It’s Halloween 2018, and the OCSA administrative team struts out onto 10th Street repping polka dots, top hats, stripes, and face paint ready to enter the annual costume contest. Their theme was circus performers, and their ringleader was the one and only Mr. Teren Shaffer.

The costume must’ve been prophetic, for three years later, Shaffer is now assuming the role of OCSA’s ringleader as the new president and CEO.

Shaffer fits right in with the OCSA student body. He cannot leave the house without a cup of coffee which he makes in his Keurig, or a Nespresso if he’s feeling fancy. Shaffer admitted his guilty pleasure is going to Blue Bowl, sometimes multiple times a week pre-COVID. Some of his favorite musicians are Jacob Collier, James Taylor, and Earth Wind & Fire.

“I’m the same breed as OCSA students, I’m one of you. I started as a kid who was serious about my academics but just had this passion for the arts,” said Shaffer.

He also enjoys golfing, mountain biking and snowboarding. As a matter of fact, Shaffer sat in the admin office answering questions for this profile while having three broken ribs from a snowboarding accident in Lake Tahoe over spring break. The man does it all.

Shaffer grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and briefly lived in Texas before moving to South Orange County for high school. Shaffer’s dad was an arranger and composer so musicianship is in his blood. His first instrument growing up was the piano. He learned to play all saxophones and the bassoon throughout elementary, middle and high school. However, his favorite instruments are jazz piano, cello and French horn, none of which he knows how to play. He knew he wanted to pursue music while he was in high school but never planned on ending up in education.

Shaffer began his OCSA career as a conservatory teacher teaching only two blocks per week after his friend told him about the job opening. He never intended to become an educator, but after his first day teaching the Wind Studies program, he knew this is where he wanted to be.

“I remember going home and telling my wife, ‘Oh my god, there is nothing like this place. The students are hungry to learn, they’re passionate, the level of artistry is higher than I experienced at many universities’” said Shaffer.

Shaffer then went on to conduct OCSA’s Wind Ensemble, leading them to become the first high school in Southern California to be invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in 2014. He then moved up the ranks, becoming Instrumental Music’s conservatory director, then Dean of Arts and Executive Vice President, before being unanimously appointed to OCSA’s top leadership position by the Board of Trustees.

“The different experiences I’ve had have been incredibly eye opening and made me a more well rounded leader who really understands the organization and what it’s like at each level” said Shaffer. “I started as a teacher, my passion is in the classroom, and it will always be there”.

Shaffer already has big plans for OCSA’s next few years. He hopes to implement an Artist in Residence program where Master Artists can spend a few months or even a semester working with conservatory students, as an addition to the current Master Artist Series that Shaffer helped spearhead.

He also hopes to develop internship and dual-enrollment programs that will help further both students’ academic and artistic education to better prepare them for college and careers.

Shaffer will also be tasked with transitioning parents, students and teachers back into OCSA post-COVID. He emphasized the importance of events like Welcome Week, and revitalizing spirit and community through 10th Street events and festivities after such an odd year.

When asked what he would tell his 2010 self, Shaffer said, “In life, relationships are everything. Relationships are built upon trust. And when you have good meaningful collaborations with the people you love and the people you work with, anything is possible.”

The Gentrification of Thrifting

By: Jane Lee

During the 19th century, the industrial revolution introduced the mass production of clothing. With clothing becoming more affordable and more convenient to dispose of, second-hand stores were invented, which are now more ubiquitously known as “thrift stores.” Now with the rise of social media and fast fashion in the 21st century, thrifting has become a new way to buy clothes for a much cheaper price.

Traditionally, buying second-hand clothes came out of necessity; existing high fashion brands were simply unaffordable to many. However, there also came a stigma attached to used and second-hand clothing. Not only were the items themselves an indicator of lower socioeconomic status, but there was also bias against the people who sold second-hand items. Historically, gathering donated clothes were met with antisemitic remarks, as Jewish immigrants collected used clothes in pushcarts in the 19th century. Christian ministries were subsequently formed to profit off of this concept of giving to the community, upstarting donation centers known today as Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

Today, many people don’t need to leave their homes to shop as they can browse online through fashion catalogs of their choosing. You’ve probably noticed that Instagram has recently changed its notification icon to a shopping cart, making shopping while scrolling through your feed more readily accessible. This is due to the rise in online shopping, connected with pop culture and advertisement. The idea of thrifting, although relatively new, is rising in popularity rapidly through the means of social media, especially through the platforms of Depop and TikTok.

A big contributor as to why people buy second-hand is because of the raising awareness of the perils of fast fashion and the importance of sustainability. And as thrifting increases in popularity, so do the prices in these stores due to the rapid influx of upper and middle-class people choosing to buy second-hand. Although this increase in thrifting, in essence, displays mindfulness and sustainability, it harms local communities that rely on these stores. Goodwill is one of the biggest thrift stores in the U.S. that is steadily increasing its prices, contradicting its slogan of giving back to the community. When in reality, they’ve raised prices on donated goods, cut off frequent buyer discounts, and passed the wage hike onto the consumer—how very charitable of them. This multi-billion dollar company is one of many that demonstrates the dark reality of capitalism.

While thrift stores offer size-inclusive items for lower prices, other fashion and clothing corporations do not. People often go to thrift stores to upcycle clothing to fit them or turn them into another article of clothing. This can be especially harmful to the plus-size community, another marginalized group that has a shortage of clothing made for them because of the fatphobic and capitalistic industry that is fast fashion. Only recently has the fashion industry opened its doors to plus-sized people. Although fashion is considered an art form and trends contribute to that factor, second-hand clothes originally served the purpose of providing clothes at a lower cost for communities who need them while reducing those communities' carbon footprints.

Depop– an online marketplace designed to allow people to sell clothes and other items– is another relatively new form of media that has reconstructed resale platforms in a modern way. The majority of the app’s demographic is teenage girls, and within the online marketplace, they face toxicity, scamming, and comically high prices for resale items. With increased prices of second-hand goods, Depop has created a harmful community within thrifting. Additionally, through social media, people have coined the term “Depop girls:'' people that buy large quantities of visually pleasing and cheap clothes from thrift stores resell them at extremely inflated prices on Depop or other resale sites. On multiple platforms, you will see countless second-hand goods being sold for five times their original cost. And what’s more, thrifting has become such a trend that there was even an event created solely for reselling second-hand goods– Thriftcon. The creation of an event to resell clothes to create a profit margin defeats thrift stores’ original purpose: giving back to communities. Media forms such as Depop and gatherings like Thriftcon exploit the idea of thrifting, gentrifying it, ultimately contradicting the essence of thrifting.

While thrift shopping may seem like a sustainable and anti-capitalist way to buy clothes, ultimately no consumption can be anti-capitalist. Buying second-hand clothes is still buying more clothes, and donating clothes reinforces modern ideas about how clothes are easily disposable. Thrifting was a way to give back to communities in need and to help the environment by donating unwanted things instead of throwing them away. It’s ironic to say that thrifting was a way to give back to the communities in need, only for it to become a trend which takes from those communities by reselling and inflating prices. The best we can do to really give back to these communities is be conscious of our shopping habits and where that takes place, as well as directly giving back to those communities by donating to centers.

