LLA Mirror 2019-2020 Issue 5

VOL. 88

18 FEBRUARY 2020

ISSUE 5

CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF STUDENT NEWS

MIR|ROR REFLECTING ON LLA SINCE 1940 LOMA LINDA ACADEMY NEWS

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Table of

CONTENTS 04 05 06 07 08 10 12

Briefs Class Points Maze February Birthdays Christmas Palooza Australia Fires Quinton Webb

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Editor-in-Chief Noah Hernandez

Copy Editor Olivia Kim

Designer Linlin Liu

Designer Alyka Mendoza

Photographer Melissa Gomez

Reporter Ethan Cruz

Reporter Emeka Ikechukwu

Reporter Natalia Rojas

Sponsor Danelle Taylor Johnston

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Publisher Iveth Valenzuela

Empathy From the Archives Week of Prayer Jr./Sr. Bible Camp Memes: A History Meme Machine Decades in Fashion

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BRIEFS Loma Linda Academy’s annual Maker Faire is quickly approaching. Save the date in your calendars for April 26, 2020. Come to enjoy friendly competitions, Ted Talk style lectures in science, technology, engineering, math and service, otherwise known as S.T.E.A.M.S. and a various amount of booths with engaging activities. The LLA Maker Faire is a great opportunity to experience S.T.E.A.M.S. in a hands on and education way. If you wish to hold a booth at the Maker Faire in 2020, the application deadline is February 28, 2020. Apply for a booth and learn more about the LLA Maker Faire at www.lla.org/makerfaire.

Kobe Bryant, former NBA star and Lakers’ legend, died in a helicopter crash at age 41 on January 26, 2020 around 10 AM PT in Calabasas, California. The crash killed nine people on board, including Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant, his thirteen-year-old daughter.

Basketball and Lakers fans all around the world mourned over the death of this beloved basketball icon. NBA players also paid tribute to Kobe Bryant by taking 24- and 8-second shot-clock violations and writing “RIP Kobe” and “RIP Gigi” on their shoes.

Since the first of November, Loma Linda Academy has said “good bye” to three of its beloved staff members. Chip Wright, the previous Desktop Administrator, left on November 1, 2019. Diego Para, who was previously the Administrative Assistant at LLA left on January 17, 2020. Jack Davis, who was the Director of Information Technology at LLA, was the latest to leave. Davis, who was previously head of IT and LLA 1992 alum, left February 7, 2020. Loma Linda Academy wishes all of them the best in everything they do and thanks them for all they did for the school.

Photo by: Danelle Taylor Johnston

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Class Points Updated January 16, 2020

380

380

FRESHMEN

SOPHOMORES

450

JUNIORS

410

SENIORS

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MAZE

Find the path from the START to the CENTER. Show to Ms. Taylor Johnston for your name to be entered in a raffle for a free boba drink.

START

CENTER

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February Birthdays

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Yuna Joe

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Aidan Falvo Shelby Williams

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Isha Patel Danielle Que

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Mason Possinger Jake Ratana

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Caitlyn Castelo

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Silvia Cisneros

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Kurt Barreta Val Erben Bayeta

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Ethan Paden Dean Se

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Joshua Cho

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Yuchen Feng Noah Mata Natallie Ruiz Jamie Somoso Julia Somoso

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Kailee Bilbao Noah Saesim

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Chloe Herrick

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Andrew Zinke

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Arianna Oliverio

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Abel Massey

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Shailani Skoretz

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Elden Borillo

C H R I S T M A S P A L O O Z A

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Photos By: Noah Hernandez

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By Ethan Cruz In the past few months, Australia has been ravaged by one of its worst wildfires since 2009. These types of wildfires are called “bushfires” because they happen in the Australian bush, which is a word for a scrub, woodland, or grassland in Australia.

According to Time Magazine, 12.35 million acres of land have burned across Australia. Ecologists from the University of Sydney estimate that 480 million mammals, birds, and reptiles have been killed as a result of the fires. The ongoing bushfires have killed 30 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes, forcing thousands to seek shelter elsewhere.

This is not the only big bushfire that Australia has had. According to CNN, in 2009, Australia had a wildfire that killed 173 people in Victoria alone, making it the worst wildfire that Australia has ever experienced.

