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Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Standing On the Ledge: VSN Mental Health from a Student Perspective By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Ohio Department of Education When I first entered South Side High school to take my ACT in December, I found myself bombarded with posters and signs advertising their mental health resources. I saw the faces, names, and locations of guidance staff, school psychologists, and various other student support services professionals, just by walking in the front door.  My first thought was: Something must have happened here. Sadly, I was right. A quick google search showed two students had committed suicide in 2019. I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the students who died. It is not uncommon for schools and other institutions to respond to mental health issues after a crisis. Studies show that teen suicide rates are on the rise and have more than doubled since 2007. [1] The global pandemic has amplified this particular issue. Students are hurting for so many different reasons. Here is my story: The lowest point I remember came at the beginning of my sophomore year. I dangerously teetered on the edge of an emotional cliff I felt would have been impossible to climb back up. I was sad, anxious and depressed. Despite the helpful efforts of my teachers, my grades were falling lower than they ever had. I was sleeping erratically, either 2 or 12 hours a night. I could not eat; I lost 8 pounds from skipping meals. By November, I was too focused on seeing the next morning to care about whatever work I had been assigned the night before. I sat there, cold, tired, and apathetic to it all, and worse, I refused to ask for help. My talkative and happy demeanor created an easy mask for the problems I was facing. Every potentially concerning thing I said was passed off as “just a joke.” Despite how difficult it is for students to talk about their emotions and problems, I have supportive parents to whom I could turn for help, and I was ultimately able to receive help outside of school. I began treatment, and I can happily say, I am doing better than ever. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of students across the country is well-documented, but difficult to see happening to young people all around us – some who are on our screens only during the school day. Many students have spoken out to their friends or in extra-curricular club settings, saying the pandemic has “sent their mental health down the drain,” or otherwise negatively impacted their well-being. Students around me are voicing deep feelings of loneliness, even writing to the advice column in the North Star to ask about making friends virtually. As a school community, we have to check in frequently with each other because we are not okay. There are many steps a school can take to publicize and destigmatize mental health services at school. Signs around the school communicating facts about how common mental health challenges are can help to take away the shame that I and others feel when they experience symptoms; studies on a national scale show small steps like signage actually work. [2] Small changes or additions can actually have a significant impact. What We Can Do: Some examples of dispensing information widely might include: Posts on teams with the names and locations of student support services personnel to take the place of in-person signage for the many students who are virtual or hybrid right now. Well-documented and well-known protocols outlining the steps students, parents, and teachers can take to get access to school resources in a transparent, simple and confidential way. Increase in overall mental health awareness by holding more, and well-advertised, events to provide support. The Student Wellness Forum over the weekend of March 6th was a good start, and the second in that series is March 13th. We also can introduce a “SAFE” club. “SAFE” stands for Suicide Awareness and a Friendly Environment, this club may also focus on mental health in general, instead of just specifically suicide prevention. This is similar to what was done by students at Southside after both suicides had taken place. [3] A focus on Mental Health Awareness Month this May. We could hold a hallway decoration competition similar to Red Ribbon Week (THIS WEEK!) for drug awareness. We could ask each club to bring up Mental Health as a meeting topic during a meeting in May. For my part, as a leader in The Alliance club here at North, I’ve been engaging with the club’s members in discussions which helped me construct this article, and I feel like if we all work together as a school, every small step we take can add up to a big positive impact on students. BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Adelphi Press Day By Elaine Ching Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by North Student On February 17th, the staff of North High School’s School News and Literary Magazine, North Star and POLARIS, went to Adelphi University in Garden City to participate in Adelphi’s Press Day, an event in which school newspapers from all over Long Island and beyond gather to work with college professors, collaborate in workshops, and learn how to better their journalistic skills. North students got to dive into the topic of newspapers moving from print to online, the theme of this year’s Adelphi Press