Winter Market Sneak Peak
Aadya Sharma & Ava Park
December is coming up, and that means every OCSA student’s favorite holiday event is back—Winter Market! New this year, however, are the scholarships for especially talented vendors. Thanks to the generous sponsorship from Farmers & Merchants Bank, four vendors—one returning and three new—were each gifted $500 scholarships. These winners were determined through a rigorous application process by a representative from F&M Bank and revealed earlier this month. Let’s take a sneak peek at their businesses and plans for Winter Market and beyond:
The first scholarship winner is Art in Hearts, a returning vendor. Emily Yi (VA ‘26), Hyunyi Kim (VA ‘26) and Jennifer Choi (VA ‘26) explained that the mission of Art in Hearts is “to create an environment where art-loving students come together to share their ideas and utilize their talents to make a positive impact in our community.” Last year their club used profits from the Winter Market to provide luncheons for Irvine Firefighters, and hosted a toy drive for their children just in time for the holiday season. Their remarkable success is also recognized by many, as they sold out all of their products on the first day of Winter Market last year, so their newfound funding is helping them create more products to meet the demand of customers. According to a representative from F&M Bank, they were chosen due to their experience as a group and their flowchart, products and logo. We can anticipate their return to Winter Market next year, as they hope to continue their legacy even after graduation.
Another group selected for the scholarship was Amelia Kim (FTV ‘27) and Erica Park (FTV ‘27) for Berries & Bliss. Their inspiration for starting their business comes from their love for creating art. They explained that the ability to personalize belongings and accessorize creates a sense of individuality and fun. At this booth you can expect to see a variety of phone charms, keychains and bracelets. They plan to use their money to purchase supplies and enhance their booth setup. This money will potentially also support them when they participate in Winter Market next year. They are thinking of expanding their booth into a small business outside of school to reach a greater customer demographic. The representative from F&M bank explained that they were selected due to their holistic approach, concept, logo and admirable presentation.
Illustration by Ava Park
The next winner of the scholarship was Evelyn Nguyen (DM ‘27) for her business Pigeon Parlore, which is all about “sharing [her] creations and supporting pigeons.” She finds it sad that pigeons are mistreated around the world, so her goal is to donate her profits to the Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue in Chicago. She plans to use the scholarship money to purchase materials and booth decorations. According to the representative from F&M Bank, Nguyen was chosen for the scholarship due to her impressive presentation, attention to detail and analysis of profit and cost. Nguyen’s future plans for Pigeon Parlore include opening an Etsy shop to sell more elevated versions of her products and doing Winter Market each year she is at OCSA.
The final winner of the new vendor scholarships was the business Fishy, run by Anna Stehberger (PD ‘25), Zoe Stehberger (VA ‘27) and Lyla Soumbasakis (ACT ‘25). Their shop is centered around the theme of protecting marine wildlife. Fishy’s products include crocheted items, such as amigurumi (crocheted stuffed animals) and tops, and pottery with a “blue wave vibe” according to Stehberger. They were chosen for the scholarship due to taking an extra step to draw a diagram of their display table, and they will use the scholarship money to buy yarn and pay for their pottery studio. Their future plans for Fishy are to open an Etsy shop, run booths in local farmers markets and expand their clothing options.
Come to Winter Market on December 6th and 7th to check out these four and many other talented vendors!
Who Are Student Translators?
Lacole Yang
A mother tried to get her son’s attention by tapping him on the shoulder, confused by the events of OCSA Preview Day because of a language barrier, but her son refused to translate. Noticing that the mother was worried, Jamie Jung (CW ‘24) approached them and started answering her questions in Korean.
During Preview Days, Registration Week and other school-wide events, student translators keep an eye out for families that seem lost, wearing a white sticker with their name and the language they speak. They guide families through campus and interpret the map, according to Lyn Huang (CW ‘24), a translator in Leadership. Although many translators are from the Leadership class, some are volunteers from clubs like the California Scholarship Federation. The languages that are officially supported are Mandarin, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.
At each event, there are at least half a dozen families who are more comfortable speaking in another language. When Huang finds a lost family having a confused conversation, they greet the family in Mandarin and ask if any help is needed. From there, they will tell the family where to go or answer questions about their experience at OCSA. Huang said that “it helps them feel more welcome when they can have someone to talk to . . . It fosters a sense of community between OCSA Leadership representatives and the families.” Huang also enjoys translating because it gives them the opportunity to practice their native language outside of their home life.
Sometimes, it’s difficult for student translators to answer highly specific questions, like “how many people are in the graduating class, how many people got into whichever school, what are the various AP programs that your school offers,” said Huang. “They persist [in] asking [because] they want the perspective of a student.”
Not all languages spoken by prospective students are supported. “I think it is difficult to support languages that aren’t spoken as frequently. The school doesn’t ask for support because there are so few [speakers], but I think it is harder for those families,” said Milana Berhe (CW ‘24). She speaks Russian to families that seem uncomfortable with English, although Russian is not one of the officially offered languages.
