Spring issue 2018

E C H O SPRING 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDENT SPOTLIGHT - 3

Mina Woo, Editor, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

SPORTS - 4

Caroline Dolan, Editor Meghan Galligan, Editor

COMMUNITY NEWS - 5 Julia Remick, Editor

NATIONAL NEWS - 10 Matthew Fiore, Editor Brandon Noll, Editor

REVIEWS - 15 Gabby Yepes, Editor

Kaylah Bozkurtian, Editor-in-Chief & Design Editor Ms. Skolnik, Faculty Advisor NOTE: The opinions expressed in the following articles DO NOT represent the opinions of the administrative staff at GCHS, merely those of the writers themselves.

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Dear Reader,

It is undeniable that there has been a surge of young people’s voices in politics and beyond this past year. Young adults have become much more vocal about their opinions, especially in the media.

This trend of vocal activism is spreading even within our very own community, among the students at GCHS. In this ECHO issue, a running theme within the articles is the power of young people’s determination in vocalizing the change they wish to see. In these pages, ECHO writers describe the GCHS walkout, student participation in the city’s March for our Lives, a student-run recital to raise money for children with cancer, a GCHS student who started her own nonprofit for a cause she is passionate about, and a book about a high school student who “seizes the platform to voice the truth about the injustice she witnesses.” It is inspiring to see such passionate individuals who have the will and courage to prompt change. However, many people, fearful of judgment, are still reluctant, hesitant, or indifferent to voicing their opinions, whether about politics, social issues, or even to stand up for a friend. To those people, I want to offer the reminder that your voice, coupled with your determination, can be one of the most powerful weapons. I strongly encourage you to take a stand for what you believe in, and to not be afraid to voice your thoughts. After all, we are the ones who will shape our future, and our thoughts must be voiced aloud to build the future we want to see. As Gandhi said, it is within your power to “be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Sincerely, Mina Woo Assistant Editor-in-Chief

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Student Spotlight

ChildCare4CancerCare SPOTLIGHT ON: CHLOE ROGERS

by Mina Woo Caring, optimistic, and hard working, Chloe Rogers is taking direct action to change the lives of Garden City families afflicted by cancer. She created a free babysitting service, ChildCare4CancerCare.

She constantly works to expand the service, collaborating with the Heart to Heart Club at the high school to add babysitters to the ChildCare4CancerCare team and finding future leaders for her project.

The passionate junior initiated the project during ninth grade as a part of her Girl Scout Gold Award. After hearing about a similar service through a friend and knowing firsthand the logistical and financial struggles involved in finding childcare while fighting cancer, Chloe firmly decided to take action and start her own project right here in her hometown.

There were many steps in the process to set

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up her idea and publicize it.

Chloe says that she began the undertaking by meeting with a family friend who works at Sloan Kettering and reaching out to friends who might be interested in babysitting. She then tried spreading the word about her project by meeting with several officials, including the school principals and the religious education director at St. Joseph’s church. However, Chloe says that it was through the power of social media that she was truly able to get the word out about her project.

According to Chloe, the most challenging aspect of the project has been making the project self-sustaining, a requirement of the Girl Scout Gold Award. However, she says she has fortunately been able to work with the high school’s Heart to Heart Club to not only recruit volunteer babysitters, but also to scout a future lead-

er for the project. Despite some challenges, Chloe exclaims that that there is nothing like walking into one of the houses and being greeted by a child who is truly happy to see her.

Outside of her nonprofit, Chloe enjoys baking and spending time with her friends. She hopes that ChildCare4CancerCare will continue to help families in Garden City long after she graduates next year: “I hope to be able to come back to GCHS and hear that the project is still helping others.”

If anyone is interested in volunteering for ChildCare4CancerCare, he or she can reach Chloe through her phone at (516) 647-3690 or via the Facebook page.

