November 2021

THE

Picture taken at Elf The Musical dress rehearsal.

Read more about the musical on page 8-9.

TALON

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI // NOVEMBER 2021 // VOL. 84 ISSUE 2

Photo courtesy of Kent McCormick

PAGE 2 || NEWS

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

QUIKER COMPANY

RCS parent gives back to the community with mobile service JENNY KIM

FEATURE AND DESIGN EDITOR

Quick and convenient service is what people need, especially when they are on a tight and busy schedule.

Quiker, a car repair and maintenance company, partnered with the RCS Foundation to help the community out with an affordable mobile service. This startup offers quality oil changes, mechanical repair, and ongoing maintenance services straight to your chosen location.

“Rather than having to take time out of your day to go to a dealership or repair shop, you contact us and we conveniently come to a location of your choice! It can be your home, place of work or while you are doing some grocery shopping!” Alex Vandervert, founder of Quiker said.

Quiker offers a wide variety of services. The most frequently requested services include things such as oil changes, brakes, windshield wiper replacements, starter replacements or tune-ups. In addition, the company provides repair and maintenance services to commercial fleet accounts. They also have employee benefits for those who work with certain companies that they partner with, such as Pennzoil and Shell.

“On a last note, we are working on a pretty big project in conjunction with a large tech company to create our own predictive maintenance scheduling platform,” Vandervert said. “We have dubbed it as VMaaS (Vehicle Maintenance as a Service). Without going into too much detail, we will be able to contact our customers to notify them about upcoming vehicle maintenance issues before they happen.

We really want to think ahead of what vehicle maintenance could and should look like!”

The idea was brought up when everything was shut down, during the early stages COVID. In December 2020, Quiker was established and operations started April 2021.

“Carolyn Espinoza, one of our co-founders, was needing some work on her vehicle but was uncomfortable with the idea of going into a dealership at that time,” Vandervert said.

Vandervert has had previous experience within the waste management industry and was familiar with fixing trucks that break down on routes and have them running again.

“That was over 7 years ago, but surely in this age of Uber and Doordash where everything can be delivered to you then there has to be a mobile mechanic company of sorts,” Vandervert said.

After realizing the lack of mobile companies, Vandervert and Espinoza decided this was a perfect opportunity to bring in this new service to the Metro Detroit Area.

“So we began creating a business plan to justify the case for starting Quiker and the rest is history!” Vandervert said.

Vandervert is a resident of Rochester Hills who has children enrolled in RCS schools. As a parent, he saw how much effort teachers put into their students. In return, he wanted to give back to the community in a significant way.

“We invest in our most valuable assets, our employees, and make sure to give back to the community. So when we were creating this proposal for RCS, not only did we decide to give huge discounts to the RCS family on our services, but also give back 5% of profits to the RCS foundation as well,” Vandervert said. “If we just take a little more stress off the people making the wheels turn at RCS and give back at the same time, then it is a huge win.”

With Espinoza’s involvement in different charities, RCS offered a unique chance for Quiker to come in and talk about leadership and guide future entrepreneurs.

“We partnered with the RCS Foundation and through that relationship began a series of conversations that allowed us to present our services to the Rochester Community Schools,” Vandervert said. “This all transpired in August of this year, and we look forward to continuing to build on that relationship for many years to come!”

This year, Mrs. Malsbury’s small business class started working with Quiker.

“Our objective is to get their name out and get 70 people to use their service,” Senior Maggie Murphy said. “There are people working on making flyers, announcement videos and social media campaigns.”

When assistance is needed, Quiker can be contacted through several different ways. A Customer Success Manager will promptly be in contact to arrange a service to your chosen location. The fastest way to contact is through the number 248-712-3600 or the Quiker website www.quikerco. com and the exclusive RCS/Quiker page http://partnership. quikerco.com/rcs.

“No one enjoys having their time wasted. It is a resource that you can never get back. We pride ourselves on doing this work while you take that time to concentrate on the things that matter most. With us, we save you time and money. We are Quiker than the competition!” Vandervert said.

Photos Courtesy of Quiker

Photo Courtesy of Maggie Murphy (above)

PAGE 3 || NEWS

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

ROCHESTER FALCON MARCHING BAND FMB scheduled to march in America’s Thanksgivng parade JAEMIN KIM

STAFF WRITER

As the last month of fall comes to an end, there are many events to look forward to as Thanksgiving approaches, but the most extraordinary of all is the most popular parade in the country, announced by USA Today.

The Michigan Thanksgiving Parade, now known as America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner-White, was founded in 1924 and has since grown to become one of the largest and most popular parades in the country. The Parade has been a unique show of fantasy, holiday spirit, and community enthusiasm for more than 75 years, and it has come to include more than 75 parade units, including floats, balloons, and marching bands. ¨There are usually 8-10 marching bands from Michigan and the Midwest. Calvin Johnson, former American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions will be one of the grand marshals this year.

Disney´s Broadway musical The Lion King will be the opening act of the Parade with a performance of ‘Circle of Life.’ The Detroit Youth Choir amazed audiences on America’s Got Talent and has since been on the world stage and will also open with The Lion King,” Marching Band director Mr. David A. Uhrig said.

Each year, thousands of people line the streets of Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving morning to watch large floats, colorful balloons, amazing marching bands, and exciting specialty acts perform. The Parade is televised live annually on WDIV-local 4 with a potential national audience of over 65 million houses. The Parade embarks off the corner of Kirby and Woodward at 8:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning and is broadcasted live on WDIV Local 4 at 10 a.m. and on their website.

The Falcon Marching Band will be attending the 3.5 mile parade this year and will be playing ¨All I Want for Christmas is You¨ by Mariah Carey.

¨I am excited but I hate having to wake up at 5 in the morning,¨ trumpet player Giulia Orecchia said.

The band members are looking forward to this day, since it gives them an opportunity to perform in front of a large crowd of people and be on the news. ¨I am very excited for the parade because we’re going to be on TV,¨ clarinet player Carter Rupert said.

The Falcon Marching Band is always striving to enhance every time they rehearse and perform. This parade will be a great place for the band to display their top-tier music and march in unison down Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thanksgiving Morning. ¨The Falcon Marching Band continues to improve from year to year.

This year specifically, they have such an incredible ensemble sound.

They play with great dynamic contrast, and when needed, they can really play with a big, full sound,” Mr. Uhrig said. “They also have improved in their marching technique and have learned more complex marching choreography than in past years.¨ After months of growth and preparation, the Falcon Marching Band is ready to perform for the parade’s 94th anniversary. Performing live in Detroit will leave unforgettable memories for the band members after they grew a strong bond over the time they spent together.

“I think that this year’s marching band is one of the best for the Thanksgiving day parade. We have been working non stop to make sure that everything goes well in this parade,” senior drum major Owen Yoo said. “I think this allows us a great opportunity to showcase our talents and musicality to the entirety of Michigan and we are excited to perform on Woodward Avenue.”

