The Pingry Record - December 2022

Pingry Together Again

First

Festival since 2019

KEIRA CHEN (V)

On December 7, the entire school gathered in Hauser for one of its most beloved traditions: the Winter Festival, performed by Lower, Middle, and Upper School students. The hour-long assembly began with the Middle and Upper School ensembles performing “Deck the Halls,” followed by speeches from Head of School, Mr. Timothy Lear and Director

of Community and Civic Engagement Ms. Shelley Hartz, in which they reminded students to be respectful and kind during the holiday season. Lower School students presented gifts from The Mitten Tree to Ms. Hartz, and they will be placed under the tree in the senior area. Afterwards came one of the mostanticipated parts of the festival: the candle lighting, where Student Body President John Paul Salvatore (VI) lifted Owen

Chen (K) up to light the candle. After that, the Short Hills 5th Grade Chorus sang “Holiday Jazz,” and the next hour was filled with holiday spirit songs, including “Ma’oz Tzur” (combined ensembles), “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” (Middle School Band), Vivaldi’s “Winter” from his Four Seasons concertos (Upper School String Orchestra), and “Rock Around the Clock” (Middle School Jazz Ensemble). Soloists

included Dermot McGuire (VI), Tanish Reddi (VI), and Andrew Overdeck (VI) for the Upper School Jazz Band, as well as Alex Wong (IV) for the Upper School String Orchestra. The festival ended with the beloved “Twelve Days of Christmas” where the audience sang along.

The festival was a success, especially since it was the first time in three years that community members have been together in Hauser. “[It]

was a fun way to bring the Pingry community together in an embrace of the arts,” Annabelle Shilling (V) said.

The parents’ concert was held the day after and featured more songs from the Upper School ensembles, as well as Cori Smith (K), who helped light the candle. The concert was well-received, as Hauser was full with family and friends.

Thanks to all the musicians for their hard work!

Logo by Kyra Li (VI), Pingry

by Kain Wang (V)

Buttondowns Assembly

ALEX WONG (IV)

On October 22, the Buttondowns held their annual mini-concert. As always, their performance completely blew the crowd away. With the Buttondowns’ trademark white shirts, khaki pants, and a capella singing, coupled with significantly coordinated choreography, the community experienced a great treat. The mini-concert kicked off with the usual Buttondowns movie, written, edited, and produced entirely by Buttondowns members. The film was a spinoff of the famous 2009 comedy The Hangover . In the remake, the Buttondowns presidents go on a trip to Vegas and completely forget about the events of the night prior. As they realize one of the presidents is missing and things have gone wrong, the remaining presidents attempt to piece together what happened the previous night. In their quest, they stumble across a peculiar lacrosse goalie, a devious plot to breed

velociraptors at school, and discover a lost relationship. The film was another great hit with the community and continued a long-time Pingry tradition.

Following the film was a jawdropping performance. The crowd was treated to a series of songs, each featuring great solos, choreography, and serenades to members of the crowd. The concert was capped off by a performance of the classic “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys, which was executed flawlessly. Their pitch was on point, and the choreography featured many crowd-pleasing moves.

The Buttondowns were surfing on top of one another, and their performance wowed the crowd. Unfortunately, like all great things, the Buttondowns mini-concert eventually ended. The performance was a perfect way to send the community off into Thanksgiving Break and a great display of Pingry’s music program.

The Buttondowns enchanted the community with a great assembly that will not be forgotten anytime soon!

The Adventures of Robin Hood

DURGA MENON (III)

Presented by the Drama Department, this year’s fall production was Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood. Drama

Department Chair Mrs. Stephanie Romankow directed the production, which recounted the travels of the legendary Robin of Locksley, played by Grace Stowe (VI).

In the story, Robin sought justice

for the poor and disadvantaged townspeople. He and his band of followers strove to liberate England from unfair oppression. Throughout the play, Robin formed alliances with others who supported King

Richard, such as Friar Tuck, Little John, and Lady Marian Fitzwalter, played by Allie Alston (V), Verna Mae Lange (V), and Milenka Men (VI), respectively. Together, Robin and his companions, using both

wit and compassion, assisted King Richard the Lion Heart—portrayed by Luigi Zavala (VI)—in assuming his rightful place on the throne. Many parts of this production made it unique, one of which was the set design. Drama Production Designer Mr. Joseph Napolitano and the tech team worked hard to create a set with a forest backdrop of 3D trees. The set helped the audience visualize the play’s overall story and mood. Because the play occurs towards the beginning of the year, members have the opportunity to meet new people. Alston commented, “I enjoyed getting to know students I wouldn’t typically interact with on a day-today basis. Most of all, I enjoyed preshow shenanigans with my peers (those I knew before and those I became close with from the show).”

The Adventures of Robin Hood is a tale filled with comedy, romance, and fun in its retelling of the story of a hero who strives to help the citizens around him. The moral of the story? To always fight for your beliefs. No matter what others are doing, you should always trust your conscience and do what you believe is right.

Photo Credits (Left to Right): Pingry Communications

MILENKA MEN (VI)

On December 9, 2022, the school welcomed back Anna Butrico ‘14, as the December Honor Board speaker. In accordance with the Honor Board Speaker Series headed by Mrs. Alisha Davlin and the rest of the Honor Board, each month, members of the Pingry community are invited to give speeches about how the Honor Code has affected their lives.

After a detailed introduction from Honor Board Chairperson Stephanie Ticas (VI), Butrico began by reminiscing her Pingry

Honor Board Speaker: Anna Butrico ‘14

memories as she navigated through being a triple-sport athlete and the Prom; she even remarked about the strength of the Pingry family as she is currently engaged to a fellow Pingry alumnus, Hunter Conti ‘15.

Despite having graduated from Vanderbilt University only four years ago, Butrico has already filled her life with plenty of accomplishments, including having her own published book. Her childhood dream was to become published by the age of 16— a dream that though unfulfilled, she never forgot. Her co-authored book with General

Stanley McChrystal, Risk: A User’s Guide , was released on October 5, 2021, and it was far from an easy journey to get there. Butrico detailed her initial plans to become a consultant, which she soon realized was not an occupation she enjoyed. Returning to her roots as a writer, she realized that she was motivated by the prospect of writing to help people by offering advice and guidance. She ended up working for the McChrystal Group and jumped at the option of being General McChrystal’s speechwriter. However, having just graduated from college without any prior experience in speechwriting, she was seemingly unqualified for the job. Despite these reservations, she applied and ended up landing the job. Her determination and risk paid off not just in that case, but also in how she ended up producing Risk: A User’s Guide. She remembers having to assert herself amidst the other “Yale and male” options who had co-authored with General McChrystal in the past, and how she had been the most unlikely

John A. Magadini Alumni Hockey Game

JOAQUIN STEVENSON (IV)

On Friday, November 25, the Thanksgiving weekend alumni hockey game was held at Beacon Hill Club. Alumni who played for the boys’ and girls’ ice hockey teams reunited and reminisced about their time at Pingry. It was a great opportunity for alumni to catch up with their former coaches and teammates. Despite the excitement, grief colored the event due to the passing of legendary Coach John “Mags” Magadini this past May. The game was dedicated to Coach Mags and from now on, will be named the “John A. Magadini Alumni Ice Hockey Game”.

Alumni arrived at 7:45 p.m. to check in and suit up. At 8:15 p.m., alumni joined Coach Scott Garrow on the ice for the extraordinary dedication of the game. Coach Garrow opened the ceremony with a moment of silence to remember his friend Mags, and Coach Alex Nanfara followed by recalling how Mags taught him how every player needs "to play with grace and grit."

Various alumni stepped up to the podium to honor Mags.