Day. Starting off the event, students were sat in the Ruth S. Harley University center. They listened to guest speaker, Chris Corry, a renowned and experienced journalist. Along with other speakers were the Editor In Chief and faculty advisor from Lynbrook High School’s award-winning newspaper, The Horizon . Speakers shared their experiences with the press to further inspire student journalists. After a Q&A with the panel of speakers, students were sent off to participate in two workshops of their choice. For their first workshop, North students participated in #AUPressDay Photo Challenge with Chris Corry , in which students got to learn some fundamentals of photography such as the rule of thirds. In addition, they were taught how to take the best photos, just by using cameras available to them, their cellphone cameras. Students went around campus taking photos and then later reviewed them with other students. For their second workshop, the North Star staff split into two groups. One group going to Finding Ideas: From the News Pages to the Book workshop with Paul Thaler, a professor at Adelphi, where they were discussed how to best use their journalistic skills in order to write for the newspaper and to further improve their writing skills. The other group went to the Share Your Online Successes/ Missteps , where they collaborated with other students in order to discuss their newspaper’s online presence. Due to North Star being an online-only publication , North Star staff took the opportunity to display their website for the other schools. After both workshops, students were provided with lunch by Adelphi and got to watch the Quill Awards, an Awards ceremony where Adelphi chooses school newspaper schools to be honored with wins in categories such as “Best Layout”, a prize North Star has taken home in the past. News Editor, Everton Prospere, shows the North Star website to other students along with Shinedip Kundlas, Editor in Chief, Kimberly Shrestha, Art Editor, and Christina Ossa, Feature Editor. (Names listed from right to left). Entertainment and Media Editor, Alain Deen, takes a photo of Elyas Layachi, Managing Editor, taking a photo of Everton Prospere, News Editor, during the # AUPressDay Photo Challenge workshop. Photo taken by Augustine Magapan, North Star staff. Manal Layachi, North Star staff, Elaine Ching, Social Media Manager, Navrosedip Kundlas, POLARIS Editor, and Kimberly Shrestha, Art Editor in the Ruth S. Harley University center. (Names listed from left to right) Photo taken by Shinedip Kundlas, Editor in Chief. North Star staff members, Nora Chery, Rachel Ezeadichie, and Manal Layachi in the Ruth S. Harley University center waiting for the event to start. (Names listed from left to right). BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections If Aldous Huxley Were a Mathematician By Lucy Wu Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by High Times *Note: This article contains minor plot spoilers for Brave New World , the satirical novel by Aldous Huxley. If you would like to preserve your initial reaction to this novel, please refrain from reading this article. During quarter 2, the AP Literature classes, were tasked with reading and analyzing Brave New World, one of the most notable (and existentially terrifying) works of Aldous Huxley. Unlike most dystopian books, the society is not inherently horrifying for its post-apocalyptic citizens or war-torn landscapes, but for their docile complacency and unwavering happiness (for the most part, at least). Certainly, ideas abnormal and even taboo to our modern world including a vehement aversion to literature and maintaining non-nuclear family households were plentiful throughout the novel. But while reading, something else was amiss. The thing that bothered me the most was not the artificial duplication of humans or depriving them of flowers when born. It was not even John’s secretive pursuit of Lenina (which was mildly uncomfortable to say the least). Rather, when introducing the social classes, the basis of the World-State and major source of character tension in the book, Huxley utilized Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons to delineate between the social classes. Alphas are the highest class, followed by the Betas, and continuing until Epsilons, who are the slaves of the society as they are deprived of the most oxygen in the Bokanovsky process (don’t try that at home). Each class has distinguishing characteristics from their cloned appearances to the color uniform they wear, but it is made abundantly clear that being an Alpha is most desirable. Thus, the novel fixates on just a few of the lucid Alpha or Beta men and women of the society. The book piqued my interest because of Huxley’s immaculate attention to detail, unparalleled intention, and hidden meanings peppered throughout the novel. I admired his wittiness like his play on words: instead of “Lord,” the citizens say “Ford” (like the Model T Ford) because technology and automation prevail as their God. Thus, I had anticipated a greater analysis of the classes from Huxley, and not just a quick utilization of Greek alphabet letters. So when he didn’t spend paragraphs and pages rambling on about the ornate class structure, or even scrutinize the viewpoints of each class member closely, I was truthfully, disappointed. For the rest of the novel, this perturbed me: my thoughts ran rampant and my psyche was heightened with unease. I