Redefining priorities Students and
staff adapt to the setbacks brought about by budget cuts. CURRENT EVENTS 3
Eras collide Taylor Swift’s highly acclaimed
“The Eras Tour” live concert and film thrill Swifties all around the world. ENTERTAINMENT 24
Breaking barriers Girls flag football team enters the male-dominated arena, challenging stereotypes. ATHLETICS 33
OR theMIRR
SECTIONS CURRENT EVENTS 3 LIFESTYLE 9 OPINION 16 ENTERTAINMENT 24 ATHLETICS 33
FALL 2023 | Van Nuys High School | Van Nuys, California
The abuse of free speech
in America is not fake news.
It’s the truth PAGE 20 | EN ESPAÑOL PAGE 22
vnhsmirror.com
THE MIRROR | GRAPHIC BY BRIANNA ALVARADO
| PAGE 2 |
FALL 2023
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THE MIRROR | GIANNA IOVINO
The place where we are supposed to learn and grow into functioning members of society now makes us scared to love who we are.”
By Beverly Regino
RELIGIOUS BACKLASH Junior Cameron Struble and countless others have faced harassment as a result of being Jewish.
Jewish hate Harassment
without consequence by Cameron Struble
I
am a proud Ashkenazi Jew. My religion is present in all aspects of my life and has an impact on how I function on a day-to-day basis. Judaism influences the way I dress and the way I prepare food. During high holidays such as Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, I dress modestly, cover my hair and use that time to bring myself closer to my faith. Learning Hebrew and Yiddish, the languages of my people, is incredibly important to me. I have been lucky enough to have never been personally attacked by hate speech.
However, that does not mean I haven’t suffered its effects. Once, when my cousin and I were riding home on the bus, someone called him an antisemitic slur. Another time, someone pulled off my headscarf at school during a high holiday. Most notably, on Dec. 3, 2021, my friends and I truly feared for our lives. During Chanukah of that year, I was scrolling on Instagram and saw a threat to kill all the Jews at school. I felt terrified to go to school. I feared for my life and the lives of all my Jewish friends. My friend group made a group chat so that we could check in on one another. We all told our parents, and a lot of us asked us to stay home from school. Many of us left school early because we didn’t feel safe. Fortunately, there was no shooting. But the entire situation was incredibly eyeopening. I am so thankful that my teacher at the time gave us a safe space to talk about how we felt. Although nothing came of the threat, a number of school police surrounded the school. The person who posted the threat was never caught, and I am still furious that this person wasn’t looked into further because this one person caused so many students so much fear and pain. Looking back now, I am deeply saddened
by the hate that fuels people to the point of wanting to hurt other human beings simply for having different beliefs. Everyday, antisemetic situations strike a little too close to home for Jewish students all across the country. And with the recent attack on Israel by Hamas, divided opinions on Jews are once again at the forefront of our news and social media feeds. I believe free speech should have limitations, especially when it comes to hate speech. Yes, it is your right to speak your mind freely, but when those thoughts start turning into threats against people for being of a certain race, religion or sexual orientation, I don’t think that should fall under free speech. Inciting violence is not protected under free speech, and it could be argued that spreading hate speech can influence violence and definitely cause harm to these groups of people. The First Amendment is often used as a cushion for dangerous people to influence young minds to hate, all in the name of free speech. People often hear the word antisemitic and correlate it with other Semitic languages, like Arabic, Amharic and many others. However, the term antisemitism specifically refers to Jewish hate and discrimination.
A common misconception is that antisemitism started at the beginning of the Holocaust and ended after World War 2. There are also so many harmful stereotypes about the Jewish community that all classify as forms of antisemitism and often get thrown around as “jokes’’ due to lack of knowledge. Antisemitism is still very much alive today, and now, in the new age of social media, it is more accessible than ever. It is crucial to stay educated on this subject matter. Misinformation and lack of education only fuel the fire of hate and bigotry. Hate speech should never be considered a joke. The “jokes” aren’t funny. These are real people with real feelings, and the fact that a lot of us don’t feel safe in our own school speaks volumes. The place where we are supposed to learn and grow into functioning members of society now makes us scared to love who we are. We need to learn and grow and recognize that actions like those made on Dec. 3 are never okay, especially towards groups of people who are systematically hated. We should always continue to educate ourselves about those who are different from us. I know there will always be lots of questions surrounding Jewish culture, and I welcome that.
Student Voices
Devin Martinez Junior
Aneliz Venture Muñoz Senior
Jana Cruz-Morales Senior
Max Sandoval Senior
In the wake of persisting antisemitism, homophobia, racism and sexism, students contemplate the legality of verbal abuses made against certain groups. Some acknowledge that hate speech falls under the umbrella of free speech, even with its hazardous impact, while others reinforce that freedom of speech doesn’t give people the right to hurt one another.
“Hate speech is a part of free speech if you accept the repercussions of your actions. The First Amendment protects a person from government action against them, but it does not protect citizens from other citizens. If you want to perform your free speech to the world, go for it, but don’t be surprised when others do the same and resort to violence.”
“I don’t believe that hate speech should be accepted as a part of free speech. It doesn’t serve any other purpose than to belittle and discourage others for seemingly pointless things. The foundation of hate speech is to express hate or encourage violence towards a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex or sexual orientation.The ability to downgrade someone just because they don’t fit into old societal norms is stupid.”
“Hate speech is included in free speech because if it wasn’t, then it wouldn’t be free speech. If you are giving hate then it’s your opinion. Everyone can take someone’s opinions however they want to, but if you couldn’t include your opinion in your speech then what you can say would be limited and it wouldn’t be classified as free speech.”
“Considering hate speech free speech makes it more alarming to be a minority in America. There is little already in place to protect minorities. Including hate speech in free speech puts thousands of Americans in a more heightened state of fear. Already so much hate is targeted towards minority groups, protecting it would amplify acts of discrimination to dangerous levels.”
Freedom of speech or freedom to hate?
Is hate speech free speech?
STUDENT VOICES PHOTOS: THE MIRROR | KIMBERLY PEREZ
| CURRENT EVENTS |
the MIRROR
NEWS
IN BRIEF
FALL 2023 | 3 THE MIRROR | KIMBERLY PEREZ
DOWN ON DOUGH The school is struggling to make ends meet after losing almost 20 percent of last school year’s budget. Extracurricular activities and core programs might need to be scaled back due to this enormous cut.
COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL | Prin-
cipal Lourdes De Santiago will be hosting a meeting on Nov. 9 in the Parent Center from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. This meeting is an opportunity for any student and parent to discuss campus issues with the principal and learn more about the school. Questions, concerns and suggestions about our magnet programs or just campus life in general are highly appreciated and welcome. Parents and pupils are encouraged to attend. Coffee will be provided. This is a chance to have informative conversations with Principal De Santiago.
OPEN HOUSE | In an effort to increase
enrollment in our school for the next year, on Nov. 2 a Magnet Open House will be taking place in the Big Gym. This event is meant to introduce parents and potential new students to what the school is all about, as well as to get them excited about what our school has to offer. The STEM, Performing Arts and Medical Magnets will be showcased and promoted. There will be stations focusing on each program. Though it has not been detailed what the school has planned, the staff are determined to make this a fun and exciting experience for potential students and their families.
BLOOD DRIVE | The school is hosting
a blood drive in the Small Gym on Nov. 14. Students 16 years of age and older can volunteer to donate blood by signing up using the QR code on Schoology. This year, students have to meet certain weight requirements depending on their height in order to donate. If the student volunteer is under 18, they also have to get a consent form signed by their parents. If you are eligible, it is highly encouraged that you donate blood for those in need.
MAGNET TOURS | The last days for
Magnet Tours are Nov. 8 at 8:30 a.m. and Nov. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. These tours provide parents and potential students with a great opportunity to learn more about the community. They introduce students to the school’s campus, classes and extracurriculars. These Magnet Tours sometimes involve visiting classrooms where possible students and parents can see the environment in which they are going to be learning. If any of these Magnet Tours visit your classroom, be sure to act completely normal.
FINALS WEEK | The schedule for finals week will be in block period format. Finals for periods one and four will take place on Dec. 13, periods two and five will take place on Dec. 14 and periods three and six will be on Dec. 15. On these days, the first exam will be from 8:30 to 10:34 a.m. and the second will take place from 11:10 a.m. to 1:13 p.m. With the end of the semester rapidly approaching, students must prepare for the home stretch. Though the holidays might be late, these finals certainly won’t be. With the long-awaited winter break coming soon after, students are encouraged to try their best on these exams and finish the semester strong.
SCHOLARSHIP SEMIFINALIST | Se-
nior Tyler Chiu was named a semifinalist in the extremely selective Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation scholarship. He was selected from over 103,800 applicants, of whom only 150 will win $20,000. The school’s staff is beyond proud of his achievement and believe Chiu’s accomplishment serves as an example that dedication and effort can lead to amazing results, and should inspire fellow students to go above and beyond. All students are encouraged to see their counselors to apply for scholarships that can boost academic success and allow for greater opportunities when pursuing a post-secondary education.
Budget cuts reduce school funding by MILLIONS BY MIA RAMIREZ
T
THE MIRROR STAFF
his school year, the school is down $4 million in funding from the district. In the 2022-23 school year, the school had $26,609,880 available in the budget. For the 2023-24 school year, there is only $21,809,846 available. This reduction in funds is due to the discontinuation of the per-pupil program and covid-19 relief programs, which, according to the school Budget Availability Report, paid for some staff member’s salaries, substitute teacher salaries, office supplies and other general supplies for classrooms. The per-pupil and covid-19 relief programs were outside of the general budget. Therefore, the school had not needed to use general funds to pay for the things the programs covered. Now that funds from these portions of the budget are no longer available, the school has to rely on funds from the general budget. “Although concerning, we will always prioritize essential resources, such as necessary classroom materials, for our students when budgeting,” Title 1 Coordinator Ms. Milagro Medrano said. This is the first time that anything like this has happened to the school. “It is not really a budget cut like in the past,” Assistant Principal Mr. Marc Strassner said. “The school funds, programs and money are being taken back by various funding entities, some being redistributed, others simply ending.” Certain programs, yet to be determined, will be receiving a cut in funds or may be discontinued in order to accommodate the lack of funding. Those most likely to be
‘‘
Our goal is to always find ways to grow our program, and right now it just feels like we are taking so many steps backward that we are not moving forward.” Performing Arts Coordinator Ms. Fanny Arana
affected are clubs, sports and other extracurriculars. Funded school trips might also become a thing of the past. “We will have to be more mindful and say no to things that maybe aren’t as urgent,” Ms. Medrano said. Athletic Director Mr. Dion Coley says that the extreme budget cuts have yet to affect the Athletics Department. “Sports are funded by the athletics section of the budget and, as of now, that budget has not changed,” he said. “So far the cuts haven’t hit athletics yet, but I am sure it is coming. Many are still unsure as to which programs are experiencing budget cuts.” Performing Arts Coordinator Ms. Fanny Arana says that the Performing Arts programs have faced a large cutback in funds. As of now, the program is no longer able to fund choreographers, costume designers, carpenters and light technicians for school productions. “Some of the basic foundations of the Performing Arts program is bringing in outside vendors to support and assist in our
productions, and we now no longer have the money to do it,” Ms. Arana said. In addition to not having the funds for outside vendors, the Performing Arts Department no longer has sufficient funds to pay staff for the extra time they spend helping with practices and productions. “Multiple staff members used to get paid extra hours to supervise events, performances and rehearsals,” Ms. Arana said. “Now those staff members are working for free.” All of these setbacks caused by the budget cuts have left students and admin who are part of the Performing Arts Magnet exasperated. “Our goal is to always find ways to grow our program, and right now it just feels like we are taking so many steps backward that we are not moving forward,” Ms. Arana said. The magnet programs are facing consequences, as there will no longer be enough funds for administrators to attend magnet conferences. The school has some of the top magnets in the nation, and these conferences help teach admin how to grow the programs. “We have so many amazing programs at Van Nuys High School,” Ms. Arana said. “However, this year, a majority of them will no longer be able to happen. Though the budget cuts are disheartening, there are ways that the school can lessen the effects. Ms. Medrano explains that the household income forms can help the school gain more funding. This is why they have been persistently encouraging all students to fill them out. Mr. Strassner adds that sports teams and clubs can also help the school by fundraising on their own. This way, programs will not have to solely rely on the district for funds.
4 | FALL 2023
the MIRROR
| CURRENT EVENTS |
THE MIRROR | GIANNA IOVINO
Enrollment decline leads to teacher displacement BY OLAMIDE OLUMIDE
T
THE MIRROR NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR
he school, alongside many others across the district, is experiencing a steep decline in enrollment numbers this year. According to Principal Lourdes De Santiago, this school year there are about 113 less students than last year. Though it fluctuates, the current enrollment number stands at 1278. Many teachers, students and parents theorize this decline in enrollment is due to the school’s failure to implement a block schedule. The principal says that though it might be a factor, this decline is district-wide. “This decline is across the board,” she said. As a result of these reports, many LAUSD schools have had to let teachers go. Displacement is based on merit and seniority within a department. Principal De Santiago explains that the district is highly particular about maintaining a student-to-teacher ratio. When enrollment
is relatively high, more teachers get hired. But when it’s low, like in this instance, some teachers need to be displaced. The student-to-teacher ratio differs per program and magnet. “You’re not supposed to go over a certain number of students per class and it has to do with being able to support the students,” she said. “You have to be able to meet the needs of the students. If you don’t have enough students, you cannot have a lot of teachers, so the teachers have got to go.” A total of 62 schools across Region North, the organization that is in charge of schools located in the northern portion of LAUSD, are experiencing a decline in enrollment. “I received information that there were 35 schools that had one teacher displaced because of low enrollment, 18 schools that displaced two teachers because of low enrollment and nine schools that had to displace three teachers because of low enrollment,” Principal De Santiago said. Overall, 98 teachers have been displaced. The displacement of teachers involves the transferring of teachers from their original school to a school that has a lower number of teachers. Every year, the district has a norm day where they take into account the number of students that enrolled in that year and displace teachers accordingly. This year, the norm day was Friday, Sept. 15. The principal says that there are a number
‘‘
Because we don’t have the same amount of students, we don’t have the same amount of funding.” Principal Lourdes De Santiago
of factors that may have contributed to the drop in enrollment. Possible influences include inflation and the relocation of families. “Now that inflation has taken place and everybody’s feeling it, that could be a factor,” she said. “I am also aware of families that are moving out of state.” Even after considering these aspects, Principal De Santiago says that the most significant shift in enrollment occurred after the covid-19 pandemic. “When the district passed the mandate for people to be vaccinated, the people who did not get the vaccine were forced to be homeschooled,” Principal De Santiago said. Noticing this decline across the board, the district has assigned schools to check up on families to make sure students are still continuing their educational journey even if it’s not at an LAUSD school. This decline in enrollment is also affecting the school’s budget. The number of students that enroll and attend school determines the
EMPTY HALLS With a current enrollment
number of 1278 this year, the school has 113 less students than last year. This has led to the dismissal of several teachers.
amount of money the school gets. “Because we don’t have the same amount of students, we don’t have the same amount of funding,” Principal De Santiago said. “That’s why we have to submit our attendance. The state provides the district money for every student that attends. So if we don’t have the students, we can’t get the money.” This decline in enrollment is part of the reason why the school is experiencing budget cuts. Attendance money goes towards field trips and extracurricular programs, as well as magnet conferences. Without this money, the school has to be very particular in what they choose to spend their money on. Principal De Santiago says she sees all of this as a learning experience. She, as well as the staff in the attendance and magnet offices, are dedicated to finding out where these students are going and why they’re leaving. In an effort to prevent this decline in enrollment from happening again, both Ms. De Santiago and her associates are looking at all the possibilities of what they can do or change to support the needs of the magnet and international programs. They are conducting a thorough needs assessment and presenting it to the staff. “This year we were not expecting that decline in the enrollment so my hope is that it is only a one time thing,” she said.
Performing Arts students boost SBAC English scores BY DELMIS VAQUERANO
L
THE MIRROR STAFF
ast spring, juniors took the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) tests. Previews of schoolwide score reports were released in September by the State Department of Education, signifying overall academic improvement. The Performing Arts Magnet students led the increases in both English and Math, with scores jumping an astonishing mean of 44 points over the past year. Official detailed reports are set to be released next year. In the preliminary report provided by LAUSD, the school is projected to have improved in both the English and math sections of the SBAC test. Across magnet programs, the English score has increased by 10 points from 8.5 to 18.5, and the math score has increased by 11.7 points from -68.4 to -56.7.
Testing Coordinator Ms. Michelle Park compares the official schoolwide report from the 2021-22 school year to the preliminary report from the 2022-23 school year. “We have increased by about 10 points overall, give or take,” Ms. Park said. “We definitely did better this year than last year.” Though there is a projected increase in scores across magnets, the most significant increase is among Performing Arts students. Performing Arts Magnet Coordinator Ms. Fanny Arana is proud of what she considers to be a notable change in scores. She attributes the difference in scores to the Performing Arts teachers who let students know that they are responsible for their academics. “I think that the creativity that the Performing Arts students are ingrained with really helps them take a deeper dive into the academics,” she said.
EIGHT YEARS OF SBAC TESTING 50%
MATH
40%
2014-15 2018-19
30%
2015-16 2020-21
2016-17 2021-22
2017-18 2022-23
20% 10% 0%
Standard not met
40%
Standard nearly met
Standard met
Exceeds standard
Standard met
Exceeds standard
ENGLISH
30% 20% 10% 0%
Standard not met
Standard nearly met
INFOGRAPHIC: THE MIRROR | BRIANNA ALVARADO
District unveils tutoring app to combat learning loss LEARNING TOOL An L.A. Public Library Card.
BY BARON KIM
I
THE MIRROR STAFF
n a significant stride toward enhancing educational resources, LAUSD has introduced a remarkable new tool for its students—the Student Success Card app, which was made available on Sept. 18. This initiative comes as a collaborative effort with the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), aiming to broaden the horizon of learning and resource accessibility for students, thereby setting a precedent for other school districts to follow suit. The app, accessible via students’ Schoology profiles, is a gateway to a plethora of resources that the LAPL offers. The ease of access means that students are now able to tap into over 200 databases that offer free one-on-one online tutoring, homework assistance and a vast collection of music and movies without the hassle of multiple logins or platforms. Additionally, the app provides access to engaging magazines, test preparation materials and an intriguing language-learning platform, all consolidated in one accessible locale, making it a robust tool for a holistic educational experience. All LAUSD students who have been enrolled for more than two weeks are eligible to utilize this tool, completely free of charge. This effort to provide easy access to educational resources signifies LAUSD’s commitment to reducing barriers to education. The app can be found under a student’s personal profile, specifically in the “Student Success Card” category on Schoology, ensuring seamless integration into the student’s existing online learning environment. From language tutoring to resume creation, students would be unwise not to make use of this advantageous resource. The availability of expert tutoring, offered by The Princeton Review and the California State Library, on a wide array of subjects further exemplifies the comprehensive support the app provides, catering to the diverse academic needs and interests of the students. “It’s fantastic,” school librarian Ms. Suzanne Osman said. “I have personally used it, and they can help you with everything from college apps to homework help in any subject.” The partnership between LAUSD and LAPL exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to increasing technology’s ever-growing role in education, setting a benchmark for other districts.
LIBRARY CARD COURTESY | L.A. PUBLIC LIBRARY
FALL 2023 | 5
| CURRENT EVENTS |
the MIRROR
New insurance policy leaves Performing Arts in a lurch BY MADISON THACKER
A
THE MIRROR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
new rule requiring vendors on campus to carry $1200 insurance has abruptly left theatrical productions without a lighting or costume designer, video production without a teaching assistant and the choir program without a choreographer or pianist. These vendors can’t afford to buy the coverage. Vendors, according to LAUSD, are workers who are not insured or employed by the district, but are still on campus and interacting with students. This rule, which went into effect this semester, requires all vendors to carry a new insurance policy dealing with abuse and sexual molestation. While most vendors have to carry some form of insurance just to cover their bases, this new addition is extremely costly and can not be paid by the school. Independent contractors now have to pay over $1200 out of pocket to work on campus. Although the enforcement of the rule came as a surprise to teachers and administrators, nobody could say they were shocked that LAUSD had to create this policy. Performing Arts Coordinator Ms. Fanny Arana explains that most of the reasoning comes from the fact that LAUSD is constantly getting sued. “There’s a huge settlement that just ended involving Cleveland High School that cost them millions of dollars,” she said. In light of this new insurance policy, Ms. Arana believes that these vendors no longer consider it worth it to work
on campus. impacted by it.” “Our costume designer makes $500 For their upcoming winter showcase, a semester from us, meaning that if the choir program planned to have their she paid for the insurance she not only live accompanist on stage to play muwould be working for free but would sic. This accompanist worked with them now be paying us almost $500,” she said. in the classroom, playing background The policy is strongly affecting the music during rehearsals. Now, students Performing Arts Department. The fall in the program not only have to practice production of “The Iliad, the Odyssey, without a live accompanist, but will and All of Greek also have to perform Mythology in 99 without one. Since Minutes or Less” was they will be singing to forced to take place pre-recorded tracks, without a lighting or the performance costume designer. quality is guaranteed Theater teacher and to be lower. production director Film and video Mr. Justin Baldridge production teacher Performing Arts was left scrambling Mr. Thomas McCoordinator as he tried to find Cluskey has had a Ms. Fanny Arana replacements. teaching assistant “I had to find new for the past two people who not only years. Because his could use our equipment but would teaching assistant is unwilling to pay work for free,” he said. extra money for insurance, Mr. McClusUnder this new policy, LAUSD vendors key must now scale back his program to have to go through extensive backonly what he himself can handle. ground checks and fingerprinting as Ms. Arana is trying to remain opwell. timistic. She is working very hard on Like most teachers on campus, Mr. finding a solution by researching what Baldridge is not blaming the district for other schools are doing. But due to the enforcing the rules. Nor is he blaming fact that this is a district-wide issue, the school admin, because they have no future looks bleak. choice but to abide by the rules. But “Most other schools are having to overall, he is extremely upset with the find workarounds or loopholes so to situation. speak,” she said. “I’m not quite sure what “I understand why the new policy they are doing, but I’m trying my best to is there and that the district is trying find out. Sadly, this new policy plus the to support and protect itself,” he said. budget cuts are slowly killing us from “But I’m frustrated because you’ve now the inside out.” restricted the programs that rely on Performing Arts teachers and stuso many people, and now the departdents are all hoping for a long-term ment and those within it are negatively solution to surface. Mr. McCluskey hopes that the situation is fixed not only for his sake, but also for that of the students. “Teachers in arts programs need these support staff to create great experiences for students,” he said. “Without them, the students’ experience of these programs will be significantly limited.”
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This new policy plus the budget cuts are slowly killing us from the inside out.”
GOING SOLO LAUSD’s new insurance
policy has driven away potential vendors, leaving teachers and programs bewildered and having to do important tasks on their own.
GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | YASMIN GOMEZ
6 | FALL 2023
| CURRENT EVENTS |
the MIRROR PEXELS | SOUND ON
RESTLESS NIGHTS
Even at low decibel levels, nighttime noise can interfere with brain activity and impact sleep.
Are headphones
killing your brain? A not-so-silent threat: Repeated exposure to high noise levels can lead to premature hearing loss and may even be linked to dementia BY BARON KIM
I
THE MIRROR STAFF
n the whirlwind of today’s digital age, headphones are a teen's best friend. They offer a private haven of music, podcasts and videos. However, the love for loud music through headphones is brewing up a storm. The teen years, marked by exploration and learning, are now also becoming a time of inadvertent risk-taking when it comes to auditory health. The magnitude of this issue is both broad and deep, with around one billion young people worldwide potentially at risk of hearing loss from their habits of listening to loud music through headphones, according to the BMJ Global Health Journal. The ubiquity of headphone use among teens, coupled with a preference for loud volumes, is a recipe for widespread hearing impairment. “I honestly can’t see a world without my airpods,” junior Anthony Sanchez said. “I use them daily, and I see my friends with them in all the time as well.” According to The Mirror’s survey, 65 percent of students polled listen to music with their headphones at maximum volume. Understanding the dynamics of sound and its impact on the ears is fundamental. Sound is measured in units called decibels. The higher the decibel level, the louder the sound. Prolonged exposure to noises above 85 decibels can be harmful to hearing. To put this in perspective, music listened to at maximum volume using headphones often falls in the range of 85 to 120 decibels, a level that can cause significant hearing damage over time. “After thinking about it, I’m pretty sure that I listen to my music at at least 75 percent volume,” sophomore Kaisher Babaran said. “Sometimes it’s loud
enough where my friends will call my name and I won’t hear what they said. I’m used to listening to music at that level, and if I listen at a lower volume it just feels unnatural.” A study revealed that adolescents exposed to high noise levels via headphones in noisy environments experienced a hearing loss prevalence of 22.6 percent, and those who used earphones for 80 minutes or more per day on average had a hearing loss prevalence of 22.3 percent. This is alarming given the number of teens who use headphones daily, often at volumes that far exceed safe listening levels. The ramifications of early-onset hearing loss are grave and far-reaching. Hearing loss in youth can set a domino effect into motion, leading to social isolation and depression, eventually escalating the risk of cognitive impairments such as dementia. According to the National Library of Medicine, the auditory nerve, which carries sound signals to the brain, when constantly bombarded with loud noises, starts transmitting weaker signals. This, in turn, forces the brain to work harder to interpret the sound, leading to cognitive overload, a precursor to dementia. “It honestly scares me that just listening to music loudly can actually lead to dementia,” senior Bella Mokhtari said. “Loud music always changes my mood for the better, so to think that doing that can increase my chances of getting dementia is concerning. It’s been hard, but I’m trying to lower my music volume when I can. Even if it’s slow, I think I’m
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making progress.” Teens, being at a pivotal point of cognitive and social development, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of hearing loss. It's not merely about the ears; it's about how the ears, the brain and social interactions are intertwined. Hyperacusis, a heightened sensitivity to certain frequency ranges of sound, often finds its roots in prolonged exposure to loud music through headphones. This condition can transition into a chronic issue where even mild sounds become intolerable, creating a persistent discomfort in daily life. While many find solace in the soft tunes playing through their headphones as they drift off to sleep, the reality is that this habit can impede sleep quality. Nighttime noise, even at a decibel level as low as 40, can interfere with brain activity during sleep, leading to a restless night. Over time, these sleep disturbances can translate into a host of other issues including impaired cognitive function, mood swings and a general sense of lethargy. “Sometimes I fall asleep with music playing on my computer, and I won’t wake up during the night to turn it off,” Sanchez said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it adds to my grogginess in the morning. I’ve been using Spotify’s sleep timer feature, and it’s been effective as long as I remember to turn it on.” The repercussions of these conditions are far-reaching. The daily routine of adolescents can be significantly affected, leading to decreased performance in school and other activities.
