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Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The End Annie Diep Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching What does a story mean by ‘The End’? How can we know what exactly is ‘The End’? What is ‘The End’? Why do these simple words, ‘The End’ invoke such intense emotions? Why do these simple words, dictate my mind's destination? Is ‘The End’ for a scholar a B in their carefully formed A’s? Is ‘The End’ for a woman when their hair starts to grey? Is ‘The End’ for a mother when they lose what keeps them at bay? Is ‘The End’ for a creative when they’ve lost their way? Is ‘The End’ for a daughter when they disobey? BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Athlete Spotlight: Naomi Gonzalez (Interview) Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Naomi Gonzalez Naomi Gonzalez, a member of our wrestling team, is one of many exceptional athletes at Valley Stream North. She started wrestling when she was six and is now coming on ten years. I had so much fun interviewing her and getting to know more about her journey. What do you like most about wrestling? “I like the people and the environment because it’s a very nice and relatable area to be in.” Why do you want to wrestle on our school team? “I love the sport of wrestling and I have been doing it for so long and I’m good at it and I love my team!” How have challenges impacted your motivation to play sports? “I don’t stop and if something’s wrong I figure out how to work on it. I’m a perfectionist, but for wrestling.” Describe your major highlights and achievements in sports in the past. “Last year in 9th grade I got second place in Folkstyle Wrestling State for Women. In summer I was qualified for the Fargo Freestyle Nationals for Women, and I would have become All- American, but I lost my fourth match, it was a 10-2 fall. This year I placed 6th in Folkstyle Wrestling State for Women tournament because of a medical forfeit. I have won Queen of the Mat two times in a row and last year I won the County Championship. I placed first in the Bayshore Tournament this year.” What do you see yourself accomplishing in five to 10 years? “I wish to improve and just be even better in this sport both mentally and physically as they both play an enormous part in your performance.” Which strengths do you believe you have that make you a great athlete? “I am determined and motivated to give my best. I take accountability when I’m wrong and try to improve.” Which sport is your favorite to play and why? (Other than wrestling) “Lacrosse because it’s active and fun. It’s a district sport so I can interact with other schools.” Is there a coach or athlete that you look up to as a role model and why? “I met Kylie Welker and I think she plays in 170 pounds criteria on the Ohio Women’s Wrestling Team. She is honestly good and cool. She placed a lot in different tournaments.” What do you look for in a great coach? “Someone who is supportive, the worst thing you can have in a coach is just telling you what to do and who’s not supportive whatsoever. I had to cut 15 pounds in a week, and I had 5 pounds to go in one more day and dropped 4.4 pounds. I didn’t make weight, and I was crying but my coach (Mr. Pingatore) held my hand and ran with me to the stadium trying to cut weight.” What's the best piece of advice you've gained from your coaches? “If you take a shot run them into the stance, don’t care about the circle.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Influence of TikTok By Augustine Magapan Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Google In September 2016, ByteDance, a Chinese technology company, launched an app called TikTok. The well-favored app was initially the famous Musical.ly app until ByteDance bought it and converted it into the social media known today. As time progressed throughout the years, more people used the app every day. Today, in over 150 countries, TikTok has over one billion users. An average user would open the application about 8 times per day; consequently, it is shown that TikTok has a strong influence on people. Why is that? Our brains have a mechanism of releasing dopamine, a type of neurotransmitter that plays a part in how we feel pleasure. Our phone activity would cause the release of dopamine in our brains which make us feel motivated and happy. When your brain starts to understand this release of dopamine based on what you are doing on your phone, your brain will have the urge to crawl back to the phone for more releases of dopamine. This causes phone addictions for most people because of the happiness they get from going on their phones. TikTok is one of the reasons people are addicted to their phones. An average user would open the application about 8 times per day creating an addiction to a person. This is due to the TikTok videos being short and sweet which creates a