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Table of Contents

Student Businesses

By: Jennifer Woo, Julia Motakef, Serapina Chung, Karli Larsen, Jamie Lee

Olive Street Collective OC

By: Jennifer Woo

When OCSA alumnus Brandon Calderon (MT ‘19) realized that many students from his community had not received the same resources and assistance in the college admissions process that he had, he decided to take action. He reached out to many of his fellow OCSA alumni and community members, and created Olive Street Collective OC, named after Olive Street Elementary School in Anaheim, which Calderon attended. 

They strive to remove barriers to higher education, and primarily serve first generation low-income students, but their services are free to anybody in need of them. Their website contains many resources and services, as well as peer advisors’ bios to help students match with an advisor. Many of the advisors are OCSA alumni and will have a greater understanding of OCSA student’s backgrounds. 

“With privilege comes power and responsibility, and [when I heard] about Brandon’s mission, I wanted to join.” said Samantha Horio (VA ‘19), a current sophomore at UC San Diego. 

“Our end goal is that this program is not something that will be running forever and ever, because obviously we don’t want there always to be this education gap, we don’t want there always to be this wealth gap,” said Heera Kamaraj (IM-WS ‘20), a current freshman at UCLA. 

When asked what her biggest advice to current students applying to college, current Chapman University freshman, Iran Gomez (ID-BF ‘20) said, “Use your resources.” 

Horio, Kamaraj and Gomez acknowledged that they are grateful for the resources they received during their college application process, and that they are thankful for the opportunity to help others through the process. 

“When Brandon reached out to me, it was just a question of ‘Do I recognize this privilege that I have, and am I willing to take the time to commit to make change?’ and I really wanted to do that,” said Kamaraj.  

To receive Olive Street Collective OC’s services, visit https://olivestreetcollectiveoc.com/ and follow them on Instagram @olivestreetcollectiveoc.

Harmonies From Home

By: Jamie Lee

Amidst the pandemic, many music students were left unable to continue music lessons and lost interest in music. Sein Yun (IM-SO ‘22) believed that children should be able to access music lessons free of charge and have access to virtual performances, so they can be inspired to continue pursuing the arts.

In March of 2020, Yun started an organization called Harmonies from Home, that provides accessible lessons and classical music performances to inspire and foster musical growth. In addition to the pandemic, Yun felt that “Classical music is now heavily declining in modern society, and it is something everyone should be able to enjoy.” Yun's team has contacted local music teachers and schools in order to teach their students about music, because they recognize how hard it is to introduce new instruments through a digital platform. 

Described by Yun as the “musical Khan Academy,” Harmonies from Home provides students with a list of resources and set curriculum that can be easily accessed through their Youtube channel and their Instagram.

Although the idea was initially hers, Yun reached out to friends that also shared a passion for classical music, and her idea was carried out by the team members. She believes that this organization would not be nearly as successful if it weren't for her team. Since March, the busy high school team has dedicated much of their time to filming, editing, and uploading Youtube videos, which are released twice a week. 

While music is not a career path that she is thinking about, it is something she will still be heavily invested in, and it is something that she is very passionate about. In the future, Harmonies from Home hopes to become a registered non-profit organization and partner with other organizations and schools to continually provide students with the resources they need. 

Harmonies from Home can be found on Instagram @harmoniesfromhome, as well as their website: harmoniesfromhome.org

Jewelry For Smiles

By: Serapina Chung and Karli Larsen

January of 2020, Priscilla Kim (MT ‘21) started her small business Jewelry For Smiles in hopes to raise money and awareness for Smile Train and Black Lives Matter organizations by making homemade jewelry. 

As club president of Smile Train, an international charity that supports children’s cleft surgery, and a performer for their annual benefit concerts, Kim wanted to extend her impact on the community through a more tangible and artistic outlet. She saw jewelry as a perfect opportunity to promote this cause because she loves adding accessories to her outfits and has fun customizing miscellaneous styles without limitations to her creativity. “I was also inspired by my peers at OCSA, especially from Winter Market because there’s so many people who have made gorgeous handmade jewelry, and I wanted to learn how to make it myself,” said Kim, now developing her own designs. 

For Kim, every jewelry-making process is experimental and exciting; she’s passionate about her business because she’s able to help others while doing something she enjoys while expressing her artistic license and diversity: “I have [earrings] that use special paper, and I bake them in the oven to make it plastic charms. For the other ones, I use wires, chains and beads.” 

Kim plans to continue Jewelry for Smiles throughout her senior year before college, where she hopes to pursue new passions and empower more communities. For now, she’s confident her business will continue to foster her vision of helping those in need.

Jewelry For Smiles can be found on Instagram @jewelryfor.smiles and through their website at https://jewelry-for-smiles.square.site 

The History of OCSA Halloween

Elena Levin

With OCSA carrying out distance learning since the beginning of 2020’s fall semester, the cancellation of one of its integral celebrations has devastated much of the school’s population. Halloween. The holiday that is so embedded into OCSA’s culture that it sets the scene for the entire rest of the school year. The day that every student, whether new or old to campus, is left astounded and amazed. Yet, was October 31st always this exceptional? After uncovering the tales of Halloweens past, one can piece together the history of this acclaimed OCSA holiday. 

After the school’s move from its Los Alamitos campus to Santa Ana in 2000, OCSA’s culture underwent an irreversible change which was exhibited through its following Halloween celebrations. Although the significance of the holiday had not yet been established, there were inherent assumptions that the student body would show up in costume come October 31st. Stacie Cruz, an OCSA staff member since 2000, offered some valuable insight into the origins of OCSA Halloween. “I would definitely say that coming in costume ubiquitously across the campus was almost built into the DNA of what it meant to be an OCSA student,” Cruz said. 

As for what the students dressed up as, Cruz stated that those decisions were heavily influenced by the pop culture inspirations of the time. From Lord of the Rings to Star Trek, OCSA students were likely to be seen donning a costume from whatever the popular movie or TV show of the year was. 

However, these common themes did not place any limitations on the creativity of the student body. As for extravagance, the OCSA students have never missed the mark. As Sharon Browne-Davis, an OCSA staff member since 2002, described, as soon as some of the students from conservatories like Visual Arts and Production and Design began to incorporate their talents into their costumes, a precedent was set for the splendor of OCSA’s Halloween apparel. 

Even without a formal costume contest, like those held on 10th Street in recent years, a sense of friendly competition among students regarding the intricacy of their costumes developed, which later extended to teachers. “I think for us as teachers, when we saw the kids getting so into it, it inspired us too,” Browne-Davis said. 

