Social, moral and psychological factors influence how individuals develop and express their fashion identity The theatre department presents "Hadestown"
March 27, 2025
Vol. CV Edition 7 Redondo Union High School Redondo Beach, CA, 90277
Custodians detail their busy schedules before their shifts at RUHS
On Youth Night, the baseball team completed a walk-off victory against San Pedro, ending their twogame losing streak
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by Khloee Tange
Under the stage lights, Orpheus, Eurydice, Hades and Persephone are brought to life along with other Greek mythology figures, their voices rising and falling in a song of struggle and longing. The show is a story of the consequences of unchecked power and the longing for love and hopefulness in the midst of despair, and it isn't too late to see the last two showings tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Junior Sophia Rivera plays Persephone, Hades’ wife and the goddess of spring and the underworld. The dynamics among the gods form a central theme of love and power in the show.
“With Hades and Persephone, their relationship is at times more jaded, they grow apart from each other and that leads to a lot of resentment. With Orpheus and Eurydice, their love for each other is very fresh and a little naive, but it's pure and strong,” Rivera said.
Throughout the production, Persephone's music shifts emotionally to show how she's feeling.
“There are a lot of lyrics referencing how it's an old story being retold many times despite certain events taking place in the story. For me, that registers as hope against all odds and even in the face of the darkest
times, that's a really big theme in the show, the hope to keep going,” Rivera said.
Music in “Hadestown,” is based in themes of love and fate. Junior Benjamin Spangler, who plays Orpheus, resumed his childhood hobby of playing guitar in order to play on stage. Spangler’s connection to music helps him understand his character at a deeper level.
“Being able to play the guitar in front of people is really fun, and for me, it forms the character,” Spangler said. “I'm able to connect with my character very well [through music].”
According to Rivera, music heightens the production’s mood and reflects the character arcs throughout. This is especially true for her, when playing Persephone, whose evolving musical style “perfectly captures Persephone’s complexity.”
“[Persephone’s music is] very high energy. It sets the tone for her as a character; she embodies fun and life, and you can tell that through her music,” Rivera said. “Her emotions are very clear in the music when she's present.”
Spangler sees the characters' songs as unique to them.
“All of the characters are super contrasted and diverse, and that really brings the story together. It's very different from other musicals, so it makes it very entertaining
to see all of the characters’ personalities come to life on stage,” Spangler said.
According to Spangler, although Greek myths may initially seem entirely distant from ordinary people, the personalities that come from them are relatable. Junior Jack Pierse embodies this relatability through his depiction of Hades.
“In this show, they portray him in a more modern sense for the audience who may have not read Greek mythology, and [they] can relate to him and his empire of the underworld to our modern society,” Pierse said.
According to Pierse, through music and actions on stage, the emotions and characters’ moods are revealed, allowing the audience to understand the show’s message.
“Hades shows a personification of the theme of going to extreme and unethical lengths to achieve a goal. You see that through having all these people almost enslaved to him, in creating a dystopian atmosphere in the underworld,” Pierse said. “It overall becomes a hyperbolic representation of the theme, which makes it easier for the audience and other characters to see.”
by Hayden McMahon
Three new 11th grade English courses will replace the existing courses, Multicultural Literature and Critical Approach to Current Issues. The new options are Literature and The Environment, American Voices and Gothic Literature and Science Fiction.
According to Kitaro Takesue, Ethnic Studies and AP Literature and Composition teacher and one of the writers of the new course, American Voices, these classes were made to be very specific to both the student interest and teachers' strengths and have been in the works for around a year.
“As an English department, we were not only driven by our passions, but also how well we could make these courses align with some of the other excellent courses that we have available,” Takesue said. “How do stu dents choose one course or the other? If they love history, they can get a complimentary English
have a complimentary class for that, and if they love science fiction or horror movies, they can do a deep dive into those genres.”
The American Voices course, along with connecting to 11th grade history courses, will include texts from underrepresented authors and showcase works from marginalized groups in the United States. Takesue is glad to reflect the diversity of RUHS in the curriculum.
“Growing up, I was not lucky enough to experience reading books by diverse authors, and I didn’t get that experience until college. When I exposed myself to those various viewpoints and experiences, it was fundamental in my intellectual and social development and shaped me into who I was,” Takesue said. “I thought to myself, ‘I need to go back and make sure that I can provide that experience for others.’”
According to 10th grade honors English, Ethnic Studies, Multicultural Literature teacher and creator of Literature in the Environment Angie Yi, these new courses were not only driven by the desire for more cross-curricular connection but also teachers' interests. Yi volunteered to write the new Literature and The Environment course due to her
love for nature.
“I wanted to help students see the beauty of the natural world, to feel like they can not only partake in the nourishment and the peace that comes from nature, but also learn how to take care of nature,” Yi said. “I thought it would be an interesting perspective on literature, [...] and it would be for students who care about the environment, their place in the ecosystem and how we can contribute to a beautiful community.”
Students are just as excited to take these classes as teachers are to teach them. Sophomores Leah Yokota and Alexis Nestman are interested in the classes they chose. According to Yokota, the new options allowed her to find a course she was genuinely excited to take next year.
“I really enjoyed learning about Gothic literature in English and in AP European History, so I was definitely drawn to the Gothic Lit and Sci-Fi class,” Yokota said. “Until last year, I struggled a bit with English and finding stuff I like to read, but being introduced to the Gothic era in history class just felt super interesting.”
Both students and teachers are glad to see more variety in the courses for next year, as it exposes students to more specific branches of literature.
“I am glad that we have these options because different people like to do different things,” Nestman said. “Having these separate fields allows people to pick a class they are actually interested in and that they can excel at.”
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by Carly Jacecko
The energy inside the Boston auditorium hummed as students and teachers settled, ready for a day of competition at the Math Olympiad. After a lot of hard work, the Redondo team ended up placing third at the end of the competition. This particular invitational Math Olympiad competition in Boston, Massachusetts was attended by seven of Redondo’s Sea Hawk math club competitors, including seniors Palio Shibata and Vivek Panchal.
when we started attending more competitions,” Shibata said.
Preparation for the competition started early, as they described it as being one of the most prestigious competitions the team would attend this season. In the beginning, according to Panchal, they struggled with gaining motivation to prepare, but once they got the ball rolling, the prep process started.
chal said.
When the team arrived at Math Olympiad, they started feeling an unfamiliar uneasiness that most of them had never experienced before.
“We were definitely a bit nervous. Even though we had prepped, there wasn’t anything we could do to fully prepare ourselves for whatever they were going to throw at us,” Panchal said.
things bonded us even more than we had before Boston. Sometimes we didn’t know where to start with a difficult problem, but we always figured it out and that felt really good,” Shibata said.
Sometimes we didn't know where to start with a difficult problem, but we always figured it out and that felt really good.
PALIO SHIBATA SENIOR “
According to Shibata, he had a passion for math and has done other math clubs at Redondo, to give himself more opportunities to practice the subject in the past, but this club has been special for him because he gets to compete alongside his friends and fellow Sea Hawks.
“One of our friends started the club and since we were already getting into math, it made sense to join so we could combine it with friends and make it social. The club became another outlet to do more math and get better at it and it got super cool
“We discussed problems together, looked at highs and lows of past competitions, helped each other out and tried to be as ready as possible for anything. When we got to the actual [competition], they asked us to do problems individually. It was a
Once the competition started, they faced team-building challenges that weren’t math related, including having enough room on the Math Olympiad issued paper, running out of time or cutting it too close, with one member even falling asleep while
little different, but we were ready. It was a little hard to get motivated to construct our knowledge for the competition but we finally did it and it paid off in Boston,” Pan-
math problems were being solved.
“We had to overcome things that we weren’t ready for or that hadn’t happened at prior competitions but I would say those
Sarah Keasler, Algebra II and AP Calculus BC teacher, was the adult chaperone for the math club in Boston and she described it as being an interesting experience with many highlights, and a beneficial thing for them and for herself. She felt it was an eye-opening experience for the members of the club because they got to do math around people who have simply “immersed” themselves in the subject.
“We weren’t the strongest candidates and that was hard at the beginning because they had to get used to facing stronger competitors other than the other RUHS students on the team and themselves. It was good for the club to see other high school students with the same passion for math like they have and I think that that similarity to the other teams was something that relaxed them when the competition started,” Keasler said.
The club plans on attending a competition at Stanford in the near future and, according to Shibata, are looking forward to new opportunities that their membership in the RUHS math club will offer.
“If you’re thinking about joining the Redondo math club or any math club for that matter, because you have a passion for it or because you want to improve your skills, I say give it a shot. You’ll meet some cool people and it’s good to help bond you with people with similar interests. Competitions are also fun so that's an added bonus,” Panchal said. “The club has taken us to new places like Boston, MIT and USC and we’re looking forward to where it will take us when we graduate and in life.”
pose at
by Sanaya Bhatt
"My style evolved over time. I used to not really care about my clothes until probably seventh grade. I would just see my friends and how they dress and if I liked it, I would try to emulate it. My style evolved over time from the stuff I see on social media, like Pinterest or Instagram, and I get my style inspiration from online."
-Hanah Khan, freshman
"I like
to go on pinterest and
look at what styles they have over ther. I also get a lot of my inspiration from my god sister. She has really nice baggy style and she's very inspiring in my life so I take her ideas and kind of make them into my own thing."
-Rebecca Martinez, sophomore
"Ever since I was a kid, I developed from having an athletic style to just a cool style. I get inspiration from clothing brands like Dior."
-Edmond Campbell, sophomore
“I base my outfits around different things, like how comfortable I am and how I feel on that day or at that moment. It’s changed a lot over time through me expressing myself in different ways and figuring out what works and feels best for me. I take inspiration from everything around me, but especially music, because listening to it and even seeing the way different artists dress always gives me new ideas.”
-Esrone
Debessay, senior
Repping his signature Raiders apparel, RBUSD's classified Employee of the Year William Shaw spends his shift at the hub of Redondo’s history classrooms: the 800s building.
The two-story building becomes Shaw’s “world” from 3-11:30 p.m., but his world quickly comes crashing down due to the usual culprits: gum stuck to the ground, Goldfish crumbs in classrooms, or bathroom messes.
“You have to go in and look at it and go, ‘Okay. This has to end up a decent place for my next person to come,” Shaw said. “But a lot of the time I ask, ‘Why in the heck would a high school kid do this?’ Because you know it’s deliberate. It’s deliberate that this milk carton is in this toilet.”
Before working for RBUSD, Shaw was a substitute custodian for the Los Angeles Unified School District
Antonio Martinez’s first job was picking tomatoes in Mexico at the age of 11. Decades later, he works three jobs supporting his family and pursuing his interests.
As one of nine siblings growing up in a rural part of Mexico, Martinez felt like his options for the future were limited.
