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THE MIRROR Handshake: Starting the Year Hand in Hand Imagine an event where you shake more than 100 people’s hands in less than 30 minutes! Loma Linda Academy High School has a unique tradition to begin each school year. Every first day of school, all four classes meet together in an evening filled with school spirit, competition, and excitement. Before the fun, the senior class of 2027 created decorated floats and carefully prepared for their parade. This year the parade had the fun theme of “Blast to our Past.” Once everything is ready, the seniors parade around campus while the other classes wear their class colors and cheer them on. Screams and shouts fill the atmosphere as students celebrate their friends and send the seniors into their final year. This parade creates an exciting start to the school year and gives everyone a chance to come together. Once the parade concludes, students begin to gather on the field for class games. Each class competes to earn the most points and become the class with the highest score. The events include: the bat-spin race, wheelbarrow race, hula hoop pass, and scream contest. Each game brings determination as students race, shout, and encourage their classmates from the sidelines. These create a fun chance to connect with competitions other classes, build class spirit, and compete with friends. After the games, all four classes gather together for a school picture, capturing a moment that everyone can look back on throughout the school year. Right before the final event, each class lines up to create a huge oval and begins to shake hands with one another in a clockwise direction. (continued on next page)
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Some faces are new, while others are familiar classmates and close friends. As students make their way around the oval, they get the chance to see and meet people from every class. Kiana Walukow (’27) shared that her favorite part of Handshake was: “being able to participate in the float parade...and I appreciate coming together as classes too.” After a summer apart, Handshake gives everyone the opportunity to see their friends again and begin the year together. As the final hands are shaken, students gather together to take pictures with their friends and capture the moment. For the seniors, dressed up and celebrating the beginning of their final year, the day becomes even more meaningful. The games will end, the floats will be put away, and the school year will continue on. One thing will remain the same, the memories created through the hands we shook. Handshake may seem like a strange tradition, but it is one that brings the entire school together and creates memories that students can carry with them for years to come.
Author: Myla Benggon ('27) Section Editor: Sophie Munongo (‘27)
VBS: A Way to Connect With God Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a community outreach program where church and members can bring their children during summer evenings to participate in fun and educational programs. These programs are largely ran by student volunteers from the church. As such, VBS can be an excellent opportunity for students to connect with kids younger than them. In order to better understand the degree of connection students can achieve during these experiences, I interviewed several students who participated in VBS. (continued on next page) Page 2
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(continued) During VBS students, would lead crafts, games, and bible studies. This lets kids learn about God in a relaxing environment where they can have fun and have a hands-on experience. Also the students get valuable skills and work hours. When asked about the experience, Zachary Rodgers (‘28) said, “VBS is a very fun and engaging way to get hours, but it is also cool to see how the kids are affected and influenced by God.” Another student, Morgan Ghosh (‘28) said, “I enjoyed making an impact in the community, I knew being there would help students learn about God and grow in so many different ways. Also you develop a lot of leadership skills and it is very fun to do.” VBS is a great way to make friends and build relationships with families and other volunteers. Madyson Cao (‘25) said, “VBS is great because it gives kids access to community and God, during the summer.” Zachary Rodgers went to the VBS at Loma Linda University Church. Morgan Ghosh went to the VBS at Loma Linda Filipino Church. Madyson Cao went to the VBS at La Sierra University Church. VBS helps faith grow, and helps you to feel comfortable working with other people. It also boosts confidence and responsibility, as making sure the kids are having fun and that everyone is safe is very important. VBS can change you, because it reveals that doing little things like helping out the kids in the community, can make a big difference. Community service hours are the smallest part of going to VBS. It connects volunteers, kids, members of the church and even the families at home. The program brings all of us together to complete a shared goal: Giving children a fun and positive experience while also exposing them to God. Author: Zachary Rodgers ('28) Section Editor: Sophie Munongo (‘27)
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What changes between starting and ending high school? On the first day of High School, freshmen walk through the halls seeing new faces, new classes, and new beginnings. On the other hand, seniors, in their final year of high school, go through the halls confident and with familiarity. But just how different does the beginning of the year feel when you’re starting high school compared to when you’re getting ready to leave? We asked freshman Josiah Genece (‘30) and Rockton Hill (‘27) the same questions to find out. For Josiah, one of the biggest challenges for starting high school was academics. “The classes. I didn’t know if it was going to be hard or not,” Josiah said. Rockton, however, had a different concern - rather, no concern at all.“I wasn’t nervous about anything because I’m a senior. I run it around here,” Rockton said. We asked both of them, “How confident were you on the first day?” Despite being a freshman, Josiah still felt comfortable on his first day. He said, “[I’m] pretty confident because I know most of the people here in the high school.” Rockton’s confidence, on the other hand, was in another league, He said, “I was overly confident and I felt like a big boss.” We then asked them “What advice would you give to someone starting high school?” Josiah, not sure how the academics of high school will play out, said “Don’t get behind in your school work.” Rockton’s advice was a little less academic,“Don’t look a senior in the eyes.” While Josiah focuses on responsibility with schoolwork, Rockton shows some senior humour. “What is something you plan to experience?” As they look forward to the year, both students have pretty different experiences they hope to have. For Josiah, his interest is sports. He said that “Winning a (continued on next page) Page 4
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Rockton Hill ('27)
Josiah Genece ('30)
Issue 1 (continued) basketball and football championship. That’s my main goal.” Rockton, on the other hand, has to face the reality of getting a bit older.He says he has been thinking about “getting a job, a real job.” From worrying about new classes to feeling like the “big boss” of the school, freshmen and seniors walk through the same hall, but experience it quite differently. One is beginning a new journey with new memories to be made, while the other is making the most of their final year. For Josiah, high school is just getting started. For Rockton, it’s one last year to make it count.
