General Interest

How do Memories From Adolescence Help or Hurt Adulthood?

By: Kyuwon Kim

What’s your most memorable experience from your high school years? How do you think that made you who you are now? According to the World Health Organization, Adolescence is the phase of life between childhood and adulthood, from ages 10 to 19. It is an idiosyncratic stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundations of good health.

To start with, teenagers in adolescence tend to be more interested in hanging out with friends rather than spending time with their family. For example, many teenagers host events such as pajama parties, girls night, or even quinceñeras that allow teenagers to make positive memories. Such memories and increased dependence lead teens to think that they want to keep their friends to their adulthood. Positive memories like these can help the teenager in their adulthood.

According to an article by the University of Cambridge, “Recalling happy memories durig adolescence can reduce risk of depression”, Dr. Anne-Laura van Harmelen writes, “The researchers analysed data from 427 young people, average age of 14 years, from Cambridge and the surrounding area, all of whom were considered to be at risk of depression…The team found that recalling specific positive memories was associated with fewer negative self-related thoughts and with lower levels of cortisol 12 months later.”  This suggests that based on the experiment that they had, recalling the positive memories from adolescence had helped improve depression in adulthood. 

On the other hand, traumatic memories from adolescence can also affect a person for a long time. Especially if one has had dilemmas in friendships and relationships, they tend to have more trouble socializing when they spend more time in society as an adult. A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center titled “How Childhood Trauma May Impact Adults” suggests that if one has traumatic childhood memories it can affect adulthood greatly, especially behaviors. In the article it states, “Your flight or fight response, your neurodevelopment, gets off track. It suggests that if you can intervene early when someone has a childhood traumatic event it could have a huge lasting impact on their life." The article also includes, “When a person develops behaviors to deal with an early childhood trauma, changing those habits later in life can be more difficult.” This proves that when one has traumatic events in childhood and doesn’t treat them in a timely manner, it may affect them as an adult, such as having low  self-esteem.

Bayside High School 2025 Graduate Shinji Lee shared, “Being able to spend time with my high school friends was extremely valuable to me. It taught me the value of friendships and how meaningful friends were to me. These memories still affect me because I learned to be more appreciative of my friends and savor the moments I spend with them.” She explained how her memories from her adolescence affected her as an adult. Thus, proving that memories from your adolescence affect you as an adult.

Why You Can't Live With (or Without) Radiation 

By: Roudina Abdelnaby

You can’t see it, smell it, or hear it, but radiation is present in everyday life. It is a basic part of the physical environment, acting as energy that travels through space in the form of waves or particles. It streams from the sun as ultraviolet light, powers household electronics, and allows for the high-tech medical equipment used in hospitals globally.

To understand its impact, it’s important to know how to distinguish between natural background radiation and man-made sources. Natural radiation comes from the Earth’s soil and cosmic rays from space. Man-made radiation is generated for specific purposes, such as medical X-rays and cellular signals. When radiation interacts with the human body, it is categorized as either non-ionizing or ionizing. According to “Radiation Basics” by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ionizing radiation carries enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, which can lead to chemical changes in biological tissue. Non-ionizing radiation, like from radio waves or microwaves, lacks the energy to change atoms but can still create heat.

Despite the risks, radiation is an essential tool in science and industry. In the medical field, it is used to diagnose injuries through imaging and to treat cancer by destroying malignant cells. In “Uses of Radiation” by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), experts explain that radiation is also vital for energy production through nuclear power, which provides an immense amount of electricity without the carbon emissions of fossil fuels. However, safety remains a priority. High doses can damage DNA, which leads to radiation sickness or long-term health issues like cancer. This nature creates a wide range of opinions among students who interact with technology daily.

Students at Bayside High School reflect a mix of fascination and caution regarding radiation. Junior Tasnia Zaman views radiation as a realistic concern, especially regarding technology. Zaman keeps cellular devices away from her bed to avoid direct exposure. Having experienced an X-ray, she described the energy as feeling "weighted down" and stressful. "I don't think we're at a point where we are fully accepting that there are so many more cons than pros with the technology that we have," Zaman stated, adding that the long-term results of phone usage are yet to be seen.

Similarly, sophomore Cirena Sookhdeo shares a cautious perspective on the long-term effects of modern devices. "I don’t think the benefits of staying connected outweigh the risk; you’re putting your health in danger just to entertain yourself," Sookhdeo noted. She said that while devices are tested for immediate harm, the impact of decades of use is still being studied by scientists because this level of technology is still relatively new in human history.

In short, radiation remains a powerful force that requires caution. It sustains the planet and powers technologies that heal the sick. As society grows more reliant on high-tech devices, it becomes increasingly difficult to balance scientific benefits with personal safety. Understanding the difference between a helpful wave and a harmful dose is essential in navigating a world where the invisible is everywhere.

Should AI-generated images be considered real art?