Hanna Beattie '13 delivered some heartfelt remarks, recounting an occasion years ago when Mags visited her family for brunch. Beattie said, "That was the type of man Mags was… always going out of his way to do things because he cared." Brian Weiniger '10 spoke of Mags' remarkable presence in his life and the lives of many other students. Dan Weiniger '08 noted Mags' love for Thanksgiving and how 9 a.m. Thanksgiving practice always brought the team together. "Mags stressed camaraderie, commitment, and showing up for your teammates. We all knew how much he cared about all of us,” he commented. Mac Hugin ‘13, a current Marine, spoke about how Mags inspired him to become a Marine. Hugin remarked, "Mags was just larger than life, and every day, I strive to be more like him

and to make him proud. I think a big part of why I wanted to be a Marine was seeing the values that Mags lived by daily." Mags' son Peter Magadini spoke last, emotionally telling the crowd how Mags "Absolutely loved coaching Pingry Hockey. He loved all of you."

After the wonderful words about Mags, Coach Garrow opened, "I would now like to officially welcome all of you to the John A. Magadini Alumni Ice Hockey Game. Oorah!" Everyone played with Coach Magadini in their hearts that night.

candidate. However, the risk paid off yet again, and she found herself writing with General McChrystal. Even the writing process was full of challenges as remote work ensued during the pandemic, and the two writers only convened for two weeks in person before publishing.

At the end of her presentation, Butrico left the audience with a few words of wisdom. The first is to embody other peoples’ voices just as she had done when writing Risk: A User’s Guide. To this end, listening can be the greatest skill of all as she had taken in General McChrystal’s speech patterns and diction to properly bring his voice to life through text. The second

is to think in terms of verbs and not nouns. This keeps someone driven in the pursuit of their goals, unyielding and growing along the way. The third and final is to take risks. This may be obvious given the title of her book, but it cannot be understated as she illustrated through her own story how sticking her neck out and being passionate about the opportunities that have come her way is how she has achieved so much.

As the last speaker before the school heads off to Winter Break, Butrico left the audience in awe of her boldness and aplomb, challenging the community to take more risks as the new year dawns.

Club Spotlight: Peer 2 Peer

SYLVIA ARDON (IV) & SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (IV)

Peer2Peer is a social and philanthropic group on campus that is sure to take this school by storm. As the name of this club states, we as members are focused on fostering connections with our peers at Pingry by hosting discussions about a wide spectrum of topics. From the “slap heard around the world at the Oscars” to the adversities of being a POC or person of color here at Pingry, we are here to start conversations and uplift every voice.

In Peer2Peer, everyone is treated as an equal, offering a safe space for people to express their truest selves, which may be hidden on an everyday basis. In the words of one of our club advisors, Mrs. Shelley Hartz, “This is a group where we are giving a voice to the underdog… [and] giving the underprivileged a voice to change the world.” Peer2Peer has given us the opportunity to reach out to The Link School in Newark,

New Jersey, and to mentor middle schoolers. We mentor them on a wide range of topics, including highschool advice and how to handle challenges that are thrown at them outside the comfort of their schools. We have also had the pleasure to meet with many POC alumni thanks to our leader and founder Mr. Harlen Shangold. This is a chance for students to see what life is like after we graduate and for alumni to see how much Pingry has grown over the years. In the meantime, Peer2Peer has been working hard to assemble activities to share with the entire school, from bake sales to social events. From everyone in Peer2Peer, we can’t wait to collaborate with the rest of the school!

Photo Credits: Google, Pingry Communications, Sriya Tallapragada (IV), Sylvia Ardon (IV)

What 180 Hours of Taylor Swift Taught Me about Music

ADAM ELAYAN (V)

Let’s go back to December 2021, a time when I thought it was still acceptable to use Apple Music. At the end of the month, I took the opportunity to look at Apple Music’s bootleg version of Spotify Wrapped, curious as to who I had listened to most the previous year. I wasn’t too surprised to see A Tribe Called Quest far in the lead with 15 hours of listening time. Tribe headed a crusade of rap artists who, for reasons that remain mysterious to me, mostly consisted of British drill rappers. Inexplicably unashamed of this fact, I swapped results with my older sister. What I came to find haunted me. She had listened to 180 hours of Taylor Swift over the previous year, a figure made all the more disturbing considering her obsession started midway through the year. Not only was I worried for her mental health, given her choice of artist, I questioned how anyone could commit to listening to just one artist for that long.

According to my math, of those 180 hours of Taylor Swift, many were logged during our car rides from school to home, and the

route back. There were times when Taylor would consume entire weeks, and I was not afraid to make my displeasure known. From the very beginning, I protested, I bargained, and I whined. I could not stand another minute of Taylor Swift. I lashed the innocent woman with insults at every opportunity, calling her a sellout for re-releasing all of her music, attacking the simplicity of her subject matter, and characterizing the lyrics on her latest albums as “wack.” Unfortunately for me, I could not disown my sister and, therefore, I had to put up with hearing “Change” a few more times before she went to college.

As the days went on, however, I unknowingly became fluent in Taylor’s music, subconsciously memorizing every lyric and nuance in virtually every song that played. Before I knew it, I was singing along to the same songs I had scoffed at for so many months, and I was enjoying it. Now, some of my fondest memories with my sister are of the car rides we shared when we would blast our favorite Taylor Swift songs and sing them at the top of our lungs. My change of heart had been so extreme that

during the short time I continued to (embarrassingly) use Apple Music in 2022, I listened to Taylor Swift twice as much as any other artist. This turnaround was the predecessor to a new era in my music listening life. Having become a fan of an artist I had previously regarded as unlistenable, I concluded that if I kept an open mind, this same type of shift was possible for any other artist I distasted. Proving myself right, my distaste quickly turned into elevated taste. Gone were the days of my homogeneity, as acts like Blink-182, The Roots, Oasis, Black Starr, and Sade all breathed new life into my Spotify library—I had learned my lesson at this point—which had for so long been a barren wasteland containing just one playlist titled only with a string of fire emojis. Armed with my phone and airpods, I successfully tuned out my family for much of the summer, electing instead to spend my time turning my once empty “liked songs” playlist into a swelling mass that is still somehow not as long as Red (Taylor’s Version) If a lesson is learned by listening to so much great music, it is that allowing yourself to freely enjoy

something is the easiest way to make your life more fulfilling. While this sounds easy, our prejudices run deep, and even the slightest misconceptions affect our decisions more than we realize. If you told me as a freshman that as a junior, I would know all the words to “Sparks Fly” by Taylor Swift, I probably would have doubted you and gone back to listening to “Body”

by Russ Millions. My next thought would be that Junior Adam’s life was in shambles and he needed an intervention. Acknowledging now that that is not the case, I must concede that Taylor Swift has affected my life positively––a statement that belies the veritable disagreement at the core of my relationship with my sister, but a personal truth nonetheless.

A24: From Independent Film Studio to Multi-Million Billion Dollar Firm

ELLA BUDENBENDER (VI)

You’ve probably heard of Academy Award-winning films, like Moonlight and Room. Or maybe, just as I did, you sat down every Sunday night to watch the latest episodes of Euphoria . Perhaps

you’re a horror fan and decided to watch Midsommar or Hereditary with the lights on, of course. Even if none of the movies and shows listed above sound familiar, I can bet at some point, you have watched something produced by A24.

A24 was first established as a small independent film distributor in New

York in 2012. Founders Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hughes created A24 in hopes of bringing back “exciting” work to Hollywood, acquiring films at festivals and during production to kickstart the process. Their first release in theaters was in 2013, with the comedy A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles

Swan III . It had little success.

Since then, A24 has become a powerhouse in the film industry, acquiring critical praise, an abundance of fans, and a myriad of awards. The company made deals with: Amazon Prime and DirecTV Cinema in 2013, Apple TV+ in 2018, and Showtime Networks in 2019. As of November 2022, the studio has been nominated for 25 Academy Awards, winning Visual Effects in 2016 for Ex Machina and Best Picture in 2017 for Moonlight Both Lady Bird (2017) and Eighth Grade (2018) received ratings of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, the 2022 release Everything Everywhere All at Once was A24’s highest-grossing movie, generating $103 million worldwide.

For an independent film company that started off in a small New York studio, A24 has had jarring success, leading many to wonder what makes their media so alluring.

A24 is not afraid to be unconventional and open-minded in their films. They are willing to explore fresh perspectives and give light to challenging topics that many major film studios fail to address.