The fire season in Australia happens during the summer when the hot and dry weather is common, making the land more susceptible to fires. Due to safety concerns, some New Year’s fireworks displays were canceled in the Australian state of New South Wales. In mid-December, a NASA analysis stated that the bushfires emitted 250 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Kate Lewis, biology teacher, said, “When I heard about the fires, I was really sad because so much wildlife were killed and so many people lost their homes.”

“Most of my family live in the city so they’re dealing with pollution because of the fires,” Ms. Lewis says, “and my cousins were living in the rural areas and they had to keep watch and get ready to evacuate.”

In spite of the fires, organizations and charities are doing their best to help the victims of the Australian bushfires. The Australian fire departments and companies like the Salvation Army are accepting donations to help the people who are affected by these bushfires. The best thing you can do is to pray for the people affected by these bushfires in Australia and, if possible, send donations. https://www.unrefugees.org. au/how-you-can-help-withbushfire-crisis/

Photos from South Coast Australia during recent fire evacuations.

Photos by: Andrew Seymour

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Finals Poll Do you prefer finals before Christmas or two weeks after Christmas Break?

367 responses

Before Christmas - 97% After Christmas - 3%

If you prefer final exams after Christmas, please explain why 10 responses

More time to study - 8 Uses Christmas break to recharge - 7 Other - 1

If you prefer final exams after Christmas, please explain why 355 responses

Materials are fresh in mind - 283 Do not want to study over the break - 330 Other - 113

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Quinton Webb

BY OLIVIA KIM

Varsity basketball captain Quinton Webb and his teammates are wrapping up the winter basketball season at Loma Linda Academy with a bang.

This year, Webb and his co-captain Nate Sitanggang are seeking to lead their team to victory in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championships.

Webb values the bonds he has with his teammates, saying, “I definitely value their encouragement, and I know they’ve always got my back.

I usually value my teammates that push me a little more because when you are the best, you tend to get comfortable, and then there’s a whole lot of people coming for your spot, coming to surpass you. So people who push me to stay on top and stay getting better help me more than people who try to let me get comfortable with where I am right now. I need someone to really push me and keep my skill-set sharp.”

At 6’5, Webb is taller than most 15-year-olds. But even though his height serves as an advantage on the court, the sophomore still puts in a tremendous amount of work to hone his basketball skills. On average, Webb practices four hours of basketball everyday, choosing to put in an extra two hours of training after his regular basketball practice. On his weekend training, Webb says, “On Sundays, I’ll get up around 6-6:30 AM, be in the gym by 7 AM, and then I have a two hour workout. I’ll go get food, have another two hour workout, and then have practice. So some days I’ll be playing six hours, on other days, on average, about four. So it’s a lot, but it’s what it takes to be great, so you’ve got to do it.”

As for his off-season training regime, Webb is aiming to balance his weight-training with his cardio to build both muscle and speed. He’s seeking to get in top shape before he begins travel basketball, in which he

plans to play in China this August.

Both of Webb’s parents played basketball as well, and his mother played her high school senior year in China.

Just this last summer, from August 6 to 11, Webb snagged a spot on the Boys West basketball team to play in the 2019 Jr. NBA Global Championships in Orlando, Florida. The championship featured the top basketball teams from all over the world, and just being able to participate in such a huge competition is a feat in itself.

But Webb went above and beyond, leaping over three people in an insane slam dunk trick and securing a win in the Jr. NBA Global Championship Dunk Contest. Webb’s team also went on to ultimately win first place in the boy’s championship after winning the title game against the Boys Africa team, which consisted of all the best young basketball players from the entire continent of Africa.

Now that Webb’s basketball talents have been broadcast live on televi-

sion, he’s gained new opportunities and watched his hard work pay off.

Throughout the championships, Webb was able to show his abilities and get his name out there, and the experience has really helped him during this year’s basketball season.

Webb’s life has also experienced significant change now that he was both part of the team that won the Jr. NBA Championships as well as the slam dunk winner. “I would say when I came back, there were a lot of people you could tell weren’t really friends with me before, that wanted to be friends with me. And I knew it was going to happen, but then you really start to notice when you know people don’t even really like you, but now all of a sudden they want to be your friend. And now it’s kind of hard to find people who want to be my friend for me. It’s the same thing in basketball, coaches or teams know about me and want to get me on their team so they can get other people to join their organization. It’s tough sometimes, if I’m being honest, but it’s just a side-effect, I guess. Besides that, my day-to-day basis is basically the same. Like, I’m not going out and I’m not a celebrity, just people know me a little more now.”

