Suicide Prevention Seminar

by: Justin Wang

Last week, on November 7th, Mr. Killeen held an assembly that was focused on mindfulness and suicide prevention. Primarily intended for a parental audience, Mr. Killeen and his guest speaker Mr. Stan Collins spoke volumes about aspects of suicide prevention, including causes, possible solutions, and general tips on the issue. Multiple school officials, including our superintendent, and TPHS principal Rob Coppo spoke briefly about the seriousness and changes that need to be implemented surrounding this issue. Stan Collins, following a brief introduction, covered key issues surrounding the topic of suicide prevention. He opened with a personal anecdote, outlining the story of his best friend Jesse, who he lost to suicide in high school. Much like the feelings circulating through our school after the loss of 2 students, Collins remembered feeling “anger, guilt, sadness, and confusion… [he] couldn’t comprehend why Jesse had taken his own life”. Throughout the presentation, Collins made it abundantly clear that “ The issue of suicide is something that we only speak about when it punches us in the face. The truth is our views are always in need of this even outside the tragedies,” even if people shy away from it at first. Collins spoke about his own push to have suicide awareness and prevention on his own campus, the campaign of which took 3 months until the principal finally agreed to sit down and talk to him. Collins led these anecdotes into a more conceptual discussion of suicide prevention - even criticizing his own speaking situation, saying that even though “gathering three thousand students into a gymnasium” is better than nothing, it isn’t “effective, only efficient”. Collins also discussed the language surrounding suicide, commenting that “reasons not to die” have a more negative connotation than “reasons to live”, due to “not dying” setting the bar at mere survival. He then went on to urge all of us to practice better, more neutral-connotation language when discussing suicide, especially when trying to prevent it or raise awareness. Many of the statistics Collins presented later in this presentation both worried the audience, and acted as a harrowing reminder of the resources in place for suicide prevention (of which there are very little). In fact, even though suicide was the top 3 killers for most age groups above 5-7 years old, there were no “socially embedded messages” about suicide, like there are for drugs and homicide. Collins concluded his presentation with a demonstration of solutions to prevent suicide and ease pain. He emphasized that “suicide is not caused by a single event … rather, it is like a Jenga tower”, where each brick adds to the instability of the entire situation. “Suicide prevention is turning the dials a little bit today, a little bit more tomorrow”, and tomorrow and tomorrow until your friend is in a better place than they were before.

A Guide to the College Interview

by: Amanda Benbow

It goes without saying that senior year of high school is stressful. The classes are just as rigorous as junior year, maybe even more so, and on top of all that homework and studying, college applications still loom over our heads, with countless essays and supplements being required by universities. As if that isn’t enough pressure, some universities even require or “strongly recommend” an interview aspect of the application, and for a vast number of high school seniors, that is completely new territory. “What questions will be asked?” “How am I supposed to dress?” “How should I prepare?” These inquiries are surely swirling through many seniors’ heads at the moment, and maybe even some underclassmen who are hoping to get ahead in their application process, and hopefully I can lend a helping hand in answering them.

As a high school senior myself, I recently had the opportunity to interview at a highly ranked university that shall remain nameless. I learned a lot from the experience, and have some tips that I can share. Of course, every school conducts interviews differently, so understand that my experience may not be the same as yours.

Preparation is a key part of the interview process. First, you must make sure that the university offers an interview, as many universities don’t. Make sure you understand the interview process for each school you are applying to, as they vary, and make appropriate accommodations. You also need to decide if you want to do on-campus or off-campus interviews. They are typically weighed the same, meaning neither is more advantageous than the other, so it is up to the applicant. It is typically a matter of convenience, so many opt for the off-campus option. Once that is sorted out, the next step is research. One question that you will most likely receive in every interview is “Why do you want to attend this university?”, so make sure you have an appropriate answer that allows the interviewer to see your demonstrated interest in the school. Simply saying “I like the size” or “The location is nice” won’t be enough to prove to the interviewer that you really know about the school and want to go there. Have a few specific programs or classes in mind that you are interested in before going in to the interview, or think of something that can only be gained from this school.

Once you know your fair share about the school, you can prepare some more by conducting mock interviews with friends and family, while also brainstorming answers to possible interview questions. Some example questions could be: “What are some of your extracurricular activities?”, “What is your favorite book or movie?”, or “How did you spend last summer, and how did you grow from it?”. Conducting mock interviews can also provide opportunity to learn how to behave comfortably in interviews, as many people struggle with being relaxed in these situations, which can be unattractive in an applicant. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that interviews can really only help your application, as they allow the university to put a face to your application, so stay relaxed and don’t get too overwhelmed.

Typically at the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions for them, so it is good to have one or two questions prepared for this. Make sure that they’re not questions that could easily be answered with a Google search. Ask insightful questions that only a student or alumni could answer, and example being “What drew you to the university?” or “What is your favorite memory from attending the university?”. With these questions, you demonstrate your interest in the school while simultaneously getting the chance to learn more about the school that you will potentially be attending.

All that being said, just remember to relax and enjoy your time with the interviewer. This interview most likely won’t make or break your admission decision, so think of it as more of an informative conversation with a former student of the university you hope to attend. I hope this was helpful, and wish you good luck in your future interviews!

Five Ways to Destress Yourself

by: Bri Cateriano

If you are anything like me, or anyone at CCA, you stress a lot. So much so, that you break out, or have a mental breakdown, or maybe even start eating icecream in the middle of the night just to have something sweet and savory in you life. Everyone knows that high school is stressful, and thinking about getting into a reputable college is even more so. Parents put so much pressure on us, which causes stress, anxiety, and depression. However, despite all of this, there are ways to manage your stress of school, college, parents’ pressure.

