The Featheralist: Volume 03, Issue 02

DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL | APRIL 2021 | VOLUME 03, ISSUE 02

Dear Reader, It is with great excitement that we present to you the Spring 2021 issue of The Featheralist. We thank all the wonderful writers, artists, and graphic designers who have worked so hard for the past few months and invested hours into refining their work. Having to communicate solely through emails, texts, and calls, our members have continued producing quality work nonetheless.

Three years ago, The Featheralist published its very first issue, and today, this issue marks our 10th—and last for us graduating seniors.

By now, we have been in a lockdown for over a year. These past months have been especially tough for everyone. There was once something called going to school, but now, we simply turn on an electronic device and join a Zoom meeting.

School is no longer a bustling place where friends socialize and learn in collaborative spaces but rather held in isolation, apart from those we could wave to and have personal conversations with.

Every day is a challenge. Yesterday feels like today, and today feels like tomorrow. We’ve become more and more reliant on the internet, the only outlet to the world beyond ourselves and our immediate surroundings. It’s how we see our classmates and teachers. It’s how we get a glimpse into others’ lives to see how they’re doing. And finally, it’s how we continue staying connected with our friends and those distant from us whom we don’t want to lose touch with. We’ve been living in a period of constant uncertainty and turmoil, not knowing when or if the world will ever turn back to normal.

But nonetheless, we must maintain hope that everything will get better soon. And in this magazine, we hope you find stories that you connect with, stories that remind you that you are not alone.

We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we do. So sit yourself somewhere comfortable before you flip to the next page. And most importantly, take a deep breath and relax. Everything will be okay.

Warmly, Cynthia Wang and The Featheralist Officers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Featheralist

FOREWORD

POETRY 01

LIFE IS A LIE

by Ellen Xu, ‘23

“On Display” by Cynthia Wang, ‘21 Digital

02

THE GROUNDHOG

by Rini Khandelwal, ‘24 and Tyler Xiao, ‘24

“Shadows All Around” by Iris Ding, ‘22 Digital

03

TODAY, I BREAK

by Shriya Sankaran, ‘23 “Shatter” by Andrea Wang, ‘24 Digital “Fruit” by Julia Wang, ‘22 Watercolor

05

BLOOD RED ROSE

by Hema Rajendran, ‘24 “More than a Rose” by Hema Rajendran, ‘24 Digital

WE CAN DO IT!

by Anna Prasouvo, ‘24 “We Can Do It!” by Hema Rajendran, ‘24 Digital

“WE THE CLASS OF 2023” SOPHOMORE CLASS PODCAST Q&A

by Kaylee Hou, ‘23

07

THEY SHALL SPEAK NO MORE

by Vinay Rajagopalan, ‘24

“Chained Down” by Mabel Szeto, ‘21 Digital

09

CONFLICTS OF LOGIC AND IMPULSE

by Alyssa Ringler, ‘24 and Vivian Hoang, ‘24

“Brain and Heart” by Clarissa Hom, ‘22 Gouache

11

IS SELF-DEPRECATING HUMOR EVEN FUNNY?

by Katelyn Gelle, ‘24, Emma Shen, ‘24, Andrea Wang, ‘24, and Daisy Zhang, ‘24 “Behind the Mask” by Uma Sharma, ‘24 Markers “tear” by Isabella Kemper, ‘19 Photography

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“We the Class of 2023 Podcast”

by Natalie Diessl-Gibbs, ‘23 Digital

FICTION 17

PSYCHO IN PINK

by Ida Mobini, ‘22

“Point/Pointe” by Mabel Szeto, ‘21 Digital

18

DEAR SANTA

by Nikki Hekmat, ‘24 “A Look Into 2020” by Rubina Sheeraj, ‘23 Digital

19

IN REAL LIFE

by Audrey Zeng, ‘23

WHERE DID ALL THE TIME GO?

by Russell Kang, ‘22

“Birthday Candles” by Tanvi Bagri, ‘24 Acrylic

22

FRAGMENTS OF REALITY

by Amanda Phillip, ‘22

“Nostalgia” by Rini Khandelwal, ‘24 Photography

23

BLUE KALEIDOSCOPES

by Nicole Pi, ‘23

“Glass Prayer” by Cynthia Wang, ‘21 Digital

25

MONSTER

by Lindsay Wright, ‘21 “Astronauts” by Colin Szeto, ‘21 Tempera

by Anna Feng, ‘23 “*insert clickbait title*” by Vivian Hoang, ‘24 Digital

20

ANNOUNCEMENT! GENERATION THE NEWS NO ONE ELSE SEES FIT TO PRINT: THE TRUTH Z ARE NOT, IN FACT, ALL ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE HEROES IN A YA NOVEL

by Avani Ranka, ‘23 “So I'm a Hero” by Cynthia Li, ‘21 Digital

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April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

PERSUASIVE INTERVIEW CREATIVE NONFICTION 15 06

“The News No One Else Sees Fit to Print”

by Shreya Shahane, ‘23 Digital

27

CONTRIBUTORS AND COLOPHON

28

WORKS CITED 00

poetry | The Featheralist

LIFE IS A LIE Written by Ellen Xu, ‘23 | Designed by Daisy Zhang, ‘24

Life is a lie So don’t you dare tell me There are so many wondrous things to discover in life Because I am absolutely certain Everyone is trying to deceive you Life isn’t worth living People will try to tell you Life is full of infinite and remarkable possibilities That’s one horrible mendacity Life is way too short to find true happiness and love So never let yourself believe for even one second that One lone person can make a ripple in this ocean of a world You must know This is appallingly wrong In the end life will only take what it has given You can’t believe that Life is a miracle and blessing That’s a lie Life is a pointless journey (now read from bottom to top)

On Display Cynthia Wang, ‘21 Digital

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April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

Shadows All Around Iris Ding, ‘22 Digital

THE GROUNDHOG Written by Rini Khandelwal, ‘24 and Tyler Xiao, ‘24 | Designed by Colin Szeto, ‘21 On a late autumn’s night, The groundhog forages fruitlessly, Ready to go back into his hole for the night And wake up once more tomorrow to collect food.

But go out he could not, For food he had naught, And his brain was fraught; For Winter was far from gone.

At every turn, A newfound danger.

Of predators.

Monsters.

The groundhog’s eyes open to a world of white: The Winter has come many fortnights too early, And slowly, slowly, the groundhog realizes It will be a while until he sees the sky again.

In his mind, Two sides conflicted.

Should he venture out, to his friends, to beautiful Nature?

Or should he stay in his burrow, free from danger?

His mind and thoughts drenched in anger and uncertainty.

How he would love to indulge in the snow!

And forget the problems, forget the death that follows!!

But to survive, He pursued on, his mind slowly becoming hollow.

The Winter lasted for months, decades, eons.

He went without going outside, without seeing his friends— Without all he enjoyed.

How could he know?

How could he know such necessities were, in fact, luxuries?

But he does not worry, For he has survived the winter many a time.

Many nights later as he settles in, Eyes closed, Body rested, A sudden realization of thought arises: The Outdoors, Glory of sunshine it supposed.

The rush of wind, The fragrance of a rose.

He dreamt of times when he chased Insects, bugs; In the sweet grass, in the land of trees, His friends!!!

Mother Nature became black-hearted, Sent threats where there had been gifts before.

Pruned life instead of giving it, With beasts roaming evermore.

One might assume, now, That the groundhog is dead— But it is alive, Very much alive, Alive in all of us.

The winter has kept us locked up in our burrows for months now, But the spring will come nevertheless, For the winter always passes.

02

poetry | The Featheralist

Shatter Andrea Wang, ‘24 Digital

TODAY, I BREAK Written by Shriya Sankaran '23 | Designed by Esther Jin ‘21 I. the glass shatters. again. again. again. i curl in on myself, dread curling in my stomach in tandem with the nausea rising up my throat, and hope to drown myself in white noise. there is a choked-up sob, knotted and stuck in the hollow of my neck and i cannot breathe. so help me god, echoing, echoing, echoing. there is the shriek of metal on metal and i simply hope to make it through alive, alive, intact. i know that i won’t.

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II. and here i am. trying to suppress every last memory / wondering what happened to me. / here’s a secret—i feel a little bit like a monster sometimes. i see someone crying and i don’t feel anything. / my sister cries when she sees people in pain but / there’s only a little cavity in my chest / and i feel like i don't belong / especially so when your crooning little echo tells me / i’ll never be enough not for them—not for you—not for anyone—

III. i’d claw my own tongue out, if i could, if it meant that the barrage of words you sic on me would become bladeless and broken.

IV. crawling up my skin consuming me and taking me apart bit by bit and it is a thousand nightmares come to life in one and the shuddering/trembling/crying/pleading isn't going to do anything for me — didn’t i know this already?

V. there is a fire screaming in my soul— let go, let go, let go.

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

Fruit Julia Wang, ‘22 Watercolor

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poetry | The Featheralist

I AM MORE THAN WHAT YOU SEE Written by Hema Rajendran, '24 and Anna Prasouvo, '24 | Designed by Colin Szeto, '21

BLOOD RED ROSE I am a rose.

A blood red rose.

Freshly picked, still with dew drops on my petals.

I’m kept in a vase in the middle of the table.

Center of attention 24/7.

Stunned by my beauty they look in awe.

They assume I’m only my looks.

That’s all I’m here for, they suppose.

I’m watered, taken care of and left to live.

But what use am I, if I am simply to exist.

They take me out the next day.

Just to put me into another cage.

Existing just to be caged is the life I’ve been living.

I’ve had enough.

Why must I be caged?

Why must I exist just to be trapped again and again?

I then realized, I’m not just a rose.

I’m not just a blood red rose.

I’ve had enough.

I let my thorns prick the hands that tried to imprison me.