Overall, the foreign-language resources of the school have gotten better, in Jung’s opinion. “When I was applying for OCSA, we didn’t have Korean, Mandarin or Spanish translators. When I would go around with my Mom, I would have to translate for her. But now we have those services. It’s progress being shown,” she shared.
When families can talk to someone in their native language, they feel more at ease with asking questions. Huang finds it heartwarming “to see families suddenly warm up. Suddenly they have someone they can ask. I help them get those answers, whether that’s to guide them to admin” or to use personal knowledge. Jung reflected, “I see relief in the parents’ eyes sometimes. When they’re able to get the answers that they need, I think it’s a good experience, helping them go through that.”
Girl Math, Girl Dinners, & Bows
Brie Samaniego & Kaylie Viloria
Girl.
One of the biggest trends currently making its rounds on social media.
Everything nowadays is girl. Girl dinner, girl economics, hot girl walks, virtually nothing is unclaimable to the girls, everything is for the girls. Defying the laws of grammar and logic, the word girl can be an adjective, noun, verb, or practically any part of speech if you try hard enough.
A recently popular rendition of girl has taken the title of “girl math”.
Essentially, girl math is justifying purchases by jumping through hoops to twist how the money is being spent. Girl math includes, but is not limited to, spending more money to get free shipping or else you lose money, buying a $1,000 bag is only ten dollars every wear if you wear it 100 times, returning something and getting $50 back is making money, et cetera.
Illustration courtesy of Claire Jeon
To some, "girl math" and "girl dinner" may be lighthearted trends on social media, but beneath the seemingly harmless facades lie deeper issues that can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and impact the empowerment of women.
The complexly connoted word “girl” has been on the rise on social media platforms like TikTok. The idea of “girl math,” in itself, is quite simpleminded. While this trend may appear fun and innocent, it reflects a simplistic approach to financial decision-making. By reducing the value of something to the cost per use, it overlooks broader economic consideration.
Only 26% of economists and 21% of service board members in the financial industry are women. The idea that women can not understand monetary policies of money is further perpetuated by “girl math.” This is ultimately disempowering especially to the minority of women in economics and conveys the stereotype that women cannot comprehend financial matters.
“Girl dinner” is a snack plate of ingredients that have no correlation or specific purpose in the dish– think an assembly of ingredients so low effort that it could not be considered a well-rounded meal. And with the fad of “girl dinner” content comes multifaceted critiques, including its romanticization of disordered eating. The terms suggests that it’s okay and cool to eat a few tiny bites for dinner and that women do not need as much food as men- both proportionally incorrect. It furthers the idea that women do not cook full, robust meals unless they are with men.
But is it that deep?
While yes, a small TikTok trend may not completely eradicate the work the feminist movement has done, there has been an overwhelming amount of trends that confine women. There is an overarching theme of consumerism within social media. The TikTok shop constantly pushes items to its users, contributing to a broader culture that limits women to certain roles and expectations. The impact of these trends goes beyond social media, potentially influencing perceptions and expectations of women in various aspects of life.
However, there is also a beauty to trends. Bows are a great example. Post JoJo Siwa, bows were pushed away and seemed childish and kitsch. A long-standing symbol of femininity since the 17th century has recently made a comeback due to social media trends. Ribbons are inexpensive, reusable and sustainable and do not carry any dangerous connotations at all. Plus, they’re cute.
Former OCSA Students Explain Why They Left
Brian Resendiz
OCSA is a unique school that allows students to master their artistic talents alongside academics. However, this demanding schedule has been seen as a burden to some. This leads to a phenomenon that scratches people’s heads: students leaving OCSA. In these interviews with former OCSA students, answers to this phenomenon are uncovered.
Moses Fleischman (‘24) who was a student in the FTV conservatory, working with Dreamscape and Art Attack Live on the side, shared his reasons. “I took video classes in my time in middle school and fell in love with the process of making such a comprehensive art form. Film is all-encompassing… It is a way to express oneself in a way that I truly believe no other art form is able to truly capture,” Moses claimed when asked about his initial attraction to the conservatory.
“I realized that I wanted in my high school experience to be able to take part in a wide variety of activities and experiences. As much as I love film and my public school's resources available for arts education is nowhere near that of OCSA, I am able to spend my time doing more,” he shared. Moses is now involved in after-school sports as well as a technical theater program where he’s working to put together his own school’s fall play and spring musical.
“I realized that I wanted in my high school experience to be able to take part in a wide variety of activities”
We also had an opportunity to interview Nico Moure (‘24) who was also previously a part of the FTV conservatory. This is what he had to say: “I wrote scripts and filmed them with classmates… I lost my passion for film and realized I wanted to do animal rescue instead. It also just wasn’t the right environment for me as the days were too long for something I wasn’t interested in anymore.”