1. 1. Talking to someone. Whether it’s your school counselor, a friend, or a therapist, people are there to listen to your problems. It is freeing to talk about why you are stressed to help calm you down as talking to someone gives you the satisfaction of letting it out to get advice. Their advice can tell you how to deal with your parents, or what to do in certain situations where you don’t feel good and you feel stressed, sad, etc..
   2. Meditation. Yes, I went there. Meditation really does help with stress. Think about this: you are in a quiet area with candles of good scents. You are wearing the most comfortable clothes and you feel neither hot nor cold. The absolute silence allows you to think comfortably without interruption. The setting around you is soothing, taking away your stress and problems. Thousands of people around the world participate in meditation as a way to stop their lives and detox. It is a healthy form of detoxification that many laugh at without trying.
   3. Playing sports. I am very aware that sports and athletics are not everyone's strong point, however it is proven to be a good stress reliever for many. Even without belonging on a team, running around gives the body endorphins- which make you happy. As an athlete, playing sports helps me immensely. It allows me to take my mind off of the stress of school, and focus on something that I find enjoyable. Running or playing catch with my friends takes my mind off of everything for the period of time, and clears my mind. I guarantee it has helped me and others around me, and it will help you as well. Even if you don’t like sports, playing catch or going for a walk- the simplest form of exercise, is therapeutic and is a recommended form of stress relief by many doctors and counselors.
   4. Getting a good night's sleep. Sleep is necessary to a healthy lifestyle. When people are stressed, they tend to not get a lot of sleep- which is normal. A lack of sleep, however, only contributes to your unhealthy state of mind and does nothing but make you tired and grumpy. Sleep helps people recuperate from things that make them unhappy and when they wake up, gives them the realization that there’s a new day and the stress decreases. Being tired only contributes to stress.  
   5. Netflix. Although not everyone has netflix, or maybe even TV, when I am stressed or sad, I always watch netflix to help take my mind off of my stress and watch comedies to get my mind off of something sad or bad that happened to me. It helps you immensely when you are in your bed, with the lights off, all warm and comfortable, watching something that you enjoy. It takes your mind off of your problems, and is enjoyable too.

How to Stop Procrastinating

by: Ali Youel

Procrastinating. You know what I’m talking about. I know the word all too well. Putting off all things you need to do for no particular reason other than not wanting to do them. We all do it, even for just small, simple, mundane things. We often justify this act by saying “Oh, I can do it later.” I’m sure you, and everyone around you, is all-too-familiar with this process. But why do we do it? How can we break this habit?

Procrastinating can be like a defense mechanism in a way. We are scared to try new things because of our fear of being rejected, or our fear of failure. Forbes’s Margie Warrell wrote, “Those fears can drive us to cling on to the hope that if we procrastinate long enough, our situation will improve, or our misgivings will magically evaporate and be replaced with newfound clarity and courage.” Procrastination isn’t a solution, but it gives us a little relief when we are in the middle of it. It is vital that we keep going and pushing, even if all we want to do is binge watch The Office or stalk people via Instagram.

Here some some helpful ways to break the bad habit that every high-schooler (and everyone in general) faces.

1. Make a List. I know it sounds generic and pointless, but organizing oneself can be a great motivator and tool to stop procrastinating. Grab a whiteboard, a post-it, or a simple piece of paper and write down what you have to do. You can break down the tasks into time, allot breaks for yourself, and set healthy goals to get your stuff done.
2. Create a Goal for Yourself. Creating reasonable goals is a good motivator, and can boost your self-confidence. By setting a REASONABLE goal, you can get your stuff done, and feel as though you accomplished more than just your math homework. However, be cautious about setting your goal. Setting an extreme and impossible goal will only hurt. If you are unable to reach that goal because you set the bar to high, you will most likely feel upset and discouraged from working hard. Remind yourself that it is okay for your goal to be different from other; it is your goal, not your friend’s.
3. Reward Yourself. It is okay to take breaks. Take a deep breath. Did you finally finish that boring chapter of your AP Lang book? Go eat a cookie, have a mini dance party, do whatever for a little. It is important to reward yourself, even for small victories. Remember, you are doing great, and keep on putting your best foot forward.

Who is Yoan Moncada?

by: Elan Berger

You have spent your entire life on Cuba’s southern coast doing only a handful of things. Your life until this point has essentially consisted of eating, sleeping, going to school, and playing baseball. Then one day, about two years after leaving Cuba, the Boston Red Sox give you a call offering you a job. 31.5 million dollars later, you are one of the most wealthy 19 year olds in the world. The question is: What next?

Former Red Sox, now White Sox, prospect Yoan Moncada was faced with this situation in early 2015. His answer to the question of, “What now?” is best exemplified by an interaction Moncada had with Miami automobile tricker-outer Alex Vega.

Vega makes his living customizing vehicles for the rich and famous. He has worked on cars for rappers, professional athletes, and many other high-profile individuals. But most of all, Vega’s business comes from baseball players.

Extravagant would be an understatement for Vega’s projects. For example, Hanley Ramirez once requested a $550,000 Lamborghini that would unleash fire from the exhaust. However, Vega could hardly believe his ears when he received a call from 19 year old Moncada in the winter of 2015 asking for ten cars.

