Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Enigma That is STRANGER THINGS By Alain Deen Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Stranger Things A Cultural Phenomenon Figure 1 – Stranger Things Viewership In relation to Netflix Subscription Rate – Business Insider Stranger Things rose to prominence in July of 2016, gaining massive popularity throughout its years on the popular streaming service, Netflix. The show’s 80s and melodramatic nature are its most pertinent appeals. The series seems to appeal through a generational lens, as adults fawn over the nostalgic instances of 80s culture, underscoring their sheer nostalgia for that era. In terms of youth, the series presents a compelling rendition of 80s culture, allowing teens to explore their parents’ culture. While most teens cringe at their parents blasting The Clash’s 1982 hit, “Should I stay or Should I Go” at 11 PM on a random Thursday, Stranger Things broke this trope, presenting this song to a new generation of listeners in a smooth, introspective fashion. In short, the series proves to be an integral portion of late 2010s and early 2020s culture, as its levels of popularity have set a new standard for digital streaming surface. To further preface this feat, the show’s third season reached unprecedented levels of popularity. Within four days of release, 40.7 million Netflix accounts viewed Stranger Things 3 , amassing global popularity in a matter of days. It broke the record for Netflix’s largest-ever audience for a movie or TV series in a four-day window. Ironic Success Stranger Things has risen to be the fourth most popular Netflix series ever. Stranger Things 3 has been streamed over half a billion times, demonstrating its global appeal across a generational lens. However, with all of this success, it is worth noting that the series may evolve into a victim of its own success. The Duffer Brothers crafted something astute in nature. The show’s witty dialogue, heartfelt character interaction, and compelling subplots account for its success. Furthermore, the series has reached record feats of popularity due to its lovable characters, introspective acting, intricate cinematography, and retro aesthetic, underscoring the notion that replicating such success may prove very challenging for the Duffer Brothers. Many fear that the fourth rendition of the series may ruin the unique and compelling nature of the earlier seasons. In other words, one bad season may tarnish the Duffer Brothers’ million-dollar franchise, along with the young actors put on a pedestal due to the show’s success. After the third season, it was widely believed that there was no further direction for the series to head, even though it left viewers on a rigid cliff hanger. Why a Season 4? In most cases, audiences tend to remember the one lackluster rendition of a series in contrast to the artistic prowess facilitated by the more successful installments. Interestingly enough, this occurred with the Shrek Franchise. While Shrek 1, Sherk 2, and Shrek 4 were critically acclaimed films by audiences alike, Shrek the Third ruined the franchise for many, proving to be a cheap money grab in contrast to a compelling, structured story as seen with the first two films. This generated a lot of resentment toward the creation of a fourth film. However, DreamWorks created the fourth with the intention to promote well-structured storytelling, highlighting its success. Stranger Things might face a similar fate. Due to the record-breaking success of the third season, along with the slew of profit generated, many fans fear the Duffer Brothers announced a new season on the basis of profit in contrast to genuine storytelling. In my opinion, I believe the Duffer Brothers have another great season of supernatural storytelling in store. My Rationale As season four, was set to release on May 27th, 2022, fans had been awaiting the new season for about three years. Interestingly enough, the Duffer Brothers have taken a different approach this season in their debut schedule. Within season four, there are two volumes. Volume I was set to release on May 27th, 2022, while Volume II was set to release on June 1st, 2022. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic delayed production, creating a sense of restlessness among fans and viewers. However, due to the artistic prowess and creative integrity that the first three seasons provided, I believe it is very unlikely for the fourth season to be merely a money grab. If the Duffer Brothers prioritized profit over artistic integrity, Stranger Things 2 would not hold up in 2022. Overall, I believe season 4 will be something straight from the upside down. I expect plot-twists, shock, and of course my traditional binge watch session. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Strange Results of The Reverse Flynn Effect Max Ching Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Max Ching As society and technology have evolved with multiple inventions of life-changing machines like the radio, telephone, airplane, and many more, a theory stating that humans become smarter every decade has developed. This theory is called The Flynn Effect. According to The Debrief, James Flynn, who discovered a 13-point increase in an IQ test between 1932 and 1978, developed this theory in 1984; this theory has been fully accurate for the time being. However, researchers have claimed that in recent years, the average IQ has dropped. This is called, “The Reverse Flynn Effect.” As previously stated, The Reverse Flynn Effect is the exact opposite of The Flynn Effect , where IQ test scores drop instead of increase over decades. According to The Debrief , this effect has presented itself in Norway, Denmark, Australia, Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and the United States. So, why is this happening, and is there any way to prevent this from happening any further? There are many reasons why this trend is occurring. According to The Debrief , some researchers have suggested that education quality, poor