Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Slumdog Millionaire – A Cinematic Masterpiece By Alain Deen Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by IMBd “Slumdog Millionaire” is a film that I hold dear to my heart. Over the years, I have heard a lot about this film, primarily because I live in a brown household. However, it was not until this year that I feasted my eyes upon this cinematic masterpiece. I took Intro to Film, an English Department elective here at North, and it introduced me to a whole host of amazing films that are not commonly discussed among students. For instance, we watched “12 Years a Slave”, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Silence of the Lambs”, “Moulin Rouge”, and so many more. We watched “Slumdog Millionaire”, and it was quick to become one of my favorite films of all time. This may be partly due to my love for Dev Patel, but that is a story for another day. Watching this film was nothing short of a captivating, breathtaking, and enthralling experience. This might just be my favorite out of all the films we have watched in class this year. In short, the film is a romance drama, and it takes place from the years 1992 to 2006. The film centers around Jamal, a child growing up in the slums of India (specifically Mumbai). However, the film really takes place in 2006 as Jamal answers questions on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” The film flashes back to multiple points of his life, which helps him answer the questions. In 1992, we saw Jamal’s mother die due to a religious raid, leaving him and his brother Salim orphans. A corrupt orphan agency discovers the pair. In other words, they purposely injure the orphans and use them to beg for profit. Jamal and Salim quickly escape, while their friend Latika is held back. Jamal utilizes his experiences as a child to answer various questions, as he was exposed to various stimuli over the years. However, he is questioned and tortured as some are suspicious of his ability to answer the questions. After finding their way out of the raid, Salim and Jamal stumble upon Latika, an orphan girl. Over the years, Jamal has lost Latika, stumbles upon her again, and subsequently loses her over and over again. They hold a strong affinity for each other, but their relationship did not get the chance to flourish until 2006. As they grow up, Salim enters a life of crime, while Jamal seeks a simpler solution to his orphanage, finding jobs all over the place. His experiences helped Jamal win the game show, allowing him to become a millionaire. The film concludes with Salim’s death, and Jamal and Latika finally enjoying the opportunity to be with each other. This film is timeless. It provided me with the brown representation I have always desired in mainstream media. The story of a boy from the slums of India succeeding was both heartwarming and fulfilling to watch. The story itself did not consist of stereotypical representations, cliché themes, or out-of-touch dialogue. The plot provided us with a raw, emotional story about a boy from Mumbai. Dev Patel provided us with an outstanding performance. This film was simply a medley of beautiful cinematography, stellar performances, and an introspective look at Indian life. I loved the Indian representation in this award-winning film. It was amazing to see an Indian-centered film in the mainstream media, instead of Bollywood. I am from Guyana, a former British colony with Indian roots. It was beautiful to see brown representation, and I appreciated that the most. Additionally, Dev Patel is one of my favorite actors. I have never seen this film before, and he delivers a stunning performance as Jamal. His emotion is raw, which is what one should look for in an actor. His character portrays a sense of cool headedness while answering the questions, highlighting the complexity of Patel’s performance. His character should not have been shocked, as Jamal simply recalled past experiences to answer the questions. Patel developed the character around the concept of exposure in contrast to knowledge, which I loved. The cinematography, editing, and dialogue were superb. This film deserves a solid 5 out of 5 stars—no doubt in my mind. The film still holds up to this day for a variety of reasons. For one, the film taught me a valuable lesson on being grateful. Yes, I know it is basic, but the film really makes the audience aware of how little some children are left with. For instance, the polluted state of India was heartbreaking to see. Additionally, the tight living spaces and troubled education system also taught me to value both of those aspects of my life. For example, when Jamal and Salim ran through the streets, the living quarters were so tightly packed, which made me thankful for my spacious living conditions. Not only that, but it even served as a reminder to value my parents. Jamal and Salim lost their mother in one of the worst ways possible, sending them down a spiral of poverty and street living. Yet another reason to be grateful for my education, house, and most importantly, my parents. The film also taught me a minor lesson on street smarts in contrast to book smarts. While trivial knowledge