Situationships Are Not It

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4

ART CREDIT: SAGE PARK

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14, 2024

ARTICLE ON PAGE 4

News

Black History Month

By Quinn Satterlund and Krishna Nagarajan

Photo Credit: Emily Myers Keller

Black History Month, the yearly celebration of the many accomplishments and contributions to the US by Black Americans, has arrived.

The precursor to Black History Month, known as “Negro History Week,” was founded in 1926 by prominent Black historian Carter G. Woodson and sponsored by the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The seven-day event took place during the second week of February, coinciding with the birth of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglas (Feb. 14th), and received immense support from many Black-owned newspapers, as well as backing from a few state departments of education, namely Delaware, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

Nationwide, communities and schools hosted celebrations, lectures, or performances in honor of the week, teaching many people crucial and often overlooked information about Black Americans and their significance in the creation of the US. Over time, the week transformed into something larger, and, by the late 1960s, partially due to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black identity, “Negro History Week” had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses, most notably Kent State, where the first Black History Month was held.

In 1976, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald Ford recognized February as Black History Month, urging the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Black History Month is not without its detractors, however, with some Americans calling into question the need for a specialized month, as opposed to the integration of Black history into mainstream education for the whole year. One noted example is actor Morgan Freeman, who criticized the concept of declaring only one month as Black History Month:

“I don’t want a Black History Month.

Black history is American history.”

At CCA, the Daily Bulletin shown during second period to all students will feature a different influential Black figure each day and several events are being hosted at lunch on campus by the Black Student Union to spread awareness and teach more about our country’s history. Outside of school, San Diego Public Libraries will be hosting lectures and book readings, as well as children’s programs; UCSD will be holding an art gallery dedicated to celebrating “the African diaspora and the cultural contributions of our campus artists and scholars over the years.”

“Black History Month pays tribute to the profound contributions that Black Americans have made to the United States.”

Although debates about the need for such a month have become increasingly present in our society today, ongoing initiatives at CCA and in San Diego as a whole display a commitment to embedding Black history into the narrative regarding our country’s history, showing that Black history is truly American history. The CCA community seeks to bring further awareness and appreciation for the importance of Black Americans in our nation’s history and culture.

Happy Lunar New Year

By Jadyn Hecht

The previously ordinary streets of Beijing, China are now filled with excitement and anticipation for the new year. People stop at the vendors along the sides of the walkway.

Thousands of red and gold-colored lanterns hang overhead that will soon be lit up in the night. Fireworks, lion dancers, music, food, family, and red envelopes all contribute to the magic that the Lunar New Year brings.

Feb. 10 marks the first day of the new year on the Lunar calendar and the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. According to ancient beliefs, each year takes on the characteristics of that year’s zodiac, and the dragon symbolizes strength, vitality, and luck.

Lunar New Year encompasses all new years celebrations based on the Lunar calendar, including Chinese New Year, Tết, and Seollal traditions that date back to China during the Shang Dynasty. Legend states that a beast called Nian would terrorize people every new year, so people began to cover their villages with red-colored decorations and firecrackers to scare the beast off. Though these celebrations originated in Chinese communities, they are widely celebrated in various other East Asian countries such as Vietnam, Korea, and Singapore. Thousands of years later, old and new traditions have combined and are celebrated worldwide.

“My favorite tradition is the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, where extended family members gather for a

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“The vibrant red decorations, symbolizing good luck and prosperity, add a festive touch to the surroundings, brightening lives.

That’s why we decorate the camfeast, considering it the most signifi- nese students, and parent volunteers pus during the cant meal of the year,” says Ms. Kao, have spent many hours planning a CCA’s Chinese language teacher. Food Lunar New Year celebration at CCA. Lunar New Year plays an integral part in expressing asMs. Kao said that “underpirations for the new year. “The spread standing the meanings behind the period.” includes symbolic dishes with names holiday, its traditions, and the ways .

that sound like positive attributes, such as fish for surplus and prosperity, dumplings for wealth, and sticky rice cake for continuous improvement and success in the coming years,” adds Ms. Kao. Though the Lunar New Year did not officially begin until recently, you may have noticed that red-colored lanterns have decorated our campus since January. Ms. Kao, AP Chi-

it is celebrated enables us to gain insight into the values and cultural heritage of other communities.” If you wish to experience Lunar New Year festivities this year, other popular traditions include visiting parades, exchanging red envelopes, and playing the game Mahjong with loved ones.

Course Selection and Profiles

By Zoe Truong

Course selection is around the corner, opening Feb. 14. While many students envision filling up their schedules with as many APs as they assume they can handle, and calculate which combos will look best on their transcript, there are still graduation and UC/CSU class requirements that indicate the need for students to take at least seven classes worth of electives. Within these requirements are one visual/performing art elective and one practical art elective. But what about the other five?

“As students know, CCA offers a wide variety of electives to take – ranging from STEM to business to art. Still, many of these optional courses are unknown to the student body.”

For the students who want to balance their schedules going into their sophomore and junior years when the pressure for harder courses will be on, and for the future seniors who are thinking of how to spend their last semesters, here is a list of some of the more niche electives. Not all of the smaller classes will be featured, as there isn’t enough space to include a full list. While this is just a spotlight on a few, this doesn’t mean that students shouldn’t take the courses that have been excluded – honorable mentions being Non-Western World History, Modern Epic, Current Issues, Film and Society, Speech and Debate, Social Justice, Sociology, and the advanced/ capstone classes in the CTE pathways.

Ethnic Studies Just recently approved, Ethnic Studies is projected to make its debut in the next school year. In more precise terminology, the class is referred to as Ethnic Literature – befitting for its categorization as part of the English Department – and will be taught

by Mr. Perisic. As the name alludes, the class will involve delving into diverse narratives from many backgrounds including, but not limited to,

Asian-American, African-American, Latino, Indigenous, Muslim, and Jewish-American. At first perception, one might assume that only race will be discussed as a theme, but the curriculum is more than that. It reflects on intersectionality, systematic oppression, policies related to migration in minority groups, the American dream, transformative resistance, and most importantly, identity. Not just identity in the sense of what ethnicity (or ethnicities) one aligns with, but how we construct our identities through the lens of sexuality, gender, etcetera – it’s an individual understanding of ourselves. There will also be self-guided projects where students will be active agents in their communities to make an impact; this feature elevates the course from passive to interactive learning. On top of that, other media forms will be reviewed: graphic novels, short films, movies, and poetry. The class goes beyond literature – it’s application, self-identification, inward reflection, and visibility. It’s a whole conversation.

Creative Writing Many know journalism as one of the English electives, but it isn’t the only conduit for non-academic writing.

Mr. Malanga, the teacher, outlines the course progression as a combination of poetry, short stories, and screenplay writing. For those who associate the writing component as just a mode for analysis in their English classes’ essays, Mr. Malanga encourages a more positive perception of the subject: “Sometimes students need a creative outlet. Sometimes they need a class where they can experiment with thoughts and ideas.” Even then, the subjectivity of determining what’s “good” writing outside of the rubrics English teachers give out to students is often a worry for many. But the class is intended to get students out of their comfort zones – to express themselves freely without consequences. Mr. Malanga adds to this sentiment, “I try to grade objectively based on the task of the assignment and not subjectively for how good the short story or poem is.

