2021-2022 LLA Mirror Issue 2

Issue 2

1 November 2021

Volume 82

MIR|ROR

Loma Linda Academy News Reflecting on LLA since 1940

Table of Contents 3 4 6 8 10 11 12 14 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Briefs Senior Presentation A Senior Trip to Remember Beach Day Meet the High School Office Staff Current Class Points Student Association Athletics The Importance of Spiritual and Mental Health How to Keep a Study Routine Finding Time to Enjoy the Small Things in Life Pumpkin Blueberry Muffins The Importance of Maintaining Physical Health How Quarantine Affected Students November Birthdays December Birthdays 2

Cover Photo by Nicole Seheult

Briefs Sock Drive

Spirit Week

Divit Shah (10) is doing a sock drive for homeless people in Redlands and Loma Linda through UReach at LLU and is in need of a lot of socks before December. The goal is 200 pairs of socks. If you have socks please put them in the box that will be provided in the front office thank you.

Spirit Week took place during the week of October 25-29. Monday was PJ Day, Tuesday was Decades Day, Wednesday was Superhero Day, Thursday was Family Day, and Friday was Tourist Day. For more information check the SA Instagram @llastudents.

End of the Quarter

New Clubs

The last day of the first quarter was on Friday, October 22, 2021. Second quarter begun on Monday, October 25, 2021. The new winter sports season has also begun. The sports include boys and girls soccer and basketball.

If you are interested in joining a club this year, here are some options to consider: Art Club, Debate Club and the BSA (Black Student Association), Hispanic Culture Club, Friends Next Door, Korean Culture Club, Photo Club, Video Game Club, Youth to Youth.

College Fair

Oil Spill

On Wednesday, September 22, 2021 LLA hosted a college fair during lunch. This was where students were invited to meet some SDA colleges and allowed them to get information about different majors, communities, financial aid, etc. For seniors it gave them the opportunity to start applying for free on that day.

On October 1, 2021, a cracked oil pipeline off the Southern California coast leaked about 127,000 gallons of oil into the ocean, according to CNN. This oil spill led to a closure of Southern California beaches, including Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach.

Emergency beach clean up and aid for affected wildlife went underway the following week.

Editor-inChief Allison Kim

Design & Photo Editor Nicole Seheult

Copy Editor Reporter Larissa Calixto

Online Editor Reporter Abigail

Reporter

Reporter

Photographer

Andrew

Stephanie

Adorador

Reporter

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GregoriusGrakov

Reporter

Sponsor

Zane

Cooley

Jason

Lopez

Samantha

Erin Stone

Reporter

Danelle Taylor Johnston

Reporter Alexander Salles

Publisher Hans Figueroa

Senior Presentation

BY STEPHANIE LOPEZ

On September 8, the class of 22 showcased the Pink Panther senior presentation in chapel.

As juniors become seniors, the senior class puts on a show called Senior Presentation. The Senior Presentation takes a lot of hard work and preparations to get it ready such as planning, rehearsing lines, and getting ready for the show.

Teresa Phillips, senior head sponsor, said The Pink Panther was going to be the theme because it was the class color but the male officers really wanted Alcatraz to be in it. Phillips said, the officers “all decided it was going to be the Pink Panther in San Francisco during the 1920s.”

During the senior presentation, a live band played throughout the

show, Val Bayeta (12) says,“It was pretty fun when we were running over to change and get audio ready behind the curtains. I could feel my heart bumping out of my chest.”

When the performance started, the students saw the mischievous Pink Panther running around the stage who was played by Daniel Baldwin (12). He said, “The role of the Pink Panther was really fun and it was low stress. There was a lot of creativity in the role, so it was a fun role. As for me who got the role, I just fit in the costume and they said you’re playing Pink Panther.”