Sports

Girls Basketball Season 2017-2018

by Alexa Pyatsky The Garden City Girls Basketball team began their season in January, embarking on their journey towards playoffs. The thirteen varsity players were Alexandra Hildreth, Hope Kelly, Siobhan Coen, Megan Marshall, Yasmine Worrell, Grace Kelly, Julia Peppard, Jaimie Murray, Claire McGuire, Audra Fitzgerald, Caroline Flanagan, Kelly Brennan and Madeleine O’Connor. First year coach Steven Billelo, who played basketball at the high school and collegiate level, has made a strong first impression on the team. He has been a driving force supporting

them both mentally and physically.

This year’s team was led by senior captain Alexandra Hildreth and junior captain Grace Kelly, who have both been role models for their team.

The team has also been strongly impacted by seniors Hope Kelly, Megan Marshall, and Siobhan Coen, who have played Garden City basketball for four years. Their motivation and positive attitudes have encouraged the younger players to work hard and strive for excellence. The season’s starters were freshman Kelly Brennan, sophomores Jaimie Murray

and Claire McGuire, and juniors Grace Kelly, and Yasmine Worrell.

Although the team has experienced a number of adjustments, including a new coach and the addition of new players this season, their efforts and endurance has allowed them to grow together on and off the court. Not only have the players shared a special bond, they have also defeated some of their toughest competition from Jericho and Herricks. Overall, the team’s final record was 10-10 landing them a first round playoff berth.

Party Like It’s 1958

by David Blicksilver Garden City Boys Basketball, for the first time in SIXTY years, captured a Nassau County Championship.The team’s incredible journey carried them to an undefeated regular season and into the playoffs.

They captured two home playoff wins against Manhasset and Bethpage before marching to SUNY Farmingdale and defeating their rival Elmont and Floral Park. The Elmont game was nail biting until the very

end when senior Matt Granville was sent to the foul line with under one second remaining and Garden City trailing by one point. Granville made the first end of a one-and-one and then sank that second shot to put the Trojans up by one. This exciting win sent them to the county finals where they met Floral Park. The toga filled student section watched as Garden City went back and forth with Floral Park all the way to

double overtime. After the 40+ minutes of heart-stopping basketball, Garden City had done something they haven’t done in 60 years. The Trojans were Nassau County Champions!

They would ultimately fall to Amityville in the Long Island Championship after a hard fought game. The Garden City faithful applauded the team as time expired on an amazing season, capped off with a Nassau County Championship.

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Community News

Quizbowl 2018

by Kaylah Bozkurtian

The 2018 Intramural Quiz Bowl season, a school-wide trivia tournament spanning five weeks, twenty-one teams, and several hundred questions, culminated in a close final on Tuesday, February 13th. Hosted in the library by Garden City High School teacher Kevin O’Hagan, the final was a battle between teams Dubuke, Dunleavy, and Slater, right from the get-go ensuring that the winners’ plaque would be staying upstairs in the science wing. In a surprising twist, however, Doctor Slater was unable to make it to the finals, and Team Slater made use of a rush substitution: senior Morgan LaFont. In spite of this disadvantage, the ensuing competition showed the students of Team Slater to be a formidable force.

Emcee O’Hagan got the

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event promptly rolling, wasting no time in starting off on the 150 questions slotted for the final round, which included such categories as “Presidential Succession”, as well as a few lone staples, one of which being Hamilton-related (O’Hagan is known to be an avid fan of the musical), and the other pertaining to inventor Elon Musk. Team Dubuke secured an early lead, in first place heading into the halfway-mark bonus round, a series of 30 questions (10 per team) divided into three specific categories from which the competing teams can choose—with the added caveat that teachers are not permitted to participate. After some deliberation, the categories were divided as follows: Team Dubuke secured 9 out of 10 possible points in the category “Double Gs”, Team

Slater secured 7 out 10 possible points in the category “Animals”, and Team Dunleavy secured only 2 out of 10 possible points in the category “Numbers”, an outcome that left Mr. Dunleavy pantomiming hitting his head against a nearby library bookcase.

As the final round of competition came to a close, however, the scores ended up quite close; Team Dubuke emerged as 2018’s Quiz Bowl champions with a final score of 590 points, Team Dunleavy came in second with a total of 580, and Team Slater finished third with 520. Quiz Bowl participants and fans alike hope to see an equally exciting season unfold next year.

