Coming Soon: OCSA Serenity Center

Lacole Yang & Molly Jenkins

To help anyone feeling overwhelmed during school, OCSA is opening the Serenity Center on the first floor of the Tower. Its temporary home is a small but atmospheric room behind the front desk. A strong fragrance fills the air, a lamp casts a shifting gradient of hues across the walls and pools of illumination are gathered around spot lighting. The various objects on the shelves reveal the resources that are available—mindful coloring, journaling prompts, aromatherapy, a sand garden and stress toys. The center is modeled on a chain of wellness centers that have been opened in Orange County through a partnership between the Orange County Department of Education and Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Serenity Center Coordinator Dawn Spranger said “we are not part of that initiative quite yet. But we realized that we needed that here on campus.”

Temporary Serenity Center. Photo courtesy of Dawn Spranger.

The activities are not yet finalized. In early November, a survey was sent out to determine what students wanted to see. According to Spranger, “So many people put napping. Maybe we should teach the students some sleeping strategies.”

One thing that the Serenity Center will not be, explained Spranger, is a place to study or socialize. “You’re not going to be in there hanging out,” said Spranger, who emphasized the need to have a quiet environment. However, the administration is also considering opening roundtable discussions in the center where groups can have “open dialogue” on a subject that is stressing them out.

Mainly, the center will be dedicated to students who “are really stressed,” anxious or “feel a little bit dysregulated.” Students will be able to take a 10 to 15 minute break from class to visit the center and learn strategies to deal with their stress, keeping in mind that “the goal is to go back to class.” To visit during an academic block, students will need to first ask to go to Student Services, where a counselor will suggest they go to the Serenity Center. The center will also be available to anyone half an hour before school starts and during lunch and office hours.

When the Serenity Center’s planning is fully completed, it will be moved into the room where the Black Box Theatre was previously. There will be a focus on biophilic design—a building style that connects to the natural environment. “There’s not going to be any overhead lighting in there. They’re going to [change the windows], and it’s going to let natural lighting come in. It’s nature-based because having a connection to the outside world actually [helps] your anxiety,” said Spranger.

Spranger asserted that the Serenity Center is meant to teach lasting strategies for coping and dealing with stress, turning students into “responsible adult[s] in our society.”

The Art of the OCSA Administration

Melody Wu

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of OCSA’s administration, you’re not alone. Many students seem to find the roles and responsibilities of our school’s administrative team somewhat enigmatic. But worry not—in this article, we’ll reveal the key individuals and mechanisms that play a crucial role in the smooth running of OCSA.

First, it might be helpful to understand what makes OCSA unique—apart from being an art school. Unlike traditional public schools, OCSA functions as a separate Local Educational Agency (LEA). This means it operates as its own district, handling district-level responsibilities, like state testing and fundraising.

OCSA’s success can largely be attributed to the numerous members involved in the administration and leadership team. While each share some common tasks, like supervising groups of 20 to 30 teachers per year, there are many ways in which their jobs differ.

Acting as the instructional leader of the school, Principal Michael Ciecek leads the administrative team, addresses evolving student needs and sends out important announcements to students and parents. He mentioned, “school should be a place that kids want to be at.” Therefore, his goal is to foster experiences that “challenge students in their thinking.” Maria Lazarova, the Assistant Principal of Arts, bridges the gap between the administration and conservatory directors. She works closely with directors to develop curriculums, schedule events and resolve student-teacher disputes. She emphasized “that the admin team sits in meetings for hours on end talking about what we think is best for students,” and encouraged students to approach her anytime. Becca Freeland, the Assistant Principal of Student Services, oversees student-related events, like on-campus registration, College Fair and the relatively new Career Expo. Going forward, Freeland spoke about wanting to address feedback from the Challenge Success survey and bring more OCSA alumni on campus to share their experiences. Assistant Principal of Student Supervision Abbe Levine focuses on restorative practices, saying that “behavior is a learned competency just like math.” She is also “passionate about equity,” and leads the Coalition for Anti-Racism and Inclusion. Each month, she meets with student culture executive board members and affinity groups to “implement programming that is more inclusive.” Levine even keeps a collection of rocks with positive messages, explaining that each student she interacts with can take and make one. Other members of the administration include Kimberly Lyons and Shelley Stanphill, who serve as the Assistant Principal of Instruction and Learning Specialist, respectively.

“Behavior is a learned competency just like math.”

— Abbe Levine

Teren Shaffer is OCSA’s President and CEO. You may wonder: why do we have a CEO? Well, as mentioned previously, OCSA operates as its own LEA. Thus, Shaffer’s role is similar to the superintendent of a district. He oversees the administrative team and OCSA Foundation, develops the school vision and actively networks. When explaining his daily schedule, he discussed meeting with various OCSA stakeholders—including employees—to learn their unique perspectives on school topics, executive leadership, elected officials, donors and more. His networking efforts have brought notable guest speakers, like Gerard Way, to the school. Finally, arguably one of the biggest parts of his job is fundraising—which he accomplishes with the help of the OCSA Foundation team—with OCSA needing to raise about $12 million annually to fund its conservatory programs and events.

