High Tide: Sept. 14, 2023

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ILLUSTRATION BY LOLA DIEHL

September 14, 2023 Vol. CIV Edition 1 Redondo Union High School Redondo Beach, CA

high tide

Students confront the geographic and personal effects of climate change

3 news Seniors participate in environmental restoration with South Bay Parkland Conservancy

as the South Bay adjusts to more frequent extreme weather

7 features Junior Karishma Panya stays in touch with her Indian background through Bharatanatyam dancing

12 entertainment Olivia Rodrigo's sophomore album "GUTS" is an emotional triumph that reveals her artistic growth www.ruhsmedia.com

@ruhsmedia

news high tide

Cello, World!

A new String Orchestra class fits into a push for greater art and music education

by Marley Van Pelt

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new string orchestra has joined the ensemble of classes offered at RUHS, thanks to Proposition 28, a measure granting funds for art and music programs in California public schools. As Director of Choirs and Orchestra, Dr. Izumi Erskine helped start this program and has big plans for the future.

Starting piano at the age of five and playing violin in orchestras, Erskine later earned a doctorate degree in music from the University of Southern California and started teaching to students of different ages.

“We live in LA and with the music and the films, everything is orchestral. I like orchestral music because it's the ultimate music performance, every instrument is in it,” Erskine said. “I'm hoping to do combined orchestra concerts with neighboring schools and hopefully parents and the community will see that and then value this program. I hope to introduce current [band] students to the orchestral repertoire because it’s so different from the band. It's different from choir. It's a new experience.”

Junior Sarina Krothapalli, a former trombonist in marching band, has six years of experience with the trombone. With Erskine’s class, Krothapalli had the opportunity to play violin, a dream she’s had since five years old.

“I've been in the marching band and that's a huge [program], so this class is a lot more intimate. It’s fifth grade band all over again because I'm learning a new instrument with other people,” Krothapalli said. “I’ve had a good time making friends with everyone in the orchestra. It's nice to be around people who are as passionate as you are about music and learning something new.”

Also with a history playing music, sophomore Yuna Sato’s course schedule is art-heavy, with alloted time for marching band, wind ensemble, jazz band, and now the new string orchestra course.

“We're growing the class and trying to recruit as many people as possible, but since we did get new instruments in from the school, we're all individually learning a new instrument, which can be a

String Orchestra Teacher Dr. Izumi Erskine instructs student Abigail Ho in violin. PHOTO BY JAI MCKINNEY

bass, cello, violin or viola,” Sato said.

Each student works on their own solos but also works within the group to play their chosen instruments together to create the orchestra’s collective sound. Sato, who plays the flute on her own and saxophone in marching band, recognizes that a string instrument comes with a new set of rules.

“Everything's different [when comparing] a stringed instrument to a wind instrument. There's a lot of changes that you have to get used to, like having a bow to play and not breathing into an instrument to make noise,” Sato said.

Starting off with a small roster, the new course opens up the opportunity for students, experienced or not, to join a new community of music and discover new paths of interest.

“We’re all learning something new,” Sato said. “Even students who don't know how to play an instrument at all or read music are at the same level as everyone right now, so it would be the perfect time to join and get into music if that's what they want to do.”

As the program develops, Erskine plans to expose students to various types of music in different ways and expand their experience in an orchestra.

“I used to teach at colleges and universities but at a higher education level, students already know what they want to pursue in life. But in high school, students don't know what they want to do yet and it's exciting because then maybe I could impact students and get them into music,” Erskine said. “Music is good for your brain because it inspires creativity, so at a younger stage, it's fun for me to see those developments and teach them something new.”

Course selections expand to include AP Human Geography and AP Precalculus, the latter being the first AP course available zero period

by Isabella Kohler

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very year, students craft schedules from an extensive course catalog, deciding between zero periods, Advanced Placement (AP) classes and everything in between. Starting this year, students have the option to take two new courses: AP Human Geography and AP Precalculus, with AP Precalculus offered during zero period.

AP Human Geography is offered to freshmen students only and offers insight into the difficulty of AP classes that are typically taken by older students. Richard Barclay, AP Human Geography teacher, hopes to “bridge the gap” between the simplicity of middle school classes and the difficulty of AP courses.

“What my experience has been is that the students have been engaged in learning the information, but the retention isn't there yet, because [an AP course] is so different. A lot of my students have said that in middle school, you learn something and then it just goes away. If you take an AP class, we have a big test, and everything we've covered is on it. That has been, I think, a stressful point for the ninth graders, learning how to take an AP class,” Barclay said.

Freshman Caleigh Chia who is “having fun with the course” can already feel the difference between it and the classes that she has taken in the past.

“It's so fun to learn about the world but since it's an AP course, it's like college, so that makes it more difficult than an honors class, and also just a regular class,” Chia said.

Chia is “glad to have the opportunity

to transition into the AP world as a freshman” in order to be better prepared for courses that she will take in the future.

“If I hadn’t chosen to take AP Human Geography then I feel like I would’ve just doven into the whole AP thing head first with AP Euro, but I feel like taking this is really going to help me adjust and do better in Euro next year.” Chia said.

AP Precalculus also brings AP level courses to lower grades. According to AP Precalculus teacher Jennifer Wimer, deciding to take an AP class comes with a great deal of responsibility and expectation, but she believes that the students have what it takes to excel.

“AP Precalculus is designed to be very conceptual, which is really cool for students. It's also probably the first time that they've taken an AP math class, meaning there's no other way that they would have taken one and it exposes them to more writing in mathematics. This is really a way for them to develop their conceptual understanding and ability to write a narrative about the mathematics that they're doing,” Wimer said.

Sophomore Kathleen Pham, a zero period AP Precalculus student, has found that having an AP math class during zero period is more beneficial than having it later in the day when she is “tired and burnt out.”

“Having math in the morning [is] really nice. Mr. Prinkey [who teaches the zero

staff editors-in-chief Lucy Davis Ethan Lerner Romi Riss online managers Cristina Couch Stavyah Naveen sports manager Ethan Chi news editors Summer Puterbaugh Victor Simoes features editors Ethan Chi Daniella Gross Marley Van Pelt opinion editors Ariya Anvari Meara Fay entertainment editors Scarlett Mische Claudia Turner sports editors Ava Anzivino Malina Young writing & copy editors Calvin Bonn Scarlett Kindt Isabella Kohler CaraMia Leal Kat Otey Aaliyah Robertson online editors Lauren Choy Rena Felde Yasmeen Ford Valentina Masoni Kat Otey Deeksha Prasad Amina Raïss Priya Ramcharan Sam Schwartz Simra Zargar staff writers Delilah Aguilar Jameson Boddy Kate Brucia London Carbone Veda Celestial Carson Chi Jayla Dorbor Celeste Ernau Leyla Evenson Safi Hamilton-Torres Kate Jacoby

ILLUSTRATION BY LOLA DIEHL

period class] is a good teacher, and he has a really calming voice, so I can focus a lot better in his class because it's quiet in the mornings. It's also just a chill way to start the day,” Pham said.

Sarah Keasler, who teaches AP Precalculus as well as AP Calculus, believes that the AP Precalculus curriculum is designed to make the course accessible to students who didn’t think that they were AP math students.

“I think we've given students an AP math class that's not as intimidating as something like AP Calculus. The word calculus comes with a lot of fear sometimes," Keasler said, "and I think this precalculus class is a way for juniors who would have just taken precalculus to now be in an AP math class, and that's pretty exciting."

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photographers Dalilah Almeida Abi Bierwiler Karis Bruno Mia Cielak Caitlyn Cisneros Cate Hempstead Percy McGuinn

Marlena Lipan Kayli Mai Mia Nishimura Kathleen Pham Aaliyah Roberson Leah Rodriguez Payton Rothluebbers Athena Saadzoi Katarina Sapina Nathaniel Wellen Jai McKinney Dylan Moore Kayla Ongun Talia Pattishall Sascha Perdue Catherine Wong

adviser Kerri Eastham distribution manager Nicolas Tomsio illustrators Lola Diehl Scarlett Mische

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high tide sept. 14, 2023

Peer In-sight

Students provide additional support as peer counselors in Wellness Center

by Meara Fay

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tarting this year, the Wellness Center began a peer-to-peer counseling program, in which six upperclassmen volunteer a period to provide emotional assistance to fellow students.

Facilitated by campus Mental Health and Wellness Counselor Rachel Andrews, peer counselors work to promote the mental health and well-being of students seeking support.

Andrews had the idea to integrate peer counselors last year when she learned that the Wellness Center would be switching from having four assisting interns alongside Andrews to only one, limiting the availability of the space for students in need.

“In the past few years, I found it very difficult [to help everyone] because sometimes I'd be working with a student in crisis or privately collaborating with another therapist, so [the Center] would be closed,” Andrews said. “I couldn't duplicate myself in order to help everyone, so this year I thought, ‘I've got all these amazing students that are right here, completely capable of supporting their peers.’ I think it's great because it allows me to keep the space open as much as possible.”

To begin their positions in the Wellness Center, all aspiring peer counselors had to complete a five-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid training created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The course consists of general information regarding mental health and illness, as well as how to respond to people in crisis and assess someone for risks of harm. Andrews also discussed with the students some common mental health disorders seen in teens at school, such as depression and anxiety, so that the students would be better equipped to support someone struggling with those conditions.

Several of the new peer counselors had already spent time in the Wellness Center during previous school years, lending them familiarity with the facility and inspiring them to take on the roles. One peer counselor, senior Hudson MacDonell, said that she and her friends were in the Center “probably every day last year.”

“I truly appreciate what Ms. Andrews and the interns are doing with the space, helping everybody who comes through and just providing an area for people to come to no matter the circumstances. I really wanted to be a part of that,” MacDonell said.

In addition to already being familiar with the Center, MacDonell is able to use their prior struggles with mental health as a way to relate to and better support fellow students.

“About two years ago was the first time I noticed that I had really bad anxiety, and that was a really rough year for me mentally,” MacDonell said. “I was able to get therapy and I learned a lot in that experience that I can now apply to helping the people that come through here.”

Senior Ava Ganny shared similar struggles with MacDonell, stating that she and her mother had both struggled with mental health in the past, motivating her to become a peer counselor to “make sure no one else has to go through that alone.”

“I want to help other people and put more of a positive impact out into the world,” Ganny said. “Empathy is such an important skill to have in this position because you need to be able to see and understand what [the students] are going through in order to help them get through it.”

According to Andrews, the number one barrier to adolescents receiving therapeutic services is a lack of relatability with adult counselors, a main reason why she started the peer counseling program. The program allows students to choose whoever they feel

The Wellness Center features furniture and provides a quiet space for students to relax and talk to counselors.

PHOTO BY SUMMER PUTERBAUGH

they most comfortable talking to, whether that be a counseling intern or another teenager, like Ganny or MacDonell.

“I feel like a lot of adults will say things like ‘school isn't that hard’ or ‘you're worried about nothing,’ but we understand [the struggle] because we're living it. We have a lot of shared experiences, and we can see where students are coming from with anything they’re worried about,” Ganny said.

Although it can be easy for students and their peer counselors to get along, each counselor has to carefully maintain boundaries regarding friendship versus counseling, as well as make sure to use their words and opinions wisely.

“It’s important to let people figure stuff out on their own, as well as not approaching things with a strong opinion like a best

friend would,” Andrews said. “You're not their friend, you're there to listen, be there for them and empathize.”

The peer counselors are looking forward to helping students adapt to the new school year in a way that they never have before.

MacDonell is especially excited to be able to connect with lower-classmen and provide advice from experience. According to MacDonell, being able to talk to someone of the same age breaks the awkwardness, and “the connection of being teenagers makes it a lot easier to genuinely relate.”

“I enjoy being a peer counselor because of the feeling of helping people and seeing them reach some sort of conclusion, or at least leaving them feeling a little better,” MacDonell said.

AROUND REDONDO

Students and teachers discuss environmental sustainability

by Ariya Anvari

I feel like there's a lot more we should do with cars, but it's hard. Although we are a wealthier community, and [some of us] can affort electric cars, not everyone can... [climate change] is going to affect generations to come.

[We can all] try to do a little bit."

- Kai Batovsky, 9

"I definitely think switching to paper straws and paper bags has helped the environment. But at the same time, I feel like it hasn't been substantial enough. I feel like we need to be doing more than just promoting using fewer products or decreasing water usage. We should incentivize people to reduce and reuse."

