VOL. XIX, ISSUE III
02.25
February 25, 2022
Dear Reader, -
In this issue, we reach for the sky and explore the themes of “Toy Story” through the lives of our fellow CHS students. We hope that you enjoy this issue of the Acumen as much as we — THERE’S A SNAKE IN MY BOOT!!!
Sam Hawkins & Karolena Zhou, editors-in-Chief
Contents Not Just Toys And B3YOND One Man’s Trash Cry About It
WORDS Cady Armstrong Christian Ledbetter Chenyao Liu Maddie Misterka Arya Pinnamaneni Darshini Shankar Kruti Subbannavar Chloe Sun Leah Tan Ryan Zhang
GRAPHICS Sam Hawkins Riley Laferriere Jillian Moore Ali Persinger Arjun Purohit Riley TerBush Jasmine Zhang Karolena Zhou
PHOTOS Yichen Liu Olivia McKee Luke Miller Pallevi Pillai Joshika Sathyamathan Raghav Sriram Siri Surapaneni Zoe Tu Michelle Wan Karolena Zhou
4 6 7 8 12 14 15 16 18 22 24 25 26 28
SPEAKUPS Tsion Daniel Sam Hawkins Yichen Liu Olivia McKee Joshika Sathyamathan Raghav Sriram Karolena Zhou
COVER ART Chloe Sun EDITORS-INCHIEF Sam Hawkins Karolena Zhou ASSOCIATE EDITORS Tsion Daniel Sarah Zheng
TOY STORY 02.25 03
NOT JUST TOYS GRAPHIC KAROLENA ZHOU SOURCES FANDOM, IMDB
The Toys
Andy Davis:
Young boy who owns the toys, voiced by John Morris
Meet Woody’s Friends
Hamm:
Sassy piggy bank, voiced by John Ratzenberger
Buzz Lightyear:
Toy Space Ranger superhero, one of two main characters, voiced by Tim Allen
Mr. Potato Head:
Potato with attachable parts, voiced by Don Rickles
Sheriff Woody:
A good-hearted cowboy, pullstring rag doll, one of two main characters, voiced by Tom Hanks
Rex:
Plastic Tyrannosaurus Rex, voiced by Wallace Shawn
Little Bo Peep:
Porcelain shepherdess figurine, voiced by Annie Potts
Slinky Dog:
Stretchable toy daschund, voiced by Jim Varney
Collection of Villains Introducing, villains and plot of each of the“Toy Story” movies
SID PHILLIPS “TOY STORY “ (NOV. 22, 1995)
STINKY PETE “TOY STORY 2” (NOV. 13, 1999)
“Toy Story” was Pixar’s first full feature film, directed by John Lasseter. A cowboy doll named Woody belongs to a young boy named Andy Davis. When Andy’s parents buy him a shiny new toy, Buzz Lightyear, Woody is afraid his position as Andy’s favorite toy is in jeopardy. As a result, Woody plans to sabotage Buzz. However, he creates an even bigger problem as both Woody and Buzz get lost and are taken by Andy’s evil neighbor Sid Phillips, voiced by Erik von Detten, who likes to destroy and mess up his toys. When Andy’s family moves to a new house, Woody and Buzz escape the clutches of Sid and reunite with Andy and the rest of the toys.
Andy’s family has a yard sale, and Woody is accidentally placed outside. He is then stolen by a toy dealer Al McWhiggin, leaving Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang to try to rescue him. However, Woody discovers that he is a valuable collectible from a show called “Woody’s Roundup.” He is reunited with his horse Bullseye, a cowgirl named Jessie and Stinky Pete the Prospector, voiced by Kelsie Grammer. The collection needed to be complete to be sold, so Stinky Pete sabotages Woody’s rescue and guilt trips Woody to stay. At the end, Woody is rescued, and Jessie and Bullseye join the gang, while Stinky Pete is accidentally taken by a young girl.
LOTS-O’-HUGGIN’ BEAR “TOY STORY 3” (JUNE 18, 2010)
BONNIE “TOY STORY 4 ” (JUNE 21, 2019)
When Andy is preparing to leave for college, he has to separate his toys into a keep pile and a donate pile. Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang mistakenly wind up at a daycare center. While the gang believes Andy gave them up, Woody does not and ends up at a young girl’s house, Bonnie. Later, Woody returns to the day-care to get his friends. At the day-care, unfortunately, the uncontrollable kids do not play nice, so the gang makes plans for an escape. However, the leader of the day-care toys, Lots-O’Huggin’ Bear, voiced by Ned Beatty, sabotages their plan to get them to stay, but the gang escapes and winds up back at Andy’s house. At the end, Andy says goodbye to his toys and gives them to Bonnie.
Two years after Bonnie received her new toys, Bonnie starts kindergarten. However, Bonnie is very shy, so she creates a new toy out of some trash and calls it Forky. On a road trip with Bonnie, Forky tells the other toys that he believes that he is trash and not a real toy and jumps out the car. Woody follows Forky. Then, they encounter an antique store, where Woody finds his past friend Bo Peep and a new doll named Gabby Gabby, voiced by Christina Hendricks. Gabby wants Woody’s voice box so the store’s owner’s grandaughter would adopt her. When Buzz Lightyear finds Woody, Woody decides to stay with Bo Peep and leave Bonnie and the rest of the gang. The two groups go their separate ways.
TOY STORY 02.25 05
2 INFINITY “Toy Story 2” makes natural, insightful contributions to the franchise WORDS CHRISTIAN LEDBETTER
H
easy question to answer, especially for a family film, ow do you satisfy theater audiences with a and yet it does it well. follow up to a film that revolutionized “Toy Story 2” isn’t some sad, technologically its medium, brought back a studio avant-garde movie though; it knows how to whose renaissance had fizzled out and satisfied have fun. The film, from beginning and the people in the merchandise department? even reaching into the credits with its fake When “Toy Story 2” began, they didn’t bloopers, is constantly running with new even try, scheduling it as a direct to home jokes that know how to have fun with video release, much like the “Aladdin” itself. Be it dust worsening a coughing toys sequels releasing at the time. But Disney condition, references to old Pixar shorts, executives were so satisfied with what they “Jurassic Park” nods and rants on the saw they greenlit it for theaters. Now, it’s practices of the video game industry, the film safe to say, they made a great follow up. moves between a plethora of jokes without a It begins with an over the top sciencesweat. I know I’m not alone in noticing this, fiction parody, complete with “Star Wars” and for this energy has translated into it becoming “2001: a Space Odyssey” references, expanding Christian Ledbetter a meme goldmine. Be it the zoom out of its universe with topics such as toy collecting the Lightyear aisle, Piggy rushing through and media tie-in strategies seen throughout HiLite Reporter TV stations or Andy dropping Woody in properties such as “He-Man.” Introducing new, a dream sequence, this film’s pacing and later deemed, classic characters and themes of content of its humor has been re-purposed to this growing up that its sequel would build its entire plot A very day: a claim its sequels can’t hold. on, “Toy Story 2” does everything a sequel should do, expanding its universe, themes and characters, all with a new plot and energy that never tires. The original film was great, but certainly a product of its time. Crew members worked on Check out this graphic to see which “Toy Story” the film with technological requirements in mind, movie has the most “buzz” at CHS and why hiding human faces when possible and making accommodations with environments and the way the story was written. With “Toy Story 2,” the technology had advanced. This is clear in the “Toy Story 1” film, with human faces now prominently featured, Nothing can beat the looking far better than they did previously, and original. The start of the long, winding environments such as Al’s Toy Barn. Pixar films and animations. “Toy Story 1”: 32% Introduces all the toys Technology wasn’t all “Toy Story 2” had as it also established an interesting and relatable story with pizzazz. This story, like any good sequel, expands its universe in ways that simply make sense. Of course Woody is part of a brand, of course Andy will one day “Toy Story 2” abandon his toys and of course toy collectors present “Toy Story 2”: 36% their own danger, or blessings, to the inhabitants of Has multiple story lines with each of the characters, not just this world. In dealing with these ideas, the film poses with Woody and Buzz. Expands a great question: what happens to toys when their the “Toy Story” universe children grow up? Expanding it and playing it up to pose yet another, far more relatable question: should we choose self preservation or relationships? Not an
Bullseye!