Ultimately, the administration’s dedication to their roles at OCSA is fueled by, as Levine said, “a deep-rooted appreciation for the arts.” Shaffer, upon joining OCSA, was inspired by “the caliber and the level of excellence amongst students.” He stated, “the arts teach young people much more than just painting or music. They teach young people about the important skills of collaboration, teamwork, and resilience.” At the end of the day, whether we’re a student, teacher, or administrator, what unites us is a shared love for art—one that finds its ideal home at OCSA.

Overview of the War in Ukraine

James Yi

“I have made the decision to carry out a special military operation.” - Vladimir Putin.

The Russo-Ukrainian War has been in progress for years now–longer than most people even know of. Here is an overview of what has happened and why.

Russia incorporated Ukraine into its territories late 18th century. Ukraine regained its independence after the Russian Revolutions--the February Revolution and Bolshevik Revolution--of 1917. After the establishment of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR), Ukraine was annexed under its rule alongside many other territories. In 1991, the USSR dissolved into independent republics, Ukraine being one of them.

Meanwhile, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the USSR’s rival during the Cold War, continuously expanded after 1991 until only a few countries remained between it and Russia. One of those was Ukraine, whose borders were in contact with both Russia and the NATO countries Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary .

In Feb. 2014, the Revolution of Dignity, also known as the Ukrainian Revolution, occurred. Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was voted out after months of anti-government protest. The event marked a decrease in Putin’s political influence in Ukraine and an increasing likelihood that Ukraine would become a part of NATO.

Within the same month, Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine. In Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukrainian separatists supported by Russia declared independence from Ukraine. Ukraine began a long-lasting conflict with the separatist regions in what is now termed the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Russian troops began gathering on and conducting military drills by the Ukrainian borders Nov. 2021. Putin followed that December by demanding a prohibition against Ukraine joining NATO. Ukraine declined. Finally, Feb. 2022, Putin declared support for the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and entered troops into the regions. Ukraine responded with a state of emergency. Hours later, a full-scale invasion began on Ukraine.

NATO put troops on standby and increased the defenses around Ukraine. Ukraine received military aid from countries including the EU and USA, and Russia was charged with heavy economic sanctions. President Joe Biden had ordered a ban on imported oil, gas, and coal from Russia to the US March 2022.

Russia invaded from the northern front of Belarus, southern front of Crimea, and southeastern front of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukrainian resistance drove back the northern forces by April 2023. From August to November, Ukrainian counteroffensives reclaimed part of the south and northeast. A relative stalemate lasted from then until June 2023, when Ukraine declared another counteroffensive. The estimated casualties of the war so far exceed 500,000, including 10,000 civilian deaths. Currently Russia holds a section of land stretching from southeastern to eastern Ukraine.

Throughout the course of the war, the US has committed over $47 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, providing training and equipment. Continued security funding for Ukraine is in question after the stopgap bills of Sep. 2023, Nov. 2023, and Jan. 2024 passed without such a provision. The most recent stopgap bill will prevent a government shutdown until early March. It is an unknown question whether a budget will be passed before then and whether it will resume support for Ukraine.

Tustin Hanger (1942-2023)

Brian Resendiz

The Tustin Hangar Fire was a surprising– even shocking– event for many Orange County residents. For others it was the first they’ve ever heard of the hangars. Two months later, we now revisit the fire’s impacts, potential causes and what’s next for the hangars’ legacy.

In the early morning of November 7th, one of the two hangars caught fire. The Orange County Fire Department responded and attempted to extinguish the fire but it was so large that they decided it would be safer to just allow the hangar to burn. The smoke released asbestos into the air, which posed a safety hazard to local residents. In response, the Tustin Unified School District postponed school instruction for the following week and advised citizens to stay indoors.

Photo courtesy of the Orange County Register

The poor Tustin air quality even affected some OCSA students. When asked about her experience, Tustin resident Ava Mora (CMD ‘24) said, “It was definitely surprising. I was told not to drive down the street because [the hangar] was five minutes from my house. My best friend goes to the school right next to it so she has to go to a different high school until January.” Despite living so close to the fire, however, Mora wasn't terribly devastated: “I knew it used to be an old military base and grew up thinking it was cool, but … I’m doing fine. I have wondered how they are going to bring down the two doors; they’re made of concrete and … are standing only by a thread.”

