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Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections COPPA Compliance and the Importance of Internet Safety By Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Termly Have you ever wondered how safe you were on the internet? How much information were websites taking and why? How safe is your information on the internet? Certain rules have been put in place to ensure the safety of you and your information. In particular, children’s information has been the focus of government officials and lawmakers. COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rules) is a set of rules and regulations in place for online companies that market towards children under 13 years of age. COPPA was originally written out and suggested in 1998 due to a growth in companies that targeted children. COPPA was only enacted in 2000 and has seen multiple reviews and updates since then from 2001-2022 by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). COPPA applies certain rules to websites and companies that are directed towards or collect the information of children under 13 years of age. If COPPA applies to a company, certain information needs to be included in the company’s privacy policy. Namely, the type of information taken and its reason for use. Additionally, parental consent is required in terms of seeking a child’s information. Personal information cannot be taken for longer than it is being used and data collected must be under careful supervision when in use and when it is discarded. Websites can only share the information with third-party operators’ who can ensure its safety and confidentiality. Parental consent and confidentiality of information are very important and are top priorities of the FTC when it comes to COPPA and the internet in general. So, you can rest easy knowing that your information is federally protected. Safety is one of the first components to be considered while surfing the web. While the internet is a fun place, it is also a dangerous one. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of your interactions on the internet. Going to dangerous websites jeopardizes your safety, your computer’s safety, and the safety of people around you. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris, Fiction Back to Sections The Orb Part 3 By Alanna Tieschmaker Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image Provided by Elaine Ching Editor’s note: This piece goes along with the previous two pieces I have written. All three are part of the same series. Despite the task at hand, Richard could not help but gawk at the room before him. His hatred for the king flared as he took in the grandeur before him. It was grander than anything he had seen in his life, and it was only one room. Yet despite this, most of the people of the kingdom lived as peasants, with only the top 10% living in comfort. A huge statue of Jerry Movius, the famous merchant, was centered in the room. Jerry was a huge part of developing the kingdom’s economy. The legends say that with his cloak, named the Cloak of Tharion, he was able to travel through time and space allowing him to know what and when to buy and sell. One day he never showed up to his stall and he was never heard from again. The kingdom, however, continued to prosper from the information left behind by Jerry. Richard shook his head, clearing his thoughts of ancient legends. He had a job to do, and no time to look at all the things he couldn’t have. The bandits did not give him a list of what he needed to take. All they had said was ‘something expensive’. Knowing that it was his brother’s life on the line, Richard endeavored to take the most expensive seeming items he could. Heading through the door to the right, Richard entered a display room. There were exhibits lining the wall, minor artifacts in everyone. The main piece of the room, however, was the circular display case that displayed a rather unassuming shield. It was red and circular, with a metal rim and obvious signs of wear. The description read “The Shield of Ragnor - An artifact from XXXX. It is said to protect its owner from fire and harm.” Richard eyed it warily. It seemed that it wouldn’t be used, but it seemed risky to take something in a central display case. Taking a last glance around the room, he moved on to the next room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He had been through multiple exhibits now, and he still had not found something he could steal. The amount of time was dwindling, the longer he stayed the higher his chance of being caught. The current exhibit displayed a beautiful sword. There were intricate designs along the pommel and grip, yet they were burdened by rust. The improper care was obvious, despite the beauty of it. Once he looked at the display case, he understood why. “The Sword of Elora - A sword reclaimed by the king after stopping riots caused by a rogue princess.” Richard scoffed at the description. The lack of date and the poor quality of the sword made it obvious the king had nothing to do with ‘reclaiming’ the sword or stopping riots. The sword was not even used in recent years but in history. The whispered tales told from village to village did not talk about a ‘rogue princess’. The legends told of a princess who was beloved by her subjects but the daughter of a cruel tyrant. Elora sided with her people and personally led the rebellion and overthrew the cruel ruler. Once they reached the castle, she took on her father but was dealt a fatal blow by him before he died. The people buried her body under her favorite willow tree, which had withstood the fires that burned throughout the day, and her sword was hung above the throne, as a reminder of their princess and what she did for them. The story of Princess Elora was his favorite legend. He aspired to have the courage and bravery she did. Some courage he was showing now… As tempting as it was to take the sword and hold a part of his favorite child story, the security wouldn’t allow an easy escape. Additionally, he wouldn’t want to give the sword to the thugs. They did not deserve to hold it. The king didn’t deserve to hold it either, but at least here it was safe. Uncared for, but safe. Richard was about to move on to the next exhibit when something caught his eye. Turning back towards the corner of the room, he saw a door that he had previously missed, hidden from view. Richard crept closer, taking note of the faded label on the door. ‘Staff only?’ he pondered, weighing his options. ‘Maybe I can find something here that won’t be missed.’ He pushed the door open and entered the room. The room itself was rather unassuming, with grayish-beige walls and a ceiling of a similar color. A dingy window let in just enough light to see the room, but not enough to be considered proper lighting. The light displayed the main focus of the room, boxes stacked on top of each other. Most were covered in layers of dust, indicating the length of time they had remained untouched in the room. The floor was also coated in a light coat of dust except for a long trail of the floor, where something must have been dragged over recently. Richard began his search for an object of value he could steal. With the amount of dust, nothing would be reported missing for weeks. He couldn’t explain why, but he felt drawn to the back of the room. He followed the clearer floor and found another box. Unlike the others, there was barely any dust covering the box. Despite this, Richard felt compelled to open the box. He looked around and found a crowbar hanging on the wall. He grabbed it and put the end underneath the top of the box. He pushed down with all his strength, managing to pry the top off. Peering inside, Richard found an orb. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Little Women Discuss “Little Women” By Simar Thind, Sasha Smalls, and Kamille Shrestha Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Original image by Sasha Smalls Who is your favorite March sister? Sasha : Sweet-natured, romantic, and sensible, Meg remains my favorite March sister. The eldest of the bunch, she actively tries to pacify outbursts and clashes between her other sisters, Jo and Amy. Beth is not one for conflict either, but she shies away from it completely, leaving Meg, Marmee, and Hannah to break up fights. Meg’s serene nature complements her sister’s robust personality. The audience learns early on that marriage does not suit Beth, and Jo - Jo does end up marrying, but throughout the movie, she remains opposed to the concept. Amy desires to marry rich, but she has a key moment in the movie where she gives a speech to Laurie about her thoughts on marriage being an economic proposition. Meg never has such a moment. It appears Meg never opposed the concept of marriage or questioned it. In one scene, Laurie interacts with Meg and shames her for allowing her rich friends to call her out for her name (a pet name). This parallels a subsequent scene when Laurie calls out Amy for wanting to marry rich, saying, “It does sound odd from the mouth of one of your mother’s girls.” Unlike Amy however, Meg does not combat Laurie. She accepts his taunting and moves on. Her passiveness and appeasing nature chronicles her interactions and makes her stand out. Personally, Meg reflects many traits that I as an individual would like to develop and improve on and for that reason, she remains my favorite March sister. Simar : “Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for. I’m so sick of it!” Jo March adamantly rejects marriage and romance due to the constraints that accompany them. She is independent, bold, outspoken, and disagreeable. She is a dreamer, and she is stubborn enough to stick by those dreams and make them come true. Since childhood, Jo holds on to her writing, her one true passion. While Meg makes the sensible choice of growing up and adapting to adult life, Jo forever holds on to her writing. While it is important to adapt as you grow older, having a character that sticks with their dreams makes it seem like our dreams may not be as out of reach as we think. But maybe that’s just the optimist in me. Kamille : Though I could see myself in Jo for how she wished to pursue her passion and find her own way, and Amy with how realistic she was in understanding her duties as a woman and daughter, Beth was definitely my favorite. I adored how sweet, kind, serene, and loving she was. Though the spotlight focused on her less often than her sisters, her heart was always big enough to be felt beyond the screen. I am a big piano fan, and I absolutely adored how much she loved playing it, for herself and for those around her. Beth was so selfless and simply wanted to do whatever she could for the people she loved. She had the most tragic storyline, but never allowed it to be a defining trait in her life. Beth was aware that her death was imminent and that she would leave the earth sooner than her sisters, and came to terms with the prospect, simply doing her best, as her sisters did. In terms of personality, Beth remained a stark contrast from her sisters in that she was shy, quiet, and good-natured, wishing to please everyone and keep her family together. She recognized her place amidst conflict and chose to not engage, yet consistently acted as the magnet that brought everyone together. Out of the four, Beth’s flaws were