Loud music always changes my mood for the better, so to think that doing that can increase my chances of getting dementia is concerning.” Senior Bella Mohktari
The ripple effect of these health issues can cascade through various facets of a teenager's life, subtly chipping away at their overall wellbeing. Addressing these concerns requires a multi-pronged approach rooted in awareness, education and actionable solutions. Knowledge about the decibel levels and the duration of exposure that could potentially harm the ears is the first step towards a safer auditory experience. The 60/60 rule, which suggests keeping the volume under 60 percent of the maximum and limiting headphone use to under 60 minutes a day, is a guideline backed by audiologists that aims to mitigate risks associated with loud music. Shifting the cultural narrative around loud music and headphone usage is imperative. Educational campaigns in schools and communities can play a pivotal role in fostering a better understanding of the risks involved and promoting safer listening practices. Leveraging technology to promote safe listening habits holds promise. Innovations such as volume-limiting features on devices and apps that monitor listening levels could serve as practical tools in the quest for better auditory health among teens. Fostering an environment where safe listening habits are encouraged and where individuals are equipped with the knowledge and tools to protect their auditory health is crucial. This comprehensive approach can significantly contribute to reducing the risks associated with loud headphone usage, allowing younger generations to protect their ears from potential damage. By instilling a culture of awareness and proactive measures, the road towards sound auditory health becomes more hopeful.
| CURRENT EVENTS |
the MIRROR
FALL 2023 | 7
COURTESY | LAUSD
LAUSD’s school bus electrification program
Steering into a sustainable future BY BARON KIM
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THE MIRROR STAFF
he landscape of student transportation is undergoing a transformative change in the LAUSD. Spearheaded by the district’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, the recent initiatives to electrify its bus fleet stands as a testament to a brighter, greener future for L.A. students and communities. In an exclusive interview, Mr. Daniel Kang, Director of Transport at LAUSD, sheds light on the groundbreaking endeavor. "This is for all of the students, all the way down to Universal TK," Kang said. "This is for our future, and I believe that I am a steward of this responsibility of making LAUSD and our local communities much safer and livable for our future."
In tune with LAUSD's Strategic Plan for 2022-26, led by Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, the district has initiated the installation of 18 new electric school bus chargers at the Gardena Bus Yard. This is part of a broader strategy to adopt sustainable modes of transportation, keeping in line with the district's resolution to achieve 100 percent clean, renewable energy in its electricity sector by 2030 and in all energy sectors by 2040. Kang emphasized the utility of the newly installed chargers. "The theory is that school buses will be plugged into the grid and provide that power back to the local community, which gives the school district an opportunity to bring revenue in," he said. Historically, the Gardena Bus Yard has been the district's largest transportation hub, serving over 8,672 students across 296 schools with 371 buses. Of these, 270 buses
are powered by compressed vibration, so it's a much more ELECTRIC FUTURE LAUSD is paving the way for school natural gas and 75 by propleasant ride for the students bus transportation and pane. who take the bus,” Kang said. serving as a model for The move to introduce He emphasizes the direct other school districts. electric chargers is a radical effects that new electric buses shift, and the district plans to go further could have on students. by committing to complete electrifica“We need all your support, your contion of the Sun Valley Bus Yard by 2026 tinued support, and even the questions with the addition of 180 new electric and motivations from our elementary buses and chargers. students. It counts, and it matters,” Kang "We're up for the challenge and we don't said, highlighting his belief in the comwant to sit back and wait, we have to get munity's role, down to the youngest of ahead of the game,” Kang said. “Even though its members, in fostering a sustainable this is considered a new frontier, we have a future. lot of motivated leaders inside the district Furthermore, Kang underscored the such as our nationally renowned facilities often-overlooked influence of younger gendirector Christos Chrysiliou.” erations in bringing about change. These changes not only promote district“Children do have an impact, even in wide sustainable practices but also provide their homes and even in their schools,” benefits for students who rely on school Kang said. “We need their motivation. At the buses for transportation. end of the day, they are our customers, and “The buses are quieter and there's less that's who we're doing this for.”
Think it's over? Covid-19 continues to challenge public health BY SKYLIE MOLINA
E
THE MIRROR STAFF
ven three years after its initial uproar, covid-19 and its evolving variants linger. The height of the pandemic was during the week of Jan. 15, 2022, with cumulatively 150,674 new hospital admissions. The current numbers of hospital admissions and positive cases do not compare to previous numbers. However, the numbers of positive cases are still prevailing. According to Los Angeles County’s Public Health website, on average, about 217 positive cases are reported each day. Although multiple vaccines have already been widely distributed, viruses evolve. This evolution leads them to become immune to the defenses that the original vaccines provide. The most recent cases aren’t originating from the SARS-COV-2 virus, covid-19’s origin, but instead from a variant of omicron referred to as EG.5. Due to the public’s waning immunity to the virus, EG.5 is catching faster than other variants being observed and is accounting for 17 percent of positive cases. A subvarient of Omicron, EG.5 affects the lower respiratory tract and causes cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose and sore throat. Like previous variants, it especially
affects elderly people with weaker immune systems. School nurse Ms. Juana Mota considers LAUSD’s covid-19 policy effective. This policy requires students and administrators who have tested positive for covid-19 to stay in isolation for a minimum of five days. Thereafter, they must provide a negative test result and display no symptoms of the virus before returning to campus. For the following three days, the student or administrator is required to wear a mask. “The protocol definitely helps because isolation has always shown that it works,” Ms. Mota said. “I know that we are trending up in covid cases, but obviously the numbers don’t compare to what we were having during the pandemic.” This is majorly due to the cooperation of students, staff and the community with public health regulations. However, throughout LAUSD, there have been roughly 74 reported positive cases among students
GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | TRUMAN HUI
A STUBBORN VIRUS Although not com-
parable to previous numbers, with an average of 217 positive cases per day, covid-19 is still an issue.
and staff in the past week. As people have gotten comfortable without masks, there has been an uptrend in cases. While masks were still being worn and enforced in March of 2022, weekly hospital admissions were down to about 18,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the summer and winter of 2022, cases spiked once again to approximately 44,000. “The state should mandate to a certain extent the use of masks for any person who is affected,” junior Carolina Oganesyan said. “Whoever is sick should be required to take a covid test and wear a mask because it would create a safer environment.” During July this year, there were about 7,000 new weekly covid-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. As of September, there was a general upward trend with numbers peaking at 20,000, surpassing the number of cases in March of 2022. While the probability that the county might undergo a lockdown once again is slight, the possibility still remains. If communities do not have safety measures in place, and covid-19 cases rise matching the levels of the pandemic, this could once again become disastrous. “In my personal opinion, I don’t think another lockdown will happen,” Mota said. “I think people are being more cautious, but you never know.” There are mixed feelings towards lockdowns and whether we should take this precautionary measure again, even though it has proven to be effective. Regardless, many scientists, including infectious disease specialist Dr. Russell Klein, stress that people shouldn't let their guard down. It is uncertain how numbers will progress and what variants can develop next.
the MIRROR
| CURRENT EVENTS |
8 | FALL 2023
Continued violence on school campuses calls security measures into question THE MIRROR | FARAH ALSIBAI
BY DAIMLER KOCH
ON GUARD Campus aide Jorge Arroyo supervises the front courtyard of the main building.
S
THE MIRROR ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
chool shootings are nothing new in the U.S. Last year alone, the country experienced 153 shootings across its elementary, middle and high schools. While this number is a decline from 2022’s 240 school shootings, it still represents a disturbing trend. Though it has never faced an actual shooting, the school has had its fair share of close calls. On Dec. 7, 2022, two teens were stabbed outside of the school on Cedros Avenue. A couple months later, police arrived at the scene after there was a report of an armed student on campus. This student was later found to be in possession of a toy gun. In spite of these events, however, senior Nathan Perez believes that, on a daily basis, the school provides adequate security to all of its students and staff. During school hours, counselors are given posts to supervise students from while deans are allowed to roam around. “The school has helped us a lot security-wise,” Perez said. “The deans and the counselors are around protecting us during nutrition and lunchtime and supervising the area properly.” In addition, he feels that the school has done fairly well with handling extreme situations in the past. But he also questions whether the school has enough security on hand to deal with more extreme situations. “They told everybody that day, ‘Quickly, we’re on lockdown, move into a class, there’s a gun threat,’” Perez said, recalling that day. “They rallied us up real quick in a safe and orderly manner. But I also think about whether they would be able to handle it in a situation like that quickly enough to control an actual gunman.” Campus aide Carlos Araujo was one of the people helping students into classrooms on the day of the toy gun incident. He pointed out that his role as an aide is severely limited in curtailing violent situations. Aides
like him can physically step in between a threat, but cannot touch them. However, if a student is acting suspiciously, aides can take the student in for questioning by the dean. “There was a fight a couple of days back,” Araujo said. “We weren’t really sure what to do, because we had one side telling us we had to separate the students but then on the other hand, there’s people telling us we can’t touch the students. So in situations like that, what do I do? You don’t want to get
into any legal trouble.” Araujo also noted that it’s not impossible for someone to breach the campus’s perimeter without anyone knowing. Even though the most populated areas on campus are patrolled frequently, there are not enough aides to cover the entire campus “Because this is a bigger campus, there’s a lot of ways to get in and out of this place without anyone knowing,” Araujo said. “Anywhere where there’s a fence and it’s patrolled less, it’s easy access.”
Math teacher Mr. Colin Rabago noted that teachers have received specific training on what to do in case of a lockdown. Teachers are supposed to make sure all students find cover indoors and instruct them to stay away from all windows and doors. They are instructed to use tables and chairs to block off potential entrances to their rooms. If the situation escalates, teachers can relocate students as well. Additionally, teachers have smartphone group chats to communicate with each other in case of an emergency. “We had a couple of trainings last year in person by LAPD officers, given to teachers about what to do in these kinds of situations, and then we also have virtual trainings on these situations when you’re training to be a teacher, too,” Mr. Rabago said. Nevertheless, all three believe that having a stronger school police presence on campus would increase everyone’s safety. The school has had numerous police officers patrolling the school after incidents like the toy gun threat; currently, however, only a single officer is sporadically sent once or twice a week to keep an eye on the campus. A more permanent posting is imperative. “You need to have a police officer on campus,” Mr. Rabago said. “It would make families feel more safe.” More comprehensive training for staff, a stronger perimeter and increased efforts to build a secure school environment are ways to help create safety for everyone on campus. Because financial resources are limited and vary from district to district, however, the best solution might be to raise more awareness about how prevalent school shootings have become in America. “School shootings happen every day,” Araujo said. “Every day, there’s a shooting that you don’t even know about. There’s probably a shooting right now. It’s a little bit too normalized, and one could happen at any time.”
GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | ULISES LUPERCIO
E-cigarettes:
An adolescent epidemic BY DELMIS VAQUERANO
A
THE MIRROR STAFF
s the bell rings for lunch, you rush to the nearest restroom and as you arrive, a line of people are waiting for an available stall. Impatiently, you notice that the stalls are occupied by people unwilling to budge, people who seem to be hiding from school staff. Vapor floats out of the occupied stalls, filling everyone’s lungs with toxins and leaving a lingering sweet odor in the air. Senior Tieara Johnson explains that seeing students vaping in school is a daily occurrence. “I see it every day, usually in the bathrooms,” she said. “Vapers are just all around the campus.”
The rapid increase in juvenile e-cigarette use in 2018 led the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to label the use of e-cigarettes among youth as an epidemic with no signs of waning. According to the Truth Initiative, the 2022 Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 2.12 million high school and 380,000 middle school students report ongoing use of e-cigarettes. The rise of e-cigarette use in adolescents is attributed to tobacco companies that target teenagers through marketing strategies such as broadcasting their products on social media platforms and mobile apps, as well as displaying their products as being similar to food items. Adolescent use of e-cigarettes or vapes puts users at risk of irreversible brain damage from nicotine
LOST IN THE CLOUD According to the CDC,
more than 2.5 million middle and high schoolers reported using an e-cigarette of some kind in 2022.
exposure, as this may affect learning and concentration skills. It also puts users at an increased risk for longterm health issues such as mood disorders, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, seizures and more. To mitigate the frequency of vaping on campus, particularly in the restrooms, adult supervisors are assigned to oversee the inside and outside of a restroom reflec-
tive of their gender. Supervision Aid Mr. Luis Cornejo notes how the use of e-cigarettes among students is out of hand. “It’s uncontrollable,” he said. Led by District Facilitator Mr. Daniel Umanzor, Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) sessions are held weekly on Thursdays afterschool to educate students about the dangers of drug usage. Students collaborate to create and lead campaign events every month to advocate healthy lifestyles and spread awareness. Students referred to TUPE by administrators have to complete a fixed
amount of hours. . Mr. Umanzor expresses that TUPE has been effective for students that seek help and are willing to put in the effort to change. “I’ve seen a lot of kids come to meetings with their friends or peers that would go out of their way to speak with other students at events,” he said. “They’re really what’s going to change the stigma against AntiTobacco programs.” For services and information about quitting vaping, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration at www.samhsa.gov or call 1-800-662-4357.
the MIRROR
Unraveling misconceptions about OCD BY BARON KIM
I
THE MIRROR STAFF
n a world that frequently romanticizes perfectionism, the reality of ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood. This reality is something that junior Tiffany Marin Torres navigates daily. For her, OCD isn’t about a penchant for neatness, fear of germs or need for symmetry, but a relentless bombardment of intrusive anxious thoughts which lead to compulsive behaviors. “The most common misconception about OCD is that OCD only presents itself in a very aggressive and expressive manner when that’s really not the case,” Marin Torres explained. “I feel like it can be very subtle for me.” OCD entails obsessions that manifest as unwanted, intrusive thoughts that prompt compulsions and behavioral rituals. “For me, when my OCD gets triggered I usually experience symptoms of immense anxiety and sudden urges to reassure those anxious thoughts,” Marin Torres said. “I’ll have recurring thoughts of concern about whether I’ve completed a task or if I’ve done it correctly or properly and that will lead me to impulsively go check if I’ve done it.” Her narrative sheds light on the common misunderstanding that OCD solely manifests through overt rituals or extreme orderliness as often portrayed in movies or TV shows. The depiction of OCD in pop culture, shown in examples such as Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory,” Adrian Monk from “Monk” and Monica Geller from “Friends,” veils the true nature of this disorder, feeding into the stigma surrounding it. “When people find out that I have OCD, they usually are in disbelief,” Marin Torres shared. “They usually don’t perceive me as the type of person to have OCD, although they say that it makes sense because I am a perfectionist. ” The societal unawareness surrounding OCD goes beyond mere misconceptions. It paves the way for unsolicited skepticism and condescension directed toward people diagnosed with OCD, further exacerbating their anxiety and isolation. Through the narratives of individuals like Marin Torres, a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of OCD can be fostered, challenging the baseless stereotypes and promoting a more supportive environment for those grappling with the disorder.
FALL 2023 | 9
| LIFESTYLE |
Students in the
workforce Valuable experiences,
but endless sacrifices THE MIRROR | MICHAEL ARREDONDO
BY DAIMLER KOCH
L
THE MIRROR ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ife as a teenager is complicated enough as is. Daily homework assignments, late nights, social media and college applications are just a few of the issues that send high school students into a stressful fray. Yet, some have another responsibility compounded onto their already-busy lives: a part-time job. According to The Mirror’s survey, 43 percent of students polled have worked a part-time job during their time in high school. While fewer teens today hold jobs outside of school than previous generations, LAUSD schools do not have resources designed to cater specifically to student workers. Senior Jonathan Macias used to be one of those student workers. A teaching assistant at Sylvan Park Elementary, he tutors mostly fourth and fifth graders in their studies. He chose to be a teaching assistant because he wanted to earn pocket money as well as gain a skill that would make his college applications look more appealing. “I worked as often as possible from Monday through Friday,” he said, reflecting back on his experience. “After school ends here, I’d go over there and work from four to six.” Macias noted that, while he was able to keep his academics in check, he often ended up needing to sacrifice his social life and his sleep schedule. “My friends usually hang out after school,” he said. “I couldn’t really go with them because I had a job. I also didn’t get that much sleep because I had to maintain my academics and my job at the same time.” For senior Kate Tetvadze, the opposite is true. She works as a hostess at Stanley’s, a restaurant serving American cuisine in Sherman Oaks. “I chose to work weekends because I need all the time I can get during the week to complete my assignments and study,” Tetvadze said. “Sometimes, I do have to be careful with making plans during the weekends because coworkers won’t always be available for coverage.” Her employment does make it difficult to participate in extracurricular activities and sports, however. “Many sports practices and clubs have events during the weekends, so I can’t essentially join them,” she said.
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CASH FROM COFFEE Senior Anastasia Petrova works as a barista at Panera Bread in Encino, a job that allows her to expand her social skills and earn her own money.
According to The Mirror’s survey, 43 percent of students polled have worked a part-time job during their time in high school. While her social life isn’t affected by her job, which she works on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, her academics and her sleep are. “I don’t sleep till one, two, three a.m.,” she said. “Sometimes I take a nap and I just wake up too late, and I don’t have time for homework. Thankfully, most of my teachers allow extensions and are very lenient, so sometimes I have to do what I have to do and push back the homeworks that aren’t necessarily due the next day.” Macias and Tetvadze aren’t alone in this aspect. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, in 2018, an average of 73 percent of high school students in the U.S. reported getting less than eight hours of sleep per night. Students working part-time jobs contribute to this statistic. Screentime caused by excessive social media and homework use also contributes to sleeplessness in teens. In the long term, sleep deprivation is associated with increased alcohol use, behavioral issues and depression. Senior Anastasia Petrova is one of the few to put an emphasis on sleep. As a Panera Bread barista who works closing shifts on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, she often finds herself with little time to do homework from her six AP classes. She often completes her homework during school hours instead.
MISREPRESENTED While OCD has been stereotyped in pop culture as
an obsession with orderliness, it is actually a condition that prompts compulsive behavior via intrusive thoughts. GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | RYAN OCFEMIA
“I prioritize sleep over homework a lot of the time,” she said. “That’s why some of my homework gets done at school. If I’m too tired to get the work done, I’d rather just sleep and get it done the next day.” In spite of the enormous pressure they have received from their jobs, all three have said that they have benefited from working a part-time job. Improved social skills is a common theme among them. “I’ve gained a lot of useful skills,” Macias said. “Before, I wasn’t that good with kids. I didn’t really tolerate them that much, but nowadays I kind of feel like I matured more and can talk with them.” Additionally, working a part-time job helped these students develop a strong work ethic and a stronger sense of independence that comes with earning income. “I feel like the main benefit I get out of my job is the money,” Petrova said. “At this current point in time, I prefer being more or less financially independent and being able to buy myself whatever I need rather than relying on my parents.” All three recommend that high schoolers get a job, so long as their school schedule, extracurriculars and homework allow for it. “It definitely depends on the person and their situation,” Petrova said. “If someone’s schedule doesn’t work with having a job, it wouldn’t be optimal. However, if it works out, I would recommend the experience.”
10 | FALL 2023
the MIRROR
| LIFESTYLE |
Strokes of genius: An artistic journey THE MIRROR | IVAN ALCALA
BY OLAMIDE OLUMIDE
E
THE MIRROR NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR
veryone at some point in their life has been an artist, whether it be the meaningless scribbles you drew on a sheet of blank paper when your parents gave you a crayon to keep you busy as a child, or the palettes of makeup you started experimenting with during your teen years. Senior Isabela Arca has been an artist since birth. Art is a part of her identity, and it acted as her companion through hard times and as a friend when she needed support. “I struggled managing my anxiety several months ago and I remember that I was so overwhelmed with everything that day that I turned to drawing as a coping strategy,” she said. “I chose imagery that resonated with how I felt and drew a coherent image based on those elements. Through art, I was able to achieve catharsis and was able to look at my anxiety and overwhelm on a physical canvas, which shares the same concept of journaling.” This artist’s skill doesn't just come from talent. It's taken many years for her to refine her style and artistry to become what it is today. Some of her work has been showcased in the Creative House Gallery, an organization that presents student works for auction. Arca has also had her work displayed in the Congressional Art contest held in Pacoima City Hall, for which she received an honorable mention. Arca strives to inspire confidence and ambition in her audience through her art. “One recent example of this is the yearbook cover I drew for the Class of 2024, titled ‘Carrying On,’” she said. “It conveys the importance to keep moving forward even in the face of turmoil and tragedy. I’ve always struggled to get back up after a struggle and the theme of resilience has always been on my mind. I wanted this artwork to introduce tragedy yet place the focus on the importance of recovering from that event.”
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I want people to feel empowered when they look at my work, no matter if the art came from high or low periods of my life.” Senior Isabela Arca
THE BIG PICTURE Senior Isabella Arca flaunts her design for the 2023-24 yearbook.
She wants her art to help her audience feel hopeful in times of need. “I want people to feel empowered when they look at my work, no matter if the art came from high or low periods of my life,” she said. “Art has gotten me through many struggles and I feel like hope and resilience is a common theme in my artwork because of that. I hope to share those qualities with anyone who views my artwork.” Arca is set on the career she plans to
pursue. “I want to go into a career in illustration, painting or visual development in the future,” she said. Art is many things for Arca: a friend, a therapist and a community. Pushing these things aside to follow a more traditional occupation would be like changing the entire trajectory of her life to amount to a soulless experience. “I feel like I would not recognize myself if I didn’t pursue art,” she explained. “It was instrumental to my growth as a person because of the unexpected lessons I would learn through creating art.”
Jumpstarting his career in the automotive industry BY MIA RAMIREZ
T
THE MIRROR STAFF
o senior Thomas Polce, revving engines, drifting wheels and the glossy finish of a new paint job are as close to heaven as it gets. The automotive-enthusiast has been interested in cars for as long as he could remember. “I used to create custom Lego cars and when I was much younger I would love spotting rare cars around L.A. when I got the chance,” Polce said. As a freshman, he found the opportunity to pursue his passion by joining the school's automotive program, which he has been a part of for the last four years. “Auto shop was a path that I could take to further my knowledge and passion in the auto shop world,” Polce said. The automotive program is a career and technical education-oriented course taught by Mr. Joseph Agruso, which allows students to learn about the components of automotive vehicles, as well as the basics of repairing them. Students learn through hands-on experience by working on school staff members’ cars. “I am able to learn in the classroom and then also perform what I learn in real world applications,” Polce said. “I have learned how to work on actual cars and build electrical circuits.”
In addition to teaching students how to repair automotive vehicles and various technical skills, the auto shop program also gives students the opportunity to apply these skills outside of the classroom. According to Polce, the program helped him get a paid internship with the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCVWA) during his junior year of high school. There, Polce works with his supervisor to perform maintenance on fleet vehicles owned by the agency. Polce has thoroughly enjoyed his time working for the company and has found ways to apply the skills he has learned through the automotive program. “I’m enjoying my experience working at SCVWA, not only because I get to work in a field that’s related to my interest, but I’m also able to take what I have learned in auto shop and apply it in my work,” Polce said. Since the school’s automotive program is well-known in the community, when SCVWA was searching for interns, Mr. Agruso’s auto shop was one of the first places they looked. This is how Polce obtained his internship. “This is the first year SCVWA has had an internship program, so they were looking for high school students in the Valley,” Polce said. “Just being in the auto shop program
While she does worry that she may lose her love for art by pursuing a career in it, she's willing to take that risk. “I have explored other career options but I found that I was only passionate about art,” Arca explained. “I love the process of creating artwork and sharing that joy with others. Even though art careers are known for being difficult, I still want to pursue it because I love art so much.” Though Arca’s culture values careers in business and medicine over careers in art, her parents are still highly supportive of her passion. “Nothing really inspired me to pursue a career in art aside from my mom’s constant support of my dreams,” she said. "My mother is an accountant but she wanted to be an interior designer when she was younger. She is my biggest supporter and my passion wouldn’t be as developed as it is today without her.” The artist plans to continue to do what she loves without letting others dictate her future. “The stigma around art careers being unviable and useless is severely discouraging, especially to younger people that plan to pursue their dreams in art,” she said. “I find it hypocritical when people say to follow your dreams yet shame art careers because it doesn’t earn well. Art careers are one of the hardest careers to be successful in because they stray from the conventional path to success compared to other jobs. If an artist’s passion is strong enough to withstand the stigma and tumultuous experience of an art career, then it is successful.” No matter the medium, many artists face scrutiny over their career choice. Arca says that she's had enough of it. “People should be open-minded and respectful when commenting on people’s decision to pursue art because enforcing the stigma around art careers is detrimental to a person’s relationship with art,” she said. “Art careers definitely have their cons, but expressing those concerns can be done in a mature and healthy way.”
CAREER KICKSTART Senior Thomas Polce’s
involvement in the automotive program has earned him an internship with the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, where he repairs the vehicles in their fleet.
here helped me get the job.” Polce has also won various awards in SkillsUSA competitions. SkillsUSA is a technical and career program that is associated with the school’s automotive program. The program provides students with educational opportunities, community service and competitions that support career and technical education in the classroom. “We compete in automotive competitions for SkillsUSA and I have placed first in several different competitions,” he said. “I think that adds to my accomplishments that have helped me get this job.” Polce was not the first student to receive an opportunity like this, and he certainly will not be the last. “Mr. Agruso, our instructor, puts a lot of the students in different internships and jobs,” he said. Students from Mr. Agruso’s classes have gotten jobs and internships at companies such as Galpin Motors, Keyes Auto Group and more. Seeing all of his students succeed in their new positions fills Mr. Agruso with a strong sense of pride. “I have the best job in the world,” he said. “I get to watch our students get jobs as engineers and technicians, which helps them to attend many higher education schools."
