The Oracle-March 2024

theOracle

Stratford

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Sometimes, I flip through old issues of the Oracle for inspiration, entertainment, or memories. Today, I came across Volume 47, Issue 5, published on March 13, 2020. The paper featured articles about the race to the White House, a Spartie party, and the thrill of thrifting. Writers spotlighted an athlete of the week and optimistically suggested spring break activities.

The Oracle also noted store shelves were devoid of Clorox and hand sanitizer because of a novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. Buried deep in the article was a comment that “the CDC has told public schools to prepare for a ‘remote learning’ environment for at least two weeks.”

The article reminds me that, as reporters, we are creating a snapshot in time. We show what people care about at any moment, reflect how issues are viewed as they unfold, and provide context for events. We present the reality at that moment. Even when, in hindsight, events turn out differently than we reported.

With a few months until graduation, I am happy to leave behind these chronicles of student life. As you look through this issue, I hope you enjoy this mini Spartan snapshot: students showcasing art and cattle at the Houston Rodeo, violinists flying cross-country for auditions and tennis players sacrificing their class time to play.

I am eager to share this school year’s penultimate issue of the Oracle. The staff continues to impress me daily with their dedication and growth, and I am so proud of their diligence. All stories produced by staff members reflect their own opinions and demonstrate their passion for our community.

By the students. For the students. About the students.

Cover art by Yeo Jin Lee (12)

Happy reading,

Caroline Larrabee, Editor-in-Chief

See Lee’s “High Country Haven” at NRG Stadium through March 27

By the students. For the students. About the students.

The Stratford High School Oracle works to develop student skills while following the standards of professional journalists. Our mission is as follows:

To provide a forum for student writing, photography, and art: the Oracle creates a community of students who share a common passion through group learning, mentorship, and fostering an atmosphere of creative collaboration.

To provide training for not only journalism, but in marketing and business: the Oracle is entirely self-funded. Students must sell ads to local businesses to pay for printing. Members of the ads staff practice business techniques by speaking to other companies to secure finances that allow paper production to continue.

To open dialogue and give students a voice — Few other outlets allow students to inform and express themselves to a large audience. Whether an article is about Stratford’s newest teacher or nationwide change, student voices will always be heard.

MISSION STAFF

Editor-in-Chief*

Caroline Larrabee

Associate Editors*

Eszter Badescu

Catherine McClees

Business Managers*

Jacob Hare

Emma Manalo

Online Editor*

Sophie Sagastume

Photo Editor*

Reese Spradling

Sports Editor

Ryan McDowell

News Editor

Natalie Patranella

Opinion Editor

Mawara Khan

Student Life Editor

Elizabeth Meadows

Ads Editor

Erin Grace Kelley

Photography Manager

Emmie Hanvey

Reporters

Ellie Presa

Aleeya Davis

Sebastian Mendoza

Alejandro Aponte

Melina Banan

Sahar Noori

Yahya Hasoon

Nicholas Neumann

Photographers

Jackson Hiler

Christian Nafziger

Caroline Walker

Milton Guevara

Kaitlyn Acevedo

Bella Smith

Escarlet Molero

Aponte

Gavin Rump

Allie Richardson

Ads Staff

Kim Sterling

Trey Gardner

Nico Boza Adviser

Sara Boyle

*Editorial Board

04-05 News

Not Their First Rodeo Students excel in art and livestock competitions

07 Opinions

Celebrity Hyperfixations: Hype or Hate

Why are people obsessed with celebrities they don’t know?

Grammys: Wins and Woes

Students share their opinions regarding the nominees and winners for the 2024 Grammys

08-13 Student Life

Notes and Narratives

Seniors recount the challenges of the college fine arts audition process

Take Your Pick

Students share their preferences on lifestyle, food and school

Ask Kim

You ask, she delivers

Not Even Water?

Students share their experiences fasting for Ramadan

An Oracle’s Visions

Novel, movie and music recommendations from the Oracle staff

14-15 Sports

In Full Swing

Tennis players ace their classes, smash their serves and rally during a busy spring season

SNEAK PEEK

PHOTOSBYEMMIEHANVEY(10),CAROLINELARRABEE(12), ESCARLETMOLEROAPONTE(12)ANDBELLASMITH(10)

Not Their First R deo

Students excel in art and livestock competitions

With rodeo season in full swing, art and Future Farmers of America (FFA) students have been meticulously preparing for a successful display of their creativity and agricultural expertise.

