S T A F F Editors-in-Chief Ashley Park Ricky Rojas
Lead Design Editors Gaby Lesmana Emily Yoon
Media Manager Sabrina Ho
Business Manager Jessica Son
Lead Copy Writers Reya Mehta Jessica Son
Copy Writers
Lauren Guss
News Writers Camille Ayson Raina Bae Andrew Kang Tashvi Ratnani Krish Singh
A&E Editors
Minjun Kim Isabella Truong
A&E Writers
Andrew Hezel Desiree Perez Anika Sachdeva
Opinions Editor
Alice Xie Noor Baber
Jaeeun Park
Alyssa Chang Haley Choe
Noor Baber Reya Mehta
News Editors
Opinions Writers
Features Editors
Jasmine Wongphatarakul Gillian Bui
Features Writers Kimberly Ayson Alana Desai Sabrina Ho Julia Kremenetsky Vaneeza Lalani Lucia Lehman Jessica Son Alice Xie
Sports Editor Zach Singer
Sports Writers Colin Park Clarissa Zuo
Dear readers, We are The Paw Print. As your Editors-in-Chief, we would like to reintroduce you to West Ranch’s one and only news magazine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to distribute print issues to West Ranch was limited. Now that we are back on campus, our hardworking staff has created our first print publication for you, the readers. As this is our first print publication since returning to fully on campus instruction, we hope you will find comfort, enjoyment and unity in reading about everything that has been going on around campus over the last semester. From stories about going to concerts during COVID to an introspection about teenage social media culture, we hope to have encapsulated the essence and spirit that is West Ranch. In this Spring Issue, you will gain insight into West Ranch from various perspectives. Our issue reflects the
accomplishments that our student body and staff have achieved in our own united comeback onto campus, but also aspects of student life that continue to adapt in the midst of our ever-changing world. Our writers and designers have worked hard to provide the highest quality of reporting and design in-one. We hope to encourage unity and spread kindness through our issue, the first of many to come. In addition to the articles printed here, many more stories can be found on wrpawprint.com. We are journalism for the students, by the students. We are The Paw Print. - The Editors-in-Chief
NEWS in review 04
how to take a compliment 20
Fashion Forward 18
Totes
of
Love
26
Jonathan Gim
16
On Tuesday, Aug. 10, students had their first day of inperson school after two years online. New schedules were delivered, and anxiety-ridden students tried their best to find their way to their first classes. After a year-and-a-half of online school, students had to not only adjust to their new schedule, but also return to campus and see teachers and friends in-person. However, it only took a couple days for the student body to become habituated to their new routine back on campus.
On Aug. 20, the senior class of 2022 received their much-deserved Senior Sunrise after undergoing over a year of distance learning. On that bright Friday morning, seniors gathered on the football field at six a.m. to celebrate the beginning of their last high school year. West Ranch senior Tinley Price chose the sunrise as her favorite activity this year thus far. “I was able to see the beautiful sunrise, interact with a whole bunch of people of the senior class and eat yummy bagels!” she explained. With hearts filled with Wildcat spirit and hands full of blankets, breakfast take-outs and lawn chairs, seniors gathered to take pictures with their friends and peers as a way to remember this day for years to come.
West Ranch’s Club Rush Day is the most important event for clubs on campus to advertise their purpose to the student body. Club officers created poster boards with important information such as their club’s sign-up process and meeting dates in order to advertise to potential new members. Clubs help students explore their passions while finding a niche on campus of people who share the same interests, making this year’s Club Rush a popular event for students to reconnect with their peers. As in-person fall semester finals quickly approached, Wildcats created study schedules and formed study groups to prepare for the week of exams. With stress accumulating for many students, the West Ranch Library provided a series of Open Library Night sessions for students to provide extra academic support on any skills they missed throughout the semester going into final exams. Although anxiety was high in the approaching weeks, Wildcats who did their best to properly prepare found themselves with reduced last minute worries.
Homecoming is an important tradition of welcoming back students to campus. This year’s homecoming theme was Wildcats “Around the World,” acknowledging the diverse cultures prominent throughout the world and on campus, through a themed Homecoming Week and a dance. West Ranch ASB member Pratika Prasad said that the Culture Booths activity was one of her favorite activities to plan, explaining that they “had students volunteer to represent a certain culture with their respective flags, snacks, clothing, artwork, and small games.” The dance took place in the school’s outdoor basketball court due to pandemic regulations, where ASB prepared food trucks, photo booth, games, snacks and rides for the students to enjoy. As the night came to an end, attendees left on a red carpet after a night full of lights, music and anticipation for the school year ahead of them.
In December, our talented student actors performed “Clue,” a comedic murder mystery based on the board game and adapted from the classic film. The comedy whodunit following the antics of Mrs. Peacock, Colonel Mustard and the other iconic personalities kept our audiences guessing (and laughing) until the very end!
Despite constantly changing COVID-19 circumstances and protocols, the world is making an effort to resume a normal lifestyle safely. With the arrival of the vaccine, many mainstream events have returned with certain limitations and guidelines. Museums are open, theme parks are up and running and musicians are back on tour all over LA County. However, it does not look exactly like it did pre-pandemic, with required facial coverings, proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests and temperature checks at the door. Attendees go at their own risk, and most venues have a COVID-19 warning as well as spread prevention measures posted on their websites. Goldenvoice, operators of popular small-scale theaters like the El Rey Theatre and The Roxy, states on their website as of Oct. 1, 2021: “We will be requiring all attendees and staff to provide proof of full vaccination for entry into our owned & operated venues unless medically or religiously exempt. ‘Full vaccination’ means 14 days or more following the final dose of a US FDA approved or WHO recognized vaccine against COVID-19.” Additionally, mask requirements to
enter these settings depend on the location and county orders. The Paw Print had a chance to talk with a few West Ranch students who recently attended concerts to investigate the real experience that comes with COVIDrelated limits. Pop phenomenon Harry Styles recently held his threenight LA show at The Forum in late November of 2021. The Forum’s website states that “All guests ages 2 and over must show one of the following requirements: Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (two weeks since the final dose); OR a negative COVID-19 antigen test within 24-hours of the event; OR a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 48-hours of the event.” Alliana Serrano, senior and one of the several West Ranch students that attended this highly-anticipated show, elaborated on these protocols enforced at the event. “We were required to either be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID test. During the actual concert, masks were also required,” Serrano said. She explained that many fans were not wearing masks, putting others at risk. “I wish they enforced it better,” she added.