comes in significant use, knowledge gathered from exposure to various situations definitely wins. Living in the slums helped Jamal become a better person, gain knowledge, and develop an introspective outlook on life. In my opinion, that is really important to recognize. As a high school student, I tend to get caught up in numbers, statistics, and data. However, it is worth noting that my experiences now are more definitive for my future than anything else. Lastly, the film taught me that when one stumbles upon the right person, they are really meant for each other. Latika and Jamal met from childhood, constantly lost each other, but managed to find each other time and time again. Overall, if you are looking for a compelling, raw story about the lows of modern Indian life, this is the film for you. The film contains valuable lessons, which is also why I recommend it. Who knows? It might even help if you ever have the opportunity to win a million dollars... BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Self Confidence By Manal Layachi Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Original photography by Elyas Layachi You might wonder, what is the meaning of self-confidence? Self-confidence is how someone feels about themselves and their abilities. It involves trusting yourself and your decisions. I play many sports, and they require a lot of self-confidence, especially running. It’s 90% mental and 10% physical. During the cross-country season, I had difficulty keeping up with the more experienced runners. I missed most of the meets because I was scared to compete, and my self-confidence wasn’t there. I kept telling myself, “I can’t do this. It’s impossible and too hard.” I did not perform that well during the races because I wasn’t trying to compete with other people. I ran slower than I wanted to. My self-esteem and confidence were very low. Athletes have a hard time with their self-confidence all the time. There is always a little voice in their head telling them that they can’t do it or it’s too hard. Our thoughts influence our actions. There are many simple ways to boost your self-confidence. First, get away from the people who will tear you down. Another thing you can do is write a list of what makes you unique and different from other people. You should have positive self-affirmations that you can tell yourself every day. My self-affirmation is, “I can do this. I am strong.” A quote by Eleanor Roosevelt says, “We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face … we must do that which we think we cannot.” This statement tells us that we shouldn’t be scared to do things. Instead, we should try to do the things that we think we cannot do even though we may feel like we can’t. That is how you build your self-confidence. Once you face many obstacles, you learn from those experiences and feel more confident about yourself and what you can accomplish. So, the day of my last meet, I wasn’t mentally prepared when we arrived, but I was ready after my coach and brother gave me a pep-talk. Even though the race was hard, I got through it with a positive mindset. My proudest moment was when I crossed that finish line with a smile on my face. I competed and regained my self-confidence. I ended up getting fifth place out of twenty-three people! All in all, people gain self-confidence in their own way, and anyone can do it if they just take a leap and never give up. In order to grow, you must embrace the uncomfortable, and use it to improve. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Aamna's Advice: Schoolwork Aamna Raja Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Inspirit AI Recently, I have been getting horrible grades in Social Studies. Even though I'm in an accelerated class, it's horrible. I even studied for this test and yet I still failed it. I never thought that I would be able to get such a low grade even though I studied almost the whole day for it. I expected better to be honest. My parents also didn't expect me to get such a low grade. They really don't like it when I get a low grade suddenly and they start suspecting that I'm doing something horrible, when really, I'm not. I got really upset when I got such a low grade even though I studied a lot. Social Studies is really a weak subject for me. -Anonymous Hello! Let me start off with this – High school is especially hard to adjust to when you’re first getting into it. I remember the first time I took an accelerated course; my grades were absolutely terrible. High school assignments are much harder than what you’re used to, especially if you’re taking a Regents Exam or an AP. I understand how you feel, and you aren’t wrong to feel this way. The feeling of studying and then failing even when you know you tried can be nauseating, and even worse is the worry of disappointing your parents. However, remember that you aren’t stuck in this loop of having bad grades. It’s only the beginning of the year- once you get used to the course, you’ll find yourself performing better than you did initially. Further than that, remember that your worth is not equal to your grades in school. You may worry about failing a class and disappointing your parents, but I’m