Author: Nicholas Ocampo ('28) Section Editor: Monae Dulan(‘28)
Event Calendar The information below is a list of major events happening in the months of October and November: October 7-10, 2026 - Varsity Girls VB Walla Walla Tournament October 12, 2026 - No School! October 16, 2026 - HS All Officers Vespers October 20, 2026 - Girls Flag Football 1st Rd CIF Playoffs October 20, 2026 - Girls VR Volleyball 1st Rd CIF Playoffs October 21-22, 2026 - HS Minimum Day October 24, 2026 - Sinfonia Church Performance October 26-30 - Red Ribbon/Spirit Week November 3, 2026 - HS ACT Testing November 4, 2026 - HS NHS Induction Ceremony November 6, 2026 - HS SA Bible Bowl November 9, 2026 - SA Christmas Banquet Announcement Provided by: Maddie Checo ('27)
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Procrastination 101: Survival Guides for Underclassmen As the year begins and classwork piles, both under and upperclassmen face one problem known to all: procrastination. By definition, procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks despite knowing that there will be negative consequences for not doing them. In other words, it is not having the motivation to do something even though it has to be completed. For students, this leads to last minute homework, late project submissions, and constant mental strain. As many may know, junior year is considered the hardest year in high school. The constant stress, late night studies, and back-toback quizzes and tests directly impacts everyone in academics. It becomes even more of a burden for those who struggle with procrastination. To try to counter procrastination, we launched a “Senioritis Survey” to try and give underclassmen all of the tips and tricks to combat this bad habit from a seniors perspective. Here are some of the responses we received: Question: “What are some tips for studying, senioritis, or overall procrastination?” Answers: “Do assignments ahead of time if you can. On time is the new late.” “Work in a quiet environment and take 30 minutes a day to study.” “Push through and keep working. For studying, prioritize the class you struggle with the most.” “Some tips for studying are to start as soon as possible. When I save my homework for the last minute, I find that I just don't do it at all or feel overwhelmed. If starting right away is intimidating, which it usually is for me, I take a short break outside or eat food. For senioritis, I would just try to remember that this is our last year, and we should give it one final push.” “Create a good study environment! put on a scented candle and your favorite fuzzy socks or grab a snack and put on some relaxing music. Make it feel like something comfortable. Study with friends who have the same academic goals as you and want to succeed. Use (continued on next page)
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(continued) that peer pressure to your advantage! Use a planner so you don't immediately forget about everything and make your planner something you love! Use school supplies of your favorite color so when you look at it you feel happier.” “Don't overcrowd your schedule, you can only do so much. Do what you love, not what you can tolerate.” “Start your homework right when you get home, create a study schedule, take breaks between studying, make time for other things outside of school that make you happy.” “Try to do as much homework as possible in school or during lunch so that even if you procrastinate doing homework at home you have already finished the majority of it.” “PUT THAT PHONE AWAY. Set time for 40 minutes where you work super hard and then take a 10 minute break but don't scroll. Go get a snack or something and then get back to work. For seniors, the most important thing is how you budget your time. Don't overwork yourself but make sure you get enough work done.” The majority of the seniors noted that creating precise study schedules, taking breaks, and not overwhelming yourself with other activities can help with procrastination. Another tip that was consistently brought up throughout the interviews was to do your work right away, as it eliminates the burden of piling work. As we move on through the school year, make sure to keep these tips and tricks in mind to survive and thrive throughout your high school Author: Maddie Checo('27) years! Section Editor: Morgan Ghosh (‘28)
Flip or Flop? As we begin our new school year, there has been a takeover of flip flops instead of normal sneakers. Although there are many people who enjoy wearing these types of shoes, some prefer typical sneakers. When I asked fellow classmates whether or not they rather like wearing flip flops or sneakers, the results surprised me! The results are almost equal, which means that people enjoy both wearing sneakers and flip flops equally! Are you going to hop on the flop train?