nutrition, and a lack of confidence in test-taking among children contribute to the effect. Also, children may no longer respond well to IQ tests. This does not mean that humans have become mentally less intelligent in the past decades, but instead, maybe their ability to take exams has worsened. Even researchers have supported this claim. Doctor Elizabeth Dworak, a research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, states, “It doesn’t mean their mental ability is lower or higher; it’s just a difference in scores that are favoring older or newer samples.” She has also said, “It could just be that they’re getting worse at taking tests or specifically worse at taking these kinds of tests.” So, this also proves that children are not actually becoming less intelligent, it is just that they may have a problem with taking exams. So, now that we have discovered why this event is occurring, we will now cover how to prevent this event from evolving even further. Well, according to The Debrief , environmental changes have been attributed to this effect; increased air pollution and lead exposure have been associated with drops in IQ levels. To prevent this effect from progressing, we could decrease air pollution by taking better care of plants, using less energy, limiting backyard and city fires, and using fewer fossil fuels. Also, not all mental skills are decreasing for children. Researchers have found that IQ scores related to spatial reasoning, or the ability to visualize 3D objects and draw conclusions based on limited information, have increased over time ( The Debrief). So, in conclusion, we have learned that the Reverse Flynn Effect is the exact opposite of the Flynn Effect, where it is evident that IQ scores have decreased over the past few decades. However, we have also learned that this could be because children just are not comfortable with taking tests. Also, we have learned that IQ scores relating to spatial reasoning, and the ability to draw conclusions and visualize objects has increased. So, although some might think that society is soon to be doomed due to the apparent dwindling IQ scores, this is not the case, as this effect can be reversed. SOURCES: https://thedebrief.org/new-study-reveals-sharp-decline-in-american-iq-scores-as-the-reverse-flynn-effect-takes-center-stage/ https://www.verywellmind.com/the-flynn-effect-7565614 BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Government, Media, and the Pandemic: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly By Lucy Wu Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by InternetFreedom.org While the pandemic has taken more than 450,000 American lives, infected over 100 million people globally, and disrupted normalcy across the world, the resulting “infodemic” has infected countless swaths of people everywhere. Ranging from the idea that 5G networks cause COVID to drinking Clorox as a cure (please do not do that), misinformation was already an issue, but was only exacerbated by media during the pandemic. Since we live in a digital age where information is so immediately obtained from online sources, an entire population’s response to the pandemic can largely be shaped by which media they consume on a daily basis. Because some governments have laws and acts to regulate their media, some countries handled the dissemination of information differently during the pandemic: some for the better, and some for the far worse. The real question is, how did they handle it, and what were the outcomes? To answer this question, I primarily investigated the pandemic media response by two of our favorite global rivals: The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China. We will also include countries like Vietnam and New Zealand in our discussion. The Good: What Went Right (to some extent) Let’s start with some good news to lift spirits in troubling times. (Some) Countries Overcome COVID While the spread of COVID officially began in China, it quickly moved to countries such as Vietnam, Japan, the US, and many others by January of 2020. But wait: one of these is not like the others. You will notice many Asian countries were hit first with COVID outbreaks but managed to overcome the first wave and keep infection rates low, especially when compared to the U.S. How did they do it? It’s important to note that Asian countries already had experience dealing with infectious disease, namely the SARS outbreak in 2003. Culturally, Asian countries also grew accustomed to wearing masks, pandemic or not, and value “collective well-being over individual liberty,” a foil to values of the U.S. especially. According to the Lowry Research Group, Asian countries also were “prioritizing health above economic concerns, producing excellent public communications, […] and mandating behavior change.” Delving deeper into “excellent public communications,” we can see that “communication from public health officials and political leadership tended to be clear and consistent, reducing confusion and bolstering trust,” according to Shenglan Tang of the Duke Global Health Institute. We can also attribute this unity in action to the regulation of mass media: both China and Vietnam have their media regulated by the government; they rank within the five countries with the lowest Freedom of Press Index Score. All these traits combined contributed greatly to Asian countries having a strong advantage in dealing with a pandemic. Science Prevails Even with our mishaps, we still managed to procure multiple viable vaccines that are saving lives as we speak. For some countries who swiftly contained the virus (I’m looking at you, New Zealand), this was still a positive step even though they had things under control. And for the other countries that weren’t as fortunate: even when news outlets lied, people didn’t listen, and leadership failed us, the researchers were there to save the day. That in of itself deserves a round of applause and a sigh of (momentary) relief. The Bad: What We (maybe) Could Have Changed Let’s face it. We probably