AND B3YOND “Toy Story 3” shares emotional message, iconic scenes, making it best movie in series WORDS DARSHINI SHANKAR
H
aving watched all the “Toy Story” movies, again, Woody gets separated from the other toys as “Toy Story 3” is hands-down the best he was in the two previous movies, just to find one. Beginning with Andy preparing his way back to them in the end. to leave for college and ending with him As this plot unravels and the toys face new giving his favorite toys away, the movie takes challenges, there continues to be comedic viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, with relief, even more so than in the prior everything from tears to laughs along the movies. At Sunnyside, Barbie meets Ken way. The toys face new and more intrinsic and she immediately becomes charmed challenges compared to the previous movies by the seemingly male-version of herself as they worry about their futures once Andy as they both share a love of fashion. leaves for college. Amidst all this worry, they However, the most hilarious scene in any find their way to Sunnyside Daycare. “Toy Story” movie would be when Buzz At Sunnyside, Andy’s (former) toys meet Lightyear switches languages. Amidst Lotso’s the most memorable “Toy Story” villain, many deceptions, he resets Buzz to factory Lotso, the bear that acts like a leader to the mode, where he forgets everything, starts Darshini Shankar rest of the toys at Sunnyside and runs the speaking fluent Spanish, and even falls in daycare like a toy prison. Although most of love with Jessie. I remember re-watching this Sports Editor the toys are alright with Lotso running the movie multiple times just because my little place since they still get to be played with brother, a toddler at the time, would laugh by children, Woody feels like something’s wrong hysterically every time this scene began. and tries to escape back to Andy’s house. But yet Nonetheless, the comedy comes to an end as Woody returns and the toys confront Lotso about his deceptions, causing another toy to throw Lotso into the garbage. Lotso pulls Andy in and the rest of the toys follow. They’re taken to an incinerator, where it GRAPHIC JASMINE ZHANG almost seems as if some of the beloved toys are about SOURCE CHS, IMDB to be burnt into ashes. Despite being brought into this mess by Lotso, Woody and Buzz try to save “Toy Story 4”: him, showing Woody’s true character development “Toy Story 4” 12% from the first movie (where he tried to kill Buzz a Ending of the “Toy Story” films. few times). However, Lotso continues to be the epic Has deeper, darker themes, especially with mental illnesses villain that he is and betrays the other toys. such as anxiety and OCD Luckily, the toys are saved by the three little green aliens on a helicopter and ride a garbage “Toy Story 3”: 20% truck back to Andy’s house. Andy finds the toys, along with a note Woody wrote, encouraging Andy to give the toys to Bonnie. Although he thinks his mom wrote the note, Andy heeds Woody’s advice “Toy Story 3” and passes his beloved toys on to Bonnie, one by Heads into exciting, unknown one. Watching this scene made me cry the first time territory as the toys leave Andy but also made me realize how much I loved the Toy and go to daycare. New toys are Story movies for the characters. The scene also held introduced, which thickens the plot and storyline an incredibly emotional message about growing up and how it’s okay to let go of your childhood, A leaving an undeniable impact on any viewer.
TOY STORY 02.25 07
Green Action Club (GAC) sponsor, Carey Anderson, leads a meeting planning for upcoming initiatives.
ONE MAN'S TRASH Students, teachers highlight importance of donating belongings, sustainability
WORDS CHENYAO LIU, RYAN ZHANG
PHOTOS CHENYAO LIU, LUKE MILLER
T
he key conflict featured in Toy Story 3 is the donation of a group of toys that become separated from their original owner, Andy. In the film, Andy has outgrown his toys and they are left behind and then donated to a daycare. As reflected by this movie, donations give items a second chance before they are thrown away and lose their value and purpose. In a school of over 5,000 students, CHS is constantly involved with donations, whether that is to help individuals in the community or larger organizations. For Ridhi Dondeti, head of the Carmel Mayor Youth Council (CMYC) toy drive and
“
“I think (donating) is useful especially because people would just (be) putting these things to waste and not using them for a good amount of years. Now they can give it (away) and other people can use them,”
“
SOPHOMORE RIDHI DONDETI
Check out this website to see tips on how to host a successful donation drive
sophomore, donating gives an opportunity to help others have more access to get the things they need. “Every year, CMYC runs the toy drive and last year we couldn’t run it. So this year, we decided to put it back up again and help. Mainly the thing is to help kids in need, especially during the holiday season, because lots of people won’t get gifts or toys or anything that they need,” she said. She said besides helping other people, donating is also less wasteful than throwing things away. “I think (donating) is helpful mainly for people because they don’t have to go to places (to buy) used stuff, because we’re already giving these toys that are donated,” Dondeti said. “I guess it helps the environment in a way that people aren’t getting (more) in terms of plastic and stuff. It’s not all being super wasted, because people would be using these toys and some of them are actually helpful.” Dondeti also said donating is a more positive option to throwing things away. “I think (donating) is useful especially because people would just (be) putting these things to waste and not using them for a good amount of
giving back Take a look at donation centers near CHS 161st Street
Westfield Goodwill Store 15050 Greyhound Ct.
146th Street
Merciful H.E.L.P. Center
1045 W. 146th St.
Main Street
Goodwill Store
1122 Keystone Way S.
CHS
116th Street
Keystone Parkway
>>
Maanya Rajesh, leader of Green Action Club (GAC) and senior, makes plans before a meeting with City Councilman Tim Hannon about climate action in Carmel.