The man releases me at once, Surprised that I could fight back.

Fearing what else I could do, He ran away in pain.

I was finally released into freedom.

Greeted by a soft breeze and rays of bright light, happiness fills me.

I feel the fresh air on my body for the first time.

Is this what freedom feels like?

Freedom.

It makes me happy.

Purpose.

It’s what keeps me going.

I am more than just a rose, I’ve attained freedom and discovered purpose.

I am a transformed red rose.

Existing not just to exist, But to make the world a better place.

I have purpose and potential.

I am a creation made to better this universe in any way that I can.

No one can ever cage me into prison again because I am MORE THAN just a rose.

More than a Rose Hema Rajendran, '24 Digital

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April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

We Can Do It! Hema Rajendran, '24 Digital

WE CAN DO IT! Throughout history, women have continuously been looked down upon: treated differently and deemed as incapable to do the same things as their male counterparts. They were seen as weak and untalented and were expected to stay in the house and look after the children. Even today, many still hold women in this perspective. However, females have proved that they can do far more than what is

“The iconic “We Can Do It!” poster was born during this time” expected of them. Over the years, women have begun to break stereotypes that once seemed impossible to overcome.

In the 1940s, the drafts of World War 2 drove many men to quit their jobs and join the military to fight overseas. To keep factories and industries running, women left the household and took up jobs that were previously only worked by men. The iconic “We Can Do It!” poster was born during this time,

depicting Naomi Parker Fraley, the strong woman on the cover flexing her bicep. More famously known as Rosie the Riveter, Naomi brought and continues to bring women hope. Since the World War, women have continued to defy any expectation of weakness, continuing to work in jobs which were once only for men.

“history-defining women defied long-standing female stereotypes and have encouraged millions of young girls all over the world to pursue their goals and dreams and become the woman they wish to become. ”

Rosie helped start a campaign to recruit female workers into the workforce. Since then, there have been so many more women who have followed in her footsteps and achieved great feats. Kizzmekia Corbett helped develop Moderna's vaccine, an essential step in combating COVID-19. Kamala Harris currently holds the highest position a woman has ever held in the U.S. government as the first female vice president of the United States.

Alice Walker wrote novels, poems, and short stories discussing important topics of misogyny, racism, and sexism. Billy Jean King showed the world that a woman can be athletic, winning 39 Grand Slam titles in tennis! Maya Lin designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. at the age of 21. Sally Ride became the first woman in space in 1983. All of these history-defining women defied long-standing female stereotypes and have encouraged millions of young girls all over the world to pursue their goals and dreams and become the woman they wish to become.

Women are smart, courageous, and capable of accomplishing anything they put their minds to.

With a mindset and a will to succeed, nothing is impossible! They have influenced the world through writing stories, winning sports titles, designing monuments, becoming national leaders, exploring space, and even creating a world-saving cure. Who knows what women will do next?

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persuasive | The Featheralist

THEY SHALL SPEAK NO MORE Written by Vinay Rajagopalan, ‘24 | Designed by Mabel Szeto, ‘21 Everyone knows about the Final Solution—Hitler’s plan to exterminate Jewish people during World War 2. It’s terrible, and it’s terrifying. But thankfully, that’s in the past. Genocide is a thing relegated to the the history books...right? Well, I’m sorry to say that it’s not. The Rwandan genocide in the 90s killed nearly a million people in a country of just over 7 million. But there’s a genocide happening right under our noses. It is the Uyghur genocide.

To properly understand the genocide, we must understand who the Uyghurs are. Uyghurs are related to the people in Central Asia and Turkey, and a majority of them are Muslim. The major population of Uyghurs in China live in the current autonomous region of Xinjiang, which is sometimes called East Turkestan. Several cities, such as Kashgar, were important nodes of the Silk Road. The Uyghurs have created a few kingdoms over the years, but by 1759, the area had come under the control of the Qing dynasty of China.

The Qing had trouble controlling the region as there were several revolts, the most successful one occurring from 1867 to 1878. The Qing dynasty collapsed in 1911, and there were several Muslim states in Xinjiang. After the People’s Republic of China won the Chinese Civil war, they “liberated” these states and turned the area into the “Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.” From the 1950s onward, large numbers of ethnic Chinese moved into Xinjiang. There is a large wealth disparity between the Han (ethnic Chinese) and Uyghur people, which sparked violence. There is also considerable ethnic tension between the Han Chinese and Uyghurs. According to an NBC article, the Uyghurs are seen by the Han as being ungrateful for investment in the region, while the Uyghurs feel that “wealth and opportunities have been concentrated in the Han Chinese community” and that due to Chinese culture and language being emphasized more and more, their culture is being destroyed.

Perhaps because of this animosity, in 2009, violence in the capital of Ürümqi killed 200 people and injured more than a thousand more. Beijing also blamed Uyghur separatists for a bombing in 2014 and an attack in Beijing itself. These events led to an increased repression of Uyghurs, including arrests, shootings, and longer jail sentences.

In 2017, the Chinese Communist Party came down harder: that year, China started surveilling the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Cameras and checkpoints were set up in the Uyghur-majority areas. But perhaps the most infamous part of the story is the internment camps. There are more than 80 camps, mostly built between 2017 to 2018. The Chinese government at first denied they existed, but after

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photo evidence of half-built camps with barbed wire emerged, they labeled them as simply “re-education centers.” Uyghurs can be sent to these camps for as innocuous things as “growing a beard” and “having too many children,” according to a Uyghur writer currently living in Oslo, Abduweli Ayup. He was detained in Xinjiang in 2014 for his efforts in promotion of the Uyghur language. He said the following about his experiences: “The first night, three guards gathered about 20 prisoners, surrounded me and raped me.

But that’s something I don’t want to talk about anymore” (Zambrana). He also said, “Torture was part of interrogation” (Zambrana). According to The Guardian, over two dozen shrines and other holy places have been torn down since 2016.

Frighteningly, there have been numerous reports of forced sterilization of Uyghur women. Adrian Zenz, a scholar for the Jamestown Foundation, wrote a report on the situation in Xinjiang. A Washington Post article says the following about his findings: “China is systematically using pregnancy checks, forced intrauterine devices, sterilization and even abortion to reduce the population of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang” (“Opinion | What's Happening in Xinjiang Is Genocide.”).

“Torture was part of interrogation” (Zambrana) One Uyghur mother, Mihrigul Tursun visiting her parents near Ürümqi, had her 8-week-old triplets taken away from her upon landing. Chinese officials at the airport questioned her. According to her, they asked, “What you take from Egypt? Who you know in Egypt? How many Uyghurs do you know?”(Watson and Westcott). She was promptly detained and her children were taken away from her. Three months later, she was released, and only then she found out about the death of Mohaned, one of her children. Her two remaining children had identical scars on the backs of their necks.

Additionally, in 2017, she was jailed and put in a crowded cell with 50 other women. The conditions were horrific, according to her. For example, an older woman named Gulshan had spent half a year in the cell, and “[h]er legs and her face were swollen and there were rashes.” One day, she went to sleep and didn’t wake up. Unfortunately, Tursun’s claims can’t be backed up because all official Chinese sources are denying her story. But even if half of it is true, it’s clear that China is doing terrible things.

China has used the justification of “antiterrorism” to justify the camps, as Chinese Foreign Ministry

spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, “The local Chinese government is taking these preventative counter-terrorism and de-extremization measures to protect more people from being devoured by terrorism and extremism.” However, only a few Uyghurs have expressed radicalism, for example joining ISIS or Al-Qaeda, but the Chinese government has used this as an excuse to surveil the entire ethnicity, as stated in an Equal Times article. Yet, China still sticks to their story. They deny that all these terrible reports are true. In January of this year, the Chinese embassy in Washington tweeted how the birth control policies “emancipated” women and that it prevented them from becoming “baby-making machines.” China says the claims of genocide are unsubstantiated. So that brings up one question—Is this a genocide?

First, let’s define a genocide. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, a genocide is “an internationally recognized crime where acts are committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, or religious group” (“What Is Genocide?”). Well, Uyghurs are both an ethnic and religious group.

And the deaths and forced sterilizations clearly show intent to destroy them. In addition, the museum identifies some of the acts of genocide as “causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of that group” and “imposing measures intended to prevent births within that group.” It seems to definitely be a genocide. But let’s look at it closer, shall we? There are 8 stages of genocide, as proposed by Gregory Stanton, the founder of Genocide Watch. They are: 1. Classification, where an “us vs. them” mentality is introduced 2. Symbolization, where symbols are attached to the “them” group 3. Dehumanization, where one group is equated to an animal or other non-human thing to reduce empathy and make killing easier 4. Organization, where units are trained to carry out the genocide 5. Polarization, where the groups are split further 6. Preparation, where the victims are identified, death lists are drawn up, and weapons are distributed 7. Extermination, where the killing begins, and 8. Denial, where the killings are denied to have ever happened.

Let’s apply these stages to the Uyghur case. For classification, the “Strike Hard Campaign against Violent Terrorism” has associated the Uyghur population with terrorists. There is really no symbolization or dehumanization, as the Chinese government prefers to release propaganda of the internment camps being merely re-education centers. There is clear evidence of organization, for

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

Chained Down Mabel Szeto, ‘21 Digital

example the internment camps. The ethnic tension mentioned above drives the groups apart—that’s polarization. Preparation is a difficult category to pin down, as there is no evidence of any death lists or the like, but one could argue that the surveillance of the Uyghurs serve to identify victims. Extermination is evident in the sterilizations and other atrocities China has committed (Note: While there are accounts of death, according to the sources such as Vox and BBC, China is focusing more on reducing the population of the Uyghurs and Sinicizing or forcing them to assimilate into Chinese culture, the ethnic group, which still could be considered genocide, especially because of their methods). As a final blow to any defenders of China’s human rights record, on Tuesday, January 19, the US anounced that they were classifying the actions China was taking against the Uyghurs as genocide.

