Table of Contents

A Peek Into OCSA Shows

sara bradecich

Gen Z Baseball Culture

sofie dooley

Rising Prices at OCSA

asmi aggarwal

Louisiana New Ten Commandments Law

angie kidder

Implications of Conspiracies in Media

gigi kim

Pros and Cons of AI in Journalism

isabella chiodo

Where Did Chiikawa Come From?

ashley kim

10 Unconventional Ways to Cook a Turkey

celine curtis

What Happens in Symphony Hall at Night

samuel parigela

I Cannot Buy Anything In My Life

jeri stein

Normalizing Healthy Teenage Lifestyles

sophie sukendro

Trump Wins 47th Presidential Election

naomi herthel

Six Degrees of Celebrity Separation

dylan spence

Take Me Out to the Brawl Game

sydney lee

Start a New Tradition This Thanksgiving!

ava park

Ranking Sports on How Well OCSA Students Would Do At Them

lucy hunter

My TikTok Shop Food Addiction

kate chung

Ranking Places I’ve Worked At

kaylie viloria

Love Advice From the Inexperienced

adriana perez

OCSA Polls: Favorite New York Times Puzzle

annika petras

November 2024 Horoscopes

ava park

Halloween 2024 Spread

brendan knox

A Peek Into OCSA Shows

Sara Bradecich

OCSA has many exciting shows coming up, and some performances that have already happened! 

Integrated Arts’s “Pride and Prejudice,” adapted from the Jane Austen novel and directed by Kaitlyn Tice, opened Oct. 17. The show featured students in grades nine through 12, who had been working hard in rehearsals since early September. Actress Savannah McFarland (IA ‘26), who played the role of Caroline Bingley, commented on the rehearsal process, “Everyone in the cast is really great… I just feel like I'm with my friends 24/7.” Rehearsals also included a regency period hair workshop with help from PD students, which prompted McFarland to voice her thoughts about the time period’s outfits and hair: “It's really different, but it's also really feminine and cute. I really like that about the regency era.” The audience’s feedback on this show was nothing short of fantastic. Emma Rhodes (IA ‘25) said she thought the talent was Acting level. 

Speaking of, the Acting conservatory recently opened “Vanities,” a play written by Jack Heifner about the lives of three high school cheerleaders. Angeline Sanchez (ACT ‘25), an actress playing one of those three cheerleaders, explained that her co-stars are two of her best friends in real life, so building chemistry in their scenes has been easy. She also informed, “The story is very relatable to teenagers today, despite taking place in Texas in 1963.” This show opened on Oct. 24 and ran through Oct. 26.

In more spooky news, the CW conservatory had their “Scarefest” on Oct. 30, just before Halloween. In this spectacle, CW students performed one-act plays they wrote from Halloween-themed prompts to get people into the holiday spirit! Ashima Sharma (CW ‘25) says, “Scarefest always makes me laugh so much that my stomach hurts!”

Additionally, there are also a fun selection of shows that premiere this November, including MT’s “Classroom Cabaret”, a show fully developed by the students of MT. This show ran for two days, Nov. 5 and Nov. 6. 

IM-J also hosted their “IM-J: Big Bands Concert” on Nov. 6. The performance featured music from the Jazz canon and included special guest, Summer Camargo, a talented trumpet player who is the newest “Saturday Night Live” band member! As if this first show was not enough, IM-J has another performance on Nov. 13: their “Combo Concert,” which will include a mix of pieces from the past century and pieces created by students. 

Later this month, there are a few more shows to look forward to. From Nov. 15 to 16, PM will hold their “Evolution of Grunge” show where students will perform various fun grunge songs, ranging from Nirvana to Pearl Jam. 

On Nov. 17, the Ballroom Dance conservatory will have a fundraiser show called the

“Team-Match Dance-A-Thon.” Here, students will be split into teams for the audience to vote on. 

CV’s "Shakespeare And Friends: Celebrating The Great Poets Of English And Art Song," set to take place on Nov. 21, will have CV’s ninth grade class perform poetry set to music. 

Closing out the busy month is MT’s production of “Matilda”, which will run from  Nov. 21 to Nov. 23. “Matilda” is a musical adapted from the original Roald Dahl book, featuring the same beloved genius girl and her struggle with a family that doesn't understand her. Uniquely, this production includes cast members from all grades at OCSA, setting it up to be a popular hit.  

For any information on the upcoming shows, ticket information is available at boxoffice.ocsarts.net. We hope to see you there!

Gen Z Baseball Culture

Sofie Dooley

Baseball has always been significant in defining American culture. Since the 1860s, it has been defined as the “nation’s pastime.” Even we, as OCSA students, are familiar with the main aspects of the culture: the songs, the hats, the card collecting, etc. But recently, things have been getting a little more niche. Trends like “floating hats” or the ice cream shorts sported by Gen Alpha and Gen Z ballers are defining the culture along with certain lingo and recent influences both on and off Major League fields. 

Today, we gain insight from two young baseball players, Jackson Tran, 12, and Cooper Dooley, 12. Baseball, which began for Tran at 4 years old (as the only tactic his parents could successfully use to force him to go outside) and for Dooley at two years old when he received his first bat, has become a significant — or perhaps the most significant — aspect in their lives. However, because these boys don’t just engage in the sport but also the recent culture, it’s only natural to wonder who and what has influenced these practices.  