Mask mandates can be a problem at most events, with some concert goers refusing to wear them unless told to leave the premises. Many get through unscathed, however, as it is merely a matter of enforcement. Another student, junior Emma Liao, had a similar experience with masking at the concerts she went to towards the end of 2021. “I kinda wish they took it a bit more seriously,” she explained. “One concert I went to was inside and a lot of people weren’t wearing their masks and nobody said anything.” In addition, she mentioned a situation in which a girl who didn’t have her vaccination was able to pass through security as they were not “checking thoroughly.” With uncontrollable crowds, it can be difficult to ensure everyone follows mandates. Serrano also found this to be an issue: “It was super busy and a bunch of people were cutting in line the whole time,” she explained. Not only is this a safety issue with trampling and cramming in small spaces, but it is also a COVID risk with the close contact.
Despite these obstacles, both Serrano and Liao had a positive experience overall, and they did not feel that the extra provisions took away from the overall concert experience. Serrano added that she actually felt safer and more comfortable with the additional precautions, as these mandates are simply to prevent the spread of the virus and keep these events going on. After all, most fans are content with wearing masks in order to see their favorite artist rather than not see them at all. “I’ve been to indoor and outdoor concerts since COVID and they haven’t been any less enjoyable than the ones I went to before the pandemic,” Liao concluded. Cats, it’s important to take the proper precautions before heading to public events. As cases rise and fall, keeping yourself updated and informed on the latest pandemic-related developments can keep you better prepared to follow guidelines and keep everyone safe.
THE BEGINNING
As Carter G. Woodson earned a history Master’s degree from the University of Chicago and a history Ph.D. from Harvard in the early 1900s, Woodson witnessed how Black Americans were underrepresented in the books and conversations that shaped the study of American history. African Americans were barely part of American history, so in 1915, Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, or the ASALH, according to history.com. The ASALH would promote studying black history as a discipline and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans. Becoming an official annual celebration in 1926, Black History Month was chosen to be honored in the month of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, the US president who issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and Frederick Douglas, an African American orator, social reformer, writer and abolitionist. According to asalh.org, the month-long recognication stemmed from a week-long celebration that included various clubs hosting leaders in the Black community to give lectures. West Ranch Black Student Union Advisor Mr. Haynes expressed, “Black History Month is a time to celebrate and educate communities on the accomplishments, contributions, and overall dopeness of black people in America.” Esi Otoo, sophomore class President, added, “celebrating Black History Month is a great reminder of how far the United States has come in its treatment of Black people over the years. Black history is American history and black stories are essential to the continuing story of America— the faults, the struggles, the progress and the aspirations.”
TODAY
In the United States, Black History Month is celebrated with a range of activities, bringing various communities together. Building on the idea that “proximity builds empathy,” Mr. Haynes encourages individuals to “buy from blackowned businesses, spend time with black friends in their world and culture, and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Black achievement through stories such as the rise of Hip-Hop culture.” Since 1976, a new theme has marked the celebration each year: the year 2022 focusing on Black people’s health and wellness. The ASALH posted that the Black History Month 2022 theme “acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.”
Story by Haley Choe Graphics by Andrew Kang Photos by Duc Dang
@ WES T RANCH
Although February is seen as the designated time to recognize Black achievement, it is essential that the West Ranch community continues to recognize and respect the various cultures that have built our society. West Ranch AP World History teacher Mr. Holland said,“Shining a light on Black history and their cumulative achievements today is as important to understanding ourselves and growing stronger as a nation. When you sit and listen to another person’s story, their story becomes a part of yours, and your story becomes a part of theirs.” He continued, “Many of these months celebrating a variety of groups, including Black History Month, allow us to hear stories from people that have a different story than ours. Every single person has a different story. Our society needs to move on from the present division to sit down, listen, contemplate, and consider how someone else views this world. There are almost 8 billion people on this earth with 8 billion different perspectives and 8 billion different stories.” Otoo went on to say, “I can’t truly speak for all Black people, but I know that I’m not asking for people to kneel every time I walk into a room, or for them to tell me ‘I will never understand but I stand with you,’ or they ‘don’t see color.’ All I want to know is that my struggles are being recognized and [that] I am not alone. “Educating yourself on the smallest things, even if it’s why you shouldn’t say certain things to Black people, shows that some change is being made everyday. My hope for West Ranch and our community is for all of us to recognize that change is possible and can be made and contributing to a more diverse, collaborative, and inclusive community,” Otoo concluded. You can add your voice and celebrate the rich history of Black and African American individuals during Black History Month and beyond. While we acknowledge that there is much work ahead of us, we encourage you to consider the ways in which you can continue to create a community that fosters greater inclusion and opportunity for people of color.
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Story by Sabrina Ho and Jessica Son Graphics by Andrew Kang Photos by West Ranch Staff
THE PRISKES Mr. Priske
Q. What are the biggest advantages of working in the same place as your significant other? A. Because Mrs. Priske is in charge of ASB, there are a lot of different opportunities to do fun things with her. It gets me out of my world here and expands it to see what she does. It is really fun to see how much time and energy she puts in and see the great things that come out of it.
Mrs. Priske
Mr. Livermont
Q. What are the biggest advantages of working in the same place as your significant other? A. The part I love the most is the fact that we have a shared bond. We’re both Wildcats. It’s just like cheering for the same sports team, we’re Wildcats at heart and that’s something we both share. And just teaching in general: The one that actually inspired me to teach is my wife. Seeing how she inspired me and how she inspires her students made me want to become a teacher.
Mrs. Livermont
Q. Have you had any fun encounters with your significant other on campus?
Q. What do you love about teaching, as well as teaching specifically with your significant other?
A. It is really funny because Mr. Priske teaches math so his classroom is really structured and strict. Then, you have my classes which are a little more up and moving. When we share some of the same students, some people will say “Mr. Priske is so mean” and then say to me “you are so nice.” But that is not really true, it is just because of the different ways our classes are structured.
A. I love interacting with my students. I learn a lot from them. They open my eyes to new ideas and make me smile everyday. My husband is very fun and silly. Teaching and coaching are truly his calling. He inspires me to be more open and fun.