The Florida Project —directed by Sean Baker, a New Jersey native born in Summit—tells the story of a six-year-old and her two best friends growing up in a motel with an unemployed mother and oblivious to the turmoil around them. These movies, while certainly emotional at times, are also inspiring and force viewers to evaluate their

relationship to the media they watch. A24 is able to captivate audiences through a distinct film style, beautiful cinematography, intentional color sequences, and passionate storytelling that remains in viewers’ minds. Action movies are not just action movies at A24; rather, they showcase definite journeys full of raw emotion and a sense of humanity in the characters.

A24’s impressive list of cast members, including Timothée Chalamet, Brie Larson, and Colin Farrell, and many others, has helped them on their path to success.

Actor Robert Pattinson, who has appeared in four A24 films, said the studio is “creating a kind of renaissance in filmmaking.” Not only do people want to go to theaters and see the films they are producing, they want to have the media they consume resonate with them beyond something simply entertaining.

With a massive cult following, A24 is ready to dominate the next decade of cinema. According to their website, the studio currently has seven upcoming films, three of which plan to be released in the remaining weeks of 2022. Additionally, Everything Everywhere All at Once has been nominated for eight Film Independent Spirit Awards, the most out of any film this year. Make sure to keep an eye out for when the 2023 Academy Award Nominations publish on January 24, as well as other A24 films being released, since they are sure to generate attention in the coming months.

ALEX WONG (IV)

Last year, I wrote an article about stopping to smell the roses, even though we might be in full grind mode. As an eager and wide-eyed freshman, I was convinced I would be able to continue with that mindset for the rest of high school. Nothing would change, everything would be great, and the “grind” would be over soon enough. However, things have not turned out the way I expected. As students, we subject ourselves to a lot of stress. Everything we do must go above and beyond. We must be involved in every club we can, participate in various sports and extracurricular activities, and devote ourselves heavily to our academic pursuits. Since the beginning of my sophomore year, I realized my perception of the grind my freshman year was utterly wrong. The extremity and level of the grind have ratcheted up. Increasingly, I have found myself six hours deep into a work session in the early morning hours, unimaginable in freshman year. Regardless of my work, whether it was while writing a paper, studying for an upcoming exam, or even just working for a club, I began to realize my reality.

What I thought was the grind last year was the rookie leagues. This year has gotten a lot harder, and it is not getting any easier.

In my previous article, I likened the high school experience to climbing a mountain. It was hard work climbing the mountain, but the view from the summit made the climb worthwhile. This metaphor is too literal. By climbing a mountain, you can see yourself moving forward and moving up. You know you are going in the right direction. In contrast, you are blindly working when you’re on the grind. You hope your actions will lead you in the right direction, and at 2 a.m., you know you are not doing your best work. In reality, the grind manifests itself differently for different people.

I react much differently to facing work this year than last year. I realize the grind is not stopping soon. However, who says that the grind has to be bad? If the grind is not stopping, why should I?

Perspective is a vital and powerful tool. No single fact of life is onesided, every issue has multiple facets. So far, I have used a relatively pessimistic approach to the grind. The grind is a burden I would be much happier without. Naturally,

Strap In

it is much easier to see the grind as a bad thing than a good thing. However, instead of treating the grind as a burden, try to see it differently. Instead of thinking, “I have to do this,” think, “I get to do this.” I get to study for my math test with my classmates. I get to complete this paper. I attend this fantastic school,

times. Only some things will go your way 100% of the time. And yes, this change in perspective does not mean the work magically disappears. While I might have started to realize the grind, I still believe that the wide-eyed and eager freshman in me was right. We are only in high school once, so we

might as well enjoy it. These four years will go by quickly, so cherish each one. Strap in; it is going to be one heck of a ride. When it gets tough, remember that freshman in you, ready for anything. You might not love every second of it, but you only get to do it once. And you might as well smile while you are at it!

The Look of the New Right is its Secret Weapon

JULIA ENG (V)

Tradwife. Red-pilled. Fascism. These buzzwords are thrown around frequently by cultural commentators on their podcasts and Twitter accounts. There has been not only a revival, but an evolution of conservatism

in America, resulting from a saturation of one side of the political spectrum and the subsequent rise of the opposite side, either out of frustration or a desire to be “edgy.” This evolution has led to the formation of Downtown Manhattan’s New Right, a small “faction” which

calls for the radical revitalization of traditional America.

To put it frankly, the New Right movement is, at its core, mostly about men, their roles in politics, and their Caulfield-esque struggle against phoniness. Conversely, the role that women play is almost accessory-like. Surprisingly, one might find large traces of the rightwing floating around the internet spaces of teen girls. Everything that 2010’s social justice seemed to chafe against has circled back. Everything from traditional gender roles to organized religion, and at its extreme, eating disorders, Lolita-esque romance, and even (you guessed it!) smoking, has found its home in the pale pink corners of social media. Hand a political movement to teens, and they will find a way to romanticize it; long gone are the days of the Indie Kid bucket hat—you’ll find today’s it-girls smoking a cig on the porch in realtree Crocs. Some girls wear Brandy Melville with guilt. Other girls wear Brandy Melville with a boastful edge, proud to sport the brand’s fascist leanings. Honor Levy, a writer whose work is often associated with the New Right, said to Vanity Fair, “Most of the girls downtown are normal, but they’ll wear a Trump hat as an accessory.” This visual front is posed by the

New Right as a byproduct of the search for a hazy moral ground on which one can find their footing and be truly patriotic. Despite these claims, the look of the New Right deceives impressionable young women with an infinite promise of understanding and support from men.

When there is a call for a return to traditional values, women are supposed to know their place as homemakers, which calls back to the concept of 18th-century “Republican Motherhood.” If you are a wife in a traditional home, or “tradwife,” one’s most important responsibility is the instillment of positive morals upon one’s children. It goes without saying that there is nothing wrong with women taking care of their families. The foundation of feminism lies within the power of choice. But an idealized version of this life is being touted to and subsequently romanticized by young teen girls.

Being a tradwife of the New Right is often presented as a hyperfeminized worry-free realm that attaches a disproportionate value on appearance and shame.

I recently stumbled upon a tweet which described the “two acceptable female body types.” The first being “Effortlessly Slim”, and the second being “Child-Bearer.” The user insisted that these

bodies have represented optimal mothers and wives throughout history, citing figures like the Venus of Willendorf and Victoria’s Secret Angels. The tweet claims that women should avoid going to the gym because “Gyms are for men to…prepare for war. Women in the gym are denying their femininity.” He, along with many other like-minded users in support of traditionalism, has conflated female appearance with moral virtue and fertility. It shows girls that their value is found in the way their body looks—they must first be objects of desire, then objects of fertility. But without the power of the “Effortlessly Slim” or the “ChildBearer”, what must become of us?

The aesthetics of politics trickle down into the mainstream, shifting our views and opinions through our subconscious. Catholic iconography is appropriated for fashion and moodboards. Incels have been replaced by white, thin, self-proclaimed “femcels.” We have traded the Land of Equal Opportunity in favor of nepotism babies because they are prettier than we are. We will wear tees that say “I hate women” in order to get a chuckle of approval from a man. It is very easy to accept the way the New Right looks. It is much harder to embrace their political spirit.

ELLA KARCH (IV)

The holidays are upon us, and they are a time for reflection. Most of us spend our breaks with family and friends, relaxing from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. This season should be a time of comfort, joy, and gratitude. However, for many, the holidays seem to become about what

is missing from our lives. We are reminded of this every time we pick up our phones to see what others are doing.

Social media is a platform for discontent. Time and time again, it shares with us only what we don’t have. Instagram is filled with images of our fabulous friends skiing in St. Moritz or bathing in the warm waters of St. Barts. Christmas and Hanukkah

Being Thankful

bring imagery of expensive presents and vacations of a lifetime. Everyone’s life seems so much better than our own mundane realities. We are led to believe this is real and no matter what we have, someone else has it better.