“Are you sure you’re ready for all this?” Vega asked the teenager.

This is a question that many are asking of Moncada. Before leaving Cuba, his main form of transportation was his sibling’s bicycle that he rode down a dirt road every day to a baseball stadium. After moving from Cuba to Ecuador to Guatemala to the US in less than two years, Moncada says, “New family, new language, new friends, new life, new rules. I knew I wanted to come here to play baseball, but I never thought about dealing with all of this.”

This season, Moncada will be with the Chicago White Sox, after being traded by Boston for pitcher Chris Sale. By making this deal, the White Sox staked their future in an infielder who the Red Sox couldn’t trust to show up for mandatory English classes, and according to his agent, sometimes plows through over 85 Twinkies in a week. And shortly after arriving in the US, Moncada was on the phone with Vega negotiating for cars most people only dream of owning, even though he didn’t have a driver's licence.

Vega says, “Usually, we come up with a bigger-than-life idea and then I make it happen.” This time however, Vega found himself having to become realistic.

“It’s a long career,” Vega remembers saying to the second baseman. “I want to work with you for a long time. We’ll get to ten eventually, but not yet. You need to slow it down.”

“No” was not an answer that Moncada was used to hearing after leaving Cuba. After a showcase in Guatemala at which representatives from all 30 MLB teams appeared, a bidding war broke out across the MLB in hopes of acquiring Moncada. His $31.5 million payday from the Red Sox nearly quadrupled the previous record for an international signing bonus. The money that Moncada made in the winter of 2015 was the equivalent of 656,250 years of work when he was playing for Cienfuegos in Cuba on a salary of $4 per month.

There were some mornings when Moncada would simply stay in bed, but once he got to practice, his teammates and coaches were thrilled with his readiness to put in extra work. “The only place I’m comfortable is on the field, so I’m always going to stay as long as I can,” Moncada says. His desire to play and his skill were soon evident, however, as Moncada stole 94 bases and had an on-base percentage of .395 in the Minors and rose quickly through the Red Sox system.

Moncada will be starting the season with the Chicago White Sox, where he has found a friend and mentor in fellow Cuban Jose Abreu. Regarding the All-Star first baseman, Moncada says, “He’s helping me navigate the game but most of all the culture. He’s a few years ahead of me in that. I try to follow whatever he does.”

Although Alex Vega could not bring himself to customize ten luxury vehicles for a 19 year old who had only been in the United States for a handful of months, he did produce a few cars for the Cuban infielder. One of these cars, a BMW X6, has Moncada’s personalized logo, a combination of his initials, on the hood. Moncada may not yet be sure what that logo represents, and neither is the rest of the baseball world, but without a doubt, everyone should be excited to find out.

Holiday Gifting Tips and Tricks

by; Kayla Fung

It’s that time of year again… The air is crisper, Patagonia jackets are dusted off, and the countdown to winter break begins. In case you’re wondering, we still have twenty days to go. Accompanying the warm and fuzzy feeling leading up to Christmas, the holiday gifting panic rears its ugly head. A million questions pop into your head: What kind of gift would my best friend want?  How am I going to afford all these presents? Is this gift enough to show them I care?

Now, before you fly into a full fledged panic and hit the mayday button, I’m here with a few gifting tips that just might the holiday rush seem a little less crazy.

Tips, Tricks, and Hacks

1. What constitutes a GREAT gift?

When we think of amazing gifts, our minds tend to migrate towards the extravagant. We see celebrity gifts on Instagram and Snapchat all the time, the luxury cars and designer brands, and we just can’t help but feel inadequate. Before you worry, put things in perspective. I mean, we’re all students. Our average shopping budgets are most likely $100 divided amongst all the friends we need to gift. So, here’s a tip. A good gift isn’t measured by its price tag, but by the meaning behind it. So this Christmas, instead of splurging irrationally on presents, buy something economical but funny or make a thoughtful, handmade gift for a friend. I guarantee you they’ll like it.

2. How do I choose a gift?

Now, this one’s tricky. It seems like you know all your close friends like the back of your hand, but whenever Christmas time rolls around, you just blank. For the life of you, you just can’t think of a gift for them. What was their favorite color again? What food are they allergic to? Do they already own this item? You want to know exactly what they want without being too obvious and asking them outright. Thankfully, I’ve developed a strategy for this recurring dilemma that might just help you out this holiday season. The key is to stay alert. In the time leading up to Christmas, keep your ears and eyes open. If you notice your friend looking at a shirt online or hear them talking about this new gadget that they want, keep it in mind. Keep a small list of what things your friends seem to be interested in, and trust me, your life is going to be a hell of a lot easier at the end of this month.

3. How do I show them that I REALLY care?

If you take anything away from this article, this is it. How do I show that I really do care about someone through my gift? You do something simple, something that is often underestimated and overlooked. Include a card. I know, I know. You’re probably wondering how a card can boost the quality of your gift, so allow me to let you in on a secret. The key to gift giving is genuine appreciation for someone. Any gift, big or small, can be elevated by a heartfelt card or note filled with love, appreciation, or inside jokes that you share with a friend or family member. I can say with absolute certainty that this has been my secret weapon when gifting, and it has been a 100% success so far.

So friends, keep these tips and hacks in mind this holiday season. Gift sincerely, but don’t get too caught up in the presents, because just remember, the holidays are about the people you’re with, not the gifts you receive. Happy Holidays!

