Some people say that high school is the most formative part of your life. Friendships change, relationships come and go, and school only gets more and more difficult, but how do we balance all of this? Most of all, what can we learn from the hardships we face? Before the seniors prepare to leave, a few of them offer advice based on their experiences that will last them a lifetime. They hope that you can learn and grow from the lessons that they have learned on and offcampus.
What was your biggest fear when coming into high school,andhowcanyoureflectonthatnow?
The biggest takeaway from their reflection was not to have any regrets. When dealing with the fear of missing out (FOMO), AncelMagnaye(‘26) says that FOMO pushed him to do everything. He is happy about the opportunities he pushed himself to take, despite the busyness it brought to his schedule, and says, “It’s never really that serious…unless it is. But Y.O.L.O., so just go for it.” StephenBoyce(‘26) also emphasizes avoiding regret by stating that you should not make a single scenario too big. To anyone struggling with anxietyorfear,heencouragesyouto“focusonthethings
that you can control.” How do you keep a healthy relationship of grades, relationships, and experiences? Stephen Boyce and Kendall Collins (‘26) both agree that although grades are important, they should not take over your life. Kendall finds that grades can only give you so much validation. Once she began prioritizing real connections with her friends, she found a “true sense of purpose”. Stephen agrees that grades should not be your top priority all the time. He enjoys experiences over grades and advises everyone to “enjoy yourself and the things that bring life to you.” What’s one quote you live by? Kendall - “My dad always told me growing up about the 'OFLAG,' which means Opportunity For LearningAndGrowth.Ilivebythissayingbecauseithumblesme,remindsme thatthere
is room for improvement even when I do well, and it helps me be less hard on myself when I make mistakes. There is always something we can learn from every situation.” Ancel - “You never know your full potential until you reach for it.” -My Father, Ivan Magnaye;)
AmoraMangunsong
AncelMagnaye
Amora Mangunsong - “Spread love, not hate.” In my sophomore year, I experienced a lot of hate across different aspects of my life. Negativity started to show in my life, and I wanted a change. I started doing “No Hate Week” challenges, which meant I made a conscious effort to avoid speaking or acting out of anger or resentment, and it made drastic changes in my life. Spreading love and not hate is a challenge I try to live by, not only to others but especially to myself. This principle has changed my overallperspectiveandattitude,andI'dliketochallengeeveryonetotryitout. Haveyouexperiencedredirectionthroughrejection?Howhasthathelpedyouto trustinGod’splan?
When Amora Mangunsong did not make it into Pro Musica her freshman year, her confidence was crushed, and she developed stage fright, fearing she was not talented enough. Looking back on her disappointment, she realized that this experience taught her to “trust in God’s timing, Have you experienced redirection throughrejection?HowhasthathelpedyoutotrustinGod’splan?
How do you stay grounded in your faith in a busy school environment?
Each of the seniors agrees that staying grounded in faith requires making time for God. Ancel goes as far as to say, “You’re not losing anything or wasting precious time when you’re getting closer to God.” Although it might seem like you do not have time for God, He actually gives you more motivation, strength, and perseverance. Kendall Collins notes that making time for Him can be as simple as listening to Christian music on the way to school. She also listens to and recommends a bible study podcast called “Through the Word.” When Stephen begins any stressful situation, he reminds himself to take a deep breath and say a little prayer. Prayer does not always have to be elaborate. Stephen finds a safe space in his brain with God, which calms his mind. Additionally, they all agree that everything that you do must be for the glory of God. This can be through any decision you make,orbylovingandbeingkindtoothers,asJesuswould.
StephenBoyce
SeniorAdviceColumn
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Was there a time you struggled spiritually? What helped you growfromit?
Naturally, we all have struggles with our faith. Amora Mangunsong found herself straying away from God because she tried to control every part of her life. Ancel Magnaye struggled to figure out God’s role in his life, why He was personally important to him, and why he wanted to continue his relationship with Him Both Amora and Ancel found that ultimatelyputtingtheircompletetrustinGodallowed
them to find true purpose. Amora was inspired to do this when a friend of hers saw her struggle and encouraged her to “let go and let God.” This advice helped Ancel and Amora see how God’s plan was better than theirs They both got baptized in their senior year! What Bible verse carried you through high school? Why?
“A Bible verse that carried me through a rough spiritual season was 1 Peter 5:7. 'Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.’ This verse reminded me that whatever I’m going through, I can and should give it to God. Giving my troubles to Him made me feel like a weight was taken off of me and that I could stay grounded in Him Kendall Collins What would you say to someone whose faith feels distant right now?
Stephen Boyce and Amora Magunsong have had similar experiences of feeling that God does not care about what happens to them. Amora even felt like she was carrying everything on her own. Stephen finds peace in knowing that God is always with him because the Bible tells him so Amora has grown an attachment to the song “Abba I Know,” which tells her that even when she cannot feel Him, God is still there. She says that this song is currently “engraved in her heart” because God’s love does not depend on how she feels or what she does. She knows that God is an “On Time God” who shows up exactly when we need Him to. She encourages you to find peace because any distance you feel from Him does not last forever, because His timing is perfect
TalentShow
-AllisonKim
The annual Loma Linda Academy High School Talent Show took place on February 23rd and was a great opportunity for students to display their skills. There were a total of eight acts, each one unique and meaningful. Taryn Washington and Perry Im (‘27) were the special hosts of the show as they introduced each act and joked with the audience in between.