Without the inclusion of OCSA’s current Halloween traditions such as the “Thriller” flash mob,  the costume contest and the pumpkin auction, the first ten years of OCSA Halloween had a particular emphasis on costumes, lending itself to the present-day expectation that each student must come dressed up on Halloween. However, apart from these current norms were other events and traditions that became eradicated in place of newer festivities. One of these included a Haunted House organized by the Production and Design conservatory, held within their conservatory building. Despite its lack of inclusion within the Halloween celebrations for a number of years, as displayed last year with the DMS Haunted House, it may be making a comeback!  

As for the significance of the holiday within school culture, the commitment that goes into each Halloween, is what sets OCSA apart from any other high school. “This is the one day where everybody can be something different… And for everybody to celebrate that together, to me, that’s what OCSA stands for– think outside the box, be different, but do it together,” Browne-Davis said. Yet the influence of OCSA’s spirited devotion to Halloween extends beyond the student body, even teachers who used to be more guarded and modest in their celebration can’t help but feel inspired to join in. “Because of OCSA I love the holiday more. I’ve always decorated my home, but I am willing to put on a costume now,” Cruz said. 

In the face of  a relinquishment of a typical OCSA Halloween celebration this year, teachers like Cruz and Browne-Davis are attempting to keep the spirit alive through the inclusion of Halloween decorations in the background of their Zooms, playing spooky music before the start of class each day, and even incorporating Halloween-related lessons within the curriculum! Apart from those small gestures in order to maintain this integral part of the OCSA experience, it is important to find the silver lining. In the words of Browne-Davis, “I just hope that everybody doesn’t give up hope in the sense that even though it’s a different year, we’re going to think now about how epic it’s going to be next year!”

Pumpkin Muffin Tops

Lauren Le

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour

• 2 eggs, room temperature

• ½ cup brown sugar, packed

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 15oz (1 can) pumpkin puree

• 1 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• 2 tsp pumpkin spice

• 1tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare some baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Make sure your ingredients are ready to go and at the right temperature, if applicable!

Whisk the flour, leaveners, salt and spices together in a large bowl. 

In a separate bowl, combine together the sugars, eggs, pumpkin and vanilla, whisking until smooth. Stream in the oil while whisking constantly to homogenize. Then, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula. Make sure to stop mixing as soon as there are no dry bits left. No one wants gross, overdeveloped, glutinous cookies. Unless that’s your jam, but I’ll definitely judge you.

At this point, the batter will be pretty runny, but don’t worry, this is what it should be like! Pop the bowl into the fridge for about 30 minutes, or even up to 24 hours! The longer you wait, the more the flour can hydrate, giving you a nicer crumb and deeper flavor. It also makes the next step a lot easier.

Once your dough is relatively solidified, use a small cookie scoop (two tablespoons also work really well!) to form cute little dough dollops. It feels super counter-intuitive to be scooping batter directly onto a baking sheet instead of pouring it into some sort of pan, but the results will be worth it! Rinse and repeat for the rest of the dough! Make sure you space these out at least 2 inches apart, because they will spread. (To be honest, I kind of like monstrous mutant muffin tops that have no sense of personal space, they have character!) Feeling extra? Sprinkle some fun little toppings on the muffin tops before baking, like coconut shreds, turbinado sugar, almonds, pumpkin seeds, or sprinkles (if you’re a monster)!

Bake the muffin tops for about 14 minutes, or until they are fluffy, and the tops look like the crackle nail polish trend from 2011. Let them cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack for another 10. The best part of muffins are the tops, and if you Enjoy with a nice cup of tea or coffee, maybe even a Pumpkin Spice Latte if you’re feeling basic and craving overkill. Happy fall, y’all!!!

Trans/Gender Archetypes In Horror

By: James Herde

Horror movies have been a huge part of my life since I first saw “Scream” when I was ten years old. Or maybe when I first saw “Seven” at six, or when I saw “The Shining” at five, who’s to say? Did I know I was trans when I came out at twelve, or maybe when I first heard what being transgender was at eight, or when I was playing soccer with all the other boys at recess when I was six. Again, who’s to say? Our lives are made up of many experiences. Growing up as a trans kid (unbeknownst to myself for the most part), watching movies like “Ace Ventura Pet Detective” wherein I didn’t understand why the ending made me so uncomfortable, the media was affecting me. This is nowhere more represented than in horror films. They’re notorious for their cissexist portrayal of (most commonly, with some exceptions) trans women. Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” originally popularized the “Transgender Killer” concept, and it’s been harming trans people ever since.

The thing about trans women in horror that most irks me is that I feel uncomfortable even defining them as such. Sure, it’s true that in the canon of most of these they’re meant to be transwomen. But to quote Dr.Lecter from “Silence of the Lambs”: “Our Billy wasn't born a criminal, Clarice. He was made one through years of systematic abuse. Billy hates his own identity, you see, and he thinks that makes him a trans-sexual.” Clarice reiterates this again later “There’s no correlation in the literature between transsexualism and violence. Transsexuals are very passive.” So if we were to use the factual logic displayed here in “Silence of the Lambs”, I would argue that none of these characters would be trans. And, the most common backstory I’ve found among these killers is that they were men forced to grow up as women, or projecting onto a woman in their life. “Psycho”, “Insidious”, “Sleepaway Camp” for examples. 

This archetype didn’t begin with “Psycho”, but the Hitchcock film surely popularized the “Transgender Killer” concept. Hitchcock didn’t let people enter the theater after it began and viewers were sworn to secrecy about the ending. A similar thing happened later with the 1992 non-horror film “The Crying Game”. This, as a trans person, is gross. This idea that if someone doesn’t tell you if they’re trans means that they’re hiding some big secret is harmful and disgusting. I’m referring more to “The Crying Game” than I am to “Psycho”, because again I don’t think that Norman Bates is trans. In “The Crying Game” when our main character finds out the woman he’s been seeing is trans, he vomits, which is a cliche created by this film and used in “Ace Ventura Pet Detective” like I had mentioned before. So similarly to “Psycho”, I suppose both of those films have “creating groundbreaking cliches that are harmful to trans people” in common. 

It’s important to know that this concept didn’t come from Alfred Hitchcock’s head out of pure genius, or even influence from other films. It started with a lie. Real life serial killer Ed Gein was coerced into confessing that he was trans (which he was not) due to some of the gruesome details of his crimes that you can research for yourself. Art does imitate life, and after Gein was arrested in 1957, the book “Psycho” was published based loosely on his crimes in 1959, then only a year later Hitchcock's “Psycho” was released. Ed Gein has had a vast and wide effect on Horror, with direct influence on “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Silence of the Lambs”, “Terrifier”, and of course “Psycho”. Not to mention all the films that have been influenced by those films like “House of 1000 Corpses”, “Halloween”, “Friday the 13th”, “Dressed to Kill”. With “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (in one of the later sequels) and “Dressed to Kill” continuing the harmful “Transgender Killer” concept. 