“We come from a rural area where there were no possibilities. If you have money, you can go to college and graduate, but if you don’t have money, you’re pretty much screwed,” Martinez said. “School is not for everybody and where I grew up, [school] was not a choice for me. My choice was either to work or not eat.”
After moving to California in 1990, Martinez worked a custodial job at a Santa Monica synagogue and as a truck driver. Martinez is still on call for his boss at the trucking company, but has since begun working for the district for job stability. It has been three years since his RUHS hiring and two years
by Rena Felde
(LAUSD) for four years. He was employed by RBUSD in 2012 as a substitute custodian and eventually became fulltime eight years ago. Coupled with his full-time night job starting at 3 p.m., his work day truly starts at U-Haul at 7 a.m., where he does sales, rentals and any additional tasks. Making things more challenging, Shaw goes without his car during the day, so his son can use it.
“I had to start juggling schedules, between finding out what work was available for me at Redondo and working at U-Haul, to try to set a schedule where it worked out together,” Shaw said.
Shaw entered custodial work because he observed a “need for it” in all school districts, but he also appreciated the “job security factor.”
“There will never be a time when AI or a computer could do this [work],” Shaw said. “You can’t program a ro bot to come in here and know that you’ve got gum there, trash there and need to vacuum over here.”
“A certain few” have even sought him out, according to Shaw. A
Lweeks-long battle lasted between him, his graffiti remover and a student earlier this year. The culprit wrote, “Screw whoever removed this” and “Imma do it again” in the same spot. In addition to the general messes found in restrooms, the infamous 2021 “devious licks” challenge–where students would vandalize restrooms by removing sinks, soap dispensers and even toilets–added another level of diffi-
uis Peña has experienced many career redirections, but he has finally found the place he hopes to work until retirement.
Prior to working here as a custodian, he installed swing stages with his brother-in-law for window washers scaling tall buildings. But the heightened danger eventually concerned Peña.
“[My brother-in-law] got into an accident where he fell two stories, and he decided to leave,” Peña said. “Then he got a job at RBUSD and told me, ‘That job’s dangerous. Why don’t you apply over here?’ and that’s how I got [a job with RBUSD].”
Peña was employed with RBUSD from 2022-2023 until he left to mix chemicals at a plant in Carson where his wife also worked. Enticed by daytime hours and a “better future,” safer conditions eventually prompted Peña to return to RBUSD in 2024.
“It was like there was no safety, so if this was go ing to be a long-term job, it wasn’t going to be okay for me,” Peña said. “There was one time when we mixed the chemical, and we were done with the mix, so we left the drum there. Then at night, I got a phone call from my boss saying, ‘What did you do with the chemical? It just exploded in the warehouse.’ Apparently there was a process that wasn’t explained where it was overmixed and [reacted later on].”
Peña’s own well-being wasn’t his entire concern. He also has two sons, 5 and 8, who have autism and for whom he hopes to set good examples.
While the late shifts burden
“I was coming into work finding no dispenser at all. I put a work order in, and they would come fix it within a day or so. The next thing I know, it’s back off again,”
Despite the extra labor and questionable bathroom findings, Shaw says he does not take the messes and messages personally and “buckles down” to get it “back together.”
“Every day you walk in and see what you’ve gotta do to change the situation to be presentable for your next visitor,” Shaw said. “I don’t look at it as cleaning up behind someone. I look at it as preparing it for the next one.”
some, they work out “perfect” for his and his wife’s work schedules. His wife works from 5 a.m.-2:30 p.m., so she picks up their kids from school and takes them to therapy and other activities.
All while balancing a night shift, a wife and children, Peña also takes a welding class paid for by RBUSD.
"To be honest, I like what I do, and it fits perfectly in my schedule,” Peña said. “Also, giving opportunities like learning welding is a good thing.”
Peña’s days start at 5:30 a.m. when he gets his sons ready for school. Once his kids are on the school bus at 7 a.m., he gets himself ready for his three hour welding class. Despite the 12 extra hours he spends in class each week, Peña is grateful for the opportunity.
“It’s worth it, so my kids can see that even though I didn’t [graduate from] college, it doesn’t matter what age you are. You can still do stuff and learn,” Peña said. “To me as a parent, as long as they’re able to be independent, that’s all I care about.”
since starting his own mobile detailing company, El Compas Car Wash.
“I don’t have a big line of clients,” Martinez said. “It’s mostly friends, but [through] word of mouth, every now and then I get new customers.”
Martinez’s dream occupation is to be a mechanic, and he even attended an academy in Mexico to learn a bit about mechanics, but he cites his wife as his motivation to start El Compas Car Wash.
“One day we went on a road trip. We took her car, and I said, ‘I am going to wash your car,’” Martinez said. “I had a pressure washer and a water tank and before I knew it, I turned around, and she’s recording me and gives me the idea, ‘You know, you can do this on the side.’”
Though Martinez enjoys working on cars, he says he has multiple jobs because “times are tough.”
“I have a family. I have a house. I have payments, bills. I have three kids,” Martinez said.
He imagines himself working with RBUSD until retirement, ultimately seeking a maintenance position for increased pay and improved hours. To achieve this, he would likely require a technical part-time job to increase his experience, but this would be “difficult” due to his sons’ needs, according to Peña.
“Most parents are like, ‘Okay I gotta take my kids to soccer or to sports or music class’ or things like that,” Peña said. “But for us, we have to take [our kids] to therapy, and it’s a little different, but [it is unconditional love].”
Family has been the center of Martinez’s life, from his parents to his children, and he recognizes his father as an inspiration for his work ethic.
“My dad always told me to work, be good at what you do and be responsible,” Martinez said. “That always stuck with me. Seeing him work the way he worked is why I’m doing the same thing. I’m not lazy.”
One of his siblings attended college and became an architect. The other siblings went into manual labor fields, and the family is still close. Martinez drives to Downey on the weekends to visit his parents.
“We were rich not knowing we were rich. Not in wealth or money, but with family," Martinez said. "We didn’t need much to be happy.”
by Fi Borgese
The Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SCROC) teaches high schoolers and adults, though the classes are only free for those still in high school because of RUHS’s partnership with them.
SCROC gives students job opportunities and allows them to take courses not offered at RUHS. Freshman Damien Grijalva took advantage of this opportunity, applying to be in their electrical classes for this semester.
“I take [the classes] Mondays and Wednesdays, three hours a day after school. On Mondays, we get a lecture. The teacher introduces us to the subject. And then Wednesday, we do hands-on [activities], like [building] electrical units,” Grijalva said.
Grijalva, who has built with his hands since his childhood, intends to pursue the career pathway through SCROC and postschool.
“You have to take certain classes to get employed. So let's say, because I'm in electrical, after electrical, there's advanced electrical. In advanced electrical, they introduce you to more jobs,” Grijalva said.
Along with learning, the program also gives Grijalva something fun to do during the week, and is “not overwhelming.” According to him, time is easy to manage even with the time commitment of the program.
“I'm happy that my teacher introduced me to it because if I didn't know about SCROC, I wouldn't be doing it, and SCROC is a good class, ” Grijalva said.
Grijalva’s father, Maurico Grijalva, graduated from SCROC in the early 90’s and took SCROC’s plumbing class and believes that the school helped him when he was younger.
“I was a young kid, I didn’t have any options, so I decided to start changing my life. I did that and I went to SCROC for a whole year,” Maurico Grijalva said.
After hearing that Grijalva was interested in joining SCROC, Maurico Grijalva encouraged his son to keep going with his education, not only wanting him to do electrical work, but also encouraged him to possibly become an engineer.
I told him that there's options. You can do this, and you can do that. But you've got to love what you do.
MAURICO GRIJALVA
DAMIEN GRIJALVA'S FATHER
“I went and worked with [my brother]. And then I ended up working at the place I still work. I’ve been working there for 28 years. I run the whole hospital. I do all the maintenance, all the HVAC, electrical, plumbing. [SCROC] changed my life a lot,” Maurico Grijalva said.
Maurico Grijalva acknowledged his son’s hands-on approach with many things, telling stories about how Grijalva would show interest in his job.
“He used to always help me when I was doing construction work in the house. He helped me all the time. So, I noticed he liked to do that,” Maurico Grijalva said.
Maurico Grijalva was invested in his son's application process, but ultimately just wanted his son to enjoy what he was doing.
“I told him there’s options. You can do this, you can do that. You gotta love what you do,” Maurico Grijalva said. “Try it, see if you like it. If you don’t like it, you can try something different. But you gotta start doing something.”
Alvear works with the special education program as the director of the Champions League
by Aashka Bhuptani
With the goal of empowering young athletes, The Champions League advocates for diversity and inclusivity among children with special needs. By holding games and promoting physical mobility and self confidence among their players, the league focuses on creating a welcoming and supportive environment for every child, regardless of their athletic ability.
kids up for the their abilities, as well as peer interaction.
Junior Lucas Alvear works as a program director for the league. Inspired by his mother’s work in special education, he joined the league in hopes to form a stronger connection with the
“A lot of kids have struggled playing and sometimes I feel that the parents may use this league as a place to allow their kid to get out and socialize with others. The hardest part of this is talking to every kid and seeing where they stand, so that we can place them where they should be,” Alvear said. The members pride themselves in being a part of such an influential community. Freshman Elina Schneckenberger, who just joined this month as her little sister is also a part of the special needs community, describes the program as “impactful.”
learning the valuable lessons about empathy and resilience.
“This league teaches you that they're [children with special needs] human too, and they have feelings. They're one of us, and they want to do sports as well. You
I
just wish that they gain confidence and know that people who don't have disabilities will be there to support them through whatever they need support through.
ELINA SCHNECKENBERGER FRESHMAN
have to support them. And whatever they want to do, they have to work harder to get
Recognizing children with special needs as equals is highly important, according to Schneckenberger. Beyond inclusion, theaged and supported throughout the variety of games and activities as they overcome
“I hope they gain a lot of confidence. Ivous to hit the ball, which is totally okay,” Schneckenberger said. “I just wish that they gain confidence and know that [we] will be there to support them through
by Marlena Lipan
Initially inspired by his passion for skateboarding, skate culture and y2k fashion influenced sophomore Richard Bredikhin to purchase his own sewing machine and create custom designs. He then branched out to create a signature style in corporating a combination of fur-accents, metallic elements, flared denim and vintage em blems.
“Every weekend, I’m always making [something],” Bredikhin said. “I’m either making pants, like the flares I make, or I’m making wallets. I also do repairs, where I fix holes and hem things for people.”
A friend and customer of Bredikhin, sophomore Andrew Navarro, commends him on his individuality.
“He is independent and in his own zone. He does what he feels is right and doesn’t listen to what other people think. It gives him his own style compared to everyone else around the school. He doesn’t just follow trends. Instead, he is making his own trends,” Navarro said. Navarro shares that Bredikh in influences his friends in more ways than fashion. Beyond cloth ing, Bredikhin’s self-confidence inspires his friends to develop trust in themselves.