Meridian Street
years. Now they can give them (away) and other people can use them,” she said. Maanya Rajesh, Green Action Club (GAC) leader and senior, said the GAC is often involved with donation drives throughout the school year. Like Dondeti, she said donating benefits those who may be looking for things they need. “At the end of the year, there’s a bunch of school supplies that people have that are unused, like locker shelves, all those types of things, like paper notebooks. So we don’t want all that to be wasted and go into landfills so we collect all that and then we donate it to various organizations. And first things like locker shelves, we actually keep them here and so new freshmen coming in, if they don’t have them or if they aren’t able to afford any, they can just go down to the bookstore and grab some free school supplies,” she said. “Instead of someone having to go and buy a brand new notebook when there’s already paper here that is unused, they can use that. And some people don’t even have the means to be able to purchase that stuff, so really a lot of those donations were going to underprivileged kids.” However, according to Assistant Principal Amy Skeens-Benton, who organizes the annual Dress Drive, donations do not always involve those who are unable to afford something. “It might not have to do with a financial issue. It could have been last minute,” she said. “In particular, this is the one closest to my heart, (there was) a young lady whose mother had passed away and so she really didn’t have someone to go out and help her go look for a dress or to help her pick it out or know how to do her hair. I actually didn’t know (her mother had passed away) when she asked me initially and asked if she could go get a dress with me. Then I found out actually after we had picked out a dress and she said, ‘Right now, I don’t have a mom and I don’t know how to do my hair,’ so I helped her do that.” Skeens-Benton said donating is also an act of kindness which creates a ripple effect. “I hate waste in the first place. I actually found a letter from a young lady who had borrowed a dress and she talked about how she gave the dress back and why she gave it back, and it was that because she felt like people were willing to help her, she wants to help others. It actually created this snowball effect where she was like, ‘Now, I want to go out and help others because I know how important it was to me,’” she said. While donating assists people in the community and provides a way for them to find and obtain necessities, according to junior Mitsuko Yoneyama, they also help the environment.
GRAPHIC ARJUN PUROHIT SOURCE INDY WITH KIDS
TOY STORY 02.25 09
>>
For Yoneyama, helping the environment plays a large role in the decisions they make and they said it is important to reuse and recycle old belongings. They also said they always try to purchase pre-used things and give away their own old belongings to others, since donating gives items another chance before they become waste. “I usually thrift if I need things,” they said. “Buying second-hand items gives them a second life and there’s some really cool things to be found at thrift stores. I’d rather buy pre-used items to avoid buying from fast fashion and to keep things from ending up in landfills. (It’s typically cheaper too, which is always a plus!) Sustainability and the environment definitely
Sophomore Ridhi Dondeti and other CMYC members volunteer at the Carmel Winter Games held at the Ice at Carter Green.
SUBMITTED PHOTO RIDHI DONDETI
played a huge part in my decision to try to buy more second-hand items.” Like Yoneyama, Rajesh agrees on the importance of sustainability. Rajesh said donations are important for the environment because of their correlation with sustainability. “When you’re donating, you’re allowing for there to be a circular economy, which is sustainable,” Rajesh said. “Instead of having all these products go to landfills, by you being able to kind of reuse them, rehome them, that’s kind of ending this cycle of not ending it, but it’s kind of inhibiting this cycle of consumerism, where people just go and buy and buy and purchase new things.”
Rajesh said donating can help to avoid the consequences that follow throwing belongings away. She said once items are thrown away and go to landfills, they negatively impact the environment. “(Thrown away belongings are) going to basically pile up in landfills. And that’s overtime, going to emit a bunch of really bad emissions and chemicals, especially a lot of times, they’re gonna burn that waste. So that’s like methane, carbon dioxide, really bad gases that are going to be emitted into the environment, which further fuels climate change,” she said. “So that’s why we want to kind of donate and keep all these materials and clothes and things that don’t really need to go to the landfill out of the landfills and have a circular economy (which is) basically, we’re just gonna keep on recycling all the goods that are produced and so they’re not all like, piling up in landfills.” Green Action Club (GAC) sponsor Carey Anderson said she agreed with Rajesh. She said the GAC organizes donation drives to help with sustainable recycling or disposing of materials that would often be thrown in landfills. “What we did with the holiday lights (drive) is instead of putting it in the trash, we donated it to a specialty facility called Tech Recyclers, and their job was to take it and undo all those different
recycle, re-use, repurpose Take a look at how to reuse and repurpose some everyday items instead of throwing them away
speak-up! How do you conserve energy in your everyday life?
“I try to take shorter showers because I used to waste a lot of energy by showering for half an hour even though that was definitely not necessary.” JUNIOR BROOKE YE
“I always make sure to do simple things like turning the water off when brushing my teeth and turning off the lights when I leave the room.” FRESHMAN ETHAN WU SPEAK UPS, PHOTOS TSION DANIEL
turn old coffee tins and containers into holders for plants and flowers
use old pieces of plastic, paper and other materials to make cool, upcycled earrings egg cartons can be used for many purposes including doubling as an art palate, as a place to grow seedlings in or even to use as an ice tray GRAPHIC RILEY LAFFIERE SOURCE THISOLDHOUSE
pieces of the strands and almost 90% of that strand of lights that just usually would go in the trash, they could reuse. I think that’s cool,” Anderson said. “(In October), when we collected just candy wrappers because of Halloween time, we were able to return that to a company that doesn’t put it in the landfills, but uses it and reuses it. I really think that tapping into all of those different avenues helps us all be more sustainable.”
Did You Know? Municipal solid waste (MSW) consists of everyday items including product packaging, furniture, clothing, bottles and cans, food, newspapers and more. In 2018, 11.3 million tons of MSW textiles went to landfills. SOURCE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Overall, Rajesh, Anderson and Yoneyama agreed donating old items was beneficial to the environment. “I think sustainability is important to give back to the earth,” Yoneyama said. “It provides for us, so why A not do everything we can to keep it safe?”
TOY STORY 02.25 11
OVER
TOYS TIME
See impact of toys on child development, adult psychology GRAPHIC RILEY TERBUSH
SOURCES ARGOS, NAEYC, NPR, NYTIMES, PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
From child... The way children play with toys can impact well-roundedness, mature relationships with the same and opposite sex and future career interests
Gender-separated toys tend to be prevalent in toy markets, and have marked differences that may impact children’s perception of gender roles in society
Female-geared toys tend to prioritize visual beauty and represent nurturing and domestic roles
Male-geared toys tend to be more aggressive, competitive and exciting, and tend to develop more scientific and intellectual skills than female-geared toys
See successful toys for children, their intentions for child development
LEGO
Rubiks Cube
Meant to encourage creativity and develop engineering skills and thinking
Improves hand-eye coordination, muscle memory skills and cognition
Building Blocks Simplistic toys like building blocks are preferable for children because they are opportunities for open-ended, creative play
Did You Know? Studies found a smaller number of toys for children led to prolonged, more in-depth play with each toy
Play stimulates development in the executive center of the mind This contributes to emotional regulation, planning and problem solving
Play creates neuron connections at the front of the brain, in the prefrontal cortex.
60%
Of those in architectural and design jobs played with building blocks as children
66%
Of people in math-related fields played with puzzles as children
15 Number of minutes of recess per hour of work in Finland’s school system
Continued play experiences can help prevent Alzheimer’s with consistent brain stimulation Play is less common in adults, but studies show it is still just as important to adults as it is to children.