Community News

C A R N E V A L E

The Italian Club and the Italian Honor Society brought a piece of Italy to the library this month by celebrating Carnevale with the members of Best Buddies. The celebration is traditionally held forty days before Easter as a final party before the restrictions of Lent. In Italy, masks, elaborate costumes, dance, music and food are incorporated in the celebration. Signora Brunetti led the group (with her angelic voice) in the song “Bella Ciao�. The participants also got the chance to model Venetian masks. In Venice, these masks were worn during the celebration of Carnevale beginning in the 13th century. During this period, Carnevale was the only time members of varying social classes mingled.

Therefore, the masks were used to conceal the identities of aristo-

crats and peasants alike. Today in Venice, although no longer used to hide identities, the masks are still elaborately decorated and brightly colored. At this celebration, after indulging in the various Italian dishes, the group learned and danced the Tarantella. The Tarantella is an Italian folk dance that is characterized by its upbeat movement. The specific movement varies based on each region of Italy. Learning about and practicing an element of Italian culture brought together our community for an afternoon filled with joy and laughter.

by Julia Remick

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Community News

ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK

by Matthew Fiore

During the first week of March, students and staff at Garden City High School voted on a book to read together as a school. This program is called ‘One School, One Book’ in which students and staff members will read one book and have a discussion about it at the end of the allotted time. This session’s discussion will be held after school on Monday, April 30. There were three options for the vote: Racing in the Rain, The Distance Between Us, and Outcasts United.

Outcasts United ultimately won the vote. The novel Outcasts United by Warren St. John, is about a group of refugees in Clarkston, Georgia, who gather every day to play soccer. Luma Mufleh, the protagonist, drives by the group one day and is shocked by their skills. Already a coach for a private soccer team, Luma quits her job in order to bring the boys together and form a team. How does the team perform? You’ll have to read to find out!

BROOKLYN BOY

by Liam Dougherty Brooklyn Boy, the Spring Drama at Garden City High School was a huge success. It focuses on Eric Weiss, a middle aged man from Brooklyn who recently released a book titled Brooklyn Boy. However, a critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical novel does nothing to ease Eric’s heart, as his personal life falls into shambles. The show followed him as he met with his dying father, an old friend, his ex-wife, a teenage girl, and a movie producer and actor. The show is the story of a man who is forced to look back at his life and attempt to find meaning. The Garden City

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cast, with just seven actors, did an excellent job conveying each character’s failed dreams and mastered the quick pace of dialogue, which although serious, added to the underlying biting comedy. Performed on March 8th-10th, Brooklyn Boy received a standing ovation each night. As a member of the cast, I have never been prouder of a performance and I would like to thank not only the cast, but the stage crew, build crew, prop people, and everyone else involved with the show. It could only have been done with each person’s dedication and hard work and that is exactly

what happened. Special thanks to Mrs. McLaughlin, the director, for the countless hours of planning, rehearsing, and perfecting.

Cast List (in order of appearance) Eric Weiss……..Anthony Boccia Manny Weiss….Liam Dougherty Ira Zimmerman........................... ...................William McLaughlin Nina…………….Lexi Spera Alison………..Sarah Fetherston Melanie Fine…..Kiera Foley Tyler Shaw…….Andrew Braun

Community News

by Mina Woo On March 28, 2018 at the Garden City High School Inez Spiers Auditorium, the Tri-M Music Honor Society sponsored the Bobby Menges “I’m Not Done Yet” Benefit Concert. During his time at GCHS, Bobby was a devoted board member of the music honor society, so Tri-M students wished to raise money for his cause. Rehearsals, meetings, and publicity for the event were practically all student-run, with the help of Mr. Mayo and the Miracle Club. The concert was free admission with donations accepted, and bake sales

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image courtesy of Thomas Flanagan and raffles were set up right outside of the auditorium. The program included an exciting variety of musical talent of the students at GCHS: a clarinet and piano duet, piano solos, a wind quintet playing music from La La Land, a duet performance of “What I’ve Been Looking For” from High School Musical, an unaccompanied Bach violin sonata, theatrical performances, and numerous singing numbers accompanied by guitar, piano, and ukulele. The recital wrapped up with a finale number: “Everything’s Perfect,” a song writ-

ten by Bobby. With a recording of Bobby’s voice reverberating through the auditorium, Tri-M and audience members joined in to sing the chorus parts in a moving sing-along. After the concert, many audience members said that they were surprised at the amount of hidden talent that had been showcased that night. A total of $4,800 was raised and donated to the “I’m Not Done Yet” Foundation to support children with cancer. It was a moving night, one that showcased Bobby’s giving spirit and the mark he has made.