When asking about the root of many trends, such as the floating hats, where baseball hats are sat on the tip of the head often falling off during pitching, along with Baseball 101 ice cream shorts, oftentimes, fingers point to Max Clark, a 19-year-old prodigy who made his mark in baseball at the age of 16 while playing for Franklin Community High School in Indiana. Clark is now in the minor leagues despite MAJORLY influencing young and aspiring baseball players via social media. Upon Googling Clark, some of the top searches include “Max Clark drip,” “Max Clark pearl necklace” and “Max Clark fashion,” leading one to believe that the central focus of Clark may not be his skill.  

Dooley recalls his early days of Max Clark discovery when he “started searching up drippiest players on YouTube and then copying all of Max Clark’s accessories.” Speaking of drip, Dooley also spoke on the Baseball 101 ice cream shorts, sharing the insight that the brand resurfaced because of their sponsorship with Max Clark. Both Tran and Dooley speculate that the ice cream shorts in particular are loved among the community as they align with the “drippy” theme (get it, because ice cream drips).

Tran and Dooley discussed the importance of both being unique and a trend-setter on the field. Although there seems to be no shame in taking direct influence from Max Clark or the San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr, when asking the boys who on their team they take influence from, Dooley states that he does not take influence from his teammates but instead has personally influenced his team to start wearing hoodies to practice. 

Tran denied this claim and stated, “Nobody even wears a hoodie.” 

To which Dooley rebutted, “You literally said you were going to buy one today.” 

Tran diffused the aggression stating, “I was just kidding.” 

Why all of this hostility around being unique in a setting that is supposed to be centered around athleticism? Dooley lends possible reasoning:“You have to look good to feel good to play good,” to which Tran agreed. 

So what is the future of baseball virtues and fashion? With the rise of sports influencers and trends, we can assume a colorful future on and off the field. 

 Rising Prices at OCSA

Asmi Aggarwal

It’s early on a chilly Monday, and the last thing you want to do is get out of bed. A few minutes pass and somehow, you’re able to stand up and lazily convince yourself to get ready for school. Barely awake, you decide you desperately need a heavily caffeinated, cripplingly sweet, piping hot pumpkin spice latte to get you through this cold November day. You eat breakfast, hop in your car, and drive yourself to the nearest Starbucks you can find. You order your drink but when you read the total… $6.50?? Sighing, you dig out the last few coins from your wallet to pay and leave the store. You get in your car, take a sip of your lukewarm latte, and quickly realize your gas tank is almost empty. Already late for school, you pull up to the gas station across the street to get some fuel and… $4.89 per gallon??? At this rate, you’re sure to be broke by the time you finish high school.

Inflation continues to affect many demographics in our country, and although general U.S. rates seem to be decreasing compared to past years, everything still seems so unbelievably expensive. Rising prices for amenities from groceries to healthcare are disproportionately hurting lower-income households, and many middle-aged families with more asset income are taxed at much higher rates as well.

Lately, OCSA has been experiencing a substantial inflation wave of its own. To cover the rising costs of ingredients, raw materials and equipment, food resources at OCSA have been heavily subject to inflationary pressures now more than ever. The prices of most packaged snacks in vending machines alone have surged from $1.50 to $1.75. This approximately 17 percent increase has caught the attention of students such as Ashton Ortega-Fosado (CV ‘27), who explained, “When I was in seventh grade in 2021, snacks only used to be a dollar. Now, they’ve practically doubled the cost.” The recent marketing of ice cream sandwiches and bars for $4.00 in the main blue container has also been an ingenious effort to make money, but it certainly doesn’t help students’ pockets. Even though a pack of nine Blue Bunny vanilla sandwiches can easily be bought on Instacart for as little as $6.00, the convenience and delight of being able to consume sugar during school hours seems to have everyone hooked.

Beyond edible items, OCSA has also been known to have notoriously expensive event tickets. The recent Homecoming dance at Dave and Busters was masterfully planned out by Leadership, but with the average price range of school dance tickets in the U.S. falling from about $10 to $40, OCSA’s $72 fee exceeded the budgets of countless students. Of course, OCSA, unlike most public high schools, has to charge extra in order to secure grandiose venues. However, with this being the only option for students from families with an average source of income, many are left in a pickle when it comes to purchasing a ticket.

The Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program implemented by the 2021 California state mandate has certainly helped counter this high inflationary environment for many lower income students by reducing the prices of food, lockers, entertainment vouchers and much more. Yet nevertheless, there is still a pressing need for expansions of such arrangements in order to further ease students’ burdens in an already expensive world.

 Louisiana New Ten Commandments Law

Angie Kidder

Over the summer, Louisiana became the only state to require all public schools to display the Ten Commandments, a religious document, in every classroom. According to the new law, every public classroom, whether in an elementary school or university, must display a poster-size Protestant Christian version of the Ten Commandments.

However, many people all across Louisiana and the country find the new law to be a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution. As stated in the First Amendment, Congress “shall not make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” preventing the government from establishing or favoring one religion over another and exercising the notion that every citizen has the right to freely practice whichever religion they desire, if any. Many citizens all across Louisiana believe that the state government has no right to impose their preferred religious doctrines on public schools, as it violates the separation of church and state. 

As of 2024, five out of the six congressional representatives from Louisiana are Republicans, both U.S. Senators from Louisiana are Republicans, and the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, is also a Republican. Many commentators suggest that this new Louisiana policy reflects the rise of Christian Nationalism within the Republican party. Christian nationalism can be best defined as an emphasis on Christianity in both political and social life across the country. Soon after the policy was signed into law, a lawsuit was expected to come. In June, parents of children enrolled in Louisiana public schools and various organizations, such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation, argued that displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms will isolate students who aren’t a part of a religion that uses the Ten Commandments. 