the least visible, which lends one to believe that her declining health served as more than just a tragedy, but an effort to show that she was not strong nor ready to challenge an ever-changing, seldom forgiving world. For me, she encompassed a tranquil, fleeting sort of beauty that plays a subdued chord throughout the movie. How does the concept of being soulmates but not lovers apply to Jo and Laurie’s relationship? Sasha : On the concept of Jo and Laurie as soulmates, I believe a quote from Meg helps us understand. Meg says to Jo, “Just because my dreams are different than yours, doesn’t mean they’re unimportant.” Jo embodies a strong spirit; one cannot help but to get caught up in her wild and enthralling nature. I believe Jo gets caught up in herself as well. She pushes her agenda on her sisters because she has determined what works best for them. As stated perfectly by Meg, this thinking is false. Jo marches to her own drum. As a result, she is deaf to opportunities that pass her by. Take Laurie for example - she told him they could not marry because it would never work, and she believes she may never marry. I do not think Laurie and Jo are romantically compatible, but she confuses the situation when she changes her mind and decides to marry him. Imagine the turmoil if Jo had told Laurie she loved him before he could inform her of his and Amy’s marriage. I think the story would have been consistent if she did not marry anyone. Despite being soulmates, I also believe her and Laurie should not marry either. Fredrich, although ultimately her love interest, foils her character arc. Jo should have stayed single. Simar : Jo and Laurie grew up together as best friends. They know everything about each other, and their chemistry is undeniable. Laurie understands that Jo has vowed to never marry, but everyone knows that he’s in love with Jo - except for Jo. He confesses his love for her, after waiting and waiting for her to love him back. She loves him, but she says that she could never be in love with him, crushing all my dreams for this couple. Jo says they would be a disaster together, but he responds saying that he can never love anyone else. He desperately wants her to say yes, but when he brings up that everyone expects it, it pushes her away because Jo loves to go against what is expected of her. Jo refuses to marry Laurie, and further argues that she’s unlikely to marry at all because it would place her independence at risk. I understand that soulmates do not have to be lovers, but I cannot accept the fact that they did not belong together, especially since Jo ended up with another man that she barely knew. The book could not have been published without Jo getting married, but ideally, she should have remained single. I think Laurie was “the one”, so it should’ve been him or no one. Just because something is rooted in childhood does not mean we should get rid of it in adulthood. Soulmates are real, and it does not have to be a romantic dynamic. However, I think Jo and Laurie would be great together if they were given the chance. Kamille : Right before Laurie confesses his love for Jo and proposes marriage, Jo mentions running off and joining a pirate ship with him, thus escaping reality. The dynamic of the exchange begins with both of them not being on the same page, and they remain that way during the conversation. Jo did not even want to get married, yet Laurie attempts to convince her that they should be together since everyone else sees it that way. Further, she tries to guilt her into changing her mind - both being childish tactics to sway her. Their connection is built entirely off childhood fantasies and nostalgia, and as a result, their relationship could never properly mature to the point where they could be more than just friends. They were memories they were not ready to relinquish. There is no doubt that they love each other, but one does not need to seek romance to have an intense, serious connection with another. Soulmates are more than just who you fall for, and people can have more than one. They were amazing as friends, but they would clash as partners. Jo ends up contemplating changing her answer when she realizes that she might end up being alone for the rest of her life. It is never because she loves him in a romantic way, but because she wanted to be loved and not lonely, and Laurie was the easy choice. Jo writes a letter to Laurie when she decides that she wants to change her answer to him and places it in their childhood mailbox. She does not even attempt an adult conversation about it, but resorts to putting letters in a childhood keepsake mailbox. Jo would be able to feed off his love but not truly return it, as her true love was writing, which would absolutely conjure up issues had Jo chosen to marry him. And in any case, a relationship, speaking in the context of marriage, does not merely float on love. There is a point where love becomes a choice because of the sacrifice associated with it. Jo and Laurie’s relationship was far too immature to sustain the nuanced aspects of a relationship more demanding than a friendship and would most likely ruin each other. I wish she did end up single because that is what suited her agenda best and it was defeating to see her change her mind about something she felt so strongly about, but I am glad she did not end up with Laurie. What role did childhood fantasies play in the context of the movie and how is it applicable to our lives? Sasha : Each March sister has a thing . Jo, the writer. Amy, the painter. Beth, the pianist. Meg, the actress. I believe Meg’s talent symbolizes her biggest flaw in the movie, a childhood fantasy that follows her into adulthood