So it’s a way to try something creatively and fail, and still be okay.” If the appeal of creative freedom isn’t a sell, there is still some merit to the class in terms of acquiring precision in one’s writing skills. The cultivation of proper diction to evoke feeling is a completely different lesson from the analyses in English essays, but is, nonetheless, a valuable skill to carry over. The class serves as a good balance to a dense schedule of academic classes and is a space to express oneself freely.

Conclusion Even if you don’t choose any of the electives included on this list when course registration opens, the hope is that you can integrate balance into your future schedule by enrolling in any of the electives offered at our school. Check out the Course Profile page on the CCA Counseling website to learn more about all of the classes the school provides.

Pop Culture Outside of the required history progression in the social science department is Pop Culture – a class taught

by Mr. Spilkin in the spring. The premise is to look at the world through a pop culture lens as a way to understand the impacts of food, movies, celebrities, and memes on post-WWII America.

How it stands out from the typical history courses is that “it balances out traditional history classes and looks at the parts of history that don’t get a lot of attention. [Pop culture] encompasses everything that we look at. Culture, cultural connections, and cultural influences are the answer to why we engage in the things we do and where they come from,” Mr. Spilkin states. Pop Culture is one of those courses that is perfect for those who want to have a bit of room in their schedule for less academic rigor – a place to have fun and is best taken with friends. And, as most people are engrossed in the world of modern music, art, entertainment, etc, it’s a subject that can appeal to many.

“CCA can be stressful, given the norms of AP farming and packed schedules, but it doesn’t have to be. Enjoy yourself and your classes while you’re here.”

CCA Counseling Course Profile Page

Machine Learning Unlike the other classes featured on this list, Machine Learning is “definitely not for people who want to find a chill class to spend the rest of their senior year,” according to Audrey Wang (12). Taught by Mr. Mauro, this class is described as challenging and fast-paced, being that it is a capstone course in the Software, Systems Development CTE Pathway. Prerequisites are in place in order to be eligible to take the class, though – experience in Periods Votes coding from either AP Computer Sci-34 1 ence Principles or Applications.

The 0 2 class utilizes Python to3 assess and 8 manipulate datasets. For4 those con-55 sidering majoring in computational biology, software development/engineering, computer science, and others along the line, the skills taught in this class will be integral in the future.

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Opinion

Situationships Are Not It.

BY SAGE PARK

As Valentine’s Day fast approaches, the question starts popping up: what’s your relationship status?

Single? Taken? Or are you and a certain person (yes, the one you just thought of reading this) awkwardly existing on a weird plane between not knowing whether you’re actually dating or not?

If so, you’re not alone. This generation has coined the term“situationship” to describe the gray area between friends and lovers that most people experience at one point or another. This person may take you out on “dates” that feel vaguely romantic without actually using the label, or they might care for you and treat you how romantic partners treat each other without the formal declaration of being an exclusive couple. It’s often very frustrating to be stuck in this limbo, and, as someone who’s been in numerous situationships over the years, I know this feeling all too well.

You may go back and forth between giggling and kicking your feet over this person to being completely annoyed with them for giving such mixed signals. You may constantly be fighting urges to ask them the god-forbidden question—“What are we?”— just so you have a clear answer of the relation between you two and what the other person thinks about it. Or, you may just wanna keep silent, wanting to maintain this vague

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-romantic-undertones-friendship-not-friendship for as long as possible.

And here is me telling you to ask that question. Because situationships are not it.

“And here is me telling you to ask that question.

Because situationships are not it.”

Now, I know what you’re thinking. There’s certainly a reason why people hold off on asking their situationship this question to make things clear. It’s quite possible that you like the other person and are scared that they don’t feel the same way. Or maybe you don’t like them but want to preserve the friendship.

Maybe it’s something else entirely.

Either way, if you’re currently in a situationship, there likely is something stopping you from confronting them about it directly. I myself am a completely delusional hopeless romantic, but I’m also confrontational. There have been unfortunate instances of

me getting all excited over a certain person, only to find out they never felt the same. I totally understand why it’s easier to not address the situationship at all.

There’s a certain fear of rejection that comes with it that makes it easier to just sit back and push your feelings back.

That being said, it is extremely easy for a situationship to slide into something hurtful or unhealthy. For example, someone might take advantage of the non-committal aspects of a situationship and use it to talk to other people as well as you, which, in my opinion, is cheating just without the title. Or they might only talk to you for their own benefits and pleasure and slip away whenever you try to form an actual emotional bond with them.

Either way, my stance is clear: situationships are NOT it. I’ll admit that they may be fun for a little while,

“However, a lack of labels and clear set of boundaries is a slippery slope to heartbreak.”

especially if you’re looking for something more non-committal. However, a lack of labels and clear set of boundaries is a slippery slope to heartbreak.

If you’re not looking for something non-committal, you should make that clear from the start so that people who are looking for more commitment know not to waste their time.

Whether you’re single like me or in a relationship, I wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day. That being said, if you’re in a situationship, I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose to do with that. If it doesn’t end well, I extend my deepest condolences. You’ll soon find someone better—don’t worry. But to save extra heartbreak, let’s leave situationships altogether back in 2023.

Things To Do if You’re Single on Valentine’s Day

BY JULIA PIEKARSKI

There are many different types of singles on Valentine’s Day. The ‘sulker’ typically listens to depressing music or cries about their singleness. The ‘one-who-could-care-less’ makes their own fun with friends or family. The ‘ex-texter’ either ends up as the ‘sulker’ or no longer qualifies as a single. Depending on which one you are, here are some things you can do as a single on Valentine’s Day.

photo credit: canva

The ‘sulker’ could watch Dirty Dancing or The Notebook; these real romantic tear-jerkers should make the sulking process much easier.

Another idea is to take a bubble bath because, if you’re going to be sad, you might as well relax and prioritize some self care. To push the ‘sulker’ stereotype even further, one might cry while eating loads of chocolate in a cycle reminiscent of a pregnant woman. A suggestion for the sulker is to bake a Valentine’s Day themed sweet treat. Currently, there are tons of cute online videos showing the recipes for pink strawberry cinnamon rolls, pink brownies, and other goodies.

The ‘one -who-could-careless’ about their singleness on Valentine’s Day is the epitome of an emotionally healthy and confident king or queen. For these happy individuals, a Galentines party would be perfect. For those who are unaware of the term, ‘Galentines’ is a popular trend that has resurfaced on Tik Tok this year that refers to an almost Valentine’s Day Friendsgiving for single ladies.

“For these happy individuals, a Galentines party would be perfect. Also, while we’re throwing ideas out there, invite the ‘sulker.’”

Throwing a Galentines party is the perfect way to celebrate the people you love when you don’t have a romantic partner. Last year, the execution of the idea was very successful and many gals had several Galentines rather than a single Valentine. These singles understand that, even if they don’t have a partner, they can still be festive and have fun. Also, while we’re throwing ideas out there, invite the “sulker.”