Student artists have worked on their pieces for the past two and a half months, some of which involve intricate details that require extensive time.

“The entire [art] piece took roughly 35 hours [to finish],” junior Miranda Valle Montero said.

Countless hours of sketching, painting and blending meant some students faced hardships along the way.

“The greatest challenge was my poor time management combined with my somewhat perfectionist mindset,” sophomore Liam Walsh said. “To make matters a bit worse, I accidentally let a tear fall on the bottom right side [of the page].”

Once everyone’s artwork is complete, the school’s art department chooses the top pieces to be judged at the Spring Branch Art Museum at Westchester. Finalists advance to NRG Stadium, where the Rodeo Committee picks the top 25 pieces. There, honorees have the opportunity to see their artwork auctioned for anywhere between $4,000 and $285,000, and they can receive up to $50,000 of scholarship money.

Ultimately, students and teachers had an enjoyable learning experience during the contest.

“It was my first time participating in the rodeo art contest,” sophomore Madeline Brooks said. “It is definitely something I would do

again.”

FFA students have had to plan their showcases similarly. Since October of last year, they have prepared their animals for the annual Spring Branch FFA Show & Sale, a livestock auction in February.

Students have the option to take care of a number of animals, including lambs, goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, steers and heifers.

“It is a huge time commitment that involves physical and mental strength,” sophomore Abi Clark said.

“No matter how hard it is, raising an animal in FFA is worth it. You gain time management, money management and a sense of responsibility.”

Abi Clark (10)

In the months before their show, students attend to their animals every day: washing, feeding, cleaning and training them.

“I walk and practice showing my pig daily to make sure we’re both prepared and confident in the ring,” Clark said. “You also want to make sure your animal looks ‘show ready’ which includes getting them on the right feed or diet for your goal shape or form, which varies depending on the animal.”

Prior to the auction, animals are judged and ranked primarily on shape, bone frame, muscle and fat

mass. There is no set price on how much money students could make at the official auction, but most of the livestock sells for $1,000 or more.

At the rodeo itself, FFA students can participate in the Calf Scramble, an event where 30 participants try to catch one of 15 calves and drag it into the middle of the arena.

“I was selected to [participate in the] Calf Scramble, and it was one of the most exciting days that I have ever had,” senior Isabelle Coates said.

Once in the arena, students line up and wait for a cowboy hat to drop to signal the start of the event.

“When we stepped foot in the arena, the lights were blinding and the crowd was deafening,” Coates said. “After a few minutes, the size of the arena became obvious: at a whopping four acres, I was aware that I had overestimated my ability and underestimated the calves.”

Unfortunately, Coates did not catch a calf, but she was awarded a certificate.

“They started to call out the numbers of the people who had caught calves, then [my number] was called,” Coates said. “I thought that there was no way that was right, but it turns out that I was awarded a Hard Luck Catch, so I got the certificate to buy a calf.”

“No matter how hard it is, raising an animal in FFA is worth it,” Clark said. “You gain time management, money management and a sense of responsibility.”

13150 Memorial Drive

mdumc.org/youth

sunday arise at 9:30 am, fat tuesday from 5-7 pm

Celebrity Hyper fixations: HYPE or Hate

Why are people obsessed with celebrities they don’t know?

WRITTENBYERINGRACEKELLEY(12)ANDMAWARAKHAN(11)

Have you seen that one Jacob Elordi edit? Did you know Josh Hutcherson can speak fluent Spanish?

As each new film, song or alternate form of media is released, a new celebrity is fawned over. The release of Saltburn has caused Jacob Elordi to be the public’s current obsession.

While obsessions might not always reach such extremes, fans are increasingly consumed with content about people they see on screens. Fan-made edits, art and commentaries overwhelm social media each month. Celebrities seem to control the public’s easily influenced mind.

When a Netflix Original or Calvin Klein advertisement releases (we’re looking at you, Jeremy Allen White), these obsessions quickly regenerate. This forces one to ask, “Why are we so obsessed with these people we don’t even know?”

These one-sided relationships are defined as “parasocial relationships.”

According to psychologist Agnes Zsila, “individuals exhibiting high levels of celebrity worship are more likely to experience severe psychological difficulties.”