and threatens the livelihood of her family - Meg wants to be rich. In her youth, Meg attends countless social events and basks in the idea of having disposable wealth. However, Meg does not have disposable wealth. Further, she marries a loving, intelligent, yet poor fellow. Meg’s wedding symbolizes the transition from childhood fantasies to adult duties as she begins her family. But Meg the actress has a role to play. She makes a terribly irresponsible purchase of fabrics with money originally saved for her husband, John Brooke, to purchase a new winter coat. While discussing their situation with Brooke, she makes a comment about being tired of being poor. Despite knowing her financial situation, Meg gets caught up in the idea of having more and living auspiciously. Eventually, she sells the fabrics, and as much as I would like to say this symbolizes her finally relinquishing her rich fantasy, it does not. Meg names her daughter Daisy, a pet name given to Meg by her rich friends. Meg’s reluctance to quit on her childish fantasies defines her character arc. Unlike Jo, Meg cannot embrace her passion mind, body, and soul. Similar to how she acted as a peacemaker, she sets her passions aside (she does not dispose of them) in order to do what is best for the time being. Simar : As many high school seniors are making pivotal changes in their lives, picking colleges and potential careers, it’s incredibly daunting. Everyone wonders what their thing could be and evaluates their strengths and weaknesses in order to make their next move. Many students have one thing they are known for: their athleticism, intelligence, artistic ability, etc. This notion is highlighted in the movie since each sister has a unique talent. However, life does not always go the way we want it to. Beth passes away before breaking through her shyness and showcasing her natural talent on the piano. Meg marries a poor tutor instead of marrying to elevate her social status, placing her in a position where she must make sacrifices in the name of love. Amy wishes to give up her art because she sees no value in it; she believes that there are very few ways to elevate your status, and the main way to do so is marry. She is set on marrying rich in order to secure her future, as well as shine light on her family, but she says no to a man that seemed to be a perfect suitor because she wanted to marry for love. Childhood fantasies often drive our futures, and although we shouldn’t reject them entirely, it’s critical to be open to change, since nothing is certain. Kamille : Childhood fantasies are just that: fantasies. In the case of the March sisters, their fantasies were not necessarily abandoned, but exchanged for more achievable dreams and aspirations. In this context, compromise does not necessarily mean subjecting oneself to misery, because dreams can change. Meg adored acting but found that settling down with the man she loved to become a housewife was what was meant for her, despite wanting a lavish life. Amy wished to paint but recognized that painting’s long-term value would not work in her favor while marriage as an economic proposition could, hence her fixation on marrying rich. Beth lived for the piano but accepted that her sickness would eventually consume her. The only sister who stuck to her path mapped out since childhood was Jo. Their fantasies (for the most part) simply became more realistic, but that does not negate their importance. Most of us will or already have outgrown childhood dreams and wishes, considering that it is a time in our lives that is supposed to be fleeting and indicative of rapid development. The beauty of fantasies lies in that they refrain from limiting the wild imaginations of a child; they evolve as an individual grows up. One does not simply desert their childhood, as it has major formative implications on an individual. The period of growth out of a childhood fantasy can shatter one’s perspective on everything and force themselves to see who they truly are and if their aspirations are worth the trouble. Each March sister had a talent that they wished to hone in on, but simply put, a talent or passion does not necessarily mean anything in a cutthroat world where people vie for any opportunity they can acquire by any means. They are called fantasies because it is rare that they metamorphose into reality. It means nothing to like something or be good at it if the individual in question does not have the will to make it happen. Childhood fantasies act as a filter from a merciless truth; the world is seldom a happy, forgiving place. Dreams tend to become more realistic for that reason; it is merely a privilege to fantasize. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Single Sally Aamna Raja Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching “I'm scared that I'll be alone for the rest of my life. No one has ever been romantically interested in me. I think I'm going to die single... What should I do?” -Single Sally Hi Single Sally! First of all, it's completely normal to have concerns about your future, especially in high school where social dynamics can feel overwhelming. Everyone wants to be appreciated and loved, and you are! Maybe not romantically, but I’m sure your friends and family love you and care about you as well. Remember, your worth isn't defined by whether someone is romantically interested in you. You have so much to offer beyond romantic relationships. If you want a healthy outlet to express these feelings, I’d recommend focusing on building your self-confidence and focusing on your interests and hobbies. This is great to help you feel better and you may find someone with similar interests this way! Friendships often develop into romantic relationships, so focus on fostering meaningful connections with others. Remember, don't rush things. High school is only the early stages of your love life, and there's plenty of time for romance to grow in the future. Stay open to new experiences and opportunities! You are worthy of love and companionship, no matter your relationship status. Hang in there, Sally, and every other person reading this. You're not alone, and there's an entire world of possibilities waiting for you beyond high school. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Poetry Out Loud Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Sofia Owen Students here at Valley Stream North have many opportunities to display their creativity. Whether through art, literature, community-led works, or performance, it is important to allow students to exhibit their talent and artistry, and this belief is best exemplified with an event like Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide recitation competition where students from 9th to 12th grade perform poems from the event’s anthology. The competition has 4 levels – schoolwide, regional, state, and national. Sixteen students from our school have been preparing for the schoolwide portion of the competition. Each student has chosen and memorized a poem to perform in front of a panel of judges. Students can earn points in 6 categories: physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. These students competed in the library on Wednesday, December 11th from 3 - 4:30 pm. In preparation for the competition, students went on two in-school field trips on November 26th and December 3rd to fully grasp their poems and the structure of the competition. On November 26th, Dave Johnson, a poet and former Poetry Out Loud emcee, visited our school and gave the competing students tips on how to improve their recitations. This workshop highlighted the importance of connecting with one’s poem and choosing a piece that spoke to them. Students were split into groups and were encouraged to ask the other students in their group about their poems. With everyone’s poem chosen, Johnson worked one-on-one with each student, discussing their piece with them and walking step-by-step through their thought process. An emotional connection with your poem is important to convey not only its meaning but its connection to you as an individual. To conclude the field trip, Johnson instructed each student to write a poem or a blurb based on their poem. After a couple of minutes, students performed their inspired poem for the rest of the group. Everyone who spoke had incredible control over their words and it was an insightful experience to see how each person viewed the world around them through the lens of their poem. On December 3rd, Johnson returned and this time focused on the accuracy of our recitations while still encouraging us to hone the emotional interpretations of our poems. Students split off into groups once again and discussed their poems with each other, reciting them and analyzing each line to better remember and understand their meaning. Volunteers from each group went in front of everyone and recited their poems, receiving encouragement and suggestions from Johnson on how to improve and change their tone. As he concluded his workshop, he gave advice to help everyone on the day of the competition. He advised students to take a breath and “plant” themselves and to visualize the poem as they recite it. Johnson closed with inspiring words to the whole group: “See what you say, and we will see what you say.” This competition allows students to lift poetry off the page and share their creativity through oration and performance. It serves as a wonderful opportunity for not only the students performing but those watching as well to expose themselves to new kinds of literature and creation. We at North Star applaud the confidence and dedication of the students who participated. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections North Drama Club Glows in “Radium Girls” Cody Sung Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image Provided by Amy Italiano North’s Drama Club presented Radium Girls which ran on the cafeteria stage for three performances from Friday evening, November 17 to Saturday evening, November 18. Described as a “powerful” and “engrossing” drama by critics, it follows the early 20th-century story of young women who applied radium to watches under the belief that it was a substance with no harmful side effects. In time, the devastating side effects in fact wreaked havoc on their bodies, leading to a major lawsuit against the US Radium Corporation, the company that employed them. The play begins with the girls working at a radium watch factory owned by the US Radium Corporation. They cleaned the radium-covered brushes with their mouths under the impression that it was safe – after all, Marie Curie, played by Zaida Ayestas, had told them so. However, after a few years, the girls begin to fall ill stemming from a jaw condition – this leads to one of the girls, Irene, played by Gianna Perlaza, dying. Irene’s two friends from the factory, Grace, played by Isabella Mascetti, and Kathryn, played by Quinn O’Connor, question the factory and its owner, Arthur Roeder, played by Rachel Ezeadichie, over the mysterious deaths of Irene and other girls from the factory. While they begin to question the radium factory, Grace and Kathryn begin to fall ill themselves. This only heightens their suspicions about radium and its side effects. As more women die and the government begins investigating the plant, members of the press, played by Justin Levine and Carolina Caraballo, brings