Distance Learning: A Year in Review

Elena Levin, Jamie Lee, Serapina Chung, Isabel Hahn

Intro:

The past year, school has taken place mostly online, leaving many students eager to get back in the classroom. Nevertheless, distance learning has certainly been a unique experience, one that has been just as chaotic as it has been rewarding. Here are some thoughts from a handful of OCSA students about their year online!

What were your expectations for distance learning?

“I expected for there to be tech issues and difficulty in communicating thoroughly with peers and teachers. However, on the positive side, I expected that distance learning would encourage me to become more independent and responsible of my own tasks.” - Paige Comire (CAH ‘22)

“I was expecting it to be over soon! And I thought that it would be more talking, but there's a surprising amount of private work.” - Natalie Hanani (CW ‘22)

How did your experience differ from those expectations? (this could be either positive or negative)

“Obviously, distance learning ended up being a lot longer than I was told it would be, and it eventually ended up involving a lot of work. I was assigned more homework than usual and ended up being pretty stressed out.” - Nathaniel Kim (DM ‘22)

What has been your biggest takeaway from distance learning?

“That participation makes all the difference in how you learn and retain information.” - Priscilla Kim (MT ‘21)

“I have become better at time management. In the past, I had a terrible habit of procrastinating and not doing my homework until 11 p.m. on normal school years prior to covid. However, after distance learning, I have become motivated to plan things ahead for myself because everything had become more dependent on me and I had a lot of time to reflect on myself.” - Annette Kim (VA ‘22)

How has distance learning changed your perspective about school/OCSA life in general?

“Distance learning has made me realize how much of OCSA's culture is based on the personal relationships & experiences we build. I've realized through this disconnection how much OCSA students, including myself, rely on in-person interactions to grow & thrive.” - Grace Osier (MT ‘22)

What are you most excited for when you eventually return to campus?

“I'm most looking forward to the train riding experience on the way to the campus. My friends have said wonderful things about the train stations, the people, and the overall atmosphere, and it'll be a very new experience for me since I'll get to experience it daily next year.” - Vicky Nguyen (DM ‘23)

“I am most excited to finally see my friends again, say hello to the teachers I haven't seen in person yet, and participate in the activities I missed out on.” - Nathaniel Kim (DM ‘22)

Do you think you have learned something from distance learning that you wouldn’t have on campus; if so, what?

“What it takes to hold myself accountable, and it's not easy!” - Tahlia Smith (IM-WS ‘23)

“I don't think I would have been more thoughtful of my future and worked on my time management skills if I hadn't done distance learning. Also, I learned that sanitation is significant.” - Annette Kim (VA ‘22)

How was the experience of starting at a new school online?

“It wasn't easy. It was hard to know how to attend school at the beginning because I never used Aeries or Google Classroom. Socially, it was also hard because you couldn't make friends over Zoom or in breakout rooms. We were told to email people but that’s kinda weird.” - Clio Franchi (PD ‘26)

What was your favorite and least favorite part about distance learning?

“My favorite has to be the energetic teachers that make the classes more enjoyable to participate in, and my least favorite has to be the occasional headaches and burnouts from being online for too long.” - Vicky Nguyen (DM ‘23)

“My favorite part of distance learning was being able to do my Baking and Pastry (CAH) class at home, because I was able to be creative with my materials at home to create a lot of really awesome desserts. My least favorite part of distance learning was having that social factor taken away, because it really makes you think about who is your friend and who isn't.” - Paige Comire (CAH ‘22)

Is there anything you would’ve done differently during distance learning?

“No. I think the way I navigated distance learning taught me so much, and I wouldn't want to alter that.” - Grace Osier (MT ‘22)

“I should've taken more notes and paid more attention in my AP classes. Now I know for junior year.” - Vicky Nguyen (DM ‘23)

AP Testing in 2021: Whats New?

By: Max Mikkelsen

Since 1955, the annual AP tests have been a time honored tradition among high school students. Administered by the College Board every May, these 3 hour tests give students an opportunity to be tested on what they have learned in their AP classes and possibly earn credit for college. However, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these tests look a little different.

Last year, The College Board was able to get away with 45 minute free response online tests. but this year universities decided they would not accept AP scores if there was another 45 minute exam format. So the College Board had to create a whole new platform and essentially rewrite the whole process for AP exams.

The year started with a new feature: AP Classroom. There, students can access practice tests and watch daily videos filmed by AP teachers across the country that align with their curriculum. These tools were incredibly valuable to students preparing for the AP tests and for teachers who wanted to give their students the most accurate practice possible. AP live review sessions were another new tool added this year. Starting April 19, College Board released these videos for every class, teaching them strategies and content for the test.

Tests this year came in 3 administrations split between online and in person tests. In-person tests are administered from May 3 to June 4, and online tests are from May 26 to June 11. In- person tests follow normal College Board guidelines, but online tests are taken on College Board’s new online testing app.

The app locks down students’ computers and prevents them from accessing other apps. It also ensures that if students’ internet connection is compromised temporarily, the test can still continue. There are also makeup dates if students have technical difficulties during the online tests.

As for students’ experiences for online testing, feelings are mixed. “It wasn’t hard, just annoying,” said Kai Patenaude (CA&H ‘22). “It was a good test of what we learned throughout the year.” Compared to last year, tests are back to the full 3 hour format, and it can be hard to stay focused at home for the entire testing period.

Rachel Presby, (IA ‘22) who took the AP Psychology exam, thought the exam administration was “more organized than last year” and said she was “just glad [she] really studied” for her exam. From throwing together a new exam in only 2 months in 2020 to rewriting the way AP tests are done this year, the College Board has worked hard over the past 15 months to ensure that students receive the credit they deserve as well as making sure colleges accept AP scores.

The College Board is and will continue to be an unpopular organization among high school students, but considering all the work they have done to ensure a successful 2021 testing season, they deserve a little bit of our sympathy. So much has changed in the last year, and the College Board is adapting like the rest of us .

🍓

By: Lauren Le

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
½ cup plus 1 tsp. sugar, divided into 4 tbsp, 3tbsp, and 1 tbsp
1 ½ tsp. kosher salt, plus more
1 lemon
½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter
1 cup sour cream, divided into ¾ cup and ¼ cup
2 cups plus 1.5 tbsp heavy cream, divided into ⅓ cup, 1 ⅔ cup, and 1.5 tbsp
1½ lb. strawberries
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

Read this recipe fully before starting. It should be standard practice for all of you Evolution-loving Star Bakers, but it’s extra important for these shortcakes!

Preheat the oven to 400℉, and line a rimmed baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper. Cut the butter into ½ inch cubes, and place them back into the fridge. Measure out the remaining ingredients.

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Zest the lemon into the dry mixture and whisk again.

Add the cold butter to the dry mixture. Pinch a cube between your fingers, rubbing each one until all the butter is in pea-sized and flat pieces. Do not try to incorporate it evenly. Work quickly, it is essential to make sure that the butter stays cold and in discrete pieces. This creates the desired flakey characteristic of our cute ‘lil shortcakes.

Combine the sour cream and heavy cream in a clean bowl with a spatula. Create a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, and add the creams into it. Gently fold using a circular motion, until a shaggy dough forms. Knead the dough once or twice so it is a loosely-bound ball, with most of the flour incorporated. I know it’s tempting to keep going to make it smooth, but please. Don’t overdo it. Trust me.

