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Evolution

Issue Three

December 2021

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Table of Contents

Take A Book, Share A Book: The Revival of OCSA’s Little Free Library

Isabel Hahn

Within the past few years,  finding your next favorite book has become notably easier. The recent success of Little Free Libraries has proved that discovering a good read does not have to involve perusing through stacks and stacks of books at your local library or bookstore, but rather a simple walk around your neighborhood.

Often painted in eye-catching patterns and somewhat resembling enlarged bird houses, Little Free Libraries redefine the traditional concept of a library. What started in 2009–– by Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin–– as a small hobby of making model schoolhouses gradually turned into a widespread community literacy movement. The rules of little libraries are simple: taking a book means leaving behind a book of your own to share. The first official Little Free Library was put on a bike path in Madison, Wisconsin and its rapid spread only continued from there. By 2020, 100,000 Little Free Libraries were registered in 100 countries worldwide. 

From the beginning of its establishment, the Little Free Library has always maintained the same goals of providing book accessibility and improving literacy of all ages, particularly in areas where books are scarce. 

OCSA’s Little Free Library located in the DMS courtyard

Photo Isabel Hahn

You may have noticed OCSA’s own Little Free Library at the edge of the DMS Quad. The library has been a part of OCSA’s community for a while, but it has kept a rather quiet presence. This issue is possibly due to most students being rather new to the campus this year, with in-person learning only having been resumed recently. In fact, its books have been perused perhaps only by those casually passing by. A group of students in the Creative Writing conservatory’s Community Arts Outreach class, named the “Reading Robins,” have noticed the Little Free Library’s diminishing relevancy and have made it their semester goal to revive the spirit of reading and sharing books around the school. 

Frida Jauregui (CW ‘22), a member of the group, shared, “We saw that it was kind of isolated, and we thought it’d be a perfect way to reintroduce literature into our school. [Our goal is] to make it into something more accessible rather than it being just for certain clubs or classes.” 

In just a week, the little library has already seen some significant growth due to the Reading Robins’ efforts. For instance, an Instagram account by the username “@ocsalittlefreelibrary” has been created and is garnering attention from students; weekly additions to the library are advertised through posts. “Some books we’ve added recently include Scott Pilgrim, a few copies of Coraline and classics such as Hamlet, Wuthering  Heights and The Bell Jar,” Jauregui added.

Abril Garcia (CW ‘23) shared her final thoughts on the library’s meaning and relevance to OCSA’s current student body: “I’ve gotten into reading a lot more than before, but since I don’t have a lot of time or money to go buy books from a bookstore, it’s nice to be able to have the library here. The library incorporates a diverse range of classics and books we’d think would cater to the OCSA audience.” 

Many students at OCSA likely share the same concerns and sentiments as Garcia. Reading Robins hopes to encourage them to not only pick up the habit of reading, but to share and collaborate with their community, one book at a time. 

Well-Loved OCSA Teachers to Become Administrators

Felix Brem

Losing a favorite teacher is sometimes like losing a friend. It’s difficult to know that younger grades won’t have the same illuminating experiences and develop the same connection with a teacher who taught you so much, and it’s difficult to lose the opportunity to stop by at Block Seven with questions or just to chat. Luckily, in this case they won’t be going far. 

Dr. Kimberly Barraza Lyons

Dean of Instruction

On October 26th, OCSA Administration announced that beloved teachers, Dr. Kimberly Barraza Lyons and Ms. Shelley Stanphill, will be transitioning into new administrative roles in place of their teaching positions for the upcoming spring semester. Due to Ms. Sally Lopez’s departure earlier in the year, Lyons will be taking over the role of Dean of Instruction and Stanphill will be joining the administrative team as a learning specialist. While many students are disappointed to hear that Lyons and Stanphill will be moving on from teaching, it is exciting to look forward to how they will impact the school from their new positions. 

Lyons, who has taught Spanish at OCSA for 10 years, looks back on her time teaching as “immensely positive,” stating that “the first year that I was here I felt like I had found my home.” Many of her students deeply appreciate her playful style of instruction and dedication to teaching the complexities of the Spanish language. According to Mia Soumbasakis (CW ‘22), “Sra. Lyons is so full of energy and so expressive that it’s impossible to not have fun in her class. I’ve learned so much from her and she makes learning Spanish feel seamless!” 

Lyons appreciates her opportunity to impact students on a personal level as a teacher, and also wants to “make the role of a dean impactful personally on the lives of students.” In her new job, she will become involved in “driving instructional vision, building and improving academic curriculum, facilitating testing and more,” as explained in the administration's announcement. 

Another one of Lyons’ main goals is “to inspire teachers and students to just love learning,” along with specific goals such as “bring[ing] together arts and academics much more so we can incorporate the academics into arts classes, and vice versa.” Her experience with OCSA as both a teacher and parent with an abundance of experience with the school, means that she understands OCSA and its students uniquely, and believes in its vision: "I'm a big believer in OCSA." 

These new opportunities are bittersweet for both Lyons and her students. “I feel excited as well as sad. I want my well-deserving teacher to go do great things but I also want to maintain the class environment we already have,” says Thea Larson (IA ‘23), a former student of Lyons. 

Shelly Stanphill

New Learning Specialist

Also transitioning into a new administrative role is Stanphill, who created the AP Psychology course and has taught that class and Physics at OCSA for 11 years. She says that throughout her “wonderful” experience being a teacher at OCSA, she found that “the students are the absolute sweetest, most thoughtful, most creative, most mature––just great people to work with.” 

In her new role as a Learning Specialist, Stanphill is excited to apply her understanding of students to “making sure that OCSA is an equitable place where everyone feels welcome and everyone feels supported, and [doing so] in a way that is sustainable and doesn’t burn anyone out.” She will continue to teach one block of AP Psychology so that she can maintain a connection to students to ensure that “as [she’s] making more schoolwide decisions...and moving into this more administrative role, [she] still [is] deeply connected to what’s happening in the classroom.” 

Being a learning specialist on the administrative team involves working with teachers directly by honing instructional methods and supporting students in the arts and academics. Stanphill is “looking forward to the opportunity to support [her] colleagues in a greater variety of ways. [She has] loved getting to collaborate with them and share ideas, but [is] really looking forward to having the opportunity to dedicate more time and energy to really supporting them.”  