Photo Courtesy of Katie Mile

Photos Courtesy of Paul Roscoe

HALL PASS

RHS implements a new hall pass system for RHS students SHANNON CARR STAFF WRITER

On November 3, the administration staff of RHS implemented a new QR code hall pass system, where students scan a QR code with their cell phones to fill out a form to get a hall pass. However, many RHS families aren’t happy with this decision.

Some claim that not everyone has a cell phone to use, others say that they’re very prone to closing tabs. Even if there is a paper version of this pass, students have said it’ll just be as easy to lose.

“I get where the school is coming from, but it’s a bit too much,” One response says. A majority of RHS students claim that this should not be a permanent system and it will not work forever, according to a student conducted poll on the new hall pass system. Regardless of grade, the opinions are the same: the hall pass system is a fail.

Students also claim that it’s just a flat-out inconvenience.

The form has to be filled no matter the distance to and from your destination. Whether it’s 20 feet away or across the school, the form must be filled out. This can be a problem for students that have an immediate emergency.

Though students disagree with it, it has a purpose; to keep

the students of RHS safe and learning. During the morning announcements on Nov. 3, it was stated that the hall pass is made to help ensure that students are learning in the classroom and not elsewhere. Students can go to class, ask to go to the bathroom, then they’ll wander the hallways and skip class. In September, there was also theft of bathroom items in the men’s restrooms, such as soap dispensers. This percentage of students is so few, but their actions have impacted the school’s decision and now it affects everybody.

Not only do the students disagree with it, parents on the parent forums on Facebook are unhappy about it. Lots of parents argue that not every student has a cell phone. Cell phones are not cheap and many families cannot afford a cell phone for their kids that scan QR codes, let alone one at all.

On top of that, cell phone plans can be very pricey. Many parents also do not let their children take their cell phone to school, in fears of the devices being a distraction. This has changed a lot since the pandemic began.

Teachers also have their opinions on it. Though it keeps students learning in the classroom, there’s many classes where leaving the classroom is practically a necessity.

These classes include Multimedia Communications and Photography. There are options on the form that say the student is out of the classroom for those specific classes.

Many teachers understand the students’ viewpoints on the new hall passes, whether it’s the inconvenience or the “discrimination” to students who do not have a cell phone nor the funds to have one.

Regardless of students and teachers, many do not agree with the hall pass system, and hope it will remain only temporarily.

PAGE 4 || FEATURE

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

HUMANS OF ROCHESTER

Student council president: Eden McCullough BRICE BOGGAN STAFF WRITER Growing up, we all have accomplishments that we are proud of. Senior Eden McCullough has many noteworthy accomplishments within just the past few years.

McCullough is a strong worker, earning the titles of Stugo President and founder of the RUBY podcast. McCullough strives to be a role model for many young women. When she is interviewing live, she is constantly learning and growing. With goals in mind, McCullough navigates through the challenges as she grows and changes. As Rochester’s student council president, she is a familiar face to many.

“I’m trying to be different from other presidents in the way that they use their position for power,” said McCullough.

McCullough has been in student council since the 6th grade. For seven years, she has worked hard to improve her leadership skills and be more involved in her community.

She’s done jobs such as appreciation committee, vice president, Leaders of Tomorrow, and this year she’s president for the senior class, and of Eboard. Board of Delegate (BoD) as known as Masc-Mahs (Michigan Association of Student Council/Honor Societies) is a group of 30-40 student leaders around Michigan that talks about issues you don’t normally talk about in school, for example LGBTQ+ and racism. Eden wanted to be a part of BoD for her junior year in student council. She did not make it. This year, her mentors pushed her to try out again, and she made it in.

“There are student leaders everywhere and they are a high achieving group,’’ said McCullough. “Which sometimes is very fun to be with and sometimes it’s hard because everyone is fighting for their voice to be heard.”

Mrs. Cusmano, the teacher overseeing student council, notices McCullough’s specialty.

Mrs. Cusmano has high expectations for McCullough, and she meets them everytime.

Both McCullough and Mrs. Cusmano mentioned the role that the president carries of ‘being a shoulder to cry on’ and making sure everyone’s health is good. McCullough says she likes using her empathy to hear out what the other person is saying. That is one of her goals and being president is helping her get better at it.

“She has a way of making each student council member feel that their voice is valued and important,” said Mrs. Cusmano. “She wants to make the world a better place and has a keen sense of her impact on the world.”

Over coffee with a friend from school,

Sam Tandy, and an old friend and influencer on Instagram, Taylor Kanigowski, they decided to launch RUBY. RUBY is a blog/podcast that interviews young women live and touches on different topics each episode. With the target audience being from middle school to college, different topics include embracing feminine energy, wellness and finding worth.

The podcast even goes to little things like fueling cars. RUBY’s current achievements consist of 30 episodes out, 600 followers on Instagram, and over 1,000 downloads for the podcast.

“Authenticity is one of my big things,” said McCullough. “[It is important] to try and encourage people into their own work and not conform to what everyone else is saying.”

A question frequently asked on their podcast is ‘If you could go back to your 16 year old self, what would you tell her?’ Processing that questions makes the guest emotional as it is a very thought provoking question. It is a question that rewards unique answers from each individual. ”It’s just an emotional question because you’re looking back at your younger self,” said McCullough.

Like most people when starting something new, McCullough felt nervous during her first interview. However, she still felt prepared enough to go on with it. Feeling timid as well, sometimes forgetting or completely disregarding questions. Now being more used to it, she’s confident in her interviewing skills.

“I felt prepared [during her first interview], but also it’s kinda scary because it is live and is all being recorded,” said McCulllough.

A common issue with interviewing or just with conversations in general is that there are often awkward silences. Interviewing live in person adds on to that silence. However, the more McCullough interviewed, she learned to not be afraid of the weird silence, and to take that time to process what the person is saying.

Being both the interviewee and the interviewer helped her grow as a person and with her conversational skills.

“Something I’m learning is amplifying other people’s stories,” said McCullough. “To sit in stillness and just soak in what they are saying.”

McCullough made Tandy excited for RUBY. Like McCullough, Tandy started off nervous about the interviews, but as they did it more, they both grew as interviewers as the podcast grew. McCullough motivated Tandy from the very beginning. The stuff McCullough says during podcasts and in

casual life, is very inspiring to Tandy, leaving her feeling powerful. Tandy also mentions that without McCullough’s organization and vision, she would not have the clarity that she has today.

“When Eden and I started RUBY, we knew that this was the thing both of us had been searching for so long,” Tandy said.

To Tandy, McCullough is like a sister.

McCullough has helped Tandy grow as a person and makes her feel seen when they are together. McCullough takes the time to invest in the friendship, giving Tandy advice when she needs it. Tandy feels blessed to have the friendship she has with McCullough, stating ‘being friends with McCullough feels like freedom and light.’ Their friendship is not based on just their similarities, but also the things that set them apart. To Sam, she is all things power and love.

“She emits a feeling of wonder and delight,” said Tandy. “Her presence fills me with courage, as well as a sense of grounding.”

