Ms. Beluch’s Snake

Meet Noodles: Mrs. Beluch’s unique and interesting pet snake

By SHREYA KOMAR ‘22 Staff Reporter

Slightly perplexed and somewhat terrifi ed, I squinted at the smartboard in front of me. The classroom was nearly empty, students slowly trickling in reluctantly to their classes after a satisfying lunch. After fi shing out my iPad and opening up the AP Calculus AB notes that we would be going over in class, I quickly stole a glance at the board in front of me. Usually, if the ‘fun fact’ involved cockroaches, spiders, or anything unsettling for that matter, I would be quick to avert my gaze. But that day, a picture of a snake, weirdly juxtaposed within the inside of a home, sat in place of the fun fact document. Oddly enough, I continued to stare. When the class began, Mrs. Beluch formally introduced the reptile on the board as Noodles, her family’s pet snake. As the room erupted with endless questions, I sat there bewildered. It had never once occurred to me that a snake could be kept as a pet. Maybe that’s because my mom is terrifi ed of snakes (she once screeched hysterically when I threw a folded strip of paper at her and yelled, “snake!”). So, out of sheer curiosity and in an attempt to answer my lingering questions, I sat down with Mrs. Beluch to ask her some questions about Noodles. When asked if she calls herself an animal person Mrs. Beluch confessed, “I don’t think I was when I was growing up, but I am becoming more of one now.” When inquired about why she chose a snake, she affectionately replied, “My son has wanted one for a really long time, and I fi nally gave in and got him one as a birthday present.” Upon fi nding out that she also owns two dogs, I wondered how Noodles was different from her other pets. “She’s not cuddly, obviously.” Mrs. Beluch chuckled. “You can’t sit under a blanket with her but she does like to be held.” Adding on paradoxically, “She’s not as much of a people’s pet, but she does still like attention.” When I blatantly asked her how she is not terrifi ed of snakes, she reasoned, “We chose this snake because she is a constrictor as opposed to a venomous snake.” This means that Noodles cannot poison anything, instead, she suffocates her prey for food. It’s no secret that snakes are more on the dangerous side when it comes to pets. “Are there extra precautions you need to take?” I asked. “Right now, no, but eventually as she gets larger, we need to make sure that she doesn’t get out of her cage,” Mrs. Beluch replies. Following up with that, I asked what she planned to do in the future when Noodles potentially got too big to keep at home. “We haven’t gotten that far.” She admitted as she raised her palm to the top of her head. “ She’s going to be as big as me and live for about 20 years.” I paused, picturing a snake as tall as Mrs. Beluch and a chill ran down my spine. “We’re taking it as time goes. We haven’t fi gured out what we’re going to do when she gets too long,” She adds. When asked if she thinks it’s possible to form emotional connections to animals like snakes, she thoughtfully answered, “I think so. It’s not going to be as much as a dog just because there is less physical connection, but we can see that with her

It had never once (Noodles) already, that she understands because we put her in a different cage occurred to me that a to feed her and when we put her in that snake could be kept as separate cage, I do believe she knows it’s dinner time.” a pet. Maybe that’s Talking to Mrs. Beluch has taught me because my mom is that snakes can, in fact, make cool pets. So, unless you have a snake-o-phobic terrifi ed of snakes. family member like I do, maybe consider a snake as a possible future companion. So, for all of you out there on the fence about getting an unconventional pet, I urge you to think carefully and do your research, but also not be afraid to take a little risk. In the words of Mrs. Beluch, “Just have fun. Go for it.” In the very least, “it’s something to talk about.”

You can take a little risk and get an uncoventional pet, but make sure to do your research! Picture supplied by Mrs. Beluch

Eastern’s marching band struts with confi dence

By MOLLY SMITH ‘25 Staff Reporter

Eastern will never have renowned sporting events and concerts without their brilliant, yet unrecognized sidekick. Marching band is a staple in the majority of American high schools. A usual autumn outdoor season marches on football fi elds during and outside of school hours. The pit, the wind, the brass, the drumline, and the guard make for an attention-worthy football halftime show with state-wide competitions the next morning. This year saw the water-motivated “Ripple Effect.” The narration played through speakers during an instrumental break moved bleachers through the motivations of water. One drop causes a domino effect, bending the rest of the events to come. The color guard section works with a yoga ball in order to display this change, the ball bouncing as the musicians move around the fi eld. The season saw them securing high placements at every competition. What is often paid the least amount of claps and symbol-hits, however, is the indoor marching band season. A marching band alongside its instruments and fl ags packs into a gymnasium full of bleachers. They do exactly what a marching band does: march with purpose. This year, they march to a show called “We Build Together.” This show not only features a pit, a drumline, and a color guard, but a car built in the process. Multiple hands are crafted together, providing the theme that work is better done with multiple forces and that it is oftentimes unrealistic to go about work or life single-handedly. So far this season, they have reigned in their victory streak. The musicians’ social media photos display true victory, both an external and internal sentimental feeling. Such inspired me to ask a purposeful question. “Why do you march?” According to freshman, Angelina Lubo, her decision to proceed with Eastern’s color guard is a matter of unity in friendships. “Honestly the thing I like most about color guard is the friends I’ve made and feeling like you’re a part of something” she said. “The friends I have made in band have helped me through very hard times and I felt like I was useless at times but guard felt like it gave meaning to me and it made me feel like I was a part of something big.” Tricks, dance moves, rotations, and lengthy marches with a fl ag in hand seems to have its sense of unity. Trumpet player Laura Ebersole, a junior, would agree with Lubo’s statement in terms of the number of hands willing to help her push the keys. “Defi nitely all the friendships I’ve made,” she said. “They made transitioning into freshman year so much easier and I can always count on them whether we’re on the fi eld or not.” Johann Arnold, another junior, with experience in manipulating both the xylophone and the vibraphone, feels great pride in his Eastern marching. “We started learning the show in music in January, and I loved the way it sounded. Band always gives me something to do during the week, instead of doing nothing at home,” Arnold said. “As of now, we have had two competitions, and we placed fi rst in both of them. It’s safe to say that the season is going great.” He then went into a more personal reason as to why he feels purposeful to play in the pit. “I may not be the best musician, but just seeing my friends, and knowing that I’m loved, is enough for me.” As far as the drumline goes, Jake Cunningham ‘24 had quite the words on his experience. “You have your good runs and you have your bad runs but the energy of being on

Tricks, dance moves, a football fi eld or a super loud gym with rotations, and lengthy hundreds of people watching makes it marches with a fl ag in worth it without question.” The different sections that make up hand seems to have Eastern’s marching band sure have their its sense of unity. reasons behind stepping onto the fi eld or gymnasium with feathered hats and dress shoes. It is quite safe to say that friendship and belonging are the reasons why they march with purpose. It is also satisfactory to see their names on the lips of a crowd. May Eastern always have the comfort of wonderful music alongside its accompanied pals.

Students forge ahead with purpose in the realms of friendship to belonging. Photo by Molly Smith/Canva.com