It’s easy to brush it all off as an unfortunate event, but many people– many of whom have voiced their opinions on internet message boards– claim it was bound to happen. Considering the hangar was constructed with wood, years of neglect and weather damage played big roles in the cocktail of a ticking time bomb. It’s theorized that there was no real desire by the US Navy to maintain the hangars, not only due to the costs, but also because of the large amount of asbestos embedded into the structure. All in all, if the hangar did not burn down, it would have been commissioned for deconstruction in order to make better use of the land.

Having spanned a colossal 1,000 feet in length and 17 stories high, the purpose of the hangar was to provide aid and resources for various military aircrafts– most notably blimps during WWII, which were used to scan the California coastline for enemy submarines. It was also a popular filming location for media such as “Pearl Harbor,” “Austin Powers,” “The X-Files” and a music video for Blink-182’s After Midnight. While the hangar fires are long over and Tustin residents have mostly recovered from any damages or hazards, we today mourn the loss of a monument in which lots of history happened, and in which Orange County may have been changed forever.

OCSA in the Multiverse

Lacole Yang

We are CSArts. The motto of California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley is written across the front page of its website in a font and placement identical to that of OCSA’s website. Both schools are managed by the California School of the Arts Foundation, which aims to spread arts education by establishing a network of charter schools. So far, only two have been founded. The CSArts Foundation is managed by a Board of Governors. Matthew Morrison leads its advisory Board of Counselors.

Founded 30 years after OCSA in 2017, CSArts has a similar vision and structure. Looking through its promotional videos and the student leadership’s social media, it appears to be a version of OCSA from another dimension, uncanny in its twin-like imitation. They have the same logo and school events, and there are even counterparts to all OCSA publications. Instead of Dreamscape, they have Stargazer; instead of Art Attack, there is CSArts Media; in place of Evolution, CSArtisan prints their news. Despite these commonalities, the schools can easily be differentiated by a few aspects.

For one, CSArts has a much smaller student population and campus, with some dance classes taking place in portable classrooms. It doesn’t offer as many conservatories, lacking Ballet Folklorico, Ballroom, Design and Media, Film and Television, Arts and Enterprise and Culinary. Instead of Classical Voice, they have a general singing program called Vocal Arts. However, CSArts is currently looking to expand by including sixth grade students. Starting in the fall, more students will be able to join its middle school program. Middle school students take only their art classes at CSArts, going to Duarte Unified School District for academics. CSArts also has a longer school day with shorter conservatory blocks, ending at 5 PM.

For another oddly familiar arts high school, look at OCSA: Osceola County School for the Arts. Students and faculty there seem to spell out each letter instead of reading the acronym as one word. Its motto is “where passion meets purpose,” and the passions offered are Band, Orchestra, Vocal Performance, Drama, Technical Theatre and Creative Writing. They also have no sports teams and an alternating block schedule, but the similarities end there. Instead of blue and gold days, it uses teal and purple, purple being its school color. The conservatory classes aren’t a separate part of the day and are instead integrated into the three-block day. Here in Orange County, it’s often said that there is no dress code, but Osceola County’s dress code is 3.5 pages long, including both school and district requirements.

Logo courtesy of Osceola County School of the Arts

Osceola County School’s most distinct tradition has no OCSA equivalent. At the end of the year, each grade wears a shirt in an assigned color to participate in the beloved Color Wars. As a class, they create a theme, such as “Mardi Gras” and “murder mystery,” and plan a cross-conservatory competition based on it. After decorating their section of the school in their color as much as possible, one grade for middle school and one grade for high school is selected as the winner.

OCSA’s mission states that “We provide an unparalleled arts and academic education.” Perhaps no school can replicate our experience, but there certainly are parallels.

Examining OCSA Lunch Options

Angie Kidder

One thing that OCSA is best known for across campus is its food selection. From a warm chocolate chip cookie in the cafeteria to a pizza stick over on 10th Street, there are many beloved items on the campus menu.

OCSA has made positive changes to how the student body gets its lunch. Lunch options are all still available on the 2nd floor cafeteria, but now new, mini-cafeterias have been made for food items across campus in order to keep lines shorter.

Even though OCSA has a wide array of options for lunch every day on campus, there is a lack of options for people on campus with dietary restrictions. Out of all the lunch options on campus, two out of eight options are vegan, one option is gluten-free, and only one option is dairy-free.

“Even though OCSA has a wide array of options for lunch every day on campus, there is a lack of options for people with dietary restrictions”

Not only that, the free lunch program at OCSA has little to no options for students on campus who need a free lunch, but also have a dietary restriction. Out of all the free lunch options, only one lunch option is vegan and none are gluten-free.

Hailey Knowles (IA ‘25) says, “I don’t mind bringing lunch from home, but if OCSA did take precautions to give gluten-free and dairy-free options, I would love to eat the delicious food our school offers. I also think it would be beneficial for the culinary students to learn how to accommodate for allergies and make gluten-free recipes since a lot of places don’t offer allergy-friendly options”.