As for getting ready for the performance Keoni Pang (12) said, “It was pretty tense. We didn’t have that much time but I believe that

everyone did quite well with their roles. I was quite nervous. I thought I would mess up my lines but with a lot of practice I got used to what I was doing.” When the students saw Pang in jail he said, “It was quite a struggle to get in the jail. It wasn’t the best design but once we got out there it was fun though.”

As for performing, there is also a lot of work behind the scenes. Rebecca Mercado (12) said that, “Being the director of the senior presentation was incredible! I am so happy to be able to work with my class this way!”

Students showed their enjoyment for the presentation with lots of cheers throughout. Now students, will start wondering what next year’s presentation will be like.

All photos by: Stephanie Lopez

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5

A Senior Trip To Remember

BY SAMANTHA ZANE

and Blanchard said a memory they will always remember will be all the fun they had playing games and going to the lake. Blanchard also said that he will always remember how hot and dry the area was.

Almaguer and Blanchard both said that they felt that their relationships with the classmates have come a lot closer. Almaguer said she was able to talk to people that she wouldn’t normally talk to as much.

Every year it is tradition for the seniors to go on a four-day trip to Lake Havasu. The seniors spent four days and three nights playing games and hanging out with friends. They spent time getting lots of bruises, consuming water in their mouths from boating, and chilling at the pool drinking non-alcoholic Pina Coladas.

Unfortunately last year’s class, class of 2021 wasn’t able to go on the trip due to COVID-19. Class of 2022 was very scared that their trip would be canceled as well, but luckily it was not.

The class did have to take proper precautions to keep everyone safe. These included no visiting other pods/rooms, and when you went anywhere inside everyone was required to wear masks.

When asked about the trip, seniors Jessica Almaguer (12) and Brody Blanchard (12) were happy to reminisce. Almaguer said that the best part of Havasu was, “Being able to wake up at 5AM in the morning everyday seeing the sunrise and learning to wakeboard.”

Blanchard said Wake boarding was the best part. As a snowboarder, he likes how much snowboarding can easily be converted to wake boarding. Both Almaguer

“We just got to hangout the whole entire time and play sports and stuff together. So obviously I think we bonded there.” - Brody Blanchard

Besides wake boarding, Almaguer said she also liked tubing. She liked the idea of being challenged with both wake boarding and tubing. She enjoyed going on the five-person tubes with friends.

Blanchard said that he “enjoyed being able to room with his classmates.”

Almaguer thought, “It was an interesting experience. During this time I got to know a few of my classmates a lot better by spending those days living together.”

Photo credit - Regan Couture Photo credit - Mr. Stone

Game | Photo credit - Samantha Zane

Photo credit - Samantha Zane

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Tubing | Photo credit - Jordyn Wright

Vespers | Photo credit - Jordyn Wright

Photo credit - Jordyn Wright

Photo credit - Giselle Castro

Photo credit - Regan Couture

Games | Photo credit - Samantha Zane

Photo credit - David Stone

Photo credit - Unknown

Photo credit - Sue Peterson

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Beach Day

BY ERIN STONE

At 8:00 am on Friday of September 17, 2021, over four hundred high school students boarded buses that were headed towards Huntington Beach. After 15 months of being cooped up at home, the excitement was almost tangible.

Beach day has been a tradition for many years at LLA, and it is seen as a unique bonding experience for both students and teachers. For the Freshmen and Sophomore classes, this trip was a new experience because there were no trips the last two years, and many students found the trip surprising. Jackie Pandiangan (9) said, “I had a lot of fun, but I wasn’t expecting all the competitions and how many people actually went.”

Throughout the day, class games and events were held, such as tug of war, human pyramid, sandcastle, and the three-legged race. The three-legged race was won by Juniors and so was the girls tug of war. Seniors won the boys tug of war, while the human pyramid and sandcastle building were won by the Sophomores.

The junior class of ´23 provided lunch, and the Student Association provided dinner. Many students also brought their own snacks and drinks, however some ended up regretting it. ¨There were so many seagulls everywhere, you couldn’t eat anything without them

trying to take it from you!¨ Kate Machain (10) said.