I spent Thanksgiving with my family—my parents, siblings, and grandparents. My sister came home from college, and I hadn’t realized

how much I missed her until then. We sat at home, watched movies, played with our dog, and ate too much turkey. It wasn’t glamorous or something that would make people envious on social media, but it was an irreplaceable moment in time that no fancy vacation could ever replace.

To me, the key to relishing this moment was to turn off my phone and

disconnect from the rest of the world. Without the constant reminders of what others have, or what others want the world to think they have, I was able to focus on the things that matter to me: family, friends, and simple pleasures. As the year ends and the festivities begin, you should take a chance to disconnect and reflect. What we have is far more valuable than what we don’t.

Our Stereotypes. Our Stigmas. My Strength.

MORGAN MCDONALD (VI)

Mental health is a topic that people tend to avoid because of its negative connotations. However, this damaging barrier must be broken. Adolescents, in particular, should be able to talk about mental health challenges in their lives without being judged or ridiculed. Most teens associate mental health challenges with weakness or craziness because of their depictions in movies, TV shows, and social media. Our society has created stereotypes about the actions and feelings of those with mental health challenges. Not only are these stereotypes frequently inaccurate, but everyone deals with and expresses their challenges in different ways. At the beginning of high school, I was not aware that a person could both be depressed and be perceived as happy, or have anxiety and still be social and optimistic. I had so thoroughly internalized common stereotypes about how a person should act—for example scowling or behaving violently—when they were suffering through a mental health challenge that I missed the signs that I was going through a mental health crisis myself.

It was only halfway through my freshman year when I was swimming my 15th lap in the 500 freestyle, a 20-lap race. Suddenly, I felt like I was dying, having a heart attack, and going to be sick in the pool all at once. Scared that people would judge me if I got out, I finished the race and stepped onto the deck sobbing because I couldn’t breathe. At the time, I didn’t know whether

I’d had a panic attack, asthma attack, or something else entirely. Ideally, I would have talked to someone about this experience, figured out exactly what had happened, and discovered ways to prevent it from happening in the future. Instead, not knowing any better, I continued with school and my other extracurriculars as if nothing had happened. Concurrently, I was also having issues with my friendships at school and was experiencing an increased level of stress when it came time for tests, projects, and other

problems gossiped about, especially when they are already feeling isolated.

I think that a possible solution for reducing feelings of embarrassment would be for schools to create a mandatory requirement for every student

assessments. I assumed that this was just a part of the culture that new high schoolers faced. While there was definitely truth to this, these feelings of isolation, lack of appetite, and absolute hatred of school were not normal. However, still performing at a high level, I chose to dismiss these signs. Even though I knew something was off, I didn’t want to be seen walking into the guidance counselor’s office at school because I was scared that my peers would judge me, and I would be humiliated. No one wants to have their

semester.

This could help normalize checking in on one’s mental health and reduce the gossip around people going to the guidance counselor since everyone would be required to do it. This strategy could have been beneficial for me in freshman year because my problem wasn’t that I was opposed to receiving help, but it was that I couldn’t recognize that there was a real problem, and it

wasn’t in my head. Additionally, I never asked for help when I wasn’t feeling like myself because it was just not something people did. In fact, the solution to many of my problems didn’t come until a year later when I went to a neuropsychologist seek treatment for my reading difficulties and was diagnosed with dyslexia. At the appointment, I was talking about school and how I was feeling when the neuropsychologist recommended that I consider talking to a therapist. Since then, through therapy, I’ve learned amazing techniques to reduce my anxiety. I also now know that there is not just one type of anxiety, and it can often be coupled with other mental health challenges, such as depression.

Learning about mental health challenges in high school and getting the opportunity to talk to the administration about barriers at school to accommodate those with mental health challenges would also help decrease the stigma. Education can reduce stereotypes by replacing them with accurate data and information. It is important to emphasize that there isn’t just one way a person with mental health challenges acts, and stereotypes are often inaccurate. We will never know what another person is going through, which is

why it is so important to be open, kind, and understanding. When I am feeling overwhelmed, I must be a good self-advocate typically by talking to my teachers about a more manageable workload. Unfortunately, the responses to my requests for a short extension have been, “If I do this for you, it won’t be fair to the other students” or “I don’t see a sufficient reason for this request.” Teachers have even asked “Were you sick?” and sometimes I’m tempted to say “Yes!” Although I am not physically sick, I most definitely am not feeling myself. I am aware that I need a break or a lighter workload to feel some relief and function well. I should not have to undergo weeks of depression and anxiety because I am unable to receive the help I need from teachers. I believe that schools should host mandatory mental health seminars to help educate students and teachers about mental health issues, give them advice if they are dealing with mental health challenges themselves, and direct them on how to help a peer that might be struggling with their mental health. Having more information about mental health challenges and learning strategies to cope with mental health could be beneficial and open up entry points to the topic.

No one should ever have to feel alone when struggling with mental health because there are so many people fighting the same fight. With patience, knowledge, and understanding, I believe we can eliminate the mental health stigma many adolescents face.

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

MIRIKA JAMBUDI (VI)

Over Thanksgiving Break, I pulled an all-nighter to binge a series of Studio Ghibli films — Spirited Away (which I highly recommend watching), Howl’s Moving Castle, and Whisper of the Heart. While these films are animated and dubbed from Japanese, there’s something magical about the worlds Director Hayao Miyazaki creates with his storytelling.

Truth be told, I was feeling burnt out over break. Most of my time in the weeks prior was spent working in my room. The sludge of college applications, mountain of assignments, and tests crammed in before the break amidst many other things on my plate cluttered my mind and ate away at my time.

When I rewatched Spirited Away and the other Ghibli movies,

Life Lessons From Studio Ghibli

I was hit by a wave of nostalgia and longing, and reflected on why these movies mean so much to me. I’m drawn to Studio Ghibli and their films because they romanticize the little things in life that can feel rather mundane while you are actually doing them. Simple actions like taking the bus, cooking, eating a meal, or studying in your room suddenly become moments and memories worth cherishing. The most underrated thing about Ghibli movies is how they are like love letters to our everyday lives, to ordinary people like you and me. They are about moments of kindness, friendships, and personal growth as time goes by. While the movies do have a magical element to them, the focus is not on the magic. The films are not only about the people in the stories, but also about stories in the people.

There are numerous moments in these films where characters exist, and nothing significant happens during those scenes. Despite the lack of action, they are brilliant. Miyazaki explains this by sharing, “If you have nonstop action with no breathing space at all, it’s just business. But if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film

can grow into a wider dimension. This technique is called ‘ma.’”

In Spirited Awa y, there’s a scene where the main character, Chihiro, and the antagonistturned-friend, No-Face, are sitting on a train together, watching the scenery go by as passengers leave the train. From a birds-eye view, the clip is just about two friends taking the train together. There’s so little yet so much happening at the same time in these moments of pure space.

As I watched Chihiro and No-Face sitting contently on the train, I thought about how I let the last few weeks pass by in a

blur, contributing to my feelings of burnout. I was so focused on trying to get through each day, willing for the passage of time to speed up, that I lost sight of the connections and places important to me. The monotony of being caught up in routine prevented me from really appreciating the little yet worthwhile moments in my life: car rides home from the bus stop, spending time with my friends on the library couches, reading in my living room, and more.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Studio Ghibli, it’s to feel grounded. To be appreciative of the seemingly monotonous, of

what makes up most of our days. To learn to be comfortable with the feeling of peaceful emptiness. Not everything has to feel so dull. While I’m not trying to tell you to start romanticizing every aspect of your life (since that isn’t realistic or healthy), I am encouraging us all to try to be more present. If you hold onto the joys of each moment, however big or small, it’s much easier to avoid burnout. With the holiday season approaching and a new year, it’s a time to reflect on what can and should be meaningful to us if we give it a chance, adding a little bit of “ma” into our everyday lives.

Should Pingry Get Rid of Latin?

glance, there is also a convincing argument to be said against learning the language.