I would say that the only films that use this concept with any degree of care or respect is “Gremlins 2”, "Seed of Chucky", and “Cult of Chucky”. “Gremlins 2” has the legend, icon, star, Greta Gremlin. Who isn’t confirmed as trans, but she’s the only female gremlin so it’s sort of a Smurfette situation. What else are we supposed to think? And unlike the other “Transgender Killers”, Greta Gremlin doesn’t actually kill anyone, so that’s nice. I don’t think that it was a coincidence that the other two were written and directed by Don Mancini, a gay man. The sad fact is that neither of those films were well received. “Seed of Chucky” focused on the child of Chucky and his wife’s tumultuous understanding of their gender identity. Which, to be fair isn’t what most people are expecting when they go to see a slasher.“Cult of Chucky” on the other hand has character Nica Pierce become possessed by Chucky, planning on living out the rest of his days as Nica with his wife Tiffany Valentine who says she’s “fine with that” (which we aren’t going to get into, but I will say that I wouldn’t classify that as a harmful choice towards bisexual people as Tiffany Valentine is by far a fan favorite character and even though she’s the antagonist we’re rooting for her). Fun fact by the way, Nica Pierce is played by Fiona Dourif, daughter of Brad Dourif who voices Chucky in all of the original films. I think the distinction between these “Transgender Killers” (and honorary killer Greta Gremlin) is that fans are rooting for these characters. In the other cases I mentioned, we’re meant to fear and be disgusted by the killers because they are trans, or it’s supposed to be some backstory that explains why they kill people. 

Now, this nastiness is by far not exclusive to us trans folx. Cis-women have time and time again been sexualized, dehumanized, and turned into something to be feared again and again in horror. Especially on grounds of cis-women's anatomy. "Carrie", "Rosemary's Baby", "The Exorcist", to name a few. Cis-women in horror are often one of two things: the victim or the body-horror killer. In terms of body horror that means the one's I previously mentioned, or a tragic beauty turned into a monster ("Under the Skin", "Bride of Chucky", "Orphan"). Body-horror (which I'm using very loosely here as what I'm describing doesn't fit it's true definition) in these films stands solely on the grounds of the male gaze. They're disgusting because they're unable to be gawked at. When the female form is changed from what is "meant" to be beautiful it's supposed to be horrifying. It's horrifying because we put our trust into the character based on surface details before being "betrayed". It's meant to be tragic at the same time, or taboo. The character has either become to horrifying to look at, or is tragically beautiful and a sexualized taboo. 

On the other end of things, cis-women are much more often the "damsel in distress": the final girl. There are too many films to name that use this archetype, but I'll do it anyways: "Friday the 13th", "Halloween", "Nightmare on Elm Street", "The Last House on the Left", "Black Christmas", and "Scream" to name a few. These girls, and they're meant to be girls in the denotation of the word, often walk the line of being strong and independent. But throughout their respective films they're Scream Queens, running helplessly from the killer while the audience watches on in horror. Sometimes they save themselves, but a lot of the time they're saved from Deputy Dewey or another man who came just in time. Now, there are other films that turn this idea on it's head like "Alien" and of course "Cabin in the Woods". Where it's without a doubt that these women are strong, independent, characters. And this idea, unlike our Transgender Killers, is being left behind more and more often since we entered the 21st century. We get a Tree Gelbman who uses the concept ironically, or a Grace Le Domas who defeats the Big Bad all on her own like Ripley. 

It’s safe to say that these movies are harmful, it’s without a doubt that these concepts in the media perpetuate the bigotry that leads towards violence against women. But, even as a afab trans person, I love all these movies. This article is not arguing that we should burn all copies of “Insidious” and never watch “Scream” again. I saw some of the “Insidious” sequels in theaters and "Scream" might be my favorite movie. But, despite our enjoyment, we need to be critical of these tropes and as writers and artists we need to make sure we’re not instilling fear towards marginalized groups in our audience when we create our stories. As a viewer, think about how characters could be harming the real-life people they’re meant to be representing. Simply put, watch your horror movies critically next time.

Drive Ins

By: Kaitlin Roth, Kira Tirk, and Monica Johnson

Drive-in movies used to be a thing of the past, something associated with wing tip shoes and old fashioned diners, reminiscent of 1950s American culture.With the pandemic forcing many to abandon certain pastimes and activities, drive-in venues have begun to reopen, providing a night out while following CDC mandates. 5,000 drive-ins opened during the 1950s, slowly declining with the increased popularity of  rental movies, leaving only 500 drive-ins open. However, due to social distancing, drive-in movies have begun to rise in popularity. Many shopping centers have been using their parking lots to put up large screens and play many popular movies and classics such as Grease and JoJo Rabbit. 

Musicians, bands, and all sorts of performers have taken advantage of opportunities like drive-ins to keep working and providing entertainment as well. The Irvine Spectrum not only hosted drive-in movies but also drive-in comedy shows with comedians like Pete Lee and Becky Robinson. Concerts have popped up at the OC Fairgrounds, The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, the Anaheim Packing House, and more. Additionally, The CAMP held drive-in concerts during the summer where local bands provided live music. Danny Hudson (PM ‘22), the bass player for Orange County based band, Sean Oliu and the Coastline Cowboys, recounts his experiences with COVID-safe venues. “I enjoy them ‘cause it allows me to go to gigs, and I love being able to play for other people again” Hudson says. However, drive-ins don’t completely make up for the experience of seeing live music normally, with masks, distance, and horn honking as an alternative to clapping. “I’m glad I can still perform but it’s awkward when your mom’s Toyota Prius honks at you when you finish a song,” Hudson jokes. “Still, it’s a great way to do stuff during the pandemic and I can’t wait to see what more we can do with this.” 

Halloween has further encouraged these opportunities, with the appearance of drive-in haunted houses such as the “Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience.” The events all follow mandatory social distancing guidelines meaning that people who attend must be wearing a mask when leaving their vehicle and practice social distancing at all times. When asked about the safety of drive-ins, Erick Ferrufino (PD ‘21) said, “The staff were really helpful...and they seemed very cautious of COVID.” 