could have handled this whole event a lot better than we did. The Blame Game This one is fun. In case you weren’t aware, the U.S (but mainly former President Trump) blamed China, and China blamed the US for the initial spread of the virus. Back and forth it went while the rest of the world watched in horror, but not shock. According to the World Health Organization, the virus was first identified in the Wuhan province of China. The specific origin is not yet known, but one would think that this fact would still eliminate much of the controversy surrounding the eternal question of “who started it, and who’s to blame?” Instead, conspiracy theories about the Chinese colluding to make COVID a bioweapon and wreak havoc on the Western world took form, and simultaneously, the Chinese used their vice grip on social media to say that in fact, the Chinese had won against the poor Westerners who were now crumbling under the virus. Interestingly, because former President Trump infamously referred to the virus as the “China Virus,” Chinese media began taunting back, calling it the “America Virus.” US Media Now, maybe you’re someone who opens the news every 5 minutes, fact-checks authors on every article you read, and wouldn’t be fooled by the COVID myths. But imagine you’re not that person. Because of sensationalized titles, misleading charts, and biased sources, U.S media is a free but unregulated mess. To an outsider it’s pure confusion and chaos. To us, it’s just the norm of U.S politics and media. In an age where deep fakes are getting more realistic by the second and where “fake news” can forcibly convince others, it can be difficult to sift through the misinformation if you don’t know what to look for. Instead, it’s easier than ever to be sucked into the vortex of believing everything you read and trusting misguided sources. As a result, it’s clear that some groups in the U.S were extremely afflicted by poor guidance and a lack of accurate evidence. Alarmingly, many began protesting wearing masks and generally disregarding science and health officials, sending the U.S into a spiral of seemingly never-ending COVID cases. Too much trust in dishonest sources combined with a lack of confidence in mass media became two of America’s greatest pitfalls during the pandemic. Social Media There’s more. Social media only makes things worse. Because you can choose whom to follow and what media you consume, users build an “echo chamber,” whether they realize it or not. Social media algorithms are designed to give you the content that will keep you on their platform, so by blocking out opinions and values that don’t align with yours, they can keep you blind to the real dangers - like maybe a pandemic. Increasingly, there is a lack of discussion and thought which has been replaced by blaming and arguing instead, deciding who is wrong without consideration for other viewpoints. What does this mean during a global health crisis? The lack of a clear directive and coordination between government and health bodies created a further chasm in the US response to the pandemic, since people lacked confidence and trust in mass media to provide them with accurate information. Instead, people established their own groups on Facebook, Reddit, and other platforms, to confirm their own viewpoints on how to address the pandemic (a.k.a. confirmation bias) and give “advice” to others. Because the U.S places an emphasis on personal liberties, and in this case at the expense of the population’s health, the spread of misinformation across the Internet was rampant like a wildfire in brush – and in fact there was a time when Australian bushfires were our biggest problem. The Ugly: What Was Unfixable (and at the point of no return) Brace yourself. This is not pretty. 450,000 Deaths and Counting... We’ve almost become desensitized to that number now. We knew the situation was bad, but how did it get that much worse? Thankfully, at the time of writing, we seem to be on the mend. To start, former President Trump issued a series of tweets that not only contradicted safety information from global health officials, but also admonished and downplayed the virus. In the last few days of his term, Facebook and Twitter had (temporarily) banned Trump from accessing both of his media accounts in an attempt to prevent the spread of further misinformation and, incidentally, violence. Compared with the rest of the world, U.S politics has also become increasingly polarized, with sensationalized headlines covering divisions between liberals vs. conservatives, Democrats vs. Republicans, who’s right and who’s wrong, on and on it goes. In contrast to the Asian countries discussed above, because the U.S was disjunct and uncoordinated in its communication between government and people, a lack of clear instruction hindered the actual response to the pandemic. From there, people chose which set of directions they wanted to follow: either those given by the President, or those given by health officials. This is when the U.S shot itself in the foot: by preserving personal freedoms of speech to a point where people actively tried to harm others, misinformation ran wild, people were infected, and lives were reduced to numbers on a graph. When lives are endangered, politics should have no place in a global pandemic. Whistleblowers Circling back to the onset of the pandemic in Wuhan, China, Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central Hospital, was largely credited for being the first person to alert others about a SARS-like virus circulating through patients. He warned friends, family members, and colleagues via the Chinese regulated platform WeChat, but fortunately yet unfortunately, his private chatroom messages were leaked to the Chinese Internet where it was only a matter of time before officials found it. As typical of the Chinese Government, they censored and silenced him, forcing him to sign a letter of admonition from the Wuhan Public Security Bureau for spreading “untrue statements about seven confirmed SARS cases.” Li