Webb also receives a lot of misunderstandings about himself, saying, “I guess most people think I’m scary

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or mean. I feel like people kind of just judge me because I’m taller, bigger. People say they’re scared of me, and I’m like, why are you scared of me? You’ve never even talked to me. There’s a lot of people who’ve never talked to me, never even played basketball with me, and they think I’m scary. They think I’m mean, but I’m not that mean, I’m just trying to be nice to everyone else.”

In the future, Webb aims to play basketball at the collegiate level.

“Maybe I’ll play for two years, and then if opportunity knocks on the door, go to the NBA and play professionally for as long as I’m able to.”

Right now, his dream college would be either University of Southern California or Michigan State University.

After college, Webb is aiming to join the Lakers in California so that he can stay close to his family.

Webb says his role models are “players like Michael Jordan, because when he was younger, he didn’t make the A-cut basketball team. But then there are a lot of players that nobody really knows about who put in a whole lot of work, like Jimmy Butler. He’s not as big, but when he was younger, he was homeless, so he didn’t have those things. And also Pat Beverly, who had to pay to get in the NBA to even start his career. There’s a lot of NBA players who are overlooked but had to put in even more

work, and nobody really notices the unseen hours behind Lebron James, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo--like the big players. But there’s a lot of little players who are overlooked that are doing really well right now but just don’t have the hype or the clout.”

Webb leaves aspiring basketball

“Everyone wants to be the best, but nobody wants to put in the work to be the best.”

-Quinton Webb players with this piece of advice-“Just to stay in the gym, that’s the one thing. Everyone wants to be the best, but nobody wants to put in the work to be the best. You could see me go out and I could go score 20 points, 30 points, get all these rebounds, assists, blocks, but the thing they don’t realize is that I’m in the gym four hours a day, every single night. If it’s not a game day, I’m practicing. If I’m not practicing, I’m in rehab trying to make sure my body stays right for the next game. It’s just a lot, a lot of work.

You have to be dedicated.”

Photo Credits: Noah Hernandez

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Empathy

BY NOAH HERNANDEZ From January 13th to the 17th, Loma Linda Academy held its 2020 Winter Week of Prayer. Students heard powerful testimonies from their classmates, participated in games designed to be engaging, sang praise songs, and listened to sermons from Pastor Jeffery Harper. The theme of the week was empathy, specifically empathy in teenagers.

to. This is where effort from the person wanting to extend empathy comes into play.

Actively trying to reach out to your peers on an emotional level can help develop a sense of empathy for the other person. Harper says, “I think the simplest way to be more empathetic is to...go look at a baby! Just kidding. A great and simple way to be more empathetic

Find one person and really listen to what they are experiencing and facing.”

-Jeffrey Harper According to Frontiers for Young Minds, teens are able to empathize better with people whom they can relate to. “Teenagers do feel empathy toward someone from their own background. But, they feel less empathy toward someone who does not belong to their background group.” This implies that teenagers have the ability to feel empathy for anyone, but it can be harder when you cannot relate to people.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines empathy as, “The ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation.” With that in mind, one would be able to understand why it is hard for teens to be empathetic with people they do not relate

Image shown: Pastor Jeffrey Harper By: Noah Hernandez

is to make a goal for yourself of asking one person at school, ‘How is your heart?’ I know that is kind of a weird question. [...] But the basic point is to find one person and really listen to what they are experiencing and facing.”

While adolescents may experi-

listening can help develop empathy. Characteristics of active listening include: nonverbal feedback (eye contact, nodding), asking questions, allowing the other person to speak, etc. Verywell Mind says, “It allows you to understand the point of view of another person and respond with empathy.”

When people become more

“It allows you to understand the point of view of another person and respond with empathy.”

-Verywell Mind ence a lack of empathy in certain instances, making an effort to become more empathetic is what makes a difference. According to Verywell Mind, when one is with people and they are talking, active

empathetic, the bonds within a community become stronger.

From there, communities can grow, and become a safe place for all people.