These new experiences are not only helping many to find safe activities, but they’ve also served as a benefactor to businesses. According to an article by Chauncey Alcorn from CNN Business, several businesses that were forced to shut down due to “COVID-19-related social distancing mandates” have started to reopen by using old drive-in locations  making their own theaters in parking lots to “make up for lost income.” This can be seen in many Orange County shopping centers, who have been hosting drive-in’s to bring money to businesses such as local restaurants.

With drive-in prices being anywhere from $10 to $120, compared to the 25 cents for a car in the 1950’s, these are making a positive impact on venues that lost a significant amount of income when shutdowns first began. These tickets often have additional benefits (depending on where you go), like a $20 Irvine Spectrum gift card for food. With this increase in patrons, some restaurants and stores have been able to rehire employees. From the same article by Alcorn, one of the people they interviewed is head of operations at the Bel-Aire dinner in New York stated they were  able to “...rehire staff members he furloughed in March after government officials enacted shelter-in-place orders that decimated foot traffic at restaurants throughout New York City.” 

In  a time where drastic changes have been made to our lifestyle, drive-ins have been a necessary means for businesses to adapt to a world with COVID-19. Not only has this led to a new rise in the revenue of artists and venues, but it has also allowed many to have a sense of normalcy. Most people miss the activities available to them before the pandemic but drive-ins provide a safe alternative to typical avenues of entertainment. It’s hard to say whether the cold will prevent experiences like them in the coming winter months, but hopefully there will be more opportunities to support artists in the upcoming holiday season.

Extermination: X Games Mode

By: Erick Ferrufino

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of the state of New York, has recently approved a controversial plan that promises to solve the rat infestation in New York City. The plan was created by former Columbia University Professor, Connor Ellis.“This’ll put that blockhead (Andrew Cuomo) to work for once,” The Professor said, when asked about what inspired him to create this plan. Ellis has a doctorate in Environmental Science and worked at Columbia for 15 years before his termination. According to many staff members, that termination was the result of an argument with the Dean, James J. Valentini. Both men refused to go on the record about Ellis’s termination, however Valentini’s wife told insiders that when he came home the night Ellis was fired, the Dean had a large black eye and missing jewelry. 

Despite these controversies, and the sporadic insults Ellis gave during the pitch, Governor Cuomo approved funding for the plan under the reasons of, “[being] bored with these lame sustainable plans, [and that] Ellis really has something here.” The former professor received an $18 million grant from the state and began work with seeing his plans through. But what is Ellis’s actual plan to end this rat infestation? Well that can be found on his twitter (@realconnorellis) where he posted a large document detailing his ideas. The following are excerpts from that document:

“So as many are aware by now, New York has had a rat problem since the colonial era. Many have been waiting for our darling governor, Andrew Cuomo, to do something about this, but it looks like in his last nine years of power, nothing has been done! So after months of creating mockups and spreadsheets, I have gone through the effort of creating a three-step plan to end this problem once and for all. If this plan goes through, it will cost $18 million (assuming  we don’t have to pay for labor) and will (more of less) kill every rat in New York City.

“Phase I: The first phase will require a trap that will attract every rat in the city into one spot. After some deliberation, I believe that Times Square will be the best place to do this because of all the open space. We’ll need an attractor, or something that will get all their attention. And I think everyone can agree that rats love nothing more than cheese. If we get a large cheese cube (1,000,000 cubic feet) we can get the rats into one condensed area, leaving them open for an attack.

“Phase II: Once every single rat is in Times Square, we can unleash our rat killers. What would those rat killers be? Snakes. Hundreds and thousands of snakes, all unleashed into Times Square, eating rats left and right. There will be no chance to escape from our snakes. There will be no survivors.

“Phase III: Now that all our rats are dead and there are hundreds of thousands of snakes loose in NYC, we begin phase three which will be the clean up process of this ordeal. In all honesty, this plan will end up with lots of waste, but since this is New York, it will blend in with the rest of the trash just fine. In order to dispose of all the snakes, we’ll need to unleash another large swarm of animals that will eat the snakes. Hawks are typically found to be the direct predator of snakes on the food chain, so unleashing thousands of them will deal with the snake problem. 

“After an unbelievably successful extermination, the hawks will fly away, having served their purpose, leaving our ‘city’ rat-free!” 

The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers have openly insulted this plan, concerning the amount of trash and property destruction it would create. Though many praise Ellis’s bravery to take charge on an issue that many other public figures try to ignore. Chris Cuomo of CNN (Brother of Andrew Cuomo) stated, “I love this plan! A giant cheese block would be awesome to have in Times Square, and the leftovers from the extermination can be used to feed our New Yorkers and supply our Delis!”

Now that Ellis’s experiment has become a nation-wide hot topic, many landlords, property owners, and extermination businesses have begun their own similar plan. OCSA administration specifically has become very fascinated by this experiment and made an announcement last week that they will be conducting a similar venture in the Annex to exterminate the cockroaches. According to Board Member Buckley Carlson, “This is genius! OCSA has already started collecting tarantulas and we plan on releasing them in the Annex on Jan. 10th to prepare for reopening!” 

With the whole nation’s attention, we are patiently awaiting Professor Ellis’s next big move in the world of science.

Mr. OCSA

By: Pierce Lewis

It was a cool night in the summer of 1985, two years before the highschool we all know and love started its first year of instruction, where Joe OCHSA sat at his house finalizing the building plans for his creation. The plan consisted of a multi-building campus filled with many secrets and a soon to be rich history. They included everything from million dollar laboratories to secret bunkers and most importantly a labyrinth of hidden tunnels.

Mr. OCHSA never planned on adding these things to his up-and-coming school. It wasn’t until right before construction started that he realized that his school could be more than what he had originally planned. Mr. OCHSA’s first idea was to fix the problem of walking through such a large campus, with hidden underground tunnels. It started out with connections from the tower to symphony hall, but soon grew into multiple pathways into other rooms with tunnels to  Chase Bank, the Probation office and even to Pop’s Cafe. These pathways were supposed to be only for the man himself but in modern years, faculty of all positions use them. There are now hundreds of hallways connecting each building and room, with additions to the DMS, Webb, and the Annex, so that the Deans, Security and Teachers could navigate quickly and more efficiently. Most entrances have been covered up, however there are still some out there. In the DMS, the main entrance is directly under the Ralph Opacic Statue. In the Tower, with the right key, you can access its main entrance through the staff elevator. In the Annex, the tunnel is all the way in the back, around the corner next to the Main Street door. It’s pretty hard to see because it is hidden under some faux tiles on the floor. 

