The Pingry Record - February 2023

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Happy Lunar New Year!

HANSEN ZHANG (V)

Upper and Middle School students gathered to watch the annual Lunar New Year assembly on January 23.

Organized by Ms. Wei Wei Yu, Ms. Chao Wang, and Ms. Yifan Xu, this year’s assembly showcased the talent of Pingry students through a variety of performances. Per tradition, the assembly began with the Middle School dragon dance accompanied by William ZhouZheng (II) on the taiko drums and Mr. Christopher Leone on the chappa symbols. After the entrance ceremony, Keira Chen (V) and Kelly Cao (V) performed RuCi, a Chinese pop song, followed by Middle School performances featuring a Tibetan Dance and

cultural presentations. A video made by Upper School students helped conclude the presentations by demonstrating the cultural significance of making dumplings. The following sequence included a series of performances and talent shows: Ryan Hao (II) showed his kongzhu (Chinese yo-yo) skills, Middle School Chinese students played the kuaiban while reciting tongue twisters in Chinese, and Maddie Zhu (I) performed a solo dance routine. The K-Pop club once again made an appearance, performing “Wannabe” by ITZY and “Hype Boy” by New Jeans. After a second cultural presentation by the Middle School, Upper School students showed a video in which they interviewed faculty and

students about their Lunar New Year experience. The last performances of the assembly included: Derek Chen (V) and Chloe Huang (III) quizzing students on Lunar New Year trivia, the Purple Swan Group performing a Sani minority dance, teachers announcing of the rabbit drawing contest winners, and Chinese students singing “SuperStar” by S.H.E. Finally, the audience sang a classic Chinese New Year song, “GongXi GongXi.” This year, the assembly focused more on the wide array of Asian countries that celebrate the New Year. Through various cultural presentations, students from Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, mainland China, South Korea, and Taiwan presented distinct

new year traditions native to their respective countries. Middle School representation in the Lunar New Year assembly has also increased from last year due to efforts to balance the number of Middle and Upper School performers. As one of several teachers in charge of the assembly, Ms. Wei Wei Yu has helped organize the Lunar New Year assembly for years. It is truly a labor of love. From recruiting performers to scheduling the timetables, making the assembly possible is no simple task. Still, the months of work are well-worth it to her.

As a Chinese teacher, the annual tradition holds a special place in her heart, and the assembly is a manifestation of her passion to educate and proudly share

an integral part of many Asian communities. “There are so many families celebrating the Lunar New Year. I think it’s important that the whole community gets to know these families’ traditions and beliefs. More importantly, it is necessary for these students to be proud of who they are, and feel positively about their culture. I hope the assembly can bring people joy, and help all in our community to pause and take care of themselves, family, and friends.” The food, the decorations, the traditions, and most importantly, family, are all that make Lunar New Year special and worth sharing. Thank you to everyone who participated in the assembly this year, and happy new year!

(Top to Bottom, Left to Right): Kyra Li (VI), Pingry Communications, Sriya Tallapragada (IV), Kain Wang (V)

AVERY

HOFFMAN (III)

The Art Faculty Exhibition, which took place from January 10 to February 3 in the Hostetter Art Gallery, presented original works across disciplines created by the faculty of the art department.

Many members of the faculty have had exhibitions of their work outside of school, but showcasing their work at Pingry gives students the opportunity to learn more about their teachers as artists. Mr. Boyd, who is a photography and portfolio development teacher, is the founder and curator of this exhibition. He explained that this exhibition is important because “students can see what it is like to be a practicing artist by continually experimenting on and evolving their pieces. By doing this, teachers are setting examples for their students, who are able to gain more knowledge about art and an artist’s process behind it.” The art faculty explained the inspiration behind their work, which has a large impact on the artwork and the artist themself.

Art Faculty Exhibition

Mr. Goodwin, the clay working and sculpture teacher, as well as the Co-Director of the Hostetter Art Gallery, grew up around art his entire life. His parents were both artists, and during his freshman year of college, he fell in love with clay working. In graduate school, he found his passion for mixed media sculpture. Mr. Goodwin says that he is “fascinated with people’s curiosity and investigations,” and this fascination led him to the creation of the piece. He also hopes that “people make a cursory observation of the work, and then investigate further.” One of his pieces on display was formed from wasp paper, which is produced when the queen wasp chews wood to mix the fiber with her saliva to create paper pulp. He mentioned that this piece reveals “people’s anxieties and their veiled feelings, thoughts, or identities.”

Ms. Ring is the Photo 1, Painting and Drawing 1, and Art Fundamentals teacher. She has been working at Pingry for six years. Art has been a lifelong

passion for Ms. Ring; she says that her “experience of the world has always been intensely visual,” and that she loves language and writing. Ms. Ring, in addition to being an artist, is a professional writer and the author of a book, Walking on Walnuts. Ms. Ring explained that her numerous pieces in the gallery are her “response to the current state of the world.”

The pieces being displayed in the exhibition are named from lines from a poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty, titled “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. Her largest piece, “Tempest Toss’d,” represents the rising flood waters of climate change. “A Mighty Woman,” Ms. Ring said, depicts “a storm [brewing] both inside and outside as a figure based on the Statue of Liberty [becomes] a real woman rather than [as] an ideal one, beset with the burdens of ‘women’s work’ in a world that is tilting with upheaval.” Ms. Ring has several other works in this series including works inspired by the cause of gun control and freedom

from the patriarchy. Separate from the series, Ms. Ring also has two figure paintings of her son which represent impermanence. For more information on her pieces, you can visit her website, www.nanringstudio.com.

Another artist is Mr. Christian, who teaches grades 3, 4, and 5 at the Lower School and has been at Pingry for ten years. Mr. Christian says that he has always loved to draw and used to copy his brother’s art. When his brother told him to

create his own art, that is exactly what Mr. Russel did. His first independent drawing was of a hand holding a baby. Mr. Russell explained that his motivation to create is the joy it brings him, as well as “the need to surprise myself, to avoid repeating myself or [falling] back on facile mark making.” By visiting this exhibition, not only can Pingry students learn from their teachers as professional artists, but they can also learn more about their teachers and their artistic interests.

Blue Key and Pingry’s First-Ever Early Admissions Class

JOAQUIN STEVENSON (IV)

On Wednesday, January 4, the inaugural class of admitted early action students descended upon Pingry. As the halls buzzed with excitement, the group was welcomed by a special event held at the Basking Ridge campus. In preparation for this event, the Blue Key Club, led by Mr. Edwin Núñez, Director of Enrollment Management, and Ms. Freddie Schachter, Enrollment Counselor from the Enrollment Management Office,

worked to inspire enthusiasm and anticipation. The guidance provided by the advisors and the countless outreach planning meetings held by Blue Key members allowed for a polished message on Pingry to be delivered to the prospective students.

Blue Key members’ participation at open houses, at campus tours, and in hosting prospective students served as a way to spread Pingry’s important sense of community. Whether it be greeting the students with a smile, a quick conversation, or a welcome video, the Blue Key

members have been crucial in this admission process. “The single best thing about Pingry is the people. What I hear during almost every interview is that the students who gave the Blue Key tours were the number one marketing tool for Pingry - their warmth, confidence, humor, and maturity really stand out. I am so grateful to all of our Blue Key members for taking the time out of their day (time that they could spend seeing teachers, hanging with friends, or working on homework) to share their pride and knowledge

of Pingry with visiting guests,” Ms. Schacter said. Leading up to the early action release date on December 15, events and tours were in high demand. For Mr. Núñez, Director of Enrollment Management, “The highlight of this admissions cycle has been, without a doubt, the work and spirit of the Blue Key members.” Throughout the fall, buddies showed prospective students a day in the life of a Pingry student, leading them through their school day and classes. Buddies also met the prospective students at Friday Night Lights and Homecoming, to name a few of the many events. The Academic Open House was packed with families learning about the copious learning opportunities available at Pingry. In late fall, the Sports Open House showcased the many sports that Pingry has to offer. Prospective students and families were

able to meet the coaches and our student athletes, only increasing interest in Pingry. As December rolled around, our Blue Key tour guides were still sharing their experiences with prospective families regarding the Honor Code, advisory, activities, and school events, among other experiences at Pingry. Finally, on Wednesday, January 4, Pingry welcomed the applicants accepted through early admission. Blue Key will continue to support the Enrollment Management office, as the admissions cycle is not over yet. Once again with appreciation for Blue Key, Mr. Núñez expressed, “They have attended every admissions event, developed new creative approaches, and have made prospective families feel at home in our Pingry community. Honestly, at this point, I am worried that they are better than me at my job.” Fear not, Mr. Núñez, you are irreplaceable!