Kanigowski has nothing but many great things to say about McCullough. She has known McCullough and Tandy since they were in elementary school. When they all met up, they noticed that they all shared similar passions, which established the idea of RUBY.

“She is a woman of integrity,” said Kanigowski. “She is wildly talented and creative.”

McCullough is mostly busy in the day, so when she has free time, she tries to be productive. She is working on letting herself rest by doing hobbies away from her phone, such as yoga. She also enjoys reading and baking.

“One thing that’s hard for me is that when I do have free time I feel like I need to be productive,” said McCullough. “So I’m working on letting myself rest.”

McCullough loves to watch shows and movies. A possible dream job for McCullough is to be a screenwriter or creative director. She loves seeing the set and the different roles everyone plays in making movies/shows. She doesn’t know much about film but she likes the aesthetic behind it.

“I like the fact that it can twist your emotions,” said McCullough. “Like how horror movies make you scared, I think that’s cool.”

McCullough is a dedicated worker. She brings joy to those in and out of school.

Bringing delight to those doing RUBY with her, along with those in the student council.

Growing as a person through RUBY, and a leader through student council, McCullough will continue to show kindness to the people she meets.

Founder of RUBY Podcast Eden M. and Sam T.

Photos Courtesy of Eden McCullough

PAGE 5 || FEATURE

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER BAKERY REVIEW Which Rochester bakery sells the best fall treats?

HOLLY MCDONALD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JENNY KIM

FEATURE AND DESIGN EDITOR

Downtown Rochester is home to many fabulous bakeries, coffee shops and restaurants. A group of Talon editors teamed up to visit four downtown bakeries and coffee shops to review their fall themed menus. Each restaurant was reviewed under three categories: the ambience of the restaurant, the speed and friendliness of the service and the variety of fall food/drink options. On the hunt to find the best fall bakery, one restaurant was a clear winner.

BAKEHOUSE 46

5/5

Immediately upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by friendly workers. The staff was helpful with answering our questions. Bakehouse 46, located on the corner of Main Street and W 2nd Street, is a combination of the old Cupcake Station and Blake’s Orchard.

This combination provides for the perfect array of fall goodies. Bakehouse 46 provides everything from cider and donuts, to dozens of flavors of cupcakes, ice cream, breakfast and lunch assortments and drink options. The restaurant was perfectly decorated to create a minimalist yet comforting atmosphere. There are couches and rugs to create a homely environment, and window seating to bask in the sun. The exterior walls are completely made of glass, allowing the sunshine in to feel warm even on the coldest days. The restaurant was extremely clean and relatively empty on a Saturday afternoon.

Bottom line: For anyone looking to relax in a quiet, cozy atmosphere, Bakehouse 46 is the place to be!

GIVE THANKS BAKERY

DESSERT OASIS

4.5/5

If you haven’t been to Dessert Oasis recently, it’s about time you pay a visit. The restaurant and kitchen were completely renovated to create a new interior. Dessert Oasis is mostly known for their coffee; however they have a wide assortment of cheesecakes, pastries and cookies. Dessert Oasis is beloved by many locals and almost always has a steady flow of customers. Nearly all tables were filled on our Saturday afternoon, but the speed of the register was quick, and the line moved fast. The staff was helpful, friendly and very knowledgeable of their products. However, after the order was placed, it took a lengthy amount of time to receive our order. Once the food and drink arrived, it was worth the wait. The pumpkin spice cheesecake had the perfect amount of spice to create a wonderful fall flavor without overpowering the rest of the dessert. The restaurant, though full, had an inviting atmosphere. Something that contributed to this was the soft background music playing. In fact, the restaurant frequently has live music throughout the week.

Bottom line: Dessert Oasis is the perfect destination for coffee lovers.

4/5

Give Thanks Bakery is a traditional bakery located on West Main Street Alley. The bakery had an abundance of bread and pastry options. The display of goods was beautiful and the bakery had a pleasant aroma. The staff couldn’t have been friendlier. We were greeted and helped by one of the owners, and he made the service an enjoyable experience. After purchasing our goods, he even threw in extra chocolates for free, which shows the staff goes above and beyond for their customers. The bakery had only one table inside, so expect to take your items to go.

Bottom Line: If you’re searching for traditional bakery items, especially freshly baked bread, Give Thanks Bakery is the place for you!

BEAN AND LEAF CAFE

3.5/5

Bean and Leaf Cafe, located on the corner of Main Street and E University Drive, is home to many coffee and tea lovers. There is a huge menu of drink options, from cherry lemonade, to dozens of classic coffee and tea options to seasonal drinks. Bean and Leaf Cafe offers food and pastries as well. Gluten free and vegan baked goods are available, making this cafe appeal to a larger group of customers. The service was quick, and the restaurant was cozy.

There are lots of tables and chairs to sit, but they’re pushed close together so the seating is a bit tight. The vegan pumpkin bread was one of the fall themed pastries offered at Bean and Leaf. Although vegan options do tend to have a different consistency, this bread was a bit mushy and could have used a stronger pumpkin flavor.

Bottom line: But again, Bean and Leaf is known for their coffee flavors over their food assortments.

All photos by Jenny Kim

PAGE 6 || FEATURE

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

STRESS MANAGEMENT How high school students manage stress KEIRA LONG STAFF WRITER

Students are one of the most common victims of stress. Factors such as financial expenses, overcommitment, family expectations, deadlines, and workload all induce stress in students. While a mild amount of stress is very useful and acts as a motivator for students, too much stress can interfere with their daily lives.

When built over time, stress can give rise to a host of serious problems such as depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.

Managing stress in it’s early stages can help maximize a student’s post-high school experience and opportunities for students.

There are three kinds of common stress triggers students experience.

Social stress can put serious peer pressure on students. Dealing with new relationships, balancing academic life with social life, living with or without family members, adjusting to a new environment, can all trigger stress in students.

Academic stress from strict schedules, deadlines, low grades, challenging classes, exams, responsibilities, and poor time management all lead to a buildup of stress. Daily life stress is associated with issues that are not related to academic or social life. These can include daily commutes, jobs, financial burdens, and so on.

The main objectives are to discover the extent to which stress affects students’ academic success and health and to suggest some techniques and practices to cope with stress for students. Stress coping methods are the physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological methods to deal with stress.

Another poll was taken from 29 students at Rochester High asking how they manage stress. 24 percent of the students answered sleeping, 21 percent answered listening to music, 19 percent answered read-

ing, 14 percent answered physical activity, 14 percent answered making a list of tasks and getting things done, and 8 percent answered drinking Red Bull.

“When I get stressed I find that sleeping helps a lot,” said sophomore Ava Sabbagh, “You can’t exactly think about anything while sleeping, so it’s really relieving.”

Sleep has been proven to be a powerful stress reducer. Following a regular sleep schedule calms and restores the body, improves concentration, regulates mood, sharpens judgment, and decision making.

A lack of sleep can cause the body to react as if it’s in distress, releasing more of the stress hormone, called cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for your fight or flight reaction to danger, increasing your heart rate in anticipation of a fight.