In order to make cafeteria food accessible to everyone, we need to create more options for students, especially those in the free lunch program. The program typically offers one option a day, ranging from a bean and cheese quesadilla to penne pasta with marinara sauce. Due to the limited options, many students on campus will be unable to have lunch available to them every day.

It is important to realize that with such a large population on campus to feed, we need to create more options for students with dietary restrictions on both the daily lunch menu and the free lunch menu.

Lunch Options: What Do The Students Want To See?

Samuel You

OCSA’s cafeteria system is definitely a step up from your regular high school—a dedicated team of chefs derived from the school’s own culinary program is nothing to scoff at. However, with a relatively constant menu, some students have a few suggestions about how the cafeteria can be an even better culinary experience.

Erin Lee (CW ‘24) noticed that the menus in general, online and in-person, are not accurate and need updating. She also thinks that “it would be interesting if they tried a few more pasta flavors, maybe depending on the day of the week.”

Hunter Zalai (CA-H ‘25) suggested the regular addition of some sort of fried chicken dish to the menu, noting that “the kids would go dummy crazy for fried chicken”.

Cole Schulein (CA-H ‘25) wanted to see some more low-carb options, as well as some cheaper fare for the fitness and price-conscious, noting that most dishes are “pretty expensive for the cost of production”.

Finally, Lyn Huang (CW ‘24) simply suggested that some more sauce options on all offerings would greatly increase palatability, stating that there was a “lack of variety in seasoning in the food.”

These are all valid concerns. However, even if there are areas of improvement, it’s important to keep in mind that having a culinary team offering such a wide range of foodstuffs is a privilege not many other high school students have.

The Twisted Irony of Squid Games

Brie Samaniego

The 2021 sensation of a TV show, “Squid Game,” has once again gained public attention with a new game show-style adaptation.

In case you forgot, the original show follows the main character, Seong Gi-hun, who is faced with crippling poverty and debt. When given the opportunity to compete to the death with other players for a cash prize of $38 million, Seong Gi-hun accepts and eventually wins the prize. In reality, the squid games have no real winner, as Seong Gi-hun is haunted by the terrifying events that took place within the arena. As revealed in the show, the games were created by a group of ultra-rich, English-speaking, white men looking for entertainment.

This show is not only a blatant criticism of capitalism and the lengths people will go to overcome the extreme poverty created by it, but also of the wealthy exploiting the impoverished for entertainment simply because they can. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director of Squid Games, said himself that he wished to create a story about our “modern capitalist society” when creating the show.

“The Challenge” is the Netflix reality show based on “Squid Game,” where real contestants compete for a prize of $4.56 million. This show has also been met with heavy criticism.

Not only does this new reality show seemingly miss the entire point of the original story, but some contestants have even threatened legal action against Netflix for the conditions faced during production. Contestants were allegedly subjected to extreme cold and nerve damage according to a personal injury lawyer representing two unnamed players.

When looked at critically, this undercuts the entire message of the original show. People have been subjected to allegedly unsafe conditions to compete for the chance to win a life-changing amount of money all for the comfortable viewers’ enjoyment.

Although, the executive producer of “The Challenge,” Tim Harcourt, claims that the anti-capitalist sentiment in the original show was not the primary message of the show, but rather the competition was. He describes the game show as different from the original because the contestants are prompted to compete for the opportunity rather than out of necessity.

Regardless of the initial intentions of its creators, it begs the question if one must set aside their critical thinking skills and media literacy in order to enjoy this new reality show.

Senior Solutions

Brie Samaniego and Molly Jenkins

Hey seniors, congratulations on an amazing first semester! I know the beginning of the year had moments that were definitely stress-filled and difficult to endure but we are almost at the finish line! As much as the second semester will be full of sentimental and exciting moments, we have a few tips to share with all of you seniors to make your second semester less stressful and more fun.

1. Show up to school

I know, it feels like it's impossible; I GET IT. However, it's our last semester, so take it all in. Make as many memories as you can while the time lasts. Plus, you definitely don’t want to get too behind and overly stressed with school work from the days you missed.

2. Meet new people, AKA don't isolate yourself

It's the second semester of senior year, so go out and meet new people! I know that we are all comfortable with the friends we have grown close to over the years, but this is a time to make new friends and memories! Branch out and be open to spending time with new people. Who knows, they could grow into your closest friends and people that you will remain friends with after graduation.

3. Don't compare yourself to other people

I know this can be difficult as many of our peers are applying to similar schools as us, so it may be hard to not compare your essays or stats. Please remember how hard you have worked in high school and that you will end up exactly where you need to be. As much as this can be a time of fun and excitement, navigating life post-graduation can also feel slightly isolating. I know everyone says this, but each and every person is amazing and will find their path no matter what your plans are.