Finally, Arjun Sriram (‘24) who had previously been in ACT, and took on roles in the Seagull and Hamlet before leaving, explained his rationale for leaving. “I wanted to get better as an actor, and I felt that OCSA was a place where I could be around like-minded people who shared similar interests with me, while also honing in on my craft,” Arjun remarked. “I got lucky and landed the lead role on a show called ‘The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh’ which required my full attention, thus having me leave school forever.” Arjun now searches for more acting work while simultaneously being homeschooled.
These interviews only highlight a small sample of the entire former OCSA population. The takeaway here is that students can leave for a variety of reasons, such as academic pressure, losing interest in their artistic discipline and even work opportunities. There may be a hundred more reasons for a student to transfer out, but in the end what matters is keeping at an education, wherever it can be found.
Hype Behind Eras Tour
Angie Kidder
From country music roots to being the biggest pop star in the world, Taylor Swift has been a staple of the music industry for the past decade. This year is set to be her most successful ever, from the release of two albums—Speak Now and 1989 Taylor’s Version—to the Eras Tour selling out stadiums all over the country. Much of this success is thanks to her loyal fan base, who are known as Swifties.
Since 2020, Taylor has made six full length studio albums. Therefore, the concept behind this tour was to celebrate all of the eras of her career. Coming fresh out of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were dying to go see live music, and this concert was no exception. Over 3.5 million people signed up on Ticketmaster to try and get tickets to this coveted concert, which resulted in the website crashing within an hour and leaving people frozen in their queues.
Nonetheless, these Swifties have done whatever they can to get tickets to the Eras Tour, from entering contests to buying tickets off scalpers or third party websites for thousands of dollars. This difficult situation of getting tickets for the concert became known by Swifties as the “Great War.”
Despite everything that happened, many have no regrets about all the time and money sacrificed for attending this concert. For many Swifties, the experience of being in the same room as her, or the detailed production qualities that came along with the show was very exciting. One of the most unique factors about Taylor Swift’s concert is the bond that Swifties share. Kaylee Nagata (IA ‘26) said, “It was also super cool to bond with other people, especially with people I didn’t know, and to instantly make friends.” Trading friendship bracelets with one another is a popular activity at her concerts, giving opportunities to meet new people. “We had such a connection over an artist that we love and the music that we appreciate so much.”
Photo courtesy of Angie Kidder
With only so many tickets up for grabs, many fans were unfortunately not able to attend the concert. Due to the popularity of her tour, it was announced that there would be a concert film coming to theaters all over the country that would showcase all three hours of the concert. This was seen as an amazing opportunity for those who could not see her live.
Naturally, once tickets were up for sale, it didn’t take long for it to become the highest-grossing concert film of all time. Even for the fans who were able to go to the concert, it gave them a chance to fully appreciate all of the hard work that was put into this film, whether it's the dancer’s dedication or the amazing details in the production that super fans wouldn’t be able to spot. With no doubt, it seems Swift recognizes that her career wouldn’t be nearly as successful without her fans, and it is sure to continue growing in the time coming.
Evolution Staff Survey
James Yi
Above survey was done with the help of random students asked (bribed with candy) to place stickers on their answer choices. Results were compounded with online survey, which had five participants.
What kind of article do you want more of?
Opinion: 7
Humor: 37
Crafts: 3
Horoscope: 4
Entertainment: 16
Anything similar to the Timothée Chalamet article: 1
Humor editor here.
Newspaper Availability
Plenty: 7-9
Enough: 37-39
Too Little: 7
Come on, there was enough space to put the stickers inside the boxes.
Length of Newspaper
Too long: 5
Just right: 46
Too short: 1
Good job, Melody?
Newspaper Satisfaction
0: 0
1: 1
2: 0
3: 4
5: 11
6: 22
7: 6
Max: 9
I made sure nobody voted in the lower boxes. Couldn’t do that with the poll, though.
Which pages of the Newspaper do you most read? (Pick 3)
First: 19
2: 11
3: 10
4: 8
5: 4
6: 2
7: 4
8: 16
Horoscopes carried.
Probability of reading an article to the end
25%: 8
50%: 20
75%: 13
100%: 8
The chance of you reading this line is 61 percent.
Thanksgiving in Different Cultures
Samuel Parigela
Thanksgiving is usually seen as the typical American holiday. The traditional turkey, pie and mashed potatoes are sometimes overwhelmingly entrenched in Thanksgiving conventions. While this isn’t a bad thing at all, it’s often overlooked that there’s more than one style of Thanksgiving cooking. From complete overhauls of the Thanksgiving meal to simple add-ons that enhance the flavor, it simply has to be stated that different cuisines have their own versions on the standard feast.
Personally, I have been to a few Thanksgivings with ‘unconventional’ food. A while ago, my family was invited to another Indian family’s house on Thanksgiving. Around the center of the table were some of the staples: mashed potatoes, beans, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. At the center of the table, though, was a platter full of turkey biryani, which is a popular South Asian dish consisting of meat, rice and spices. The smell was amazing. Frankly, I don’t know, looking back, whether to call this some sort of ‘fusion’ or just a variation on Biryani. Regardless, it was a delicious way to spice up a meat that can, at times, be bland.