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Sriya Tallapragada (IV), Google

SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (IV)

The John Hanly Lecture Series began in 1999 in honor of former Headmaster John Hanly's retirement. Over the years, Pingry has invited a variety of speakers to discuss modern ethical challenges for the lecture. The 2023 Hanly Lecture was

John Hanly Lecture

held on Friday, January 20. Before the speech, current Head of School Tim Lear gave a brief overview of Mr. Hanly’s legacy. He recognized Mr. Hanly for his commitment as an educator and shared a story about Mr. Hanly’s integrity and dedication to upholding his own ethical code. Afterward, he introduced this year's speaker, Mr. David Gelber '59.

Gelber is the executive producer of Years of Living Dangerously, an Emmy Award-winning documentary series about the first-hand experiences of people living through climate change. His company, The Years Project (@ yearsofliving on Instagram), is a form of multimedia communication about climate change that has taken social media by storm. In his talk, Gelber discussed the intersection between the oil industry and the global warming crisis Earth is facing. Specifically, he spoke about Lee Raymond’s legacy. As former CEO of Exxon, Raymond was the subject of controversy during growing concern over climate change. From an ethical standpoint, Gelber discussed the lasting implications of poor decisions made by Raymond: "By covering up that information he had, Lee Raymond and other oil company executives wasted 40 years that could have been spent investing in a clean

energy economy, with solar and wind power. Instead, we are in the mess we are today, not even sure if we have enough time that has to be done before it is too late.”

Gelber stressed the importance of internalizing the Honor Code before poor moral decisions are made: "If they were grading Raymond's performance on account of Pingry's Honor Code, I bet they would have given him a resounding ‘F,’ sent him to summer school, and told him to do

a hell of a lot better next time." His speech concluded with discourse on the current politicized state over the climate change debate and how this directly reflects politicians putting their own interests ahead of the common good. Thanks to Gelber, the Pingry halls clamored with newlyinspired discussions after his speech, students and faculty alike considering the weight of their personal decisions in a new light.

MLK Day Assembly: Featuring Keynote Speaker Andre Bradford

OLIVIA BUVANOVA (IV)

On January 13, the community gathered for the annual MLK assembly to reflect on and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. This year's keynote speaker, Andrew Bradford, performed original slam poetry—a style of communication which focuses on empathy and understanding others. Bradford’s performance featured poems about inclusion, mental health awareness and the power behind a small act of kindness. His mastery of slam poetry conveyed the difference one can make when viewing life from another perspective.

Bradford started performing slam poetry when he was 15, through his high school and college theater programs.

After graduating from the USC School of Theatre, Bradford performed poetry for schools across the country. In recent years, Bradford became the Texas National Poetry Grand Slam Finalist, which led to the release of his book of poetry, Golden Brown Skin Reflecting on his decision

to become a motivational speaker, Bradford notes, “There was something about the rawness and the vulnerability that immediately drew me in… slam poetry, revealing fragments of my life through personal anecdotes, would help audiences see how life-changing implementing more intentional

empathy could be in their lives.”

Bradford started the assembly with a greeting: Sawubona. The English equivalent of “hello,” Sawubona directly translates to “I see you” among the northern tribes of South Africa. In his poetry, Bradford tied in this unique phrase with the utmost importance of recognizing the

worth and dignity of each person.

Bradford titled his show

“Kintsukuroi: On Empathy and Other Things,” drawing inspiration from the Japanese art form Kintsugi. Kintsugi is a a process of mending broken pieces of pottery together using a golden lacquer. The finished work becomes arguably more

beautiful after it is broken. Using this as a metaphor for healing empathy, Bradford created a memorable show, driving home the idea that whether knowing a person for five minutes or five years, you only truly know them after a deep, genuine, and empathetic conversation.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications, Google Images

CHELSEA PENG (V)

Books by romance and young adult fiction author Colleen Hoover outsold copies of the Bible in 2022. Don’t recognize her name?

Think It Ends With Us , Verity , and Ugly Love . She blew up on social media during the pandemic, with 2.4 billion views on the hashtag to her name and millions of reviews on GoodReads. Though ranging in genre, the common denominators in her stories are intense drama and jaw-dropping plot twists. Readers raved about

CoHo Hate Club

her plotlines, quoted profound dialogue, fell in love with the characters, and cried over endings.

As a romance novel consumer myself, it seemed I could not scroll far on TikTok without seeing Hoover’s name at least once, largely in reference to her 2016 bestseller, It Ends With Us. Filled with shocking flashbacks to her protagonist’s teenage past, Hoover tells a tale of domestic violence and the journey to recovery. Surely this engaging story, with its meaningful message and personable characters that skyrocketed Hoover to stardom, is

universally recognized as one of the best young adult novels of all time and has made Hoover beloved by countless fans across the world. That couldn’t be more wrong. Now that Hoover’s rise to stardom is over, the rising number of Hoover’s haters are beginning to overwhelm “CoHorts,” the name given to her die-hard fans. This negativity is so widespread and extreme that some critics have even gone so far as to proclaim they will never touch one of her books in their life. While critics denounce her immature, clichéd, and shallow writing style, others despise her sex scenes, common tropes, and the overrated quality of her books.

As for myself, I enjoyed Pingry’s American Literature course and am an avid reader outside of school. I also have a deep appreciation for classics and sharply criticize books in lengthy reviews on my GoodReads profile. So here’s the kicker: I’m writing this article in defense of Colleen Hoover.

Let me clarify. This is not a fan article, nor am I giving her any sort of superlative like “Best Author of Our Time.” Her novels are nowhere near literary masterpieces, but they’re dramatic, easy reads and, although filled with scenarios that might be unrealistic, they are entertaining to many. Not

every book has to be the most profound, life-changing piece of literature on the planet. Instead, they’re just your classic in-onesitting novels with a message. With simple and easy-to-understand storylines, many have said that Hoover helped them get back into reading for pleasure. Someone who hasn’t willingly picked up a book in years isn’t looking for a The Great Gatsby or a Jane Eyre . Maybe a collection of slightly cringey stories is just what they need.

Many also criticize Hoover for her glorification of abusive relationships in It Ends With Us (For those who have not read it yet, there are major spoilers ahead in this paragraph.) The way I see it, she is just being realistic. She lets the reader fall in love with Ryle and his charismatic character alongside Lily so they can understand Lily’s internal conflict once the abuse begins. Hoover’s “glorification” of their relationship when it was healthy depicts the actual struggle of women deciding whether or not to leave their toxic partners, whether the reason to stay is their children, security, or simply love. People express their frustration over Lily constantly justifying Ryle’s actions time and time again, but unfortunately, that is what happens in real life. Life

is filled with twisted characters, bad decisions, and trauma. Books with these themes help us see different perspectives and confront uncomfortable truths about society. Ultimately, Lily breaks up with Ryle once and for all. She becomes firm in her rejection, finally overcoming a period of emotional turmoil to obtain a positive and relieving outcome. You can question her execution, but her intentions are crystal clear.

The current overwhelming hate towards Hoover is simply another example of a societal phenomenon that happens again and again. Anything hyped up, especially to the degree of Hoover’s books, eventually receives a lot of backlash. After all, the one-star reviews only started piling up once millions of five-star reviews came in. When an author has such success—especially since there is nothing extraordinary about her writing—people are quick to exaggerate every negative element. If you’ve read Hoover’s books and hated them, then all the power to you. No book can be for every person. If you liked them, however, then that’s all that matters. They’re just fiction. Books are meant to be read, and some are written to be enjoyed, not analyzed.

Studying Abroad: Reflections of a High School Student

GRACE FERNICOLA (V)

Last summer, I leaped outside of my comfort zone. I always wanted to experience an immersion into a different culture and language, and the opportunity to leave the New Jersey suburbs for a fiveweek program in Zaragoza, Spain, through School Year Abroad (SYA) was a dream come true. However, I quickly realized adjusting to life in a foreign country, especially while staying with a group of strangers, was much easier said than done.

