The Falcon’s Quil Blach Junior High
Student Newspaper
Volume 2 Issue 1
Feature page 14: The LGBT+ Community
Challenge day: what’s it about? Audrey Zhang
Blach recently hosted our first-ever Challenge Day on Jan. 14, which gave students the opportunity to open up about the underlying issues in their lives. The Challenge Day Organization aims to change the world school by school, by providing an emotional and physical experience where everybody can work together towards building a safer community. This event seeks to encourage students to mend burnt bridges, strengthen their social awareness skills, and promote inclusivity. But most importantly, it assured students that they can be themselves and shouldn’t feel pressured to fit a persona others expect them to be. As an attempt to encourage whole-school inclusivity, many thought it was hypocritical that only a 20 percent of the Blach students were invited. This left the majority of the school confused about the purpose of the enigmatic activity. Mrs. Narula justified why the event was so private with two specific reasons. The first was
Rohan Shankar The project Cornerstone program is a Silicon Valley Initiative that is dedicated to helping kids and adults toward academic and social success. It is present in almost 250 schools in Silicon Valley including Blach. Just a few weeks ago, Blach was awarded the title of Caring Middle School by Project Cornerstone. This
Challenge Day, p. 2
that it was the first Challenge Day in Blach history, so the school wanted to see what the experience was like before making it a schoolwide activity. Due to its expensive cost, Blach only had the funds to invite 100 students and 20 adult facilitators for one day. The pricing for one day is around $3,575, in addition to the travel expenses of the two program facilitators leading the event. Although it is pricey, Mrs. Narula mentioned that next year, she would like to ultimately make Challenge Day an event that involves the entire school. Currently, she is trying to secure funding with the PTA. Although it appears that all invitees were positively affected, the principal question still remains: “Is Blach seeing the constructive effects the organization promised to bring?” A student present at the event professed, “I think there has been an impact, but I don’t think it’s as drastic as many might have initially presumed. However, it’s definitely still present and is growing slowly.” Mrs. Narula’s response to this crucial question is one we
is just one of seven categories designed to showcase the act of improving school environments. The achievement was given because of the strong bond between students, staff, and parents. Our nomination highlighted many activities at Blach that show this special connection. Some of these activities include the Holiday Craft Faire, where students design and
can all learn a critical lesson from. She remarked, “Change doesn’t happen overnight, and some things are easier said than done.” It’s often difficult for communities to reform as a whole because as humans, it’s natural to fall into negative habits society considers to be “normal.” She had also hoped that Challenge Day would encourage students to be a part of the “Be the Change Movement,” an international motion dedicated to spreading kindness. Nevertheless, it seems that its participants have concluded that Challenge day was truly a life changing experience. Although its effects are subtle, they are still changing the Falcon community for the better. It has been confirmed that the PTA is trying to secure funding for next year’s well anticipated, whole-school Challenge Day. The invitees clearly felt comfortable in the hands of these experienced professionals, and it is clear that the many students are looking forward their return.
The sign that welcomes students to Challenge Day
The instructors, introducing themselves to the students
Project cornerstone
market their own creations. Another school-bonding event was Challenge Day, a one day program where students create bonds and build communities. One more Blach activity is The Lounge, a calm space to hang out and eat lunch. Students that spend time in the Lounge stated: “I like the chill atmosphere” and “There are so many fun things to do.”
Cornerstone says that it will continue to foster a compassionate and inclusive community that is dedicated to making everyone feel valued, respected, and known. So what exactly is Project Cornerstone? In short, it is a YMCA initiative based almost entirely on the results of numerous surveys.
This research involved two million people across the US and identified a group of assets that help kids and adults thrive. Some of these assets include Personal Power, Caring, and Self Esteem. All these tools help kids to have less ‘at risk’ behavior, which can include drugs and possibly suicide. Project Cornerstone is practiced
differently in elementary and middle schools, and depends heavily on the size of the school. However, the mission remains the same: “To change our schools and communities into environments where all youth develop essential skills for social and academic success.” Blach students at Challenge Day share a get-together moment
In this issue... p 2011
Falcon Cafe, p. 5
Anticipated movies of 2019, p.6
The World Record Egg, p.8
2 BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL
editorial |
Editor-in-Chief Audrey Z Katie T Layout and Design
Elizabeth C Toki M Lindsay M
Blog Editors
Henry G Kiana Z
Copy Editors
Kiana Z Lindsey P Chloe C Lucas B
Challenge day: two perspectives
Photo by Bhavna Narula
An instructor shares the emotional stories from his childhood.
Staff Writers
Freyja A Atli A Lucas B Wyatt B Kabir C Matthew D Tyler H Manu N Ori S Rohan S Diego V
Teacher Trisha MacKenzie
-Disclaimer“The Falcon’s Quill” is a forum where Blach students can exercie their right to express their opinions. “The Falcon’s Quill” reserves the right to decide what we publish. 2. We reserve the right to edit any material with regard to length or content, or that we deem inappropriate or offensive. 3. We will strive to report news accurately and objectively, clearly distinguishing between fact and opinion. 4. We vow to cover stories without discrimination toward any group.
Audrey Zhang and Katie Tsang
Since Challenge Day was an exclusive event at Blach, many students who didn’t attend have wondered what the experience was like, and why it left their fellow classmates in tears. The day-long event was surprisingly emotional for the majority of the students, teachers, and adult facilitators present. It consisted of many powerful activities meant to help students open up about their problems, and hear the struggles of others going through similar issues. The instructors started by establishing a positive and safe environment that the students could be themselves in. They shared important moments in their own lives and some of the hardships they had been through in their youth in order to bring down their “water lines.” An important metaphor they made during the event was how every person is like their own iceberg. If an iceberg is floating in the middle of the ocean, a person is only expected to see about 10% of it. The rest of it remains under the water line, unseen and unknown. The focus of many of the games was how to bring down that water line, and let people see others for who they really are. Many students, especially in combination with social media and the internet, feel like they have to have a certain image and fit in a box that society feels they belong in. However, the day’s focus was truly about letting people know that they can be whoever they want to be and that no person is perfect. It is difficult for many people to cross over their personal boundary lines and share who they truly are. During another activity called Cross the Line, two lines of blue painter’s tape were laid on the floor. An instructor would say a theoretical experience someone might have gone through, and if it applied to a person, he or she would cross over
and stand on the other side. The situations varied from being a part of the LGBTQ community, to losing a loved family member. Other topics focused on situations when someone had ever felt pressured to
“
Challenge Day was un-
like anything the school had experienced before...