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Community News

GCHS Walk-Out On March 14th, hundreds of students– roughly half of our student population– chose to take a stand and walk out at 10:00 AM for seventeen minutes. At the same time, thousands of fellow students and teachers across the nation participated with us in the movement, originally started by the youth division of the Women’s March, to protest gun violence and demand safer schools. During the walk-out, student organizers Isabel Cara and Alexandra Kucich, and senior class president Tommy Flanagan, spoke out about the victims of the February 14th Parkland shooting that called millions to action, as well as what we can each do to have our voices heard in our government.

During the event, each victim’s name was read out loud: Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, Scott Beigel, 35, Martin Duque, 14, Nicholas Dworet, 17, Aaron Feis, 37, Jaime Guttenberg, 14, Chris Hixon, 49, Luke Hoyer, 15, Cara Loughran, 14, Gina Montalto, 14, Joaquin Oliver, 17, Alaina Petty, 14, Meadow Pollack, 18, Helena Ramsay, 17, Alex Schachter, 14, Carmen Schentrup, 16, and Peter Wang, 15. Once speeches were concluded, a moment of silence spanned several solemn minutes; not one of hundreds of people checked their phone or spoke an audible word.

Solidarity with the survivors rang out louder than could be expressed with sound.

The event lasted for a total of seventeen minutes: one minute for each victim. During that time, a central topic discussed was the

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ACTIVISM ability of each student to be active in their government. For seniors, registering to vote is the most important way to make a difference.

You can easily register online at https://voterreg.dmv.ny.gov/ MotorVoter/ or download the application at http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html#VoteRegForm and mail it in.

In addition to being registered, being educated about candidates is of the utmost importance. Initial research from various sources can easily be fact checked using snopes.com, and information about the organizations or causes a candidate donates to can reveal whether or not your views and ideals are in alignment. You can find out who will be on your ballot at https://www.headcount.org/ your-ballot/ once the election is closer.

For those who can’t yet vote, there are many options for making a difference in our government. For one thing, don’t be afraid to join movements you strongly believe in, such as the walk-out! The administration at GCHS was extremely helpful in organizing and authorizing the walk-out, and it all started with one passionate email. Other options include participating in marches or assemblies, as long as they are monitored and safe; always research events thoroughly before attending them to ensure they are credible and in support of a cause you feel strongly about.

However, there are much smaller but still effective actions you can

take, such as calling a representative to express your opinions on an issue. Kathleen Rice, for example, can be reached at her Washington D. C. office at (202) 225-5516.

Even something as simple as using your social media to spread a positive message or belief can be a useful tool in being heard.

It is imperative to successfully addressing gun violence that we maintain open discussions about it not only around voting season, but always. All ideas should be openly discussed among family, friends, and others you feel comfortable having the conversation with, so that the issue remains in our minds and hearts. For those affected by gun violence, there are many resources in our community. The school social worker and the guidance center are always open in case students need someone to talk to or emotional support in the aftermath of violent tragedies.

Regardless of what your political convictions are, now is an undeniably stressful time in our nation’s history as gun violence leaves new victims in its wake each day. But you can make a difference! In memory of the Parkland victims who are not here to speak for themselves, join survivors like Emma Gonzalez in fearlessly demanding that something be done about gun violence in America.

You deserve a safe education. You deserve peace of mind during the school day. And, most importantly, you deserve to be heard.

by Alexandra Kucich

&REFORM

National News

March For Our Lives & The Recent Surge of Student Activism On March 24th, an estimated 800,000 strong crowd descended on Washington D.C. and other cities to show support for the victims of modern day gun violence. The march could be the largest single-day march on Washington in U.S. history, a historic achievement.