Photo Courtesy of Kayra Hidirlar
There are other renditions of the traditional Thanksgiving meal as well. Louisiana, with its extensive history and status as a ‘melting pot’ of cultures, may be a part of the US, but Jambalaya is a mix of French, African and Spanish cuisine and is definitely worth trying if you find yourself in that part of the country. Being a dish that is interestingly similar to biryani with meat, rice and spices also making up the majority of the dish, it offers a completely different set of flavors. It has a much more wet, cooked broth, and a smoky taste, thanks to the onions, peppers, and spices that add to the meal. The flavors truly pop, and it is a must-try, even if not on Thanksgiving Day.
In some other cultures, all it takes to celebrate Thanksgiving is simply incorporating certain foods on the table. For example, kimchi can be found on the table at Thanksgiving for some Korean American families. I also specifically remember our neighbors placing steaming hot tamales next to the turkey one earlier Thanksgiving. To add, an anonymous OCSA student commented that he observes Thanksgiving with his family and mostly stays true to the ‘traditional’ idea of Thanksgiving food. However, he had to note that sometimes he likes to add other flavors to his meal. “I put beans on the side of my turkey and chopped jalapenos in my mashed potatoes, sometimes,” he remarked.
As American of a holiday as it is, Thanksgiving does have its variations among different cultures and cuisines. Some prefer to stick to the conventional Thanksgiving dinner, but others like to infuse their culture in their food, whether it is changing up the entire feast or just putting in small additions.
Time Management Advice: Due 11:59
Samuel You
With OCSA’s unique focus on both academics and the arts, the students run on a very tight schedule – conservatory performances, extracurriculars and the late release from school means that there is much less time to get things done. Passersby, especially seniors, complaining about their workload is pretty common. When time pressure starts to affect quality as well as quantity, efficiency starts to become a forefront issue. Here’s what some OCSA war-torn seniors have to say about how they get the most work done in the least time possible.
Rachael Vu (IM-P ‘24) finds that group work makes for better study sessions. “I enjoy having ‘study calls’ with my friends,” Vu stated, calling herself a “procrastinator,” but added that a group environment helps make work “more enjoyable.” Vu also emphasized the importance of music to her work. “I listen to jazz or lofi to help keep me motivated.” she stated. “It really helps.”
A significant portion of the average student’s day is spent on campus, 8 hours and 15 minutes to be exact. With this in mind, outside work doesn’t have to be saved for outside the campus. Ryan Lee (CW ‘24) stressed the importance of this. “Creative Writing is like a 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th English class.” Lee stated, “so [the] homework can reach into the wee hours of the night. But CW teachers know that and give you as much time in class to do work. [CW teachers] also don’t mind if you do work for other classes because they know how much work teachers can assign.” Lee, when prompted for closing statements, responded with one word: “coffee.”
Gabriel Cho (BR ‘24) described the attitude shifts necessary to get your work completed. “I just have no choice but to finish on time.” Cho said, adding that “if you have closer deadlines, finish those first. Finishing deadlines as they come up will help you feel like you’re on track.” Cho furthers points made earlier about using class time. We’ve all heard it a million times by now, but as that test is coming up, attending Office Hours is never a bad idea.
“It’s not easy. It hasn’t been and it probably won’t be in the future. But remember, especially seniors, we’re all in this together, and we’re all going to make it. ”
OCSA students have a lot on their plates. With conservatory on top of an already rigorous academic schedule for most, it’s a load not many high school students can say they handle. It’s not easy. It hasn’t been and it probably won’t be in the future. But remember, especially seniors, we’re all in this together, and we’re all going to make it.
"Bottoms:" It Should Be Next on Your Watchlist
Sophia Kang
Are you gay and untalented? Maybe you’re straight and untalented. No matter who you are, what you identify as or how untalented you may be, the movie “Bottoms” is for you.
Co-written by Rachel Sennott and Emma Seligman, “Bottoms” tells the tale of two unpopular queer best friends, PJ and Josie, who decide to start a fight club to pick up girls. “Bottoms” is the coming-of-age story that rom-com and raunchy comedy lovers alike have been yearning for. It parodies the ridiculousness of straight and queer culture while also portraying accurate, nuanced characters. Riley Ros (ACT ‘24) explained, “While positive representation is important, I feel that gay characters [...] should be allowed to have nuance and be a little off the rails sometimes. I hate that we must be ‘palatable’ to all audiences in order to be included. Gay people are crazy, and we deserved [...] to commemorate that.”
Poster by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
If that doesn’t convince you, the cast list definitely will. Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Big Mouth) and Rachel Sennott (Bodies Bodies Bodies, Shiva Baby) play our lesbian heroines, and they are undoubtedly one of the best comedy duos of the 21st century. To put it simply, “Rachel Sennott & Ayo Edebiri could do Fight Club but Brad Pitt & Edward Norton couldn’t do Bottoms” as said by a user on Letterboxd. Edebiri’s awkward quips, paired with Sennott’s hilarious nonchalance, create the perfect blend of in-your-face and subtle comedy. Nicholas Galitzine does an impressive 180 after starring in “Red, White, and Royal Blue” to straight-football-player-menace Jeff, who will have you crying with laughter and questioning the exaggeration of his character. Additional performances from talents like Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, and Kaia Gerber make this already funny film even funnier.