“There are a few ways I manage stress,” said sophomore Jack Lynch, “The ones I find the most helpful are taking deep breaths and listening to music”.

Music can have a great effect on both the emotions and the body.

Faster music can make you feel more alert and concentrate better.

A slower tempo can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed while releasing the stress of the day. Music is effective for relaxation and stress management.

Deep breathing is another great way to manage stress. When you practice deep breathing, you turn on your body’s natural ability to relax. This creates a state of deep rest that can change how your body responds to stress. It sends more oxygen to your brain and calms the part of your nervous system that handles your ability to relax.

“Usually I will read if I feel stressed,” said sophomore Claire Buban. “But when it gets really bad, I sleep.”

In a study conducted by the University of Sussex, individuals who had read for merely six minutes presented slower heart rates, less muscle tension, and reduced stress levels. The 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress by up to 68 percent.

You can do things to handle the stress that comes along with any new challenge, good or bad.

Stress-management skills work best when they’re practiced ahead of time, not just when the pressure’s on. Knowing how to “de-stress” and calm yourself can help you get through challenging circumstances.

Photos Courtesy of Keira Long

THE TALON STAFF Adviser: Ms. Harris Editor-in-Chief: Holly McDonald Feature and Design Editor: Jenny Kim Lifestyles Editor: Megan Splan Sports Editor: Preston Schroyer Opinion Editor: Erielle Ocampo Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff

Writer: Brice Boggan Writer: Stephanie Bulat Writer: Shannon Carr Writer: Adriana Duhanaj Writer: Sonja Hansell Writer: Kristine Hart Writer: Elijah Henegar Writer: Randy Herfi Writer: Jaemin Kim Writer: Landon Henderson Writer: Justin Lal Writer: Kiera Long Writer: Sara Milaj Writer: Trina Mollicone Writer: Wyatt Perkins Writer: Erica Proctor Writer: Marta Svirgun Writer: Jake Vanderhoof

THE TALON POLICY The Talon is the official student publication of Rochester High School. We are now available both in print and online editions. Check out rochestertalon.com, @rhstalon on Twitter, @rhs.talon on Instagram and like The Talon on Facebook for more great content.

The print edition of The Talon is issued monthly during the school year and is devoted to the interest of the student body, parents and alumni of RHS. The Talon strives to create a publication that is informative, entertaining, accurate and professional.

The mission of The Talon is to accurately, truthfully and professionally report on events and issues that are of interest to the student body, entertain readers and serve as a valuable archive of the happenings of the school.

The views expressed in The Talon are those of the staff or individual staff writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration.

The editors encourage communications and reactions from students, alumni, parents and friends of the school.

All communications must be signed, but signatures may be withheld from publication upon request. The Talon values feedback from the community on its articles and other media. However, we maintain the right to censor inappropriate dialogue in comments.

MEMBERSHIPS

PAGE 7 || LIFESTYLES

BLACK FRIDAY NEWS Black-Eye Friday SONJA HANSELL STAFF WRITER

Black Friday has a much darker history best—low quality recycling.” than you might realize. You’ve probably Now, with the recent rise of online heard this day’s title comes from the shopping and Cyber Monday, air pollution expression that when a company is making spikes every November due to the delivery profits, it is “in the black”. In reality of online orders. Diana Verde Nieto, cothis is a more palatable definition than founder of Positive Luxury says, “In 2017, what originated in the 1950s with the it was estimated that every 93 seconds, Philadelphia Police department dubbing the a diesel truck left an Amazon fulfilment day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” due centre.” to the swarms of shoppers, massive traffic Black Friday is a dangerous holiday. jams, and mobs of people looking for the It’s dangerous for the shoppers caught in best deal on their Christmas shopping. violent mobs and it’s dangerous for our There have been 14 deaths and 117 environment. The violently consumerist Black Friday related injuries since 2006. nature of Black Friday is a recipe for Some of the more intense incidents include disaster as shoppers demand more and the 2012 shooting of two shoppers over more and companies pump out faster, a parking spot in Tallahassee. In 2011, a lower quality junk to meet our demands. woman attempting to gain a head start The holiday can still be a fun day to buy on discounted Xbox 360s in the Walmart things for ourselves and loved ones, but electronics section pepper sprayed 20 Los it needs to be reduced to a much smaller Angeles shoppers in. In a 2014 instance, scale. three buyers were arrested after a group of Kirsten Svenja Wiebe, a scientist at the five people started fighting at a Kohl’s store independent research centre SINTEF says, in Tustin, California. Two female victims “The world needs to go to less and higher were found with facial lacerations, and one quality consumption.” of them was taken to hospital with minor Just remember to be cognizant of what injuries, while the other was released on you’re buying and how much you’re buying, scene. Something about these deals brings and you should be all set to celebrate a fun out this primal rage in some people and and conscious Black Friday! causes them to lose their minds over a sale on flat screen TVs. Stores that heavily participate in Black Friday rely on a psychological technique called the scarcity principle. This is where consumers place higher value on an object that is scarce, and a lower value on those that are in abundance. This is where phrases like “limited time only” or “while supplies last” come into play.

Psychologist and founder of the Health Psychology Clinic, Joanna Konstantopoulou, says there is psychological “pleasure associated with finding a great deal.” This, in conjunction with the dreaded fear-of-missing-out, leads us to impulse buy and is what fills up the Kohl’s parking lot hours before it opens on the morning post-Thanksgiving.

The goods sold on Black Friday are often mass produced in low quality material to sell as many items as possible. This coupled with the overconsuming, materialist culture centered around this holiday is detrimental to the environment every year. The items themselves are usually discarded after a few uses, and according to a new report, 80% of products bought on Black Friday will “end up in a landfill, incineration or—at Photo courtesy of Canva

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Battle ERICA PROCTOR STAFF WRITER

When it comes to shopping, people search stores for deals and steals, but since COVID struck, the ways of shopping have changed throughout the nation.

For decades, Black Friday was the ultimate day for bargain shopping. But in the past few years, Cyber Monday has come to replace it for the title of being the biggest shopping event in the U.S. The deals are great and all but is it even worth it to go out in the madness?

These two days are looked forward to by many shoppers across the nation. This year Black friday falls on Nov. 26 with cyber monday following on Nov. 29.

Black Friday is one day of the year and falls on the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a day where many stores offer high discounts and sales in their stores. Black Friday has been an attraction to many across the nation, flooding the malls and stores. Cyber Monday falls three days after Black Friday and it’s just like Black Friday except strictly for online shopping. Some stores choose to participate in just one of these shopping events, some do both.

“I prefer Black Friday because I like to shop in person so I can try things on, and see things better instead of ordering something online and it not looking good,” said freshman Giuliana Janow. “I also think it’s just more fun and gets you out of the house. One thing I don’t like though is waiting in all the lines, but I like seeing all

the people shopping.”

In 2020, Cyber Monday surpassed Black Friday in terms of spending. According to Adobe Analytics, U.S shoppers spent $9 billion on Black Friday and $10.8 billion on Cyber Monday last year. One of the biggest reasons for this change is because of covid.