Transfer your unsightly dough to a lightly floured surface. Gently pat it into a 1 inch thick square, which should be about 6x6 inches. Cut the square into 4 smaller ones. Stack the 4 squares on top of each other, and smush them down. This helps create even more flakey and layer-y action. Reshape the dough into a 1 inch thick rectangle.

Cut your shortcake dough into equal-sized squares. Brush the tops of the shortcakes with the 2 tbsp of heavy cream, and sprinkle the 1 tbsp of sugar on top. If you want to get extra fancy (always encouraged), a little flakey Maldon salt never hurt anyone.

Bake the shortcakes for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let them cool for at least 15 minutes before assembling.

While the shortcakes are baking, place a large bowl into the freezer or fridge to chill.

Wash and dry the strawberries. Trim and discard the stems, and cut the berries into halves and quarters, depending on the size of each strawberry. Add the juice of half a lemon and 3 tbsp sugar to the strawberries, and toss to combine. Let it sit at room temperature for at least half an hour, tossing occasionally to evenly macerate.

Pour the remaining cold heavy cream into the preferably chilled bowl. Add the vanilla, a pinch of salt, and the remaining sugar. Using a hand or stand mixer (or a whisk and some elbow grease), whip the cream until it is, well… whipped. Stop when the mixture has soft, floppy peaks. Gently whisk in the remaining sour cream until just incorporated.

Gently split the shortcakes in half using two forks to not absolutely annihilate the layers you so painstakingly created. Put the bottom half of the shortcakes on your serving medium, and add a generous dollop of whipped cream to each. Add the strawberries and their syrupy goodness, topping it off with the other shortcake halves. Now go and have a hot girl summer! It’s been good, OCSA Evolution (even though no one ever makes these).

Dancing Breaks Its Way Into the 2024 Olympics

By: Mehra Marzbani

How TikTok Has Impacted the Music Industry

By: Julia Motakef

TikTok may be one of the leading viral apps, with our favorite celebrities and teen creators, but did you know that it has an astounding impact on the music industry and musicians’ streams?

In 2019, Doja Cat released her song “Say So.” This song is catchy, and so many people our age were really into the song’s catchy chorus and trend dance. A small TikTok creator named Haley Sharpe choreographed a dance to the chorus of the song, and other dancers on the app learned her dance and posted their own videos doing it. Within a couple weeks people everywhere knew the song, as well as the dance that went with it. Especially because of quarantine, people had more time at home to learn dances and get into the culture of the trend. The song became extremely popular, and in February 2020, when the music video was released, Haley Sharpe was featured doing the dance she made. Since Sharpe is the same age as many users of the app, (18), she reached a lot of young teens by being in the music video. Many songs become popular through Tiktok, because a certain line is catchy, or there’s a joke embedded inthe song. Another example of this happening with a viral trend using a song in the background, is “Welcome to Wonderland” by Anson Seabra. People on TikTok would use verses/chorus’ from the song to make “point -of-view” videos, or “povs.” Point of view videos are something that became popular on TikTok a couple years back, and with this song TikToker’s were especially creative.

TikTok is the one of the best ways to get music out into the world. Back in 2019, I released music on streaming platforms to try and make some money singing and songwriting. I made a distrokid account which is a service that distributes your music for you so that you don’t need a record label. I released two songs in 2019, one original song called “Sahara Rose Marie,” and a cover of “Dancing With Your Ghost” by Sasha Sloan. In the process of releasing anything onto a distribution service like distrokid, they ask what platforms you’d like to release to. Personally, I didn’t choose every platform because I felt it would be too overwhelming. I chose iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Youtube, Amazon, Google Play, and TikTok. What that means, is that on any of these platforms you can find all four of my songs. When I chose TikTok though, I didn’t know what to expect. I let it randomly select a minute of the song to upload to the app, and people would be free to use it. Then a few months later, I decided to check my bank account on distrokid, to see if the Spotify streams had been adding up, since most people who listen to my music use Spotify. I was shocked to see how little I had made, because I had hit 200 streams and was expecting more. But then when I looked at my income from TikTok, it was more than eight times more than Spotify. Confused, I went to the app to look at what was there. And for the first time I saw the 800 videos that were made to my cover of “Dancing With Your Ghost.” I went through the videos, and as of now there are over a thousand TikToks made with the song. Not only that, but the videos are made by people all around the world, since the app is so huge. People from Malaysia, Vietnam, China, the United States and many more. So Tiktok, the next big platform for famous musicians to thrive? Who knows? But as of now, TikTok is the way to get music out there.

Desert X Art Installation

By: Pierce Lewis

Art — a form of expression through many different styles. Painting, dancing, writing, acting and many more make it a popular way for people to express themselves. During springtime, an art exhibit known as Desert X appears to be sprinkled out throughout the California Desert.

You might be wondering what exactly is Desert X? Produced by a not-for-profit organization, The Desert Biennial, Desert X provides public art that addresses issues of the artist, society and culture. Artists from around the world are commissioned to create works of art educating the public about certain topics. These art pieces are then displayed publicly through the Coachella Valley in California. Their mission is to amplify the beauty of the desert and create responses to societal issues. The first exhibition of Desert X was in 2017, a second in 2019 and the most recent one 2021. Desert X can take almost a day to visit all the installations and so in this article will only be two of the nine installations.

On the way into Palm Springs, you will see the first installation and probably the most popular out of the set this year. Big 45 foot letters spell out “INDIAN LAND''. Nicholas Galanin made this in response to the world renowned Hollywood sign. Galanin is a Tlingit and Unangax̂ artist from Alaska. He titled his piece “Never Forget” to inform and remind people that we live on native land, as well as addressing the white settler historical aspect of America. He hopes to inspire local landowners to donate parts of their land to local Indingenious communities.

The execution of this piece is perfect. The giant lettering seems to fit right in the desert landscape. It catches one's eye on the way into Palm Springs and is hard to miss due to the sheer size and resemblance it has to the Hollywood sign.Visiting the actual viewing grounds of the piece, many others seem to admire the art. Being at the front entrance of Palm Springs, Galanin’s installation is the most popular out of the whole exhibition and many people were dressed up to take photos in front of the sign. However it makes you think, “Are they spreading the meaning behind the piece? Or is it just another Instagram worthy post?”

In the neighborhood north of “Never Forget” you can find ‘The Wishing Well’ by Serge Attukwei Clottey.. Born in Ghana, Attukwei Clottey strives to make a statement of the water problems of the world. His installation of the piece in the Coachella Valley is to draw parallels between the water problem there and in Ghana. The art piece itself is made up of yellow pieces of plastic from Kufour gallons, which are used to transport water from the wells in Ghana.

Going up to the cubes itself, it seems to be less popular than the previous one. There are hundreds of yellow squares making up two giant cubes, around eight to nine feet tall. After being up for more than two months, the structure has grass growing through it, but that just makes it feel more like it’s supposed to be there, as it is intertwined into nature and the scenery. The interwoven pieces of plastic to make up this art makes up the world and how the people living in the desert and Ghana both face issues of water shortages.

By the time this article is published, Desert X will be over. However you can still read and look at pictures on the official Desert X website and maybe check out a future exhibit for yourself.