The cherry on top that should motivate you to watch this movie is the writing. “I really loved how the dialogue was exactly how me and my friends speak. I don’t think I’ve laughed harder at a movie,” said Siena Stark (ACT ‘24). The script doesn’t sacrifice heartfelt moments for the punchline and still showcases the trials and tribulations of navigating high school relationships. “Queer comedies and rom-coms represent queer people in a way that doesn’t just make them about sex and sadness. Queer people deserve to see themselves represented in all forms of media,” stated Sophie Bradecich (IA ‘24).
By this point, you may be thinking, “But, Sophia! I’m not gay! This has nothing to do with me!” You go to OCSA. It has everything to do with you. This movie has anything for anyone: bombs, Charli XCX, a literal battle to the death (I’m not kidding), Stella-Rebecca, who models at car conventions in Chicago on the weekends–you name it. Even if you’re not gay or untalented, it’s an honest and hilarious story that makes for the perfect breather from tests, college applications and tech week. So, take a break and go watch “Bottoms!” (Available to rent on Apple, Amazon Prime, or Vudu). (Or Soap2day.tf but I didn’t say that).
How to Write Your First Resume
Sofie Dooley
While nearing adulthood, many students may encounter the exciting, daunting and seemingly unattainable task of trying to get a job. It doesn't sound too difficult when you put it plainly- working at an awesome place and getting paid sounds awesome until you realize you have to write a resume. Where to begin? There is a first time for everything, and sometimes entering unknown territories is hard and many teens (including myself) find it especially difficult to make a resume when you have zero job experience and no clue where to start. Luckily for those who are new in the job field, we have on the roster today two employed seniors who have advice to give on how to write a resume, or at least how to start.
When asking Lauren Lackey (PM ‘24) and Hazel Ciufo (CAH ‘24) about how they felt when having to write their first resumes, the two had similar experiences. For Lackey, her first job was a receptionist at an aerospace engineering company– how fancy! Lackey said that in the process of writing her resume she was, “overwhelmed at first, but I found resources like templates that helped me along the way.” Ciufo was on the laid-back side, exclaiming that she “felt fine” knowing that her mom would help her. However, similar to Lackey, Ciufo states that, “resources like templates helped me along the way.” What has been gathered from the wise words of these employed students is that step one in the creation of a resume is finding a template. Some sites that have available templates for making resumes include Canva, Google Docs, Career Perfect and Careerbuilder.com
Drawn by Kayra Hidirlar
After completing task one, a first-time resume builder may wonder, “What is next?” Ciufo and Lackey filled us in on the absolute necessities when writing a resume. Start off with the basic information like your name, address and email. For the rest, Lackey said to include, “a short description about yourself, past job experience, volunteer experience, education, awards and a list of skills.” Ciufo stated her list and said to include, “volunteer experience, extracurriculars, good grades, and honesty.” Many of these things are inferred but many don't realize the importance of including your volunteer experience. Since many teens have had no previous job experience, showing dedication and compassion through volunteer work displays many positive qualities for possible employers. To bring back our interviewee’s advice, describe yourself and do so with honesty in your resume. With that, I send you off into the world to write your resume, good luck.
November Staff Recs
Evolution Staff
Best Thanksgiving Food
The leftover sandwich the day after. - Sophie Bradecich, IA ‘24
Mashed potatoes (not overrated) - Samuel Parigela, CW ‘ 25
Cornbread (the box kind without actual corn) - Sofie Dooley, PM ‘ 26
Tamales - Adriana Perez, BF ‘26
Favorite Fall Activity
Go bake something! Whether is cookies, a cake, or any kind of pastry it can be so much fun to do by yourself or with a friend (and you end up with a great snack at the end!) - Angie Kidder, MT ‘26
Going to coffee shops and studying. It is so fun trying the new fall drinks and it is also productive. - Sofie Dooley, PM ‘26
My favorite break from homework is to take a walk just before sunset around the neighborhood. Stepping on all of the leaves on your path is a must, even if it annoys your poor dog. - Sophie Bradecich, IA ‘24
Music
Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? - The Cranberries; it's lingering season. - Sophia Kang, PD ‘24
September by Sparky Deathcap. I love the instrumental bc it's so ethereal and beautiful. - Aadya Sharma, IMSO '24
Cherry Blossom Ending by Busker Busker. You won't understand the lyrics, but the music is iconic. - James Yi, CW ‘24
Staring out the window of your old apartment by Jeff Rosenstock. It’s so good and it’s the best pop punk song ever ever and I love it and everybody has to listen to it. - Jeri Stein - ACT ‘26
Movies
Suburban Gothic. It is like an indie-mystery-ghost story- rom com. There is a scene where the teacher goes off on an evil student that lives in my mind forever the dialogue is so good. Plus, the movie also has Matthew Gray Gubler as the lead. - Sofie Dooley, PM ‘26