Speaking of the Annex, it wasn’t always a student accessible building. When Mr. OCHSA first constructed it, it was a laboratory he used to test animals, mainly insects such as spiders, cockroaches, and flys. He used million-dollar equipment to research how these insect minds worked and how he could manipulate them. He even almost found ways to grow these insects to extreme sizes and do complicated math such as Calculus and everyday human activities. However, a couple of days before finalizing his calculations and experiments, a new student had wandered into the unlocked laboratory. It was a shocking sight to see a room full of cockroaches taking the AP Calc AB test, that the innocent new student had run out of the lab screaming and crying. Within 24 hours, hundreds of news articles were published around the nation. The secret of OCHSA’s secret experiments had gotten out. The Seventh grader was quoted by many sites, stating,“Arachnids were Narrowly Navigating Enclosed X-ray laboratories!”. The U.S. Government got involved and forced Mr. OCHSA to cease these unethical experiments. Within months, the building was renovated and students nicknamed the building the A.N.N.E.X.  short for what the new student had witnessed. 

Before Mr. OCHSA had gotten into any more trouble with the government, he made quick renovations to the Tower as well. He used his tower office as a work space and a vault, which went tens of miles under the Earth’s surface. In this vault holds Mr. OCHSA’s secret stash of a million dollars and stolen jewelry. Though being paranoid of his vault being confiscated he renovated it, covering up the floor with a few feet of cement and turned his office into what is now known as Student Services. Somewhere deep down under the Tower, there are hidden secrets of OCSA. However, no one except for the man himself, knows what’s truly down there.

To veteran OCSA students, this might be all a surprise and to be honest it was really hard to discover these secrets. When Mr. OCHSA died at the age of 83 in 2011, the next year the faculty agreed to change the school name to OCSA to get rid of any connection and correlation to the devious man. Even though he died, it is said that he still lives in the buildings of the school, mainly the annex where he controls the various insects to scare new students out of his once X-Ray Laboratory. 

Head in the Sand

By: James Herde

Political Cartoon

Bird Watching

By: Mia Soumbasakis

The bird lady appears like some determined lollygagger in flared jeans and a tank top from a lollipop store that says “suck it.” She tried throwing bread to me last week upon realizing I’m on a frog-only diet, and watched in pure awe as I stabbed and swallowed two frogs in a row like the carnivore of the century.

She’s obnoxious. She brings a bike with squealing broken brakes, binoculars and a book with at least fifteen tabs, and normally I’d fly away, but she pulls out a camera, one long silver eye peering into mine. My feathers flare and it clicks—I’m a celebrity now, the type that is famous simply for existing.

I hear that you’d like to be the bird lady, or like her, and honestly I cannot blame you. You all want to watch me, bathe in my glory, capture my image, frame me in gold. I’m sure you, flightless as ever, want to know my whereabouts—which rocks I perch upon to hunt or the roof I visit when the moon is a lovely orange. I know the sound of me awakens something lost and deep within you; I’m an absolute inspiration.

I’ll converse with you, darling, but only under these terms: I work solely at sunset, all my sides are my “good sides,” and no bird must be pictured more than I. 

Where should you go?

    Anywhere with water. Bike paths, ravines, lakes, swamps. More specifically:

• Peters Canyon Hiking & Riding Trail 

  • A part of this bike path is near the train tracks, and my fellow aviators and I have grown immune to the noise. Lately I see Black-Necked Stilts, Black-Crowned Night Herons, Red-winged Blackbirds and Snowy Egrets here, but every once in a while a Green Heron or White-faced Ibis shows up.

• Audubon Society Sea & Sage

  • This is a bird sanctuary, home to an Osprey and many Western Grebes, Forster’s Terns and Black Skimmers. The Double-crested Cormorants and Tree Swallows visit more than I do.

• Quail Hill Trailhead

  • These trails have an abundance of Killdeer and some vicious Brown-headed Cowbirds. 

• Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

  • This walkway is closer to the beach, so along with the American Avocets and Great Egrets, you might spot a pelican!

• Your backyard!

  • If you want to see hummingbirds

What should you bring?

• A camera (duh)

• A fully meditated mind

• Binoculars (I’m sure you wish you had my eyes)

• The app iNaturalist to record your observations and identify birds

• NOT bread (most of us are carnivores)

Who should you see?

• Me! (Great Blue Herons)

  • We are probably the most regal of anything that flies, with long yellow beaks and grey eyebrows, perfect for sleek magazine covers and eyeliner commercials. We fish in shallow waters and nest in colonies with up to 100 birds. The most impressive meal I’ve had was a stingray.

• Black-crowned Night Herons

  • They are not afraid to stare you down, with fierce red eyes (which are yellow when they’re juveniles) and a keen sense of awareness. They hunt the most at dawn and dusk and have two long white nape hairs.

• Green Herons

  • These are rare! They’re gorgeous, with a dark blueish green back, chestnut neck and black wings. They can extend their necks to almost four times their original size.

• Snowy Egrets

  • Snowy Egrets are everywhere nowadays, with black legs and bright yellow feet. The space around their eyes turns a fiery orange during mating season (spring-summer) and one of them is featured on a Los Retros song cover.

• Great Egrets

  • These birds were almost hunted to extinction in the late 1800s for their plumage (which were used in ladies’ hats), and they look like Snowy Egrets except they’re larger and have black feet and orange beaks. They lay teal eggs.

• Glossy Ibises

  • These are similar to White-faced Ibises in their deep scarlet and blue coloring, except they have dark faces. They’re bug eaters and sometimes eat beetle and aquatic insect larvae. 

• American Avocets

  • American Avocets have striped rusty wings and upturned beaks which they swing around underwater in search for insects. They’re born knowing how to swim. 

• Black-necked Stilts

  • Their legs can be mistaken for neon coral-colored straws, and they have the longest legs in proportion to body in the bird kingdom. In the summer, they transport water to cool their eggs by drenching their stomachs.

• Double-Crested Cormorants 

  • Cormorants are often seen near the beach, spreading their wings to air them out in the sun. Unlike other birds, they lack the oil gland which prevents their wings from being waterlogged. Out in the ocean, they fish in groups and follow dolphins.

• Cinnamon Teals

  • They’re ducks, but beautiful and toasty. They have red eyes and crimson bodies.

• Brown-headed Cowbirds 

  • These birds are parasitic and ruthless, known for overtaking the nests of other birds to lay their eggs. The bird who made the nest often will care for the cowbird eggs equally or more than they will their own.

I’ve indulged you enough; there are frogs to be stabbed and eggs to tend to. I’ll consider thanking you and your silver eye in one of my acceptance speeches for first place modeling prizes. 