During the covid season many people have resorted to shopping online instead of going into stores. This year, there were 900 million more online buyers than in 2020.

So many people come out for Black Friday but are the amazing deals really not so amazing? Depending on what kind of offers a certain store has, the deal may not even be that special. Some stores such as Bath and Body Works or Old Navy are almost always having some sort of sale. So lots of these Black Friday offers may just be available in normal time.

“I prefer Black Friday because it’s a lot of fun and it’s a great day to get clothes and early Christmas gifts,” said freshman Marissa Wilkins. “The mall does get very crazy which can sometimes be funny, but usually I will go to smaller places like the Village of Rochester Hills and they have just as good of sales with less chaos. I don’t think it’s worth it to go to a store on Black Friday if they have the same sales online for Cyber Monday because it’s easier to get it online.”

So before going out into all the madness of Black Friday, consider your other options of shopping for this holiday season.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

PAGES 8-9 || FEATURE

ELF THE MUSICAL; BE MEGAN SPLAN

LIFESTYLES EDITOR

As you enter the auditorium, the lights being adjusted, the yelling of lines going down, and the smell of paint hits your five senses all at once. The anticipation and nerves run through everyone’s stomach as the day of opening night creeps closer and closer.

All of the hard work being poured into the musical has definitely shown through. All of the Cast, Crew, and Pit work hard for weeks until the big performance. After hours of running through different scenes, memorizing lines and different music notes. On top of creating and gathering all of the different props and set pieces, it all pulls together for the performances.

“The most stressful part is the week of the show,” said director Mr. Todd Meisch.

“There are so many moving parts and details that need to be taken care of that it can be overwhelming. Selling tickets, making sure costumes fit, building the set, painting the set, making sure everyone knows their lines, the blocking, etc.... It’s a lot! But the most enjoyable part of the process is every night The show goes on. Being able to watch the students’ hard work come to life is what makes all of this wonderful. Also, the reaction of the audience. Over the years, the audiences have seen what great productions Rochester High School puts on, and seeing our hard work come through the faces and the applause of the audience is very fulfilling.”

With the musical being stressful and everyone being very busy with completing their own tasks, it’s also one of the most enjoyable experiences some of these students have ever experienced. “[I am going to miss] Just about everything!” said senior Adam Rivera, as Buddy the lead.

“This is my fourth year in the RATS program, and it’s where I developed a love for the performing arts as a whole. It’s basically where I grew up from a child on stage to a taller, louder child on stage. Honestly I have too many memories to count. It feels like every day, I’m making a new favorite memory with such a wacky, wonderful group of people.”

The amount of hours and hard work poured into the set buildings and when crew come to help with everything that

Photo courtesy of Kent McCormick

happens backstage, is incredibly admirable.

“The process for set building is a pretty simple process from an outside standpoint,” said junior Brennan Cesarz, head of crew. “Mr. Gollon gives a list of what needs to be done.

We start the list by taking easier things that a big group of people can do, like painting, and set them off and then slowly give everyone jobs. It’s really repeated every time, but it can be kind of difficult, not knowing where to get stuff or exactly what needs to be done can hinder the process.”

Along with hard work and time put into building all of the set and fixing lights, and a lot of hard work was put into designing and sewing the costumes for everyone on stage.

“A lot of processing and deciding what style of clothing would work for each scene as they’re all different,” said senior Joey Zeilman, head of costumes. “We decide to look at what the main characters are wearing and go from there. Making sure all other characters don’t stand out as much, but still make their costumes the best that they can be!”

Another group that you may not know but plays an important role is the sound crew.

From dealing with microphones to adjusting the decimals on their sound packs, they help with everything.

“It’s a lot of cables and patching microphones (both handheld and portable) and ADJUSTING!!!” said senior Michele Lleshi, sound crew. “We have to constantly adjust to make it sound smooth and clear and not too loud. The most stressful part is the actual performances, but that’s also easily the best part. I think that it can be a lot but it’s also fun when you have your stuff done and you get to see all of the friends you’ve made do their thing on stage and kill it with your help on mics.”

EHIND THE CURTAIN

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

PAGE 10 || LIFESTYLE

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

ANOTHER COVID CHRISTMAS How Covid-19 has changed Christmas shopping STEPHANIE BULAT STAFF WRITER With the holidays rapidly approaching, shoppers are anxiously waiting for Black Friday sales. However, this year you might want to start shopping early to ensure your gift arrives on time.

Due to the pandemic, Christmas shopping is kicking off early this year because people want something to look forward to. Quarantine convinced many customers to switch to online shopping because of how easy it is, and supply chain problems caused by lockdown are triggering goods to be sold out sooner. Because of this, some stores have started their holiday sales very early this year.

Best Buy, for example, has started their sales earlier this fall. If you are looking to buy a gift there, you might want to start as soon as possible to ensure that you are able to buy your gift. “Holiday sales are starting on October 18, 2021, at Best Buy this year,” Best Buy’s website states. “Black Friday ad items are limited-quantity items with no rainchecks.” So if you’re committed to that gift, you might want to get it sooner rather than later.

That phrase can be used at many places, however, especially this year. According to a poll done by Morning Consult, “A staggering 70 percent of millennials and Gen Z adults who have started their holiday shopping report that a product they wanted

Bottom photos courtesy of Creative Commons

to purchase in a store was out of stock”.

This is most likely because of supply chain issues that have plagued the United States within the last year because of the pandemic.

The supply chain issues are predicted to make the holiday season a bit more difficult for shoppers this year.

“While retailers and their suppliers are working together to ensure that customers can get what they need, there are some bottlenecks that can’t be avoided,” Chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management at Iowa State University Scott Grawe said in an interview with USA Today.

“Like a lack of available drivers and a shortage of labor at distribution centers.”

Shoppers are well aware of supply shortages, and have started shopping earlier than normal. A survey done by The NPD Group showed that “51% of U.S. consumers plan to start their holiday shopping before Thanksgiving Day.” In the past, holiday shopping has slowly crept up sooner and sooner each year according to a comparison done by The NPD Group, which revealed that the earliest top holiday shopping day in three years was Nov. 23.

The pandemic has definitely changed the future of holiday shopping. During the pandemic, many people were led to online shopping instead of going to the store.

A poll by creditcards.com revealed that “62% of holiday shoppers will buy mostly online.” Lockdown showed many shoppers last year how easy online shopping can be.

The comparison of online shopping between pre-covid and now is definitely prominent. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development noticed a difference.

“Following the pandemic,” The UNCTAD website wrote, “more than half of the survey’s respondents now shop online more frequently and rely on the internet morenews, health related information, and digital entertainment.”

Online shopping is predicted to continue it’s popularity post-COVID. Business professionals believe that online shopping will continue to be strong in the future.