-Kayla Ongun, 12

“Within my class itself, we use a lot of reusable glassware. We have a couple of plastic [pieces of glassware] but those will be used for years and years to come. We use a lot of glass and then any glass that is broken can also be recycled. For the most part, I give kids the ability to do worksheets digitally.

We try to take up the least amount of paper possible even though it can be difficult in a mathematically based class."

-Nicole Bertuccio, Chemistry Teacher

"I feel like I've grown a lot [in sustainability]. I've been taking [it into] account every single time I go shopping now. What used to be not even a second thought, I think about every time I'm showering, and every time I walk through the house."

-Kiera Miller, 11

PHOTOS BY: ARIYA ANVARI

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features Something in the water

Senior Lalitha Muttulingam takes action on the environmental crsis through her club Surfrider, which attempts to preserve the ocean

by Simra Zargar

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rowing up with golden sands and run labs on the samples to search for and waves overlapping on the a bacteria called Enterococcus, determinshore just ing if the water is unsafe and if they a few miles away, need to inform others. senior Lalitha Muttulingam loves trips “It's a really fun thing to do. You to the beach. When “After realizing how get volunteer hours for going out to she was 12 years hazardous plastics the beach and helping the ocean. I've old, Muttulingam and trash were posing made a lot of really good friendships became a volunthrough Teach and Test because you a threat to the ocean, teer at Surfrider, meet so many people from other I made it a priority to a non-profit orgagrade levels and schools,” Muttulinnization team of reach out and ensure gam said. scientists and pro- the well-being of both One aspect of Teach and Test fessionals devoted the ocean and the that she enjoys is guiding younger to protecting the communities who dekids. According to Muttulingam, ocean.

Teach and Test is “great” for many pend on its waters,”.

“After realizing students to get hands-on lab expehow hazardous plas- Lalitha Muttulingam rience that allows them to explore tics and trash were SENIOR different STEM careers. Muttulposing a threat to ingam says 1 the key to the ocean, I made it a priority to reach out and ensure the well-being of both the boosting ocean and the communities who depend interest and on its waters,” Muttulingam said. attendance is to Muttulingam founded a Surintroduce labs in an “enfrider club on campus, gaging and fun way.” with the aim of making ocean “We'll walk the kids down to go colconservation practices lect the ocean water samples and they'll more accessible to students. As president, pick up trash on the way. We'll ask them she educates club members about ways to trivia questions about the ocean or differpreserve the ocean and runs local-beach ent kinds of fish that are environmentally clean-ups. Outside of school, Muttulin- friendly and give them stickers to whoever gam serves as the current Student Director answers it right. Seeing how excited and and Lab Assistant, leading the student-run happy they are to be there is thrilling,” Teach and Test program that Surfrider of- Muttulingam said. fers. As part of Teach and Test, participants As a guide for children in a range of collect ocean samples from local beaches grade levels, from elementary to high

“

school students, Muttulingam feels she has adopted leadership and skills dealing with up to 70 people in the facility.

“When you're running a club, you have to be accountable for everything working well. I’ve learned how to designate different people for different roles, keep everything running smoothly, and help kids understand, in a clear way, how to run the sample properly, while also keeping many people engaged and interested,” Muttulingam said.

Mary Simun, Treasurer and Teach and Test Coordinator, has worked with Muttulingam since she first began volunteering, and has watched her “blossom into a confident, natural leader” able to command and gain the respect of many kids both older and younger than her. According to Simun, Muttulingam is a “smart” and mature individual who is reliable and dedicated to learning and educating about environmental concerns.

gram has not just been enjoyable, but has led her to discover her passion in science and pursuing a career in nursing.

“When I was considering doing nursing I was hesitant because how would I feel confident about knowing I did the process right? But I realized it's very similar to Teach and Test in that I will know how to run the labs, how to do processes and how to handle bacteria, because I've done it before,” Muttulingam said. “It introduced me to lab work in a way that I otherwise wouldn't have been and made me realize I could pursue this as a career if I wanted to.”

“Lalitha takes young Girl Scouts to pick up trash and instructs them, for example, to pick up a cigarette. She then explains why it's not just gross - it’s super toxic.

She gets into details that most people gloss over and really shows how much she cares about everything: the wildlife, the ocean itself and the water quality,” Simun said.

Participating in the Teach and Test program has helped Muttulingam mitigate feelings of doubt in her work. According to Muttulingam, performing scientific work and assisting others through the pro-

Freshman Mason Ramirez starts beach clean up

by CaraMia Leal

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he trash left behind at the beach after rainy days or days when the beach gets crowded on a holiday will most likely be picked up by freshman Mason Ramirez.

Ramirez spends his free time going to beaches between Rat Beach and El Porto Beach to pick up trash. It doesn’t take a lot—all he needs is a couple of bags and a bin. His clean-up trips are often spontaneous and it gives him a “nice activity” to do with his family, friends, and by

himself.

“I see all this trash and I think it's so horrible and ugly and it makes me want to make it beautiful again. Helping clean up beaches makes me feel good in my heart. I always try to go in my free time, especially when I have a bad day, because it uplifts my mood,” Ramirez said.

The pastime started in late 2021 after Ramirez watched Netflix documentaries and got an ebike, which gave him easy access to get to nearby beaches. The Netflix show “Our Planet” inspired Ramirez to take action by going to clean up beaches after he realized how sea life is negatively affected by trash.

“The animals I see in “Our Planet” are just so beautiful and to think they have to suffer be-

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cause of us is really sad to think about.

The best thing I could do to help them is to clean up the beaches near me,” Ramirez said On an average trip, he spends from thirty minutes to an hour picking up trash at the beach and any trash on the streets.

Whenever Ramirez is out to dinner or hanging out with friends on the weekend, he “tries his best” to pick up any trash that people left behind.

“I think it's very inconsiderate that people don’t clean up after themselves. The more people that help keep the Earth clean the more work is done. I’m only one person and I can help clean four beaches, but I can’t do the whole world. The more people the better,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez’s grandmother, Emily Montalvo, accompanies him on some of his beach clean-ups. They usually take their bikes out as a way to spend time together. Montalvo displays much admiration towards her grandson’s

commitment to help keep the environment clean.

“I think [what Mason does is] wonderful . It inspires me that he has the heart to serve the community and knows that our first need is always cleaning. Doing this as a teenager offers him a great way to grow, for him to be a good citizen and care about our planet Earth, and it's very good for his soul. It gives him space to continue and to share his knowledge with others,” Montalvo said.

Ramirez is committed to continue his work. As someone who cares for the safety of sea life, he doesn’t plan on stopping until little to no trash is left.

“I think I'll always do this just as a community service. I’m [hopeful] the amount of trash at the beach and in the ocean will slow down when I'm older, but I definitely plan to continue supporting ocean cleanup throughout my lifetime,” Ramirez said.

Keeping beaches and the whole community clean is an important issue to him and he's hopeful that, in the future, people will learn to follow his lead in helping the environment by picking up after themselves and others wherever they are.

“Helping the environment is the right thing to do and I think everyone should do it, it makes the Earth prettier. There's no downside from helping the environment, everyone could benefit.”

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high tide sept. 14, 2023

Redondo students attented the summer Jamboree Boys Souts trip

SCOUTS

by Valentina Masoni

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hen girls were finally allowed to become Scouts in 2019, sophomore Marie Kuntz’s troop consisted of only eight girls. Four years later, Kuntz remains in the same troop she helped found that’s grown to over thirty members, the largest girl-only Scout troop in El Segundo.

“My dad wanted me to get the full Boy Scout experience because there's a lot of leadership, outdoor ethics camping and survival skills that he wanted me to be a part of, since he was an Eagle Scout.

There's a lot more opportunities for that in Boy Scouts rather than Girl Scouts,” Kuntz said.

Originally inspired by her father, Scouts has become an important part of Kuntz’s o w n life as

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she’s risen through the ranks, mentored younger girls, and stepped into the significant leadership role of being the senior patrol leader. Troops are split into four or so patrols, each having a leader, and from patrol leader one moves to assistant senior patrol leader, eventually becoming senior patrol leader.

“The senior patrol leader is the liaison between the scouts and the adults. I jumped straight from patrol leader to senior patrol leader, and it was a big step up and a huge challenge,” Kuntz said.

A big part of what makes Girl Scouts different from Boy Scouts is the leadership hierarchy and learning to communicate in what simulates a workplace environment.

Girls in Scouts get to experience a tight knit group and learn to work together to keep their troop functioning at a healthy cohesive level.

“As a leader, there's a lot to consider. How to maintain the troop, sending emails, making sure that everyone's aware of everything. It teaches you how to interact with different people in a managerial situation because not everyone wants to be treated the same way. Some people prefer micromanaging to help them keep on top of things and some people don’t want you breathing down their necks,” Kuntz said.

An important trip in Kuntz’s journey as a Scout was the 2023 national Jamboree, historic because it was the first retreat attended by female Scout members since the first Jamboree in 1937. Held this summer from July 19 to July 28 at Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia, around 15,000 scouts from all over the United States and Puerto Rico attended. Scouts participate in outdoor activities and labs, such as kayaking, paddleboarding, obstacle courses, and ziplines that require them to camp out overnight.

“You got to experience all these

new different subjects without having to pay for a class or do it for a whole year at school,” Kuntz said. “It was such a fun way to explore new things and a great opportunity to learn. You can earn a variety of different merit badges there, and I spent most of my time in the STEM section,” Kuntz said.

Kuntz was one of the first couple of hundred Scouts to earn the Nova award at Jamboree, a well-known science award in the Scouting world, along with earning other merit badges such as Robotics, Mining in Society, and Insect Study.

“Being among the first Scouts to earn the Nova award at Jamboree was so special and exciting,” Kuntz said. “It’s a merit badge very hard to earn outside of Jamboree because of all the scientific activities you have to accomplish in order to get it, so I’m so glad I got to experience all those aspects of STEM there.”

Freshman Zachary Almeida, who’s been a part of Boy Scouts since first grade, also attended Jamboree and enjoyed forming friendships with Scouts from different parts of the country. Both Almeida’s and Kuntz’s favorite memory of the Jamboree was patch trading with people from other states and handing out the patches from their own council.

“I made friends from Puerto Rico and Hawaii that I still text now. The Hometown Fair was interesting because that’s how we learned about the different traditions of all the states. Louisiana was handing out Mardi Gras beads, and Hawaii had lei making.

It was so cool to see what each area brought to represent themselves,” Almeida said.

Kuntz and Almeida both retain Scouts to have given them learning opportunities, long-lasting friendships, and im-

portant life lessons.

“My friends have kept me in the troop for so long. I like the service projects and being a leader, and it’s taught me to respect nature and to clean up after yourself, leaving places better than you found them,” Almeida said.

Kuntz’s troop is “a second family” to her, having grown close after years of camping out, taking care of each other, and experiencing new things together. The impact Scouts has made changes every aspect of her life.

“The Scout oath and law tells you to be a kind person, be trustworthy and be hardworking. They teach you the bare minimum of what it means to be a good person, and not a lot of people follow that 24/7,” Kuntz said.

“When you become a scout, you have to embody all of that when you're in the uniform.

Those lessons carry into your regular everyday life. It’s made me a better person overall.”

Seniors Nadia Hoang and Kaitlyn Ferrer restore local parks

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by Summer Puterbaugh

hen picturing their ideal weekend, most students wouldn’t fathom digging up weeds and planting seeds in the summer heat. However, for seniors Nadia Hoang and Kaitlyn Ferrer, volunteering for the South Bay Parkland Conservancy, a non-profit environmental organization, provided a meaningful way to contribute to the community alongside friends.

“I think it’s really important to help the community, especially [through] conservation. These days there are so many trees getting cut down and there’s not much wildlife left. It’s so fulfilling to make a space for native plants and to make some contribution to the environment,” Ferrer said.

The group, including seniors Amy Saffer, Savanna Geiger and Lalitha Muttulingham, began volunteering for two hours every weekend to fulfill their community service requirements for the National Honors Society. Their tasks included weeding invasive ice plants and restoring native Seacliff buckwheat shrubs on the Hermosa Green Belt and in the Hopkins Wilderness Park.

According to Hoang, most of the group members had prior gardening experience and therefore felt the most “comfortable” volunteering with the program compared to other volunteering opportunities.

“When I was younger

I had to do some bare minimum weeding and gardening for my house. Starting here, it’s a very different experience. I hated doing it in Chicago and I had to mentally prepare myself before doing it here for the first time. But afterward, I [realized] it was so much fun. I found it really satisfying to pull out the weeds and shake off the dirt on them. It was nothing like how I remember it,” Hoang said.