POLCE: THE MIRROR | FARAH ALSIBAI
the MIRROR
| LIFESTYLE |
FALL 2023 | 11
PHOTOS COURTESY | WARRAKAN NATE REIWTAVEE
He built a
car with his bare hands
BY OLAMIDE OLUMIDE
A
THE MIRROR NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR
person's relationship with their car tells you a lot about them. For senior Warrakan Nate Reiwtavee, his car is his whole life. Unlike most people, he made the decision to build his car from scratch instead of simply buying one. It took the teen about a year to build his 1991 Nissan 240sx during quarantine. His interest in automobiles began when his dad sold his old drift car when Reiwtavee was 12. Reiwtavee’s passion for cars sprayed through his interest in drifting. “My main goal for that car was to be a car that could be used daily that can still drift around,” he said. Japanese drifter Keiichi Tsuchiya is one of Reiwtavee’s role models. He says that seeing how Tsuchiya drifts and manipulates his wheels is really inspiring. “He's named the Drift King, and seeing him drive his car and drifting it on the track is really cool,” the teen said. “In my spare time I like to study the techniques of different drifters because they all drive differently and sometimes have completely different methods for initiating the drift.” The journey of building his car wasn't smooth. He faced many challenges along the way, but persevered with his end result in mind. “There hasn't been a point where I fully gave up on my car,” he said. “But there would be days when a problem
stretched on for a while, and it would make me so frustrated.” The thought of driving it when it was finished was what kept him going. “Being able to drive is really fun for me,” Reiwtavee said. “I really like driving, so the idea of being able to drive it after building it is what kept my dedication up.” While he does occasionally drift with his car, it's not as convenient because this hobby has its consequences. “Once we towed the car up to
the Apple Valley it's discovered that he Speedway and built it. drifted out “I don't think I there for a day would ever want to and overall it sell this car,” he said. was a really good “Instead of selling it, it experience,” he said. can be kept as a strictly “If I could, I would drift track car so it can be every day. But since it modified even further. LIGHT IT UP Warrakan wears down your tires My relationship Nate Reiwtavee’s custom built 1991 Nissan 240sx pretty fast, it’s kind of with my car is like a illuminates the dusk. "My tricky to do daily with person’s relationship main goal for the car was that car when my tires are to be a car that could be with their dog. It's very used daily that can still almost bald.” comforting being able drift around." Building the car to drive it and work wasn't the only laborious on it, just like how part of this project. Reiwtavee also someone finds comfort in playing had to find a way to raise money with or petting their dog.” with which to buy the equipment As a professional mechanic, his necessary. dad lent him a hand with the project. “I sold candy and clothes in school “We both built it but he definitely to make money,” he explained. “With helped me a lot,” Reiwtavee said. “I'm the money that I made, I pitched in kind of discrediting myself for it, but with purchasing the parts needed.” he did help me a lot.” The cost of constructing your own The automotive-enthusiast is one car depends on the type and function of many students taking auto shop as of the vehicle. an elective this year. “I spent maybe anywhere from “My dad and I finished the car $1500 to $2500 for parts,” he said. before I joined the auto academy,” he Though proud of his work, in said. “Definitely the things I learned hindsight, there are things Reiwtavee along the way with that car have prefers to have done differently. helped me in auto shop.” “If I could change one thing about He aspires to be like his dad, and the car it would definitely be the paint is actively trying to follow in his because while everything else can be footsteps. done relatively easily, the paint takes “Just seeing how he provides for a different set of skills that only so our family and works really hard many people have,” he said. inspired me to become a technician,” Despite his car’s imperfections, Reiwtavee said. “I'm going to enlist in Reiwtavee never plans to sell his car the Air Force and hopefully be able to and gets many compliments when fix fighter jets.”
DRIVING IN STYLE With a nice black finish, Warrakan Nate Reiwtavee's custom-built car shows off its stylish features.
THE MIRROR | FARAH ALSIBAI
12 | FALL 2023
the MIRROR
| LIFESTYLE |
CREATIVE COMMONS | MICHAEL MAGGS
Checkmate Mastering a sport that’s all in the mind BY SKYLIE MOLINA
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THE MIRROR STAFF
very move and countermove had led to this moment – the last move before victory is claimed. A strategic battle, with each movement carefully planned and executed, has come down to this one final move. At last, the queen moves along a diagonal path from d8 to h4, putting the white king in checkmate. This experience captivates the world of chess, where one move can make or break a match. Those interested in friendly competition meet every Friday in room 321. Founded by senior Micah Margolin, the Chess Stars club strives to be a safe and supportive environment for anyone enthusiastic about chess. “I wanted to have a place to meet others who are also passionate about chess, and this club is a good place to do that,” Margolin said. Club sponsor Mr. Bradley Margolin says that although he had always played chess as a kid, his interest really sparked when his son started playing chess. Mr. Margolin learned to help his son improve, and watched him go on to participate in tournaments held by the United States Chess Federation. “I was never really into it until the last seven or eight years when my son started playing,” Mr. Margolin said. “I got interested in it. Now I really like it.” The club is focused on fueling students’ interest for chess with a growth
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Whatever amount of time they are in the game, they have to be in deep thought, thinking ahead and planning several moves ahead.” Chess Stars club sponsor Mr. Bradley Margolin
mindset. By facilitating matches, the club helps members improve their skills. Whether you are an experienced player looking for a match or someone exploring a newfound interest in chess, the club is open to all eager to learn and hone their skills. Senior Brandon Bernal, the Chess Stars club vice president, has some advice for people interested in the sport. “Don’t worry if you are a good player or not,” he said. “This club is here to mentor you. Everyone will have a different strategy when playing.” Although most new members have prior experience in chess, if a player needs to learn the concepts or refresh their memory, there are members willing to assist. “If members need to learn or relearn the concepts, we show them the basic moves with a chess set on what moves would be best for the game,” Bernal said. He recommends practicing five hours per week whether it be in person,
or on chess.com, to keep the mind sharp and ready for matches. Bernal encourages students to join the club, where each member gets the chance to challenge another student or even Mr. Margolin during a match. “In the chess club, they come in and play each other,” Mr. Margolin said. “Once in a while, I play against a kid in the club.” In addition to the friendly competition, Mr. Margolin has remarked that playing chess is beneficial to its participants. He believes that it strengthens the mind and a person’s ability to plan ahead, as it is a vital skill needed for players. “I think chess itself is a great game where kids have to have deep thinking,” he said. “When they play, whatever amount of time they are in the game, they have to be in deep thought, thinking ahead and planning several moves ahead.” Chess can sharpen your mind and improve cognitive function, as it reinforces problem solving, critical thinking, creative thinking and decision making skills. If you are enthusiastic about finetuning your chess skills, it is important to keep playing and practicing. Repetition is key. “It is important to practice daily and to always learn from your mistakes when playing against your opponent,” Bernal said. When playing chess, it is important to be diligent, persistent and open minded. Although losing might lower your self-confidence, it is crucial to improving your abilities. “It is important to keep sticking with it even after losses,” Margolin said. “If you keep at it, you’ll get better and it will get more fun.”
Like father, like daughter BY OLAMIDE OLUMIDE
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THE MIRROR NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR
t’s one thing to share family dinners and holidays, but new teachers Alexa Strassner and Jillian Rundall share something a little different with their dads: a workplace. Alongside their fathers Assistant Principal Marc Strassner and health teacher Timothy Rundall, these new teachers are literally part of the school’s family.
FAMILY TIES | New English teacher Alexa Strassner with dad and Assistant Principal Marc Strassner.
Ms. Alexa Strassner ENGLISH TEACHER “My dad works here, and I’ve been involved in this school growing up. I’ve come to games and plays and things like that. I knew about the school and already knew the vibe of it as well, so it seemed like a good fit. I think the culture is really cool and interesting. My old teachers really had an impact on me and inspired me to pursue a job in education. They taught me a lot about not just school, but life in general, and I would like to have that same impact on others. I’d say I’m creative, ambitious and fun. I like fashion, music and watching movies. I also like going to the beach and concerts. It’s kind of fun seeing my dad around school. It’s nice because even though I’m new, I know someone that I can go to if I need help. We’ve always been very close. We like to do things together, like going out to museums and concerts. I think we’re both pretty good about keeping it professional at work. I don’t ask him for special favors or anything like that, and he doesn’t like to do anything extra for me. The best thing about working in the same place is that there is someone I can ask for advice from without feeling nervous about it. I know he’ll give me good advice.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY | New History
teacher Jillian Rundall with dad and P.E. coach Timothy Rundall.
Ms. Jillian Rundall HISTORY TEACHER
STRATEGIZING | Chess Club Secretary Dwayne Famenia ponders his next move. Chess
is a mental sport that can improve cognitive function because it reinforces problem solving, creative thinking and decision making skills.
THE MIRROR | IVAN ALCALA
“When I was in the credentialing program within my social science class in college, Van Nuys actually emailed the head of my department about how there were three job openings. My job interview was supposed to last 30 minutes, but it ended up lasting an hour. I really got along with the head of the department and Mr. Strassner. I felt like the conversation flowed really well which I really liked. So I was really excited. I grew up liking going to school a lot. I went to my dad’s work a lot and I always thought that it would be so cool to also be a teacher. I’ve always loved school, so I just wanna stay in it. I’m outgoing, empathetic and funny, and I really like camping, cooking, baking and reading. My dad and I don’t really see each other throughout the day. My dad and I have always been super close. I make him laugh a lot, and we’re both really funny. I’ve always known how much he cares about me, and it almost feels like security too. He’s always been very involved in my life. I feel like no matter how old you get, sometimes you’re gonna want the comfort of a family member. So it’s nice to know if god forbid anything would ever happen, I could always call him and he’s there.”
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER: PHOTOS BY THE MIRROR | MARCELLO CHESTER
the MIRROR
FALL 2023 | 13
| LIFESTYLE |
THE MIRROR | PHOTOS BY IVAN ALCALA
SET THE SCENE Video produc-
Short film project dives into a
mental void BY MIA RAMIREZ
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THE MIRROR STAFF
enior Anna Khondkaryan looked around the auditorium in anticipation. It was packed with her peers as her first film was being projected on stage at the school’s film showcase. Her film “Exit the Void” was one of many being played that night. She could see everyone’s gaze turn towards the screen as the audience took in everything that was happening. A wide range of reactions filled the room as some members of the audience seemed to be connecting to it, while others were confused, struggling to understand the meaning behind the film. Though some directors might have felt discouraged from a response like this from the audience, Khondkaryan had gotten exactly what she was looking for. She had wanted the audience to question what the film was about and interpret its meaning in their own way. “I knew that this kind of movie would be something that would make the audience think because its point isn’t really obvious,” Khondkaryan said. “Some people didn’t know what was happening and didn’t know what the film is about, but that’s the reaction I wanted to see.” Khondkaryan’s film revolves around Lars, an artist who gets trapped in her own mental void. Throughout the film, Lars must try to figure out how she got into the void in order to find a way out. The void itself is meant to represent the frustration that artists feel when they hit a mental block, where the only escape is to reconnect with their artistic selves.
The original influence of the idea expressed in the film was Buddhism. “The main inspiration of the movie is the Buddhist theory that states that the void is one of the tools of creating your own world,” Khondkaryan said. Khondkaryan first came across this Buddhist theory in Victor Pelevin’s novel “Chapayev and Void.” “It’s a dystopian novel about a person who gets into the void and begins creating a world around him to try and get out of this void,” she said. Khondkaryan and her production team took this idea and shaped it into a storyline that she and other artists could relate to. “The script was written by my partner William and I,” she said. “I was the one who had the idea and he helped me with the writing and grammar aspect.” In the original script, the production team had planned for Lars to be a boy. But plans changed when junior Adrianna Bean presented a new idea. “The production team had envisioned Lars being a boy and when they were looking, they couldn’t find the right male actor,” Bean said. “So I pitched myself and said that Lars would actually be better as a female. The team really liked that idea and they put me in the production.” Bean explained that after getting the chance to read the script, she felt like she really resonated with the character. “I am an artist myself and I definitely understand what it feels like to have that block,” Bean said. “We’ve all had a point in our life where we just feel very stuck and we’re trying to figure out how to get out of that.” Once the script had been written and the role of Lars had been decided, the last step in the making of “Exit the Void” was filming and editing, which in total took about five weeks.
tion student Anna Khondkaryan (above) prepares her video camera, which she used to film her project “Exit the Void.” The short film revolves around an artist who gets locked up in her own mental prison.
The majority of the film was filmed in front of a green screen in the video production room. The green screen was used to create the illusion that Bean was in an all-white space, or a void. This posed a few challenges. Khondkaryan explains that the green screen made some of the images depicted feel flat, especially with the lower-quality lighting in the video production classroom where the project was filmed. “That was one of the reasons I decided to make the movie more creative than anything, because I knew that the video quality wasn’t going to be the greatest,” Khondkaryan said. Despite these hiccups, Bean feels accomplished with her overall performance. “I’m really proud of my performance,” she said. “I feel very lucky and happy that I was able to work on this production. Anna is an amazing director and I’m excited for my next film.” Khondkaryan states that the process of bringing “Exit the Void” to life was made even more enjoyable by the fact that Bean was able to truly embody the character of Lars. “I wanted to have a connection between the director and the actor, which I think I achieved because Adrianna really understood the character,” Khondkaryan said. “She understood the emotions I needed from her and it was a magical process.” Since filming “Exit the Void,” Khondkaryan has entered the film production program and has learned new skills that she hopes to apply to future productions.
CAMPUS BRIEFS SENIOR SUNRISE As per tradition,
seniors will be celebrating Senior Sunrise on Nov. 3 from 6:45 to 8:15 a.m. The first 150 seniors that arrive at the event will receive free McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches.Senior Board members will be selling water and donuts for $1, as well as hand-brewed coffee and hot chocolate for $2. This is an opportunity for all seniors to socialize and eat some breakfast before going about their daily school activities.
WINTER FORMAL | According to ASB,
the annual winter formal dance will be taking place in either November or December. Details regarding the date of the dance as well as ticket sales will be released later. ASB encourages students to attend. Food, props, music and activities will be provided for students to enjoy throughout the night. Deep red, bold green, royal blue or classic black attire are suitable choices for an outfit to match the occasion.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS In honor of
the Mexican American religious holiday Dia De Los Muertos, Spanish teacher Mr. Josue Rodriguez and his students organized an altar in the hallway of the main building to honor loved ones who have passed on. This is an opportunity for students to build community by bringing pictures of their late friends or family members. Students who aren’t Mexican are also highly encouraged to bring pictures if they would like.
FRESHMEN FUN DAY On Nov. 7, freshmen will meet at either the football or softball field to partake in Freshmen Fun Day activities. They will be exempt from their fifth and sixth periods that day. ASB will be hosting the event, and encourages freshmen to attend and socialize with their peers. There will be snacks and games provided for the students. Though it is quite late into the semester, ASB hopes this event will help excite freshmen for high school and allow them to meet new friends and play exciting games.
COFFEE BEFORE FINALS Senior Board
is hosting a Morning Java Jam before finals from Dec. 13 to 15 to help students prepare for their exams. Coffee will be served from 8 to 8:30 a.m. All students are encouraged to stop by and energize themselves before testing. Information regarding the location and pricing will be provided at a later date. Senior Board hopes that this event will energize students and start them off on the right foot with their final exams.
| LIFESTYLE |
14 | FALL 2023
the MIRROR
Crocheting has got Gen-Z
HOOKED BY SKYLIE MOLINA
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THE MIRROR STAFF
solated, lonely and bored during quarantine, she sat in her room searching for something to do, something to keep her hands occupied. Out of the corner of her eye, junior Anait Atkozyan spotted some vibrant red yarn peeking out at her. Taking the hook from the dresser, she began to tie knots and shape the yarn. After fiddling around with the material for two hours, she had made a beanie. During the period of isolation brought upon by the pandemic, many students found interest in a particular activity that has been increasing in popularity over the past year: crocheting. This new hobby captivated teens across the country by reducing their stress and clearing their mind, and is continuing to do so. With the resurgence of Y2K fashion in popular culture and on social media, crocheting has been a great addition to the realm of fashion. Founder of the Crochet Club at school, Atkozyan was first introduced to crocheting by her seventh grade teacher, but really discovered her love for it during the
pandemic. As a result of viral TikToks and easy-to-follow tutorials, more teens have become interested in crocheting as a hobby. Regaining interest through TikTok, Atkozyan learned how to make a variety of figurines and articles of clothing. “I think crocheting has grown in popularity over the past year because of how social media has really spread the art of it,” she said. “I think it’s amazing because people start to develop more hobbies.” Her obsession with the activity eventually motivated her to start her own small business on Depop called Stitched by Anna. Since August of 2021, she has been crocheting a variety of items, including figurines and clothing accessories, which range in price from about $16 to $40. Whether it be a hobby or a business endeavor, crocheting also helps teens cope with stress, as junior Dhara Patel explains. When under stress, she crochets as a means of escaping from reality, even if just for a short while. “It helps me to get my mind off things like school,” she said. Although crocheting does take time and a certain amount of commitment, with
determination and a positive attitude, it is possible to create cute accessories as well as masterpieces. “When you are making something on your own and you are doing it for yourself or for someone else, it has more of a personal connection too, since you are hand-making it,” Patel said. In addition to providing a personal touch to projects, crocheting allows for creativity when personalizing your wardrobe. Crocheted tops and dresses are integrating themselves more into teens’ wardrobes. “My favorite thing about crocheting is creating my own accessories, such as beanies and bags, to go with my outfits,” Atkozyan said. It has been reported that crocheting also has some mental health benefits. According to a study conducted by the American Counseling Association, 81 percent of participants with depression reported feeling happier after crocheting. For beginners, it is recommended to start with flat patterns, like those used to make scarves. Like any art form, crocheting comes with
THE CRAFT Dhara Patel’s miniature
plushies rest in front of flowers. She uses crocheting as a way to relieve stress from the school day.
CROCHET AWAY Junior Anait Atkozyan starts on a
new project, a Spider-Man beanie. As the founder of the former Crochet Club, she took up crocheting as a hobby during the pandemic.
its fair share of challenges. “The most challenging part about crocheting would be trying to follow a complex pattern with confusing directions,” she said. Atkozyan has some pro tips that have helped her through her crocheting journey. “Keep going and trust the process,” she said. “Although it can be frustrating at times when your work is looking wonky, all you need to do is put in the time and practice and always try again if it isn’t looking as expected to achieve your goal.” For more practice and to meet with others with the same interests, the Crochet Club will be meeting next semester on Tuesdays in room 413.
THE MIRROR | PHOTOS BY FARAH ALSIBAI
Frighteningly fast fashion: It’s time to let go of polyester BY DELMIS VAQUERANO
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THE MIRROR STAFF
he term “fast fashion” emerged in the late 90s and early 2000s, when brands such as H&M and Zara launched campaigns to rapidly produce affordable products for consumers in a short period of time. According to the Clean Clothes Campaign, from 2000-14, the number of clothes manufactured has doubled. Fashion brands produced over 100 billion new garments in 2014, and an estimated 92 million tons of clothing from the fashion industry annually ends up in landfills. Research published by Greenpeace Germany in 2016 reveals how the average consumer annually purchases 60 percent more clothing than people did 15 years ago, and maintains it half as long. The largest consumer and producer of fast fashion is China, purchasing approximately 40 billion units of clothing in 2017, according to Euromonitor International. Other significant consumers include the United States at 17 billion, India at 6 billion, Japan at 3.3 billion and Brazil at 2.3 billion. “Consumers gravitate towards fast fashion
brands because of their affordability and momentary pleasure when shopping,” AP environmental science teacher Ms. Tracey Kim said. Inexpensive and mass-made clothing enables the fashion industry to globalize in order to satisfy the demands of consumers, resulting in additional carbon emissions as items are shipped around the world through multiple means of transport. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the fashion industry accounts for percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, is a substantial consumer of water and a significant contributor to microplastics entering oceans. “Microplastics are harmful because they act as hormone disruptors and affect the development of all organisms, including humans,” Ms. Kim said. The fast fashion industry uses an estimated 74 trillion liters of water annually, making it the second-largest consumer of clean water globally according to a research report by the United Nations in 2019. Furthermore, the fast fashion industry is responsible for one-fifth of industrial wastewater pollution from dyeing textiles. Weak regulations in developing countries,
where most fast fashion companies are based, enable wastewater dumping and endanger aquatic ecosystems. Approximately 63 percent of mass-produced clothing comes from petrochemicals, with an estimated 70 million barrels of crude oil used each year to produce fabrics such as nylon, acrylic and polyester. A polyester shirt produces an estimated 5.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide, and a singular wash can release up to 4,000 microfibers that travel through drains, into bodies of water and eventually contribute to the plastic pollution found in the ocean. Synthetic fabrics take decades, if not centuries, to break down. Polyester can take 20 to 200 years to decompose, in contrast to organic fabrics such as cotton, which can take a week to five months to decompose if placed in the right compost. Fashion companies such as Urban Outfitters, Shein and Gap are popular shopping destinations for students at school. “I’m not a fan of fast fashion, but I understand why Forever 21, Temu and Shein are popular clothing industries, especially among young people,” she said. “Fast fashion gives people of any income bracket purchasing power. The affordable price
appeals to many, especially with the current inflation countries are experiencing.” The fast fashion industry also enables unethical labor practices by exploiting children and undocumented immigrants, maintaining poor working conditions and engaging in animal cruelty. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 170 million children are used for child labor globally, making the fashion industry the most infamous child exploiter. Repurposing fabrics and shopping from “Fair Trade Certified” companies may relieve the tension fast fashion has on the Earth. The Fair Trade Federation (FTF), a nonprofit organization in North America, evaluates its members’ internal commitments through a rigorous screening process in order to determine if their members’ products are Fair Trade Certified. But the circumstances of this problematic situation deny most solutions. As long as people are able to save money, the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion will likely be overlooked. It is up to each individual to decide whether or not they’re willing to modify their lifestyle to reduce the burden fast fashion has on the world.
the MIRROR
SNUG SURPRISE | A light brown knitted vest, a
dark brown utility jacket, black jeans and Doc Martens are what make up junior Dhara Patel’s fall outfit. She uses Pinterest to discover styles and make them her own.
FALL 2023 | 15
| LIFESTYLE |
Fall
fashion
fusion This season’s it-look: Merging streetwear and the basics for a fresh modern style
Photography by Gianna Iovino
PINK PARADISE | A
bright pink-andwhite hoodie adds a pop of color to senior Ronniece Brim’s fall fit. It is paired with high tops and jorts.
GOTHIC GLOW | Junior Maya Diaz’s vintage,
whimsically gothic style is reflected in her thrifted fall outfit. Her handmade steampunk necklace is a stand-out piece.
SUMMER IN FALL | Sophomore
Summer Chu rocks a neutral flannel, paired with light washed jeans and a basic brown top. As a dancer, this look provides her with versatility, comfort and flexibility.
UNSHACKLED STYLE | Juniors Zach
Bronte and Jasmine Lukenbill show off their avante-garde streetwear with baggy pants and loose hoodies.
16 | FALL 2023
the MIRROR
| OPINION |
Editorial The age of the political dinosaur FOR THE MIRROR | ILLUSTRATION BY ISABELA ARCA
theMIRRoR VOLUME 109 | ISSUE 1 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Angelina Gevorgyan LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITOR
Brianna Alvarado PHOTO EDITOR
Gianna Iovino ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Daimler Koch ASSOCIATE ONLINE EDITOR
Cristian Mejia NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR
Olamide Olumide ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Madison Thacker ATHLETICS EDITOR
Isabel Valles OPINION EDITOR
Joel Nam MARKETING MANAGER
ON LIFE SUPPORT 80-year-old Sleepy Joe Biden is a very prominent example of an aging politician, constantly
A
Lindsay Han
fumbling everyday tasks. The younger generation needs to step up to replace the older fossils in office.
s a leading global power, the United States is governed by experienced and well-qualified elected officials. At least, it’s supposed to be. A rising chorus believes that our presentday political leadership is stuck in a bygone era, increasingly detached from those they govern. Congress sees the re-election of the same politicians every other year, and the Supreme Court slowly devolves into the most prestigious nursing home on the planet. Meanwhile, the archaic fossil at the head of the executive branch struggles to stay awake in the midst of national crises. Does this sound concerning or feel disturbing? Congratulations, that’s a sign that we’re on the right path. One step closer towards awareness and one step further from ignorance is a victory worth celebrating. As a society that rightfully values performance, we aren’t slow to criticize groups and individuals for being unable to effectively do their jobs. The ongoing aging issue plaguing the government has to be addressed immediately. On Jan. 20, 2021, the world saw the inauguration of 80-year-old Sleepy Joe, a bona fide presidential potato. Between stumbling over his own words mid-speech and tripping up the stairs of Air Force One, the poor guy looks like he’s on life support. Occasionally he appears to have basic cognitive function and motor skills, but that’s not exactly a standard fit for the commander-in-chief of the nation.
Skepticism about his qualifications are backed by what he’s accomplished in his time in office, or rather, everything he’s managed to screw up. Only two-and-a-half years into his term, his administration is marked with failures and blunders through and through. For instance, illegal immigration into the U.S. hit an all-time high by the end of 2022. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, there were 251,487 illegal immigrant encounters in December of 2022 alone, with an estimated 5.5 million illegal border crossings since Biden was sworn into office. Another failure of our current president is the crippling state of the economy. A report by the House Committee on Ways and Means reveals that inflation has increased by a staggering 500 percent during Biden’s term. In other words, inflation rates under President Biden are more than twice as high compared to the second-highest recorded inflation rates in U.S. history: those under the Jimmy Carter administration of the 1970s. At this point, the line between utter incompetence and intentional ignorance is hard to distinguish in our executive branch. The median ages in the Senate and the House of Representatives are 65 and 58 respectively. 40 years ago, politicians in both those congressional chambers were roughly 10 years younger. Evidently, today’s lineup of lawmakers are older than ever before. Currently 81-years-old — a year older than our beloved Sleepy Joe — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sparked calls to step aside in the aftermath of a news conference gone wrong. McConnell visibly
froze in the middle of answering questions, and had to be escorted to his office. Or in the case of 90-year-old California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who faced similar calls for retirement after a string of health complications that left her in a wheelchair. She insisted on serving out the rest of her term until the end of 2024, but passed away on Sept. 29, 2023. While the experience that comes with seniority is definitely a valuable resource, aging politicians have to be responsible for knowing when their time in office is up. Stubbornly overstaying their welcome poses serious risks to themselves and to the country. Younger politicians, such as Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, aged 51 years old, have advocated for routine competency tests for candidates older than 75. The 2020 census revealed that baby boomers, adults born in the years 1946-64, make up about 20 percent of the population. However, nearly half the senators and representatives today are baby boomers. The number of baby boomers in Congress compared to any other generation threatens the urgency at which issues more relevant to younger Americans are addressed. Climate change, housing and student debt are just a few of many concerns. What we need to see is a steady flow of older governmental leaders replaced by younger politicians. If members of our government don’t have to worry about being put out of commission by a tumble down some stairs and are better attuned to the rest of the population, America will function more efficiently.
OUR TAKE ON THE IMPORTANT ISSUES...
Limits on suspensions
Israeli-Palestine conflict
SUSPENSIONS FOR DEFIANCE ARE BANNED STATEWIDE
ANOTHER WAR RAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST The latest
Punishing wrong is right. This idea has long been a core component of both instructional institutions and society itself. It’s common sense that bad behavior needs to be held accountable. In the context of K-12 schooling, however, this practice will soon be limited in California. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill, banning some suspensions for middle and high school students that exhibit willful defiance. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, students can no longer be suspended for tardiness, truancy, dress code violations or use of aggressive language. While the idea of this bill is to lower dropout rates and curb the loss of learning, what were lawmakers thinking with this open promotion of acting out in school?