4. Appreciate what you have in the moment

Senior year is full of fleeting moments. Going into your last semester in high school, there are going to be lots of things that you will experience for the last time. Live through your final moments here. Don't spend too much time in your head wishing for the end because eventually it will come and you will have wistful thinking in place of memories. Take time to appreciate the things about OCSA that you won't be able to after graduation.

5. Brace yourself for the possibility of rejection

Nobody wants to think about the fact that they might be rejected from their top school. Hearing “rejection is redirection” is already old. There's no getting around it, rejection hurts. Don't shove away the negative feelings; it's okay to be upset and to mourn what could've been. The key is to not dwell on it for too long, there is so much more to look forward to and celebrate. I’m sure you're tired of hearing this too but, It’s going to be okay.

6. Don't take everything (including yourself) too seriously

Now is the most unserious time of your high school career. I’m not saying you should mess around and fail all your classes, just that now is the time to have fun with what is remaining of your high school career. The stakes have gone down and I think it's time for the senior class to collectively take a deep breath. Before getting stressed out about something, ask yourself, as I often do, “Is it really that deep?”

Ask Darwin! January

Brie

As a great intellectual and evolutionary master, I, Charles Darwin, am offering my services to those who seek it. Students in need of my expertise have sent in questions through a rolling Google Form to be answered monthly. Thus, I have done my best to provide an intelligent, insightful response.

I've been struggling with procrastination, and it's impacting my grades and causing me a lot of stress. How can I break this habit and become more disciplined with my schoolwork?

From Worry Wart

It has occurred to me that this is a common problem among the general populace. While being prone to procrastination is generally regarded as a bad habit, it is most necessary to understand that early forms of procrastination most likely came about in the beginning stages of human evolution, when it was essential for one to conserve their energy. Of course, that is not the case today. To break this habit, I would suggest simply being organized and keeping track of when important things must be completed. Additionally, if it is the sheer volume of tasks you must attend to that is preventing you from working, my suggestion would be to divide up the work into multiple intervals of time. Personally, I like to divide my work into three 90-minute periods each day.

I've developed a crush on a friend, but I'm worried it might ruin our friendship if I confess my feelings. Should I take the risk and tell them how I feel, or should I keep it to myself to avoid potential awkwardness?

From Silent Yearner

In nature, animals are naturally equipped with mechanisms specifically devised to help them mate. Finches, in particular, will perform courtship dances to attract a partner. However, even these birds won’t find their perfect pair if they don’t take a chance and risk rejection. We are all still growing as people, and rejection is inevitably part of this cycle. But, it offers us another opportunity to evolve into better individuals. Like the finches, you should take risks. And in the face of potential rejection, remember that more birds are waiting to see your dance.

Do you think if I get an ick then I don’t actually like the person?

From Confused Critic

Biologically, this so-called ‘ick’ is an unconscious gut reaction to somebody’s behavior, physical appearance, or any characteristic. By modern definition, it is characterized by the sudden feeling of cringe and disgust over a seemingly trivial action. However, it is important to recognize that the ‘ick’ is a natural response. As homo sapiens, we find discomfort in and often fear opening up to a new individual, and this does not necessarily mean that we dislike the other person. As you grow closer to one another, trust that we will all evolve. If the ‘ick’ remains intolerable, please keep in mind that favorable traits will continue to live on. May we not only remain tolerant of one another, but eventually grow fond of what makes us human.

Rating Iconic Korean Cartoons

Sophia Kang, Isabelle Ng, Kate Um

At the top: Pororo. Every Korean kid grew up watching this and had their training chopsticks. It has a great message for kids on problem solving and friendship, and you already know all the Korean markets are dripped out with their merch. Oh, and I know half of you guys used to have a crush on Eddy. Five Loopy’s out of five! Not taking any feedback.

The lore of CoCoMong is better written than half of the TV shows I’ve seen today. A magical fridge land with food that’s shaped like various animals? Top tier. If you watched this show, you have taste. And we do too, so we rate it five winking CoCoMongs out of five.

Looking back on it, bboong bboong ee (Farting King Pung Pung) was a bit…weird. But, it was my favorite show as a kid and I trust three-year-old me. Regardless of its interesting translation to English, I give it five Bboong Bboong Es out of five.

Four and a half Amber’s out of five. Only half off because my brother hogged the iPad so I couldn’t see everything. But you already know my brothers and I played with the toy version of them everyday. If you loved this, or still do, you’re cool and I wish you all the best.

Everyone’s brother united to watch this show. Look at them now. Everything in this show was irksome to watch and it was like Tom and Jerry but slimy and gross. Unapologetically giving it two larvas out of five.

Visual Arts Gallery

Elise Park & Melody Wu

Got the Winter Blues? Try out this Recipe!

Kayra Hidirlar

Bûche de Noël

As we are in the midst of the winter season, you may be motivated to do some baking. If so, I highly suggest this delicious Buche de Noel recipe!