Hanukkah Gift Tips and Tricks

by: Noah Gaines

Happy Holidays from the Pulse staff! However, with the holidays comes relentless stressing over holidays gifts for friends and family. The stress is justified, but, I’m gonna help you get presents for those eights special nights for some of you. Hanukkah began Sunday night at sundown, so let's get the show rolling.

The first night of Hanukkah, you have to begin slowly but surely. You don’t want to buy that huge one of a kind gift, you want to build up so each night seems more special than the last. As a first night gift, I recommend a coloring book for a small child or a book for a teen or adult. Start simple so that your gift goes a long way later. Second night of hanukkah, a soft, comforting blanket can work. It is also a benefit because you can use the gift as much as your partner does. It is typical - although maybe not in San Diego’s temperate climate - to snuggle up in a warm blanket and watch this seasons Netflix originals.

Third night you’re right in the thick of things here. A solid gift, a mug. Everyone wants a special, good of heart gift from a special someone. 83% of people drink coffee in America, this gift is practical and can be used on a daily basis. Fourth night we’re about halfway here now, so it may be time to spice it up a bit. I would take my person of group of people to the theatre and watch a movie. The experience is bound to be epic and the theatre is most likely going to play some movies related to the holiday spirit, such as The Grinch. You can live up the holiday spirit and make it festive for all.

Fifth night, congratulations! You made it halfway through. But now you need to step up your game to a whole new level, an unprecedented level during the eight day fiasco. Day five you can give a giftcard to a favorite restaurant or retailer. People love nothing more than cash, especially cash to one’s favorite shopping place to indulge on good food, or buy the hottest holiday sweater. Day six, it’s time to take the most unoriginal gift -the gift card- and make or think of something that hits to home. If whomever you’re doing this for has an inside joke or favorite craving, tonight's the night. Caramel chocolates or a T-shirt from a favorite television show or Netflix series, something original to show them you’re worth more than a gift card.

Seventh night. You’re almost there trooper, you gotta push through. I vote clothes as the way to go. The hardest part about this is probably finding out the size of the person or people you’re buying for, aside from that, just pay attention what they looking for when you waltz around the mall.

Eighth night! You made it! Here’s the big one. Food is the avenue to drive down here. Make a homemade meal, cater in that person's favorite restaurant, go out on the town and dine in at a white tablecloth restaurant. Tonight is the night to understand that holidays mean more than wrapping paper and price tags, it’s about being with loved ones and making memories. A nice dinner is a perfect way to end all the chaos and enjoy the holidays for what they are.

The Holiday Season Across the Globe

by: Emily Gao

The most well known holidays -- Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, New Years -- we are all fairly knowledgeable about these. However the world is full of amazing customs and traditions. Let’s call it the “Christmas” or the “Thanksgiving” of other cultures. Here are just a few.

Kwanzaa: December 26th - January 1st  

Kwanzaa is a week long African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions of individuals in the United States and in other nations of the African diaspora. It celebrates and honors African heritage, unity, and culture. It often consists of several feasts and gift-giving practices. Families celebrating will often decorate their households with traditional African art and cloths. Women will often wear special African silky wraps called kaftans. Ceremonies are also often held that include musical performances, the reading of the African Pledge, and discussion of African history. A candle-lighting ritual is also a common practice with these ceremonies. This holiday was first created by activist and professor Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966.

Lunar New Year: February 5th

We traditionally calculate our years my measuring how the earth revolves around our sun: one full revolution around the sun is equivalent to one year. For the lunar calendar, days and years are measured according to the moon and its phases. Lunar New Year is the celebration of the New Year with the lunar calendar. A multitude of East Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year -- including China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, and Vietnam. This holiday celebrates love, family, and thankfulness. Celebrations of the New Year often include traveling back to the parents house for feasts, lantern festivals, fireworks, and the gifting of red envelopes to children.  The feast usually occurs the day before Lunar New Year. Some traditional foods served on this day are sticky rice cakes, hot pot, and dumplings. The use of puns is also prominent in the celebration of the holiday. For example, the Chinese word for sticky rice cakes, niangao, sounds like the Chinese pronunciation for “good year”. Thus, people often eat these sticky rice cakes during Lunar New Year in hopes it will bring them a good year.

Diwali: November 7th (already passed)

Also known as Deepavali or Dipavali, Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights that is celebrated every Autumn. This celebration symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Temples, homes, shops, and often buildings are decorated with lights for this five day celebration. The climax of this holiday falls on the 3rd day of this celebration, in which celebrants will wear their finest clothes and illuminate their homes with diyas (oil lamps). Family feasts are also an essential component of this holiday, where many sweets and gifts are exchanges.

The Quarterbacks: Part 2

by: Josh Golden

This past April, the NFL Draft was full of quarterbacks loaded with potential and hype. Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round, and all five of the quarterbacks have started multiple games in their rookie year.

Baker Mayfield, the first overall pick of the Cleveland Browns, began the season on the bench but was forced into the lineup in week three when Tyrod Taylor went down with an injury at home against the Jets on Thursday Night Football. Baker came into the game for a team that was on a 19 game losing streak and facing a 14-0 deficit when he entered the game in the final minutes of the first half. Somehow, Mayfield pulled out a 21-17 victory in front of the Dawg Pound and provided the city of Cleveland with some free Bud Light. Dilly Dilly Browns fans, Dilly Dilly. Since that game, Baker has started the last nine games, posting a 3-6 record along with a 63.3% completion percentage, over 2,600 yards, and a passer rating over 90. However, Baker has only put up 18 touchdowns to go with his 10 interceptions. He’s been very promising, but still has some room to grow in his final four games.