Myself and at least ten other Garden City High School students made the trek to New York City to participate in this landmark showing of youth activism. Though no official

number of participants was released, it is believed that there were tens of thousands of people who attended the rally in New York City.

This recent surge of youth activism came after the public outrage about the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Many students at the Majory Stoneman Douglas school have recently been very vocal about current problems in U.S. gun policy, a previously unseen occurance. Probably

the most vocal about gun activism, David Hogg, took the long trip from Florida to Washington D.C. to personally attend the rally and give a moving speech to the crowd.

Since the recent November election of President Trump, more and more youth have become interested in politics and appalled at what is transpiring in politics. It can be expected that this interest will change the course of future elections.

by Brandon Noll

Tax Reform: A Primer On December 22nd, President Donald Trump signed the “Tax Cuts and Job Act� into law. It will be the first significant reform of the U.S. tax code since 1986, the days of Ronald Reagan. (Reagan repealed his reforms after finding them to not be beneficial). The senate passed the bill on December 20 with no House Democrats supporting the bill and 12 Republicans voting no, most of them representing high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, and California who are most likely to be hurt by the tax cuts. The

overhaul, having been supported by most Republicans, is estimated to increase the national debt by at least $2.0 trillion over the course of the next decade.

The estimate can vary depending on the economic growth that the tax reform may or may not create. The law controversially cuts corporate tax rates and removes the individual mandate, a clause of the Affordable Care Act which requires that all Americans have some form of basic health insurance, which will most likely raise insurance premiums for many

Americans. On a good note, the money that businesses spend on sexual harassment cases will no longer be tax deductible and that change is thanks to the progressive #MeToo movement.

Whether you like the new tax code changes or not, the changes will most likely stay in place for the next four or so years.

by Brandon Noll

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National News Health classes, assemblies, the news– opioids are an area well covered no matter where you go. Perhaps they’ve been such a hot topic lately because of the more than 600 opioid deaths on Long Island alone in 2017, or perhaps it’s because of widespread outrage regarding the lies that have been told by major pharmaceutical companies since the 1990’s, the decade when opioids were hailed as the most underrated and effective method of long term pain management. Regardless of where or why you’ve heard of this epidemic, the most important things for you to know are those which will help you avoid susceptibly to opioids.

As a rule, be skeptical of pain reliever prescriptions you’re given; it isn’t always best to trust your doctor, as many haven’t yet been trained in the practice of cautiously prescribing opioids, despite CDC guidelines. Many current addicts fell prey to prescription pills for injuries, surgeries, etc., continuing to consume them long after any pain had left. They may also have borrowed or bought leftover prescription pills from a family member or friend.

Rather than taking all of the pills you’re given, opt instead to listen to your body above your doctor. When the pain

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has significantly lessened, and weaker, over-the-counter pain relievers begin to work, throw away excess prescription pills. Even if you think that saving them for the future will save you money on another prescription purchase, the risk to you or a family member is never worth it.

If you suffer from chronic pain, consider alternative methods of pain relief and management to further decrease your risk of addiction. Acupuncture, a widely-practiced treatment that releases endorphins at the site of the needle punctures to relieve pain for limited amounts of time, is a potential alternative. Meditation is also a reputable way to relieve pain. Its reliability has been proven even among Parkinson’s disease patients, who use it to alleviate both pain and trembling for a certain amount of time daily or weekly. In addition to pain and trembling, meditation has also been proven to reduce stress and rates of depression. Despite popular disbelief, hypnosis is also a very effective, up-and-coming practice shown to relieve pain and discourage bad habits. For example, many smokers have anecdotally reported

using hypnotherapy to quit their addiction. While this same method has not yet been applied to opioid addicts, the possibility should not be ruled out. In addition, chronic pain has been reported by many sufferers to have been either lessened or stopped by hypno-analgesia, a type of hypnotherapy specialized to lessen the physical feeling of pain in one’s body. With these findings, hypnosis has been gradually gaining cred-

OPIOID CRISIS

by Alexandra Kucich

ibility in the medical world and may be a viable alternative to prescription opioids.