When I was preparing to begin my first year at Pingry, I was tasked with choosing a language to learn for the remainder of high school. Spanish, French, German, or Chinese — all very relevant languages. But there was one more, and it stuck out like a sore

world. Why, then, would anyone want to learn it over a language like Spanish, which is spoken by over 500 million people?

The simple answer is “better cognitive skills,” but of course, it is a little more complicated than that. While many reasons for pursuing Latin make sense at a

The most common answer I get from my friends as to why they take Latin is that it “helps make you better at English.” It is true that around two-thirds of English words come from Latin; many prefixes and suffixes in English come from Latin roots. Thus, the argument is made that learning Latin can help you with reading comprehension, vocabulary, and sentence structure. I would agree with this statement in its essence — that knowing Latin can help you connect meanings to some words—but I don’t really see how learning Latin is any better than simply studying English, or even doing Membean. I believe that regularly reading and writing are significantly more effective ways of improving your English. Sure, you can supplement them with Latin, but at that point, it’s certainly more beneficial to just take

another language. Many people also claim that Latin helps you learn any of the other romance languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, etc.). But as a French student, I can guarantee you that learning any romance language will immediately make it easier to learn the others. Furthermore, there’s the added perk of actually being able to use the language to communicate with others. In this case, why not spend your time and energy in another language than Latin?

I have also heard taking Latin can improve your SAT or ACT score. This does have some validity, as it has been proven to increase English and reading scores. From my experience, after taking the ACT an impressively high number of times, I can’t say that it is necessary to be a walking dictionary. Vocabulary is certainly important on the ACT in the English and reading sections, but I believe that simply improving reading and writing skills in English is a more efficient method of increasing test scores. That being said, knowing Latin, of course, cannot hurt your chances

of getting those scores up. Many others take Latin because they have an affinity for reading and translating classical literature. It is definitely not my own passion, but I would say that it is a perfectly valid reason. I would also agree that, while not being spoken, Latin is present all around us; it is on the dollar bill, and it shows up on our clocks and even in many phrases we say without realizing, such as “et cetera.”

So, this leads us back to the original question: should Pingry get rid of Latin? No. While I don’t believe that Latin is more useful than the other languages we have at this school, it certainly has its advantages in making you a better scholar. If you want to have a better basis for learning other languages and sharpening your English skills for standardized testing, sure, go ahead and take Latin. But sticking to a conventional, common language and practicing reading and writing separately is just as beneficial — maybe even more beneficial — than taking Latin. In the end, take whichever language suits you best. Carpe diem , everybody.

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

MILENKA MEN (VI)

During Thanksgiving Break, I FaceTimed my sister for the first time in weeks (between college applications and my sister’s hospital rotations, our Sunday meetings have been continually canceled since mid-September), and we watched Disenchanted , the 15-years-later sequel to Enchanted starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, and Idina Menzel among other names I adore.

From the beginning of the movie, I was hit by nostalgia. The distinct storybook animation and Giselle’s animal calling “ah-ah-ah-ah-ahh” riff struck me at the core. All of a sudden, I was enveloped by the same voices, smiles, and faces that I remembered.

I’ve always been somewhat of a dreamer; my parents told me that when I was a toddler, I spent my days sitting on windowsills and wistfully looking out of the window a la Rapunzel. Raised by Disney,

Wishing for Polaris

I searched for the perfect fairytale ending, but by the time I hit middle school, I was enlightened — I realized that perfection does not exist. I thought I had accepted that truth. I thought I was mature enough to sulk into fits of nihilism in all of my teenage angst, but in the back of my mind, I still wished on stars every night before sleeping.

The question of “What will you be when you grow up?” is one that has haunted me for a while. Trust me, I almost had a mental breakdown on the day that I turned 18. I now feel less safe and less sure of myself as an “adult.” All of a sudden, I am allowed to vote (a power I am determined to wield with much caution), and I am supposed to be in control of my own life. How could I possibly spend time on imaginary Disneybounds and organizing the itinerary for our next trip to the parks? I should be filing taxes and going to doctor appointments by myself! I am in the front car of a roller coaster with my eyes shut, and I have no desire to open them and watch everything crash and burn with my own eyes.

As we watched, I found myself confronting the same fear as Giselle. Determined to find her happy ending in the human realm, she faces the roller-coaster nature of a world in which ogres aren’t the biggest issue.

While I watched Disenchanted,

I felt like I was growing up with Giselle. By the end of the movie, she is no longer the doe-eyed princess that we all knew, longing for the life that she used to have in a 2-D Andalasian kingdom. If Giselle was a toddler in the first movie, navigating New York City and finding out what a car is for the first time, 15 years later, she’s around the end of her teenage years, on the cusp of adulthood, and questioning everything she knows. But this isn’t to say that Disney skimped on the magic and Giselle ended up jaded and indulging in nihilism. Around me, I hear everyone relishing their newfound adulthood, but all I feel is the urge to escape to a time in which everything was still new to me — the first time my skates touched the ice, the first time I rode my bike, the first time I ate a fresh Japanese peach. Have all of my “firsts” passed?

As Disenchanted explores, memories are truly the strongest magic of all. They consist of a person’s life experiences and what made them who they are. To this end, memories should not be treated as an escape. It’s all too easy to get lost meandering down memory lane, but we shouldn’t be chasing after something that has already passed. Instead, they are a method of grounding. The reason why memories are so important is that they are shared. If

something slips your mind, another person will probably remember the moment, and that snapshot will continue to live on. Giselle is snapped out of her depression when her daughter reminds her of the memories they made together, and she ultimately grows to recognize change as a natural part of life. When my grandfather started to forget his memories, he became a different person altogether. In the last years that I visited him before his passing, he could no longer recognize me, and I mourned the childhood games we used to play that he could not recall. I mourned the existence of the see-saw in his

apartment complex’s basement, a character that had been so dear to the two of us, but now I realize that those times we shared live on in me. As the end of the year approaches, it’s all about cherishing the time that we have together. The holidays are always brighter when you’re around people you love, and even if they aren’t there, relive them through the long perusal of a photo album. So don’t mourn the past, celebrate it. Even though I still wish on stars, I’m less afraid of being an adult now. I know just how honored I feel to carry the stories of my grandfather and treasure all the memories I’ve been gifted thus far.

The Broadway Effect

SARAH GU (V)

Over Thanksgiving break, I was fortunate to see Some Like It Hot with my friends in New York City. We ordered tickets weeks in advance, and I created a countdown timer so early that I almost regretted it. Being a preview, this show had yet to release its official Broadway soundtrack, meaning I would experience everything in the show for the first time. As we settled into the velvet seats, I noticed a strict anti-phone policy. Unless someone illegally recorded the show, the live acting could not be fast-forwarded or replayed. With my poor hearing and double-checking tendencies, I felt uneasy knowing I would miss an important line or action

without having any prior knowledge about the plot. When I watch shows on my own time, I am typically saved by the scroll bar, replaying scenes two or three times. During the play, I wanted to ensure I understood every moment from the inside out. Despite my compulsive need to grasp physical detail, there was something inherently magical about the show’s atmosphere. The colorful focused lighting, the muted or flashy costumes, and the music falling into rhythm made the audience believe in a dream-like state that was not quite cartoonish but not quite movie-like. To match the larger-than-reality effect, the actors and actresses sang with fluctuating intonations and danced

to dynamic choreography. So many things happened at once that if I directed my attention to one moment, I would miss the next. In the end, I could not etch every detail into my skull, but the fantastical elements left me immersed in my noticings.

Perhaps Broadway’s strict antiphone policy was intended to push the audience toward a personal experience. Observing the show with the purest mind—not knowing who would do what next, lacking familiarity with the songs—I noticed the details that spoke to me. I was forced to watch the show in the present, with my attention impulsively directed to whatever captivated me the most at that second. Were Joe and Jerry’s patterned cotton

dresses used to underline how they felt out of place among the girls’ polyester and crepe, or was it to accentuate their differences? Did Jerry’s muscles drop for the slightest second because he was annoyed with Joe, or was he tired of wearing a content mask in front of his friend? Was Sugar singing in a manner to deliberately convey her smile? It was almost as if each actor and actress played their characters not to stay consistent with the performance quality, nor to make their characters more believable, but rather to call to the people that would instinctively connect with it.

