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Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Criminal Minds Book Review By Aamna Raja Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Have you ever heard one of those podcasts made by millennial goth women about true crime and thought to yourself, “This story is intensely disturbing, I wonder what could make a person want to do these things”? That is exactly the question that intrigued Stanton E Samenow (Ph.D.) motivating him to write Inside the Criminal Mind, a book that consists of interviews and studies with offenders. Samenow explores criminal psychology and motivators that encourage everyday people to become straight out evil. If you are interested in psychology and social science, this book is for you. Reading it as a psychology lover, I found it to be very entertaining and interesting. I would finish a chapter and have to stop myself from reading the whole book in one day because I needed to know what Samenow would discover in his findings next. In particular, I really enjoyed the chapter “Parents don’t turn children into criminals; the child rejects the parent.” In this section of the book, Samenow inspects many criminals’ defense to their actions; that they grew up in a bad home. Samenow finds that this argument is usually untrue and is used by offenders as a tactic to gain the sympathy of those who are judging them on trial. Personally, I think I see myself as a pretty empathetic person, and reading this chapter changed my view on criminals as a whole. It taught me that we should continue to question people who commit crimes instead of falling for their sob stories and hold everyone accountable no matter what they say. This book is also very relatable universally. At the end of the day, everybody is only human, and sometimes it seems really much easier to do harm than good. Although it may come as a surprise to some people, you can easily relate to the criminals in the book and their motivations. If you place yourself in their true positions, you’ll come to find that the criminals who aren’t mentally unstable were placed in bad situations, and they had no easier choice than to do what they decided to do. Overall, I would rate this book a 9/10. Nothing is perfect (like the book taught me) but this did come pretty close. It’s entertaining, fascinating, and exciting if you enjoy psychology. However, if you don’t like psychology, you may be less interested in it, so I’d rate it a 6/10 for you. I hope I’ve convinced you to read this book! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Sports Around the World By Aleeza Dhillon Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by WLZR-AM In honor of culture week, let’s celebrate with haikus about popular sports all over the world: America Ten seconds remain The ball soars across the field “Touchdown!” yells the crowd Mexico The ball comes to me Looking for an open pass What a perfect pass Japan “Bam!” I hear a hit The ball glides high in the sky My teammate runs home India I hear the loud chants The joy of scoring a run Physical pain gone Canada As my sharp blade glides I focus on the black puck Shooting with great force BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Perspective Back to Sections Victoria Scarpa - Perspective - 1 By Victoria Scarpa December 16, 2020 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 3

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections The Pros and Cons of Attending Multiple Schools By Isabella Somma Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Fine Arts America This interview discusses the positives and negatives of attending multiple schools, how that can mold you academically and socially, and compares the schooling system of Valley Stream North to a high school in Chesterton, Indiana. In this interview, conducted by Isabella Somma, Valley Stream North Senior Gurjosh Multani, a newer Valley Stream North High School student, reflected on his previous high school years. Question 1: Have you ever lived anywhere else besides Valley Stream? If so, where? I’ve lived in Germany, Indiana, and Queens. Can you explain the timeline? Yeah, so I was born in Germany in this little city called Ingolstadt. It’s the home of Ali. Then I moved to America in 2008 and then I lived in New York from 2008 to 2016 in Floral Park, Queens. Then I moved to Indiana in 2016 to this little city called Chesterton. It was actually one of the only Blue [Democratic] cities in all of Indiana, and then in 2020, I moved to another city in Indiana called Bloomington, where the University is: Indiana University of Bloomington. In August of 2020, I moved back to New York, here in Elmont actually, and I went to Elmont Memorial, and then in 2021, I moved to Valley Stream. Question 2: Out of all of the schools you attended, which is your favorite? Which has given you the best social experience? The best educational? The best social experience has definitely been North. The best educational experience has definitely been Chesterton High School in Indiana. What programs did they offer that made it superior in education? It wasn’t necessarily the individual programs; it was more of the school as a whole and the budget of the school that allowed for more opportunities. It was ranked in the 1,000s out of the 24,000 high schools in all of the United States. They had a cooler system for scheduling where the day was organized in blocks instead