Flip Flop
Sneaker
Flip Flop 45.5% Sneaker 54.5%
Author: Kaelie Ignacio('27) Section Editor: Kathy Chau (‘27)
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A New Chapter: Former LLA Students and Current Faculty Members Pastor Quishenberry and Pastor Skoretz Have you ever wondered what high school was like for your teachers? Were they stressed about schoolwork and social life; how have things changed, how have they remained? Well, lucky for you, I had the privilege of interviewing our very own Pastor Quishenberry and Pastor Skoretz- A.K.A. our Bible teachers! They graduated Loma Linda Acadmey in the class of 1986, “Eighty-Six Kicks!” - Pastor Skoretz. Since then, the characteristics of academics, extracurriculars, and culture have either changed or stayed the same to create the LLA that we get to experience today. Academics are a central part of our school today. We strive to grow intellectually in order to prepare for our futures, but has it always been this way? When asked to compare the workload of students, Pastor Skoretz and Pastor Quishenberry explained that although there are more challenging courses nowadays, the teachers were stricter and had the personas of college professors. Speaking of challenging classes, Loma Linda Academy has created a larger variety of courses in general. Students now take Honors and AP classes that weren’t featured when our pastors were still in high school. They explained that both of their favorite subjects were band and Bible, it makes sense that they returned to our school as pastors! Extracurriculars bring joy, triumph, community, and even stress. Which raises the question of what inspired our teachers to participate in the community when they were students here? Many kids at Loma Linda consider themselves athlete-students, rather than student-athletes, and that idea is one that has developed greatly over the years. As said by Pastor Quishenberry, there are a surplus of options for sports now, there used to only be a few, and those were in competition with alumni teams or other small adventist schools. For example, Pastor Quishenberry played football and softball in high school because there was no baseball team yet. (continued on next page)
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While Pastor Skoretz played football and basketball- two sports we still offer today. Though they were held in the form of intramurals, as not all adventist schools at this time were willing to compete. Despite the difference in athletics, the same schedules that weigh on students' mentality prompted my question for Pastor Quishenberry on whether he had any advice for current high schoolers. In response, he said, “Keeping your priorities are the most important things; a relationship with God, health and rest, and time with family and friends. It requires balance with your schooling, because school is only one aspect of your life.” Loma Linda Academy has a very strong culture, and our student body is the contents that make it whole. Overtime, social media, as well as the introduction of phones as a whole has greatly impacted the culture of our students. Our two pastors stated that as students, they had only two options of communication; calling on the phone, or talking in real life, and this made people more attentive to their interactions. The impact of phones has caused us to develop shorter attention spans, but as we become more involved online, it prompts us for greater connection. Through our online interactions, communication, creativity, and culture spawn from the presence and art we pour into social media. Loma Linda Academy has grown to be a community filled school with plenty of opportunity and challenge. Our athletic and academic programs have grown with the help of institutions put into place when our teachers were once students. Pastor Quishenberry and Pastor Skoretz both agreed that the ministry from high school had called them back into the community of LLA. Through this interview I hope you have received a greater understanding of Loma Linda’s history, and why so many come back to the area. Author: Sophie Munongo ('27) Section Editor: Kaelie Ignacio (‘27)
Making Music: La Sierra Music Retreat On Friday, August 21, the musical classes of Loma Linda Academy visited La Sierra University to share the musical talent of our school. On this retreat, the students spend the weekend at the University dorms. For the next three days, the students participated in many musical practices, perfecting their abilities and learning new musical techniques. The trip first starts right after school, and the students depart for the weekend. Upon arrival, the students will begin to practice (continued on next page)
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and play their music for each other. When the students aren't playing music, they spend their free time playing games or hanging out in the cafeteria. On Saturday, all of the students go on an early morning hike and celebrate the Sabbath by singing worship songs together outside. After the hike, our Loma Linda Academy Wind Symphony band participated in their annual band retreat scavenger hunt. In the scavenger hunt, each instrumental section in the band walks around the university to collect things for points. The section with the most points wins. This year, the scavenger hunt had the students collecting pictures of our band director, Mr. Pichette, for points. The day continues with all of the students practicing their music for the final day of retreat. After a long day of practice, the students spend the rest of the night in the university’s gym, where they will play basketball, volleyball, or pickleball. On the final day, all musical classes perform for each other in the university’s church. During the performances, the students get the opportunity to share their musical talent with each other. After the performances, the students end their trip and leave for home. Author: Zachary Rodgers ('28) Section Editor: Markus Cao (‘28)
Seniors take the Stage: Teen Beach Movie This year's senior presentation brought a lot of energy, humor, and school spirit to the stage with a Teen Beach Movie theme. Before the real show even started, the seniors surprised the audience with a prank, pretending the play was (continued on next page)