Sam Darnold, the third overall pick of the New York Jets, began this season as the week one starter and opened with an impressive win in Detroit. However, the USC product hasn’t looked as promising since that Monday night. Just like Baker, he’s posted a 3-6 record as a starter, but has more interceptions than touchdowns and less than 2,000 yards to go with his 55% completion percentage. Darnold went down with an injury in a week nine battle with Miami but is expected to return this week in Buffalo. Jets fans should be excited for his return because despite a rocky start for the rookie, he’s not playing with less on the line, allowing him the opportunity to get reps in lower pressure situations. The last four games of this season will be critical for Darnold’s confidence heading into next year and could really help the quarterback become a smarter passer.

Josh Allen, the seventh overall pick of the Buffalo Bills, made his NFL debut in week one in relief of Nathan Peterman. Yes, that Nathan Peterman, the one who managed to throw five interceptions in a half last season, starting in week one. Allen took over the starting job in week two and played pretty well in his next five starts before going down with an elbow injury. Allen missed a month from the injury but has played two games since, looking a lot more impressive both throwing and running the ball. Not only has Allen impressed Bills Mafia with his rocket arm, but his ability to turn on the jets and run have been jaw dropping, including his beautiful hurdle over Anthony Barr. However, Allen only has 1,223 yards, a 52.9% completion percentage, a 66.3 passer rating, and nine total touchdowns to go with his seven interceptions in eight appearances. Allen has a 3-4 record as a starter and could really use these next four games to continue to show what he learned from his month spent on the bench from his elbow injury. He’s looked a lot more impressive in his last two starts and needs to continue to build off of his success if he wants to establish himself as the savior Bills fans dream of at the quarterback position.

Josh Rosen, the tenth overall pick of the Arizona Cardinals, made his debut in relief of Sam Bradford during a week three home loss against Chicago. Rosen has started every game since, posting a 3-6 record to go with his 1,670 yards, 54.2% completion percentage, 68.2 passer rating, 10 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Rosen has looked like your typical rookie: showing a ton of promise and potential but not playing smart football. Rosen has shown off his knowledge and love for the game along with his drive to win, along with showing the world that he struggles in finding the open man, like plenty of rookies do. Rosen, being as smart as he is, will likely pick up on this as he goes, making the final four games of his season critical in improving his decision making.

Lamar Jackson, the thirty-second overall pick of the Baltimore Ravens, has played sporadically throughout the season, often playing a few snaps a game as a distraction and occasionally running the ball or making a quick pass. However, Joe Flacco’s hip injury has given Jackson the opportunity to start the last three games and shine. Jackson has won all three of his starts, yet has passed for only one touchdown along with three interceptions along with failing to throw for over 200 yards. Jackson has showed a lot of potential both throwing and running the ball, but still has a ton of room to grow in his decision making in the next four games.

All five first round quarterbacks have been impressive when they’re on the field, but some have looked more impressive than others. Baker has looked like the best of the group so far, followed by Allen, Rosen, Darnold, and Jackson in last simply due to lack of play time. However, the rankings of these quarterbacks will certainly change throughout their careers, as their rookie seasons are less about results and more about development for the future. All five signal callers have shown promise and their teams are still optimistic that they’ll be the franchise quarterback for years to come.

Why Your Vote Matters

by: Makayla Gubbay

Voting restrictions have disportionately hindered minority groups’ ability to vote, our government is severely shifted to one political ideology, and the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision has allowed corporations to stream endless amounts of money into campaigns.

America is a representative democracy. This essentially means that, a few times a year, the power is in our hands to elect the leaders we believe will bring us prosperity. For the rest of the year, there’s not much we can do other than hope that we made the right decisions.

And yet, so many of us don’t make a decision at all. According to data from the U.S. Census, voter turnout in the United States is currently among the lowest in the entire developed world. This jarring gap in political involvement shows in our representation. According to June data from Gallup, only ¼ of Americans identify as Republican. However, Republicans run the majority of the country, filling 237 seats out of the 430 in the house, 52 out of 100 in the Senate, and holding the presidential powers.

So where does this lack of participation stem from? According to a nationwide USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll, out of the citizens who do not vote, 54 percent believe that the government is corrupt, and 37 percent believe that voting doesn’t make much difference in their lives.

For those in the 54 percent who are hesitant to vote into what they consider a corrupt system, let me remind you: we are not independent of our country’s politics. Every comment, decision, and policy made by our leadership is a reflection of ourselves. A vote lost is a vote that supports all the faults in our country.

And lastly, I’d like to address the 37 percent who say politics do not affect them:

In August, a man watched as his family was torn apart. His wife, a mexican immigration who ran to America as a teenager to escape family violence, was being deported to Mexico. With her went her nine year old daughter, an American citizen who was terrified to leave her home and enter a world she knew nothing of. And to the sidelines sobbed her sixteen year old daughter, a young girl who, due to her father’s constant travel, would suddenly be left primarily alone. The man held back tears and dodged reporters as he prepared to say his final goodbye to the family he build.

This man was named Temo Juarez, and as an Iraq veteran, he thought he was protected from the law. You see, the Obama administration had a policy in place to not prioritize the deportation of military family members. It was a policy that had support from numerous politicians, including Vice President Mike Pence. However, one change in immigration policy made this protection cease to exist.

Jaurez’s story is a cautionary tale. Many of the protections we take for granted could be stripped away from us at any given moment. That is why it’s our civil duty to inform ourselves about the implications of our politicians’ agendas and preclude something like this happening to our family.