While in the earlier years (around 2017), many people defined what was happening in Xinjiang as merely a cultural genocide. But with new news, more and more people are defining it as a genocide, with no modifier. But there are still a key number of countries supporting China. Who are they?

Well, in July of 2019, several countries, including New Zealand, Canada, Japan, the UK, and many others, signed a letter calling on China to uphold the freedom of religion in the country. In response to this, other countries signed a letter commending China’s actions in Xinjiang, saying that the government had reduced the number of acts of terrorism and had brought a sense of security to the region. The signatories include Russia, North Korea, Nigeria, South Sudan, and even Muslim countries, such Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Turkmenistan, and Kuwait. But wait. You’re probably thinking to yourself, Wouldn’t the Muslim

countries support the Uyghurs because of their common religion?

Well, there’s one thing to understand—China is an economic powerhouse. It can use its “wallet” to influence countries left and right. For example, it invests in countries in the Pacific to get them to shun Taiwan, which it refuses to recognize as anything but a part of itself. It also invests in and lends money to Muslim countries. If they go against China, they risk losing its economic support, which would hurt them significantly.

Though many of them sing of Muslim solidarity and champion Muslim rights, when their economic lifeline is put at stake, they quickly change their tune. This is a key example of the influence China has over the world, and it is worrying, not just to the West, but for human rights. With even Muslim countries willing to drop their principles to support China, is there even hope that the Uyghur genocide will end?

I’ll be blunt; it’s not looking so good. Even though the US recognizes the genocide as such, it’s one of the few to do so. Even still, the current administration has yet to actually do anything about it, as of the time of writing. There have been a few import bans, but nothing so serious that China would be forced to stop the genocide. So what should happen, if these terrible acts are to stop?

Stopgenocide.org has a petition to urge Congress to 1) to dismantle all internment camps, 2) place economic sanctions on China, 3) increase asylum for Uyghurs and other groups, 4) hold US companies accountable to relay info about human rights and forced labor if doing business in Xinjiang, and 5) get a special counsel to report the situation of human rights violations in Xinjiang.

While this is a start, it isn’t guaranteed to stop the genocide. The only way that the genocide will stop is if all (or most) the countries of the world unite and tell China, No. But with the influence China has over a significant part of the world, this isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. And with China’s power only growing, the US’s days as a world superpower slip closer and closer to being history and with it, perhaps the best chance to stop the genocide. Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, only France and Britain are likely to stand with America over China. And while they are considered Great Powers, let’s be frank, their days in the spotlight are long over. I’m no geopolitical expert, so I can only say one further thing: the US needs to act fast, or one day, we might wake up to a world with no Uyghurs.

After all that, you might be wondering, “What can I do? In this complex world of alliances and motives beyond human decency, can I really make a difference?”

That’s the question, isn’t it? The average person will always find issues that they want to fix, but even if they have the drive, most of us have limited means. We don’t have billions of dollars. We don’t have millions of followers on social media. We’re just one in seven billion. But while one droplet alone can’t erode a rock, the Colorado River still created the Grand Canyon. If we all help out in some small way, maybe by boycotting products from Xinjiang or by signing the aforementioned petition, all our combined actions can change the world. So I encourage you, unlike so many other people around the world, to do the right thing.

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persuasive | The Featheralist

CONFLICTS OF

LOGIC AND IMPULSE

Written by Vivian Hoang, ‘24 and Alyssa Ringler, ‘24 | Designed by Mabel Szeto, ‘21

Brain and Heart Clarissa Hom, ‘22 Gouache

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Oftentimes, when we are making decisions, we are burdened by the thoughts of both our heart and our brain. For logical decision-makers, overthinking choices has become very common, especially when we have to decide between the option we want and the option we know to be safer or more suitable.

During our current political and social climate specifically, each choice we make entails an extensive amount of factors as the world becomes increasingly less simple. Take, for example, the elements that come into play when deciding between two clothing brands. From afar, it may seem like your decision is only a matter of preference. Perhaps you like the style or fit of one brand over the other. However, there are many more details to take into consideration.

Although you might not know it, the brands you frequently invest in might underpay their workers, support political beliefs that you oppose, or largely contribute to pollution and climate change. In this case, purchasing products isn’t only satisfying your own needs, but also making a statement about who you are and what you support. The fear of supporting questionable ideas pushes logical thinkers to strive for the best possible outcome, employing analysis and calculation to lead the way. People who are logically driven aim to eliminate emotional thinking when drawing conclusions. By separating feelings such as anxiety, grief, excitement, or anger from their judgment, they are able to examine the facts and form a rational verdict. Those who seek sound decisions utilize the process of critical thinking.

Critical thinking enables one to recognize the elements that influence decision-making like cultural norms, personal bias, and ethics.

While logical thinking may seem like the ideal approach to life’s decisions, this perspective can lead to unfulfilling results. By solely relying on factual reasoning, we end up neglecting to confront our true fears and desires. In fact, fear is the primary fuel for logic-based decisions. This is because logical thinkers dread making the wrong decisions and always want to do the right thing. To satisfy the high standards they set for themselves,

“By solely relying on factual reasoning, we end up neglecting to confront our true fears and desires.”

Emotions and logic both play an essential role in the decision process. Concentrating on purely the logical explanation to a dilemma will leave you feeling uncertain and ultimately dissatisfied with yourself and your decision. However, making choices entirely based on entertaining the wants of your emotions will cloud your judgment, leading to rash and impulsive choices with damaging results.

The best decisions are made when you find an even balance between your heart and brain. To attain a balanced verdict, it is crucial to acknowledge what you feel and desire while also rationalizing your emotions and considering the consequences. No matter the decision, logic and feelings should not be left neglected, but you should also ensure they never get the better of you.

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

H u m a n s make thousands of decisions every day—an estimated 35,000 according to research.

Unfortunately, decision-making is often much more difficult than imagined. When forming decisions, we undergo a severe inner conflict. While our logic might point us in one direction, our feelings and emotions may sway our reasoning entirely. The art of decision-making is the ability to form a solution to any issue, be it a practical or emotional problem, by the process of identifying the most desirable approach. Any decision, whether it’s as insignificant as selecting which brand of shampoo to buy or as major as choosing your career path, consists of dozens of components that play a part in your inner judgment.

they use reasoning and deduction as a comforting escape from self-reflecting on the outcome that will make them the happiest. Additionally, when facing tense or awkward situations, a logical thinker will address the conflict in a non-confrontational way rather than actually resolving it. Namely, they will weigh every possible option and explore multiple viewpoints, causing them to generate doubt in their judgment. In doing so, these individuals will always be left unsatisfied with their outcome.

Examining the opposite end of the spectrum, emotional decision-makers listen to their instincts and feelings with the sole intent of making themselves happy. As society progresses, we are offered more and more exciting opportunities, and these kinds of people seek to take on all of them.

This is mainly because our brain is wired to lean more towards decisions that have immediate positive results. Two prominent hormones largely affect our emotional decision-making process: dopamine and serotonin. Both hormones are associated with happiness and reward, meaning they are released when you feel pride, anticipation, or joy. The pleasure incited by these chemical reactions can heavily influence our decisions because of how it appeases the brain’s desire of being rewarded. Revenge, sex, drugs, and even chocolate, are all things that appeal to our mind’s reward system. This will to achieve is a powerful motivator to pursue our ambitions but can also introduce an irrational and reckless way of thinking.

“While fixating on your desires can provide you an immediate sense of enjoyment, the urge to achieve a sense of happiness can lead to impulsive and unwanted consequences.”

Despite the happiness they often cause, emotion-led decisions are not always a great solution. Unfortunately, dopamine and serotonin rushes are short-lived and can sometimes leave you feeling even worse afterwards. While fixating on your desires can provide you an immediate sense of enjoyment, the urge to achieve a sense of happiness can lead to impulsive and unwanted consequences. In result, the lack of thought for the long-term effects will result in one regretting not evaluating the situation further.

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persuasive | The Featheralist

IS SELF-DEPRECATING HUMOR EVEN FUNNY? Written by Andrea Wang, ‘24, Emma Shen, ’24, Daisy Zhang, ‘24 Designed by Aidan Rosen, ‘22

Self-deprecating humor has become a second language. It has entwined itself into societal norms, making jokes that come at a person’s expense seem funny. Whether you turn on the TV and start watching your favorite show Friends, open up Youtube and catch up on your favorite vlogger’s life, or even just meet up with your friends to hang out—it can’t be avoided. It’s everywhere.

Does this sound familiar to you? “I look like trash today!” “I literally failed today’s test, I’m such an idiot!” Yeah. These are the ones we’re talking about.

This mindset should not be confused with modesty.

Self-deprecation is under-valuing your own abilities beyond reason. Modesty, on the other hand, is a greater, more realistic perspective of your strengths and weaknesses, with still a strong understanding of self-worth.

“The inherent value of self-deprecating humor lies in the fact that ita helps people connect through their insecurities.”

What is the appeal of self-deprecating humor?

What is the charm in phrases like, “I’m gonna die alone,” and “I literally hate myself”? The inherent value of self-deprecating humor lies in the fact that it helps people connect through their insecurities.

Moreover, when people who seem perfect reveal their shortcomings and vulnerabilities, they become relatable and more likable.

This ties into our pre-programmed instincts.

Humans are innately competitive; a person who uses self-deprecating humor diminishes this competitive urge and makes others feel more relaxed. According to Darwin, “competition among living things is viewed as a major part of the struggle for existence” (Christiansen F.B., Loeschcke V. Population Biology). In other words, we become less vigilant when we don’t feel threatened by competition as we don’t feel the “struggle for existence.” When others use self-deprecating humor and purposely degrade themselves, they also present themselves as a less threatening figure. Thus, a person who uses self-deprecating humor puts others at ease.