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actually going to be Lilo & Stitch. For a moment, people were confused about what was happening, which made the reveal of the real theme even funnier. It was a creative way to start the play and immediately got the audience involved. Once the prank was over, the cast jumped into the 1960’s with music, acting, costumes, and plenty of fun moments. The main characters were: Mack played by Maia Bilbao (‘27), Brady played by Logan Parchamento (‘27), Lela played by Rocky Mendoza (‘27), Tanner played by Noah Kim (‘27), and Butchy played by Nico Drachenberg (‘27). A lot of hard work went into making the performance come together. The cast spent time learning their lines, practicing scenes, and preparing for the show. The crew worked behind the scenes to help with sets, props, costumes, lighting, sound, and everything else needed to make the production run smoothly. Although the audience only saw the final performance, many hours of preparation happened before the big day. More than just a performance, the senior presentation was a chance for the class to create a special memory together during their final year of high school. The funny opening, upbeat theme, and effort from everyone involved made the show entertaining and memorable. While interviewing the stage manager we found the reasons behind this presentation choice, “We've kind of been thinking about it since junior year, and we feel like it shows who we are as a senior class. It’s like how in the beginning of Teen Beach Movie when the bikers and surfers didn’t get along. I feel like that kind of represents our class and how it was at the beginning of freshman year,” Maddie Checo (‘27). In the end, the class of 2027 showed what can happen when the cast and crew work together and put their time and creativity into something the whole school can enjoy. Author: Stephanie Yarbrough ('27) Section Editor: Myla Benggon (‘27)
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Do you want to take a Mission Trip? A Personal Reflection on Puerto Rico When people think of what to do over the summer, they usually think of pool parties, going to the beach, Vacation Bible School, or just hanging out with friends and family. Mission trips are usually not on the top of most people’s lists. I know that wasn’t on my list, nor was it on any of my other friends list. It would be an understatement if I said that the Puerto Rico mission trip that I went with my friends with was the most fun and memorable thing that happened all summer. Now a little disclaimer, not all mission trips are the same. There are two sides to mission trips and we often focus on one side more than the other. There’s the mission in general and the trip itself. The mission part is what you do on the mission trip: what you do to help, who you help, and the impact you have on the people you’re helping. The trip part is what most people think of, and that includes things like: what are the beds like, where do you stay, whether the food will be good, and are there toilets? These are valid questions, but we believe mission trips are more than that. If having both parts are important to you, talk to the pastor that’s organizing the mission trip and ask those types of questions. To prepare for our trip, we created a packing list that included all the materials needed for this mission trip. It included many toiletries and necessities that will help us adapt in Puerto Rico. After completing the necessary packing, our pastor then advised us to research a little more about where we were going. One thing that we learned was that we had to bring a water filter, because the water there contains lots of bacteria. We also learned that it was going to be extremely HOT. Everyday felt like we were being baked by the sun. For the first couple of days on our trip, we had a lot of free time. On the first day of being there, we went to the (continued on next page)
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beach and relaxed. After enjoying Puerto Rico for a couple days, our work began. The schedule for our work was created, each day we would do something different: such as VBS, painting a mural in Ponce, restoring the old university dorms we stayed in, dental work, and so many other things. After working and helping the community for a week straight, we finally had some days off. We had the opportunity to go to a waterfall and slide down the rocks. It was a very fun and unique experience. In reflection, the Puerto Rico mission trip was a good mix of working for the community and having free time to explore the place ourselves. This mission trip gave us more than work experience hours and good times with our friends. It gave us an experience that would change us mentally and spiritually. In reflection of her experience, Kelsea Fernandez (‘28) said: “After Puerto Rico, I felt really sad, but it was also really bittersweet and I felt very accomplished with what we did there in Puerto Rico. Since it was my first mission trip, I didn't really know what to expect but all I could say is, it was way better than I expected and I came home feeling so happy that I experienced this trip and was able to help and meet a lot of people.” Other people that went on this mission trip said similar things to Kelsea. The effect this mission trip had on all of us is something that we all won’t forget nor want to. We can tell you from our experience that the mission trip allowed us to grow as a person. Now, we began to appreciate the things humans often miss, like nature, people’s smiles, stories, and the power of speaking to people you don’t know. If we took anything from this mission trip, it was that these types of trips aren’t just for the people we’re meeting, but also for the people going on the mission trip. So go on one if you get a chance, see what’s out there, and remember to help others wherever you are. (Special note. If you’re interested in going on a mission trip but don’t know where to look, contact Pastor Mark (Phone: 240-643-3119) from Loma Linda Filipino Church. The next Puerto Rico mission trip is on June 30 - July 12, 2027.) Authors: Marky Cao (‘28), and Marco Sigue ('28) Section Editor: Zachary Rodgers (‘28)
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From Airliners To Firefighters “911, what’s your emergency?” “There’s a fire! Send the fire department!” Often, when people think of fires, the first thing that comes to mind are firetrucks and firefighters. When responding to emergencies, firefighters utilize advanced engines and equipment to effectivly contain and extinguish the fire. However, when fires are present in much more remote places, such as mountainous terrain, it is difficult to put them out due to the geography and isolated access. To solve this, firefighters have resorted to aviation in order to suppress wildfires. Using aircraft makes it possible to extinguish fires more effectively while reaching them much faster. These aerial firefighters are spread throughout various aircraft and locations, ensuring effectiveness and practicality. Here at the San Bernardino International Airport, many of these firefighting planes provide firefighters with materials, resources, and a strategic location, making their job much easier. One well known aircraft, that is operated by the Ten Tanker Air Carrier corporation, is