“He’s changed my style. I’ve always looked up to him, as a fashion person. He has made me into more of an independent person, not relying on people and not trying to impress everybody. I feel like I have gained more confidence from being around him,” Navarro said.
At this time, Bredikhin sells his designs to friends and hopes to expand his frontiers and start a shop. This includes selling items currently finds inspiration in the diverse artistry pres ent at the market.
“[Selling at the Rose Bowl flea market] is probably going to happen sometime within the next few months. I’ve looked at some of my old pieces and compared them to what I create now and see how much my skills have developed,” Bredikhin said.
A close friend of his is also invested in fashion and sells hand-picked vintage clothing at the Rose Bowl flea market. Bredikhin and his friend often go together to the market, gathering style inspiration and interacting with other creative individuals.
“I was walking around at the Rose Bowl flea market, dressed up, and observing the dressed up people around me. A vendor walked up to me and was telling me, ‘Dude, I love your style. I love how you put your clothes together.’ He specifically pointed out my pants and asked me where I got them, and of course, I was so proud to tell him that I had made them,” Bredikhin said.
The same vendor remarked that Bredikhin should start his own brand and sell his signature style of flared denim, which is something that Bredikhin does aspire to do on a professional level.
“I want to become a fashion designer and maybe a model on the side. I feel that it would be rewarding because then I would get to experiment with different fashions that are given to me. Right now though, I am hoping that I can do something in the realm of fashion because I have put so much time, effort and money into this passion,” Bredikhin said.
Bredikhin emphasizes the importance of individuality through fashion, considering his transformation from more trendy styles to creating his own signature fashion.
“You should have the ability to express what you love without feeling pressured by trends. A lot of stuff I wear to school is very experimental, but I keep in mind that I want to continue being unique, and it gives me a sense of confidence to walk around school in something completely new,” Bredikhin said.
Bredikhin finds many sources of inspiration for sewing projects on social media, where he also posts in an attempt to gain recognition. While he holds the confidence to combat negative social media comments, he acknowledges that some people may not be able to deal with negative comments well. He feels that people should pursue originality over trying to fit in with others, despite the criticism that they may receive.
“I try not to respond to negative comments. When I was a kid and more immature, I would respond negatively, but now I let them speak their thoughts and don’t let it drag me down. At the end of the day, it’s their life, but you are also living your own life, so you deserve to dress the way you want to dress because that is where you feel the most confident,” Bredikhin said.
Bredikhin’s message goes beyond the clothes and accessories he adorns himself with, he feels that others must take the time to explore their creative expression, allowing them to experience life to its fullest extent.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things. Specifically for fashion. Don’t be afraid to try out new styles and experiment because that has brought me to where I am,” Bredikhin said. “I’ve experimented with so many styles, and I think I finally found a style that I feel most comfortable with. Don’t stop experimenting. Don’t stop creating and just be yourself.”
by Ashley Peterson
Lunch in room 219 isn’t just a break– it’s a battleground. Taking place over the last six weeks, an esport competition is the main focus of lunch, playing the Nintendo game Super Smash Brothers. As each match begins, excited crowds surround every team while cheering them on with anticipation.
Biology teacher Kelly Lewis organizes the tournament in which the esport Re dondo team takes part, letting stu dents at school compete against each other before eventually going against other schools, Monday through Thursday.
“We had 48 students partici pate this year in 24 teams. At this point, we’ve narrowed it down to our top 10, so we’re doing a play off this week to determine our final two teams. They’ll go on to play on April 1 in a championship game at Parras Middle School and play against each other, the win ner playing against El Segundo High School’s winner. We’re try ing to see who’s the best team in the South Bay,” Lewis said.
As many students interested in gaming join the tournament, the winners receive video game accessory packages, as well as money to purchase new video game equipment. Lewis finds the change in classroom environment to be worthwhile, watching as students interact with one another.
different strategies. I like the camaraderie, too. Even when kids are on a losing team, they’re still saying congratulations and high fiving or fist bumping the other team,” Lewis said.
“The energy is great. When the kids are communicating with each other, they’re working as a part of a team. It’s a lot of fun to learn and see how each team has
According to Lewis, it also becomes clear which values are essential in times of rivalry and teamwork.
“Communication is a big part of what
how to compete in a fun way,” Lewis said.
Senior Jin Mellem, a participant in the tournament, has won multiple rounds, which enabled him and his partner Hanjin Jo to advance in the competition. Though the competition is fierce, the prize is not the main benefit for him.
“I like the teamwork that results from being a part of it and playing in it when
of their strategy.
“My partner and I have taken a pretty strategic approach during each game. We try to cooperate with one another, also being aware of who our opponents have played before, especially if they have a history of winning and higher skills. It’s definitely something good to know and be aware of, which allows us to be wellprepared before we go against other teams,” Mellem said.
I've learned to work through challenging moments with my teammate and manage being a competitive player but remain respectful and have a sense of sportsmanship at the same time.
JIN MELLEM “
we’re striving for, and a lot of the skills that you build playing video games can translate towards other applications once you graduate. Just being part of a team, with the strategizing and quick problem solving decisions you’ll have to make in video games translates to the real world, whether you’re in a STEM kind of career or other kinds. It teaches people
working with my partner to try and beat the other teams together. It’s really just a bonding experience for us at the end of the day no matter the outcome of our success involving if we win or not,” Mellem said.
For Mellem’s team of two, logic and critical thinking play a significant role in their tournament experience and are a key part
While making his way up towards the top, his experience led to an appreciation for the jour-
“The competitive aspect of the game, the thrill and rush you get from it, is always rewarding. Obviously, there’s an incentive that everyone is motivated to try and win, but it’s also a very exciting and collaborative thing to engage in,” Mellem said.
Something Mellem has also acquired from gaming is an understanding of right and wrong when it comes to facing his competitors.
“I’ve learned to work through challenging moments with my teammate and how to manage being a competitive player but remain respectful and have a sense of sportsmanship at the same time,” Mellem said. “There’s a clear line between being a sore loser and being a humble player, which is important to recognize.”
hopping, whisking and inhaling the smell of steam as heat rushes with stoves fired up: from decorating carefully to tasting creations, leading the class is Culinary Arts teach -
er Christina Martin, who guides her students through cooking lessons throughout the weeks. The course has two class levels: the first year introduces students to cooking basics, food business management, tourism and leadership. Culinary Arts II takes the skills from I and expands upon them, allowing students to dive deeper into the world of cooking business.
Senior Abyss Widmann is in Culinary Arts I and appreciates that the class is very hands-on. In the span of the week, class will consist of labs some days in which students learn knife skills, egg skills and more depending on what Martin is teaching. Other days, class will have a slower pace than when students are cooking.
“The environment is always encouraging to learn because we’re all beginners in this class. [Martin] definitely lets us all ask questions, and she does
Leaving her old team, Mira Costa, the new girls varsity lacrosse coach Trenna Hill joins with her once rivals to coach here at Redondo. No matter where, Hill finds a way to connect with her passion and create strong bonds with her team.
In January, Coach Hill transferred to Redondo to become the assistant coach under Coach Tom Borgia. When Borgia stepped away from his position in early March after 19 years, Hill took the challenge in embracing the team mid-season.
“It's a very small community. [Borgia and I] see a lot of the same people and play against each other all the time," Hill said. "We’re both building strong communities, so I’ve always gotten along great with him and had a great relationship with him from afar. So when I was looking to leave Costa, he was an obvious first choice to reach out to."
Hill took on a big challenge in filling Borgia’s shoes mid-season but enjoys every second of it because it connects her to her childhood.
“My favorite part about lacrosse is that anyone can play it. It’s a very inclusive sport. The roots of lacrosse are from a fable that teaches people to never exclude people from lacrosse. I love its natural inclusive traits. It is a Native American sport, and I am from a reservation back in upstate New York. So my roots were very prevalent growing up around the game and now I get to bring those values to California and build up the community,” Hill said.
Hill attended Syracuse University for
demonstrations sometimes. We always watch videos before we do the lab, which is helpful. It definitely is a good learning environment and it’s effective in producing a good understanding of the skills,” Widmann said.
Martin hopes to create a safe enviornment, while also encouraging them to be passionate about what they are doing.
“I want students to feel like what they are doing really matters, and that requires a fast paced, exciting environment during labs, and then a more serious learning environment for the lessons leading up to labs. So every week, it’s dramatically different,” Martin said.
Education had a positive impact on Martin's life, which is what sparked her interest in education as her career and to have a positive impact on her students as well.
“For me, education was a way to get out of some really tough circumstances, and I had a lot of friends who came from very difficult backgrounds, whether the background was poverty, or maybe English wasn’t their first language, or they were a minority,” Martin said. “No matter what is going
by Kaitlyn Chang
on, you can improve yourself and your life and become successful in your own sphere if you become educated. I wanted to be a part of that, and I wanted to help people never give up on their dreams.”
Martin wanted to be a teacher throughout her life, switching majors from English to History in college. However, she felt as though neither was right for her and made a list of interests to show her campus advisor in university to see if there was a class that suited her interests.
“While I was waiting, there were a bunch of brochures and advertisements on the wall, and I saw family and consumer sciences education, which I didn’t even know was a thing because it used to be called home economics. I saw that, and it was like a light shone down from heaven,” Martin said.
Although this is Martin’s first year teaching at Redondo, she has already made an impact on campus by holding fundraisers to give students new opportunities. For example, a lunch box fundraiser for teachers helped the culinary program pay for a hospitality and tourism leadership workshop at Disneyland. The rest of the fundraisers have been to raise money for the Family Career Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) program for which Martin serves as an adviser. FCCLA has over 50 events in which to participate, but at Redondo, students mostly choose culinary service, leadership and food business.
“I coach all the students, and then they present or compete live, and then they are scored and can receive awards or scholarships or cash prizes depending on who’s sponsoring the events that year,” Martin said. “All the fundraisers that we do are to directly go to benefit students in one way or another.”
Often, the events that students compete
by Allison Lee
Lacrosse and has played in Two World Cups for Iroquois Nationals in 2007 and 2013. Even though she doesn’t play anymore, she devotes all of her time to coaching, so she is still heavily entrenched in a lacrosse environment. Outside of RUHS, Hill coaches other teams of girls in the South Bay with some of her colleagues from other schools.
“I do own a club team with two of my friends. One is the head coach of Costa and the other from Marlborough. Now that we’re all spread out, it’s better for the community in terms of the landscape,” Hill said.
Last year, 15 seniors graduated from the Redondo team, so there are only six returning varsity players. She hopes to embrace the team and take this year to rebuild and strengthen. Hill also expressed that Redondo’s community of parents and the lacrosse girls have been so welcoming, and the excitement between them is mutual.
“The girls really love each other. That’s really important to me. Healthy teams do the best when there’s no drama. There will always be different cliques of friends, but the most important thing is that they are the best teammates they can be," Hill said. "That’s what I lead with and create a culture of people being the best teammates to each other that they can be."