Izzy Bocanegra (9) said her favorite part of the beach was that, “We all bonded over food, sun, and lots of fun.”

After dinner, students gathered all their belongings and sat down around many different fire pits to worship. They sang songs and listened to different teachers tell personal stories as the sun set, greeting the Sabbath all together. Before students boarded the buses to return back to the school, the Student Association handed out candy bars to them and wished everyone a safe trip home.

Photo Credit: Erin Stone

Photo Credit: Samantha Zane

Photo Credit: Samantha Zane

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Photo Credit: Stephanie Lopez

Photo Credit: Danelle Taylor Johnston

Photo Credit: Samantha Zane

Photo Credit: Stephanie Lopez

Photo Credit: Samantha Zane

Photo Credit: Erin Stone

Photo Credit: Samantha Zane

Photo Credit: Abigail Cooley

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Photo Credit: Abigail Cooley

Meet the High School Office Staff

BY ALEXANDER SALLES

Hans Figueroa became the principal for Loma Linda Academy in July of 2021, transitioned from being vice-principal the previous four years. He loves the LLA faculty and students, as well as being a part of a community that values God and strong academics.

Figueroa graduated from Photo Credit: Alexander Salles Andrews University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in 2001 and has been educating since 2002. Before his arrival at Loma Linda Academy in 2014-2015, Figueroa worked at Battle Creek Academy, La Sierra Academy, Grand Rapids Adventist Academy and Redlands Adventist Academy.

“I had to be a good student, my parents wouldn’t allow me to play sports or do extracurricular activities unless I got B’s or better”.

Figueroa says that he loves “spending time with my family, camping, going to the beach, and other outdoor activities. I love to play any sport with a ball. But Soccer has always been my favorite to play. I also play music (Piano, Guitar, Bass).” Students enjoy the personableness of Mr. Figueroa. He is known for his tradition of giving nicknames to students. He warns,“You will be getting a nickname from me!”

Karina Montiel is one of our new administrative assistants for LLA this year. Prior to working at LLA she worked at La Sierra Academy. Montiel enjoys working at LLA. “I really like to help the parents and the students. I enjoy helping you guys a lot,” Montiel said. She also has a good taste for furniture.

Photo Credit: LLA High School

“I like to look through vintage furniture on the internet and I love to go to yard sales.”

Montiel wants students to, “Remember to be nice to each other. It is very important because you never know what someone is going through.”

Spring Benfield said she enjoys reading well written mysteries.

She has a passion for traveling, despite her husband’s health precluding the frequency of those events. Lately, sleeping and playing brain games have drawn her attention.

She is the new Vice Principal for Loma Linda Academy, prior Photo Credit: Alexander Salles to working this year, Benfield taught English at Mesa Grande Academy last year. Before that, she taught English at LLA High School and Bible for the LLA Junior High Bible (7th Grade). And before that… for about 25 years, she worked at La Sierra Academy in Riverside, CA as JH English Teacher, Junior High Principal and Elementary Principal.

Mrs. Benfield shares some wisdom with the students saying,

“Always, be kind and respectful to each other. Treat each other the way you want to be treated. Remember, your actions and your words reflect your character. Always give the best of yourself. Do not half step! You will find that people who follow this practice shine in our society.”

Jeleni Jackson, is one of the new administrative assistants for Loma Linda Academy. What he likes most about working at LLA is,

“It is a really positive environment. I have really good coworkers, an awesome boss and then the students are nice as well, so Photo Credit: Alexander Salles it’s a pretty encouraging environment.”

He loves to cook, play lacrosse and spend time with his siblings. He worked at Andrews University before coming here.

Jackson said, “Whatever we can do to help you guys, we are here for that. Just be patient with us; we have a lot of students here. But, we are happy to serve you guys.”