26.9
Average minutes per day for recess in American school systems
...to adult More than just a game Play is more than toys; it is an intrinsically motivated activity without intended results that brings happiness. See ways that adults continue play into adulthood
1. Take a break from to-do lists Constantly doing things with a specific goal in mind can create a never-ending cycle of work. To alleviate this cycle, adults and older kids can look to activities without specific results or goals
2. Think to the past
Activities a person enjoyed during childhood can transfer to adulthood. For example, someone who once played with sculpting clay might be interested in a pottery class
3. Keep things personal Sharing activities on social media is a habit of looking for results in what you do. Try partaking in activities without the need to share with others to keep the joy intrinsic and unmotivated by likes
TOY STORY 02.25 13
Cry About It Pixar’s impressive ability to create emotional stories using inanimate objects should be celebrated, developed further
M
WORDS CHLOE SUN
ost know the iconic opening clip by anthropomorphism or human features to objects heart—a hush falls over the theater, the that don’t necessarily have conventional limbs or lights dim, and a squeaky, somewhat facial structures. With the vehicles starring in the aggressive lamp leaps across the screen’s blue “Cars” world, instead of arms, they have wheels, background, crushing PIXAR’s letter “I” and windows become eyes, and rearview mirrors feel turning to the audience, inviting us into Pixar’s ear-like. However, there is a subtle balance needed newest heartfelt creation. What will Pixar make when bringing these characters to life, so they are us attached to and sob about over the next hour just the right amount of human for us to attach to this time? Will it be cars? Toys? Robots? Fuzzy them without learning toward an uncomfortably blobs? From the “Cars” franchise to “Toy humanoid, “uncanny valley” appearance—like Story,” Pixar’s films are known for taking Sonic’s live-action design. the inanimate and transforming it into a Pixar also follows a very reliable heartfelt, emotional form of storytelling. story template, which, combined with Sure, we tackle the glowing void of purposeful character design and music afterlife in “Soul” and the marigoldcomposition, seems to create the perfect lined, glittery world of “Coco,” but waterworks effect. According to Preview, the real magic is Pixar’s ability to take there is a specific step-by-step format inanimate objects and transform them Pixar follows, which includes pitting into beings the audience laughs with, completely opposite personalities against love and cry over. While watching these one another and gradually having them films as an artist and an ardent consumer grow and learn from the other and only of animated content and general cinema, revealing the story’s true lesson at the end. the talents the Pixar team has to create Pixar also examines heavy topics that Chloe Sun these feelings seems to boil down to a few speak to viewers both young and old, identifiable, notable qualities. especially loss—loss of innocence, loss of HiLite Editor-in-Chief One central component is character friends, even loss of life—but at the same design. Most designs are purposely catered time, amid tragedy, Pixar adds hopeful toward culture’s current perception of what is messages. The complicated and universal feeling “cute” and therefore “lovable.” For now, this means of losing things important to you but rising above big eyes low on the head and far apart, large heads that is something that calls out to many. Wall-E and short, fat legs with small feet—qualities similar watches the world end but builds a new world above to babies, eliciting a natural instinct to protect and the ruins by planting a seed. “Coco,” “Up” and care for a character. This is realized in characters “Onward” all depict the death of a beloved family like Nemo the fish from “Finding Nemo” and member, but the protagonists learn to move forward, Pixar’s short film “Bao,” which, by the end of its to appreciate the living while honoring the dead. seven-minute run, always has me in tears over the Animation is constantly seen as a medium only story and symbolism of a ball of dough, in part for innocent children’s content despite Pixar and because of its exaggerated features. many other animation studios’ depiction of realThis character design is combined with certain life issues and emotions. As Pixar continues to innocent behaviors that draw audiences in and explore more diverse stories like “Turning Red,” I encourage us to connect with them. Along hope to see that same Pixar magic developed into A with this, Pixar is intentional about adding increasingly inclusive settings.
digital Gallery Check out these digital art projects created by CHS art students SPEAK UPS, PHOTOS JOSHIKA SATHYAMATHAN
SENIOR AVERY SLIFER
“In all honesty as my first project of the year, I didn’t really know how I wanted to head into the project, so I tried to stick to my comfort zone and had an idea to make a tea house sign.”
JUNIOR LAURA BURR
SOPHOMORE REN OLSON
“My inspiration behind my art was Pixar movies. I wanted to choose an iconic character from a Pixar movie, so I chose the movie that built up Pixar: ‘Toy Story.’ I thought Zurg would be a really interesting character, and it would be a lot of fun making him.” SENIOR ISMA REHMAN
“We were making silhouettes. I thought Kirby was a pretty iconic well-known character, and people would be able to recognize it just as the border of silhouettes because he’s squishy and cute.” JUNIOR KATIE MONTIETH
“Well, I really like ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ and since it is my favorite movie, I really wanted to do Audrey Hepburn, and in the piece, I wanted to use softer colors in order to get the feel of her elegance and softness.”
“Our project was to create a drawing of our hand and then use only a hand file to manipulate and create one project with the hand. While I was messing around with it, it ended up as I imagined it.”
