Back to Artwork Pop Art Back to Sections Julio Turcios - Pop Art By Julio Turcios January 14, 2022 Acrylic Volume 2 Issue 3

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections What is Anime/What is “Fruits Basket”? By Liliana Ossa Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Amazon.com You may ask: what is anime? If you didn't already know, anime is a type of cartoon show; it's a form of animation from Japan. It is characterized by vibrant colors, characters, and overall energy illustrated through the art style. These elements contribute to the emotion of the story and the characters too. Anime is not just a youth cartoon; it has many subtypes of plots, including psychological, romantic, and action plots. Fruits Basket is a Shojo anime (romance animation) that teaches subtle life lessons, like Shigure (a Sohma family member) teaching Tohru (the main character) how to balance her duties, and includes romantic features in its plot, like Tohru and Kyo's (a Sohma family member) blossoming romance. “Fruits Basket” is a story about Tohru Honda, an orphan. After she meets Yuki and Kyo, members of the Sohma family, her life changes drastically because of learning about the Sohma family secret! She learns when a Sohma family member is under a high amount of stress, when they're weak or when they're embraced by a human who isn't a member of the Chinese zodiac, the Sohma family member turns into their animal form. When Tohru found out about the Sohma family's secret, she promised to keep it, so Yuki and Kyo allowed her to live with them. Once Tohru learns about the hardships and pain that they have gone through, she wants to help them heal their emotional wounds because she is a kind-hearted and generous soul. Why I Like “Fruits Basket” In my opinion, Fruits Basket is a spectacular anime! The characters especially make the anime intriguing. It's fascinating how Yuki is hiding his traumatic past. However, he's still the "prince" of his school because of his charismatic nature. It's very interesting how all the girls that like Yuki think he's this perfect prince, but when he expresses to people he can trust that he's not perfect and has many insecurities. On the other hand, Kyo is considered a stereotypical "bad boy" due to his inability to open up to others and because of his aggressiveness. Whenever someone asks Kyo how he's doing or a question relating to his feelings, he always feels the need to attack them. Kyo doesn't like to feel vulnerable around others at all! Tohru is a very kind and generous character that wants to help the Sohma family treat their emotional wounds. She is the main character of the story and a mother figure to Yuki because she cooks for some of the Sohma's, cleans the house, and is very kind to them as well. The supernatural elements of Fruits Basket, like how Tohru's friend, Hanajima, had the electromagnetic power to see the right and wrong in people, also helped make me love the anime. You can't forget about the supernatural ability that the Sohma's had to transform into their animal form, either! It was the most crucial supernatural element in Fruits Basket, in my opinion. Overall, “Fruits Basket” is a wonderful Shojo (romance) anime that expresses romantic elements, like Tohru and Kyo's blossoming romance. Throughout the story, Tohru falls in love with Kyo because of the little things about him and their interactions since the beginning of the story. Kyo fell in love with Tohru's selflessness, loyalty, and how she always found a way to smile and laugh. Kyo and Tohru's romance was an essential part of the “Fruits Basket” story. I recommend you all tune in on this anime, as the story is impressive, the art style is eye-catching, and the characters are relatable and enjoyable. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Mexican Femicide By Pratiksha Kaur Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by the BBC Femicide encompasses the intentional murder of women based on their gender. The rates of femicide around the world have seen an increase; however, in Mexico due to the lax enforcement of laws, gender killings have gone out of control. Even though in Mexico about seven women suffer death every day due to gender-related killings, President Obrador’s government has not taken direct action towards combating the situation. The lack of governmental action has caused Mexican women to take to the streets and fight for their human rights. 2016-2017 “Femincido en México. ¡Ya basta!” (Femicide in Mexico. Enough is enough!) Mexico saw the rising of gender-related killings as seven women lost their lives daily due to the lax implementation of comprehensive laws. Prevailing impurities such as corruption create an obstacle for many women who seek justice such as Irinea Buendía for her daughter, Mariana Lima. Mariana Lima’s husband, a police officer, abused and emotionally tortured Mariana before killing her on June 28, 2010. Irinea fought to bring her daughter justice; ultimately winning after six years. Mariana’s case, similar to that of many women in Mexico and other areas of Latin America, illuminates the impurities within the justice system and lack of implementation of gender-related policies. Although Mariana’s case did not receive worldwide recognition, it remains a historic order passed by the Mexico’s Supreme Court. After this decision, many Mexicans believed that the rate of these types of killings would decrease; however, they did not. 2018-2019 “¡Ni una Más!” (not one more!) With the precedent created by Mariana Lima’s case, many Mexicans believed that the numbers of gender-related killings would slowly trickle down; however, by 2018 Mexico saw an increase of 288 cases per year (2018: 893, 2016: 605). In 2019, the country also saw an increase in women’s frustration with the justice system’s incoherent manner when approaching the situation, as only 726 cases were investigated; however, 3,142 women were murdered in gender-related killings. Due to the rise in frustration, women took to the streets to demand President Obrador pass new legislation that would protect women from these killings, but nothing was done. President Obrador’s lack of direct action only angered Mexican women further. 