Hill focuses on building the team and becoming stronger together. Even though they have fun and goof around, the team still works hard everyday to improve. She admires the team’s work ethic and their ability to try their best.
“[The girls] also take [lacrosse] seriously. I love that they are very gritty and that they want to work hard. They have a lot of things you can’t coach, like effort. The
in connect to their career interests and help them gain experience in their chosen field. For sophomore Tyler Throckmorton, the class helped him discover an interest in cooking.
“I want to be a chef when I grow up,” Throckmorton said. “It’s good to have cooking skills in life, so you can treat yourself and know what to eat nutritionally.”
Martin already has had a positive impact on the class, especially in terms of boosting the excitement her students bring when they enter the room.
“[Martin’s] teaching ways have really impacted me. I’ve never done culinary before, but she’s a really good culinary teacher," Throckmorton said. "She’s a hands-on learner, so if we’re doing something wrong, she’ll come over and show us what to do and make sure we're doing it perfectly.”
Martin always wanted to help others, and that ultimately is what she is able to do through this new career path at Redondo.
“I want the students to take value in what they’re doing and really want to gain something out of this,” Martin said. “Even if their major isn’t food-based, they’re using what we learned in class to enhance their lives. That is the most fulfilling part [of teaching].”
girls are really funny and a great group. I love coaching them,” Hill said.
Team captain of the girls varsity lacrosse team, senior Caitlyn Kelly, has played lacrosse since sixth grade and served as team captain for the past two years. Kelly has now worked with both Borgia and Hill and deeply admires their unique and effective teaching styles.
“Borgia was really big on athleticism and building skill as you go. Hill is very similar, but she's also good at focusing on the mental aspect of the game and individual success in order to gain team success," Kelly said. "They’re both very into hard work, and they’re both coaches that will push people to be better and to gain confidence in themselves. They both coach in very different ways that are both successful."
Kelly is fully committed to lacrosse and pursuing her passions beyond high school.
Kelly has had Hill as her club lacrosse coach for four years, and she continues to be someone Kelly admires.
“I love Hill. I’ve known her for a very long time, but to have her as a high school coach is even better. And I love having her at Redondo," Kelly said. "She’s such a great coach, and she pushed everyone really well.
She knows the game better than anyone I know, and she’s so invested in our success. It’s always great to have her."
Kelly’s favorite moment with Hill was when they first reunited after she stopped practicing in Hill’s league. So on Hill’s first day at Redondo, Kelly was ecstatic to see her and spend her final high school year with her on the field. With Kelly by her side, Hill joins the team with open arms and a strong spirit to succeed.
“I love it here. I cannot express how much I love it here. I have felt completely embraced since the minute I came, which is so funny because I came from such a rival school where the games against each other are like a bloodbath. They are intense,” Hill said. “So to come here and just feel embraced immediately has been so special.”
Fashion is more than just clothing: it reflects emotions, influences confidence and shapes identity through personal expression
by Kate Brucia
Sophomore Ella Bolin stands in front of her wardrobe, bursting with different colors, fabrics and patterns. Her fingers hover over a crewneck and jeans, a tried-and-true classic, but at the last minute she reaches for a brown top with white polka dots, pairing it with a denim mini skirt and matching shoes. She smiles, remembering the brown and white polka dots of her childhood bedroom that the top reminds her of. After one final look in the mirror, she adds a color coordinated claw clip to her hair, pulling the outfit together.
Unknowingly, Bolin has just employed multiple different theories of fashion psychology. According to fashion psychologist and professor Dawnn Karen, this field is the study and treatment of how color, image, style, shape and beauty affect human behavior while addressing cultural norms and cultural sensitivities.
Mood Enhancement Dress
Karen coined the term “dopamine dressing,” which went viral on TikTok in 2022. Its formal name is Mood Enhancement Dressing, and it is the principle that dressing a certain way can release dopamine in the brain. The majority of participants in research published in the Global Scientific Journal acknowledged the confidence-boosting ability of clothing and the correlation between clothing choices and emotions. It is important, Karen notes, that the colors and styles one uses for mood enhancement dressing are relative to each person. While bright colors and fun styles may be the most used example, it is completely dependent on personal style and personality.
me have a positive outlook on life,” Bolin said. “It's kind of the ‘look good, feel good’ [idea]. If you put time into yourself, it'll reflect outward in your regular life. It's also like the saying, ‘dress for success.’ You dress a certain way when you want to achieve certain things. You don't show up to an interview with a bad outfit on, and you don't go on a date with a bad outfit on.”
While Bolin uses color psychology to support academic success, senior Daria Glukhova prefers dressing more formally to improve self-esteem and mood. Glukhova was the costume designer for theater’s last production, and recently committed to the Parsons School of Design to major in Fashion Design.
“Clothing does definitely support my mood for the day, especially when I'm sad, I can actually dress up a little fancier and beautiful just to make myself kind of feel better about it,” Glukhova said. “I usually wear something less casual, usually dresses, because they make me feel just amazing. I’m a girl, and sometimes I want to feel like a princess. They make me feel really nice”
Mood Illustration Dress
I would start from what makes you feel powerful and confident. In high school, we feel unsure of ourselves.
“Take [the color] black. Some people feel good in black, they feel sophisticated, but some people feel very emo in black. I really believe that it depends on where you are in society, your country, your region, even your school and then also your age as well,” Karen said. “Go back to your childhood, and whatever made you excited to wear back then will work for dopamine dressing. [...] It's very much connected to nostalgia.”
You're still trying to fumble around in the dark, trying to find yourself. I would say to find your style identity.
While “dopamine dressing” can be interpreted as using clothes to influence feelings, Karen says the inverse is mood illustration dressing, which is the act of representing feelings through clothing. Wearing darker colors or more simple clothing can represent inner feelings of melancholy or stress, while brighter colors or patterns can represent joy and self-assurance. This is a less conscious choice than mood enhancement, as people will naturally gravitate towards certain colors based on their emotions in the moment.
DAWNN KAREN FASHION PSYCHOLOGIST
“When you look at somebody’s [outfit], it tells you a lot about their mood for that day. If you see somebody with their hood on, you can kind of assume that something's going on with them, or they're upset about something, but if they're wearing something more lively and awake, you can get a better sense of how they're feeling that day too, especially with the colors that they choose to wear,” Bolin said.
65% of women feel their self-confidence is strongly influenced by their clothes.
Karen recommends utilizing this method when students have important tests or days when they need to feel especially confident, something she used to do in high school to combat test anxiety. This is something Bolin says she relies on for presentations in front of her class or just in general to improve her day.
“My personal style definitely correlates to who I am as a person. Whenever I wear an upbeat, more fun and colorful outfit, I feel better about myself because it just gives me motivation for the day and makes
As Bolin observes, if someone is employing mood illustration dressing, their outfit might espouse their emotional state.
“For me, my clothes are a way to honestly express myself every day. Right now, I'm wearing really casual things because I'm really tired and this week was a lot,” Glukhova said.
Using mood illustration dressing to convey gloomy feelings may not be beneficial, as it can act as mood enhancement dressing in that it will only enforce negative
56% of men report a similar influence.
Overall, dressing up enhances confidence and feelings of competence.
Formal attire boosts critical thinking, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Wearing clothing associated with intelligence improves cognitive performance.
Clothing with symbolic meaning can lead to internalized traits and behavioral changes.
Wearing professional sportswear enhances endurance and performance due to psychological factors. Furthermore, the way that athletes play may be affected by their jersey color.
For instance, red tends to make players more offensive, whereas blue has the opposite affect.
emotions. While it might feel out of character to be in a bad mood and putting “happy” clothes on, odds are that the repetitive visual of a mood-improving outfit will boost confidence and improve a negative mindset for the day.
It’s not just emotions that go into our fashion decisions, as peer influence and social norms play a key role. As a fashion designer, Glukhova notices the trends of fashion on campus, with many dressing very similarly or lacking a distinct style.
“Most people here don't dress to express themselves. They dress mostly for their own comfort, and also, they just want to fit in, because people do wear kind of the same things. Every outfit is a top and jeans or sweatpants, which is not so fun anymore, but it is what it is. Those people maybe wouldn't wear it if they didn’t necessarily see this style in school. They see teenagers and people who they think are cool wearing these things, and then they now perceive these things as very cool.”
It comes as no surprise that high schoolers are influenced by their peers, but Karen suggests that this general tendency to dress alike is caused by the security gained by fitting in.
“Fashion identity assimilation is when you use style to fit in with or blend into a cultural or social group. Imagine you have two web browsers, and you're toggling between two screens. When you're around one group, you might dress a certain way. When you're around your family, you might dress a certain way,” Karen said. “For some people, it is healthy to do so because you don't want to be targeted. There's something called group conformity. It could be healthy to dress similar to your peers' aesthetic or dress like your family for the holidays because that can be emotionally safe.”
Fashion Identity Assimilation Style Identity
With all these factors in mind, it’s hard to know where to begin knowing how one should dress. While aspirations, emotions, and social conformity play varying roles in everyone’s style, at the end of the day, fashion is a tool with which to express oneself and for people to present outwardly as the version of themselves they want to be. Karen calls this “style identity.”
“Style identity is knowing your likes and dislikes and knowing your relationship with fashion. In high school, you're able to explore that if you have the opportunity to do so,” Karen said. “I would start from what makes you feel powerful and confident. In high school, we feel unsure of ourselves. You're still trying to fumble around in the dark, trying to find yourself. I would say to find your style identity, [think about] if you had to stand up in front of your class and you were nervous, what’s that look where you’ll still be nervous, but you feel confident.”
Clothing should support confidence and positivity, while being authentic representations of who someone is. One can start by determining if they value comfort and practicality, fitting in, standing out, confidence or any of the limitless ends that fashion can be a means to. Fashion is personal; it is subjective, something Glukhova emphasizes. While science may have research-based recommendations, as an art form, fashion has the capacity to break and expand these rules.
“It can be beneficial to create your own style and to kind of express yourself with it, if that's what you want,” Glukhova said. “There is no ‘should’ in fashion. Fashion is free. You can do whatever you want, especially right now, it's a time when we have diverse clothing.You don't owe anything to fashion. If you want to create this kind of space for you, by putting yourself out there in the world, you can.”
by Kat Otey
“The first thing that usually makes people go ‘Oh, my gosh. Your style!’ is the boots,” junior Max Conlon said. The boots in question have six inch platforms and strap up to his knee. Conlon wears them “almost every single day” to school.
“Sometimes I feel like, in one of my past lives, I was a drag queen. The first ever heels I put on were really tall. I was at a thrift store, I put on these boot heels. They were black, they were gorgeous. I wore them. I started strutting,” Conlon said. “The boots are mostly flattish platforms, so they're actually pretty comfortable to walk in. But they make everything that I wear look more put together and a bit more like an actual style, rather than just I woke up and put clothes on. As I've gotten older, I've focused more and more on how stuff actually works and my style has developed.”