From Harvard professors to New York Times writers, esteemed individuals are warning about a possible collapse of American democracy. The recent rejection of democratic institutions, the denial of the legitimacy of political opponents, and the toleration of violence against minorities are all red flags for our country’s demise. But we have a choice. We have a voice. And because of the amazing right we have to vote, we have the power to change the path our country is on.

So, we can pretend our votes don’t matter, tell ourselves we’ll be fine no matter what, or decide all politicians are corrupt and we want nothing to do with them. And that may work for a while. Until the day you wake up and see that the political powers in America are stacked irreversibly out of your favor, and watch as the legislation you didn’t even know they planned on implementing begins impetrating your way of life. And so, I implore you all, take the opportunity to affect politics before politics affect you.

Who is America?

by: Audrey Hsu

The psychology of the human brain demands that we break visuals or concepts into categories in order to deal with information overloads. What comes out of this is the concept of stereotyping. When we see a woman wearing a black leather jacket with spikes, sporting black lipstick and heavy eyeliner, and toting a black messenger bag, the first stereotype that comes to mind is “goth.” When we see a morbidly obese man holding two hot dogs and three burgers in one hand and an AR-15 in another, wearing a red, white, and blue hat that reads: Make America Great Again! do we see an American? America is a country of many people, ethnicities, religions, and beliefs. Considering our current political climate, the struggle for women’s rights, racial equality, etc., our country appears to be more divided than ever. We must ask ourselves: What does it mean to be an American? And to the people of other countries: Do you see us as that stereotypical man?

Looking for answers, I asked high school students from the U.K., Canada, Indonesia, and Japan what they thought of America. Does America ultimately fulfill their expectations? Do Americans have a common identity?

Charlotte Turner, 16, from Wraysbury, England said “No, we didn’t expect Americans to be anything we imagined. When we [her family] came to San Diego, we were amazed! Everyone plays some sport or another or goes to the beach.” When I asked her about what she imagined an American would be like, she replies, “We didn’t really know what to expect (of Americans), but perhaps like… loud, brash. We also sort of imagined America as the land of burgers, and…” here she laughs, “overweight people.” But she also said at least that one of her expectations were fulfilled: “Americans are so friendly! You ask someone for directions in England and it’s like bloody hell F*** off!”

Darren Li, 15, from Vancouver Canada, hesitated before saying, “Many of my classmates imitate American accents and do mini impressions of Donald Trump. ‘Let’s build a wall to keep the Americans out!’” But he amends this by continuing, “Yes, Americans definitely have a common identity. When I think American, I think of liberty, freedom, and outspoken people who aren’t afraid to be shut down. I think that’s really important, especially because I’m moving to Kansas next year.”

Ayaka Taira, 14, is a freshman who lived in Japan, and currently attends high school in Indonesia. Taira is in the process of deciding to complete her college education in America. She answered my question with all the excitement of a true American. “America is always different every time I go and everywhere I go. Because it’s so big, it’s hard to fit all of America into one person.” When I questioned her about what differences she liked and disliked about her home countries versus The U.S., she responded seriously, “America is so big, and the transport here is hard without taking a car. In Japan, we take the underground train station, or walk. I lived in Tokyo, so I took the train to school every morning, and walked too, everything is close by there. But I like that the schools are a lot more relaxed here. There are no uniforms, you can change classrooms, and the teachers are more relaxed.”

When Americans think about about their own country, do our views link up with the world’s? CCA kids respond: Annalua Corwin, a CCA alumnus who graduated in 2018, commented that much of the world’s perceptions are somewhat allowed. After all, she laughs, “We look at Japanese people and assume that all of them watch anime, or we think the Russians have polar bears with armor on for pets. Every country has their own stereotypes, and it's only fair we have our own too, although they might not be true.” But, what do you think the world should know about America? I prod her. “We definitely should be grateful about the fact that America has freedom of press and speech. Not many countries have the freedoms we do. There's always room for improvement, and movements like #MeToo, or the gun safety movement, that the youth of America get to play a big part in, whereas in some countries [even] adults do not have these same liberties.”

I went on to interview Chrinesha Pereira, 16, a senior at CCA, about what she expected about America when she moved here from England. “I expected a lot more people to be smoking and alot of people surfing. You also wouldn’t think sports are so heavily emphasized at school, and in Europe we drink before we drive. One main difference between America and England are that people are very open about political views. Here, Americans involve youth in open conversation about everything, whilst in other cultures, children and youth have to be invited to the adult table in order to speak their mind.” When I ask her if she could describe America in three words, she said, “Liberty, justice, and open-mindedness.”

While many Americans may identify with some part of the gun-toting, pizza-crazy, overweight man, it is clear to see that America’s values run broader than the confines of our stereotype. Whether America’s image brings to mind a towering statue of Liberty, glamorous Hollywood films, or national anthems, there are definitely solid metaphysical ideals—justice, freedom of speech, open minds and open hearts—that people of other countries perceive, and that almost all Americans can identify with.

Do it Yourself Holiday Spirit

by: Becca Clark

Winter break is approaching, and I for one have been counting down the days since Thanksgiving. Now that our two week vacation is only 9 days away, I’m sure many have joined in on my excitement. For some their holidays have already passed and for others they are fast approaching but no matter what you celebrate, the holiday season is a great time to start giving back, spend time with loved ones and drink all the peppermint hot chocolates physically possible. Looking around the school, most of what I see are seniors stressing out over college, juniors obsessing over standardized tests, sophomores preparing for their next AP World test, and freshman… doing whatever they do. Now that winter break is in our sights, we all need to get into the holiday spirit. Lucky for you, I have a list of fun and easy tips for how to get that holiday cheer.