DEAN SIGN: THE MIRROR | STAFF; FLAG: CREATIVE COMMONS | YELLOWBLOOD
chapter of the Israel-Palestine conflict has begun in a horrific fashion, instigated by the militant and terrorist group Hamas. Hamas launched a surprise invasion against Israel during its celebration of a Jewish holiday on Saturday, Oct. 7. Aerial missile attacks were accompanied by hordes of Hamas forces on the ground, resulting in hundreds of Jewish civilians being blown up in their homes or shot in the streets. Such barbaric acts of violence reveal the nature of the group that commanded them. Hamas is a group of cowardly terrorists, and they need to be stopped immediately, no matter what it might take. Until a middle ground can be established, Israel remains adamant on striking back.
STAFF
Diana Akopian Ivan Alcala Farah Alsibai Lilit Aprahamian Val Arias Michael Arredondo Adrianna Bean Kristina Charshavdzhyan Marcello Chester Chioma Chiawa Jerald Choondakaran Jaden Gervacio Viktoriya Khanliyan Abigail Kim Baron Kim Rogers Levitt Skylie Molina Christopher Monterrosa Natalia Navarro Kimberly Perez Danielle Quesada Mia Ramirez Mia Rodriguez Kimberly Salazar Delmis Vaquerano Roxana Vasquez David Vazquez JOURNALISM ADVISER
Mr. Ron Goins ABOUT US The Mirror is the student newspaper of Van Nuys Senior High School in Van Nuys, California, a district of Los Angeles, published six times per year. Opinions expressed in bylined commentary articles and columns represent the views of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mirror or the Editorial Board. DISTRIBUTION Copies are free to students, faculty and staff and are available in Room 112, Second Floor, Main Building. Digital issues are available at vnhsmirror.com or issuu.com. CORRECTIONS We strive to be accurate and factual. Please report errors via email to ronald.goins@lausd.net. READER PARTICIPATION Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Letters to the Editor may be delivered to Room 112 or mailed to The Mirror, Van Nuys High School, 6535 Cedros Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91411. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and style. ADVERTISING Advertising questions may be directed to Lindsey Han at lhan0006@ mymail.lausd.net, or by telephoning (818) 788-4618. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school. MEMBERSHIPS National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), Southern California Journalism Educators Association (SCJEA), Los Angeles Journalism Teachers Association (LAJTA) and Los Angeles Press Club.
the MIRROR
FALL 2023 | 17
| OPINION |
THE MIRROR | MICHAEL ARREDONDO
Unfollowing social media: The best decision of your life ABIGAIL KIM A feral beast lurks on the screen of something we use every day: our phones. This monster demands ceaseless attention, bombarding us with the ping of Instagram notifications and the vibrations of new messages. We know it has a deadly bite, and yet we perpetually stare into its eyes and swipe our fingers through its fur. Haunting us at school, home, the local grocery store and even the quiet moments before we sleep, this beast wears many different masks. But we know all of its faces as social media. Demanding constant attention and thriving on distraction, social media incessantly breathes down our necks, spreading misinformation, insecurity and killing faceto-face interaction. It feeds on many, but
teenagers are a particular delicacy for this ravenous monster. If we don’t tame social media use, it may just swallow us whole. Instagram, YouTube and TikTok have become the stars of our generation. Their names are on the lips of every teenager, and their outlandish trends are taking over just about every imaginable thing in the juvenile lifestyle. According to The Mirror’s survey, 20 percent of students polled have an average daily screen time between one and three hours. Astoundingly, zero percent of students who responded to the poll have a screen time below one hour. Depression and anxiety are burning topics among young individuals, and social media dumps fuel into the fire of these severe mental health issues. According to a 2019 study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, American teenagers who spent over three hours on social
DRAINED AND DEPRESSED According to the National Institute of Health, increased social media use among teens results in sleep deprivation and heightened anxiety.
media daily were at increased risks of severe mental health and well-being issues, including dejection and emotional instability. The art of face-to-face interaction has been lost to the pre-Instagram era. Eyes are now drawn to screens like magnets. Social media provides a tempting incentive to not look at the people around us, a tried and true method of ruining relationships. According to Psychology Today, innumerable benefits can be reaped from direct communication, including enhanced personal connections, mastering articulation and establishing stronger trust. Along with fentanyl, nicotine and cocaine, social media deserves a slot on the list of the world’s deadliest drugs. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok trigger surges of dopamine that drive individuals to perpetually post, comment, like and scroll. A study conducted by Cross River Therapy in 2023 reveals that approximately 70 percent of teenagers and young adults in the U.S. have a social media addiction. Feeling that constant tug to open your phone and scroll through your feed can sorely affect your social capabilities. With intense electronic dependency, losing touch with yourself and others is highly
Gun violence ricochets across America JOEL NAM In Finland, with its 5.6 million people, hunting is extremely popular. As a result there are 1.5 million firearms — nearly one for every four residents. Similarly, Switzerland, home to 8.7 million, boasts 2 million privately owned guns. Yet, while hunting thrives, mass shootings don’t. Switzerland hasn’t had one in over 20 years, and Finland can count theirs on one hand. Meanwhile, numbers of mass shootings in the U.S. have shot up in the last three years. According to a study by Everytown, a nonpartisan gun violence prevention organization in America, there have been at least 600 mass shootings per year since 2020. As of mid-October 2023, the nation is on track to reach 700 mass shootings. The topic has been hotly debated throughout the modern age, and countless gun laws have been passed around the country. Nonetheless, America consistently fails to keep the numbers down. While avid supporters champion
the individual right to be able to defend themselves, infamous incidents like the Sandy Hook Elementary and Columbine High shootings compel citizens to speak up out of concern for the safety of their loved ones. What ultimately results from the clamor about gun control and prevention is an America that is no safer than before. As a nation, we need to analyze what can be done to lower the injuries, death and trauma that have terrorized the country for decades. One popular discussion involves stricter gun control. By restricting overall access to firearms, guns would fall into the wrong hands less often - at least in theory. In practice, the effectiveness of such policies is questionable. According to a 2017 study by the Statista Research Department, there are 120 civilian-owned firearms per 100 residents in the U.S., more than double the rate of the next highest country, Yemen. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, there are 433 million firearms in American civilian possession, an amount that won’t
simply disappear no matter how many laws we pass. Instead, clamping shut loopholes in background checks should be at the head of gun safety discussions. While effective, this system is only as good as the records it can access. The background check databases have been inadequately supplied in the past due to inefficiency or resistance brought on by privacy laws. According to one Bureau of Justice Statistics report, there were only 2.1 million active-warrant records in the NCIC database of 7.8 million such records in the state warrant databases. States with a history of providing incomplete records to the appropriate databases have to comply with what should be standard procedures promoting safety and security. Sparking a prolonged, emotional debate about safety versus constitutional freedom every time we address gun control doesn’t do the country any good. Unless meaningful change happens fast, more shootings will continue to devastate lives and communities.
probable. Let’s face it: social media is wrecking livelihoods. On top of shattering self-esteem and happiness, social media addiction is also the ultimate weapon against academic success. According to the National Library of Medicine, adolescent addiction can result in memory and attention deficits, decreasing academic performance while increasing the risk of drawbacks in school. Is there anything good about social media? Sure. Social media provides methods to communicate with family and friends, join positive causes and raise awareness surrounding pressing issues. An abundance of so-cute-it-hurts animal videos can be found lurking online, plus entertaining edits that make you laugh to the point of suffocation. However, after considering the cons of social media, addiction and depression are not worth the cat videos and Instagram likes. Take a break from scrolling, turn off the notifications and spend time with your loved ones. Consider limiting the number of times you post each day. Peace, satisfaction and confidence will magically be restored in your life, and you’ll never regret living your best life offline.
A SAD REALITY The American civilian
population possesses around 433 million firearms, putting innocent people at risk of being involved in a mass shooting.
PHOTOILLUSTRATION FOR THE THE MIRROR | DANIEL LOPEZ
18 | FALL 2023
the MIRROR
| OPINION |
Book bans: Hellish weapons of censorship DAIMLER KOCH Over the past couple of years, a disturbing trend has arisen across the nation. Texas, Florida and other Republican states all over the U.S. have been removing books about racism, sexuality and gender identity from their public libraries and schools. It is only a matter of time before this plague begins to spread to more progressive states like California. The American Library Association says 1,915 unique titles have been banned or challenged in 2023 so far, a 20 percent increase from last year. According to ALA president Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada, those who attempt to ban these books usually haven't read them in the first place. Book bans are nothing new. In 1884, when Mark Twain first published “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” which explored institutionalized racism and prejudice against Black people in America, libraries across the country condemned it for its explicit language and removed it from their bookshelves, egged on by local governments. The reasoning for such book bans is more or less the same: the books deal with topics that are “inappropriate” for minors in public schools. Books that discuss racial oppression in America, like “The Hate U Give” and “The
Bluest Eye,” have been banned in Texan school districts. Books featuring LGBTQ+ characters have been a target as well. For instance, the memoir “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, which talks about their journey of self-discovery and realizing they were non-binary. This title received a total of 67 bans across school districts in both the 2021-22 and 202223 school years, and other titles at the top of the 2022 banned books list frequently center around LGBTQ+ characters. The Republican politicians pushing for the bans of LGBTQ+ books cite these novels as being pornographic for their frank discussions of sex and sexuality. But when over 41 percent of banned titles in 2022 have content relating to LGBTQ+ identity, it's clear that the reasoning behind these bans goes deeper than ensuring children don’t read about sex – they’re trying to silence the voices of the LGBTQ+ community and people of color by erasing their stories and experiences. Lawmakers in Florida expanded the Parental Rights in Education bill, prohibiting the discussion of gender identity in
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classrooms in all grades and forcing teachers to remove LGBTQ+ books from their curriculums. Texas House Representative Matt Krause, meanwhile, has recommended that the state withhold a total of 850 books that address race and sexual identity from all public schools. All the reasons to ban these books – explicit language, pornography, graphic descriptions of violence – are blatant excuses designed to silence minority groups whose stories or ideas are being expressed in these novels. Many kids of color and those exploring their sexuality or gender find solace in the books Texas and Florida are trying to ban. They see themselves represented in the protagonists of these novels, affirming their individual identities and making them feel more accepted in their respective communities as a whole. The politicians and parents behind these book bans are attempting to remove these teens from this place of comfort. By keeping certain novels out of kids’ hands, the adults in charge keep them from feeling included, dis-
All the reasons to ban these books are but blatant excuses designed to silence minority groups whose stories or ideas are being expressed in these novels.
covering their identity and feeling truly happy. What makes these book bans even more despicable is that some are being enforced in disregard of the law. Most school districts nationwide have adopted a policy where, if a parent requests for a book to be removed, it must be submitted via a form that passes through a committee of school employees for review. Certain schools in Texas have sidestepped this process, allowing school administrators to remove books in order to avoid controversy. The Denton Independent School District in Texas, for example, is reviewing 11 controversial books, even though it has only received a formal complaint for one of them. This wave of book bans is not, as politicians and parents claim, a crusade to save children’s innocent souls from graphic depictions of the real world. This is a group of people trying to control the minds of kids by deciding what they should and should not be able to read about. Even if a school district does not face such a problem, it is vital for it to continue promoting free thinking and discussion of sensitive topics. Those leading the book bans want to craft a narrative that excludes some communities and upholds others, all at the sake of millions of kids’ livelihoods, self-esteem and satisfaction.
OFF THE SHELVES
Florida and Texas have started a new wave of book bans that aim to create a narrative that excludes people of color and in the LGBTQ+ community.
PHOTOILLUSTRATION FOR THE MIRROR | SAVANNAH MENJIVAR
Teenagers need to take the wheel and hit the open road KIMBERLY SALAZAR Starting your first day of high school, throwing your cap in the air at graduation and getting accepted into college are some of the biggest milestones of a teenager’s life. However, there is no goal more important to a high-schooler than obtaining the right to drive. Being a certified driver is a symbol of independence and maturity that’s hard to match. Oftentimes, teens have to rely on their parents to take them to school and social events. Constantly being an Uber for their kids can become a hefty burden. Ask any parent, and they’re bound to have stories about ride-coordinating chaos and the pains of 24/7 chauffeur service. Getting your license can be a breath of fresh air for you and your parents. After years of not being able to hang out with friends because you don’t have a ride, the freedom to jump in the car and take off is incredibly refreshing. Earning the right to drive after committing time and effort is not only a rewarding experience, but it promotes responsibility in growing teens. For those interested in a job, a license makes getting to work easier and shows your employer that you’re accountable and available. Some argue that putting 16-year-olds lacking experience on the road is too dangerous. An analysis published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 are more likely to be involved in car accidents than any other age group, causing more injuries and deaths.
But while younger drivers are at higher risk of accidents, much higher rates for younger drivers, who are more liable to keeping them off the roads won’t help prepare them either. If get into accidents and display reckless road behavior. experience is the factor in question, it stands to reason that However, that’s still no reason to hold off on getting your people who start driving at any later age won’t fare any better. license. Drivers with longer histories of accident-free driving Instead, drivers should start are charged less for their auto THE MIRROR | CHRISTOPHER MONTERROSA training as early as possible, while insurance. Do your (parent’s) gaining practical experience wallet a favor by obtaining your through test rides accompanied by license. After you do so, the a trusted adult. cost of insurance will decrease For parents dealing with over time, meaning that it’ll mood-swing-prone teens that are cost less when you do decide to difficult to bond with, this can be a start driving regularly. prime opportunity to share driving On a slightly gloomier note, stories and teach valuable lessons. the ability to get out of the And for teens with worried parents, house is particularly valuable showing off your driving skills on those rougher nights. We’ve in real-time means they’ll be less all experienced a fight with our likely to have a heart attack every parents, or just had a bad day, time you turn on the ignition. and needed personal space that The maturity that comes with goes beyond our bedroom walls. TEEN FREEDOM Earning a driver’s license as early as possible driving includes the dreary realm Whether it’s going to the gym, sets teenagers up to become more independent. of finances. Haters will go on and crying in the car or grabbing ice on about additional, expensive gas cream to enjoy in solitude, drivprices, but those hit everybody. Trying to wait out a usually ing yourself somewhere that isn’t home can offer comfort and unpredictable economy is a game you won’t win and probably time to evaluate your mental state. don’t want to play at all. Obtaining a driver’s license cultivates responsibility and On the other hand, the costs of car insurance can present a independence, as well as provides personal and financial benquick turn-off to teens eager to drive - or more likely, to their efits. No longer will you be a mandatory passenger princess. The parents. It’s true that insurance companies tend to charge sooner you’re able to get behind the wheel, the better.
the MIRROR
| OPINION |
FALL 2023 | 19
THE MIRROR | MARCELLO CHESTER
Destigmatizing the mentality of the sigma male CRISTIAN MEJIA Among Hollywood hits like “John Wick,” “Blade Runner 2049” and “American Psycho,” the iconic characters portrayed by Keanu Reeves, Ryan Gosling and Christian Bale emerge as prime examples of the sigma male archetype. Each of these characters embody a blend of self-reliance, independence and a penchant for marching to the beat of their own drum and paving their own way in life. They are incarnations of the lone wolf, questioning societal norms while remaining charismatic and enigmatic. In the ever-evolving landscape of high school culture and beyond, the sigma male has been getting more and more attention. Often misunderstood as toxic masculinity, sigma male culture does have its benefits. It is essential to understand that the sigma male is not an official classification, but a concept that has emerged from discussions around traditional masculinity. Unlike the alpha male, who is often seen as dominant and assertive, sigmas are often portrayed as lone wolves, preferring solitude and independence over conformity to societal norms. It's crucial to recognize that these traits aren't exclusive to males and can be found in individuals of any gender. The emergence of the sigma male concept and its origins can be traced back to discussions around masculinity and societal norms. It appears to have arisen as a reaction against traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Men who didn’t identify with or aspire to the traits associated with the alpha male began to adopt the sigma male label as a way to express their self reliance and resistance to conforming to societal norms. This culture is known for its encouragement of self-reliance. The movement strives to instill self-sufficiency in individuals and promotes the idea of taking responsibility for your actions and decisions. In many cases, this has led to people’s personal growth, as one learns to navigate life without relying solely on external validation or approval. Sigma culture champions authenticity and non-conformity. It fosters an environment where individuals feel empowered to be true to themselves without fear of judgment. It encourages young people to form healthy relationships based on mutual respect and shared values rather than seeking validation through superficial displays of dominance.
PLAYING CATCH UP LAUSD’s late
work policy is incentivizing students to procrastinate, leaving them with a disastrous buildup of late assignments.
Too little too late: LAUSD’s policy is sabotaging the next generation JOEL NAM Responsibility is the foundation upon which a great community, a great nation and a great people are built. It is the ability to not only acknowledge that our world can’t function perfectly or even decently without effort, but also to apply the necessary effort accordingly. It is a skill that has always been valued in society, evident even today from how quick we are to publicly slander, shame and depose politicians we think lack it. And so the burning question remains: why is it that LAUSD students in 2023 are so impressively irresponsible? If we’re a country interested in having a competent workforce in generations to come, this issue needs to be addressed immediately. The reason mentally-sound Americans love responsible people is simple: when there’s stuff that has to get done (and stuff always has to get done), these guys are the ones for the job. Put bluntly, whether you’re the president deciding national law or a cashier in a local supermarket trying to speed things along, the value of your existence depends almost entirely on how responsible you are. Our future workforce, leaders and providers are being encouraged in LAUSD schools to do less more often. During the pandemic, a controversial policy was implemented districtwide. This policy made it practically impossible for students to fail a class. Teachers were essentially stripped of their ability to report accurate marks for their students. Report cards failed to carry out their purpose, which is to accurately identify a student’s academic strengths and struggles. Originally, district officials claimed the policies would help students disproportionately impacted by online learning, such as students from lowincome and minority households. According to a study by The Times, these
CHRISTIAN BALE Sigma male.
CREATIVE COMMONS | MARTIAN KRAFT
‘‘
For three years now, students have been denied proper grading based on their attendance, adherence to deadlines, engagement and behavior."
individuals showed participation rates 10 to 20 percent lower than their white and Asian peers. However, we see those same policies in place today in the post-pandemic era, with district officials now jumping to a more absurd line of reasoning. They argue that LAUSD is in a transitional period that somehow necessitates keeping equity-based grading practices that in fact only widen the gap between grades and actual academic performance. For three years now, students have been denied proper grading based on their attendance, adherence to deadlines, engagement and behavior. This is a tad concerning, but maybe the proposed alternative was better. It was decided that the appropriate measures of academic proficiency would instead consist of students’ mastery of standards and the level of learning students showed, with quantity of work completed excluded as a factor. Basically, the district proposed that students be graded on the quality of whatever work they submit, without penalizing work that they didn’t. And so, it becomes increasingly apparent that we’re screwed. Punctuality, work ethic and time management are all core principles of a good student and a future asset to society. Having and developing these qualities actively throughout high school sets you up for being responsible
and accountable. In discontinuing the nurture of such valuable qualities in students today, we fail them and resign our country to a sad fate in which procrastination and laziness run rampant, and individuals live in a delusion-driven coma believing that success is handed to all on a silver platter. And for what? How can we truly measure people’s proficiency levels when we have completely removed the real-world factor of things needing to get done by a deadline? Let us not entertain the notion that we will ever live a world in which the men and women that keep the nation running should be allowed to be so irresponsible. It’s ridiculous, as is any institution or society that promotes this misleading, toxic message. A proper and well-functioning society cannot and will not ever be able to coexist with unchecked complacency and low standards. Continuing down this path is what will transfigure American civilization into a fool’s paradise where merit means nothing, where equality, and not fairness, is preached. There are no consolation prizes in the real world. Unconditional obligations are few and far between. If you are unable to bring value to society, then respectfully, you don’t deserve anything in return. The world revolves around supply and demand, and if your supply is meager and flimsy, the world doesn’t want it. If schools truly exist to educate and prepare students for life in the real world, then the simple truth is that lying to students for the sake of their feelings provides a false sense of safety and a setup for death by a thousand cuts. LAUSD needs to lead by example. While colleges might look favorably upon an inflated GPA, the world will not settle for sub-satisfactory performance. This game of facades and false grades has already gone on for far too long. The longer it continues, the more students will permanently get caught up in this twisted sentiment of settling for being less. And once that happens, the district will have done irreparable damage.
| COVER
20/21 | FALL 2023
The abus in Ameri
30
It
BY ANGELINA GEVORGYAN THE MIRROR EXECUTIVE EDITOR
FUELING STEREOTYPES Hate speech can originate from the
brain’s habit of stereotyping, which makes it easier for an individual to hate on certain social groups. THE MIRROR | GRAPHICS BY BRIANNA ALVARADO
percent of Americans believe Biden’s 2020 victory was fraudulent. Nearly one in five remain unvaccinated against covid-19. Over 1,000 face charges for
the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. These startling statistics share one origin: free speech. More specifically, the abuse of free speech. As political tensions rise, Americans grapple with the dilemma of protecting free expression while combating the spread of misinformation and hate. Without a doubt, freedom of speech is a fundamental component of American democracy. “The exchange of controversial ideas that clash with one another is what builds democracy,” Dr. Monicka Guevara, a sociology professor at CSUN, said. “The goal should be to live in a society where free speech is preserved, and where all of us are safe to express ourselves with our convictions and desires.” Free speech is one of the pinnacle expressions of being a subject in a free society. Being able to express one’s opinions about political, economic, social and cultural affairs at any level is a basic human right. “In the context of an individual, it means the freedom to express one’s own ideas and having a platform to express one’s ideas,” junior Dwayne Famenia said. “Ultimately, I think it is fundamental to human freedom, especially in the twenty-first century.” Famenia is founder and president of the VNHS Student Task Force. His club’s mission is to educate communities about human rights abuses across the globe. Free speech bears liberty, individuality and independence. “Freedom of speech is among the core liberties America was founded on,” CSUN Sociology Professor Dr. Beth Jakubanis said. “We as a society are extremely diverse and we have only become more diverse in the last 50 years. Our diversity can be our strength, or it can be our downfall. If we head down the road of taking away freedom of speech, we begin to live according to the rules of totalitarianism, communism and other forms of government that do not allow for diversity and at that point we begin to become our own worst enemy instead of using our diversities and our differences to be the strength that creates and weaves together a stronger society.” Despite this, hate speech is a branch diverging from this freedom that yields more harm than benefit. Typically, hate speech is characterized as any form of expression through which a person intends to incite hatred against another person or group of people on the basis of their race, religion, sexual identity, gender identity, ethnicity, disability or national origin. Currently, however, hate speech is
not legally defined under U.S. interpretation depending on The intention behind som indicator of whether that spe It is important to consider legacy of what a word or phra it relates to groups that are m have sociologically less powe alizing and assessing the imp able populations is key. “You can’t really delineate speech in a very clear way,” Dr tant sociology professor at CS to be contextual and situatio going to be about what group how.” In America, hate speech is by the First Amendment, whi ment to defend even the mos discourse that may cause oth grief. According to the law, ha criminalized if it directly inci is composed of detailed threa against a particular person or Hate speech has wide-reac the nation. While it can be ut groups, it can also be used to socio-emotional level. Millions of K-12 students e hate speech, hate crimes or a U.S. Government Accountabil school year, approximately 1.3 to 18 were hatefully targeted o national, religious, gender or According to The Mirror’s su dents polled have been victim point in their lives. As a psychotherapist and f apy Center, Dr. Jakubanis beli hate speech exploit their free and justify the harm they do “It pains me to see people ues and using them to hurt o speech means that you can s your heart, but that you cann rights when you’re doing it. M the point that I violate your r If someone is being negat nistic, adversarial and potent speech isn’t just free speech s in doing harm. Such scenario has gone awry, and that some regulate the situation. While federal laws do their between free and hate speech issue begs the question of wh regulate speech without infri free speech. “Any democracy is going to mos said. “We can try to locat some of the most excess form
R STORY |
the MIRROR
use of free speech ica is not fake news.
t’s the truth
. law and remains open to individual cases. meone’s speech is a solid eech qualifies as hate. r the cultural and historical ase represents, especially as marginalized in society and er and resources. Contextupacts of speech on vulner-
free speech and hate r. Daniel Olmos, an assisSUN, said. “It’s always going on specific, and it’s always ps are being targeted and
s constitutionally protected ich requires the governst distasteful and offensive hers to feel fear, anger or ate speech can only be ites criminal activity or ats of violence targeted or group. ching impacts all across tilized to rally political o harm individuals at a
each year endure bullying, assault, according to the lity Office. In the 2018-19 3 million students ages 12 on the basis of their racial, sexual identity. urvey, 63 percent of stums of hate speech at some
founder of the SoCal Therieves that perpetrators of edom of speech to excuse to others. taking core American valother people,” she said. “Free speak your mind and speak not violate someone else’s My right to do that ends at rights.” tively targeted in an antagotially violent process, hate since there is raw intent os signify that something eone needs to step in and
r best to draw the line h, the complexity of the hether it is truly possible to inging on people’s right to
to have hate speech,” Dr. Olte and identify and regulate ms of hate speech, but it’s
part of the territory of being in a democratic society and there’s no way you can get out of it. I don’t think that we can protect ourselves 100 percent from it, and to do so would really limit our deliberative democratic process.” While hate speech has always been around, its usage has been kicked into high gear during the past few presidential elections. “Quite honestly, Trump, and the way he approached leveraging our differences in order to create a base for himself, has absolutely normalized hate speech in a way that is just horrific,” Dr. Jakubanis said. “I don’t recognize my own country and it makes me very sad. If we look at Jan. 6, Trump fanned the coals of that mob to the point of getting people killed, and he’s going to court and saying it was his right to free speech. He has no right to say things that stirred up that mob to the point of a conspiracy to overthrow the government.” Although Trump’s game of politics failed to get him reelected, it succeeded in polarizing the country. “When somebody in power spews venom, like Trump did beautifully with the many things that he’s done with Twitter, I believe that he did an excellent job normalizing hate speech,” Dr. Guevara said. “Trump has 60 million adoring fans who see him as a powerful man that is for them, fighting for their rights. Hate speech has been here forever, but today, because of the media, you are able to see everything right away. People who have ideological racism inside are now able to verbalize it because they have seen people in power do it.” According to Dr. Olmos, economic disparity is an indirect cause of hate speech. “Politics and social media are grounded in a particular political economy,” he said. “We are living in the conflicts of growing inequality more and more, so increasingly what’s happening is that a small group of the rich are having more of the resources and all the rest of us are fighting for crumbs. Resources in our society are becoming less and less accessible, and the middle class is being eroded. With less economic mobility, folks are more quick to use these social divisions because people are put in this scramble for resources.” Prominent social media platforms have often been used to expand the reach of hate speech. “Glossing over events that have happened in the past few years, social media has provided a platform for hate speech that has caused numerous violent events that I don’t believe would have been mobilized unless you had something to mobilize them with,” Famenia said. It is imperative to explore and define the way in which speech on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter is regulated. “We don’t have any rules around something like social media, it’s completely different from any kind of media we’ve ever had before,” Dr. Jakubanis said. “We should not have a media available in which people can bully each other so much that someone is moved to suicide. We should not have an accessible media that people can use to organize the group crimes that we
saw at Nordstroms a couple months back.” Eerily enough, not everyone who spreads hate speech understands the true gravity of what they’re saying. “Be very careful about where you’re getting your ideas from,” Dr. Olmos said. “You need to have some real critical literacy. You always have to think back to the origins of statements that are made about things and people and you need to reverse engineer those statements to their associated ideologies and political interests. If you agree with that stuff, that’s fine, but if you find yourself replicating or reproducing certain ideologies or interests that you do not necessarily agree with, then perhaps you need to step back and rethink what you’re saying.” Generally, hate is often grounded in social categorization. In an effort to understand the world around it, the brain cognitively compartmentalizes information by making stereotyped associations. Intersectionality is the idea that each person’s identity consists of various factors, such as their gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, race, class, sexual orientation and religious beliefs. The way those components intersect
creates a person’s experience in the world, and each individual’s experience will be unique to them. It is the concept that nobody is one particular thing, and this is what overgeneralization does not account for. “As human beings living in a much different and more complex society, we have to evolve to be able to embrace our differences, to be able to face things that make us uncomfortable,” Dr. Jakubanis said. Free speech should be preserved. But the harmful impacts of hate speech should be minimized. It is beyond necessary to raise awareness about the pivotal role that reducing hate speech can have on the nation. “We need to show the results of minimizing hate speech,” Dr. Guevara said. “Let’s think of a safer space where everybody can thrive. Promoting media literacy, critical thinking skills and empathy can make young human beings become more discerning consumers.”