Like Conlon, sophomore Kai Batovsky began to find their fashion niche through one statement piece: a button up shirt they found at a vintage show.
“[It] had all these purples and greens and blues—I saw it and instantly I was like, ‘could I make that myself?’ I shaped my entire identity around it for a very long time,” Batovsky said. “I would wear it almost every day, and then I kind of branched out from there. I initially would always wear really bright colors. But, I've since experimented with more Goth-esque styles.”
Goth, punk and emo are just a few of the more commonly known examples of subcultures— sometimes called “alternative” communities that explore lifestyle and self expression outside of “mainstream” culture. Although grouped under the same umbrella term and often intersecting with each other, every subculture has its own distinctive music, ideologies, lifestyle and fashion. People who interact with these alternative communities can identify primarily one specific subculture, but often don’t stay within strict limits.
Although she doesn’t “put a label on it,” senior Molly Myerchin considers herself “mostly a punk.”
“Fashion wise, it didn't really manifest until recently, but I've always kind of felt like I don't fully fit in with the people that I wanted to. For a long time, I kind of put up a front. But, as I've gotten older, that's kind of disappeared. I’ve stopped blending and started building up to all these kinds of things that I've always wanted to wear,” Myerchin said.
Myerchin gets inspiration not only from punk culture as a whole but also from her favorite movies and music. She’s inspired by John Waters and Greg Rocky films, considers punk bands from the late 70’s and early 80’s to be “huge style icons” for her and tries to be “as unique as possible.”
“I think life's too short to pretend to be someone you're not. I don't like fitting in all the time. I like to be able to have something to talk about, just sticking out from other people is important to me,” Myerchin said.
Modern subculture also intersects commonly with queer culture, both being seen by many as alternative communities. Historically, alternative spaces are frequented by those disenfranchised with mainstream culture and ideals, including queer people. Although these communities haven’t always meshed well with subcultures like punk and hardcore in the past, modern subculture is considered a safe alternative space by many in the queer community, including Batovsky and senior Phoenix Montes de Oca, who began experimenting with alternative styles because of their queer identity.
“The way I dress myself is a gender expression. Because I dress myself really
femininely, I feel that is almost a juxtaposi tion to my pronouns and gender,” Montes de Oca said. “When I started experiment ing with pronouns in eighth grade, I started experimenting with my clothing style. I buy a lot of my things from Goodwill, or I make my own clothing, like sewing and crochet ing. I found my niche as I found myself, while exploring my identity.“
Conlon’s style is also influenced by their identity as a trans man, and he uses his style as a way to present more masculine while pre-medical transition.
“A lot of my self expression comes from the ability to step outside of gender roles, but also look masculine enough that people will try to use he/him pronouns for me, and then also so that I can feel at least a little bit different, a little bit extra,” Conlon said. “Once hopefully I'm transitioned, my style will change a lot, and it will be a lot more gender non conforming. Because right now I'm trying to make up for how I've been born. If I'd have been born a boy, you bet I would.”
For Montes de Oca, the way that they are perceived by those around them due to their style is less important than the ability to express themselves through their style.
“I'd say that a lot of my interactions based on my fashion are really positive. However, I do get looks sometimes, and people taking pictures of me,“ Montes de Oca said. ”Which I feel like is from a flat tery like, ‘Oh my gosh. You think I'm so in teresting. You want to take a photo?’ I got posted on my old high school’s emo page. I was literally taking a test, minding my own business, and then you take a picture of me? But most of the time, I don't really care about the looks—I don’t really take it to heart.”
Myerchin and Batovsky describe similar experiences, both noting the “weird looks” they get, although the positive relation ships they form often outweigh the negative interactions they have.
“I've had a couple of instances—usu ally it comes from people younger than me. They'll growl at me,” Myerchin said. “There's a couple kids in my film class who come to poke fun and then act like I don't know that they're doing that. I know it's be cause of how I am, how I dress, but at the end of the day, they already lost whatever battle they wanted to start, because I'm not saying anything. I don't care. But the up side of it is that I've gotten way closer with other people who are involved in the same scene and the same subcultures. I have so many wonderful people that I've met be cause of it, especially with the music—it's been a really great outlet.”
For Batovsky, too, being able to express themselves through their style is far more important than the negative reactions they may face.
“This has happened consistently in pop culture, but I hate when I walk around the school and I just see the same outfit, copy paste. Our society is not structured to sup port the arts and support creatives, and so I love seeing different outfits, because I know you're creative,” Batovsky said. “I know you actually have a personality. Even differing yourself in small ways, like with how you do your hair, or maybe how you choose to style something. I feel like that's so import ant because it makes us individuals. I want everyone to feel comfortable enough to just be themselves. Dress unique. Don’t be bor ing.”
by Priya Ramcharan
rom first period to sixth, our days are dictated by stiff wooden desks and the relentless rhythm of the bell schedule. By the afternoon, we’re nodding off. A Yale University study found that the most common word
that early business competition pushed workers (and, eventually, students) into a schedule that fights against our natural rhythms.
ly designed. Take a look at your desk right now. Is it one of those fake-wood ones with the chair awkwardly fused to the side? Maybe one with a “desk arm” that’s just a cold metal bar? If you’re hunched over or slouched so low your shoulder blades are touching the backrest, you’re not alone. These one-size-fits-all setups don’t actually fit anyone, forcing students into positions that kill focus, strain muscles and, over time, cause real damage. Science lab stools are even worse. They offer no back support, just two hours of typing in a position that could lead to chronic pain—or even surgery—down the road. So yeah, high school is tiring. But it’s not just a teenage slump—it’s designed to be tiring. The structure of our days, the rigidity of the schedule, even the furniture we sit in—it’s all working against us. But it doesn’t have to. If workplaces can evolve to prioritize well-being and productivity, why can’t schools?
Imagine a schedule that actually works with students instead of against them—one that builds in time for rest and movement. Maybe even a school with chairs that are made for real human bodies. This could take many forms: working outside, stretch breaks and integrated “nap time,” just 30-60 minutes within the day for students to rest (no homework, no studying, no nothing). Maybe it’s time to stop forcing students to fit into a system that doesn’t fit them. Maybe, instead of us, it’s time for schools to wake up.
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One of the first things we do as a form of independence is choosing what we wear.
The digitization of fashion has revolutionized teenagers' perception of the art form. Now, more than ever, we are exposed to thousands of ideas and can easily accumulate materials to develop our own style.
Social media can hinder individuality. Trends often alleviate the fear of social alienation by literally allowing us to visually fit in with our peers. These short-lived trends can range from a craze for specific clothing to types of sub-groups of fashion. Aesthetics, or “cores,” are paired with buzzwords like “coquette,” or “goth,” to separate certain styles and themes. Although the community aesthetics promote can be beneficial, these labels often force individuals to adhere to rigid principles with little room for experimentation. As a result, teenagers lose discretion on fashion’s key characteristic: fluidity. As we devel-
op our own fashion identity, we should be inspired by, but unafraid to challenge dominating trends. Instead of categorizing ourselves with constructs, we should embrace the inherent individuality of our fashion preferences and embody a style that reflects that.
However, cultivating our clothing catalog should not come before moral or environmental costs. In today’s age, “fast fashion,” or inexpensive and low quality clothing mass-produced to adhere to trends, is dominating the modern fashion scene, and can influence teens’ fashion preferences. This sub-branch of the industry is notorious for their unethical working conditions, harmful materials and unsustainable practices leading the fashion industry to be the second-biggest consumer of water and produced 10 percent of global carbon emissions according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Although we blame brands like Forever 21, H&M, Zara and SHEIN for promoting these practices, we contribute to their prevalence through consumption. We have a responsibility as consum-
ers to understand the impact of our shopping practices. We need to stop putting small bursts of superficial gratification before the planet and human rights. Not only do we need to be conscious of where we buy, but also how much we buy. According to non-profit organization Earth.org “100 billion garments are produced by the fashion industry every year and as much as 92 million tons of clothing ends up in landfills.” We don’t need four pairs of the same jeans or top. We don’t need multiple new shoes when we have one functioning old pair. A conscientious and proactive mindset is necessary when creating our distinctive style. We can showcase our individuality through clothing, while upholding our individual responsibility to our planet.
Dodging the trigger warnings, the commercialisation of true crime stories neglects the real victims, while idolizing the perpetrators
by Ziva Chabot
When
I was in fifth grade I stumbled across a drawing of a girl holding a bloody box cutter. I was surprised to learn it was fanart of a real crime that happened. The case of a young girl who had stabbed her friend, nicknamed by fans as “Nevada-tan.” This was my first exposure to true crime.
I thought people’s fan-like reactions to her case was an outlier. As I got more into true crime, I quickly realized that was the norm. Being humorous about true crime, a subject that should be taken very seri ously, can result in being desensitized to violence. This is a problem since being desensitized to these crimes make it feel more like fiction, which turns a blind eye to real people who have suffered. It’s not good for the victims, and it’s not good for you, either.
True crime has the word “true” in it for a reason. The criminals behind these cases have done real violence. Real people are being hurt. There’s nothing wrong with being aware of them as long as you are respectful, but respectful true crime content seems to be in the minori ty. I’ve been watching true crime content for more than four years now, and I can count the good channels I watch on one hand. Why are there so many people do ing "get-ready-with-me's," while talking about real people going through traumatic experiences?
abling each other. According to Healthline, “an enabled person has less motivation to make changes if they keep getting help that reduces their need to make change.”
Many criminals who were clearly in the wrong have fans, and unfortunately, that will probably never change. However, if it isn’t made very clear that what these crim-
on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, where heavy words like “kill” are replaced with words like “unalive.” This is to push out the content better, but that means there’s a higher chance for people who should not be hearing about true crime hearing about it. In addition, using these words can take away from how serious the situation is.
tent at all, and they actually make people more distressed. On the other hand, normally trigger warnings briefly appear on the screen, so it might not be enough of a warning for other people.
There are people profiting off of true crime. I understand the need for income, but it’s unsettling that one person’s misfortune is another one’s paycheck when it’s done in such an unserious way, and if it’s done against the wishes of the victim and/ or the people close to them.
When the content itself is disrespectful, it will also result in the audience being disrespectful, as well, because people are en-
only become more and more prevalent. So it’s important to take these things seriously. There’s no doubt that most of you who are reading this right now have probably heard of at least one true crime case, but that’s the issue. I don’t mean to sound like a gatekeeper, but we are dealing with real people. It seems iffy for treu crime content to be treated the same way as any other type of content. By that I mean, trying to adapt it for an algorithm, for example,
because it will enable some people to think that what happened wasn’t as severe as it actually is.