“
do something or act some way due to the gender they “fit” in. Not a single time was any one person alone on the other side of the line. The rest of the participants that had not crossed over would put their hands up in the sign language symbol for love. This was meant to show those who crossed that they are supported and part of the community, no matter the differences between them. Although Challenge Day was an extremely emotional experience for the participants, once the day started, the remainder of the school was confused as to what their classmates were doing. Soon enough, curiosity spread through the campus like an epidemic. At this point in time, no one had a clue on what Challenge Day was actually about. Several teachers and students knew the overarching idea of its purpose, but besides that, nobody seemed to know more than a sentence of information about it. Nobody knew about the selection process or the activities the others were doing. Most students didn’t seem to care and continued with their day, but there was no doubt that the empty desk spaces left a mild uneasiness in their midst. Needless to say, Challenge Day left gaps in the schedule. Teachers were required to teach easier topics that the students missing could easily catch up to, but most of the
class periods were filled with free time or a chance to do homework. The next day, the participants returned to school like no one had been missing the day before. That special quarter of the student body did have positive reviews on Challenge Day, but the main rumor that most people heard was that there was an excessive amount of crying. Not many talked about any of the activities they did, and it was almost like Challenge Day had never happened. It was another normal day, but it is important to keep in mind that change doesn’t happen immediately. There was lots of confusion on how the selection process worked. Mrs. Narula explained that the teachers were to nominate students that, “ are leaders...have potential to be leaders...are kind to each other” and “can be seen in their classrooms as being very positive influences.” After the teachers suggested students individually, “all the seventh grade teachers got together as a group, and all the eight grade teachers got together as a group...and from there on, their job was to narrow it down to 60 students for seventh grade and 40 students for eighth grade.” Over 120 seventh graders and 100 eighth graders were nominated originally, so this was a very difficult task. Many students believe that in the future, the event should be a school wide experience that is geared to kids that struggle greatly with their everyday lives instead of targeting students with strong leadership skills or that excel in classrooms. “If one wants to spread change, one must start with enlightening the community as a whole, not as a fourth,” a student expressed. Listening to the experiences of others is not the same as actually experiencing something first hand. Overall, the impact the event had on the school is subtle, but present. More students are seen helping each other around campus daily, and several school wide movements have begun that aim to help students in the same way the activity did, but this time for the entirety of the school. It is safe to say that Challenge Day was unlike anything the school had experienced before and is definitely worth investing in for future years to come. All there is left to do is to spread the actions of kindness one by one, and let the ripple encompass the school as a whole.
One of the banners hanging on the wall. Bhavna Narula
BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL 3
| opinons
Teen netflix dramas: a silent epidemic Elizabeth Carey In the U.S, a variety of TV shows and movies are easily accessible to the majority of people. Most families subscribe to a streaming service or cable TV, with the CNBC All-American Economic Survey of 2018 showing that 57 percent of the American public own some form of streaming service. With the number of viewers these services have, a demand for more media to consume comes, and at times, these services do in fact deliver some great content. Sadly, though, with the good must also come the not-so-good. Over the past few years, a surge of lazily written, objectively bad, TV shows and films have erupted within the confines of the platform that is Netflix. “Well, what is the criteria for a ‘bad’ show?” one may inquire. My opinions on media are generally based upon on how intriguing, original, and effective its plot is: is the plot attentiongrabbing? Does it possess originality?
Is the plot effective in conveying a message? A show on Netflix that I find has most, if not all, of these things going for it is the Duffer Brothers’ Stranger Things. The series is enthralling, to say the least; I find myself feeling something for the characters,unlike in the CW’s Riverdale. Where in Stranger Things you can find multi-faceted and relatable characters, Riverdale presents to us a gaggle of personified tropes that are so one dimensional that when you try and look at them sideway, they disappear entirely. Despite writers of the show’s attempts to appeal to the teenage youth, the characters simply lack any depth or humanity that make one sympathize with them. As for the plot, Riverdale has little to no originality and does not put forth a message that makes one think after they digest it. The sheer lack of effort put into the series’ writing is apparent in any observation one can make of the
show, though this lack of effort is more than likely due to how willing viewers have become to devour whatever is put before them with little forethought. It’s what is most convenient to us, after all. Instead of absorbing whatever is most convenient nearly all the time, consider some other options. Seek out something
you may like,and if that thing happens to be Riverdale, then such is life. But I do encourage whoever may stumble upon this article to find something to watch that you find is worth your time: find something that you want to watch and not what is most immediate upon your search.
Photo from The Verge The Riverdale cast
Why students should learn to code Atli Arnarsson
Recently, there has been evident advancements by schools and their educators to encourage students to learn how to code. These classes are extremely beneficial for students because programmers have some of the highest salaries and the majority of them tend to enjoy their occupations. For example, Glassdoor and a myriad of other similar surveys ranked Google as the eighth best company to work for. According to Sokanu’s Career Explorer, the average student with a high school diploma earns $30,500 a year, whereas the average programmer salary is $71,757. Like any spoken language, it is easier to become versed in programming and style sheet languages when one is exposed to it at a young age. Sadly, schools are not providing enough funds to educate students that might be interested in the computer science field. Luckily, companies like Google are
funding computer science education efforts in the United States. In addition to being one of the most profitable industries to work in, the computer field offers a diverse array of jobs, ranging from the career of a web developer to that of a data analyst. Both of these occupations have a median salary that is greater than double the average salary of a person with only a high school diploma. Countless schools have realized that teaching programming is not only advantageous for students, but is also well appreciated by parents. There are numerous languages for children to learn, such as C++ or Python. Another aspect of coding languages that makes them easier to understand is that unlike spoken language, it is easy to move concepts across different languages easily. Mastering the basics of any coding language is much easier than learning the basics of a spoken language. To have a proper conversation in a language
takes at least 480 hours to achieve basic fluency in many languages according to Steve Kaufmann. On the other hand, grasping of a language to write simple code in any coding language can take less than a a couple weeks. Coding is one of the fastest growing job markets in the word and is projected to continue expanding for years. “In the future, not knowing the language of computers will be as challenging as being illiterate or innumerate are today,” said Dan Crow in The Guardian. The website Code.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching children computer science claims that, “90% of parents want their children to learn computer science, yet only 35% of high schools teach computer
An example of some code
science.” They also claim that most of the job openings in STEM are in computer science, and that there are not enough programmers to fill that gap. In conclusion, Blach Intermediate School is fortunate enough to have a dedicated, part-time computer programming teacher. Most students enjoy the course and all of them learn enough to make them ready for high school programming courses. All of these points, high pay, enjoyable jobs, and plenty of job openings, show that computer science must be offered in schools to help ensure students’ success in life. Computer science in schools benefits everyone: students, schools and companies.