The ‘ex-texter’ already knows what they should do because their best friend has probably already told them. Don’t text your ex. If you fail to adhere to this suggestion and things end badly, refer to the advice above.

To those who wish they had a romantic partner to share Valentine’s Day with, don’t let the feeling of missing out on teen romance prevent other core memories from being made. Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about telling the people close to you that you love them, romantic or not. Hopefully some of these suggestions will help guide singles through this couple-prioritized consumerist holiday.

“Hopefully some of these suggestions will help guide singles through this couple-prioritized consumerist holiday.”

photo credit: canva

WORST Valentine’s Day Gifts

BY ABIGAIL CHOU

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away or even passed, we all have an idea in our head of what the best gifts to receive from a friend or partner are, and I’m sure these ideas vary across the board. But, I think we can all agree on a list of the worst gifts to give or receive, so use this list as a checklist and, hopefully, none of you received any of these this February 14th.

“Hopefully, none of you received any of these this February 14th.”

1. Gift Cards Starting off strong for bad gifts, we have gift cards at the top spot. Maybe this isn’t the worst possible gift to receive, and maybe the establishment the gift card is for is personal to the person. But, they seem extremely half-baked as a gift and barely thoughtful. Gift cards in my mind are the gift to receive from a friend you’re not that close with on your birthday, and the gift to buy

extremely last minute before a birthday. Either way, this is a serious no-go. If you are completely set on including the store or business in your gift, you’re better off purchasing something from the spot over a gift card, any day. Maybe the only exception is if your partner is a gift card fanatic, but I think that is improbable.

2. Anything from Sketchy Online Sites I’m sure we’ve all seen, or have maybe even bought, something from an ominous TikTok Shop or Temu. If you have to send a link to get a free Valentines gift for your partner or have your information stolen, there’s seriously a big red flag in your gift shopping process, as that should never happen. Resist the additional 40% off of the less-than-tendollar item some TikTok shop offers you, because it’s definitely not the solution to your gift shopping journey. Maybe items from these stores could work as gag gifts alongside a main gift, but, other than that, I can’t imagine any other ways a Temu item could work as the gift of the century.

In fact, the only gift I could imagine to be valuable from a TikTok shop is a chamoy pickle kit.

3. Talking/music-making Stuffed Animals This may be an unpopular opinion because, while I’m sure there are many super fans of these, they honestly would make me start having negative feelings about the gifter. Maybe I’m joking about that, as this isn’t the worst gift on earth to give or receive, but it’s definitely the most annoying. To convince you more about the faults of this gift, not only is the sound pollution it brings horrid, but the quality of the item tends to be pretty awful too.

4. Drugstore Gifts I’m most definitely most passionate about this one in specific.

When in search of a gift for anyone you care about in your life, avoid your local Rite Aid or CVS at all costs. The only acceptable items to buy there are gift wrap, cards, and candy. I am a believer that all other purchases for gifts aside from those are bottom-of-the-barrel effort and a nightmare. If you’re worried about a budget, there are many other stores to price match what you would spend at Rite Aid. Please don’t buy your gift from a pharmacy.

photo credit: canva

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Cut Out and Color Valentines

BY ISABELLA POSEL

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Feature

How We Love

BY KLOE GILLESPIE It’s almost Valentine’s Day, the day we give our significant other flowers and chocolate to show our affection. February 14th is the day of love, but love can often be confusing. What is love? The Buddhist definition of love is unselfishly wishing another to be happy, to be delighted to be in their presence, and to offer affection freely without wanting anything in return. This definition lies in their religion and culture. So, how do we define love with our own experiences?

What does it feel like to be in love? Brain activity can help us understand what love feels like. When you talk to someone you have romantic feelings for, you get a rush of dopamine, which can feel euphoric.

Euphoria is an intense feeling of excitement and happiness. When two people fall in love, chemicals associated with the reward system flood the brain, which produce different physical and emotional responses, such as a racing heart, sweaty palms, flushed cheeks, and feelings of passion, as well as anxiety. The brain releases feel-good neurotransmitters, which are your body’s chemical messengers, that boost our mood. Levels of the hor-

Art CREDIT: Riley Finnigan

“‘Romantic love feels like a superpower that makes the brain thrive.’” mones spike, which can cause you tolose track of time. In a more negative aspect, when serotonin levels drop, it can cause you to eat irregularly or fixate on small details, for example, worrying about saying the perfect thing.

Eventually, you will feel a deep sense of calmness and contentment with your partner. The New York Times stated that, “Romantic love feels like a superpower that makes the brain thrive.” Scientific data has proven that love is as important to a person’s well-being as a good diet. In addition, love begins to slowly become a buffer against stress. The effects of love don’t disappear after the initial phase of falling in love. In an article about lasting love writted by Harvard Medical School, “The passion is still there, but the stress of it is gone.” Data also proved in a study that humans can still be mad-

ly in love after decades of marriage.

Think of love as the opposite of loneliness. When a person is lonely, it’s like being dehydrated, and affection shown from another is the water that refuels you. It’s important to shower the ones you care for with love in case they are not receiving it from anywhere else. Valentine’s day is the perfect time to tell someone you love them. Love isn’t just romantic; love can be what you feel for your family and friends.

So, take the time this February 14th to show those that you care about, both platonically and romantically, some love.

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AI Art: Painting or Theft

BY HAYDEN CHANG The launch of AI image-generation models such as DALL·E, DeepAI, and Midjourney have created a ripple effect of unprecedented magnitude on the artistic landscape, escalating into lawsuits, controversy, and millions of infuriated artists. Despite its relatively new popularization through the 2021 release of DALL·E, artists have already suffered severe consequences such as loss in commissions, reduction in job opportunities, and copyright infringement of their work. As a result, many have been calling for more government intervention in upholding copyright laws and enforcing stricter regulations for the use of artists’ work by these AI corporations. This movement, however, has faced opposition from AI artists who believe that their work requires the same, if not more, effort than traditional digital art and that AI artwork opens up possibilities for those who are physically disabled by allowing them to essentially “type” their art. They have retaliated in a series of major lawsuits to gain copyright protection for AI artwork and allow AI artists to monetize their work, most of which have failed as of February 2024.

With strong proponents on both sides and AI not even close to its full capa-

“With strong proponents on both sides and AI not even close to its full capability, it looks like controversy regarding AI artwork is only just beginning.”

bility, it looks like controversy regarding AI artwork is only just beginning.

In order to understand the frustrations of traditional artists, it’s necessary to understand how these image generators work and why its system has led to accusations of stealing work. These image generators function by feeding millions of images into artificial neural networks, training them to create new images based off of this pre-existing artwork. The more images inputted, the more accurate to the user’s text prompt the generated artwork becomes, which explains the lack of success in early AI image generators with small image databases. The part of this process that artists take issue with is its reliance on already existing art. AI image generation companies’ non-consensual use of artists’ work posted online and accusations of copyright infringement eventually became grounds for a class action lawsuit for three illustrators.