To sum up her thoughts about Stanphill’s new Administrative position, Stasia Early (CW ‘22) says, “I'm glad she’s...advancing in her career but it’s a shame that later generations of kids won’t have her as a teacher. She’s the best teacher I’ve had in many respects and I felt genuinely happy and accepted in her class.” 

There is no doubt that students will miss Lyons and Stanphill. However, in their new positions they will have new opportunities to improve the school, something they are both very passionate about. 

South Coast Plaza’s Tree Lighting

Jessica Hong

It’s about that time of the year everyone! The time to hang up our stockings over the fireplace, bake some nice gingerbread cookies, and unwrap boxes filled with lights and ornaments to cover on our Christmas trees. Speaking of Christmas trees, on November 18th, South Coast Plaza hosted its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Not only did it light a 90-foot white-fir tree with more than 90,000 lights, but OCSA’s proud singers, dancers, musicians and production students created memorable and outstanding performances to the community of Orange County! OCSA students performed a series of dances and shows, including Frosty the Snowman, Rockin Jingle Bells, Hot Chocolate and much more. 

Many performers from both MONTAGE! and Unplugged showed their uncontainable excitement performing for the Tree Lighting Ceremony as they had been diligently rehearsing, practicing, and preparing for performances to spread the holiday cheer. 

Zane Carras (MT ‘24), a member of OCSA’s a cappella group, Unplugged, shared, “It’s our actual first gig for Unplugged. And it’s exciting for me to be able to show people what Unplugged has been working on over this year. We never got any chances to perform in person, so I’m just really excited because we’re now going to have our first big performance.” 

Due to COVID, many performances were cancelled last year or adapted into a virtual setting. As an example, the South Coast Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony went virtual and was live streamed in 2020; however, as some of the restrictions were lifted, performers were given the opportunity to perform in front of a large audience in an in-person setting.

“Yeah, I haven’t actually performed live in a while. So I’m really excited to just perform” said Sarah Moore (CMD ‘24), a member of OCSA’s MONTAGE! team. She also added her excitement as she “was also going to be working with Matthew Morrison.” 

During this year’s ceremony, influential figures such as OCSA alumni, Matthew Morrison, participated in this grand ceremony to help bring the Christmas joy to the community. 

To these students, performing and rehearsing as a group is a rewarding experience.

OCSA Montage students performing at the South Coast Plaza Tree Lighting

Photo by Mia Soumbasakis

“I like the energy I’m able to feel as a dancer in MONTAGE!. I’ve actually never experienced being in a group like MONTAGE! before, so it’s an amazing way for me to grow as a dancer” said Gavi D’ Ambra (DM ‘24). 

“I like getting to be friends with another group of people I wouldn’t get to. I think it’s really fun to be able to try dance routines and learn numbers as a performer,” said Ella Jerrier (FTV ‘25). 

“I love being part of Unplugged. I think it’s just kind of like a family because everyone in there knows each other. I’m grateful for being able to be in it and just getting the opportunity to sing with all these really talented people. I’m also grateful that we just get this opportunity to bring holiday cheer and share our love for art by performing. This is just the special time of the year for making people happy during this holiday season,” said Carras. 

The tree lighting ceremony has brought an enormous amount of support and enthusiasm from Orange County citizens. During this magical night, students were able to turn the plaza into a winter wonderland. One stunning performance by the next, performers exuberantly showed their dedication up to this night. With smiles and cheers in the air, the ceremony marked a special place in people’s hearts. The night then ended off with a dazzling finish as the lights on the annual Christmas tree turned on, bright enough to drive away the darkness of the night. 

Surviving Finals Tips and Tricks

Lara Bilgore

With the inevitable finals week fast approaching, here are some tips and tricks to surviving the week from your average senior. 

  1. Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!

With all the studying that needs to be done, you need to stay awake. If you are tired, none of the information you have spent countless hours studying will not be retained in your brain. Coffee will help alleviate your tiredness and allow you to continue your learning!

2. Sleep

While it is important to study hard, sleep is just as important. Make sure you go to bed early during finals week to keep your mental health up and it will be less likely that you will fall asleep in the middle of your final. Throughout the entirety of finals week it is a priority to put yourself first!

3. Form Study Groups

There is no reason that you shouldn't allow studying to become fun! By studying with classmates, you can share ideas, review terms and help hold each other accountable. 

4. Listen To Music

While you're studying, it can be fun to listen to some music. I recommend listening to instrumental music in order to be less distracting while studying. By having instrumental music playing in the background, it can make it easier to block out outside noises and enable you to concentrate on studying.

5. Make Schedules

Make a schedule of how you want to spend your time throughout the day. Set aside a certain time to study the subjects you want to for that day. I recommend studying each subject for 1-2 hours. With having no conservatory during finals week, take advantage of the extra time!

6. Take A Break

It is important to not wear yourself thin so that you can't concentrate on studying anymore. Take a half an hour to an hour break somewhere in the day at the very least so you don't get burned out! Remember, put your mental health first!

7. Find What Works for You

When you're studying, make sure that you're setting yourself up for success! Use the study tricks that you have seen work for you in the past. Whether it be making flashcards or using quizlets, make sure that it works.

8. Relax

It is not worth it to make yourself stressed over all your finals. At the end of the night, drink some tea or cover yourself in a blanket to help calm those nerves. Just remind yourself that everything is going to be alright.

9. Stay Organized

Make sure to keep track of all your studying materials and keep track of your time. Make sure to have that distinction between all of the content you're studying so, everything doesn't bleed into each other.

10. Quick Reminds

Remind yourself that all you have to do is get through the week and then you can enjoy winter break! By having that quick reminder it will help encourage you to get through this stressful week and to power through it. With the semester coming to a close, you are almost there and you got this!

While finals week might be a stressful time, I hope these tips and tricks help you get through it!