THE ARROWSMITHS Mr. Arrowsmith
Q. How was your experience working in the same place as your significant other? A. I love it! It is great because we are literally two minutes away from each other. Whenever we have lunch together, we hang out together. When things come up, we can talk right away. We do not have to email or text each other. We can also carpool with each other so that makes it very convenient.
Mrs. Arrowsmith
Q. What are the biggest advantages of sharing a workplace with your significant other? A. I get to check in on the most important person in my world, next to my kids, all day long. It is nice to be able to have lunch together. When we have a conversation about work, it is much easier because we know exactly what the other person is talking about.
THE LIVERMONTS Mr. Holen
Q. Have you had any fun encounters or interactions with your significant other on campus? A. It is more like, is there ever a day that we do not have fun encounters or interactions? Our goal in our relationship is to bring out the best in each other daily. [Within] the school admin, the joke is that my wife is the “better” Holen.
Mrs. Holen
Q. How does your work life differ from your personal life at home with your significant other? A. I know we talk a lot about school at home and you know maybe students that we both know, share stories from the day. I talk about it more than he does, he’ll say, “Excuse me, isn’t this the weekend?” or “Isn’t this winter break?” or “Aren’t we on vacation?” It’s 24/7 West Ranch High School.
THE HOLENS 11
Many famous filmmakers make their directorial debut in their adult years. Steven Spielberg’s was at 28. Martin Scorcese’s was 25. For West Ranch senior Daniel De La Torre, that age is 17. De La Torre has always had a passion for movies. He has fond memories of watching movies like “Iron Man,” “Forrest Gump” and “Back to the Future” with his family at a young age, but he didn’t always know he wanted to create films. The idea first came to him last year when he was watching the Quentin Tarantino film “Jackie Brown.” After feeling the magic of movie-making during the scene where Jackie Brown meets the bail bondsman for the first time, he felt a burst of inspiration to write. “It started in the library,” explained De La Torre. “I was trying to brainstorm. I had the feeling a lot of filmmakers do—when they have a scene in their mind and they can’t shy away from it. So I started writing about it and just went with the flow. I could do whatever I wanted and it was like jazz.” With no filmmaking experience whatsoever, he consistently wrote screenplays for months until the idea for his upcoming
project “In My Room” was born, inspired by the story and style of movies such as “Baby Driver” and “La La Land.” “The short film is about this girl who’s deeply in love with this boy. The whole thing is set in her room. This guy doesn’t share the same feelings as her so she has a mental breakdown. I wanted the lesson to be not to put yourself in your room your whole life, but rather to get out and experience the world,” said De La Torre. His biggest directing inspirations are Wes Anderson and Stanley Kubrick, “especially with Stanley Kubrick’s style of directing and how he uses the actors to bring out the characters. I tried to do that with my actor and tried to include a lot of her thoughts and emotions into the character,” explained De La Torre. As De La Torre wraps up his very first directing project, he sets his sights on hopes in the future with his career in film as he has more upcoming projects to direct. With both a short term and long term goal in mind, he outlines where he wants to go in the future. “The short term is to finish editing this film and show it in a festival so that people can also see. Long term would be to become a director and write my own films rather than directing other peoples films. I want to be in that business because it’s something I very much love and I’m passionate about.” Though “In My Room” is still currently in the editing process, Cats, make sure to watch out for an official release date and support a local rising artist here at West Ranch. Scan the QR code to read the rest of the story on the Paw Print website!
Story by Jaeeun Park, Kimberly Ayson and Gillian Bui Photos by Ian Kim, Gillian Bui and Jasmine Wongphatarakul Graphics by Emily Yoon West Ranch has a lot of talented students on campus, but there are few who are truly artistically inclined. Senior Anna Kim is a young artist who seeks to communicate their identity and beliefs through a combination of materials and transformative ideas. Rather than sticking to the more common form of painting, Kim uses mixed media to create their art. They expressed, “The medium to me is just as important as what I’m creating out of it. Because of this, I would call my style sporadic and emotionally impulsive, but that’s what’s so fun about it.” Kim was not always the artist they are now. Art was just a pastime for them when they were younger, but they explained that they “really started to delve into testing the limits of ‘art’ these recent years.” “’What was I allowed to say and use for my work to be considered art?’ Standards like that at first really troubled me and even today, is something I’m trying to grapple with,” they shared. “I wanted to continue using traditional mediums, but I didn’t want to restrict myself to it. Surprisingly, these same restrictions are what inspired me to make more unconventional work. Rather than dwelling on the disapproval of many, I focused more on the few people that resonated with the work.”
In terms of inspiration, Kim believes anything can be a reason for starting a new project, finding ideas in articles they read online or conversations with peers. They find that, by talking with queer POC friends, they “end up discovering a lot about [their] own individuality.” When working on a project, they first create sketches and write down notes on any accessible piece of paper, deciding what materials to use and the message they want to share through details. Afterwards, they dedicate their time to gathering necessary equipment. Depending on how invested they are in the project, Kim spends a few hours each day making the piece or whenever they feel inspired. They post photos of the work on digital media platforms before either giving it away, properly disposing of it or just keeping it for themselves. For Kim, art is “a new way to gain perspective on visual and interactive communication as well as the experiences of people.” After high school, they plan to study gender and sexuality in a college with an interdisciplinary program to expand their hard skills as an artist while learning a “proper foundation of theory and history.” Kim would like to one day hold an exhibition for his work, but shared, “My ultimate goal is to reach out to a wider audience and for my artwork to spark or disrupt current ideas and systems that we live and experience. I want to delve into community engagement and have the opportunity to create larger scale works like both physical and virtual installations. At the end of it all, art is made by people for people.” Anna’s projects can be found on their Instagram page @pudding.anna, or on their website annaskykim.com. Scan the QR code to read the rest of the story on the Paw Print website!