 According to a statement about the lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, “Permanently posting the Ten Commandments in every Louisiana public-school classroom – rendering them unavoidable – unconstitutionally pressures students into religious observance, veneration and adoption of the state’s favored religious scripture.” On the other hand, supporters of the new law, including Governor Landry, argue that it is not solely a religious text, but also a historically significant piece of writing upon which this country was built. 

Due to the ongoing conflict in this lawsuit, it was likely to be taken all the way up to the Supreme Court. Governor Landry has expressed his eagerness for the case to be taken to the highest power, stating, “I can’t wait to be sued.” In previous cases of violations of the First Amendment, the Supreme Court has upheld the Constitutional law, with Conservatives regularly on the dissenting side of violating the First Amendment. Given the Supreme Court’s conservative majority (6-3), freedom of religion advocates worry that the Court may uphold the law, paving the way for similar legislation in other states.

As of Nov. 12, a federal judge from Louisiana has blocked the law until further notice, but that won’t stop the possibility of the case still being taken to the Supreme Court, as many supporters of the law have expressed their interest to appeal it. But nevertheless, if the law is put in action it could set a very different precedent that would initiate a series of similar laws in other states.

 Implications of Conspiracies in Media

Gigi Kim

The moon landing was fake. There are microchips in your vaccines. The Parkland shooting was staged. Climate change is a government hoax. Conspiracy theories have long been rampant disruptors in how we consume and make sense of the media in the digital age—where crowdsourced information spreads at a rapid pace. Due to these speculations’ attention-grabbing nature, conspiracies appeal to and feed our innate curiosity as humans. However, conspiracy theories can diverge from being harmless musings to becoming fuel for unnecessary paranoia, ultimately deterring media consumers from engaging with credible sources and seeking out the truth. Studies have shown that 59 percent of Americans receive their news from social media, and nearly 40 percent of young Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 do not believe it is necessary to double-check the news they read online. These alarming statistics surrounding media literacy reveal the need for greater education about identifying trustworthy sources for news.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rise in vaccine conspiracies that purported that vaccines were linked to autism, or even embedded microchips in individuals on behalf of the government. These baseless conspiracies damaged public health policy initiatives that were implemented during this period, sparking an irrational rise in skepticism within American households.

 Even so, public fear over vaccines has existed for years. Take Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a staunch anti-vaccine activist, who took the lead in pushing misleading anti-vaccine propaganda in 2015. Organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have been continuously debunking false claims about vaccines, citing extensive research clarifying there is no credible evidence linking vaccines to autism. 

Such uncorroborated speculations feed into distrust of credible institutions; individuals become bound to experience paranoia and even reject information derived from legitimate sources. This polarizes society and creates a harmful trend where some people believe that scientists and even the government are in on creating lies. Individuals are more likely to be drawn to conspiracy theories in political settings, as many choose to believe irrational conspiracies due to confirmation bias (the tendency to seek information that supports one’s beliefs). No one person is completely devoid of excitedly feeding their inkling of belief in conspiracy theories while scrolling on Reddit megathreads or the comment sections of social media news. Although scientists have agreed that having some skepticism to an extent about official accounts of events is healthy, individuals who are consistently skeptical about the happenings of real events are often more prone to anxiety and have obsessive natures. 

The right-wing QAnon conspiracy movement, for example, spearheaded a theory that emerged in 2017, claiming that Donald Trump was waging a secret war against a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles. This gained rapid traction online, not only influencing individual beliefs but the political landscape as a whole, even having links to the January 6 Capitol Riot in 2021. Capitol rioters loyal to the QAnon conspiracy believed in allegations of mass election fraud in the 2020 election, a message of the dangers of conspiratorial violence in politics.

The unfounded claims that make up conspiracy theories gradually permeate into sounding “real” through the illusory truth effect, where repeated information is perceived to sound correct after being repeated frequently. So, despite how exciting and thrilling conspiracy theories seem, it is difficult to dispel beliefs in bogus narratives against real news accounts. The best method in alleviating the dangers of conspiracy theories is through media literacy education; an informed society is the strongest antidote to combating the seep of distrust and skepticism that conspiracy theories invoke.

 Where Did Chiikawa Come From?

Ashley Kim

It’s the final stretch of summer, and the sweltering heat is unbearable. Despite the boiling September temperature, however, crowds of people equipped with fans and parasols recently camped outside the Chiikawa pop-up store at the Irvine Spectrum Center. Inside the vibrant pink box-shaped store were countless Chiikawa items: life-sized plushies, comically large pencils, pencil boxes and more.

For those who don’t know, Chiikawa is a beloved Japanese cartoon show starring characters Chiikawa the little cute thing, Hachiware the cat and Usagi the rabbit. This comfort show follows three characters as they work hard to earn enough to afford a life they want to live. With each episode lasting just a few minutes and featuring an easily understandable plot, Chiikawa is great for winding down or turning on in the background. Chiikawa, the main protagonist, is timid, physically weak and prone to crying. Hachiware is Chiikawa’s adventurous best friend and is often concerned over Chiikawa’s well being. Usagi completes the trio by bringing goofy antics, social ignorance, and iconic sounds. Many fans of Chiikawa are drawn to how relatable the characters are, like when Chiikawa failed the Weed Pulling License exam for the second time. After failing the license exam, Hachiware took Chiikawa to eat ramen together and encouraged Chiikawa to keep trying despite failure. With the exception of Hachiware, the characters don’t speak human language, but rather, make expressive sounds or onomatopoeias instead. As Dave Arranda (CAH ‘26) summarized, “they’re silly little guys… they just do silly little things.” 