This is a French rolled cake filled with chocolate cream & covered in a chocolate ganache, eaten to celebrate the winter solstice. Bûche de Noël translates to the “Log of Christmas” because its preparation style makes it look like a log.

While the process may be tedious, it’s definitely worth the time because of how divine it is. Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients

Cake:

1 ⅓ cups cake flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
6 large eggs, separated
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

Cocoa Hazelnut Whipped Cream:

1 ½ cups heavy cream
¼ cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp cocoa powder
½ cup chopped hazelnuts

Chocolate Ganache:

6 oz chocolate
¾ cup heavy cream

Sugared Cranberries & Rosemary

1 cup fresh cranberries
4-5 rosemary sprigs
¾ cup water
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

Meringue Mushrooms

1 egg white
⅛ tsp cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
2 tbsp granulated sugar
½ tsp cocoa powder
1 oz chocolate

Steps

Make the sugared cranberries & rosemary: Simmer water & ¾ cup sugar. After cooling, pour syrup over cranberries and rosemary. Set aside for 15 minutes & add to a lined baking sheet. Wait 1 hour & toss in the remaining sugar. Dry for another hour.
Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350oF. Grease a 12 x 17 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Whisk cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder & salt in a bowl. Whip egg whites & ½ cup of sugar until stiff peaks form. Beat egg yolks, remaining sugar, oil & vanilla until pale in color. Fold egg whites into egg yolks. Repeat with flour mixture. Spread onto baking sheet, tap a few times & bake for 15 minutes.
Prepare to roll: Place a piece of parchment paper or towel on the counter & dust with cocoa powder. Invert cooked cake onto paper. Roll the cake up with the parchment paper & cool.
Make the meringue mushrooms: Preheat the oven to 200oF & line a baking sheet. Beat the egg white, cream of tartar & salt until foamy. Add sugar & beat until glossy peaks form. Pipe circles (mushroom tops) & cones (stems) separately on the baking sheet. Bake for 2 hours. When done, leave the meringues for 20 minutes. Then remove and cool. Melt the chocolate and use it to adhere mushroom tops to stems.
Make the cream: Whip the cream, powdered sugar & cocoa powder until stiff peaks form.
Assemble: Spread the cream onto the unrolled cake & sprinkle the hazelnuts on top. Roll up the cake again without the parchment paper/towel. Place on a cutting board & dust with more cocoa powder.
Make the ganache: Heat the cream until it simmers. Pour over the chocolate & stir until melted. Refrigerate for 30 minutes - 1 hour.
Assemble: Spread the ganache on the top & sides of the cake. Make textured lines with a fork. Decorate with the meringue mushrooms, rosemary, cranberries & powdered sugar.

For more information, see Sally’s Baking Addiction!

Confessions of the Girls’ Bathroom

Sofie Dooley

It’s 1:15 PM, you cannot keep your eyes on the teacher. You can’t even stay awake, let alone solve an inequality graphically. You think to yourself that you just need a moment of clarity–of peace and silence. Would a short trip to the girl’s bathroom do the trick? Maybe if you bring your phone, you could play Wordle or go on Pinterest for the next 15 minutes, waiting it out. Yeah, that’d be nice. You rise out of your seat,phone in pocket, to make the journey down the hall for a moment of serenity, or so you thought.

As you push open the door, a wave of senses hit you. Curling irons are out, while you're surrounded by girls sitting on sinks, perfecting their mascara. You hear the sound of passionate gossip, names being dropped, addresses being leaked and deep secrets being unearthed, with the sound of faint crying in the corner stall, or is that a whimper, a giggle perchance? Who knows. Your nostrils are inflamed with the oh–so-familiar smell of the sterile walls of school mixed with the infamous scents of Bath and Body Works “Champagne Toast” and the caramelized vanilla of “Sol De Janeiro.”

Man oh man, this isn’t any better than Integrated Three Math. In a scurried walk to the stall, you close the door behind you—solitude at last. You try to focus on the Wordle of the day but can’t cancel out the hottest echoing gossip of the new evil OCSA straight man who has wronged 80% of the girls outside your stall. You wish you didn’t have to hear about his most recent exes or how he was texting her at the same time as the next girl, but you have no choice but to listen. The information feels confidential, dangerous almost. After you glance at the gum pile in the corner, you begin to read the faint words scribbled on the walls. You see forums upon forums, depressive thoughts, responses, sapphic confessions and everything in between.

A sudden burst occurs, filled with anxiety, confusion and fascination. With a bust open of the door and a scurry through the crowd, you are out. This was all too much, and all you wanted was to pee. Alas, you make the trek back to your math class pondering what just occurred. In a moment of reflection, you look back at your experience with gratitude: at least it’s not the boy’s bathroom.

Why are movie villains so hot?