School’s Out: Ideas for Your 2021 Summer

By: Isabel Hahn

The start of summer after almost an entire year of distance learning will feel strange, unlike the usual excitement that the end of school usually brings. After so many months of hectic schedules and loads of online assignments, it can be difficult to get adjusted to so much time off. Here are a few small, yet fun activities to liven up your summer and spend the long break that you deserve in a relaxing yet productive way.

Create a list of monthly goals and plans, no matter how small.

The free time that summer brings is definitely a blessing, but it can also become a curse. Days can easily blend together and fly out of your grasp in the blink of an eye, leaving you wondering if you could have been more productive. One way of making the most out of this abundance of time is to write down a list of things you would like to accomplish each month. These goals can range from more long-term ones, like finishing summer homework assignments, to smaller things, like trying a new recipe. Reflecting on your checked-off list will remind you of everything you got done, as well as the self-growth that your free time brought you.

Find a pen pal.

Change things up and consider trying out a new method of communication: pen paling! Your pen pal can be anyone you feel comfortable sending letters back and forth with, such as a relative or an online friend. There is something very personal and heartwarming about receiving a handwritten message; seeing the thought and effort put into each sentence will make you want to write back immediately. The best part is that the letters that you receive from your pen pal are physical mementos that you can save and cherish, long after summer is over. Also, nothing beats the feeling of opening your mailbox to see a letter waiting for you!

Make mini reviews on the media you consume.

With summer comes more time to enjoy your favorite forms of entertainment, whether it be an album from your favorite artist, an online webcomic or cheesy romcom movies. Try writing “reviews” or ratings whenever you find yourself having a strong opinion on any piece of media. These reviews can be made in your personal journal, a blog or even on social media. Not only is it fun to simply take a moment to reflect on the media you consume, but you can also create a collection of reviews that you will be able to revisit in the future for recommendations, or just to see if any of your opinions have changed.

Take a photo each day.

This summer, document your daily life, no matter how mundane things may seem! Seeing the world through your camera is a great way to appreciate the little things around you, and to remind yourself that having a quieter day isn’t anything to be disappointed about. Take pictures of whatever you may find yourself doing each day: a page of the book you are reading, the sunset in the evening, a friend on a nice day out. Once summer comes to an end, consider compiling them all in a video or making a photo album! Memories do not always have to be big to be special.

Make playlists for each month.

Listening to music is a must for the summer, whether it be for long road trips, reading sessions and more. Keep track of your music taste over the summer; think of it like making a series of short soundtracks for your life! In the future, revisiting a song that you loved during the summer can transport you back to the memories you made; summer nostalgia will be added onto the other feelings associated with the song. Add on to your playlist in the moment in order to have fun reminiscing in the future.

Most importantly, remember to take things day by day this summer. This has certainly been a challenging year; be kind to yourself over the break, and hopefully you will come back in the fall ready for a fresh start!

Summer Staff Recs

By: Elena Levin and Staff

If you’re at a loss for what to watch, read, listen to, or do this summer, look no further! Please enjoy this compilation of recommendations from the OCSA Evolution staff to make your summer break the best yet!

Music:

“Ed Buys Houses” by Sidney Gish : “She wrote & produced it while graduating highschool, so a lot of good emo bops” - James Herde

“This Must Be the Place” by Talking Heads - Anica Sherry

Bob Marley and the Wailers: Live at the Roxy: “Summer is about live music and this is a great live album from a great performer. Can't miss for summer barbecues or relaxing at the beach” - Mr. Peterson

“The Last Song on Earth” by Adam Melchor with Emily Warren - Emma Han

"Atlanta Millionaires Club" by Faye Webster: “It's full of modern ballads with a southern twang for easy summer listening (with a dash of heartache)” - Cas Kesig

Movies:

Ponyo: “Possibly one of the sweetest movies to ever exist! Ponyo is a great movie for any time of the year, but its seaside setting and underwater magic make it perfect for the summertime. Watching Ponyo feels like being hugged” - Isabel Hahn

Mamma Mia - Jennifer Woo and Kaon Suh

Buster’s Mal Heart: “Mind Bending Rami Malek, need I say more?” - James Herde

Jennifer’s Body: “Year-round” - Cas Kesig

Pride and Prejudice: “Pride and Prejudice all the way any day ;)” - Emma Han

TV Shows:

Bojack Horseman: “If you’ve somehow missed this one, go back and watch it. I’ve never seen an animated comedy that was hilarious handle drama so well” - James Herde

The Lakers Playoffs: “Historically, June is for the Lakers. Last year we missed out on basketball during June because of the pandemic, but Lebron and the Lakers should be prepped for another deep playoff run this summer” - Mr. Peterson

Avatar the Last Airbender - Pierce Lewis

Books:

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro: “This whimsical, literary sci-fi novel is the deft, tightly-controlled story of a noble AI system and her journey of self-discovery. If you're a ‘robots have feelings, too!’ type of person, this one's for you” - Cas Kesig

On the Road by Jack Kerouac- Kaon Suh

Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma: “Yotsuba&! is a slice of life manga series that follows the everyday adventures of a young girl named Yotsuba. Each chapter perfectly encapsulates the feeling of a sleepy, summer day. There is never a dull moment with Yotsuba, and her cute antics will warm your heart!” - Isabel Hahn

Legend by Marie Lu: “Always a fave” - Emma Han

Activities:

“In the dull moments between your summer on-the-go, I always recommend some sort of stitchcraft: something you can relax with when it's too hot to leave the house, that you can do while watching TV or listening to an audiobook, that provides interior design/gift-giving opportunities. Unfortunately, I don't have the dexterity for knitting or crocheting, but embroidery/cross-stitching is a relatively cheap way to give your clothes some fun accents, or make a tapestry like the Old Masters.” - Cas Kesig

“Do a closet deep clean! Get rid of old clothes and items and maybe donate them” - Anica Sherry

“Running, swimming, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, tennis, paddle tennis, pickleball, skipping, tag, freeze tag, pretty much anything outside. I love summer” - Mr. Peterson

“Rollerskating!” - Jennifer Woo and Lauren Le

“Picnics and going to Barnes and Nobles” - Emma Han

“Making your own ice cream” - Kaon Suh

“Learn an instrument! Or even just screw around in Garageband, you’ll be surprised what you can make”- James Herde

Places:

“Disneyland, of course” - Mr. Peterson

“Catalina Island” - Lauren Le

“In Anaheim Hills there's definitely a lot more greenery for hiking/picnics, but in Irvine there's more sunny, dry spots for hiking, and in Laguna, some cliffs kind of near the beach. there's some variance in scenery” - Anica Sherry

“Peter’s Canyon’ - Jennifer Woo

Let no one mistake us from the fruit of violence

By: Monica Johnson

Living in Orange County, it’s difficult to remember how few AAPI individuals are really in the US. According to Pew Research Center, as of April 2021, Asians makeup only about 7% of the nation’s population. As Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close, it is interesting to reflect on how Asians within the arts have inspired AAPI students in our pursuit of success within our crafts, as well as the meaning of being API in our eyes.

Connor Yew (IM ‘21) mentioned that some Asian artists that inspire him include Bong Joon-ho, Steve Yuen, Yo-Yo Ma, and Rich Brian, in no particular order. He adds that “All of them have already inspired a ton of other members of the API community to pursue the arts, and I think they all do a good job of telling their individual stories.”