How Among Us Became So Popular

By: Serapina Chung

The sci-fi multiplayer game that has sparked millions beyond the gaming community— “Among Us”. Based on a game of social deduction, “Among Us” is similar to the game “mafia,” but in an intergalactic setting. This murder mystery consists of impostors lurking among a crew whose job is to complete tasks and call emergency meetings if they discover a dead body or have any suspicions of who the impostors might be.

You might’ve guessed by now that the impostors are the reason behind all the murders, hence the mysterious corpses. Their job, besides disguising as a crewmate, is to kill as many people as possible, with access to an extensive vent system and diverse methods of sabotage. Luckily, there’s a kill and sabotage-cooldown that prevents impostors from going on a frenzied murder spree, so not all hope is lost for the crew. Even if you get hunted down, nothing can tear you apart from doing the things crewmates love most: completing tasks (who knew ghosts could be so hard working?). 

But there’s an even bigger mystery beyond the game itself that has yet to be revealed, and one might even say it’s kind of sus: How did “Among Us” become so popular?

Innersloth, the creator of the game, released “Among Us” with its first map “The Skeld” on June 15, 2018, about two years before it blew up in popularity. Though many South Korean and Brazilian gamers were initially invested and live-streamed their gameplays to the public, it wasn’t until the summer of 2020 when Twitch streamers and YouTubers came across the game and began uploading “Among Us” content that the game started getting recognized worldwide. Even today, it continues to engage gamers, artists, and the general public alike through its exhilarating creative outlet. 

The game itself presents simple graphics and easy-to-understand gameplay, as well as low to no-pricing for greater accessibility. Yet, it not only grabs the attention of players but the meme culture that encircles a wider media, resonating a prevalent absurdity, comedic relief, that is applicable to everyday life. On top of that, with an unpredictable crew, suspenseful atmosphere, and plot twists that keep both crewmates and impostors on their toes, it’s no wonder “Among Us” gained so much popularity. 

One reason people are so drawn to this game is due to the psychologically reinforcing impression people gain whenever they fulfill their role as either crewmate or impostor. Whether it’s finishing our tasks or getting away with murder, we obtain this feeling of accomplishment that activates our neural reward pathway and stimulates a positive, reinforcing response. This doesn’t mean we become hedonistic serial killers every time we’re impostor, because it’s more the sense of control we value than the pleasure we derive from our murderous exploits. Our ability to manipulate others through deception and physical obstacles further reasserts our dominance of the situation, which seems to be a common goal among the vast majority of players. Another key appeal of “Among Us” is its platform for communication, which is especially intriguing when considering the current pandemic that requires our social isolation and minimal contact. Thus, by allowing players to interact through an active multiplayer chat and server, the game promotes a social license for people to forge alliances (or rivalries) that ultimately invest them in the game. If you haven’t done so already, I highly encourage everyone to try playing “Among Us” to kindle genuine feelings of trust, betrayal, remorse, and empathy that empowers people not only as characters of a game, but as a community.

Don’t forget, “Among Us” is a game of strategy, meaning you’ll need a few tricks up your sleeve in order to win and avoid death/ejection. Here’s a few tips to improve your gameplay:

IMPOSTORS

1. Take advantage of your sabotages (oxygen, reactor, lights), especially comms and doors. With comms, all technology and task bars are disrupted, so this sabotage cannot be ignored. With doors, you can distract, trap crewmates, and hide bodies.

2. Use the O2/reactor sabotages wisely! For example, if you killed a crewmate in Navigation, lead the crewmates to the reactor, which is at the opposite end of the ship and will prevent anyone from reporting you right away. 

3. Look out for cameras; if they’re red and blinking, this indicates someone is in security watching you.

CREWMATES

1. Identify your allies with visual tasks such as scanning in Medbay, shooting asteroids, emptying garbage, and priming shields. (Note: if the shields are already activated, crewmates will no longer have the visual cue to prove their innocence)

2. Take note of O2/reactor sabotages! If any of these sabotages occur, don’t immediately rush over to fix it. Instead, scope the area away from them to see if there’s a body that could’ve triggered the sabotage in the first place.

3. Keep an eye out with the admin map! If you see at least two icons blink in the same room, it’s possible there’s just been a murder.

4. Finish. Your. Tasks. As mentioned, both living and dead crewmates can complete their tasks and can win by doing so.

What Does Your Among Us Color Say About You?

By: Julia Motakef

If you main pink, you’re probably more of a sensitive person, and you don’t play video games very often. You tend to accessorize with the little flower, or nothing at all. People who main pink are usually better at playing crewmate, because you work well with others and you are a team player even if you’re killed early on. You don’t prefer playing as an imposter because killing other players stresses you out, and you hate lying to people in the chat. People rarely suspect you though, because when you’re imposter you’re good at pretending to be innocent. When you get killed, you’re pretty upset--especially when you’re the first or second person killed. Overall, you finish your tasks and stick around so your fellow crewmates have a better chance of winning!

If you main orange, you’re a chill person in general. You don’t play a lot of video games but you enjoy playing from time to time. You tend to accessorize with a lot of different things (by changing it up every round and/or getting the mini version of yourself to follow you). As a crewmate, you’re pretty average; you do your tasks and try to stay independent. But you’re arguably one of the best imposters. You know how to utilize vents and sabotage to your advantage and no one suspects anything. You’re good at laying low, and don’t get into everyone’s business while in the chat. You prefer being imposter because you get to do your own thing, and you don’t really have to follow any rules. You usually don’t get killed early on in the game, because everyone wants you on their team, whether it's as a crewmate, or as a fellow imposter. 

If you main cyan, you’re fun to be around and overall a good player. You accessorize with different things, but usually it becomes your staple, and you don’t really switch it up often. As a crewmate you’re most likely to die first, or get voted off early on in the game. This mainly plays into the joke that cyan is suspicious (even if you’re not). If you do end up living a long time as a crewmate, it’s probably because you made an ally and they trust you enough to run around and do tasks with you. On the other hand, you tend to use vents way too often as an imposter, and that’s what gets you into trouble most of the time. People end up catching you venting or walking away from a dead body, and that’s what gets you caught. Your downfall will most likely be getting called out in the chat, and not knowing how to defend yourself. Overall you’re a lot of fun to play with, and you’re always a good sport if you end up losing.

If you main dark green, you’re a pretty cool person, and most likely a hard-core gamer. Among Us is just something you played because all your friends were playing it, but it’s not something you’d normally choose. You’re probably playing on a computer, so you use the skins and multiple accessory options available on a PC. You don’t ever play on your phone because it’s not as fun for you, and you prefer having the controls you’re used to. As a crewmate you don’t talk very much in the chat unless you really need to. When you’re imposter, though, no one suspects you. You’re good at keeping a cover and playing along with what everyone else is saying. You don’t really have a preference when it comes to crewmate or imposter, but you have more fun being imposter because you’re really good at it and no one suspects you. Overall you’re great at the game, and you have some very useful skills. 