It can be argued that trigger warnings are there to warn people, but those don’t really work. For example, in my case, just a mention of something triggering can be bad for me. They also make me more curious, and I’m not the only one. Studies show that trigger warnings don’t really do a good job at keeping people away from the con-
In addition, the way many social media algorithms are built is that if you watch one thing, you can easily go down a rabbit hole. We’ve all had that experience where you happen to like one post about something you’ve never involved yourself with before, and then it takes forever to eliminate that topic from your feed. That’s a problem when it comes to dark subjects like true crime. Once you somehow find one video about it, it’s hard to get rid of.
It didn’t take long after watching a YouTube video about "Nevada-tan" for social media to recommend a ton of other true crime videos. I had never involved myself in anything like that before. The darkest things I’d watch were those hated child Gacha Life videos (role-playing Anime game). But suddenly I found myself in this rabbit hole. Honestly, I consider myself lucky because the video I watched was respectful. If the video I had watched was one of the ones that treated true crime cases as a joke, would I have become a less caring person? It scares me.
I’m not asking everyone to stop learning about true crime. However, it is important for viewers to ensure that their actions are not hurting others. If viewers support people who don’t respect victims, then, in a way, they are also indirectly hurting the victims. Taking healthy breaks is essential, considering the heaviness of the subject. Viewers need to take a step back and remember the “true” in true crime.
The tanning fad is dangerous and stems from racist beauty standards and the objectification of women of color
by Jayla Dorbor
“The woman who lived in a glass box” was just one of the nicknames given to Saartjie "Sarah" Baartman, a Black woman who was sexually trafficked and objectified almost her entire, very short life. Women of color’s features have constantly been at the expense of Black and brown women–and the new tanning fad is just one of them. I constantly see white women and girls showing off their “perfect tan-line,” making themselves at least five shades darker than in a glorified sun-damaging routine. The beauty standard has shifted once again to favor “beautiful” tanned girls over “basic” pale white girls. But why is the tanning fad so significant? Beauty standards have changed drastically over the years, often influenced by power structures. Before the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s, pale skin was considered beautiful because the wealthy didn’t have to work in the sun like the peasants did, so they had paler skin. However, after the Industrial Revolution, the working class slaved away inside factories while the wealthy could frolic around outside, changing the beauty standard to tanned skin over pale. Beauty standards are always in favor of the wealthy, which is why tanning has become so prominent in today's world. People that have time to go on vacation and tan, or pay for a spray tan to look like they have, flex their income bracket. However, wealth is not the only reason tan skin is considered to be desirable. In the 1800’s Baartman was a Black woman who was put in a cage and paraded around Europe in a circus as a symbol of objectification. She was seen as desirable and “exotic” because of her figure, causing her to
be overly sexualised and treated as a circus animal. This objectification and sexualization of women of color causes white women to want to look like us without actually experiencing the oppression we face.
Artificial tanning was popularized in the 1960’s when people found out the side effects (mainly skin cancer) of tanning in the sun. These artificial tanning products used DHA, a chemcial that interacts with amino acids in the skin to “tan” people's skin. Not only did people use tanning lotions, but they also used tanning beds to achieve the same effects of the outside sun indoors.
Tanning has now become the norm for most of society and is especially seen in celebrities like the Kardashians or Sabrina Carpenter. However, the way that celebrities use tanning is very destructive to the self-esteem of young women of color. For example, in the promotion for Carpenter’s “Espresso” music video, her glowing tanned skin can be seen, but a few weeks later at the Met Gala, she is much paler. Her marketing team knew that tan skin was considered “sexy,” so she is very dark in the Espresso music video when she is trying to come across as such. The Met Gala, however, is a very sophisticated event, so her whiteness was prioritized because it is seen as more polished and refined than the tan skin. This further contributes to the sexualization of people of color and is extremely racially insensitive.
Many other celebrities have done similar things like Ariana Grande’s “Blackiana” era when she committed multiple acts of cultural appropriation, for which she was never fully “called out." The racial insensitivity by white celebrities then passes down
onto lower classes who continue to tan aggressively without thinking about why they find this trend attractive, and the social implications of tanning so much darker. Many women don't realize that by darkening their skin, they are emulating the very trait that caused women of color to be ostracized and oppressed for centuries.
This phenomenon can cause darker women to feel dehumanized, like their features are nothing but a trend. We can feel as though our bodies are something to be desired, but only in a sexual sense, but when it comes to being appreciated as a human being, we are thrown to the side.
I can’t tell you what to do with your body,
Beauty standards are always in favor of the wealthy.
and honestly tanning healthily is fine, but the extremity of the tanning trend has become very offensive and belittling to women of color. Next time you want to get the “perfect tan-lines,” remember beauty standards always change,w so try to enjoy your skin the way it is–pale or tan.
8.3 10 7.5 10 7 10 6.3 10
by Lauren Choy
Awater bottle is not just a water bottle anymore. Depending on which brand you own, countless connotations now represent you as a person. If you have a Stanley Tumbler, you are most likely a part of Generation Z, and it is more of a fashion accessory than for a purpose. Is a water bottle brand now a personality test? With this rising emphasis on owning specific water bottles, the question is which is the best water bottle brand?
To start off, I think most people would agree that a metal, reusable water bottle is superior to plastic one-use water bottles when discussing the durability and longterm aspects. Yes, there are times when buying a plastic water bottle is convenient. Personally, I’d much rather spend $2 on a plastic Lake Arrowhead water bottle than drink from the dinky, germ-ridden water fountain around the corner. But, besides those few instances, I generally stick with my metal water bottles.
Now that we’ve slightly narrowed down the search for the best water bottle to only metal ones, I would say the most popular water bottles on the market currently are Hydroflasks, S’wells, Owalas, Yetis and Stanleys. Let’s rate each brand in the factors of affordability, sustainability, trends and customization.
For a 25-ounce S’well water bottle, it is a whopping $45. Now, I would typically say it is better to invest in a great quality bottle and have it last a long time, but I’ve hardly ever seen a S’well water bottle without it looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The small circular base makes one small drop dent the bottom greatly. So not only is the S’well the most expensive 25-ounce water
bottle on the list, but I would say S’well water bottles win the award for the most likely to dent at the bottom. I’ve had my fair share of S’well water bottles and every time I bought a new one, I told myself I’d try my hardest to keep the bottom in its most uncleaved, original state. But trust me, that never ended up happening—and that’s the water bottle’s design fault. I also fell victim to the S’well bottle craze around 2014 because of how cold or hot the bottle kept any drink. Typically, S’well bottles are heavy on the design and pattern side which is a nice touch to be able to select a design that really matches your personality. I would give the S’well brand a 5/10 affordability, 5/10 sustainability, 7/10 trends and 8/10 customization; thus making a final score of 25/40.
My personal favorite water bottle brand is the Yeti. Yeti water bottles are on the pricier side, yet I really do think it is an investment that is worth it. For a 26-ounce stainless steel Yeti water bottle, it is $40, making it the second most expensive bottle on the list. The only problem I’ve had with my Yeti was my straw lid leaking after three years of use. Yet, Yeti redeemed itself with its great customer service and ended up sending me a free new lid after showing photo evidence of the leak. I’ve had my Yeti water bottle for years now, and I’ve definitely dropped it everywhere I’ve gone. Yet, there are barely noticeable dents on it, still maintaining their original state right out of the packaging. Yeti bottles are more trending on the camping, outdoorsy side of pop culture as they have a wide variety of coolers and ice chests. Their designs are primarily solid, muted colors, giving a
sleek look to anyone holding one of their products. Overall, I give Yeti a final score of 32/40 with a breakdown of 7/10 affordability, 10/10 sustainability, 8/10 trends and 7/10 customization.
The cheapest on the list for 24-ounce water bottles is Owalas. Sitting at $30 for a 25-ounce bottle often sold at Target, my Owala has been a great purchase that I haven’t regretted. They have larger, flatter bottoms, cute pastel color combos, builtin straws and make you look like a koala while sipping: what more could I want? One notable characteristic of Owalas is their unique color combinations, often differing solid colors of the lid and the bottle itself. I’d give Owala a 10/10 affordability, 9/10 sustainability, 7/10 trends and 7/10 customization. To end it off, Owala gets an overall score of 33/40.
I’ve personally never hopped on the Stanley bandwagon and don’t quite understand why they’re popular. The caps are designed in a way where mold builds up on the lid easily, so investing in a water bottle that isn’t even long-lasting doesn’t make much sense to me. For a 30-ounce Stanley tumbler, it’s priced at $35, which is not a bad price tag at all. Stanley tumblers are typically pastel, solid colors, and the brand also did a collaboration with LoveShackFancy that heightened their popularity among Generation Z kids even more. With an overall score of 28/40, Stanley gets a 9/10 affordability, 4/10 sustainability, 7/10 trends, and 8/10 customization.
The trend of placing stickers on water bottles really surfaced with the popularity of Hydro Flasks. Everyone was placing stickers onto every blank inch of their Hy-
dro Flasks and really made their bottles their own. Hydro Flasks are known for their bright, solid colors and have a sturdy structure with their flat bottoms. For a 24-ounce water bottle, it is $39.95, which is about the median price out of all the brands. To conclude, I’d give Hydro Flask an 8/10 affordability, 7/10 sustainability, 7/10 trends and 8/10 customization, giving Hydro Flask a final score of 30/40.
I do think it is important to note the fact that purchasing a water bottle also means the customer is paying for that brand name and reputation. It is akin to joining a community. I think this aspect of this new water bottle culture is really interesting to see take shape and is important to note. Whether you join the Hydro Flask or Yeti community, there’s a sense of buyer belonging that creates a fun, lighthearted environment to be a part of.
With all the analyzed factors of sustainability, affordability, trends and customization, the two highest-scoring water bottles are Yeti and Owala water bottles. Obviously, at the end of the day, the brand of water bottle you have isn’t going to make or break how well you hydrate. But getting a Yeti or Owala could simply make the water bottle experience just a little more enjoyable. At the end of the day, everyone has their unique preferences in what they hope for in a water bottle, and there is a plentiful range of brands that will meet the needs of each and every preference.
by Samantha Kim
In all honesty, I was fully prepared to be rooting for the poison apple. I had seen the trailers, the YouTube comments and interviews about how this rendition would be a complete departure from the
With the modern emphasis on racial diversity, there was a glaring difference apparent from the start of the movie: Snow White is not white. This change, which has been publicized for a while, was not a huge problem for me, though I do wish
While I did not find Zegler’s acting to be significant, it was the musical numbers that sold me on her casting.
was most definitely not a prince. Snow White (Rachel Zegler) was even more of a go-getter—she joins a band of thieves against the royal guards/huntsmen and attempts to start an expedition in search of her father, and perhaps for the better, the chemistry between the two develops throughout the film, making the true love’s kiss at the end more consensual. While the prince meets princess storyline had to die, the movie still felt natural enough while being more adherent to the modern values of female individualism and racial diversity to name a few, which was a good call.
that they historically and organically fit into their settings. But at the same time, since the kingdom, which originally is supposedly set in Germany, is so racially diverse that Zegler being Latina did not negatively affect the storyline. I found the rest of the casting to be well done, especially in young Snow White, portrayed by Latina actress Emilia Faucher, who allowed for a tasteful transition from younger to older Snow White and the evil queen (Gal Gadot) who did convince me that she was the "fairest one of all," that is, until Snow White came along.