wish I was being hyperbolic (pun definitely intended: get it? hyperbola/hyperbole?) but I’m 100% serious. Ford, the missed potential! What do these symbols really mean? How could these interpretations contribute to the themes present in the overall work? (Sorry, I stole that one from Q3 of the AP Lit exam). Thus, it begged the question: what if Aldous Huxley were a mathematician? But always, permutation matters. In our case, Huxley will still maintain all of his skill as a novelist and philosopher, but his literary choices will be laden with his newfound mathematical skill. peripheral Alphas - Grey Betas - Mulberry Gammas - Green Deltas – Khaki Conveniently enough, in mathematics, there are two forms of the delta symbol: Delta (with a capital D) is the triangle shape, one that symbolizes change over time delta (with a lowercase d) is like a snake, and generally symbolizes a tiny quantity Thus if Huxley were a true mathematician, Deltas would be the instigators for change in the society, as opposed to his fixation on solely Alphas and Betas. He could focus on the plight of the lower classes, Epsilons - Black In my opinion, out of all the social classes, epsilon is perfectly named. In the novel, the epsilons are the bottom of the barrel in society. Trust me when I say you do not want to be an epsilon. They cannot form coherent, independent thoughts, and we repeatedly witness Alphas and Betas mocking them, expressing their gratuity that they were not conditioned to be an epsilon. If that wasn’t enough, they’re even purposely short in stature. But Paul Erdos, the notoriously eccentric mathematician, fondly refers to the small children in his life as epsilons. Thus, epsilons in the novel perfectly match their definition, since they both denote infinitesimal quantities the closest you can approach zero without having absolutely nothing numerically and socially. For the majority of the novel, the classes have minimal intermingling and most do not even talk to each other. But I think Roof deserves a friend, so in terms of proofs, it would have made perfect sense to pair him with a delta, since they are both small forces in an oppressive society. Moreso, -------------------------- As a bonus, I’ll resolve one of our heated debates from class. John, our protagonist in the second half of the novel, is described by Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, as merely an experiment because he enters the World-State as an outsider from the Reservation. This led to the seeds for an analogy; if the society is the overall experiment, is John the independent or dependent variable in the trials that are the different colonies? As a result, John represents Keep in mind, in order to truly quantify the accuracy and magnitude of the effect, there must be a large sample size or n tested. To avoid erroneous conclusions and implications of causation rather than correlation, Mond must repeatedly test John’s presence in nearly identical societies, always checking for confounding variables. Control variable? Control group?? Existential negation In technical writing, we call this proof by contradiction. For instance, (There are many other methods to discuss, but we’d go through the entirety of mathematics before we finished.) I understand my demands are great, given the parameters. After all, Huxley is a philosopher, a constant in his writing, and not a mathematician (but one can dream, can’t they?). And to give credit where credit is due, he certainly gets some things right, such as the epsilons (roof!). However, by happenstance or intention, we may never know. Certainly, I believe peering into the lives of the other caste classes would prove illuminating, but alas, where is the political commentary in that? But my initial question lends itself to asking: what if Huxley were an economist? Or a priest? Or even a genetic engineer? How drastically would his social classes change if so? What does it all mean in the context of the novel? But after exploring the intricacies of mathematical social classes, I think such questions are best not pondered. Instead I suggest, “don’t give a damn, take a gramme” of soma. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Stern By Luiginna Frederique January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Interview with Volleyball Star Alessandra Llubit By Argelina Jeune Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Original photography by Alessandra Llubit Alessandra (Ally) Llubit is a senior and has played volleyball for all four years of high school. It has taught her how to be a teammate and friend. Not only has it helped her grow physically but mentally as well. North Star interviewed Ally to understand her perspective on her experience over the past four years. What do you like about your sport? Volleyball has always sparked an interest in me. This is a sport that involves teamwork and I have a lot of love for my team. Compared to the other sports I play, volleyball comes more naturally to me. Since I have also played volleyball for around seven years, I have gained a lot of confidence and experience. In my opinion volleyball is satisfying to watch and play and will always be my favorite sport. What has your sport helped you learn about yourself? Playing volleyball has helped me realize that I love being a part of a team. This year's season in particular was so special, and I believe it had to do with the bond that my teammates and I created. I have