If you main dark blue, you’re super chill and love playing the game with your friends and/or people you don’t know. You accessorize with lots of different things, and you prefer having an accessory because you don’t think the game is as fun without one. When you’re playing as a crewmate, you finish your tasks pretty quickly, and tend to stay by yourself as a precaution. You also genuinely enjoy doing tasks and you like feeling like you figured something out. Even if you die, you stay in the game to do your tasks because you still want to help your fellow crewmates out. But as an imposter, Some games you do an amazing job and win, and other games you bomb it and get voted off immediately. When you’re in chat you’re usually pretty helpful, but since you never have an ally, people think you’re suspicious even if you’re not. You get annoyed with the chat from time to time because most of the time people are spewing nonsense and you’d rather just get back to playing the game. Overall you’re a great player, and you’re fun to play with whether you’re an imposter or a crewmate. 

If you main red, you’re a cool person in real life, but in the game you’re pretty ruthless. You’re not afraid to call anyone out and you’re not afraid to be wrong either. You always follow your gut instinct on who the imposter is, but sometimes your gut instinct is incorrect and it makes crewmates lose trust in you. You tend to accessorize with mostly the hats, and you like to switch it up occasionally. As a crewmate you do your tasks most of the time, but sometimes you like to investigate and just walk around looking for clues as to who the imposter is. When you're an imposter, you’re generally pretty good as long as you keep a crewmate as an “ally.” When you travel alone as an imposter, people have a hard time believing you were where you said you were/doing what task you claimed to be doing. Overall you’re a player that imposters like working with, and crewmates like accusing. 

If you main white you’re someone who likes to stick to the classics, and you’re a good player to become allies with. You tend to accessorize a lot because you’re not in a colored suit, and you like to frequently switch things up to make things more fun for you. When you’re a crewmate, no one ever suspects you because you’re good at blending in and acting natural. You always finish your tasks in a timely manner and help out when the imposter sabotages. When you’re imposter no one suspects a thing, and when people call each other out you just go with the flow and everyone trusts you no matter what. You don’t really talk in the chat unless you’re backing someone up or someone asks where you were. Besides that, you don’t find the chat very helpful. Overall you’re a pretty neutral player, and it’s always nice when someone mains white in the game. 

If you main purple, you’re a chill person but you don’t play very often. You like to play with your friends but playing with strangers isn't as fun for you. You accessorize with more of the unique items the game offers, and you’re most likely playing the game through your phone as opposed to a PC. When you’re a crewmate you do all your tasks, but sometimes you rush through and it ends up taking more time than intended. You like sticking with other crewmates because it makes you feel safer, but sometimes that’s what gets you killed. When you’re imposter you don’t really know what to do or how to act, so sometimes people suspect you because you’re standing around too much. You panic and “try to act normal” so much, you don’t look normal anymore. When you talk in the chat you try to mention important things, but sometimes people ignore what you have to say-- and that annoys you. Overall you’re a good player, but playing more and getting better at tasks can make you a better crewmate, and more people will choose you as an ally and suspect you less. 

If you main lime, you’re a really good player that doesn’t get enough credit. You don’t accessorize very often, as you don’t feel the need to, but every once and awhile you go all out from head-to-toe. As a crewmate you usually find an ally along the way, and you stick together so no one suspects you. You’re good at doing tasks but sometimes you’re the last person to finish and that can bring the crewmates down. Because of this, sometimes towards the end of the game people suspect you more than they should, and you get voted off when you're innocent. But if you’re an imposter, one wrong move and everyone has their eyes on you. As an imposter you have to be cautious because of your conspicuous neon-green skin, and there are no mistakes if people see you vent or kill. In the chat you’re constantly proving your innocence because people have a hard time trusting you. Overall you’re a good player, as long as you stay on your toes and keep an ally by your side. 

If you main brown, chances are you join games where your first choice is taken, or you don’t like sticking out. You tend to either go all out with accessories and skins, or you’re just simple and you don’t really care for accessories. As a crewmate, you always know how to defend yourself and other people, and no one really suspects you. You prefer to go with the flow and lay low, and you don’t really like calling people out. You’re great at finishing tasks on time, and you always utilize the security cameras to your advantage. As an imposter, you don’t always plan out your kills, and this can result in self-reporting. Sometimes people catch onto it, and sometimes people are oblivious and you win! Other times you over-calculate your kills, and don’t account for the fact that other crewmates could catch you--your downfall. In the chat you’re found defending people, and trying to make everyone trust you so you don’t get voted out. Overall, you’re a great player and crewmates are lucky to have you as an ally. 

If you main yellow, you’re a really helpful person to have on a team.. You tend to accessorize with different things every round, but nothing crazy because you don’t wanna stick out. As a crewmate you’re pretty good at doing your tasks on time, but you get annoyed when there are a lot of them. You are also really scared of The Electrical Room  because you know that it’s really easy to get killed in there. But as an imposter, you’re amazing. You know your maps super well, and you know how to work with your fellow imposter(s) so that you guys win. People rarely suspect you because you make allies and walk around like you’re a crewmate, and when you win as an imposter the crewmates are always shocked. In the chat you’re usually pretty dry, just because you don’t want to annoy anyone with unnecessary information. You don’t really like the chat, and you get annoyed by emergency meetings sometimes. Overall you’re a great player and people love being your fellow crewmate/imposter. 

If you main black, you’re a very competitive person at heart, even if you don’t like to admit it. You tend to accessorise with skins a lot, and you’re most likely on a PC. Since people don’t trust you to be a crewmate, you usually work alone. When you’re an imposter, you don’t leave any trace, but then when it comes to defending yourself you don’t have an alibi. You prefer being an imposter over a crewmate because you like to be in control and make your own rules. In the chat you talk a lot, but it’s because you want to win the game and if chatting non-stop is the way to do it, you will do it. Overall you’re a fun player to have on the team, and other crewmates appreciate how helpful you are.

November Horoscopes

By: Monica Johnson & Anica Sherry

Aries (March 21 - April 19)

As we approach Scorpio season, your interactions with others are likely going to intensify. Embrace these interactions, but also be sure to focus on your responsibilities. Last month it may have been difficult to convey exactly how you feel because of Mars’ retrograde through Aries’ house of intimacy, but on November 4, Mercury resumes direct motion, improving communication in your relationships.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

It’s time to try new approaches to finding emotional contentment. Jupiter and Pluto will meet in your ninth house, indicating that to enjoy life, you will need to let go of old perspectives. After November 10, it will be easier to understand what you want out of a relationship and what you need emotionally. Managing money has been a little rough for you, Taureans, but November 30’s Lunar eclipse will hopefully inspire you to make changes to your spending habits. 