13
Class of ‘59 SANDY DUMBROWSKI
played by Sophia Concepcion, 12th
“I am very excited to be back on stage doing what I love”
FRENCHY
played by Emily Schnitzer, 12th
“I love performing and am excited about portraying Frenchy on stage”
KENICKIE
played by Victor Najera, 10th
“I want to have good memories of this”
DANNY ZUKO
played by Alex Brewer, 11th
“I am most excited to portray one of my favorite characters”
JAN
played by Savanna Woods, 12th
“I am very excited to make new friends”
SONNY
played by Brette Cane, 12th
“I’m looking forward to having a lot of time on stage”
BETTY RIZZO
played by Shanzay Hassan, 12th
“I am most excited to dance and sing with everybody”
MARTY
played by Emily Hinrichs, 11th
“I am most excited to be a pink lady”
ROGER
played by Jayden Correa, 11th
“This is my first time doing theater so I’m excited to try it out”
GREASE is the
Story by Desiree Perez Photos by Minjun Kim
Tell me about it, stud! Coming this April, West Ranch High School is producing a spring musical based on the 1978 classic film, “Grease.” Set in 1959, Sandy Dumbrowski, (played by Sophia Concepcion and understudied by Emily Von Busch) meets Danny Zuko (played by Alex Brewer and understudied by Christian Davies) at the beach during their summer vacation. Although the two experience a whirlwind romance, they say goodbye as their “Summer Nights” come to an end. As the new school year approaches, neither of them realize they will both be attending the senior class of Rydell High School. In a typical clique setting, Rydell High is home to the “toocool-for-school” Burger Palace Boys and the “primadonna” Pink Ladies. “Grease” will travel you back in time with music inspired by famous sounds of the 50s such as Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Little Richard. As their gang experiences the teenage trials and tribulations of high school through song and dance, will Sandy and Danny be able to reignite the flame of their romance? Although West Ranch Theatre Arts is several weeks away from their performance of “Grease,” the Paw Print was able to get a sneak peek of the upcoming rockin’ and rollin’ show that is coming in April. Mr. Smith, the theatre instructor, and Ms. Peters, the choir director, are the brilliant staff behind this year’s theatre production. “Grease is a high-energy, fun musical that expresses the energy and the style of the 1950’s teenage culture, and I felt that staging this famous Broadway musical, that became an even more successful film, would be a great way to celebrate the return of theater after two years of COVID,” Mr. Smith expressed.
ove! o r g t o g s It’
WORD
the time, the place, the motion! Ms. Peters added, “I’m looking forward to seeing it all come together in April, and to be part of that journey. There are lots of aspects of a musical such as the acting and scene blocking, but also learning and memorizing the songs, and then adding the choreography....it’s a lot!” However, no show can be fulfilled without our own students putting in their time and effort to bring “Grease” to life. Alex Brewer, playing Danny Zuko, shared his thoughts regarding the spring musical. “I am most excited to sing on stage with all of my fellow co-stars because throughout these past few weeks we have gotten rather close,” Brewer said. Sophie Concepcion, portraying Sandy Dumbrowski, further commented, “I watched the movie so many times, so I am excited to be able to perform what I have seen on TV countless times.” April is right around the corner, so sit tight Wildcats! Remember, Grease is the word! For questions regarding the upcoming musical, please contact Mr. Smith at msmith@hartdistrict.org, or Ms. Peters at mpeters@hartdistrict.org.
It’s got meanin g! 15
Story by Ashley Park Photos by Ashley Park and Jessica Son Graphics by Emily Yoon
Knowing that there are over 35,000 open cases of foster children in LA County, West Ranch senior Olivia Abraham took her first steps to support foster kids navigating displacement with her penchant for fashion through her self-founded organization: Totes of Love. Abraham founded Totes of Love, a non-profit organization that collects gently-used clothing and tote bags, designed to provide gender and size-inclusive outfits for foster teens in the Santa Clarita Valley. West Ranch seniors Allison Berry, Samantha Jones, Nina Sawaya, Tinley Price and Ashley Berry joined Abraham in the cause, taking on the leadership roles of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Social Media Manager for the on-campus club. Struck with inspiration from her family, Abraham started this organization in May of 2021 and called on her friends to join her on her personally-fueled mission. “My cousin inspired me to start Totes of Love. She is a foster child and my aunt and uncle adopted her. One of the main things with foster teens is they just want to fit into their respective communities and a lot of the time, when they get taken from their homes, they leave with nothing. So having them feel like they fit in at their school, even with just a simple outfit, inspired me,” Abraham reflected. She began by reaching out to social workers in the William S. Hart District who informed her of the numerous resource centers at local SCV junior and senior high schools. The process of organizing and collection “depends on the resource center’s needs,” Abraham explained. So far, totes of clothes have reached Canyon High School, Golden Valley High School and Placerita Junior High School, as well as others. Abraham made clear, however, that collected clothing donations are “open to any schools that need them.” Receiving the donations and distributing the clothing is a multi-step process for the Totes of Love team. Totes of Love integrates a social media and on-campus presence to solicit donations. Through announcements at monthly club meetings and posts and stories on Instagram, teens, families and community members are called to donate any kind of tote bags and/or gently-used clothing for all sizes and genders. After connecting directly with different resource centers across William S. Hart schools, the first clothing drive was held in August 2021. Donations were dropped off at Abraham’s house, where Totes of Love officers gathered all of the materials before evenly distributing various articles of clothing in every tote bag - one outfit per bag with additional accessories, such as jewelry and hats. The team was able to assemble an impressive 104 tote bags in total that were delivered to Canyon High School, Placerita Junior High School and the Parent Awareness Workshop and Support (PAWS) Center at Golden Valley.