Sarah Andersen, Kelly McKernan, and Karla Ortiz were appalled when they discovered that anyone could generate artwork in their style after typing their names into haveibeentrained.com, a website which tells artists whether their art has been used to train the popular AI model Stable Diffusion. They gained national recognition when their lawsuit was dismissed

by U.S. District Court Judge William H. Orrick for lack of evidence in October 2023. Orrick believed that the plaintiffs failed to prove that images generated by AI models were derivative of existing works or “substantially similar” to their copyrighted work but allowed them to amend their claims to file their case again in the future. While the lawsuit itself had little tangible impact, it established a devastating precedent for artists that made it clear that the law would not be sufficient to protect their artwork, and corporations would continue to make millions from their efforts, making the term “starving artist” slowly become a reality for many.

“‘I genuinely think that everyone does have the ability to draw, but I don’t think that knowing what words to type into a machine to get a generated painting makes you an artist.’”

When initially released in 2021, AI image generators were of minimal threat to human artists due to their small database of images and public association with mediocre and unoriginal artwork. However, a monumental shift occurred in late 2022 when Jason Allen won the annual Colorado state fair’s digital art competition using a piece completely generated by Midjourney. The art community has since equated this win to the opening of Pandora’s Box due to the complete re-evaluation of art and discussion of copyright laws it inspired. Jason Allen was able to retain his prize but was denied copyright for his winning piece, Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial, due to “lack of human authorship.” In response, he plans to appeal the decision and move forward with lawsuits to fight for copyright protections for all AI artists, as he believes that writing the prompts necessary to create Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial required significant effort at a

ART CREDITS: HANAKA OYAMA, HAYDEN CHANG, DEAN RAMOS, DALL-E 2

level that is comparable to a traditional artist. Hanaka Oyama (12), a senior at CCA and member of Envision Visual Art Conservatory, disagrees, saying, “I genuinely think that everyone does have the ability to draw, but I don’t think that knowing what words to type into a machine to get a generated painting makes you an artist.”

So is AI art really art? I interviewed Dean Ramos, Professor of Fine Arts at Mira Costa College, to hear a professional artist’s opinion and find out the answer. As a sculptor with installations in many galleries across the nation, he has contemplated inputting his artwork into AI networks like Midjourney as a source of inspiration, but refrains from doing so out of fear of voluntarily giving his work to the algorithm. He acknowledges that there is human interaction in AI art but thinks that AI art cannot truly be art due to its lack of individuality and inability to recreate the intricacies of the human mind. Oyama agrees, believing that art is innately shaped by personal experiences and individual perceptions that AI cannot have. In response to Allen’s controversial claims regarding AI art copyright, Ramos believes that, “if people invest a lot of time and effort into something, they’re going to want ownership of it.” A possible solution he proposes is the public sale of AI prompts, which has the potential to become artwork itself with the commodification of digital art like NFTs in the modern day. Overall, Ramos is not threatened by AI artwork as of right now and thinks that AI networks can only improve if we continue feeding into it, meaning that it is within our control.

Finally, I tested AI myself to see if AI artwork can really replace our favorite artists and find some ways for art-enjoyers to distinguish between their favorite digital pieces and AI copies. I used Canva to create a two pieces of open access digital art (cartoon conversation hearts and a teddy bear holding heart-shaped balloons), and then had DALL·E 2 recreate them.

The first thing I learned was that writing prompts require extreme precision to be even remotely close to the artwork you’re visualizing. I first generated a cartoon conversation heart piece with the prompt “cartoony conversation heart background,” which created a large heart with “BEE YAN” written in the middle. This is another thing I learned from trying

to generate images of conversation hearts: AI networks can’t spell. lso, if you’re looking for a more handdrawn style for your artwork, you’re out of luck. Putting handdrawn for the teddy bear prompt just added dramatic shading to the photo with no other substantial changes. Adding to the frustration, the artwork only gets weirder and more warped as you add additional instructions to the prompt.

I spent about 30 minutes just trying to fix the spelling errors on the individual hearts be fore giving up. Needless to say, I would not reommend using AI artwork for your next project and came out of the experience with a newfound appreciation of Jason Allen.

Ultimately, Pandora’s Box is already open for AI art, so it comes down to us as viewers to find art responsibly and support human-produced

artwork. As lawsuits continue on both sides, there is no way to tell whether traditional or AI artists will come out on top. AI is only go anity feeds its algorithm, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between human and AI. So, while AI art hasn’t quite replaced human-produced art, we should enjoy our art museums and value our human artists. After all, who knows how long they’ll be around?

Entertainment Valentine’s Day Rom-Coms

BY SOPHIE SHI

With the approach of Valentine’s Day comes a great excuse to indulge in some romantic comedy movies. Whether they’re watched with friends, family, or alone, the suggested movies listed below offer lots of laughter and lively entertainment to all this Valentine’s Day season.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999) A modern take on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, this teen comedy stars Julia Stiles as stubborn Kat Stratford and the late Heath Ledger as “bad boy” Patrick Verona.

Other members of the cast include Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the lovestruck Cameron James and Larisa Oleynik as Kat’s younger sister, Bianca Stratford.

Set in Padua High School, the movie focuses on Patrick’s attempts to seduce Kat in a greater plot to allow Cameron an opportunity to take out Bianca. Full of witty banter and public declarations of love (featuring a rendition of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”), 10 Things I Hate About You is an endearing representation of high-school power dynamics and teenage romance.

How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days (2003) Starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey as Andie Anderson and Benjamin Berry respectively, this 2003 classic follows two individuals aspiring to get ahead in their jobs and the resulting bets they each make. While one is determined to lose a relationship within a ten day span, the other is determined to do the exact opposite. Of course, when they meet and are unaware of the others’ plans, a series of comedic events ensues as they both do their best to achieve their own goals. A fun embodiment of the “all’s fair in love and war” trope, this movie is full of iconic scenes, such as the unforgettable love fern argument and Hudson’s silk yellow dress moment, that is sure to keep you entertained.

The

Proposal

(2009)

This rom-com follows overbearing and bossy book editor Margaret Tate, played by Sandra Bullock, and her assistant Andrew Paxton, played by Ryan Reynolds, as they take on the roles of one another’s fiancee in order to secure Margaret a green card.

While the film includes well-known

tropes, including enemies-to-lovers and fake-engagement, it executes them without being over cliché and is full of laugh-out-loud moments that ease the general flow of the movie.

Besides the fiery chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds, you should consider watching The Proposal for beloved actress Betty White’s humorous portrayal of Grandma Annie.

500

Days

of

Summer

(2009)

If you’re looking for some controversy to spice up your Valentine’s Day, look no further. Unlike most others on the list, 500 Days of Summer is less of a light-hearted rom-com and more of a “relatable” story about being unlucky in love. Joseph Gordon-Levitt takes on the role of hopeless (and slightly delusional) romantic Tom Hansen and Zooey Deschanel plays noncommittal Summer. Told in a nonlinear narrative fashion, the movie depicts the various stages of Tom and Summer’s relationship, starting from when they first meet at a card company. It also portrays the various pitfalls of unhealthy dating habits. After watching with friends or a significant other, feel free to engage in a lively debate over which of

characters was more in the wrong.

Anyone

But

You

(2023)

More recently released and still in theaters, Anyone But You stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as lovers-turned-enemies-turned-lovers (again). Based loosely on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Sweeney portrays Bea, a Boston University law student, while Powell portrays Ben, a Goldman Sachs (finance bro) employee. The two must force themselves to play nice during the wedding preparations for Bea’s sister, Halle, and Ben’s close friend, Caludia. Sweeney and Powell’s obvious chemistry (which they have clarified to be purely acting despite the speculations and rumors on social media), in addition to the numerous renditions of Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten, add to the value of the movie and make it a fun rom-com to watch.

PHOTO CREDIT: SOPHIE SHI

The Return of 2014, 10 Years Later

BY TEGAN INNS

If you are interested in fashion, you may be familiar with the idea of the ten-year trend cycle. However, it is essential to know that these trends return to other forms of expression, such as film, art, music, and culture. Although many 2014 trends have been seen returning, many people are beginning to be against these microtrends after seeing how they affect the environment.

Pop culture has expressed excitement in the 2014 trends reappearing; many people have been using filters on many forms of social media referencing the 2014 feel to it. The eagerness can be found in the comments section on Kylie Jenner’s new TikTok video, where her hair appears light pink and short, in a side part accompanied by the caption “heard its 2014 vibes this year.” The comments all reference King Kylie, Jenner’s username in 2014, due to her pink hair that copies her classic look during her King Kylie era. The new TikTok influenced many in the direction of following reverbed 2014 trends.

2014 was also a massive year for dystopian films, producing The Mazerunner, Divergent, and The Hunger Games Mockingjay- Part 1. At the end of 2023, a hit movie, The Hunger Games: Ballad of the Songbirds & Snakes, this movie caused nostalgia for many due to the original series being released almost ten years ago.

A popular and controversial film that found the spotlight in December 2023

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was Saltburn. Saltburn received lots of backlash due to many questionable scenes, but one thing that everyone could agree on was the soundtrack.

The movie featured many songs that could fall under house music.

House/dance music first grew popular in the 80s, but in 2014, it faced a growth in listeners. The raging love

“They are in hair, jewelry, shirts, belts, and bags; anywhere there can be a bow, there will be one”

for Pop and Hip Hop in 2014 led many fans to broaden their search, and several landed on house music. Many predictions have been made that 2024 will be the year of house music, and I have already been growing my playlist. Also, 2023, leading into 2024, was a monumental time for Taylor Swift; her tour sold out in every city. People were traveling to different continents to see her perform. In 2014, Taylor Swift began to experience extreme fame with her hit song

“Shake It Off,” which played on every radio station and hit No. 1 on iTunes billboard. Many fans on TikTok have begun reminiscing about the 1989 album released in 2014.

Fashion has also shown the most references to 2014 culture. The bob cut was the haircut of 2014; many runway models and celebrities chopped their hair off into bobs. At the end of 2023, you may have seen Hailey Bieber with her new haircut, influencing many to cut their hair into bobs. Due to the loss of big hair, it was made up for in the jewelry industry. The earrings on everyone’s wishlist this year were the Bottega Venta earrings, large chunky earrings in the shape of raindrops. This can relate to the infamous chunky owl necklaces from 2014. We can also repeatedly see one thing and still be in love: the bows. Bows have taken over the fashion industry. They are in hair, jewelry, shirts, belts, and bags; anywhere there can be a bow, there will be one. This bow era is a copy of the mustache era of 2014. Like the bows, mustaches were everywhere; a day would not go by without seeing one. Finally, 2014 fashion trends coming back can be seen on the runway for many large-name brands at Men’s Paris Fashion Week in January. Many brands focused on more business attire and adding unique takes, which was also the most prominent trend in 2014’s Men’s Paris Fashion Week.

The trends seen on the big screen, on the catwalk, and in the media all show elements of 2014. The movies that focused on dystopian categories and movies reintroducing music. Saltburn worked the same way for house music as La La Land did for jazz.

Most prominently, 2014 copies can be seen walking down the runway at some of the most recent fashion shows.

“2014 copies can be seen walking down the runway at some of the most recent fashion shows.”

PHOTO CREDIT: AISLEY INNS

2024 Celebrity Relationship Predictions

BY AVA AND LILAH DANIELS

Celebrity couples have always been a weird source of fascination for fans or just casual viewers of gossip and headlines. With the endless drama to follow, this gossip provides people with an escape from their everyday lives. The celebrity relationship is built on casual situationships and over-the-top weddings that lead to a divorce 72 days later. While some of the couples (actually, let’s be real… a LOT of the couples) end up breaking up with the same generic headline: “Their romance just ‘fizzled out,’ but their split was amicable and they are going to remain friends forever” some actually make it to the aisle before they part ways. Here are our top predictions for the most talked about celebrity couples of 2023 to early 2024: 1. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: With these two, it’s hard to know where things are going. With TMZ saying that their relationship will enter a “challenging phase,” to People Magazine protesting that they will get engaged soon (yeah, right).

It’s almost impossible to predict.

However, while we believe they aren’t so desperate to get married that they are jumping in a car and heading to Vegas, based on their values and behavior in public, marriage could certainly be a possibility. Swift’s fans have also been saying that they think that Kelce is “the one,” so maybe an engagement will come later down the line. After all, they’ve already met each other’s families and have shown up for each other’s events multiple times, which is an essential milestone in normal relationships. Emphasis on normal, since celebrities often do not have such luxuries. Recently, she has appeared at every playoff game to support Kelce, so we don’t think a breakup is coming anytime soon.

“it’s a match made in homewrecker heaven!”

2. Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater: it’s a match made in homewrecker heaven! When you consider Ariana’s romantic history, there is no way that this will last. They’ll probably get engaged or married before Ariana gets bored and pulls the plug on this nightmare. Once she realizes he doesn’t look nearly enough like her brother, it’ll be hard for her to commit to him. Right now, the couple seems to be in that rebellious teenager phase where their parents don’t approve of their relationship so they double down. According to People Magazine, they have “a normal relationship” that involves seeing how many times they can break his ex-wife Lilly Jay’s heart before she spontaneously combusts.

Maybe we’re just clueless, but this relationship seems like Ariana was doing a real life rendition of “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored,” and she’ll probably do it again in a few months.

3. Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet: Alright, we’re going to be honest, we all know they’ll break up.

It’s just a matter of when. One of us (Lilah) thinks that they’ll either break up before they celebrate their anniversary or during their anniversary, specifically when they realize they have seemingly nothing in common.

The other (Ava) believes the contrary, that the couple will celebrate at least one anniversary before they break up.

