Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Orb By Alanna Tieschmaker Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Pyro Richard couldn’t believe that he was doing this. Sneaking into the king’s museum was the last thing he wanted to do. Rumors had spread throughout the kingdom, and with them the idea of a cold and unfeeling king. If a village missed their payment, there would be no mercy. Every last person would be hunted down and killed by soldiers told to be as ruthless as their ruler. So why was he here, risking himself a cruel faith? He sighed quietly, careful to not make a sound that could alert the guards patrolling the area. He knew exactly why he was doing this. It wasn’t out of boredom or for fame. No, it was all for the sake of his little brother.  Even thinking of the situation leading up to this moment was hard. They had been sleeping in a sheltered underpass. Richard had been unsure, but his brother seemed so happy to have a clean place to sleep and nothing had happened the past few nights. So, against his better instincts, Richard settled down for the night, pulled his little brother closer and fell asleep. How he paid for ignoring his gut.  Thunder cracked through the air, startling him from his sleep. Looking around frantically, he saw a scene from his worst nightmare. A hulking figure stood over his brother, who was farther away than before. Lightning flickered and illuminated the underpass, gleaming off the blade that was held above his brother’s head. Richard froze, knowing that any wrong move could spell the end for his brother. “Don’t ya move a muscle,” growled the figure, pulling his brother closer and putting the knife at his throat.  “I won’t!” Richard responded desperately; eyes pinned to the knife. “What do you want from us? You can have anything, just please, put my brother down.” “You don’t get to make demands here!” The knife drew blood, waking his brother. “Richie?” he mumbled, still half-asleep and unaware of what was happening. Looking down, he drew a sharp breath when he saw the arms holding him in place. He traced them upwards and found the knife at his throat. “Hey, hey, don’t look at that, eyes on me.” Richard coaxed, trying to prevent his brother from panicking. Panicking could lead to death with the strength of the hold, and he couldn’t handle another death.  The man relaxed his grip enough to snap twice, then re-strengthened it again. Three other people filled the alcove, signaled by the snaps. Without turning away, he ordered one of them to bring a coil of rope and sent the others to restrain Richard. Knowing fighting back would hurt more than just him, he allowed his arms to be roughly pulled behind his back.  “Now this one.” The thug pulled his brother’s face to meet his, greedy eyes meeting terrified eyes. “He would be perfect for the job. He’s skinny and wouldn’t be missed if he was caught by the king.”  Richard went deathly pale, hearing what may happen to his precious younger sibling. The king was ruthless, and any intruders faced a gruesome death. Nothing would change that, not even the intruder being a child. He couldn’t let that happen to his brother. “Wait!” he cried, careful to stay still while grabbing the thug’s attention. “Let me go in his place.” “And why should we do that?” replied the man, a sneer clear on his face. “He’s perfect for the job.” “W-well I would do a better job. I can do everything that he can and would be faster on my feet.” There was silence as the gang considered the offer. Then, to Richard’s relief, the head thug put down his brother although not so gently.  “Fine. A bigger brat is less likely to tattle anyways. But just for a bit o’ insurance...”  The hilt of the knife slammed down onto his brother’s head, knocking him unconscious.  “Emmet!” Richard surged forward, scared that his brother had been killed despite his offer being accepted. However, he was still held by the other thugs, who quickly wrestled him back.  “Oy brat! Be careful or I actually will kill him.” One of the thugs holding him down began to tie his hands behind his back, pulling harder than necessary. The other pulled a piece of cloth across his eyes, taking away one of the senses he needed to survive this situation. “Load ‘em up boys!” hollered the lead thug. “Move it!” Richard was shoved forward, almost falling over from the unexpected push. He caught himself at the last moment, and blindly shuffled forward, having no choice but to trust his captors.  Richard was pulled out of his memory when he heard movement below him. The guards were finally changing shifts. There was only a small period when he could sneak in according to the thugs. He had spent days looking over plans, knowing that everything he had depended on getting this right. It wasn’t just his life on the line.  ‘Now --’ he thought, slipping off his perch and landing next to a window. His location would be out of sight for a minute and a half while the change happened. Richard pushed on the old window, which swiveled and allowed him to slip through and jump down. He landed in a silent crouch on the museum floor. He was in.   BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections People vs People By Huan Evo Alipio Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Titus Lunter February 24th, 2022 a big foot steeped into occupied land  Land that was ran by people Land that was a society  With many varieties Though this creature wants to fill his fantasies  The people of the land have multiple tactics and strategies  But, this creature is no ordinary The people must proceed with cautionary It’s also a sad thing to know that this creature is one of us  And have no plans to discuss  Explosions filled the sky  With many families having to goodbye  People vs People is one rough ride  Even though both land had an agreement back in ‘96, the creature has gone wild In which his body is controlled by vivd mind  His Arms that stretched for miles  Unfortunately for the monster, the people of the occupied land will succeed while looking at him with wide smiles  BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Women and Body Hair through a Media-Oriented Lens By Quinn O'Connor Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by HUM Body hair on women has been a cultural taboo for ages. Is this due to personal preference or societal pressure? Fear of judgment or genuine dislike? How much of this distaste for hair on the female body is influenced, or even sparked by, the portrayal of women in media? At an impressionable age, much of what is seen on T.V. is drilled into our brains. It is easy to recall a catchy commercial even after years have passed, or the theme song to a long-since canceled program. Imagine a young girl watching a kids’ show, where the girls show no trace of body hair. This young girl is watching iCarly, and hears “What kind of lady doesn’t shave her underarms?” She laughs and agrees. The phrase sticks with her into adolescence, and despite the razor bumps and nicks and inconvenience of the whole business, she continues to shave daily without a second thought. This young girl is used to the women in her life dutifully shaving every night, morning, or couple of days. She regards shaving as a rite of passage, a sign of her womanhood. But why shouldn’t the hair that grows on her body when she’s becoming a woman be the rite of passage? Why is its removal more celebrated and accepted than its arrival? Maybe because of shaving, waxing, and tweezing traditions, or maybe because she will be shunned if she doesn’t. A third, more convincing explanation may be that she had no role models that didn’t shave in media. Try to name five movies or T.V. shows that portray women with body hair. It’s pretty difficult, especially considering most women on screen are virtually hairless. Looking at women through this lens spreads the idea that their body hair should be met with confusion, or even disgust. This idea is introduced in childhood and is reinforced by television programs and films. Perhaps even more jarring than the contempt female body hair is the continual disregard of its existence. When a woman in the spotlight chooses not to remove body hair, it often received with shock. Lauren Valenti, contributor to Vogue , described Julia Roberts’s exposed underarm hair at a 1999 red carpet movie premiere as “a moment forever cemented in pop culture history.” Why is it that a woman’s body, in its most natural state, is so shocking that it is a pressing subject matter in an article written almost two decades later? In recent years, especially with the introduction of social media, there is significantly less shock and backlash against female body hair in certain online communities. However, the disgust is continued in other areas both online and in real life. A majority of women still remove body hair, especially celebrities. Of course, whether or not to shave is a personal choice, and there should be no shame in whichever option one prefers. Still, it's time for reform, especially in the adult film industry. Harmful mistruths perpetuated by these films introduce impossible standards and are a continued source of chagrin for girls. Women take up a large percentage of the population, yet we are not accurately and truthfully represented in most media. It’s safe to say that it is time for that to change. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Life of a Teenager By Moanna Thelusca Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Getty Images I wanted to see students’ perspectives on life as a teenager. Here’s my perspective: the life of a teenager is difficult. It’s filled with joy and excitement, but it’s also filled with twists and turns that may, or may not, direct you on the right path for your future. Alongside that, we must meet society’s definition of what’s a “real” woman or man. But that’s just my opinion. Let’s read about other people’s... Question: how would you describe the life as a teenager? “If I were to describe the ‘life’ of a teenager in only 1-3 sentences, that would be a vast-in-size-task as I can only describe it in 1 word: Stress.” - Giancarlo Oliveri “A teenager’s life is like a very valuable time. It’s a good time despite the fact that we learn and stress things a lot.” - Syeda Nabiha “ I would say the life of a teenager is pretty stressful and hard. Many adults think we have it easier with technology and all, but in reality, we are living a depressed life. First, we are stressed about school then college and then after college we’ve got to worry about stuff we never learned or were taught, and we have to learn it all on our own. If I want to hang out with friends, I don't have time because of school, and we are amidst a pandemic. But that doesn't stop people from understanding that we do feel too like we are literal robots. Wake up 7 in morning for school, then spend 8 hours for school, and then we must do clubs, homework and then worry about studying. We hardly have time for ourselves.” - S.K. “Life as a teenager is filled with uncertainty—about yourself, about your future, and about the world. However, the teenage years also come with the comfort that you don’t have to know all the answers now. Find joy in discovering who you are and who you want to be in this world.” - Sumaiya Ramsaroop “Life as a teenager can be hard sometimes because you’re trying to find out who you are, and what you want to be in life. Also, social life becomes more important because of high school. It makes a lot of things more stressful and maybe makes us want to shut the world out. Also, we are introduced to a lot more things like eating disorders, depression, anxiety, sex. In high school there’s drama, dating, losing friends, gaining friends. There is also a good side, though. You are taken more seriously, and you might have more privileges. People will start to listen to you more and people don’t think it’s a bunch of nonsense. Also, you are more mature. Your grades play a big role in school, especially if you want to go to college.” - Shaniyah McAllister “Being a teenager is weird. You’re not a child so you get multiple new