Photo by Atli Arnarsson
Noon study: does it work? Henry Gray
Noon study: most of us have been there. It’s a place that teachers send students to complete unfinished work. However, it isn’t very successful. One problem with the program is that it occurs during lunch. All students look forward to enjoying their free time during lunch. As such, they are discouraged when penalized with noon study. Since it’s at lunch, noon study is robbing students of the opportunity to have time to talk with friends. Lunch is a time in which students can get a break from the educational environment, but due to noon study, some don’t get the chance to. A 2016 study showed that student productivity
increased with break time. In this study, they tested students’ attention when there was a break period and when there was not. The students with the break period paid more attention in class. However, with noon study, students don’t get time for a break, which sacrifices classroom attention. The mind is most alert at the start and end of an activity, meaning that students may pay less attention during periods four, five, and six. Furthermore, most students make their friends during lunch. While in noon study, they cannot make friends, which can lead to a poor development of their social skills. If the goal of it is to convince students to do homework,
then it hasn’t really been serving its purpose. Giving the students a second chance to do their homework removes the punishment for not completing an assignment. This guilt is a prominent reason several students have worked to complete homework many times, but with noon study, they have a second option. The only penalty of going to noon study is your assignment getting marked late. In conclusion, Blach should get rid of its noon study program because it decreases student attention throughout the day, hurts social skills, and takes away from student’s free time. A noon study sheet.
Henry Grey
4
BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL
blach news |
FRIENDS FOR CHANGE Lindsey Park
Friends For Change is a club at Blach where students can gather and participate in an event together, hang out, or get to know new people. Anyone can be a part of the events by either participating in the game or just watching on the sidelines.
Friends For Change is a great way to socialize with others. It is an opportunity for people who are not as extroverted or as skilled at socializing to meet new people, make new friends and feel more included in this school.
One activity hosted by Friends For Change that happened recently was the schoolwide dodgeball game. In this event, about 120 people participated in the game itself while others either watched or just hung out with their friends.
It is also a great way for all students to participate in something together and have fun with each other.
One participant of the event was Livia Feller who explained her experience at Friends For Change. “I hung out with my friends and watched the game and had a fun time.”
Friends For Change helps with the inclusivity within the students at Blach.
“It was a really great experience and a great bonding experience,” described Anya Wieland and Stella Abodeely, participants of the event who played the actual dodgeball game.
Overall, the goal of Friends For Change is for everyone at Blach to be strongly connected and for all its students to feel included and a part of our school community.
Blach students are striving to make this school a closer community. They want to have everyone be a part of the “Falcon nest” and are hoping that all students will feel included at school. Friendship and bonding are very important characteristics of a close community. Blach is hoping to spread those characteristics and reach everyone through Friends For Change.
Lex Silver and Marcos Nunez eye their next targets.
BLACH BUDDIES Chloe Chan
Every Tuesday at lunch, any Blach student can join Ms. Castner’s class to chat and eat lunch or to meet on the blacktop to play basketball, volleyball, and other fun activities. Blach Buddies is a perfect way for everyone, no matter their differences, to connect and have a pleasant time during lunch. Elizabeth Castner, a special education teacher at Blach, strongly believes that “Blach Buddies is important because it brings groups of kids together and makes lunchtime a more inclusive place.” Having a comforting place to go at lunch is crucial for most students. Blach Buddies gives kids that opportunity.
“Many students with disabilities have less of an opportunity to get to know other students because they follow a routine, eat lunch slowly, and often self-segregate by sitting with kids they’re familiar with. Blach Buddies comes to them, so they can follow their routines but have more opportunities for social interaction.” Ms. Castner explains. Because of Blach Buddies, Ms. Castner’s class now has a way to hang out with other students easily and to make new friends. Blach Buddies not only makes these students feel included, but the Buddies feel good themselves because they’ve put a smile on someone else’s face.
Why not make someone smile? It makes you feel happier too. “My students get a lot of joy out of Blach Buddies.” Ms. Castner remarks. “The Buddies we have are so kind and respectful and are great about trying to get conversations going and getting them to go out and play basketball together. The kids truly gain a sense of community and feeling like they belong, as well as, of course, new friends.” Kindness is an important aspect of the Blach community. Students generally respect teachers and in return, teachers respect students. Respect and kindness are also important among students.
Being a Blach Buddy is only a small action, but it can really be a massive benefit for others. Feeling like you belong is an important desire among kids. Blach Buddies gives a place for students, no matter how different, to belong.
Jordan Licht (left) and Rodrigo Sepulveda (right) hang out during lunch at Blach Buddies. Gabe Selaya, Yunii Eames, Marcos Perez-Nunes, Zor Sahiwal, Annie Schwartz, and Laura Morey have lunch together.
BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL 5
| blach news
FALCON CAFE Freyja Arnarsdottir
You may have noticed students coming into classrooms in the mornings, and serving teachers coffee at Blach. This is the Falcon Cafe, a student-run coffee business that serves warm, delicious coffee twice a week. Ms. Castner and her class are in charge of making, selling, and serving the coffee. She had the idea just one year ago when she first
arrived Blach.“I decided to do the Falcon Cafe when I started here at Blach last year… I wanted my students to work more on vocational skills and life skills,” she explains. Mrs. Narula was flexible and approved the idea. The Falcon Cafe is a very efficient system. After an order is placed, a student will immediately begin making the coffee. First, they will brew the coffee and add half-and-half or sugar. Then they will stir the coffee until it is fully prepared. Now the coffee is ready to be served. A student will
deliver the coffee to the customer, and the job is finally done. One amazing thing about this system is that all of this takes place in only one room. Another incredible thing about the Falcon Cafe is that it is largely student-run. Teachers have also been persistently ordering coffee to support this thriving company. “...we have our regulars, which makes it feel like a real business,” adds Ms. Castner. The Falcon Cafe has been very beneficial to both Blach students and staff. “... making coffee, reading
orders, talking to teachers around campus, navigating the campus and getting to know your way around, money handling, really a whole game of skills,” lists Ms. Castner as she describes the many perks of the Falcon Cafe. This also teaches her students to adapt. For example, if the coffee maker is out of water, it needs to be refilled. Additionally, staff can get their morning coffee at their very own school! The Falcon Cafe has been all around amazing. For Ms. Castner’s class, it is one of
their favorite times of the week, and it is a great way for them to branch out and develop learning skills. Ms. Castner concludes,
“It’s been a great thing at Blach, and I hope that we’re able to keep it going for years and years”.