For some, the lopsided nature of these relationships provides relief from strained relationships in their real lives

because of their reduced likelihood of rejection. Fans will choose certain people that elicit emotional responses from them and even start to make up traits about these people to relate to them and give them the illusion of knowing them on a personal level.

We must remind ourselves that the celebrities we fawn over are real people with lives separate from ours. They are not our friends, partners or anything of the sort, but rather contributors to a current piece of media for viewers to relate to. Viewers should relate to the work, not the worker. While it is fun to participate in fan culture and find community amongst other fans, it is important to understand the caution one must take before diving head-first into a new online obsession.

Wins and Woes

Students share their opinions regarding the nominees and winners for the 2024 Grammys WRITTENBYALEEYADAVIS(11)

The 2024 Grammys were as underwhelming as ever. Big names like Taylor and Lana swooned in viewers only to leave all in disappointment. Here’s the rundown:

Record of the Year: “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus

I gasped. That is H&M dressing room music. For it to win the Record of the Year is insane. SZA’s song “Kill Bill” started an entire trend on TikTok and was way more representative of 2023 than “Flowers.”

Album of the Year: Midnights by Taylor Swift

Okay. I respect Taylor Swift and believe she does have good music. Her old stuff is great; Midnights was not. Lana Del Rey was also nominated for her album Did You Know That There’s

a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. Lana is amazing; it should be a crime that her unreleased music is unavailable (Shout out to the 16-year-old fan girls uploading them on Spotify for me — you’re the real ones). However, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd is not her best album ever. Both artists have die-hard fan bases, so, of course, the decision was contro versial. Still, considering Lana del Rey’s heavy influence on repopularizing the 2010s aesthetic this year, she deserved Album of the Year.

Song of the Year: “What Was I Made For?” [From The Motion Picture “Bar bie”] by Billie Eilish

Nominees included: “Kill Bill” by SZA, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift and “A&W”

by Lana Del Rey. All of these are great nominees, but the popularity of the Barbie movie definitely helped Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” win.

Best New Artist: Victoria Monét Ice Spice should’ve won. Ice Spice took TikTok by storm. Her cutesy hair and

High school seniors’ application essentials include a computer, bed and recycled supplemental essays. For select students, that list looks a little different. Plane tickets accompany Naviance, concert chairs accompany Common App and a memorized repertoire accompanies a memorized personal statement.

Rather than hitting “Submit” from the comfort of their homes, students pursuing fine arts in college partake in an audition process entirely out of seniors’ typical comfort zones. Many fly cross-country to perform in front of judging panels, temporarily delaying their academic commitments.

“Throughout the entire [audition] process, I sent in 16 prescreens — first round video auditions — performed for 14 schools in Dallas [and] am doing four callbacks in Chicago,” senior Kira Sledge said. “[For] this trip to Chicago, I’m missing an entire week [of school.]”

Sledge began preparing for musical theater auditions over the summer, but she attributes her passion for the art to her seven years of involvement. After connecting with College Audition Coach, an online prep program for performing arts applicants, she chose four songs and three monologues as her audition material.

“It’s been a very long process

from then to now,” Sledge said. “It is unfortunately never a ‘one size fits all’ audition requirement.”

Sledge’s decision to apply to 30 schools is not out of the ordinary for musical theater applicants. With increasing application numbers and few spots available, prestigious programs have become exceedingly selective.

“Harvard’s class of 2027 had an acceptance rate of 4%, whereas Carnegie Mellon had about 3,000 musical theater applicants for their 12 spots,” Sledge said. “That is a 0.4% acceptance rate. [I needed to cast] my net as wide as possible.”

A limited program size forces schools to be extremely thoughtful when assembling a freshman class.

“Musical theater programs aren’t looking for how many turns you can do or how high you can sing,” Sledge said. “They’re simply asking themselves, ‘Does our program need a Kira?’”

Time spent auditioning means that Sledge has had to sacrifice vital class time.

“There isn’t truly a good way to cope with this,” Sledge said. “Although [my teachers] aren’t the happiest about me missing class, they’ve been very flexible and supportive throughout my entire senior year.”

While musical theater programs are renowned for their selectivity,

students auditioning for other fine arts programs face similar challenges.