responsibilities. But, you’re not an adult so you’re still considered young.” - Jayden Polydore In conclusion, being a teenager is challenging, stressful, chaotic, and stressful. But it’s also filled with excitement, love, mystery, and new adventures to discover. Now it’s your turn to answer the question: how would you describe the life as a teenager? BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections North Speaks By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by New York Times The debate over deleting TikTok has taken all over Valley Stream North. I set out to find out what our Spartans think about the famous and extremely popular app, TikTok. I received mixed responses and was intrigued by what our students think about TikTok. Here are the results! Question: What is your stance on TikTok? Do you think there are more pros or cons to the app? Although there are concerns regarding the Chinese government acquiring peoples data, I believe the positives of the app outweighs the negatives since it creates a community where relatable content creation allows adolescents to form stronger bonds and also increase knowledge about a various of social issues. - Anonymous Spartan Personally, I think Tiktok has plenty of pros and cons, and you debate can either side of the team. However, it should be noted that currently it is not the most important issue to deal with. Noting that I also feel that it shouldn't be banned simply because it is not negatively affecting our nation in a significant way. That being said, we have more major things to focus on. -Navrosedip Kundlas TikTok is both negative and positive, but I think it's quite extreme to ban the app completely. I think that the stress of school and work can accumulate negatively and make me have a really negative outlook on life. Even if TikTok might have some unpleasant things on it, I use it as a way to decompress after a long day. The little time that I smile and laugh at TikToks outweighs the cons for me. - Anonymous Spartan I think there are pros and cons to the app. I believe that the app can have both a positive and negative influence on a person. The negatives to TikTok are that the things we see on our For You page are made up and fake. Nothing on our For You pages are real, whether it be an “honest review” or a really pretty girl or boy that you wish to be. The point is that the things we see on TikTok can have a big impact on us and can cause us to hate ourselves. On the other hand, the positives of TikTok are that it can help us discover new things that we may or may not like. TikTok keeps us up with the world and what everyone is doing. TikTok can also help us learn new things and new hacks. Lastly, TikToks are fun to watch. Although the negatives outweigh the positives, I believe that most people will stay on the app because of how addicting it is. - Anonymous Spartan TikTok is a deplorable app that sucks the soul and lifeforce out of the younger generation. The app feeds useless content that degrades the minds of young people. TikTok is currently owned by Byte Dance, a company based in China. Evidently, the Communist Chinese government seeks to influence the course of children's lives in the United States by collaborating with this company. This becomes especially evident when TikTok feeds STEM-based educational content to children in China while young Americans watch useless dance videos. The Chinese government is clearly attempting to advance their foothold as the world's strongest power by attacking youth in the United States through social media platforms like TikTok. Both the Democratic and Republican parties concede that TikTok is a national security threat, indicating a rare instance of bipartisanship during a time of intense division throughout the nation. Therefore, the app must be (and will likely be) swiftly restricted and/or banned from the United States. - Anonymous Spartan My stance on TikTok is it's not the best resource for young teens to be addicted to but it's not the best for younger kids to be on also. Since the app has grown so much, it’s hard to keep younger children away from it. I think the app is very influential to people because it feels like your brain is taking a break from the world and it does help you "pass time" when needed. I think there're more pros to the app than cons because if you're struggling with homework you can search up help, or if you’re going through a heartbreak it can help guide you, if you feel like no one can relate to a situation you have there's people on that app who has gone through what you have gone through and it makes you feel less alone then you did before. - Anonymous Spartan BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections College Essay Noa Cordova Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 Image Provided by Noa Cordova In 1300 Words or Less, Advise Incoming Seniors on College Essay Writing “Some colleges require submission of the personal essay with your Common App. ” It’s the final tab on the Common App, prompting you to summarize your whole life story in 650 words or less, except, it’s not. College essays provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate an integral part of yourself that the academic achievements on your transcript and extracurricular activities on your resume cannot reveal. College admissions officers should meet you through your writing. While it could, your essay does not have to cover monumental life experiences, it could cover something seemingly insignificant, but of great value to you. Choosing a topic challenges you to pinpoint significant experiences or details to develop an essay. Ideally, you should brainstorm essay topic ideas during your senior summer so you can start drafting over the summer or early fall with guidance from your English teachers. While the Common App essay prompts open early August, you’re not required to answer a specific prompt, and the prompts do not vary much year to year, so if you have an idea, feel free to start developing it before the Common App releases