Ava Park

Most of us have probably watched the new “Hunger Games” movie and met our new favorite morally confused platinum blonde…young Coriolanus Snow (bye bye Draco Malfoy). Although the inevitable fate of Coriolanus Snow becoming President Snow lingers in the back of our minds, we, at least I, choose to ignore it because, let's be honest, Tom Blythe is easy on the eyes. It also doesn't help that the “snow lands on top” TikTok thirst edits are all over the ‘for you’ page. The hashtag #youngsnow has 41.7M views, #snowlandsontop has 34M views, and #coriolannussnow has a whopping 1.5B views. Comment sections are flooded with “I can change him”s, and “I would have talked it out”s. Unknowingly, I got sucked into this world of Snow TikTok thirst edits. Without a care in the world, I liked every video that came my way, until I got reminded that this is the same person that killed three people (and later more). This made me wonder, why do TikTok edits influence our perception of considerably “bad people.'' It seems that one fire edit of a person who is responsible for the death of three characters to the song “Agora Hills” excuses all their wrongdoings.

This may seem like a silly thing to write about, and you may be thinking, “Who cares! They’re fictional characters!” And that's true. They are just fictional characters, but the reactions to them are real. It has me wondering how we, as a society, might act when these TikTok edits start to glorify the actions of real-life bad people, who have inflicted real pain onto others.

“It seems that one fire edit of a person who is responsible for the death of three characters to the song ‘Agora Hills’ excuses all of their wrongdoings.”

— Author

TikTok has contributed to the bigger issue of mob mentality, where, if enough people can agree on something, it's bound to be accepted by a larger community of people. One well-made TikTok edit is enough to have viewers question their moral perception of someone. The combination of catchy music and iconic dialogue is so powerful, you forget all about the character, their story and their wrongdoings.

But maybe I’m reading too far into it, and it just so happened that Lionsgate recruited a good looking fella to play Snow. Obviously, the concept of bad being bad and good being good doesn’t acknowledge the nuances of human behavior, and everyone mostly exists in the gray area of morality. However, at least in these fictional worlds, I wish movie villains weren’t so hot.

Marquis Monarchy Utopia

Sophie Bradecich

Imagine a world where you wake up and you’re shockingly not tired. Your backpack feels light and your commute feels easy. Even the miserable drop-off line happens with no honking and no traffic. You park your car perfectly the first time and head to your first class of the day. This is a universe where everything seems just a little happier, and your classes, a bit more manageable. It’s a universe where Marquis has been crowned as the King of OCSA.

Over a few short weeks, all of OCSA’s goals have been met. The whole campus has become a serenity center of its own. The grand staircase to the cafeteria both exists and makes sense. The conservatories live in harmony, and the pre-Covid ice cream truck has returned. No students linger in restroom stalls, and tech week is a time of rest and relaxation for all. Everything you love about OCSA is amplified, and any troubles you may have in your personal life have been mysteriously solved.

Marquis himself already has brilliant ideas for the school under his reign. First order of business: no more Webb. Culinary Arts and Popular Music students alike will thank our ruler for eliminating the block-long trek to the theater. He would move the building to the infamous dirt lot, along with an engineering conservatory. Our king would also form an OCSA Improvisation team, which he would of course captain. It seems so obvious that the performing arts school would have an improv team, but only a brilliant brain like Marquis could be the one to pitch it.

I imagine our King riding in his royal golf cart, alongside loyal knights: Dr. Lyons, Terren Shaffer, and Mr. Ciecek. Marquis rules with a firm, yet kind hand. Montage! performers serenade you as you walk to class, and you smile at each person you know. They always smile back—Marquis has just made it general law that all acquaintances, no matter how distant, greet each other in the halls. No need for awkwardness or half smiles anymore. Marquis has perfected OCSA. As we all knew he would.

Sassy Man Syndrome

Sophia Kang

Is it the way you act, Pookie?

Recently, an epidemic has swept the world. It has affected upwards of 20 percent of men everywhere. And a cure has yet to be developed.

The Sassy Man Apocalypse or Mandemic is the most feared disease since the 1347 Bubonic Plague. Husbands, boyfriends, brothers, sons, nephews, grandsons, regular boys, male toddlers and even infants are susceptible to this illness. Symptoms may include opinions on outfits, chronically asking if you want them dead, severe side-eyeing and proclaiming themselves to be a “passenger princess.” Women have been sharing screenshots and videos of their partners exemplifying such behaviors, ranging from texts that say “I can’t hear you lalala” to men wistfully pouting in a corner after being playfully insulted. But, amid this chaos, a question must be posed: is the Sassy Man Apocalypse a blessing in disguise?