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Mandi Staples is the vice principal for academics, which she has done for the last three years. Prior to that she was the high school registrar for three years. Before LLA, Staples worked at the Southeastern California Conference in the Office of Education. Staples holds several degrees: a BA in Child Psychology, an MA in School Guidance and Counseling and MAT in elementary education. Staples enjoys working with her colleagues and the LLA students. “Everyday always brings a new adventure,” Staples said. She has been working in education for over 11 years now. Staples loves spending time with her family, baking, reading, traveling and doing crosswords. She advises the students, “Remember to take time out to do what makes your soul happy.”

Current Class Points Last Updated on Nov 1, 2021

SENIORS

510

JUNIORS

450

SOPHOMORES

310

FRESHMEN

240

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LLA Student Officers 2021-2022

Freshmen Officers Sophomore Officers President Sophia Lalas Vice-President Audrey Kim Social- Vice President Abigail (Abby) delaRoca Religious Vice President Leily Khan Secretary Kalista Lee PR Secretary Athena Francisco Treasurer Jonah Im Parliamentarian Ava delaRoca Spirit Leader Owen Walls Technical Coordinator Gared Lin Class Senators Keith Bayeta Yujoon Joe Ruby May-Tetz Megan Robles Matea Verdugo

President Eve Blanchard Vice-President Brooke LaTour Social-Vice President Lia Hutchins Religious Vice President JV Wongkaren Secretary Madison Kohltfarber PR Secretary Emily Yulip Treasurer Jordyn Jamison Parliamentarian Jaiden Skoretz Spirit Leader Vierre Richardson Technical Coordinator Cody Regester Class Senators Mia Bunoan Benjamin Chun Evan Liao Jaren Vitangcol Jiayu (Zinnia) Wang

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Junior Officers

President Soobin Jeon Vice-President Elizabeth Baldwin Social- Vice President Allison Kim Religious Vice President William Kim PR Secretary Krupa Kanji Secretary Evan Kang Treasurer Noah Saesim Parliamentarian Isabella Fick Spirit Leader Kalee Cautivar Technical Coordinator Kadin Mangunsong Class Senators Gaby Alfaro Elijah Genece Nicole Seheult Zoei Toh Morgan Walls

Seniors Officers

SA Officers

President Julia Ko Vice-President Jorel Magakat Social- Vice President Jack Balli Religious Vice President Trevin Skoretz Secretary Sidney Bonney PR Secretary Andrea Vargas Treasurer Daniel Baldwin Class Historian Brianna Barruga Parliamentarian Melissa Lee Spirit Leader Kevin Lee Technical Coordinator John Herrmann Class Senators Aileen Ahn Val Erben Bayeta Nathan Fisher Elina Khan Abel Massey

Photo Credit: Stephanie Lopez

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President Abby Tching Vice-President Isabel Genovez Social- Vice President Liane Magnaye Religious Vice President Faith Albis Secretary Abigail Suttan PR Secretary Regan Couture Treasurer Viggo Patrona Parliamentarian TBD Statistician Raffaela Dias Acttivities Coordinator Jeyelle Fabra Technical Coordinator Haley Dugaduga Resource Manager Emma Constanzo

Athletics

BY ANDREW ADORADOR Athletics are an essential part of what makes the culture and livelihood at Loma Linda Academy.

When our school was forced to go into online learning, it took a large toll on not just the school’s academics, but on athletics as well. Below, several athletes reflect on how quarantine affected their experience with athletics at LLA. While staying physically fit during quarantine challenged the athletes, there were other deeper layers that had been affected. Nathan Hansen (12), captain of the boys Flag Football team, said one of the biggest challenges for the team was figuring out the team culture.

He found that getting the team chemistry to work has been a challenge. “The culture has dramatically been changed since the players that were underclassmen just a couple years ago, are now the captains and leaders of their teams,” Hansen said.

In addition, many of the team members are new this year. Hansen

Photo Credit: Marie Bunke

said, “Instituting the culture is harder than it may appear.” He feels the team is working hard to build back the culture that has been passed down from previous teams.