prompts. One of the best pieces of advice I received was to approach your essay as a creative writing piece, according to Mrs. Mansfield, an AP Literature teacher and college essay advisor to her senior students. Typically, we associate essays with research and arguments, but in this case, it’s a personal narrative, and you have the creative freedom to make it a distinctive, enthralling writing piece. According to The Ivy Institute, a college advice blog, admissions officers spend about 90 seconds reviewing personal essays. With this in mind, it's crucial to capture admissions officers’ attention. To do this effectively, begin with a strong hook and “show, don’t tell”, as Mrs. Mansfield stresses to her seniors. Get Them Hooked A hook, an attention-grabbing opening statement, serves to keep a reader interested in a piece of writing. A few generous Class of 2025 seniors shared their hooks as examples. Some hooks introduce the topic directly, putting readers in the writer's shoes, eager to want to hear their story. For example: “‘Why do you try so hard at school?’” “‘People are happy when I get good grades.’” Using dialogue as a hook creates a fly-on-the-wall moment for readers, including them in an explanatory conversation in the writer’s life. “If you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, you can find out firsthand what it’s like to be me.” To an angsty twelve-year-old listening to My Chemical Romance’s song, “The End.” From the album The Black Parade for the first time, these lyrics perfectly described what it felt like to “be me.” Song lyrics, or quotes, are other effective ways to hook readers. Additionally, their sources naturally reveal the writer’s interests along with their essay topic. In this case, readers learn about the students’ love for alternative rock music and how the lyrics resonated with their self-image journey. Other functional hooks leave the essay’s topic mysterious, which may intrigue admissions officers because they can’t anticipate the essay’s direction. For example: “I hate talking about my dad. Not my dad as a person, but rather what’s inside of him. The thing that has weighed over my family for twelve years.” This essay’s strategically vague hook introduces a mysterious “thing” that significantly impacted this student’s life and leaves readers in suspense, only anticipating a compelling, touching narrative. “I was the last to find out.” This short, cryptic hook’s ambiguity sets up an essay that could take almost any direction. The writer shared the essay discussed their heritage and experiences as the youngest siblings where they were the last to find out about their family’s past, deaths in the family or the realities of their refugee family; the writer takes a simple idea in their life and takes their essay in a complex direction, which the hook leaves unpredictable. Lastly, I’ll share mine. “I was an Egyptian mummy once.” A seemingly contradictory hook can add a unique flair to your essay, much like the mysterious hooks; not only do you leave the topic a mystery, but it prompts readers to keep reading to figure out how an implausible statement makes sense by the end of your essay. Show Don’t Tell The idea that you should show who you are rather than tell enhances your essay and makes it flow like a narrative rather than a factual essay you’d write in an academic setting. You can show certain attributes through techniques, including, but not limited to, dialogue (internal or external), metaphors, or describing an experience in detail. Rather than tell an admissions officer, “I am proud of my culture,” describe a cultural event or influences of your culture in your daily life. Instead of writing, “I am always thinking about others,” add dialogue outlining an interaction that highlights your thoughtfulness. Use italics , bold words , underlined words , or write in CAPITAL LETTERS to visually grab your reader’s attention and distinguish internal thoughts or yelling from regular writing. By the end, as Mrs. Mansfield tells her students, a phrase like “this made me who I am today” should be unnecessary and omitted altogether from your final draft because your essay should demonstrate that your topic impacted you and “made you who you are” without explicitly stating it. Supplementary Essays, Supplementary Advice Although your college essay gets sent to each college as your main essay, most colleges require one or more supplemental essays, which are shorter than your college essay. When choosing a topic, consider writing about something the rest of your application doesn’t reflect; avoid repeating yourself and aim to show as many sides of yourself as possible. A common supplementary essay is the “why this college” essay. In my experience, it’s best to treat this prompt like a mini-research task. You might love the college but find yourself with a limited ability to describe why, or you may not be that interested in the college, so answering the “why” prompt is especially challenging. You should consult the college’s website to learn about course offerings, student life, and most importantly, the school’s culture. If you know what you want to major in, check the program for that college and pick distinct aspects of the program unique to the college, not something most colleges have, like a study abroad opportunity. You can also discuss a club or activity you did throughout high school that you’d like to continue throughout your college years. For example, for my “why” essays, I found the names of each school newspaper and expressed my interest in joining. University social media pages on Instagram and TikTok can give you helpful insight into what university life is like at a particular school. The most important thing about a “why” essay is specificity, demonstrating your interest by naming opportunities to show you’ve looked into the school and prove to the college that you can fit within their community. Final Advice (200 words or less) You’ve likely heard it before, but I’ll reiterate it: write about what you want to write about, not what you think admissions officers want to read. Writing what you think admissions officers want to read risks originality and authenticity, arguably the most important components of a successful essay. If your essay is causing you immense stress, remember, the admissions officer reviews your application holistically, so it’s just one small aspect of a bigger picture they’re considering. Test out different topics, write rough drafts, experiment with words and perspectives, and while looking at others’ examples can be inspiring, be careful not to compare your writing harshly. Don’t hesitate to ask trusted people for assistance, without diminishing your voice. Best of luck, incoming seniors, with telling your story in 650 words or less. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Chalk Pastel Peppers Back to Sections Chalk Pastel Peppers- Wali Ahmad Wali Ahmad November 6, 2023 Chalk Pastel Volume 4 Issue 1