TOY STORY 02.25 15
A New Barbie World
Students, sociology teacher discuss legacy of Barbie, efforts, progress representing diverse bodies, cultures, races WORDS KRUTI SUBBANNAVAR
S
enior Sydnie Scozzaro has fond memories of playing with Barbie dolls. She said her favorite part of playing with a Barbie was experimenting with the different clothes and accessories that the doll came with. “I loved to play dress-up with my Barbies, (play with) the different clothes. I got one of the play houses and I would play house with them. I played with them pretty frequently throughout my childhood,” Scozzaro said. Like Scozzaro, millions of children around the globe have played with Barbies in their childhood, and they continue to be a popular choice of doll today. According to Statista, toy giant Mattel sold over 1.3 million Barbies in 2020, making more than $1.5 billion in revenue over the course of the pandemic. “I like Barbie as a doll in (the fact that) she has definitely transformed into many things over the
Evolution
By the Numbers
$1.3
BILLION Barbie’s total revenue in 2020, up from $1.1 billion in 2019 SOURCE STATISTA
GRAPHIC ALI PERSINGER, SAM HAWKINS
years,” Scozzaro said. “I like that she is able to take that approach of being herself and being able to do multiple different things.” However, sociology teacher Mickey O’Toole said he has a fairly negative view of the Barbie brand. O’Toole said growing up in the 1980s and watching extremely gendered dolls take over the scene initially did not give him a good impression of the doll. He said as he studied psychology and sociology, he started to develop a better understanding of how Barbie was affecting girls in society. Freshman Sahanaa Nishkaran also said she has a somewhat negative opinion of Barbie as a doll. “Barbies, to me, weren’t very interesting when I was little. I wasn’t really sure what to do with them. It was more of a decoration rather than a toy,” Nishkaran said. “If (Barbie) dolls had looked
SOURCE BARBIE MEDIA, TIME, STATISTA
PHOTOS SIRI SURAPANENI
Take a look at ways Barbie dolls have changed since first Barbie dolls released in 1959 “Barbie”
“Curvy Barbie”
Since their start in 1959, Barbie dolls taken up over 200 professions
After intense backlash, Mattel Inc. released a curvy Barbie, modeling realistic body types, in 2016
The Barbie doll originally came out with two variations: blonde and brunette
Barbie bought her first Dream House in 1962, before women could even open their own bank accounts
“Black Barbie” and “Different Conditions Barbie” The first black Barbie doll was released in 1980
Tall and petite barbies are also being made to show off different body types
Barbie dolls had previously had black friend dolls since 1968
Barbie’s revenue jumped from $905.9 million to $971.8 million after the release of Curvy Barbie
Barbies with skin, limb and hair differences came out in 2020
Beginnings
like me, I would have looked into how to play with them a little more.” O’Toole said many people have also been affected by the body proportions of Barbie, talking Take a look at details about people who have allegedly chosen to undergo of original Barbie doll elective surgeries to look more like Barbie dolls. According to a study by Business Insider, if one GRAPHIC ALI PERSINGER SOURCE BRITANNICA would extrapolate Barbie’s body measurements onto a human, an American woman of average weight and height would need to have a waist of Full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts 20 inches, hips of 35 inches, extremely short arms, and a thin neck. The same specialist confirmed that, if a human’s body structure was similar to Barbie, they would have to walk on all fours to manage the Introduced on March 9, 1959 head weight, and their weight would fall within the range of an anorexic patient. O’Toole also said Barbie dolls initially reinforced certain expectations for white women and girls and, Sold for just $3 in store in the process, completely invalidated females of color who needed representation, a need that is slowly being met now. “(Mattel is) a typical company where they Appearance was realize that there is money to be made if they look progressive—where they could have been modeled on the German progressive this whole time, but they are capitalizing Bild Lilli doll on a moment rather than actually being progressive or having progressive ideals,” O’Toole said. But not all of Barbie’s attributes are bad. Barbie has represented many different careers over 11 inches tall the years, Scozzaro said they did somewhat influence the way she thought of her potential careers. “I think (seeing Barbie in different professions) did help. Being able to see yourself be different A 1958 study before the doll’s things as a kid, it plants that seed and idea in your release criticized Barbie for mind that you can be something else, you can be having “too much of a figure” something new,” Scozzaro said. “I don’t know if it specifically influenced what I want to be…but seeing the different options, I believe, definitely helped.” Since the 1980s, Mattel has released more a normal sari, and a special occasion dolls that represent people of color, starting with (type) more fancy sari,” Nishkaran said. For its part, Mattel is working on Hispanic Barbies. There was a quick influx of African-American Barbie dolls, but, according to this issue. Mattel recently produced an Asiana Washington Post article, many young AfricanAmerican girls did not like their look, as the dolls American Barbie in collaboration with were primarily dressed in orange, and their body a Chinese designer, Guo Pei, who gave them inputs on styling the clothes, hair features did not match them. Nishkaran also said she was quite unhappy and the general face and body features with the fact that most Indian-looking Barbies for Lunar New Year of 2022. O’Toole said, “I do think there could were dressed in wedding saris and suits, and there seemed to be no actual representation of what an be some impact (of releasing cultural dolls), and I do agree it could be too little Indian girl would wear day-to-day. “We only see (the bridal style of ) dress, and maybe too late (in the push for progression), there’s a few variations, but not much from what I but there has to be a starting point saw recently and when I was younger. I want to see somewhere. I think it’s a very tiny step A (variety) with the sari, not just a wedding sari, but in the right direction, at least.”
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Grown Up STORY MADDIE MISTERKA
PHOTOS ZOE TU
Students, teacher examine what it means to be “grown up”
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Freshman Helena Wang displays photographs that are hung up on her bedroom wall on February 8, 2022. She said she thinks she has always been mature for her age.
enior Grace Rexroth has volunteered to work with kids through her church for multiple years now. In doing so, she said she has seen immense change in the kids she works with, both physically and socially. “Seeing all of the different stories of different kids coming together through these nonprofit organizations and watching how these kids who’ve gone through so much can still just have fun (made me change my outlook on maturity),” Rexroth said. Freshman Helena Wang said she thinks she has always been mature for her age, and lots of her changes and selfreflection were represented by her mental maturity. “I think (being) mentally mature is really important because even if you’re physically mature, you also have to keep mental strength in yourself and make sure that you’re (mentally responsible) enough,” Wang said. “So (I think) it’s good to match your levels of maturity so they’re even.” The American Psychological Association (APA) defines psychological maturity, or mental maturity, as “the ability to deal effectively and resiliently with experience and to perform satisfactorily in developmental tasks characteristic of one’s age level.” The APA recognizes the concept of maturity is not limited to physically growing up, but through one’s growth in their personal life as well. Wang said she had a similar definition for the term as the APA. “(Mental maturity is) how much capability you hold in your life,” Wang said. “It’s not just physical capability, but it’s just overall how you hold it together and (deal with) stress and anxiety.” Faith Dalton, a family and consumer sciences teacher who teaches both principles of early childhood education and early childhood education, said she teaches about the importance of physical tasks and psychological development in her early childhood education classes in order to provide a basis on how to assist the development of young children. “All of this class’s (intention is to) talk about general development and what happens, but
Brain games
we also talk more (about the questions,) ‘how (can) we help with that process (of growing See how the brain develops from childhood to adulthood up)?’ And ‘How can we make As we grow up, excess gray matter, the nerve cell bodies and fibers which make that process better for the up the brain’s computing power, is reduced; this increases specialization and children?’” Dalton said. “And efficiency in brain connections. Regions that control movement and the senses maybe, ‘How do we help those mature first, while those that control higher thinking don’t finish pruning gray that may be struggling in certain matter until the early 20s. Gray matter becomes less dense as the brain matures. forms of development?’” In reflection of her experience More Less teaching high school students, dense dense Dalton said she sees differences in how “grown up” her students act depending on their age and grade level. “When I get the opportunity to have freshmen and to work with freshmen, I see more (difference in) social maturity,” Dalton said. “The way they interact with their peers is more loud and boisterous and I hear a lot more Adolescence Age 20 Age 5 giggling and laughing and more comical relationships than what GRAPHIC JILLIAN MOORE I see with my juniors and seniors, SOURCES CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES where it’s more, having the more serious conversations with their friends about what they are really struggling with. middle school to high school has led her to By the from I feel like there is that sort of maturity (changing feel more grown up and secure in herself. across different ages) in that aspect in terms of the Numbers “There’s definitely been a change (in how I relationships I see.” have interacted with people), because I matured a Rexroth said she used to be a quiet and little bit more. So my sense of humor and (how I) introverted kid and never saw herself joining interact (with others) is a little different,” she said. clubs or taking on leadership roles. This, however, Rexroth said while she thinks maturing and has changed since she started high school, as she growing up is important, there’s merit to allowing of countries’ yourself to be immature from time to time. said she has taken part in multiple clubs and new minimum hobbies, such as the Crochet Club. She said she “I wrote my whole college essay on how to be driving age a kid again. And so I definitely do see, I don’t has multiple standout memories about realizing is 18. her character growth, one of which happened at want to say a loss of innocence, but, like, a loss of the beginning of this school year. innocence,” Rexroth said. “So when you get back “(For) homecoming week, especially this year, my to playing in the snow, you get to see the whole best friend (and I) dressed up every day. We went world from a whole different view and see just how full out every single day and we always (went) to one countries fun things really are and (no longer are) focused of our math teachers, (Peter) Beck, and all of us were around the completely on school and (recognize) one test so dressed out and just having so much fun going up world have doesn’t define who you are.” and down the halls getting all the free candy, visiting a minimum Similarly, Dalton said the self-reflection does teachers and playing games,” she said. “I would have legal drinking not stop after high school. never worn a onesie to school (before this year). I “I graduated high school six years ago and the age of 21. loved it though, (and I had) so much fun.” growth has been, just, immensely crazy. I lived alone, A common belief about personality changes is went to college, moved out and did all of that, so I that the influence of large scale changes in one’s SOURCES learned more about myself and the aspect of ‘how life or society are a primary factory in influencing RHINO CAR HIRE, do I live? How do I provide for myself? How one’s behavior. To that end, Wang said the change WORLD ATLAS do I feed myself?’ I learned the basics, but I
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Speak Up!
