The Return of Film Has The World Excited to Take Photos

By Frances Brooks

“Smile!” said Lyla Butler, a fifteen-year-old from New York City as she scrutinized her friend intently. With one snap of her Nikon F3 camera, she exposed a moment onto a roll of carefully wound film, an imprint of her friend ready to be developed into a crisp, highly saturated photo.

The return of film and Polaroid photography has taken the world by storm, bringing back nostalgic memories for those who grew up with them and captivating the attention of a new generation. But why does the technology of decades ago have everyone in such a tight grasp, when many have access to more efficient and immediate cameras right at their fingertips?

Staying educated… What does the ordinary high school student know about Juneteenth?

By Paige Pablon

Flipping through pages of a monthly calendar, June 19 represents more than a Sunday in June, whether you’re aware of it or not. 

If you’re a highschool student having gone through more than five years of history class, you may not have learned about Juneteenth or the historic magnitude of the holiday. In many situations, schools are prohibited from teaching crucial history due to political pressures. 

Save Your Photos Month, the Return of Film Cameras

By Skyler Mao

Snap! The Canon AE-1 camera clicked as it was pressed, and the shutter flew open. The surrounding light illuminated the inside of the camera, reacting with carefully composed chemical layers to form a final image — an almost perfect replication of the scenery that stood in front of the camera.

September is well-known for being a harbinger of fall, or the start of a new school year. Something less known, however, is that September is also Save Your Photos Month, a whole month dedicated to the backing-up of photos.

Brooks shows interest, passion for television show

By Skyler Mao

Frances Brooks sat down on her couch on a Saturday evening, ready to enjoy another episode of “Veronica Mars,” her favorite television show. Having watched the show multiple times, she never gets tired of watching the action-packed episodes full of mystery and surprises. 

The show centers on Veronica Mars, a teenage girl who investigates the troubling murder of her best friend. With relatable characters and interactions, as well as suspenseful plot lines, the show has captured Brooks’ interest.

A classic children’s book, a piece of chocolate, and a lifelong passion for Piroso

By Frances Brooks

Sitting on the colorful rug of her pre-K classroom, Gianna Piroso let the words of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” wash over her and chewed contentedly on a piece of chocolate passed out by her teacher. She became engrossed by the way the story could come to life, and, at the age of five, Gianna Piroso fell in love with reading and storytelling. 

As a reader, Piroso is especially drawn to fiction: fantasy and mystery. She loves how imaginative the plots and characters are, and how the authors can pull a story out of thin air. She regularly finds herself being sucked into a book. 

Music as an outlet in Goldberg’s life

By Paige Ablon

Earphones plugged into her phone, a long day coming to an end, Lucy Goldberg can be found in her room pressing play to Taylor Swift or immersing herself in her own music. Regardless of the mood she enters with, it is guaranteed that after three minutes and 39 seconds of “Shake It Off,” by Taylor Swift, all her worries will be cured.

An activity most are drawn to for its ability to entertain changed Goldberg’s life in more ways than one. Her love of guitar began in kindergarten and continues to intensify. Telling stories to various communities in ways other than conversation comes naturally to Goldberg. Channeling her opinions with music is crucial for her to find joy, even on the worst of days. 

Calculations of an infinite interest

By Gianna Piroso

Sitting at the oversized tables in his fourth-grade classroom, he watched the teacher jot down questions on the dry-erase board with wide eyes and an eager mind. While many fourth-graders spent their time running around playgrounds and watching cartoons, Skyler Mao spent his analyzing numbers and racing to win competitions with his school math club. 

Mao’s love for math is fueled by the satisfaction of completing a problem. He enjoys putting his brain to the test and pushing himself to think outside of the box, especially when his answer is correct. 

How the rediscovery of anime changed Zheng’s life

By Rachel Katzke

As he sat in his friend’s television room and watched an action-packed episode of anime, rising junior Chengyue Zhang rediscovered his fascination with the popular Japanese animations.

Growing up in China, Zhang knew of anime but never felt particularly intrigued by the well known animations.