“Companies that put e-commerce at the heart of their business strategies are ready for the post-COVID-19 era,” founder and CEO of Inveon, Yomi Kastro, said in an interview with UNCTAD. Online shopping sales and popularity may have skyrocketed during lockdown, but instore shopping isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. But you might want to consider holiday shopping earlier this year to avoid any product shortages.

Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons

PAGE 11 || OPINION

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

ADAPTING BOOKS INTO MOVIES Which books made the best movies?

ERIELLE OCAMPO OPINION EDITOR From a worldwide classic involving luxurious parties and an unforbidden love to a $356 million worldwide movie, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald embraces the imagination of readers into movies that are enjoyed by many. Adapting books into pieces of entertainment is a way for the reader’s imagination to come to life. The discussion on if books are better than movies is a topic the majority have an opinion on.

A consistency among many is the convenience factor of movies rather than books.

“I usually prefer books,” senior Bella Weiss said. “But movies are more convenient. Books are more detailed and accurate to the original story, but movies are more convenient and condensed.”

Movies generally crackdown a grand chunk of time rather than reading a movie.

“You can watch a movie really quickly, in like an hour or two, but a book you usually sit down a couple of hours to read the whole thing or over a period of time,” Weiss said.

Movies have a great way of being able to get the general idea of the book without actually reading it. For books, you have to set aside more time and not everyone can squeeze in a 200page novel as easily as others.

“I prefer [watching] the movie,” freshman Marissa Wilkins said. “It’s more engaging for me than reading a book.”

Reader engagement is very hit-or-miss. For those with a shorter attention span or just get bored easily, they prefer the movie option.

Another factor that was consistent throughout was the time it took for the books to go through the movie production process. [In relation to “Dune”] “I read the book first t hen watched the movie,” senior Adam Grove said. “[I read it first] because ‘Dune’ just came out like 2 weeks ago.”

The process in which the book has to take to become a movie could take up to several years.

“Majority of the books I read aren’t adapted into movies or aren’t really good movies that I never got around to watching,” Weiss said. “I ended up reading ‘Flowers for Algernon’ and “‘Brain on Fire,’” I really enjoyed them but I never ended up watching the movies because I either heard bad things or I never just got around to it.”

A hard concept for many movies to capture is pushing these readers to want to see the book come to life. We see this a lot in the media where producers take a widely known book, for example, “Cinderella,” and twist their own ideas into it. Some people prefer the traditional story while others embrace the change. With the adaptation of the “Harry Potter” series, many fans had mixed feelings.

“Yeah, the most commonly known book to movie adaptation would be ‘Harry Potter,’” Grove said. “The books are very different from the movies. [They] have the same plot but minor details are very different.”

Once a reader or movie enthusiast has made up their mind on which they prefer, it’s pretty hard to change their viewpoint.

“Yeah, there are some [books] but it’s pretty rare,” Wilkins said. “Honestly ‘A Dog’s purpose’ was [a] really good [book and movie].”

Book-to-movie adaptations aren’t the most accurate.

Due to things like cutting out scenes or completely rewriting them due to time constraints, producers and directors have to choose which scenes can really capture the storyline.

“The only books that I can think of [preferring over movies] are the ones written by John Green. ‘Paper Towns’ and ‘The Fault in Our Stars,’ I watched the movie first. It was more convenient for me since my older siblings had it on. Then I heard it was a book so I read it afterward,” Weiss said. “‘The Series of Unfortunate Events’ was good [as well]. The show was better than the movie; it was really well done but it just wasn’t as good as the books. I think the books outdid the shows, it had a much better ending and more character.”

When looking for a good book-to-movie film, most people opt to look for those that have equal book and movie parts. Most prefer when the movie provides both the writers’ twist and the books’ plot development.

Overall, book-to-movie adaptations are all about preference. While some like to stay traditional to the books’ plotline, others believe it’s a great way to produce a different aspect.

“They’re (books to show and movie adaptations) usually really fun to watch and show better development of the characters even if it’s not the main storyline,” Grove said.

Whether you prefer the book or the movie, there are many options that are given for all entertainment connoisseurs’ enjoyment.

Photos Courtesy of Creative Commons and Canva

PAGE 10 || COLUMN

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

HOW TO COLUMN

The Talon answers your ‘how to...’ questions ERIELLE OCAMPO

OPINION EDITOR

We always seem to have questions that we want answered. So, we asked the fellow students at Rochester to send a few ‘how to...’ questions that they would like to expand their knowledge on! Thank you to everyone who submitted a response, enjoy!

How to be more open-minded:

Being open-minded especially when your opinion differs from others could be a hard skill to adapt to. One way to be more open-minded is by making sure you’re trying to see others’ perspectives and putting aside your own biases to truly understand their point of view. Also just spending some time to reflect on what you say and do can bring you one step closer to achieving this idea. Don’t be afraid to also do research on opinions and topics you don’t quite know about! The great thing about learning is that you’re constantly expanding it.

Understanding the other side can help you see more of where they’re coming from. Remembering to keep things positive, especially when you’re in disagreement with another, can help ease the tension. Some ways of doing this are comprehending what they’re saying, not replying off of emotions, and just stating that you see their point of view.

How to wake up early:

Now, this is one of the hardest things for me to do, especially after restless nights. There’s really no way of getting yourself to naturally wake up unless you train your internal clock. This is called your circadian rhythm. It’s your body’s way of telling you when it’s time to wake up, eat, etc. If you’ve ever found yourself waking up earlier than usual on weekends after a few months of school this is to blame. Some hacks I have found helpful are setting as many alarms as needed. For me, I set them in intervals of 5 minutes. Don’t get me wrong it’s super annoying but it totally does the trick! Another thing is forcing yourself to immediately get up. I don’t know about anyone else but I have a bad habit of going on my phone right when I wake up. By forcing myself to turn on the lights or grab a drink of water, my body will have a harder time falling back asleep. It’s more about discipline than anything. Also, morning affirmations could be helpful. I know some people like reassuring themselves that they’re going to have a good day and that this day can only start if they wake up.

How to not be overwhelmed by stress:

Stress is a topic that for some people is hard to apprehend. Stress management is a hard concept to develop and incorporate into your daily life. Overwhelming yourself can be both detrimental to your mental and physical health. Anxiety, burnouts, and headaches are all common symptoms of overworking yourself. Over the past few years of high school, I have come up with a good system to have just the right amount of stress to keep me going. The most important thing is to make sure you’re checking in with yourself. Make sure you’re not pushing yourself too hard to the point of breaking down. I also believe that time management is such an important factor to tie into your life. What really helped me throughout the years was being a planner. I would schedule out my week and homework for the day. I would include deadlines, events I have to go to, and overall life. Stress doesn’t always have to be a negative thing. I have learned that stress can be a great factor in pushing yourself, but always to a certain extent. At the end of the day, you’re doing perfectly fine no matter how much stress is being pushed on you. There is never anything wrong with putting yourself first!