and I spend as much time with (my friends) as I can. Going into next year in college, you don’t have any parents telling you, ‘No, you can’t Do you feel grown up? Why? SPEAK UP SAM HAWKINS do this.’ You don’t have teachers who are holding your hand through For my own sake, I had to be aware writing a paper. So one thing I feel because the world would not be like I’ll struggle with is because I’ll kind. I wasn’t given space to exist in have no one telling me, ‘No, I can’t innocence. I had to understand the do this,’ so yeah, I’ll just go and do (whatever I want to).” world around me quicker. Because of the drawbacks to freedom explained by Rexroth, I don’t think people really understand Dalton said she advises young people the black experience. Especially while to become their own motivators and growing up, there’s so much to deal take the lead whenever possible. with and it’s so far removed from She said, “Eventually, wherever SENIOR AYOMIDE ARULOGUN what people can fathom. you work, you’re going to have to be a leader of something, whether I’ve watched little black boys grow up and bottle their it’s a project, a classroom full of emotions, and I have to wonder, “Who got to you?” I’ve heard kids, whatever it is, even if it’s just yourself, even if you work at home countless stories about little black girls trying to scrub their skin remotely, you have to be your own because someone told them their dark skin makes them ugly. leader and your own motivator. I think having the opportunity at You have to prepare for that at a young age... not only are a younger age (to take leadership you almost forced to grow up so that you might understand responsibilities) is something that’s (that), in some cases you will be adultified; you have to learn priceless. And I think successful this world is not forgiving of your mere existence, you have to students take advantage of that.” understand that you will encounter so much hate unprompted Wang said one way she tries to make sure she’s successful is to to your face and behind a screen. set goals addressing whatever she finds important, but she said she also learned more about what actually makes does not pressure herself to complete them. me happy. And (I do) what I need to do to have goals, but I think most people, when Did You they“Isetdogoals, make myself happy because there’s a lot of times in don’t always accomplish them. And I’m your adult life where you’re like, I feel kind of lost,” Know? kind of that person where I set these imaginary Dalton said. “It’s so easy to figure out what makes goals, but I get to a certain level, of you, not anybody else, happy, so for the first time in almost accomplishing your life, you’re kind of like, ‘Oh, I have to do this the goal, but The legal because I want to do it, not because there’s a grade I never voting age hanging out there or because there’s this certain in the U.S. diploma that I’m going for, but because I want to it was 21 until because it’s going to make me happy.’” 1971. It was Rexroth said she believed while she’s going into at this point college next year, the freedom coming alongside her that the age future adult life means little in terms of her growth. of adulthood “My freedom is going to be more limited next year because I’m going to have all the freedom I want. College was lowered is supposed to be a lot harder; we have to study more and from 21 to 18 do more work as well as living on your own, and there’s as well. so many little things you wouldn’t think about. They add up,” she said. “I see my time right now as valuable SOURCE SLATE
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really get to it,” she said. “Sometimes I cheat them, but they’re always those basic kinds of goals, like get A’s and make new friends and all that.” Wang said she does, however, think personal growth is gradual and continuous. Even when she does not achieve her goals, she said she keeps working toward them subconsciously. “I think I (take small steps to work toward goals) but I don’t think I do it physically. I’m like, ‘I’m going to do this to reach this goal,’ I kind of just do a mental list,” she said. “‘Okay, I kind of just did this, and I’m gonna do this now.’ So you’re not aware of it very often, but I’m pretty sure I do it.” Rexroth said she agreed with this sentiment. “I think a lot of change is subconscious just because subconsciously you learn (in situations) like having a conversation with someone. (You’ll think,) ‘Oh, they don’t like it when I do this. Huh? Well, let me try this.’ And it’s more of a trialand-error kind of subconscious. If something doesn’t work out, I think, ‘Wow, if I do this, I get a bad result.’ So of course, I’m going to change (that behavior),” she said. Rexroth said she does not think she can see her growth or change most of the time, but she always strives to be better. “I’m never going to see the full person that I am because
Sophomore Helena Wang readjusts a stuffed plush on her bed.
people in general, it’s human nature to be so self critical that I’m never going to see all of the good things that I can do because I’m always focused so much, like 100%,” she said. “But I always see the ‘Oh, I can still do this better, though.’” Rexroth said while these are all signs of maturity, the idea of growing up is more complicated, and there is no hard line on when someone becomes “grown up,” or if they ever do at all. Wang, however, said the reflection and expectation of growth is a primary signal of growing up and the gradual progression of becoming the person you will ultimately be. “An overall thing is that growing up, and all that stuff, it’s great,” Wang said “So it’s great to like, reflect on your past, past occasions or like experiences you’ve had, and then like to help improve your future like choices and A decisions.” Wang said she’s had the same bedroom since she was born, so the room holds lots of memories for her.
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Check out some CHS students’ childhood toys, memories SPEAK UPS, PHOTOS RAGHAV SRIRAM, KAROLENA ZHOU
SENIOR SOFIA LI-HAREZLAK
“(My childhood toy) is a DS, which is a portable gaming console. It was pretty popular around the time I was in elementary school. It’s nostalgic to me as I have fond memories playing cooking or fashion games on it when I was with my friends, riding in the car, or just doing really anything. It represents to me the blissful joy of being a kid and not really having to worry about anything. I hold (the DS) in a dear place in my heart because of those young memories.”
“My parents moved from India to America in the early 2000s, and they heard about a national holiday called Valentine’s Day. So on their first Valentine’s Day together, my dad bought my mom this stuffed animal. When I was born they gave it to me. I remember taking it to preschool, whenever we went grocery shopping, basically anywhere. Its gone through a lot, and I am so greatful to still have it. SENIOR SNEHA MUTHURAMESH I called it Rose.” FRESHMAN ABHISHEK VALUVERI
“I collect Pokémon cards, and they are significant because I’ve made a lot of memories with them. My friends used to come over and have Pokémon battles every day. It was a lot of fun.”