of periods. I really liked that I think about this a lot actually while comparing Indiana to North. So, I would have eight classes, but I would only take four a day and they would all be an hour and a half long so if I had work to do, I would have two days to do it because I take that class every other day. Question 3: How has living in multiple places shaped you as a person? It definitely has helped me socialize better; I know what to do now in any kind of social situation. I’m also very open to change because of this and I think it’s easier for me to make friends. That’s about it. Question 4: How has living in multiple places shaped you academically as a student? I actually think moving has ruined me academically. Well not “ruined,” but definitely made it worse because I was on the track to being an advanced student throughout high school in Indiana, which started in 9th grade, but then moving to New York in 10th grade put me in regular classes, and that really messed me up, but then I got back to AP classes in 11th grade. I still think that if I was in Indiana, I would be a lot smarter. Question 5: What are your plans for after high school? Do you wish to attend college? I do wish to attend college. After college, I definitely plan to stay in New York - just not in Valley Stream. Are there any colleges you have in mind? I am undecided right now, but probably in the state of New York. I definitely hope to get my bachelor’s degree in Engineering or some kind of computer science. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections King Tutankhamun and the Curse By Rehmat Kaur Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by The BBC This is the tomb of King Tutankhamun, commonly known as King Tut, who became Pharaoh of Egypt at the age of nine in 1332 B.C. He was granted command of his civilizations during a time of conflict with neighboring kingdoms for territory. King subsequently married his half-sister because they had the same father. During his reign, he contributed to the restoration of traditional Egyptian religion and art. He died at the age of nineteen from a broken leg, according to scientists, but in 2010, evidence of malaria parasites were discovered in Tutankhamun's remains, indicating that malaria, potentially in combination with degenerative bone disease, may have been the reason. This has debunked the widely held belief that the Egyptian pharaoh was assassinated by a blow to the head over 3,300 years ago. A curse was placed over King Tut's tomb to keep robbers and political adversaries from desecrating the burial, and the curse was invoked against offenders. His mummy was found over 30,000 years after his death by British archeologist Howard Carter and others in 1922. Mr. Carter died unexpectedly a few months after the tomb was discovered igniting the legend of the mummy's curse. Another popular victim of the alleged curse was George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who funded the excavation of King Tut's tomb. Lord Carnarvon died of blood poisoning after accidentally tearing open a mosquito bite while shaving. There is still no evidence of whether the deaths were a cause of being exposed of the alleged "curse of the pharaohs", but the deaths were quite coincidental; it is still a mystery. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Valley Stream North Breakfast Club’s Performance in Queens Elaine Ching and Manal Layachi Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Elaine Ching Valley Stream North Breakfast Club’s Performance in Queens            On Friday, December 8th, 2023, members of North’s Breakfast Club, a select string ensemble that rehearses on Tuesday and Friday mornings under the instruction of Mrs. Hayden, along with other North High School musicians, took a field trip to P.S. 811Q. This is an annual field trip that the students participate in as they try to bring holiday cheer to P.S. 811Q through festive attire, music, and activities.             The Breakfast Club started with a performance involving various holiday and winter songs. With pieces ranging from Christmas Carols to Hanukkah medleys, the ensemble brought joy to the students as they played. Students had fun as they sang and clapped along to familiar tunes. However, students mainly engaged with the Breakfast Club on their last song,  Jingle Bells  as teachers and students sang the Yuletide tune and North percussionists played jingle bells. Meanwhile, Breakfast Club members played the tune on their instruments and walked around the auditorium. Performing  Jingle Bells  is a beloved tradition by both Breakfast Club members and P.S. 811Q.  -Concert Order- Feliz Navidad Happy Hanukkah Light the Candles We Wish You a Merry Christmas Gloria Deck the Hall Hanukkah Holiday Modern Christmas Classics Jingle Bells                After the Breakfast Club’s performance, the musicians split into pairs to share their instruments with P.S. 811Q students. With violins, violas, cellos, and basses galore students had a pleasure getting to experience playing the string instruments. Some 811Q students even brought in their own instruments; one student brought in his recorder. The sheer amount of joy that the students got from playing the instruments was evident as this was one of the few times they interacted with music at their school. North students were grateful to work with 811Q students, as Arshdeep Singh says, “It really felt like a blessing to work with kids that are not fortunate enough to experience this on a day-to-day basis.”            