Many find no problem in being the one making the self-deprecating joke or being the one on the receiving end. After all, if you can’t laugh at yourself, how can you laugh at anyone else? But when self-deprecating behavior surpasses humor

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Behind the Mask Uma Sharma, ‘24 Markers through repetitive, degrading comments, it can be concerning and even dangerous. The basis of a healthy mindset is respecting yourself; self-deprecating jokes cross the line by blurring the border between humor and harmful. There’s a difference between saying something for a laugh

“There’s a difference between saying something for a laugh and continuously demeaning yourself for the same thing.” over and over again.” and continuously demeaning yourself for the same thing over and over again. Jokes are supposed to lighten the mood, and there is nothing heartening about a self-deprecating joke.

The prominence of self-deprecating humor—whether it’s in television, books, or in

your own friend group—seems harmless at first.

However, the truth is, what can start off as humor can eventually spiral into a never-ending bombardment of deleterious thoughts about yourself.

This is actually scientifically proven, called “The Illusory Truth Effect,” or, “when repeating a statement increases the belief that it’s true even when the statement is actually false” (Psychology Today). Using self-deprecating humor is not worth it. It lowers both the self esteem of the person making and hearing the joke, subconsciously creating a negative atmosphere of failure.

Especially for individuals who already struggle with low self-esteem, self-deprecating jokes can unintentionally contribute to insecurities. So, as mental health issues such as depression and anxiety become more prominent among today’s teens, we should consider: Are a few moments of laughter worth the long-term, detrimental effects they can have on our opinions of ourselves?

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

tear Isabella Kemper, ‘19 Photography

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persuasive | The Featheralist

So I’m a Hero Cynthia Li, ‘21 Digital

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Written by Audrey Zeng '23 | Designed by Esther Jin ‘21

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a surge in activism movements. Most notably, the Black Lives Matter movement has started regaining traction in late May after George Floyd’s untimely and unjust death. Protests took to the street, petitions were signed, and Generation Z took to social media to advocate for racial justice.

Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, along with many other social media platforms became full of posts calling for minors and younger people to take action.

Along with these, videos on TikTok fantasizing about radical activism from Gen Z began gaining popularity, including videos depicting Gen Z storming the White House or overthrowing Trump. Not only were these videos completely unrealistic, they also came from creators who engaged in little to no activism themselves. These same creators were also quick to criticize those who weren’t signing petitions or posting black screens on “Blackout Tuesday,” despite the fact that these actions didn't result in many changes.

These creators also do little to illuminate Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) voices, even though BIPOC creators have the most experience with racial injustices. This type of activism from those creators is known as performative activism, where “activism” is done to impress others with few results that actually benefit the cause. Gen Z often engages in performative activism without realizing it, as signing online petitions and retweeting informative posts is often the most they can do to help others. Thus, the problem lies in why Gen Z feels the need to tackle large social issues that they barely know about in the first place. The root of performative activism is in Gen Z’s savior complex, which is perpetuated both within the generation and by other older generations.

A savior complex, according to Healthline, is defined as a “need to ‘save’ people by fixing their problems.” In other words, it is a desire to help people even if they don’t want help. This help is often given even when their situation isn’t fully understood. This is evident through all the clean water projects that attempted to install clean water wells and boreholes in rural Africa. Up to 360 million US dollars have been spent on building wells, and only ⅓ of them are still working due to the fact that many were built without consulting the rural communities they were built in. This

issue is akin to Gen Z’s savior complex. Gen Z often advocates for people to sign petitions and repost information about issues that they only have a shallow understanding of. Because they don’t fully understand the issue, Gen Z can end up doing more harm than good, such as non-BIPOC creators unintentionally silencing BIPOC voices when talking about racial injustice or preventing informational posts from being spread around because of the amount of posts that are black screens.

How did Gen Z develop a savior complex? One factor is the technology and social media that can be easily accessed nowadays. The Internet is so diverse that it can feel like one has learned everything about a topic simply from reading a couple articles. In reality, many articles, blogs, and news websites online tell things subjectively, only giving readers a small part of the big picture. The abundance of social media has also played a part in why Gen Z has a savior complex. Although it has

“Although it has given Gen Z a voice of their own, it has also given teens a false sense of heroicness and power” given Gen Z a voice of their own, it has also given teens a false sense of heroicness and power.

Despite what many people say, reposting a Black Lives Matter post onto one’s Instagram story doesn’t do much for the actual movement, especially when everyone else from the same audience reposted that same informational post.

Both the Internet and social media are vastly different from the encyclopedias and landlines that previous generations used. This large technological gap as well as social media platforms have made Gen Z feel superior to older generations, as Gen Z are the ones forced to help older generations with technological issues. Furthermore, Gen Z’s savior complex has partially been forced onto them by older generations. These generations often tell Gen

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

ANNOUNCEMENT! GENERATION Z ARE NOT, IN FACT, ALL HEROES IN A YA NOVEL Z that they have to “fix all the problems your parents created,” pressuring Gen Z into thinking that they can and should “save the world.” This pressure manifests itself in “poster” activists such as Greta Thunberg or Claudia Conway. They are seen by all generations alike as some kind of magical solution to all the problems in the world, when in reality, they are just teenagers who haven’t even gone to college yet. Idolizing these teens also ignores activists in older generations who have more experience and are more likely to actually make a difference because they lack any barriers from their age. By pushing older activists aside, it again adds to Gen Z’s air of superiority and the belief that they can help everyone.

Savior complexes are detrimental to real activism because emphasizing the false belief that Gen Z can save the whole world prevents actual change from occurring through politicians and governments.

Performative activism, such as only reposting or retweeting a social media post, is praised far too much given how little it achieves. By encouraging performative activism, genuine activism is no longer allowed to be as impactful. Despite their good-willed intentions, Gen Z is actually doing more harm than good.

However, the Gen Z savior complex can be fought against. One way to combat the complex is to recognize what performative activism is and try to avoid it. Performative activism can be turned into genuine activism by taking advocacy just one step further than posting on social media, such as attending a protest or emailing a local politician.

Furthermore, problems should be recognized as more complex than a simple math problem. They can almost never be solved by a single “poster” activist and oftentimes can be solved more efficiently with the help of other generations. By being open to working with older generations, not only will the Gen Z savior complex be combated against, but it will also bring more effective and practical solutions to the world’s largest problems.

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interview | The Featheralist

“WE THE CLASS OF 2023” SOPHOMORE CLASS PODCAST Q&A Written by Kaylee Hou '23 | Designed by Colin Szeto ‘21

What do you guys do on your podcast?

Who is your targeted audience?

On our podcast, we have two main types of episodes; one is an interview-style where we invite students from the class of 2023 to talk about issues or anything the students are passionate about. Our other type of episode is an anonymous submission where we post questionnaires on Instagram and report the students' responses. The target audience is our class of sophomores.

Reproduced by permission of Meghna Mohan and Emma Hong, the creators of the podcast.

We the Class of 2023 Podcast Natalie Diessl-Gibbs, ‘23 Digital

How do you record the podcast? What is the process behind it?

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First, we decide on a person we want to interview. They could be someone passionate about advocating for a specific topic or someone with a unique story.

Afterwards, we DM them on Instagram and ask them if they would like to be on our podcast. If they say yes, we schedule a day to meet, and we work on what to ask them, or we ask them what they want to talk about beforehand. Then, we film the podcast on Zoom. We use a clip-on microphone for better sound quality, and then Emma and I take turns editing the recording with iMovie. Right now, we only have one person on the podcast at a time but would potentially want to get on to a third or fourth guest if we go back to in-person school.

Some challenges that we faced are that since the podcast is filmed virtually, we have to deal with the technical issues that come along with it. Sometimes, when Zoom glitches or the camera or audio freezes, it can be a little awkward. As a result, we just have to edit in that the screen or audio froze, so editing can be tedious and time-consuming. Sometimes, we even have to rerecord the entire episode. It can be a lot of pressure to push yourself out of your comfort zone, but we've just had to overcome the awkwardness. Sometimes, we are talking about deep things, so we also have to face the challenge of trying to create a comfortable environment where our guests feel comfortable speaking about sensitive topics. Another challenge is that we sometimes feel self-conscious because we have to put ourselves out there, and we always feel like maybe people won't like the podcast or won't want to listen to it.

However, our favorite part is learning about people and new perspectives. We get to learn things about our class that we wouldn't have known if not for the podcast.

Hearing positive feedback about the episodes is also really motivating and rewarding after all our hard work.

Why did you guys decide to make a podcast and not something else like an Instagram account or Youtube channel to connect with the class of 2023? What inspired you to start it?

We decided to make a podcast rather than anything else in order to bring together our class because a podcast is more personal and adds another aspect to connecting with people. Things like Instagram posts are short while podcasts are more genuine and real. You usually don't connect with a post, whereas a podcast simulates having an in-person conversation with someone and can help build that connection. We listened to The TryPod a lot to see how the hosts facilitated the flow in conversation, but it didn't necessarily inspire us on what topics to talk about. We wanted to do something that connects us in a virtual environment.

Social media is informative, but it removes the interaction between people. Talking on a podcast encourages conversation and even some of the vulnerability that social media doesn't.

What projects are you currently working on regarding the podcast?

We are currently just working on putting out more episodes. We just finished filming an episode about winter break and what people are looking forward to in 2021. We are also thinking of redoing one of the podcast topics to discuss the importance of positivity.

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

What are some challenges that you have faced so far when filming this podcast?

What is your favorite part about filming the podcast?

What goals do you have for the podcast?

What impact do you hope this podcast will have?

Our goal is to unify our class and facilitate connection amidst virtual learning where we are quarantined inside our houses. We want this podcast to help people realize that they're not alone in certain topics. In virtual learning, we can feel very isolated since we aren't sharing our feelings or thoughts as often. We want the podcast to allow students to have a space to open up about what they're feeling and talk about what they want. For example, mental health, which was our first episode topic, was something that many people could relate to.

How can we contact you guys or access the podcast?

You can contact us by DMing us @dnhsclassof2023 or emailing us at dnhsclassof2023@gmail.com. Or you can also DM us personally @emma___hong and @meghna_mohan_. You can access the podcast on the Youtube channel and our Spotify: We the Class of 2023.

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fiction | The Featheralist

PSYCHO IN PINK Written by Ida Mobini, ‘22 | Designed by Mabel Szeto, ‘21 I’m going to die in a shoot-out. I’m going to be standing here in my grandmother’s kitchen when the police knock down the door with their guns a-blazing and they’ll kill me without a second thought. I’m going to die because of the dirty box cutter in the back of my car; because Dasha used to tell me, not gently, that my time was over; because when I went into the studio early this morning, I was thinking about the truth, which is that you never really get what you deserve. But still—you got to set things even, you got to do it for yourself.

Sadie was older than the rest of Dasha’s class but she was a natural talent. Oftentimes I’d slip into the room and watch her dance, wondering if I’d ever been free like that: a huge, swooping pelican, coming in low above the water, coming in fast, wings spread into something religious. That feeling I got, then, was a summer shower. A vicious storm of envy that wouldn’t stop until someone finally made some kind of sacrifice. So I had to do it. I had to set things even. I was Aurora once. I was Giselle, Juliet, Sylphide. Then I was nothing. How do you return to holiness? How do you do it without cutting away everything you can’t stand? Girls like Sadie don’t look the way they do and get away with it. I know I couldn’t.

I was in Florida before I was in New York before I was in Florida. Nana looked after me for some three or four years before I won a scholarship for dancing in Manhattan, where men took pictures of me on the subway, and every Friday I bought myself two pints of low-fat ice cream. I ate low-fat everything. I swallowed laxatives, took a philosophy class, went to rehearsal late and, yes, stayed overtime. I failed an audition. Failed two.

Amanda, Dasha told me over the phone, come back where you are wanted—hence the studio, hence Sadie.

Now Nana’s grabbing my hand as I bring her a glass of lemonade. She would always lay in her bed when I came over before, like she was chained to it, but now she’s just too sick to move. The doctor told her to lay off the alcohol, otherwise I’d be bringing her a Bloody Mary and a Vicodin. She grabs my wrist and makes me spread my fingers out.

“Gracious, Mandy,” she says, pinching my middle finger. “Did something happen?”

She only asks because there’s still blood lodged underneath my fingernails. “It’s nail polish,” I answer plainly, but behind my eyes I’m seeing Sadie hunched over her pointe shoes, pounding them with a hammer again and again and again until they finally cave in. I’m seeing myself in the studio mirror, eyes frantic with want, clutching the box cutter at my side with a white-knuckled grip.

We both got violence in our blood, don’t we? She brings the hammer down one last time before she sees me. But Sadie, baby, you weren’t meant to be here. You’re too good. You weren’t meant to hear the music.

There’s something special about the Florida heat—the way it fills you all the way up, wet and sticky, and, before you know it, you’re covered in everything that came before.

I could live on her fear, I think. I could swallow it all.

Meanwhile, the sirens close in like a hungry dog.

My Blackberry is ringing in my pocket. I’m spilling liquor over cherries and lighting them on fire, and as the flames spit up, I too am full of warmth, thick and ready, the dancer you always wanted. I’m going to die in a shoot-out, and my blood will gleam.

It’s fair. It’s perfect. Come find me.

Pointe/Point Mabel Szeto, ‘21 Digital

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April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

DEAR SANTA Written by Nikki Hekmat, ‘24 | Designed by Sarika Pasumarthy, ‘22

A Look Into 2020 Rubina Sheeraj, ‘23 Digital

Dear Santa, I really tried to be a good kid this year, but a lot of things went wrong. I was playing with matches in the backyard, and I accidentally set fire to the woods around my house. It spread all over . . . but I didn’t mean to. Lots of animals died, buildings and houses burned, and people lost their lives.

Then, I got a new lab kit for my birthday, but I didn’t have anything to observe. So I filled my backpack with everything I needed to go do research at the nearby lake. But after hours of searching for something interesting, I found nothing. I went home really sad. I set my adventurer backpack on my bed and started taking things out when suddenly, I felt something slimy. I reached my hand back in and pulled out a real-life frog! It was so cool. I named him Rona. I showed Rona to everyone I could, and people seemed to like him a lot. All my friends would come over to play with Rona. But, after a week or two, my friends started getting sick. Soon, my mama also got sick. She would cough and cough for days. And

after another week . . . Mama was gone. I miss her so much . . . And Rona became my best friend after that. He was all I had because my brothers and sisters were a lot older than me, and they didn’t like talking to me much. Then, the world went on lockdown. Many people got sick and died. Friends couldn’t see each other anymore, people couldn’t feed their families or pay to keep their homes and businesses standing, and students like me couldn’t go to school. After a few more months, though, my siblings started to pay more attention to Rona in a weird way, sneering at him or quickly running out of the room when he was nearby. I didn’t like it one bit. Soon enough, one of my sisters claimed that Rona was the reason for everyone getting sick. I was shocked. I said, “No way!” I told her Rona was the best buddy I could ever have, that he could never . . . But then I thought of Mama. And I realized what I had done. So I took Rona back to the lake, and I watched him hop away from me forever.

More and more people found out about what Rona did. Soon, millions of people were getting sick.

Mama . . . everyone else . . . it was all my fault. I really didn’t know what to do. And when more bad things happened, they still blamed me—even when I did nothing wrong those times. When terrible people started saying and doing really racist things, there were uprisings and protests all over the world for justice. More and more people started getting angry at me and began to hate me. And on top of all that, there was a presidential election that tore families apart—but people still blamed me, even though I had nothing to do with it!

I’m really sorry for all the mistakes I made. But just because I messed up sometimes, people keep saying that I’m the reason for all the bad in the world this year. I want people to forgive me, to stop blaming me. I promise I’ll never do anything bad ever again. I didn’t mean to mess up! Please, Santa.

Please put me back on the nice list. I just want the world to be happy again . . . All I want for Christmas is for people to love me again.

Sincerely, 2020

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fiction | The Featheralist

IN REAL LIFE

Written by Anna Feng, ‘23 | Designed by Aidan Rosen, ‘22 Hey babes, it’s media influencer, entrepreneur, actress, and model Madi Realistik here. Let’s get real. I hate influencer books, and you hate influencer books. Fortunately, I was generous enough to be the Rihanna of literature and write the best influencer memoir ever.

Starting Small I started YouTube because I needed a place to express myself. After I broke up with Lil Gains, I went to therapy three times a day and needed at least five Red Bull shots to get out of bed. My first YouTube video, entitled “HE CHEATED ON ME

When my manager begged me to write this, I thought it would just be a long subtweet. If it's not a one-sentence apology for a racism scandal or nasty internet beef with my friend for publicity, writing is entirely too much work. However, like the brave person I am, I persisted as an homage to all of the respected scientists, lawyers, and activists who wrote books of their own.

Bill Nye, Elle Woods, and Kendall Jenner for Pepsi are just a few of these daring pioneers who come to mind.

After I released my apology video, it seemed like my career was over. I lost almost all of my brand deals, except for Brandy Melville. People live-streamed my declining subscriber count and made petitions to cancel my TV show. Meanwhile, I did as many BLM photoshoots as possible and even made a fake fan page for myself. I was at my lowest point. Luckily, the internet forgot my scandal as fast as a viral TikTok trend.

Three weeks after, I was back on social media flaunting my new cornrows.

Growing Up Let’s start at the very beginning.

When I was born on Christmas day, my mom said Mariah Carey was standing in the hospital room serenading me. I have two gay moms, so I’m the furthest thing from homophobic. They screened Hollywood's top movie stars to pick a donor and ultimately ended up choosing between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Only my parents know who my real father is, but I have a hunch that it’s Brad because of Tom’s weird Scientologist propaganda.

After my parents were in a lawsuit for bribing the underwater hockey team to get my sister into Boston University, their gnarly divorce forced me to move in with my friend Corrie and her strict dad, Snoop Dogg. Corrie’s been like a mother to me. By that I mean she drove me to my first prom, took me to get my ears pierced, and bailed me out of jail in seventh grade. Most importantly, Corrie taught me how to recognize my self-worth. I will always remember what she told me when I was about to swipe right for the up and coming rapper, Lil SkrrWit2YungGains: “Nah, girl. That kid is broke as hell, got misspelled tattoos covering his entire lower back, and has two SoundCloud listeners.” I quoted her on my Instagram live after I broke up with him two days later.

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Cancelled What’s life without drama? The shitstorm started when my “racist” tweets from 2013 resurfaced. My name was trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons. My attorney moved into her parent’s basement in Iowa, saying, “Yeah, I can’t fix this one.” It took months for my manager to convince me that I had to apologize even if I wasn't actually sorry. I repeated the script in my head as I thought about my chipped manicure to induce tears.

*insert clickbait title* Vivian Hoang, ‘24 Digital with receipts,” was cathartic. I single-handedly ended his career with text messages from two girls I paid from the golf club to say he dated them. That video alone garnered 20.3 million views and got me my own reality TV show “Becoming Madi” on Lifetime. As Ariana Grande said in her Grammy-nominated, seminal pop classic, “Thank U, Next,” “I’ve loved, and I’ve lost, but that’s not what I see…Look what you taught me.” Exploiting him shaped me into the powerful, millionaire diva I am today. But don’t get it twisted; I’m still self-made.

A Journey to be Continued The pandemic has drastically altered all of our lives. Because of the pandemic, I can only have eighty people over at a time, or fifteen or whatever. But I like to be positive, just like my COVID-19 test result. This year, I launched a mask line for people who choose to wear it, though I can’t wear it because I have a totally legitimate medical condition.

Needless to say, I wasn’t handed anything. Migrant workers built up my life brick by brick, but so did I— metaphorically. Like you, sometimes Lululemon runs out of my favorite leggings, my yacht gets rear-ended, and I get stopped at border control (by the paparazzi). I’m sick and tired of people acting like my life has always been a breeze.

Don’t try to narrate my life until you’ve walked a mile in my Birkenstocks.

Written by Avani Ranka, ‘23 | Designed by Sarika Pasumarthy, ‘22

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

THE NEWS NO ONE ELSE SEES FIT TO PRINT: THE TRUTH ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

The News No One Else Sees Fit to Print Shreya Shahane, ‘23 Digital

Global warming is the single greatest threat ever faced by humanity. Melting glaciers, intense heat waves, and rising sea levels are only the beginning.

For so long, scientists have claimed via theories, simulations, and measurements to understand the causes of climate change, but the true information has recently come to light.

Extraterrestrial beings from far beyond our galaxy are responsible for this phenomenon.

According to our sources within the government who wish to remain anonymous, aliens first made contact with Earthlings in the 19th century. Over the next few decades, representatives from both species drafted a treaty, which was signed in blood under the light of an eclipsed moon. The document states that if human leaders allow global warming to continue and deny its existence, aliens will

remain allies with Earth and assist the resident primates in their technological endeavors. It should be noted that they did not indicate whether they specifically meant homosapiens instead of chimpanzees or gorillas. Furthermore, these extraterrestrials revealed through the treaty that they discovered Earth while looking for a vacation world. By increasing the temperature of our planet through global warming, they are cultivating the climate of Earth so it is preferable to that of their freezing home, similar to how snowbirds spend their winters in Florida.

The tremendous technological assistance humanity has received from the aliens currently includes plans for a joint base on Mars. This project, headed by the most recently crowned alien leader, Elon Musk, is still in the developmental stages, though we can be certain that more information will soon

be released. Moreover, the Starlink satellites being launched by SpaceX have the added benefit of monitoring the human race and providing information and entertainment to our extraterrestrial allies.

Our source also disclosed that the aliens destroyed the Arecibo Observatory for two reasons. One: to warn the scientists who insist that global warming is real and are trying to stop it to follow the treaty.

Two: on December 21 of last year, Jupiter and Saturn had their closest encounter in almost 400 years. The event created a special radio link connecting to the extraterrestrials’ home planet, and they fear that humans will spread ideas to the rest of the aliens in the galaxy, such as roombas, soup, and our fascination with fire and explosions.

The head of the UFO Pilots Association (UFOPA) did not respond to our request for comments.

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creative nonfiction | The Featheralist

WHERE DID ALL THE TIME GO? Written by Russell Kang, '22 | Designed by Colin Szeto, '21

Birthday Candles Tanvi Bagri, '24 Acrylic

It’s midday—the sun warms your round cheeks, and the chatter settles around you. You look to your left: the bikes are all leaned up against the fence. Of course you know who owns each one—you’ve seen them a million times before. You look to your right: you see your friends waiting for you at the top of the playground, waving their hands in invitation for you to come join them. In that split second, you feel an exuberance like no other. You sprint up the stairs, climb the monkey bars, and in ninja-like fashion, summersault onto the plateau housing the kids you consider your second family. You play for hours on end. No phones in sight. Just genuine happiness. You hope the feeling will last forever.

But it doesn’t. Here you are. A high schooler now.

You haven’t even thought about going near a playground for over five years. You’ve been trapped in your room for what feels like forever. As time passes, your room appears to be getting smaller and smaller, and duller and duller. You are lonely, yearning for just the slightest bit of social interaction. The thought of sitting at a lunch table with all your friends seems so close, yet so distant.

So what happened? How did you get here? How did you go from being the king of the monkey bars to just another stressed-out, lonely teenager?

Time. It’s what everyone says. But for curious souls, they ask how. How did time cause such an abrupt change? How did it creep up on us so fast?

How does it work? ***In the midst of a global pandemic, I couldn’t help but consider these questions. As I continue to

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search for meaning in the past to create meaning in the future, I stumble into several obstacles. One of these obstacles is time—I can’t understand or explain it.

The only thing I know about time is that it causes change. With it, I change. We change. The world changes. I don’t know how, but it happens. It’s both a blessing and a curse. It allows us to blossom into mature, young adults who are capable of sympathizing with others and communicating effectively. It enables us to move forward in pursuit of our dreams. It gives us the opportunity to improve ourselves and continue growing.

But on the flip side, it distances us from what we consider to be the “good times.” Memories of the laughs and smiles of a youthful child slowly drift away with time, like an astronaut floating away from a spaceship into the abyss. So as we search for growth and self-improvement in hopes of achieving our dreams, we run farther and farther away from the early joys that shaped our childhood.

Who wins this battle? It seems like as one enters, the other leaves. It’s like a cat chasing its own tail.

The two will never coincide. Equilibrium is already reached.

Our perceived innocence is like the sand in an hourglass. Each day, a little bit of it is drained to the other side to be replaced with maturity, responsibilities—and if we’re being honest—stress.

But here’s the aspiration: the hourglass eventually runs out. Then what happens? We have to flip it back over and start it again. So in five years, you’ll be thinking the same thing as you are now. You’ll

reminisce about the “good times” you experienced in high school like you do now with elementary school and middle school. Although high school was during a pandemic, at least I had some free time.

Now, I’m working towards getting a master’s degree, and I’m averaging two hours of sleep per night. Oh, how you wish you could just go back to those simple times as a teenager.

So, what does this mean? At least for me, it means that time is a sad, yet inevitable concept. We can’t avoid it. We can only try and deal with the negative effects it brings. And in my mind, the only way to combat it is to be present in the present. The soul never changes. You are the same soul you were five years ago and the same soul you will be in five years, meaning that you can experience the “good times” right now, the “good times” in five years, and the “good times” forever. So often are we, as competitive students, looking ahead to the future that we lose sight of the present. We forget what it means to live in the moment, which explains why we are seemingly always nostalgic, wondering why the past always feels so much happier than right now.

Flashback five years to that same playground scene. That excitement you felt running around with friends—you can experience it now. Why? Because in five years, you’ll feel the same way about right now as you currently do about five years ago. Happiness is a state of mind. You can choose to embrace it or choose not to. The best part about time is that every moment in history is considered the present at some point. That alone gives me hope for the future.

FRAGMENTS OF REALITY

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

Nostalgia Rini Khandelwal '24 Photography

Written by Amanda Phillip '22 Designed by Esther Jin ‘21

A mirror. Broken. Shattered. Glittering shards scattered across the floor. They glare up at you, reflecting a ghastly distortion of reality they would have not dared reveal before. You peer down at these fragments, realizing that they no longer reflect who you are, or at least who you thought you were. They reflect a new reality. You consider this reality, doubting how the fragmentation could truly be real yet realizing it must be. After all, mirrors don’t lie. Your finger brushes along the edges of the fragments, wondering what it will take to put them back together.

Around this time a year ago, a wicked virus began its rampage across the globe. It seeped out of a Far East nation and became a hammering epidemic. It pounded cracks into the pillars of civilization. It reshaped our realities from shimmering reflections of life into mere fragments of that vibrancy. It hammered away at our health, stripping away the well-being of some and the entire lives of others. It pounded down upon our social order, provoking utter pandemonium on a global scale. It beat away our passions, distancing us from our schools, our sports, and our activities. It limited social interaction as a whole. With each successive blow at your former existence in certainty, the virus fractured the mirror of your reality until it shattered into uncertainty.

You tire of looking at slivers of your old existence.

You yearn for that fullness of life and certainty of routine that you once had, or at least a freedom from the brokenness that this disease created. You realize that the global crisis prevents you from living how you once did. Yet, you can’t help but reminisce in wistful envy about the freedoms of that maskless, distance-less, public health restriction-less existence you took for granted.

You find that the more you recollect about those joys of a past life, the more dissatisfaction you find

with your current one. But that wistfulness never truly leaves you; you yearn for reconciliation; you ache for a way to move past the past without evicting it from your mind altogether. You wonder if your nostalgia can help heal those cracks. You wonder if reliving the past, even if only in your own mind, can allow you to carry it with you into the future.

You find that you want to reconcile those pieces of the mirror, from brokenness to completeness. You find that you want to heal a heart broken by the current absence of past joys. You look to your remembrances and your nostalgias of that former existence. You realize the potential they have: with them you can treasure the experiences of the past without dismissing the future.

You peer down at the image the shards display and notice how they reshape your likeness. In their contorted reflection, they depict a life stripped of its essential parts. The shattering forces of the virus reshaped your personality. The lockdowns and panics forced you to abandon many things that brought you joy back then. You realize the cruelty of your inability to appreciate certain joys of life until they are gone.

You realize that for better or for worse, your humanity may never allow you to stop reminiscing about what things once were. But you realize that your nostalgia can consume you in perilous idealization and obsession with the past. You understand that you cannot prescribe an unhealthy dose of nostalgia to yourself, for it will fuel your dissatisfactions instead of easing them.

You brush away the dust and sweep together the mirrored pieces, arranging them so that their cracks just begin to fit together. You take a closer look at your fractured image and realize it reveals something within you that the unfractured mirror couldn’t show. You see that collected in their brokenness, the pieces offer a redesigned reality.

You realize that before the shattering, you lacked the strength that flourishes in brokenness. You went without a certain aspect of your humanity that could only be awakened by life-shaking, cataclysmic experiences like those that arose from the pandemic. You realize that in many ways, the world’s sickness catalyzed your ascent into adulthood. Those struggles it created kindled a new awareness of yourself, your mind, and your well-being. More importantly, it laid bare to you the aches of others. It grew you in empathy and awareness for causes greater than yourself. You see that while the pressure of the disease shattered your former existence, it revealed underneath a more humanized version of your old self.

You realize that you can overcome this pitfall of nostalgia. You decide to harness its ability to capture your pre-virus existence into lasting mental experiences. You resolve not to revel in your nostalgia. You will not fall prey to it. You resolve not to lay traps of sentimentality. You know they will only leave you more dissatisfied with your current existence. You realize that you can find balance. You see that you can accept and enjoy nostalgia. You will allow it to dually capture the fullness of your memories and release your attention to pursue new opportunities.

A mirror. Whole. Reconstructed. At least mostly.

Glistening pieces of a once-broken reflection realigned with one another. They gaze up at you, knowing they don’t fit together perfectly, but realizing they don’t need to. No longer broken, yet not entirely whole. Mirroring a soul that accepts brokenness and reforms it into fullness.

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creative nonfiction | The Featheralist

BLUE KALEIDOSCOPES Written by Nicole Pi, ‘23 | Designed by Daisy Zhang, ‘24

When I was six years old, my friend gave me a blue, plastic kaleidoscope. I was instantly enamored with it. I spent a whole day peering into the tacky eyepiece, slowly twisting the tube around and around, watching as pink fluorescent glitter flakes shifted around the multicolored beads to create stars, flowers, spirals, and jewels. It was like I was watching an endless video of a lily unfurling—I couldn’t bear to tear my eyes away. Then again, it’s always been difficult to resist pretty things.

“I’ve always found it fascinating that a kaleidoscope and some glitter could make even mud look like art.”

I’ve always found it fascinating that a kaleidoscope and some glitter could make even mud look like art.

A kaleidoscope is an optical instrument with two reflecting surfaces tilted towards each other at an angle so that the broken bits and pieces on one end of the structure are seen as a captivating, symmetrical pattern on the other end. Any small movement shifts the bits and pieces, creating an infinite number of patterns and designs. You never see the same thing every time you look into a kaleidoscope, and no one else will ever see the same designs you’ve seen. In short, it’s an endless optical illusion only unique to one moment in time.

We are all that way, at least a little bit. We have never been strangers to fitting into molds defined by the lines we’ve been told to never step out of.

We are constantly shifting, constantly keeping up our reflective mirrors so others can see what they individually want to see. We never let anyone see the raw capsule of thoughts and memories that fundamentally make up who we are. Besides, who we really are doesn't matter anyway; none of us are interested in digging deeper beneath the thick line of politeness and courtesy, so we are all more than okay with allowing the pretense of perfection to peacefully live on.

So we imitate smiles and shove our thoughts under our beds.

We are optical illusions, formed from a cumulation of scraped knees, tears clinging onto eyelashes, screams pulsing against our rib cages, and butterflies battling in our stomachs. We exist to

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reach expectations dangling from clear fishing twine, and the biggest lesson we ever learned was that we never had to meet every expectation. All we had to do was reflect a perfect image back.

“we never had to meet every expectation. All we had to do was reflect a perfect image back.”

So we became kaleidoscopes.

We are different to all and real to none, we change with time and with the herd. A slight shift in the circumstances and all our patterns alter. We are so caught up in being perfect, covering up our mistakes, and reflecting something flawless back, that we forget a crucial truth.

Optical illusions aren’t real.

It is optical illusions that hurt us, that separate the world into “us” and “them,” when in reality there is no “them,” there are only facets of “us.” We look at reflections of our own reflections and call them “weird,” call them “different,” when we’re all weird, we’re all different. We all do too much to fit in.

Sometimes, I wonder if astronauts can see our illusions from space, if the reflections from our kaleidoscopes can be seen from deep in the cosmos.

Together we are bright, we are radiant, but it is only to hide who we truly are. In the illusions painted by our kaleidoscopes, we lose all sense of the truth and we stay trapped in our tubes with our scraped knees.

“In the illusions painted by our kaleidoscopes, we lose all sense of the truth and we stay trapped in our tubes with our scraped knees.”

Wouldn’t we be so much happier if we climbed out of our tubes?

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

Glass Prayer Cynthia Wang, ‘21 Digital

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creative nonfiction | The Featheralist

MONSTER Written by Lindsay Wright, '21 | Designed by Colin Szeto, '21

Astronauts Colin Szeto, ‘21 Tempera

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Not too long ago it was normal to walk in the streets, smile and wave hello to the next person.

This March, Death the Monster haunted our minds.

No one wanted to be anywhere near people who were sick or exposed, lest the cold scythe cut them down. So, in order to protect others, I hide from them, and see them through cracks: pictures, videos, screens. I left school trusting that people would share in patience and bring peace and decisive action.

The Creature saw the family struggle: the aged father was blind, and the son worked grueling hours while his sister tended the garden. They held a delicate balance on the edge of starvation. The Creature began chopping their firewood so he could lessen their pain.

Meanwhile I turned my attention to my community. I began volunteering at more workshops for younger people to teach them and show them someone cared. Middle and high schoolers needed that companionship because people became afraid of those who wanted life to become normal. They had become Monsters.

Everyone yelled at people with bare faces, and news reporters scolded governors who dared send children to school and adults to work.

One day the Creature discovered notes describing the gruesome process of sewing together decaying parts to create a Monster. The notes were by the man who zapped the Creature to life.

“I watched as people seemed to forget how to be Human.”

I watched as people seemed to forget how to be Human. Cynical bigwigs began openly declaring that they loved things and used people, instead of the other way around. In the city, people began spilling blood, running in the streets in frenzy, and

“Did this make me a Monster too? Was Everyone a Monster?”

I decided to read Mary Shelley’s novel late this summer because a professor recommended it as a book all scientists should read to help them put their work in the context of the greater good.

Shelley presents both Dr. Frankenstein and his Creature as tragic figures. Yet, she is brutally candid in exposing their flaws. She raises an important question: Who is the real Monster, the Creature, who does become a murderous fiend seeking to glut himself with revenge, or Dr. Frankenstein, who cannot see beyond himself to the point that he views even his loved ones as possessions and, in glutting himself with ambition, doesn’t consider the consequences of his work or extend care to the Creature? Scientists must keep in mind not just their accomplishments but also the fact that the people they serve are Humans, not Monsters.

I remember a time when I was isolated from my classmates, not by walls but by words. I was slow to speak, so I read instead. This attracted the ridicule of many third graders at my new school, but not Everyone thought I was a Monster. One day a girl named Olivia came to me to warn me what our classmates were doing. “People are spreading rumors and gossip about you,” she told me. “Look out!” Eventually I proved I had an identity other than the Monster, so Everyone Else stopped bullying me. Yet I remembered Olivia and stayed friendly with her. I remember her reaction when she read Frankenstein: “This is so sad, people are throwing potatoes at him and the scientist doesn’t care!”

melt with the winter snow. The beauty of people in the Real world would blossom forth. Though poison hemlock would grow in the meadow—wicked people exist in the Real world—it would be far outnumbered by gentle roses and peonies and sweet alyssum.

“We need to stop seeing people as Monsters and instead understand that they are imperfect and yet in some way still similar to us.”

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

The Creature loved books. He hoped that thoughts between the leather covers would allow him to connect with Humans, even though his sunken, watery eyes stood more than two feet above theirs.

But because of his hideous appearance, he dared not go near them now, nor leave the shack that was his house, and had to satisfy himself with peering through the crack of a door at the gentle glow of fire and kindness, love, and care that dwelled inside.

smashing windows, scattering crystal shards on the ground. The people in the nights of broken glass were Monsters to me. They were bloodthirsty fiends who wanted to wreak their destruction on the world. Yet these same people likely believed something similar, that anybody who thought or looked Different was a Monster and must be destroyed. I know that I am Different, and I cannot and will not change to be like Everyone Else--I live in a multiracial household with an immigrant mother and American father. My brain formed Differently from Everyone Else’s, so I look at things and understand them Differently. Did this make me a Monster too? Was Everyone a Monster?

Reading Frankenstein helped me find these answers.

We need to stop seeing people as Monsters and instead understand they are imperfect and yet in some way still similar to us. Nobody wants to be or become a Monster: not the Protestor, not the Police Officer, not the Salon Owner, not the Teacher. We shut people out in the stinging cold winter snow because we are afraid of them, but Everyone has at least something in common. We all want to sit around the hearth and show kindness, love, and care, so why be afraid when we can open the door?

The truth is that the person on the other side might not be a Monster after all.

The Creature longed for kindness, love, and care, but could only watch as people nurtured their own, making his loneliness ever bitter. He wished to care for Humans and receive their care in return, but first, he must display the good in him and find a Human who would understand and accept it. He knocked on the wooden door, two soft beats. I pushed the soft, sun-warmed wooden door, and saw my guest. He stood eight feet tall, and though his eyes watered, they shined softly, anticipating my reaction. He smelled of berries and roses and peonies, and held a bouquet of flowers. I curled my fingers around the stems, and beckoned for him to come in.