Both Hoang and Ferrer found the experience surprisingly “therapeutic” in spite of the hot, “sweaty” summer conditions.

“It’s a long process, but it’s compelling. I got to see so many beautiful flowers and plants and worked with amazing people who were truly passionate about conservation and California natives,” Ferrer said. “The head of a place I volunteer at frequents [the Parkland Conservancy], so I wanted to help her out and the other people [working] there. It’s really nice to volunteer with a group and collaborate instead of working alone.”

Besides serving as an outlet for stress, the sessions also lent an opportunity to reconnect with nature and rediscover new passions.

“It reminded

me of how much I love butterflies. I was surprised to learn how endangered they are because of all the infrastructure that’s been installed. Since the native plants were being removed, the butterflies were going away,” Hoang said.

According to Hoang, the experience also forced her to step out of her “comfort zone” when attending to more laborious tasks such as extracting bugs from shrubs or kneeling in the dirt.

“I don't care for bugs or grass. I prefer not 3 to be in it, but I actually realized I really do enjoy [gardening], just not in my own house. I wasn’t expecting to see worms, but I would just move them to a different plant and I was fine. I don’t like getting dirty, either, but I was okay with it at the moment. I actually could’ve volunteered for longer than the 2-hour time slot,” Hoang said.

Both Hoang and Ferrer say they plan to continue

volunteering for the program. “[Gardening] is a good way to connect with your friends. I also consider it relaxing because you can take out all your anger on these weeds when you’re pulling them out. It’s a really easy way to help the community without having to do too much. Even though I feel like I’m not contributing much, one small change can make a big difference sometimes,” Hoang said.

1. Senior Lalitha Muttulingam seen surfing the Redondo Beach waves PHOTO COURTESY OF LALITHA MUTTULINGAM. 2. Rameriz showing off his E-bike that he uses when cleaning up the beach PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON RAMIREZ. 3. Nadia Hoang seen restoring local park in Redondo Beach PHOTO COURTESY OF NADIA HOANG.

sept. 14, 2023 high tide

6 features

Don't Chicken Out DiLallo raises chickens and builds a bond with them as they grow

by Victor Simoes

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n campus, Redondo Union’s “flock” consists of Sea Hawks, but sophomore Zander DiLallo raises a different type of flock. Since 2020, DiLallo has raised chickens, starting with four and now caring for two.

"We decided to get chickens because my family had reached a consensus that we needed pets. Quarantine had just started, so we were in need of companionship,” DiLallo said.

The DiLallo family saw chickens as the most compatible with their household because the animals can live outside, are easy to manage and provide eggs.

“I would say that if you have the space in your yard, which may be uncommon in Redondo, then getting chickens would be completely worth it,” DiLallo said.

DiLallo’s responsibilities include feeding the chickens, providing them with water, and cleaning the coop when necessary.

The chickens eat a diet of primarily chicken scratch and outdoor vegetation. According to DiLallo’s father, Mr. DiLallo, a particular favorite of the chickens is mice.

“A shocking thing that I learned is that chickens are omnivores, and the highlight of a chicken's life is to catch a mouse,” Mr. DiLallo said. “When they catch a mouse, they’re like a dinosaur. All the chickens get so excited, and whoever caught it tries to run off with the mouse because the other chickens are trying to grab it right out of that chicken's mouth.”

According to DiLallo, the chickens have become “part of the family,” and are a source of company. After dedicating time and affection to his chickens, DiLallo has become familiar with each of their individual personalities.

“Our chickens are very friendly to humans, despite the fact that they're scared of

almost all other animals, perhaps that's because they're accustomed to being around us,” DiLallo said. “They allow you to hold them, except for one of my chickens named Mindy. She makes a sound like a human screaming when you pick her up.”

The DiLallo family has raised the chickens since they were chicks, including their “teenage” period where they would bump chests to determine their pecking order, according to Joe DiLallo.

“They're very social animals because they have their pecking order, and even though they're not very sentimental animals, they always like to go with each other in a little flock. It's very cute, and they always need to be around other chickens or else they get sad,” Mr. DiLallo said. “The chickens’ lives are pretty stress free. It’s like any pet where it's an escape from your day-to-day obligations. We can go out and either watch the chickens or cuddle them and it's very relaxing.”

The DiLallo flock includes Rose, a “friendly, silky” chicken; Hawk, a brown chicken who laid blue eggs and had a beard; Mindy, a white Brahma; and The Fonz, a black chicken who was leader of the pecking order.

“Fonz turned out to be the leader, even though she was one of the smallest. She mainly pecked Rose when Rose was eating, and sometimes pecked Hawk when Hawk performed an infraction, but she did not pick Mindy,” DiLallo said. “Mindy exists outside of the pecking order because she's extremely large. She did not win the games of chicken that they played, but no chicken dares cross her.”

According to DiLallo, when The Fonz and Rose passed prematurely due to health issues and environmental factors, it made him more focused on their safety. Now,

1. DiLallo's chickens in the backyard bushes as they wander around. PHOTO COURTESY OF ZANDER DILALLO

2. Zander with his chickens, Mindy (left) and Hawk (right). PHOTO COURTESY OF ZANDER DILALLO

1 a hawk net protects the chickens from threats, and DiLallo can care more for their daily needs and comfort.

“At night, I have to watch them outside to make sure they enter their coop because they don't understand how to use the ramp to access their upstairs area,” DiLallo said. 2 “They instead jump straight from the botat school.” tom of the coop to the top and sometimes Above all, raising a flock created a conthey don't make it, which can be funny.” nection between Zander and his chickens.

Beyond the chickens’ companionship, “I always feel the urge to check on them DiLallo also appreciates how raising chickbecause I'm concerned about their safety ens adds another facet to his life. outside in my yard. My motivation, besides “The fact that they aren't related to any their safety, is my love for them," DiLallo other aspects of my life serves as a possaid. “I’ve never viewed the chickens with itive because it can serve as a break from contempt or in any negative manner, I’ve academic matters,” DiLallo said. “They're always seen them through a positive light another activity I can perform outside of and that positive emotion still [carries] to school that isn't geared towards being adtoday.”

2 mitted in a university or supporting grades

Mehta connects to her Indian hertiage through Bollywood dancing

by Scarlett Kindt

C

onnecting with her cultural roots, senior Melina Mehta Bollywood dances and designs Indian outfits. With a passion for designing her own traditional Indian clothing, she brings her unique style to the dance floor, a display of her creativity and love for her heritage.

Mehta first started dancing for fun in 5th grade when she did a performance for Diwali, an Indian holiday. Afterwards, she decided to take it up as a hobby and now dances three hours a week with a company 2 called NDM, a Bollywood dance studio.

“I’ve always loved dancing and even doing cheer. I do it because I love to dance so much.

It’s freeing and I love the music,” Mehta said. “I naturally connect to the

song more when I get to move and dance.

It’s a good outlet when I’m stressed and a good workout. Dancing makes you disconnect from your problems.”

As well as a destresser, Bollywood dancing allows Mehta to explore other avenues of creativity such as designing her own Indian outfits, which she wears to Indian weddings. She crafts the outfits by drawing them, finding inspiration pictures, deciding which fabrics and materials to use, and then her friend’s tailor in India sews them.

“Designing clothes has been such a dream for me and it’s something I could wear and perform in. For my last wedding I created my own choreography and the outfits, so I got to put everything together,” Mehta said.

Through learning Bollywood dancing, Mehta immersed herself in her culture’s traditions in a more expressional way besides having to retain fluency in a language or practice a certain religion.

“I don’t speak Hindi or any Indian language, so when there’s Indian songs, I like dancing to them,” Mehta said. “I’m forced to learn the mean-

1

1. Melina attending her cousin Avni's reception. PHOTO COURTESY OF MELINA MEHTA

2. Melina at Karina's Mehndi party, a pre-wedding celebration. PHOTO COURTESY OF MELINA MEHTA

ing and learn a few words of the songs so I can emote more when I dance. It also forced me to connect and learn a little more about my culture.”

Bollywood dancing helped form an even stronger relationship between Mehta and her grandparents as the Indian music evoked memories from their past.

“My parents are proud of me for dancing. Specifically, my grandparents seeing me get to experience Bollywood dancing is more of a connection towards them because I am not as culturally [integrated] as they are,” Mehta said. “My grandparents understand the songs and when I dance to old songs, it's the songs they grew up with, so it's a good way to bond with them.”

Through being a part of her dance company, Mehta has met many new friends, including Aanyah Meghani, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School graduate. Meghani attests to how Mehta has progressed in her dance skills and how it relates to their Indian cultural side.

“Melina is a very driven person. If there’s something she likes, she wants to make sure she’s really good at it.

I’ve seen her go from somebody who took dance as an extracurricular to now having a passion for it,” Meghani said. “A part of that is because she is a second generation kid and she doesn’t speak the language and she’s not religious. But this program has allowed her to explore that side of her and be proud of being Indian and of who she is.”

According to Meghani, whenever Mehta encounters a challenge she is “good at not giving up and pushing past it” and that Mehta’s dedication and personality are a big part of her successes.

“Melina’s sassy and funky because she loves to have a good time and in class, she’s a ball of energy,” Meghani said. “She does a good job of incorpo-

rating her personality into her dancing, which is what makes her one of our strongest dancers. She’s incorporates her optimism within her work environment and in how she deals with the problems she faces.”

In college, she hopes to join their Bollywood dance team and further continue her hobby since Mehta finds that her passion for dancing also helps when she is stressed.

“I love dancing, and it makes me feel free. It’s so easy to get out of my head and everytime I hear music, I want to dance and move my body. [Bollywood dancing] is different because I don’t know any of the songs, but I still get the same feeling when I’m dancing,” Mehta said. “My life is Americanized, so having this connects me to my Indian culture.”

Melina with her older cousins, Shaina (left) and Karina (right).

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELINA MEHTA

high tide sept. 14, 2023

features 7 "Sorrow for the Lost" ALBUM 1 Hardts album, ART & PHOTO VIA LUKE HARDT

&

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Luke Hardt with his guitar PHOTO BY SASHA PURDUE

Musician Luke Hardt releases his first deathcore album that includes vocals

by Cristina Couch

S

elf-taught guitarist, junior Luke Hardt composed a nine-song album inspired by a conversation amongst friends.

“Making music is a good pastime and my personal way to handle and go through my emotions. That's how I get them out, because I don't express myself very well verbally,” Hardt said.

Although not shy of musical content, his Youtube channel, “Luke Hardt,” got an addition to its array of videos in August with the releasing of his latest album “Sorrow for the Lost.” Different from the rest, this album is one of few original compositions, but most distinctively, it is the first with his recorded vocals.

“This is my only release with my voice on it, and I’ve definitely put the most amount of effort in terms of mixing and design,” Hardt said.

Including his own vocals was an important creative decision, as it not only showcased more of Hardt's skills, but was necessary to produce the iconic deathcore sound his friend, junior Matthew Akrabian, inspired him to explore in the album.

“It made me happy [to see the final product]. Seeing the process, helping him through it by giving different song names and telling him when he should release it,” Akrabian said. “Many people don't put music out there for other people, but he's actually doing it.”

Their shared appreciation of 1 the genre combined with free time over the summer gave Hardt the ability to work on this specific subgenre of metal throughout the creation of the album.

“Deathcore is my favorite genre in terms of playing the guitar and the drums. It's the most technical and the most fun for me to play,” Hardt said. “It has really complicated sub-tones and riffs laying underneath all the sound.”

The high-energy sound that reverberates throughout the album contradicts Luke’s inspiration for many of the songs, especially the title track of the album, which were more melancholy in meaning.

“The song’s all have the same meaning, they're just said in different ways,” Hardt said. “The album [goes through the different stages of] grieving. Six months ago I lost one of my friends. [The songs] are based off of him, that's why I made [the album] like that and the lyrics are based

around him.There are some calmer [songs] and [the songs] get more aggressive. And they fluctuate through that [process].”

Although personal experience can inspire the creation of a song, the process to complete it can be another task entirely. “[Music theory] helps you to learn what notes sound good together, and you can build off with different tones and different chords and sometimes you find a combination of notes that sounds cool,” Hardt said. “I would play around on the guitar and find interesting riffs. Then you can find a drum pattern that fits, and from there you can build breakdowns or solos into that. After most of the song is complete I record vocals.

According to Hardt, some people hear the genre as meaningless “sound” and are a little surprised and even “a little scared” when Hardt shows them his music. Already a fan of deathcore, Akrabian’s prior appreciation of the genre helped him notice the detail and the level of production in Hardt’s album.