North students displayed great amounts of respect, integrity, and kindness as they led musical workshops in the gymnasium. North students’ love of music was palpable as one could easily see how much passion they had whether it was teaching about rhythm, boom whackers, or the instrumental anatomy of a violin. Just take it from Breakfast Club bassist Sophia Reese who states, “I’m so incredibly lucky to teach and share my love for music with those who are unable to experience music on the daily like we are. Going to P.S. 811Q with Breakfast Club has been one of the highlights of this year and last.” Additionally, Manal Layachi, Breakfast Club violinist, says “I led the music note station where the kids had to write how music makes them feel on a paper-colored music note. It felt awesome helping the kids express their feelings about music. I helped a boy with his music note and he gave me a hug. It was so heartwarming, and I felt amazing after. Making a difference for these children makes me happy and special. It feels good to make a difference and make connections and new memories with these kids.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Interview with Elyas Manal Layachi Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Elyas Layachi Elyas Layachi (left), in a picture with Otto the Orange, Syracuse’s mascot. Elyas Layachi, a North alumnus class of 2023, currently attends Syracuse University. I interviewed him to see how his college experience is going so far.   Why did you choose to attend Syracuse University? I chose to attend Syracuse University because of its beautiful campus, wide range of educational opportunities in so many majors/areas of interest, its big school feel, and its location in the heart of upstate New York.  What do you miss the most about North? The one thing I miss most about North is definitely the people, including both the students and staff. I made such great relationships with my teachers and peers, and I miss them all very much.  How is the college experience going so far? So far, college is going pretty well! I was able to adjust to it pretty quickly, but it is still definitely overwhelming despite having fewer classes and more free time than in high school. The classes are also a lot more difficult than I expected them to be, but so far, I have adjusted well. How did you transition from high school to college? To be honest, I didn’t really think much about my transition from high school to college. I kept busy over the summer working at one of my favorite places - Mid-Island Day Camp - while also spending time with family and going dorm shopping. The only time I thought about my transition from high school to college was the few days leading up to my move-in. I was originally very stressed at first, since I didn’t know what to expect, and I wasn’t mentally prepared to move into a new home. Once I moved in, however, everything settled into place, and I found that I love Syracuse University very much. It is already starting to feel like my second home! What extracurricular activities are you participating in? I am currently participating in STEM Initiative, a club that takes undergraduate students studying a STEM-related field to the local middle and high schools to educate students about STEM, and I am also a part of the running club here. I also like to watch home soccer and football games. (Go Orange!) Do you participate in the music program at Syracuse? If so, how is it? I do participate in the music program here at Syracuse. I auditioned for the orchestra a week after I moved in, and I made the cut. It is a very enlightening and fun experience, and I love having the opportunity to play beautiful, complex music with such amazing musicians, most of whom are music majors in the Setnor School of Music.  What is your favorite thing about Syracuse? Right now, my favorite thing about Syracuse has to be the community. There are so many nice people on campus and the staff are awesome and always willing to help. I also love the sense of community that arises every Saturday when we have a football game. It gets super fun here on Saturdays and all of the town comes to watch the games. It truly makes me feel a part of something bigger and I love that feeling. What do you look forward to the most when you go home? When I go home, the thing I look forward to the most is seeing my family again. I miss them so much. Even though I’m not too far from Long Island, and I love coming back home to see them every once in a while. What is your favorite thing to do in Syracuse? My favorite thing to do in Syracuse right now is watching the football games with friends and getting immersed in the energetic athletic environment of the university.  How is college different from high school for you? There is definitely a lot more freedom in college. I had a lot of freedom choosing my classes, as well as a lot of free time in between classes (sometimes up to 3 hours) in which I would either study, practice violin, or just relax. How is dorm life for you? Do you miss home? Dorm life is pretty fun. I enjoy living with people I just met, and it is definitely an eye-opening experience living with people from different cultural backgrounds, states, and even countries. Do you have any tips for juniors and seniors that are looking at colleges? I would definitely say do not stress the college application process, and keep in mind that regardless of whether or not you get into your dream school, you will end up where you want to be. Originally, I did not even think of applying to Syracuse until I took Syracuse chemistry with Mrs. Schroeder, and I am so glad I applied here. Even though I got rejected by my dream school MIT, I still love Syracuse University and I am super glad to be here.  