Golden Valley High School social worker Cindy Takamoto commented on the collaboration between Totes of Love and Golden Valley’s PAWS Center, “We were ecstatic to meet them, a group of young ladies came with their shirts and wagons and bag fulls of stuff that we absolutely use all the time.” Ms. Takamoto shared the impact that Totes of Love has directly on the student communities at Golden Valley. She said, “I think that they had a really big impact because they brought a lot of the younger, hipper clothes. Oftentimes if we get donations from adults, it is sometimes business attire; sometimes clothes that teenagers don’t really see as their style. [The clothes] were hip and cool, like leggings and things that our student population is really excited to see in our center.” Distributing the bags to the resource centers was a rewarding and transformative experience for the team as a collective. Social Media Manager Tinley Price said, “When we went to actually deliver them to other foster organizations at other schools, I think that’s when we started to realize that maybe we are making a difference. Then, [Olivia] emailed [the director of the Placerita JHS resource center] and the people who received [the donations] said thank you, which was great, because, you know, now we’re making a difference.” Seeking to expand the reach of the organization, Abraham sought to resolve this by bringing her mission to campus, spreading this sense of community and opportunity to help our community to other students. Totes of Love junior president Aryah McVay said sincerely, “[In Totes of Love], I’m in a position where I can help others. And that’s something that’s really important to me.” She reflected further, “Sometimes we don’t realize our advantage, and we don’t realize how fortunate we are. When you look at someone who doesn’t have [as]many clothes as you, as much as anything, you start to kind of step out of yourself and realize that there’s some people who live a completely different life or see a completely different world. And so, it’s really important to try to make people feel included and as equal as possible in that way.” Creating a stronger and more efficient way to cycle through clothes while simultaneously providing fashion items for foster teens is one of the fundamental functions of the organization. “A lot of the time, we don’t realize how much we do have, especially like the clothes laying around that we never wear in our closets. And we don’t think of donating them or doing anything like this,” Abraham explained. “So it’s important to make the students aware that there’s other ways instead of selling them on Depop or something. There’s a lot of other ways to help people with the extra stuff that you have.” Despite being a fresh organization and club on campus, Totes of Love has progressed immensely, contributing greatly to improving the resources for Santa Clarita’s foster youth. In the future, they also hope to “giv[e] to the homeless as well and figur[e] out a way to incorporate even a larger group of people that are less fortunate,” according to McVay. Interested in organizing or donating clothes for foster teens in Santa Clarita? Check out @totesoflove on Instagram or text @totes4ever to 81010 to join the club and find more information about the upcoming meetings, clothing drives and events. Get ready to fill these totes with love and touch the hearts of foster youth in the valley.
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fashion fa ashion Story by Isabella Truong and Gabriela Lesmana Photos by Gabriela Lesmana
Forward forwa ard
With the rising popularity of fashion, media and influencers, it’s not uncommon for high school students to be pushed into the spotlight. At West Ranch, some of our Wildcats have been selected by well-known clothing companies like Hollister to show off their eye-catching outfits as social media brand agents.
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Where do you get your outfit inspiration from? How do you keep things exciting yet unique? I think there’s like a difference between like, posting—like what outfits you want to showcase on social media—and what outfits in real life, like I think on Instagram it was more about showcasing the piece that they wante bcause they would send us clothes, so it was more about like whatever item they sent us. But, personally, I think I just like to make things simple, but simple with a little twist, I guess. So nothing too crazy. But definitely a little more dressier, or a little more fancy for Instagram just to catch the eye. How do you see this opportunity serving you in the future? Do you have career goals related to fashion/modeling? Well I think this program in general just made me step out of my comfort zone especially with kind of a business side of things. It made me realize how much work can go into the smallest things that we don’t even realize, like an advertisement, or even like a poster with someone on it that they’re advertising at the store that had to have a shoot go with it, and people behind the scenes. So I guess it just made me realize that there’s so many different career options for people whether that’s entertainment, fashion, marketing, advertising. But I think it made me more aware of other opportunities out there. But yeah, I do see a future with fashion or modeling too, and I think this program helped me out with that, to gain a lot of confidence.
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How has modeling for a company like Hollister benefitted you?
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Being able to model for Hollister has benefited my exposure on social media, as they have reposted me on their Instagram. It gets me out there, and it’s honestly really cool to work with different people--I had a lot of fun doing work for them.
Where do you get inspiration to curate your style?
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For most of my outfit inspirations, I always go to Pinterest and pin whatever catches my eye. I pin whatever personally fits my style usually. From there, I put together my own outfits that fit the aesthetic of my inspiration as a whole.
How has modeling for a big brand enhanced your high school experience? Modeling for a company as big as Hollister was first off very overwhelming. I kinda just didn’t know what to expect. You are no longer representing yourself but also this amazing company, so I was nervous to say the least. But once we started--it was nothing short of amazing. It has made my senior year so much more fun too! During the week I’m grinding to make sure I keep up my grades and then on the weekends I get paid to model, make cool content, and then receive free clothes on top of it! What is the best piece of advice you have for people wanting to get into modeling? My best piece of advice for anyone who would like to get into modeling would be to start now! Don’t wait till you have enough money to get a photographer or to start taking modeling classes. We have a lot of information at our fingertips, we just have to use it.
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Story by Jaeeun Park Graphics by Noor Baber, Jaeeun Park and Emily Yoon We all receive compliments. Whether it be a comment on your superficial excellence or a facet of your personality, a compliment can be hard to respond to, simply because of its unexpected timing or the sheer range of significance it can have. Either way, a compliment is a compliment, and there are a few different methods of approaching one. You can return the compliment, give a “thank you” or flee. Preferably not the latter, but once, I have smoothly changed the topic of conversation with an admittedly-questionable “Um, happy birthday to you too!” It was not my birthday. It was not their birthday. It was not anyone’s birthday. I find it hard to accept compliments, as I assume many others do, because I always doubt the validity of such statements and think myself into a ditch of self-consciousness. After all, there’s absolutely no way my presentation was actually good enough to deserve such an enthusiastic response. Now, after a decade and a few odd years of awkwardly navigating society, I believe my perspective has changed. I compliment people frequently, and not for any ulterior purpose. I only do so when I truly think something about their person is worthy of significant verbal acknowledgment. Giving compliments is a good way to develop rapport and build friendships. It was this topic I was considering when I made a groundbreaking realization: if I compliment genuinely, then it is likely other people compliment genuinely. Mind-blowing, I know. But really, who am I to invalidate the sincerity of another in my desperate bid for self-rejection? Does my moment of selfdeprecation somehow make up for the inevitable snub I give to a well-meaning person? Thinking of it this way, I respect people too much to dismiss their kindness with a lukewarm response. It might be awkward for the other person if they give you a heartfelt compliment just for you to meet them with a blank look and prompt wall of indifference. I, personally, would be caught off-balance if something I said as praise put someone in a state of emotional catatonia. You can doubt the validity of a compliment but think twice before questioning the sincerity. Maybe your outfit isn’t objectively that great, but your conversation partner can think it is.