DOWNFALL OF DEMOCRACY Hate
speech is often masked as free speech by certain individuals. However, this view overlooks potential infringement on other people’s rights.
22 | FALL 2023
| EL ESPEJO |
the MIRROR
El abuso de la libertad de expresión en los EE.UU. no es una noticia falsa.
Es la verdad
E
BY ANGELINA GEVORGYAN THE MIRROR EXECUTIVE EDITOR
30 porciento de los estadounidenses cree que la victoria de Biden en 2020 fue fraudulenta. Casi uno de cada cinco permanece sin vacunar contra el covid-19. Más de 1,000 personas enfrentan cargos por el ataque al Capitolio el 6 de Enero. Estas estadísticas impactantes comparten un origen común: la libertad de expresión. Más específicamente, el abuso de la libertad de expresión. A medida que aumentan las tensiones políticas, los estadounidenses luchan con el dilema de proteger la libre expresión mientras combaten la difusión de desinformación y odio. Sin lugar a dudas, la libertad de expresión es un componente fundamental de la democracia estadounidense. “El intercambio de ideas controvertidas que chocan entre sí es lo que construye la democracia,” dijo la profesora de sociología de CSUN, Dra. Monicka Guevara. “El objetivo debería ser vivir en una sociedad donde se preserve la libertad de expresión y donde todos podamos expresarnos con nuestras convicciones y deseos de manera segura.” La libertad de expresión es una de las expresiones fundamentales de ser un individuo en una sociedad libre. Poder expresar opiniones sobre asuntos políticos, económicos, sociales y culturales en cualquier nivel es un derecho humano básico. “En el contexto de un individuo, significa la libertad de expresar sus propias ideas y tener una plataforma para expresar esas ideas,” dijo el estudiante
Dwayne Famenia. “En última instancia, creo que es fundamental para la libertad humana, especialmente en el siglo veintiuno.” Famenia es el fundador y presidente del Grupo de Trabajo de Estudiantes de VNHS. La misión de su club es educar a las comunidades sobre abusos a los derechos humanos en todo el mundo. La libertad de expresión conlleva libertad, individualidad e independencia. “La libertad de expresión se encuentra entre las libertades fundamentales en las que se fundó Estados Unidos,” dijo la profesora de sociología de CSUN, Dra. Beth Jakubanis. “Somos una sociedad extremadamente diversa y nos hemos vuelto aún más diversos en los últimos 50 años. Nuestra diversidad puede ser nuestra fortaleza, o puede ser nuestra perdición. Si seguimos por el camino de eliminar la libertad de expresión, comenzamos a vivir de acuerdo con las reglas del totalitarismo, el comunismo y otras formas de gobierno que no permiten la diversidad, y en ese momento comenzamos a convertirnos en nuestro propio peor enemigo en lugar de utilizar nuestras diferencias y diversidades como la fuerza que crea y une una sociedad más fuerte.” A pesar de esto, el discurso de odio es una rama que se desprende de esta libertad y que causa más daño que beneficio. Normalmente, el discurso de odio se caracteriza como cualquier forma de expresión a través de la cual una persona tiene la intención de incitar el odio contra otra persona o grupo de persona debido a su raza, religión,
identidad sexual, identidad de género, etnia, discapacidad u origen. Sin embargo, actualmente, el discurso de odio no está definido legalmente en la ley de los Estados Unidos y permanece abierto a interpretación según casos individuales. La intención detrás del discurso de alguien es un indicador sólido de si ese discurso califica como discurso de odio. Es importante considerar el legado cultural e histórico de lo que una palabra o frase representa, especialmente en lo que respecta a grupos que son subordinados o marginados en la sociedad y que tienen menos poder y recursos desde una perspectiva sociológica. Contextualizar y evaluar los impactos del discurso en poblaciones vulnerables es fundamental. “No se puede delinear claramente la libertad de expresión y el discurso de odio,” dijo el profesor, Dr. Daniel Olmos, asistente de sociología de CSUN. “Siempre será contextual y específico de la situación, y siempre se tratará de los grupos que están siendo atacados y cómo.” En Estados Unidos, el discurso de odio está protegido constitucionalmente por la Primera Enmienda, que requiere que el gobierno defienda incluso el discurso más desagradable y ofensivo que pueda causar temor, ira o aflicción a otros. Según la ley, el discurso de odio solo puede ser criminalizado si incita directamente a la actividad criminal o consiste en amenazas detalladas de violencia dirigidas contra una persona o grupo en particular. El discurso de odio tiene un impacto de gran alcance en todo el país. Si bien puede utilizarse para movilizar a grupos políticos, también puede utilizarse para dañar a individuos a nivel socioemocional. Millones de estudiantes de K-12 cada año sufren acoso, discurso de odio, crímenes de odio o agresiones, según la Oficina de Responsabilidad del Gobierno de EE. UU. En el año escolar 2018-19, aproximadamente 1.3 millones de estudiantes de 12 a 18 años fueron objeto de odio debido a su identidad racial, nacional, religiosa, de género o identidad sexual.
LA CAIDA DE LA DEMOCRACIA
El discurso de odio se disfraza como libertad de expresión por ciertas personas. Sin embargo, esta perspectiva pasa por alto la posible infracción de los derechos de otras personas si un individuo o grupo resulta herido por los comentarios insensibles de alguien.
THE MIRROR | BRIANNA ALVARADO
Según una encuesta de El Espejo, el 63 por ciento de los estudiantes encuestados han sido víctimas de discurso de odio en algún momento de sus vidas. Como psicoterapeuta y fundadora del SoCal Therapy Center, la Dra. Jakubanis cree que los perpetradores del discurso de odio explotan su libertad de expresión para excusar y justificar el daño que hacen a otros. “Me duele ver a personas que toman los valores fundamentales estadounidenses y los utilizan para lastimar a otras personas,” dijo la doctora. “La libertad de expresión significa que puedes expresar tus pensamientos y tu corazón, pero no puedes violar los derechos de alguien más mientras lo haces. Mi derecho a hacerlo termina al momento en que violo tus derechos.” Si alguien está siendo blanco de manera negativa en un proceso antagonista, adversarial y potencialmente violento, el discurso de odio no es simplemente libertad de expresión, ya que hay una intención cruda de hacer daño. Tales escenarios indican que algo ha salido mal y que alguien debe intervenir y regular la situación. Aunque las leyes federales hacen lo posible por trazar la línea entre la libertad de expresión y el discurso de odio, la complejidad del problema plantea la pregunta de si es verdaderamente posible regular el discurso sin infringir en el derecho a la libertad de expresión de las personas. “Cualquier democracia va a tener discurso de odio,” dijo el Dr. Olmos. “Podemos intentar localizar, identificar y regular algunas de las formas más excesivas de discurso de odio, pero es parte del territorio de estar en una sociedad democrática y no hay forma de escapar de ello. No creo que puedamos protegernos al 100 porciento de ello, y hacerlo realmente limitaría nuestro proceso democrático deliberativo.” Si bien el discurso de odio siempre ha existido, su uso se ha intensificado en las últimas elecciones presidenciales. “Honestamente, Trump y la forma en que aprovechó nuestras diferencias para crear una base para sí mismo ha normalizado absolutamente el discurso de odio de una manera horrible,” dijo la Dra. Jakubanis. “No reconozco mi propio país y eso me entristece mucho. Si miramos el 6 de enero, Trump avivó las brasas de esa multitud al punto que algunas personas resultaron muertas, y fue a la corte diciendo que tenía derecho a la libertad de expresión. No tiene derecho a decir cosas que incitaron a esa multitud al punto de una conspiración para derrocar al gobierno.” Aunque el juego político de Trump no logró su reelección, logró polarizar completamente el país. “Cuando alguien en el poder arroja veneno,
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como hizo Trump maravillosamente con muchas de las cosas que hizo en Twitter, creo que hizo un excelente trabajo normalizando el discurso de odio,” dijo la Dra. Guevara. “Trump tiene 60 millones de seguidores que lo ven como un hombre poderoso que está a su favor, luchando por sus derechos. El discurso de odio ha estado presente siempre, pero hoy, debido a los medios, puedes ver todo de inmediato. Las personas que tienen racismo ideológico ahora pueden verbalizarlo porque han visto a personas en el poder hacerlo.” Según el Dr. Olmos, la disperidad economica es una gran razon por el discurso de odio. “La política y las redes sociales están fundamentadas en una economía política particular,” dijo. “Estamos viviendo en los conflictos de una creciente desigualdad cada vez mayor, por lo que cada vez más lo que está sucediendo es que un pequeño grupo de ricos tiene más recursos y el resto de nosotros luchamos por migajas. Los recursos en nuestra sociedad son cada vez menos accesibles y la clase media se está erosionando. Con menos movilidad económica, las personas son más propensas a utilizar estas divisiones sociales porque se ven inmersas en esta lucha por los recursos.” Las prominentes plataformas de redes sociales a menudo se han utilizado para ampliar el alcance del discurso de odio. “Saltándonos eventos que han ocurrido en los últimos años, las redes sociales han proporcionado una plataforma para el discurso de odio que ha causado numerosos eventos violentos que no creo que se hubieran movilizado si no tuvieras algo para movilizarlos,” dijo Famenia. Es imperativo explorar y definir la forma en que se regula el discurso en plataformas de redes sociales como Facebook y Twitter. “No tenemos reglas en algo como las redes sociales, es completamente diferente de cualquier tipo de medio que hayamos tenido antes,” dijo la Dra. Jakubanis. “No deberíamos tener un medio disponible en el que las personas puedan intimidarse mutuamente al punto de que alguien se sienta impulsado al suicidio. No deberíamos tener un medio accesible que las personas puedan usar para organizar los tipos de crímenes en grupo que vimos en Nordstrom hace unos meses en el verano.” Curiosamente, no todas las personas que difunden el discurso de odio entienden la verdadera gravedad de lo que están diciendo. “Ten mucho cuidado de dónde obtienes tus ideas,” dijo el Dr. Olmos. “Necesitas tener una verdadera alfabetización crítica. Siempre debes retroceder a los orígenes de las afirmaciones que se hacen sobre las cosas y las personas, y debes desglosar esas afirmaciones para identificar sus ideologías e intereses asociados. Si estás de acuerdo con esas ideas, está bien, pero si te encuentras replicando o reproduciendo ciertas ideologías o intereses con los que no necesariamente estás de acuerdo, quizás debas retroceder y reconsiderar lo que estás diciendo.” En general, el odio a menudo se basa en la categorización social. En un esfuerzo por entender el mundo que le rodea, el cerebro comparte la información de manera estereotipada. “A menudo es más fácil porque es un poco más abstracto,” dijo el Dr. Olmos. “Te sientes menos culpable participando en actos abstractos contra un grupo que contra una persona, al menos en términos de procesarlo psicológicamente. Es más fácil atacar a grupos sociales y categorías de una manera violenta, y creo que por eso el discurso de odio se enfoca principalmente en el odio hacia categorías sociales y grupos sociales en lugar de individuos.” Tal generalización excesiva proporciona
| EL ESPEJO | a las personas una falsa sensación de comprensión. “Mi creencia es que la generalización excesiva es enemiga del progreso,” dijo Famenia. “Como seres humanos, simplemente queremos entender; es aterrador cuando no entendemos. Creo que es nuestro instinto generalizar en exceso, pero creo que generalizamos en exceso porque no sabemos. Odiamos porque tememos y tememos porque no sabemos.” Las identidades interconectadas son la idea de que la identidad de cada persona consta de varios factores, como la identidad de género, la expresión de género, la etnia, la raza, la clase, la identidad sexual y las creencias religiosas. La forma en que estos componentes se interconectan crea la experiencia de una persona en el mundo, y la experiencia de cada individuo será única para ellos. Es el concepto de que nadie es una sola cosa, y esto es lo que la generalización excesiva no tiene en cuenta. “Creo que las personas que participan en el discurso de odio tienen miedo, y su discurso de odio proviene de un lugar de miedo e incomodidad y de no saber qué hacer con esos sentimientos y quizás ni siquiera poder reconocer esos sentimientos,” dijo la Dra. Jakubanis. “Como seres humanos que viven en una sociedad mucho más diferente y compleja, debemos evolucionar para poder abrazar nuestras diferencias, enfrentar cosas que nos hacen sentir incómodos esencialmente para sentirnos cómodos al estar incómodos para llegar a comprender nuestras diferencias.” Si bien es importante proteger la libertad de expresión, también es vital proteger la identidad de las personas contra los ataques a través del abuso de la libertad de expresión. “Tenemos que centrarnos en enseñar los valores en los que se fundó nuestro país para que podamos reconocer cuando se están violando,” dijo la Dra. Jakubanis. “Y si podemos hacer eso, estaremos mucho mejor. Mi temor es que tal vez ya hayamos ido un paso demasiado lejos y tal vez sea demasiado tarde. Pero el camino de regreso es volver a lo básico.” “Necesitamos mostrar los resultados de minimizar el discurso de odio, así que necesitamos pensar en lo que sucedería si no tuviéramos discurso de odio,” dijo la Dra. Guevara. “Pensemos en un espacio más seguro donde todos puedan prosperar. Promover la alfabetización mediática, las habilidades de pensamiento crítico y la empatía puede hacer que los jóvenes se conviertan en consumidores más exigentes.” En última instancia, la libertad de expresión debe ser preservada. Pero los impactos perjudiciales del discurso de odio deben ser minimizados. “Tenemos la libertad de expresión para detener el odio,” dijo la Dra. Guevara. “Creo que nosotros, como seres humanos, podemos cambiar el mundo un círculo a la vez. No puedes dictar lo que piensan las personas y no puedes cambiar su mente, realmente. Pero tus acciones pueden ser un modelo para alguien.” La Dra. Guevara alienta a los estadounidenses a interrumpir los ciclos viciosos que perpetúan el discurso de odio. “Una vez que escuchas el discurso de odio, no puedes dejar de oírlo y eres parte de él,” dijo la Dra. Guevera. “Creo que cuando pronuncias una palabra, cuando eres lo suficientemente valiente como para decir algo, cambias el mundo que te rodea. Tus palabras ya no te pertenecen, le pertenecen a todos los demás que las escuchan. Cuando te quedas callado, te conviertes en cómplice, y esa es una lección fenomenal por la que vivo.”
ALIMENTANDO LOS ESTEREOTIPOS El discurso de odio
tiene su origen en el hábito del cerebro de categorizar a las personas en estereotipos, lo que facilita que el individuo odie a ciertos grupos sociales.
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THE MIRROR | PHOTOILLUSTRATION BY BRIANNA ALVARADO
It’s been a long time coming: The Eras Tour film is finally here
By Adrianna Bean
S
THE MIRROR STAFF
tadiums buzzed with excitement as throngs of fans poured in by the thousands from numerous entrances of a 70,000 seat arena. The sea of pink cowboy hats, glitter, friendship bracelets and intricate handmade outfits was dense in stadiums across the country. Some partied so hard they created a two point three magnitude of Seismic activity in Seattle. This was Taylor Swift’s “The Era’s Tour,” a compilation of the greatest hits of Swift’s 17-year-long career. It was a magical and monumental undertaking. I was lucky enough to attend the concert on Aug. 8 at SoFi Stadium, and it was such an incredible experience. So, one could imagine my surprise and excitement when “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” film was announced back in August. Many diehard fans did not have the opportunity to attend the concert due to the high demand for tickets and resulting Ticketmaster crash, and instead watched pieces of the tour posted online from other fans. The Era’s Tour movie gave many an opportunity to see a professionally shot version of the show and a taste of the concert experience minus the shaky footage and poor sound quality. After watching the film on Oct. 12, I analyzed whether the movie really made up for the concert experience. At the live Era’s Tour, the stadium was beyond huge. Pictures may do some justice, but it’s not until you’re actually sitting in your seat that you realize the immensity of the place. The concert was four hours long, including opening performances by singer-songwriter
Gracie Abrams and the HAIM sisters. My fellow audience members and I were blessed with good weather that day. Although the sun’s rays beautifully filtered through the partially open roof of SoFi, it was the energy of the stadium that was the most vibrant in the arena. Every attendee was given a bracelet that would light up periodically throughout the concert. The stadium would erupt in color for every song, themed for each “Era” and album. Swift has mentioned in the past that she does this so she can see every single fan in the arena. This choice also added creativity that considerably upped the already-high production quality. As a huge fan myself, I had a ball. The next day, my voice was hoarse from screaming the lyrics to every song, because where else can you shout the entirety of “We Are Never Getting Back Together” with 70,000 other Swifties without getting weird stares from the people around you? The social element of the concert, particularly the opportunity to passionately sing your favorite songs with thousands of other fans, was the most beautiful thing. Each lyric and note can mean a completely different thing to each fan. Yet, the same words and melodies unite us as the music evokes the same joy, heartbreak, anger and grief in every member of the audience. All in all, Swift’s performance was extremely impressive. No matter how you feel about Swift or her music, she gave everything she had on stage during those four hours. The set and costume designs were quite literally gorgeous. Taylor sported thirteen outfit changes throughout the entirety of the concert, each inspired by the aesthetics of her eras. Standout costumes include her
rhinestone encrusted Versace bodysuit for the “Lover” era, pastel princess style ball gowns for the “Speak Now” era and a golden tasseled “Fearless” dress inspired by the outfit from the original album tour in 2009. Overall, the in-person concert was unforgettable. The film was equally spectacular, but in a very different way. When entering the AMC movie theater, I was met with a plethora of Eras Tour-themed excitement and paraphernalia. “Take a bracelet, leave a bracelet” tables lined the theater, and there were even stands decorated with balloons, streamers and posters where fans could take their own photos. The movie started out with breathtaking CGI graphics. Friendship-bracelet title cards and the familiar countdown clock overture style served as the intro to the concert. I was met with exhilaration and chills as I heard the songwriter’s famous line: “My name is Taylor, and I was born in 1989!” Since the concert was filmed at SoFi, I felt like I was reliving the same performance from a new perspective. While the in-person concert felt like a cumulative experience watching from afar, the movie felt like you were actually on stage, having a one-on-one experience with Swift. The movie allowed for more of the behind the scenes production to be shown, like the changing of microphones that took place during each era segment, the details of the costumes and makeup and the specific facial expressions and nuances of Swift’s performance that I had missed originally. We are shown her multicolored Eras-themed manicure, trimmed short so she could play her Gibson and Taylor guitar. We can also see the comradery between
SWIFTIES UNITE Both the Eras Tour live concert
and film were spectacular showcases of Taylor Swift’s artistry and talent.
Swift and her background dancers, and even more of their amazing performances. Additionally, Swift’s vocals were clearer in the film, as the sound of cheering fans singing along was lowered. However, the opening artists were cut, along with the numerous times Swift spoke to her audience throughout the night introducing songs with small anecdotes. Also, there were no documentary-style additions from behind the scenes of the production. I was reminded just how well Swift commanded the stage, even in the subdued “Acoustic Sessions.” Despite all the lights, glitter, dancers and graphic screens sharing the stage with her, Swift was the most powerful element onstage. Watching the movie in the Dolby theater was a totally immersive experience. It had the exhilarating essence of being at the concert, as the bass practically shook the seats during especially loud songs like “Bad Blood” and “Look What You Made Me Do.” Swift’s fans range vastly in age. So in some cases, the movie allowed for younger fans, who might have been overwhelmed by the vast stadium, screaming fans and loud music, to see the show. At the movie showing I attended, the audience danced and sang along to all their favorite songs. Overall, I was completely blown away by both shows. While it may not be exactly like the in-person concert, the movie encapsulates the experience very well. The film is a perfect option for people who missed the concert, or for those who loved it so much they want to relive it.
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS ON THEIR OWN The VNHS Choir Program will be presenting the second annual solo showcase on Nov. 3. The show features a collection of students taking their turn in the spotlight as they perform songs from all different genres. Tickets for $10 will be available in the choir room, from any choir council member or at the door. For those interested in having their moment on stage, a spring solo showcase will take place in March.
BUST A MOVE Sure to be a spectacle to all who attend, a dance show will be taking place in the auditorium on Nov. 31, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. Centered around Greek Mythology, it will showcase the different dance classes taught by dance teachers Ms. Reesa Partida and Ms. Diane Hula. Tickets can be bought for $8 from Ms. Partida in room 424, Ms. Hula in room 426 or at the door.
’TIS THE SEASON Just in time for the holidays, the VNHS Choir Program is putting on a Holiday Spectacular. All three choir classes will come together to sing not only the classics, but also some special surprise tracks. The show will be on Dec. 7 in the auditorium. Tickets will be available for $10 in the choir room, from any choir council member or at the door.
ON THE SPOT The brand new VNHS Improv Club, formerly known as ComedySportz, is rapidly preparing for their first show of the semester on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Led by team captains Addison Cudd and Emily Chavez, the two teams will compete in a number of classic improv games involving not only the performers, but also the audience. Tickets can be bought for $5 in room 412, at the door or from any club member.
ORCHESTRA CONCERT The Donna Hubbard Auditorium will be filled with the entrancing sound of the Strings Orchestra during sixth period on Dec. 7. Teachers must sign up for a spot in order to attend the concert. The show will feature a collection of instrumental music performed by all band classes.
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“1989 (Taylor’s Version)” never goes out of style BY LILIT APRAHAMIAN
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THE MIRROR STAFF
rom chart-topping radio hits like “Shake it Off” and “Blank Space,” all the way to soul-stirring tracks like “Clean” and “This Love,” Taylor Swift’s “1989” is undoubtedly one of the most iconic albums the singer and songwriter has released throughout her career. This unforgettable album granted Swift 10 Grammy nominations and was the fifth album to ever remain in Top 10 of the Billboard 200 within the first year of its release. Nine years after its original release, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” came out on Oct. 27, delighting fans all over the world. “I admire the 1989 album because the music itself has so much meaning to it, it has stuck with me since I was nine years old,” senior Jessy Gonzalez said. “Taylor Swift’s music has such great versatility that I can dance, sing and cry. She has helped me get through so much.” Early in her career, the artist made a record deal with Big Machine Records, signing away ownership of her first six albums. Wanting to reclaim her life’s work, Swift has been re-recording her music and reaping the benefits. In the past few years, Swift has already rerecorded her second, third and fourth studio albums “Fearless,” “Red” and “Speak Now.” Though there are slight changes in the re-records, such as more mature vocals, higher production quality and new lyrics, Swift has stayed true to the original albums. “1989” is named after her birth year, and signifies artistic rebirth. The album marks her stylistic transition from country music to pop as she moved to New York City and dealt with the triumphs and backlash she faced on this path to fame. Along with the 16 original tracks, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” contains five vault tracks have been newly released: “Slut!” “Is It Over Now?” “Now That We Don’t Talk,” “Say Don’t Go” and “Suburban Legends.” Vault tracks are songs that her original producers didn’t want on the album. Now, she is releasing these hidden gems to her fans. With so many well-known hits, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” overwhelmed listeners with nostalgia. This release has reignited people’s love for an album initially recorded almost a decade ago. “When I was a kid, I would sing the songs and dance to them,” senior Diana Castillas said. “The songs remind me of my childhood and how happy I was when I was young.” Through Swift’s rerecords, it is apparent how enduring her art really is, as well as how impactful it is on the music industry.
WILDEST DREAMS The nostalgia of “1989”
is hard to shake off, especially with the album’s rerecording released on Oct. 27.
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Appearances can be
deceiving
BY ADRIANNA BEAN
B
THE MIRROR STAFF
y definition, the word “aesthetic” means to be pretty or pleasing to the eye. However, the internet has taken the word and used it to classify the curated identities and subcultures spit out from the depths of the media, and the public has grown fascinated with these categorized genres. Following the various resurgences of Tumblr, Pinterest and TikTok, the past decades have been plagued with different “cores” such as “cottagecore,” “fairycore” and “princesscore.” These names serve as different labels used to describe hyperspecific fashion or makeup styles associated with specific colors and looks. From hiring beautiful models and celebrities for commercials, to the euphoric feeling a customer gets when they buy an aesthetically pleasing product, it’s no shock that aesthetics are used all the time in advertising and media. We as humans are usually drawn to things that are visually pleasing. Companies like Starbucks, Maybelline and Victoria’s Secret pick certain color schemes and styles to make their brand more recognizable. Usually, the aesthetic reflects the brand’s values, message and goals. On the internet, these curated stylistic identities often walk hand in hand with specific books, television shows and movies, some of which are granted their own aesthetic that people aspire to emulate. The “downtown fall girl” aesthetic is closely associated with “Gilmore Girls”, while the “coquette” aesthetic is grounded in Lana Del Rey albums, Dior and anything pastel pink. Eerily enough, this phenomenon of the mind masks major flaws in the media. Nothing appears bad when it perfectly encapsulates an aesthetic. Thus, aesthetics make it difficult to draw the line between visual appeal and truly good content. However, in this changing world of internet culture, aesthetics are not only used to manipulate people’s minds, but also to manipulate their identity. It goes a lot deeper than just dressing a certain style. For many, aesthetics reflect a lifestyle that they aspire to have, and try to affirm it into existence by dressing and conducting themselves in a hyper specific way. For example, some young people strive to achieve the Rory Gilmore aesthetic, inspired by an idolized character from the television show “Gilmore Girls” in hopes of attaining her academic success and fashion sense. The “downtown girl” is considered effortlessly cool with her New York inspired wardrobe, dusty records and acoustic guitar. These aesthetic identities are highly specific and can lead to entrapment and disappointment. Many young teens attach themselves to the newest viral micro-label as a way of finding their identity. In hopes of attaining a certain curated persona, these individuals may cut out other parts of their own identity so they can be truly affiliated with their ideal aesthetic. Aesthetic identities are usually rooted in an unattainable reality, because people are not one-dimensional beings. While individuals might enjoy things associated with a certain aesthetic, people are not designed to be put in boxes of identity. While these aesthetics are pretty on their own, they strip away a person’s uniqueness, compiling these looks into a homogenized style. Spend a few seconds on Pinterest, the main hub for aesthetic related content, and you are blasted with supermodel-level beauty in every image. And, like many things on the internet, these images are reliant on filters, lighting and makeup. By attaching this unattainable beauty standard to an
‘‘
However, in this changing world of internet culture, aesthetics are not only used to manipulate people’s minds, but also to manipulate their identity.”