“(My nostalgic toy) is a blue toy car. This car is significant to me because it is actually a gift for my first birthday. This toy was from when I had my first birthday in China. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to China, and I have a lot of memories from there, so this toy is really important to me because it helps me remember a lot of memories I made in China. So, although I haven’t played with this toy for a good amount, I still have a lot of memories associated with it and keep it on my desk where I can see it everyday.” JUNIOR INIA NARAYANAN
“(My childhood toy) is a Pillow Pet that I used to have in second grade, and, honestly, I still have it in my room to this day. For some reason, it’s really engraved in my core memory as to how I ended up getting the toy. I feel like I’ve had it for so long at this point that it just brings up good memories.”
JUNIOR AVINASH VALUVERI
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STAY IN SCHOOL Graduating high school is a weird transitional time, students should embrace all feelings surrounding it WORDS CADY ARMSTRONG
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econd semester of senior year is a weird With this huge life event, it is easy to think time for everyone. We’re all trying to that our childhood and the fun times that make our final high school memories came with that are over. However, we while also trying to figure out our futures. must also remember that our lives do not For many, this is the first time in our lives suddenly end when we graduate. We may that we’ve had to make a major decision be closing one chapter, but that is only which will impact our lives. For me, this to open another. While we may mourn has led to an internal struggle of trying to and feel nostalgia towards our high school hold on to the last part of my childhood days, we still have many more college and and also trying to move on into adult life. real-life days ahead of us. During this time, When I was a freshman, I went around don’t forget to slow down and not take constantly saying that I could wait for the yourself super seriously. While the second day that I became a second semester senior. semester of senior year and graduation can However, now that it is here, I understand be seen as a sad time, it is also an opportunity that this time of finishing up high school to make some memories and prepare for the and preparing for college is a major life next part of our lives. event. Seniors are still waiting to hear HiLite C0-Editor-in-Chief Overall, this time in our lives is back from college and scholarships as well complicated and often leaves us feeling a as having to make the decision of lot of different emotions. As we where to ultimately attend. prepare to graduate and go off to With this huge life event, This often has stressed me out college, don’t put so much pressure and prevented me from truly it is easy to think that our on yourself to feel a certain way enjoying this time. However, I childhood and the fun times about it or stop doing certain realized that feeling weird during things because your high school that came with that are this time is completely normal. We days over. Graduation is a big over. However, we must also deal, are are completing a chapter of our but it is also not the end-all remember that our lives do lives and nearing the end of our be-all. In fact, it is just the start not suddenly end when we childhoods. This transition in turn of the rest of your life. So for now, inherently brings mixed feelings of graduate. take a deep breath and embrace all all sorts and however we feel is valid. feelings you have about it.
Cady Armstrong
speak-up!
How do you feel about leaving for college? “I’m very excited, I’m going to IU; a lot of my friends are going there so I’m super excited. But, it has been sad to realize that my time here at Carmel is coming to an end.” SENIOR CECILIA MENEGHINI
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SPEAK UPS, PHOTOS TSION DANIEL
“Honestly, I’m really excited to get to experience life in a different state because I’m going to be going to college out of state.” SENIOR JESSICA GODFREY
THE GAME OF Students recount experiences of sudden change in lives, their impact SPEAKUPS, PHOTOS YICHEN LIU, OLIVIA MCKEE
SENIOR ALEXANDER “ALEX” RUSSO “One change in my life was when I lived in Switzerland for a few months in middle school and had to be homeschooled. I was able to learn how to work on my own, stay on top of my schoolwork, come up with a schedule, really master time management skills and just overall how to be self sufficient when I didn’t have specific instruction to work through.”
SENIOR PARIS CHRISTIE “I moved here halfway through my freshman year, which was a big change for me especially because I was such a shy person.”
JUNIOR SNEHA VASHISTHA
“I became a virtual student last year. I think the big change was being in a different environment and not seeing your friends and normal people everyday.”
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OLD SOULS Societal pressures, family roles affect oldest children, family dynamics WORDS ARYA PINNAMANENI
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s the eldest daughter in her single-parent Shirayanagi said she has experienced this type of family, Senior Remi Shirayanagi, recalled pressure. She said she also attributes her family role how she would often become another to necessity and circumstance. caregiver to her younger brother. “I think there are some responsibilities that are “(I was) raised in a singletaken on by the oldest sibling parent household, so a lot of if their younger sibling needs Because they’re older we the times when my mom isn’t to be taken care of,” She said forget that they’re a child... “also, home, when I was younger, there’s a sense of, or idea and there are times I want I would have to take care of that society has, that girls the older of the two to be a my brother, make sure that mature faster, so we have he does his homework, help to take on the role to have leader or an example and I him with his homework, a more caring role. And for forget he’s only a kid; that make sure that he was fed oldest siblings, regardless of isn’t his job a lot of the times like after any gender, I think we’re kind school and before my mom of considered the guinea pigs, PSYCHOLOGY TEACHER MICHAEL O’TOOLE got home for dinner.” especially with immigrant Shirayanagi is not alone. A study conducted by households, I believe, with school and everything Frontier Psychiatry found that birth order contributes to like that, so I think we’re kind of left to guide our personality, pressures and happiness. These differences younger siblings through that.” are attributed to many different factors, including Lily Pineva, oldest child and junior, said she societal pressure and expectations placed on children. has experienced the same issues.“I feel like some “Family roles in our society are reinforced by just responsibility has to be taken, because my two that—our society,” said psychology teacher Michael O’Toole. Said we have what we believe to be defined roles, like the patriarch father knows best—not that I agree with that—and then women should be the caretakers (and) emotional support, whereas fathers are like the discipline, and each child can kind of take on their own role. Obviously that’s the quoteunquote ‘tradition’ view.” O’Toole offered his own experience as a father of two children1. “We have this idea, especially with the older child, that because they’re older we forget they’re a child, and I’m included in this,” he said, “and there are times I want the older of the two to be a leader or an example and I forget he’s only a kid; that isn’t his job.”
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Junior Lily Pineva plays with legos with her younger brother. Pineva said that despite the benefits of being the younger sibling, she wouldn’t change her position as the oldest sibling in her family. SUBMITTED PHOTO LILY PINEVA
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younger siblings are brothers, but I feel like they still somewhat look up to me for guidance,” she said. Pineva also said these pressures are not just established at home, but in other areas of her life. “I feel like since I am the oldest it has kind of translated into relationships with other people. Like in friendships and stuff, I kind of feel like I have to be the one responsible for other people (and) make sure they’re ok,” she said.
Did You Know? Research suggests older children are subject to stricter rules than their younger siblings, and this may be one cause of difference in educational acheivement of siblings SOURCE DUKE AND WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
She said these pressures also influence her relationships with family members. Shirayanagi says she often has become a second mother to her brother. She said, “I think I’ve definitely adopted the caregiver role in the sense that especially due to my family situation I think I’ve taken on that role more than usual. I think it’s made me more mature than I would have (been) if I was the middle child or the youngest.” Shirayanagi also she feels she must remain independent and not ask for help.