You should gracefully accept the acknowledgment to humor your companion if nothing else. I’d like to recognize and appreciate the fact that they went out of their way to tell me. The least I could do is let them know I think they are kind, that I’m flattered they wanted to tell me something good about myself. Try to meet a compliment with the level of weight it deserves. Preferably refrain from responding to a “you have a wonderful soul” with a “thanks, I love your hair.” Reciprocal statements only work if they are somewhat equal to the degree of praise you received. Otherwise, they are counterproductive, rendering the efforts of your partner less than null, because they just complimented the very essence of your being and your best response was to prattle about the keratin fibers growing out of their head. At this point, if you are still thinking they gave you an empty compliment because they pitied you or just wanted to make you feel better, accept it, if only for the sake of appreciating that sentiment. Thanks for trying. Don’t let your self-doubt get in the way of creating good relationships with others. Life’s too short for that. The world literally handed you an opportunity for more happiness, and the only thing you have to do to feel that happiness is accept it. To all the socially-stunted individuals out there, I understand your pain. But you only hold yourself back by worrying about how other people perceive you. Give a smile, say a genuine thank you and move on. Embrace the small joys you can offer, and best of luck in your future endeavors.
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and Ashley Park Story by Reya Mehta, Ricky Rojas y Rojas Graphics by Reya Mehta and Rick
There are many ways that West Ranch encourages students to be their best selves—from a vibrant club culture to a large variety of sports programs, students have tons of opportunities available to them. Perhaps one of the biggest ways West Ranch encourages students is through promoting academic excellence. From a slew of AP class choices, College and Career Readiness pathways and a large course selection at our local community college, students have many opportunities to challenge themselves. Taking classes at College of the Canyons (COC) is popular among students for a variety of reasons. For some, these classes allow them to take fun and exciting courses not offered at West Ranch. For others, dual enrollment is seen as a one-way trip to getting into a great college or freeing up their schedule so they only need to take three classes their senior year. The problem lies within the hypercompetitive
environment of college admissions, which can frequently make students feel as though they are not doing enough to be a strong candidate. As elite universities across the country continue to report falling admissions rates, students feel the need to gain a greater competitive edge over their peers which often causes them to lose sight of the freedom of their high school years. “I think,” said West Ranch Head Counselor Mrs. Reynoso, “that by having access to COC and your school curriculum—all of a sudden, you’re super busy, and you forget the fact that you’re a kid, and it’s okay to just hang out with friends and relax and have that balance.” Many students, such as Senior Allison Hwang, have fallen prey to this type of thinking. “As an AP student and someone who wants to improve their GPA among the sea of hundreds of AP students at West Ranch, there is an urge to take as many [COC] classes as possible to get a good [class] rank.”
But, as Hwang experienced first hand, this mindset can be incredibly damaging. In the last few summers, time she she could have spent having fun with friends has been replaced with stress and an overwhelming amount of weekly assignments. Despite this, COC classes still provide a valuable opportunity for students. Senior Adam Kajganic has taken a grand total of twelve COC classes in his four years at West Ranch. “They definitely let me explore a lot more subjects that I feel aren’t really taught in a lot of depth at [West Ranch], like mainly engineering and computer science,” Kajganic said. Kajganic also feels these extra classes benefitted him by preparing him for the future, improving his organizational skills and ability to prioritize. “It meant that I could take more classes at West Ranch and classes that I enjoyed more,” he explained. “It’s a great opportunity for students to be able to access college level courses while they’re still in high school,” said Mrs. Reynoso. “The fact that they can earn credits and that the district covers a portion of the cost is great. It’s just how they are used that is the key—I think they are super valuable to enhance the curriculum we have on our campus, not to detract.” One of the big ways students can do COC classes “wrong” is by using them to clear required credits for graduation. For example, many students opt to take history courses—such as US History or Government—at COC rather than their regular or AP equivalents at West Ranch which can cause them to lose out on great opportunities. “The word on the street is, you can take an easy class over summer, and you get your year of US history done, and you get an extra grade bump. What’s not to like about that?” said Mr. Holland, AP World History and Modern Civilizations teacher. “But what students are really missing out on is an actual education.” Mr. Holland continued, “We want you guys, particularly with US history, to have a good understanding of the country that you live in. And, yeah, a lot of students aren’t really interested in that. And it’s okay to think ‘I’m just going to get that done, I get a good grade bump, I get an open,’ but you’re actually at a loss as a citizen of the United States. And we want to make sure that you have the best history education that we can provide.” Mr. Holland also pointed out that students who take classes at COC are missing out on learning valuable skills that are geared towards preparing students for college, such as civil discussion and document analysis. He explained, “COC has different requirements. And
I don’t want to knock COC, but they’re not getting you ready for college, because it is college. And so you are actually missing out on those skills that are going to make you not just a better student, but really a better person.” And it’s not just high school teachers who think this way. Many universities recognize the damaging effect that “replacing” certain classes through dual enrollment can have on student education. “Overall, especially for the more competitive colleges— they have said that they prefer when students maximize the curriculum available to them on their campus,” Mrs. Reynoso said. “To use it to take classes that we don’t offer at West Ranch, I think, is the best way to use COC, because it shows colleges that you’re furthering your education above and beyond rather than replacing.” “But,” she continued, “if there is a reason—say there’s a conflict, if a student is involved in a ton of different activities and we have to try to find a way to make everything fit—I think there are ways to justify the movement, versus just lightening a load.” COC classes require a balance. Though they can be a great educational opportunity, if you succumb to the grade game, it can feel overwhelming. It is as if you’re lost in a sea of despair, especially with college admissions looming over you. It can seem like you are never doing enough, like you can never reach the levels of prioritization and organization you want and like your head isn’t structured enough to get tasks done in an orderly manner.
I think that by having access to COC and your school curriculum—all of a sudden, you’re super busy, and you forget the fact that you’re a kid, and it’s okay to just hang out with friends and relax and have that balance. —Mrs. Reynoso But it’s important to remember that GPA and class rank are just two pieces in the puzzle of college admissions. There is so much more to you as a person that colleges consider. So, when that ever-present feeling of inadequacy starts to creep in, Wildcats, make sure to take a deep breath and step back from the grade game—not just because of college admissions, but because you’re only in high school once, and you should enjoy it.