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Your love life is taking the spotlight this upcoming month, with Venus, ruling your fifth house of romance and love affairs, transiting your fifth house until the 21st. There will be an intense period relating to relationships this month that might lead to complications. Work and financial goals this month will be ambitious, as Jupiter conjuncts Pluto, ruler of Gemini’s sixth house of work and health. Jump at professional opportunities, prepare your resume and keep an eye out for important events. 

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

This November, your professional life will be full of motivation, bravery and security. Although you may feel high strung, don’t push your limits and rush things. Your fifth house of love, romance, and entertainment will be well lit up, with the November 15 New Moon and the Sun’s presence until the 21st, followed by Venus taking its place. New relationships are on the rise, but you might also be reminiscing about past romantic interests. It’s okay to reach out and rekindle whatever it was you had with that someone. 

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Leo, this November you might have to face uncomfortable circumstances involving interpersonal relationships. Communication might be sluggish, specifically between your coworkers and employers. The Lunar Eclipse on the 30 will bring an end to a partnership or collaborative project in the workplace as well. If you’re having a difficult time with a loved one, don’t rush to make quick decisions. Instead mull things over and patiently reassess the goals in your relationship.

Virgo  (August 23 – September 22)

Until November 21, as Venus transits your second house of money and personal values, your finances may seem uncoordinated. You can avoid difficulty balancing income and expenses by creating a budget for yourself and establishing restrictions. The eclipse on the 30th indicates a big work change, perhaps your employer will implement changes in the workplace. Venus will influence and your charm and persuasion skills this month, and because of this you might find yourself in a sticky situation. Remind yourself of your needs and wants in a relationship. 

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Libra, next month keep an eye out for academic interests, as well as communication problems. Many learning opportunities will be made available to you, and possibly romantic ones as well. Family communication might be difficult, though. Misunderstandings with older family members will be common. The best thing to do is to ground yourself and try to bring the situation under control.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

Scorpios, November is a great time for redecorating your space. This month you will find the confidence and motivation to do just that, and there will be a spike in your charisma as well. Similar to Libra, family tensions might be high and there will be a lack of harmony in your household. Specifically, there might be miscommunication between you and older family members. Try your best to be patient with loved ones. 

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

Emotions and home-life affairs will be in the spotlight this next month. Your social and romantic life will be especially active because of Venus’ influence until November 21. Be on the lookout for romance and new friendships and keep an eye on family relationships. To avoid stress this month, keep your schedule very  organized. Financially, your intuition will guide you to make good decisions this month, but for the most part, steer clear of intense money-related commitments.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

On November 10, Mercury, which rules Capricorn’s house of work, will transit into the house of friends and collaborative projects, leading to progress in your professional and financial life. There will also be a lunar eclipse in the same house, causing a significant work-related turning point at the end of the month. In your personal life, you’ll finally put your fears aside and make a change in your love life or in one of your relationships. You’re in control, Capricorn. 

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

Aquarians, there may have been recent tensions in your love life, but with Mercury moving past your 10th house on November 10th, the steps to resolve them will become clear. The lunar eclipse at the end of the month will also officiate an end to a problematic relationship. On another note, November will be a great opportunity to launch a project, perhaps a business or blog. Allow yourself to be ambitious this month. 

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

This November, there will be an emphasis on your social life, influenced by the Blue Moon on October 31st. Open up to friends, have a lighthearted conversation or a long, personal one with a loved one. It’s time to embrace your talkative side. On November 13th, Mars will end its retrograde in Pisces’ second house of money and resources. It’ll be easier to make ambitious financial decisions and you will definitely be motivated to make income, but be weary of mindless spending.

Senioritis

Cas Kesig

October is over. I thought that declaration might help me come to terms with it, but here I am still trying to tie up loose ends from July.

I’ve noticed two distinct thought processes lately, and I respect both for their honesty of character:

1. The world is ending, so I can take it easy

2. The world is ending, so I must ring it dry of every useful and exciting moment left

If you don’t feel like the world is ending, I’d like to know your secret.

I am in the unfortunate purgatory of “The world is ending, so though I should be able to take it easy, I have grown up with the immense pressure to convert all my extra time into labor. Basically, I will do nothing and be anxious about it all the while” Darn you, capitalism! 

Actually attending class is a whole different beast. The mortifying ordeal of being known, coined in Tim Krieder’s essay “I Know What You Think of Me”, becomes significantly more mortifying over Zoom, where I am also staring at myself seven hours a day in the reflecting pool of my 16:9 Zoom tile. I’m conscious of myself from the second that green light turns on to the moment I put my cat sticker back over the camera for cyber-security. Scary! The only perception of me is one refracted through the internet and spit out on someone else’s computer monitor. Is this what an E-girl is?

2020 has been sort of like a trash compactor, or one of those rooms in movies where the walls close in. Even with the appalling state of the nation and our identities all digitized, lots of people seem determined to proceed with business as usual and forge ahead through the crisis. I realize that we’ve been in pandemic-mode for eight months (some of us, anyway) and I’m probably just slow on the come up, but then a new horrible thing happens every week, and here I have another reason to justify my sore lack of motivation.

Then there’s college, which I won’t even deign to discuss at length. How can I transition into adulthood in such a state? The only time I feel joy these days is when I get packages in the mail. Ouch ouch ouch.

It gets dangerous when I start to convince myself that I’m deserving of things I absolutely haven’t earned, because there’s simply no other way to complete tasks than preemptively rewarding myself. “You sat through the presidential debates,” I tell myself, “so you should get a reward.” In a turn of events, I am both Pavlov and the dog, unable to start my homework or make headway on college apps until I’ve treated myself to a Dunkin’ cold brew for the third time in a day.

Is this a shared experience? It’s hard to tell while staring into the slate of your screen.

2020 began on a Wednesday and will end on a Thursday. 2020 is a leap year, the Year of the Rat, and marks 580 years until the Age of Aquarius officially begins. There’s no guarantee that on January 1, 2021, things will take a sudden turn for the better, redeeming the events of this year in full. If we’re lucky, 2021 will be neutral at best. Maybe boxing all of the horribleness into the 2020 container is preventing us (me) from truly facing it, but the false promise of a resolution is just unrealistic enough for me to invest faith in it.

In any case, we’re much closer to the end of the year than we are the beginning. Maybe we’ll be able to put this one on our resumes.