Prior to my departure, I texted my host sister for several days, and was so excited to see her and the community where I would be living. With this, I was heading to Zaragoza with an open mind. However, immediately after greeting my host family with an awkward “hola,” I panicked. Everything I learned over my five years of Spanish classes left my head. How was it possible for people to talk that fast? Were they speaking to me, or about me? Even when spoken to, I only smiled and tried to keep my composure.

It all seemed to fall apart once I settled into my host family’s guest room alone, worrying about the weeks ahead. I called my mom and told her I could not understand my host family, did not like this study abroad idea after all, and wanted to come home. Immediately. My mom merely listened, gave me a slightly sympathetic sigh, and

told me to hang in there. It will get easier each day, she told me.

As much as I hate to admit it, my mom was right. As the days passed and my classes at SYA started, I began to live a new life. I started to overcome the language barrier, which initially prevented me from bonding with my host family. I was forbidden to speak English with my classmates. If I needed help from my teachers, a comical exchange would ensue between us: I would ask them questions in

broken Spanish, and they would give me equally broken responses which I did not understand.

Surviving a new house with four strangers required lots of adaptation. I adjusted to their diet, which consisted of few vegetables and fruit, but a surplus of potatoes and ham. When I accompanied them to the food market, I would look at all the products that never made their way into our shopping cart. After a couple of weeks, I desperately craved a vegetable

and left school during a break and bought a cucumber from a vegetable stand, downing the entire thing unpeeled right on the street. Few things had ever tasted so good!

As I grew to no longer mind huevos rotos or lukewarm beverages, I also learned a lot. I figured out when to laugh at my host dad’s corny jokes about American pop culture. I taught myself to sleep while the family’s cat, Lola, sat on my head, and my host brother played his electric guitar at night. My teachers

warned me that Spanish teenagers talk very fast, so I started to replay everything my host sister said in my head to dissect the words later and ensure I fully understood what she meant. I made friends with some Spanish teenagers on my own, without speaking any English with them, and they helped me improve my Spanish by correcting my mistakes and teaching me colloquial words never taught in a classroom. I adjusted the way I dressed, especially after discovering flip-flops are not socially acceptable in public, even in 100-degree heat, and sweatpants and sweatshirts are strictly worn as pajamas. Zaragoza became less of a mystery to me. I navigated the streets alone, without an international data plan for online directions. Although I often needed help, I eventually figured out the train and bus schedules to get to and from school. I became skilled at ducking into the nearest Starbucks or McDonald’s for a few minutes of Wi-Fi, so I could Google Maps my way back to school, memorizing the streets I needed to take. I also learned to read a paper map for the first time.

During my time in Spain, I had to become independent, a skill I’d honestly never had to use at home. Studying abroad taught me how to adapt to unexpected difficulties, as well as how to solve problems all on my own. As terrifying and overwhelming as it was at times, I can’t wait to do it again!

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Kain Wang (V)

I’ve always been wary of swimming in lakes and ponds. It’s not that I’m scared of swimming, as I’ve been competitively swimming for most of my life, but my fear stems from the uncertainty of not being able to see the bottom of the murky waters and what may be lurking beneath. At summer camp, I would nervously jump

The Diving Board

into the dark waters of Lake Shawanni to pass the swim test but quickly retreat to the safety of the dock for the rest of the summer.

In a way, this is what being a second-semester senior has felt like. Pingry has been my “pool,” with clear and familiar waters. My friends and teachers have been lifeguards, guiding me through my high school experience as I take the plunge. With graduation on the horizon, I’m scared of what lies ahead and being unable to see the bottom.

I’m not exactly sure what I even want to study. I entered Pingry as a freshman, intent on pursuing medicine or research as a career. However, my mindset has drastically changed over the past four years. My interests have since expanded to include the

humanities, economics, and public policy. There are so many different areas that appeal to me, but it’s difficult to do everything when there’s only a finite amount of time. It feels like everyone around me has figured out their path and narrowed their interests, while I’ve been left behind to grapple with the different directions every choice could lead me down. While there’s no clear resolution for my current fears besides giving myself time, I’ve been trying to channel my nervousness into excitement for trying new things. With my ISP, I decided to take a chance on a newfound interest and gain experience in a field outside of what I’ve been involved with. It will take some time to figure out who I am and where I am going, but I’m growing more fond of the prospect

of diving into areas outside of my comfort zone. I’m looking forward to new experiences, meeting new people, and discovering who I am. As I step off the diving board, I am both scared and excited about what lies ahead. But I know I am ready to face the unknown, to embrace the uncertainty, and to

find my own path. Whether it’s in the depths of a lake or in the twists and turns of my future, I am learning to embrace uncertainty and fear as opportunities for growth and discovery. I may not know what lies at the bottom of these murky waters, but I am willing to dive in and find out.

You Don’t Mess Around with “Jim”

ADAM ELAYAN (V)

Picture an old-fashioned tough guy: big-muscled, cigarette-smoking, womanizing, confident to the max, and never to be messed with. Jim Croce was a master at telling stories about these types of men, and “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” stands as perhaps his most iconic example. His story of “Big Jim Walker” has since been mistaken for an anthem meant to empower and aggrandize the macho-man character. I was guilty of this interpretation too, and for a long time, I believed Jim Walker to be cut from the same cloth as the Hollywood gunslingers my dad used to tell me about. Not only that, but I also believed that because Croce chose his name to give the song’s protagonist, he aligned himself with the character. Continuing with this line of thinking, I again was presumptuous enough to go into his 1972 album, also called You Don’t Mess Around with Jim, thinking that the album would reflect the

character he put forth in the title track.

I was taken aback, however, by the man Croce revealed himself to be when the album rolled past its titular first track. Seconds after the last notes of “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” Croce peels back his layers for the listener, and what emerges is a deeply sensitive, emotionally honest, and incredibly vulnerable man completely incompatible with the folk hero who we realized could only share Croce’s first name by coincidence. The singer’s decision to transition to the first person after “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” leaves no room to question that he and the character have no relation.

Throughout the rest of the album, Croce attributes to himself every character trait incompatible with the heroes he is so adept at portraying. Instead of bragging about being a womanizer, Croce is tender and committed, and he sings of comforting his lovers and how he cherishes the time he spends with them in “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be a Brighter Day,” “A Long

Time Ago,” and “Time in a Bottle.” Rather than being emotionally closed off and quick to move on, Croce faces his heartbreak head-on in “Walkin’ Back to Georgia,” “Photographs & Memories,” and “Operator (That’s Not the Way it Feels),” divulging his regrets and mourning the loss of his relationships while leaving no question that he only has himself to blame. He grapples with insecurity and failure in “Hard Time Losin’ Man,” “New York’s Not My Home,” and “Box #10,” lamenting his failed dreams and poverty while admitting to loneliness and desperation in the final song, “Hey Tomorrow.” The through line in all of these songs—excluding “Rapid Roy (That Stock Car Boy),” which is another tale of a womanizing, cigarettesmoking, fast car-driving bad boy—is that of unfiltered honesty and intimacy. While “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” may as well be a spaghetti western, most of the remainder of the album reads like Croce’s therapy session, each stroke of honesty further

admitting that his initial portrayal of Jim is nothing more than a fable. It is certainly no coincidence that the album takes the song’s title and that the cover depicts Croce standing in a window sporting a cigar and a glare; the image serves as an entry into Croce’s psyche, presenting a stoic facade that is reinforced right as the album begins. The first two minutes of the album make us believe unequivocally that indeed, you don’t mess around with Jim, and that Jim must be Jim Croce. When Jim Walker is defeated in the song’s third verse by a man accusing him of stealing—a part of the song I chose to ignore until I realized the message of the rest of the album—all of our respect for him is lost, and we realize that what comes next cannot possibly be self-aggrandizement on the part of Croce. It is from there that Jim is no longer a name that brings intimidation with it. Croce then beckons over to us and lets us in through his window, smiling warmly and offering us a puff of his cigar.

Word in the Halls

What do you do when you are sad?

-

“I like to

A long walk with music and

really helps me decompress.”