SURVEYING BLACH STUDENTS Kabir Chadhry
How much homework and studying combined do you do per weekend? How much homework and studying do you think you should be doing per weekend?
6 BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL
news feature |
The LGBTQ+ community: coming out as a middle schooler
“The beauty o
rights is others stand up as w
There are many different identities in the LGBTQ community Kiana Z., Ori L., Freyja A., Diego V For many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students, school isn’t always easy. A large number of them get constantly teased and ridiculed, and studies show that LGBTQ students are three times as likely to have suicidal thoughts which can lead to them taking their own lives. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that LGBTQ students feel they are in a safe and inclusive environment. Objectively, it is now significantly safer to come out in many schools than it was decades ago. However, the large majority of people who are a part of the LGBTQ community are still severely mistreated by classmates whether it is through verbal, online, or physical harassment. A prevalent issue in the Blach community is the intentional use of words like “gay” and “trans” as a joke. On one hand, many students claim to support the LGBTQ community, but on the other, the same students continue to use these words in a hurtful way with their
friend groups. About 73% of LGBTQ middle schoolers and high schoolers say that they are more honest about themselves with their online friends than with their real friends. They feel that they won’t be judged as harshly, and even if they are, they have the ability to block the person. It lets them express what they’re feeling without worrying about others’ opinions. According to data from the 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) students, 10% of them were once threatened or injured with a weapon on school property. 28% of the students have been bullied online, and 34% have been bullied on school property. 18% of LGB students had once in their life experienced physical dating violence, and another 18% of LGB students had been forced to have sexual intercourse at some point in their lives. Throughout the world, the LGBTQ community has to deal with a wide range of problems,
from discrimination to health rights. Many people have to go through these tough times with little to no support and are at a much larger risk of mental illnesses like anxiety, or depression. Therefore, it is imperative to make school a safe place for our friends in the LGBTQ community. At Blach, most people are more accepting of the LGBTQ community. However, at many other schools, it isn’t this way. Unlike most of the kids at Blach students, some students grew up in homophobic households, and they bring that negativity to their schools. Many LGBTQ students face verbal or physical harassment on a daily basis. One reason could be because other students may not be used to it, and were taught at home that it was wrong.
According to a couple of Blach LGBTQ students, most times, they don’t get treated differently at school for being part of the LGBTQ community. We are using code names to protect the students’ privacy. One of the students, “Boba,” stated, “Overall, I don’t feel like I am treated much differently for being a part of the LGBTQ community. I have friends who are in that group with me so I feel accepted at most times, but in other classes like PE, I don’t feel as accepted, because I feel like even though they don’t know about my sexual orientation, they will still treat me differently because they assume based off of my actions, like acting too feminine and the way I greet my friends.” These students were also asked about their coming out experience. Another transgender student, “Cielo,” explained that for her, the
hardest part of coming out was the decisions that she had to make. When asked if she had ever been treated differently while or after coming out, she replied, “I have, but not by [other] people. The decisions I have to make [make] me very stressed and shorttempered. I also get sad
easily. I wish that being transgender did not have as many decisions.” Both students mentioned that the support they need is for people to understand them. “Boba” talked about how helpful Challenge Day was for him: “...the adults at Challenge Day helped me and talked to me, and it made things 10 times better. I feel like we need something like Challenge Day for everyone, so they can understand what many people go through, and maybe just change how they think of us.” The topic of gender and sexual orientation can be a difficult topic to talk about in front of people. The Journalism program interviewed two LGBTQ people who attend Blach,
but due to t wishes to preserve anon they have decided to ta names “Boba” and “C to keep their ide anonymous. Both Bob Cielo have come out couple of friends, hopin friends won’t think of differently. Cielo exp that when she ‘came she wore a ‘girly’ outfi explained to her friend she felt, and says she fe and supported. While Cielo feels people at Blach trea nicely, and do not care her change in gender, had a different opinio think that Blach is a of’ safe environment. definitely getting safer w
BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL 7
| news-feature
of standing up for your
“When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” -Barack Obama
s see you standing and well.” -Cassandra Duffy
their nymity, ake the Cielo” entities ba and t to a ng their f them plained e out,’ fit, and ds how elt safe
s that at her e about , Boba on: “I ‘kind . It is with
all of the activities we have been doing, such as Challenge Day, all of the other people on campus in the LGBTQ community. There are still a lot of gay insults going around, and it sometimes bothers me how they think that they are better than us, so they start making jokes about us, and it really makes me wonder if I should entirely come out.” During an interview, the school psychologist, Mrs. Walker explained, “I think society has made it much more acceptable for students to come out earlier.” It is evident that more students are coming out
as part of the LGBTQ community, yet this doesn’t necessarily mean that there are more LGBTQ students. This is a positive step forward to a future that is inclusive of any sexual orientation and gender identity. She also mentioned that “[she] [thinks] for students who are questioning their gender or their sexuality, knowing that they are in an environment where there are caring supporting adults, is really important, and that the school has a policy to support that.” It is very important for students to always have at least one trusted adult, who they can always talk to. Statistics show that a multiplicity of teens who commit suicide do so because of problems at home with parents, resulting in not saying anything.