learned how to pick my teammates up and to never give up on them through playing this sport. If even one player is down and not performing at their best, I was able to comfort them while giving them a pep talk and get their head back in the game. How has this sport shaped your life and you as a person? I believe throughout the years of playing volleyball I have gained a lot of leadership skills and I have become more vocal. I feel that playing sports in general can help you communicate better with others, especially with team sports such as volleyball. As I have played more games, I have become stronger mentally, allowing me to focus and relax during nerve-racking moments, such as playing this year's playoff game. What will you miss about playing at North? What I will miss the most about playing at North is definitely the team aspect. I have gained many long-lasting friendships playing volleyball. Especially this year's team, there are many sophomores and juniors and I never expected myself to become so close with them. Because of the bond we all had between us, we gained plenty of trust while learning from one another, and it all showed in the fact that we won conference champions. In addition, I will miss the guidance and encouragement that Coach Parisi provided all these years and Ms. Parisi plays a big part in my success as a volleyball player. What do you look forward to in college? College has caused me to experience a variety of emotions, such as excitement and stress. Throughout the application process, I have felt the most pressure and stress I have ever experienced in a while. However, wondering what my future may hold is still very exciting and anticipatory. In addition to being more independent and being able to make new friends, I am looking forward to having more freedom. The college experience overall is quite thrilling, and I cannot wait. Do you plan on continuing to play this sport? Although I have thought about playing volleyball in college, I decided not to play division volleyball, but instead to play club volleyball. Volleyball is not something I plan to play seriously, but only for fun, since I know I will still be drawn to the sport. In general, I enjoy playing the sport, so I don't plan to completely give it up. North Star would like to thank Ally for the time she spent answering the questions for this interview; we wish her luck in her future endeavors. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections New Music in our Hallways? Express yourself! By Stephy Varughese Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Elaine Ching For years, Valley Stream North High School has been playing music in the hallways for special occasions such as spirit week. Our student body and teachers do not necessarily favor or notice the chosen music being played in the hallways. The music selection is generally lackluster and not loud enough to be heard. The current random selection of songs does not provoke the interest of the students, nor does it uplift the students emotionally. A student-based music committee, responsible for selecting the music that should be played in the hallways, may resolve this issue. The committee should follow basic school guidelines, such as the nonuse of inappropriate language and acceptable innuendos. However, multiple students regardless of their class status, should have an influence on what music should be played in hallways and classrooms. Music is an art form designed to evoke emotion in whoever is listening and the music in the hallways should reflect that. Students should listen to music that makes them feel energized and confident when going to class. Studies show that listening to music can have a positive impact on a person’s mental health. It can also lift the mood of the person who listens to it. When listening to the current songs in the hallways, students often feel unenthusiastic because it holds no significant resonance to them. Why not give our fellow students the self-confidence they need to face their next class with the help of the music they love? Our international students should also be able to express their opinions on the music selections. It is better to listen to authentic cultural music of different backgrounds rather than Disney songs in different languages that are currently being played. Let's face it, we are all not fans of Disney music. A better variety of music would generate a greater understanding and interest in music that people of various cultures are accustomed to. This isn’t limited to traditional songs. If students can listen to modern songs from other countries, then they can get interested in the cultures of other ethnic groups and enjoy the new variety of music. ____ I interviewed several students to ask what they think about the music that plays here at North. Commentators are left anonymous per their request: “There should be a designated group of students that will monitor the music played. There are many times where there are difficulties or poor music choices throughout our current process.” “I think a music committee should be established in North because it can help and further connect the students of North by choosing enjoyable songs for the students to listen to in the hallways. I feel that it is best for fellow students to pick these songs out because it allows for proper song choices that students will actually enjoy, rather than having an older staff member pick a song choice that students wouldn’t find enjoyable. Students will listen to these song choices picked up by their peers and feel better motivated while walking to their next class.” “Music is cool, and I love music and we should open up everyone to all genres to appreciate music as it is.” “There should be a designated group of students that will monitor the music played. There are many times where there are difficulties or poor music choices throughout our current process.” “I believe that we should create a music committee because it allows music from other cultures to be played which makes people feel more included. Also, I think that the speakers in the hallway were too quiet so barely anyone can hear the music.’ ___ Of the students I interviewed, 92% agreed that the music in North needs improvement in the choice of music and the need for a music committee. Most students say that they would like to hear better pop songs, rap, indie, K-pop, and other types of music. It seemed to agree that “less cringy” music, such as songs from movies and musicals, should be played in the halls. What can be done: The music committee shouldn’t be a club or part of a club, but an optional meeting for students interested in deciding what music should be played. Discussions, polling, and active communication would be beneficial to unite students and introduce new songs to them in the process. All music can be filtered through the teacher/advisor’s approval process and can be decided/voted upon what top music students would like to hear. This way, both teachers and students have a firmer acceptance of the choice of songs. Do you want a music committee in North High school or does the current music not affect you? Let us know! E-mail: varughes@vschsd.org BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections In Honor of Gina Pellettiere Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Massapequa Funeral Home In the world of music, a teacher's grace, Gina Pellettiere, a shining face. Dude, was her call, all fun through and through, In her community, bonds forever grew.   In the band that felt like a family's embrace, She built a supportive, positive space. A safe haven where her students could be, Impacting their lives, a legacy to see.   Energetic and full of life's zest, She inspired her students, always their best. Happiest memories, nugget fights and more, Creating bonds that our hearts still adore.   As she played the trumpet, her passion did show, In band camp and karaoke, a vibrant flow. Her love for her students, an unwavering flame, Inspiring a music teacher, in her name.   In her work, music's rhythm, and band's charm, She led with devotion, with warmth and calm. She'd ask about muffins, the weather, and more, Creating moments worth cherishing for sure.   Gina Pellettiere, a teacher so dear, In the world of music, she's always near. Her impact, her energy, her legacy, so grand, In the hearts of her students, forever to stand. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections To Blush or Not to Blush? Giancarlo Oliveri Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Patrick Ta Cosmetics Makeup trends have evolved significantly just in the past decade alone. From matte-based looks with blinding highlighter, to the current dewy clean girl makeup, many have shortened their application time from hours to minutes at a time. Notably, one of the greatest changes to date is blush . Ever since the Ancient Egyptians first rosy-d their cheeks, many consider blush as a staple of their makeup routines. However, with increasingly popular methods of powder, liquid, matte, and cream blushes on the market and the recent I’m Cold Girl makeup trend, based on appearing flushed, many think blush usage has gone overboard. Has it? On one hand blush elevates one’s appearance as most cosmetics are intended to do. Appearing feminine, rosy, and classic; with prominent usage from pin-up girls in the 50s, to striking 80s supermodels, all the way to the liquid users now. When blended correctly, blush adds a feminine flush to the face! Further, when applied from the temples of the cheek, one looks contoured, adding the illusion of cheekbones, and framing the face in a sharp, almost model-like way. On the other hand, blush may add the unintended consequence of sweatiness. As mentioned briefly, the dewy look is in style, with moist setting sprays, and liquid/cream products in power, many look as if they had just perspired. Pounds of blush may add to this effect, with some appearing as if they just ran the New York City Marathon or like a tomato. However, to others this look is appealing, seen with popular actors and influencers such as Sydney Sweeney’s character in the hit-tv show Euphoria , or Hailey Bieber, dawning the look frequently. In contrast, the natural, light, no-makeup look has always been applauded. Focusing primarily on concealing blemishes, adding warmth to the face, and appearing effortless and flawless, this look highlights natural features without the time and products needed for other looks. This may also appear more beginner-friendly, with less abstract, time-consuming processes required for other looks. The verdict? Completely up to your preference. There is no better way to find out than testing and trying new unexplored methods and techniques. Skyrocketing in popularity in 2016, the YouTube Beauty Community remains strong today, with anyone from Drag Queens to at-home influencers providing