the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30. The DC-10 is a three-engine wide-body jet airliner introduced in 1971. These aircraft have since then been converted from commercial passenger airliner use and remodeled to fit 9,400 - gallon exterior bellymounted tanks which are used to drop water or fire retardant. In addition, these planes are characterized as very large air tankers (VLAT) due to their large payload of fire retardant, being capable of covering an area up to 300 feet wide and one mile long! Contrary to their “safe appearance” now, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was known for its many safety issues throughout its career, giving it the name the “flying coffin.” However in later years, it serves a new purpose, and contrary to many commercial planes that have been since been decommissioned and retired, it remains in service and continues to save lives and wildlife today! Though this plane has undergone many changes and purposes, it is a testament to the fact that no matter your past, you can still change your future and impact those around you. Author: Cameron Atchison (‘29) Section Editor: Brennan Atchison (‘29)
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LLA Club Fair: Finding Connection Beyond the Classroom Loma Linda Academy has many different clubs that allow students to find people with similar interests and try new things. At the beginning of every school year, a Club Fair is held to allow students to advertise their own club. This year, I had the privilege of interviewing Joshua Chung (‘28), Co-President of the Korean Culture Club; Adam Nahab (‘27), President of the Middle Eastern Club; Elianah Downs-Symonett (‘27), President of the Book Club; Samuel Carrera (‘27), Vice President of the Hispanic Culture Club; and Ryan Seheult (‘27), President of the Pickleball Club. After every interview with them, I realized that every club has something different to offer. Some focus on sharing culture, while others focus more on hobbies, sports, or spending time with friends. The Korean Culture Club and Hispanic Culture Club both allow students to learn about and experience different cultures. Joshua said his favorite part of the KCC is sharing his culture and contributing to the LLA community. The main purpose of the club is to share Korean culture and bring good spirits to the school. Samuel said his favorite part of the HCC is sharing Hispanic culture with his friends. He also said that anyone can join and have fun, even if they are not Hispanic. I think these clubs are a great way for students to find a community outside of their homes while also spending time with their friends. The differences between these two clubs are how different they are in terms of culture; even with these differences, they both share a love and passion for sharing their cultures. The Middle Eastern Culture Club and Book Club also have a lot of activities for students to enjoy. Adam said that the MECC does many different things, including participating in the Club Fair, giving out food and snacks, carrying flags, walking across the stage, and representing the club with their merchandise. His favorite part is the people because they make the club fun. Elianah said the Book Club plans to have snacks, food, and different crafts, such as making bracelets and bookmarks. Students who love reading and are interested in books would enjoy the club. These clubs show that students (continued on next page) Page 15
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can get involved in different ways depending on what they enjoy. The Pickleball Club gives students a chance to have fun while improving their skills. Ryan said that the club plays pickleball and hosts tournaments. He has also gotten better at pickleball and improved his hand-eye coordination through the club. His advice for new members is to have fun and come every Thursday. These individual club officers reveal how many opportunities students have at LLA. Clubs are not just about the activity itself. They are also a way to meet people, learn new things, share interests, and become more involved in the school community. Author: Johan Kim (‘27) Section Editor: Landon Nicholas (‘27)
Get to Know Mrs. Benfield Everyone may know Mrs. Benfield as our academic vice principal, but does anyone truly know her? As you may already know, she’s the one you go to for schedule changes, transcripts, and anything related to your grades. Yet, I can assure you that there is more to Mrs. Benfield than just her job! She grew up in the Bay Area, in Oakland Hills near Lake Chabot. Growing up, she never had any pets because of her brother’s severe asthma. Some of her favorite foods are from Shiki Sushi and even the Kung Pao Chicken from Trader Joe's. She loves food from all around the world. Her favorite meal ever was from Maastricht, Amsterdam. In her own words, “Ooooh la la! Magnifique!” When I asked her what she would eat if there was only one food she could have for the rest of her life, she replied, “Isaiah 32:16 says that our bread and water will be sure, so it would have to be warm to hot bread from the oven with a cold glass of water with lemon.” We asked her, “What inspired you to be a leader at LLA?” She responded, saying that God plants everyone where He wants us to grow. She’s blessed to work with colleagues who strive to get ready for the heavenly kingdom. If you asked her who her role model was a few years ago, she would have said her parents, but now she says the only role model she looks up to is Jesus Christ. She has been in the field of education for over 30 years, and she loves what she does. She reflects on her experience, “I love working with young people. You guys are hilarious!” Mrs. Benfield is our awesome academic vice principal, and it’s great to get to know her better! She puts God at the center of every conversation, and that is something to look up to. Author: Kathy Chau (‘27) Section Editor: Maddie Checo (‘27)
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What Did You Read This Summer? Summer often allows students to get back into their hobbies. For some students, this means reading outside of the classroom curriculum. To see what different students read and recommend this summer, I interviewed one student from each grade. If you do not know the next book you want to explore, these recommendations may be the one for you! What was your favorite new book you read this summer outside of SACE? Eliana Benggon (‘30): Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis Rating: 10/10 “It was a very interesting book and it’s cool to see how God led in Katie’s life.”
Luke Osborn (‘29): Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tale’s Series by Nathan Hale Rating: 8.5/10 “I was able to grasp History into a graphic novel which can be very entertaining.”