“The guitar riffs

were very high quality and put together compared to other albums that he [released],” Akrabian said. “His vocals were right next to [Lorna Shore], and if you put them right next to each other you can't tell the difference at all.”

This comparison does not come as a surprise to Hardt, since he finds much of his inspiration from Lorna Shore, and their lead singer, Will Ramos. “[Ramos is] probably one of the best vocalists of all time. He can contort his throat in a way that no one else can [while singing],” Hardt said. “I just wanted to be like him in almost every way, meeting people, he's a great person, and in terms of skills he's unmatched, so I'm just trying to be like that.”

Des p i t e drawing inspirations from stars, Hardt plans to keep his music making as a hobby, while looking forward to expanding his skills.

“I definitely want to dabble in different genres so I'm not particular in staying in a certain [category] like deathcore, but I definitely [want to] try out different things and see what I like best,” Hardt said. “I don't really care about the views. [Simply] knowing that my music is out there and that someone listened to it is enough.”

2

Junior Karishma Pandya stays in touch with her Indian background through Bharatanatyam dancing by Lauren Choy

J

unior Karishma Pandya doesn’t just dance, she embodies the essence of the ancient Indian art form, Bharatanatyam, by using its rich cultural tapestry as a canvas to express emotion and connect to her cultural roots.

“I love the culture behind Bharatanatyam dancing and how each movement tells a story. And I love the little expressions and motions that are involved in it,” Pandya said. “I enjoy this style because I have a great community and it brings me back to India.”

Pandya has participated in Bharatanatyam dancing, a type of classical Indian dance, since the age of four. Though both her parents are immigrants, Pandya was born in the U.S., so Bharatanatyam dancing allows her to connect with her Indian culture.

“I don't have as strong of a connection to India because we can't visit often. But this dance is about Hindu mythology, and because my family is Hindu, it has helped me learn more stories,” Pandya said.

Throughout her whole time dancing, specifically in middle school, she was “very disconnected from Indian culture,” but beginning Bharatanatyam dancing has enabled Pandya to discover a balance between her cultures.

“I keep more i n touch with m y Indian culture by being with family, going to

dance, and doing Bollywood, [a dynamic dance style often used in Indian films].

The American culture comes naturally, but it isn’t all of who I am,” Pandya said. “The little things also help: for example, I go to school wearing a red band that symbolizes God’s strength and bangles from my grandma which give me a touch of my Indian culture.”

During her freshman year, Pandya did her Arangetram (an important three-hour performance signifying a dancer’s growth), which gave her a dance degree and the ability to start her own dance school.

“Through all that intense training, I realized I love doing it and I have a passion for it. I now have my own style,” Pandya said.

Even with her enthusiasm, Pandya felt an

underlying need to succeed. With the Arangetram being a significant event in Bharatanatyam dancing, she found herself experiencing imposter syndrome.

“I definitely felt pressure during the Arangetram year, asking myself if I was worthy. And then the year after, as the new batch [of dancers] came in, I thought that if I was not as good as them or if I was worse than them, I was going to look bad.’

So I always had that self-pressure present,” Pandya said.

Pandya found support through her mother, Shital Pandya, and also saw

“

Through all that intense training, I realized I love doing it, and I have a passion for [Bharatanatyam].

I now have my own style.

KARISHMA PANDYA JUNIOR

Bharatanatyam dancing as a chance to bond with her mother.

“I'm so glad that we're both able to share the same love of dance. I have helped her grow by helping her understand the creative side of things and let loose and enjoy it versus the academic and learning side of it,” Ms. Pandya said. “Oftentimes, we will dance together so we have that unit where she can understand the whole essence behind our dance. Language is the biggest barrier for her so I tend to help her open up, relax and understand.”

Coming out of the Arangetram, Pandya learned many valuable lessons, including ones from her mother, which she can apply to her life outside of dance.

“It has definitely given me the confidence to approach anything knowing that I ' m g o o d enough.

After doi n g m y Arangetram, I had this mindset that if I worked hard, I could do anything I wanted,” Pandya said.

“It taught me a lot of discipline and perseverance, and I learned that whatever is coming my way, I have to push through it if it's something I want to achieve.”

With less time to train, Pandya has transitioned to teaching classes over Zoom to students of any age. Through her teaching, she passes on her knowledge to future dancers.

“I remember when I was younger, I always wanted to be like the older kids.

Now that I am one of those students, it feels great,” Pandya said. “When you see someone pick up a dance, it feels gratifying knowing you helped them train for it.

Seeing them grow because you aided them is amazing.”

Karishma Pandya dancing Bharatanatyam at a competition PHOTO VIA HITS ENTERPRISES AND VIDEOS

8 hightide sept. 14, 2023

in-

calamitou Unusual weather events paired with diminshed environmental filters damage human and marine life alike

by Scarlett Mische

8

4 years. That’s how long California has gone without having a hurricane—that is, up until Aug. 21, 2023. Due to Hurricane Hilary, our beaches have become unsafe for humans and sea creatures alike.

According to biologist Mary Simun, the recent hurricane led to a giant flush of fecal matter and other pollutants from all of the storm drains, streets, beaches and anywhere else which the rain could reach. Normally, there is the “first flush” in October, where most pollutants are rained off into the sea.

However, this recent “flush” was unexpected.

“There were much larger loads of contaminants, and that's not just bacteria. It's toxins, heavy metals, the chemicals people put in their yards to kill weeds, it’s fertilizers and herbicides and pesticides and on and on. All motor oil coming out of auto shops and off the streets and antifreeze that people dump into the storm drain all that stuff because there was so much rain,” Simun said. “I mean, the water was shooting out of the storm drains. So it probably will take longer for a lot of those things to relocate themselves and dilute.”

Unsafe water conditions due to large amounts of toxins are then amplified further by the issue of the loss of the environment's natural filters over time.

“We've dammed all the rivers and we've put cement everywhere, we've gotten rid of all the wetlands, which is a very important factor, because the wetlands are the natural filter. We've removed probably more than 95% of the wetlands in the United States in the last 200 years. So, those natural filters that got rid of waste before it could get to the ocean simply don't exist, and the water goes straight off of the impermeable surfaces: asphalt, cement, et cetera. Even the rivers and channels are all lined with cement now, and run straight into the ocean without any type of filtration or mitigation,” Simun said.

Unlike normal storms from the north, Hurricane Hilary approached from the south, meaning that the waves and swells, or increases in wave heights due to (usually distant) storms, are traveling in different directions and acting sporadically.

“Wind and what direction it comes from makes an enormous difference to

the characteristics of a swell and the possible wave that can result from that. Once the storm comes here though, the waves are erratic, they're hard to catch,” Simun said. “It's choppy, there are a bunch of other weird conditions and then of course you have water quality on top of that. Some [surfers] still do it, they still try to go out for the ‘one-in-a-lifetime’ experience.”

The RUHS surf team is no exception to the impact these waves have had on surfing patterns. Sophomore Keani Honda-Snow, a member of the surf team, believes that these ocean conditions have definitely been a hindrance to their practices, similarly to a downpour which occurred last year during the end of October and beginning of November. “ [ T h e rain] definitely set us back because the first day we were supposed to hold practice, we had to stay home, and then the second day we weren’t allowed to go in the water, due to bacteria levels; after that, it was just completely flat,” Honda-Snow said.

Although the surf team as a whole have not been able to practice as frequently, according to Honda-Snow, other members of the team went to Huntington Beach on the Saturday of the hurricane. This excursion led to these members falling ill, due to the trash and bacteria levels in the water.

Aside from the effect that recent weather patterns had on the community and surfers, this storm also affected marine life

“

of all sorts. In general, animals such as fish, birds and dolphins are not as affected by these types of storms, due to the fact that the aquatic animals can dive well below sea level, making it much harder for storms to have any type of strong effect on them, and the birds can fly inland so that they aren't affected.

“Photosynthetic life that lives in the ocean, particularly the stuff that's anchored—the kelp and the large algae—is going to get bashed around and there's probably going to be lots of kelp washed up on the beach, which then means bacteria and flies and other insects. So it's going to be stinky and gross for a while,” Simun said.

Senior Annette Je, a student who works with many invertebrates at the Aquarium of the Pacific, fears that this storm will harm corals and other plant life in the sea.

“The incoming storm can be really damaging for some invertebrates, particularly coral, it can break their roots.

[During the hurricane] there was an issue with the kelp forests, which led to the invertebrates at the bottom being harmed,” Je said. “A lot of the mammals, and fish were able to escape the ramifications of the hurricane, however, [the hurricane] is taking away the coral’s home.”

The loss of habitat in all ecosystems is not new; over the years,

Climate change is real. These hurricanes for instance, will most likely become more frequent as the ocean continues to heat up.

ANNETTE JE SENIOR

oceans, skies, forests, and deserts have all been intruded upon by human activity.

“Climate change is real. These hurricanes for instance, will most likely become more frequent as the ocean continues to heat up,” Je said.

In corroboration with Je, Simun believes that climate change as a whole is having a large impact on animals, the environment and humans.

“This hasn't happened since 1939. So, will this happen again in my lifetime? It's such a rare event. It's a once in a lifetime, once in a

1

generation,” Simun said. “But is that now true? Or because of the climate catastrophe that humans have created on this planet, will these types of events become more frequent?”

1. “Coral Bleaching” is an embroidered piece made up of hundreds of small beads. The colorful, healthy coral contrasts with the bleak bleached coral to bring attention to global warming’s affect on the ocean. This piece won The CA-36 Congressional Competition in the mixed media category.

2. “Sea Turtle” is a geometric digital art piece compiled of small ocean and beach photos taken by the artist.

1-2. ARTWORK BY CLAIRE MALONEY

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ACCORING TO: THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (1), PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (2), AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE (3)

sept. 14, 2023 hightide 9

-focus

us climate

BACKGROUND ILLUSTRATION BY SCARLETT MISCHE

Storms hasten coastal erosion as toxic runoff flushes into the ocean

W

hen it rains, it pours—right into the ocean. After our community got drenched by 2.47 inches of rain in 24 hours from Hurricane Hilary, the runoff temporarily carved a sizable channel at the outflow of the storm drain at TK Beach. As a result, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued an advisory to avoid the beach due to possible pollutants for three days after the storm.

Senior Boden Allen was a junior lifeguard cadet at TK Beach this past summer, and s a y s that he a n d the

othe r lifeguards have always had to be aware of the storm drain.

“TK is a fun beach, but I have seen a gigantic, disgusting looking pool of water outside the storm drain that’s icky and I wouldn’t want to touch,” Allen said. “If the water is murky—or straight after a storm—I don't go to the beach generally.”

The TK Beach storm drain is the largest of any in the South Bay, which can lead to hazardous conditions for swimmers near the mouth of the drain.

“It can create a big rip current right there, because the water runoff creates a hole and so you can easily get sucked into the rip current and into deeper water,” Allen said. “The water quality also gets very bad around there, so sometimes we have to keep kids out of the water.”

According to Gillian Moberg, Redondo Union’s AP Environmental Science teach-

by Calvin Bonn er, TK Beach is “notorious” in terms of wa- strooms and parking lots, so we place sandter quality, as it collects the runoff—and a bags as needed to mitigate flooding and wide variety of contaminants—as far inland clear the area around the storm drains.” as Hawthorne Boulevard.

Summer storms, like Hurricane Hila“Everything from Redondo Beach ry, are currently rare, but originate from comes out at about three spots on the warm water in the Pacific Ocean. Moberg beach. So [in terms of pollutants], you points to both natural and human causes name it,” Moberg said. “Number one is cig- for the increased prevalence of rare weatharette butts of course, but there's also a lot er events. of plastic debris, oil from cars, and a high “El Niño is naturally bringing warm waamount of bacteria, mostly from pet waste ter to our section of the Pacific Ocean, but that doesn't get picked up by their owners.” we're making it worse, by stacking another These pollutants pose several health warming phenomenon on top of an already hazards, including ear infections, diarrhea, warming phenomenon,” Moberg said. “The and cholera, according to Moberg. Redon- oceans are getting a double whammy of do Beach Public Works civil engineer, Geraldine Trivedi, works to trap these pollutants in the drain system she operates.