-

MIRIKA JAMBUDI (VI)

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Kain Wang (V), Google Images, Hansen Zhang (V)

I’ll take some time off to focus on myself and do what’s necessary for myself to be happy before I return to my normal self.”

- Max Naseef (V)

“I mostly try to do things that I enjoy: I’ll read, watch videos, play video games I like, and sleep a lot. I try to focus on happy things.”

- Leon Zhou (V)

“In the moment, I’ll try to focus on my breathing to settle down. I’ve also found that it’s beneficial for me to get some outdoor time in nature because it really helps me to relax and be more mindful.”

Ms. Ballard

go on long walks outside.

friends

Zach Burns (VI)

- Isabel Caldis (III)

MILENKA MEN (VI)

How many 11:11 wishes does one get? The average life expectancy is around 76 years old. 76 years times 365 days times two 11:11 wishes per day arrives at 55,480 wishes total, and that includes wishes from when you were still an infant. So really, you’re getting less than 55,480 wishing opportunities at the end of the day.

You see, this morning I got to use one of my wishes— no, I can’t tell you or that would defeat the purpose (duh). In the middle of my Electric Charge and Field WebAssign, I just happened to look up, catching the clock right at that 60-second interval before the moment would pass all too soon. I suddenly felt stuck. I had who

knows how many seconds left to decide wisely on one single wish that had the power to change my life forever. Did I want to choose something about my greatest hopes and dreams? Or did I want to choose the ability to understand the Kinetics Unit in AP Chemistry for the test tomorrow? As the clock counted down to 11:12, I

wasted my seconds, crushed by the pressure of decision making in this limbo space. And so the one turned to a two, and I lost it. After a few sad moments of realization, I asked myself, “Hey, when was the last time this happened?” I couldn’t quite remember. 55,480 seems like a lot, but to coincidentally notice

that line of ones, to catch those two 60-second chances isn’t easy. You get 120 seconds out of 86,400 seconds in a day to strike gold— a 0.1% chance. I suppose that’s the magic of these wishes; unanticipated, surprising, and smile-inducing every time.

The statistically impossibility doesn’t even touch upon a myriad

Lunar New Year in the In-Between

CAROLYN ZHOU (IV)

Every year, nearly 2.5 million Chinese Americans gather across the country to celebrate the fifteen-day festival known as the Lunar New Year. While this is not an experience exclusive to just Chinese culture, every family has unique customs and traditions. My family used to get together over heaps of food and watch the CCTV New Year’s Gala (Chunwan)— an entertainment program usually branded as government propaganda or youthful nostalgia, depending on what type of Chinese diaspora you talk to. However, unsurprisingly, as I grew older, these childhood traditions faded in favor of the present-day hustle.

This year, I spent the Lunar New Year the same way I spend most days; hunched over at my desk, sifting through mountains of homework, and anxiously contemplating my academic future. My sister and mom were getting pizza after a soccer game, and my dad was reclining on the couch, watching the NFL Divisional Playoffs. A truly AllAmerican experience. It is hard to get in the collective festive spirit

when your nearest relatives live 7,000+ miles and 13 time zones away. Holding a conversation with my grandparents is nearly only possible with having to consult Google Translate frequently. I could never convey the exact picture of my emotions as I would in English, as some things need to be clarified in translation. After nine years of Chinese school, Mandarin was and never will be a fluent language for me, even though it was my long-forgotten first.

My lack of celebrative spirit on the single most important Chinese holiday painfully exposed the perpetual cultural disconnect that I and many immigrants, first-generation, and minority groups grapple with. How does one reconcile a completely different language, culture, and customs of a previous life with the new one their parents worked so hard to forge for them? Being a first-generation immigrant is a bizarre and hard-to-describe experience. It is like grieving the possibility of a life you did not even know you could have while still wanting to fit into the one you do. Squeezing yourself between

two wildly different cultures but never fitting into either. Does that sound ungrateful? Sure. But my Mandarin would be better if I had grown up in China. Perhaps I wouldn’t be so self-conscious of my appearance, habits, or even the food I enjoy if I had grown up surrounded by people who look and practice the same customs. Maybe I wouldn’t feel so isolated all the time if I had relatives nearby, ready to shower me with their affection. And maybe I would not find myself constantly questioning my ethnic and cultural identities. Except, I know deep down that that’s not true. As much as I’m constantly reminded of my Chinese heritage, I still identify more as American. I grew up here, and English is my preferred language. I feel the most comfortable in the same 2-story house I’ve lived in for 12 years. But I also like Starbucks as much as I like bubble tea. I eat pasta and pizza as often as I do dumplings and rice cake (but I still refuse to endorse ranch dressing).

I love a good American sitcom as much as I love Chinese animation (donghua). If I want to forge my

of other reasons for why catching the clock at 11:11 is so difficult. I thought about it. How often do we look up from the work we do? With the clock constantly ticking, deadlines approaching, and assignments piling on top of each other, we barely have enough time to think about breathing. Besides that buzz of Google Calendar to remind us where we are in the great whirligig of time, it’s all too easy to get lost. But that one time you happen to come across 11:11, it’s like a blessing. A short respite from the outside world where you’re allowed to marvel in that 0.1% chance. So take it.

Take every unanticipated and surprising chance. Even if its for 60 seconds. I’ve got too many wishes to count, and the next time, I’ll embrace it. It’s not some guarantee, but at least it gives me something I need most—a break. I’ll wish for the first thing that pops into my head. Even if its just to breathe. Every 11:11 wish is one in a thousand. And that’s pretty incredible. Like a little reminder from the universe telling you to live. Don’t waste your 11:11 wishes.

own in-between cultural identity, I will have to find a space for myself.

This year, for example, I started a family tradition of wrapping dumplings on New Year’s via a mix of Instagram tutorials and my grandmother’s guidance over the phone. Sure, they might not have been perfect or authentic, but they were my expression of my complex cultural identity in delicious bite-sized food form.

So, in this wildly inconclusive week-long identity journey, I have yet to find an answer to my

disconnect dilemma. I may never be fully Chinese or fully American, but is that really a bad thing? Living in the in-between can be a unique and thrilling experience when I’m not so caught up worrying about checking off boxes or pitting one culture against another. After all, do any high schoolers know who they are? My cultural identity is constantly changing and evolving, and that’s all right. And while I am still figuring all of this out, there is one thing I can say for sure.

Happy Lunar New Year, 新年快乐!

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Kain Wang (V)

SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (IV)

George Santos. Sam BankmanFried. Elizabeth Holmes. Even Pingry’s own Billy McFarland. Chances are you’ve heard these names in the news recently, often along with unflattering titles like “American Fraudster” or “Congressional Con Man.”

Over the past few months I’ve been following these stories pretty closely, mainly because I’ve been struggling to see how these executives were able to justify their series of bad decisions that drove some of the biggest empires in the world straight into the ground. I originally believed that these individuals decided to cheat because they lack moral compasses or simply out of a desire to expand.

While these all likely contributed, their motives go far beyond that. What I found was that, in all of these cases, it was an extreme fear of failure that drove them to make those unethical decisions. Let’s look at Pingry’s most notorious alumnus, Billy McFarland. Last year I watched the Fyre Festival

CAYDEN BARRISON (VI)

As the clock struck 12:00 a.m. on January 1 this year, I, like many others, hoped that this new year would bring positive change and unity to our country. Unfortunately, this dream was pretty much destroyed in less than a week. That is, it took a historic 15 rounds of voting just for the House of Representatives to elect Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. This does not inspire much confidence in me; how are Democrats and Republicans possibly supposed to work together to lead the country? It is inevitable that these two parties will disagree on many issues, but it seems like each party is becoming increasingly polarized with every passing month. The disastrous speaker vote, as well as discussions in my AP Government class, have made me wonder if the American population and political parties have ever been this divided.

It would definitely be shortsighted to consider 2023 as the most contentious time in American history. A quick jump back in time sees the United States literally breaking apart

It’s Time to Redefine Failure

documentary on Netflix (against my better judgment), which I can only describe as watching one hour and 37 minutes of an idea completely falling apart in a disastrous, public way. Throughout the documentary, the individuals who organized the festival kept ignoring warning signs and making

to lie, entrepreneurs to cheat, and generally, causes the epic meltdown of their livelihoods. But this fear of failure isn’t just exclusive to the elites of Washington or the titans of cryptocurrency. It’s something that high schoolers deal with on a daily basis.