later passed away on February 7th, 2020, after contracting the virus from a patient. Needless to say, many lives, tears, and moments could have been saved had the Chinese health officials taken the claims of any of the 8 whistleblowers seriously, instead of tightening their control over freedom of speech. Chinese media regulation is a double-edged sword: on one hand they efficiently and clearly disseminated important directives to their people while censoring the lies and misinformation, which contained the spread of COVID and saved lives. On the other hand, protests arose for the millionth time to address the lack of personal freedom of speech, which would have prevented health officials from opening Pandora’s Box in the first place. The Aftermath: Thoughts and Reflections That was a lot to unpack. While we’ve created a vaccine to address the raging virus, government regulation of media still needs a solution: how much do we regulate media to protect the masses, while still preserving a reasonable level of freedom of speech? While we wait for a response, we should aim to practice media literacy at school, the workplace, and at home. In fact, just as we wear masks and wash our hands, we should train ourselves to spot misinformation, because staying aware is the best way to fight the urge to blindly trust whatever we hear and read. Clearly, this is an urgent issue that requires immediate government attent- what’s that? Oh right: we have mental health to take care of and people to vaccinate, all on top of managing an ongoing pandemic. Right. Guess we’ll have to put this on our list for later. See you all on the other side when this is over, and if it doesn’t end, you can find me in New Zealand. Sources Bagherpour, Amir, and Ali Nouri. "COVID Misinformation Is Killing People." Scientific American , Springer Nature America, 11 Oct. 2020, www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-misinformation-is-killing-people1/. China Covid-19: How State Media and Censorship Took on Coronavirus." BBC , 29 Dec. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55355401. Funke, Daniel, and Daniela Flamini. "A Guide to Anti-Misinformation Actions around the World." Poynter , Poynter Institute, www.poynter.org/ifcn/anti-misinformation-actions/. Jennings, Ralph. "Asian Countries Handle New COVID-19 Cases without Lockdowns." VOA , 7 Dec. 2020, www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/asian-countries-handle-new-covid-19-cases-without-lockdowns. Kantis, Caroline, et al. "UPDATED: Timeline of the Coronavirus." Think Global Health , Council on Foreign Relations, 15 Jan. 2021, www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/updated-timeline-coronavirus. McGuirk, Rod. "Australia Accuses China and Russia of Virus Disinformation." AP News , Associated Press, 17 June 2020, apnews.com/article/e869b34c1e04fde924efd0f0602b3d11. National Geographic . 18 Sept. 2020, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/09/coronavirus-origins-misinformation-yan-report-fact-check-cvd/. Penn, Michael. "How Some Asian Countries Beat Back COVID-19." Duke Global Health Institute , 12 Aug. 2020, globalhealth.duke.edu/news/how-some-asian-countries-beat-back-covid-19. Sherman, Justin. "Government Information Crackdowns in the Covid-19 Pandemic." DigitalCommons , 25 Aug. 2020, digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1059&context=research. Siemaszko, Corky. "Why Are Americans so Confused about Covid-19? Blame Trump, Cornell Study Says." NBC News , NBC Universal, 1 Oct. 2020, www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1241707. "2020 World Press Freedom Index." Reporters without Borders , rsf.org/en/ranking. World Health Organization. "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public: Mythbusters." World Health Organization , 23 Nov. 2020, www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? Annie Rachek Volume 6 Issue 3 Image Provided by Hozier We have all been asked the question, “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?’’ at least once in our lives. This question of course has become more relevant as we grow up and transition to junior and senior High. Many of us have known the answer from the beginning and many of our answers have changed as the older we grow. If you have ever pondered the question of what occupation you want to have and how many kids feel the same, you are reading the right article. Dream jobs shift based on the country, time, ages, and gender but for now we are looking at dream jobs of kids (average between boys and girls). According to a study done by Vocovision in 2024, about 60.2% of youth want to be a doctor, athlete, or teacher with doctor being the most popular by a small margin of around 6%. But these specific jobs only make up about 5% of the global workforce according to the statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But this doesn’t mean all of these jobs are unrealistic, just that interests may shift over time. What Do You Want to Be? Around 91% of kids aged 13 to 17 years old say that they know what they want to be when they grow up in accordance with the findings of Payscale. But even if you think you know what you want to be or are not sure, yet, it is always great to investigate options in case you lose passion, interest, or the job does not work out. You should decide what you value in a job, for example, perks, flexibility, and payment not just what sounds fun. So, here are a few underrated or emerging job suggestions. Many of us have dreamed of owning a small shop or business and with easier ways to start like Shopify or Amazon. And places to market like TikTok or YouTube, many people have become entrepreneurs whether it be a clothing brand or a Knick knack store. A small business owner is great for flexibility with you being able to create your own schedule and hours. Starting a small business can feed artistic or creative minds or could interest someone with passion for math or business. Small businesses can be a large investment, and it is recommended to start small