AP Courses: Intention vs. Outcome

Rajsi Rana

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are heavily discussed topics in most high school settings. They are given the utmost importance by many parents, counselors, administrators and teachers, which has translated into more students caring for them as well. Now more than ever, students consider taking advanced courses, going into them with the impression that they’ll obtain a more advanced level of education, as that is in the title of the course itself. However, after experiencing their chosen course, students do not always find them any different from  non-advanced courses. 

AP courses were founded in the 1950s. Educators, at that time, were concerned about the quality of education high school students were receiving  and whether they were being properly prepared for higher education. AP classes were designed to give students a leg-up for when they eventually went to college. Doing well in AP exams and obtaining passing marks directly translated to college credit. These AP courses were also intended to be standard across the United States, in a way that regular coursework was not. 

Throughout the 1960s, more and more students registered for these courses and exams. As the program grew in popularity, more and more subjects and courses were added. What started out as 10 courses has expanded quite a bit to 36 courses available for students to partake in.

The origins of the foundation of AP classes are honorable, as the goal in mind was to give American students a better and more equal education. However, as of now, the program does not live up to their own standards or necessarily provides an education that aids students in higher education. 

As many AP students can testify to, the current design of AP classes provides a short amount of time for a lot of information to be learned. In addition to this, many subjects which can be quite interactive in their nature are instead taught “to the test,” rather than to the depth of the subject. Although this can be helpful in preparing students adequately for exams, for students who learn best intuitively, memorization is not always the best method of learning.

Subjects particularly affected by this style of course structure are Psychology and English courses. AP Psychology includes both content on the biological basis of the mind, as well as more psychological concepts. This course focuses on the memorization of various biological parts of the brain, eye, and other parts of the body, as well as the definitions of psychological concepts. “Although (AP) classes are intended to be at a deeper level, they tend to have more difficult content. Especially in science courses, the AP level is unfortunately significantly harder than the regular level, which makes it difficult for kids coming from a regular class, and expected to learn in an AP class,” said one student, describing their experience in AP science courses. 

The AP English courses offered include AP Literature and Composition and AP Language and Composition. Both cover a variety of written works, both non-fiction and fiction respectively. The main analysis of a student’s progress is done through free response questions, or essays on a given written work or topic.“I think that the prompts in AP English classes make you think more. One thing I find interesting is that at OCSA, because kids are more artistically inclines, non-AP courses have the same feeling of an AP course. The take kids have on pieces of writing is very interesting,” said one student about their experience in AP Lang. For some students, these prompts can motivate deeper thinking. 

Each student has a different learning style. Some students find the structured courses helpful because the expectations of the student are clear; others may desire to learn things at a deeper level, rather than at a faster pace, and not necessarily find the heavily structured and pre-planned course material useful for their learning. 

AP courses have had a tremendous impact on high school students all over the nation, and even beyond that. They have played a crucial role in shaping the education system. Although they have helped in standardizing coursework, they have also created more surface-level learning through coursework based on memorization. Only time will tell whether these courses have done more good than harm.

The Twilight Renaissance

Shayna Kaplan

It started, as most movements do, with a Tumblr post. 

The origins of the resurgence of popularity in the young adult series ‘The Twilight Saga’ is known as the Twilight Renaissance, and began in 2018, a decade after the release of the first movie adaptation of the series. By this point, new content was hard to come by: the last movie was 5 years ago and the latest book, Life and Death (a genderbent Twilight fever dream), had been out for 3 years. But in late 2017, online discourse surrounding the franchise and reclaiming “cringe culture” began circulating, and many people felt as though they could enjoy Twilight again without being mocked. The following year celebrated the first film’s 10th anniversary, drawing mainstream attention, and the Twilight Renaissance really kicked off with social media. The Tumblr post credited to starting the revival reads “bella was lucky she didn’t have a cell phone of any kind because you know ya boi edward would be blowing up that phone 24-7 going ‘saw a snail today…. effervescent’ or some...equivalent”. This spawned fandom jokes of Edward Cullen’s snail fursona and helped boost the newfound popularity of the series. These posts were generally memes and headcanons, poking fun at plot holes. 

Since then, the Twilight Renaissance has found a home in most online content platforms, such as TikTok and YouTube. A recent trend of dressing like Bella Swan in 2010s style outfits flooded TikTok, with many users wearing flannel, henleys and muted colors in homage to the heroine. YouTube creators have made a plethora of Twilight-related content: fashion creators like ModernGurlz make style analysis videos on the series, while reaction channels cringe at the line “you better hold on tight, spider monkey.” Meme channels edit the movies, reaching thousands of people; a nine-second video of Jacob’s “Bella! Where the hell have you been, loca?” has over 600,000 views.

The renaissance also criticized the series, especially author Stephanie Meyer. Posts brought attention to the real Quileute tribe and their legends, which Meyer twisted to fit her narrative. Others were disturbed by Jasper’s past as a Confederate soldier, where he fought against abolition. These issues were prevalent at the time the books were originally released, but have become more widespread with social media. Fans also pointed out the questionable werewolf imprinting, in which a (usually male) werewolf forms a bond with his soulmate no matter the age, especially in the case of Jacob and Renesmee, Bella and Edward’s child. Jacob is sort of immortal, but still has a large age gap with Renesmee, who rapidly physically and mentally matures. Along with the criticism of the potential glorification of grooming, Edward and Bella’s relationship is dissected, many fans realizing that Edward was often toxic and abusive. 

Fans also reconsidered how other characters were written, as most of them lack depth, motivation, and (no pun intended) character. These flat characters, however, provided an opportunity for people to make up their own versions of the characters, many becoming widely accepted among the fandom, like Edward’s above affinity for snails. Many throw-away lines from the series have also become iconic, though some book-specific references, like Bella’s khaki skirt, are less recognizable for casual watchers of the films. Fans are also able to have fun with the characters’ sexualities. With no LGBTQ+ representation in the franchise (aside from Kristen Stewart), many LGBTQ+ people have felt that reclaiming Twilight and its aggressively straight characters have helped them accept themselves.

With the dramatic increase in popularity of the Twilight Saga in recent years— bringing flaws and unintentionally comedic moments to light, perhaps the most shocking revelation of the renaissance is that Bella isn’t even Italian.