Jadelynn Farley Aeden Parsons (‘28): Words on (‘27): Fire by Mythology: Jennifer A. Timeless Tales Nielsen of Gods and Rating: 10/10 Heroes by Edith “I really liked Hamilton the plot twists Rating: 8/10 in the novel, “Its interesting and I have to see different always versions of appreciated theology and Historical this book Fiction.” portrayed that well.” Provided by: Elisa Salcedo (‘27)
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Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe
Picture this, it's November 30, 2022, and you show up to school as you would on any other day. You greet your friends, and sit down, waiting for the morning bell to ring. Everyone begins to murmur and their eyes are glued to their phones. You take a peek and see this headline: “Introducing ChatGPT.” This was the day that would change the lives of students and teachers across America. Since then, Artificial Intelligence has become a part of our daily lives and within our school. I interviewed a few teachers and students to get their overall thoughts on AI. Mr. Richards said that he supports AI, explicitly saying, “I use it as a tool.” He uses it to make tests based off of the questions he gives to ChatGPT, but he makes sure to double check for errors because AI is not perfect. Additionally, he also uses it for health purposes. Sometimes when he gets tests done, the terminology in the report is not easy to read and can
Issue 1 get quite confusing. When he asks ChatGPT to simplify the terminology, the report becomes easier to understand. On the other hand, Mr. Stone gives us some good insight why we have to be careful about how we should use AI, “If students choose cognitive offloading, if they choose to not do the functions with their own heads, with their own minds, and try to get a machine to do it for them, then they fail to grow.” He believes that we are losing the ability to do basic things like alphabetizing, and even the act of basic arithmetic. In addition, he talks about one very important thing: variety. Every time we ask AI to write our essays or to answer our questions, we are losing the art of variety in our daily works. If we decide to use AI, we are likely to end up losing the skill of our own original responses, and this is very important for students to understand. Mr. Stone continued to say, “So every time you choose to allow artificial intelligence or some other technology to do a job for your brain, then you are (continued on next page)
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losing a skill or a capability or less diminishing it in your own self.” This means we should work on the skill of problem solving before relying on Artificial Intelligence to finish the job for us. To get a different point of view, I wanted to interview some of the students about their opinions on AI. Marco Sigue (‘28) commented, “I think it is a good tool if you use it properly instead of using it for the wrong things.” To him, AI in art is not good and we should stick to coming up with our own creative ideas. Similarly, Cameron and Brennan Atchinson (‘29) take a more neutral approach to AI. They do not like to use it regularly, but every now and then they use it to help them understand concepts or even get some creative ideas. It is apparent that the use of AI has affected our school and students in many ways. Through these interviews, it's suggested that it is a good idea to start learning how to use AI properly, but we just have to be careful. As students, it is very important that we are developing in a way that does not rely on the use of AI, but out of our own creativity from our own minds. It is our goal to learn how to use it properly because it will only become more normalized in our future, but it is important to remember the art of variety and the creativity of the human mind. Author: Morgan Ghosh (‘28) Section Editors: Nadya Pasaribu (‘ 28), Kayleigh Hutagalung (’28)
Walking the Streets of History: Summer Government Trip: Government, the foundation of our country, the cornerstone of the very land that you live on. During senior year, Government is a history class that everyone is required to take where you learn about the way our government was set up and how it works. This class can take quite a bit of time from your year, giving much suffering and struggle, but there is an option to take it during the summer. This allows you to take some suffering away from your last year in high school. In this summer class, the course time is condensed into a whole week where you take a test everyday which is pretty rigorous until you get to go on the trip, and honestly, is one of the best school trips ever. The trip takes you from Philadelphia, to D.C., to Maryland, and finally to New York. Students who went this year all have a different opinion or experience going through the classes and the trip. Lets see what other people have to say about the once in a lifetime experience! (continued on next page)
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“What was the classroom like?” “The classroom felt like the twilight zone with time moving at a record slow pace. We were there FOREVER with a test everyday, but lowkey, having friends there made it so much better. We made so many inside jokes and funny bits from our stupid answers which made it all worth it in the end.” -Eric Carter (‘27) “How did you deal with long lessons?” “I didn’t survive the lessons. I was so bored but what helped was that for the last few days we had a little game my friends and I made that involved passing around a paper. We would just take turns passing around the paper which helped us not die from boredom.” -Aedan Parsons (‘27) “How was the flight there?” “We had to take a test on the flight which was a bit stressful not because I didn’t study but because I was in the middle of a nap so I had to wake up and finish it! That test gave me a spike of adrenaline so I got really tired afterwards and fell asleep. Sleeping was the way I entertained myself and if I woke up then I would just try to fall asleep again. I would also watch the clouds go by until we landed.” - Miele Ladson (‘27) “What was your favorite location you visited?” “My favorite place we went to was the Marine base for sure. Bro, the whole routine that they did with the guns was so tuff with them flipping the bayonets like pizza’s. Don’t even get me started on the band AND THE DRUM LINE, OH MY GOODNESS that was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. They shot cannons at the end and I was recording it the entire time so you can see me physically jump every time they shot.” -Ryan Seheult (‘27) “What was your favorite part of the trip overall?” “My favorite part was probably just hanging out with all my friends. We would stay up late and I remember watching comedy movies together which I’ve never laughed harder in my life. Going to all the different places with them made it so much better so I’d say, yeah I enjoyed having my friends there the most.” -Kaleb Almarez (‘27) (continued on next page)