due to the unpredictably of sales and salary, especially when starting out. Running a small business may look impossible but can easily be run on the side or part-time if you play your cards right. Air traffic controllers are the people at the airport who guide the traffic of planes coming in and out. These are people on TV yelling “THERE’S TOO MANY PLANES DON’T TAKE OFF!” behind the computers. While this job can have demanding hours, it makes up for it with the good salary with median is around 150k a year with some experience, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also have great benefits. One of the requirements for this job is a bachelor’s degree (4 years) but comes with insurance coverage and many other benefits. This job can be considered one of the most stressful jobs on the market and can come with intense training. If you get overwhelmed, I will not advise this job and would suggest something like a baggage handler if you’re interested in working at an airport. While not a flexible job, if you are looking for a job to support your family, have a passion for planes or the airport, and do not mind stress, this would be a great pick for you. Being a library clerk may not sound like a glamorous job, but it can be a good job to work on the side. Being a library clerk requires no degree and is not very demanding with you simply having to help around the library; for example, shelving books and helping someone at the library. This job does require good organization, so this might interest neat people or people with a love for reading or writing. The job does not pay great with around 40k salary in New York but, this is still a decent calm side job that can grow into a bigger career like a full-time librarian which can earn around 50-60k starting. A library clerk is a nice calm option for a side job or a job that can blossom into a full career. Even if you are firm in what your job will be, I would recommend just considering these options. If you are lost or not sure what you want to do for a living, I hope this helps you decide. Do not be pressured by dollar signs or requirements and make sure to aspire to jobs that yes make money but will also have you motivated to wake up in the morning. Even if a job seems unrealistic, give it a shot and have a backup plan if it does not work out. Sources Vocovision Bureau of Labor Statistics Payscale Indeed Ziprecruiter BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Flower Lady; A Sky Children of the Light Shore By Catherine Duong Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by Sky: Children of the Light (video game made by the TGC Company) Keywords: 1 Home space: The central place in the sky realm; a gathering place for all-sky children 2 Candle running: a process to collect wax from different realms to obtain candles in exchange. 3 Field of stars: A place where the deceased sky children live. Author’s note: This short story is fan fiction based on a game called Sky: Children of the Light (Sky: CotL), made by the TGC company. The Flower Lady is the Blossom Spirit from the Days of Bloom event, and the field of stars is the last location after Eye of Eden before returning to home space. Dear Diary, It has been months since I’ve now been living in the cosmos and stars. Spring has arrived with flowers blossoming, and cool wind flows through my hair. I decided to pay a little visit underneath the blossom tree at home space (1), where I appeared on top of the tree, giving me a blossom cape wrapped around my shoulders and down to my waist. I was unsure of why I had it on, but it looked pretty on me. I also saw a tiny tea set, which was settled underneath the tree’s shade. No one was near, so I glided down onto the moist ground and approached the tea set. It had small smooth gray rocks for seating for two. I noticed two cups of tea, still hot and steam rising and disappearing in the wind. I sat down with my lower legs letting my upper half sit on top, making me sit on my knees. I took a quiet sip, tasting the hot liquid pouring into my mouth. Once I placed it down, a young lady appeared in front of my eyes. She had braided hair with two pink flowers that matched the color of the petals. She also had a pink petal cape like mine, which I can assume she is also a spirit like me! She didn’t say anything at first, taking a quiet sip from her cup, and then she looked at me with my red mask hiding my face. Our eyes locked for quite a while as if time suddenly stopped. I asked the lady, “I apologize that I took your cup there. Are you waiting for a friend or a family member here?” Once I responded, she didn’t say a word, but she shook her head, signaling to me that she didn’t wait for anyone at all and sat by herself. I then asked, “I see... Must have been lonely all by yourself here, huh.” It was very uncommon to see a spirit who isn’t a fan of talking. Perhaps she can’t speak. We sat together many more moments, and I was asking some questions. One of the answers she told me was fascinating. Once I responded, she nodded her head quietly. “Do you have any family members or siblings of your own?” Once I responded, she gave a quiet nod as she placed down her cup of tea and raised her right hand towards the blossom tree that she and I sat below. The petals then started to fall off the blossom tree and began to dance around her, gesturing with both of her hands wide as of saying, “These are my family.” She then pointed her left hand towards me, trying to tell me what I thought of. I thought about it for a while. I did have a family of my own. My adopted mom, Ella, and my adopted child, Flare. Speaking about family makes me emotional. That is one thing I wished to see again with an actual body to hug them tight. Tears started to flow out of my bright yellow eyes, my head low and tilting down to the chest. The lady noticed my behavior and reached over my head to tussle my hair a little. Some petals around her started to follow towards me, going underneath my eyes to dry them, and returned to the lady. I then said with a