He concluded, “The culture is very important to me and being able to set that example for others, as a senior, is a blessing and an amazing opportunity to carry on this great culture that Loma Linda has carried

Photo Credit: Andrew Adorador

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for many years.”

This is the first year that Karis Kim (9), tailback for the girls Flag Football team, has played. Kim said she prepared for the season by participating in the conditioning camps that the coaches offered before tryouts and learned a lot.

She said, “Everything was seemingly normal because we didn’t have to wear masks outside and social distancing wasn’t required.

Since Covid happened, there was a year where there wasn’t an actual season, so the team was fairly new and it took time for everyone to get to know each other.”

In Sydney Park’s (12) fourth and final year on the girls Flag Football team, Park felt that the connection with one another was almost lost. “First of all, we didn’t have athletics during quarantine. After quarantine, it affected the teams bond as a whole. There were so many new people that joined the team and there were only about 4-5

returners.”

Not having a lot of returners made it a bit harder to reinstate the old traditions Park said. “Football has many traditions and since there were so many new comers, they were unknown to it all and the small amount of returners had the responsibility to acknowledge them of it all. Everyone was slightly segregated at first, but over time, we’re becoming more of a family.”

For Samantha Reynolds’ (10) freshman year of high school volleyball, athletics weren’t allowed.

When she came back to campus, sophomore year, sports were back and Reynolds went straight to varsity. “Due to quarantine our athletics slowed down or stopped completely. It was difficult adjusting to playing with a mask and trying to meet new people while having to social distance. The masks made it hard to breathe, and communication with my teammates was harder. A lot can be communicated from facial expressions, but the masks eliminated that. Last year our volleyball team didn’t have a season despite having tryouts. I was excited because I made varsity but playing was a missed opportunity due to the quarantine,” Reynolds said.

With sports being gone, it made her appreciate them more.

“Quarantine made me appreciate my sport more after experiencing its absence...”

-Samantha Reynolds “It also made me more grateful for the opportunity to play a sport I love with awesome and talented teammates,” Reynolds stated.

When COVID hit, Reynolds was just in Junior High, she never got to experience a high school crowd until this year. Reynolds expresses seeing and hearing spectators really motivates athletes and makes it even more exciting.

Elizabeth Baldwin (11) talked about how much harder it was to get back into running. “Quarantine had a huge impact on both team dynamics and the team’s overall conditioning. The past year our team lost a whole season of training due to quarantine, so it was very difficult to get back into the swing of things.”

Baldwin also talked about the team’s chemistry. “We also didn’t have as strong of a connection as a team as well. However, this year we have made lots of progress. It is exciting to see each team members new-found motivation and enthusiasm now during in-person training.

Such enthusiasm is very promising for our season this year!”

Photo Credit: Elyssa Isaia

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Photo from: Nathan Hansen

William Abel (11) spoke on how the community was lacking in cross country, but has improved now. “For cross country, personal runs and online workout sessions were our predominant form of practicing. However, many people did not push themselves and the overall team atmosphere was pretty lacking. Without encouragement and friendship, running became very boring. However, the effects of quarantine are no longer prevalent, and community among cross country members is as strong as before.”

Overall, the responses had three main points on how athletics were affected by quarantine: physical aspects, culture, and leadership. The interviewees brought up how the sport they are playing either has been feeling a bit harder or more tough than previous years to get back into.

In regard to how the culture has changed, the athletes talked about how the chemistry between each other is a bit off compared to how it has been in the past years.

With taking almost a year and a half off of sports, the leadership has shifted dramatically. Some of the captains now used to be a freshman and sophomore their first year. Taking on this new role of being a leader is a tough role to pick up.

All Photo Credits: Stephanie Lopez

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The Importance of Spiritual & Mental Health

BY LARISSA CALIXTO

During quarantine, most students were isolated from their friends and didn’t keep communication with them, which had a heavy impact on a lot of people. At times, the mental health and morale of the students and teachers sank as activities were limited and the days seemed to run together. Some students felt they lost sight of God during the pandemic.