tutorials. Also, makeup does not have to be the flashiest, or priciest, with expense ≠ quality. Makeup from your local CVS or Walgreens, otherwise drugstore makeup works as, if not better than most luxury brands, with the bonus of not hurting your bank account. No matter your choice however, it is important to note the significance of your dollar. Many popular companies such as Covergirl, Clinique or Maybelline, still readily test on animals in 2023. So, regardless of if you are trying out a new product, remember not to support companies that harm animals. For more information, attached is an article detailing cruelty-free brands: https://ethicalelephant.com/cruelty-free-makeup-drugstore-brands/ . Also, overconsumption, or the excessive buying then disposing of items, remains a prominent epidemic, with millions of products ending up in landfills and later in our ozone layer. Thus, choosing cruelty-free brands that will last, rather than hopping on the next mini-trend is essential to repairing our increasingly declining environment. Overall, whether you like the rosy look, the natural look, or an in-between, makeup is a highly diverse form of expression, for anyone and everyone willing to pick up a beauty blender. As such, experimentation with one’s look is inevitable, especially with the diversity of products, and ingredients, most evidently with blush; a staple for many. However, regardless of if you enter a Sephora , or CVS Pharmacy, be mindful with what you spend your money on, as your choices could harm both animal and human health. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections What is number theory? By Alyssa Garufi and Hannah Lee Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Interesting Engineering Anyone who has ever fallen in love can tell you it is the little things about the other person that make them attractive: the way they do their hair, the peculiarities of how they write, the way they sing a certain part of a song out of key every time... Such details come to define us. They trace the outlines of our personalities, and, to the observant eye, they illuminate true beauty. In the eyes of some, there is no finer beauty than that found in mathematics. Some look at numbers and, just as you’d never define your beloved human solely based on their eye color, the math lover sees beyond the mere function of numbers. The likes of 1, 2, and 3, turn into something more sublime than simple carriers of information. The math lover looks for questions, patterns, and proofs as to why simple equations like 1+1 equals 2. This is essentially what number theory is: the study of subtle and radical relationships between and among numbers. Euclid of Alexandria was a key contributor to the foundation of number theory. He developed and proved the concept of infinite primes, which eventually became a key notion in the field of number theory. As most of us know, prime numbers are integers that are greater than one and have only two factors - one and themselves. Euclid hypothesized that there was an infinite number of primes, which he then sought to prove. He did this through a method known as proof by contradiction. Essentially, Euclid assumed that there was a finite number of primes, and disproved that concept, which leads to the conclusion that an infinite number of primes exist. This concept of infinite primes would become one of the most foundational ideas of number theory. While number theory may seem like an abstract concept that is only used by those who work in the math field, it has many practical applications. For instance, many companies use encryption to protect their data, which is a concept that stems from the number theory. Oftentimes, encryption is done using basic primes of a very large number. The basic primes of a number are obtained when the integer is broken down into its prime factors, which you may know by its other name: prime factorization. Each number has a unique set of prime factors, and by using the basic primes of large numbers, companies can ensure that their data is safely protected. Now that you know the basics of number theory, try it out yourself. I will give you a sequence of numbers and you have to try and find a pattern, formula, or some sort of relationship between the numbers in order to figure out what the first term of the sequence is. Remember: think creatively, not everything is so black and white. Example: what is the first term in the sequence? ….11, 24, 75, 304 5 8 9 10 Explanation: Alright, so you decided to take on the example problem and have come searching for the answer. The answer is *drum roll* 10! I hope you got it right. If not, it is okay. Let me explain to you how I went about it. I noticed that the second term, 11, and the third term, 24 could be formed by taking the second term and multiplying it by two and adding two. However, this equation of (n*2+2) does not work for the third number, 24, into the fourth sequence, 75. The equation that does work for these two transitions is, however, (n*3 +3). Taking 24 times 3 and adding 33 to that gets you 75! Therefore, it is visible that there may be a pattern forming in the equations from each preceding number. I finally checked to see if 75 times 4 plus 4 (n*4 +4) gets you to 304, and it did! There you go! You figured out the pattern. Using this pattern, you worked backward to find out that the first term is 10 since 10 times 1 plus 1 (n*1 +1) is 11! Good job, VSN! BACK TO TOP