VA’s Partnership with OCEAA

Melody Wu

 For the first time in OCSA’s history, a conservatory has extended its services to OCEAA, the small Spanish-speaking art school (K-8) across the street, in an outreach event hosted by the Visual Arts conservatory Friday, November 5. In this seemingly small event held in the halls of the VAC, second graders from OCEAA sat down with high school VA (Visual Arts) leadership students to do a one-on-one Mexican sun and moon art project. 

Despite the spitting distance between OCEAA and OCSA, a partnership has never taken place, which makes this outreach project all the more special. Paige Oden, director of the Visual Arts conservatory, said that she has wanted to initiate a partnership with OCEAA for months because of how close in proximity the two schools are. 

Behind this noteworthy occasion, numerous efforts were made by students and teachers alike to assemble the event, which even featured an elaborate performance by the Ballet Folklorico conservatory. Skyler Pitsker (VA ‘22) expressed her motivation to assist the community: “A big part of art is sharing your talent and creativity with others, and bringing it to a younger generation is not only important, but gratifying.” Even in the eyes of newly recruited leadership student Grace Shin (VA ‘24), this event was one that she would always remember and something that made her “cherish the social interaction we have gained again in the last few months as we are gradually being liberated from the COVID-19 restrictions.” 

VA leadership students doing a sun and moon art project with OCEAA elementary school students.

Photo Courtesy of Amy Wang

Aside from the students in VA leadership, there were other individuals such as Ariadna Vidal, a translator invited to the event, who made the project a success. Having studied at OCEAA herself through eighth grade, Vidal understood the importance of facilitating effective communication between the high schoolers and the second graders, saying, “I would like to use my biliteracy skills to help people who don't understand the foreign language of Spanish.” 

All in all, Oden says, “it was a really great day of creativity and new friendships and leadership” for the OCSA high schoolers, their new elementary school buddies and vice versa. 

Another bonding event is scheduled in December to involve VA leadership and OCEAA students in a holiday crafts project, which will be one of several outreach projects that Oden aims to arrange every year in order to strengthen the connection between OCSA and the Santa Ana community. Other conservatories that plan to follow in the footsteps of VA leadership include the Digital Media and Acting conservatory. 

If all goes smoothly, this may very well be the beginning of an enduring relationship between Santa Ana’s gifted students and OCSA—which might be the next great art school for young kids in this district to live their high school experience. 

OCSA’s Dress Code... is there one? 

Phoenix Lambie

 Believe it or not, you read that headline 100 percent correct. OCSA does indeed have a dress code! Surprising right? Although, in the OCSA handbook, the dress code is about 150 words and only takes up about a third of a page, it is still technically present. The handbook clearly states, “The dress code is established and enforced to maintain a productive instructional environment, to promote a safe school, and to demonstrate a positive direction away from drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and gang affiliation.” Most dress codes have gender and sex affliations associated with them? Do they mean not having non-men show their shoulders? Do they mean having non-men not showing their ankles? Not having them show their thighs, chest, and countless other “distracting” body parts? What does being professional mean?

Of course, most people are aware of the stereotype that “regular” public high schools have rather strict and enforced dress codes to young non-men. For example, Santa Ana High School’s dress code is about 500 words and is enforced upon students and staff. “The Governing Board believes that since District staff serve as role models, they should maintain professional standards of dress and grooming,” says the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD). 

Another part of their policy is students (and employees for that matter) wearing “inappropriate attire,” such as “jeans or shorts (except for P.E.), short skirts (higher than 3” above the knee), t-shirts or shirts without collars (except for P.E.), casual sweatshirts, sweatpants, sweat suits (except for P.E.),” among other items. 

This brings us back to our original question: “What do people define as professional?” Along with “distracting” body parts, OCSA has also “outlawed” the brand Virginity Rocks! for being inappropriate and vulgar. The brand was started by a Youtube personality Danny Duncan, and was not intended to cause problems. Young non-women started wearing the merchandise in 2017 and now most schools across the country have restricted them. Although, not implicitly said in the dress code, it is implied that they don’t want them on campus. 

Anonymous (she/her ‘23) says, “I was dress coded here for wearing a low cut top and when I bent over you could see my chest. I believe I was dress coded because of my body type and because I am a woman but mostly because of how I look.” When “dress coding” certain individuals, staff, teachers, and administrators look for them to be following the rules and regulations. Two people with different body types can be wearing the same outfit. For example, one person being leaner and the other being plus sized, most of the time the plus sized person is dress coded (for wearing inappropriate clothing and being scandalous) versus the leaner person. Dylan Knight (FTV ‘23) says, “I was dress coded at my old school for wearing a shirt that was barely cropped and the principal told me when I stood, it was above my belly button and it was distracting. I think I was targeted because of how I looked because she walked past all the skinny girls and said nothing.”

The reality is that most dress codes are present to ensure a positive learning experience and environment for students and staff (such as the use of non-vulgar language), but it is not okay how they are presented and the stereotype that ties in. Sofia Ciro (MT ‘24) says “Dress codes tend to restrict females from wearing certain clothing because of the male’s gaze. Dress codes argue that certain clothing shows parts of a woman that are “distracting” to their learning—but dress codes don’t teach men to stop sexualizing women, they only promote or spread that idea but this doesn’t happen to men.” To be candid OCSA, yes, our dress code is less severe compared to other schools but it still sexualizes non-men making it sexist and uses more body neutrality and negativity versus positive. 

Sofia Ciro (MT ‘24) says “Dress codes tend to restrict females from wearing certain clothing because of the male’s gaze. Dress codes argue that certain clothing shows parts of a woman that are “distracting” to their learning. But dress codes don’t teach men to stop sexualizing women, they only promote or spread that idea but this doesn’t happen to men.” 

Shalya Riley (FTV ‘23) says “I was dress coded here for wearing a low cut top and when I bent over you could see my chest. I believe I was dress coded because of my body type and because I am a non-man but mostly because of how I look.”

Dylan Knight (FTV ‘23) says “I was dress coded at my old school for wearing a shirt that was barely cropped and the old lady principal told me when I stood it was above my belly button and it was distracting. I think I was targeted because of how I look because she walked passed all the skinny girls and said nothing.”

Michelle Park (CW ‘24) “I was wearing a tank top in middle school and I was dress-coded for it because I was being distracting.”

Reminiscing on Winter Market 

Emma Han

OCSA is known for its flamboyant singers, brilliant plays and dazzling dance performances; while the Visual Arts conservatory isn’t quite as flashy, our one time to shine is at your favorite one-stop-shop: Winter Market, where more than 50 students and faculty join together to create and sell handmade goods, from painted jackets, keychains, to ceramics, and jump at the prospect of some quick holiday shopping. 

After taking a break over quarantine due to logistical issues, Winter Market came back better than ever with the considerable efforts of Caroline Fleet––academic and VA conservatory teacher––and Randy Au––VA assistant director. This year, the event abandoned its usual DMS rooms and shifted over to a large tent stationed outside on the Annex blacktop. There was a surprise appearance from Santa on his red Harley and the return of the donut sundaes and tamale booths; but as it goes every year, the lunch rushes and long cashier lines made for a chaotic shopping spree as people hurried to get items before the next block started.

Crowds of students at Winter Market 2021.

Photo by Caitlyn Mason

For many, Winter Market is the perfect chance to get stocking stuffers and gifts for loved ones. For others, it was the time to splurge on themselves and expand their ever-growing sticker collection. For me, it was the last time I’d ever run my booth again—oh, how bittersweet it is to be a senior. 

This was my fourth and final year selling my infamous chicken and dinosaur plushies, among others. Every year, I’d go through the usual routine: spending months designing and sewing, all working up to two jam-packed days that result in delighted squeals and smiles as I passed along my products to new homes. Now that it’s all come to an end, I can’t help but reminisce on those years. 

During rush hours, I remember the excitement of seeing returning faces. This year, I had the pleasure of chatting with an OCSA alumni, who was finally able to get a plushie after missing out in her senior year. Ashley Wei, my former AP Lang teacher, recalled purchasing from me my first year, long before we’d even met—her plushie still sits in her classroom today. With each new and old customer I met, I swelled with gratitude and pride at the joy alight on their faces. 

At the end of each day, I remember eagerly counting my sales and quickly sewing up more items. I’d walk throughout the rooms, admiring my fellow vendors. I’d get that same giddy feeling as my customers upon receiving my purchases. And then I’d return to my booth, goods in hand, waiting in anticipation to meet my next customer.

Eventually, those two days would fly by and I’d pack my bags and do the whole thing over again the following year; but this time, it was goodbye.   

Unexpectedly, in the last minutes of cleaning up, vendors started coming up to me to trade products. We all started crowding around each other as we gave away our remaining inventory. An ecstatic energy overcame the room as we all celebrated our hard work together like a last hurrah.

Looking back, I’ll miss this comradery the most: my late FaceTime calls with friends as I frantically sewed away, our morning runs to Pop’s Cafe before the mayhem, those in-between breaks beaming over customer interactions.

As they say, “all good things come to an end”—but, who knows? Maybe I’ll come back and visit in the coming years. I’ll get to see all the new faces I’ve passed the torch to and spend a little too much money. While that may not be the same as the experience of being a vendor, at least I’ll get to relive the thrill of it. 

But for now, I’m saying goodbye to Winter Market.

Last Minute Gift Ideas: What To Do This Holiday Season

Michael McDonald

With the holiday season swiftly approaching, we all find ourselves stuck in the same old situation: needing to buy gifts for all of our extended family members and friends—cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces and nephews—and simply not knowing what to get them. It can be overwhelming, so we don’t blame you. To help you out, we enlisted the help of Monique McDonald, Managing Director of Client Giant. Client Giant specializes in personalized corporate gifting and selling gifts as a subscription service for other businesses’ clients. In other words, it’s Santa’s workshop. Here are some of our favorite ideas for last minute gift ideas that will come across as thoughtful and personal, but won’t break the bank. 

Have a family member or friend who’s obsessed with tea? Sips By Tea is a subscription service that curates boxes of premium teas for people based on their flavor preferences. They’ve made their services extremely easy and convenient with gifting functionality built right into their website. You can simply email or mail someone a gift card for however many months you’d like (a three month subscription costs $48), and then they’ll be able to enter their preferences into the website and start receiving a personalized box of four different teas per month. It’s a perfect “gift that keeps on giving,” and is something that could strike up a new passion for tea in anybody. It definitely beats a gift card, so consider Sips By Tea if you’re beat on what to get for your family member or friend. 

Another fantastic idea that gives you an opportunity to create something very personal for a friend is a Bluetooth speaker. You may not think much of it at first, and neither will your friend, until you present them with a personalized playlist of songs that remind you of them. Not only do you have the opportunity to show your friends what kind of image or musical aesthetic with which you associate them (trust me, it’s really interesting to know how others perceive you), you’re giving them a few hours of entertainment that they can keep on listening to for months to come. The thought  that goes into the gift really makes it special, and if you have a limited budget, some Bluetooth speakers can be priced at well under $50. Besides, the real gift is in the time you put into the making of the playlist for your friend or loved one’s enjoyment. 

After asking friends and family about some of these gift ideas, I’ve found that a clear favorite was a light therapy lamp. For many, it was their first time hearing about it, and if it’s your first time as well, don’t fret. It’s essentially a lamp that doesn’t emit UV rays, creating an environment that’s really easy on your eyes. It allows you to physically brighten up your room while brightening up your mood —pun intended. The sheer variety of shapes, sizes, colors and styles you can get these lamps  in is incredible, as well, meaning that you can find one that you think is the perfect fit. While some can fetch high prices, there are smaller (and cuter) ones that come in at around or under the $20 mark.

At the end of the day, the most important thing about gifting is that you want to make your intentions clear. You want to give someone a gift because you were deliberate in your thought process, making sure to take into consideration one or more aspects of the person you are giving the gift to. Doing so, and considering how you want that person to feel, ultimately creates an enticing and positive gifting experience where your giftee feels as though you know them well. It’s about caring and giving, and making sure nobody has any reason to lack gratitude this holiday season. Take care of yourself, your friends, loved ones and anyone else you know, because, in the words of Client Giant, “If you had the power to make someone’s day, you’d be crazy not to.”

Santa Saves Christmas! An Inside Look at FORBS

Elena Levin

Gone are the days of old, spending hours on a linoleum floor waiting to snap a photo with a middle-aged man in a polyester, red suit. No more questionable characters to create a cause for concern among parents and passing adults. And most importantly, no more elastic, bleach-white beards. Thanks to the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas (FORBS), virtually every Santa across the country sports their own snow-white beard year-round. Whether it be for mall photoshoots, private parties, or holiday performances, FORBS provides the authenticity to ensure everyone’s Christmas season is magical. 

Formed in 1994, FORBS encompasses the majority of this nation’s professional Santa world, even including various Mrs. Clauses. It started as a space for working Santas to unite and share their experiences within the industry. By 2004, the group had expanded to 600 members, who continued to meet annually for a large-scale “Santa Reunion.” Apart from the community aspect of FORBS, their application for a 501c7 allows them to provide their members with professional benefits as well as the incorporation of comprehensive background checks. 

Yet, judging by its name, FORBS does not let in just anyone; in order to become a member, you must be a professional, working Santa with a “real beard.” FORBS Chairman, Ric Erwin, attested to the weight that comes with this sort of identity, “We recognize the sacrifice or the commitment that a professional Santa has to make by looking like Santa 365, 24/7… being Santa everywhere you go,” Erwin said. 

 Each January, Clauses around the country gather for FORBS’ coveted three-day reunion. Consisting of professional workshops, seminars, group outings, vendors, fashion shows and last but not least, the traditional “Santa Banquet.” Since FORBS was born from a collective of Santas swapping stories, this event truly encompasses the heart of the organization: community. However, the final day does contain a rather somber note due to the annual “Final Sleigh Ride” presentation “for Santas and Mrs. Clauses who have not made the trip around the sun with us,” Erwin said. 

Not unlike any other industry, 2020 took a toll on this organization and its ability to participate in the Christmas season. Within the professional Santa world, Erwin explained, there lies the “Christmas Corps,” which extends to companies involved in every step of the process–– from costumers, to bootmakers, to schools and everything in between. Therefore, when the talk of Christmas being “cancelled” arose in 2020, countless individuals were affected. “We made every effort that we could to protect our membership because we saw the handwriting on the wall very early––that [COVID-19] was going to impact the Christmas Corps… and it did,” Erwin said. 

But this wasn’t an entirely new experience for Saint Nick, as FORBS had to combat the H1N1 influenza––colloquially known as the “swine flu”––pandemic in 2009. 11 years later, the Christmas Corps was back in action, and this time they had a game plan. “We grouped together under operation ‘Sani-Claus,’ and we were doing that for months before I began working out a deal with the CDC,” Erwin said. 

From providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all members and receiving the COVID vaccine within the second tier of its release, FORBS worked full force to ensure that there would be a Christmas after all. Even when typical meet-and-greets with children were deemed unsafe, creative solutions were posed––such as the storyline of Santa being “stuck in a snow globe,” which created some layer of separation between Santas and families. Nevertheless, despite FORBS’ ceaseless precautions, 2020 still held its highest mortality rate as portrayed by the year’s “Final Sleigh Ride” presentation. 

In terms of this Christmas, the Santa community can’t let its guard down just yet. “The average Santa comes in close, personal contact with between five and 15,000 family members every Christmas season. So, if we could prevent a single Claus death this year, all of our efforts have been totally worth everything we’ve had to do,” Erwin said. 

Although relatively unsung, perhaps the heroes of the holiday season are clad in red suits and white beards. In the words of Erwin, “Who knew a fictional character could have such real world impact?” 

 

The Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas at their 2018 Annual Santa Reunion.

Photo Courtsey of FORBS

 

Teacher Fashion Appreciation

Jackie Blom

Photos by Jackie Blom and Mia Soumbasakis

Layout by Emma Han

Straight Boys at OCSA, Surveyed

Natalie Hanani & Grant Li

The Ins N Outs of In N Out

Dominic DeArmey

Animal Style. Fried Mustard. Tomato Wrap. All things on the secret menu of the California-based, quick service restaurant In N Out Burger. From the moment of arrival, each level of associate is there to make you feel like part of the family. You can find most Level 1-3 associates assisting guests on the front line and in the drive thru window, and 4-7 preparing that juicy, deliciously fresh handcrafted burger lives up to their coveted slogan, “Quality You Can Taste.” Many OCSA students frequently visit the chain before and after rehearsals or performances, but did you know that there are many OCSA students who may serve you at your local In N Out?

We spoke to some seniors who work at In N Out stores across the Orange County area to give you the Ins N Outs of In N Out to help elevate your next order! Here's what they had to say:

“For those of you who think that the Pink Lemonade is Strawberry Lemonade, it’s not,” says Michael McDonald (IA ‘22). “I never knew you could get Cold Cheese or chiles on your burger until I became an Associate. I recommend you try not only those, but also fries that are cooked ‘Well Done’ and have your burger cooked ‘Fried Mustard Style’. If you’ve had an animal style burger, then you’ve already had this done to the meat. It’s just without the extra spread and grilled onions.” You can find and visit McDonald at store number 97 in Foothill Ranch as a Level 2 Store Associate. 

“I recommend ordering a Grilled Cheese with cold cheese, raw chopped onions, and chilies. Make the fries animal style with chilies and raw chopped instead of grilled,” said Jericho Tran-Faypon (ID-BR ‘22). He is part of the girlboss presidents for OCSA’s student council, is a Level 2 Store Associate at In N Out 170 in Laguna Hills. “There are only five locations that do not have a drive-thru window and I work at one of them”. When Tran-Faypon was hired, the manager working the shift asked him how he would balance school and work. For many OCSA students, this is something to consider before perhaps applying to your local In N Out store. With long hours and tons of homework, it might just be a little out of reach. However, students looking for the opportunity to become an associate may be interested in trying to find the job through a friend referral or by going into the store to speak with the manager.

Emma LaFleur (MT '22) taking a customer’s order at her store in Seal Beach. Photo courtesy of Emma LaFleur

“I applied online and they got back to me a few months later for an interview. I did two interviews, one on FaceTime and another one in person. They asked a lot of personal questions and why I wanted to work at In N Out. I guess they really liked all of the activities I talked about, like how I attended OCSA for piano,” said  Lily Beck (IM-P ‘22), a Level 2 associate at store 17 in Santa Ana. If you go to In N Out before a rehearsal or after a performance, you may just happen to run into her working. “You should try either their hot cocoa, it’s really good, and whole grilled onions which I didn’t know they had until I started working there. I think one thing I learned would be how to respectfully talk to customers so that In N Out is represented well as a company.”

“I learned that there is so much that goes on behind the scenes just to make a customer’s experience as amazing as it can be” said Emma LaFleur (MT ‘22). It’s common knowledge that In N Out makes for a great treat no matter what the occasion, you can always seem to count on a friendly smile and a positive attitude from all the associates. “I got hired by filing an application online then going in to meet the manager so he could see how determined I was to get the job” added LaFleur. “[Don’t forget to] try an animal style cheeseburger with a Neapolitan shake and fries”. You can visit LaFleur as a Level 3 associate at store 271 in Seal Beach.

The next time you visit your local In N Out, you may run into some OCSA students behind the counter. Don’t forget to try all of the amazing styles and ways to have your food prepared when visiting.

Holiday Gifts: A One-Way Ticket to College Rec Letters

Caitlyn Mason

 Oh, the holidays. A time of cheer, finals week stress, unfulfilled familial expectations, and best of all, gift-giving. It’s the time of year where you spend 80% of your time studying for your physics final, and the other 20% shopping for a worthy gift you can give to your teacher to make up for the failing grade you will inevitably receive on said physics final. 

For juniors especially, there is a certain relevancy that comes with gift-giving. Not only is the goal to convince your teacher that maybe, just maybe, their “no rounding” policy can be stretched, but also to make yourself memorable for the sake of...you guessed it, college recommendation letters. 

Most teachers have around 150 students per year, and you need to make yourself stick out amongst them. You can’t get them a coffee mug, because then you’re just “Coffee Cup Kid.” Maybe your teacher will drink coffee from that cup as they try--and fail--to remember your notable personality traits at four in the morning on October thirtieth. Who knows, maybe it’ll even become their favorite coffee cup. But in the end, Coffee Cup Kid makes up the majority of the school population. Do you really want to be Coffee Cup Kid? 

If your gift-giving ideas can’t seem to extend beyond coffee cups, this article is here to help. Here are 6 gifts for your teachers that will be a one-way ticket to an oddly specific college recommendation letter. 

  1. A live rat

    What gift is better than the gift of a literal organism? Perfect for animal-lovers (looking at you, biology teachers!), this is the gift that keeps on giving. Rats have a lifespan of about two years, so that’s two years of a constant, ever-present reminder of you. They’ll think of you when they have to buy a new laptop charger after their teething rat gnaws on it for six straight hours. And best of all, rats are nocturnal, which means that when your teacher has to grade essays, they’ll have someone to keep them company all. night. long. 

  2. A blanket with your face on it

    Your blanket is the last thing you see when you fall asleep, and the first thing you see when you’re awake. So why not bestow this gift upon your teacher, reminding them of your existence in the morning and at night? Your teacher will obviously use this cozy, thoughtful gift daily to keep them warm in the Southern California chill. 

  3. An invisible ink pen

    Perfect for grading, invisible ink pens can only be seen with a special light. A gift especially suited for Lit and Comp and English teachers, your teacher will love leaving all the scathing notes they like on your essays, creating the perfect space for venting. The greatest gift is that of pure pettiness.

  4. A gold-plated calculator 

    A perfect gift for the Math teachers who push excessively for you to buy a fancy calculator, a gold-plated calculator will help them graph equations in style. It combines two of the world’s best things: gold and mathematics. 

  5. Red (Taylor’s Version) vinyl 

    This is the perfect gift to achieve melancholy autumn vibes while grading. Complete with the ten-minute version of “All Too Well” to shed many a tear to, this vinyl is the perfect addition to their sad-song repertoire. Your favorite teacher will be all too (un)well by the end of this semester, so give them something that validates that. 

  6. A subscription to Better Help, an online therapy platform

    If there’s one thing your teacher will be needing after grading your work, it’s therapy. Great when paired with the Red vinyl, this subscription will get them through the many emotions they’ll be feeling while grading final exams. Get them something that will help them recover from the literal PTSD your short answer questions have given them. 

I hope these six gifts give you an idea of how to get the greatest, most excessively-detailed college recommendation letter your prospective college has ever received. 

Movie Property Sale

Isabelle Tran

Are you looking for a new place to call home? Look no further! Here, you’ll find the three hottest properties on the market. While these homes may be unconventional, they are sure to captivate you in ways you haven’t even thought of.

#1: The Swamp.

This home was lovingly lived in by its previous owner, who is sad to see it go. But lucky for you, it’s up for sale! For just 75% of your next season’s crops, this swamp-a-licious place can function as a 365/7 home or even a getaway retreat.

Facts and Features: Single family residence, built at the dawn of time, natural gas and lighting, price/sqft: $47 & 75% of your harvest 

Description:

Beautiful home crafted by nature in a secluded forest, expansive land, enforced with natural wood. Natural lighting, expansive backyard area, inspired by rustic designs. Peaceful atmosphere. Comes with a relaxing mud bath. Located just outside the Land of Duloc. Upholstered with curtains made up of the finest fabric. Furnished with a beautiful, authentic wooden table and seats two. Comes with a fireplace, perfect for the winter season. Ready to live in.

#2: Giant’s house

Have you got your eye on the sky? Then this residence is the perfect fit for you! Giant (he/him) is the current resident and is looking for someone to share the space with. And what an incredible amount of space it has! It comes ready with an abundance of everything needed to live. There is no cost for food and rent, but signing the contract means living here for the rest of your life. Who could say no to such an offer?

