SEARCH RESULTS

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Gilana Etame - Lights On for Education - 1 By Gilana Etame April 22, 2021 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Martin Luther King Jr. Day Leah Ally Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 Every year on the third Monday of January we celebrate a special holiday, commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. This federal holiday allows for MLK’s life and contributions to be recognized and honored by the country. While he is considered a well-known name, not many understand the significance of his work, particularly in the Civil Rights Movement and in the fight against racial discrimination. His inspiring leadership has shaped our society for the better as signs of his impact have remained present in our communities, schools, and workplaces. To fully understand the impact of Martin Luther King Jr.’s work, it is important to learn about the Civil Rights Movement. It was a movement prominent during the 1950s and 60s that fought back against the commonplace mistreatment of African Americans in the United States. African Americans were often systematically excluded from society had to endure segregation that negatively impacted the quality of the education they received, job opportunities, and access to public services. This was especially prevalent in the South, where laws known as Jim Crow laws explicitly permitted the segregation of public services and private businesses. Beyond systematic oppression, Black Americans also faced physical violence and other hate crimes such as harassment and arson. The Civil Rights Movement was born from a desire to bring these issues to the forefront and end the legal protection of these inequalities. This movement was marked by significant events and efforts to challenge and overturn systemic racism and inequality. One of the earliest milestones was the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954, which declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. This was followed by the Montgomery Bus Boycott from 1955 to 1956, sparked by Rosa Parks’s refusal to give up her seat to a white person, which symbolized resistance and led to the desegregation of many bus systems. The movement gained further momentum with the formation of organizations like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). These organizations used protests, sit-ins, and freedom rides in order to bring awareness and make a statement about the unequal treatment they faced. These milestones, among many others achieved during this time, are proof of the significant power that this movement had and the sweeping changes that it brought. Martin Luther King Jr was a prominent figure in the movement, proving himself to be a pivotal figure as his leadership and vision for a better world were instrumental in the struggle for racial equality and justice. His importance lay not only in his ability to inspire but also his commitment to nonviolent protests and civil disobedience to achieve social change. In 1957, he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, quicky expressing his worthiness of the position. He achieved this through hundreds of speeches around the country as he traveled extensively to make his voice heard. At the same time, he would go on to publish a variety of articles and books documenting the injustice faced by African Americans. Perhaps his most iconic action was during the March on Washington in 1963, where he would deliver his iconic address known as the “I Have a Dream” speech to the 250,000 people participating in the march and the thousands more who watched or listened to it as it was broadcasted. In it, he envisioned a future where people would be judged by the content of their character instead of their appearance, especially the color of their skin. This speech changed the Civil Rights Movement as it drew millions of people to fully understand the impacts of racial discrimination and inequality. Eventually, his hard work in improving the lives of Black Americans would pay off as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would be created. These laws were significant victories as equal employment, less voting restrictions, and unsegregated public facilities for African Americans were established. All in all, with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20th, it is a time for reflection and commemoration. After all, his work in resolving racial issues has allowed us to enjoy the same rights and access to the same luxuries which will continually improve lives for the future. Sources: Civil Rights Movement: Timeline, Key Events & Leaders | HISTORY Civil Rights Timeline - Truman Library Institute Martin Luther King Jr. – Biography - NobelPrize.org BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Self-Worth in the Educational System By Alicja Paruch Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Original artwork by Elaine Ching A 73?? How did that happen?  A seemingly mediocre grade, still passing, but most people’s gradebooks have seen better. This grade can influence someone in two ways, and they can either learn from it or fall into a hole of self-criticism. Let’s take the positive approach first. A 73? How did that happen? How can I do better? One, of course, can analyze their style of learning and adjust the way they study. They can watch more videos if they need someone to explain the material to them; they can single out topics they have trouble with, read over their notes, or practice on examples. However, this type of positive criticism is rarely exhibited in the student body because the school system doesn’t teach us about it. When students get a bad grade, they are usually told to study harder or pay attention in class; however, they might already be doing that.  