Obviously, it’s difficult to predict, so we set up a friendly wager on who’ll be right. These two are so doomed, it’s not even funny (actually, it’s REALLY funny). Their obvious PR relationship is clearly just a way to get Kylie’s name in the news, just like in her “King Kylie” era. Meanwhile, Timothee is only in the relationship to promote his new movies, Wonka and Dune: Part Two. Seeing that Wonka has already been released and had success and Dune: Part Two will be available in theaters in less than a month, their relationship is likely reaching its end. They are a strange couple and their interactions are so forced that you can tell Kris Jenner has threatened a LOT of people to keep them going.

“This is obviously a PR stunt, right?”

4. Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper: This is obviously a PR stunt, right? These two have no romantic chemistry at all! Their relationship seems so forced that in chemistry, they could be referred to as insoluble and soluble substances. First of all, Gigi is 28 years old, and Bradley is 49! That is an age gap of 21 years! What do they even have in common?! He was a grown adult when she was born! It feels like their PR teams were on too much caffeine and decided, “Hey, you know what would be cool? If we forced Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid to pretend that they are hanging out!”

They’ll last a year, at most. There is no way they’ll be able to stay together because of the Grand-Canyon-sized difference between them. Their PR teams need to touch grass and realize that no one is falling for this circus.

5. Jeremy Allen White and Rosalía: This is the rebound of the century. The fact that these two passionately kissed on the street and looked… fine.

This couple seems to have their love of smoke breaks in common (like seriously, they’ve done that a lot). With this pairing, it seems like right now they are really in their early stages, and while it’s hard to tell where they’ll end up, we predict that they’ll fizzle out after a while. They both got out of serious relationships, so it screams rebound, so loud that you can hear it all the way in Greenland. They seem to be kissing (and smoking) a lot, but other than that there appears to be a lackluster amount of emotional connection there, which is a telling sign that they will be done in a few months. They haven’t really been doing anything else besides

making out on smoke breaks. Hopefully, they’re enjoying their time together and relishing in their life pre-lung cancer.

6. Dua Lipa and Callum Turner: This is a cute pairing! I mean, they look great together and seem really happy and in love already (take notes Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper’s PR teams; one day, you’ll have a winner on your hands). The fact that they’ve been caught showing love to each other seemingly without calling the paparazzi on themselves speaks volumes. TMZ, the champions of people with no-life syndrome, caught this couple dancing through the door. That was incredibly invasive, but at least they looked happy. Based on their behavior, they will probably continue to casually date for a while, but then find their footing and become more serious. They don’t seem like they are burning out any time soon, though, and we hope they don’t (for once).

7. Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco: Selena confirmed this relationship with a bang by posting a series of unhinged comments towards fans that probably made her PR team reach for the aspirin. She seems to be happy with him though! They seem close and serious about each other. They quietly dated for six months before confirming their relationship. Selena literally said that he has treated her better than any of her other exes ever did. If they got married, I don’t think anyone but Justin Bieber, her ex-boyfriend, would be surprised.

This is another relationship that definitely seems like it’s going somewhere.

8. Tom Holland and Zendaya: This one is… personal. Tom Holland and Zendaya have been dating forever. They seem so happy, but let’s face it. These two are never getting engaged. Like ever. There have been endless rumors and speculations, but they were never true. They are just too career-oriented for traditional milestones (which is okay, by the way) and will probably date forever, tormenting their fans about an engagement that will never come to pass. It is a shipping nightmare though, because they are one of the few couples that help people believe in love. We’ve learned to stop hoping for an engagement and just be as happy as we can for them.

9. Tom Brady and Irina Shayk: HAHAHAHAHAHA! This is never gonna last in a million years. It has a snowball’s chance in the Sahara during climate change. There is a higher chance that Abraham Lincoln will come back to life and go on a ride on a bucking bronco at Phil’s BBQ than them staying together. Like seriously, it is more interesting to watch that one guy on TikTok who can’t sing right.

He got a divorce because Tommy Boy couldn’t put down his little football.

He thinks that he is going to die married to Irina Shayk of all people? SIT DOWN AND GET A PIN TO POP YOUR MASSIVE HOT AIR BALLOON SIZED EGO! He will leech the life out of Irina like a killer mosquito.

He will Dementor’s Kiss her life and soul. She is the literal definition of trading a Rolex (Cristiano Ronaldo) for a pile of dust. Anyway, they won’t last.

PHOTO CREDITS: ALLEN BERESOVSKY/GETTY IMAGES,CHRISOTOPHER POLK/GETTY IMAGES

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Survivor Shifts

BY LAKE MALLERY

If you’re any sort of a Survivor fan, I’m sure you’re aware of the many changes that have occurred since the social experiment started in 2000. As the game grew from an unorganized, 75-person crew into a multimillion-dollar franchise with almost 400 crew members and players who have studied game strategy since they were eight years old, things are expected to change. So what are fans most upset about? What are the good changes? What can viewers expect for this upcoming season?

The most noticeable change that fans bring up is the filming location. Before season 33, the Survivor set moved across the globe from season to season, ranging from China to Kenya to the Philippines. These differing locations allowed the setting to play a role in the TV show, affecting the players’ mood, diet, and activities as unpredictable obstacles often arose .

“So what are fans most upset about?

What are the good changes?”

Ever since they struck a deal with the country of Fiji, Survivor has made fans watch the same background repeatedly, and it quickly gets old.

There are now no unknown storms, wild animals, or cultural challenges to influence the castaways’ experience, making it too predictable

.

The other big upset for fans is the length of each season. PostCovid Survivor has taken a 39-day game and shortened it to only 26 days, turning a survival experience into a tropical vacation. Survivor started as a game that was part social and part survival, but now, missing a full 13 days, the survival of it all isn’t a significant factor anymore, which, in theory, could make more drama-filled days, but, in reality, it only upsets fans that “newschool” survivors have it too easy.

any of their favorite survivors return This brings us back to another disputed change: there aren’t more themed seasons—no more Blood vs. Water, Brain vs. Brawn vs. Beauty, Favorites vs. Fans. For the past few seasons, Survivor has stuck solely to three starting tribes, all new characters, and no differences from season to season. Still, although things aren't looking too hopeful for Survivor watchers, fans remain optimistic for an entertaining season.

“What can viewers expect for this upcoming season?”

With the 46th season of Survivor airing later this month, here are some changes that viewers can expect.

Production has taken a new approach to advertisement this season, and they now release successful audition tapes for fans to watch in anticipation of the upcoming season. This controversial new promotion method is a way for Survivor to show viewers more background on the players they’ll spend the next 13 weeks watching, something that the show originally started with but quickly cut out to save time for the social drama. Unfortunately, in these tapes, fans can assume the type of season that’s coming up. With only new faces shown so far, fans are again disappointed with no hope of seeing

PHoto credit: canva

What is CCA Watching?

“Suits, or Top Boy. Top Boy is probably my favorite, Suits gets too repetitive.”

Jacob Lee, 12

Grey’s Anatomy. It’s very dramatic.

Elizabeth Driscoll, 12

“Suits. It’s really entertaining and has really good cliff-hangers.