No matter what you celebrate, classic christmas movies are a great way to get in the mood. Some of my personal favorites include:

• “Elf” a tale that follows Will Ferrell, better known as Buddy the Elf, who leaves the North Pole to go find his father in New York city. While there, he goes on many wild adventures to places such as the mall, a department store display window, the Empire State Building and many other places. The hour and 37 minutes it takes to watch this classic is definitely well spent and easy way to spice up any boring afternoon.
• “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Jim Carrey is the star of the movie… need I say more? If you’re not already excited, this movie is a fun, heart warming story of a green, bear-like, furry man who tries to steal Christmas. The citizens of Whoville love christmas, but the Grinch, now a recluse, never had the holiday spirit. Now a bitter, middle aged man wants to take that spirit away from all the whos so they feel just like he did. Along with his sidekick Max, their plan to take their Christmas spirit take a turn. This classic is a must-see holiday flick.
• “Home Alone” an 8 year-old Kevin McCallister is left, as the title says, home-alone after his family forgets about him. Leaving him at the house while they go on their trip to Paris, Kevin has his dream life, for a few hours, where he gets to do whatever he wants, no rules, no chores, and no family. Soon after, this story takes a turn when two men try to rob his home. Now it’s up to little Kevin to protect his home and catch the bad guys, his efforts to do so result in a hilarious hour and 43 minutes.

Aside from movies, some other activities to inspire holiday spirit include: spending time with family, jamming out to holiday tunes, making holiday treats and cozying up with some blankets next to a fire. San Diego doesn’t get too cold compared to the rest of the world, but I know that in 68 degree weather I’m basically an icicle. Grabbing some blankets and sitting next to the fireplace while eating cookies is definitely one of my favorite activities. If you are without a fireplace, don’t worry I have an easy fix, sit next to a space heater and pull up an image of a fireplace on your computer… basically the same thing. No matter what you celebrate, there’s no time like the present to get into the spirit. Happy holidays!

Five Things To Do Over Holiday Break

by: Kaylynn O'Curran

This time next week we will be gearing up for our holiday break. Two weeks of pure bliss. No school and hopefully no homework. Some people will be going away on vacation and some people are going to stay home on staycation. For those of you staying here this holiday break and even those of you going away, I want to give you ideas for some classic fun this year. Here it goes.

1. Have a Holiday Movie Marathon

Of course start with Love Actually. I just recently watched this and it truly is a great movie. Then move on to Elf and maybe pair this movie with spaghetti and maple syrup. I’ve always wanted to try that. The new Grinch movie also looks good and has a soundtrack including Tyler the Creator. Finally finish with 8 Crazy Nights, featuring Adam Sandler.

2. Holiday Baking

The list never ends with different baked goods that could be made. Some of my favorites are holiday themed sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, and snickerdoodles. All of these would be even tastier with some hot chocolate and candy canes.

3. Go See Some Holiday Lights

I’m sure you have heard of the intense streets and neighborhoods filled with lights and people. If you are looking to go light watching I suggest Christmas Card Lane in Carmel Mountain, an entire neighborhood dedicated to lights. They usually have hot apple cider, popcorn, cookies, hot chocolate, and so many more snacks for sale along with horse drawn carriages on busy nights. However the parking can be tough sometimes. There is also Hickory Ct. in Poway, also known as Candy Cane Lane. This one is smaller but still so beautiful.

4. Go Ice Skating

Hotel del Coronado is always going to be my go to suggestion. With the scenic Hotel behind you and the ocean view in front of you, you can’t go wrong. The price tag is pretty hefty ($30 online) but I think it is worth it to go at least once. It is a perfect date place. But with the price and the drive, Rancho Santa Fe Inns’ rink is a smaller, cheaper, and closer Hotel del.

5. Gingerbread Houses and Ordering an Overpriced Starbucks Holiday Drink  

Our local Trader Joe’s offers a cheap, yummy, and easy Gingerbread House to make. While across the street order one of Starbucks overpriced holiday drinks. This could include the new Sage Latte, a Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, or the classic Peppermint Mocha.

MLB Offseason Update

by: Caleb Posner

The MLB offseason is at its climax.  With winter meetings over now, the big signings people anxiously await like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado seem not far away.  Besides those two surprises yet to come, the MLB offseason has already yielded a lot of big moves that will shape league expectations for next year.

Possibly the biggest trade of this offseason to date, is the Paul Goldschmidt trade to the St. Louis Cardinals.  In one move, two teams have defined their mentality for 2019. The Diamondbacks have decided to sell after a poor performance in the last third of last season that resulted in them missing the playoffs.  They are choosing to rebuild by giving up their franchise cornerstone for a handful of players including catching prospect Carson Kelly.. The Cardinals on the other hand, decided that them barely missing the playoffs was a sign that they could still compete.  Seeing the threats that the Brewers and Cubs pose, they made a huge move and brought in arguably the best first basemen in baseball. These two teams have changed the composition of their divisions. The NL West is now a two team race while the NL Central is now wide open.  The Marines were a team that decided to jump ship on their current roster as well. They made four very interesting trades in order to reshape their roster after the disappointment of missing the playoffs again. They shipped ace James paxton to the Yankees, .300 hitting shortstop Jean Segura to the Phillies, 8 time all-star second baseman Robinson Cano and 2018 saves leader Edwin Diaz to the Mets, and were involved in a three team deal that had them give up Carlos Santana (who they had just acquired from the Phillies in the Segura deal) in exchange for veteran power hitter Edwin Encarnacion).  With all those moves, it is very apparent the Mariners have given up on competing and are now transitioning into rebuilding mode.