Senior Lucy Hamilton is pursuing violin performance and music composition. This means that, in addition to completing a written application, Hamilton must perform her violin repertoire and attend a separate interview for composition. Often, the recital is the most nerve-racking part of the experience.

“I just wait outside until [the judges] come out and get me,” Hamilton said. “Those few minutes leading up to the audition are very stressful, but I feel like the more I go, the easier it gets.”

Like Sledge, Hamilton has struggled with abandoning her home commitments to pursue music auditions.

“I am part of the Houston Youth Symphony, which is on Sundays,” Hamilton said. “I’ve had to miss a lot of rehearsals, and I’m going to have to miss a concert because of auditions.”

While the process is taxing, both have found gratification in their efforts. The two are optimistic about their future and eager to continue pursuing their passion.

“Just because you didn’t get into the top program doesn’t mean you won’t be successful in life,” Sledge said. “Everyone will end up in the program they need to end up in.”

WRITTENBYCAROLINELARRABEE(12)ANDSOPHIESAGASTUME(11); PHOTOBYCAROLINELARRABEE(12)

Seniors recount the challenges of the college fine arts audition process

Take Your Pick

Students share their preferences on lifestyle, food and school WRITTENBYALLIERICHARDSON(10)ANDCAROLINEWALKER(12)

SCHOOL

64% of Spartans preferred an afternoon off-campus over a morning off-campus

65%

“I PREFER HOKA RUNNING SHOES BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE.”

JULIETTE PRICE (9)

FOOD

“I PREFER B LUNCH BECAUSE AFTERWARD I ONLY HAVE ONE CLASS LEFT.”

-

HARPER TAYLOR (10)

LIFESTYLE

70% of Spartans preferred AirPods Max over Beats

52% of Spartans preferred On Cloud over Hoka

“I PREFER BOBA BECAUSE IT HAS MORE FLAVOR, AND I LOVE BOBO TEA ACROSS THE STREET.”

KRISTINA BALTIC (10)

of Spartans preferred B-Lunch over A-Lunch

65% of Spartans preferred coffee over boba

90% of Spartans preferred Chick-fil-A over Panera

K AS IM

I’m a senior. How can I survive these last few months?

Listen up. Senioritis is a real thing. Maybe it started when you went on Thanksgiving Break or came back from Christmas. Mine started the first day I walked into Stratford America.

We’re in our second semester. We only have two months left. Here are some reasons you should stick it out:

1. Dawg, we only have two months left, come to school. Remember buyback hours still exist.

2. Most of us have off-campus, so you are barely even here to begin with. But if you don’t have an off-campus, that seems like a you problem.

3. We still have Senior Skip Day, Sweet 16 and Prom. Look forward to that! Stay safe, seniors!

Students share their experiences fasting for Ramadan WRITTENBYMELINABANAN(10),MAWARAKHAN(11)ANDELLIEPRESA(12)

Ramadan is a special month for Muslims all around the world. The month consists of fasting from sunrise to sunset (yes, not even water!), praying, abstaining from even the smallest of negative emotions and helping others through charity. It’s a time of spiritual growth and coming together as a community.

“Ramadan is a very festive time and everyone enjoys it,” junior Zaid Albess, a new student who just moved to the United States from Jordan, said. “We’d invite all our relatives over, have multiple plates, extend the table to 50-60 people at one time, then go to their [homes].”

12 Student Life

Back in Jordan, Albess’ school would shorten all its classes by five minutes and remove any breaks in order to shorten the school day. The shift to an 8-hour school day will be difficult not only for Albess, but for all students who fast.

“On normal days, I wake up early and eat breakfast and I head to school with a lot of energy,” senior Reham Aldojan said. “Meanwhile in Ramadan, my energy runs away before dismissal.”

Senior Zach El-Badawi also shares how his routine changes from a regular day.

“All of the time I spend eating is

now free,” El-Badawi said. “You’d be surprised how much free time you have if you just stop eating. Generally, I try to do more work, but the lack of food and water adds to the procrastination.”

Many students also participate in different after-school activities like sports and theatre, which are made more difficult by fasting.

This year, Ramadan starts on March 10, which is conveniently during Spring Break. This Ramadan, extend some patience and gratitude to your Muslim friends. After all, there’s nothing worse than being hangry.