“The city installed protective screens inside all catch basins that filter trash and debris from entering into the storm There's a more straightfordrain system, removing and proper- ward solution: recycle, stop ly disposing the debris to stop it from reaching the ocean,” Trivedi said. “To drilling oil and use more prepare for storms, city crews take a pro- green energy to prevent active approach, clearing areas where trash and debris may accumulate and re- climate change. But [in the moving it before the storm flows come.” meantime], don't play in the To better accommodate significant storm drain and if you see runoff during storms, the city also employs other strategies to reduce the rain- a sign that tells you not to to-ocean pipeline, particularly during swim, don't swim. storms in the dry season.

“The city has installed projects that capture stormwater flow and infiltrate BODEN ALLEN the water into the subsurface, removing the flow and potential pollutants from SENIOR entering the ocean, and recharging the groundwater in the local area,” Trivedi said. “Additionally, when there is nuisance urban runoff in the storm drain sys- warming from two fronts.” tem, the runoff is pumped from the storm As increased erosion occurs due to clidrain into the sanitary sewer for treatment, mate change, Mooradian says that her keeping the polluted dry weather flow from department has already partnered with reaching the ocean.” the Bay Foundation, a non-profit working Storms present another problem at to protect the natural resources around beaches: erosion. According to Nicole Santa Monica Bay, to begin restoring sedMooradian of the Los Angeles County De- iment-trapping native dune habitat to separtment of Beaches and Harbors, it is a lected Los Angeles County beaches, like “natural” process, but is still a heightened Manhattan Beach, but is looking into furconcern during storms. ther solutions.

“We generally see our beaches narrow in the winter, partially due to storms, and grow in the summer,” Mooradian said.

“Storm preparations are fo- c u s e d on protecting county infrastructure, such as re-

“

“Over the years, certain beaches have become narrower overall,” Mooradian said. “But we are working on a study examining coastal resiliency at all of the beaches we manage, which will guide our efforts to mitigate coastal erosion.”

In Redondo, Trivedi explained the climate conscious redesign of the storm drain and sewer system.

“Civil engineers have historically worked on designs to route storm flows to the ocean as quickly as possible, but this has changed over the years,” Trivedi said. “We now view stormflow as a resource and work to slow it down, capture it, and reuse this valuable resource.”

Institutional changes like those in the storm drain system are important to prepare, but for Allen, he wants to see both lasting changes to address causes of climate change and help keep people safe in the immediate future.

“There's a more straightforward solution: recycle, stop drilling oil and use more green energy to prevent climate change,” Allen said. “But [in the meantime], don't play in the storm drain and if you see a sign that tells you not to swim, don't swim.”

Moberg emphasizes that there are things any student can do to help reduce the number of pollutants that end up in the ocean, like filling out a waiver and participating in the California Coastal Cleanup Day, on Saturday, Sept. 23. In addition to beach cleanups, Moberg wants to see changes in everyday life.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle. The stuff that's going out into the ocean is coming from an excess of stuff that we're trying to throw away. Do we really need a box in a box in a box and plastic?” Moberg said. “I also know people who every time they go hiking or surfing, they bring a trash bag and they just pick up stuff as they go along. There are options for whatever you feel your responsibility to

Up to 26 billion pounds of plastic are dumped in the ocean each year (3)

Americans only recycle ~25% of possible municipal solid waste (1)

Damaging hurricances are three times more likely to occur than 100 years ago (2)

opinion 10 In defense of modern art Modern art has deeper meaning than its first impressions

by Claudia Turner

A

couple of weeks ago I had a really good cry. Tears Even ready-made sculptures like “Untitled (Portrait of were rolling down my face, there was quite a bit Ross in L.A.)" by Felix Gonzalez-Torres create beauty with of snot in my nose- a real, raw emotion fest. The meaning. It's a pile of candy, but it's also an interactive motivator for this impromptu sob session was a piece by piece that is set up to weigh the same amount as the artist's the famous abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko. romantic partner Ross Laycock did. The viewers are invited "Untitled (Black on Grey)" stands just over six feet tall. It to take pieces of candy, chipping down the pile until there's depicts two rectangles. It was the last painting Rothko cre- barely anything left, a metaphor for the suffering Ross enated before he committed suicide in 1970. And it makes me dured in his battle with AIDS before he passed away from feel a profound, intense sadness. complications in 1991. It's clear that even though GonzaThis painting's composition isn't particularly unique lez-Torres put little effort into sculpting the pile,“Untitled for Rothko, who has created countless colored giants (Portrait of Ross in L.A)” doesn't suffer for it, as the meanthroughout his career. It's a concept so minimalistic, I'm ing behind the work is what makes it valuable. sure many of you would think, "I could do that," which is At its core, art is about feeling. Whether through visual the reaction most folks have to this type of art. This mind- storytelling or the meaning behind the piece, the goal of set can be a bit presumptuous, as like all art is to produce emotion. That's with all other art forms, modern art's why I enjoy Rothko so much, he's simplicity distracts from the immense pure emotion on a canvas. His giant amount of time and effort put into walls of color make me feel overeach work. For instance, when Barnett whelmed, melancholic and even Newman's goliath of a painting "Who's a bit humbled. You might not get Afraid of Red, Yellow, and Blue III,” a those same feelings from his work, red-stained canvas with a strip of blue and that's okay. To like and to apon one end and a strip of yellow on the preciate are two different things. other, was slashed apart in 1986. Its For example, I don't have a partic"simple" restoration failed miserably, ular fondness for art from the methe red losing all volume and depth it dieval period, but that doesn't mean held before the attack.

I lack an appreciation for its impact I could list hundreds of modern artand the thought that was put into it. ists with impressive techniques, and The same thing holds true here. hundreds more who have spent hours And, that appreciation for the on their works, trying to achieve their craft is far more important than perfect vision. However, at the end of people might realize. Modern artists the day, does this really matter? Art is PAINTING VIA FREEPIK push boundaries and are constantly not a medium that can be solely judged challenging social norms through by time put in. Georges Seurat's detailed pointillism pieces their work. A fear of the unknown and of change is what took him months to create, but if you told me they were drives people towards traditionalism, the idea that there’s low-effort paintings, that wouldn't take away from any of one right way to craft, and anything outside of that simtheir beauty. ply isn't "real art." A common argument made by these

English classes should not assign debut young adult novels

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by Priya Ramcharan

id Disney Channel write this? My exact thoughts while completing the summer reading books for tenth grade Honors English. My idea of an honors reading list is a star-studded lineup of Dickens and Tolstoy. Then, I am hit with fake dating schemes, cringe-worthy dialogue and desperate quips to “relate” to teens littering the pages.

To be fair, I had seven choices of novels, and I probably chose the worst one. No offense to David Yoon, the author of “Frankly in Love,” but on behalf of the English language, I am so embarrassed. He is 50 years old and writing as a high school “nerd” dealing with racial and romantic confusion. This would be a challenge for any writer, some can do it with poise, but Yoon cannot. The risk with reading debut novels is, they are debuts. Authors haven’t found their niche yet, and just because they are published, doesn’t mean they are good. This is why I was surprised reading the summer lists, which ranged from Charles Dickens to Taylor Jenkins Reid. Why would we read rom-com novels, when there are prestigious classics to explore? I consulted my English teacher, Sergio Quintero Sanchez. He reasons that over the summer, classics are too big of beasts to tackle. He explains that classics are a lot to take in if you don't have the background, like “1984” by George Orwell. He’d rather students read something that gives a different perspective and still reflects the time period.

Ironically, the book that formed my “reading persona” was “1984”. Assuming teens can only relate to modern young adult (YA) fiction doesn’t seem right. What makes classic authors like Vonnegut and Dostoevsky great is that they were one of the first of their time to tackle big ideas.

They now face the criticism of being “just dead white men.”

This is simply unfair. Orwell and Kafka created existentialism and political fiction. The point of an intense literary education is learning about the stage set for you, not the ramblings of an insecure new writer.

GRAPHIC VIA FREEPIK I can’t dispute that the genre of classical novels is very Eurocentric and male-dominated. However, this makes classic novels written by women, people of color, and other demographics especially powerful. Take Toni Morrison, Harper Lee, Ralph Ellison, or Oscar Wilde. All of them wrote from deeply personal experiences that are never irrelevant. Some say that high schoolers can't relate to their stories because of the language and generational disconnect. However, 1950’s “The Catcher in the Rye” centers on the life of an adolescent, and even though it’s set in a different era, the novel still speaks to the angst that is ever-present.

Another trouble with new books is that the writing lacks subtext and dimension. I am no expert, but if you have to explain the same metaphor with a generous amount of detail each time, just stop.

For example, this is an excerpt from “Frankly in Love” after the main character gets a black eye from his girlfriend’s (Joy) ex-boyfriend, “This black eye is really a passport stamp on my face, finally letting me out of the purgatory of Love Customs and into the welcoming area of Gate J Arrivals (the J stands for Joy)”. Seriously? And yes, he did put “the J stands for Joy” in parentheses. This isn’t even the worst one.

You might have sensed that I have a disdain for the YA genre. Mainly, this is because teen-focused novels from recent times often lack refinement. They haven’t withstood the test of time, and aren’t showing me anything I don’t know. “The Bluest Eye” written in 1970 showcases the pain of being a self-loathing child written in Toni Morrison’s absorbing prose. “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” written in 1943 is simple in language but is an honest look at poverty. The world is filled with powerful writing and staggering stories.

That’s one of my favorite things about living. But when David Yoon says “fart-phones are racist” I just can’t turn the page (though that was pretty funny.) Whenever these vacuous novels are dissected to sound “deep,” it is just thesau-

PAINTING VIA FREEPIK conservative critiquers is that modern art doesn't "add to society," and "isn't beautiful," and therefore shouldn't be displayed in museums. And to view art like this, through a rigid lens of commercialism and strict standards, is missing the point.

“Ugly” art, art that is scary and sad, as well as art that is made outside the cultural norm of what is acceptable at the time, deserve a spot at the table just as much as those watercolor landscapes you might find at a thrift store. Open-mindedness can open people up to a whole new world of thought-provoking talent, so long as they are willing to get the full experience. We shouldn’t let our appreciation of art be dictated by made-up rules that define the value of expression. As someone who struggles with depression, I feel seen when I look at the cloudy grays and blacks of Rothko's final work. It’s a model of sadness, a perfect abstract moonscape, a look into the mind of an extremely tragic figure in art history. It’s also two black and gray rectangles. And this duality is what makes "Untitled (Black on Grey)"—and modern art as a whole—so touchingly beautiful.

rus vomit. Writing an essay on this book would be like juicing a brick. Whatever self-indulgent nonsense the author thought he wrote is just a ruse for an utter lack of insight.

I am admittedly not well-versed in the YA sphere, which weakens my argument. There are outliers such as the dystopian subgenre including “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent.” I loved reading “The Hunger Games;” it was entertaining and also excellent commentary. I understand that English teachers don’t have control over how we read over the summer, so assigning a novel like “Brave New World '' could go right over our heads. However, that doesn’t mean we have to be assigned beach reads and pulp fiction. A happy medium should exist that offers relevancy along with weathered writing, like the classics I mentioned. Life is just too short for bad books.

letters to the

editor

The High Tide encourages greater input of perspectives from both students and staff. If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at hightideonline@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for content, grammar and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed. Please keep letters to a maximum of 250 words. Longer guest opinions are also accepted.

voice column The High Tide aims to share the voices of a wider swath of the RUHS student population, beyond just our staff members.

If you have a story to share, a unique outlook on something, or a personal opinion, fill out the form linked at the QR code.

opinion 11

high tide sept. 14, 2023

Voice column:

Finding solace in community

by Tamara Botwin-Lazarow

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t the end of freshman year, cancer became a large part of my life when my mom was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Breast cancer occurs in one in every eight women in the United States alone. And that’s only one type of cancer. There are over 120 types of cancer in the world and one in three people are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. When my mom was diagnosed, I knew what cancer was and how it formed in the body, but had little knowledge of how it affected the patient and the people around them. I have two younger brothers and none of us had anyone to go to for help outside of our family, and had no clubs at our schools and no groups in our neighborhood. I had a hard time focusing during school and at gymnastics. Everywhere I went, there was some sort of reminder of the new situation in my life. Whether it was something someone said or seen, it was a constant reminder that my mom now has cancer.

About a month after the news hit us like a ton of bricks, we finally found a support network through cancer accounts on Facebook that my mom had discovered. Our family joined the Cancer Support Community of the

“

At first, it was confusing for me to acknowledge my mom was dealing with cancer.

TAMARA BOTWIN-LAZAROW SOPHOMORE

South Bay and I connected with a few students in my classes who had also experienced cancer in their lives. This helped me realize that cancer is widely spread in just our own school, and that there are plenty of people to support each other.