Spread this knowledge among any family and friends you may know dealing with pain, and protect yourself and your loved ones from opioid addiction. Opioids may be an epidemic-level threat right now, but with education and awareness, that can change.

National News

Hawaii Bomb Scare

by Matthew Fiore On Saturday January 13, 2018, an emergency alert was sent to everyone in the state of Hawaii declaring that a missile was launched and heading straight for the islands. Residents and tourists scrambled for shelter as sirens blared and life came to an unusual halt. This alert spread panic and confusion,

bers. This caused chaos to unfold in a spiral effect.

The inability to get home made the situation even scarier. Those who were home, however, had to decide what to do in this time of crisis. Some made their way to windowless rooms such as bathrooms for protection and had to explain

but luckily it was revoked thirty-eight minutes later.

This emergency alert was sent completely by accident because someone hit the wrong button on the computer. At the time of the warning, nobody knew what to do. Some people felt the need to go out and meet their loved ones.

The roads were congested due to both the rush to get home and the desire to say last words to family mem-

to their children what was going on. The participants and spectators of a high school wrestling championship are a perfect example of the confusion that transpired amongst people who moments earlier had been going about their daily business but were forced to decide how to handle an imminent threat to their lives.

Since no previous drills for a missile threat had been

carried out, they decided to follow a tsunami protocol and gathered everyone in the center of the gym.

During this unfortunate chaos, state officials had to send out a message disclosing that the original alert was a mistake. After thirty-eight minutes of terror, this message was finally released and posted all over social media. Even

highway signs displayed the relieving message. Although this was completely out of the blue, the citizens of Hawaii lived out the scenario that is a constant threat to them. This shows how preparation is needed for an event that may come without warning.

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National News

THE OLYMPICS: Recapping Winter 2018

by Mary Foxen

Situated just 60 miles south of the North Korean border, Pyeongchang hosted a truly historic event.

The XXIII Olympic Winter Games of 2018 brought countries side by side from all parts of the world, even after the tension and political strife that characterizes that region of the world. Some may argue that the publicity of the games only gave a platform for propaganda to despotic leaders, but the overall feeling of sportsmanship and unity overpowered the political discord.

The games started and ended in the temporary, 35,000-seat Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium.

With only six million citizens, Norway finished first with 14 gold medals and 39 total; it seemed to onlookers as if almost every Norwegian trains for the Olympics starting at age one. The United States came in fourth place with 9 golds and medals 23 total. The veteran downhill skier Lindsey Vonn returned to the Olympics after fighting through multiple injuries. Phenom figure skater Nathan Chen attracted and shocked audiences across the globe with his revolutionary use of the quadruple axel. The women’s hockey team received its first gold medal in an unforgettable win against Canada for the first time since 1998 in a 3-2 game which ended in a shootout.

Almost three thousand athletes competed in over 100 events; through competition and sportsmanship, 92 countries worldwide came together.

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PIC TR M Y IVI OL A The first modern Olympics took place in 1896.

The five rings represent five continents, minus Antarctica and including the Americas as one.

The United States has won the most medals overall.

The 2018 Olympics had a white tiger mascot named Soohorang.

South Korea has now held the Olympics twice, in the summer of 1988 and the winter of 2018.

Courtesy of Matthew Fiore

National News

K-Popping Onto the Scene

by Kaylah Bozkurtian

For people unacquainted with the international music scene, the end of 2017 and first few months of 2018 have likely been punctuated by more than a few Google searches. Unfamiliar names-at least in the western pop industry--have been making their way not only to the tops of music charts, but also to American stages; not even Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve or the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards has escaped the phenomenon.

With sleek, painstakingly choreographed performances, matching wardrobes, and catchy tunes, the genre colloquially referred to as “K-pop” (Korean pop) has made its break into the American music mainstream.