Some Like It Hot was originally a 1959 movie incorporating self-discovery into its characters. It was a hit film and most recently adapted to be portrayed

on the big stage. The Broadway show transfuses its themes into the audience through live performers enveloping the listeners’ ears in a velvet voice. Only a trickle of people laughed at Osgood, almost tucked away into the curtains with his overbearing enthusiasm. Maybe everyone was amazed by Sugar, belting her heart as if she sang for nobody else. Perhaps they were magnetized by Daphne, dancing ever-so-comfortably in her sparkling dress and tight tap shoes. Ultimately, the Broadway effect allows the performers to touch our souls, grabbing our eyes by pulling on our reflexes and instincts. It leaves us swelled with an abundance of self, reminding us of our most profound dreams and values.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Milenka Men (VI), Google Images

CHLOE HUANG (III)

I walked into my first class of the school year greeted by a phone box at the doorway. After having phones collected in Middle School, I thought we would finally be emancipated

EVAN XIE (V)

Before the beginning of last school year, my friends approached me with an intriguing offer: a spot in their fantasy football league. Although I initially saw no reason to join the league because I had no understanding or passion for football—outside of an occasional Super Bowl viewing—I was eventually persuaded by my friends. They somehow managed to convince me of the upside, a conversation topic about a sport I couldn’t care less about, far outweighed the downside, a wasted 20-dollar entry fee and publicly humiliating punishment for the loser of the league. Thus, I hesitantly accepted their offer and joined the league.

From day one, my rookie status shone through loud and proud. On draft day, not even knowing the difference between a running back and a wide receiver, I assembled a roster that was nothing short of pathetic. Quickly, everyone in the league realized my cluelessness, making me a prime trade (or should I say scam) target. The day before school started, I was persuaded into making a mindbogglingly bad trade. If this debut was bad, it only got worse as the season progressed. Time and time again, I accepted highly questionable trades, reducing my team to a laughing stock.

Although my team looked horrendous on paper, it performed, again and again, week in and week out. By the end of the season, I ended up winning every single trade I supposedly got scammed into, which was in no part due to any form of fantasy football expertise I had. Thus, I finished the regular season with an impressive 11-3 record, putting me at the top of the league, above everyone who scammed me, laughed at my team, and (rightfully) doubted my skill. After my impressive rookie

To Caddy, or Not?

from phone caddies in the Upper School. Teachers said we had been abusing our phones, which, given the amount of times we have all at least heard someone forget to turn down their volume during class, is glaringly true. With this being

Pingry’s first year implementing phone caddies in high school, is this new addition positive or worrying? Yes, we all know how technology has an addictive factor that negatively affects everything we do, hindering attempts at direct social interaction and our general awareness of the world around us. Many of us have heard it from our parents or have simply taken note of it ourselves. Even as I’m writing this column, between every cluster of sentences I write, my fingers somehow drift away from the keyboard to the screen of my phone. I subconsciously correlate watching a quick Netflix episode, responding to Snaps, or scrolling through my TikTok feed as small rewards. Although I cogitate the way our generation has put an offset to society, I find myself subsequently participating in it. After an hour-and-ten-minute class, it feels great to wind down before your next class with your phone, going through notifications and responding to messages. However, while our generation has seen a spiked increase in technology

use since the pandemic, our craving for all things interpersonal makes us further appreciate the time we have together. Last year, during awkward lunch periods behind plexiglass that muffled our every word, we became reliant on phones. But our pandemic behavior should not change the current standards compared to pre-pandemic ones. This includes adults trusting students to hold themselves accountable for screen time, and students maturing into responsible young adults.

Since the phone caddy insinuates that students are using phones during class, it often serves as an excuse for students to fulfill these expectations. By knowing that we are not the only ones engrossed in technology, students feel less guilty, or even not guilty at all, for abusing it during class. If there were no phone caddies, Pingry students would be more self-confident in the fact that we have not lost ourselves in the chaos of virtual classes and asynchronous assignments. In truth, we have found ourselves more responsible in the chaos. Our generation is the ultimate

Lessons from Fantasy Football

performance, I headed into this year’s fantasy draft with high hopes and ambitions. If my ragtag squad of players could do so well last year, then this year, with some experience and expertise under my belt, I was sure to craft a championshipcaliber team. In preparation for

one of, if not the best, in the league. Yet, despite all this effort I put into drafting my team, it performed terribly. Every Sunday, as I opened the fantasy app, my high hopes were crushed by the underwhelming performance of my players. As the losses piled up, and my

so much that they were ruining my mood every Sunday, I decided I had enough and deleted the fantasy app.

Since then, I accumulated an 8-1 record. As soon as I stopped caring about fantasy football, my players started performing better and my team started winning. While

pioneer of the pandemic. After a long school year of filling out pre-screen forms every morning, remembering not to eat or brush before a spit test, keeping track of Pingry IDs, and many more endeavors, I can confidently say that we have grown more responsible.

This proves that unguided experiences can be most impactful, which has parallels to the phone caddies. Without their presence, we can experience yet another ‘unguided’ school year, just like every previous year that students experienced pre-pandemic. In order for us to effectively manage our time, we should revert back to autodidactic ways. Once we leave high school, there isn’t going to be a phone caddy to govern our lives; it will be ourselves. If students are unable to form this habit now, will we ever?

Heading into Winter Break, it’s a great time to hole up in your room and watch Elf , or scroll through TikTok to gain inspiration and formulate your holiday wishlist. Even so, let’s keep our own personal phone caddies in mind to prove the real caddies to be redundant.

essentially giving up that element of yours. On the other hand, when you focus your energy on important things in your life that you can control, like school and sports, you are directly working towards improving yourself, which almost always results in success. Oftentimes,

the draft, I combed through expert analysis and rankings to assemble an in-depth drafting report that detailed players’ past performances, current potential, consistency, and injury probability. Come draft day, guided by my report, I methodically selected my players to build an impressive team that looked to be

disappointment deepened, I invested even more energy into my team, certain I had the ability to turn things around. After consulting YouTube videos for advice and constantly trying to make trades with my leaguemates, my team fared no better, and my sophomore slump continued. When my losses began frustrating me

this success is most certainly a coincidence, it serves as a valuable lesson that you should never worry about something you can’t control and let it influence your mood.

When you invest yourself into something you can’t control, you set yourself up for failure by letting other people control your livelihood,

this success is infectious and spreads to other facets of your life you might not have as much control over, such as your fantasy football team. So next time you find yourself disappointed or frustrated by something beyond your control, pause for a second and realize how you’re wasting your energy on something insignificant.

Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images, Alex Wong

Mirika’s Reading Range

MIRIKA JAMBUDI (VI)

With winter break on the horizon, December is the perfect time to curl up with a good book— preferably on a couch as it snows outside, with a toasty fireplace nearby. With a mix of classics and recent releases, here are some of my must-read novels to keep you going through the month and into the new year.

The first on my list is from NaNoWriMo (National Write a Novel Month), which occurs every year in November. One of the biggest titles to come out of NaNoWriMo is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, which was

an immediate bestseller. The book features two star-crossed magicians, Celia and Marco, and events within the confines of a circus that travels worldwide and runs strictly at nighttime. The story establishes Marco and Celia as promising young students of magic and illusion, as they are set against each other in a competition—unbeknownst to them, to the death. As Celia and Marco fall in love, they must find a way to escape the contest they’ve been forced into while protecting the circus family they’ve grown attached to and are accidentally involved in their predicament. The story jumps around in time, so some events are out of order.

I took careful note of the dates at the top of each chapter, which helped me stay on track while reading. Overall, the plot could have been executed better, and should have focused more evenly between the characters. However, I found the setting to be the most enticing part of the book. The vivid imagery of the circus is well developed and brings the reader in an immersive experience.