2020-2021 “Not one more, not one less, we want them all alive” “Not one more! Not one less! We want them all alive!” chant the Mexican female protestors against the increasing number of femicides during International Women’s Day in 2020. Although femicides made up 10 percent of all murders in 2019, the rate has grown exponentially by 145 percent over the last few years, with 2020 accumulating the most deaths. In Mexico, 10 women experience suffocation, strangulation, drowning, and stabbing daily, ultimately leading to their deaths. With the worsening situation and lack of government response, Mexican females have taken matters into their own hands. They took to the streets to march against the daily civil rights violations to put pressure on the Mexican government to take some action against femicide. In 2021, with the ever-growing number of femicides and the lack of government support, females have taken up another measure of protest. Continuing with their marches, Mexican female protestors have written down the names of 939 victims on the colonial era building that serves as the presidential office and residence. That wall represents the lost lives of 939 females to intentional murder but also represents the failure of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to acknowledge and act against these civil rights violations. President Obrador responded by creating a barrier against the female protestors and the walls of the colonial era building as a means of protecting the building from vandalism. These actions of the President angered many female protestors because President Obrador failed to provide adequate protection to Mexican females; however, willingly protected a building from protestors. Due to the backlash on media platforms, the Mexican President stated that he is “not a male chauvinist. [He’s] in favor of the rights of women.” Evident from the lack of governmental support, Mexican females understand that the road for protection contains numerous obstacles and challenges; however, they willingly accept the challenge as a way of protecting their mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and neighbors. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Opinions on North’s latest generation: What is good? What is bad? Max Ching Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Max Ching As we are coming closer to the end of this semester, with the new group of seventh graders, as well as a few new additions to North High School, I believe that seventh graders should be interviewed and questioned about their current thoughts, appreciations, dislikes, and overall opinions on a few set themes, here at North High School. The first topic is the Smart-Pass. There's no doubt you do not know what SmartPass is, but if so, SmartPass is a computer-based app that times you to make sure that when you leave the classroom, you make it back to class within 5 minutes. Now, when seventh graders were introduced to this new form of restroom passes, most of the seventh graders, myself included, reacted negatively to this situation. Student Zion Laurenceau thinks that the time allotted on SmartPass should be increased because he thinks that students will not have enough time to use the bathroom and make it back to class in time. Another student, Matthew Watt, agrees with this, saying that the maximum time of 5 minutes is strange. Matthew also agrees that students will not have enough time to travel back to class. An important part of school is lunch. Making sure that students are not hungry is important. But what do seventh graders think of the lunches? A student Darnell Christie thinks that the lunches are nice and that 41 minutes to eat and chat is an enjoyable time limit. But seventh grader Muhammad Khan thinks that snacks being sold in the cafeteria are a swindle, and says that the snacks are overpriced, and that he can buy a much, much bigger bag of potato chips for a lower price elsewhere. Tyler Gilbert agrees with this statement, saying that the snacks are too expensive. The period system is quite common in most middle and high schools. Students at North are given 41 minutes for each period and have 4 minutes to travel to their next class. But what do seventh graders think of this system? Most students I interviewed mostly had the same response, liking the period system, and thinking it is an effective way of having a schedule and liking how they can see other students every period. Overall, from the students I interviewed, it is interesting how nobody had a single complaint about how classes are scheduled, which suggests how efficient this method is. Even though most responses I found were positive, I also asked students what they think should be improved if they were able to change one thing about this school. One student I interviewed, Kyle Cooper, said that they would change the food options. So, halfway into the semester, many students have many opinions, and they think that overall, North is a nice school. However, some believe that the Smart-Pass should be changed, the lunches should be changed. In conclusion, the seventh graders so far enjoy North but believe that changes should be made. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections This year’s Newsday Marching Band Festival was cancelled, but not for Spartan Marchers. Why at Memorial JHS instead? By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Newsday It was October 17th, 2018, and the Valley Stream North High School Marching Band was excited to participate in the annual Newsday Marching Band Festival. However, they did not know it would be the last time any Spartan stepped onto the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale, New York. Now, many of you must be wondering why? Well, after a bunch of research, an answer was unraveled. To begin with, what is the Newsday Marching Band Festival? The current Senior High Band teacher, Ms. Angelica Ansbacher, provides us with the following information, stating that “It is a festival that takes place at Hofstra University. At this festival, a variety of marching bands take the field. The festival occurs on a Tuesday in November every year.” An interesting thing I have learned while interviewing her is that she had taken part in the festival three times when she was in high school. Dr. Adam Erdos, the District Director of Fine and Performing Arts, says “It is the biggest event of its kind. Three nights of marching bands across Nassau and Suffolk counties performing at Mitchell Athletic Complex in Uniondale.” Now that we know what the Newsday Marching Band Festival is, it is time to see why the Spartans no longer attend. First things first, no school in the Valley Stream Central High School District attends the festival anymore. Dr. Erdos has attended the festival as a chaperone/supervisor. Although the experience is unlike any other, he says there are some downsides. Dr. Erdos’s main criticism is the setup of the festival itself; “The participating bands do not actually get to really see or hear any of the other bands’ performances. In short, they hear little of the other bands and see even less.” He says the students gain something from the experience of travelling to and from the festival. However, some negative points overpower that positive. Besides the setup issue, the weather does not get along with the festival either. Sometimes it has been extremely cold, and light rain or snow is not uncommon either. Since the festival is outdoors, these factors contribute to the negatives of the event. Ms. Ansbacher’s experience at the festival had been great. “It was a fun night on which I got to spend time with my band friends from school. Being that I was involved in extracurricular music groups, I saw my music friends from other schools as well. It was very interesting to see the other bands perform. We used to discuss other schools’ uniforms and their field shows.” Ms. Ansbacher says there are only two drawbacks: it was a long night, approximately 4 hours including travel time, and that it was often very cold. “My friends and I would bundle up under blankets and sweatshirts while we were waiting.” Both Ms. Ansbacher and Dr. Erdos prefer the new VS District Festival to the Newsday Festival. “This allows our students to see each other’s shows, takes significantly less time than going to and from Mitchell Athletic Complex, and encourages -- or at least makes it easier for -- greater audience - parents, students, and the community at large - involvement and attendance at the event itself.”- Dr. E. “It is much more intimate being that our festival is for our community only. Since the Newsday Festival was a few hours long, very few parents/community members attended,” added Ms. Ansbacher. It is time to see what a Spartan has to say about all of this. Jack Schwabe, a senior trumpet player, has been a part of the marching band since the 9th grade. Having participated himself in the Newsday festival, he says, “It’s a fun experience, getting to see what the other schools have been practicing and playing was a pleasant surprise.” This year, he reported he had fun at the District Marching Band Festival as well. Schwabe likes to hang out with his friends in the band and is disappointed that this is his last year. All in all, it seems like moving to the District Marching Band Festival might have been for the better. Although Newsday is one of a kind, the District Festival outshines it in many ways. Schwabe said “Marching band is a little treat we all get to do every year. Playing good music with friends is always a fun experience, and I'm sad this is the last year I'll be experiencing it.” Ms. Ansbacher commented “My experience with the marching band at North so far has been exciting. I have loved working with the band. Our rehearsals, Saturday football game performances, and [the] District Festival were fun and successful. I look forward to the next marching season!” Dr. Erdos felt “It was great to hear the band playing in the stands and contributing to the atmosphere of the first home game of the season. The students sounded fantastic and Ms. Ansbacher’s direction was outstanding in every way, marking a great new beginning for the North Senior High Band.” Next year, try to check out the VSCHSD Marching Band Festival. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Pianotime By Quinn O'Connor Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Microsoft As an alternative to singing or playing shared instruments, students have been learning the basics of piano in a new and safe way. Using the extension “Pianotime” on school-issued computers, which is free to download with a quick search, students can learn the basics of piano without an instrument in front of them. While using the touchscreen and tablet mode, students press the keys on a keyboard as one would with a real piano. Students have learned right-handed scales and a few basic songs; they are currently learning to play chords and how to use the left and right hand simultaneously. While using a computer in tablet mode instead of a real piano has its setbacks. For example, it can be hard to play multiple notes at the same time accurately. This alternative has been overall successful in teaching the basics of piano. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections A Review of the SCOTUS Leak By Everton Prospere Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Insider On May 2nd, 2022, POLITICO, a political journalism outlet, released a bombshell report that revealed the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) prematurely voted to overrule the decisions made in the cases Roe vs. Wade ( Roe ) and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey ( Casey ). While the repeal of these cases would be a landmark decision by the court, removing over thirty years of privacy rights, the leak also displayed a rupture in the court’s integrity. The leak of this initial draft majority opinion, written by Associate Justice Samuel Alito, is the first of its kind; in response, Chief Justice John Roberts ordered a federal investigation to apprehend the whistleblower. However, what implications could this leak and the early decision have on the United States and its citizens? To understand this premature decision by the current court, one must dive back to the 1970s, when SCOTUS undertook the case Roe. At the time, the court was led by Chief Justice Warren Burger, who was nominated under President Richard Nixon. Although appointed by a Republican president, the Burger Court established many liberal precedents, the most notable being Roe vs. Wade . According to PBS News Hour, Roe vs. Wade set in place “a constitutional right to an abortion in the United States.” However, most Americans often overlook that Roe vs. Wade was fought under the grounds of privacy rights, meaning the decision protects not only medical confidentiality, but also digital privacy through data collection. The case specifically reviewed the Due Process Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment, which describes that the state governments cannot deprive “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” with “due process of law” primarily meaning fair procedures through legislation. Therefore, the repeal of Roe will result in the loss of abortion rights and privacy rights through the internet. In addition, the case Casey must be reviewed. In 1992, SCOTUS, led at the time by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, upheld the decision made by the Burger Court. According to National Public Radio, while the court continued the precedent established in Roe , the ruling in Casey also permitted states to mandate restrictions to abortions, as long as the laws avoided “undue burdens.” In Roe , the Burger Court created a plan to permit abortions through the first trimester of a pregnancy, with limitations in the second and third trimesters with exceptions to the pregnant person’s health. Casey reformed this plan, allowing states to implement restrictions at any time of the pregnancy; however, significant obstacles, also known as the “undue burdens,” cannot be mandated to prevent abortions. It must be noted that the principle of an “undue burden” leaves a very loose interpretation for states to implement legislation. This demonstrates that while Roe established abortion rights, Casey permits more extensive limitations to abortions. Although Casey slightly reversed the progress made to create universal abortion rights, the case still upheld the ruling of Roe to permit abortions in the U.S. However, the premature case, formerly known as Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ( Dobbs ), forms a greater issue in the fight for abortion rights. A majority of the nine SCOTUS justices apparently ruled in favor of overruling Roe and Casey , meaning privacy rights and, mainly, abortions, will be decided by state legislators. As per the New York Times , thirteen states currently have trigger laws that will take effect immediately if federal abortion protection is revoked. Several of these state laws do not account for rape or incest. The Washington Post reports that an additional thirteen states would also certainly ban abortions or mandate substantial restrictions. Both media outlets outline that 26 states, a majority of the Union, would significantly limit the right to an abortion. While the decision in Dobbs could potentially lead to detrimental effects for women’s rights and a regression in American society to before the 1970s, one must also take into account the leak itself. POLITICO describes that a breach of this magnitude, through a published full draft, has not occurred in the history of SCOTUS. For example, in 1973, a whistleblower also leaked