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Back to Articles News Back to Sections TOPSoccer at the Valley Stream Soccer Club By Manal Layachi Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by www.liherald.com TOPSoccer stands for “The Outreach Program for Soccer.” It is a program for young adults and children who have intellectual and/or physical disabilities. My father, Azzedine Layachi, founded this program for the Valley Stream Soccer Club for my brother Zak. He founded it in September of 2014. My other brother, Elyas, and I volunteer and teach the kids the fundamentals of how to play soccer; I’ve been doing it since I was 5 years old. My favorite part is spending time with the kids and helping them. When they smile, it fills me with joy. Here are some questions that my father answered for me: What inspired you to found this program? My own son and kids like him who would miss the opportunity to play sports. What is your favorite part of each session? The parachute. That is the favorite for all players, and it involves teamwork, singing, and turning in circles as a group. Do you like helping others? Yes. That is one of our purposes in life, to be there for others. Why do you like teaching kids how to play soccer? It is my passion and I want the players to acquire that passion too. It is an easy sport to play. Will you continue to do this for the rest of your life? For as long as I can. A lot of new kids sign up and it feels good to make a change. Anyone can volunteer, even if you don’t know how to play soccer. All in all, I love this TOPSoccer program and helping others, and I can’t wait for the season to start! 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

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Blackened Beige & Bleached Beige By Osaiyekemwen Ogbemudia Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by Khoudia Diop Blackened Beige To this world I am blackened-beige , nothing more, nothing less. Too black to have red bones. Too burnt to be bronzed light. Not black enough to speak her native tongue. When I look at magazines, the girls staring back at me, Blackened-beige , they are “Pretty, ” if slathered with oil, sauteed naked, and served for the tasting She’s not regal, never classy , but a trend, a fetish, nothing more, nothing less. I’m supposedly scraped from the bottom of the barrel. Too rough to caress. Too tough to hold. Not sexy, curvy, thick enough to fit the “preference.” I long to be a brown girl In a rainbow of shades and hues, Where all can blend happily too... But our vision is fading duller We keep wasting colors. Fates decided The same people divided. If all’s said and done, if MY melanin’s a curse, My ugly must be the absolute worst. Bleached Beige My America is bleached beige. Her hands are discolored, dark splotches defame face, and fair streaks sully the person that once was. She has claimed to stop bleaching, observing her poached cowhide skin Eventually, some parts of her skin returned to its original color, but many fair spots linger --- only to relapse. She still smears her afflictions with the very substance that cages her from self love my America perceives skin color in microscopic gradients or obvious shades of difference BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Nightmare on Main Street Back to Sections My Sister By Arunima Roy October 8, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 1

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections College Visits Noa Cordova Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Noa Cordova The college application process encompasses several factors beyond the Common App screen; in fact, it starts way before that. Knowing where and why you’re applying plays a key role in the process. For example, when making a friend or finding a partner, you should check for compatibility across several categories. For most applicants applying for an undergraduate program, the college they choose will be home for the next four years. Many applicants opt for an in-person evaluation of a school they may apply to by taking college visits. Location: Where do you want to be? Academics, sports, Greek life, and clubs may be important aspects of the college experience; however, simple factors like the location and environment of the college matter equally. For most applicants, location dictates which colleges they’ll apply to. This could start with something general like distance from home. If you want to stay close to home CUNY, SUNY or private local schools might be suitable choices. If you’re open to leaving home, you’ll look into upstate or out-of-state schools. In and out of state, attending college in a city or a suburban area affects the type of campus a college has. Schools in bustling cities like New York City or Boston tend to have open campuses that mix in with the cities. In a more suburban area, schools may have a more closed-off campus where students don’t see much of the surrounding area; Hofstra University and Adelphi University are examples. Another factor to keep in mind with location is climate. Whether you prefer four seasons, colder temperatures year-round, or warmer weather, the location of a college can give you a good idea of what to expect. While pictures and videos paint a picture of what different cities, states, and campuses are like visiting them yourself helps you gauge where you’d like to be. In-person, you can also explore the surrounding area and decide if you could see yourself there. Size: Finding your fit The size of a college or university significantly shapes your college experience. Size impacts, class sizes, activities, and socialization. Small colleges typically have under 5000 students, a medium-sized college consists of around 5000 to 15,000, and a large school typically has over 15,000 students (IvyWise). A smaller school may provide an experience closer to high school which may fit students who prefer a close-knit community. A larger school may be overwhelming for some, but for others provides a lively college experience with plenty of activities, people to meet, and exciting sports games. A medium-sized school provides a happy medium between the two, with plenty of activities and a balance between lectures and intimate class settings. Visiting a small, medium, and large school may help you make more of these statistics and understand what the difference between a small and medium school feels like. Student Body: Who goes there? Based on personal experience, visiting a college campus helps you understand the kinds of students that attend that college. While it’s difficult to label the entire student body accurately, visiting helps you see the school’s diversity level of diversity and its student life. Asking your tour guides about their academic interests, club involvement, hobbies, and favorite activities can tell you plenty about what a typical student is like and give you insight into what life at that college is like. Even within your tour group, you can see what kinds of students are interested in school. When I visit a school< I’m particularly interested in seeing a diverse student body, including international students. You should feel that you could see yourself fitting into the social culture of a school before applying and visiting it can help you determine that. Visiting: Road Trips and Alternatives Visiting schools looks different for everyone depending on if you’re visiting local schools 30 minutes away, driving hours out of state, or flying. As someone applying to several schools in different states, visiting every school wasn't ideal because college visits can be expensive and time-consuming. Instead, visiting a school or two in one area may be a wiser choice. For example, you could visit Boston University and apply to schools in Boston now that you have a general idea of the city’s feel and only visit those schools after being accepted. Of course, traveling to another state might not be feasible for everyone, so virtual tours and webinars might serve as solid alternatives. If you’re a sophomore or junior looking for something to do over upcoming breaks, consider scheduling a college visit. For seniors going through the application process, college visits should make their way onto your winter and spring break to-do lists. Understanding Small vs. Medium vs. Large Colleges | IvyWise BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections This Body of Mine Madisen Dubose Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Artwork Provided by Madisen Dubose BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Don’t Drink and Drive: The Simulator Cody Sung Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching Ever wanted to know what it’s like to drive drunk without the risk? Ever wonder why it’s important to not drive after drinking? The juniors and seniors at North got the answers to these questions at the Save a Life Tour event in the gymnasium on Thursday, March 28, 2024. The Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club helped organize this event along with the company behind the Save a Life Tour, Educational Support Systems Inc. The Save a Life Tour comes to North every year thanks to this partnership, with this year’s event being the latest installment, with both seniors and juniors being able to sign up for it. Once they entered the gym, the students had a chance to wear a headset that simulated vision while drunk and attempt to put shapes into a container while wearing the headset. They then were able to sit down at two simulators – one for drinking and driving and one for distracted driving. Both simulators had a large screen, a chair, a brake, and a gas pedal in front of it, and a repurposed Xbox controller as a steering wheel. The screen showed a car interior that reacted to input from the steering wheel and the pedals and a city with various vehicles and pedestrians. The drunk driving simulator had a VR headset that showed the view inside the car and delayed reactions to simulate the participant being drunk, while the distracted driving simulator involved the participant using a phone to simulate texting while driving. I got to help with the event and tried both simulators myself. I do not know how to drive, so it made both simulators even more difficult. I began with the drunk driving simulator – I pushed the gas pedal to start, began to drive...then fell off a cliff into the water. I tried it again and got stuck on a curb before crashing – again. I had a bit more luck with the distracted driving simulator and managed to avoid cars and drive quite a bit before crashing into a small pole. I tried again and got stuck on a curb, got off the curb, got onto the highway, and crashed into a car after driving 60 miles an hour, mostly on the median to avoid other cars. In the end, we all had fun and got an experience to help us learn about the dangers of drunk and distracted driving. Afterward, the participants had the opportunity to fill out questionnaires about their experiences with the simulators, sign a pledge not to drive distracted or drunk, and get a rubber wristband. I had a lot of fun helping with the event and am glad it showed people the dangers of drunk and distracted driving. I hope everyone reading this will learn to protect themselves and others by not drinking alcohol before driving and not being distracted by anything while on the road. For more information, go to home - Save A Life Tour BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Contemplation Back to Sections End of Silence By Arunima Roy June 8, 2021 Oil Volume 1 Issue 8

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Video Games and Quarantine By Augustine Magapan Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by the Washington Post Hello, and welcome back to another game review! First, we talked about the virtual headset, the Oculus Quest 2 , and the difference between that and the first Oculus Quest . In this issue, we are going to discuss video games I have played during quarantine, and those others have played as well. Video games served as a way to cope with boredom while being stuck at home. There will be no ranking system, but rather an analysis of the game and discussion about why people played it and how it became so popular. The first game I would like to discuss is Animal Crossing New Horizons . The trailer was released in June 2019 and no one was expecting this, but people hoped for Animal Crossing to come out for the Nintendo Switch. Animal Crossing involves you having an island or area of some sort and control what happens. You can plant trees, go fishing, catch bugs, spend time with friends, and talk to villagers. No, they aren’t the villagers like Minecraft ; instead, they are animals. You are the only human in the game. In addition, you can expand your property and do your best to make sure your island has the best rating. This game came out in