Culpa Mia/My Fault. If you understand Spanish, watch it in Spanish, but it's really good. You can find a bunch of clips on YouTube, so if you like them, I suggest watching it on Amazon Prime. - Adriana Perez, BF ‘26
Books
Mother of Learning by nobody103. Intricate and unique world and characters. Story doesn't lag off in the later books. - James Yi, CW ‘24
The Rumor Game by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton: It's about 3 girls at an exclusive D.C prep school and rumors start to grow about them through social media, their lives begin to unravel trying to figure out where all of it is coming from. - Angie Kidder, MT ‘26
Everyone should read 1984. I don't read books that often anymore but sometimes I just open 1984 because it's just a classic. You also get to tell people "I've read 1984" with a smug look on your face. - Samuel You, CW' ‘24
The Secret History - Donna Tartt; A poetically written thriller that'll make you feel cozy and satisfy the mystery-genre-itch October has left behind. (It's basically a comedy half of the time). - Sophia Kang, PD ‘24
Places
If you can find a Somi Somi near you, the ice cream is really awesome. You can order Bungeoppang (a sweet red bean pastry shaped like a fish) as well, and they're pretty decent. - Samuel You, CW ‘24
Bowlero at the Garden Walk. I love bowling with my family, it's just hours of us throwing balls and eating food and laughing. - Adriana Perez, BF ‘26
Halloween Spread
Evolution Staff
Each Conservatory as a Bagel
Naomi Herthel
Each Conservatory as a Bagel
Congratulations! You have officially arrived at inarguably the most meaningful and important article in this month’s issue. Disclaimer: this is not an opinion article. This piece is pure fact. If you disagree with any of the following information, you disagree with science. Here is each conservatory represented as a different type of bagel.
Photo courtesy of Vicky Ng
We begin with the School of Fine & Media Arts. Most obviously, Integrated Arts would be an everything bagel. Students in this conservatory are talented in a myriad of disciplines, just like these bagels’ seasoning, made up of all sorts of salts, dried onions, garlic and seeds. Creative Writing would be a cinnamon raisin bagel because while raisins alone often receive hate (as does plain academic writing), when combined with the sweet cinnamon of creativity, the bagel’s taste is irresistible. Film & Television would be an onion bagel, as onions have layers, just like the layers of teamwork required for success in this conservatory. The Design & Media conservatory would be a blueberry bagel because their eyes are definitely damaged from all the blue light they stare at. Visual Arts would be a poppy seed bagel because poppy seeds are tiny, resembling the fine detail and precision of most visual art. While not a bagel, Arts & Enterprise would be the cream cheese because their foundational and unifying work enhances the overall experience and 'taste' of the entertainment industry.
As for the School of Dance, Ballet Folkorico would be a garlic bagel. Their performances are lively, exciting and have a little kick. Ballet & Contemporary Dance would be a sesame bagel– simple and cohesive, resembling the poised and put-together nature of ballerinas. Ballroom Dance would be bagel bombs, as they are a small conservatory packed with talent (or cream cheese). Commercial Dance would be a pretzel bagel because this unique bread is known for its twists and turns.
The School of Music combined would be a bagel sandwich because each of their instruments (or sandwich components) work in orchestration to create beautiful harmony.
Moving onto the School of Theatre, the Acting conservatory would be a Crogel, a croissant and bagel hybrid. This is because actors storytell through embodying different characters, similar to how this croissant just wants to be a bagel so bad. Musical Theater would be a rainbow bagel due to their radiant energy and captivating stage presence. Production & Design would be a pizza bagel because this meal requires construction, just how a production crew does lots of heavy building and behind-the-scenes crafting.
Lastly, from the School of Applied Arts, the Culinary Arts & Hospitality conservatory would be a homemade french toast bagel. Need I elaborate?
Tips for Those Awkward Family Conversations
Jeri Stein
“Do you remember that?” A quote we hear all too much during the holidays. No “Aunt Ruth,” I don't remember the time when I was three and got handed a ball or went to your baby shower–I barely had a neck let alone self-awareness. Though we wish to explain to the Aunt Ruths of the world that no, we don't remember that time because we were one and couldn't even speak or care enough about your baby shower to remember it. We usually settle with a nod and uncomfortable smile. But a lot of times we don't know how to respond to the constant “Do you remember”s from family members so here are five tips for surviving the holidays with family members you have no words for but for some reason have so many for you.
Graphic by Lauren Kim
TIP 1: Mouth your words, and make it seem like you're responding but they just cannot hear what you are saying. You see, the ultimate goal with this tip is for them to eventually believe they have a horrible hearing problem and leave for the hospital, leaving you without having to actually talk to them. A tip to make the performance believable is to pretend you’re really engaged when they are speaking, nod your head and make eye contact. Then, when it's your turn to respond just lip sync something that leaves them wondering when did they go deaf?
TIP 2: Leave in the middle of their sentence. This tip is simple; if you don’t wanna hear it, you don't gotta! Just walk away in the middle of their sentence. They will be too engrossed in their train of thought to react to your absence. By the time they finish their sentence, you’ll be long gone.
TIP 3: Foaming at the mouth–nobody wants to be in a conversation with somebody they think has rabies. You can achieve the foaming effect in many ways. My personal favorite is the little soda candy. You just pop a bunch in your mouth and go crazy. You can also use chewed up Alka-seltzers to get the same effect without the fun flavors.
TIP 4: Tell them that their breath smells bad, making them feel insecure. If they believe that their breath smells bad, they aren't going to want to talk. While some may say this tip is mean, I say do what you need to protect your peace.
TIP 5: Spin kick. It's effective but has consequences. If all else fails, you may need to resort to physical violence and a spin kick isn't a bad way to go about it. There isn't necessarily a best time to pull out a spin kick, you just need to feel out the vibe. Though spin kicking a 60-year-old woman isn't always the best look so you have been warned.
The Best Worst College Mascots
Elise Park
As application deadlines rapidly approach, it’s hard not to think about college. From the UCLA Bruins to USC Trojans, mascots are one of the first things we associate with a school. Since they are practically all I look at these days, here are five of the best worst college mascots I’ve seen!
1. Speedy the Geoduck
I’m not sure what a geoduck is, or why Evergreen State College would choose it as their mascot, but there’s something awfully compelling about Speedy’s green shell and goofy smile. The goal of their mascot was to differentiate the innovative Evergreen College from traditional schools, although many agree it didn’t need to be this different.
2. Keggy the Keg
The unofficial mascot of Dartmouth College is a literal keg. While the tin can is somewhat off-putting, Keggy perfectly encapsulates Dartmouth’s famous drinking culture and is one of the most memorable mascots out on the field.
3. WuShock
WuShock, the proud representative of Wichita State University, is an angry bundle of wheat. From his furrowed brows to his strange yellow pigtails, this mascot has to be one of the scariest.
4. The Stanford Tree
Of all possibilities, Stanford picked a tree to represent them. Despite choosing such a common plant, there’s quite the variety, from the weeping willow to the classic redwood. There’s also a special tree that boasts bright poinsettia flowers for leaves during Christmas.
5. Oski the Bear
While cute at first glance, Oski’s overly wide grin and unblinking eyes are sure to threaten anyone playing UC Berkeley. Oski was chosen to represent the state animal, the golden grizzly, but it’s debatable whether this was properly achieved.
Fall in Love With These Baking Recipes!
Gigi Kim
Caramel Apple Puff Pastries Recipe (by The Little Blog Of Vegan)
Make these easy and delicious vegan (optional), gluten-free, no-dairy caramel apple puff pastries for all the flavors of the autumn season!
Ingredients:
2 sheets of puff pastry (vegan options available)
30g caster/granulated sugar
2 heaping teaspoons of ground or sweet cinnamon
4 large apples
Milk/dairy-free milk
Caramel sauce/vegan caramel sauce
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 2 baking trays.
Flatten puff pastry sheets, and cut out strips of the pastry 1/2 inch thick. With leftover pastry, use leaf cookie cutters to create leaf shapes.
In a bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon.
Cut each apple into thick slices and use an apple corer to cut out a circle in the middle. Coat in cinnamon sugar.
Wrap the pastry strips around each apple slice, using milk to stick.
Brush the tops with milk, stick on leaf decorations and sprinkle more cinnamon sugar.
Place the pastries on lined baking trays and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Once baked, remove from the oven and cool the pastries on the tray.
Serve with caramel sauce! Enjoy!
Photo courtesy of The Little Blog Of Vegan
Taylor Swift Chai Cookies Recipe
Obsessed with Taylor Swift? Try her yummy chai cookie recipe and cozy up with a side of Gilmore Girls!
Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup granulated sugar (+ more for topping)
½ powdered sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
⅓ teaspoon salt
1 chai tea bag
Glaze
½ cup powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons milk or eggnog
Instructions:
In a mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter until fluffy. Mix in the oil until it is thoroughly combined, then add sugar, powdered sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Add chai leaves from the bag and mix.
Mix in flour, baking soda and salt. Place the bowl in the fridge and allow the dough to chill for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350°F before removing the dough from the fridge. Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough into tablespoon-sized balls, slightly flatten and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with sugar. Bake the cookies for 8-12 minutes until golden. Remove the cookies from the oven, and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes.
Whisk together the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk. Spoon the glaze onto the cooled cookies. Enjoy!
Happy baking!
Graphic courtesy of Allrecipes
Reviving the We Are OCSA Song
Kate Um
WE ARE OCSA Lip-Dub. Amassing approximately 9,600 views, this music video by the OCSA Show Youtube channel has become our unspoken anthem song. It speaks to OCSA’s legacy, from the past orientation dance lessons to the canon moment where students stumble upon the music video one dawdling day. This was even the graduation song for the Class of 2017 and 2020. Either way, the impact has remained strong in the upper-grade levels, but seems to be losing some of its touch with the lower-grade levels. Therefore, I have a proposal for keeping this original song alive: give it a twist yearly by adding another song verse.