certain deliberations in Roe , but not the full scale official draft. Due to the leak, a complete rift has taken place inside SCOTUS. As Associate Justice Clarence Thomas explains in regard to the situation, “What happened at the court is tremendously bad…I wonder how long we’re going to have these institutions at the rate we’re undermining them. And then I wonder when they’re gone or destabilized, what we will have as a country? And I don’t think the prospects are good if we continue to lose them.” On May 3rd, Roberts ordered the SCOTUS Marshall, Gail Curley, to investigate and apprehend the leaker, which could be a justice, clerk, or any court employee with access to this confidential draft. At the moment, no gains on the whistleblower’s identity have been made. As this is a sensitive and relevant topic, students at Valley Stream North High School were asked to respond to two questions regarding the matter. Below are two responses to the questions. First Interview - Samantha Altieri, junior: 1. What is your opinion on the cases Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey ? Do you agree, disagree, or have a neutral stance with the policy established by the Supreme Court of the United States at the time? “ Roe is an established precedent and the law of the land. Regardless of your opinion on abortion, the right for individuals to seek safe and secure healthcare is enshrined in their 14th amendment rights. Messing around with established SCOTUS precedent will create a whole slew of messes that most people aren’t ready to deal with. Roe was a precedent for 50 years. What’s next? Brown? Loving? The constitution was written 200+ years ago. It’s a living, breathing document that should continue to grow and adapt to the ever changing needs of current American citizens. Technology continues to adapt to fit the needs of individuals, and the constitution should be interpreted in a way that does the same.” 2. What is your stance on the actions committed by the whistleblower who leaked the draft opinion established by the current Supreme Court of the United States regarding Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey? Do you think this action was appropriate, inappropriate, or irrelevant? “I was honestly more angered at what was leaked rather than the leak itself. I do think there are legitimate concerns over who leaked the draft opinion and what this means for the future of the court. Although I’d love to say I have a thoughtful opinion on that, I don’t. Right now I’m primarily concerned with ensuring all individuals have access to lifesaving healthcare. Abolishing Roe and Casey won’t stop abortions, it only stops safe abortions.” Interview two - Anonymous: 3. What is your opinion on the cases Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey ? Do you agree, disagree, or have a neutral stance with the policy established by the Supreme Court of the United States at the time? “I strongly disagree with the decision proposed by Justice Alito. It is a direct attack on the rights of women.” 4. What is your stance on the actions committed by the whistleblower who leaked the draft opinion established by the current Supreme Court of the United States regarding Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey ? Do you think this action was appropriate, inappropriate, or irrelevant? “While I think leaking it may have not been the right choice, what’s done is done, nothing to do now.” Evidently, much controversy revolves around this early majority draft. However, while many Americans consider the significance of the leak, most attention is received by the actual decision itself. Dobbs can potentially change the dynamic of women’s rights and prevent more substantial change from occurring at the federal level. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections North's Annual Club Fair Wardah Khizer Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 On September 16 th , 2025, Valley Stream North High School held its annual Club Fair, an event that gives students, especially the seventh graders, the opportunity to discover a variety of clubs and extracurricular activities the school has to offer. A wide variety of clubs attended, with poster boards and flyers in hand to gather participation for the new school year. Members from each club were present to answer questions and share their club’s goals. There were around 200 students in attendance, with many signing up to try new activities and get involved in school life. There was an energetic atmosphere with students moving from table to table, curious about extracurriculars and excited to make the school community a welcoming space. North High School prides itself on its diverse activities, as the school offers something for every student. For those interested in making decisions for the school as student leaders, there are options like grade and student councils. Creative students can express themselves through Art Club, Spartan Update, Polaris , and North Star. Those seeking community will find a welcoming space in Culture Society, Black Student Union, The Alliance, and the recently founded, Muslim Student Association. Students who are enthusiastic about service and giving back have options such as Students Taking on Problems (S.T.O.P.) Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D) Club, Key Club, Ecology Club, National Honor Society, and a multitude of subject honor societies dedicated to making a positive impact on the community. Many clubs called the Club Fair a success. For example, the North Star student news and literary magazine welcomed new writers to contribute articles and share their student voices. Students can share their opinions through editorials, write about school news, give movie and book reviews, and much more. The Muslim Student Association recruited members to participate in events and activities such as Charity Week, where they raise money to build shelters and provide Islamic relief to impoverished countries, henna workshops, and the annual Eid al-Fitr celebration at the end of Ramadan. The S.A.D.D. Club has new participants for Anti-Bullying Week, Traffic Safety Week, P.S. I Love You Day, and muffin sales for the school faculty. The S.T.O.P. Club gathered volunteers to participate in school volunteer activities, such as the plant sale, bake sales, Ronald McDonald House, and Bethany House. This event continues to have a lasting impact on students. “The Club Fair is successful every year and should continue as an annual event,” said 12th grader Mariam Balde. “My first year at this school, I was not aware of the clubs and activities I could participate in, but at the Club Fair, I learned about the S.T.O.P. Club and its goals as a service organization. This is now my fifth year as a member, and I have participated in many activities such as cooking breakfast at Ronald McDonald House, serving breakfast at Bethany House, Adopt-a-Family, and making cards for veterans and the elderly!” The annual Club Fair not only introduces students to the wide variety of extracurricular opportunities at North High School but also fosters school spirit.It ’s never too late to join a club! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections College Application Advice Sahar Ali Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Elaine Ching College applications can be overwhelming during senior year, especially while trying to manage work, school, sports, and maintaining a high GPA. For me, navigating the Common App and completing applications has been a struggle. Through my own experience, I’ve learned how to better approach the college application process which can help future seniors feel calm and relaxed while completing their applications. #1 - THE SAT/ACT The SAT is an exam many students take before going into college; however, some students opt for the ACT or take both. The SAT, composed of English and mathematics, is scored out of 1600 points, while the ACT, composed of English, mathematics, reading, science, and an optional writing section, is scored out of 36 points. Most students, according to the College Board, tend to take the SAT more than the ACT due to its many benefits such as more time per question. Although the SAT may appear frightening at first, practice can help students with understanding how questions are asked to become accustomed to the exam. I recommend taking an SAT course, either offered in school or from another organization, especially if you are aiming for a high score above 1300 because SAT questions get more complex with each module, so getting the right coaching can help chances of scoring higher. Aiming for a high score is possible for anyone, but it can be difficult to achieve if there is no practice involved. Fortunately, I was able to have the experience of receiving SAT prep outside of school; however, many people are unable to have the same. If you are unable to fit the SAT prep course offered at North in your schedule or are unable to receive prep outside of school, Khan Academy has a free SAT prep course with practice questions and videos on SAT topics. The Princeton Review also has textbooks with a QR code that provides five practice exams. The SAT is not simple English or math, rather, the questions test your deeper understanding and application of diverse concepts. Practicing for the exam can take months, which is why I recommend starting to practice before or during your junior year. Just remember: practice, practice, practice! #2 – STARTING THE COMMON APP The Common App is not something North students will start in class. Instead, they have to start the application on their own time over the summer. I recommend starting it around the start of August, which gives students enough time to answer the surplus of lengthy questions required by Common App. Depending on what schools you apply to, there will be more essays than just the college essay that you work on during English class. Starting the Common App early during the summer can help students jump start supplementals and reduce stress during the start of the school year. However, I believe the essays are the hardest part. #4 – LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Letters of recommendation are also a vital aspect of your college application as they show a student through the lens of other people, like high school teachers. During the end of your junior year, take some time to think about which teachers you would like to write your letter of recommendation. Keep in mind that you should find two teachers to write a letter on your behalf, unless otherwise stated by a specific school or program, like CUNY’s Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program, which requires five letters of recommendation. Think about teachers who you have created a bond with and are aware of your strengths and capabilities. It is recommended that you ask a teacher in person rather through Teams Chat, or email, in an extremely polite manner; writing a