By: Ziying Huang

Today, AI (Artificial Intelligence)-generated images are everywhere, and over the years, with the rise of AI, they’ve gotten better and better. Here is a quick summary of how the technology works. AI systems are trained on data sets filled with millions, sometimes billions, of visual images like existing artwork, photos, and basically anything on the internet, to study techniques, patterns, styles, and details. When a person inserts a prompt into an AI generator, it takes what it's learned to create new images that meet the user's expectations.

Today, with this new technological advancement, companies have slowly been adopting the use of AI images for marketing. Zalando, a European online platform for fashion, is one example, having over 70% of their marketing campaigns being AI-generated by the end of 2024.

But, it doesn’t stop there; AI has also found its way into art, with many people, artists, and non-artists using it to generate artwork.

For some, specifically beginners and non-artists, AI can be an effective way to get inspiration and brainstorm. If you’ve used AI before, then you’d know that it works fast, which is why so many people use it, it saves time and allows one to get more done. Therefore, instead of spending minutes, hours, or days trying to think of something to create, AI can do it for you with a few words and a click of a button.

However, as efficient as it is, AI-generated art also has its drawbacks. For one, many have criticized it for its lack of creativity and uniqueness, calling it boring and unoriginal. Unlike human artists, who are able to create art through life experiences, emotions, and surroundings, AI cannot generate its own ideas as it relies on existing visuals.

With all that being said, the tricky question being asked today is, should AI-generated images be considered real art?  

When questioning some of the students at Bayside High School, many had similar opinions. Bayside High School sophomore Ariana Matsas commented, “I don’t think it should be considered real art because a person didn't actually make it, and most artwork has specific things that differ from other art pieces.” Bayside High School sophomore Gabriella Mangal agreed with the comment, saying, "It's not really original.”

Similarly, Bayside High School sophomore Rishana Kanglie said, “I don’t think it is or should be considered real art. It doesn’t come from a real person with emotions, and art is created from the heart.”

Others, like Bayside High School sophomore Xin Yan Zhao, questioned the purpose of AI art, saying, “There's no real meaning. If AI-generated images are considered real art, does that make everyone an artist then?”

However, not everyone agrees with these takes. Others argue that art is about intention and having an effect. If an image is made to make you pause, think, and feel a certain way, then it’s art. It doesn’t matter if it was generated by a machine or made by a human. Reddit user, RHX_Thain, said,“If you intend the piece to convey anything, even if it is up to your interpretation or a very explicit idea - even if it fails - it is art. Any AI Art is art. Because a human intended it to be, not just a machine.”

Opinions on AI in art may differ, but one thing’s for sure: it’s not going away anytime soon. The current market for AI-generated art is over 3 billion dollars, and with millions of new and active users on AI platforms like ChatGPT everyday, it’s safe to say it’s only going to keep growing.

In 2026, Bayside Artists Are Leading Active Lives

By: Kerri McKay De Jean

Take a peek at a sketchbook and you will begin to understand what an artist is thinking. There might be a critter doing a tango, a cafe drawn in perspective, or a manga character laughing in a mirror. The pages show preferred art materials and the thought process of someone working out ideas to develop a concept. Artists are a lot like musicians and athletes in that they have to practice their skills over and over to become quicker and more precise in their drawing. In addition to being able to draw, it is important to practice problem solving skills to be able to invent clever solutions to challenges in order to design compelling work. 

A great way to try new things was at our annual Artists Day in the school library on March 13, 2026. A dozen tables had different projects that set crafty minds in motion. Supplies included stickers, flexible wire, key chains, felt, and, of course, markers. A live model stood in short and long poses for a chance to do live figure drawing. The music department provided curated DJ songs all day to set the atmosphere for a relaxed vibe.

It’s always nice to have a change of scenery. Our department field trips included excursions nearby. Ms. Assel and Ms. Vizoso led groups throughout the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see world-famous work first-hand and to sketch what the masters created. Ms. Tudor brought students to Hofstra University for a conference with photographer Jamel Shabazz where they learned about street photography, documenting contemporary history and the importance of having a theme for a series. Ms. Assel and Ms. Smith brought their advanced drawing students with their original children’s books to read to a live children’s audience at P.S. 169. The day was complete with imaginative stories and a big pizza celebration. Ms. DeJean and Ms. Smith and their students had a workshop at the Society of Illustrators, followed by a tour of the Museum of Modern Art. 

We tried our hands at a few friendly competitions. The Bayside Historical Society’s 5K Totten Trot has asked our department to design their race t-shirt for several years, so that begins the senior design class each year. Arts Connection, internships, scholarships, and museum programs offer prizes, glory, stipends and mentorship. Art schools presented in our very classroom to show their coursework and potential careers to follow after college. The annual Character Design Internship is a ten-week boot camp of learning professional practices while collaborating with the team. This year’s group of nineteen creatives made character sheets, artist’s books, painted rocks, and dynamic presentations.

Our art teachers and students work together during four valuable years. Coursework leads to a stockpile of resources that make graduates suited for life after college. Upon graduation, students sense the importance of project management, file organization, design industry standards, and marketing and presentation methods. Behind every finished design you see is a lifetime of learning and considering exactly what to include in that piece.