In addition, some teens commit suicide or have suicidal thoughts because of bullying about sexual orientation and gender identity. Mrs. Walker also stated that “if students feel like they are being harassed, or teased, or bullied in some way, it’s important that they feel like the teachers and students will stand up for them.” Some bullies physically hurt people based on sexual orientation. People who become victims of this type of bullying-and bullying in general-- need to know that their teachers will stand up for them, they are less likely to have suicidal thoughts. We also asked our Principal, Ms. Narula, a few questions. She was asked what the potential struggles of coming out in middle school are. She answered, “High schools have a lot more clubs, like the Gays Straight Alliance Club or G.S.A.C for short, so potential struggle in middle school could be, that many times students have not come out to their families, come out to their friends, [and] they may be questioning themselves, so potential struggle could be internal struggle.” Ms. Narula also talked about bullying towards LGBTQ students, “I would say that Blach is a fairly safe environment for LGBTQ students, because we do focus on inclusion, we do talk about not stereotyping, we do even when we have conversations, and people have made some statements that are not appropriate.… at Blach that is
not acceptable because we do emphasize inclusion on campus with all students.” We asked our school principal how staff and friends can support LGBTQ students. She remarked that “...staff can create climates in their classroom that are inclusive, and staff can make sure that for example in English class, the kinds of books they are reading will also speak to LGBTQ experience… Friends can be social support, nonjudgmental support, … accept every student for who they are, and support them in their experiencing challenges, or make sure that they are connected to an adult if they need more support on school campus.” Overall, Blach appears to be a safe environment for LGBTQ students, but our Blach community must bring more awareness to the challenges faced by our LGBTQ friends. It’s important that the students here feel safe, and a part of the Blach family.
8
BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL
people student| voice |
Kate Stone, a true athlete the risk involved in the sport. She stated, “High risk, high reward,” meaning that every decision she makes during a game results in either a severe consequence or a satisfying reward.
step closer to success.” She also added “There is no “best” to me. I like to think that there’s always someone or some team better than me, and there’s always a way to beat them.”
When she was asked what she likes about sports in general, Stone answered: “Competition, Improvement and Concentration.
Finally she explained that the moment her adrenaline starts pumping, she forgets all worries in her mind and focuses on the game. She stated “Everything else in the world doesn’t matter for those 30 minutes of the game.”
Kate Stone is a very active athlete in eighth grade who started playing sports at a very young age. By second grade, she was playing four different sports. Currently, she plays basketball and soccer competitively.
“As they say ‘the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory,’ I get excited when I have a stronger opponent. If I win over a good competition, the feeling of accomplishment multiplies. If I lose, the feeling of determination multiplies.
Basketball is one of her main sports because of its fast pace and high scoring. Stone favors the idea that each person on the court is crucial, holding a heavy responsibility for the team. She also enjoys playing soccer, because she loves
“I also like the fact that there’s always a way for me to improve,” the athlete continues. “There are so many ups and downs. Each down gives you a lesson on your mistake. Each up takes you one
When asked what is most important in becoming an athlete, Stone replied “Mindset. You need the mindset to put in effort, to have confidence and to trust each other for teamwork.” She brought up a quote that reads:
Toki Morimoto
“hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work.” Even with talent, Stone continues to put in her best effort whether it is the National Championships, a scrimmage, or just a practice. In addition, she answered that confidence is key. “Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try,” she comments. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so don’t hesitate to take the risks.”
Even at the Beach, Dylan will find a way to practice soccer to become the best. The 2010 FIFA World Cup: Spain vs the Netherlands. Excitement roared throughout the Tellado family as they cheered on for Spain. Somehow after the 90th minute, the score remains 0-0 regardless of the two high scoring offenses. Two 15 minute periods await
The first period goes by, without a single goal. Suddenly, in the first minute of the second period, Andrés Iniesta scores a breakaway goal to win the game for Spain. Everyone is going crazy in the Tellado household, except for 4-year-old Dylan.
He was mesmorized and instantly loved the sport of soccer.
Eight years later, Dylan is a top five soccer player in California who plays for the U.S Development Academy.
He chose the academy because it was the highest level of competition and would give him a shot at a professional soccer league. He certainly deserves the spot because he is averaging two goals per game and 25 goals this season. Despite those off the chart statistics, this year wasn’t even his greatest! Last year, Dylan achieved 45 goals which ranked him third for most goals in the Western
In soccer and other sports, demonstrating promise at a puerile age is no guarantee of a successful future. But in this case, soccer star
Neil Devnani’s future looks bright. Devnani currently plays for SVSA or the Silicon Valley Soccer Academy.
“I like playing midfield because it gives me exposure. It involves me in most plays,” Devani noted.
“Literally, I think a sport is a physical activity with one goal: to win. Metaphorically, it is the collection of passion that is brought together by a team to become the best they can be,” she concluded. “But basketball and soccer are so much more than just a sport to me. It’s the perfect balance of excitement, determination, intensity, and the satisfaction.”
Kabir Chadhry
Division (California, Oregon, Washington) and top five in the country. The best moment about his amazing season was not that he scored his 45th goal, but the fact that his team posted an undefeated 25-0-4 record that very season. His team was unstoppable as they posted the most goals in the country. This season, Dylan was nominated by his teammates to try out and play for the U.S National Youth Development team. He then was able to visit the training center for the U.S national team and watch the
Neil Devnani, a soccer sensation Devnani’s sports team branched out from Redwood City and spread throughout Silicon Valley. He joined in 2016 because many have recommended it. Currently, he has not scored any goals this season, due to having Osgood-Schlatter. It is a disease that is a common cause of knee pain during growth stages. Hopefully, he will make a comeback and have another victorious season. He currently plays center midfield, and really enjoys it.
Finally, when Stone was asked what a sport is, the athlete responded with this answer:
Stone also remarked that teamwork and trust is critical for a team to be successful. “It’s not always you. You have to trust others to make the right decisions and plays,” she explains. “You want an
Dylan Tellado, a soccer prodigy the anxious fans before the penalty kicks.
All-Star team, not just a team of All-Stars.”
players train. He was able to learn quite a lot about the standards of a professional and how to be a better soccer player. There is no doubt that Dylan is one of the best soccer players in California and possibly throughout the United States, but one question remains. If he is to keep playing at an extremely high level, how far can he go? If he continues with the academy, he has the chance to advance to the MLS and possibly the Premier league. That is for him to decide and hopefully for you to witness.