The movie had multiple additions of original songs written by Benj Pasek, Jack Feldman and Justin Paul, which worked well to highlight Zegler’s strengths. I already knew that Zegler had a powerhouse voice from hearing clips from “West Side Story” and “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” but her singing may have been the silver lining to the whole movie and bad publicity. In the original song “Waiting on a Wish,” where Snow White yearns to become who she is meant to be, foreshadowing how she will deliver the kingdom from her evil queen stepmother’s rule, I got full body chills. Her voice is full of well-placed crescendos, whispers and emotion, and as a musical, other voices were heard, as well. The most shocking voice to hear was Gadot’s. In the evil queen’s original solo song “All Is Fair,” I had to double take, impressed by her high notes and belts, which sounded like they were infected with only a tinge of autotune—a difference I appreciated compared to Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast.”
Though the beloved song “Someday My Prince Will Come” only received an instrumental recognition, classics like “HeighHo” and “Whistle While You Work” were kept, highlighted by vibrant scenes and staging, especially in “Whistle While You Work,” which was one of my favorites. This unfortunately brings me to the CGI monstrosity of the seven dwarves.
The dwarves, who make their on screen debut in “Heigh-Ho,” looked painfully out of place. It was ironic to me how actors with dwarfism were cast in the movie but just as minor characters when instead they could have been casted as the dwarfs and could have prevented this CGI mess, as done in the 2012 Snow White adapta-
tion, “Mirror, Mirror.” With their oddly textured skin and weird facial proportions, they reminded me of a “Polar Express” 2.0. While my favorite shot of them was them "heigh-ho"-ing back home during sunset, reducing them to black silhouettes, it was possible to become desensitized to these disturbing things—I would also include Snow White’s Lord Farquaad haircut—as the movie progressed, thanks to the successful use of CGI for the animals and magical woodland sets and colorful, cozy costumes that they wore.
Apart from the dwarfs’ costumes, which were among the most ordinary in the film, it was exciting to see nods to the original animation with Snow White’s classic blue, yellow and red number and the evil queen in the high white collared, purple black cloak dress and tall, pointy crown, which were well made and somewhat comforting to see in this altered version.
Overall, the movie can be enjoyable as long as you forget all you know of the original animation. However, it evoked no childhood nostalgia or emotion for me. But watching the movie in the theatre and looking across to a young girl in a Snow White princess dress dancing around in her theatre row as “Whistle While You Work” was playing on the screen reminded me that this movie is not for cynical adults or teenagers like myself as much as it is for children, like that girl. These movies are going to become childhood nostalgia for them, and at the very least, we can be thankful that they have role models in pop culture and media who teach them the virtues of kindness and goodness and secondly have a princess that "looks like them.’"Although I do not see this as two hours of my life I will never get back, I do see it as $20 that I will never get back, so if you do want to watch this movie, I advise you just wait until it is on Disney+.
PHOTO VIA DISNEY+
by Emery Min
I’m not usually one to be thwarted by a long line. Good things take time, as the old saying goes, and sometimes it’s the wait that makes the reward feel that much more satisfying. But a few years back, when I spotted a couple of ramen shops with lines looping around the block while exploring Honolulu, I decided to refrain from joining them. I was practically wilting from the heat outside and the last thing I wanted was to stand in line under the sun for a piping hot bowl of broth.
This is not to say that I don’t like ramen. Under normal circumstances—meaning temperate weather—I’m actually very fond of it, so much so that it ranks in my top three favorite noodle soups. There’s something so innately comforting about a rich broth paired with perfectly springy noodles and topped with a jammy soft boiled egg that calls out to both my heart and stomach. So when I recently learned that Gomaichi Ra men, who’s popular Honolulu location I had snubbed years ago, had opened up a new location in Redondo Beach less than 10 minutes away from campus, I took it as a sign that I needed to try it out.
On first impression, Gomaichi Ramen is everything that I would expect from a contemporary ramen shop—the intersec tion of modernity and tradition evident even in the simple layout and design of the restaurant. Their tables, chairs and lamps all match the minimalist aesthetic, but a black and white mural of Los Angeles and large vases of flowers near the entrance serve as decoration, adding a touch of life to the space. The chefs and kitchen are also visible through transparent panels near the back of the room in case you’re interested in some pre-meal entertainment. And as a nice finishing touch, lo-fi music plays throughout your meal at just the right volume to be noticeable and also allow you to
hear yourself think.
Both times that I visited, the staff at Gomaichi Ramen were attentive and kind, offering up recommendations and giving me a brief rundown of the restaurant’s history when I asked. The food arrived very quickly, within six to eight minutes, carrying with it a delicious savory aroma, and my personal
amount of bounce that the teeth can still bite through smoothly.
Picking between the rich umami flavor of the tonkotsu broth and the vinegary kick of the sung hon broth—the chef’s creation, which contains a base of rice vinegar and chili oil—was difficult, but the clear winner over both of them, in my eyes, was the tan
ramen offered and sampled both the gyoza and karaage. The appetizers were the perfect accompaniment to the rest of the meal, the gyoza delightfully juicy with a soft outer skin and the karaage just as well-cooked, crunchy and crisp without being dry. The noodles also fit my ideal criteria for ramen noodles: neither mushy nor hard but instead containing the perfect
runny yolk inside. I also can’t speak much on the vegetarian op tions myself—they offer both veg etarian miso and shoyu ramen— but my friend seemed to thoroughly enjoy her vegetarian shoyu ramen as her bowl was virtually empty by the time we were done. Overall, the meal left me feeling satiated, with warmth lingering
inside my stomach for hours after I’d eaten. Additionally, both my younger sister, who will always prefer instant ramen to the traditional kind, and the friend I brought on my second visit, who doctors everything with a concerning amount of chili oil, vinegar and soy sauce, rated their bowls a nine out of 10 despite generally being picky eaters.
My one qualm, however, lies with the prices. While I believe that the portion sizes were decent, and I’m relatively accustomed to ramen (especially in the Los Angeles area) being expensive, it doesn’t change the fact that each bowl was somewhere between $16 and $19 each. Even the extra egg my friend ordered cost an extra two dollars, although she did admit it was 100 percent worth it. Even so, that didn’t stop both of my visits to Gomaichi Ramen from being enjoyable experiences. So maybe next time you’re in the mood for a hot, comforting bowl of noodle soup, check out Gomaichi Ramen. You won’t be disappointed.
COURTESY OF EMERY MIN
Redondo girls lacrosse falls short to Mira Costa in historic rivarly, 14-6
by Sophie Rebbeck
Under the Friday night lights, girls lacrosse battled Mira Costa in a fierce rivalry matchup full of intensity and grit. Despite a strong and determined effort, Redondo ultimately fell short, losing with a score of 14-6.
Going into the game, the girls were ready to face their long-time rival, knowing the competition would be aggressive.
“I’ve played on varsity for three years, so this was my third year playing Costa, and I was excited,” senior captain Caitlyn Kelly said. “They’re a very well known opponent, and I’ve played those girls either in club season or this season, so I knew who I was going against, which makes it even harder because I knew that they were all really good [ . . .] It’s fun to go against people you know, and it’s also really challenging. I like that challenge, and everyone was excited for that challenge because we would get a really competitive game out of it.”
the game. Costa responded quickly, scoring six goals before the quarter ended.
Freshman defender Mayella Kumprey felt that the girls lost some of their momentum after Costa’s comeback, but were able to regain some focus in the second quarter.
“We were composed, and we had our heads in the game,” Kumprey said. “Our players were working a little bit more, and we kept better possession on defense along with marking players in the midfield.”
Going into halftime, the girls had
The girls began the first quarter with a relentless attack, scoring two goals in quick succession within the first two minutes of
shortened Costa’s lead from the first quarter to just three goals, with a score of 7-4. However, the physically and mentally demanding play seemed to start taking its toll on the team.
“The third quarter was not our strongest
quarter. We didn’t score a goal in the quarter, and I think it's because people started to get more stressed out and began to rush
the play,” Kumprey said. “We started to lose our composure, but everyone was still trying their very best.”
As the clock began to wind down, the intensity on the field grew, as did the frequency of fouls between the two teams, and it seemed the whistle was calling out a player every 30 seconds.
“We really made [Costa] work for it a lot more, and we caught them making a lot of mistakes. They got a lot of yellow cards, which put them down a player on the field,” Kelly said. “We were able to really get them frustrated with our aggressiveness to make them make impulsive decisions, to catch them in those silly mistakes.”
Unfortunately, Costa’s relentless attack proved too much for Redondo, and the girls fought a tough battle to finish the game out 14-6. This was their first loss this season, and while it was not the result that they had hoped for, they are going to take the lessons they learned into their next few games.
“We just have to give our own 100 percent. Our team captain, Kelly, says to always give 110 percent,” Kumprey said. “There were times [in the game] when we got tired and we weren’t pushing ourselves as much as we needed to. This game was just a lesson that we always have to go our hardest, no matter who the competitor is, no matter what the score is. If we're down by 100 goals in the last 30 seconds, we always have to just keep pushing.
by Isabella Nguyen
Down at the RUHS swimming pool, shouts and cheers rip through the air as the swimmers cut through the water. March 13 served as an eventful day for the RUHS swim team. Facing off against El Segundo High School, RUHS came out on top, winning 106-64 for varsity girls, and 92-77 for varsity boys. Coach Katie Draffen, the firstyear head coach of the boys and girls swim at RUHS, was primarily focused on the swimmers enjoying themselves during their first home meet.
“I sat them down and told them, ‘Just go out there and have fun.’ It’s okay if we win or lose, but having fun is the biggest thing. So, they were really positive and hyped up together,” Draffen said.
Although he didn’t win all his events, senior Jordan Kisiler remained content with how the meet went, excited by the prospect of a home meet that meant friends could watch and enjoying his races. Joining the varsity team in freshman year, Kisiler has worked his way up to competitive swim since he was 11 years old.
tive it becomes,” Kisiler said. “But I’m going to be honest. I’ve just been trying to enjoy the season this year and swim more races, do different things, and overall, just try to see different aspects of swimming.”
spends time bonding together.
“[We’ve] built up a very strong team,” Kisiler said. “They make swimming worth it for me and being on relays, hanging out with them at team dinners and even
“The faster you get, the more competi-
For Kisiler, the main source of enjoyment for swimming is derived from the teammates he swims with. From chaotic bus rides to house hangouts, the team often
whooping their butts in the pool is always good fun.”