“When, last summer in quarantine, I finally had the time to sit down and quietly read a book—I found myself falling in love with ‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ by Ocean Vuong,” Laura Chen (CW ‘21) recalls. “I could so deeply relate to the unfiltered rawness of the characters, which was very much unlike the narrow-minded books I’d read growing up.” Chen also expressed an admiration for poet Barbara Jane Reyes. “Her poems feel so intimate, as if it’s just me and her whispering secrets in a room.” They concluded by reflecting on their emotions regarding the music artist, Mitski. “Her music just makes me want to scream and cry and laugh all at the same time. It’s a beautiful experience.”

Lea Salonga has always been an inspiration to me. As a Filipina woman taking the theatre world by storm, from Les Miserables to Miss Saigon to Allegiance, she was my representation on stage. Seeing a woman who looked similar to my own family awe millions with her performances meant the world to a half-Asian theatre kid like me. Broadway is severely lacking in Asian representation as many know, much like it is in Hollywood. Few productions tend to tell AAPI stories or cast Asians in commonly white roles. Lea Salonga served as an example to me of the power of seeing people like us succeeding, and how important it is for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other minority individuals to be showcased in the media.

In light of API hate crimes and their now frequent portrayal in media, we reflect on what being Asian American and Pacific Islander is to us. “For me, being a member of the AAPI community is a reflection of my individual experience as Korean-American. It’s the good food I’ve had with my family, but it’s also the language barrier I have with my grandmother. I see it as a part of my identity, but it’s by no means a comprehensive picture of who I am” Yew says.

Chen replies, “Being AAPI means having the strength to create and put myself out there even when society will ostracize me for having my own ideas.”

To me, being AAPI is about my existence as an amalgamation. I understand the positives and negatives of the experience, but also how non Asian people view us. Regardless of whether or not I am too white or too Asian for others, I am proud of my Filipino heritage and it is a part of my identity. To me, it is a matter of shameless love for what my culture has brought into my life and the resilience our community as a whole possesses.

Movie Screencaps for AAPI Month

By: Kaon Suh, Andy Seungu Choi, Kavin Mohan, and Arhana Singhania

Boy (2012) dir. Taika Waititi (New Zealand)

In the Mood For Love (2000) dir. Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong)

Mary is Happy, Mary is Happy (2013) dir. Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit (Thailand)

Revenge (1989) dir. Yermek Shinarbayev (Kazakhstan)

Chronicle of a Disappearance (1996) dir. Elia Suleiman (Palestine)

Pather Panchali (1955) dir. Satyajit Ray (India)

The Pride Discourse

By: AJ Miyake

The month of June is notoriously known for its long-standing history of LGBTQA+ support. There’s much to know about pride because of its long history in LGBTQA+ empowerment, so here is a small discourse on pride and the LGBTQA+.

Pride month is a month to celebrate the fight against oppression for members of the LGBTQA+ community. It’s a time to celebrate being our true selves and to support one another. Separately, pride is more like the event itself. Parades, festivals, art and celebratory festivities are all ways people like to celebrate pride.

Pride stands for Personal Rights in Defense and Education and can be assimilated to the notion of being proud of your sexuality and gender identity, or lack thereof. Some of the first pride celebrations were in New York; modern-day, New York continues to throw a pride parade annually. Pride lasts the entirety of June due to the first one being held on June 28th, 1970. Parades are meant to commemorate the pride riots of 1969 and the pride movement’s history and efforts.

Concerning the parades, the question of who is allowed has been sprung forth many times in our modern age. The answer to this question would be, anyone who is not prejudiced. Sexualities that are more nuanced are, on occasion, told they don’t belong at pride--this is incorrect. Even heterosexuals are allowed because often they are there as allies. Polyamorous partners can also be heterosexual but are still part of the community and bisexual couples may look like a straight couple, but both are still bisexual.

Pride is important because it provides support and familiarity to a marginalized group while commemorating the fallen comrades and martyrs who have died to make a better future. But what does this mean for OCSA? Here at OCSA, we have our own pride. Unfortunately due to covid complications, the festival itself cannot take place, but the Gender and Sexual Alliance (GSA) club remains ever resilient. The members of the GSA have decided to host a panel and are compiling LGBTQA+ stories in a zine. For more information, visit the club’s Instagram at OCSAGSA.

Pride dictionary:

Aromantic: an immunity to romantic attraction. This does not mean we don’t want a relationship or love (though it can), but it means we don’t find ourselves romantically inclined to people. Greyaros can find ourselves romantically attracted on occasion.

Asexual: an immunity to sexual attraction. This does not mean we don’t want to participate in reproduction/coital acts (though it can), but that we don’t find ourselves wanting it because of a person. Grey-aces can feel sexual attraction on occasion.

Gender non-conforming (GNC): any person who is not within the binary genders.

libra-gendered: a nonbinary leaning toward a binary

Non-binary: Anywhere outside, between or partly away from the binary

Non-monogamous: a relationship, consensually, with more than one partner.

Pansexual: the ability to be attracted to anyone, no matter their identity. (This is different from bisexual because bisexuals CAN be attracted to everyone no matter the identity, but might not be.)

Polyamorous: when three or more people consensually engage in a relationship together. There are many polyamorous dynamics. (try looking into each type if you find monogamy isn’t for you.)

Polycule: a system of non-monogamous relationships, connected

Queer platonic: an ambiguity between friends and lovers

Skoliosexual: attraction to GNC persons.

Trixic: nonbinary loving women or “NBLW”

Good luck to all my fellow gays out there this month! And stay safe.

How to Break out of a Venus Flytrap

By: Mia Soumbasakis

Joselle de Los Reyes’s venus flytrap and Chaeho Amadeus’s sundew

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably found yourself in the same position as mine: cradled, or rather, pressed between two flat, thick spiky leaves, diamonds of light getting smaller and smaller above you, your eight legs flailing. Perhaps, as you begin to lose oxygen from the suffocating red lung surrounding you, you’ll think about why a plant known for trapping flies has caught you, a cellar spider. At this point, you’ll remember the sack of 22 baby cellar spider eggs in your mouth, and the immediacy of the situation at hand. This bloodthirsty plant will suck you dry for the next ten days and spit out your limp-legged husk if you don’t act now. Here’s what must follow:

You’ll listen to conversations that your captor is having. It’s likely you’re stuck in the mouth of a venus flytrap on a date with a sundew. The two of them will be having brunch, the venus flytrap casually poking fun at the sundew for not being fast enough to catch a daddy long legs (to catch you.) The venus flytrap will then go on to say that it prefers to be called Abby instead of venus flytrap, because that name was created by a bunch of pedophile scientists from the 1700s. Abby’ll close its jaw especially tightly at the thought of men like these, your body tightening to prevent itself from collapsing. You’ll notice Abby’s tendency to ramble as it tries to impress the sundew by telling the history of its species’ evolution, and how the plants adapted to eat bugs after years of not getting enough nutrients from their soil. The sundew will listen, but halfheartedly, for it’ll notice your younger sister, the vain one with seven needlelike legs, on the wall nearby and gear up for an attack, producing sticky dewdrops on the tips of its red leaves to trap her. Abby will think the sundew is blushing because its leaves are red and say, “You only drink rainwater, right? That’s really poetic,” before diving into a sparkling anecdote about feeling rain for the first time, and how the two of them should go out and dance in puddles next Monday, when there’s a 84% chance of rain.
You’ll know Abby is getting really into this story because it’ll relax its grip momentarily and the diamonds of light will expand, allowing you to feel your babies kicking in their eggs. You’ll whisper to them a song your mother taught you about spinning webs and kiss each of the 22 eggs tenderly.
Your mothers’ instincts will be fighting against this, but you’ll puncture the eggs with your miniscule fangs and feel the rush of 176 black cellar spider legs pricking against your body. You’ll stay absolutely still, not wanting Abby to notice, buying your babies time to break through the diamonds of light and run down Abby’s sides.
Abby will notice. It’ll clamp down harder and you’ll pray your babies are doing what you told them, wrapping webs around Abby’s spikes as they disperse.
The sundew will reach out to grab your babies but they’ll be too quick, 22 webs unraveling like kite strings and pulling against Abby’s spikes. You’ll feel the fresh air against your body as the diamonds above you get larger and larger—
You’ll burst from Abby’s mouth right as digestive fluids start to flood around you, you and your 22 children running.
Your sister, who was traipsing up the wall, will be so flustered by your appearance (she had gone out in search of you), that she’ll jump
and land right in Abby’s mouth.
Abby will chomp.
The sundew will be thoroughly annoyed, having lost a chance at food three times now. It’ll ask Abby to share your sister, and when Abby opens its mouth, the 24 of you (you, your sister, and your 22 babies) will run to the cellar.
When Abby and the sundew go out to dance in the rain next Monday, you’ll be sure to lock the door so they can’t get back in.

Information about venus flytraps taken from venus flytrap owner Joselle de Los Reyes
Information about sundews taken from sundew owner Chaeho Amadeus

Nothing to Write Home About, Yet

By: James Herde

Anyone you ask will tell you since we left school for spring break last year, it has been super boring. There’s been a lot of sitting around, the news has been mostly the weather and no good movies have come out to talk about. No worldwide emergencies to read about, no global… it’s on the tip of my tongue… palification? That’s not right. I’m not sure, something to do with, maybe sickness? Well, whatever it is, it’s nothing to worry about.

As I’ve pretty much already said, nothing has happened. It wasn’t an election year or anything. The Olympics came and went. No big wars are taking place or feeling as though they’re about to begin. Our country’s political system has never been stronger or more unified. Bill Clinton is still the last president to be impeached. There haven’t been any mass shootings or killings. In fact, we’re safer than ever. No widespread corruption or supremacy of any kind. All our citizens are safe no matter their gender, race, sexuality, or political leaning. No bickering with family over each other’s beliefs. No invalidation, separation, or distrust.

No protests are taking place. In this day and age, it’s obvious to say that Americans are widely antifascist. There are no riots over election results. No children in cages. No families separated. No entertainment media coverage of attacks on our government. No debates over the Supreme Court. Most people lately have been more likely to agree than disagree with each other, so most people are getting along just fine. There are no separatists, divisionists, liberals, or conservatives, only Americans.

No task forces, distancing measures, or debates over public safety—nope, just the normal bureaucracy. We haven’t had nearly half a million Americans die and had our fellow Americans debate whether it’s something to worry about, or even worse, argue that those deaths never actually happened. A mask is still something you only wear on Halloween. Social distancing is a synonym for taking a break from Instagram. Quarantine is a word you’re more commonly used to residing in horror films. Isolation is something you do to someone, not something you do to yourself for others.

No stimulus checks to depend on. No housing or eviction crises. No record-breaking stock market crash. Unemployment is down this year and Americans are economically comfortable for the most part and those who aren’t are getting the help they need from our government. No job crises. No blackouts. Everyone has heat, electricity, and running water.

There haven’t been any major natural disasters this year. The drier regions of the U.S. like those on the West Coast are safe and cool. No heat waves killing at-risk populations this year. No fires across thousands of acres, killing firefighters and destroying homes. Those near the Gulf like Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico have no storms to fear. No hurricanes, floods, or high winds destroying towns and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. No winter storms. No trips to Cancun.

No drama in the Royal family across the Atlantic. No drama with celebrities or YouTubers to discuss. No celebrity deaths to mourn over so far. Sports have been taking place as usual. The Oscars earlier this year were the same old, same old, nothing to add to the history books. No Hollywood royalty knocked down a peg. No drama. No betrayals. No tea. Everyone is kind and respectful, keeping each other’s best interests in mind.

I’m sure you, as I have, have had a relatively boring year personally as well. No job losses, breakups, divorces, homes burning down or being evacuated, moves, or new babies. Nothing to add to the Christmas card, no updates to send your relatives. My year has been boring. No managing multiple APs, a job, having top surgery, learning new instruments, having my dad change jobs, having my mom change jobs, then change her job again, no having my grandpa die the day before Christmas, I didn’t have to cope with turning 18 this year, and it’s not like we’re all graduating or anything. So yeah, nothing really to talk about. Just normal, everyday stuff.

How has this affected our school? Seemingly in no way, as I’ve said, life has been boring and nothing of interest has happened since the start of the New Year. Teachers, administrators, and students alike have been going about their business as usual. No new learning formats or schedules we had to learn, just the same boring day-to-day stuff we know best. Maybe a show is coming up? Nothing I’ve heard about thus far. Graduation and prom are happening as they always have. Seniors have the stress of college applications as they do every year, but nothing special, no differences. We don’t need to worry about how politics will affect us when we move out of state for college. No students are worrying about their health and safety at school, just the normal high school drama.

With how boring things have been this past year, it’s disappointing the amount of things I didn’t get around to. It’s a shame I didn’t spend more time with my family and my pets. Or going on walks, reading books, and making art. I didn’t find any new hobbies, like baking bread, learning new languages, roller skating, or cooking. I wish I had listened to more music, played video games with my friends, and had some movie nights. But most of all, I wish I’d gotten time to self-reflect. Get to know myself, experiment with my hair, my sense of style. Learn who my real friends are. The ones who I’d face-time every day and hug the tightest when I see them again. Such a shame.

Maybe in the future things will turn around. I’ll learn the things I want to. Spend time with the people I missed. Check a few things off my bucket list. We’ll just have to see how it goes.

A Minor Administrative Change

By: Will Lynam

In a brief paragraph at the end of the OCSA newsletter sent last Friday, Michael Ciecek announced another string of administration changes including the declaration that he is now “Emperor of Earth.” This comes after Ciecek, previously the Dean of Facilities and Supervision at OCSA, took up the role of principal last January in an administrative shakeup. This recent move, however, reflects his larger ambitions beyond the school and towards the community at large. To clear up any confusion with OCSA’s student population, I sat down with Ciecek in order to answer any questionsBefore getting to the interview I first had to make my way up the massive staircase leading to his new mountain home near Big Bear. It was an impressive structure buried deep within the hard rock of the mountain side. Unfortunately I could not explore more of the compound, as I was told that anything besides the “science room” was off limits without explicit approval from Ciescek. Speaking of, he seemed to have little regard for my presence. It took him around an hour to finally venture into the room, and when he finally did arrive, he spent most of his attention on the numerous machines that lined the walls.