Manu Nandela and Tyler Hung
Last season, he had an average of one goal every game. He believes he isn’t playing as well, due to having lamentable chemistry with his team. “Our chemistry isn’t that good because we don’t know each other that well,” Devnani expressed, though he believes that his relationship with his team will smooth out as time progresses. Devnani was exposed to soccer at a young age. He remembers kicking the ball with his friends when he was still very young. It later progressed scrimmaging
with his friends. From these activities, Devnani was inspired to play even more soccer. All in all, Devnani hopes to play soccer as a career and is working hard to achieve his goal. “I love to play pro-in fun countries. I think that’s my goal...
My passion for soccer… I just love to pursue my passion every day.”
BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL
9
people | sports
NBA playoffs predictions Kabir Chadhry and Wyatt Bose Greek forward by the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis is a freak of nature who uses his length and speed to score the ball.
Image from Zimbio
The NBA Playoffs are right around the corner, but this year’s contenders look a lot different than those from the previous years. Developing, young stars are taking over the East, while LeBron took his talents to Los Angeles to challenge the defending champs, the Golden State Warriors. The talented 76ers traded part of their young core for superstar Jimmy Butler and young phenom, Tobias Harris. So far, Harris has been a terrific scorer and Butler has added strong leadership to that youthful locker room. Though these moves were surprising, there is only one principal question. Will LeBron finally dethrone the Warriors after his move to the West? Just like most predictions, the answers may surprise you. EAST:: Milwaukee Bucks: Milwaukee made a bold pick in 2013 after drafting a
Toronto Raptors: The Raptors made huge news this year after trading their most loyal player in Demar DeRozan this year for megastar Kawhi Leonard. Philadelphia 76ers: Philly acquired Jimmy Butler earlier this season, and have risen in the NBA ranks since. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid have proved to all the haters that they can win games and work with Jimmy as well as their new addition, Tobias Harris. Indiana Pacers: Despite the media’s hate and low expectations, the Pacers have strived through adversity. Even without superstar, Victor Oladipo, the Pacers have held their spot in the east. Boston Celtics: Regardless of the Kyrie Irving rumors, Boston has still managed to stay top 4 in the East. Their young superstar, Jayson Tatum, has had a large role in success.
New York Nets: D’Angelo Russell has changed from a young rookie in LA to a full-on star that can take over games. He is bringing Brooklyn to the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. Detroit Pistons: The Pistons led by Blake Griffin have cruised there way back into the playoffs because of their old school inside post offense that teams nowadays aren’t built to guard. Miami Heat: This is the year for the Heat, because it is future Hall of Famer, Dwyane Wade’s farewell season. WEST:: Golden State Warriors: Once again, the Warriors are working like a well-oiled machine and have 5 all-stars that can take over a game at any moment in time. Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets have taken the next step this season by improving their 3pt shooting and defense. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder have played even better than expected because they managed to resign allstar, Paul George.
Portland Trail Blazers: Portland’s dynamic duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is too much to handle when they are at home. Houston Rockets: James Harden is putting up Hall of Fame numbers by nearly averaging 40 points in the month December. San Antonio Spurs: Regardless of losing Kawhi, San Antonio will be back in the playoffs for the 21st year in a row. Demar DeRozan is one of the best shooting guards in the league with a knockdown mid-range jump shot. Utah Jazz: The Utah Jazz have rising star, Donovan Mitchell, who can shoot anywhere and also have Defensive player of the year, Rudy Gobert. Sacramento Kings: The Kings have the youngest team in the NBA, but just recently added veteran, Harrison Barnes, who will get them through tough games down the stretch.
PLAYOFFS: 1st Round Bucks over Hornets Warriors over Kings Raptors over Pistons Nuggets over Jazz 76ers over Nets Thunder over Spurs Celtics over Pacers Blazers over Rockets
2nd Round Bucks over Celtics Warriors over Blazers Raptors over 76ers Nuggets over Thunder 3rd Round Raptors over Bucks Warriors over Nuggets NBA Finals Game 1: Raptors Game 2: Warriors Game 3: Raptors Game 4: Raptors Game 5: Warriors Game 6: Raptors The Raptors will win their first championship after the moves to trade for Kawhi Leonard and Marc Gasol. They have an amazing offense and a shutdown defense that will cause other teams to crumble.
All in on football Wyatt Bose
Murray has clearly heard these professionals, and taken every opinion into account, before making his decision. Additionally, analysts have said that the quarterback position takes up too much time in order to have a separate job.
Image from Althon Sports
He has been debating on which sport he will be pursuing professionally, and has come to a final decision.
Many professional athletes have tried to manage two sports at once, including Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, but those Hall of Famers didn’t play the same role as super star Kyler Murray.
On February 11, 2019, Kyler Murray announces that he will be fully committed to football. Murray will be attending the NFL Combine, and has informed the Oakland A’s that he will not be playing for them in the near future.
Murray just finished a sensational season at quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners. The controversy though, is that he also played a phenomenal season for the Sooners’ baseball team. Murray was drafted 9th overall by the Oakland A’s.
Many sports analysts, including Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe, are saying that Murray will not be able to handle both sports at the same time due to his position.
The NFL Draft is on Thursday, April 25, and when Murray’s name is called by one of the 32 NFL teams, he will not have to stress about a separate sport. Oakland A’s head coach, Bob Melvin, said that he is happy for the kid, and relieved that he won’t have to worry when watching the superstar play on Sundays. It is clear that Kyler Murray has made a full time decision on what his passion is and will have support everywhere he goes.