Another must-read is The Bookseller at the End of the World by Ruth Shaw. The memoir follows

the life of a bookseller who runs two tiny bookshops in the remote village of Manapouri in Fiordland, the southern region of New Zealand. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster as Shaw weaves stories of characters who visit her bookshops and recounts bittersweet stories from her life. She’s had a myriad of interesting and exciting adventures, ranging from working at Sydney’s Kings Cross to sailing through the Pacific and being held up by pirates. The book immediately made me want to visit the writer’s bookstores and hear her stories firsthand. There’s a great balance of humor and serious moments,

and I found myself captivated by every anecdote and description. The book proves that fact is often stranger than fiction. Shaw has had a rich life filled with diverse experiences and encounters with different people. This touching memoir explores the complex, dynamic relationships we have as humans. It leaves the reader with a spectrum of emotions and prompts them to reflect on their lives. You definitely won’t be disappointed if you go into the story with an open mind.

The final book you should add to your collection is Geraldine Brooks’ Horse , also the 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner. Brooks weaves together three different stories from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries to tell a cohesive story about race and freedom, horses and art, and lineage. Horse is a novel combining art and science, based on the recordbreaking thoroughbred Lexington, whose history had previously been lost until recent research efforts. In the present day, the story centers around Theo Northam, a Black art historian researching 19th-century equestrian paintings, and Jess, a bone specialist working on analyzing an old horse skeleton.

World Cup 2022 Boba and Bites

ELLA BUDENBENDER

(VI)

On November 20, the 22nd FIFA World Cup kicked off in Qatar. This year marks the first time the event is held in the winter due to the extreme heat and humidity in Qatar during the summer, when the tournament is traditionally played. This World Cup is the first held in the Arab world.

Thirty-two teams, including the United States, qualified for the world’s largest sporting event. The group stage lasted until December 2, when advancing teams continued to the Round of 16 before playing the rest of the tournament. The finals will be on December 18 at Lusail Stadium, one of the eight stadiums hosting matches in this World Cup.

Heading into the event, this year’s favorites to take home the FIFA World Cup trophy includes Brazil, Argentina, defending champion France, with Spain and England following close

behind. Fans can watch the games in English on FOX Sports and FS1, and can keep track of news and scores on the official FIFA website.

This year, there have been a series of controversies regarding Qatar as the host nation. Many have criticized the country for allegations of human rights violations in building the stadiums, corruption in winning the bid to host, and its position on the legal status of homosexuality. Moreover, it was announced two days before the tournament that all sales of alcoholic beverages at venues would be banned, upsetting many fans. Sepp Blatter, the ex-president of FIFA admits it was a “mistake” to have Qatar host the World Cup.

Despite these controversies, fans are excited to watch their country compete in the biggest world soccer tournament since 2018. Whether you’re a diehard fan or not, this is a tournament you’ll want to keep up with.

KEIRA CHEN (V)

Craving a quiet spot to grab a bite? Looking for some quality teas that will keep you coming back? Well, head over to Modern China Tea Shop in Edison for an experience you won’t forget. As its name suggests, Modern China Tea Shop serves a wide range of teas, from traditional blends to fruit teas, milk teas, and slushes. Its Chinese name, 茶颜观色 (chá yán guān sè), is a pun on the phrase 察 言观色 (pronounced the same way), which means to discern someone’s thoughts from their body language. It is also a nod to the shop’s roots, the franchise brand 茶颜悦色 (chá yán yuè sè) in China that has been wildly popular over the last half-decade. Although its outside appearance may seem humble, don’t let that fool you; the shop is constantly alive with a bustling stream of customers. Upon entering, look up to find a series of traditional-style umbrellas hung from the ceiling, spinning slowly to accompany the gentle hum of music and machinery. To the right of the door, a few chairs are placed for those waiting for their to-go orders. The cafe-style seating area is decorated with beautiful wallpaper and hanging ornaments that include elegant light fixtures

and plants to bring out the peaceful atmosphere, while the large windows paired with a light color palette prevent it from feeling cramped.

When you’re ready to order, head up to the counter. Overhead screens display the many drinks and toppings available. As an avid lover of fruit teas, I am a big fan of their kumquat lemon tea with lychee jelly, but if your taste buds lean towards the sweeter side, give the matcha milk tea a shot. The shop’s sheer variety of teas means there’s always something new to try, from PrettyBerry (strawberry slush combined with Yakult, a Japanese milk beverage that was a staple in my house growing up), to the peach oolong tea, or to the many cheese teas on the menu. Whether you’re looking for something you’ve never heard of, or

In a flashback to the 1900s, the narrative revolves around Martha Jackson, a gallery owner in New York City who builds an expansive collection of nineteenth-century equestrian oil paintings. Finally, traveling back to the 1800s, the story chronicles the bond between an enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal who go on to set records together. The pacing between three centuries is well done, and Brooks masterfully crafts each character’s voice. This is one of my favorite reads of 2022.

I hope you get the chance to pick up any of these books to get into the holiday spirit! See you next year!

just want something familiar, Modern China Tea Shop has the drink for you.

The shop also serves street foods like popcorn chicken (my personal favorite), takoyaki, Taiwanese sausage, and more, in addition to desserts like mille crepe cake, milk pudding, and tiramisu. And if your cravings still aren’t satisfied, the shop is conveniently located near the H-Mart plaza so it is easy to drive over and find something else to your liking, be it a hearty meal at Tofu House or sweets at MeetFresh.

So, the next time you find yourself in the mood for a good tea, instead of reaching for your phone to DoorDash from your typical boba store, come to Modern China Tea Shop and order a drink— you just might discover a favorite.

By GRETA PEW (V), MILENKA MEN (VI), TYLER KATT (IV), KATE MARINE (V), LEON ZHOU (V), SEBASTIAN SEMPEDRO (VI), GRACE FERNICOLA (V), SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (IV), MIRIKA JAMBUDI (VI)

Boys’ Basketball

The boys’ basketball team, led by captains Jaymin Bhat (VI) and Jake Abdi (VI), is headed into the season with great excitement and a talented freshman class.

The team has six returning varsity players: Bhat, Abdi, Joshua Woodford (V), Trey Maultsby (V), Graham Stevens (V), and Leo Xu (VI). Because of their primarily underclassmen roster, Bhat expresses that his hope for this upcoming season is to “Pass on team culture and help build up younger players in the program.”

Last season, the team ended with an 11-10 record. They plan to keep working hard for successful results. When asked about the team’s goals for the season, Bhat responded, “Advancing in the state tournament and winning our division within the Skyland conference.”

The team takes on Bound Brook for their first home game on December 15!

Girls’ Basketball

The Pingry Girls’ Basketball team is led this year by Head Coach Mr. Robert Hoepfl, along with Assistant Coaches Ms. Taunita Stephenson and Ms. Erin Boccher. Student co-captains Bella Goodwin (VI), Maria Loss (VI), Julia Covello (VI), and Ngozi Nnaeto (V) are looking forward to fostering the immense talent on the team and pulling everyone together for a successful season. “From the first day of tryouts, the team seems to have some good chemistry going, so we hope to use that going into playoffs,” Loss (VI) said. Eager to get right into playing, the team is excited about the Ridge Holiday Tournament and hopes to later cap off the season by making it to the county finals. Big Blue Girls Basketball is looking forward to another season of teamwork, fun, and challenges that is even better than the last!

Winter Sports Season Update

Wrestling

The Wrestling team is looking to pick up right where they left off last season as the reigning champions of the Skyland Conference, Mountain Division. Captains Jason Weaver (VI) and Reilly Cavanaugh (VI), both four-year starters who qualified for regions last year, lead the talented team. Coach Keith Karsen, who is in his fourth year with the team, said, “Going into this year, we need to keep building as a better dual meet team, with people understanding their roles… [P]ractice will be extremely important for that.” He also explained, “With a limited line-up, you try to avoid injuries and need to practice differently so that there is less risk.” An important match for the team this year will take place on January 11, when the team faces one of its biggest rivals, Manville High School. We wish them a great season ahead!.