Senior Remi Sirayanagi takes a selfie with her mother and younger brother. “Being the oldest has kind of shaped the family dynamic and my personality as well as my younger brother’s personality,” she said. “I think you can tell i’m an older sibling a lot of the time, compared to my brother I take more of a leadership role often. SUBMITTED PHOTO REMI SHIRAYANAGI
“I remember in middle school if I struggled with my homework or a concept, I would never ask for help or anything like that. I felt like that burden was on myself and other people already had enough going on in their lives so it was my thing and my responsibility,” She said. The Chicago Tribune identified different family roles family members may fall into including the scapegoat, the hero, the lost child, the hero, the clown and the caregiver. However O’Toole said,these types of categories can be problematic “We are reinforced by so many mixed messages that we believe to be real, so we have expectations (of children) reinforced stereotypes through media whether that be movies (or) Tv shows.” “Being in a family is hard,” he added. “It takes work, but it’s hopefully ultimately worth it. I would just challenge people to challenge what their notions are and what a family is and what roles are these are just stereotypes.” For their part, Both Shirayanagi and Pineva said they would never trade their position in their family. Pineva said, “I don’t feel any guilt or, like, want it ( my life) to be different, honestly, (it’s) just a lot of responsibility and just kind of wanting to take care of them ( my siblings). “I think there are some benefits to being the younger sibling and I think that it would have been too different, in a bad way.” She added,”but I think A that I wouldn’t want to change anything.”
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WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR Students, teachers express interest, appreciation for imagineering, process behind Disney’s creative attractions WORDS LEAH TAN
PHOTO MICHELLE WAN
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rom the movies to the theme parks, Disney is one of senior Lilian Rose’s most beloved interests. “I’ve grown up with a family that has been obsessed with Disney before I was born,” Rose said. “Growing up with this love ultimately developed into me exploring how people made Disney. Eventually I started watching YouTube videos and reading updates about the park, so I got to know about how Disney is made, which is called `imagineering’.” According to Disney, imagineering is the research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation, design, and construction of Disney theme parks and attractions worldwide. “Put simply, it’s the magic of Disney,” Rose said. “Your job is to create everything from what the floor looks like to the ceiling to the walls.” For senior Ella Joliet, imagineering is a perfect combination of some of her passions. “Engineering as a field has a limitless number of
Scan this to view an interactive map of all the unique theme parks at Disney
possibilities for creation. While these ideas are often put toward practical use such as civil engineering and efficiency, the pursuit of imagination is just as important and imagineering incorporates imagination and creativity into physical engineering and construction,” Joliet said. “I am going into engineering in college and I loved the docuseries on Disney+ so it’s very interesting to me.” Fortunately, CHS has many courses to offer that can help students like Joliet pursue a career geared towards tapping into the creative side of engineering like imagineering. According to engineering teacher Sidney Swartzendruber, the engineering Project Lead the Way classes provide a unique opportunity to explore engineering and discover passions for niches like imagineering. “Our Project Lead the Way programs offer four years and six different courses in engineering, all of which are designed around the problem solving
Where the Fun Comes to Life Discover attractions at Toy Story Land, located at Hollywood Studios in Disneyworld Key: Attraction Slinky Dog Dash This two minute roller coaster features the dashshund Slinky Dog and is 50 meters tall
100 feet Dining
Shopping Alien Swirling Saucers Based on the aliens from Toy Story 3, this spinning ride is based on the teacups attraction
GRAPHIC NATHAN HUANG SOURCES DISNEYINFORMATIONSTATION, DISNEYPARKS
Toy Story Mania! A 4D shooting game that features characters from the entire Toy Story franchise
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process. We aren’t preparing kids to be engineers at this age, but rather experts in executing the design process,” Swartzendruber said. “Additionally, TechHounds, FIRST Robotics club and Science Olympiad club members come to mind when I think of activities that would help students be successful as an imagineer. But imagineering is not only important to people seeking to pursue it as a career. Rose, who has no interest in pursuing engineering, appreciates imagineering because of the products it produces. “Imagineering is especially important to me because as a kid, being able to walk into an amusement park and feeling like this is specifically made for you is not something you can get anywhere else,” Rose said. “One specific thing I always think of when it comes to Imagineers meticulously planning is the Cinderella statue right next to Magic Kingdom. She’s looking down at her slipper, so when you’re a child looking up, the lights shine up on her so that it looks like she’s happy and your view is very innocent and fun. As you grow older and taller, the angle presents her as more solemn, and that’s a really small example of how imagineers show how much detail they put into one thing.” Joliet said her favorite products of Imagineering are Expedition Everest and Pandora in Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. “It takes you through a whole story,” Joliet said. “The ride is set through a huge man-made mountain and details the story of a yeti through high speeds and imagery. Another feat of Imagineering is the entirety of Pandora in Animal Kingdom. The Imagineers worked hard to create the illusion of floating islands using vines that look simply draped across the islands as structural pieces of the world. The ride there also uses cool motorcycle-like seats and a 4D experience to make it seem like you are flying on a breathing and flapping banshee.” Joliet furthers upon the importance of imagineering as she said that it showcases the broader context of how our society is advancing. “Throughout history, art and creative works have always been a sign of prosperity in a civilization, since they have leisure time and extra resources,” Joliet said. “The idea that we can show our growth as a society in a technological and creative way is important.” All in all, Joliet said she really respects the work that imagineers do. “It takes a lot of skill and intelligence. These Imagineers often have practical backgrounds in engineering fields but work so closely with animators and creative teams that they have to have a wealth of knowledge to create these beautiful structures,” Joliet said. “On the other
Students work their way through various automotive experiences to learn how to maintain and repair automobiles in an engineering class at CHS Engineering teacher Sidney Swartzendruber said Project Lead the Way (PLTW) classes like this one are designed around the problemsolving process
hand, Imagineers are not only engineers; there are animators, sculptors, electricians, artists, musicians and a wide variety of professions that make up the Imagineering team.” Swartzendruber said he agrees with Joliet. “You’d have to be quite a self-motivated, innovative mind,” Swartzendruber furthers. “You’d have to be okay with the practical, functional part of your brain taking a back seat to the creative and wild ideas that could ultimately shape into a realistic design that will attract the masses. I think you’d have to live and breathe your work, and be willing to do whatever it takes.” The impacts of imagineering can be felt everywhere by everyone. Next time you visit a theme park, Broadway show, or anything related to the entertainment industry, take a closer look at rides, automation, pyrotechnics, fountains, thematic rides, and even the villages within a park,” Swartzendruber said. “Someone had to design and create those beginning with some simple drawings. Those designs became models and prototypes that had to be tested, and they ultimately moved into production.” “It’s because of imagineering that things like Disney can be so special,” Rose said. “And Disney is for everybody; at Disney you’re not an adult, you’re a sixyear old child again all because of these people’s work.” A
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