How to manage school, work, and still have a social life and time management:

Managing a busy schedule while also wanting to have fun can be exhausting but it’s possible. Time management is one of the most important factors. For me, keeping a planner with all important due dates helps me so much. Every day I include things that I know need to be done and things that can wait. I usually wait until around the weekend to socialize with my friends and family. Work is one of the hardest things to work around especially if your job isn’t that flexible with your schedule. Most jobs understand that you’re a student and factor that into scheduling. If you have extra time before you have to go in, getting easier assignments done can help you slowly check off your to-do list. Managing your time could easily play a toll on your mental and physical health. Always make sure you’re putting yourself first and not over-exerting yourself.

What’s your advice on managing a serious relationship while figuring out college and the future?:

Relationships and the idea of creating a future together can be tough to figure out. College and the future alone is a scary topic and including someone in it can be as well. A lot of people have the mindset that a long-distance relationship won’t last especially in the years to come, but I don’t believe that’s true. By talking it out with your significant other as well as taking into consideration your own future, you both will be able to work it out. But it all comes down to if you’re both willing to put in the effort. Little things like working out when you will be able to see each other, communication, and trust are such an important part of making serious relationships work. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Not being able to see them can lead to a more meaningful time spent together when you’re able to see each other again. At the end of the day, no matter how far apart you both are, you both still share that special connection.

Photos Courtesy of Canva

PAGE 13 || LIFESTYLES

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

A SEASON OF GIVING

Gratitude has shown to improve health and well-being HOLLY MCDONALD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the holiday season approaches, feeling of gratitude and compassion fill our hearts. Although Thanksgiving puts a strong emphasis on showing gratitude, much research has shown that people who are consistently thankful year-round, are more optimistic and have better health.

In a study conducted by Harvard Medical School, particpants were split into three groups, each group having a seperate task. The fist group was tasked to write things they were grateful for at the end of each week, the second group was to write about the things that irritated them, and the third group had to write about events that affected them positively or negatively.

Ten weeks later, the study showed that the first group, who had written about what they were grateful for, not only had felt more optimistic about life, but also exercised more and had less trips to the doctor compared to the group who focused on the things that irritated them.

In another study, the effects of gratitude in the work place was investigated to see how gratitude could improve productivity.

In this study, two groups were split up and had to contact alumni from a college for donations. One group worked the way they normally would, while the other got a pep talk from

a director who expressed she was grateful for their efforts.

In the end of the study, the second group who received the gratitude talk was able to make 50 percent more fundraising calls compared to the first group.

Gratitude for our actions can fill us with the desire to do more. When one expresses gratitude towards us, we may feel compelled to pass it forward.

“When someone expresses appreciation for my actions I feel loved and honored,” English teacher Mrs. Stephanie Miller said. “I want to express more kindness and care towards that individual.”

Sharing gratitude towards ourselves is just as important as sharing gratitude with others. Without a happy and healthy mind, we can’t move forward before reflecting upon our own state of well-being.

“I try to tell people how much I appreciate them as often as I can,” history teacher Mrs. Christina Bettes said.

“People go through so many challenges and difficult times, kindness can really go a long way in helping others. When my students leave class I’ll often say ‘be kind to others! And to yourselves!’ which I know sounds corny but we (adults included) are not always as kind to ourselves as we should be.”

There are many keys to success in life, but gratitude belongs on that list. In relationships, expressing gratitude can help the partner or friend feel noticed and appreciated.

“Showing appreciation towards others is one of the biggest keys to making any relationship awesome,” Mrs. Miller said. “And paying attention to all of the blessings I am surrounded with continues to bring a smile to my face.”

It’s hard to be thankful when nothing in our lives seems to be going right. In the moments of darkness, it’s gratitude that can bring us joy again.

“Are there days it’s harder to reflect and shift my mindset when I’m overwhelmed or feeling defeated? Absolutely,” Mrs. Bettes said. “But it does help to pause and focus on what I’m grateful for in my life.”

We can all use the gifts of kindness and gratitude to create a happier and friendlier environment in this world.

“I know how valuable gratitude is in raising my level of well-being, energy, health, and vitality,” Mrs. Miller said. “It also attracts so many more positive, happy moments in my day because it’s the energy I’m emanating. We all have the power of perception and we have the ability to perceive many things in a positive light.”

WAYS TO SHOW GRATITUDE 1. Keep a gratitude journal, or write down things that you are thankful for on a regular basis

This activity helps you to see the good, even on bad days. It works to help you become conscious of the good moments whether they’re big or small

If you’re not good with verbally expressing gratitude, writing it out is another way to show someone you are thankful for them

2. Write a handwritten letter to someone you are thankful for 3. Switch up your ‘thank you’s’

Thank you is a common phrase used on a daily basis. Sometimes saying another phrase such as “I appreciate you” or “It means a lot to me” expresses the same thankfulness but might have a different impact

4. Show yourself some love

Sometimes we can’t help others when we aren’t in the right headspace ourselves. Instead of negative self-talk such as “i can’t do this”, work on putting a positive spin to say “I am working on this”

(Left) Gratitude journal. (Right) Handwritten letters. Photos courtesy of Canva.

PAGE 14 || ENTERTAINMENT

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

HOME ALONE MOVIE REVIEW Home alone is the best Christmas classic ADRIANA DUHANAJ STAFF WRITER

What would you do if you were home alone as a young kid? Eight year old Macaulay Culkin plays the lead role of Kevin McCallister in the awardwinning movie, “Home Alone”. The film follows the story of a boy named Kevin who is accidentally left behind while his family goes on a trip to Paris. Many outrageous events happen to Kevin while he is without his family, the main one being him being caught up in the middle of a burglary.

Although Kevin is a young boy, he did everything in his power to defend his house while anticipating the arrival of his family to come get him.

Filmed in 1990, “Home Alone” was directed by Chris Colombus and written by John Hughes. According to an article in The SpokesmanReview, “Home Alone is still the highest-grossing comedy in movie history.”

When first released, “Home Alone” became one of the most popular movies across the United States. Hughes’ film won many awards in its time and continues to dominate

millions of views around the holiday season.

Many believe that Macauly Culkin was the perfect main character for this movie, and no one else could have fit this role as good as he did.

In an interview with People magazine, John Hughes mentioned he wrote this role specifically for Culkin after seeing his perfromnce in Unlce Buck, and fell in love with how natural he played his character, despite being so young. Hughes hoped that Culkin would bring the same energy in “Home Alone”.

The main character, Kevin McCallister, goes through many events when he wakes up to his whole family being gone. At first he was ecstatic that his family “dissapeared” but events soon turned for the worst. Kevin has to fend for him self while two burgluars, Harry and Marv break in. Kevin, being so young, wasfrightened at what he should do with no family around to help. In attempt to protect his house, he starts setting up booby traps to delay the mischief the two con-men are seeking. One of his classic traps loved by many movie critics was

Photos courtesy of Creative Commons and Canva

the hot iron to Marvs face.

Along with that trap, Kevin set up the paint can to the face, blowtorch to the head, a hot door handle, and slipping down the icy stairs.

As the burglars struggled to make their next moves, Kevin was not too far back hysterically watching the way he dominated them.