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BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL
reviews |
Super Bowl halftime show leaves no mark, critics say Matthew Diederich Atlanta, Georgia-- What many said was a bland and poorly executed Super Bowl LIII halftime show on February 3, 2019 barely left an impression on the audience with Maroon 5, Travis Scott, and Big Boi all trying to make a decently enjoyable performance. Maroon 5 is often described to be a neutral and easily forgettable band, one that brings temporary enjoyment but fizzles out overtime. The band has not had any top 20 hits since 2015 without a featured singer from another group, either. Their music just did not work with the chemistry of rap stars Travis Scott and Big Boi, Jon Caramanica of the New York Times reported. The NFL was turned down by both pop icons Cardi B and Rihanna due to their opposition to Colin Kaepernick’s ejection from the league after his controversial protests of police violence, leaving the NFL treading water
for another option. The NFL did not want the performers to make any political statement in the performance, yet they didn’t want to seem out of touch by their entertainment selection; they made sure to choose popular rap artists as well as the politically indifferent Maroon 5 to keep up with the current pop culture. It almost seemed that the NFL was trying to keep the anger from Kaepernick supporters to a manageable level, so by choosing black artists they intended to pacify those who thought that the NFL was suppressing African Americans in their right to protest. One New Times journalist wrote, “That’s why, months after word got out that Maroon 5 was set to headline Super Bowl LIII, the NFL announced that Travis Scott and Big Boi would also perform in a city widely regarded as hiphop’s capital.” The NFL also cancelled the usual press conference for the
performers before the game to keep any potential political statements from the artists from making any lasting impression throughout the show. However, the lead singer of Maroon 5, Adam Levine, stated on Entertainment Tonight that the controversy did spark an “insatiable urge to hate a little bit.” In response to the questions about Levine’s decision to accept the NFL’s request that he perform, he clearly stated that “No one thought about it more than I did. I’m not in the right profession if I can’t handle a little bit of controversy.” This last-ditch attempt to seem inoffensive and to keep politics out of the performance was desperate to the point of embarrassing many have said, with two drastically different music styles trying to work in harmony. As the show unfolded, it was obvious that the style of Maroon 5 and the short rap interludes would inevitably clash. One critic from the Los Angeles
Times wrote that “The idea of Maroon 5 at the Super Bowl was intended to please fans —and corporate overlords— eager for a halftime show that put politics aside for a few sweet moments.”
Adam Levine and Travis Scott perform at the super bowl halftime show. Image Courtesy of ABC News
The most anticipated movies to be released this summer Last year was a huge box office success, bringing in 11.9 billion dollars domestically and 29.8 billion internationally. Leading the way were movies from popular franchises, such as “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” It may only be March, but this year is already shaping up to be even more profitable. People will be lining up to see the sequels from the popular franchises, as well as new stand-alone movies from various genres. Below is a list of some of the most anticipated movies that are coming to theaters before this summer. Lucas Berger
that “The high number of views for the Endgame trailer indicate that the film will, unsurprisingly, be a box office success, but new estimates forecast it as making $2 billion at the worldwide box office.” 3. “Shazam!” (Superhero) Release date: Apr. 5, 2019
After an encounter with an ancient wizard, Billy Batson, a 14-year-old foster kid, can turn The inside of a movie theater into an adult superhero just by saying one word: Image Courtesy of Fox News “Shazam!” At first, Billy uses his powers for fun, Most Anticipated PG Movies: as any kid would, but must master his powers quickly in order to face the forces of evil. 1. “Toy Story 4” (Comedy/Family) Most anticipated PG-13 Movies: 4. “Ad Astra” (Science Fiction) Release date: June 21, 2019 “Captain Marvel” (Superhero) Release date: May 24, 2019 Release date: Mar. 8, 2019 The toys are back in the fourth “Toy Story” An Army Corps engineer travels throughout Arguably one of the most anticipated movies to the solar system searching for answers about movie. A new toy named Forky joins Woody and be released this year, Captain Marvel takes place his father, who embarked on a one-way voyage the other toys as they embark on a road trip. on Earth in the 1990s. When Earth gets involved to Neptune two decades earlier. However, he in a war between alien species, Carol Danvers, the discovers multiple secrets that could threaten 2. “The Lion King,” “Dumbo,” and protagonist, becomes one of the most powerful Earth along the way. “Aladdin” (Live Action Remakes) heroes ever known. According to Box Office Release dates: “Dumbo” comes to theaters 5. “Five Feet Apart” (Romance) Pro, this film is expected to bring in “$140-$180 on Mar. 29, while the other two movies will be Release date: Mar. 15, 2019 million” during opening weekend. released later this year. Seventeen-year-old Stella Grant’s life is filled 2. “Avengers: Endgame” (Superhero) These movies are all live-action adaptations of by boundaries and restrictions. This is because Release date: Apr. 26, 2019 the classic animated movies from the end of the she is a cystic fibrosis patient that must maintain a safe distance from other people. Upon meeting 20th century. The fourth Avengers movie, Endgame, focuses a charming fellow patient, Stella’s self-control is on the final stretch of the battle against the mad put to the test, and she must decide how much titan Thanos. In this film, the Avengers must she is willing to sacrifice to be together. reunite to undo Thanos’ actions in “Infinity War”, and to restore order to the universe. CBR states
BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL
entertainment
Is that mouse feeding us garbage? Ori Shacham
On Jan. 30, 2019, a popular Youtuber with millions of subscribers, Shane Dawson, uploaded a video onto Youtube. He posted a video about Chuck E. Cheese’s that resulted in fans publicly shaming the children’s arcade. In his video, Dawson jokingly said that Chuck E. Cheese’s uses leftover pizza slices from previous customers in new pizzas. However, he had no evidence to support his claim, and he only made the video for entertainment purposes Although this theory was proposed over a decade ago, people are now starting to consider it again. The idea was originally considered when customers began to notice that the pizzas they were being served were not shaped in a perfect circle, and had uneven slices. People began to make jokes about the pizzas, and started asking
if it was true. Chuck E. Cheese’s responded on E! News, saying: “The claims made in this video about Chuck E. Cheese’s and our pizza are unequivocally false. No conspiracies here – our pizzas are made to order and we prepare our dough fresh in restaurant, which means that they’re not always perfectly uniform in shape, but always delicious.” Even though the company said that the claim was false, many people still believe the conspiracy. On February 12, 2019, one Chuck E. Cheese’s employee, @marianadawoodx, said on Twitter: “I work at chuck e cheese and I can tell you we literally do not recycle our pizza slices...like that’s whack. I’ve seen the kitchen guys make fresh pizza all the time a new order comes in and see the gameroom guys throwing out left over pizza on The outside of a Chuck E Cheese building. newslocker.com table...”