sure that your grades aren’t the only thing they see in you. They see how you are as a person, how you behave, and how you are morally. If you’re looking to improve in social studies, I’d recommend attending extra help. If you know any upperclassmen who’ve taken the course, you can ask them for advice on how they studied and learn from them as well. If you don’t, I’m here, you can always ask me. Every teacher in the social studies department here is very friendly, so asking one of them for help is a good idea. Now, I have definitely dealt with teachers whose style did not match up with my learning style, and I struggled. Unfortunately, you cannot transfer classes to get a different teacher. However, depending on the subject you’re taking, there are other ways to get the help and teaching you need. If it’s is a math class, for example, you can attend the math lab in room 114 during your lunch period and other teachers will be there to help. If anything, ask a friend in a different class when their teacher has extra help, and you may be able to find some helpful resources. This next part is a little controversial, but trust me, it works. Chat GPT is often used for cheating, which you should NOT do as it’s plagiarism, and that can get on your permanent record. HOWEVER, it can be an incredibly helpful learning tool, and you can ask it to explain concepts to you in a comprehensible way. I’ve used it to study for many of my exams. You can even ask it to give you practice questions and explain why your answer is correct or incorrect. AI is very powerful when used properly. You can even ask it to explain concepts in terms you’re more efficient in, such as an analogy to a video game. Good luck to you! High school can be extremely academically challenging, but just remember your grades don’t define who you are, and there’s always room for improvement. And hey, even if there isn’t, appreciate the fact you worked hard and care about school. That shows you have sound morals. Remember, I’m here if you need me! Signed your friend and Advice Columnist at North Star, Aamna <3 BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Toxic Ball By Elizabeth Andre April 22, 2021 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles Fiction, Polaris Back to Sections Nature's Elegance By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by Elaine Ching White flowers in bloom, Grace dark brown branches with poise, Nature's elegance BACK TO TOP

< Back About the Course Your Instructor

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections New York University Annie Diep Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by The Patriot Description: NYU, also known as New York University, is a private institute founded in 1831 by Albert Gallatin located in New York City, the business and fashion center of New York. They have more than 171 buildings under their name, and the university also has two other degree-granting campuses based in Shanghai of China and Abu Dhabi of United Arab Emirates. They also offer over 25 countries for students to select when studying abroad. Acceptance rate: 8% Tuition: Depending on the program and your circumstances, these prices may vary. For the 2023-2024 school year: Tuition - $60,438 Food and Housing - $24,102 Books and supplies - $1,494 Transportation - $1,154 Personal Expenses - $3,034 TOTAL: $90,222 Application fee : $80 Popular majors: Visual and Performing Arts – 17% Social Sciences – 14% Business, Management, Marketing, and related majors – 13% Psychology – 7% Notable Alumni: Jelani Alladin Angelina Jolie Anne Hathaway Chris Evans Lucy Liu Location: NYU’s buildings are scattered all across New York City. The majority of them fall among Houston Street, Broadway, 14th Street, and Sixth Avenue. As there are too many buildings to list, we’ll only list a few of the residential buildings. Lafayette Residence Hall - 80 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013 Greenwich Residence Hall - 636 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10014 Hayden Residence Hall - 240 Mercer St, New York, NY 10012 Broome Street Residence Hall - 400 Broome St, New York, NY 10013 Seventh Street Residence Hall - 40 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003 Source: New York University Academics & Majors - US News Best Colleges NYU BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Anonymous - Who Am I? - 8 By Anonymous November 19, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Don't Fear the Angel Ava Augello Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 She’s staring down at me. Or rather it is, I regret coming to the abandoned cemetery. Its stone eyes peer down in hatred, wings outstretched in warning; it’s a drastic difference from its angelic form. Yet it remains still. The moist dead leaves squelch under my rainboots, I attempt to withdraw from the momentous grave. But I slip, falling back, my jaw rattles, my skull making hard contact with the tombstone beneath. My heart pounds as I stare up with unease at the fallen angel. It approaches me. Simultaneously, its sharp scythe presses firmly against my throat. Death has come for me. 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