Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Mr. Rampersaud By Sarah Velez Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by New Scientist Jobs Mr. Rampersaud is a new teacher working here at North High School who was previously working at Central High School. This new school year, it is important for North to provide a comforting atmosphere where teachers can feel welcomed. Broad question, how are you liking North so far? Mr. Rampersaud: “I love it here, it’s a great school district to be a part of. Kids are great, staff is great, it’s a great location for me. I like how tight my science department is.” Is North a welcoming environment? Mr. Rampersaud: “North is an extremely welcoming environment, the staff I’ve ran into have all said hello to me, all asked me for my name, and introduced themselves. And the students have all been very welcoming towards me.” Is there a difference between North and Central? Mr. Rampersaud: “The layout of the hallways, and also, Central is only grades 10-12, meanwhile here is 7-12. The 7 graders are mad tiny. But other than that, the staff is just as great in both places and in my experience, the students are kind in both locations.” Have you always wanted to be a teacher? If not, what did you originally want to be? Mr. Rampersaud: “I guess I wanted to be a doctor, but senior year of college I realized that I would not be taking the MCAT nor would I want to spend another 8 years or so in school--that’s when I decided to do what I originally wanted to do, which was be a teacher, although I wanted to teach art history originally. It is the perfect career for me right now. Why didn’t you become a social studies teacher since social studies is everyone’s favorite subject? -question by Ms. Dragos. Mr. Rampersaud: “Technically art history is social studies, but the reason I didn’t get my Master’s in social studies education is because social studies isn’t as marketable as science. Do you have a good relationship with the students? Mr. Rampersaud: “I would hope so, but I believe it’s not up to me to decide that, but the other party. I can think we have a good relationship, but in reality, it’s not, you know what I mean? But I do think I do have a good relationship with my students, yes. They’re all good people.” What’s your favorite thing about teaching science? Mr. Rampersaud: “My favorite thing about teaching science—well, science is the most applicable to the real world, as in I think students would use what they learned in science more than they would social studies or math. And also, I really like teaching the double period. And, like, it’s fun. We get to demonstrate cool demos and run lab experiments” If you could meet anybody dead or alive, who would it be? Mr. Rampersaud: “It’s got to be the first human. The very first human. Let me see where we came from.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Anti-Bullying Week By Raj Singh Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Intro Film The Students Against Destructive Decisions, SADD, is a club dedicated to helping students of Valley Stream North High School not to hurt themselves, stop bullying, and stop kids from consuming harmful substances. Recently we participated in Anti-Bullying Week, and of course as SADD members we would step up and spread the message. On October 22nd, 2021, the Senior High Student Council, SHSC, and SADD set up decorations for Anti-Bullying Week. This included setting up streamers and pasting up anti-bullying messages and posters across the hallways and walls. This was done to increase awareness about bullying and spread positive, encouraging messages for the week. The centerpiece for the work, which was put up a week earlier, was a large poster with paper hands representing that we are one, and that we should all exemplify kindness, stop bullying in our schools, and create an equal environment. These statements would be on the halls for the whole of the next week, informing those who walked the halls what to do and how to behave kindly to others in our school. The club members and honor society members worked hard, but the reward in the end was great, leading to an exciting and happy Anti-Bulling Week that would propel our school forward as the free and successful place it is. Let us remember our core values of respect, integrity, and kindness. In conclusion, due to the hard work of our resident SADD workers, we had a successful campaign by spreading our posters and streamers across the halls and walls with assistance from the SHSC. As a SADD member who actively participated in these events, I am quite proud of what we have done, and you can bet we will do more in the future, and it will be even better. This will not be the last time you hear from us! BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Senior Advice By Alicja Paruch Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Lawson State Community College As another school year comes to an end, and the senior class approaches graduation, they would like to share some life and school advice with the underclassmen. We hope the knowledge we have gathered in the past 12 years of our education will help you and spark new hope into your lives. “If you’re studying past 12, you’re probably not absorbing the information anymore” -Jack Schwabe “Esta avise es para todo el mundo, pero más para personas que allá llegado de otros países, la mejor manera de conocer gente es unirte a actividades después del colegio puede ser algún deporte, arte pero has lo que te gusta y vas a conocer mucha gente y recuerda nadie es superior o inferior que ti, tú eres el único que se da el valor que de verdad te mereces” This advice is for the whole world, but more for the people who came from foreign countries. The best way to get to know people is to join after school activities, it can even be a sport, or art but do what you like and get to know many people and remember no one is superior or inferior to you. You are the only one who gives value and respect that YOU yourself deserve.” -Joshua Montero “Start your college essay over the summer and keep track of your deadlines.” - Tiffany Wong “Don’t catch senioritis too early.” - Micaela Creo  “School is not a democracy.” - Lucy Wu “Don’t worry about something you cannot control.” - Francheska Martin Quesada “Be kind to everyone.” - Zohair Khan “Enjoy every second because it goes by fast.” - Alex Benincasa   “Reuse