letter of recommendation takes time and thought and is no easy task. Ask your teachers at the end of junior year or at the start of senior year, so they have ample time to create a well written letter. Your teachers will upload your letter from Naviance. Guidance will help students navigate through the website during senior year. Common App has a unique feature for most, if not all schools, where students can add additional recommenders besides high school teachers. Select a school, and on the left-hand side bar where it shows the specific parts of the application, you will see “Recommenders and FERPA.” Scroll down until you see “Other recommender.” Over here, all the extra recommender types that are allowed by the school will be shown (Ex. Arts Teacher, Coach, Employer, Peer, Other). Some schools allow students to choose from a lot of recommender types, while other schools may only allow some recommender types; some schools may only allow one additional letter, while others may allow up to three – this solely depends on the school itself. Then proceed to add your recommender, and Common App will send them an email where they can upload your letter. In my own experience, I have asked a peer and an employer to write me an additional letter. Asking a peer to write a letter of recommendation is beneficial in my opinion since it shows admission counselors who you are outside of school and how you resonate with people; I personally love the fact that some schools, like Dartmouth, allow the peer recommendations as it sheds light on an applicant from a different perspective. I have written a peer recommendation for a friend and had found it to be quite interesting, yet fun at the same time. Remember, if you hope to ask a peer recommendation, choose wisely! Additionally, you are unable to see your letters of recommendations and are heavily encouraged to waive your rights. This will be done in the “Recommenders and FERPA” section of each school’s application on Common App. #3 - ESSAYS For many students, writing supplemental essays along with the main essay is one of the hardest parts of a college application. AP LIT students must write a draft of their college essay over the summer as an assignment; however, English 4 students write it during the school year. When writing your essay, you want to focus solely on yourself. That does not mean that you cannot write about others in your life. Focus on a specific event in your life and how it has impacted you. Or think about something that is special to you. It’s important to take some time to think about your essay, especially since it is a reflection of you as a person to admissions counselors. Even if you do not like the first draft of your college essay, do not panic! North’s 12th grade English teachers provide some of the best outlooks and will take time to help you brainstorm ideas. From my own experience, talking with my teacher and revising it with her has made my essay extremely unique; with her coaching, I was able to transform an unlikeable first draft into an exceptional final draft. Supplemental essays for certain schools, however, are not the main focus of 12th grade English classes. The number of supplementals a student has to write depends on the colleges they choose to apply to. Some students may have more essays than others, while some students may not have as many. Although you may not have your teacher to help with these specific essays, students may feel more confident writing them after writing their personal essay. Yet, many students, like myself, still have trouble writing supplementals. This is where I recommend you begin to look for a private writing instructor. My experience with a writing instructor has been immaculate, especially since the instructor has helped me get my thoughts down on words. Preply, a website where students can find tutors, has helped me find a highly qualified instructor for a reasonable price per hour. Even though it is not necessary to have that help, it certainly will help make your essays stand out more. Not only that, but certain supplementals can be reused if essay prompts are similar to one another. Just keep in mind to fix certain sections to make it specific to the school. Always do some research about the school and include it in your essays; whether it be classes, the campus’ environment, or even clubs, showing the school that you are aware of what they offer and showing your interest in the school, which is always favorable. Finally, if you ever need help with college applications, do not hesitate to reach out to your guidance counselor, any of your teachers, or even upperclassmen who are completing their applications. College applications can be overwhelming, but don’t forget that there are people who are willing to help. All you have to do is reach out, keep on top of your deadlines, and work hard. SOURCES: SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Should I Take? - College Board Blog BACK TO TOP

BACK TO ALL ARTICLES BACK TO SECTIONS NEWS CLICK PHOTO FOR MORE INFO Groundhog Day Wardah Khizer Read More June 8, 2026 The Capture of Nicolás Maduro Akilan Subramaniyan Read More June 8, 2026 North's Annual Club Fair Wardah Khizer Read More December 22, 2025 January 2026 Winter Storm Leah Ally Read More June 8, 2026 The Destructive Aftermath of Hurricane Melissa Akilan Subramaniyan Read More December 22, 2025 MSA's Annual Eid Festival Wardah Khizer Read More July 5, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 20