The Chiikawa craze first gained attention on Chinese social media. Netizens dubbed the show “digital ibuprofen” to describe the calming effect it’s had on the masses. However, for a long time, Chiikawa merchandise was hard to come by due to high shipping prices and no domestic production. This changed when Miniso, a popular discount retail brand, launched a pop-up store in a Shanghai mall in collaboration with Chiikawa. This pop-up store was immensely successful, with items flying off the shelves. A couple of months later, pop-up stores in U.S. shopping centers appeared, including one in Irvine Spectrum during the month of September. 

Even though Chiikawa is a children’s cartoon, it reminds viewers of important life lessons: living life simply, appreciating the small things, and living every day to the fullest. With the holidays quickly approaching and the first semester coming to a close, it’s hard to believe summer was a whole three  months ago. Time flies by insanely fast, and it’s hard not to get lost in the past or the future. If this is all sounding a little too close to home, take a break and watch a couple of episodes of Chiikawa.  Take it from Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi, and find gratitude for the present.

10 Unconventional Ways to Cook a Turkey

Celine Curtis

Thanksgiving is a holiday that often gets overshadowed by more dazzling holidays like Halloween and Christmas. Most times, Christmas spirit is already in full swing even before poor Thanksgiving has its time to shine. So, here are 10 unconventional ways to spice up your turkey dish to make this year’s Thanksgiving one for the ages. 

1. From Scratch

If you want to really celebrate Thanksgiving differently this year, try going all natural! Find a wild turkey and get cooking. It takes a lot of time (and gets pretty messy) but it is truly rewarding.

2. A Ballotine of Turkey

The basic concept of this cooking method is to butterfly the turkey breast, roll it up, and then roll  it in bacon and bake it. Your final result will be very juicy and professional-looking. With this dish, you are guaranteed to be mistaken for Gordon Ramsey.

3. Deep-Fried Whole Turkey

What’s more American than frying anything and everything? With this extreme, home-cooked alternative to KFC, you can increase your chances of a heart attack at a record speed! 

4. Turkey Ice Cream

A very intriguing yet questionable alternative to the classic that you can make at home. Simply infuse turkey into your standard ice cream recipe and voila: a meat-flavored dessert! Believe it or not, there are multiple recipes across the internet to choose from.

5. Sous Vide Turkey

A sous vide turkey is cooked in a similar way to the classic method, except instead of being brined in the fridge, it is actively cooked in the brine. This essentially Titanic's your turkey, except in cool water. As fun as that sounds, unfortunately a sous vide circulator is needed for this easy turkey, so it is not as accessible as other methods.

6. Turducken

Elevate your turkey dish with even more poultry meat! Including chicken! In short, you will somehow stuff a deboned chicken into a deboned duck into a deboned turkey. It creates layers of flavor and is, in my humble opinion, an abomination.

7. BBQ Turkey

Does your family really love barbeque? Bring this summer activity into fall by barbequing your Thanksgiving turkey for hours on end! This is a comparably normal way to innovate your Thanksgiving traditions.

8. Stuffed ‘No Turkey’

If you’re a vegetarian, first of all, what are you doing here? Second, if you still want to participate in Thanksgiving, you can use a combination of soy milk, tofu, and herbs to fake a turkey and have it still taste good.

9. Franklin From Animal Crossing

I think this one is pretty self explanatory, if you want to eat a virtual turkey, Animal Crossing’s got you covered. Just make sure the other villagers don’t see.

10. Turkey and Gravy Soda

This one’s a real showstopper! Surprise your friends and family on Thanksgiving with a recipe that’s sure to make them hesitate. If they think it sounds disgusting, then you’ve done it right. 

Happy feasting!

What Happens in Symphony Hall at Night

Samuel Parigela

Symphony Hall is widely known as one of the most iconic buildings on campus. And one of the most important too—numerous conservatory classes find their home in the innocent-looking, cream-colored building. But do not be fooled; that is just what you see when the sun is up. At night, it is a completely different place.

Symphony Hall is mostly known for its role as a place for performance and practice. But not many students know that it also provides lodging; secret cameras planted by the Journalism class in the backstage area have revealed that OCSA Administrators use the cello lockers as vertical beds–similar to how astronauts might sleep upright in space. Evolution has tried to reach Mr. Ciecek for comment as a participant. We have yet to receive a response. 

But what is most notable about this building is the paranormal activity that takes place within its walls. It must be established that Symphony Hall is haunted. Given that the current OCSA landmark is also an abandoned church that was built more than a century ago, that is the only logical conclusion that can be drawn. This activity is not exclusive to the night—daytime occurrences have been reported as well, although most students take little notice. Indeed, multiple sources have shared spine-tingling accounts of their bizarre experiences. One anonymous student recounted their experience standing in the Symphony Hall lobby during Office Hours one day. “I heard voices and footsteps coming from under me–this can only reasonably be explained by a ghost,” they said, adding that the ominous noises likely wouldn’t be of concern if Symphony Hall had an underground storage room or basement of some sort. 

However, paranormal activity in Symphony Hall is certainly more pronounced after dark. As a paranormal investigator for Evolution (professionally trained in the field by watching Ghost Adventures), I have been witness to mysterious phenomena, such as hearing unexplained creaks in the wooden floor when no one else was present in the building with me—a textbook example of a poltergeist. I have lost count of the number of times I have felt a rush of cold air at night; strangely enough, this only occurs when the door is open, which leads me to believe that the phantoms of Symphony Hall prefer entering via open doors. This is only speculation, however, as their behavioral patterns are not yet fully understood.

I Cannot Buy Anything In My Life

Jeri Stein

I have something I like to call pre-buyer's remorse when it comes to just general spending in my life. I have such a fear of spending money that most days I cannot bring myself to do it. With my pre-buyer's remorse, I see the universe in which I buy that object and am utterly horrified. TWENTY DOLLARS FOR A SHIRT? I could buy like four babies with that type of money and I'm going to waste that on a shirt? So I never waste it on the shirt because I cannot waste such valuable money, and whenever I buy an item, the guilt is unimaginable. I mean, with the amount of shame I feel, you would've thought I mowed down a family of six. I get hot flashes and flashbacks to the time before I bought the item when my bank account was a little fuller.

Now, some may be asking me why I am this way, and I must thank my father. He taught me from a very young age that money is no object and should not be spent—now his words have become mine. I am now too outraged at the fact that I have to pay NINETY cents for a cup of ranch. I mean, are you kidding me? It's pizza, and you're charging me NINETY cents. I already bought your overpriced bougie 15-dollar slice, and now you're charging me for the sauce. I think I'm just more appalled at how petty the ninety cents seem. I mean, is the ninety cents ranch cup really the dividing line between bankruptcy? No. No, I didn't think so. So STOP CHARGING ME NINETY CENTS FOR RANCH. But I don't mean to overreact here. On the other side of my argument is the fact that it is only ninety cents and what's it to me, but it's just the principle of the matter. I'm already buying the pizza and the garlic knots and the medium Dr. Pepper, can’t you just throw a dog a bone and throw in the ranch for free?

The economy is a sham and consumerism will be the death of me. REFUSE TO CONSUME DON'T BUY ANYTHING DON'T TRUST ANYONE THE GOVERNMENT IS AGAINST US IT WANTS US TO BUY BUY BUY BUT DON'T LISTEN YOU DON'T NEED IT. Or maybe you do. I mean I don't know you.

Normalizing Healthy Teenage Lifestyles

Sophie Sukendro

Four hours of sleep. Celsius and caffeine. “I’m so tired” seems to be every teen’s default. Healthy habits and balanced lifestyles have become a rarity among students, seemingly unattainable. Here are eight ways to regain control of your health and well-being, despite external forces normalizing this unsustainable way of living.

1. Prioritize sleep. With schedules packed with rigorous classes, rehearsals and long commutes, it’s easy to sacrifice sleep. According to the CDC, teenagers should sleep eight to 10 hours per night. If your workload doesn’t permit you to get this much sleep, it’s a sign that you should step back and re-evaluate. While these few hours lost each night may seem like a small sacrifice, the hours add up. Sleep deprivation not only leads to more anxiety and stress but also puts you at risk for serious irreversible health issues, like dementia and diabetes.

2. Drink water. As trendy and tasty as caffeinated drinks may be, moderation is key. Too much caffeine can lead to jitteriness and anxiety and insufficient water intake can cause fatigue and poor concentration. Staying hydrated helps keep your brain sharp and your energy levels up throughout the day. 

3. Eat consistently. Eating irregularly can lead to fatigue and irritability. Your body needs fuel to get through the day. Consistent and healthy eating can make a huge difference in your energy and mood.

4. Physical activity. Even if you wouldn’t consider yourself an athlete, integrating simple physical activities into your daily routine is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Physical activity boosts your levels of dopamine and endorphins, giving you an outlet for true stress release.

5. Stay positive. School can be challenging, but shifting your perspective can open doors to growth and resilience. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress, so taking that step back can make a big difference. By staying positive and confident that you’ll eventually overcome all of your current troubles, you’ll not only improve your own mindset but also create a more uplifting environment for everyone.

6. Limit technology. It’s tempting to scroll on TikTok before bed but screen time, especially before bed, can interfere with sleep and increase stress. Try taking short breaks from screens throughout the day or setting a digital curfew to help your mind and body recharge.

7. Have a support system. You don’t have to handle everything on your own. Building a support system of friends and family can help you navigate stressful times. Recognizing when to lean on others and ask for help is a strength, not a weakness.

8. Release the pressure valve. Your worth isn't defined by grades, test scores or college acceptances. Focus on building healthy habits that will serve you in the long-term and doing things that bring you joy. As important as it is to do well in school, your health and well-being should come first. After all, a balanced lifestyle often leads to better academic performance anyway. By prioritizing your well-being now, you're setting yourself up for success in the future.

The key to a healthy lifestyle is balance. There are so many things that are out of our control, but our habits are not one of them. Even if all of your friends hold onto these unhealthy habits, be the first to break that cycle. Be a trailblazer. Because no, it’s not cool or bragworthy to pull an all-nighter on a Thursday night. One test will not make or break your future—but unhealthy habits can. It’s never too late to make changes that prioritize your health and set you up for success.

Trump Wins 47th Presidential Election

Naomi Herthel

After two years of campaigning, a last-minute change in Democratic nominees from President Joe Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris, and a rattling assassination attempt of Donald Trump, the race for the 47th presidential election finally took place on Tuesday, Nov. 5th. With the entire nation and much of the world watching, and in spite of his 34 felony convictions in a New York courtroom, Trump was declared victorious, winning not only the electoral college but also the popular vote. He will be inaugurated Jan. 20, for his second and final term in office. 

The majority of the US’s 50 states are either predictably “blue” (Democratic) or “red” (Republican). California, for example, is a blue state: since it tends to vote for the Democrat time and time again, Vice President Harris could safely count on receiving all 54 of California’s electoral votes. But even if Trump and Harris each received all of the electoral votes from the historically red and blue states respectively, that would not bring either candidate to 270 electoral votes, the magic number that is needed to win. This means this election came down to the country’s “swing states,” states that don’t always side with one party over another and, therefore, have electoral votes up for grabs. For this recent election, the critical swing states were Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Both parties understood that these seven states would determine the outcome of the election, and so they spent most of their time campaigning in those states. 

Throughout the weeks leading up to the election, many polls suggested that Trump and Harris were so neck-and-neck in swing states that it could take days or even weeks for the winner to be announced. However, to the surprise of many, Trump was declared the winner on election night after sweeping North Carolina, then Georgia, then Pennsylvania, and soon after, each of the remaining swing states. 

Trump supporters across the nation look forward to the return of a president who vows to “Make America Great Again” by promising to seal the border, lower inflation, create jobs for Americans and prevent future world wars. Conversely, for many Harris supporters, especially female supporters who were hopeful of electing America’s first woman president, this news was devastating. Harris had vowed to protect abortion rights and reproductive freedom, build up the middle class by creating an “opportunity economy,” provide financial incentives for first-time home buyers and small businesses, and offer “a seat at the table” to all American citizens, regardless of differences in gender, race, sexual orientation or political beliefs. 

Though perhaps the most important, the presidential election is one of many that occurred on Nov. 5. Some other significant outcomes include: the Republican party regained control of the Senate, Democrat Sarah McBride was elected to be the first openly transgender member of Congress, and Florida’s six-week abortion ban was narrowly voted to remain intact. 

Be sure to review multiple news sources for a more extensive recount of the election outcomes (as of this writing, some races are still too close to call!) and the impact these results could have on our country’s future. 

 Six Degrees of Celebrity Separation

Dylan Spence

Picture this: It’s nighttime, and your eyes feel heavy after watching hours of your favorite show. “One more episode,” you tell yourself, struggling to stay awake. Let’s be honest, the only reason you like this show is because of that one actor with a British accent. You’ve binged all their shows and movies, liked every TikTok edit you see of them, and scrolled through their Instagram at least a couple times a week. We think of celebrities so highly that it seems impossible for us to all be living on the same planet. They are otherworldly beings, while we are mere peasants. 

We’ve all had a phase like this—a phase where we can’t get the thought, “Gosh, I would do anything to meet them,” out of our minds—whether it be for our favorite singer, actor, or idol. It lasts for a little while (if you're normal), maybe a few months or even a year, until we realize that it’s unrealistic or “delulu” to be obsessed with someone that doesn’t even know you exist. 

There’s no way that a normal person like me could possibly have any connection to a person that amazing, right?

Well let me introduce to you Six Degrees of Separation, an idea suggesting that any one person can be connected to any other person in the world within six degrees, whether these connections be through family, friends, acquaintances, or coworkers. The list goes on.

This concept was first studied in a book of short stories written by Frigyes Karinthy, called “Everything is Different,” where he explored the field of network theory in a story titled “Chains” or “Chain-Links”. The book was written after World War l when technology was becoming more widespread. For example, radio broadcasts were able to connect people all across America, shrinking the social distance between people, and allowing friendships to span further distances. Due to this shift in global dynamics, Karinthy hypothesized that any two people could be connected within five acquaintances. Karinthy is now regarded as the originator of Six Degrees of Separation.

To further illustrate this concept, we interviewed Dax Philips (PM ‘27) to get a real world example of Seven Degrees of Separation. Philips first explained that one of his favorite artists is Lana Del Rey. He then shared a story of his mom encountering singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz at a restaurant in Northern California in 2016. Already, this counts as two degrees of separation, from Philips’s mom to Kravitz. Because of Kravitz’s collaboration on the song “Fly” with Lana Del Rey, Philips can connect himself to Lana Del Rey within not six degrees but only four.

While this concept may just be for fun, it serves as a reminder that we are never as far from someone or something as we think. The world may seem huge, but it’s not statistically impossible for you to meet the celebrity of your dreams. In fact, researchers Eric Horvitz and Jure Leskovec estimated that 78 percent of random pairs could be connected within 6.6 degrees. This statistic combined with living in Southern California bridges the gap even more! So as you're watching a fancam of your favorite idol in bed tonight, remember that you’re probably a lot closer to them than you think. Stay delulu, OCSA! 

 Take Me Out to the Brawl Game

Sydney Lee

If you’ve walked through the hallways or sat in the cafeteria recently, you’ve probably seen students huddled over their horizontally held phones, furiously tapping and swiping. Chances are, they’re playing Brawl Stars, the seemingly simple mobile game that has become so popular among OCSA students in recent years.

At its core, Brawl Stars has mastered the art of keeping players hooked by being fast-paced and exciting. Each game lasts only a few minutes, making it perfect for short breaks between classes or even those sneaky moments during class—though, of course, no one here condones that! The instant gratification of winning a match, collecting rewards or unlocking new characters known as “brawlers” keeps players coming back, often for “just one more round,” which quickly turns into five.

But it’s not only the short, fast-paced gameplay that pulls players in, but also the constant progression. Whether it’s unlocking brawlers with different abilities, gaining trophies for each win, or climbing the ranks in competitive modes, there is always something to work toward. This sense of progression elicits a feeling of accomplishment, even if the climb is slow. The fact that every game feels one step closer to the next big achievement makes it almost impossible for users to stop playing.

Another factor that contributes to Brawl Stars’s addictiveness is the social aspect. The game’s popular multiplayer format allows players to team up with or compete against friends. Students team up during lunch and passing periods to gain trophies and fight against each other in friendly battles. Brawl Stars is no longer just a game, but also a shared experience that fuels friendships and rivalries alike.

 Start a New Tradition This Thanksgiving!

Ava Park

Thanksgiving has evolved into a celebration that allows you to spend time with your loved ones and celebrate the blessings from the year so far. And there are so many ways to celebrate Thanksgiving! Perhaps you decorate pumpkin pies, run turkey trots, watch the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or watch “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.”  

But this article isn’t for folks like you.

This article is for people who DON'T have Thanksgiving traditions and are actively searching for activities that will inspire lasting familial customs to be passed on from generation to generation.

 If this sounds like you, you’re in luck! I’ve compiled a thoughtful list of Thanksgiving traditions for you and your family to consider. Enjoy!

Post-Dinner Trampoline Park Trip:

After a hearty turkey dinner served with cranberry sauce, bread and whatnot, you may feel a little full, so what better way to get your digestive system moving than to jump rambunctiously? You can play a friendly game of dodgeball with strangers under the age of 10, do flips into a germy foam pit, and do cartwheels on trampolines. Plus, if you get hurt, you’d have another thing to be thankful for: (hopefully) your recovery! 

So what are you waiting for? Hop in the car with the whole family and head to your nearest Big Air or SkyZone! 

Put Up Your Spring Decorations

Many families put up their Christmas decorations right after Thanksgiving, but frankly, this tradition is overdone. Why not be unique and decorate for spring instead? Picture your fireplace adorned with funky eggs and plastic flowers instead of the usual fuzzy stockings that you can’t even wear! After all, if you start to miss Christmas decorations, you can go to any public area, and that desire will be satiated. 

Thanksgiving Pizza

This one’s inspired by user Some_Concert5392 on the subreddit r/thanksgiving. The title is pretty straightforward. You basically have your typical Thanksgiving foods with a side of pizza. I recommend Hawaiian. 

Make Butter

Yet another Reddit-inspired tradition: user cori-iyupa from r/thanksgiving explains that their mother has the children make butter for the holiday. It is her way of keeping the children busy while food is prepared. 

To put a little spice into this tradition, instead of shaking mason jars like cori-iyupa’s family, you take it one step further and purchase a colonial butter churn. What better way to celebrate the historical day than to return to America's roots and churn butter as the pilgrims once did? 

Black Friday, Not on Friday

I’m sure we are all aware of how hectic Black Friday shopping can be. Plus, I’m sure we can all agree that the long lines and frantic middle-aged women scrambling to get their hands on a new Nespresso really ruin the festive vibes! So, I suggest that instead of going shopping on Friday, you go on Wednesday! Sure, you won’t get any of the deals, but it really solves the overpopulation problem in the malls. 

After reading this article, I hope you have a more clearclearer idea of what you plan to do this Thanksgiving. Remember that you can always personalize these activities! For example, you don’t have to get Hawaiian pizza. Maybe you prefer cheese, which is objectively less fun and, I’m sorry to say, painfully basic for a nationally celebrated holiday. The point is that this compilation of suggestions is for you, not me! 

Happy Holidays!

 Ranking Sports Based on How Well OCSA Students Do At Them

Lucy Hunter

OCSA notoriously does not have sports. That is, unless you’re counting classes such as Taekwondo or the various dance electives that are offered. And of course, there is Body Conditioning, which is our equivalent of a public high school’s average PE class. However, beyond that, OCSA is a sports-free school. We have no football field, just a measly basketball court. All of this has contributed to OCSA students facing a stereotype of being “unathletic.” 

But… In a hypothetical future where sports took over our campus, would OCSA students succeed? Would we fail miserably or score that touchdown or homerun? (I’m not entirely sure if that’s even the correct lingo.) Today I’ve decided to take on the difficult task of ranking sports based on how well I think the average OCSA student would succeed in them.

10. Football. Any public school kid will tell you how big of a deal football games are. Nevertheless, the mere idea of an OCSA kid willingly stepping into a football uniform seems so unlikely that football has landed itself the 10th spot. 

9. Basketball. Although we have a basketball court, the only knowledge any MT or ACT kid has of basketball is from watching “High School Musical.” Unfortunately, though, our heads aren’t in the game, and we won’t be soaring or flying anytime soon.

8. Boxing. Yikes, do I even have to explain this one?

7. Surfing. I feel like most dance kids have mastered balance well enough to be at least  mediocre at surfing.

6. Volleyball. At one point, we had a volleyball club, and from what I’ve heard, they were pretty good! 

5. Rowing. Rowing comes across as a bit pretentious, but it seems simple enough. Many conservatory duties require severe arm strength (ex. FTV boom operating), so perhaps those kids could apply it to rowing.

4. Bowling. C’mon, all you do is roll a ball down a lane. 

3. Tennis. Fun fact! OCSA has a tennis team, and they’re insanely good!

2. Fencing. MT and ACT students are required to take a stage combat class… I’m sure they would seriously succeed in real-life fencing, right?

1. Track and field. All those hours spent climbing the Tower stairs have prepared us for this moment. Skedaddling to get to class on time is a feeling of terror every OCSA kid has experienced, and it has certainly toned our legs and whipped our stamina into shape. No matter what hurdles we’d have to pass, I’m sure we’d make it to the podium. 

 My TikTok Shop Food Addiction

Kate Chung

TikTok Shop: you either love it or you don’t know what it is. Hourglass bodysuits, Ashwagandha, and enough midnight snacks infused with artificial dye to paint the world. I am, without fail, a happy victim of its trap. For those who spend time outdoors and are blissfully unaware, Tiktok Shop is an online store in the TikTok app released to the U.S. last September. The store consists of more than 500,000 independent vendors that sell clothing, food and literally anything else you can ship from overseas.