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W E E K O F P R A Y E R

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Photos By: Melissa Gomez & Noah Hernandez

JR SR B I B I B L E C A M P

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Photos By: Noah Hernandez

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Memes: A History

BY EMEKA IKECHUKWU

Throughout recent pop culture, there is one thing that everyone is talking about, thinking about, and getting into. Entire genres of music have died off, and clothes have gone from trendy to revolting, but one thing still stands. Memes.

A meme or “internet meme,, to be specific, is defined as “an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by non-genetic means, especially imitation” as stated by author Richard Dawkins in his book “The Stolen Gene”, according to Wired UK Magazine. Memes are usually funny images,

show Lazy Town, in which the late Stefan Karl Stefansson plays the antagonist of the show, Robbie Rotten. Robbie and his henchmen try to prove that they are capable villains and try to capture a superhero. Another important meme is the “Aight imma head out” meme.

The meme depicts popular cartoon character SpongeBob leaving a room with the caption “Aight, imma head out.” This has become an extremely popular saying, especially among

We are number one meme.

Source: Lazy Town youtube channel.

Pepe the Frog meme.

Source: BBC News.

videos or phrases that encourage people to share and repost them across the internet.

Memes are also pictures with words and captions that are made to express people’s emotions.

The word “meme” was originally invented by an author named Richard Dawkins, who used it to explain how ideas replicate and spread, this is also called memetics according to Merriam Webster Dictionary. Popular memes include the “We are number one” meme, which recently won the Grandayy award for meme of the decade. The Grandayy meme awards started in 2018 when popular YouTuber Grandayy decided to get together some of the world’s leading experts on memes and have them host an award ceremony for the latest and greatest memes. Because we have recently entered a new decade, the Category for meme of the decade was added.

The meme contains a scene from popular

teens. The phrase is often said when one feels uncomfortable or unhappy with a situation and wants to exit the situation or environment.

Memes have been circulating on the internet for many years, but first started to become relevant in the late 2000s as well as the early 2010s. One of the most notable memes form that time is the “Pepe the Frog” meme which portrays a green frog with human-like emotions and a silly face. However, although the meme is very iconic, it has been met with much controversy. The meme has been accused of being used to promote alt-right as well as anti-semitic (white supremacist) ideals.

In 2016 the Anti Defamation League (ADL) added it to their hate symbol database, however, they did state that most uses of the Pepe meme are harmless and not made to promote alt-right or antisemitic views. Many other memes have been accused of being hateful or racist, although, for the most part, memes are generally used for good, harmless fun.

Many people and businesses have benefited greatly from meme culture. The platform TikTok has grown exponentially due to the constantly increasing demand for memes.

The funny dances and videos that have come out have literally changed lives, skyrocket-

ing ordinary kids from having no income to making thousands of dollars. Many channels on the video-sharing platform Youtube have also gained great popularity turning Youtube nobodies into channels with thousands of subscribers and millions of views, just from reviewing memes on popular meme sites.

Even music and the artists that make them gain a notable boost or following if the song is “Tiktokable” or catchy and shareable.

Businesses, such as the fast-food restaurant Wendy’s, have also gotten attention as a result of meme culture and riding the meme wave.

Wendy’s is notorious for posting memes and jokes as well as responding to comments using their official twitter account.

Here is what students here on campus have to say about memes. Neal Nelson (12), when asked if memes are important he said “Yes, they give people a way to destress and get a break from life.” Elijah Clark (9th) says that memes are “A joke on a media plat-

form shared by others.”

Memes are a phenomenon, a whole different species. But despite all this, their core purpose has never changed. That purpose: Give people a laugh and, if you are lucky, maybe your meme will go viral. However, some people have strayed away from this purpose, using memes to promote bad things such as racism and violence. If you are

posting or sharing memes, make sure to think before you post.

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Meme Machine

1st Caption: “That moment when optionals is canceled.”

2nd Caption: “Me when chapel is dismissed from the back.”

In this test of creativity, you are given two captions to make two separate memes. These can only be drawn onto the paper inside the designated areas. Once your meme is completed, remove this page from the magazine and submit it to Ms. Taylor Johnston for a chance to be featured in the Mirror.