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Robert Moses Bridge By Olivia Muscatelli April 22, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles News Back to Sections MSA's Annual Eid Festival Wardah Khizer Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 Image Provided by Afaf Aswad Valley Stream North’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) became an official club during the 2024–2025 school year, although it first began forming the previous year. During last year, the MSA hosted their first Eid Festival, with hopes of making it an annual tradition. This event was made possible thanks to generous donations from members, who contributed decorations, ideas, and other resources. The festival received strong support and appreciation from both Valley Stream North staff and the broader Valley Stream Central High School District staff. During the school year of 2024-2025, several changes were made to the MSA. Now recognized as an official club, they have gained the ability to raise funds. With that support, they were able to upgrade their Eid Festival by purchasing better decorations, catering food from local halal restaurants (while still accepting donations), buying prizes for games, and offering henna designs. The turnout was larger than expected, with around 60 to 70 people in attendance. Thanks to the combination of catering and contributions from members, a wide variety of food was offered, and it was clear that everyone was eager to try it and have fun. Co-Presidents Afaf Aswad and Anum Zafar, along with Vice President Mariam Balde, worked hard, alongside the other dedicated officers and club advisor, Mr. Disclafani, to make the festival a success. This event was of great personal importance to them, as they wanted it to have a positive impact on the school community. Balde stated, “ I hope that the Eid party encourages the other organizations at our school to be even more outspoken about their mission to provide community for us students and to host similar events to bring students, faculty, and parents together.” Aswad stated that celebrations such as the Eid Festival are necessary, explaining that “[r]ecognizing holidays fosters inclusion, respect, and a sense of belonging among students from various backgrounds, which affirms students' identities and promotes cultural understanding.” Events like these provide students with the opportunity to share parts of their culture and religion that may not always be represented in mainstream school activities. By highlighting important traditions like Eid, the MSA creates a welcoming environment where students feel seen and valued for who they are. Balde agreed and added that schools that haven’t hosted cultural events like this should consider doing so because, “It is so incredibly important for students of similar [and different] backgrounds...to be exposed to events like this, as it encourages the celebration of diversity and educates them about different customs.” She emphasizes that cultural events not only support students who identify with a particular tradition but also create learning opportunities for those unfamiliar with it. By engaging in these celebrations, students and staff alike are given a chance to grow in empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the diverse community around them. Full Interview with President Afaf Aswad and Vice President Mariam Balde: Why is it important for schools to acknowledge and celebrate diverse religious and cultural holidays like Eid? Aswad: “Schools must acknowledge and celebrate diverse religious and cultural holidays, such as Eid. Recognizing holidays fosters inclusion, respect, and a sense of belonging among students from various backgrounds, which affirms students' identities and promotes cultural understanding. Schools that celebrate a variety of holidays demonstrate the importance of diversity and respect, which are essential to education.” How do you hope the Eid party influences future events or programs around diversity at school? Balde: “Our school is already so diverse. We have multiple clubs and student-oriented activities, including the BSU, Alliance, and Culture Society, that all demonstrate the importance of community and visibility. I hope that the Eid party encourages the other organizations at our school to be even more outspoken about their mission to provide community for us students and to host similar events to bring students, faculty, and parents together.” What would you say to schools that have not yet hosted cultural or religious events like this? Balde: “To schools that have yet to host cultural or religious events like this, I would encourage them to start. It is so incredibly important for students of similar backgrounds to be able to gather outside of school and equally important for students other cultural or religious backgrounds to be exposed to events like this as to encourage the celebration of diversity and educate them about different customs.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Netania Muhammad - Memory Project - 2 By Netania Muhammad March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6