Most of the small businesses post ads for their products as videos that plaster every viewer’s feed, creating quick trends and full-on mass overconsumption, but unfortunately, I fall for it. Every. Single. Time. There are many things to add to your cart on TikTok Shop, but it’s certainly the snack trends that have emptied my wallet. Mama V’s Sour Blue Raspberry Gushers. Bub’s Swedish Candy. Dubai Chocolate. Freeze-dried peach rings. The ads never stop, and my self-control is futile in the presence of an unboxing video. It’s hard to express, but there's something magical about ordering a snack from TikTok. The second I place an order, I spend hours scrolling on the app, watching reviews and mukbangs of processed foods until my shipment arrives three days later. 

It's truly bad how much time and money I’ve wasted analyzing the texture of Swedish gummies through my screen, but how can an addiction so bad taste so good? My order always satisfies my cravings and makes my excited anticipation worth it. But what’s the appeal? So far, I’ve ordered seven food items from TikTok. I realize that sounds like a lot, but allow me to defend myself. Every item I’ve ordered has had close to a hundred TikTokers swear on their lives that it’s the best thing they’ve ever tasted. Sure, they get paid to talk, but STILL. No one can fake a food reaction that convincing without a tinge of belief in its deliciousness. It would be a crime to overlook such highly praised foods! As for me, I can’t help but to be curious. 

So yes. I am addicted to TikTok Shop, and I need something to wean me off its taste.  But before I attempt to leave the scene, there’s one more thing I need to try. Every day passed is another day my mouth waters for the red 40 final boss. The blood-red, repulsive, radioactive monster, the chamoy pickle. It’s sour, spicy and ugly, and it will end my addiction with a bang. Please, someone buy me a chamoy pickle, and I’ll let you know if I get cancer.

 Ranking Places I’ve Worked At

Kaylie Viloria

It is common for OCSA students to be unemployed. If they have a job, it usually falls into the summer job category or conservatory-related work, but it is usually not the typical high school job. I have been in a relentless pursuit of “the bag,” working a wide variety of jobs. Nevertheless, here are my comprehensive rankings of most of the jobs I have worked. Hopefully it will give you some guidance when searching for your next job. 

5. Brandy Melville: At the ripe age of 15, I was hired as a store associate at Brandy Melville. Although not an awful first “real” job, balancing schoolwork and three 8-hour shifts across Friday, Saturday and Sunday was not for the faint of heart. Only to be paid less than a McDonald’s worker, I endured a loop of the same playlist, the smell of dust, the messy piles of clothes reaching heights greater than me, my managers crying and a rude, theft-ridden customer base. 

4. Aerial Arts Coach: Starting the summer after Eighth grade, I’ve been a coach at my aerial arts studio. Teaching young children a skill that I was passionate about was rewarding, both mentally and physically. Due to labor laws (and likely the fact that I was 13), I was just given a small stipend. Despite doing this almost every summer, this has not fit my bag-chaser mentality as much as my other jobs. 

3. Hostess at La Casita Olvera: This job was the most fun job I have had. My coworkers were an interesting mix: half-Asian guys my age (we were often mistaken for siblings), an Eighth-grade girl and a Spanish-speaking kitchen staff. Memorable moments include: babysitting my boss’s kid, offroading with coworkers and running the restaurant’s 20k-followers-strong social media page. The downsides: the pay was only slightly above minimum wage, and my hours were inconsistent, with my schedule often being texted to me the morning of my shift.

2. Stilt Walker: Being paid around $100 an hour is quite a desirable salary, especially for a job that consists of walking around, taking photos, and going to exclusive events, but as all gig work is, job opportunities are often seasonal and are not very consistent.

1. In and Out Burger: Maybe it's the hours that perfectly align with my availability, the 22 dollars per hour offered, or the fact that I haven't even started training, but as my current and newest job, my number one ranking goes to In and Out. 

 Love Advice From the Inexperienced

Adriana Perez

While I love shows from all genres and themes, my favorite category by far would have to be bad shows that I watch to make fun of, including “Emily in Paris,” “Glee” and—while not a show but might as well be one—the trainwreck that is modern love. Since I’ve had the absolute pleasure of hearing all of my friends’ relationship problems, I feel like it’s my turn as a single person to complain about what I believe is wrong with romantic relationships in this era.

First off, situationships–where you’re constantly doubting whether you actually have a connection with someone or if you’re just making it up all in your head. Fun, right? It’s a great way to avoid commitment while still being able to fuel the fantasies in your head. I mean, who needs emotional stability anyway?

Speaking of stability, where has she gone these days along with her best friends’ loyalty and communication? Seriously, if I wanted to decode messages and piece together information, I’d join the FBI. At least then I’d be paid for the work that is looking through friends’ screenshots and analyzing text threads like they’re classified documents and trying to figure out intentions via emojis. 

And these conversations? It’s all just small talk. Like I get it, it’s easier to talk about favorite movies than childhood traumas, but can we discuss something with actual meaning? Sure, they’re hard conversations to have, but the conversations I’ve been hearing lately have sounded more like they’re out of a reality show than real life.

Look, maybe I shouldn’t be judging (considering I have no experience), but if there’s one thing I know, it’s this: love isn’t the feeling you get when you’ve spent hours waiting for someone to respond to your text and jumping at your phone when you hear the buzz of a notification just to see it’s your Google Classroom telling you that you have an assignment due tomorrow. It’s not knowing someone’s favorite color or top artists. It’s a choice. It’s this messy, painful yet beautiful commitment (that I’m honestly jealous of people who have it), because it is possible. It’s definitely a journey to get there, but with time and the right person, along with communication and loyalty, there’s a chance you can make it out of this maze that is the dating world.

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