The senior class will have the greatest authority over OCSA’s song legacy, since many have charted the long four to six years here and are entrusted to portray our school. Therefore, let each senior class add a bit of spice to the song annually. Perhaps with the song feeling closer to the senior class each year with fresh lyrics and grooves, we can resurrect this song for the future years to come. By the years to come, it’d be cool to see ongoing song memorabilia by each OCSA class. As a senior myself, I’ll suggest starting this year’s rendition with some UK-rap styled bars:
ORIGINAL WE ARE OCSA SONG CHORUS
The sights, the sounds, the energy
The feeling that we make the dream
This is where it goes on and on
On and on and on
NEW VERSE! *insert trap beat and Central Cee*
O-C-S-A we the best
Seven floors up top
Yes we ranking best
The mandem don’t got anything stacked (they’re meek)
We got artistry, dodgeball and our tech weeks (BEAT DROP)
Seven stories
17 conservatories
This is where it’s at
This is what we got
This the school where it’s at at at
Oh! this is where it goes on and on… (REVERT TO OG CHORUS)
MadLib: A Thanksgiving Dinner to Remember
Kayra Hidirlar
The day has finally come. It’s the one, the only, Thanksgiving! To celebrate, I went with my family to [place] to get the ingredients needed to cook up a [adjective] dinner! Once we came back home, we went into the [noun] to prepare everything for tonight. We started by [verb ending in -ing] the turkey, then putting it into the [noun] to cook for [number] [unit of time]. Next, we boiled, peeled, and mashed the [plural noun], tossed the [noun], made some [noun] sauce and [past tense verb] the brussel sprouts. Finally, we made the dessert: [noun] pie and topped it with some [adjective] cream. Once nighttime came, we [adverb ending in -ly] set the table with all of our cooked dishes and some [plural noun] to eat off of. A moment later, the doorbell rang and we opened it to find [name], who brought some [plural noun] for us to eat. All of us greeted each other, then we [past tense verb] to the table to eat our dinner. While eating, we talked about [plural noun] and caught up with each other. I remarked, “This food is so [adjective]!” After eating, our stomachs were very [adjective], and all we wanted to do was watch [movie name]. The end of the night finally came and we all said, “[word/phrase]” to the guests before they [adverb ending in -ly] left to go to their [place]. Overall, this Thanksgiving was very [adjective], and I will never forget everything we did that day!
Sophomoritis
Adriana Perez
What is Sophomoritis? Some people think it’s fake, an excuse to put off work, because the only -itis that exists is Senioritis, right?
Nope. Sophomoritis. It’s real. Because now life is real. Everything now counts. And now we sophomores have to figure out what we want to do, who we are and who we want to be. At least, that’s how it feels. School feels more like a burden, and trying to figure out your place while trying to juggle AP and Honors classes, conservatory classes, performances and relationships can be too much. I remember thinking last year, “Freshman year wasn’t so bad, how could sophomore year be that hard?” but we only have two months left in the year and 2026 doesn’t feel so far now. It all feels so daunting, trying to prepare for the future when it feels like it’s rushing onto you.
But the thing is, it’s not that serious. Life is going to continue whether you have a 4.0 or a 2.0. The paths that are always shown are not the only ones available. So enjoy your sophomore year, go to dances with your friends and take classes that you’re interested in. Look for what you want to do, not what people expect from you or what would be the most beneficial. There’s a career for everything nowadays and art can pay the bills, no matter what your parents say. And if it’s not art that you want to make a career out of, then there will be something else, trust me.
Sophomore year is the year where we feel like we need to have everything prepared, but it should be the year where we get to explore. Remember that, and if you lose your motivation, find people who will help you stay on track. I promise you, having a support system is probably one of the most important things you will need. High school might not be the best four years of your life, but it will be the biggest learning experience, and that’s ok, because you have time, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
“Sophomore year . . . should be the year where we get to explore.”
So, to finish this off, my fellow sophomores, juniors, seniors, freshmen and even the middle schoolers, let me leave you with this. We’re all going through it together, so whoever came up with the idea that only senioritis exists is completely wrong. You could have junioritis. You could have freshmanitis. You could have whatever-grade-you’re-in-itis because what it really is is a combination of burnout and the idea that none of it matters anymore. But I promise you, it gets better. Take that nap during lunch, have a mental health day, ask for an extension if everything starts to pile up. Use that block seven to do whatever you need, whether it’s to talk to a teacher, catch up on that assignment, retake that test or just rest between classes. Do whatever you need to do for yourself because, trust me, we’re all going through it and we’re all going to get through it.
November Horoscopes: How “Eye” View Each Sign
Lauren Kim
Notes from the author: Please don’t get upset with me if the messages I provide turn out to be inaccurate. I personally don’t believe in astrology, and these are just my observations from the various people I’ve met in life.