Pingry is ranked as the number one

including pressure from parents or society to succeed academically, fear of not fitting in with peers, and anxiety over the future and finding a career. The high-stakes nature of high school, such as standardized testing and college admissions, certainly doesn’t help.

In fact, I admit to be someone

sacrifices until it was too late. While it wasn’t his intention to begin with, Billy McFarland was able to justify putting on this fraudulent festival simply because of a reluctance to lose money or let investors down. This same type of worry is what drives politicians

K-12 private school in New Jersey, a title that is very well deserved. I truly believe that you can find some of the smartest students in New Jersey walking down these halls. However, with this title comes an extraordinary fear of failure. It can stem from a variety of factors,

who struggles with this. I am one to stress myself out to reach goals, compare myself to others, and, generally, spend a lot of unnecessary energy worrying about things that are out of my control. Believe me, I’ve heard it all. JK Rowling was rejected by

A Country-Wide Divide

due to ideological differences in the North and South. While our battlefields today tend to be Facebook and Twitter, the battlefields of the Civil War saw the deaths of 620,000 Americans (via nps.gov). Political issues today do not really compare to the issue of slavery during the Civil War period, but if we look at American politics in

downward since its inception in 1981. In other words, every year our country is becoming more divided both in government and in the public. But why is this? This complicated question would probably take a whole essay to answer, so I will summarize what I believe is the most important. One reason is that regions of the country are becoming

groups, often by race or economic status. This consequently alienates many voters from the other political party and pushes them further toward the political right or left. As a result, many Democrats, Republicans, and the politicians that represent them refuse to consider the other’s opinions on issues, compounding the nation’s division.

12 publishers before publishing Harry Potter. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school varsity basketball team. But my fear always seems to pop up in my most vulnerable moments of dealing with rejection and frustration. My solution to this? Embrace failure, in any form. Any accomplished person, especially those in the professional class, has failed in some way. Behind each perfect resume is a mountain of secrets: colleges people didn’t get into, essays that were rejected, job applications that were discarded, etc. Failure is inevitable. It happens to everyone. If only we can learn to embrace failure and learn from it, we will find out that it is not so scary after all. After recently receiving rejections from my top choice summer programs, I feel like I’ve grown a lot stronger. In fact, I feel less hurt by the words “We regret informing you...” While I’m sure I’ll receive no shortage of rejections in the future, I am now confident enough in myself to know that my only true failure would be in giving up.

the scope of the past 40 years, it is fairly evident that division in our country has increased every year with the exception of 2001. The Vanderbilt Unity Index, which uses five inputs to scale the United States’ national cohesiveness, has been trending

increasingly split ideologically.

It has become commonplace for more rural and southern states to unconditionally vote red, while the coastal and higher-density states to unconditionally vote blue. More than ever, politicians have specifically targeted their voting

Perhaps the most important reason is social media. As these sites’ algorithms become stronger, more and more of the user’s feed becomes full of onesided information. I have even experienced this personally, with my TikTok feed becoming

increasingly riddled with videos corresponding to my political beliefs. In effect, social media is only showing the user what they want to see, completely isolating them from differing opinions. This has influenced many people to almost blindly hate their political “opponents” and think of them as misinformed or ignorant. Americans are beginning to only see one side of the coin, per se. Members of the other political party are now seen as enemies rather than people with contrasting beliefs. I think this has been the main reason why our country has recently become much more divided. Although there will never not be political conflict in our country, I still keep hope that we can lessen our divisions in the near future. To better unify our country, we first must target the sources of this divide. A potential way is through voting, which I am now able to do for the first time in my life. Although we are at the whims of companies like Facebook and Twitter when it comes to the flow of information, we are in control of who we elect to represent our interests. Choose wisely, Pingrians.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images, Vanderbilt University

EMMA DAVIDKHANIAN (IV)

Sleepovers: a novelty as a young child. Packing a sleeping bag, bringing clothes and necessities for the following morning, and heading

On Sleepovers

to a friend’s house was one of most exhilarating experiences growing up. It was the end goal of every playdate, every hang out, and an overall “rite of passage” for young Americans. The resistance against

one’s eyelids as they would become increasingly heavier with every blink and every minute towards midnight. The internal fight to not be the first one asleep or the last one awake when the sun rose. Come morning, the adrenaline from waking up in a foreign place sustains your true exhaustion through the car ride back home. Sleepovers, as draining as they were, were a true staple in everyone’s childhood, including mine. These small moments not only offered opportunities to escape the four walls of your home — you could be careless and silly, as well as a bit subversive — but also doorways into hidden worlds. You could catch a glimpse of other families’ lives and norms. But it may not be as romantic as it seems, as a greater debate about the safety and veracity of sleepovers has begun to take root.

According to Paula Fass, a teacher at the University of California, Berkeley, sleepovers are now a popular subject of Google searches filled with cautious remarks from

parents and an overwhelming theme of avoidance. As our impressionable society reads these remarks, Fass claims the result is “a decline of [sleepovers] as a regular experience among regular kids.”

In the past, when sleepovers were more than common, life was simpler.

Parents trusted other parents. In our world today, concerns about exposure at a young age, cultural differences, and the general safety of a child are rising. Though I appreciate these concerns about sleepovers, I do not understand why parents’ fears should prevent what could be a positive learning experience for their child. Why does it matter if the hosting family prays before a meal or if they have a different family structure? Will this small moment of the larger experience taint the rest of a child’s life? Or would it simply make for a slightly uncomfortable feeling that could vanish within minutes? Sleepovers provide an introductory experience of empowerment and an introduction to real life. Since

children have limited control over their daily lives, small choices, like which movie to watch or what food to eat, sleepovers allow them to feel independent for a short period of time. According to an article by Erika Christakis in The Atlantic, a child’s exposure to opportunities to learn from other families can be a positive factor in that child’s development. Through experiences in which they navigate their independence, make their own decisions, and gain exposure to new cultures, children are able to better adjust to the real world and new environments. The world is a dangerous place. If you look for it, there is danger in everything. But in the world we live in, the fear of introducing children to the smallest differences will only push future generations further apart. More than ever, in order to prevent this and to prevent our differences from harming society, parents need to be more open to the exposure that sleepovers can provide.

LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: The Age-Old Question

TREY MAULTSBY (V)

The debate over who deserves the title of “best basketball player” is an ongoing one that may never be settled. Although there are many legends of the game, the consensus is that LeBron James and Michael Jordan are the two top players. They have sparked an unimaginable number of heated arguments over who the better player, or basketball G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time), is. Both have achieved their own assortment of remarkable statistics and awards, and carved out unparalleled careers, effectively becoming icons on and off the court.

The pro-Jordan argument is often based on his accolades and awards. He famously won six NBA Championships, with a record of 6-0 in the finals. He was the NBA Finals MVP six times, the NBA MVP five times, and the NBA scoring leader ten times. Jordan had an astonishing career average of 30.1 points per game. Along with these awards, he was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1988 and was selected to nine All-NBA Defensive first teams.

In comparison, James has won four NBA Championships and is a fourtime NBA Finals MVP and four-time regular season MVP. He has been the NBA scoring leader four times and has a career average of 27.2 points per game. James has made the AllNBA Defensive first team five times.

Although Jordan objectively has the better accolades, many people believe James has the edge because of his overall skill and ability. James has the clear physical advantage. He stands at 6’9” and weighs about 255 pounds. Jordan, on the other hand, is 6’6” and

weighed a much lighter 215 pounds in his prime. James is considered to be one of, if not the most, versatile players ever, with an ability to score, pass, and rebound at a very high

One other advantage James has over Jordan is his incredibly long basketball career. Jordan retired at the age of 32 after 15 seasons in the NBA, and James is still playing

is the only player in NBA history with 30,000 points, 10,000 assists, and 10,000 rebounds, illustrating his extraordinary durability.