cracked voice from crying: “I do have a family as well... I miss them dearly. I wanted to give them a nice big hug without going through them. And a small hair tussle, Flare. I wonder if she fits the lion hat that I gave her months before I was gone. She is the most adorable little thing I ever saw. Her huge yellow eyes staring up at me with little tears coming out of her eyes alongside the lion hat, covering her head and falling on her eyes, was one of the few moments left before I passed. I visit her occasionally. She sometimes asks me to tussle her, which I always disappoint her and myself that I cannot do so, but the urge within her eyes tells me to. So, when I did it, all I touched was nothing but air. She didn’t feel it, but she appreciated that I tried and attempted to hug me around the waist.” I then sighed, taking another sip of tea, and I looked inside the cup, which was empty. When I finished talking and paused to take a drink, she had her eyes on me the whole time, listening and comforting me with her body language. This then made my day much brighter. I didn’t have anyone to talk to about this. She would have if Flare were old enough to tell her the full details, and for Ella, she was always busy and took her time to candle run (2). When I came to visit, I saw her, passed out on the grass, and all I could do was lay next to her. Once I woke up, I returned to the field of stars (3) again. I completely forgot that I could not stay in the sky realm forever. As I processed these thoughts, I continued, “All I wanted... was to just to meet them again. Not just to talk and hug them, but to stay with them forever, but I cannot.” As I finished, she walked over to my side, hugging me as I wrapped my arms around her. As I hugged her, the stars on my body and parts of the cosmos started to fade away. This is what happens when you reach your limit. Your stars and parts of the cosmos that are around you, as if a transparent body for my soul to be placed in like a pocket, start to slowly pull away, and then you return to the starry field. I let go of the lady as I said, “I have to go now. I cannot stay for long.” Once I responded to the lady, she gave a slight nod, giving a little wave to me. The wave that she gave me reminded me of when Flare waved at a similar gesture with tears in her eyes. I closed my eyes for a second, and then I looked back at her; now, half of my body disappeared as I waved back. Once I did, I disappeared right in front of the lady, leaving her behind, and I returned to the field of stars. As I thought to myself right now, I wanted to revisit the flower lady. She seems friendly, gentle, and lonely, but with her petal family that she showed me, it seems that I will keep her company while I’m gone and recharge my energy again for me to wish back into the sky realm again with the same form. I’m also planning to visit Ella or Flare or both today! Let’s hope Ella doesn’t pass out again or Flare is asleep somewhere in one of the realms. I hope the two of them will be protected with spirits like the flower lady. I’ll be heading out now as my energy has now been replenished. I’ll write to you again soon! Sincerely, Amber Scarlet BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections The Culture Society's "Just One Africa" Event By Cody Sung Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by Just One Africa The Culture Society is a club that is about sharing and learning about cultures from around the world. The club tries to widen your view of the world, and widen your understanding about different cultures. During the pandemic, virtual presentations have been done over Teams to replace in-class presentations. The Culture Society holds a lot of events about different cultures and holidays, and other events, such as an event called Just One Africa . Just One Africa is a nonprofit organization that mainly aims to provide communities in Kenya with clean water, in case they don’t have clean water. A lot of communities in Kenya don’t have water without diseases. They assist by providing communities with special portable water filters and hygiene lessons to prevent the spread of diseases. They also provide lessons on how to use the water filters. Unlike other nonprofit organizations who just give the water filters and then leave, Just One Africa checks up on the communities they touched and provide help and support in case something went wrong while they were away. Clean water helps the communities focus on other issues, not just finding clean water. It also helps communities be healthier and less vulnerable to disease. The Culture Society invited Just One Africa to do a presentation about their work and how to help and make a difference. The presentation was amazing. We got to watch videos on Just One Africa ’s work, got to see the filtering system and the technology in action, and the change it made in the communities and people’s lives. At the end, we learned how to help, and that was just by spreading the word about the water crisis in Kenya and what’s going on there. Two follow-up meetings were held. One of them was a bracelet-making session, with supplies from Just One Africa. The other was a meeting on what a “Water Ambassador” was and how to become one. Overall, I’d say that was an amazing and interesting presentation that really opened my mind to problems around the world, and how we can easily help others. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Senior Day By Olivia Neuner Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Original photos by VSN photographer (top left), Sumaiya Ramsaroop (left middle), and Garrrick Neuner (bottom right) On March 26th, the day before spring break, North's seniors were invited to partake in the district's first-ever Senior Day! A few weeks before the event, students were asked to create pods of 10 households to keep things organized and COVID safe. I say 10 'households' because groups with twins were allowed more than 10. For some, this was the first time they had been in the building since March 2020. Grades 7-11 had a fully remote day, and seniors who chose not to participate were excused from classes. The day started early, with some students arriving early for group pictures (including my group, who went all out with matching shirts and had my Dad take professional pictures! Included in collage .) First period, students signed in with our vice principals, had their temperature taken and scanned in with their ID's. Small groups were then let inside the lobby to partake in candy guessing games, which were kept COVID safe; students scanned QR Codes, which took them to a form where they guessed how many candies were in each jar. The winners got to take the candy home. The seniors were then given a goodie bag with a T-shirt, lanyard, drawstring bag, and snack. They were also given a one raffle ticket, which was immediately thrown into the drawing pile. For the rest of first period, students relaxed in the cafeteria while waiting for the day's main activities. In between each period, Mr. Frazer hyped up students and announced raffle winners who received gift cards donated by the parents. He also sang popular songs, including the SpongeBob theme, which many students (and teachers) joined him in singing. The hallways were decked out with streamers, balloons, and handmade posters by VSN underclassmen and club members. Many students caught up with their favorite teachers during free time, saw old friends, and took LOTS of pictures. Because of the COVID pandemic, these pictures will make up a significant amount of our yearbook. Each pod received a schedule for the day, which followed the regular bell schedule. The activities were as follows: Gym Activities: Badminton, Cornhole, Kan-Jam, and Spikeball were set up in the gym. Students were given a chance to play with others who were not in their pod. Breakfast: Donations from parents and teachers made up breakfast, including bagels (premade with butter/ cream cheese) and juice. Students were seated 6 feet apart, just like in an average lunch period. Students could emerge from their pods here as well. Senior Story: Each group was given a large post-it note and instructed to write down their favorite memories at North. Some used bullets, while others wrote out anecdotes. Lunch: A generous donation from the Valley Stream Teacher's Association provided seniors with various wraps from Valley Caterers. Drinks, chips, and snacks were provided by parent donations. Students were also asked to fill out a form to be put in a time capsule during this period, which will be returned in 10 years. Some of the questions included info about favorite teachers, goals, and favorite things. Tik-Tok Challenge: Groups were given one period to create a "pass the phone" challenge video. At the end of the day, all videos were submitted to the Senior grade advisors for judging (winners TBD). I Scream for Ice Cream ! – Lenny's Twistee Freeze truck parked next to the gym, where students were given one coupon for a cone or bar. The beautiful weather was perfect for enjoying the sweet treats. Teachers were also able to grab a bite thanks to a donation by VSN Principal, Ms. Green. Senior Sign: Every Senior in attendance signed a large banner. For the rest of the period, students hung out in the courtyard, caught up, and took pictures. Scavenger Hunt: Each group started the period by finding a hidden envelope in the lobby which contained hints for the hunt. Pods were instructed to take pictures on the football field, with George, by our main sign, next to something with school colors, and next to an inspirational quote. They were also asked to create a meme. All pictures were sent to our grade advisors for collection. At the end of the day, the 30 raffle winners claimed their prizes, and the Seniors helped to clear the halls by ripping down streamers and selecting their favorite posters to take home. After that, we were let out for our spring break! For me, Senior Day was by far one of my favorite days of high school. It felt awesome to be appreciated and to spend quality time with my friends. My favorite part was the ice cream truck and the scavenger hunt. We are so grateful for all the work put in by our school Director of Student Activities Mrs. Italiano, and all teachers, parents, staff, underclassmen, and administration. A very special thank you to our grade advisors Mrs. Oliver and Mrs. Balducci! Thank you for everything you do! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections SADD Club’s Contribution to the Island Harvest By Jeselys Vazquez Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Island Harvest The SADD club (Students Against Destructive Decision) once again has contributed to promoting and working with the Island Harvest Food Drive. For those who do not know what that is, the Island Harvest Food Drive is an organization that works to help end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, especially when Thanksgiving and Christmas come around. Our high school has donated 900+ food items to Long Island Harvest, and this year we planned to donate even more, but we could not have done it without your help. Did you know how many people have suffered just on Long Island from hunger at some point this year? 283,700 people. As a matter of fact, 182,000 people will go hungry on Long Island tonight, and 72,980 of those people will be children. It is crazy to hear how many people are affected by this hunger crisis, and 316,000 people in need rely on the Long Island Harvest food bank and other local pantries. This number of people has been increasing since the pandemic due to mortgages and taxes our parents and adults must pay, as well as inflation. Even though we have provided so many resources, Long Island is still struggling to meet the demands of living in Nassau and Suffolk County. A donation could’ve been as little as one can of food, but with everyone contributing, it certainly has added up. I hope we can have another successful donation season next year! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Ramadan and Eid in Islam By Nidha Dar and Mairaab Jahangir Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by India TV Have you ever seen or heard Eid and Ramadan greetings and wondered what they are all about? Why do Muslims celebrate Eid and Ramadan and when do they do so? What is the Muslim way of celebrating Eid and Ramadan? These are only a few questions out of a plethora that many people typically have about the Islamic month and holidays. In this article, we will be explaining a bit about both Eid and Ramadan. To begin, it is almost necessary to start with Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and occurs when the new crescent moon is first sighted. Because the Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon, Ramadan goes back approximately 10-11 days each year. Ramadan mainly holds significance in Islam because it is regarded as the time when the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). Additionally - it is a time of year when Muslims overall truly acknowledge the blessings that they have, and overall thank Allah for them. During Ramadan, it has been taught to Muslims through the actions of the prophet to fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset, and fasting being one of the five pillars of Islam. Fasting includes abstinence from drinking, eating, immoral activities, and rage. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran, and charitable giving are encouraged during this time. During the month, Muslims rise early almost every day to eat suhoor , a pre-dawn meal, and break their fast with iftar , a meal occurring at sunset. Not all Muslims are required to fast though - children, the elderly, those who are pregnant, those who are menstruating and those who have medical related health problems are exempt from fasting. If a person cannot fast, it is recommended that they make up their fast later in time, but if they cannot, they can make charitable payments known as fidya or kaffara . These help to provide to those who are less fortunate with a meal to sustain them for a day, which in turn is equivalent in action to fasting. Eid directly translates from Arabic into English as the festival or feast. In a typical Islamic year, there are two major Eids, Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year (in the Islamic month of Shawwal) and Eid al-Adha later on in the year (in the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah). Both are extremely important holidays in the religion of Islam, both with their respective and differing purposes. Eid al-Fitr simply means "the festival of breaking the fast", and is usually a three-day lasting celebration with special morning prayers. People exchange ceremonial embraces and greet one another with the phrase "Eid Mubarak," which translates as "Blessed festival." Meals are prepared at home, and gifts or money are given to younger members of the family and those in need. People will typically dress in their very best clothing, usually of their own cultural background. Muslims are taught to forgive and to seek forgiveness during these days. Practices on the days of Eid-al-Fitr vary from country to country, culture to culture, and even household to household. The other Eid, Eid al-Adha, is known as the "Festival of Sacrifice." It comes at the end of the Hajj, a pilgrimage that millions of Muslims undertake (if they are able to afford it) to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia (Hajj is also one of the five pillars of Islam). Eid al-Adha commemorates Allah's command to Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son Ismail (may peace be upon him) as a testament of his faith. The story, as told in the Quran, depicts Shaytaan or Satan’s attempt to tempt Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) into disobeying Allah's command. Ibrahim (may peace be upon him), on the other hand, remains dedicated to his actions and informs Ismail (may peace be upon him), who agrees to be sacrificed. But, just as Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) is about to slaughter his child, Allah intervenes and a sheep is sacrificed in his place. Muslims slaughter an animal during Eid al-Adha to remember Ibrahim’s (may peace be upon him) sacrifice and to remind themselves of the need to submit to Allah's will. Most of the meat from this Eid is donated to those less fortunate, or given to local family friends. A small portion of the meat is kept to the family who paid for the animal, mainly as a token of charity. On this Eid people wear their best clothing as well, and spend time with family. Both Eid and Ramadan prove to be pivotal times in Islam. With the variety of culture in the United States, more and more people are learning about what they are, and further educating themselves about Islam. As of two years ago, the Valley Stream schools close for Eid. May everyone who celebrated Eid and Ramadan have had a pleasant time, and for those who didn’t, we hope you learned a little bit about Eid and Ramadan. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections "Ghost" Artist Statement By Alena Moreira Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Original artwork by Alena Moreira The longer we are apart, the more we fade from memory. Until we are only left with the feeling of what used to be. I have memories, stored lovingly in the golden And silver And wooden chests of my mind, Memories I long to hold onto, But memories that slowly crumble away under the unrelenting ticking of time. Like a worn photograph, there are tears and rips, holes and thinning spots, faded and blurred objects. Like Luke Merz’s Memory/Loss #9 there are beautiful details and emptiness, filled only with a feeling of loss. And now, time has been cruel to us. We’ve been apart for too long, our only connection a pixelated face, sometimes with features indistinguishable. Are you more than a face? I can’t remember. You fade away with each passing day, until one day, I fear, you will be invisible, the only proof of your existence the space you leave behind. BACK TO TOP