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Story by Alyssa Chang and Jasmine Wongphatarakul Photos by Sabrina Ho and Ian Kim With a swift backward dive, West Ranch junior Jonathan Gim kicks off his specialty event, the 100 meter backstroke. To get ahead of his opponents and beat his personal record, Gim focuses on making powerful kicks. Training for six days a week, two hours a day, Gim achieved his personal record of 50.42 seconds in the 100 meter backstroke at a meet in November 2021. Gim is a part of West Ranch’s varsity swim and dive team and his club team Rosebowl Aquatics. He has been swimming for the past six years, ever since his mother encouraged him to join the sport at 11 years old. His passion for swimming helps him love the sport’s constant challenge to his mind and body. “The hardest challenge I have faced in the sport itself was realizing that it can’t always be fun. There will be hard days, days that I don’t want to wake up and days that I want to quit,” Gim expressed. Although Gim faces challenges within the sport, he explained that it has allowed him to grow and realize that “the decisions made during those times set the best and the average apart. Swimming brings a mental aspect, as does every sport, that no one can prepare you for.” This season marks his first as a West Ranch swim and dive captain, and Gim is preparing to lead his teammates to their fullest potential. West Ranch swim and dive coach Kearsten Livingstone told the Paw Print that she hopes “to see him as a leader on the team in and out of the water, encouraging his teammates and also helping some of the swimmers that are a little bit newer to the sport.”
Showing his strong drive for success and personal development, Gim says that “there has never been a season where [he has] not improved in the pool.” He emphasized that one of the most important lessons he learned was “to take failure and turn it into success.” Whenever he’s in the pool, Gim strives to always improve on himself and his skills. Gim’s close friends, senior Michael Lee and junior Connor Grant, both agree that Gim is very hard working and driven, with a strong work ethic in both the sport and school. When interviewed, Grant praised Gim extensively: “He will never give up, and that’s something I really admire.” Lee added that “he has a lot of ambition since he drives forty minutes to practice every day.” As Gim is almost a senior, his achievements are being recognized, receiving recruitment offers from numerous universities. While he has not made a decision about commitment as of now, he hopes to do so by the end of this year. West Ranch looks forward to seeing where Gim commits and his future accomplishments in swimming!
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COMPETITION CHEER Story by Clarissa Zuo Photos by West Ranch Cheer
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Competition cheer has returned to West Ranch. With the previous team’s run having ended in 2010, the new team is taking the mat this year and was recently named USA Spirit National Champions. Coach Jayme Fechtelkotter, who competed with the previous West Ranch competition team, explained why she felt the need for a comeback. “After seeing all the talent the past few years I’ve been here, it motivated me to start the competition team because I didn’t want any of the girls to miss out on that time, experience or talent,” Coach Fechtelkotter explained. Competition cheer is a sport where teams perform a prepared routine for a panel of judges. The routines are extremely complex, with professionally choreographed stunting, gymnastics, dancing and cheering. West Ranch competes in two types of routines: game day and traditional. Game day is similar to typical Friday night football game routines, with most of the routine being focused on calling cheers. On the other hand, traditional is more focused on technical skills like stunting and tumbling. Lily Fair, one of the West Ranch team captains, explained how the team spends an average practice. “We usually stretch, and then we warm up stunting, and then we’ll go through sections of our routine, and then we’ll do full-outs of the routine.” The team of 18 cheerleaders had a phenomenal season, winning a bid to USA nationals in the game day category during their very first competition. Emma Hamilton, another one of the captains, summarized, “We competed in three in-person competitions leading up to nationals. One UCA competition where we got our game day bid to UCA nationals, one USA competition where we got our bid to USA nationals, and CIF-SS where we placed 2nd in the advanced division. We also had a fourth competition where we competed virtually for UCA.” These successes are made more impressive by the backdrop of COVID, which led to several competitions being canceled in the middle of the season and some team members unable to participate due to quarantine. Not only did this create a difficult season, but it may also make future seasons more challenging. “COVID hasn’t been great for us,” Coach Fechtelkotter explained. “We’ve had many competitions canceled and as a first-year team we really need that experience out on the mat competing.”
But these challenges did not hold back the West Ranch team. The group continued to work hard with both early morning and late evening practices. Finally, on Feb. 12, the first day of Nationals, the team flew to Disney World, where the competition is held each year that Wednesday and held practice for the two days before the competition. Coach Samantha Coe, who serves as advisor for the cheer program as well as coach, explained how proud she was of the team’s time at nationals. “The team did really well at nationals,” Coach Coe explained. “They hit everything they were supposed to and there were no falls. They were spot-on as far as energy goes, you could tell they were having fun out there. That’s what we were hoping for out of the whole thing, that they could feel that energy and success of being out there. Even though we didn’t win, we definitely put it all on the mat.” That performance paid off just two weeks later when the team was named USA Spirit National Champions in the Varsity Show Cheer Intermediate-Medium division on Feb. 26 at USA Nationals, held at Disneyland. “Winning USA Nationals is the best feeling ever!” Hamilton said. “We have worked so hard all year for this and our hard work truly paid off. I’m super proud of this team. It’s amazing to take home this win, especially since we are a first year program.” The team doesn’t just work together on the mat. Behind the scenes, the group is extremely close-knit, spending a lot of time together between fundraisers, regular practices and bonding events.
“WEST RANCH IS SUCH A GREAT SCHOOL AND WE HAVE SO MANY TALENTED GIRLS.” -COACH JAYME Fair said, “I feel like we’re all really close for being different ages. We’re all really close friends.” Coach Coe and Coach Fechtelkotter certainly have big plans for the team as they look towards the coming years. Coach Jayme explained, “When I got hired, my goal was to build an empire for West Ranch and to have multiple teams competing because West Ranch is such a great school and we have so many talented girls… I would love to have a freshman team, a JV team and a varsity team. It just really helps with that competition and camaraderie atmosphere with everyone wanting to improve on their skills and wanting to be at the competitions just dominating everywhere.” With an incredible first season over and a bright future ahead, it looks like West Ranch Competition Cheer is back and here to stay.