When it comes to other qualities

level. He is extremely intelligent and has a unique capability to make plays for himself and teammates. James has been surrounded by weaker talent and faced tougher opponents than Jordan ever did throughout his career. James has taken subpar teams all the way to the NBA Finals with unbelievable performances.

at an MVP level at age 38. James has shown zero decline in what is now his 20th NBA season. James will become the highest scoring NBA player ever in a month with 38.388 points. This is possibly the most distinguished award in the league, despite scoring not being James greatest strength. James

that don’t show up on the stats, such as leadership and “clutchness,” both players are in a league of their own. Jordan was known for his incredible will to win, while James is known for his ability to inspire and motivate his teammates. Jordan was a fierce competitor who had a knack for making big shots when

the game was on the line, while James often takes over games and carries his team to victory. So back to the question. Of course, there is no easy answer, and this topic will continue to be debated until the end of time. But, alas, because of his superior ability in all aspects of the game other than “volume” (less-efficient) scoring and perimeter defense, the most dominant and greatest person to ever touch a basketball is none other than the king himself, LeBron James.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Kain Wang (V), Google Images

MIRIKA JAMBUDI (VI)

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, February is the perfect time to curl up with a good book on the couch—preferably with chocolate nearby. With a mix of classics and recent releases, here are some of my must-read novels to keep you going through the month. The first on my list is On Earth

We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. The book is written as a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. The speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties and reveals his family’s history from Vietnam before eventually settling

Mirika’s Reading Range

in Hartford, Connecticut. It follows his coming-of-age journey as a gay male teenager, growing up as an immigrant and living in poverty. This book took me on an emotional journey. It felt less like reading a novel, and more like reading passages about several connected moments. Brief sections give glimpses into Little Dog’s life and the complexity of his relationships with his family and immigrant life. The lyrical prose challenges the traditional narrative of a novel, but also provides more introspective reflections in free form. It’s not a conventional novel, but the thematic and linguistic elements have made On Earth

We’re Briefly Gorgeous one of my favorite books that I’ve read recently. Another must-read is The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. The book follows the journey of Esperanza Corder, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago. She moves from apartment to apartment each year with her family until they buy their first house on Mango Street. The book is told through a series of vignettes, similar to On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous . As Esperanza grapples with her different identities and tries to define herself as a

woman and artist, her perception of her identity changes throughout the novel. She transforms from a child to a young adult, and the setting of Chicago showcases the intersection of ethnicity and class as she grows up. Esperanza accepts her place in her community, and uses writing to help her understand her identity. Writing her own stories and poems allows her to leave Mango Street emotionally and physically. These different snapshots show how Esperanza changes and how these experiences have opened her eyes in a new way. There’s no real central plot line of conflict, so the book lacks the conventions found in short

stories or novels. However, it’s a book that is definitely worth reading for the introspection that follows. It wouldn’t be right to end off without a rom-com recommendation in the spirit of Valentine’s Day. The final book you should add to your collection is Book Lovers by Emily Henry. It has the perfect combination of character development, comedy, and romance, without any element being overplayed or too sentimental. The story revolves around Nora, a successful literary agent, and Charlie, an editor with a reputation for finding bestsellers. I enjoyed watching the development of Nora’s and Charlie’s relationship throughout the book. Witty banter, amusing emails, and bookstore interactions craft a perfect contemporary romance. The smalltown vibe adds a cozy element to the book, and the characters jump off the page. It’s a humorous and emotionally warm hug of a book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In the meantime, I’ll be waiting for Emily Henry’s next book, Happy Place, to be released in April. Some honorable mentions that are also rom-coms include The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle, People We Meet

Mr. Pi’s Sushi

KEIRA CHEN (V)

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve got a bit of a history with Mr. Pi’s Sushi. As a kid, I took dance classes near the restaurant, so every Tuesday, my dad and I would make a stop there to grab my standard takeout order—fried rice, no green onion, sometimes with a bottle of strawberry ramune, a type of Japanese soda—before heading home. As I grew older and quit dancing, I visited the establishment less often. However, my family remained loyal customers as we returned again and again on holidays and weekends to have a meal. The owner, Mr. Pi, always greeted me with a smile and a high five before starting a conversation with my dad. For years, Mr. Pi’s Sushi remained far above any other restaurant in my eyes. But then COVID happened,

and Mr. Pi’s Sushi shut down. Luckily, they were not gone forever; the restaurant decided to move from my hometown of Warren to Highland Park. Being busy with school, I only had the chance to go to their new location a few months ago. The new location is much bigger than the previous establishment, with the seating arranged in a large L shape that wraps around the corner of the building, and has a few private rooms. I was there to grab takeout, so I didn’t get a good look at everything, but one thing was for sure: Mr. Pi’s Sushi was no longer the same

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Wang

on Vacation by Emily Henry, The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros, Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. Obviously, you also cannot go wrong by reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I hope you get the chance to pick up any of these books and add them to your shelf! The upcoming long weekend is the perfect time to curl up with a good book. As always, happy reading!

restaurant I knew as a kid. While the location changed, the restaurant also rebranded, adding “Kumamoto Ramen” to the name to signify the menu’s newest addition: ramen noodles. Of course, I tried some, and went home with a bowl of crispy chicken ramen and my other orders. Before Mr. Pi’s Sushi moved, I had a single dish I ordered every time: the signature fried rice. To me, that rice was the pinnacle of food, heaven on a plate, or in a takeout box. Beyond that, kani salad, shrimp tempura, squid rings, miso soup, gyoza, and edamame—which always tasted better than when I made it myself— were all dishes that frequently appeared on my family’s table. My parents typically ordered sushi or sashimi on the rare occasions we dined in the restaurant, and I found the udon and desserts—mochi ice

cream in particular—were quite good. However, after my first bite of the new fried rice, I wondered what had happened to the cooking staff. The rice I remembered was simple but miraculous—fried eggs, carrots, and peas tossed in golden-brown rice that made any other fried rice I ever had seem incomparable. The rice now in front of me was completely different; the color was paler, and there were green beans for some reason. Seriously, who puts green beans in fried rice? Disappointment sank in.

Don’t get me wrong, the rice was still good, but it just could not live up to what it had once been. I was, however, pleased with the ramen, even if the amount of soup and noodles were suspiciously lacking compared to the size of the takeout bowl. Although I was not completely satisfied with what I ordered, I am looking forward to trying more of Mr. Pi’s dishes, especially as I had not branched out much when I was little. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even find a new favorite.

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Mirika Jambudi Milenka Men

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Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images, Mr. Pi’s Sushi Kumamoto Ramen

DIEGO GALVAN (IV)

The University of Georgia ended this year’s college football season by embarrassing Texas Christian University in front of a national audience with a 65-7 win. This was the largest margin of victory for a national championship in college football history. This game perfectly represents a

How College Football Can Be Fixed

major issue in college football: the large discrepancy of talent between teams at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. College football is currently reaching a low point in its history, with many top players opting out of bowl games, top programs dominating, and unwatchable games taking place during the regular season. This

year, many top players looking to be drafted into the NFL in 2023 opted out of their team’s bowl game, including Texas running back Bijan Robinson, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, and Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., demonstrating their lack of interest in playing at this level. No one cares about bowl games anymore, because frankly, they don’t matter. Once the college football playoff was created, there was no longer a reason for players to risk injury and draft stock in a game that does not affect their team’s season. The NCAA has already taken measures to keep fans and players interested by expanding the playoff to twelve teams. This way, more teams will have a shot

at the title, and more players will stay opted-in and keep games entertaining. The NCAA should fix the bowl games by removing many of the lower-level games and making the bowl games more exclusive. A bowl game should be held exclusively for teams who finish in the top 25 and are conference champions so all games have value and are entertaining to the viewer. Another potential solution would be to make teams play more in-conference games. Many times throughout the season we see great teams play lowerlevel schools simply to maintain their good record. These games are far from interesting and almost always end in a blowout. The NCAA should not allow teams to pay for their games

Phone Eats First: The Menu

JULIA ENG (V)

Mark Mylod’s The Menu has everything a girl could ever want—a fine dining experience gone wrong, that dude who plays Tony in the 2010’s hit teen series Skins, purposeful violence, and Anya Taylor Joy. On a private island, famous Chef Julian Slowik treats Tyler, a crazed fan, and Margot, his plus one, as well as other upper-class guests to exclusive dishes harvested from the land around them… all for the low price of $1,250 per customer. From one course to the next, Slowik’s culinary monologues become increasingly disturbing, beginning with the tame encouragement, “Do not eat. Taste. Savor. Relish,” and gradually continuing to reveal the failures and sins of his staff, guests, and himself. He informs the guests of their unexpected fate—they are unwilling, but perhaps deserving, participants in the menu.