When we were little, my brother and I were afraid to walk in our house in the dark because Monsters might come to take us. Even after we overcame our fear of vampires and werewolves, we still did not willingly go near the other Monsters, the ones from the news, for a long time. But, I’ve since realized that if I saw the good in others, the Monster’s world would crumble with the autumn leaves and

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The Featheralist

CONTRIBUTORS Staff Contributors Cynthia Wang, ‘21 - Co-president/Editor-in-Chief Kane Xu, ‘21 - Co-president/Editor-in-Chief Andrea Baek, ‘22 - Vice-President/Deputy Editor-in-Chief Kevin Wang, ‘21 - Treasurer/Editor Ellen Xu, ‘23 - Secretary/Editor Anna Feng, ‘23 - Board Editor Kayley Tung, ‘21 - Board Editor Russell Kang, ‘22 - Board Editor Nicole Pi, ‘23 - Board Editor Allen Chen, ‘21 - Board Editor Colin Szeto, ‘21 - Head of Art Esther Jin, ‘21 - Co-head of Graphic Design Mabel Szeto, ‘21 - Co-head of Graphic Design Advisors Mr. Thomas Swanson Dr. Trent Hall

Writers Anna Feng, ‘23 Katelyn Gelle, ‘24 Nikki Hekmat, ‘24 Vivian Hoang, ‘24 Kaylee Hou, ‘23 Russell Kang, ‘22 Ida Mobini, ‘22 Amanda Phillip, ‘22 Nicole Pi, ‘23 Anna Prasouvo, ‘24 Vinay Rajagopalan, ‘24 Hema Rajendran, ‘24 Avani Ranka, ‘23 Alyssa Ringler, ‘24 Al Sabat, ‘24 Shriya Sankaran, ‘23 Emma Shen, ‘24 Andrea Wang, ‘24 Lindsay Wright, ‘21 Tyler Xiao, ‘24 Ellen Xu, ‘23 Audrey Zeng, ‘23 Daisy Zhang, ‘24

COLOPHON The Featheralist, Volume 03, Issue 02 Del Norte High School's Political and Literary magazine. Published on April 13, 2021.

Del Norte High School,16601 Nighthawk Lane San Diego, CA 92127 Phone: (858) 487-0877 Fax: (858) 487-2443 https://www.powayusd.com/Schools/HS/DNHS https://dnhshumanities.weebly.com/ dnhshumanities@gmail.com School Population 2,168 students 192 full-time staff Font Families League Gothic (titles) Oswald (pull quotes) Libertinus Serif (by lines/body text) Computer Hardware and Software Windows 10 Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Adobe InDesign

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Price of Magazine We rely 100% on local advertisers and student essay contest award money to print our magazine. Prior to COVID-19, we printed around 150 copies per issue and distributed them for free to the Del Norte student body and surrounding community; however this school year, we have resorted to only publishing our issues digitally.

Editorial Policy The Featheralist is produced and managed entirely by members of the synonymous The Featheralist club, an 100% student-run extracurricular club. The Featheralist club members are divided into three distinct but coordinating departments: Writing, Art, and Graphic Design. Each department is led by a small group of student officers.

The Writing Department collects drafts from both staff and guest writers. Student-led “editing squads” ensure that all articles are publication-ready. The Art Department curates artwork of all subjects, mediums, and styles through methods similar to the Writing Department. Officers screen all writing and art pieces for school appropriateness. Lastly, the Graphic Design Department combines verbal and visual content together into print-ready spreads.

Artists Tanvi Bagri, ‘24 Natalie Diessl-Gibbs, ‘23 Iris Ding, ‘22 Vivian Hoang, ‘24 Clarissa Hom, ‘22 Isabella Kemper, ‘19 Rini Khandelwal, ‘24 Cynthia Li, ‘21 Hema Rajendran, ‘24 Shreya Shahane, ‘23 Uma Sharma, ‘24 Rubina Sheeraj, ‘23 Colin Szeto, ‘21 Mabel Szeto, ‘21 Andrea Wang, ‘24 Cynthia Wang, ‘21 Julia Wang, ‘22 Graphic Designers Iris Ding, ‘22 Esther Jin, ‘21 Sarika Pasumarthy, ‘22 Aidan Rosen, ‘22 Colin Szeto, ‘21 Mabel Szeto, ‘21 Daisy Zhang, ‘24

The positions expressed in any of the articles are solely those of the individual writer(s). They do not represent the viewpoints of The Featheralist, nor those of Del Norte High School or the Poway Unified School District.

Mission Statement: The Featheralist as a club exists to foster a collaborative and mutually edifying community of artists, writers, and graphic designers. We empower students to explore topics spanning the entire spectrum of the humanities—from screenplay to political essay, from poetry to short story. We serve as a megaphone to broadcast students’ unique ideas, experiences, and visions to the entire campus and the larger community.

Scholastic Affiliations We are a proud member of the Columbia Student Press Association.

Cover art “Perseverance” by Colin Szeto, ‘21

“They Shall Speak No More” “China Market Attack Betrays Worsening Tensions Between Uighurs, Han.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 22 May 2014, www.nbcnews.com/news/asia/china-market-attac k-betrays-worsening-tensions-between-uighurs-h an-n111901.

“Eight Stages Of Genocide.” World Without Genocide, worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflict s/background-and-overview-information/eight-sta ges-of-genocide.

Kirby, Jen. “Concentration Camps and Forced Labor: China's Repression of the Uighurs, Explained.” Vox, Vox, 28 July 2020, www.vox.com/2020/7/28/21333345/uighurs-chinainternment-camps-forced-labor-xinjiang.

Kuo, Lily. “Revealed: New Evidence of China's Mission to Raze the Mosques of Xinjiang.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 7 May 2019, www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/07/reveal ed-new-evidence-of-chinas-mission-to-raze-the-m osques-of-xinjiang.

“Opinion | What's Happening in Xinjiang Is Genocide.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 14 July 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinio ns/whats-happening-in-xinjiang-is-genocide/2020/ 07/06/cde3f9da-bfaa-11ea-9fdd-b7ac6b051dc8_stor y.html.

“Petition: Close the Camps.” Stop Genocide, 24 May 2019, www.stopgenocide.org/close-the-camps/.

Ramzy, Austin. “China's Oppression of Muslims in Xinjiang, Explained.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Jan. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/world/asia/china-g enocide-uighurs-explained.html.

Sudworth, John. “China Uighurs: A Model's Video Gives a Rare Glimpse inside Internment.” BBC News, BBC, 4 Aug. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-53650246.

Watson, Ivan, and Ben Westcott. “Uyghur Refugee Tells of Death and Fear inside China's Xinjiang Camps.” CNN, Cable News Network, 21 Jan. 2019, www.cnn.com/2019/01/18/asia/uyghur-china-dete ntion-center-intl/index.html.

“What Is Genocide?” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, www.ushmm.org/genocide-prevention/learn-abou t-genocide-and-other-mass-atrocities/what-is-gen ocide.

“What Is Happening with the Uighurs in China?”

PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/newshour/features/uighurs/.

Zambrana, Marga. “Uyghur Refugees Speak out against Genocide and Crimes against Humanity.”

Equal Times, 18 Nov. 2020, www.equaltimes.org/uyghur-refugees-speak-out-a gainst?lang=en#.YBndZWjYrre.

“Conflicts of Logic and Impulse” Emotion and Decision, changingminds.org/explanations/emotions/emotio n_decision.htm.

“4 Ways Emotions Can Screw Up Your Decisions.”

Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 21 Feb. 2016, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-mentall y-strong-people-dont-do/201602/4-ways-emotions -can-screw-your-decisions#:~:text=Intense emotions can lead to,emotions impair self-regulation skills.

Baer, Drake. “Why Logic Alone Won't Lead to Good Decisions.” Fast Company, Fast Company, 8 Jan. 2014, www.fastcompany.com/3024270/why-logic-alonewont-lead-to-good-decisions.

Rana, Zat. “Being Rational All the Time Isn't Going to Do You Any Favors.” Quartz, Quartz, qz.com/1313944/being-rational-all-the-time-isnt-g oing-to-do-you-any-favors/.

Regan, Kadie. “6 Benefits of Critical Thinking.”

Home Page, learn.filtered.com/blog/6-benefits-of-critical-thinki ng.

“Announcement! Generation Z are Not, In Fact, All Heros in a YA Novel” Deng, Derek. “Claudia Conway and the Gen Z Savior Complex.” The Chronicle, 21 Oct. 2020, 9:36am PDT, www.dukechronicle.com/article/2020/10/claudia-c onway-tik-tok-media-attention-gen-z-savior-comp lex-teen-stars.

Dhurjati, Sreenidh. “The Traumatic Struggle Between Gen Z and ‘Savior Complex.’” Crossroads Initiative, 3 Sept. 2020, www.xroadsinitiative.org/articles/jpa5i98ms4342k xmq8w0y4ob6lj9pn.

Follmer, Dylan. “The Youth Can Save Us, But Gen Z's Savior Complex Can't.” ZENERATIONS, 1 Dec. 2020, zenerations.org/2020/12/01/the-youth-can-save-us -but-gen-zs-savior-complex-cant/.

Kelly, Annie. “Money 'Wasted' on Water Projects in Africa.” The Guardian, 26 Mar. 2009, www.theguardian.com/society/katineblog/2009/m ar/26/water-projects-wasted-money.

Raypole, Crystal. “Savior Complex: Definition and Common Examples.” Healthline, 15 Jan. 2020, www.healthline.com/health/savior-complex.

April 2021 | Volume 03, Issue 02

WORKS CITED

“Is Self-Deprecating Humor Even Funny?”

Christiansen F.B., Loeschcke V. (1990) Evolution and Competition. In: Wöhrmann K., Jain S.K. (eds) Population Biology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74474-7_13 Pierre, Joseph M. “Illusory Truth, Lies, and Political Propaganda: Part 1.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 22 Jan. 2020, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen /202001/illusory-truth-lies-and-political-propagan da-part-1.

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THAT IS PART OF THE BEAUTY OF ALL LITERATURE. YOU DISCOVER THAT YOUR LONGINGS ARE UNIVERSAL LONGINGS, THAT YOU'RE NOT LONELY AND ISOLATED FROM ANYONE. YOU BELONG. F. Scott Fitzgerald