the story to national attention. Grace, driven by support across the country, begins the process of suing the US Radium Corporation, while the company scrambles to mitigate the reputational damage, hiring investigators and lying to the government about the results. The heightened pressures on Grace take a toll on her relationships with her boyfriend, Tom, played by Giancarlo Oliveri, and her mother, played by Laney Ching. Continuing to press on with her lawsuit, she rejects substantial cash offers from the press for exclusive coverage and from the US Radium Corporation to halt the suit. Eventually, the situation reaches a tipping point, with internal conflicts inside the company over the mismanagement of the crisis and the founder, Edward Markley, played by Bryce Sloane, revealing that radium is, in fact, extremely dangerous. The judge for the lawsuit, also played by Laney Ching, lets the lawsuit advance to a trial, despite the Corporation’s continued attempts to delay the trial. Eventually, the affected women and the US Radium Corporation reached a settlement for the company to pay each woman a substantial cash sum and to pay for their medical bills resulting from their radium illnesses. Grace returns to a more normal life, although she is severely debilitated. The performance was a masterpiece and captivated the audience’s attention and emotions throughout with the strength of the actors’ performances and the seamless work of the stage and tech crew. Dr. Small claimed that it “was a shining testament to the talents of the young actors and stage crew,” while Ms. Belbol, the English Department Chair, commented that the “performances were deeply emotional, leaving the audience in tears and in shock at this deeply troubling story in our American history.” A phenomenal job by the Radium Girls cast and crew! Sources https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/26052945 https://www.playbillder.com/show/vip/Valley_Stream_North_High_School/2023/Radium_Girls_155523 Amy Italiano: RADIUM GIRLS REVIEWS ARE IN! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Tones and Shades By Nehilah Grand-Pierre April 22, 2021 Study Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Cianna Nadal - Portrait By Cianna Nadal January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Story Behind the Shot 03 By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Original photography by Grace Martinez Hello everyone! Welcome to the third instalment of “Story Behind the Shot”! My name is Grace Martinez, and I’m the NORTH STAR’s photo editor. That means it’s my job to make sure every article we publish has a photo that goes along with it. In all honesty, I wouldn’t blame you if you read those opening sentences and assumed I spend every waking hour on Instagram. It’s an app full of people sharing stunning photography, so why wouldn’t I be? In truth, I had to reset my password to even write this article. Instagram is far from my favorite social media platform, but when given a shot to talk about photos I’m proud of, I knew I couldn’t waste the opportunity. I should also probably address the other interesting thing about my account; there are no photos of my face. This wasn’t some kind of intentional faceless aesthetic. I just spend too much time behind a camera to capture anything of me in front of it. With that being said, let’s dive into some photos. First up is one of my more recent photos, which features a heavily edited view out a suburban window and a sky full of clouds captured mid sunset. This photo was taken after I had spent the day helping to clean up around the house. I remember seeing the sunset and finally being able to relax. It’s cliché, but there’s something about a sky turning to gold that just puts me at ease. Sadly though, those golden rays don’t always capture well on iPhone cameras. So, I began editing, and although I had planned to keep the editing minimal, one mis-click in lightroom later, I was stunned. Something about the intensity of the colors seemed too good to pass up, and on to my Instagram feed it went. Second is a photo of a girl mid aerial, performing directly in front of a bright colored mural. This photo is still one of my favorites even years after I originally took it. This was the first photo that made me realize that people took pictures as more than just a way to keep track of things. There was an art to this, and it was a skill I wanted to learn. Even to this day I still love the contrast between all the colors in the photo. There are a few things that scream amateur to me now, such as the fact that my friend is facing the opposite direction, but I can’t help but love it due to all the happy memories it holds. If you have even spoken to me once, you’ve heard me mention going to a concert. I have no shame in admitting it, I love live music (even if my bank account doesn’t). This last photo was taken in November of 2019, at the last concert I went to before the pandemic. It isn’t the most high-resolution photo I’ve ever taken, but it’s chock full of memories and some pretty cool-colored lighting. The way the blue spotlight can be seen faintly on the side of the image, and then how everything is so blue it almost hurts amazes me every time. Concert photos are often hard to take because of low lighting, and the movement of the crowds/artists. To have this one come out well was amazing, and I still take so much pride in the fact that this is the raw photo, completely unedited. If you’d like to write our next “Story Behind the Shot,” please contact our Media and Entertainment Editor Garrick Neuner or our Chief Editor Mrs. Mansfield! BACK TO TOP

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