Scan to watch the team’s performance at UCA Nationals
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Story and Art by Noor Baber Photos by Ashley Park The year was 2015. In the middle of the school year, I had to visit the doctor’s office—nothing much, just a normal, routine check-up. I’ve had many of these check-ups over the years, as I was born with a rare genetic condition called Cowden Syndrome. It’s estimated that 1 in every 250,000 people have this disorder— it has a mile-long list of symptoms, but the main one is an increased risk of cancer. A malignant tumor could pop up at any time, so I need to be carefully monitored to make sure that nothing potentially dangerous pops up. This check-up was just like the other ones. I had some ultrasounds, appointments, blood tests and scans. Everything will be fine, I told myself. I took a deep breath. And then, suddenly, everything wasn’t fine. In my scans, my doctors found a tumor in my thyroid, the butterfly-shaped organ in my neck— a benign tumor, but nonetheless, one that was growing, and could develop into more aggressive forms of cancer. I was grateful that the tumor had been caught early, so it hadn’t had that much time to develop. Even then, I remember when I first heard the results from my doctors, I became numb, and my face flushed cold. The year after that passed by in a blur, as doctors from across the country that I had never met debated on whether or not to remove my thyroid in order to prevent the tumor from developing. Finally, in the summer of 2016, a team of
surgeons at CHLA decided to do a thyroidectomy, and remove the organ entirely. Of course, this was a little difficult for me to hear as an eleven year old— I cried for a long time, and I was terrified. Before my surgery, three of my teachers gave me a gift. I still remember my teacher’s voice— “From all of us, so you can have something to keep yourself occupied during recovery.” I gratefully took the coloring book and 50-pack of Crayola markers. Little did I know how much that gift would impact me. After my surgery, the recovery process was long and tedious. I had to remain in inpatient care for several days— a seemingly endless nightmare. All around me, I could see so many other kids like me going through the same thing that I was. To this day, the sounds from the hospital still ring in my ears when I think about it— machines beeping, doors swinging as nurses and doctors walked in and out, and the occasional wailing of a child coming from down the hall. Through all of this, I had to find something to keep myself occupied. My mind immediately went to the coloring book and markers. I opened it up and started coloring. Immediately, I found that it made a sudden change in my mental state. The experience was so calming, and it was a great way to pass the time as I sat in bed, as it was extremely difficult to do anything else. Later, I decided to explore art more, and moved into drawing. I started out with the basics and whatever tools I had. I used online tutorials to start— I would look up a new character and carefully draw, trace and color it. I continued to practice cartooning until junior high school, when I signed up for an art class. In class, we worked with every medium imaginable— clay, acrylics, watercolors, pencils, you name it. Our homework each week was to complete one to two new pieces and post them on a class blog. At first, I was afraid to make something that would look bad. Nevertheless, I bought a sketchbook and a pack of pencils, and on the first day, I tried creating my own characters. When I brought the drawings to my teacher, she suggested, “Why don’t you also try portrait drawing? That will use a lot of the basics we’ve been learning in class.” I thought about what she had said. Hesitantly, I decided to heed her advice, and give it a try. First, I learned everything I possibly could about sketching. I taught myself the graphite grading scale, shading techniques, how to
blend gradients, how to use charcoal and much more. Armed with new knowledge, I chose a reference I had always thought was a fascinating picture— Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Every day, I sat down with my sketchbook for several hours, and just drew what I saw on the screen in front of me. It took me a couple of weeks, and I encountered some obstacles along the way. I had trouble making the facial features perfect. Drawing hands was an absolute nightmare. Nevertheless, I finally finished my first portrait drawing. Of course, it wasn’t perfect, since it was my first try. But I was proud of it, because it was something I had made through independently teaching myself. I had already started to see how art had influenced me, and it changed my life for the better. I enjoy creating art because it’s an entertaining activity, but most importantly, it’s a way for me to clear my brain from stress. Practicing with face shapes and features gave me the discipline to be able to finish a piece. No longer did I start on one piece and then give up, which is what I was often tempted to do when I first started drawing. And it isn’t just me— art is widely used to help people cope in difficult times, and it is well known for its positive effects on the body and mind. According to the Mental Health Foundation of the UK, art is an effective treatment for any condition, and it plays a vital role through “offering help, promoting well-being and creating a space for social connection.” Of course, there are a lot of different ways to engage with the arts, and it allows people to express emotions without ever saying anything. This can be done through creating diverse shapes and forms, and varying the usage of colors. All one has to do is put pencil to paper and create. But how exactly does art help with mood? Making art triggers a release of dopamine, a feel-good hormone that is released when one engages in something pleasurable— in this case, putting a paintbrush to canvas or pencil to paper. In addition, art also reduces cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, according to the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. It offers us an outlet into something we can control, and it allows us to cope with our emotions and express how we feel. Essentially, it reduces anxiety and helps us cope with certain emotions during difficult times. However, art isn’t only a great stress reliever. As explained by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, “Art allows people to enter a “flow state,” or that feeling when you’re in the zone and lose sense of yourself and of time.” Being in this “flow state” truly allows us to stretch our imaginations and explore
the boundaries of our creativity— evolution plays a large part in this natural ability. As stated in the Nature scientific journal, the need to produce art is a byproduct of survival adaptations, and it helped
past humans survive, and show skills and intellect. Art allows us to play with patterns and process uncertainty. It applies the patterns of nature and allows us to connect emotionally. Art requires a significant amount of planning and skill, and our unconscious motivations and preferences are constantly guiding the choices we make when creating a piece. According to NPR, “When you make art, you’re making a series of decisions— what kind of drawing utensil to use, what color, how to translate what you’re seeing onto the paper. And ultimately, interpreting the images— figuring out what it means.” Basically, our brains are trying to imagine new possibilities. Once we start making art, we can give our imaginations the creative freedom for constructing our different interpretations of the future. Once we are able to visualize what our future can look like, we can make these interpretations a reality. And it doesn’t matter whether the art is “good” or “bad”— really, there is no such thing. It doesn’t matter whether one is a beginner or expert. It can be a coping mechanism for anyone, and it can benefit anyone. Most importantly, you don’t need to be a master to get started. All you need is a pencil, paper, and your imagination. This is why art can be so useful when going through tough times, or just going through life, in general. It truly makes a deep psychological impact on us by giving us emotional freedom. It helps us organize our thoughts, and, by unleashing our imagination and creativity to cross new boundaries, art allows us to visualize a better future, and then make it happen. As painter Joan Miró once said, “A simple line painted with the brush can lead to freedom and happiness.” As an artist, I would say my main takeaway from my experiences would be that people shouldn’t be afraid of trying to make a piece of art. It never has to be perfect— but what it should do is allow you to expand your creativity and look at the world in a new way. So, I would encourage everyone to try it. Who knows? Perhaps you might be the one to create that new world.
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