Slowik’s motives are made clear. Without revealing too much, it can be simplified as a desire to take revenge on those who have made food, an essential facet of life, into a luxury experience for the upper class. I found myself sympathetic with the “villain” of the story, understanding his longing for freedom from what was once his

love for food, and is now nothing but a lifeless, money-making scheme. While watching the film, I pitied him when no one quite understood his satirical criticisms and cries for help in the form of braised chicken thighs or laser-etched tortillas. Slowik humorously acknowledges the lack of bread on the menu (as bread is historically the food of the poor, which his guests are not) by serving them with the so-called “Breadless Bread Plate,” a porcelain plate of bread accompaniments that accompany nothing. Though Margot, the protagonist, is not as gullible as her peers, the guests dig in as they exalt the “genius” of Slowik’s words, unknowingly partaking in and proving his Marxist criticism. He even offers Margot the chance to join the side of the kitchen crew after noticing she is unlike the rest of his guests, saying, in classic bourgeois-versus-proletariat fashion, “It’s our side or theirs.”

The film operates on a similar clever level as Parasite, Midsommar , or Snowpiercer , weaving a cautionary tale about privilege, arrogance, and survival. Guests photograph their dishes for social media, treat Slowik like a twisted deity with whom they entrust their lives, bargain for mercy with money and status, and act

without respect for the culinary arts or the providers that make such dining experiences possible. And, as goes in the modern day thriller: for pride and folly, one pays the price with one’s life. What makes The Menu different from other thrillers of its kind where the entitled victims deserve their fate, though each of the aforementioned films is great in its own right, is its intentional hypocrisy; The Menu was painstakingly written, directed, and shot to be consumed by unknown viewers in the same way that Slowik cooks food. To put it nicely, ultimately ejected by the bodies of strangers. Even as I write this article, I think about my experience consuming the movie: taking

down lines in my notes app for future reference, carefully bookmarking details and inconsistencies, and analyzing what social commentary could be gleaned from the film, all to miss the point entirely. Art is not about showing you know how to consume it, but rather surrendering the ego and allowing it to take you by force. Reflecting on a recent trip to Paris where I ogled at pears glazed in honey next to perfectly oblong globs of ice cream and felt a strange exhilaration at the resounding “Oui, Chef” that followed each call for service, I wonder: am I no better than the guests on the island? I think about how pseudo-intellectual I must sound, writing entire

so more competitive games occur in the regular season. Recently, the NCAA introduced Name Image Likeness, or NIL, which allows players to gain money for use of their name and image. Players can sign brand deals and appear in video games and profit off their name. This policy should help commercialize college football and give teams another bargaining chip for attracting recruits—hopefully leading them away from the premier programs in college football. College football still has a long way to go before it can become more entertaining and fair, but with the current changes and a few more tweaks, college football could be great for both players and fans.

articles about the politics of frivolities with the aesthetics of identity-less internet youth, and how similar I sound to Tyler, who knows everything there is to know about the intellect of cuisine, but nothing of its creation. So we are left with a final question: why must everything become a painstaking construction of thought, intention, hidden symbolism, and political messaging? Why not just leave the theater, the concert, or the museum reminded of the remarkable capability of an artist to make us feel whole again? Well, to turn Chef Slowik’s words upon his own film, I don’t think I want to taste, savor, or relish. I think I’d rather just eat.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images

OLIVIA BUVANOVA (IV), MAGGIE ELLSWORTH (V), SARAH GU (V), CHLOE HUANG (III), SANIYA KAMAT (V), TYLER KATT (IV), KATE MARINE (V), GRETA PEW (V), SEBASTIAN SAMPEDRO (VI), and CAROLYN ZHOU (IV)

Boys’ Basketball

Led by captains Jaymin Bhat (VI) and Jake Abdi (VI), the Boys’ Basketball team has had a very successful season thus far. On their four-game-win streak, the team averaged 75 points and has a current record of 9-5. Breakout stars Trey Maultsby (V) and Donnie Gregory (III) have both been recognized by NJ.com as players to watch out for, scoring 248 and 144 points respectively. When asked about how they hope to close out the season, Head Coach Mr. Jason Murdock stated, “We have enjoyed a positive team culture and will continue to build a great experience for everyone involved, but I hope that our guys get to compete for a county and state championship.” Bhat echoed this sentiment, adding that the team hopes to “show off our potential in the playoffs.”

Girls’ Basketball

The Girls’ Basketball team has been having an amazing season, with Head Coach Mr. Robert Hoepfl and Assistant Coaches Ms. Taunita Stephenson and Ms. Erin Boccher leading the team to a current record of 9-6. Co-captains Bella Goodwin (VI), Maria Loss (VI), Julia Covello (VI), and Ngozi Nnaeto (V) have worked hard to foster a positive team environment and supportive bench culture. At the Ridge Holiday Invitational over break, the team went 2-1 and continued on to win six straight games. “I am proud of the leadership of our upperclassmen and how the younger group has bought into our culture and the things we are trying to accomplish,” Mr. Hoepfl highlighted. Leading scorer Taylor Francis (IV) has accumulated 226 points so far, followed by Debrah Hill (IV), with 192 points and 178 rebounds. “Although the season has had its ebbs and flows, we remain confident in our team’s capabilities and remain optimistic for the rest of the season. We have grown together as a team not only on the court but also as a family,” Covello concluded.

Wrestling

The Pingry Wrestling team is looking forward to their upcoming tournaments with a 4-7 record overall

Winter Sports Season Update

and 3-1 in the Skyland Conference. However, the team’s record does not truly reflect its strength; for example, Pingry recently finished second out of eleven teams at the Lenape Valley Tournament. Matteo Littman (V), Charles Levine (V), Reilly Cavanaugh (VI), and Jason Weaver (VI) all placed first individually in the tournament.

After talking to many wrestling players, it is clear that they all share the goal of going to states. Captain Jason Weaver expresses, “The team is looking forward to districts where we can move on to regions and then states.” Littman mentioned, “We’re working hard and getting ready for [the] post-season, and hopefully, we have some more guys at regions and in Atlantic City this year.”

The season is not over yet, Littman explains. “With a young team, the freshmen are coming along and have shown lots of progress,” he says. “The team is making sure we do the little things right every day to ensure we are ready for matches.”

Boys’ Squash

The Varsity Boys’ Squash team is ending their season on a high note and preparing to compete in the second division of High School Nationals. Led by Coach Ramsay Vehslage and Coach Francis Odeh, with captains Adam Bauhs (VI), Charlie Cooperman (VI), Spencer Jahng (VI), and Evan Wen (VI), the team has put up a strong performance against many schools, such as Delbarton, Blair Academy, and Princeton Day.

Despite members missing parts of the season because of injuries, Jahng observes how the team is enthusiastic this season. “The lower team is super strong,” he says. “I am proud of the team because those who do need to play up still do really well. It is really impressive.”

During practice, the team splits court time with the Junior Varsity team, focusing on drills and conditioning and finishing with a game. The teams lift weights once a week. Wen, who has been on the team for seven years (including middle school), notes friendliness as a defining aspect of the team. “I think it is a very tight-knit group, and everyone is so supportive of each other and excited to be a part of the team,” he says.

“Everyone likes playing squash [with] each other. It is a great atmosphere.”

Girls’ Squash

After last year’s outstanding season, the Girls’ Varsity Squash team has high hopes for this season. Led

by captains Meher Khan (VI) and Alexandra Ouzounian (VI), the team hopes to have a successful season.

So far, the girls squash team has won meets against schools including the Hackley School, City Squash, Rye High School, and St. Andrews School, and had a stellar performance at the Blair Academy Invitational. Coach Francis Odeh said the girls have had a successful season so far. Looking forward to the upcoming Girls’ Squash Nationals Tournament, Khan says, “I am really proud to work with such a dynamic and energetic team. Our team is super young, yet these girls have improved immensely over the past two months, and I am so excited to bring this team to High School Nationals in Philadelphia!”