diversified “for you page” purposely to keep a user’s attention going from one to another. The videos would be relevant to the dopamine excretion that the brain would release since the TikToks are filtered to a person’s interest making the phone user feel good and want more of it. That is just one aspect of TikTok. People are influenced by TikTok so easily that their habits change. Another aspect of TikTok that influences a person is their music taste. Music is used in many ways. It mainly promotes our well-being since we usually use it to tranquilize ourselves and spurt out our emotions freely. It also helps identify and understand who we are and how to impact society. Initially, people would use Musical.ly to express themselves in videos with music they enjoy before TikTok came on. Multiple trends would arise from certain songs. In TikTok, people now express themselves even further with music. People dance to it. Some express certain parts of the song and identify why it is impactful. Music in TikTok can create a whole new playlist because of the new “for you page” algorithm. TikTok knows what music you would like as well, not just the videos that you are interested in. Usually, people tend to look at which “sounds” or music is trending at the moment and start to hop on board with the bandwagon by doing whatever dance or just recording themselves with the song. I enjoyed certain songs I found on my feed and added them to a playlist on Spotify because they were enjoyable and helped me express my emotions better. Finally, even though it is important to realize how many people in this world have an addiction and strong influence on themselves by being on social media, it can also improve someone’s health. Not all the influence and content on TikTok are useless or unhealthy amounts of entertainment. People can learn new things on TikTok that can be implemented in a person’s normal routine, or perhaps a new diet. Cooking and exercising and also advice for family, school, and relationships are posted as well. Another portion of the content can come from schools or businesses trying to promote their products as well which can flourish the economic state of the online world as well. Overall, TikTok has transformed the metaverse immensely and people from all over the world are using it daily for an excessive amount of time. In the end, however, people can continue to reach out and stay connected with family and friends while being overall healthy by making TikToks or sending them. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections The Banana: Everything You Need to Know By Cody Sung Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by Time Magazine The banana. A yellow fruit with a lot more to it. It’s one of the many fruits that seem to be so simple but so healthy. This article will help you understand what’s in a banana, the pros and cons of bananas, and even why banana peels tend to be slippery. Bananas come in all sorts of varieties, from yellow, green to even red! They also come in a variety of sizes. However, one property remains the same: structure. Bananas are actually berries due to their structure, with an outer part, a fleshy middle, and an inner part containing the seeds. The fact that they are berries can also be attributed to the number of seeds (two or more), as well as their flower with one ovary. A medium-sized banana is 75% water, with 22.8 grams of carbs and 12.2 grams of sugar (important for later). As a banana ripens, lots of the starch it has is converted into sugar therefore leaving sugar as the main carb in the banana. Carbs in bananas enter your body slowly in contrast to other foods, which is good for one’s blood-sugar levels. Another advantage the banana has is its amount of resistant starch, in other words, starch that does not digest in your stomach. Instead, bacteria in your large intestine ferment the starch to form butyrate, which helps gut health. Bananas have some very good types of fiber in them. Bananas also have potassium, which helps heart health, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. There are even more beneficial properties in the banana. Bananas provide a lot of energy, enough for an intense hour-and-a-half workout. People with depression also felt much better after eating a banana, due to the presence of tryptophan. Tryptophan aids in producing serotonin, allowing for increased happiness levels. Furthermore, bananas are also a source of B6, a vitamin that regulates blood sugar levels. Not only that, bananas can also help you do better at school and on tests, and even help people quit smoking, and much more. Of course, no food is perfect. Bananas aren’t, either. Since bananas have a lot of starch and sugar, eating lots of them at a time can cause blood sugar levels to spike. Bananas are also naturally radioactive, but only slightly. You would have to consume a billion bananas at once to