SOCIETAL SHAM Aesthetics pigeonhole society into groups that make individuals feel trapped.
aesthetic and lifestyle that young people may connect their identity to, it’s simply another virus contributing to the existing epidemic of wavering self confidence that ravages our youth. Impossible beauty standards created on the basis of something that isn’t even real may leave many young adults endlessly chasing after something unrealistic. It’s important to master the art of balancing an interest and an identity. There is nothing wrong with liking a certain fashion style or aesthetic, but it should never be at the expense of your true self. There is no need to box yourself into an aesthetic that does not encapsulate who you truly are just for the sake of being trendy. The amalgamation of all your interests, influences and personality is unique to who you are. You are your own aesthetic, and that’s pretty darn cool.
GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | ODALIS GOMEZ
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THE MIRROR | PHOTOS BY GIANNA IOVINO
QUITE THE CROWD Sophomore Gwen
Alexander stands and tells the story of the wine god Dionysus to a crowd of listeners in Act One.
STORYTIME Juniors Alexis
Martinez (L) and Emily Chavez (R) sit and listen to one of the many stories told throughout the play. Act One.
Fallin’ back in time BY MADISON THACKER
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THE MIRROR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
ack in 900 B.C.E Greece, the answers to even the most complex questions were hidden deep within Greek myths. The ancient Greeks crafted some of the most iconic stories in history. But nowadays, nobody has time to sit through endless lectures, or to read all the epic works. Luckily, the Theater Department summarized everything people need to know about Greek mythology with their own comedic twists. The department performed the fall production “The Iliad, The Odyssey, and all of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less” on Oct. 26, 27 and 28 in the Donna Hubbard Auditorium. Set on a simple stage with a large hourglass timer ticking down in front of the audience’s eyes, the cast sped through
all of Greek mythology in under 99 minutes. Presented at a lightning-fast pace, the silly decisions, absurd destinies and goofy characters yielded hysterical results as the timer stopped each night with only seconds to spare. Theater teacher and production director Mr. Justin Baldridge is no stranger to this show, having directed it twice before at previous high schools he worked at. Mr. Baldridge had a lot of options when deciding on what show to put on this fall, but ultimately went with this show knowing the students could do it justice. “I wanted a show that would highlight the strengths of the students,” he said “This show fits their personalities extremely well.” Back in August, the first rehearsals for the production began. But before that could happen, casting decisions had to be made. After three days of auditions, potential cast members were called back, given scenes from the show and provided with the opportunity to show off their comedic and
BEHIND THE SCENES Junior Kayla Balikyan-Davis (top photo) programs the production’s lighting.
TROJAN HORSE Sophomore Kaden Brave (L) and senior Felix Dennis (R) strike a pose as Greek gods during the Trojan War scene of the play.
artistic talents. Casting for this show was difficult because between the fifteen actors, well over 100 roles were performed in order to cover all the stories and history seen in Greek Mythology. This meant that Mr. Baldridge had to assign each actor to ten or more roles that best fit their character. Many students, such as freshman Maddy Mills, were encouraged to audition because they had a past obsession with Greek mythology. “So many people had a Greek mythology or Percy Jackson phase in middle school and I think people wanted to be in this show because it brings back so many memories and emotional experiences we all went through,” she said. The technical theater crew’s experience was just as intense. Students interested had to complete several forms and go through an interview process to be placed into a tech department, such as costumes, props or house crew.
After casting was finalized, rehearsals were off and running. “I was excited to start,” Mr. Baldridge said. “Especially because I know the show very well and it allows me to have a better understanding of it while directing.” Due to district-wide budget cuts, the total budget for the production was $5000. While this might seem like a lot to a spectator, Mr. Baldridge had to make those $5000 stretch as far as possible. That money had to cover all expenses, including costumes, sets and over 150 different props. Serving as one of two leads for the prop crew, sophomore Ami Singer wasn’t sure how the production was going to survive off of such a small budget. “My first thought when I heard the budget was, oh my god, how are we going to do this,” she said. “We have what feels like a million different characters who all have their own specific costume pieces.” Last year’s spring musical “Urinetown” had a budget of $14,000. Therefore, this fall
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| ENTERTAINMENT |
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THE MIRROR | PHOTOS BY GIANNA IOVINO
The Drama Department staged their fall production of “The Iliad, The Odyssey, and all of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less” production needed to be very minimalist if the show was to go on. Currently programming and running the light board for this production, junior Kayla Balikyan-Davis is now having to do the job of a professional that the Theater Department usually hires. “It’s been a learning curve,” she said. “All the students are having to do more to make up for the fact that our budget is so small. Our department is practically student run now. It has been more of a process to just break things down and figure things out with the limited resources and time we have.” This production’s set consists merely of eight boxes and a few flats made to look like Greek columns. While the set might be more minimal than the audience is used to seeing, sophomore Gwen Alexander thinks it’s perfect because it allows the audience to focus more on the actors. “For a show like this, minimal is okay,” she said. “It just means that the acting and
timing really need to be perfect in order to carry the show.” The budget is not only affecting the show from an audience’s standpoint, but it’s also affecting how students feel backstage. “The costume, hair and makeup crew, the amount they have to do by themselves and worry about is a thousand times worse than it has ever been,” junior Emily Chavez said. Despite the stress, the students in the drama department are committed to doing everything they can to make it work. Being a part of the Theater Department is an experience like no other, according to sophomore Connor Ruckman. The cast and crew spend hours and hours together, sometimes seeing each other more than their own families. Over time, the rehearsal space became a family of its own. “I feel like I am supported the entire time,” Ruckman said “This show is a big chaotic mess that can be really stressful, but I have a great group of people surrounding me.” The cast, crew and show really came
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I wanted a show that would highlight the strengths of the students. This show fits their personalities extremely well.” Theater teacher and production director Mr. Justin Baldridge
together during Tech Week. During this time, everything backstage begins to kick into high gear, ensuring the show looks seamless. However, sometimes uncontrollable things happen, and it’s up to the crew to figure out how to fix it. According to junior Pamela Fajardo Alfaro, who helps run the soundboard and microphones, if something goes wrong during a show, the main goal is to fix it as quickly and swiftly as possible. “If we do have an issue, we don’t think,” she said. “We don’t have time for that, we have to act as fast and seamlessly as possible. Even if we have a ton of chaos over an issue behind the scenes, we do our best to never let
MAD WOMEN From L to R: Gwen Alexander,
Maddy Mills, Lucy Tait, Felix Dennis, Amelia Probst, Brianne Tolentino, April Cho and Sophia Hillstead transform into members of a classic Greek chorus, portraying angry women known as maenads.
it be seen by the audience.” Junior Sebastian Spiridon thinks this show was unlike anything else the drama department has performed because the actors were working against the clock. Once the timer runs out, the actors are forced to stop, no matter where they are in the story. “They have to keep up with the timer because you can’t exactly add more time if something happens,” he said. Students interested in joining the department can talk to Mr. Baldridge for more information on the upcoming spring musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Auditions for the production are set to take place Nov. 1 in Room 303 after school. “I wouldn’t have met the people I have and had the experiences I have had if I didn’t do theater,” junior Julian Pankowski said. “I know through experience that the department builds friendships and communities like no other. The stress, work and effort will forever be worth it in my mind because of that.”
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| ENTERTAINMENT | GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | ANDREW DEL REAL
Villains don’t deserve their
bad reputations
MISUNDERSTOOD Fictional
villains get stereotyped far too often as bad guys, when in fact, many have admirable qualities and consciences.
BY ABIGAIL KIM
V
THE MIRROR STAFF
illains are the worst kind of people. They annihilate towns and wreck innocent lives. Always self-seeking, they backstab and manipulate to get what they want. They despise anything good, take drastic measures to thwart the hero’s success and concoct diabolical plans to fulfill their malicious goals. These are the defining characteristics of a villain, right? The classic formula for heroes and villains is flawed. Heroes are portrayed ideally, embodying justice, virtue and compassion. They never give up, vanquishing crime with perfectly executed punches and iconic outfits. As for villains, they’re always wrong. Or so you’d think. The line between good guys and bad guys is blurrier than it seems. Truthfully, villains have a bad reputation for acting purely out of evil intent. Although it may not seem obvious at times, there’s a decent side hiding beneath the surface of bad guys. In contrast to their typical portrayal in the media, villains can have a conscience. Joker, the iconic archenemy of Batman, is a perfect example of this. This sadistic prankster having a moral compass sounds like another one of the villain’s bad jokes, but Joker shows a conscience in “Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight.” After emerging from the Lazarus Pit, the supervillain is consumed with guilt for his wrongdoing. Joker displays his capacity for good even
more in “Dark Knights: Metal” when a new villain, The Batman Who Laughs, rises in Gotham City. The Joker joins sides with Batman, and the archenemies vanquish the new threat, restoring safety among the citizens. A level of understanding and patience is required for someone to work with their worst enemy. On top of having a conscience, bad guys can have respectable qualities. Including Voldemort in this category sounds absurd, but He-WhoMust-Not-Be-Named must be mentioned for his courage and desire for order. In the Harry Potter series, Voldemort is the infamous wizard of the magical world, widely feared for his merciless use of the Dark Arts. He is a Pureblood supremacist, believing only those of pure magical descent are entitled to learn wizardry. Despite having an ordinary human parent himself, Voldemort despises the “tainted blood” of half-blood wizards. This twisted worldview is Voldemort’s method of achieving order in a system he believes to be incorrect. Voldemort also has the bravery to spark change, daring to fix the magical world according to his values. Changing the world for what they perceive to be the greater good is what heroes are all about. Voldemort’s
perspectives are misguided, but his courage and mission to restore harmony are not far off from the average hero. An unsettling squid with blood-red lipstick and a tight black dress, Ursula is the evil sea witch of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” But she’s not the depraved trickster Disney portrays her to be. When Ariel, the young, naive protagonist, strikes a deal with Ursula, she willingly gives up her voice to become a human. If Ariel fails to make the handsome Prince Eric kiss her within three days, her soul belongs to Ursula forever. The sea witch is often seen as the obstacle standing in the way of Ariel’s happiness with Eric. However, rather than terrorizing Ariel out of evil intent, Ursula only wishes to see her end of the bargain honored, though the young wishy-washy mermaid tries to back out of the agreement. Morally speaking, between the two, Ursula was more upstanding in abiding by the terms of their deal. Disney has a history of shedding negative light on their villains. Alongside Ursula, Cinderella’s stepmother, Lady Tremaine, is unjustly portrayed as a cruel widow full of hate and envy.
Lady Tremaine reveals that villains can act out of love. The stepmother has two daughters, Drizella and Anastasia, Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters with even uglier personalities. The sisters exude vanity and self-righteousness, a sharp contrast to the radiant, gentle Cinderella. To Lady Tremaine, Cinderella’s beauty and kindness threaten the marital happiness of her daughters. Out of parental love, she tries to minimize Cinderella’s loveliness by forcing her into domestic labor and prohibiting her from meeting the handsome Prince Charming. Lady Tremaine’s admittedly questionable efforts ultimately backfire, but we can understand the concern of a mother for her daughters. We can never condone harming innocent lives or laughing maniacally as cities are blown up, but the true nature of a villain goes beyond their unfair treatment of the hero. The bad guys are never as malicious as they seem. When you encounter your next villain, stop to consider their side of the conflict. Even when coming across a difficult person, turn their struggles and experiences over in your mind before you judge them. Perspective matters, and villains demonstrate that there’s always more than meets the eye.
The Oscars’ diversity rules pit merit against equity By Adrianna Bean
T
THE MIRROR STAFF
he Oscars are a momentous occasion, filled with predictions, thematic parties and extravagant red carpet looks. Tearridden, time limit-testing speeches are broadcasted to the world as an artist’s career is forever changed. However, some choose not to watch them because they believe the selection of nominees and films are not diverse enough. Following continuous backlash from many on the internet, the Academy of Motion Pictures released a set of representation and inclusion standards for filmmakers in 2020. The new rules regarding diversity and inclusion will be instituted for the Oscars 2024. This has left some people angry and frustrated, while others are shocked it took so long. Films must meet at least two
out of the four sets of criteria order for the film to be eligible for a Best Picture nomination. These requirements span a vast list of criteria surrounding inclusion in front of and behind the camera. This entails the inclusion when it comes to casting main characters, developing storylines and providing access to internships, training or work experience opportunities. The list also features inclusion when hiring executives in creative development, marketing or publicity. These fields must include a certain number of people from under-represented groups such as women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, various racial identities and people with mental or physical disabilities. Many projects already unintentionally fill the requirements. Oscar buzz can bring an increase in sales during nominations, and winning Best Picture is even better
THE MIRROR | STAFF
CONTROVERSY The push to diversify the Oscars has split the entertainment industry.
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Others claim that meritocracy is constantly pushing minorities down, and that it is necessary to lift these groups of people up.
for marketing. These new rules may encourage writers and producers of all diverse groups to tell their stories, knowing that their projects will be
seen and heard. Scott Young, a retired former Filmmaker Liaison Senior Rater for CARA (Classification and Ratings Administration) at the MPA (Motion Pictures Association), looks forward to seeing the stories out there waiting to be discovered. “In over 30 years of screening approximately over some 20,000 plus films, I saw a lot of folks that looked like me, directors that looked like me and producers that looked like me,” Young said. “The Academy is trying to make amends, right a wrong. Personally, I feel anything to advance a more diverse, a more realistic view of the multicultural world we live in, in the movies we watch, the businesses we run, the art we enjoy and the sports we play, I say ‘Right on!’ As a child of the 60s, raised in a very segregated community in
Southern Ohio, I say it’s about time.” However, some believe that diversity has to happen naturally, and that by including minorities only to fill a diversity requirement, there is a chance that characters will become forced and lifeless. Many claim that pushing toward equity unfairly favors chosen groups without a reason other than an unchangeable factor of their being. Others claim that meritocracy is impossible in a place that is constantly pushing minorities down, and that it is necessary to lift these groups of people up. The overall acceptance of these standards marks a change in popular thought, and a general trajectory towards a society that favors inclusion. But despite the positive intentions, this criteria comes with obvious drawbacks. However, one thing is for sure: for now, if you want Best Picture, these are the rules.
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For when you need a
good cry...
Tear jerking tracks to keep you company during your next sad session.
FALL 2023 | 29
| ENTERTAINMENT |
The hidden power of heartbreak GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | DYLAN TORRES
By Abigail Kim
D
THE MIRROR STAFF
SO SICK | The Cardigans Rap/R&B
Filled with emotional lyrics about the ongoing cycle of wanting your relationship back after a breakup, this early 2000s hip-hop sound is nostalgic and just comforting enough to get you through your loneliest moments.
GLIMPSE OF US | Joji Alternative/Pop
This is an emotionally packed track that deals with the struggle of currently being in a relationship but still thinking about the one that got away. Joji’s lyrics truly portray the regretful excruciating situation and are undoubtedly relatable to those who find themselves in a similar situation.
ALL TOO WELL | Taylor Swift Country/Pop
Through vivid lyrics and smooth guitar riffs, the Red singer poignantly reflects on fond memories with a past lover, knowing all too well that the spark of love has died. If you’re hopelessly yearning for the euphoria of a love that once was, this catchy, agonizing track is worth the listen.
MILLION YEARS AGO | Adele Pop
The queen of penetrating lyrics and impressive belts, Adele longingly revisits the carefree times of a million years ago in this delicate acoustic track. She morphs the pain of losing innocence as one matures into an all-consuming anxiety, and the resonant lyrics are sure to send a few tears down your cheeks.
read
In this bestseller by Keirsten White, former child stars reunite to uncover what ended their hit shows. This novel might seem daunting in size, but the intricate details and suspensive scenes will have you hooked from the start.
eath, breakups in the pouring rain, regrettable ex-lovers, barbed words that can’t be taken back, longing for better times, self-loathing and anxiety. These reflective topics define today’s sad music, a genre teenagers are absolutely enthralled by. Spotify revealed that “sad” is the most-searched term among Gen-Z listeners across the globe. As younger generations gravitate towards depressing lyrics and heartwrenching melodies, it’s clear that heartbreak has an enchanting allure. Psychology is largely responsible for our melancholic music obsession. Psychology Today has labeled this “The Tragedy Paradox,” or the strange pleasure found in the aesthetic of sad emotions. On a biological level, the Tragedy Paradox can be attributed to prolactin, a hormone associated with coping mechanisms. A 2019 Psychology Today article describes how prolactin churns out feelings of calmness to remedy mental pain. When sad music tricks the brain into discharging prolactin through compensatory responses, a pleasurable group of opiates remains that relieves tension and distress. Beyond hormonal processes, sad music can kindle nostalgia in listeners. Nostalgia accompanies a heart-aching longing for the past, a major theme in songs by Adele and Taylor Swift. We’ve all felt that bittersweet pang when recalling foregone family gatherings, carefree days in elementary school and our old favorite songs. On nights when you crave the bliss of the past, blast Lana Del Rey and let a tidal wave of overwhelming nostalgia wash over you. When I connect with a tear-jerking song, an unexplainable ache blossoms in my chest, and I dive into a rabbit hole of over-analyzing the words. Bittersweetly, I relive nostalgic days in the park with my friends and singing with my dad during long car rides. I’m reminded that the seasons won’t stop changing, despite our strong desire for the good times to stay. Just as a riveting novel or movie transports us to different worlds, depressing songs provide doors for listeners to escape through vicarious emotion. Heartbreak anthems are the ultimate coping mechanism, relieving
listen
Though this rock band started in the late ‘70s, they are currently making a huge comeback. With songs about heartfelt love and mind-numbing sadness, The Cure is in many ways an iconic boy band. Easy to become infatuated with, The Cure is a safe yet spectacular choice when picking music for your next listen.
SAD GIRL SONGS For teens in particular, sad
music from artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers and Clairo provides a comforting relief from life’s daily woes.
stress and frustration by separating us from our troubles. The powerful messages of sad music can plunge us into deep thought, offering a temporary distraction from life’s woes. Empathy and mood regulation are also huge to the emotional magnetism of heartbreaking songs. Musical expressions of sorrow and woe can elicit feelings of compassion and sympathy in tender-hearted listeners. Similarly, sad music enhances mood regulation by driving listeners to soak in the alluring harmonies and slow tempos. It encourages disentangling from harrowing situations, like the loss of a friend or a tormenting breakup. Nothing beats a strong Adele ballad to cure post-breakup anxiety. Oftentimes, musicians indirectly communicate your suffering in their somber lyrics, and this relatability is crucial to easing distress. That shock of hearing a popular artist describe your grief in their latest single can’t be found outside of the sad music genre. Through your mutual pain, sad music can be
watch
“Choose Love” is Netflix’s most recent experiment in making interactive films. Cami (Laura Marano) has three possible suitors: Jack (Jordi Webber), Rex (Avan Jogia) and Paul (Scott Michael Foster). Viewers get to decide who Cami ends up with, which makes this movie a fantastic spectacle for those obsessed with romance.
play
Although not as popular as its sister-game “Wordle”, The New York Times’ newest game “Connections” features 16 words that the player must arrange into four different categories. The 16 words seemingly have nothing to do with each other, but upon closer inspection, the patterns and connections start to reveal themselves. This game is challenging enough to stump the player momentarily, but is definitely solvable.
an imaginary friend to draw comfort from. So, there’s the psychology behind the endless “sad girl” playlists on Spotify. It’s widely accepted that teenagers experience a perpetual cycle of mood swings. These fluctuations in mood are triggered by hormones that impact teens’ wildly unpredictable tempers. Because of this, the psychological and emotional responses of teenagers to sad music tend to be more passionate. Be assured that ugly crying to Mitski is totally normal. Hormonal processes are not the only explanation behind the younger generation’s gravitational pull towards sad music. A person’s teen years can be one of the rockiest stages of life. We drown in homework, fight for perfect scores on exams and get lost in the drama of school and home. This blizzard of being a teenager can make sad songs incredibly cathartic, like ice cream during a good cry. Music is the universal language, but sad music is unparalleled in the way it touches the innermost parts of our emotions. The heartbreaking themes are passages for healing, as they appeal to our brokenness and nostalgia. Through the grip of sad music, the younger generation can celebrate the human capacity for empathy while reaping the psychological benefits of mellow tunes and vulnerable lyrics.
eat
This TikTok-trending food is delicious, nutritious and simple. It includes cherry tomatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, a block of feta cheese and any pasta of your choice. Simply place all the ingredients into a pan and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. After that, stir in your pasta of choice with fresh garlic and basil. Plate the delicacy and enjoy.
MISTER MAGIC: COURTESY | PENGUIN; CHOOSE LOVE: COURTESY | NETFLIX; PASTA: PEXELS | NC4
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| ENTERTAINMENT |
THE MIRROR | GIANNA IOVINO
Unscripted: Improv Club exercises creativity
BY MIA RODRIGUEZ
S
THE MIRROR STAFF
MUSK-RAT Gazillionaire
‘‘
tanding in front of her English class, she could practically feel everyone’s stares. Having left her flashcards at home, junior Addison Cudd couldn’t remember what talking point came next in her presentation. Calling on her improvisational training, she maintained her composure as the class fired questions at her. With a smile on her face, she successfully improvised the rest of her report, knowing she had VNHS Improv Club to thank. Cudd has always had a passion for being on stage and a talent for comedy and making bold choices, so she was more than enthusiastic to sign up for the club. Since joining in her freshman year, Cudd has seen team members come and go. This year, she is one of the club’s presidents. Cudd says the club harbors a safe and non-judgmental community that is full of laughter. The group works hard to form a strong team and often does team-building exercises to grow the community. “It’s a good feeling knowing you’re a leader of something bigger than yourself and a leader of a group of people as passionate about the club as you are,” she said. With a specialty for thinking on their feet and an avid love for theater, the team is a force to be reckoned with. Even when there’s an audience watching, if the team messes up, they swiftly recover from their mistakes. Junior Emily Chavez, co-president of the club, believes that it has changed her life. When she joined, she was shy and quiet. But over the years, improv has helped her gain confidence and find her voice.
It’s a good feeling knowing you’re a leader of something bigger than yourself and a leader of a group of people as passionate about the club as you are.”
AMUSING AD-LIB The Improv Club creates a
Through her time in the club, Chavez has seen how much it has grown. But she knows there is a long way to go before Improv Club reaches its full potential. “Our club used to be tiny with barely any people, and we built it up from that,” she said. “When I think of Improv Club, I remember that we are a team built on the legacy of the past members. We have now made it to a point where Improv Club we can do more shows and Co-President competitions, and I like to Addison Cudd remember just how big of a change that is from when it was first founded. There are many positive changes this club has brought to my life and I think about that a lot.” The Improv Club’s broader mission plan is to continue growing, and to make the club better known and no longer hidden from the public eye. Next semester, they plan to attend a few competitions thanks to Performing Arts Magnet Coordinator Ms. Fanny Arana. Club director and sponsor Mr. Angelino Simbulan has been a great help. Back when he worked at Manual Arts High School, Mr. Simbulan taught an improv class and was the coach of the school’s ComedySportz team, which competed against other schools. Under his leadership, the Manual Arts ComedySportz team won many district-level competitions. At the start of his first year, Mr. Simbulan heard that the
passionate community where students can have fun thinking on their feet and creating lines on the fly.
Improv Club was in need of a coach and teacher sponsor. Having plenty of experience, he jumped at the opportunity. “Mr. Simbulan is really helpful and without him we couldn’t have gotten a lot of resources,” Chavez said. “This is the first year that we are a separate entity from ComedySportz. We’re our own club now, and so far, he has been very helpful getting us t-shirts and letting us lead.” The club’s small fanbase makes them feel well-supported. Not only do they have Mr. Simbulan’s support, but they also have that of Ms. Arana. Since she herself was an Improv Club member back in middle school, she has been very supportive towards the community. “Ms. Arana has been awesome towards giving us opportunities and being supportive,” Mr. Simbulan said. “As a whole, improv does get pushed aside, but I like to think it will only expand as we expand.” Sophia Hillestad is a proud and dedicated member of the Improv Club. They say that the club is about more than just having weekly meetings and playing improv games. It’s about making new friends. “The improv team has impacted my life in such a positive way,” Hillestad said. “I believe it can positively impact the lives of anyone who wants to try out.” The club will be hosting a show on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. During the show, the audience will choose games, evaluate players and determine scores as two teams of five players face off against each other. People interested in attending can buy tickets in Room 412, at the door or from any VNHS Improv Club member for $5.
El Cocinero Restaurant makes vegan food taste like a delicacy By Mia Rodriguez
T
THE MIRROR STAFF
he San Fernando Valley is home to dozens of Mexican restaurants and a plethora of Mexican cuisines. Classic burritos, tacos and enchiladas are piled high with meats, cheeses and sour cream. This is not exactly ideal for someone who’s vegan. Located at 6265 Sepulveda Blvd, El Cocinero Restaurant is the first vegan restaurant in the Valley. The permanent location opened in 2017. The restaurant serves delicious vegan food which tastes extremely authentic. El Cocinero’s meals are scrumptious and nutrient packed; some of my personal favorites are the burritos, loaded fries and horchatas.
Although items on the menu taste like they have real meat inside, they truly are vegan. This gives the dishes a satisfying taste and a new, healthy perspective. The founder of El Cocinero, Alex Vargas, became vegan nine years ago. When creating the beloved vegan cuisine people taste today, Vargas took inspiration from traditional Mexican flavors. Once he had enough dishes to create a menu, he opened a food truck, which he ran for several years before officially settling in Van Nuys. Many of his friends were perplexed when tasting his food, not knowing it was vegan. Most of the “meats” are actually pristine and delicious soybean or jackfruit. The nuanced flavors are outstanding, and the menu gives a wide variety of options to
COURTESY | EL COCINERO
VEGAN DELICIOUSNESS A tasty vegan Mexican restaurant on Sepulveda Boulevard, El Cocinero is a great pick for an afterschool snack.
vegans and non-vegans alike. Items are more costly than non-vegan options at other restaurants, but El Cocinero is well worth the buck.