Boys’ Hockey

The Boys’ Ice Hockey team has had an impressive start on the ice this season. Despite losing their first bout to Ridge High School, the team went on a five game win streak, pulling out victories over Bridgewater and MorristownBeard. Senior captain Henry Pyne (VI) has been a strong player for the team, with back-to-back hat tricks against Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and Hillsborough High School. Another star of the team has been junior goaltender Javi Trujillo (V) who currently has a 93% save percentage. Head Coach Scott Garrow commented on the team’s recent success, stating, “We are trying to establish the way we want to play hockey and how we think we need to play to be successful”. The Big Blue are currently 7-4-1 and will be a powerful contender in the Skyland Cup Champions, with aims to make a run in the state tournament as well.

Girls’ Hockey

With a current record of 8-3, the Girls’ Ice Hockey team hopes to continue this season’s success as it heads in exciting directions. Led by Head Coach Mr. Alex Nanfara and six senior captains, the team has immense talent coming from players in all grades. When asked what accounts for the team’s success, forward Grace Fernicola (V) says, “Our unity. We all work really well together, and being a coherent team is really important. Our coach really helps with that—he’s all about hard work.” Throughout the season, the team has had strong showings in close games including a 4-3 victory over Princeton Day School and a 1-0 win over Oak Knoll to keep their long winning streak alive. They are now going on seven straight wins and will be facing Clarkstown North next game.

Fencing

The Fencing team has had a recent winning streak, with the girls going 2-01 and the boys going 3-0. Co-captains Zala Bhan (VI), Charles Jiang (VI), Andrew Overdeck (VI), and Delaney Swain (V) have been working hard to organize weapon-specific lessons, bouting, technical work, and team-

bonding activities. Advised by coaches Mr. David Barr, Ms. Aye Thuzar, and Mr. Ted Li, the team has shown significant improvement throughout the season and is working to integrate their firstyear students. “The season has had its ups and downs, but the team has a ton of talent and great energy! We had a big pickup in team spirit last year, and the freshman came in and matched it,” Swain said. At the Cetrulos and Santellis tournament, the world’s largest high school fencing competition, the girls’ foil team took 4th, and the boys’ saber team took fifth. Following Districts on February 12th, the team is looking to advance to the state tournament.

Boys’ Swimming

Boys’ Swimming led by Coach Megan Bull and co-captains Roman Jones (VI), John Grissinger (VI), and James Thomas (VI), are excited to continue the season after many successes at meets and tournaments. The team started the season strong by winning their first meet against Watchung Hills. They had significant victories against long-time rivals Ridge High School and Montgomery High School. At Montgomery, Jones broke a meet record in the 50-meter free and then a national record in the 100-meter fly at a home meet. With a team record of 7-2, tight teamwork, and fun, they are determined to finish the season strong in the state bracket.

Girls’ Swimming

Girls’ Swimming has had an incredible season, going undefeated with a 7-0-2 record. The team is currently ranked second in the state and won the Prep A Championships, beating longtime rival Mount St. Marys. They also made it to the state finals against Immaculate Heart Academy. One of the teams’ most impressive meets has been a 10961 win over a previously undefeated Hillsborough High School. Head Coach Deirdre O’Mara describes this year’s squad as a “cohesive, supportive group of strong, athletic young people” with the potential for even further growth and success this season. According to Coach O’Mara, the team captains have played an integral role in being “great leaders and creating positive team culture.” As the winter season progresses, the team seeks to continue its success, both in winning meets and smashing records.

Skiing

Due to warm temperatures throughout this winter, the Pingry Ski Team has been off to a slow start, with the first two races being canceled. On January 20, the girls and boys were victorious in their openers as they were full of top performances. With new freshmen and key returning racers, the girls hope to win States for the second year running. Captain Camille Collins (VI) highlights enthusiasm and well-roundedness as critical components in this year’s run. The boys look to keep up the excellent form to qualify for States and the Race of Champions at the end of the season. While top racer Dylan Jay (V) will be away for a semester abroad, junior captain Matt Lombardo (V) maintains faith in his squad. “Despite [Jay’s] departure,” said Lombardo, “we will be able to continue to dominate the competition.” Both ski teams are in good shape and optimistic for the rest of the season.

Winter Track

Halfway through its season, the Winter Track team remains small but spirited! Since the program is currently too small to separate into boys and girls like most teams at Pingry, all of the teammates “practice together, have the same coaches, and go to the same meets,” Captain Alex Henry (VI) stated. The constant togetherness has helped the athletes form a “well-bonded team.” Recently, the team attended the meet at Armory Track in Manhattan. Led by Captains Henry and Alexis Matthews (VI), and trained by Coaches Mr. Stephen Barnes, Ms. Sarah Christensen, and Mr. Christopher Shilts, the team has reached many successes. Henry broke the men’s 300-meter dash record, only for Sebastian Talarek (V) to break Henry’s new record ten minutes later. Olivia Murray (V) placed third in the women’s varsity 2-mile and won the women’s varsity 3000-meter run. Graham Houghton (IV) placed fifth in the men’s Varsity Gold 55-meter dash, breaking the school record. He then went on to win both the men’s novice 200-meter dash and the men’s varsity long jump, breaking both of those school records as well. In the future, Matthews hopes “that our team bond gets a lot stronger and that we have a fun time in such challenging weather.”

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications

Girls’ Swim after winning the Preps A Championship

Jake Abdi (VI) blocking a shot against Watchung Hills

Community Board: Valentine Messages <3

To: Everyone at Pingry named Jack or John. You are seen.

From: Anonymous

To: Coach O and Coach Akeem

I wanna shoutout Coach O and Coach Akeem for always dapping me up and always showing love when I see them.

From: Rasheed McGrath

To: Mr. Lagarde

You’re da best. Calc-ulater! <3

From: Rahil, Saniya, Nick, and Annika

To: Pingry College Counseling Department

Thank you for always believing in us and supporting us through this process! <33

From: Your Seniors (VI)

To: Grace Fernicola

I heart you. Happy V-day!

From: Olivia Roure-Singh

To: Pingry Girls’ Swim

I absolutely love our team dynamic this year and it has been the best four years. So so grateful to be part of this team and our little family. PGS 4EVER!!!!

From: Mirika Jambudi

To: Olivia Roure-Singh

XOXOXOXOXO

From: Grace Fernicola

To: Van!

Thank you for literally being the best Director ever and just being so so supportive. Couldn’t have chosen a better Senior Musical. Thanks for believing in all of us. Just wanted to also let you know that I’m proud of you :)

From: Milenka Men

To: Chemistry/Physics Department

Hands-down my favorite place to hang out for some reason. The dynamic that the department has is just so fun and gives good vibes (especially during Secret Santa season). Thanks for being so welcoming to even the loitering students.

From: Anonymous

To: Jessica Poprik

Happy Galentine’s day to the best baguette ever. I love you bae. <3

From: Muffin

To: The Cast and Crew of Spring Awakening

It’s been the best four months working on the show with all of you awesome people! In awe of your talent, hard work, dedication, and warmth for each other. Thankful everyday for our little family. <3

From: Anonymous

To: Laura Liu

The L in Laura stands for love because ily!!!

From: Kelly Cao

To: Dr. Chu

Thank you for always being there to support your students. It’s amazing that I can talk with you about anything, and I love our interesting conversations about thermodynamics, physics, and chemistry!

From: Anonymous

To: Finn the Dog

We <3 you.

From: Anonymous Fans

To: Mr. Keating

I really appreciate all of our conversations and how you take time out of your day to simply get to know your students. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me throughout everything!

From: Anonymous

To: Brielle Marques

You are so cool and pretty and talented. I luv you so much.

From: Your Secret Admirer <3

To: Ms. Mygas

Thanks for letting me borrow your organic chemistry book!

From: Anonymous

To: Mr. Grant

Thanks for letting us camp out in your office 24/7 and answering any and every question we come up with. The chem office floor is like a second home.

From: Your Favorite AP Chem Students

To: Ms. Farrell

Thank you for your constant optimism and eagerness to support your students. You have really inspired my love for science!

From: Anonymous

Photo Credits: Pingry Communications