“It really is purely an administrative change,” Ciecek assured me, looking up from his work on a massive space laser, “most students will hardly realize that there is a change at all.” Ciecek handed me a diagram from a stack detailing the new “Chain of Command.” It contained two bubbles, one labeled “Rest of World” with an arrow pointing up towards another reading “CIECEK.” In all honesty this just confused me more but when I asked him to elaborate he responded with “No.”

An uncomfortable silence followed. He seemed to just stare at me while puffing out his chest. Any further questions I asked were just met with him loudly saying “Shhhhhh” and putting his finger to my mouth. After about an hour of this I figured it was time to leave.

Overall I felt that that interview went very well. While I was a little bit suspicious of the numerous military vans heading towards his house on the drive home, I feel that we really are in good hands with Ciecek. Resistance really is futile and it is better for all of us if we welcome him into our lives. Ciecek is good, Ciecek is great, let us thank him for all of our collective success.

Letter From the Editor

Dear Reader,

There are places above and below certain latitudes that spend parts of the year in a state of total night and parts in total day, places like the Svalbard Archipelago, home of the Global Seed Vault, where scientists and artists go to measure light density. There’s a very interior, uncomplicated part of me amazed by anyone who can go about normal life during polar nights, who can wake up without the sun; but also, the past 14 months have been a chronic polar night in their own right, and now we must “reorient” our “circadian rhythm” and “return to normal.” Supposedly.

The few times I’ve visited the OCSA campus this year, I’ve seen all the same buildings and markers in past tense, like my four years of living and dying in vicious cycles of study and workshop and climb and curate came to a premature but divisive end in March of last year. We receded into our homes, we improvised connections and curriculum, and we simulated normalcy as best we could while trying to ignore the minute but essential things we were missing out on. Bringing impromptu donuts for the Journalism staff, or ceremonially cutting the twine around a stack of our first issue, comes to mind.

But the past year, though it was a Year of Exceptions, does not exist in a vacuum; I’d even argue that it has a rightful place on our high school timeline, which is so conspicuously un-revisable.

We all know OCSA is not the editorialized hodgepodge of ticketed events and calculated eccentrism that we’re reported to be. Rather, it’s the idyllic expectation of high school clumsily and endearingly executed by hopeful teens and coincidental friends, and I’m nothing more than a clumsy teen myself, mercifully accelerated along by the twin dreams and ambitions of my friends. A year of isolation isn’t exempt from that experience. We’ve still created newspapers, tribute concerts, literary magazines, yearbooks, virtual coffee hours, spirit weeks, and a sense of solidarity (even if only over a towering wall of Zoom icons), and that work will be reborn back into the future of crowded auditoriums and bumping shoulders.

So, maybe “return to normal” is an unfair branding. It presumes that we were on hiatus, when in fact we were moving steadily toward another turning point with trademark artist ferocity, toward a period of midnight sun.

All good things,

Cas

Horoscopes

By: Anica Sherry and Cas Kesig

Aries

The planets have a lot of generosity for you this month, Aries, but be selective when it comes to taking on new projects and responsibilities. The Mercury retrograde until the last week of the month may foil your efforts to communicate with peers and colleagues, so be sure to maintain your poise and stay in your lane to avoid hot water in the workplace.

Taurus

There should be a wealth of opportunities available to you, Taurus, but the retrograde will have you falling into the same communication pitfalls as everyone else. Instead, step away from any possibility of conflict and focus inward; you might find an unexpected inclination toward romance or partnership that’s worth exploring! You may end up finding shared wealth and prosperity through sensitivity and compromise.

Gemini

Though Jupiter may try to inhibit you this month, Gemini, aspects of Mercury will have your back, and the influence of Venus will guide you to financial success. Your family life in particular may experience some turbulence, but the adverse home environment will be an opportunity to better understand your family members and reconcile lingering conflicts. Discord appearing in discussions about the future cannot be resolved by force

Cancer

Be warned against devoting too much energy to the sensual and interpersonal, Cancer--your professional responsibilities need some attention as well! Be sure to tend to your work life, whether it be getting a head start on summer homework or wrapping up AP exams. Luckily, Mars is on standby to help you out with establishing new social connections and kicking a very lively summer off right.

Leo

It’s likely you’re being pulled every which way this month, Leo, and now is not the time to overestimate your social limits. With all of this productive behavior lined up, take pains to set boundaries and keep yourself alert, lest you fall prey to burnout (though the attention-seeker in you may feel inclined to strain yourself). Remember, efficiency is only truly efficient in moderation!

Virgo

It’s a good month to relax and unwind for the oft-overworked Virgo, but not without a struggle, of course. Some unavoidable conflicts may divert you from your mental getaway, but remember that you don’t always have to fill the problem-solver role; rely on friends and family to let you know when enough is enough. Your struggle between your rigid code of conduct and a much-needed break may isolate you from those you need support from the most.

Libra

Planetary positions are favorable for Libras with creative skills, specifically those who rely on their art to bring in income. June is full of opportunities to begin new artistic projects. Economic gains are looking bright, thanks to Jupiter’s aspect on your ninth and 11th house, houses of fate and income and profit. On the academic front, although it’s nearly the end of the school year, you’ll feel a push to succeed, perhaps in AP prep for a late exam in June.

Scorpio

Scorpios, feeling moody and misunderstood is nothing new to you. In June, unfortunately, you’ll be susceptible to last minute changes and misunderstandings in relationships. Avoid stress and tension by communicating clearly and having a backup plan that puts your wellbeing first. There is also a lot of potential for these relationships to deepen, so step out of your comfort zone and something good will come out of that.

Sagittarius

Jupiter and Mercury will emphasize a focus on communication and social interactions this month, Sagittarius. Relationships of all kinds will be exceedingly positive and rather exciting, and this includes those in the workplace. You’ll be given many opportunities to further your professional capabilities. If there’s one thing to look out for, it’s your physical and consequently, your mental health. Be sure to soak up some sun outside, maybe while taking a walk or enjoying a meal.

Capricorn

Mercury in retrograde will happen in your sixth house, the house of labor and routine, meaning it might feel difficult to be on top of things work-related this month. At the same time, your finances may be affected by the Saturn retrograde happening in your second house. Don’t let this get you down, though, Capricorn. Channel your ambitious energy into a new project and take some risks. With Uranus in your fifth house of creativity, you’ll have no problem feeling those creative impulses.

Aquarius

Lucky for you, Aquarius, this month will be full of positive news, in almost every aspect of your life. Venus in your seventh house will bring you romance and also improve family relationships. Finances are looking good this next month too, money will come to you easily and debt will be taken care of. Socially, this month will be a great time to reach out and make new friends and clear up miscommunications with anyone you might consider an enemy.

Pisces

Pisces, this is going to be a pleasant month for you. In terms of your goals and ambitions, this will be a great time for you to take on challenges in the workplace, with the help of Mars. However, give yourself time to reflect on accomplishments and past opportunities. You’ll have a quiet love life this month, and those who are in relationships might be prone to disagreements, but Venus will help you get to the root of any problem to sort it out.

What Big Time Rush Character Are You? - Quiz!