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“Would you recommend this experience to other people?” “I would 100% recommend it because it felt like everyday was the adventure of my dreams. Even if it was 1 day, I would have been so happy. The fact that it was 2 weeks was even better and made me appreciate it more. It made me feel like an adult in a way and made me think about my broader life with living somewhere else because I really liked D.C. and it made me think about possibly moving there. In total, it made me think about my future and broadened my perspective on what careers I can pursue. It was a once in a lifetime experience where if you are interested in history or politics, you get to experience it live where there is something for everyone on the trip so most definitely people should go!” -Taryn Washington (‘27) The entirity of the summer government class is an extremely exciting experience with tests left and right along with an amazing class trip. The classroom can feel slow at times but friends make it a much better experience and can help you through the lessons. The flights allow you to catch up on some missed sleep to gain enough energy for a trip of a lifetime. You’ll visit so many cool locations and participate in so many fun activities. The government class according to students will guarantee you an amazing time and is worth the time and money. Author: Perry Im (‘27) Section Editor: Taryn Washington (‘27)
We only have OneLife: A Personal Reflection Picture this: it’s the last two weeks of summer, and you don’t want it to end. You want to spend more time with friends and family, and spend one more day rotting in your room. What else would you want to do? You already registered for school, talked to your friends about what classes you’re taking, and want to make the best year. Then, one of them said something about Onelife. You forget about it until you’re told that you’re going. Now instead of hanging out with your friends, you have to go to a camp that you’re not happy about going to. If I were being honest, this is a bit of an overreaction compared to what happened to me, but I can understand if this is you. The first time I went to Onelife was when I was a (continued on next page)
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freshman. When my father asked me to go, I did not think much about Onelife until I realized that big, scary high school students were gonna be there. I was deeply scared that I could be judged and they could think I was weird. None of my school friends went, and it was too late to ask any of them to go because the registration expired. By the time I came to Onelife, that idea of constant judgement stuck in my mind, and I couldn't enjoy what it was about. If I were to compare this to my most recent experience, the difference comes down to three things. One factor was that I’m older. Since this time I went in my junior year instead of freshman year, I had more confidence and maturity than I did in freshman year. Another factor was that I had more friends. I felt way more comfortable and felt like I could just make memories with them. The last thing was that it was a different location. The most recent one was at Pines Springs Ranch (PSR), the one I went to when I was a freshman, was in Camp Cedar Falls. For me, PSR was hands down better. For comparison, Camp Cedar Falls had regular cabins in the woods, while the rooms in PSR felt like we were staying at the Hilton. There were also smaller differences that I appreciated, like how at PSR it didn’t feel like I was always walking on an incline to the cafeteria or to worship. The activities they had as breakouts were mostly the same: hiking, tie-dye, and two new ones, yoga and paint and sip. One thing about this past Onelife that I cannot ignore is the atmosphere. Having nature all around camp and having the whole weekend focusing on Jesus helped create a calm atmosphere. It let the message stick work better and helped me connect with what the speakers were saying. It also allowed me to connect with the people around me. I met and talked to people who were some of the coolest people I’ve met. It grew my appreciation for my church and who I am as a person. If you want more information about the next upcoming Onelife, check out the SECC Youth Ministries. I’m not saying you’re guaranteed to have a good time at Onelife, and that if you don’t, then you’re doing it wrong or that you have to go. It’s your choice, and for me, Onelife was a good choice. So if you see a poster about Onelife, think about talking to your youth pastor about it. Invite some of your friends and spend the end of your summer chilling with other people who are centered around God. Author: Marco Sigue('28) Section Editor: Jude Ayala (‘28)
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How Far We’ve Come: Senior Backpacks No you’re not going crazy, that first grader, and your senior friend DO have the same backpack. Some people call it a trend, others say that it's a tradition, and some even go as far as saying it's a rite of passage. Whatever it is, it’s here at LLA and the broader high school bubble in full force. Walk through the halls, scroll through Instagram, or just sit down in class and you’ll find Hello Kitty or Spiderman staring right back at you from a senior’s backpack. The only question is: why? Believe it or not this “trend” is older than a good portion of the current seniors. The earliest recorded instance appeared in 2008, but it was mostly contained to the cultures of specific high schools. Kiddie backpacks didn’t take off nationally until the early to mid 2020s, with the practice spreading on social media and going viral. Reasons given online for the tradition were: “To show how far the seniors had come,” “To reminisce on childhood,” and because “It's the last year and no one cares anymore.” But of course, we had to go even deeper. So here's the what and the why straight from the students of LLA! When I asked them about their senior backpacks, many students lit up with joy because of the fond childhood memories attached to them. Like Dylan Siregar (‘27) who is sporting the actual bag he carried to elementary school not so long ago. It is Cars themed which according to him, “works out” because it matches the senior class mascot of Lightning Mcqueen (the protagonist of the Cars franchise). Kate Salvan (‘27) chose Pusheen to be on her backpack because she was a huge fan as a child. Others have more familial meanings such as Priscilla Alao (‘27), who chose her Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backpack because it “reminds me of my siblings.” Ninja Turtles was a show that she watched with her three (continued on next page)