What does this mean for the music industry? For one, this change seems to be serving as a reminder that pop stars exist outside of the borders of the U.S. The rise of K-pop in the United States

is living proof of the idea that music can transcend both language and cultural barriers to connect people around the world. In a far less serious way, the popularity of certain groups is also testament to the universality of the boy-band and girl-band craze; this new introduction to the American mainstream has primarily taken the teen demographic by storm. The community comes with its own lexicon of slang terms and Internet bubble, as well, indicative of its target demographic. (A handful of my friends have even complained that it’s inescapable--a few of their Twitter mutuals became K-pop “stans”, or avid fanatics, and suddenly their timelines were flooded with performance videos and the like.) Casual listeners certainly exist, but the overwhelming majority of fans are incredibly involved, buying albums and merchandise to support their favorite

idols. In fact, some American fans cough up some major cash to visit KCON, a K-pop convention that takes place in both New York and L.A., where they are able to watch live performances, purchase official fan goods, and potentially even meet their favorite artists.

If you’re currently unfamiliar with the genre and enjoy pop music, it may serve you well to check it out, as you’re likely to see some groups on American soil in the near future. In fact, on May 20th, South Korean boy-group BTS is slated to perform at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards and are currently up for their second nomination in the category of “Top Social Artist”, which they won at last year’s Billboards.

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Reviews

10 POP CULTURE TIDBITS MOVIES High School Musical 3:

Suite Life on Deck:

Marley & Me:

90210:

Can you believe it? It has been ten years since the iconic High School couple, Gabriella and Troy, graduated!

A whole decade has passed, yet we still find ourselves shedding a tear at the death of this adorable puppy! And in all honesty, we’ll never quite recover.

Camp Rock:

Of course everyone remembers Mitchie’s solo ‘This is Me’. But did you know it was 10 years ago?

Twilight:

Surprised? 10 years have passed since everyone was buzzing about whether they were “Team Jacob” or “Team Edward.”

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TV SHOWS Yep, that’s right. 10 years have passed since the Martin twins packed their bags and headed for the SS Tipton!

A whole decade has passed since the Beverly Hills drama came to television, capturing everyone with the Californian high school ‘glamour’.

Reviews

S THAT TURN 10 IN 2018

by Meghan Galligan & Caroline Dolan

EVENTS “Charlie Bit my Finger”:

The viral video of Charlie biting his big brother’s finger is 1o years old in 2018, and now has more than 846 million views!

EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX MILLION.

SONGS Love Story - Taylor Swift

Yes, believe it or not, Taylor Swift’s hit love song that had everyone singing along has been playing for an entire decade!

Single Ladies - Beyonce

Everyone remembers Kanye West’s interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Music Video of the Year to exclaim his opinion that Beyonce’s Single Ladies should have won. Well, this year that infamous event and Kanye West’s song of choice turn 10 years old!

Low - Flo Rida ft. T Pain

It’s been 10 years since the iconic lines “Shawty had them Apple Bottom jeans (jeans) Boots with the fur (with the fur)” echoed across every party and were ingrained into every

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Reviews

Did Someone Say “SHOPPING”?

by Gabby Yepes

High school is filled with trends and fads that never cease to amaze.

For example, trends that were completely out of style (gingham, twostrap backpacks) came back this year as major fashion statements.

So where do high schoolers shop to get these trendy items? I asked around and found some of the major sources.

- Urban Outfitters - - Showpo (online) - Lulus (online) - H&M - Forever 21 - Bloomingdales - Etsy (For vintage apparel) - American Eagle/ Aerie - Zara - Peppermayo (online) - Revolve (online) -

The clothing stores above seem to be the most shopped at stores by Garden City High School students. The kind of clothes you wear can have profound effects on your life, as first impressions matter and, as the saying goes, “the clothes make the man”.

These above shops seemed to have captivated the majority of the GCHS student body. The extremely cute and trendy apparel doesn’t break the bank and is very high quality! Let’s get shopping!