Staying on the right path with growing the connection with God is an important factor that goes into having good mental health. Pastor Quishenberry, Bible teacher, said he too struggled during the quarantine. “Quarantine took away normal contact with people, especially my students, and that was the hardest part for me.”

That was something that most people also experienced and could relate to. It was also reassuring for students to know that they were not alone. Quishenberry said that in order for us to have a good spiritual mindset, we have to realize our identity first; that we are all beloved children of God. Realizing this will give us a better perspective from which to deal with the rest of our lives. To keep these aspects of our lives healthy, Quishenberry recommends prioritizing keeping our conversations within our everyday routines.

Another important aspect that students may have lost during quarantine, was having stable mental health. Mental health, by definition, is a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. Lynne Hattendorf, LLA’s student counselor, has resources for students to help them

not only with academics, but also with emotional support. Hattendorf suggests that students should find any adult that they feel comfortable with and share information with them and get feedback. In addition to that, Hattendorf also suggests reaching out to Pastor Jo or herself.

The administrators at LLA are also willing to listen and guide students to whoever can best meet their needs.

“Quarantine actually helped me mentally. I was able to process and think about life a lot more. I feel like I learned a lot about who I am as a person.”

- Trevin Skoretz Quarantine was different for everyone, and it hurt some but also helped others. Some people are more introverted and like the alone time, because taking a pause in life can be relaxing not only for the body but also the brain.

Can bad mental health be avoided?

Having a good, stable mental health can be difficult to maintain when you are constantly on the go. “I don’t think that you can avoid having bad mental health because there are a lot of circumstances out of your control,’’ said Skoretz.

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When your mental wellness decreases, you do have control of how you are going to deal with it, either by taking a break or asking for help from a trusted adult.

The mental and spiritual health of the students is important so that they can live their lives on the right path with God. The students and teachers have things in common and things that may have differed, but at the end of the day, everyone is here to help lift each other up and reassure us that we are not alone in our struggles.

GUIDANCE OFFICE RESOURCES TIPS FOR STUDENTS Provided by anonymous LLA parent qualified in mental health

How to Keep a Study Routine

BY ALLISON KIM Building and maintaining good study habits are essential for being successful in school. However, keeping a balanced study routine can be hard sometimes. Here are some of the ways that fellow students maintain a study plan.

Kevin Lee (12) starts by preparing a checklist (mental or physical) of work that needs to be done for each class. He likes to order the list chronologically, from first to seventh period. After he writes his list, Lee starts doing his homework for each class. He said, “The workload has gotten lighter ever since I got past junior year, so I don’t spend that much time doing homework.” When he does get a large amount of work, he normally takes two to three hours to finish.

One tip that Lee suggests in order to study most efficiently is to limit distractions around you. He said, “Not having my phone around really helps me concentrate and get homework done faster.” Another tip he has is to be intentional about studying. He said, “Don’t do it halfheartedly. You have to want to do better.”

“Don’t memorize stuff late at night, because you probably won’t remember any of the information the next day.”

- Emma Lezcano

A student who also makes a list of what she needs to do is Emma Lezcano (11). In the list, her homework is layed out so she knows exactly what she is doing. If she needs help with anything, she watches videos online, or texts her friends for help. She said, “I try to work as effectively as possible so I can finish everything I need to do.”

“Don’t do it halfheartedly. You have to want to do better.”

- Kevin Lee Lezcano studies for one and a half to two hours every night. She recommends not going on Tik Tok, because it is really distracting and you could be scrolling for hours. Another tip she has is to have a positive mindset even if you are tired and don’t feel like doing homework. Lastly, she said, “Don’t memorize stuff late at night, because you probably won’t remember any of the information the next day.”