die of radiation. Overall, though, bananas are generally beneficial to your overall health. On the day of April filled with tricks, pranks, and jokes, the banana peel is widely used, primarily for tripping people. Now why does this work? Why are banana peels slippery? It’s quite simple, really. Polysaccharide molecules in the banana peel make the banana peel especially slippery compared to other peels of fruits. To recap, bananas are extremely good for your health, especially gut and heart health, and the peel can be used to trip someone. Bananas also are slightly radioactive, but not deadly. Bananas are a sugary fruit, but as with other fruits, they prove to be very healthy. (Link to the sources used: https://vschsdorg-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/sungc_vschsd_org/EYD5YdkM52NEoqISuO6K-u4BNhCOQwSiTIOMBSGb1myS_g?e=kxKhvC) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art Back to Sections Cherry Blossom Trees By Carolina Grace Figueroa Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by Country living Magazine Cherry blossom trees flower in the US between mid-March and mid-April and last for less than two weeks. These special blossoms symbolize that spring is in the air, represent signs of rebirth and renewal, and bring about love, hope, and joy. There are over 200 diverse varieties of cherry blossom trees, with billowy flowers ranging in color from white to ivory to rose pink to dark pink. These trees are special because they have many flowers and little to no fruit. Not all cherry blossom trees actually bear edible fruit; only some variations do. Cherries do grow on some of the trees, but they remain smaller in size than store bought cherries and are much too sour to eat (they are used largely for ornamental purposes). There were no cherry blossom trees in the US in the late 1800’s, so Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, an American world travel writer, was determined to change that. For 24 years, she tried to convince the US government to plant these special trees in Washington, DC. In 1909, First Lady Helen Herron Taft, the wife of President William H. Taft, agreed to accept 2,000 cherry blossom trees as a gift from Japan. The first shipment that arrived to the US in 1910 was infested with insects and diseases, so they were burned and destroyed. However, 3,020 healthy trees of twelve different varieties arrived in 1912 and were planted in the nation’s capital. To reciprocate, the US gifted dogwood trees to Japan in 1915. The cherry blossom trees became a symbol of the blooming relationship, growing friendship, and strong bond between the nations of Japan and the US heartland. This year signifies the 110th anniversary of the first cherry blossom trees arriving in America from Japan. Cherry blossom trees grow all across Japan, where they are called sakura , and have carried a very special meaning for hundreds of years. When they flower, they represent the arrival of spring, the start of something new, a revival, and an appreciation of life. It reminds us about new life, new beginnings, and to never lose hope in life. In an over 1,000-year-old Japanese tradition called hanami , people throw “flower watching” or “flower viewing” parties, where they gather under canopies of cherry blossoms to celebrate this wonderful time of year. The cherry blossom season depends on geographical location, climate, and weather conditions (temperature, winds, rain, daylight). The warmer the temperature, the earlier the trees bloom. They have been flowering earlier than ever in the past few years and scientists attribute this to climate change and global warming. Whenever they bloom, they don’t last very long. A few days after peak or full bloom, the delicate petals begin to fall off and float gently in the air to the ground. Millions of people across the US flock to see this naturally beautiful spectacle, especially at The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, (with over 3,800 cherry trees within the park) and the colorful display at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in NYC (at the Sakura Matsuri Festival). In Traverse City, Michigan, along Highway M-37, drivers delight in a floral spring show of about 2 million cherry blossom trees that line the roadway. It is important to remember “Don’t pluck or break off a cherry blossom in Washington, DC, or climb a cherry blossom tree, as you could get fined or arrested” (It is viewed as vandalism of federal property). As the buds burst open in parks and streets across the country, people throw picnics and outdoor hanami (“watching blossoms”) parties with friends and family “to appreciate the fleeting beauty of the flowers and to welcome in the warmth of the weather”. Hanami picnics are even more spectacular at late-night, when Japanese hang paper lanterns in cherry blossom trees to illuminate them to give off an ethereal glow. There are many