READY PLAYER ONE Are you into action, adventure, sci-fi, and 80’s trivia? Then this movie is definitely for you! Steven Spielberg’s latest adaptation of American author Ernest Cline’s original book has stunning visuals and non-stop signature Spielberg action. The main character, Wade Watts, played

by Tye Sheridan, lives on a futuristic Earth (year 2045) where the population spends their time existing in a virtual reality world called the OASIS. It was co-created by best friends James Halliday (played by Mark Rylance) and Ogden Morrow (played by Simon Pegg). Ultimately, Ogden and Halliday have a falling-out, leaving Halliday in charge of the OASIS until his death, whereupon a contest designed by Halliday is presented for ownership and control of the OASIS. Within the OASIS, Halliday has hidden Easter eggs or clues to obtain three keys to win the game. Whoever finds all three keys first becomes

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the new full owner of the OASIS. As a result, everyone on Earth, including our hero, Wade, strives to find the keys. The stakes are so high that entire corporations have been created to search the OASIS 24 hours a day in pursuit of their goal.

Within the OASIS, you never know what you’re going to see or encounter next. Right in the beginning of the movie, there is an amazing VR car chase in which Wade, or rather his avatar, Parzival, races in an 80’s classic Delorean DMC-R from “Back to the Future” in a cityscape pursued

by King Kong and the T-rex from “Jurassic Park”. Try and see how many other 80’s references you can find in this scene (hint: look for the Batmobile). The entire movie is full of pop-culture icons and great music. The VR world is visually outstanding and the story is compelling from start to finish. Spielberg manages to weave in all the themes of the book:

teamwork, perseverance and the importance of real-life relations, without altering the original storyline too much, although fans of the book may be distracted by or disappointed with some of the major changes. It also serves as a reminder to kids that things are not always as they appear. For example, in the OASIS, you can be anyone you want, but in reality whoever you meet in the OASIS could turn out to be someone else entirely. This is an important lesson for everyone in our world today.

Overall, the movie is very enjoyable, action-packed thrill ride. There are twists and turns to figure out along the way, massive battle scenes, and even a dip into the Overlook hotel. On the big screen, especially in 3D, all of the effects are impressive. 80’ fans will love it!

by Lana Hess

Reviews

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

by Emma Rubino The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor is a non-fiction book based on the principles of positive psychology. Throughout the book Achor illustrates seven principles that use happiness to help people succeed in their careers. All of the steps to attaining happiness in the workplace apply equally well to adolescents, so it is a meaningful read for a high school student.

Dealing with college applications can be just as stressful as a new project in the office. I found the ideas in the book very helpful in the attempt to avoid stress and become happier and more motivated while accomplishing my schoolwork.

The author explains a series

of experiments and real life scenarios that prove the lucrative effects of applying positive psychology to your work. He proposes simple and quick ways to detox from stress such as exercise and meditation which have immediate effects on our well-being and happiness, while also offering tasks with long term positive effects such as writing down three good things about each day. The book offers great ways to change your mindset from seeing the negatives in situations, which inhibits our motivation and ultimately our success, to a positive mindset that allows us to seize opportunities we otherwise wouldn’t have seen. The author also gives solutions to further improve in-

terpersonal skills. Achor explains that as a leader or even just when working with coworkers or peers, giving positive reassurance when work is done well or someone has pitched a good idea allows creativity and motivation to flourish.

Students are often turned away from non-fiction books, with the thought that they are mundane, but this book found a way to use humor and colloquial language to explain a complex and significant psychological concept. The Happiness Advantage is a great read for anyone who feels the stress of school and wants to continue working hard and succeeding while helping their own well being.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

by Julia Remick The Hate U Give is a hard-hitting novel that deals with substantial issues such as race, police brutality, social classes, and family. Starr Carter is the fierce protagonist who spends her life split between two worlds: her poor neighborhood and her prep school. These worlds threaten to blend together when she witnesses her childhood friend, Khalil, get shot by a police officer.

She becomes the center of the media’s attention as the sole witness of the event. Starr seizes the plat-

form to voice the truth about the injustice she witnesses. She serves a lesson about the necessity of defending what is right.

Starr’s point of view gives the reader insight on the reality of experiencing violence and injustice. The new author, Angie Thomas, is fearless and direct in her approach to the controversial issues of today. The novel successfully blends the heavy issues of today’s society with lighthearted moments. Although the romantic rela-

tionship featured in the novel feels somewhat forced, the relationships between the other characters are strong. Each character in the novel is individualistic, significant, and diverse. The hype surrounding The Hate U Give is well deserved. The novel is a must read for people of all ages in order to broaden our world views.

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