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siblings growing up. Each one of them chose a different turtle that was their favorite and they would play together as the turtles. The same can be said for Kathy Chau (‘27), who said that she picked her Minions backpack because she loved to watch the Minions movies with her mother growing up. Similarly, Reagan Gray (‘27) says she chose Garfield on her backpack because, “It was my favorite show to watch with my grandparents.” Some people even decided to match backpacks with their friends. Ryan Sehuelt (‘27) chose a Wild Kratts backpack because he grew up watching the show. He is matching with his best friend Ethan Kelly (‘27). Their backpacks mirror the styles of Chris and Martin Kratt, the two protagonists who are brothers in the show Wild Kratts. About this Ryan stated, “We technically call each other brothers, so it made sense.” Similarly, seniors Elianah Downs-Symonett and Rania George (‘27) also got matching Strawberry Shortcake backpacks. “We both love red and pink, and we both love Strawberry Shortcake,” Rania replied. Some seniors decided to opt out of this phenomenon. One anonymous student stated that they didn’t choose a children’s backpack because they “wanted to look more mature.” They cited feeling the pressure of being at the top of the school and having “people look up to you.” According to Miele Ladson (‘27) the little kid backpacks did not have enough space for heavy textbooks and she really liked the backpack she already had. Senior backpacks have come to LLA in full effect. In the halls you’ll see Moana right next to a classic blue Jansport, next to your favorite video game characters. Whether or not your senior friends chose a character to put on their backpack, there's usually a good story as to why! Ask a senior about their backpack today! It's a great way to get to know them and you’ll never know what you’ll discover! Author: Taryn Washington ('27) Section Editor: Perry Im (‘27)
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‘27 goes to Havasu
On September 16, 2026, the senior class of 2027 began their senior trip to Lake Havasu. At 7 AM, they arrived on campus with smiles and excitement to begin their senior trip. After greeting their companions, they packed their travel items into a truck. Everyone was excited to spend the day with their classmates and class sponsors. The trip was an exciting experience waiting to happen. Students conversed with their friends, listened to music, and enjoyed the red canyon-like formations, offered by Arizona, during their 5 hour drive. When they first arrived, the seniors saw the beautiful resort and scenery. Everyone began to anticipate the fun soon to come. “I remember seeing the lake for the first time and I immediately wanted to go boating on the lake,” said London Paris (‘27). After arriving, everyone was excited to start the activities and let the fun begin. During the trip, the seniors spent time swimming, boating, and playing outdoor sports. They participated in class games, talked with friends, and took lots of pictures together. Some students went into the water to cool off, while others stayed on the boat and watched their friends wakeboard and tube. (continued on next page)
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Many also played volleyball and spikeball with their peers. Everyone got a chance to do something fun and there was always something going on. Havasu was a fun experience because the seniors got to spend time with classmates outside of school and make new memories together. After spending 3 days at Havasu, the senior class packed up and got back on the buses to go home. Everyone was tired from all the activities, but were also happy about the fun trip they had. On the ride back to school, everyone talked about their favorite parts of the trip and shared funny moments with each other. Some students looked through the pictures they took and others talked with their friends about what they did. Perry Im (‘27) said, “My favorite part of the trip was when Jay Yonan (‘27) and I kneeboarded and we both did a 360 spin.” By the time we got home most people were tired but everyone still had a smile on their face. Overall, the senior class trip to Havasu was a memorable experience that brought everyone closer together and gave a multitude of unforgettable memories.
Author: Landon Nicolas('27) Section Editor: Carson Regester(‘27)
Colleges and Scholarships: Finding the Right One for You For many students at Loma Linda Academy, college applications and decisions are approaching. While students are taking the PSAT, ACT, or SAT, others have started applying to colleges and scholarships. Unfortunately, some upperclassmen don’t even know where to get started on preparation at all, pushing their scholarship research off until a later date. Underclassmen have a grade advantage that allows for extra time to begin researching. The college application process can be daunting, but contacting them and accessing scholarships don’t have to be. This article will explore this concept and explain the process of accessing (continued on next page) and applying for specific scholarships. Page 26
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There are many scholarship platforms on the Internet that operate as scholarship searches and recommenders of colleges. Three popular platforms are: Bold, Scholarships.com, and Scholarships360. By making an account with these platforms, you are signing up for colleges and universities to contact you. For students who plan to go to colleges or universities that cater to helping students earn a specific degree, scholarships are an excellent resource to have when paying college fees. They also strengthen applications for future jobs or extended learning. An example of a scholarship is the NSHSS Foundation STEM Scholarship. This scholarship grants $1,000 to chosen students who meet the requirements and plan to pursue a STEM-related field or career. The ScholarshipSearch on CollegeBoard.org is an excellent resource to have. You should already have a College Board account if you have taken the PSAT, ACT, SAT, or if you have taken an AP class. However, if you haven’t made an account already, I highly recommend it. College Board has different resources to help all four grades prepare for college and everything related, and it also provides you with a useful scholarship search. ScholarshipSearch has a keyword search that will allow you to access and search for many scholarships that apply to you. From inputting your ethnicity, to your religion, a lot of scholarships are lying in wait for the right people to come along. Although there is much more to do when applying to colleges, you can rest assured knowing that one step is now complete. Creating accounts with multiple scholarship platforms has two important benefits that will make the few clicks worth your time. Doing so will allow colleges to contact you and will give you more scholarship options to choose from. These steps are formative in your college journey and will allow you to accomplish more in your college process. Author: Annaiah Green (‘27) Section Editor: Sydney Belleau (‘28)
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Reflecting on LLA since 1940
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THE MIRROR TEAM EDITORS IN CHIEF
Kathy Chau LAYOUT EDITOR Sydney Belleau
Kaelie Ignacio COPY EDITOR Elisa Salcedo
MANAGING EDITOR Annaiah Green
SECTION EDITORS Brennan Atchison, Jude Ayala, Sydney Belleau, Marky Cao, Kathy Chau, Maddie Checo, Monae Dulan, Morgan Ghosh, Kayleigh Hutagalung, Kaelie Ignacio, Perry Im, Sophie Munongo, Landon Nicolas, Nadya Pasaribu, Carson Regester, Zachary Rodgers, Marco Sigue, Taryn Washington WRITERS Cameron Atchison, Myla Benggon, Marky Cao, Kathy Chau, Maddie Checo, Morgan Ghosh, Annaiah Green, Kaelie Ignacio, Perry Im, Johan Kim, Sophie Munongo, Landon Nicolas, Nicholas Ocampo, Zachary Rodgers, Elisa Salcedo, Marco Sigue, Taryn Washington, Stephanie Yarbrough Page 28