 Facts and Figures: Single family residence, built in the year ???, natural lighting, price/sqft: free*

 Description:

Incredibly spacious, airy. While it may not feel grounded, this home has its anchor in the clouds. Roommate takes the upper bunk, eats food. Low maintenance. Unmatched view of the clouds. Natural lighting and candlelight mostly, but Giant doesn’t need much convincing to switch to remote-controlled LED’s. Includes a beanstalk.

*includes your soul

#3: Death Star

You might be thinking, what could be more out of this world than that last home? I’ll tell you what: The Death Star—don’t worry, death has absolutely nothing to do with this property. You’ve heard of the island getaway but imagine how far away you could get living here. Why look at the moon when you can own the moon?

 Facts and Features: Thousand-family residence—built a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away—natural lighting—price/sqft: $9,999,999,999

Description:

Wi-Fi is so strong it reaches the opposite side of the planet that the router is on. All lights are voice controlled. Mobile home. Advanced defense system. View of the entire galaxy. Installed with technology that isn’t available to people living on planets. Hotspot for people traveling through space.

“Guaranteed” College Essay

Andy Choi

Guess what? I’m an artist. That’s right. I’m (pretentious synonym for weird). I’m different. I’m not your average normie. I’m always twirling (random art utensil) around in my hand and (aggressive adverb) (conservatory verb) whenever I have the opportunity. I’ve been obsessed with (conservatory art form) all my life, and I’ve spent the last (# of years you spent at OCSA) at a school where I can just be me. When I was (generic childhood age) I suffered (traumatic incident), which really affected my (mood-related noun). (Conservatory art form) became my way of dealing with my (pain-related noun). That gave me a/an (adjective related to fighting) spirit that got me through a global pandemic. That’s right—I survived. And I’m here to tell my story of (3 grit-related nouns with the same first letter).

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the (nth) semester of my (year of school) when my whole world (apocalyptic verb). Although adjusting to distance learning was difficult, it was an incredibly (adjective) learning experience for me. My (pretentious adjective) passion for (conservatory art) kept me through my (struggle-related noun). I often want to sit and (passive verb), but then I remember that I must (performative verb). It’s this drive to succeed that helped me on my (most impressive academic achievement). 

I’m not only interested in (conservatory art) though. I’m a multi-faceted individual: my passions range from (generic hobby you’ve done maybe twice at most) to (generic community service project). I love (generic activity that you’re not even good at and get tired of really quickly) and spreading (positive emotion that you haven’t personally felt in years) wherever I go. My friends call me (something your friends have never called you) because I am always (feel-good story about yourself that you made up). If I had to describe myself in one word, I would say that I am (pretentious adjective that you found on Synonyms.com). 

I’m also very plugged into the social and political climate and what’s going on in the world. Racism is bad, and so is homophobia. Sexism too. I care a lot about (somewhat obscure social issue #1). I also care a lot about (somewhat less obscure social issue #2). That’s why I’m an advocate for marginalized communities such as people who don’t dress up for Halloween and (other OCSA minority group). As a/an (privileged identity), I strive hard to amplify marginalized voices through (performative activism), but I also think I can offer a unique perspective being in the “minority” as an art school student 😜. Being artsy in this boring world, I often feel like I am the victim of (oppression-related noun). It’s hard!

In conclusion, we live in a society. In the era of the new normal and (other pandemic buzzword), I hope that one day the world will (excessively jubilant verb) for everyone to (impossible aspiration that you don’t actually believe in). That is my humble (non-humble synonym for “wish”) for the world.

Senioritis

Aoife McEvoy

Senioritis has been an issue for me since the beginning of the school year. The promise of college acceptances, graduation and even summer break seem to quell any motivation I’ve had towards my academics; however, this feeling always seems to worsen during this time of year. As the weather gets colder and the sun sets earlier, the days get longer and more monotonous. On top of the mountain of work my teachers have been assigning me, it all just feels very overwhelming––I know you feel it too.  But we’re all in the same boat after all, so hopefully I can offer you some advice that’s helped me.

One of the hardest things about this semester for me was juggling all of the responsibilities I’ve had to take on. From the combination of AP classes to conservatory to college apps to working a part time job, I was stressed beyond belief. It took me months to realize that I’d bitten off more than I could chew; I was sleep deprived, anxious and lazy. But there are ways to combat this. It's all about stepping back and asking yourself: “Do I absolutely need to be doing this right now?” For me, it was realizing that I simply couldn’t hold a job and focus on school at the same time, and that’s ok. I know many seniors tend to get jobs to start saving up for college or to add one more extracurricular on their college apps––which obviously shows honorable initiative––but sometimes it just isn’t worth it. You’ll have your whole life to hold down a job, you don’t need to worry yourself with that while also juggling school.

Yet the biggest issue for me this semester has been my workload. School is hard, even without college applications due in less than two months. You would think that our teachers would take this into consideration, but unfortunately mine haven’t gotten the memo. Every Monday I’m inundated with assignments, which only increase as the week goes on. But every time I complete one, another seems to pop up in its place, like an academically draining game of Whack-A-Mole. Most of the time it’s just so overwhelming that I avoid all of it. Scrolling on TikTok and rewatching Criminal Minds always seems like the best option at first, but only increases my anxiety in the long run; I should be doing my homework, but I don’t want to right now. I often find myself wondering why I can’t just do my homework, but I’ve realized that  beating myself up won’t do any good. Instead, I encourage us all to take it one day at a time. Your teachers are there to help you: ask for that extension, do those test corrections, turn in that one assignment late if it means you can catch up on sleep.

It's easy to get stuck in a slump. Doing little things I enjoy between study sessions often eases the process as it puts me in a more positive mood. Whether it be getting dinner with your friends, binge-watching your favorite TV show, dying your hair a fun color or facetiming your best friend, self care may feel like a waste of time but it’s not.

In the end, we’re only teenagers. These are supposed to be the best years of our lives and it’s time we start living like it. Just remember: your GPA doesn’t define you. The colleges you get into don’t define you. The amount of missing assignments you have doesn’t make you a bad person or even a bad student. We’re all doing the best we can and it’s time that we recognize that. At the end of the day, it’s just high school––it’ll be gone before you know it.

Horoscopes

Melody Chang

Art by Lauren Kim