An Oracle’s Visions

WRITTENBYESZTERBADESCU(12),MELINABANAN(10)AND ELLIEPRESA(12)

BEAUTIFUL BOY

David Sheff’s work is a captivating novel about the author’s son’s addiction. The story follows a boy named Nicholas Sheff, a perfect, high-achieving son, to his ultimate downfall into drug addiction. The rollercoaster of emotions will have the reader wanting to keep the page turning. The finale will have the readers’ jaws on the floor as the unexpected occurs.

BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD

Toshiakazu Kawaguchi’s novel is a heartwarming book perfect for readers looking for a short story! This book tells the story of a small cafe in the city of Tokyo, Japan, where its customers are given a chance to travel back in time. It touches many themes such as second chances, regret and enjoying the present. It is a very emotional read which will leave readers thinking about the choices they are making in life.

THE SONG OF ACHILLES

Madeline Miller’s writing transforms the tale of the Trojan War into a captivatingly tragic love story. It is told from the lens of Patroclus, a young prince who was exiled from his home, and Achilles, the son of Theis, a sea nymph, and King Peleus. The story follows their relationship from their youth to the Trojan War. When Achilles is enticed by the promise of destiny, he sets off to fight in the war. Little do they know what their fate will await them.

WRITTENBYSEBASTIANMENDOZA(10)

COMPILEDBY ALEEYADAVIS(11)

Spring is the prettiest season of them all. In this playlist you'll find the best tunes to accompany the light breeze and misty rain with artists like Lily ChouChou and Men I Trust. Open Spotify, click the search bar, and scan the QR code below for the playlist!

After surveying students, a select few films stood out. 90% of those we surveyed had seen Barbie, which was no surprise. Closely trailing behind, 70% of those surveyed had seen Oppenheimer. But just as those films stood out for such staggering viewership, a few movies failed to garner much Spartan support: namely, The Zone of Interest and Past Lives.

THE ZONE OF INTEREST

Jonathan Glazer brings us a film in which you are always scared, but never scream. There is no calm in The Zone of Interest, and when it attempts to bring peace, it’s thinly veiled and barely hides the true horrors within. While not the most talked about nominee in this year’s Oscars, it’s definitely one of the strongest works.

PAST LIVES

There’s been a lot of talk about snubs this awards season, and most of that talk has been towards a certain other movie (you know the one). I think all of that discussion should be directed towards Past Lives. Though this emotional film was led by Greta Lee’s masterful acting and Celine Song’s unique directing, neither women were nominated for awards. If you ever feel like watching something to make your eyes watery, check it out.

90% of Spartans surveyed have seen Barbie

20% of Spartans surveyed have seen The Zone of Interest

Tennis players ace their classes, smash their serves and rally during a busy spring season

Tennis players are returning to their in-season routines: after-school practices and absences due to tournaments.

This year is another promising year for the Spartan Varsity, JV, and freshman tennis teams.

The tennis season runs for the majority of the spring semester, with weekly tournaments held in various districts. Players must be prepared to miss school on tournament days, which can lead to a significant buildup of make-up work, which isn’t always easy to manage.

“I stay after school to make up work that I miss,” sophomore Sahn Yi said.

Tennis players must be willing to have a flexible schedule so they can manage academics and maintain

their play.

The upcoming season can be lengthy and tiring, but players remain optimistic.

“I’m ready for the challenge and the grind it comes with,” junior Emerson Hamlin said.

“I have been working a lot on my game and making sure I am physically and mentally ready.”

Emerson Hamlin (11)

When it comes to skill, tennis requires an incredible amount of it.

There is much to the game that goes unseen, such as footwork, basic strokes, volleys, serves, and

more. To be a well-rounded player requires all of these, each of which is hard to master.

“I’ve been practicing, but I need to work on my serve,” Yi said.

Because Yi is a top-five player on the JV team, it’s likely that he’ll be putting in the work to compete.

Since the tennis season is one of Stratford’s longest-running and most challenging sports, it’s impressive to see so many people excelling on the team.

The Spartans will surely have another successful season with players like Yi and Hamlin on the roster.

Photo: Dimitrios Baxevanis (11) returns his partner’s hit at tennis practice.

WRITTENBYALEJANDROAPONTE(11),YAHYAHASOON(10),RYANMcDOWELL(10)ANDCHRISTIAN NAFZIGER(10);PHOTOBYBELLASMITH(10)