What are you majoring in? I am currently in the aerospace engineering program, but I am switching to mathematics education for grades 7-12 next semester. What profession do you hope to have in the future? I hope to one day become a middle or high school math teacher.  Is there anything else you would like to add? College is awesome! Also, I miss you VSN! I enjoyed interviewing Elyas about his college experience. Be sure to wish him luck at Syracuse. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections The Season of Summer By Carolina Grace Figueroa Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by SpiritGroups My favorite season of the year is summer! I love the warm weather, school vacation, and endless fun attached to summer months. The warmer weather is the perfect atmosphere for social and outdoor activities like camping, roller skating, bike riding, and beach days. One of my favorite parts about summer is the fact that school is closed for two months. This means you are free to do whatever you want and don’t have to worry about curfews or waking up early for school. The summer break calls for staying up late and waking up whenever you want to. Everyone works hard during the school year, so they deserve this free time. There is no worrying about homework, projects, or studying for a test. Hot and humid summer weather is stress free and the perfect time to relax and unwind with family, hang out with friends, soak up the sun at the beach, dive into a fresh cold swimming pool, try your luck at surfing or water skiing, go boating or fishing, and play tennis or beach volleyball. Summertime is also the perfect season for concerts, carnivals and festivals. Many concerts take place at outdoor beach stadiums. Lots of local celebrations and festivals take place, like the Strawberry Festival, the Jazz Music Festival, the Nassau County Fair, and the Jones Beach Air Show (featuring the Thunderbirds). You can never get bored on a nice summer day or night. There are fun daytime activities, like picnics, parks, barbeques, sports, swimming and playing cornhole. Friends and family love to spend time together with lots of good food, drinks, music, and sing-a-longs. Everyone is laughing and having a great time together! Summer nights are full of outdoor movies, parties, gazing at the sparkly stars and bright moon, playing fun games, and enjoying stories while making s’mores around campfires. I look forward to staying up late and watching a good movie while eating junk food! I like wearing more comfortable and lighter clothing, putting on a bathing suit, sporting snazzy sunglasses, and slipping into flip-flops to feel cool under the hot sun. I also enjoy hearing the iconic jingle of my favorite neighborhood ice cream truck, as I always look forward to it approaching my house. Ice cream is cold and refreshing on a hot summer day! One of the best events of the year happens during the summer: the Fourth of July. Celebrating Independence Day is very extravagant, especially when people gather around to watch the spectacular display of fireworks. The vibrant colors and loud sounds of the fireworks are amazing. To me, Memorial Day is the official start of Summer and Labor Day concludes the summertime. Many friends and families take off from work for well-needed exploration, summer vacations, and travel to exotic or tropical destinations. Summer is a low point in television viewing (other than younger children’s shows) because there is so much to keep one busy outdoors. There are also many summer jobs to explore, like lifeguards and industries that cater to recreation. Typically, animated movies are popular to be released theatrically in movie theaters during the summer months. Many children attend fun-filled summer camps, either daily or overnight, and develop a sense of independence and self-confidence as they learn new skills and try new adventures away from home. Certain fruits, like mangoes, watermelon and pineapples, become ripe during the summer, so this season presents the opportunity for people to enjoy them. Summertime makes me so happy! It allows for bright and longer days (therefore, shorter nights), exposes the beauty of nature, flowers are in bloom, grasses are greener, and many birds and animals return to blossoming fields. I look forward to visiting the sunflower farms and lavender fields out on Eastern Long Island during the summer, as well as picking my own strawberries and blueberries to delight in. The summer gives life, birth, and rebirth to life all around us, as plants blossom, animals happily resume activity, and nature feels “alive” again. I love carefree summer days and can’t wait for them to arrive! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Gilana Etame - Lights On for Education - 1 By Gilana Etame April 22, 2021 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Artwork Black American Artists Back to Sections Relative By Sam Gilliam February 12, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 5 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington