short to worry all the time, and passes by fast when the small things are not enjoyed.

So, here’s my advice: slow down! It’s ok to be a kid again. To be the one who jumps for joy, cartwheels across the grass, or watches Disney movies and sings along, too. All of us are caught in the race of life, and I get it, we get seriously stressed out sometimes. But even if the whole world comes crashing down, just stop and take a breath. Think about the important things, and enjoy all the fun and beautiful things in life. Society has created an image that our lives should be only depression and tragedy, and I think it’s our fault that we believed. So change the norm, and let imagination run free. Because, like Walt Disney used to say, “Who says we have to grow up?”

somewhere on the political continuum A look at the in-between of two distinct political parties

I

sit on my plush couch feeling anything but comfortable as I watch people scream opinions towards each other on CNN’s nightly episode of “Who Can Interrupt the Person Next To Them the Most Times?” This is a segment we are all too familiar with as this kind of debating has become the political norm for our generation.

An era of division and hatredtowards those on the opposing side. I can’t help but reminisce the kickball games of elementary school. Two opposing teams, shouting cruelties at each other in an attempt to win a game that entitled you to nothing but bragging rights. Playing offense and defense at the same time was not an option.

It is no wonder we have grown up seeking that same boost in pride, switching kickball games for political debates and holding tightly to the childish banter that we so loved. What is the point of politics today? Is it the common goal to decide what is best for our country? Or is it two opposing sides doing everything in their power to prove the other group wrong?

We are a nation divided by the idea of two distinct parties that have bred to hate each other as our country’s

Story by Sophia Kreigel Graphics by Siena Zarrell

political world has grown. Unwavering groups that you must stick with through trials and tribulations, but where is the in-between? There are times when this system seems more like two solid points rather than a continuous line of ranging ideas: a spectrum on which you can reside. We have been groomed by society and media to believe that neutral ideas or opinions going against that of your party are considered un-American. Junior Megan Taff weighs in on this issue, stating that, “nowadays, [she doesn’t] blame people for being associated with a specific party.” This idea of pledging yourself to one confined political party is an unfair requirement, when in reality, the majority of people have views that align with both sides.

The concept of segregated parties is not merely a symptom of small town suburbia, but a trend sweeping the United States of America. Although it is a widespread issue, it’s not hard to find examples of this a little closer to home. As a school with a multitude of politically aware students, many very conservative or very liberal, it is difficult to welcome political conversation without it turning into a tense

tense argument. Sophomore Kate Hill, addresses the issue in discussing the fact that many people fear being attacked for their varying views.

This concern causes “people to stay silent or just simply not pick either party.” Speaking about your political views should not be something that causes issues amongst friends or peers but instead should be mentally stimulating and allow you to gain perspective on differing views. This is hard to achieve, ultimately because we feel a separation between those of one party and those of another.

If you side completely with the right wing ideas, you are viewed as a racist or derogatory. If you side completely with the left wing ideas, you are considered lazy or easily offended.

The in-between of these two parties is the uncharted territory of those too scared to have one foot on both sides of the line. Having ideas that stray from the party you associate with is not a sign of lack of competence or loyalty.

These views are personal opinions that should not be something you side with just to fit in a small bubble of political opinions that you feel obligated to stick with. When asked

“Epistemic modesty should exist. There are two polarizing spectrums but you can’t definitively say that either side is wrong.”

Justin Yoon Junior “It’s hard for people to fully invest their beliefs into one side or the other just because they might not support a couple policies their party may be behind.”

Kate Hill Sophomore

about the difficulties of fitting into one specific part, West Ranch student Patrick Basore explained, “It’s best to know where you lie on most controversies, but it’s also important to remember you.” Following this statement, Basore continues in describing the tendencies of the opposing political parties as “a rigid branch of a tree unwilling to yield to the strong winds of circumstance.” Under the constantly changing controversies that haunt our nation, it is not realistic to believe that every person will completely side with one opinion.

In order to be the most politically involved, one must decide their ideas for themselves not for their party.

Any type of politics is an uncomfortable topic as it is, but when people are required to pledge themselves to a set of opinions that they don’t completely agree with, it becomes hard to figure out what your personal view on situations are. With such refined groups, it is natural to stray outside of the given lines and lie in the middle of spectrum. Doing so is not an act of betrayal to a party, but rather an act of loyalty to yourself and your ideas.