If the student takes the more common approach, it might go like this.  A 73? How did that happen? How did I let it happen? I’m terrible, right? Putting such blame on oneself could bring mental instability. Many students get caught in the spiral of seeing bad grades on tests, freezing up, not knowing how to deal with them other than studying more in ways that don’t usually help. This method may result in receiving an even worse grade and falling further into despair.  The school system conditions students to believe that grades are the only way of validating themselves. They engrave it in the students' brains that they distinguish between the good and the bad, while, in reality, there are many ways one can succeed. The school’s intense focus on academic performance can cause insecurity and the feeling of hopelessness to many students. The school nourishes the mindset that making mistakes is the worst a person can do. It often neglects the value of learning from one’s mistakes which might cause a student to give up hope. School strongly values academic intelligence; while it makes sense for schools to value that intelligence, it should not discourage students from excelling in other areas to feel useful to society. Let’s look at Howard Gardener’s theory on intelligence types such as spatial, intrapersonal, interpersonal, existential, and naturalist. There are intelligences other than those you can see evidence of in a number grade on a test or in a marking period average. I have been stuck in the loop of self-criticism instead of constructive criticism and have watched so many people who embody the types of intelligence not exercised in school fail at realizing their worth. School is not the only path in life, and people can use their skills to develop their passions or help others. In finding out who one is, we can move forward and make the right personal choices in life, based on their previous wrong ones - to truly learn from our own mistakes.  BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Kimberly Shresta - Memory Project - 1 By Kimberly Shresta March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Lumpia Recipe By Elaine Ching Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Rasa Malayasia Ingredients - 1/2-pound ground sirloin - 1 carrot (chopped small or grated) - Small can of water chestnuts-chopped into small pieces - Onion powder - One teaspoon crushed garlic  - Half teaspoon relish (optional) - Salt  - Pepper - Lumpia (Filipino eggroll) wraps Instructions - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground sirloin add carrots, water chestnuts onion powder, garlic, relish, salt and pepper. - Stir/mix well; Let sit for 15 mins. - Take one eggroll wrap, if you want smaller portions, cut wrap diagonally to make two triangles. - Place a teaspoon size of the mixture in the middle of wrap. Fold in sides of wrap. Roll wrap up, tapping the edge with a small bit of water. The water will seal the wrap--holding it together. - In medium size pot, add vegetable oil approximately halfway. Heat oil. - Place 3 -4 eggrolls in oil. Cook until lightly tan, approximately 3-4 mins. - Remove and place on a paper towel lined plate. Let cool for a minute. Cut eggroll in half.  Eggroll should be fully cooked on the inside. - Serve with sweet hot chili pepper sauce.  BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Mansir By Arunima Roy March 28, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 5

Back to Articles Polaris, Fiction Back to Sections The Luck Giver By Catherine Duong Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image Provided by Sky: CotL created by the TGC company Author’s note: This short story is fanfiction based on a game called Sky: Children of The Light (Sky: CotL) made by the TGC Company. Hidden Forest (1) - The fourth sky area within the realm. It is described as a place where it oftentimes rains and has vast forests. As spring arose in the sky realm, it was as if life sprung back onto its feet; flowers started to bloom, and everything looked so colorful and vibrant! Around this beautiful season, there was one day in a year that luck would spread about by one person called the Luck Giver. On that day, they would fly across from land to land, swiftly scattering lustrous coins. It is believed that they will bring good fortunes to the sky children! Until one day, the Luck Giver ran out of luck this year. There was no such thing as infinite coins and these coins were expensive to the Giver. Standing at the ledge of the Hidden Forest (1) in front of them, they tightly gripped their staff, pondering alternative ways to keep the tradition going. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Zohran Mamdani: Stepping up Socialism Breena Bernabe As the New York City mayoral election drew closer, candidate Zohran Mamdani continued to garner increasing attention. Mamdani, the official nominee of the Democratic Party, has made waves nationwide as he seeks to implement socialist policies in a city that thrives on capitalism. In a country where socialism is negatively associated with communism, it is a surprise that Mamdani's candidacy has been widely embraced by New Yorkers. But what has driven Mamdani to gain his leading position in general election polls, and actually win, and how is his candidacy important on a national scale? Mamdani’s political campaign was heavily based on advocating for the everyday, middle-class individual, a premise that heavily resonates with New York City residents who struggle with affordability. Socialism is a concept that is often viewed or discussed with disdain due to its association with communism; but what sets Mamdani apart from other mayoral candidates was his promise to serve the people through bringing government driven projects to improve the everyday lives of New Yorkers. The key aspects of Zohran for New York City are to implement fare-free transportation, lower grocery prices, freeze rent, and establish a Department of Community Safety, all of which are policies rooted in socialist principles. For example, in order to lower grocery prices, Mamdani and his team plan to create "city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit," in which these groceries, "without having to pay rent or property taxes, will reduce overhead and pass on savings to shoppers" (Zohran for NYC). Rather than having multiple corporations compete for demand and survival through passing prices onto consumers, Mamdani believes that city-owned grocery stores will help bring affordability to the everyday person. Another promising aspect of the political campaign is fare-free transportation. However, this will be difficult to accomplish because the MTA is not city-owned but a product of the state (Metropolitan Transport Authority). This means that to deliver this promise, Mamdani will require approval from the state, not just city officials. Nevertheless, the premise of fare-free transportation is to source funding from government collected tax rather than taking the MTA. Other proposals such as freezing rent and creating a new Department of Community Safety will also place the burden of affordability on the city rather than middle-class residents.  All these proposals seem enticing on the surface, but how will Mamdani draw in funding to bring these promises to reality? The answer is to raise taxes on corporations to 11.5%, and to the wealthy 1% of New York City residents with a flat 2% tax, bringing billions of dollars to fund city projects (Zohran for NYC). These taxes have become incredibly controversial among the elite, to the point where billionaires have donated millions of dollars in opposition to Mamdani's campaign. According to Forbes , Ackman has indeed put $1.75 million into political groups spending against Mamdani," and "26 [other] billionaires and members of billion-dollar families from around the country have sunk at least $100,000 each into supporting Cuomo" (Khan-Mullins). To the elite, socialism poses a threat that will confiscate a huge portion of their wealth – a value unfathomable to the everyday worker. Mamdani's campaign places emphasis on making the city more accessible to middle and lower-income households. The aggression between Mamdani’s campaign and the elite ultimately creates a battle between the people and the wealthy. Overall, socialism in a city like New York is unheard of because the city itself thrives on competition among businesses to create a lively economic scene. New York City hosts "a population of around 8.3 million that is ethnically and culturally diverse" and "its economy is the largest in New York State and among the largest in the world," (New York City – Federal Reserve Bank). This made Mamdani's candidacy incredibly important on a national scale because as a member of the Democratic Party, he continues to make headlines by pushing for what are considered Leftist policies. Therefore, Zohran's stepping up as a socialist candidate in affluent New York City is relevant throughout the country, as his campaign poses a step toward the increasing acceptance of socialist policies and ideology nationwide. Sources "Zohran for NYC." Zohran for NYC , www.zohranfornyc.com . “Metropolitan Transportation Authority.”  Budget New York , www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy24/ex/agencies/appropdata/MetropolitanTransportationAuthority.html . Accessed 27 Oct. 2025. Khan-Mullins, Kyle. "Anyone but Mamdani: These Billionaires Are Spending Big to Stop Him from Becoming NYC's Mayor." Forbes , 24 Oct. 2025, www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2025/10/24/anyone-but-mamdani-these-billionaires-are-spending-big-to-stop-him-from-becoming-nycs-mayor New York City - FEDERAL RESERVE BANK of NEW YORK . www.newyorkfed.org/regional-economy/profiles/newyorkcity BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Marissa Nardone - Lights On for Education - 1 By Marissa Nardone April 22, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Spring Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Annie Diep In spring, the world comes alive, as flowers bloom and bees thrive Sunshine warms the earth below, and gentle breezes start to blow Trees dress up in vibrant green, a sight unlike any scene birds chirp melodies sweet, as they flit and fly with fleet children laugh and play outside, in the meadows, they frolic wide springtime joy fills every heart, as new beginnings get their start so let's rejoice in spring's embrace, and soak up its beauty, in every trace BACK TO TOP