seasonal cherry blossom treats and snacks all across the world that one can enjoy during a picnic, hanami , or cherry blossom festival celebrating the change of seasons: Baskin-Robbins has a frozen treat cherry blossom flavored ice cream in Japan, getting its taste and pink color from sakura extract (from edible cherry blossom leaves), while Haagen-Dazs in the UK included cherry blossom flowers in their favorite ice cream jubilee. Georgetown Cupcakes, a bakeshop in Washington, DC, offers this designer baked beauty cupcake every spring. Their vanilla cupcake has fresh cherries inside, cherry-infused cream cheese frosting, and a decorative cherry blossom flower on top. Japan’s largest doughnut chain, Mister Donut, offers a selection of cherry blossom doughnuts. Here they use dough with the special flowers baked right in, as well as sakura-flavored icing and whipped cream. In different regions of Japan, there are individual variations of the iconic mochi dessert, which consists of sweet chewy rice balls filled with red bean paste ( anko ) and wrapped in aromatic pickled cherry blossom leaves. The leaf (and flower petal blossoms) is edible and adds a slightly salty taste. Cherry blossom flavored French macarons are offered at Olivia Macaron in Washington, DC. These sweet and subtle fragrant treats are the perfect springtime bite. Cherry blossom madeleine cookies are delightfully buttery, slightly sweet and salty, with a hint of cherry blossom fragrance. As for beverages, sakura infused versions of Coke and Pepsi have a light, delicate cherry and flowery taste. You can pair up a sweet treat with brewed sakura blossom tea or a cocktail, or enjoy one of Starbucks seasonal sakura-themed lattes. Cherry blossom trees grow all over the world, from Australia to Brazil to France to Turkey to Japan to the US. Cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan and help us to appreciate the beauty of nature all around us. They are used in Japanese art, film, poetry, literature, dishware, stationary, and musical performances. In the US, “Japanese Cherry Blossom is a top-selling fragrance from Bath and Body Works, with 30 million units of the mixture of cherry blossoms, crisp pears, mimosa petals, and sweet sandalwood sold each year”. Besides being charmingly pretty and sweetly scented, these notable flowering trees have years of heritage and rich history, as well as many festivals hosted in their honor each year! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections The Great Political Divide Breeana Bernabe Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Unsplash With the upcoming election approaching, tensions were rising between the two political parties, causing a great divide amongst the people in what is supposed to unite the population together under the country’s best interests. With each candidate, Harris and Trump, continuously trying to win over voters in swing states and close the poll gap, the odds were constantly changing, which resulted in an unpredictable election. Although this event brought much anticipation for the results, it also created uncertainty for the future of the United States.  The American political system is characterized by two main parties, Democrats and Republicans. Republicans are known for their more conservative policies, often appealing to the older generation. Policies include restricting illegal immigration and protecting the right to own firearms. Whereas Democrats are characterized as progressive thinkers who challenge past precedents, as seen in advocating for LGBTQ and abortion rights. These key differences have prompted heated debates, ranging from essential rights such as access to healthcare, and what is deemed acceptable in today’s society which include the freedom to express one’s identity. Across numerous social media platforms, the discussion of politics has become a hot topic for members of the younger and older generations alike. However, these discussions usually fail to occur in a civil manner but rather aim to degrade the opposing party. Instead of encouraging healthy debates regarding the future wellbeing of the country, these social media platforms fuel attacking others of differing opinions, further worsening the political divide. This creates the mindset that it is acceptable to hate and ostracize others solely based on their political viewpoints. In a study on social media’s effects on democracy, it was found that “64% [of adults] say it has a bad impact…and more than four-in-ten say it has made people less civil in how they talk about politics” (Pew 2022). In order to bridge the divide, it is especially important for media outlets to equally represent both political parties. Nowadays, media outlets themselves have become biased and filtered, so that their news regarding politics has become unreliable. Furthermore, it was discovered that “a median of 84% across the 19 countries surveyed believe access to the internet and social media have made people easier to manipulate with false information and rumors” (Pew 2022). Thus, with a lack of reliable sources, misinformation becomes increasingly common with one goal; to attack and degrade the opposing party. Additionally, it is important to consider that each person has their own needs which may not apply to the general population. Referring back to the general policies of each party, it is clear that the two main parties, Democrat and Republican, appeal to different populations; yet why is this often dismissed? The answer is that society continuously fails to engage in healthy discourse to expand upon their knowledge. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the people themselves to bridge the political divide. This can be achieved through keeping an open mind and considering various viewpoints even if they may not align with personal beliefs. Keeping an open mind does not mean conforming to others’ beliefs, its purpose is to give other people the opportunity to express their thoughts. Essentially, there is no correct candidate that satisfies the needs and beliefs of the entire population; therefore, to wholly dismiss an individual’s political belief only to justify one’s perspective is to claim that there is a ‘right option.’ To go against this concept is to deny the basis of democracy itself, which gives people the choice to elect their leader.  Especially with the two-party system, it is difficult to nominate a candidate who is free of faults. A person’s choice in the election does not necessarily mean they agree with everything being said by a particular political entity, but rather the general basis of their campaign. Furthermore, people tend to vote based on different criteria, whether it is a candidate’s character or what they promise to deliver. To determine a person’s worth solely based on who they choose to elect is not an accurate measure of their character. Overall, politics should not be a dividing factor among the people, but an opportunity to freely vote and express one’s beliefs. After all, the voice of people cannot profit from divide, although separated by choice, we are united by needs.  Sources: Wike, Richard. “Social Media Seen as Mostly Good for Democracy across Many Nations, but U.S. Is a Major Outlier.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 6 Dec. 2022, www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/12/06/social-media-seen-as-mostly-good-for-democracy-across-many-nations-but-u-s-is-a-major-outlier/ . BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Hadiza- Elaine Ching Elaine Ching February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Autumn Sees Leola Garcia Autumn watches all the children play on a windy fall day. Leaves are falling from tree to tree because of the gentle breeze. Autumn hears the children scream, not from fear, but from glee. Children forced to wear sweaters from Autumn has brought cool weather. The children are happy to play all day because Autumn is here to stay. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Knicks’ Current Season: The Knicks’ Defense Yusuf Hamid Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Max Ching The New York Knicks are the fourth seed in the East. Overall, the Knicks have been doing decent so far. As of the time of this writing, they are fifth in the league for points scored per game and ninth in the league in assists per game, which is terrific. On the other hand, the Knicks are twenty-fifth in the league in rebounds per game and seventeenth in the league in points scored against them, which is not terrific (via NBA). The dilemma with the Knicks is not with their offense, but rather with their defense. The Knicks have the third-best rating in offense in the league, scoring an average of 122 points per game. Nevertheless, they have the seventh-worst rating in defense in the league, receiving an average of 116.9 points per game scored against them. There are many factors that could contribute to such poor defense. One factor could be how their exceptional rim protector, Mitchell Robbinson, is out due to injury. Last season, Mitchell Robbinson averaged 8.5 rebounds per game, 1.2 steals per game, and 1.1 blocks per game. The solution to this problem is simple: wait until he fully recovers. To lose a remarkable interior defender would obviously hinder a team's defensive success, but not to the point that they are the seventh-worst rated team in the league in defense, which leads to a second factor contributing to the Knicks’ poor defense. Although the Knicks have OG Anunoby, a defensive mastermind on their starting lineup, a chain is as strong as its weakest link, and the Knicks have two huge weak links. These weak links are Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns. Sam Quinn, a CBS sportswriter, believes that “Town’s and Brunson are average