your application supplements and keep them in one spot.” - Leema Caravan “Take every opportunity you can and live every day to your fullest.” -Ian Ramos “It’s better to try and fail than not try at all” and “The worst they can say is no.” - Eva Grace Martinez “Live life to enjoy yourself, not to appease others.” - Afia Kapadwala “Always remember there is a bigger picture.” - Daniel Ellis “Don’t give up near the end, you’re so close!” - Disha Bhalla “Live your life how you want and don’t let negative thoughts change it.” -Nimish Lotlikar “Make wise choices and don’t fear mistakes.” - Ahmik Muhammad “Don’t stress over a bad grade. When in doubt, don't send your SAT scores.” - Michael Munson “Try to go to a lot of school events and make the most of your senior year.” - Karen Ye “Don't be a tryhard. You’re more than a 100.” -Will Mullin “Don’t forget to live and enjoy the present. Often it is very easy to get caught up in the thought of the future and forget about what is happening right now.” -Mari-Angeli Lugo “Make sure to take the time and enjoy the little time you have left”- Jack DelCarpine “Take every opportunity you get. You don’t want to be left with regrets” - Daniel Amin “Do everything to the best of your ability.” - Matt Long “It’s okay to rely on your friends; they’re all in the same boat.” - Ashrita Seelan “Don’t run in the halls.” - Dahlia Valentin BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Athletes Supporting Athletes at VSN By Joseph Garofalo Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original image by Joseph Garofalo Valley Stream North Athletics is known as a strong dark horse program in Nassau County with stealthy good sports teams across the board. From volleyball to soccer, track and field to baseball, each program has seen its success rates rise over the past few years, even as players and coaches come and go. As the captain of the reigning Conference Champion Boys Volleyball team, I have seen the strong mentality, determination, and resilience needed to grow a program within our sports programs. My experience as a high school athlete has been one like no other; coaches support coaches, athletes support athletes, and the leadership on each team has been a large part of growing these programs. Starting September 13th, the first Girls Volleyball game of the season, the senior class had produced a plan to support our Lady Spartans as they took on conference rivals, Mepham. We wanted to create a true home-court advantage for our girls, an energy-filled atmosphere to help boost them to victory. As my practice was over, my teammates and I waited in the stands as the visitors arrived. Quiet at first, our girls began to turn up the pace, and the fans became more involved. A student section that started with just the 13 boy volleyball players evolved into a section packed with three varsity teams and two Junior-Varsity teams’ players within thirty minutes. This was only the beginning, as the girls went on to sweep Mepham in three sets, who were at the time second-place team in their conference. A dominant effort by the girls, supported by a crowd of over 100 kids, continued throughout the season and trickled into other sporting events. The student section began to grow for each game; VSN’s athletes were there for each other. When you weren’t playing or practicing, athletes were in the stands. As our fall season ended and playoffs loomed, our section was the largest it had ever been. Home or away, volleyball or football, we supported each other. With the backing of our student body, Valley Stream North sports has hit another level of extreme. Now, we hope to carry the energy into the upcoming winter and spring seasons and lead our Spartan athletes to more successful winning seasons. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Chelsea Ramdyal - Lights On for Education By Chelsea Ramdyal April 22, 2021 Marker Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Chadwick Boseman By Various Artists January 20, 2021 Mixed Media Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Immam- Marissa Nardone Marissa Nardone February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections James Webb: A Cosmic Time Machine By Elyas Layachi Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by NASA Introduction On December 25th, 2021, at 7:20 AM, the James Webb space telescope was launched aboard the Ariane 5 rocket from Arianespace’s ELA-3 launch complex in French Guiana. The telescope began its million-mile journey to the second Lagrange point (L2), a point in space where gravity from the Sun and Earth balance the orbital motion of a satellite. There are five known Lagrange points, and each makes a perfect viewing location for space telescopes. After launch, over the following 30 days, Webb will begin and continue to unfold and prepare itself for use, as it was previously folded up in the Ariane 5 rocket for launch. You can check the current progress of Webb’s unfolding and voyage here: Where Is Webb? NASA/Webb The development and construction of Webb officially began in 1996, and the telescope was named after James E. Webb, NASA’s second administrator who served between 1961 and 1968. The telescope was originally expected to launch in 2018, but complications led to its delay to May 2020. However, further complications due to the Covid-19 pandemic and technical issues led to another delay for launch. The launch was rescheduled to September, then November, then finally December 25th, 2021. The telescope is one of world’s most powerful space telescopes and will revolutionize current scientific knowledge regarding the universe. Overview Purpose The James Webb space telescope has many purposes, including: To search for light from the first stars and galaxies that formed in the Universe after the Big Bang. To study the formation and evolution of galaxies. To understand the formation of stars and planetary systems. To understand planetary systems and the origins of life. Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which studies the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the James Webb space telescope is designed to study the infrared, or heat portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared radiation has less energy than visible light and therefore requires both sensitive and precise instruments to measure. Design The James Webb space telescope’s design consists of many intricate parts, including: Optical Telescope Element (OTE). Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM). Sunshield. Spacecraft Bus. The ability for each part to work correctly and coordinated with the others is crucial to the mission. Below, we will examine each part and the role it plays for Webb. Optical Telescope Element (OTE) This portion of Webb includes the telescope’s 18 hexagonal-shaped mirrors, which help reflect light into the telescope. They are made from beryllium, a strong yet light element. The mirrors are so large they must be folded up during launch to fit into the rocket. The OTE also consists of a secondary mirror and a backplane, which is a large structure that holds and supports the hexagonal mirrors of the telescope. It also carries the entire module of scientific instruments, A.K.A. the Integrated Science Instrument Module (see below). Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) Also referred to as the “main payload” of the James Webb Space Telescope, this module houses the four main instruments that will detect light from distant stars and galaxies, and planets orbiting other stars. The first instrument is a Near-Infrared Camera, provided by the University of Arizona. It can detect light in the near and mid-infrared wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and can see light from the earliest stars and galaxies in the process of formation, the population of stars in nearby galaxies, and young stars in the Milky Way and Kuiper Belt objects. Furthermore, it is equipped with coronagraphs, which, according to NASA, are instruments that allow astronomers to take pictures of very faint objects around a central bright object, such as stellar systems or planets orbiting stars. The second instrument is a Near-Infrared Spectrograph, provided by the European Space Agency, NASA, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission. This device is used to disperse light from an object into a spectrum. Scientists can use the spectrum of an object to learn more about its physical properties, including its mass, temperature, and chemical composition. The third instrument is a Mid-Infrared Instrument, also known as a MIRI, provided by the European Consortium with the European Space Agency and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It has both a camera and spectrograph that sees light in the mid-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes wavelengths longer than our eyes can see. It will be able to see the redshifted light of distant galaxies, newly forming stars, faintly visible comets, and objects in the Kuiper Belt. The final instrument is a Fine Guidance Sensor / Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph, provided by the Canadian Space Agency. This combination of smaller instruments allows Webb to point at specific regions in space precisely so it can obtain high-quality images. It has a wavelength of 0.8 to 5.0 microns. Sunshield Webb’s sunshield has the purpose of protecting the telescope from external sources of light and heat so it can detect the faint light and heat of distant stars and planets. It is conveniently positioned between the Sun, Earth, Moon, and the telescope. It will allow the telescope to cool down to a temperature below 50 Kelvin Degrees by also passively radiating the spacecraft’s heat into space. It also contains five layers of sun-shielding, with space in between each one, to radiate out the heat between the layers and use the vacuum of space as an insulator. The sunshield is made with Kapton, which is a lightweight material with special thermal properties. Spacecraft Bus Webb’s spacecraft bus provides the necessary support functions for the operation of Webb and houses six major subsystems: the electrical power subsystem, attitude control subsystem, communication subsystem, command and data handling subsystem, propulsion subsystem, and the thermal control subsystem. Other Parts Other parts of Webb that enable it to function include: The momentum flap, which balances the solar pressure on the sunshield. The Earth-pointing antenna, which sends scientific data back to Earth and receives commands from NASA’s Deep Space Network. The solar array, which is always facing the sun and converts sunlight to electricity to power the telescope. The star trackers, which are small telescopes that use star patterns to target the observatory. Why Analyze Infrared Light? As you can tell from both Webb’s description and its elements, the observatory is designed to study infrared light. But why infrared light, and not any other part of the electromagnetic spectrum? And how will analyzing light tell scientists about the past? Light, like everything else in our universe, has a speed limit, and it is arguably the speed limit of the universe since nothing can travel faster than light. Its speed is 3.00 * 10^8 meters per second. Since even light takes time to reach Earth, light that is farther away will take longer to reach our eyes than light closer. Scientists measure this distance in light-years, or the distance light can travel in a year, which is about 6 trillion miles. So, light from a star four light-years away, for example, would take four years to reach our eyes, and if we were looking at that star currently, we would see it four years in the past. This explains how Webb can see into the past by analyzing light from distant stars, but why infrared light? Because light from the Big Bang and the beginning of the universe is so old (13.8 billion years old to be exact), and because the universe is ever-expanding, the light has lost energy and its wavelength shifted from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum to the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is what Webb is looking for. So, by searching for infrared radiation from distant stars, Webb can theoretically see up to 13.8 billion years into the past and study the origins of the universe. How cool! Webb and the Future of Astronomy With the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists will be able to better understand the origins of the universe and of distant stars and galaxies by studying the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. With such information, astronomy is bound to change forever. Be sure to stay connected with NASA when Webb’s first images roll out in February 2022! 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