In his room while he studies, Benjamin Chun (10) turns on some relaxing music. He tries to finish all his homework in one sitting. He takes about one to two hours to complete his homework.

Chun uses his desire to do other fun things besides homework to motivate himself to finish as fast as possible. He said, “Even if it gets boring, just finish it all at once, rather than putting it off and taking too many breaks, because you can get distracted and may not do it in

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the end.”

Athena Francisco (9) rereads the material that was given to her during class. She usually studies for about an hour every night.

She takes occasional breaks when studying so she doesn’t get too tired and end up wasting time. She said, “Don’t study too much because you might start overthinking everything and make it harder for yourself when you take the test/quiz.”

Limiting distractions, such as the phone, while doing homework, students found to be the most helpful way to stay focused. They also recommend having good intentions to study hard, take some breaks, and keep a positive mindset. Lastly, although school and studies are important, it is also important to maintain good mental health and have fun whenever you can!

Photo credit: pixabay.com

Finding Time to Enjoy the Small Things in Life

BY ABIGAIL COOLEY

As the 2021-2022 school year begins, students start to immerse themselves in seemingly endless amounts of school work. Homework, exams, group projects, and sports have taken the spotlight of students’ lives at Loma Linda Academy. As one can imagine, it can be hard to manage school life and keep up with all that it demands, on top of dealing with the stress and anxiety that accompanies life’s problems.

In fact, studies from the 2021 State of Mental Health in America report shows that poor mental health in the U.S. continually increases, with about 19%, or 1.5 million Americans are currently living with mental health conditions.

Everything that goes on in the lives of students can greatly affect them both physically and mentally.

Maya Castillo (11) said she struggles to find time to relax. “I usually never find time to relax. But sometimes at night I can.” However, when she does find the time she also turns to music because, “It blocks out everything else in my life.” Castillo also enjoys hanging out with her four dogs as a way to relax.

Abby Delaroca (9) expressed that she uses music as a source of relief from the stresses of life. “I like R&B and also ballads,” she said. Delaroca said that enjoying the small things in life is important, because it allows you to slow down and not rush your day. “It takes away stress and allows you to relax, because you don’t want to go through your day too fast.”

Some students turn to social outlets to find relaxation. Jacob

Photo Credit: Abigail Cooley

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Kelly (11) stated he enjoys hanging out with his friends. “After school, I like to talk with others as it helps me relate and understand that everything I’m going through, I’m not going through alone, and that I always have people who are here for me.” Kelly also turns to church as an outlet to relax, and says, “It is also another gateway to talking to others.”

Finding time to relax through physical activities is another option as well. Viggo Patrona (11) finds it helpful using physical activity, including rock climbing, to relax from the stresses of life. “ It gives me a way to forget about all the things in life and focus more on just having a great time, while doing my body some good.” Patrona also finds enjoying the small things in life important, clarifying, “When I think of the small things in life, one of the things that comes to mind is friendly nods and smiles by classmates as I walk down the hallway. I feel that things like this not only makes a warm feeling inside, but gives a sense of community, which can get you through a tough day.”

Learning to take a step back and reflect on the bigger picture can change one’s view on life and all it has to offer. Finding time to go for a walk, read an interesting book, or even listening to calming music is a good place to start. Small things such as these can really make a difference in your own life.

Pumpkin Blueberry Muffins

BY ABIGAIL COOLEY This delicious treat is perfect for the upcoming fall season. With a fluffy and moist texture, as well as a sweet pumpkin taste, these muffins are essential to your autumn food festivities. This recipe, as well as more tips for baking these muffins are found on the website Pumpkin ‘N Spice!

Ingredients: • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 cup granulated sugar • ½ cup packed light brown sugar • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon baking soda • ½ teaspoon salt • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg • ½ teaspoon ground cloves • 2 eggs • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract • 1½ cups pure pumpkin • ¾ cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries Photo Credit: Abigail Cooley

Instructions: 1. Start off by preheating the oven to 425°F, and line two 12-count muffin tins with paper liners or grease with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, white sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves.