Prayag Mishra, AKA 444pray on Tiktok, has risen to Internet fame as the leader of the Sassy Man Apocalypse. He isn’t afraid to showcase his sassy man syndrome. The influencer has coined popular phrases like “It’s the way you act” (L motion back and forth), “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!” and “Pookaaaay” (L motion back and forth). In one of his most popular videos, Mishra explains, “You don’t choose to be sassy. If it were up to me, I’d be nonchalant and sexy. But, God wanted me to be sassy. What can I say? What can I say?” And truly, what can he say? Is this what the universe meant for men to be? Is sassy the way to go?

Despite initially shocking symptoms, the Sassy Man Apocalypse has provided several heterosexual men with the freedom to behave more femininely. No longer must they hide behind the masculine mask that has forced them to make unfunny misogynistic jokes and dress like they’ve chosen their clothes in the dark. The Sassy Mandemic has allowed them to accomplish something rarely seen in heterosexual men before: being funny.

Sassy men no longer hide in the shadows. They are represented in everything from TikTok photo slideshows to box office movies. Children’s media such as Trolls (1, 2 and 3) and Frozen (just 1, not 2) have accurately portrayed the effects of sassy man syndrome through characters like Branch and Kristoff (respectively). Percy Jackson from the popular series Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Harry Potter from some random book are famously loved for their attitude. Aside from Prayag, influencers like Drew Phillips (Emergency Intercom, The Act as Gypsy Rose Blanchard) and Weston Koury (Sinjin Drowning, Roblox Total Drama Island) have drawn in audiences with their sass.

The Sassy Man Apocalypse is upon us, so we might as well enjoy it. After all, Pookie, what can he say?

(If you believe a male close to you may be suffering from Sassy Man Syndrome, contact your local physician immediately to discuss temporary treatments such as severe humbling and talking about Jacob Elordi in front of him.)

Junioritis

Naomi Herthel

Juniors, picture this: We’re at the beach. We’re in the ocean splashing and having fun… until we look up and find ourselves at the bottom of a cresting wave– the largest we’ve ever seen– destined to crash down upon us in mere moments. Welcome to January of our junior year. As we stand on the precipice of this upcoming semester, we are no longer strangers to this feeling of impending doom.

If last semester didn’t kill you, congratulations! Whether you met your specific academic goals or not, we should all be proud of ourselves for what we accomplished: juggling this demanding high school curriculum alongside our social lives, extracurricular activities, and self-care needs is no easy task. We performed in shows, led clubs, and pushed ourselves outside of our comfort zones in many other exciting ways. Although this might’ve required some sleepless nights, canceled plans and mind-boggling levels of stress, we made it. And now we just have to do it all over again! Great! But maybe this time we’ll be able to make it without the sleepless nights, canceled plans and immense stress? Maybe?? (We won’t.)

Junior year is when we have to start answering questions regarding our identities as students and as individuals. While we’re told that freshman and sophomore years are supposed to be ones of exploration– in terms of passions, hobbies and future aspirations– by junior year we’re supposed to have it all figured out. We’re expected to have a dream job, dream college and list of extracurriculars and achievements that are going to get us there. No more wiggle room or trying new things– just implementation. But how can we determine how we want to spend the rest of our academic careers if we can’t decide what we want for dinner? And how can we know if we’re doing enough? Can a student in 2024 ever “do enough”? At this point, most of us are probably feeling imposter syndrome: the feeling that our skills or qualifications are not good enough. But as we continue to take on seemingly infinite personal and academic commitments– like taking the SAT or ACT and beginning to study for upcoming AP exams– we have to remind ourselves of a couple of things.

First, our parents, teachers, and future college admissions officers aren’t looking for perfection– just a demonstration that we are trying our best. If our grades throughout high school haven’t been where we want them to be, it’s not too late to reach out for help, adopt new study habits and turn our transcripts around. Though undertaking this process in junior year may feel potentially late, it will surely demonstrate commendable determination and resolve. And second, we go to a preeminent arts school. We are learning alongside some of the most talented and devoted students in not only Orange County, but the entire state. It’s easy to forget this and feel discouraged when we compare ourselves to apparent geniuses and future Hollywood stars. We have to keep in mind that each of us brings something unique to the table; someone else’s win does not equate to your loss.

“During such an overwhelming time, it’s been really important for me to have exciting things to look forward to,” Kate Kim (CW ‘25) says, “from spending time with my friends at school to planning fun outings on the weekends.” With only a few months left of our junior year, this advice is imperative. We will not be successful at anything if we burn ourselves out by neglecting rest, relaxation and the things that make us happiest. After a long week, go out. Close your computer and spend time with your loved ones. Sleep in! As stressful as junior year is, it’s already halfway done, and with a little balance, it will be remembered not for the nights we stayed up late studying, but for the nights we stayed up late laughing and building friendships that will last a lifetime.

Chinese Zodiac Signs

Lauren Kim

The numbers in parentheses indicate the last two digits of birth years of each zodiac sign.

Table of Contents

charles darwin

kayra hidirlar

sofie dooley

ava park