Many would think Harry and Marv would give up at some point, however they were so determined to not lose to an 8 year old kid. And if you’ve never seen the full movie, you’ll have to watch the ending to find out how the story concludes.

“Home Alone” is a magnificent, nostalgia-filled holiday classic that will never be forgotten. Every holiday season we are reminded of the originality of “Home Alone” and its timelessness.

After watching the movie, generations of kids are left wondering what they would do if they were left home alone.

PAGE 15 || OPINON

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

‘BREAKING BAD’ - THE GREATEST SHOW OF ALL TIME ‘Breaking Bad’ review and analysis JUSTIN LAL

STAFF WRITER

“Breaking Bad” created by Vince Gilligan, is considered to be one of the most well-made and influential drama series of all time. With beautiful imagery, exceptional dialogue, and poetic storyline, it has become a staple in drama and TV entertainment as a whole.

High school chemistry teacher, Walter White, is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and wants to leave his family money before he’s gone. He partners with his former student, Jesse Pinkman, to manufacture and sell methamphetamine throughout Albuquerque, New Mexico. Obviously, this path requires Walt and Jesse to have to make grueling decisions along the way.

The show follows the journey and transformation of Walter from a mundane everyday man into a ruthless and stellar drug kingpin.

With other iconic characters such as Gus Fring, Saul Goodman, Mike Ehrmantraut, Skyler White, and Hank Schrader, this crime drama explores the value of human life and moral conflicts like none other.

“Breaking Bad” holds the Guinness World Record as the most critically acclaimed show of all time. The pilot episode had under a million views.

However, the series finale raked in over 10 million viewers. The crime drama won 16 Primetime Emmys and received 238 nominations total. Netflix has also helped grow the show’s popularity over the years. Gilligan credits some of the show’s current popularity to the streaming giant as it offered an

Photos Courtesy of Canva and Wiki Commons

easy way for more viewers to fall in love with and immerse themselves in the world of “Breaking Bad.” In 2014, “Breaking Bad” won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Many of the lead cast members have also won multiple emmys for their performances in the show. Lead actor Bryan Cranston (Walter White), supporting actor Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman), and supporting actress Anna Gunn (Skyler White), each have 3 wins for their portrayals.

AMC is famously known for creating some of the best shows to ever air on tv. “Breaking Bad” of course being their biggest hit, others include “Better Call Saul,” “The Walking Dead,” “Mad Men,” and “Into the Badlands.” Each of these shows have also been the recipients of numerous accolades, proving furthermore that AMC knows what they’re doing.

All in all, “Breaking Bad” is a masterfully crafted American neo-western crime drama with brilliant acting and beautiful cinematography. The depiction of chemistry in the show is well known for being incredibly accurate and makes the complex and crazy world of their drug business feel that much more real. The show contains excellent symbolism and shocking payoffs. “Breaking Bad” is a show that everyone should see at least once in their life.

PAGE 16 || SPORTS

THE TALON || NOVEMBER 2021

FALL SPORTS RECAP PRESTON SCHROYER SPORTS EDITOR

TRINA MOLLICONE STAFF WRITER

Falcon athletes describe their season in one word

Photo Courtesy of Valentina Matteocci

Photo Courtesy of RHS athletics

Photo Courtesy of RHS Athletics

Photo Courtesy of Thomas Yang

Photo Courtesy of RHS Athletics

Photo Courtesy of RHS Athletics

Falcon athletics have thrived this year with success in nearly every sport. With 3 freshmen going to states for their sports and 2 league champion teams, it was a monumental fall season at RHS. Girls varsity golf peaked this season with improvement from nearly all players. As of this year, they are the OAA white league champions. Sophomore Veda Puzzuolli describes the season in one word.

“The season was successful because we all made big improvements and achieved our goals,” Puzzuolli said.

The team did in fact improve drastically. Third year varsity juniors Trina Mollicone, Alaina Webb, and Morgan Wodke all dropped over 20 strokes compared to previous years on the team. Not only did the team improve from years past, but they gained new talent. Freshman Madison Yang ended her first season on the team averaging in the 70s for 18 holes and receiving 18th place at states. This legacy will do great things during her next 3 years. The team is looking forward to using their newfound strengths in the future, and is hoping to go to states as a team in 2022.

The beloved “boys in blue” had a season that was one for the books. Junior Daniel Ireland speaks about the boys soccer season in one word.

“Positive, because we had a successful season by placing fairly high in the league, and were placed back into the red division,” Ireland said. “We managed to get into the second round of districts which hasn’t happened my entire time I have played here.”

The team did have an extremely successful season, with 14 wins, 4 losses, and 2 tied games.

Girls swim and dive had a remarkable season, making a splash as OAA blue league champs. Being a tightly-knit team, they couldn’t have achieved their goals without the support of one another.

“The word I would use to describe this season would be unified. It may sound cliche but our team hasn’t only become closer this year, we became a family,” junior Anna Reif said. “Everyone was so supportive and welcoming to anyone that needed a shoulder to lean on. We came in and out of meets as a family and I wouldn’t trade this team for the entire world.”

The team made the agreement to all dye some of their hair blue for leagues. Coach Aaron Helander even went as far as letting the girls give him a buzz cut, bleach his entire head, and dye a blue “R” on the back of his head. Bonding at its finest. The team was also introduced to new talent this year, freshman Sydney VanHowe. VanHowe will be going to states on Nov. 19 and 20.

This cross country season, working hard was the right move. Training for the sport started all the way back to June, and it all came together once the season began. Freshman Maria Mollicone describes the season in one word, “Rewarding because if we hadn’t put in the extra time for practice, we wouldn’t have built up the stamina to run a 5k. We went from teammates to good friends because we all went through difficult workouts together,” Mollicone said.

The team did have a rewarding season, they finished 7th in their region and freshman Lucy Cook took 6th place at states. Cook won nearly all meets leading up to states, including the county meet. There’s a lot in store for this superstar.

The tennis team was very successful this year after qualifying for states and finishing 9th. Coming off from a season where they didn’t lose many players due to their graduation, they were ready to have a good year. They started the year 2-0 when they faced off with Canton and Salem. Right from the start, they knew they could make a run at states with 7 seniors returning to varsity. In the middle of the year, they lost to Adams but then came back and beat them the next two times. In the first round of regionals, Clayton Anderson and Yagumo Morikawa performed very well to get a second round win which led them to states.

“States was a great experience and it was fun watching top teams compete,” senior Devan Seth said.

It was a great group of people to end the season with, and the seniors got to leave knowing what they accomplished for this program.

This year’s volleyball team brought back a lot of experience and the talent to have a very successful season. They won many well played games. Captains Leah Stone, Marissa Gallagher, and Lilly Pilat had lots to do with the team’s success. Unfortunately, they lost in the playoffs but that didn’t take away from the good season that they had.

It’s safe to say that this year’s fall sports teams all had great achievements. With the uncertainties of last year’s sports seasons, it was great to be able to start off the year with something normal. Each team was able to set new standards for themselves and raise the bar for RHS athletics.