Because it was so hard for my family to find the support we needed, I decided to partner with the Cancer Support Community of the South Bay to create the Cancer Support and Awareness Club. The purpose of the club is to form a tight-knit community where students can gain support and awareness regarding cancer without feeling so alone. Members will be able to share with and learn from others, gain assistance and become more aware of how cancer affects people. Members will also learn coping strategies to help them with the stress, confusion and need for support during their journey.

At first, it was confusing for me to acknowledge my mom was dealing with cancer. I had no idea how the treatments would affect her or how she would act or feel throughout each day, or even if she would make it through this. Receiving the extra support from friends, family and the Community helped me gain trust in the hospital and other facilities my mom would be working with to fight cancer.

I hope that creating the Cancer Support and Awareness Club will allow the opportunity for any RUHS student to truly connect with a worldwide health issue, build a strong community and receive the support my brothers and I used to not have. My mom is only beginning her breast cancer journey, but no matter what, everyone needs support. I want to leave you with one last important message; no one fights alone!

Illustration by Scarlett Mische

Let's DISS misinformation “

The rise of sensationalism in mainstream media causes consumers unnecessary stress and panic by Kat Otey

Californians are preparing for the worst,” declares CBS News in an evening news clip that would soon go viral across social media, followed by videos of actual California families—who were not, in fact, preparing for the worst.

For me, “the worst” meant a rainy day, an earthquake most of my friends didn’t even feel and a few notifications on my phone warning me to stay off the roads.

The Monday after–AKA the day LAUSD canceled school because of the supposedly incoming storm–was marked by blue skies and an umbrella that sat in my bag all day, unused. Although in some parts of California, the cautionary news was the right call, many Redondo students including myself found their calls didn’t line up with reality.

The Case of the Missing Storm Disaster, however, isn’t a one-off incident when it comes to a befuddling exaggeration by large news outlets that we’re supposed to trust. It comes as a part of the rise of sensationalism—stories that provoke extreme reactions in order to catch and keep the reader’s attention—in the news world today. Instead of platforms that provide us with news that favors truth, neutrality and discovery, we are fed stories favoring shock value: the “wow” factor.

The most obvious factor in this change is the rise of social media as a news source.

Faster communication means more communication, instant access means more access, and instant news means more news. Everywhere. Simply scrolling for five minutes will inform you of everything that your daily news broadcast would have said throughout the entire day. Where reporting was once a service, it’s now a competition. In order to garner attention

Sensationalism: (especially in journalism) the use of exciting or shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy, in order to provoke public interest or excitement.

DEFINITION FROM OXFORD LANGUAGES

within the never-ending sea of information we constantly swim through, news has to be fast and it has to be eye-catching.

Dramatic. It has to be curated to indulge or infuriate the widest audience possible.

As a result, news becomes less about the facts and more about the clickbait potential a story holds: the ability it has to break up the viewer’s numb, neverending “doom scrolling” with something they’ll pause to take a look at. It may feel like we see a disproportionate amount of “disaster news,” because we do. Despite how awful it may make us feel to constantly be bombarded with information meant to trigger, shock and upset, we continue to

consume it. Researchers at the National Library of Medicine call this “negativity bias,” or “the propensity to attend to, learn from and use negative information far more than positive information.”

Celebrity news, too, takes up more and more of the current events we keep up with, because celebrities are jackpots for invoking strong feelings (public figures who are falsely reported dead, the epidemic of cancel culture, the growth of a new elite, newsworthy influencers who come with their own clickbait titles). The entertainment industry is built to drown worthwhile news under stories that are more sparkle than substance. Political news is more bipartisan than ever, making it difficult to find a truly neutral way to stay informed. Instead, news sources pick a “side” in the interest of business: the more radical they can get, the more people will read their articles or watch their broadcasts.

And that’s the exact motto of sensationalist media–it doesn’t matter if the people agree with the claim or consume it purely in disbelief and outrage, as long as they are paying attention Despite this spiral of fearmongering and radicalization, I still keep up with the news and I think we all should. No, you don’t have to spend every day carrying the weight of 70 different disasters on your shoulders, tracking every movement of celebrities, or wasting hours arguing for one “side” of an issue or another. Nor do you have to attempt—and likely fail—to block every source of news and refuse to keep up with any current events.

But there is a balance in personal choice.

Trying to keep up with the overhaul of information creates isolated spectators and consumers, and uninformed, irrational participants in current events. You are not responsible for paralyzing yourself within a constant stream of anger, fear, division and frustration just because you want to watch the news— these are things that your media should not control.

You are only responsible for controlling what you choose to consume. Choose local news, which is less competitive and so much more often positive, because it has very little to gain from sensationalizing stories that happen within the community of the readers. Pick a few specific issues that you care about and connect with and care about them deeply. Take every clickbait title with a grain of salt, and look at multiple angles for any news you choose to follow. The world is not ending, it’s just a sign you need to take a step back.

GRAPHIC VIA WORDCLOUDS.COM

12

entertainment Spill your

Olivia Rodrigo's sophomore album "GUTS" is a emotional triumph that reveals her artistic growth

by Ethan Chi

"

1

Guess he was making out with boys the whole night…every guy I like is gay,’ God, it’s brutal out here.”

Even though Oliva Rodrigo’s hit single off the “Sour” album is titled “Brutal,” its lyrics don’t exactly match the title. Brutal is the highest infliction of pain that is supposed to cut deep. Rodrigo’s “Brutal” is more what every teenage girl thinks is brutal: Not having enough friends, not being liked enough, et cetera.

However, Rodrigo’s new album “GUTS” delivers 12 brutally honest songs that delve into deeper, more substantive topics that go beyond surface level teenage drama.

The depth of her new music allows her to escape the stigma of being a Taylor Swift knockoff, and gives her an opportunity to carve out her own pop-punk niche in the music industry. The new album reflects her maturity, as she finally gives her audience a taste of what brutal is supposed to feel like.

The album opens with an acoustic first verse. The three-note chord progression is reminiscent of similar music Rodrigo recorded during her “High School Musical” spin-off. Once the first verse ends and the course begins, Rodrigo cranks it up to 11, blasting an electric guitar and pounding drums. While I admit the acoustic introduction made me doze off, the chorus made me shake my head in disbelief as Rodrigo had just sent a jolt of punk-rock through the phone to wake me up.

Once I listened to the song again, I began to appreciate the inclusion of the acoustics. The first verse allows Rodrigo

to show audiences she hasn’t forgotten her bum’s theme of honesty. While many songs roots, that she hasn’t forgotten that little may promote the idea that you should “nevgirl who used to be glued to an acoustic gui- er ever ever get back together” with your ex, tar. However, the transition into the chorus Rodrigo takes a different approach by nordemonstrates her growth as an artist, that malizing grief over a past relationship, and even though she hasn’t forgotten where she the possibility of getting back together. The came from, her structure of music is evolvboth songs ing and tranillustrate an sitioning.

In amplified many ways, this rage and first song of the confliction, album sets the as Rodrigo tone for the rest tussles with of it, as “GUTS” the idea of tries to renovate loving and Rodrigo's brand hating her ex while making at the same sure she stays time. It was true to who she refreshing is. to hear how Oliva’s secthese two ond song, “bad songs never idea right?” hinted at Roarticulates drigo feeling the common ashamed for thought that PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL FROM GEFFEN RECORDS liking her ex, has crossed most teenager’s minds: I miss it was just a feeling she couldn’t refute. The my ex. Rodrigo's use of vocal layering made level of honesty and self-understanding is the lyrics sound like a chant, providing an admirable. honest and uptempo anthem for modern Rodrigo is able to communicate equally teenage love. “Get him back!” tells a similar deep ideas through her ballad tracks. Most rite of passage through a pop-rock chord compelling is her song “Lacy.” In this lyrprogression. ical stand alone, Rodrigo strips back the These two songs make for an excellent heavy drums and loud amp to deliver her addition to Rodrigo’s discography and the most vulnerable performance yet. Through “GUTS” album, as they coincide with the al- acoustic storytelling, Rodrigo delivers a

compelling story about the coexistence of jealousy and attraction. The song is powerful because it’s so much more than just a girl questioning her sexuality, it’s about the weird feeling of not understanding yourself. “Lacy” allows Rodrigo to be honest and voice her confusion about either hating or loving a girl she thinks is pretty. This conflict is a relatable coming of age tale, as teenagers have to grapple with the illogical and conflicting idea of attraction and identity from an early age. The intense amount of vulnerability featured in this song exhibits an exceptional amount of bravery, which demonstrates the evolution of Olivia Rodrigo.

“Lacy,” and other slower tracks like it, show how the album isn’t just one note: It’s punk, it’s pop, it’s a ballad, then it’s an electric guitar solo; it’s every note possible. This is critical because the teenage experience is never just a linear progression of happiness; it is an array of ups and downs. Rodrigo pieces that idea together through her final song, “teenage dream.” This “GUTS” outro wraps up the confusing and emotional world she built by asking all of it to be taken seriously. Too often are the teenage problems described in Rodrigo’s album invalidated or reduced to insignificant sound bites or phases. However, “teenage dream” takes every experience and thought illustrated through Rodrigo's album and tells her audience this isn’t just a phase, this is who she is. Now that’s a gutsy album.

The South Bay Cafés turn out a delicious and calming study session experience for teen patrons

1. Hot Chocolate from Hi-Fi Expresso 2. French Toast Latte from Hi-Fi Expresso 3. Dragon Fruit açaí bowl from Racer Tea PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIELLA GROSS

by Daniella Gross

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henever I lack motivation to study and finish my schoolwork—which is often—the first thing I do is change up my scenery.

Taking a walk to a nearby cafe, ordering a coffee, and listening to music is the perfect incentive for me to get things done. So, I packed up my homework and went on an adventure to local cafes in search of somewhere tranquil. And when I walked in, I immediately felt at ease.

Hi-Fi Expresso, located in the Rivera Village, has quite an extensive menu that includes various coffees, teas, pastries and 1. larger food items, such as sandwiches and salads. They also offer allergy-friendly sweets, such as vegan muffins. When the cashier recommended the French Toast Latte—a popular choice—I was initially skeptical, but was pleasantly surprised by the compliments the cinnamon gave the mocha coffee, and the sweet hints of vanilla.

But, the best part about Hi-Fi is its bright and open setting. The front of the shop has a long bar desk with furnished bartop leather stools, and there are outlets on every wall. The hanging plants and painted mural supplied a bohemian aesthetic and their music of choice was Lo-Fi, ironically contradicting the establishment's name. However, I did find that

the menu items were pricey, especially for students on a budget. One coffee was eight dollars with tax. If you enjoy the seating and food options of Starbucks, this cafe felt like a higher quality of that, with versatile seating options that provide comfort, and tastier classic coffees.

In comparison to the bright and open concept that Hi-Fi has, right down the road in Rivera Village is a hidden treasure. When you enter Racer Tea, dazzling neon signs light up the darker atmosphere. Guitars, amps, motorbike helmets and grunge band posters decorate the walls, with the smell of sweet brewed handmade teas greeting patrons the moment they walk in. I am a regular customer of this cafe and have tried almost half the menu, so I can confidently say their teas are sweet, calming and unique.

I like to pair one of their most popular teas, the "Greaser"—a rich nutty mocha flavor—with creamy oat milk foam on top 2. and caramel/agave, and their peanut butter açaí bowl.

However, my favorite açaí on the menu is the tart, yet sweet, dragon fruit açaí. The base is complimented by textural elements such as tart kiwi, chewy and sweet goji berries, crunchy granola, and crisp coconut shreds. As far as students

looking for a study cafe, their small table spaces, and uncushioned chairs don’t provide much support or comfort. It is also frequently busy, and due to the small space, it can get crowded. This shop is better off for having conversations or taking your tea to the beach.

The most surprising cafe I adventured to was Kiari West, located in the King Harbor Plaza, a block from RUHS. Kiari West is a bake shop and cafe with an open, bright and welcoming atmosphere. Artisan gourmet pastries and baked goods line the display case, and what you might not realize after taking a few bites, is that everything is gluten-free—you can’t tell the difference.

The texture of the brioche and crisp crunch of the buttery croissant tastes just like gluten, if not more rich and sweet. After discovering this cafe, I frequently go on Monday mornings and order the "Manhattan."

It’s a brioche-baked bread stuffed with pesto, cheese, tomato, eggs and topped with a caramelized tomato; the perfect way to start my day. My favorite sweet is the Chocolate Brioche, a decadent rich chocolate layered brioche. In the mornings, I enjoy the spiced and sweet Chai Latte. What I find ideal about studying here is the seating options outside.