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Past to Present: Fashion

BY NATALIA ROJAS DRAWINGS BY AVERIL GIMBEL The fashion world is a broad and complex one with constant changes and perennial staples.

It is well known that fashion recycles trends from the past. Since we are starting a new decade, an amusing way to display previous

trends would be to talk to some of Loma Linda Academy’s teachers, administrators, and students that were in high school at the peak of those previous decade’s trends. The graduating years vary all the way from the ‘70s up until

1970s (Ms. Benfield)

When Spring Benfield wasn’t out playing basketball, she would wear an array of different styles of clothing. From elephant pants to plaid miniskirts, the variety in her closet was huge. She often donned turtlenecks and George Washington ruffle blouses when she wanted to dress up a bit. However, the look would not be complete without a shag haircut and a touch of strawberry lip gloss. Right on!

the current time. We will be able to see the ever-changing trends that our graduating ‘20s students may have never even known about.

1970s (Coach Hall)

Jon Hall’s ‘70s look included long, wavy locks that grew past his shoulders and lots of groovy paisleys. His everyday look typically consisted of Levi’s bell-bottom jeans and a big, wide belt with a large buckle, all paired with a t-shirt. If he was feeling a little more fancy, he would also throw on a pair of penny loafers.

Of course, while sporting some far out clothes, he just had to hold up a peace sign.

1980s (Pr. Quishenberry) 1980s (Ms. Bathke) Graphic t-shirts and 501 Levi’s jeans were some of Tom Quishenberry’s favorite pieces to include in his daily outfits. His style was not limited to that, though.

He had a black Carrera jacket that he enjoyed adding to his outfits from time to time. He knew he was really stylin’ when he slipped into a pair of K-Swiss shoes.

Add a Swatch watch, and the look was complete.

With her leg warmers and shoulder pads, Suzanne Bathke’s ‘80s style was totally tubular. Feathered hairstyles were a favored look for girls and guys alike, so of course Ms. Bathke had one. Popular brands included Maybelline cosmetics, Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, and Jordache jeans. High top Reeboks were a popular shoe to accompany her scrunch socks and matching brightly colored parachute pants.

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1990s (Mr. Figueroa)

1990s (Ms. Gillespie)

2000s (Mr. Herrmann)

2010s (Ms. Baker)

2020 (Wilson Hannawi)

2023 (Arianna Williams)

Hans Figueroa would walk around town with his long hair curled over his ears, and sometimes wore a snapback hat.

Baggy t-shirts were the norm for both guys and girls at the time. He could often be found wearing some baggy jeans as well. Long sleeve flannels and puffy jackets were a staple for cold weather. To top it off, he would have dog tags around his neck.

Haley Baker would often put her long hair in a low ponytail with a thick headband to tuck it back while playing soccer.

Solid color t-shirts were in, as well as straight leg and bootcut jeans. She usually wore a simple pullover hoodie with tennis shoes for an everyday look. With her cool, casual look, Haley Baker was a chill, simple dresser.

From the drawings on her oversized jeans to the silver rings on her fingers, Sara Gillespie’s daily outfits were pretty fly. She would often don a pair of Doc Marten boots, which interestingly enough have begun to reappear in today’s fashion. Flannel long-sleeved shirts with underlying black t-shirts were definitely a trend at the time. Sara Gillespie undeniably had the 411 on what to wear.

High school senior Wilson Hannawi often pairs a floral short sleeve button up with black skinny jeans. He prefers no rips in his jeans, and likes to combine these with Vans or boots. Chinos are also a favorite of Wilson’s. If he felt like spicing up his look a bit, he might add a watch, ring, or even a chain to the mix.

Brandon Herrmann wore graphic tees and giant saggy jeans as his trademark look. He had long hair parted in the middle that he described as “dirty.” He liked to experiment, so he dyed his hair black one year and would sometimes wear a fedora too. When sporting a beige thrift store trench coat, he looked undeniably off the hook.

Arianna Williams is a freshman from the class of 2023 with an exceptional sense of style. She can often be seen with many varying tops, including but not limited to: turtlenecks, button-ups, and t-shirts tucked in. She typically wears mom jeans and likes to compliment her outfits with a pair of Nike Air Max’s on her feet. To top it off, she sometimes wears a bucket hat or beanie, adding an extra twist to the ‘fit.

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