March 2020 when quarantine quickly become more serious. Another thing is that there is this tanuki named Tom Nook, where he advises you and recommends actions you should take. However, when you do whatever he tells you to, you’ll be in his debt. It is a trend for the past games Nintendo has made, no matter where you go, you’ll always be in the debt of Tom Nook. To get out of debt, you’ll have to sell items and make profit off of them which can be done by selling bugs and fish, fossils, and many other things that can be valuable to his little companions, Timmy and Tommy. They run a shop where you can buy furniture and sell items to them. Going back to Animal Crossing New Horizons , people hoped there would be new creatures, fruits, more inventory space, and many more in-game functions. Once this game came out, millions of people started playing it as time progressed through quarantine. There is no competition between other people, and you’re able to be at peace when you play it. It’s a very simple game to play, and I enjoy playing it myself since you can get creative and enjoy all it has to offer. Another game that became popular during quarantine was Among Us . Yes, the game where you accuse people for being ‘sus’ or suspect for the things they do. This game first came out in 2018, but it hadn’t reached popularity until 2020. If you don’t know what this game is already, I advise you to download it on your phone for free and try it out. It is a game containing tiny space people who look adorable? I guess you can say that they look adorable for the fact they have floating hands that aren’t connected to any part of their bodies, as well as having cute legs. These brightly-colored space people must complete tasks to save their spaceship and win. Here’s the twist though: one, two, or three “imposters”. This means three players who aren’t space people. Rather, they are murderous characters who sabotage others and ultimately win by killing each space person who isn’t an imposter. If you are an imposter rather than a crewmate, knowing you need to kill every other player and making sure they don’t complete their tasks, you can also accuse them when it comes to a meeting. We will get to that later, but once all crewmates are eliminated, you win! Crewmates are the opposite of imposters; they are the ones who fulfill tasks and work together to make sure all the tasks are complete so you can win. When you see a dead body on the floor, you can report it so you can start a meeting. Meetings are when it starts to get serious because it’s like a court room. You must state your alibi and make sure you aren’t found guilty. Whether you are a crewmate or imposter, you should always try to prove yourself innocent while trying to either accuse other people. Well, that goes for me at least since when I’m in a meeting if I’m an imposter, I’d try to get into people’s heads saying that I’m innocent since I do a specific task or saying other things by the deceptive actions I have taken. Crewmates, on the other hand, should figure out who the imposter is but can be deceived by one another. It’s hilarious during some games, and other games you are dead silent and serious. Youtubers make it look fun and it’s also fun when you play with friends. Pewdiepie, Disguised Toast, KSI, and many more youtubers make it seem like the game is fun when you start getting into it: especially Corpse, a youtuber with an interesting tone of voice. Viewers love him and so do I. You should Among Us a try since it’s still common to see others playing. It’s still pretty popular. Our final game we can discuss for this issue is Minecraft . You heard me well, the blocky Lego-looking... oops! That’s Roblox . I meant to say the blocky cube game where you are in a world of blocks and you yourself are a block. Surely you must have heard the game since it came out almost ten years ago and has been a rollercoaster ride ever since. Some years the game was popular, other years people lost interest. If you still don’t know the blocky game, it started off with a man named Steve. That is the main character of the game followed along with Alex. Of course, you can have your own skins, but it should be noted that Steve and Alex were the first two characters to be in the game. You are also known as the ‘player’. After having your character, you spawn in the world and simply mine, otherwise known as breaking blocks. You break blocks to gather resources and materials and then craft them to make more materials and structures. You continue to repeat this process as if you were in the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods creating stone and iron tools. Sooner or later, you can find DIAMONDS. Diamonds are ores as well, like coal and iron. While adventuring and mining, you are going to encounter mobs like animals, zombies, and creepers. You must butcher the animals to eat so your hunger bar doesn’t go down, and dangerous mobs might kill you. Now that you know the overworld, there was an update that made Minecraft popular again during quarantine. It was the new “nether update” which is a new version of the nether. The nether is the opposite of the overworld; it’s the underworld where zombie pigmen, ghosts, wither skeletons, and other dangerous mobs are your obstacles. You can acquire more material in there as well, and that is only found in the underworld. However, there are new creatures lurking and biomes in the underworld. This contains piglins who will kill you if you don’t wear gold armor and will trade with you. The overall goal of Minecraft is to kill the Ender Dragon and go to the end. But it is not really the end since there will be a new beginning. Other than that, you should have fun and enjoy the game as a whole. You can get creative with what you build, and play with friends. After all, it’s cross-platforming. That concludes all the game review I have for this issue. I enjoyed writing this article and discussing something that I like. If you have any other recommendations on what I should review, please reach out to me, and we can have a fun time writing and reading about it here. I probably will write another article on video games during quarantine. These were only a few, and there are many more to come in the future to discuss. Thank you for reading, and see you guys soon! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections "Flowers" Elaine Ching Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching BACK TO TOP