Overall, it is a pleasant and relaxing place to study, and is a convenient 10 minute walk from the school.

Lastly, the most homey and cozy place for studying and tasty snacks is Mellow Tea

Studio—a boba shop off of Pacific Coast Highway. The atmosphere is calm, and couches that are painted with adorable cats line the walls. Stools, tables and a hanging chair decorated with flowers are some other seating options that I find helpful for those who like interactive seating. The sweet smell is inviting and reflects in their delicious handmade boba. My favorite drink to get is the Strawberry Cheese Foam, which is a fresh strawberry jasmine frozen milk tea, with boba and foam on top.

When I tell you this drink is like having a cheesecake in the form of a drink, I could not describe it with 3. more high regard.

The places I adventured to all had quality items and a great atmosphere that put me in the mood to finish my AP European History study guide questions. Venturing out of your Starbucks craze can be helpful in supporting quality local businesses. However, I only reviewed a few of the myriad of great places the South Bay has to choose from, and it’s up to you to seek out a cafe that will be on your mind a latte.

entertainment 13

high tide sept. 14, 2023

ILLUSTRATION BY CRISTINA COUCH AND SCARLETT MISCHE

activism Beloved childhood movies, like "Princess Mononoke," "WALL-E," and "The Lorax" convey environmental themes, which warn us about the consequences of climate neglect and urge us to protect our planet.

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henever I’m bored and running out of things to watch, a fail-proof strategy for me (thus far) has been to turn to the movies of my childhood. Plenty of movies made for kids are chock full of important themes—a popular idea encompassed in many beloved classics is environmentalism. As the climate crisis worsens, looking back on some iconic movies can help to remind us to take better care of our planet, via eye-catching animation, soundtracks and characters.

“Princess Mononoke” is a classic film that delivers not only a whimsical, enchanting feel with hand-drawn animation, but plenty of deeper themes as well. The movie follows Ashitaka, a princess who embarks on a journey to rid himself of a curse placed upon him by a vengeful, dying god of the forest. On his quest to the god’s homeland, he walks into a war between Iron Town, an industrial settlement led by the steely Lady Eboshi, and the forest and its inhabitants: namely, the wolf god Moro and her human companion, San. The movie displays the delicate harmony between natural, unharmed wildlife and human industry and technological advancement.

The unity of nature and civilization is heavily emphasized throughout the movie as Ashitaka tries to help San and Eboshi, two powerful and opposing forces, reach a peaceful conclusion to their conflict.

My personal favorite aspect of this movie is that humanity isn’t villainized in the way it is in most environmentally themed movies; while San and the wolves are definitely easier to root for, the story shows that industrialization isn’t inherently evil. Lady Eboshi, despite being the one trying to tear down the forest, is also portrayed as a kind and caring person, who takes in socially shunned lepers to work for her and frees women from brothels so they can live better lives in Iron Town.

The concepts and rules of the world in “Princess Mononoke” are easily applicable to the real world: in the film, if you take too much from the forest, the gods begin to be corrupted and spread curses and death. If we aren't mindful of our environment, there are real world consequences that will follow.

As humans, we use many n o n re n e w a b l e resources to power our world.

If we aren’t careful a n d don’t consume in m o d e r- a tion, we will event u ally run o u t of the r e sources w e u s e t o supply

PHOTO VIA FANPOP

by Deeksha Prasad host of our energy needs. (Think of the Forest Spirit in the movie; once beheaded, its power to heal and rejuvenate is gone; instead, it spreads death and carnage.)

“Princess Mononoke” teaches environmental values to chilPHOTO VIA dren MATCHAJP. by COM

means of an engaging plot full of allegory, mythological creatures, beautiful visuals and dialogue that keep you hooked at all times. If you’re itching to rewatch movies of your childhood for the nostalgia kick, I highly encourage giving “Princess Mononoke” another watch, this time considering the real world symbolism and messages the movie drives home.

“WALL-E'' is a movie that I’m sure more people have seen at least once before. If you haven’t, then open Disney Plus right now—it is a must-watch movie. The film is set in the 29th century, where Earth is a deserted wasteland due to an ecocide. Humanity lives in giant spaceliners run by megacorporation Buy n Large (BnL). WALL-E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth class, is the last robot left on the Earth. He spends his time trying to clean the Earth, but in the 700 years he’s spent attempting to tidy up the planet, he’s become more than a little lonely. Then EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator), a sleek, egg shaped robot comes to Earth in an unmanned probe. WALL-E falls head over heels (in his case, it’s probably better said as eyes over wheels) for the new robot, and ends up following her across space on an adventure that ends in the return of humanity to the planet.

The message of “WALL-E” in concern to our planet’s future couldn’t be more clear; it's a warning of the consequences of rampant consumerism sans moderation.

In the movie, we’re presented with a world full of waste and humanity that is entirely run by one corporation. The second act of the movie, taking place on the spaceliner Axiom, shows what happens when humanity loses their agency to corporations and become mindless consumers; the passengers aboard the ship are reduced to obesity due to laziness and microgravity. Robots carry out their every whim. “WALL-E” shows a future in which we as people choose capitalism and consumerism over the planet and each other.

However, by the end of the movie, with WALL-E and EVE’s help, humanity does restore the planet—showing that there is a solution for the issues in the movie.

“WALL-E” shows an extreme situation that we can prevent by being mindful with our consumption and recycling, and making sure to keep our planet clean. The combination of these themes with a fun storyline full of action and adventure makes “WALL-E” a movie that's always a good watch (and also, cute robots).

Speaking of cute animated creatures: originally a novel published in 1971, Dr. Suess’ “The Lorax” was made

into an animated musical in 2012. The story follows Ted, a preteen living inside Thneedville, a walled city filled entirely with fake plants. On a quest to get a real tree for his crush, he travels outside the walls of the city into a desolate world where he learns the story of the Once-ler and the existence of everyone’s favorite orange-furred environmentalist; he who speaks for the trees and the movie’s namesake, the Lorax.

“The Lorax” calls out humanity for its disregard for our ecosystem. The Once-ler, in the epic power ballad “How Bad Can I Be” (my personal favorite song of the movie), says it himself as he sits atop the piles of money made from his demolition of the forest: “I’m just doing what comes naturally.” Humans are portrayed as naturally destructive and selfish, caring more about their monetary gains and fueling the economy than preserving the environment. The Once-ler is not the only example of this in the movie; we also have Mr. O’Hare, a zillionaire business man, who’s main industry is bottled air. He’s practically evil embodied; his main goal is to keep growing his business and to do that, he wants to ensure that air quality gets worse and worse. When everyone changes their stance on having real trees around, you’d expect that Mr. O’Hare does the same; but no, he actually tries to convince the crowd that letting the tree grow wasn’t the right course of action by means of a few solo bars of song and dance (“Let it die, let it die, let it shrivel up and die!”)

“The Lorax” shows the dangers of exploiting the natural resources of the world; as shown in the damage left behind after the Once-ler’s economy-boosting power trip. Despite the original story being written nearly 50 years ago, the message’s relevance only grows with time.

Next time you watch these movies, make sure to keep in mind their important environmental messages; not only that, but the broader themes as well. All three promote activism and fighting for change even in the toughest situations.

Ashitaka puts his life on the line in the midst of a war in order to b r i n g a b o u t p e a c e and unity. Wall-E and EVE restore lazy and wa s te f u l h u man society to its former glory.

Ted evades t h e relentless M r .

O’Hare and h i s hunger for power in PHOTO VIA order t o FANPOP b o t h save the trees a n d get the girl.

As Dr. Suess puts it- “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

14

Sports

Win Together, Lose Together

by Sam Schwartz

T

he girls volleyball team looked to improve their record to 7-1 on Thursday, Aug. 31 against the undefeated Torrey Pines Falcons. Despite the energetic start for the girls, winning set one wasn't enough to lead them to victory, and ended in a close defeat for the Sea Hawks, losing 2-3.

Against an undefeated team like Torrey Pines, two things are necessary; having a plan and executing that plan.

“Our plan going into the match was to serve hard and play good defense,” Senior Libero Summer Suppik said “We executed that plan pretty well, we did indeed serve hard, but we also missed a lot of our serves.”

In preparation for the match, Redondo practiced their blocking, due to Torrey Pines’ numerous hitters over six feet tall.

“We didn’t practice anything specific for Torrey Pines, but we did practice blocking and it paid off in the match [and won Redondo a lot of points],” senior outside hitter Addyson Benefield said.

To open the match, the Redondo girls won the first set with a lot of momentum, 25-21.

“We had just come off a win and we were super hyped about it. We definitely brought that same fire into 1

this game and we had a lot of it in the first set, from there we just lost that spark a little,” Benefield said.

The girls weren't able to sustain this energy and fell short in the second and third sets.

“We got excited after winning the first set, and kind of took that [excitement] too much into other sets, that especially brought us out of focus and led to some losses,” Suppik said.

Addy Benefield believes a big aspect of the game is having a "next point mindset" to help put the past behind and out of your mind, according to Benefield.

“The next point focus is something our coach taught us, it’s basically just to not dwell on the point that just happened but to focus on the next,” Benefield said.

Using the next point idea gets you, a player, alone onto the next point, but something almost every girl volleyball team does is to regroup after every point. These two things helped the girls win the fourth set 25-18 and tie the match back up at two sets a piece.

“We regroup when we mess up and your teammates are there to bring your confidence back up,” Benefield

said.

Though our girls fought hard in the fifth set, we came up just short of victory, losing the final set 12-15.

“I think this should act like a wake up call to us, because there are better teams out there on our schedule that we’ll have to be better against,” Suppik said.

Win or lose there are always some miscues in every game, in this game, Suppik believes their defense lost Redondo some crucial points.

“We blocked the ball well but we still missed a lot of digs the could’ve brought us

to win some more points,” Suppik said.

As this is just an early season game, it likely won’t be dwelled upon much, as the Redondo girls now look to beat a strong 14-1 Mater Dei team.

“Next we just have to practice well on Tuesday to prepare for our next game,” Benefield said.

1. Senior libero Summer Suppik prepares for the play. PHOTO BY TALIA PATTISHALL 2. Sophomores Abby Zimmerman and Taylor Boice and senior Addy Benefield communicate between plays. PHOTO BY TALIA PATTISHALL

2

Boys water polo loses their second home game to Long Beach Poly 3-1

by London Carbone

E

ntering the second home game of the season, boys varsity water polo had high hopes. On Sept. 5 they played their second home game of the season, and after treading a long battle, the boys fell short to Long Beach Polytechnic High School with a final score of 7-3.

Starting the first quarter the boys came out on top 1-0. They began the game without their usual starters, forcing a new line up for them to

had different kids starting, which changes things up and can confuse players, but I think going into the game, I felt confident that we were gonna win. We had a game plan and I think we didn't adjust well,” Goldstein said.

In the second quarter, their defense struggled, but their offense was the strongest out of the Declan Goldstein whole game.

JUNIOR They came out of the quarter and into half time tied 3-3. “[At half time I felt] confident. I felt that we should be able to win this game because we have all the tools to win, I just think that we as a team didn't perform well. We just kind of let the game get away from us,” Goldstein said.

3 Going into the third quarter, the boys only allowed LB Poly one goal, completely adjust to. and in the fourth quarter, they struggled to Junior goalie Declan Goldstein, who start- get down the pool in time and lost the last ed all four quarters of the game, was able to few goals. Senior captain Brenden Biezerwatch the team adapt. man was able to get a feel of how the team “As a team, we weren't focused. We had adapted throughout. some issues with guys who were hurt, so we “In that first half we were moving the

“

I always want to win, and obviously we didn't, but I think we're improving, taking small steps every game."

ball decently and we'd been able to get it into our center man and he would throw it out so we could try and get a couple shots.

Defensively, we started off strong, we kept even with the other team, held the lead for a while, and then we started to get beat down the pool a little bit,” Beizerman said.

Being put in a new situation gave the team a chance to see how they play with a different group of starters and time to reflect on the skills and what they should be focusing on.

“

At half time I felt] confident. I felt that we should be able to win this game because we have all the tools to win, I just think that we as a team didn't perform well".

Brendan Beizerman SENIOR

“I think we should focus on getting a better warmup. So far, in both of our home

games we've had two different warmups that we hadn't really done before and I think we need to make a routine. [We also as a team] are swimming more.