3. In a different large bowl, whisk eggs, pure pumpkin, vanilla extract, and coconut oil.

4. Mix together the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, combining thoroughly. Then fold in the blueberries.

5. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each tin about 3/4 of the way full.

6. Bake muffins for 5 minutes at 425°F, then lower the oven to 375°F and bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean.

7. Remove muffins from the oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

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The Importance of Maintaining Physical Health

BY JASON GREGORIUS-GRAKOV It is important to keep our bodies healthy. Treating our bodies well at a young age can prevent the development of diseases later in life.

“Working on your longevity early is key to preventing disease and it will increase your physical activity as you get older,” shared Marina Ferrando, a physical education teacher at LLA. There are many different things that we need to consider to keep our bodies in good condition.

Having the right diet is an important part of staying healthy.

“Pay for good food now or pay the doctor later to regulate your health with pills,” Ferrando said. “Try to incorporate healthy eating habits like eating three meals a day that are not heavy or full of empty calories,” explained Ferrando.

BetterHealthChannel.com sug-

Photo Credit: Alexander Salles

“Working on your longevity early is key to preventing disease and it will increase your physical activity as you get older...”

gests that your plate should consist of fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, and protein. They advise to eat more food in the morning and at lunchtime, and to eat less during dinner.

Drinking water regularly is another essential part of keeping the body healthy. According to healthline.com, experts recommend that the average person should drink at least half a gallon of water per day.

People lose water due to sweating from exercising or excretion. Body fluid loss affects the mood and increases the frequency of headaches. Drinking water can prevent these problems. Keep in mind that not every fluid is healthy for the body. Healthline.com suggests drinking less carbonated beverages and focusing primarily on water.

Alongside eating and drinking healthy, getting a good night’s sleep is very important for the body.

According to CSL Health, the body needs at least eight hours of sleep per night to function properly during the day. Getting a full good night’s sleep increases productivity, focus, performance and improves mood. It also improves the immune system, memory and strengthens the heart. “Create a nighttime routine to get your mind and body relaxed, maybe try meditating. Oh, and stop looking at your phone or tablet — those social media alerts will all be there in the morning,” says CSL Health, giving some advice for creating a sleep routine.

Last but not least, make sure you exercise regularly! “Move it or lose it,” said John Hall, physical

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Photo Credit: Alexander Salles

education teacher at LLA, or as we call him, Coach Hall. “Move it or lose it is how God created us if we don’t move our bodies, our bodies deteriorate. Time and gravity beat you down and you will expose your body to a weaker immune system and more diseases. Make exercising a part of your day! We all have a routine, just look at it as part of your day, something you should do a little bit of every day, and pretty soon it will become a habit,” explained Hall. He said, “You are only one workout away from starting a fitness lifestyle for the rest of your life.”

How Quarantine Affected Students

BY JASON GREGORIUS-GRAKOV For Loma Linda Academy students, quarantine began on March 13 of the 2019-2020 school year and continued for one year. Loma Linda Academy students studied at home through Zoom and other virtual platforms. However, this school year students began the new school year, 2021-2022, on campus.

Now looking back at that time, many students realized the importance of being with friends. Many of the Loma Linda Academy students shared that they communicated with their friends through texts or video calls. “I spent time with my family and connected with my friends through texts and calls,” shared Viveka Smith (11).

Other students missed traveling.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Lopez

“We were actually supposed to go (to Hawaii) for spring break of 2020, but of course that was the start of the COVID outbreak so it was impossible,” Issa Moralde (9) shared.

Some students looked at the benefits of quarantine. Some found the lockdown as an opportunity to spend more time with family and practice or learn different hobbies. “I spent more time reading the Bible, you know!” shared Emeka Ikechukwu (11).

Reading the Bible is very important and connecting to God is the key to success” Ikechukwu explained.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Lopez

Photo Credit: TechRepublic.com

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