Although I am not typically a fan of vegan food, the restaurant opened me up to a world of new flavors. In the three years the restaurant has been open, it’s become extremely popular. This is not only because of its vegan options, but also because it serves authentic Mexican food, unlike Taco Bell and other fast food chains that claim they serve Mexican food. Overall, my experience with El Cocinero has been a game changer. The vegan Mexican cuisine blew me away, and knowing that the restaurant is near campus only adds to the long list of reasons why it’s worth a visit. El Cocinero Restaurant | 6265 Sepulveda Blvd., Unit 12, Van Nuys, CA 91411 elcocinerorestaurant.business.site
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| ENTERTAINMENT |
Saving classic movies from cancel culture PHOTOILLUSTRATION FOR THE MIRROR | DAIMLER KOCH
BY DAIMLER KOCH
F
THE MIRROR ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
rom Kanye West to J.K. Rowling, cancel culture has become the norm of our generation. It is common for individuals, groups and corporations that make bigoted statements or claims to be disavowed by society, usually via social media. Most age-old films have subversive messages that promote racism and sexism, but under no circumstances can they be canceled. Many classic films released between 1900 and 1970 rely on what are, by today’s standards, outdated notions concerning race and sex. And yet, these movies – like “The Searchers,” where John Wayne’s character mistreats Native Americans, and “The Jazz Singer,” where Al Jolson uses blackface to portray an African-American musician – are still available to watch today via streaming platforms. Over three-and-a-half hours long, the 1939 film “Gone With the Wind” covers the tumultuous adult life of Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) as she navigates her complicated romances and ultimately grows into an independent young woman. The film’s controversies, however, don’t concern the main plotline. Rather, the main issues are the film’s setting and subversive messaging. “Gone With the Wind” takes place in the American South before, during and after the Civil War. As such, the film has been heavily criticized for upholding the Old South and supporting the notion of the Lost Cause – a historical myth that attempts to sugarcoat slavery and justify the South’s secession and resistance to postwar Reconstruction. This narrative was developed by former Confederates shortly after the Civil War ended in 1864. Viewing the film today, it’s not difficult to see why the arguments for canceling this movie are completely valid. Many scenes within the movie depict slaves picking cotton in the fields, singing happily as if they were enjoying their work. O’Hara’s slaves are joyfully loyal to her, even promising to prevent General Sherman’s invasion of Atlanta if
CANCEL-WORTHY? Most classic films, most notably “Gone With the Wind,” contain some element of sexism or racism. There are a few, however, like “In the Heat of the Night” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” that address social issues head-on.
they could. And as O’Hara’s character slowly progresses and becomes more proactive, she, angry at one of her slaves, punches them in an effort to send the enslaved woman out on her errand. These moments, and many more, make “Gone With the Wind” extremely difficult to watch at times. This isn’t an isolated incident, either. A plethora of classic films express some form of racism, sexism or just downright bigotry. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” features a stereotypical Asian character played by Mickey Rooney for comedic purposes, and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” has seven brothers kidnap seven women. Some aspects of cancel culture are occasionally useful. It allows minorities to express
Box office redemption
disapproval of offensive stereotypes and language that have been perpetuated by the media for years, if not generations. However, to cancel certain classic films because of their uncomfortable messages would not do anyone any favors. We need to acknowledge the problems these films present, not bury them in deliberate ignorance. It is because we are confronted with such brazen, normalized displays of racism and sexism that we are able to recognize them for what they truly are and move forward with change as a society. In fact, it is this very objective that caused an overall shift in films during the ‘50s and ‘60s, as they began to focus on the social issues of the time period. “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “In the Heat of
PHOTOILLUSTRATION FOR THE MIRROR | KALY HERNANDEZ
The light of the Christian entertainment industry is growing brighter amidst Hollywood’s profane productions. BY ABIGAIL KIM
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THE MIRROR STAFF
ovies and shows are the storytellers of America and its values. The film industry has woven the most iconic love stories, produced explosive action shots, dropped iconic lines from unforgettable characters and captured the moving truths of Christianity. Yes, Christianity. A recent shift in the entertainment industry has radically transformed the appeal of Christian filmmaking. The poor acting and holier-than-thou themes exit the picture as raw emotion, exceptional production and riveting storylines are ushered in. “The Chosen,” directed by Dallas Jenkins, basks in the spotlight of today’s Christian staging. Breathing life into the gospels of the Bible, this mesmerizing TV show captures the life of Jesus the Nazarene and his earthly ministry. “The Chosen” began as a crowd-funded show, but it swiftly emerged as a groundbreaking sensation, knocking several secular films out of the limelight. On the weekend of Nov. 20, 2022, “The Chosen” premiered the
the Night” both tackle the stubborn prominence of racism in the Jim Crow South. “12 Angry Men” tells the story of how one man, Juror Number Eight, is able to overturn the prejudices and logical biases of the 11 other jurors in a murder trial. And yes, while it does positively promote the Lost Cause to a nauseating degree, “Gone With the Wind” features a strong female protagonist as a representation of the image of liberated woman that was appearing during the 1930s. It is these classic films that are praised by audiences and critics today. Not those that went along entirely with the societal bigotry of the day, like “Bride of the Gorilla” and “Annie Get Your Gun,” but instead those that spoke up against it and became a model for society to follow even generations later.
RE-AWAKENING The Christian
entertainment industry has surprisingly eclipsed various mainstream Hollywood’s releases.
first two episodes of its third season in theaters. That’s right. This crowd-funded TV show made it onto the big screen, becoming the highest-grossing event of Fathom Events. In its opening weekend, “The Chosen” swept major Hollywood titles off their feet, generating a substantial $10 million. “She Said,” a dramatic biography starring Gwyneth Paltrow, amassed a mere $2 million in the same weekend. Boasting over 500 million streams and a 99 percent average audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that “The Chosen” is a captivating production. “Jesus Revolution,” a similar blockbuster, has also garnered attention for its extraordinary success and undisguised Christian themes.
Released by Lionsgate in February of 2023, “Jesus Revolution” narrates the historical 1970s Jesus Movement through the eyes of Greg Laurie, a teenager who experiences a radical transformation after his involvement in the movement. Peace signs, outlandish fashion choices, heavy drug use and sex obsessions are what ‘70s hippies are typically associated with. However, the hippies of the Jesus Movement were united by a mutual passion for Christ. The revolution exploded globally, and historians consider it the greatest spiritual awakening of all time. With an A+ CinemaScore, $53 million at the box office and a 99 percent average audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, you don’t need a spiritual revelation to realize this film was a crowdpleaser. Just as “The Chosen” knocked Hollywood films out of the ballpark, “Jesus Revolution,” making $15.8 million in its opening weekend, outshone “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” and “Plane” in a shocking twist. Successful Jesus films don’t stop at “The Chosen” and “Jesus Revolution.” “God’s Not Dead,” a 2014 drama about proving God’s existence, earned $65 million on a $2 million budget. Similarly, inspired by the Christian band MercyMe, “I Can Only Imagine” produced $86 million on a $7 million budget in 2018. And of course, Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” takes the cake as the highest-grossing Christian film of all time, earning $612 million at the box office. A revival is stirring in the movie industry, and you don’t want to miss it. With Christian entertainment on the rise, perhaps the door is open for another Jesus Movement in the modern age.
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Life-changing or
time-wasting?
Here are some of the best literary classics, as well as those that should be burned.
Retro reads: They’re classics for a reason BY ABIGAIL KIM
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THE MIRROR STAFF
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE | Jane Austen Austen’s signature wit and wisdom come to life in this iconic love story between vivacious Elizabeth Bennet and handsomely rich, but proud, Mr. Darcy. The lively dialogue, comical characters and hilariously awkward interactions make this regency romance absolutely essential for any bookworm. HHHHH
THE GIVER | Lois Lowry If you ever need to waste your time, read this lackluster utopian novel. The gaping plot holes, lazy ending and dull writing style are just as riveting as watching paint dry. HHIII
FAHRENHEIT 451 | Ray Bradbury Despite portraying a dystopia, this novel reflects the direction of modern society by exposing the dangers of censorship and divulging profound societal truths. Bradbury’s riveting bestseller is a must-read for those who appreciate a philosophical challenge and a nuanced writing style. HHHHH
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| ENTERTAINMENT |
y favorite T-shirt has a picture of Jane Austen, famed author of “Pride and Prejudice,” sporting sunglasses alongside a quote that says, “I put the ‘lit’ in literature.” Ignoring the dad-joke quality of this pun, old-time novels and their writers are truly some of the greats. Sleep-inducing plots, barely readable language and lengthy sentences might come to mind when we think about older novels. However, classic literature is so much more than the snoozefest you were forced to read in English class. It is a portal to historical society, capable of opening your eyes to unchanging truths surrounding the human character. Antique literature houses moral lessons that remain eerily relevant in modern society. Take “The Hunchback of NotreDame” by Victor Hugo. This French gothic novel explores the unrequited feelings of a kind hearted but grotesque hunchback for an alluring gypsy dancer. The illusion of appearances is explored through Quasimodo, the disfigured bell-ringer of Notre-Dame. Despite his monstrous appearance, Quasimodo possesses a beautiful heart, revealing that external appearances don’t always reflect true character. After she recognizes his compassion, a deep friendship blossoms between Esmeralda, the enchanting Roma dancer, and the deformed hunchback. Claude Frollo, the malicious priest, also embodies the deception of appearances through his sinful lust after Esmeralda. Clergymen are meant to display purity and abstinence, but Frollo’s unethical conduct lays bare the ugly truth behind his honorable status. Evidently, not all that glitters is gold. Judging the inner qualities of a person rather than their external facades is extremely applicable in our highly visual society. While classic novels sharpen your
CLASSICAL CONCENTRATION Even though
many teenagers dismiss casually reading literature, reading these novels stimulates the mind far more than any movie.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS | Emily Brontë Never turn a page of this book unless you want to be thoroughly disgusted. This Gothic romance is full of psychotic characters and completely crazed lovers. The protagonists are selfish and highly unstable, and the sequence of the plot is utterly disorganized and confusing. HIIII
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES | L.M. Montgomery Perfect for readers who love a lighthearted coming-of-age story, this entertaining classic narrates the endearing adventures of Anne Shirley. You will find a kindred spirit in this fiery 11-year-old as she discovers life and love at her new home at Green Gables.
HHHHI
GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | ODALIS GOMEZ
moral compass, they also enhance your conversational skills. Those seemingly tedious sentences and wearisome words heighten your ability to effectively engage in meaningful conversations. The exposure to more complex language makes stringing thoughts together and expressing your emotions come with ease. Plus, we all bask in the light of sounding smart to our peers. Dropping some Jane Austen lines and casually quoting Shakespeare will automatically elevate you to genius status among friends and family. Dabbling in Charles Dickens and taking a stab at John Steinbeck can reduce cognitive decline as well. A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine in 2020 indicated that consistent reading of classic works among the elderly reduced mental deterioration through the formation of new brain pathways. A study from Michigan State University in 2012 also revealed incredible cognitive responses to classic literature. When students read novels by Jane Austen, increased blood flow in their brains reached beyond the cerebral regions associated with intense concentration. In other words, reading older literary pieces is more stimulating than watching a movie or solving complex math problems. Unlike solving brain-aching mathematics, reading classic literature is actually entertaining. As far-fetched as that sounds, I speak from experience. Reading has always been my greatest pleasure, but the extravagant language and uneventful plots turned me off from the classics. I would’ve rather read “Percy Jackson” for the millionth time than take a peek at Tolstoy. But after I read “Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen, my eyes were opened to the mystical world of old-time literature. The elegance, humor and insight of Austen’s work intrigued me, and I embarked on a quest to discover other classical authors. After diving into the Brontë sisters,
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developing an obsession for C.S. Lewis and falling in love with Emily Dickinson, I realized the classics had become my favorite genre to read. The next time you spot a classic at the library, check it out. The more you read, the more thrilling the intellectual challenge becomes. For students, piling more reading onto your mountain of school-related stress sounds terribly unappealing. Even so, classic novels are the key to unlocking your full academic potential. We all know the feeling of reading a passage during an English test and having no clue what it’s trying to communicate. Through the savior that is olden literature, you can polish your critical thinking skills and interpret any passage without breaking a sweat. The classics often introduce difficult topics only understood through fierce concentration. The more you exercise this focus, the easier it becomes to comprehend simpler forms of writing. This also comes in handy on standardized tests. For high schoolers, the SAT is the bane of our existence. If the English portion of the exam drives you up the wall, the College Board provides an extensive list of suggested reading material to study. And guess what? All the books on this list are classic novels. You’ll find the adventurous “Don Quixote,” the disturbing “Lord of the Flies” and the fascinating “Brave New World” among many other iconic titles. It suffices to say that the College Board has good taste. Most classical literature dates between 1600 and 1900, but their relevance has not diminished in the slightest. From philosophy to unsettling societal truths, these classics are just as befitting today as they were upon their release. The benefits of reading classic novels are endless, but ultimately, reading olden literature makes you a better person. By examining the tensions of our past and recognizing the consistency of human nature, you’re introduced to new worlds of thought that remain relevant in modern society. Through meeting complex characters and processing advanced texts, you build empathy and hone your critical thinking skills. There are always doors to explore in the mystical hallway of classic literature. Delve into the authors who put the “lit” in literature, and don’t miss out on the greatest opportunity to enhance all areas of your life.
Reading older literary pieces is more stimulating than watching a movie or solving complex math problems.”
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| ATHLETICS |
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THE MIRROR | IVAN ALCALA
GAME DAY
The girls flag football team makes a play against Panorama High, winning the game 14-7.
BY ISABEL VALLES
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THE MIRROR ATHLETICS EDITOR
his is the first year in the history of LAUSD that a girls flag football season has taken place. LAUSD decided to introduce girls flag football as a new high school sport because they wanted to give girls more opportunities to play male-dominated sports. While 102 schools initially signed up to create a program, only 42 were dedicated enough to the idea to assemble teams and incorporate girls flag football into their sports departments. Van Nuys was a part of that small number. Last semester, it was announced that girls flag football would be a new sport offered by the school. Athletic Director Mr. Dion Coley sent out a school-wide message asking if any girls were interested in joining the team. Around 15 girls signed up. All he needed was a coach to lead the program. Mr. Coley believed Coach William Cox was the perfect candidate for the position, but it wasn’t easy convincing him to take on the role. Mr. Coley chose coach Cox to become the coach for girls flag football because he was the boys varsity football coach last season. He was hesitant to say yes, but after hearing that there was already a list of students wanting to join,
Girls flag football team makes herstory
he gave in. The main concern that Coach Cox had to consider before taking the position was that he had never coached a flag football team, but he was willing to learn for the girls who signed up. “I was asked multiple times to start the program,” Coach Cox said. “At the time, I had been offered a coaching position at Cleveland to coach their defensive line up for their Varsity boys football team. I think after about the third time he asked me, I said yes.” After becoming the head coach, Coach Cox held tryouts in the beginning of June and the girls flag football team was formed. Overall the team has had an alright year, winning four games but losing ten. The Wolves won their first game against Sherman Oaks on Sept. 11 with a score of 12-6. The team unfortunately went on a two game losing streak losing to Marshal with a score of 32-18 and Cleveland High school with a score of 20-6. The team came back from those games even better than before, beating out Eastside High School with a score of 12-0. The lowest point of their season was during their game against Cleveland High School on Sept. 21. The Wolves lost with a score of
20-6. On top of that, tensions between the players and the opposing team escalated. Twice, disagreements almost resulted in physical fights, and a copious amount of inappropriate language was used. “The sportsmanship was not there,” Varsity running back Mayleene Zamora said. “We were trying to be respectful. As much as we wanted to stand our ground as Van Nuys, it was not the right thing to do so we knew that we had to be civil. At the end of the day, we were there to play a game.” The team has held two fundraisers this season through which they sold merchandise and breast cancer awareness pins. Nonetheless, they have not gotten the amount of attention other sports teams receive. “Football is more appreciated because they already have a foundation, they already have a large background and they already have a hype around the sport,” Varsity free safety Olamide Olumide said. “We don’t have anybody to support us yet. We have been winning games
and people aren’t there to see it. If people paid more attention and saw how good we actually are, then maybe they would be more hyped up to come and support us.” When it comes to funding and promotional resources, the girls are building from the ground up. The team has had problems with buying extra stuff for the team to enjoy such as hoodies and senior gifts. The team is also aware of the stigma surrounding football that discourages some girls from joining the sport, particularly that it is harsh and dangerous. As a former cheerleader, Varsity player Elizabeth Castillo empathizes with this perception. “I remember when we were trying to recruit girls, I noticed that many girls were scared of the assumed aggressiveness and the masculinity of the sport,” she said. “Going into the season, I was very scared because it
was brand new. I came from a very girly sport and I thought it would have been rough out there, but it’s not at all. Now that I’m playing more, it’s a really fun game.” The girls feel great about their season thus far. “For the first girls flag football team at Van Nuys, I think that we’re gonna make history,” Zamora said. All in all, the addition of the flag football team provides an opportunity for students to represent the school community. With this new sport, there’s potential for setting a foundation for future flag football enthusiasts at school. “As the first team, I hope to let other girls know that this is a sisterhood,” Castillo said. “It’s not about being on top of one another, it’s about supporting and critiquing each other and taking it in positively because we all have to work together and try our best to win.”
Team captain’s takes What’s going on in school sports, coming straight from the source
Abraham Ceja Boys Football
Adrienne Mita Girls Volleyball
Ari Goldin Water Polo
Amari Guevara Cheerleading
Mia Ramierez, Cross Country
“Moments that matter the most are when we all come to practice and work hard together. When we lose, it’s something that we don’t like but in those moments we grow as a team. As a captain I try to motivate my teammates by giving speeches and providing words of encouragement.”
“I put 100 percent into every game we play and try to stay positive to the best of my ability. I make sure other players realize their mistakes aren’t the end of the world. One person doesn’t cause the team to lose the game, it really is a team effort.”
“The moments that matter the most to me are the ones where the whole team comes together after a game and discusses it. Whether we win or lose, we will talk about what happened, congratulate the victories, figure out what we could’ve done better and overall grow closer as a team through these discussions.”
“I learned that you need to be very organized and on top of schedules so everything we planned goes accordingly. I motivate my team by reminding them that if we want to win rings this season, we have to put in the work during practices, performances and games.”
“It’s hard to get someone who’s having a bad day to try their best to keep going. It’s all about having a close relationship with your teammates so that they trust you. I look forward to getting to know my girls and getting to see what they’re able to do this season.”
Loc Handke Girls Tennis
“I look forward to all of the lovely memories I get to make with my team: the drives home after away games and the cute, silly pictures we take before matches. I know that I will miss these memories and the team once I graduate.”
THE MIRROR | SPORT CAPTAINS PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER MONTERROSA
34 | FALL 2023
the MIRROR
|ATHLETICS |
The world of sports is riddled with inequality It’s time to change that BY ISABEL VALLES
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THE MIRROR ATHLETICS EDITOR
s I sat in my sixth period seat, my feet were twitching. I watched the clock in my classroom finally hit 3:38 p.m. I rushed home eager to get ready for something that I had been waiting for ever since the start of the summer: the first boys football game of the season. I arrived ten minutes before the game and claimed a spot on the bleachers from where I would be able to see everything. I sat down and took in how important this game was. The bleachers were full of students and parents, and all the administrators were sitting comfortably on the field in front of the endzone. JROTC students were there selling food for everyone. The cheer team was also in attendance cheering the team to victory the whole night. That night, the football team won their season opener and I only had one thing on my mind: how excited I was for the girls flag football season to begin. Seeing all the school spirit that was put in by the staff, cheer team and JROTC students for the boys football team made me thrilled to see what the school would do for the girls flag football team, especially because this game would be a big deal. It was the first flag football game in the school’s history. I had been interested in joining the flag football team since it was first announced by Athletics Director Mr. Dion Coley last year. Luckily, I got accepted into the team after trying out in June. I believed that since this was a brand new sport, students and staff would be interested in the newly formed team and wanted to support us throughout our journey as the first team.
However, inherent inequalities were noticeable from the start. Anytime there was practice, we were only allowed on a little grassy spot next to the softball field. There is where we practiced all summer long preparing for our season to begin. Every time we practiced, we were able to see the boys football team also preparing for their season. When I looked at them, I adored that they were able to practice on the big field where we would be playing our games. I found it a bit unfair, since the field is large enough to permit splitting it in half to have both teams practice. But I just shrugged it off just like everyone else on the team. The day of our first game arrived and I was elated, because it was the first ever girls flag football game. I got to school and noticed that the two cheerleaders in my first period class were not wearing their cheer uniforms like they normally would on football game days. I was able to convince myself that they would just change later and I simply went on with my day. The clock hit 2 p.m. and it was time to leave my fifth period class to get ready for the game. I walked into the locker room and immediately got a gust of positive energy from my teammates. Music was blasted and laughter was shared. I could also feel a lot of nervousness hidden behind that laughter. But that anxiety and nervous feeling would quickly be brushed away, because when we walked out onto the field, we would feel school spirit through the support and cheers being expressed by students and staff. Or so we thought. When we walked onto the field we saw no one but two of our teammates who weren’t able to play, and the other teams that would be playing later. No students were on our side
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People have to stop comparing the boys and girls teams and start supporting both, because at the end of the day, they are both representing our school.” Isabel Valles, Athletics Editor & flag football team member
of the bleachers like I had seen at the boys football game, no staff members were in front of the endzone, the cheer team was not there cheering for us and no JROTC students were in sight. It felt dreadful. I saw the look on my teammates’ faces and I was finally able to see the nervousness and fear that they were hiding earlier become visible. No one was there to support us on such an important day, the day that we had practiced months for. Where was the school spirit? Why wasn’t anyone there? Why was no one supporting us after we worked so hard just to be there? Why was the boys football game more important than the girls flag football game? Why? Why? Why? These were questions I asked myself over and over again for days, questions that I never got answers to. We ended up winning our first game. But I went home with a feeling of ambivalence. I was content because the months of practice paid off, but that feeling was drowned out by sorrow. I knew that the team felt alone and unsupported. I looked at the school’s instagram account
to see if they posted anything about our win, but I saw nothing. I then looked at the school’s athletics Instagram account to see if anything was posted, but yet again, there was nothing there. In fact, the sport is so discredited that many students are not even aware there is a flag football team at school. It felt like no one cared, like no one even bothered to bat an eye. According to a poll conducted by Seton Hall University, only 18 percent of sports fans in the U.S. watch women’s sports. This is not only a global issue, but one that occurs within the campus we pass through every day. Many female athletes at school are starting to notice the differing attitudes people hold for boys and girls sports teams. And flag football is not the only sport receiving this kind of treatment. The only difference between the girls and boys volleyball teams is that they are played during different parts of the year. Nonetheless, the girls volleyball team receives much less viewership and support than the boys’ team does. As their season comes to a close, barely anyone has attended girls volleyball games. I only aim to spread awareness, and to encourage students and staff to attend girls sports games to support the amazing female athletes on our campus. By doing this, teams will feel supported and cared about, like how we should have felt in the beginning of our season. People have to stop comparing the boys and girls teams and start supporting both, because at the end of the day, they are both representing our school. Hopefully, things will get better for the female athletes at Van Nuys High School. THE MIRROR | GIANNA IOVINO
OVERLOOKED The girls flag football team’s first game was met with little fanfare and attention, as opposed to the boys football team’s first game.
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| ATHLETICS |
Marching to their own beat BY DAVID VAZQUEZ
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THE MIRROR STAFF
s halftime arrives, the Crimson Marching Band illuminates the field with their gleaming brass and silver instruments. The audience drifts their attention towards the marchers and their faces light with excitement as they grow louder and cheer for the band. The stadium lights glare off the instruments leaving everyone blinded, but not enough to keep them from watching the long-awaited show. After formulaically getting into position, they raise their instruments and play melodies loud enough for everyone across the field to hear. As the performance continues, they march with their steps and music in sync. “To prepare for a football game, we have rehearsals Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and a little bit on Friday,” sergeant-at-arms Lissette Gallardo said. “We go over the football game music and go over things we need to improve on.” Aside from performing at football games, most of the Marching Band’s time is occupied by preparation for their own rivalries. In particular, the ensemble is getting ready for the LAUSD Marching Band Championship, which is set to take place on Dec. 2. “Last year we did pretty good,” Gallardo said. “Even though we got third place out of the five bands competing, it was so amaz-
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THE MIRROR | GIANNA IOVINO THE MIRROR | NICOLE TOVAR
ing seeing the audience clap for us after our performance. I almost started crying of joy because the feeling was just awesome.” In preparation for the competition, marching band members are going to be rehearsing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays leading up to the event. “We work very hard to learn drills and our show music,” Gallardo said. “I think we are gonna do better this year.” According to woodwind captain Mireya Pacheco, the group has been meticulously honing their abilities. “The day of the competition, we normally have anxious energy because we’re excited to show off our skills, but scared we might mess up or not get the score we want,” she said. ‘We are preparing to take things slow and make everything perfect so we are prepared to compete on the day of.” Music teacher Mr. Robert Eisenhart operates as head of the marching band. “I’m the director of the marching band program, and I’ve been doing that here at Van Nuys High School for 32 years,” he said. “I write the music, I write the field formations and, of course, I’m involved with educating the students and guiding our older students to help educate as well, so they’re part of the teaching team.” According to Mr. Eisenhart, learning to play an instrument is no easy feat. “It’s horrible, it’s incredibly difficult and it’s a struggle, but it’s one of the most amaz-
TUNING IN The Marching Band plays
their instruments at half-time during the Homecoming game against San Fernando High School.
ing and beautiful struggles there is,” he said. “On one side of it you can say to yourself that this is the most ridiculous thing, I’m blowing my air and spit in a tube and it makes no sense that I would be doing this. But then you put 13 different types of tubes in a room with 40 people and you can make some pretty amazing art. It can be pretty challenging, but it’s a great struggle and I embrace the struggle.” Teamwork comes naturally to these students. “My favorite part of being in marching band is mainly being a part of an awesome
community,” trombone player Adrian Rodriguez said. Many students, including Pacheco, have grown as a result of their experience in band. “Being in marching band has taught me about having good communication with others, supporting one another in everything we do and learning to be confident in yourself,” she said. Despite the stress that comes with perfecting their craft, the band is determined to be the best they can be. “One of the things that I love about Van Nuys High School and I’ve really enjoyed about the community here is that the students walk in through the door eager to participate and eager to work with other students and learn from each other,” Mr. Eisenhart said.