Come from away: the untold story of a small town’s large heart
Lindsay McKinley This January, I was lucky to see the touring musical Come From Away in San Francisco. This remarkable play was written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and the story itself is based off of a real event that took place during the time of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Despite the tense times that the show is set in, it is beautifully put together and demonstrates the power of kindness and generosity to strangers. The play centers around a group of passengers whose planes had to land in the small Canadian town of Gander on the tiny island of Newfoundland. The United States Federal Aviation Agency had shut down the airspace of the United States for the first time in history, and planes that were flying near Gander had to land immediately and were not able to leave. Even though the town doubled in population as a result of the 6,700 passengers who had been grounded, the residents of Gander took in and comforted the wary passengers for the four days that they
stayed there. Although the townspeople could have left the passengers to fend for themselves, they did not. Instead, they let the passengers into their homes andaided them throughout their stay. One of the main themes in this play was the compassion that the citizens of Gander showed toward the passengers who had been on the planes landing in Gander. A line from one of the songs is, “My dad asks, ‘Were you okay where you were stranded?’ How do I tell him that I wasn’t just okay? I was so much better.” The kindness of Gander’s citizens clearly meant so much to the stranded passengers. Although the story tells of a truly horrific moment in history, Sankoff and Hein were able to tell a heartwarming, funny story that showed how small acts of kindness can go a long way. I loved the show and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys musical theater, remarkable music, and the lesser-known stories of people who made a difference.
Contemporary seafood restaurant takes Los Altos by storm
Inside The Rustic House Oyster Bar and Grill
Kiana Zahedi Nestled in the lively downtown Los Altos, the Rustic House Oyster Bar and Grill is an upscale restaurant specializing in various types of seafood. As one of the few seafood restaurants in Los Altos, Rustic House offers modern and classy spins on American classics, loosely inspired by the cuisine of New England. While they feature an extensive bar, and are one of the top picks in town for business meals and conferences, Rustic House has an atmosphere that is welcoming to all ages. Famous for both their raw and grilled oysters, Rustic House has fresh oysters delivered daily, and even has a grilled oyster named after the restaurant. The “Rustic House Grilled Oyster” features garlic, chives, butter, cayenne pepper, and Parmigiano cheese. This oyster is one of their bestsellers, and it is priced at a deal of 3 oysters for 10 dollars. With many raving reviews and regular customers, it is safe to say that Rustic House’s booming business isn’t stopping anytime soon. The owner of Rustic House, Dave P, describes the clientele
Kiana Zahedi
like a family, and expresses how he tries to get to know as many of the customers that he can. On many days, you can find a business group in Rustic House, discussing the latest moves for their company or celebrating a success. Rustic House is extremely popular among companies looking for somewhere to host a sophisticated dinner or lunch, and it’s not hard to see why. Rustic House’s classy atmosphere and upscale food make it a clear winner for these businesses. Although Rustic House serves modern American classics, that doesn’t stop them from getting creative. On the dessert menu, they have a creme brulee, one that is served flaming. This dessert is loved for its wild creativity and creamy taste. It is dishes like this that make Rustic House a favorite among many. It is easy to see why Rustic House favored among both families and companies. Rustic House’s extensive menu, fresh seafood, welcoming atmosphere, and attentive owners are the contributing factors to its success.
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12 BLACH JUNIOR HIGH FALCON’S QUILL
tech |
The facetime bug: what is it?
The facetime application allows you to video call your friends
Apple’s Group Facetime allows you to Facetime multiple people at the same time, for instance: your family
Rohan S. Apple Inc said on Friday, February first that they were going to fix an ongoing Facetime bug that allowed users to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations. According to CNN news, “The FaceTime flaw allowed people
who started a call, to hear live audio on the recipient’s phone, even if the person hadn’t accepted the call.” Apple sincerely apologized to its customers. This incident was very embarrassing to a company that constantly prides in its security of information. In
a statement, an Apple spokesperson confessed, “We sincerely apologize to all our customers who were affected, and all who were concerned about this security issue.” The bug could also be easily replicated. According to the New York Times, one of their staff duplicated the
bug. “I replicated the bug using two iPhones.” Apple has temporarily disabled Group FaceTime, and Apple’s engineers are already working on fixing the bug. The bug was actually discovered by a boy in Arizona named Grant Thompson, when he tried to FaceTime his friends. When he told his mom about the bug, she was skeptical. But soon, she saw that the bug was indeed there, and she immediately acted. She sent messages on social media, and over calls. Grant’s mother even went as far as to send a fax to the company.
According to ABC News, “Over the next week, the Thompsons tried to notify Apple of the bug via emails, telephone calls and social media--but largely to no avail.” Some Democrats are even questioning Apple. According to Reuters, “Two key U.S. Democrats asked Apple Inc chief executive, Tim Cook, to answer questions about a privacy flaw in Apple’s group video chat software, after a teenager and his mother tried to warn the iPhone maker of the bug.”
customers. The bug was supposed to be fixed by the upcoming week, but Apple has delayed the update to FaceTime one more week. According to CNN, “Apple explained that a fix for a FaceTime bug that let users eavesdrop on others won’t be available until next week.” While the bug has been disabled, customers still worry, could they be the one hacked next?
Apple has promised to up its game in replying to
The world record egg’s big reveal Tyler L.
Chris Godfrey, an advertising executive from London, was inspired to create the World Record Egg in early January 2019. When Godfrey learned that the world record of likes on Instagram was held by celebrity Kylie Jenner, he saw this as a challenge. He wondered if something as simple as an egg could surpass this unrivaled record. Sure enough, it could! The record was passed, nine days after the egg was posted. The egg was able to surpass 52 million likes, beating Jenner’s post of 18 million. Interviewers asked why Godfrey chose an egg.
“An egg has no gender or race. An egg is an egg, it’s ubiquitous.” he clarified. Godfrey, with the help of his friends, produced and aired an advertisement on the television network Hulu; in order to take advantage of the annual Super Bowl ad extravaganza. In the advertisement, the egg shares a story about how going viral has affected his mental health. “The pressure of social media is getting to me, ” the egg states in the video. “If you’re struggling, too, talk to someone.” The ad finishes by directing its viewers to the website of a mental health institution. Godfrey says
that mental health was one of the several messages the egg will stand for. Many have been puzzled on how a picture of an egg was able to rack up so many followers. Many have speculated that the creator of the egg paid influencers or used like bots. Godfrey assured these claims were untrue and that the account’s growth was completely natural. Godfrey revealed that the days following the Superbowl were wild. “It’s not really about me,” he emphasized, “It’s just about the egg and kind of where we can take it and what we will do with it.” by Toki Picture Nevertheless, Godfrey
Chris Godfrey, creator of the World Record Egg admitted that the whole thing was simply a fluke. “But it’s a fluke that caught the world’s attention. It’s what you are doing with that attention that counts,” he M. said.
Photo from Guiness World Records
The World Record Egg, cracking