“Representatives need to start thinking win-win so that more comprehensive legislation passes and less gridlock happens.

Meeru Hahn Senior

“I find it hard to participate in one political party because of the stereotypes put on Republicans and Democrats.”

Megan Taff Junior “Making their beliefs known is the duty of the people who pledge to run for public office, but the political stance or lack thereof should be accepted for anyone.”

Patrick Basore Junior

The Pink Tax

Story by Kulsoom Hasan Graphics by Mina Jang

The Pink Tax: the price paid for being a female consumer. In today’s society, women unknowingly pay up to $1,300 more a year for the same products that men are buying, notably hygiene and care items. It has gotten to a point where gendered products are even being shelved in different areas in order to avoid comparison between female-marketed and male-marketed counterparts.

Ok, I have a joke for you: what’s the difference between a pink razor blade and a blue one? Obviously, it’s just the color, but the joke lies within the fact that pink packaged goods typically cost more than what appears to be its equivalent in a different color.

Discrepancies like this one are not only limited to care products but also other products and services like dry cleaning, vehicle repair costs, real estate negotiations, haircuts, etc. Enough is already said when feminine hygiene products, in most states, are taxed as luxury goods and not necessities (in California, it’s taxed between 7.5 and 9.2 percent--the highest in the country).

The sickening fact about it is that this whole scam starts early; girl’s apparel on average is 4 percent higher than that of boys, while their toys are 7 percent pricier. By the time they get get older, they are used to paying 8 percent more than men for clothes and 13 percent higher for personal care products.

This continues throughout a woman’s life. As seniors, the cost of their home, healthcare, and other products will be 13 percent higher than those of the men their age according to the Department of Consumer Affairs.

There are several other issues with this, not only concerning price. One example is the fact that women are supposed to know which products are for them on shelves in stores. This feeds into the already misrepresented

female persona in society, thus limiting the word “feminine” to only those who fit a narrow, rigid stereotype of society.

These stereotypes have become byproducts of the marketing industry.

Michael Cone, a customs attorney, posed the excellent question of whether different tariff rates for men’s and women’s apparel violate constitutional equal protection provisions. He filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of

“The sickening fact about it is that this whole scam starts early; girl’s apparel on average is 4 percent higher than that of boys, while their toys are 7 percent pricier.”

International Trade in 2007. The case was, interestingly enough, dismissed because “the complaint presents a nonjusticiable political question.” He hasn’t been the only one to publicly be against this practice. Other people have been speaking out against consumer inequality, too. France’s Secretary of State for Women’s Rights, Pascale Boistard, tweeted, “Le rose est-il une couleur de luxe?” (Is pink a luxury color?).

Retailers cannot take all the blame for gender based discrepancies, as brand owners and manufacturers play a role

in determining set prices for products.

Companies have developed a marketing strategy coined as the “shrink it and pink it” approach in creating these socalled “feminine goods.” The concept behind it is basic--less product and pink package--and is, in terms of sales, pretty effective in misleading women.

Women aren’t the only only ones subjected to price inequality. There are also some instances of “blue tax” in today’s consumer world. Nail salons tend to charge a male client more for a manicure or pedicure than what they would for a female. Bars can offer free or discounted entry for a woman, when they are charging a man. Men usually fork out more for car insurance than women do, as they are 13 percent more likely to get involved in accidents, speed, and acquire drunk driving convictions according to Allstate. Again, like the pink tax, the blue tax is based on marketing strategies that reinforce outdated, inaccurate stereotypes. See a pattern?

In California, a gender discrimination pricing law was passed in 1996 in which businesses found to be charging women more are subject to a minimum fine of $1000. Determining whether business are subjecting their female customers to unfair prices is hard to determine on a company level, so it’s up to you, me, and everyone else to help enforce it.

Both women and men around the world are posting on social media under hashtags like #genderpricing, #pinktax, and #gendertax in order to promote awareness of this occurrence and to stop it from happening. The inequalities that do exist in today’s marketplace emphasize the importance of being an informed consumer because it is our duty to step up and speak out in order to break free from the shackles of societal constructs and stereotypes that we are all bound to.

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