Girls volleyball: Rebuilding what’s broken BY ISABEL VALLES
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THE MIRROR ATHLETICS EDITOR
t would be an understatement to say that the girls volleyball team has had a rocky season. Out of the 23 games played, the team has won six. This is a great decline compared to last season, in which the girls had a record of 14 wins and 10 losses. From the very beginning, the team faced a five-game losing streak. In the season opener against Vaughn High School, they lost 2-1. “Losing that first game of the season, a lot of us were frustrated because we did try our best,” Varsity captain Bella Mokhtari said. According to Varsity outside and opposite hitter Samantha Sirichai, the team’s first loss was eye-opening. After seeing how effectively other teams communicated and worked together, it was apparent that the girls weren’t prepared for what they were up against. “We were still getting used to working together as a team,” Varsity setter Ranisha Patel said. “We were missing a lot of players so we had a lot of people playing different positions that they weren’t used to.” Varsity setter Alyssa Islas graduated last year. Losing Islas has left a gaping hole in the team. “Alyssa was our everything,” Varsity middle block Kenzey Jones said. “She helped all of us out and I don’t think any one person could ever do what she did for us. I feel like all of us together need to learn how to be that person for each other.” Islas was invaluable to the team’s morale.
“It’s an unrecognizable environment now,” Mokhtari said. “Losing Alyssa definitely made us feel like we didn’t know what else to do and we really needed to build off of that. We’re all learning individually and as a team how to adjust to the changes and just trying to be able to manage.” Patel agrees with this sentiment. THE MIRROR | CHRISTOPHER MONTERROSA
ALL IN The girls volleyball team rallies together in a huddle in the Big Gym before their game.
“After losing an authority figure like Alyssa, we don’t really have accountability anymore,” Patel said. “We tend to slack off and get in our heads a lot rather than trying to move on.” According to varsity outside hitter Adrienne Mita, the team’s chemistry is also suffering as a result of Islas’ absence. “I think we just lack a lot of team chemistry,” Mita said. “Alyssa was the mom figure for a lot of the team and everyone looked at her as a friend. She helped build team chemistry and
I think this year we just lack a certain person that is holding us together.” This year, the team doesn’t have an official leader and is dependent on returning players to help guide the team. “We rotate the leaders now,” girls volleyball manager Devon Brown said. “We don’t have one consistent person who runs this.” Two years ago, the team was led by a very demanding coach. As a result of his leadership, the girls were able to win many games against teams that they have lost to this season. The coach was later fired at the end of the boys season, with no reason given to the team. An evident issue the team notices is a severe lack of commitment because they felt like the team wasn’t the same without Islas. “Last year, I noticed that nobody missed practice,” Patel said. “Even if you did miss practice, you would have to send a note explaining why you were missing practice. This year, a lot of the team is just not as committed to the sport, so that’s a very big factor in how we play at games and how our team works.” Having reflected on their season, the girls volleyball team plans to use their losses as motivation to improve and come back stronger than ever. Though the team’s fate is uncertain, the future looks bright. A player who has really stood out as a leader is Mokhtari. She has been on the team since her freshman year and has coached the boys JV volleyball team. Various players, including Mokhtari, show immense promise and may be the glue that puts the team back together in coming years.
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|ATHLETICS |
Debunking stereotypes BY JADEN GERVACIO
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THE MIRROR STAFF
hen it comes to high school sports and student athletes, various myths and misconceptions circulate the halls. It’s crucial to separate stereotypes from facts.
MYTH: You have to be tall to be good at volleyball FACT: This is completely false. Even though height can be beneficial for players, students shouldn’t doubt themselves because they aren’t as tall as others. If the team as a whole is motivated and determined enough, then they can easily increase their vertical reach and make up for shorter heights. In our girls varsity volleyball team, 5-foot-3 opposite hitter Bella Mokhtari is tasked with leading her team on offense. Since her determination for the sport is unmatched, her vertical reach is high enough to compete with 5-foot-8 competitors. MYTH: Football players are bullies FACT: Every football player has a lot of responsibilities on the field and in school. Coaches expect players to be role models to others by exemplifying respect and kindness. While there are exceptions depending on the person, overall, this is a false stereotype perpetuated by the media.
MYTH: Tennis players are entitled jerks FACT: There are a handful of professional players who think they are above everyone else, and constantly argue with judges until they get their way. However, the majority of
tennis players, like Roger Federer for example, are cooperative and respectful individuals. All in all, this stereotype is untrue.
MYTH: Cheerleaders are popular Fact: In high school movies, cheerleaders are often de-
athletes, some athletes have many academic achievements. A number of professional athletes graduated from top tier colleges. Jeremy Lin, a former NBA player, graduated from Harvard.
MYTH: Student athletes are all extroverts FACT: Although athletes are some of the most well-known faces at school, this doesn’t mean that they are extroverts. While there are many athletes who love to interact with other students, a large number of them are shy when it comes to socializing. Just because a student may appear on a flier or Instagram post, it doesn’t necessarily make them outgoing. They are simply being recognized by the school community.
picted as social party girls who are admired by everyone. This is yet another myth bolstered by the media. Cheerleaders don’t necessarily view themselves as popular. They are just regular students trying to show school spirit by cheering for their school’s sports teams.
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MYTH: Student athletes plan to incorporate sports into their careers FACT: Not every student athlete plans on pursuing a career in sports. Many of these students are interested in math, science, history, art and various other fields. However, there are some dedicated athletes who aspire to play their sport professionally and work hard everyday to achieve their goal.
MYTH VS REALITY The popular-
ity of sports has created stereotypes about athletics that do not correspond with the facts.
MYTH: Student athletes are dumb FACT: Many student athletes are required to pass their classes with good grades in order to participate in a sport. This means that in the process of maintaining their position on a team, they do their homework and study to do well on tests. Despite having less time to study and do schoolwork compared to non-
GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | NASIM ABDUL-MALIK
Changes in leadership boost girls basketball team THE MIRROR | CHRISTOPHER MONTERROSA
BY ISABEL VALLES
SWISH SWISH Girls basketball players
THE MIRROR ATHLETICS EDITOR
Karen Grewal and Olamide Olumide challenge one an-
t the end of last year, Coach Steve Eshleman moved to Burbank High School and left the girls basketball team high and dry a day after their season ended. That’s when Coach Sara Marroquin stepped in. Usually when a coach leaves, a team feels a sense of sadness, especially after having spent a whole season with them. But instead, the female athletes felt a weight lifted off their shoulders. Last season, many players struggled with their relationship with the coach. He would yell at the players during games, and this caused them to lose respect for him. “He would yell at us a lot for no reason during practice, but it was worse during games,” junior Karan Grewal said. Due to the yelling, the team felt disrespected and patronized. Not only did the girls feel embarrassed, but the coach’s incessant hostility distracted the players. With Coach Maroquin as head of the team, the girls have significantly im-
senior Cara Dechathong said. “You can see all the development and improvements in most of the players that have been here. She has a functioning structure for our program.” Despite their significant growth, some team members believe that there is still much to be done, such as team bonding. “There is always room to improve,” junior Karen Grewal said. “We definitely have to work more on team chemistry on the court.” Last season, the team qualified for the playoffs where they won 15-13 overall and won 7-5 in their league. While the team put up a good fight against El Camino Real High School in their first playoff game and final game of the season, unfortunately the team lost with a score of 59-35. Judging by the tenacity with which the team has been getting prepped, it seems like the girls basketball team may have a chance of winning the playoffs this year.
A
proved as they prepare for their season beginning in November. Some strategies that Coach Marroquin has implemented are new drills that improve ball handling and defense skills. The team has prepared for the newseason by practicing every weekday over
the summer. The girls attended practice games on the weekends, winning the majority of them. They even entered tournaments in which they won first place a total of three times. “I think our new coach has definitely brought an improvement to the program,”
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THE MIRROR | FARAH ALSIBAI
STARTING STRONG
FRESHMAN FOOTBALL CAPTAIN BY ISABEL VALLES
A
THE MIRROR ATHLETICS EDITOR Varsity athlete is a person who plays on the best sports team that their high school has to offer. Outside linebacker Hector Gonzalez is the only freshman on the Varsity team. He is also one of the defensive captains of the varsity football team. Gonzalez has taken up this responsibility in his first year of high school, and in only his first year of playing football. “I wanted discipline and to learn what a real work ethic is,” Gonzalez said. “I definitely always planned to play football in high school, but I did not expect to move up so fast all of a sudden.” After getting past tryouts, he attended summer practices. From being at every summer practice to playing with varsity level players. That’s where he proved himself worthy of being captain. “I believe I put in the work and deserved it,” he said. “When my coaches told me I was on Varsity I was ecstatic, but when I found out I was captain I was a bit confused. But I realized why I was made a captain. It was because I showed real commitment and leadership in my future.” When the season first started, he was nervous and did not feel ready to play with such high level players. He felt insecure playing with athletes older and stronger than him. At one point, he even thought about quitting. “The only time I truly wanted to quit was in the beginning,” he said. “The first two weeks were honestly hell because of how much I was trying to get better and catch up to my team.” But as the season progressed, he got used to it and started to feel more assured. “I didn’t feel like I was ready the first few games, but that didn’t stop me because my team needed me,” Gonzalez said. “I knew I was being trusted by my whole team. Now, I feel confident in my game because I know I’m a good player and I’m only getting better every single day.” The season was going great until Gonzalez was faced with the worst thing that could possibly happen to an athlete: an injury. “The way I got injured was actually in practice,” he said. “I broke my finger and instead of fixing it, arrogantly I immediately kept playing and made the situation worse for myself. But I’ve learned from my mistakes.” Watching the first game of the season from the sidelines took a toll on him, but he pushed through it and helped his team as much as he could. “It’s very unfortunate because I knew my team needed me,” Gonzalez said. “It was crushing, but only motivated me more to get back on the field.” He plans to play football throughout his remaining years in high school and hopes to get a scholarship. Gonzalez is considering working towards a professional career in football. The young captain is ready to close off the season with a good record and start training for next season.
YOUNG TALENT
Hector Gonzalez is striving towards a professional career in football and only began playing this year.
THE MIRROR | GIANNA IOVINO
SHARK IN THE WATER Left wing Wyatt Lee displays his dominance as he prepares for his next shot.
Diving into
boys water polo L BY JADEN GERVACIO THE MIRROR STAFF
ast season, the boys water polo team dominated the league with a flawless 8-0 record. But their city championship dreams were dashed by a 16-12 upset from Eagle Rock High in the playoff opener. This year, the Wolves are hungrier than ever, eyeing both the league title and city crown. “We are even more determined to go far because we want to give a good send off to our many seniors in their final season,” Varsity captain and driver Diego Serrano said. The team’s first game took place on the last day of August. Their eyes were set on taking down the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (CES) Unicorns. Although they fought hard to keep up with the opposing team, their momentum ultimately depleted, resulting in a 13-7 loss. “This loss didn’t affect our standings, but actually served as a judgment on what we are capable and not capable of doing,” Serrano said. “Specifically from this game, it told us that we need to hustle more on offense and defense mainly because of the big number of players they have compared to us.” Despite the loss, the boys used this as an opportunity to identify their weaknesses and strengths. One of the biggest strengths they have is that most of the team are full of experienced players who know the game very well. “I think that one of our weaknesses is relying on the star players to handle the game, which leads to a lack of hustle on everyone’s part,” Serrano said. “But now, we learned from this and now
discipline ourselves heavily.” To make their dreams a reality, the water polo team practiced all throughout the summer. One of the biggest challenges was building up chemistry between returning players and newcomers. “It is important that we are all wellcoordinated,” Serrano said. “Coordination is one of the key parts that lead to winning, especially when we face off against difficult teams.” Some of the seasons’ star Varsity players are center Ivan Rubtsov, point Vincent Cheung, right wing Aiden Smith, left wing Wyatt Lee, right driver Spencer Espinoza and, of course, Serrano. They have been crucial to the team’s success. “I noticed that my friendships with my teammates off the court have helped a lot with our chemistry in game, allowing us to defeat our opponents more easily,” Serrano said. Due to the fact that most of the players are seniors, the team has been fixated on improving the newcomers’ skills and conditioning. They need to train them as much as possible so that the lowerclassmen can fill the seniors’ shoes next year. “We have many seniors this season, so we need more training for all the upcoming students that will fill their spots,” Serrano said. “Starting the hard work now will be great for them in the long run, greatly preparing them for the next season.” The boys attend practice every weekday at six in the morning, where they run through their routine drills. It’s all about improving their strength, conditioning, skill and technique. “Even though these morning prac-
tices are a hassle, we are all stern but also keep practices fun so more people are more motivated to come to these early practices,” Serrano said. Making the absolute most out of their season, the water polo team is currently undefeated in their league. Their most notable wins were a score of 21-4 against the Panorama Pythons on Oct. 2, and a nail-biting 10-6 victory against the Kennedy Cougars on Oct. 9. Their hefty abilities to capitalize on breaks and turnovers played a huge role in coming out victorious in these games. Although their season is going almost perfectly so far, it is no reason to relax. “Our undefeated streak isn’t an excuse to stop, but a reason to keep pushing forward,” Serrano said. “We know that the season will only get harder.” The team considers Coach George Davancens integral to their success. “We all value our coach deeply because he is constantly trying his hardest to develop our team and each individual’s skills, also showing us great support during practices and games,” Serrano said. In November, their first playoff game will take place. After getting cut from the tournament too early last season, the Wolves are seeking retribution. “I was very devastated after losing the first game of the playoffs last season,” Smith said. “My team and I are very determined to make it further into the playoffs, and we are practicing hard almost everyday to make this a reality to give myself and the other seniors a good send off.” Although no home games take place for water polo, the boys encourage the school community to support them by attending future away games.
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In it for the long run
BY ROGERS LEVITT
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THE MIRROR STAFF
ith cross country season underway, this year’s team has what it takes to win it all. Led by sophomore Mia Ramirez, the first-year captain and her fellow runners face the challenge of making it to city finals. The team has performed well above average this season. On Sept. 27, the Wolves ran a two mile race against Canoga Park at Pierce College. They raced exceptionally and snagged the top three places, having sophomore Christine Coronel finish the race in 14:14, freshman Dalia Montoya finish in 15:13 and sophomore Mia Ramirez in 15:18. They later lost to San Fernando in a race on Oct. 4, though the team still put up respectable times. The Wolves redeemed them-
selves by beating out Sylmar’s team in a three mile race. Christine Coronel and Dalia Montoya occupied the top two spots once again, with respective times of 24:29 and 24:34. As captain, Ramirez sees the work other runners are putting in to bolster their abilities and acknowledges their committment. “We have a lot of good players this year,” she said. “They’re all putting in a lot of effort. They come to practice and show up on time. You can tell they’re giving it their all.” Over the past year, the team has lost a number of seasoned players who contributed greatly. “We lost a lot of seniors and juniors,” Ramirez said. “With that, we lost a lot of players who had the most experience. It’s a younger team, so there is definitely a little bit less experience, but they’re still a really good team and they still perform well. We’re actually doing really well for being a young team.”
Ramirez has full confidence in her runners, even though many of them are new. “Our biggest strength would definitely be the fact that this year we have a team that’s very close to each other,” she said. “Everyone works together and pushes each other.” Athletes who run cross country have practices in both the morning and the afternoon, and frequently run to parks near the school for additional practice. “Sometimes we do long runs, sometimes we do mile repeats, but usually we just try to work on pacing,” junior Darian Escot said. Exercises such as mile repeats consist of running a distance at the pace you would in a race, running another stretch at a more relaxed pace and then repeating the process. Using this training method helps runners’ speed increase by turning runs into more manageable segments, allowing their pace to become faster.
COURTESY | BRIANA DENISE CABUSAO
RUN, RUN, RUN In the October heat, sopho-
more Jesse Jose and others runners push through at the Sylmar cross country meet and make it to the finish line.
The sport is all about keeping a steady pace during a race and being consistent the whole way through. No matter what, runners eventually get tired and have to push through the pain and continue to run. Any kind of pause or slowdown may result in a disappointing time. The simplicity of the sport is part of what makes it so challenging. While athletes in other sports have to practice many different techniques and specialized motions, cross country runners have to focus on nothing but running. Thus, the mental battle of the game is as demanding as the physical aspect. “It’s based on determination and who puts in the most work and effort,” freshman Nour Defazio said. “It goes beyond just physicality.”
Ranking success
What it takes to be a winner this season BY JADEN GERVACIO
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THE MIRROR STAFF
ach sport demands a highly specialized skill set that is required to achieve victory. While a certain sport may come to mind when considering which is the most difficult, you might need to rethink your guess. The following rankings of what it takes to be successful in each sport were forged from statistical data, as well as student athletes’ opinions.
Basketball
Tennis
Football
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross Country
Endurance: 8/10
Endurance: 7/10
Endurance: 9/10
Endurance: 4/10
Endurance: 9/10
Endurance: 10/10
Agility: 6/10
Agility: 6/10
Agility: 8/10
Agility: 7/10
Agility: 8/10
Agility: 2/10
Speed: 8/10
Speed: 6/10
Speed: 9/10
Speed: 5/10
Speed: 7/10
Speed: 10/10
Strength: 9/10
Strength: 5/10
Strength: 10/10
Strength: 6/10
Strength: 7/10
Strength: 4/10
Flexibility: 4/10
Flexibility: 4/10
Flexibility: 3/10
Flexibility: 8/10
Flexibility: 4/10
Flexibility: 4/10
Coordination: 8/10
Coordination: 6/10
Coordination: 9/10
Coordination: 10/10
Coordination: 7/10
Coordination: 1/10
Balance: 6/10
Balance: 3/10
Balance: 5/10
Balance: 8/10
Balance: 10/10
Balance: 6/10
Accuracy: 10/10
Accuracy: 9/10
Accuracy: 8/10
Accuracy: 10/10
Accuracy: 6/10
Accuracy:7/10
GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | ANDREW DEL REAL
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Promising duo: Twins carve their own paths BY ISABEL VALLES
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THE MIRROR ATHLETICS EDITOR
fter cruising through defenders, her feet land on the shiny gym floor as she lands from making a layup, adding two points to the scoreboard. All triathlete and alumnus Kaella Chin could hear in the roaring gym were her two siblings, Aiden and Bryce Chin, cheering for her. This tough shot won her team the game against the Sylmar Spartans on Feb. 11, 2022, guaranteeing her team’s spot to participate in the playoffs, where she would be dribbling her way through her last high school basketball game. Kaella Chin gained recognition for her versatility and exceptional skills across a wide range of sports. She showcased her talent as a guard in basketball, a winger in soccer and participated in track events like the 100m, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay and long jump. Additionally, she demonstrated her abilities as a libero
in volleyball and contributed to the football team as a kicker, corner, safety and receiver. Although her time as an athlete in high school came to an end at graduation, her legacy has been continued. Her two younger twin brothers, seniors Aiden and Bryce Chin, entered the world of sports when they were around four-years-old. Their first introduction to athleticism was through gymnastics and baseball, where their parents were their number one supporters.
Girls tennis pushes ahead THE MIRROR | MICHAEL ARREDONDO
WHACK IT WITH A RACKET Ellen Lalafaryan
lunges for a ball during warmups in preparation for her match against Kennedy.
“Both of my parents were really athletic prior to having us, so they really wanted to make sure that we could use our athletic abilities to the fullest early on,” Bryce said. Currently, Bryce plays on the Varsity basketball and football teams. He also does track and field running the 4x100, 4x400, 100 meter and 200 meter relay events. He has found that his early exposure to sports not only gave him a boost physically, but mentally as well. “It has helped me with my drive in basketball,” he said. “I learned the importance of never giving up.” Aiden currently plays on the Varsity basket-
ball, football and soccer teams. He also runs track and field competing in the 4x100 relay, 100-meter race, and triple jump events. Although both twins enjoy playing these sports, they face the disadvantage of their shorter heights, being around 5-foot-5. To overcome this, the twins are constantly improving their speed and strength. “We can’t really change our height, so we have been weightlifting a lot to strengthen our legs,” Bryce said. Both Aiden and Bryce have
TWO PEAS IN A POD Skilled at
a variety of sports, Bryce (L) and Aiden (R) Chin both play on the football and basketball teams and compete in track and field competitions.
achieved numerous accolades. In 2022, Aiden triumphed with gold medals in the long jump, 4x100 and 4x400 events, while also earning a silver medal in shot put. Moving forward to 2023, he secured a gold medal in the 4x100 relay, along with silver medals in both the long jump and the 4x400 event. In last year’s basketball tournament, Bryce’s team secured a second-place medal for the city. In track events, he claimed the secondplace position in the 100-meter race, earned a gold medal for his contribution to the 4x4 relay team and also won a gold medal as part of the 4x1 relay team. He also achieved a thirdplace finish in the 100-meter race, secured a first-place victory in the 4x1 relay and garnered a second-place position in the 200-meter race. Aiming to follow in their sister’s footsteps, who plays for the UCLA Division One Women’s Soccer team, the Chin twins hope to play basketball and participate in track and field in college.
THE MIRROR | CHRISTOPHER MONTERROSA
BY ROGERS LEVITT
T
THE MIRROR STAFF
hrough the ups and downs of the season, the girls tennis team has persevered. “We’ve lost a few and won a few, but no matter what we have a lot of good team spirit,” Varsity player Docette Danialypour said. The Wolves finished their season with an even 6-5 record, going 5-3 in their league. However, they had a rough start to their season, losing their first match on Aug. 24 against Providence 6-1. “I got into my head a little too much during our first game because we were losing,” Varsity player Alyssa Paniza said. Following a 7-0 blowout loss against Eagle Rock on Sept. 14 and a heartbreaking 4-3 loss against Kennedy shortly after, the team bounced back in a game against Reseda, winning 6-1. Later in the season, the Wolves would win another game against Reseda, this time shutting them out of their own turf. The season has featured unexpected roadblocks. Games were canceled because of issues with fielding a full team. The team has fewer players this season. A number of JV players were promoted to play for Varsity, cutting down on the JV team’s roster size. Because the amount of players on the roster is tight, something as miniscule as one girl being injured could lead to the team not having enough players to compete. Some players choke because of the pressure of playing Varsity,
but adapting to the higher level of competition is something these girls are determined to handle. “I was very scared,” Paniza said. “I thought if I messed up it was gonna be horrible, and I put a lot of pressure onto myself. But now it’s not as big of a deal to me anymore. I don’t freak out as much.” Veteran captain Loc Handke is passionate for both the game and maintaining a good team environment. “Last year we had three captains, including myself, but going into this year I was the only captain for a pretty large girls team,” Handke said. “I felt a lot of pressure, but then I realized I had to be a good teammate. As long as my girls are having fun and playing fair, that’s all that really matters.” Despite consisting of less experienced players, the team has performed well considering its circumstances. “The sportsmanship and everyone being there for you and supporting you unconditionally, I think it’s really amazing as a team,” JV player Mia Kenigsberg said. Coach Min Woo So has a soft spot for the team. “When I wake up, all I think about is coming to morning practice,” he said. “As a coach, I want to give everything I can to them.” Last year, the Wolves played to the tune of a 7-4 record, 7-1 in their league. The team earned the tenth seed in the playoffs, winning against their first round opponent. They aim to make it back to the playoffs, and are determined to put girls tennis back on the map.
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THE MIRROR | GIANNA IOVINO
FAST AS LIGHTNING Brandon Arteaga bolts away from
a Mendez High player attempting to pull and tackle him. The Wolves beat the Jaguars 28-21.
BY DAVID VAZQUEZ
I
THE MIRROR STAFF
n 2014, the boys football team ended with a losing record of 9-1. In 2017, the athletes scored a seasonal record of 9-2. In both 2021 and 2022, the team held an overall record of 9-0. Put bluntly, the boys football team has not had a good season in just about 10 years. With a current record of 4-5, it’s clear that the fate of football has taken a turn for the better. Although the team has had a bad reputation, they’ve managed to bounce back and prove everyone wrong with their improvement, thanks to the coaches. “This year we had a really strong coaching staff,” Varsity wide receiver Nasim Abdul-Malik said. “We are so grateful to have the coaches that we have because not every school is blessed to have coaches that actually care about them. They put us first before all other things.” The team won their season opener against Mendez High School with a score of 28-21. Shortly after, they experienced a blowout against Del Oro High with a score of 47-0. Winning by four points against Reseda High School, they beat out Canoga Park by 30 points. “I think winning the first game of the season was just an indescribable feeling because for such a long time, our school has had such a bad football team,” AbdulMalik said. “Winning that first game gave us a chance to finally prove ourselves, to prove that we were not bad and that we’ve
Call it a
comeback best football season
put in the work to get better.” After winning the first game, interest arose all across the school. “After we won our first game there was a huge amount of people that wanted to join,” Abdul-Malik said. “But at the end of the day, I think more people wanted to join not to play football but to look cool in a jersey and be a part of a winning team.” Although they are proud, some players think that this could have been the reason they failed in their next few games. The team experienced a losing streak. The Wolves were beaten 55-7 by Verdugo Hills and lost to Hollywood High School 60-14. “After winning our first game, our team felt on top of the world,” Varsity outside linebacker and defensive captain Hector Gonzalez said. “It felt great, but that also blinded us and made us not worry too much and then we got two losses straight after. We can’t let something like that influence our mind that much.” According to Gonzalez, losing to Hollywood High was his worst football experience because he wasn’t playing to his fullest potential. “I felt horrid, like I didn’t want to be there and like I had no place being there,” he said. “It felt as if something was holding me back and I was missing a piece of myself. But I learned what the sport was really about. It is supposed to be played with energy and discipline and is meant to be fun.”
of the decade Despite their losses, the team persevered. “No matter how many games we lose, we always come back the next week and practice hard and just prepare ourselves for whatever’s coming, because we gotta keep fighting,” Nasim Abdul-Malik said. Last season, the team faced several dilemmas. Unexpected changes in coaching staff, with a number of coaches leaving the school, strongly affected the team. Many players quit the sport. “Our coaching staff has been really good to us,” Varsity right tackle Omar Serafin said. “They’ve been doing everything correctly. I don’t think they’re gonna leave, and I don’t want them to leave.” Despite the setbacks players faced last year, the team has managed to overcome them and prove public opinion wrong. “This year, we definitely have better coaches, better talent and better players,” Gonzalez said. “We were a lot more coachable and a lot more equipped to win.” The team hopes to build a foundation for the years to come. Now that they have a more stable leadership, they have the opportunity to build on their strengths and eliminate their weaknesses by pushing themselves to the limit.
“I believe our biggest weakness is our mentality,” Gonzalez said. “When we are at practice everybody should be giving 100 percent every single time, and not just when they feel like it or when they’re not tired. Growth doesn’t happen when you’re fully energized and ready to go, growth happens when you feel exhausted and don’t want to keep going.” The team’s training schedule is very structured. Five days a week, the players practice after school for three hours. They stretch, practice their footwork and run through numerous plays. Last year, the season ended with a record of two wins and seven losses. “Already beating our last record from last year made me really proud of the team and the improvement,” Serafin said. “I feel so sad leaving. I’m a senior and I’m graduating next year. I’m definitely coming back to see how these guys are gonna keep on improving.” The team is not looking forward to their season’s end, but they are excited to find out if they will be heading to the playoffs. If they do make it, then it will be the first time in six years that the school’s football team makes it. The team plans to continue practicing hard every single day, and aspires to return even better next season.