The role teammates play in supporting each other is emphasized by sopho-
more Kaia Weiss. Performing strongly, she placed 1st in two of her individual events: Girls 50 Freestyle and Girls 500 Freestyle. “It’s really fun to come out here and have your friends cheering you on while you’re swimming, especially during super long events. But also, for relays, you don’t want to let them down, so you try your hardest,” Weiss said.
The importance of good team chemistry is an aspect Draffen greatly highlights. In team relays, the swimmers have to “be able to bond and work together” in order to perform well during races. Even during individual events, having others there to support each other “makes a big difference” during swim meets.
“The goal for this season is that we build a really good team around and that the kids get along and bond together because that’s what makes the team more fun,” Draffen said. “And I would love to see us perform well overall in the Bay League this year, and get some wins in our dual meets.”
by Kate Lanzdorf
On Saturday night, the bleachers at Redondo Union’s Memorial Field were full with area Little League players who enjoyed complimentary hot dogs, and ran the bases with Redondo's varsity baseball team after they beat the San Pedro Pirates 2-1.
The Sea Hawks came into the game ready to break their two-game losing streak. Junior pitcher Jandon Rosadini pitched the first four innings, striking out three and walking one. Pitching coach Andy Ammentorp was pleased with Rosadini’s performance.
“[Rosadini] went forward and did a good job filling the strike zone, and going right at the hitters,” Ammentorp said.
In the fourth inning, San Pedro’s Anthony Garcia scored off of his teammate Eli Nunes’ sacrifice fly, but the Pirates’ 1-0 lead didn’t last long. In the bottom of the fifth inning, sophomore and catcher Taehan Kim earned a walk to start the rally. Catcher and junior Sam Schwartz then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, paving the way for Kim to score the first run of the night for RUHS. The Sea Hawks threatened again in the next inning when sophomore Parker Leoff hit a single. Junior Mikey Ricardo followed with a strong single to left field. Despite Ricardo’s best efforts, the runners couldn’t score, thanks to the teams efforts according to senior batter Roman Brown. The game was tied 1-1 at the top of the seventh inning.
“Everybody really bought in at the end, and everybody did their jobs. Our coach always talks about just doing anything you can,” Brown said.
In the final inning, San Pedro had a lead-off single, but first baseman Ricardo made a catch and double play. Sophomore pitcher Derrick Buchanan ended the seventh inning with his second strikeout. Soon after, the Sea Hawks wasted no time
putting the game away. Brown crushed a line drive single to left to start the rally. Junior Jackson Sola then made a bunt down the third base line. A bad throw gave the left-fielder an opening, and Brown sprinted home to take the win, as the team ran from the dugout to celebrate.
“I’ll definitely remember this win for a while,” Brown said. “When I was standing [at the plate] I felt good, and I had a lot of confidence in our team to win.”
Redondo’s Rosadini and Buchanan’s excellent performances proved too much for San Pedro. Coach Ammentorp was impressed with the boys' consistency.
“They pitched very well; I’m very pleased. [Buchanan] showed that he really wanted to pitch, and he was aggressive in the zone and threw the ball really well,” Ammentorp said.
Buchanan made his first varsity appearance, surrendering only two hits and no runs after taking over in the fifth inning. Buchanan enjoyed playing in the game he watched as a kid on Youth Night years ago.
“Being that young, it was really fun to watch varsity and to imagine myself here. It’s a full circle moment,” Buchanan said. “I’m kind of doing it for them, to give them inspiration, and be a guide.”
While he came into the game feeling down about their last two losses, Sola attributed the triumph to their teamwork; the Sea Hawks came together for a walk-off win.
“It’s a big team thing, especially winning by one run in the last inning,” Sola said. “We had our pitchers come out and do their thing, and the fielders had no errors; it was a great night for them. Everyone played together really hard.”
Sola also credits his performance to the packed house, and Youth Night excitement. Having so many kids cheering him on reminded him of what it was like being
their age.
“There’s definitely more energy in the building. When you’re on defense and you’re hitting, the kids are all yelling and trying to get your attention. It’s a lot more fun with the kids out here, and you’re just trying to have fun,” Sola said.
Ammentorp agrees with Sola, saying that all the cheering kids made this game even more special. The sheer number of fans there to support made the biggest difference.
“There are more people in the crowd tonight than maybe any other game besides Costa games. The atmosphere is excellent. There are kids in the bullpen, there are kids everywhere. It’s a great community night,” Ammontorp said.
The Sea Hawk’s big win against San Pedro should spark a fire in the team that they hope to bring to Torrance next week.
“It’s good to get a win on a night like this when so many community members are here. It’s
baseball’s version of "Friday Night Lights,” Ammentorp said. “It’s fun to see how excited the kids are to come out here and run on the bases, and the players are doing a good job of making sure the kids have fun after.”
by Deeksha Prasad
TFast fashion isn't sustainable, but even practices like thrifitng may not have much effect on the recovery from climate change
he United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), a leading organization in environmental policy, found that it takes around 2,000 gallons of water to make a typical pair of jeans. AP Environmental Science teacher Gillian Moberg educates students on fast fashion, a term for the cheaply made clothing produced by mass marketers, acknowledging the irreversible environmental changes.
“Fast fashion isn’t built to last. We have a large number of clothes ending up in landfills, they’re not recycled. The more conscientious consumer who decides to donate to Goodwill or a thrift store assumes that solves the problem of overconsumption. But, I’m disappointed that when we do turn in our clothes to a thrift store, what’s not sold gets shipped to overseas markets that can’t bear the volume of the clothes that we are sending,” Moberg said. “A few years ago, it was Chile, the Atacama Desert, that’s full of discarded, barely worn clothes from fast fashion [companies]. The desert is now a landfill, an open dump, not a covered sanitary landfill. It’s changing the way the water moves across the landscape. It’s now adding an impermeable layer of plastic fabric—nylon, polyester, lyocell, tensile. Those don’t biodegrade, meaning that they remain in the dump.”
As a part of the APES curriculum, Moberg teaches about these detrimental effects and how they relate to global renewability. However, there are ways to combat the environmental effects, and one popular method of sustainability is thrifting. Senior Matthew Jacob, co-president of the thrifting club, finds that thrifting allows him to be “creative” alongside climate benefits.
“Thrifting is all about improving environmental sustainability by recycling clothes for reuse,” Jacob said. “It’s cheap, it’s good for the environment and it is such a cool and unique way to find a style that’s personal for you.”
Thrifting is enjoyable not just because of its environmental benefits, but because of the unique experience shopping at a thrift store provides, according to junior Skye Duong. Duong echoes Jacob’s sentiments as she curates her closet primarily through thrifting.
“I want to be super sustainable because I hate shopping big [businesses], and I hate super big corporations. It’s also just really fun,” Duong said. “I like the meticulous nature of it because you’re picking through [the racks] and looking for different things. Also, the rush when you find something cute is unbeatable.”
Though thrifting has its positives, it isn’t a cure-all for ethical fashion concerns. According to nonprofit Green America, at a store like Goodwill, many of the donations are put onto racks, with around five percent being sent to landfills for sanitary concerns. From there, the clothes that do not sell are moved to Goodwill outlets, where they’re
sold at 99 cents per pound. What’s left is then sold at Goodwill auctions, where huge mystery bins of clothing are sold. The leftover is sent to textile recycling centers.
“I know a lot of clothes [in thrift stores] go to the landfill and the dump, so it’s nice to know that me doing my little part, feeling happy about finding new and vintage clothes that can take away [what would be dumped into] the landfill,” Duong said.
According to Goodwill, they received 107 million donations last year. While five percent going to a landfill may not seem like much, that’s still 5.35 million of Goodwill donations being sent there. Senior Dani Harper doesn’t find herself shopping frequently, but when she does, she typically checks the thrift store first. She finds it better to shop second-hand in order to help recycle the amount of clothing waste produced in America, though she also recognizes that thrift stores don’t necessarily recycle everything.
“My family used to donate a lot to Goodwill, and now, it’s like ‘Oh, well it’s gonna get thrown out either way’,” Harper said. “We still do donate, but we try to give it to other family members or other friends first. But some stuff you just have to put somewhere. So [a big thrift store] isn’t the worst place to go, but a lot of it does get thrown out.”
Harper prefers smaller thrift stores that don't throw out as many items since they don’t receive as many. But not everything can be given away to a thrift store just because its use has been exhausted.
“Clothes that we can't give away, such as clothes that are really damaged, we can't donate that. I don't feel like it's fair to give people who can't afford clothing the worst stuff. That's not fair. That's not right. Some of the clothing that's in a gray area is the stuff that's really, really worn, and it's hard to know what to do with it,” Harper said.
Thrifting offers a more sustainable fashion alternative than buying from fast fashion brands, but the latter do have their appeal for many. One of the most prominent fast fashion retailers is the online store, SHEIN.
“[SHEIN] has put the model of fast fashion on hyperdrive. They make thousands of new items a day, they do not use recycled fabric, so it’s all virgin plastic fabrics. And yet, they are the ones who are changing the way the fashion industry works,” Moberg said.
Aside from the low price point of many items available on the site, its appeal to younger consumers stems from many factors. Jacob points out some reasons that high schoolers are more drawn to purchasing from SHEIN.
“I personally don’t support SHEIN, but on [their site] you can find more trendy clothes in a quicker amount of time. But while thrifting takes more time, you can find more unique clothes,” Jacob said.
In 2023, SHEIN faced allegations of unethical business practices, not for the first time. According to Fashion Dive, SHEIN currently battles a lawsuit under Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, in a case titled “Krista Perry v. Shein Distribution Corporation.” According to Reuters, SHEIN has faced 90+ lawsuits claiming the company has plagiarized others’ products and designs.
“Fast fashion is so bad, and it’s so bad quality too. You’re going to be wearing [something bought from SHEIN] for a summer, not long term. If you are affluent, you should consider [not buying fast fashion], because it ruins it for everyone else,” Harper said.
In AP Environmental Science, students are taught about the tragedy of the commons: the idea that when individuals, acting in their own self-interest, overuse a shared resource, it ultimately leads to its depletion or destruction, harming everyone in the long run.
“There are so many tragedies of the commons examples, so I pick the ones that are notable, the ones I care about and the ones I think my students will care about. Since it’s an AP class, we don’t have a lot of time to deep dive into everything that interests us,” Moberg said.
According to Moberg, the class looks at companies like Burberry, which would burn its unsold clothes. But in comparison to other companies which have been discussed in the classroom, SHEIN has taken fast fashion in “a whole new direction.”
“Do I want to tell students not to shop [at SHEIN]? I worry that for many, it’s because they can’t afford the same kind of clothes I would recommend to an adult with a job, so I can’t make a hard judgement,” Moberg said. “[Telling someone] ‘you don’t care about the planet’—that kind of language doesn’t have a place in this discussion. But for an informed consumer, you do have a choice. Make the ethical one. When you know better, do better.”