Many teams opted not to utilize the trade tool to improve their teams, and instead tap into the extremely deep pool of free agents that this offseason has to offer.  The Phillies went out and signed Andrew McCutchen to a 3 year/$50 million contract. Paired with their trade for Segura, the Phillies could contend this year. The Rays were a team in a similar situation to the Phillies.  They were a team on the cusp of the playoffs, but the big difference was the Rays have the unfortunate task of playing the Red Sox and Yankees about 20 times a year each. Despite that, they put up 90 wins behind Cy Young winner Blake Snell.  To improve their rotation, they added Charlie Morton for 2 years/$30 million. This move could prove to give the Rays the extra push they need to fight for a wild card spot. Those have been the biggest signings so far, but the excitement has just begun.  Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Marwin Gonzalez, and JT Realmuto (via trade block) are all still on the market and their are many hungry GMs that hope to turn their franchises around or add the extra piece needed to win the Commissioner's Trophy.

All About These Chargers Fans

by: Dom Stearn

The NFL regular season is wrapping up, and two full seasons have almost gone by since the formerly San Diego Chargers left us for Los Angeles. Many San Diegans, myself included, felt very betrayed by the move just 125 miles North. Some have stayed loyal to the team they have supported for years, while others cut their ties and now are fans of a different team. Locals who were only Charger fans by default also just stopped paying attention to football in general. Now, the Chargers are 11-3 and undoubtedly the hottest team in the NFL. With that being said, a lot of fans are all of sudden coming back to support the Chargers, or are coming out of hiding.

Personally, I don’t agree with the decision to remove your loyalty from a team, just to go right back to them when they start winning. In my book, that is being a bandwagon fan, and bandwagon fans are lame. I have a lot of respect for Chargers fans that have stayed loyal through the rebuild. They are legit fans, and I’m not mad at them. However, I don’t like the fact that all these Chargers fans are popping out of nowhere and are suddenly supporting the Chargers.

Chargers fans are notorious for only supporting their team when they are winning. That is part of the reason that Spanos moved the organization to L.A. And now that the Chargers are winning, fans are coming back. Don’t get me wrong, this Chargers team is legit. In fact, they have very good shot at winning the Super Bowl. However, that doesn’t give an excuse for former fans to come back to the Chargers like nothing has changed.

Personally, I couldn’t root for a team that left my city. I cut my ties with the Chargers the moment they left San Diego. I will never go back to them as long as they are in Los Angeles or Dean Spanos is their owner. It now blows my mind to see all these fans who abandoned the Chargers come back to them. If I’m being completely honest, I don’t think the Chargers are ever coming back. Spanos seems happy in Los Angeles, and as long as he’s the owner, they are there to stay. You can hope that when Spanos either passes away or sells the team, that they’ll come back. However, the San Diego City Council seemed very reluctant to make a stadium plan.

Even though I’ve made my point clear, I’m not one to tell you who you can root for and who you can’t. However, it’s very fishy to see people posting on social media about the Chargers, or wearing their Chargers gear around town, when they weren’t doing that a month ago. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Chargers don’t win the Super Bowl, and all these fans go back away and act like nothing happened.

2018 in Movies

by: Izzy Ster

Let’s face it: 2018 has been a long year, but a great one for film. There were award-winning films such as The Shape of Water taking movie theaters and, of course, there were plenty of superhero films, such as Avengers: Infinity War, to please even the biggest of movie buffs.  As 2018 comes to a close, here is this by the month, defined by the most notable films you may have seen (or may have missed).

January: 12 Strong, Please Stand By, Proud Mary, and The Post.

February: Black Panther and Love Simon.

March: Ready Player One, A Wrinkle in Time, and Isle of Dogs.

April: Avengers: Infinity War, A Quiet Place, and  I Feel Pretty.

May: Solo: A Star Wars Story and Deadpool 2.

June: Incredibles 2, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Ocean’s 8, and Won’t You Be My Neighbor?.

July: Ant-Man and the Wasp, Eighth Grade, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, and Mission: Impossible - Fallout.

August: BlacKkKlansman, Christopher Robin, Crazy Rich Asians, and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

September: A Simple Favor and A Star is Born.

October: First Man, The Hate U Give, and Venom.

November: Creed 2, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Green Book, Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, Roma, The Favourite, and Widows.

December (*soon to be released):  Aquaman*, If Beale Street Could Talk*, Mary Poppins Returns*, On the Basis of Sex*, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Vice, and Welcome to Marwen*.

After such a great year in film, it’s hard to tell which will snag Oscar nominations, but some favorites include Roma, A Star is Born, The Favourite, BlacKkKlansman, Widows, First Man, and more. If you’re looking for a movie to fulfill your inner nerd, give Solo: A Star Wars Story, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Deadpool 2, Avengers: Infinity War, or Black Panther a shot. For the bookworm, watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Crazy Rich Asians, or The Hate U Give, all based on best-selling novels. However obscure your favorite movie genre is, 2018 delivered plenty of films to please even the toughest of critics, making the film world optimistic on what’s to come in 2019.