This section is entirely controlled by students. Here is where you'll find topics, opinions, movie reviews, and more. Students can review and publish anything at any time.

Ribs On the Ground By: Anonymous student Date: 12-11-24

I don’t want to grow up.

I can feel it when I wake up in the morning—the way the weight of me feels heavier than just fabric, the way my backpack isn’t just a bag but a reminder that the world is demanding more from me. Each day, the world inches closer, asking me to step out of this small, fleeting moment where I still get to be a kid.

But here’s the thing: I’m not ready.

There’s a certain kind of magic in youth-hood, a fragile, unspoken kind that we don’t realize we have until it’s almost too late. The laughter in the soul, the joy that feel like they might last forever, the inside eternity that seem to exist only between us, the fleeting hours of freedom before the weight of “real life” pulls us into its orbit. In these moments, the world feels smaller, more manageable, like a place where things are still soft enough to fall into, like it could last forever.

We talk about growing up like it’s some grand, inevitable adventure, but it doesn’t feel like an adventure. It feels like a loss. The loss of simplicity. The loss of safety. The loss of time.

The older I get, the more I realize that the people who tell us to hurry up and grow up—they’re the ones who are afraid. They’re afraid of what we have now: this unguarded innocence, this stubborn belief that life can still be beautiful and uncomplicated. They’re afraid of what happens when we no longer have the luxury of living in the moment, when every decision becomes a weight on our shoulders, and every dream feels just a little bit farther out of reach.

I want to hold on to this—these late-night talks, these quiet moments of just being me, the certainty that I can still laugh without worrying about the next thing. Because once we let go, there’s no going back.

The future feels like a shadow I can’t outrun, and no matter how fast I run, it follows me. But I’m not ready to leave behind this piece of me—the piece that still believes in magic, that still thinks the world is a little bit kind, that still feels like we could be okay.

So, I’ll stay here for as long as I can. I’ll stay in these halls where nothing is final, where every day feels like a new beginning. I’ll hold on to these moments, even when the world tells me I have to let go. Because growing up might be inevitable, but it doesn’t mean I have to want it.

Not yet, anyway. Not today.

And maybe that’s okay.

Dramarama                                         By: Anonymous Student Date: 12-7-24

Okay, I’m just going to say it: I hate drama. No, not the kind where you get on stage and pretend to be someone else. I mean the kind where people gossip, spread rumors, and make everything way more complicated than it needs to be. It’s honestly exhausting.

First of all, can we talk about how much energy drama takes up? Like, who has time for that? I barely have enough energy to finish my homework, let alone keep up with who’s mad at who and why. It feels like every other day someone is “fighting” with someone else, and then the whole school gets involved. It’s like a soap opera, but without the cool plot twists. Instead, it’s just over nothing. It’s usually something small that gets blown out of proportion, and suddenly everyone’s talking about it. It’s honestly tiring.

And don’t even get me started on how it spreads. One person says something, then another person adds their opinion, and before you know it, the entire school thinks there’s some huge issue. It’s like a virus, except instead of getting sick, you get stressed out and annoyed. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard someone say, "Did you hear about what happened?" And honestly, I just don’t care. I’d rather hear about something interesting, like how to actually pass the next math test.

Then there’s the part where people act like it’s some kind of entertainment. Seriously, some people seem to thrive on the chaos. They gossip, stir things up, and then watch everyone else get caught in the mess they created. It’s like a game to them, but for the rest of us, it’s just plain uncomfortable. Like, why would I want to be around people who make drama their main hobby?

The worst part is when you get pulled into something you didn’t even do. One minute, you're minding your business, and the next minute, someone’s asking if you’re "on someone's side" or if you’re "taking part in the drama." Like, no, I’m not, I just want to get through the day without having to worry about who’s mad at who. People need to chill.

Honestly, I don’t understand why anyone would want to be involved in all this drama. I get that sometimes stuff happens, but it feels like people blow things out of proportion just to keep things "exciting." But let’s be real: it’s not exciting. It’s just stressful and annoying. I’ve got enough going on in my life without having to deal with the constant back-and-forth of who’s upset with who.

In conclusion, drama is overrated. It’s time-consuming, stressful, and just unnecessary. Maybe we should all try to focus on something more important, like getting our grades up or planning for the future instead of spending our time arguing about things that don’t really matter. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather have a peaceful day with no drama. So, count me out.

What's Next?- Opinion                                    By: Jane Doe    Date: 11-7-24                  

Local man breaks the odds!             By: Fernando Santiago      Date: May 21st 2024

Walking in I was given 6% odds of success. So I had to walk in as a betting man. When the  match began I started by observing the other guys play style. I noticed that the other guys tactic consisted of more rudimentary attacks that could be read and countered. I also observed that my opponent had a weaker guard, meaning they were susceptible to projectiles and grab attacks. There were times where I thought the win odds were right.

 Nevertheless I persisted to beat the overpowering odds. After managing to even the score, I made it to the 3rd round of the 3rd match. At that point I was almost certain that I'd make it. It all came down to the moment where we were both critical and either of us could've come out being the better. Once I saw an opening, I went for a final match grab, setting in stone the better in this bout. If I had words to tell someone that's in a similar situation I'd tell them to "never give up" and "never let [yourself] down", but more importantly "never run around and desert [yourself]"

The Difference Between Review & Criticism         By: Mehran Zahiri        Date: May 20th 2024

While the terms "review" and "criticism" are often used interchangeably, there are differences between them. Note how motion pictures are often referred to as "films" when discussing criticism, and "movies" when discussing reviews.

Film criticism is the study, interpretation, and evaluation of a film and its place in cinema history. Film criticism usually offers interpretation of its meaning, analysis of its structure and style, judgement of its worth by comparison with other films, and an estimation of its likely effect on viewers. Film theory (e.g. feminist, postmodernist, etc.) often informs the critical analysis of a film. Criticism may examine a particular film, or may look at a group of films in the same genre, or a director's or actor's body of work.

Film criticism differs from movie reviews in several ways: it entails both analysis and judgement; it may be published many years after a film is released; it is usually longer and more complex than a movie review. A movie review documents the critical reception of a film at its time of theatrical or dvd release. It is more "consumer-oriented," placing more emphasis on recommendation than analysis.

Reviews of feature films or mainstream films may be found in online databases, newspapers, and general interest magazines (e.g. New York Times, Village Voice, Cineaste).

In-depth criticism and analyses of some feature films or mainstream films, foreign films, independent films, documentaries, etc. may be found in more scholarly or academic publications (e.g. Film Quarterly, Cinema Journal, Film International).

Masayoshi Takanaka's Music          By: Student Writer      Date: May 17th 2024

Let's be honest, the summer is incomplete without fitting music. Whether that be the latest pop song, surf rock, or something else, there's always music that perfectly fits the summer. Regardless of the genre, summer music is usually upbeat, catchy, and something you can sing/dance/relax to. 

Last summer, I was looking for something new to listen to. I wanted to find songs that had layers and good vibes. That's when I found Masayoshi Takanaka. Takanaka is a 71 year old Japanese musician with a strong Brazilian influence (sometimes disco/80s) in his songs who makes mostly instrumental music with occasional female background singers. When I say this dude perfectly embodies summer music, I am not joking. In his 1978 album, "Brazilian Skies" he uses the Cuíca (a Brazilian drum played by altering the tension on the head of the drum), soothing vocals and spacey guitar to create this wavy music that's both relaxing and energizing, shown best in the first two songs on the album. This can even be seen in his other albums, like with the song "Oh! Tengo Suerte" which has a beautiful slide guitar that makes you want to bask in the sunlight. If you still aren't convinced that his music is perfect as the weather gets better, he has TWO SURFBOARD SHAPED GUITARS!!!!

 There is nothing cooler that some 71 year old dude playing a samba version of the Star Wars theme (yes, he has a cover of that song) on a purple surfboard he cut a guitar shape into that also shoots lasers at the top. To conclude, regardless of what you are planning to do this summer, you're gonna need music and as far as I'm concerned, Masayoshi Takanaka is exactly what you need.

THEY TOOK OUR WIFI WHATS NEXT   By:Jane Doe   Date: May 16th 2024

Micah Dailey-White Releases his First Album  By: Kayla Mestre Plourde       Date: April 24th, 2024

A Student's Perspective on The 2024 Grammy Awards By: Rowan Santos Date: February 4th, 2024

We are in the season of the Grammy Awards, and along with this prestigious ceremony come varying opinions. The 66th Annual Grammy Awards honored the best recordings, compositions, and artists from October 1, 2022, to September 15, 2023, as chosen by the members of The Recording Academy. 

Pop culture has always been a toxic community, and the Grammys truly exemplify people's toxic attitudes. With "fandoms" being prevalent today, the fans of nominees in the Grammy's rumble online. More specifically, with the category "Best Record." Huge artists were nominated: Jon Batiste, Boy Genius, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, Janelle Monáe, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and SZA. Who won, though? You probably guessed it: Taylor Swift! Her album "Midnights" is great; however, is it comparable to the rest?

Let's see what the fans have to say...

Swiftees (Taylor Swift fans) are immeasurably joyous for their idol's success! Other fandoms of these nominees have an overall positive view of Taylor Swift's reward; however, a particular fandom is not so happy. Lana Del Rey fans are saddened, and some are enraged by this turn of events. For context, this would have been Lana's first Grammy, as she truly deserves it with her extraordinary release, "A&W." Her fans are not so happy, as Lana's YouTube comments state, "You deserve better" and "Lana is the one who deserved it."

There is no "beef" or conflict between the two artists. Taylor even invited Lana over to the stage while stating her speech! Personally, I believe Lana's "Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulavard" is the best album between the two. However, it contains dark themes, making it unappealable to the Grammy's youthful audience.

All in all, this year's Grammys contained consistent humor and performances but failed to please the different fanbases.