By: Kaitlin Roth

Your ideal day would include…
1. Hanging out in the park with some cool friends
2. Studying for all your classes without being interrupted
3. Parkour!
4. Reading the latest fashion magazine for the new trends
You wanna be famous! But for what?
1. I don’t really want to be famous, unless my friends are there
2. Finding the cure for cancer
3. Being a superhero
4. Being a pop star with millions of fans
What’s something you’re always rushing to do?
1. Playing hockey
2. Doing my homework
3. Playing video games
4. Looking at myself in the mirror
What’s your favorite thing?
1. My friends
2. A book by Stephen Hawking
3. Corn dogs
4. The mirror
What’s your favourite Big Time Rush song?
1. “Big Time Rush”
2. “Worldwide”
3. “Boyfriend”
4. “Halfway There”

Congrats! If you answered mostly A’s you’re most like Kendall. You don’t enjoy being the center of attention unless your friends are there– they come before anything else, even if it means the worst for you. You’re loyal and always come up with the best plan to help everyone around you. While there is no “i” in team, you should be the exception to that rule. You’re loyalty is one of your best qualities but this leaves you without time to care for yourself. Take a minute for yourself, it’ll help make your relationships stronger!

Congrats! If you answered mostly B’s you’re most like Logan. You’re super intelligent and love to learn about anything and everything. You want to make a difference in a big way and you think that being the smartest person in the room is the way to do it. Don’t let peer pressure get to you, though. You may have high expectations for yourself which creates pressure, but it’s important to not let the small things get you down. You’ve got this!

Congrats! If you answered mostly C’s you’re most like Carlos. You’re fun and full of energy; you also can be a bit loud when you’re excited While you may be super active, you should take time to enjoy the slower things in life. Instead of going into things head first, literally or figuratively, you should make sure you take a pause before starting something new. Just take a breath!

Congrats! If you answered mostly D’s you’re most like James. You’re very confident and are known as the “pretty” member of your group. While you may be slightly vain, you’re not that selfish–you still care a lot about your friends and family, even if you don’t always choose them first. Since you love self care, try to make sure that everyone around you is taking equal care of themselves. Try giving them tips on how to be better at self care. You’re the best!

Senior Special

Letter to Our Freshman Selves

By: Lauren Le and Jennifer Woo

“Dear Old Lauren,

I hope you’ve figured out how to write pretty because this is just yikes.”

-Freshman Lauren, in her letter to Senior Lauren.

Dear Young Lauren,

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I did a side-by-side comparison, and our handwriting looks exactly the same. Due to an unforeseeable pandemic, you ended up turning in most of your assignments typewritten, which gave you absolutely no incentive to improve your penmanship.

I think that you’d find me pretty unrecognizable, but in the best way. I hate to break it to you, but “a pharmacist at a university in San Francisco” is definitely not “what I was meant to be.” I’ll actually be at UCI. I know. Try to hide your disappointment. I know that’s just where you go for tacos, but it’s where I’m going to get a college education. What’s more, two weeks before I submitted my college applications, I had a meltdown and changed my major at every school from Pharmacy to Cognitive Science. Sorry not sorry.

Past Lauren, if there has been anything that I learned over the course of high school, it’s to be open to change. Despite how hard you work for your dreams, and no matter how badly you want things, some things aren’t meant to be. And change isn’t a bad thing, it’s inevitable. Even though you didn’t get into leadership when you applied in 10th grade, it led you to somewhere that was indisputably better for you: OCSA Evolution. See? It’s not so bad.

I wish you could have realized earlier that change meant growth, and that not going to San Francisco to study something that made all of your brain cells isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a sign of strength. But the one thing will always stay the same: winter formal still isn’t that fun.

Even though I feel a lot wiser than I did as a freshman, you had a certain level of innocence and brightness that I miss. There’s one thing that you wrote to me that I can’t get out of my head. I never realized it, but you were the first person to give me the advice that people tell me every day: “Remember to always have fun and don’t take things too seriously. You’ll be fine.” If there’s one thing I should truly apologize to you for, it’s for not listening to your eerily apt advice. Even though you had questionable bangs and an unhealthy obsession with Takis, you really did know what you were saying.

Maybe we can write a letter to About-to-Graduate-College Lauren and tell her the same thing. Hopefully she will have actually taken the advice by now. And if not, I hope that whoever ends up reading this letter can find something of their own to learn from Lauren Le’s character arc in the 4-season fever dream that is high school. It was rough, but I think you’d be pretty proud of me.

Love, Lauren from 12th grade

“P.S: ur skin better be clear now”

P.S: This is the only goal that I accomplished. You’re welcome.

Dear 9th grade Jen,

A lot has changed since you wrote that letter to me on June 7, 2018. You have the best and worst days of your life ahead of you. Each year of high school is going to be more exciting, more stressful, and more eventful than the last, especially senior year.

I remember writing this letter wondering what senior year would feel like. As a freshman, the graduating class seemed so much older and so put together. Now that I’m here, I simultaneously feel exactly the same and completely different than I was four years ago. I’m older, smarter and more confident than I was then. Much to your dismay my singing never got better, it got worse if we’re being completely honest. Your dancing got better though! Good news, Mom finally let me join the competition team after all of those years of asking her.

One big lesson I’ve gained over the last four years is that as opportunities arise, so will the excuses to not take them. If you’re debating whether to take a risk, always follow Nike’s advice and “Just Do It.” Instead of thinking about whether or not I want to do something, I ask myself if I’ll be glad I did it when it’s done. Spoiler: the answer is almost always yes. I know it’s cliche to tell you to step out of your comfort zone, but it really is the best way to realize that we’re capable of more than we believe.

I’ve probably seen “High School Musical 3” hundreds of times since I got a DVD for my sixth birthday, but my relationship with the movie has completely changed. There’s one scene that I’ve been thinking about a lot recently where Troy’s sitting with Gabriella in the tree house and she says, “I wish it would all just stop or at least just slow down.” A part of me wants it all to slow down too.

Two months ago, I wrote the words “You Are Exactly Where You Need to Be” in chalk on 10th Street for a conservatory assignment. I chose that quote not only as an affirmation for others but also for myself. Even on the days when I was so exhausted and it was hard to remember why we were here in the first place, I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. It wasn’t always easy but I know I spent the last six years right where I needed to be.

Everyone’s been saying how fast the last six years went by, but writing that letter to myself in 2018 feels like a lifetime ago. It’s like I’ve been at OCSA for so long that I can’t remember what it’s like not to go here. 9th grade Jen, you have a lot of lessons to learn and a lot of growing to do (not literal growing though, you’re not gonna get much taller to be honest). Through every adventure, take the memories, good and bad, with you because they are treasures of the past and tools for the future.

Sincerely signed,

Jen from the Future

Jennifer Woo (IA ‘21) and Lauren Le (IA ‘21) circa 2018

Issue Six

June 2021

Table of Contents

jennifer Woo

jane lee

Elena levin, Jamie lee, Serapina chung, Isabel hahn

max mikkelsen

lauren le

mehra marzbani

julia motakef

Pierce lewis

isabel hahn

elena levin

Monica johnson

kaon suh

aj miyake

mia soumbasakis

James herde

will lynam

cas kesig

Anica sherry and cas kesig

kaitlin roth

senior secrets

letter to our future selves

Teren Shaffer, OCSA’s New Ringleader

By: Jennifer Woo