at best on defense.” To have one poor defender in your starting lineup is acceptable, but to have two is definitely not, especially when it is your center. It is common knowledge that the easiest place to score a basketball is closest to the hoop. To have a player on defense who is poor at their primary objective, to make sure getting close to the hoop is impossible for the opponent, is unacceptable. I believe a solution to this problem is to move Karl Anthony Towns from the center position to the power forward position (a position that focuses less on interior defense) and bring up a backup center with better interior defense into the starting lineup like Ariel Hukporti or Jericho Sims. All in all, the main focus for the Knicks is to fix their defense. They already have one part of the game mastered (their offense) and to fulfill their defensive standards will make the Knicks a juggernaut of a team they are expected to be. Football coach, Bear Bryant once said, “Offense wins games…defensive wins championships,” and I truly believe that. Sources: New York Knicks Team Info and News | NBA.com https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj4r4yC1IWKAxVwkIkEHW2lAzQQFnoECBoQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.statmuse.com%2Fnba%2Fask%2Fknicks-average-turnovers-this-season%23%3A~%3Atext%3DThe%2520New%2520York%2520Knicks%2520have%2Ctimes%2520per%2520game%2520this%2520season.%26text%3DStatMuse%2520has%2520team%252C%2520season%252Dlevel%2Cto%2520the%25201973%252D74%2520season.&usg=AOvVaw2EBH_q1RDM3jXje5zsQmns&opi=89978449 Mitchell Robinson - New York Knicks Center - ESPN ch NBA teams will be best (and worst) on defense this season? Projecting where all 30 squads will finish - CBSSports.com BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Economic Impact of Titanic’s Sinking Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by History | A+E Networks The Titanic's sinking on April 15, 1912 was one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history, resulting in an estimated loss of $21 billion for the global economy. The Titanic was intended to produce a large profit on the ship's numerous journeys, with passengers paying for how they wished to be served. Wealthy passengers were on board, ignorant that the ship would sink due to a collision with an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean throughout the night of April 14th and 15th, 1912. At first, the Titanic's lookouts were relieved to find that the iceberg had not left any visible damage but failed to notice that it had created a 300-foot gash in the hull. The captain predicted that the ship would stay afloat for an hour and a half and directed that the lifeboats be filled. Women and children boarded the boats first, however, due to the chaotic process, the majority of the casualties were women and children. The ship remained afloat for about three hours before sinking, resulting in hundreds of fatalities once it sank. 706 individuals survived the Titanic's sinking, nevertheless, this catastrophe claimed the lives of 1517 individuals, but historians believe that number may have been lower. The sinking resulted in the loss of lives, cargo, and investments, as well as a decrease in tourism and trade. In Canada, the sinking resulted in the loss of many jobs, a decrease in the standard of living for many Canadians, and a decrease in the amount of cargo being transported. The RMS Titanic had people of 29 different nationalities, including British, Irish, and American passengers. Among the cargo were 3,364 bags of mail, as well as grand pianos, golf clubs, literal tons of potatoes, toothpaste, 75,000 pounds of fresh meat and fish, beer, wine, liquor, fruits and vegetables, one Renault 35-horsepower automobile owned by William Carter, and eight dogs and one cat. The Titanic's maiden voyage resulted in a massive loss of material things, including a jeweled copy of Omar Khayyam's "The Rubaiyat" with pictures by Eliku Vedder. The Titanic disaster was the result of a storm of unlucky events that resulted in tragedy. Survivors filed insurance claims for everything from the most valuable cargo to commonplace possessions, including a hand-bound poetry book inlaid with 1,500 priceless jewels. Despite many people assuming the ship was indestructible, the incident demonstrates that even the most advanced ship can encounter unexpected disasters. The tragedy significantly impacted the development of maritime technology, the demand for maritime expertise and safety measures. The safety measures included installing radio beacons and distress flares on all ships to prevent such a disastrous event. Sources: https://www.infolibs.com/history/the-economic-impact-of-the-titanics-sinking https://phdessay.com/a-study-of-the-economic-impact-of-the-sinking-of-the-titanic/ https://patch.com/connecticut/cheshire/titanic-100-years-later-remarkable-cargo-also-lost BACK TO TOP