We’ve already had practice since yesterday's game in the morning, which was all swimming. Any improvements are really gonna come in the next week of practice. We have a 4 whole week off exactly from yesterday's game,” Beizerman said.

This loss will only help the team grow and be more prepared as the season goes on.

“Personally, I always want to win, and obviously we didn't, but I think we're improving, taking small steps every game.

I’m taking out of this that even though we didn’t win and we didn't play our best, we're improving defensively. We might not be improving offensively yet, but I think we have the tools and a great coach so hopefully in a couple of weeks we'll be able to be ten times better than we are right now,” Goldstein said.

3. Long Beach Poly player attempts to block PHOTO BY MIA CEILACK 4. Redondo player, Sasha Lyukmanov goes for a goal PHOTO BY MIA CEILACK

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high tide sept. 14, 2023

Girls varsity tennis wins against Culver City 14-4

by Aaliyah Roberson

W

ith fast paced serves and amazing effort, girls varsity tennis played Culver City in their season opener on Thursday, Sept. 7. The team had just come off an undefeated preseason, and went on to win the match 14-4.

The team started strong in the first round, winning all six sets. First singles starter, senior Sidney Hope Cherry, led the team, winning her first set 6-3. She aced her opponent multiple times, allowing her to “rely more” on her service game. Cherry became a captain this year and believes the team was “well prepared” for the match.

“Now that I'm in a leadership role on the team, I have different expectations [set] of me. It's not just my performance; it's about my character,” Cherry said.

The second doubles team, consisting of senior Malia Wilkin and junior Avery Rapoport, “struggled” in the beginning of their match. They started off behind losing three games straight to Culver City making the score of the set 3-0.

“I think our competitiveness was lacking in the beginning. We were moving slowly and weren't communicating well. We need to remind ourselves that the most important thing for us is to have fun. We focused on doing what we do best, which is playing tennis,” Wilkin said.

As the set continued, they began to feel “more comfortable with each other,” according to Wilkin. They were “more active” in their footwork and watching the ball allowing them to make better shots.

“At the start of the match I hit too many double faults because I was lacking confidence. Once I started to loosen up they were a lot better. I was able to have good placement on my shots to allow Avery to capitalize at the net,” Wilkin said.

The doubles pair was able to come back and win four games in a row, taking the lead in the set 4-3. They were able to “capitalize” off their shots and take control of the set.

“I was really struggling with my groundstrokes so I completely relied on my volleys and luckily, they were all working that day. After losing those few games we just focused on using our2 volleys and serves to win. Malia and I just came together and kept each other motivated,” Rapoport said.

Rapoport and Wilkin were able to win their set 6-4, contributing to Redondo’s win. After substituting the starters, they continued to dominate with their baseline shots and returns.

They were able to play offensively with their attack shots, which won most of their points. Varsity started their season off strong and “they’re prepared to continue the season on the same note," according to Rapoport.

“We wanted to win since it was our first league match. Starting the season off strong was a goal of ours. I feel that what we did on the court today accomplished that goal,” Rapoport said.

The team was highly motivated for their first league match. Redondo plays their next match against Palos Verdes High School, on Thursday, Sept. 14.

Girls tennis is looking bright and has “inspired” Rapoport for the rest of the season.

“I play tennis here at Redondo because the team is so welcoming and it is such a great bunch of girls. We all have the same mindset and we showed it in the match today," Rapoport said, "and I wouldn't trade [this experience] for the world."

TOO CLOSE

FOR COMFORT

Boys varsity football falls short in a tight match against Huntington Beach Union, 13-12

by Ava Anzivino

M

aking the hour-long drive to the cathedral-esque school of Huntington Beach Union, boys varsity football prepared to play what would be one of their most challenging non-league games. Though they didn't go down without a fight, the boys fell short by just one point, losing to the Oilers, 13-12.

Underneath the beautiful sunset and was the defensive line who held down the fantastic Friday night ambience Hunting- fort, as they took the field for the majority ton provided, Redondo was ready to take of the second and third quarters due to the on their opponents, knowing their great amount of turnovers Huntington forced. strength and consistency from previous “After that second quarter, [being on games. defense constantly] was getting pretty tir“We did a lot of scout offense at practice, ing. My legs were cramping up, I know having our offense go against one another, Milo [Youker] was having a tough time, to kind of imitate [Huntington]. We just too. We were running full speed and trykept running that, and I think we executed ing our hardest, and it was getting to be too pretty well,” said senior linebacker Theron much,” Sutton said.

Sutton.

The second and third quarters were The Sea Hawks got off to a quick start back and forth between both teams’ dewithin the first five minutes as junior quar- fensive lines, causing little movement on terback Niko London made a connection offense, except for a three point field goal with senior wide receiver Nate Stiveson for by Huntington early in the second quara touchdown. ter, putting the Oilers further in the lead “We’ve got one of the best wide receiv- at 10-6. Redondo "lost confidence" in their ers in the Bay League, and our line was set offense, and until the fourth quarter, they up really well to get blocks. I knew I had struggled to get it back. a shot, so I put it up and he went out and “We’re a very run-heavy caught it for that touchdown,” London team, and unfortunately, said. that wasn’t working for us Unfortunately, this would bethis game. So we were forced come the beginning of an offento pass the ball a lot. We hadn’t sive dry spell for Redondo, once really worked on very much in Huntington was able to anticthe previous two games, and ipate the team’s scoring apthat’s why we were so slow,” proach. senior wide receiver Max Aus“They started bringing mus said. a lot of pressure, a lot However, not all hope of blitzes. They were was lost, as Redondo’s offense really picking it up, gained more traction very and they had great abruptly in the last three min11 linebackers to do that, utes of the game. With catches so we had to really from both Max and Bo Ausscope [the field] out mus, the Sea Hawks were in [to score],” London position to make a short run said. into the endzone.

Huntington “We put a good drive toended the gether, the wide receivers made first quarter with some good catches, I was feeling good a touchd o w n , in the pocket. So for that last touchleaving the score 7-6, down, I got out, and they couldn’t with Redondo behind by tackle me by the time I got in the enda single missed field goal. It zone,” London said.

Even with the small showing of Sea Hawk fans, there was a resounding commotion on the away side of the field as the scoreboard displayed a promising score of 13-12. With thirty seconds on the clock, Redondo had a chance to either tie it up with a field goal, or go for the two point conversion.

“We don’t play to tie, so we made the choice to go for two, which [is a decision] I’d make one hundred percent of the time.

They just made a good defensive play and we lost. It’s going to happen, and it’s all about how we respond to it,” London said.

The clock ran out, and Redondo accepted their first loss of the season. Although there was an obvious atmosphere of defeat on the field, there was a “pride” in the way their game was played, especially when it came to the risk they took with the two point conversion at the end. “[The last play] was bold, but I love it. If I were to coach, I’d make those same calls.

I’m not mad about any of our decisions,” Ausmus said.

The team looks to redeem themselves on the road against Paramount next week, but before then, they seek to improve their offense in practice and make it more adaptable to any type of opponent.

“Next week, we’re going to get the pass game going, and really test ourselves. We’re going to keep that run game running, and we should be good to go for all games down the road,” Ausmus said.

1. Sophomore wide reciever Bo Ausmus preparing for the play.

2. The defensive line is attentive to their coach at a timeout.

3. Sea Hawk defense prepares for the play.

4. Quarterback Niko London scopes out the field.

5. Running back Roman Broughton runs the ball.

1-5 PHOTOS BY LISA ESPINOZA

4

2

3

5

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high tide sept. 14, 2023

The Climate

CREW L

Students advocate for climate change awarness and extreme weather relief

by Stavyah Naveen

ast week, junior Danny Harper fell sick. This ailment wasn’t any common cold, but rather a sickness that she developed after swimming in the waters of Redondo Beach. As Harper completed her Cross Country workout, she and her fellow teammates took to a swim in the cold ocean. The team was unaware of the increased levels of waste and fecal matter in the waters, a conditional effect of Hurricane Hilary.

As an active volunteer for the Surfrider couraging climate activism among stuFoundation, Harper actually studies the dents. prevalence of such bacteria in local beach Junior Sophia Quan frequently particwaters (from feces and other waste prod- ipates in beach cleanups in tandem with ucts), in an effort to spread awareness her church, Lady of Guadalupe. about the variety of illnesses that could “It’s important for others to arise from the increased bacterial lev- take part in organizations els. Along with that can several other help [comRUHS students, bat climate Harper is heavily change],” involved in adQuan said. vocating for cli- Sometimes people “Buy from an ormate awareness, think problems are too ganization that in a communal sells products effort to combat big for them to hanthat have been the effects of cli- dle or fix, but even the recycled and mate change. reused, or sim“I think it's smallest actions like ply pick up trash if really importyou see it laying arounddonating diapers or ant to get the these are great ways to information out shirts can really help help the environment litthere, to stop by little.” to revitalize communi- tle Quan people from is also a throwing their ties.” spokesperson for trash in the wathe effects of ter or just preocean acidvent people from KALA LUCAS ification, getting in the SOPHOMORE having writwater when the ten an article bacterial levels to raise awareness are really high,” Harper said. “It's really about this very topic. The National important to stay educated about when Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminisit's safe to go in the water and when it's tration defines ocean acidification as not safe to go.” a reduction in the pH of the ocean, Harper is also an active volunteer for caused primarily by an increase Hopkins Wilderness Park, where she and in atmospheric carbon dioxide other volunteers lead nature walks to levels. As more carbon dioxide is spread awareness about different factors of the environment. Her motivation is to nurture a greater love and appreciation for the environment within commupumped nity members. into the at“There is one family who mosphere, participates in the walks with increastheir daughter, and both of i n g the parents always like to the ask the volunteers questions about different parts of the environment,” Harper said. “I think [we’ve made] a acidreally positive impact when we also ity of the get adults asking questions about the enocean, ocean vironment without feeling silly or ignoanimals (and rant.” our meat econoRedondo’s proximity to the ocean my) are placed at a plays an integral high risk. role in “We only have this one world, and if e n we do not take care of it, it will perish, and we will perish along with it,” Quan said. “I want people to know that there is a certain breaking point to what we throw at this world. And if we help with environmental activism, we can decrease the chances of this world perishing.”

Students also employ social media as a method of environmental activism, using this younger generation’s social media savvy to their advantage. Senior Kai Lucas and sophomore Kala Lucas use Kai’s Instagram to raise money and rehabilitate communities in Maui affected by recent fires.

The brother-sister duo, whose familial roots are Hawaiian, felt compelled to give

“

back to the community and to the people with whom their d a d grew up.

They posted flyers and in- s t a g r a m updates to welcome donations in the form of money or in the form of supplies like toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

These donations are pledged to Aunty Maile’s, a Hawaiian restaurant shipping these donations to affected communities.

“It's very important for people to realize the effects of climate change and how much quicker things can catch on fire due to the recent heat,” Kai said. “With fires starting quickly in a place like Hawaii, where they're known for having very rainy days, that’s when you realize that climate change is really starting to pick up pace.”

Kai and Kala were very entrenched in the process of helping those in need, throughout their growing years. The siblings also run a backpack drive, through which they donate school supplies and backpacks to low-income schools. According to Kala, this experience was akin to a stepping stone for their climate change fundraiser.

“Sometimes people think problems are too big for them to handle or fix, but even the smallest actions like donating diapers or shirts can really help to revitalize communities,” Kala said.

According to Kai, one of the most beneficial things people can do is realize the enormous effect their actions have on the world. People don’t necessarily have to take drastic action against a climate change issue, but they could start recycling more or separating the trash from the compost.

“It's important for people to start at a young age, if they want to become involved in activism,” Kai said. “Things like posting on their social media or posting things for whichever community they're a part of is really important because the little things do count. If you're advocating and you're putting your voice out there, that's going to have more of an impact than not doing anything at all.”

Jellyfish Images used under license from Shutterstock.com.

“Camouflage” is a painted piece with jellyfish and plastic bags to symbolize plastic and trash “taking over” the ocean. ARTWORK BY CLAIRE MALONEY

“Glacier” is a ceramic mosaic piece that is compiled of thrifted plate fragments. The medium correlates to artist's theme of sustainability. ARTWORK BY CLAIRE MALONEY

RUHS Surfrider President, senior Lalitha Muttulingam, performs serial dilution, a process used to test bacteria levels in ocean water. PHOTO COURTESY OF LALITHA MUTTULINGAM

Kala Lucas and Kai Lucas help an Aunty Mailes employee store donations to be shipped to Hawaii.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KALA AND KAI LUCAS