Geva Holin, 9

art credit: quinn satterlund

Mean Girls: 20 Years Later

BY HANAKA OYAMA

Dramatic entrances paved with stilettos, iconic pink plaid skirts, and the most quotable phrases since Fight Club (1999): that’s just a glimpse of what the 2004 instant cult classic Mean Girls brings to the table. There’s a special quality and nostalgic bite that only comes with a lucky few - and Mean Girls is certainly on that list. Hailed for its brilliantly satirical comedy and its undoubtedly outstanding 2000s flair, Mean Girls is often celebrated as the crowning teen movie within pop culture; the film, which was (fun fact) loosely based off a parenting book, has since been recaptured in a hit Broadway musical and was also made into a sequel. But, even with all of the film’s popularity, the announcement of a remake (of the same name) 20 years after the release of the original still came as a surprise to many fans. Some devoted viewers waited restlessly to see their favorites grace the screen again in new forms and others harshly critiqued the choice for a remake – why take the risk of ruining an already beloved film? Would the 2000s charm at the core of Mean Girls be entirely desecrated? Nevertheless, the cast and crew persisted, and, earlier in the year, Mean Girls (2024) was born.

We all know the drill – Cady Heron moves to an all-American high school from her hometown in a vaguely specified place in Africa, befriendss

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the two art kids and social outcasts, Janis and Damian, and eventually falls into the clutches of the Plastics, led by the evil Regina George and so on – or do we? There’s a key piece of information (besides, of course, that the film starts off by actually detailing that Cady is from a certain part of Africa – Kenya) that hilariously failed to reach the majority of its target audience before viewing. The movie is not, in fact, a play-by-play remake of the original, but a twist on the version as seen in the Broadway musical. And even so, with all of its present-day references and major changes in the lines, Mean Girls (2024) manages to be something completely new.

However, new doesn’t always mean better - Cady’s internal monologue, which was an essential part of understanding her thoughts and feelings, has disappeared altogether in this version, entirely relying on Angourie Rice’s acting and vocals to bring her character to life. I also particularly disliked the scenes with the inclusion of the jarring TikTok-esque aspect ratio that is widely hated by cinema lovers; which is to say, that the film suddenly switches from its normal format to replicate a vertical phone screen. It’s a futile effort to be “relatable” to today’s teens and display “cancel culture,” watering down the satirical fun at the heart of Mean Girls.

However, it would be unfair to discredit the movie entirely by comparing it to something it’s not; it’s admittedly fun to watch and we do get many exemplary performances from the new cast, including solo vocals from Auli’i Cravalho (who notably plays Moana in Moana) as Janis, a hilarious delivery from Jaquel Spivey as Damian, and breakout star Avantika Vanadapu, who does a great job playing dumb as Karen. And, of course, we’ve got several reprised roles and cameos from the original cast, including Tina Fey (who seems to not have aged much, if at all, in the past 20 years), Tim Meadows, Lindsay Lohan, and Daniel Franzese, as well as amusingly accurate casting choices (appearance-wise) between Cady and her mother (Jenna Fischer), and Regina and her mother (Busy Phillips). Christopher Briney plays Aaron Samuels, but both he and Cady’s performances (although both generally okay) ultimately pale in comparison to the arguable lead herself.

If we have two things to thank this new generation of Mean Girls for, it’s the less problematic humor (even though it did cost the film some classic lines) and, most triumphantly, the casting and near-perfect performance of Reneé Rapp as the effortless, alluringly cruel Regina George. Rapp steals the show with both her voice and acting expertise immediately upon

her (extremely dramatic) entrance that embodies Regina’s intoxicatingly bold presence. Even critical viewers reluctantly agree that Rapp’s performance was especially magnificent among the cast, successfully bringing a fresh face to a much-loved (and feared) character.

Whichever version you choose to watch, Mean Girls doesn’t exist to break up cliques in the real world, or to convince you to become friends with every person you know– because that’s arguably more unrealistic than the four most popular girls in high school bursting into song every five minutes. Through its unrealistic comedy and drama, Mean Girls aims to cause us to recognize the superficial faults in others, and, most of all, ourselves. It pushes us to realize that many of us have done things that are not-so-superior than the Plastics – and to realize the potential we all have in growing up to rise above it all.

PHOTO CREDIT: HANAKA OYAMA

Sports Sport Superstitions and Their Effects on Athletes

BY Emi matsuda

Athletes have long held fascinating beliefs about sports superstitions, linking their achievements to a variety of practices and rituals. When we explore the field of sports psychology, we find that the human brain is crucial in creating and maintaining these myths.

Here, we will dive into the psychological foundations of sports superstitions, exposing the thought processes that drive athletes to embrace these peculiar customs. We will explore the intriguing game-day routines of professional and CCA athletes, and the role these customs and routines have played in achieving their greatest accomplishments.

Understanding the complicated workings of the human brain is necessary to comprehend the psychology underlying sports superstitions. According to members.believeperform.com, these superstitious rituals, customs, and routines are the result of a variety of factors going on in an athletes’ psyche, including cognitive biases, pattern recognition, and a desire for control. Because the brain finds comfort in routine and will find connections between seemingly unconnected occurrences, the brain can begin to believe that following particular rules, patterns, or habits may affect a game’s turnout. Sports psychologists stress how these customs help players

feel in control and confident, which can affect how well they perform on the field or court.

Many famous athletes from a variety of sports have come to be associated with particular superstitions or traditions related to game day. One of the all-time great basketball players, Michael Jordan, was known to wear his UNC shorts under his Chicago Bulls suit for good luck. Wade Boggs, a legendary baseball player, was well-known for his custom of eating chicken before each game. These examples reveal the wide variety of superstitions and rituals that athletes follow, demonstrating the significant influence these practices can have on their performance and mental health.

Photo Credits: Dawn Giangiulio

Some of our very own student athletes at CCA have revealed that, they too, have lucky gameday practices. Claudia Summers (12), captain of the girl’s field hockey team and a commit to Wellesley College,

“I drink Celsius because I’m convinced it makes me play better.”

Meanwhile, Xavio Fenix (12), captain of the boy’s wrestling and lacrosse teams has a special warm-up routine before every wrestling match. Fenix credits a portion of his progress in wrestling to his new pre-match ritual– circling the mat, one to two box jumps, and slapping his knees.

Sports superstitions are changing as psychology and sports science continue to progress. In order to improve performance, modern athletes are becoming more receptive to bringing evidence-based practices into their regimens, combining time-honored customs with verified scientific techniques. Intriguing problems

concerning striking a balance between psychological comfort and achieving the goal of peak athletic performance are brought up in the connection of superstition and sports science.

Sports superstitions provide a fascinating window into the intricate relationship between mental health and performance. Superstitions are clearly included in sports culture as we investigate the psychology of these customs and look at the game-day habits of well-known athletes. Whether it’s a pre-game ritual, a lucky charm, or a particular meal, these customs are vital in forming players’ mindsets and impacting their performance on the field/court.

Photo Credits: Andrew Shyffer

The Super Bowl Predicted by Students

By MADDIE TRESSE

The NFC and AFC Championship Games occurred on Jan. 28. where fans watched the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Detroit Lions 34-31. 115 million fans watched the Chiefs and 49ers face off in the 58th Super Bowl on Feb. 11. Both teams have already won the Super Bowl in the past, with the Chiefs totaling three wins and the 49ers totaling five.