Boys’ Squash

The Boys’ Squash team had a strong season last year, beating top teams like Princeton Day, Choate Rosemary Hall, and Lawrenceville. With that, the team placed 21st at High School Nationals in their division. The team, led by Captains Evan Wen (VI), Adam Bauhs (VI), Spencer Jahng (VI), and Head Coach Ramsay Vehslage, hopes for a similarly successful season again. This year, the team will play schools such as Delbarton, Princeton Day, Lawrenceville, and Millburn, and plans to attend Nationals, as well as JV Nationals, in February 2023. “Super excited for the season,” Wen, the team’s number one seed, comments. “We have a lot of young blood, and I can’t wait to see them compete this season.” The team aims to beat every other team in New Jersey and also place well at Nationals. The team’s first match is December 7 in the BAC against Blair Academy.

Girls’ Squash

The Girls’ Varsity Squash the is looking ahead to an exciting season this winter, with its first match against

Blair Academy on December 3. The team, led by co-captains Meher Khan (VI), Alexandra Ouzounian (VI), and Kellani Laidley (VI), is coming off a successful season from last year, when they won the U.S. High School Division 2 Team Squash Championship. Coach Mr. Francis Odeh has high ambitions for this season, in which he aims to “do better than last year.” He looks forward to working with all of the new players joining the team, and his main goal is “to help improve players’ games.” Francesca Zarbin (V) said that the developmental focus of the team “creates a really welcoming and supportive environment that all of us thrive on.” In addition to winning tournaments and improving squash skills, Isabel Zarbin (V) stated another goal for the season is to “bring the team together and really create meaningful connections with each other.”

Boys’ Hockey

After an electric finish to last year’s season, the Boys’ Ice Hockey team is brimming with confidence. Big Blue took home the Skyland Cup in a heated championship battle against Ridge, thanks to an overtime winner by Brice Crosby (IV). The much anticipated rematch will be Pingry’s season opener on December 8. This year’s team hopes for a repeat conference victory and to make a deep run into the state playoffs. Captain Bennett Crosby (VI) says, “after a full season and winning a championship, the team has what it needs and knows what it takes to be successful.” Mr. Scott Garrow, Mr. Jason Filep, and Mr. Cameron Kordonsky are the coaches for the team. The roster is composed of familiar faces with a strong sophomore class making up the majority of the team. Captains Bennett Crosby, Adrian Kurylko (VI), and Henry Pyne (VI) are ready to go, and their experience and leadership will be crucial throughout the season. A couple of new freshmen will also enter the team to round up the group.

Girls’ Hockey

The Girls’ Ice Hockey Team is excited to begin another season following its impressive fourth-place ranking in the state last year. This year’s team will be led by six seniors, all of whom are

“impact” players with high skill and experience levels. Talented players include Charlotte Diemar (V), who broke Pingry’s single-season points and goals records last season, Alexis Glasofer (IV), who was last year’s leading freshman scorer in the state, and new goalie Kate Niccolai (V).

Despite the team’s successes, Coach Alex Nanfara is continually working hard to improve the players’ skills. “We have a few more players than we did last year,” Coach Nanfara said, “so we’ll be able to experiment with lines a little more to evaluate chemistry and also try to create different looks on special teams.”

Coach Nanfara hopes the team can make it back into the state tournament’s final four. The team’s enthusiasm paired with Coach Nanfara’s passion and determination to make his players the best they can be will certainly help lead the team to what is bound to be yet another strong season!

Fencing

Varsity fencing is off to an enthusiastic start under the guidance of Head Coaches Mr. David Barr, Ms. Aye Thuzar, and Mr. Ted Li. Co-captains Zala Bhan (VI), Charles Jiang (VI), Andrew Overdeck (VI), and Delaney Swain (V) are ready for the 2022-2023 season. Bhan and Swain are striving towards a win this year at the NJSIAA State Championships after last year’s third-place finish. With Yale-commit Alexa Drovetsky (VI) and Duke-commit Katie Lin (VI) leading the way, the team is ready to dive into competition. After an influx of new fencers, everyone is excited about the season. “Our team looks very strong,” Bhan said. “Preseason was a nice time to get the team together while working to achieve that goal,” she added. With its tight teamwork, supportive attitudes, and fast reflexes, Varsity Fencing expects to have an amazing season ahead of it.

Boys’ Swimming

The Boys’ Varsity Swimming Team is entering this season determined to compete and develop new talent. Led by Coach Megan Bull and co-captains John Grissinger (VI), Roman Jones (VI), and James Thomas (VI), the squad is looking forward to competing in a myriad of meets and tournaments.

“The team graduated three seniors last year, but there are a lot of freshmen who can really develop, bringing more depth to our roster,” Coach Bull said. In previous years, the team had success at events, including the Somerset County Championships, Skyland Conference, and the Prep Championships at Lawrenceville.

Grissinger mentioned he is “looking forward to the Hillsborough meet, in which [Pingry] tied last year.” He adds the Bridgewater-Raritan meet “is also going to be a big one.” The co-captains hope for the team to “swim fast and have fun,” and with that enthusiasm, and several freshmen swimmers bringing in new talent, the team is excited to work toward a fun and successful season.

Girls’ Swimming

The Girls’ Swim Team is looking forward to an exciting winter season. The season kicked off on November 21, with the team’s first day of practice. Since then, the athletes have been working hard, practicing six days a week. In previous years, the team has been successful at meets like the Prep “A” Championships, the Skyland Conference, and the Somerset County Championships. Coach Deidre O’Mara and co-captains Lauren Kim (VI) and Allie Jones (VI) are excited to compete at the events again this year, stronger than ever. With about 30 swimmers, including many talented underclassmen, the team is ready to have a strong season.

Skiing

The Ski Team is looking forward to an exciting season. Led by captains Camille Collins (VI), Annabelle Collins (VI), Dylan Jay (V), Matthew Lombardo (V), and Camden Collins (IV), the team is looking forward to building on last year’s performances. “The whole season is always a ton of fun, but we are most excited to see how we do at states this year,” Camille Collins said. The girls’ team has the returning top four racers that led them to first place at states last year, so they hope to see a repeat of that success this year. Coaches Joe Kinney, Coach John Webber, and Coach James Backman have high ambitions for the season.

Sleighs and Neighs of 2022

SLEIGHS

WINTER OLYMPICS WEDNESDAY

MIDNIGHTS - TAYLOR SWIFT CELEBRATE PINGRY MORE CULTURAL ASSEMBLIES PROTECTION FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

SAGE DINING

MR. LEAR AS HEAD OF SCHOOL

2023 Resolutions

“Fix my sleep schedule—get at least five hours every day”

“Learn how to play squash”

“Start playing cello again”

“Branch out of my friend group and talk to new people in my grade”

“Lift weights regularly in the BAC”

“Get to school on time and avoid another Friday detention”

“Simp less, sleep more, and get on the grind”

“Eat healthier; try cutting out meat from my diet and go vegetarian”

“Visit more National Parks and go backpacking”

“Get into college”

“Organize my desk and clean my room to get rid of things I don’t need”

“Stop snoozing my alarm in the morning”

“Dress nicer with better fits”

“Talk to underclassmen and visit my teachers more”

“Try learning how to cook a new food”

“Get my license before I turn 18”

“Spend more time with my family”

“Be more appreciative and show gratitude to others”

“Start a journal to reflect in”

“Make more time to read at least two books each month for fun”

“Get tickets to see Taylor Swift”

“Stop worrying and live more in the moment”

“Learn how to develop photos and work on my photography skills”

“Start a poetry blog and make more time to spend time writing”

“Touch grass”

“Stay in touch with old friends from my local high school”

“Focus on self-care and making healthier decisions for my body”

“Learn how to delegate tasks to others”

“Go on an outing to the city with friends”

“Pet many fluffy dogs and cats”

“Volunteer more in my community”

“Attend more Pingry events to support my classmates that are participating”

“Stop sleeping in class”

“Bake cookies for my friends”

“Pass AP Chemistry”

“Be more honest with myself and with others about how I feel”

“Do what excites”

Photo Credits: Pingry