These two teams have put in countless hours of effort and motivation into competitive close-ending games in order to make it this far. Canyon Crest Academy students make their best bets on who will bring home the 2024 Super Bowl Championship title.

Brock Purdy was chosen in the last round of the 2022 draft and quickly became a fan favorite, as well as the official starting quarterback for the 49ers.

According to Capriana Giangiulio

(12), the winners of the Super Bowl will be the “49ers because Purdy is very talented and committed to his craft.” However, other CCA students, including Ruthie Ervin (11), disagree and think the winners will be “[the] Chiefs because they have more experience and Purdy won’t do well under pressure.” Purdy has led another successful season for the 49ers, but he is controversial among students on whether he has what it takes to help secure the win for his team.

On the topic of quarterbacks, the Chiefs’ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, was the league leader in both passing yards and passing touchdowns, contributing to him being titled the ‘Most Valuable Player’ in 2023. Christian Sliva (12) believes that, with Mahomes, the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl. Iliana Porras (12) shares a similar opinion as she claims him to be “the best quarterback in the league.”

Emily Wang (12) is rooting for the Chiefs, as “I’ve watched a lot of their games, and I’d love to see them be back-to-back champions.”

The Chiefs secured the title in 2023 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chiefs fans are excited to see them back in championships, but others

are annoyed with seeing the same teams make it year after year.

Some students, or Swifties,

“I’d rather see all of the Taylor Swift cult happy than see the Niners get another Super Bowl title” are influenced to root for the Chiefs, with Travis Kelce being Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. With the new relationship, many T-Swift fans have quickly turned into Chiefs fans. Hailey Church (10) passionately states, “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce would be the most iconic power couple if she is on the biggest music tour ever and he wins the Super Bowl at the same time.”

Swift’s support has drawn additional attention towards the Chiefs, and the media is increasingly using her presence to gain more viewers.

Some Chiefs fans claim her to be a “distraction,” while others view her as

a good luck charm.Shea Salel (10), a 49er fan, claims, “Taylor Swift will be in Japan on tour, so they won’t have her support.” Nate Neustadt (12) says, “I’d rather see all of the Taylor Swift cult happy than see the Niners get another Super Bowl title.”

There is talk about how the referees are favoring the Chiefs, specifically during the AFC game against the Baltimore Ravens. Fans are especially concerned about Bill Vinovich, who is covering the championship. Students say this favoritism will have a huge impact on the outcome, persuading them to place their bets on the Chiefs.

Aside from the very few students who are informed about the Super Bowl, most kids are blankly unaware of its airing. Many students do not follow football or the teams that are participating, forming their opinions based on other factors. Karya Nergis (12) states, “I am going to say the 49ers because I like their team’s colors,” and Matthew Nycolat (12) claims, “49ers because I like San Francisco.”

Die-hard football fans, Taylor Swift followers, and everything in between guessed whether the Chiefs or 49ers would win the 58th Super Bowl.

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The Life of a Student Athlete

BY Kendall yee

Photo Credits: SD Surf photography Wake up, eat, study, train, sleep, repeat. Wake up, eat, study, train, sleep, repeat. Wake up, eat, study, train, sleep, repeat. This is the life of a 17-year-old student athlete.

I’m sure you’ve heard of celebrities like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Stephen Curry. They are the best of the best, at the highest level of their craft, and have consequently attracted large fan bases both to themselves and their sports due to their skills. And trust me, although it can seem like natural talent and genetics influence the abilities of these athletes, their grit and determination to be “number one” is what has shaped them to be who they are today.

Sofia Young (12) are both high school seniors ready to take their next step.

These athletes have both been play-

six and Young at seven. Both Dysart and Young started –and still continue to this day– at Surf Soccer Club in San Diego, as it is one of the highest ranked clubs in the nation, sitting at number two, according to Top Drawer Soccer.

The schedule in order to both balance school and prioritize the future is a hard routine to keep. As CCA and TPHS both offer AP classes, extracurriculars, and highly competitive levels of education, their plates are already near full when it comes to managing time and training. Dysart explains that she maintains balance between school and soccer by “making weekly schedules of when [she has] training and practice as well as when [she needs] to get [her] homework done and possibly study for up-

breaks in my schedule,” Young stated.

“I made sure to communicate with my teachers”. By planning around her schoolwork, it helped Young keep track of the urgent work which needed to be done, and encouraged her to take time to complete schoolwork in advance if she was aware of an upcoming deadline or absence.

Both Dysart and Young are excited to take their next step as they will travel into a new experience of rigorous schooling and athletics. Dysart is “really excited to get on campus and get to know [her] teammates better…and train with high level soccer players as well as great coaches who will push [her] to get better every practice.”

Student athletes have enormous amounts of pressures and work-

I know it can be hard to imagine the preparation that goes into playing collegiately, but let Credits: SD Surf photography loads, yet they find a way to balance it me tell you– it’s Photo coming tests” she says. Her secret to in order to keep pursuing their pasmaintaining this lifestyle is genuinely and play the sport(s) they love.

The schedule years of unin- enjoying both school and sports such sions It is important to remember the that balance between the two comes responsibilities associated with both in order to both fringed devotion naturally. education and sports. In fact, a big Now how does one start the part of maintaining a stable, healthy committing process and advertise since seconds after their first balance school ing lifestyle is by prioritizing what matthemselves to other schools? Well, it is steps, where they attended countless ters most and staying organized with important to communicate with coachshowcases, tournaments, games, and and prioritize the practices, in order to develop their es, sell yourself, and visit possible schoolwork and training times. schools. “I scheduled visits when I had show up for their team. future is a hard play andDysart is currently attending Crest Academy (CCA), where routine to keep Canyon What advice would you give to she plans to pursue her academic and athletic careers at Duke University When looking at professionfor women’s soccer in 2024. Similarother student athletes? al athletes like Woods, Jordan, and Curry, let’s not forget how they got there. Each of these players all played their sport at the collegiate level, giving them a chance to highlight their

ly, Young is preparing to spread her wings from Torrey Pines High School (TPHS), and will be competing in women’s soccer this coming fall in Connecticut.

“I would say don’t procrastinate. Time management is super important and it’s always better to get work done before games/practices.”

- Aidan Weinberger (11)

Photo Credits: Jeffrey f lin skills before going professional. Even before that, they each played in highschool– and some even in elementary school– where they constantly trained and pushed themselves to become a future generational talent.

Caroline Dysart (12) and

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So how did they get here? I know it can be hard to imagine the preparation that goes into playing collegiately, but let me tell you– it’s years of uninfringed devotion. Both girls have been sleeping with the soccer ball since the ages of five and six, with Dysart moving to the club level at age

Photo credits: Kaitlynn rasquinhA

Photo credits: ASHLEY HAYASE

“Channel you stress into your sport. Use practice and games as an outlet for whatever emotions you are feeling. Treat your sport as your therapy!”

- Thrisha Boopathi (11)