KendallCollins
2026TalentShow-continued
-AllisonKim
The first act was performed by AndreIglesia(‘26),who played the electric guitar and, with a special appearance from Kermit the Frog, sang “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie. This opening performance immediately moved the audience’s hearts, as Andre’s guitar skills are well known among students
The next act was taken on by Guarma Oasis, a band consisting of Morgan Ghosh,Zach Rodgers, Kai Domingo, Lauryn Aguilar, Marco Sigue, Kolton Ice, Sam General, and Chloe Im (‘28). They performed a cover of Ain’t It Fun by Paramore and engaged with the audience, initiating claps and “repeat-after-me"s!
In the third act, Tyler Mattenson (‘27), Sydney Belleau, Haena Park, Taffy Gavaza, Isabella Miranda, Julianne Villaforte, Jayleen Role, and ElsieCardenas(‘28) performed the infamous song “In Summer” from the movie Frozen. The addition of the tambourine and woodblock, along with lively dance moves, brought the summer atmosphere intotheauditorium
Rafa and Friends, a band formed by Logan Parchamento, Winston May-Tetz, Billy LaTour, and Moses Pantig (‘27), as well as Rain Pineda (‘26) and Rafa Wright (‘29),took the stage for the fourthact.TheirperformanceofSundayMorning
by Maroon 5 was filled with skill and ushered in the anticipation for a nice, relaxing weekend Vivi Tamanaha (‘29) took on the fifth act and sang a beautiful cover of “Spring into Summer” by Lizzy McAlpine with her guitar. She captured the feeling of moving through the seasons with loved ones, inspiringtheaudiencetowaveflashlights.
The following act was a vibrant cover of Van Halen’s Jump by Ancel Magnaye (‘26), Kolton Ice, Dylan Siregar (‘27), Morgan Ghosh, and Rain Pineda With sick wigs and shades, the band showed how you can have fun while simultaneously making great music. MichaelNdlovu(‘27) sang “My Way” by Frank Sinatra for the seventh act. His talent stunned the audience as his voice took over the room, earninghimastandingovationattheendofhisperformance.
Last but not least, Mr. Song’s favorite physics students demonstrated Newton’s Laws of Motion for the eighth and final act with humor and wit. The class of 2026, featuring Emily Chun as Mr. Song and Alex Cotton as Isaac Newton, showed the audience the fun story behind Newton and the apple tree.
Michael was chosen as the winner by the judges and the audience. “Once everyone started cheering, it really boosted my mood and I didn't feel nervous,” he expresses. “I'm really glad it went well and I was so shocked to find out I won two of the awards and $500 I'm so grateful for everyone who gave me tips and gave feedback to prepare for this moment. l'm very appreciative of them.” This year’s talent show was successful as students were able to share their talents and hard worktotheirpeers.
Nightwing,JamesGunn
-SamanthaMcIntosh
James Gunn’s Superman had drawn new attention to the Detective Comics Universe (DCU) movies. Creating one of the best DC movies to date, it sparked new hope within superhero movies. James Gunn’s other upcoming movies are the subject of attention, including Supergirl (2026), Clayface (2026), Man of Tomorrow(2027),andDynamicDuo(2028).
The most notable of these upcoming movies in the eyes of fans is Dynamic Duo, especially given the mystery surrounding who the actorswillbe,specificallyRobin/Nightwing.Asseeninprevious
movies starring DC characters, many fans were dissatisfied with the actors portraying them. Among Detective Comics (DC) fanatics, many feel that the character, Nightwing, is one of the most difficult characterstocastintoalive-actionmovie.Welookforwardtoseeingwhomightbecast!
Dopamine is a chemical in your brain, also known as the “feel-good” chemical. This chemical makes us want to make quick fixes and do things quickly and easily to stay at a baseline of happiness. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter of seeking and motivation, not just pleasure, and the brain is hardwired to prioritize the highest asset reward. People struggle with TikTok because it offers immediate rewards through short-form content designed to keep them scrolling. When they are on TikTok too much, young people want to be on it more and more Worse than that, they can get withdrawals when they are away from it and have to participate in low-dopamine activities, such as workinghardinschool,listeningtoasermon,orcompletinganecessarybutnot“fun”task.
Those “quick-hits” of dopamine make it very difficult to focus. If you feed yourself instant gratification, your brain atrophies and becomes averse to things that require sustained effort. You feed this “bad” dopamine from TikTok, doom scrolling Instagram, playing video games, and taking the easy way out on hard tasks. When dopamine levels are very unbalanced and too high, it can also cause chronicprocrastinationandmentalhealthissuessuchasdepressionandanxiety. You can fix this problem by doing “hard” tasks that require effort and give you good dopamine, or genuine satisfaction from completing a task well This could include reading a book, getting yourself out of your social comfort zone, completing your homework, or participating in a “dopamine detox.” A detox, wherein you abstain from all dopamine for a set amount of time and simply allow yourself to be bored, can reset your dopamine receptors, help get you out of a rut,andreducetheconstantnoiseinyourbrainthatmakesitdifficulttofocus
Boy’sBasketballTeam-Co-champions
-AJGreeneandNoahKim
The boys’ Loma Linda basketball team became co-champions of the league after an exciting win against RAA. It was a close game, and with just a couple of seconds left, the score was 36-38. Samuel “Sammy” Carrera (‘27) fired up a desperate three-pointer and hit the buzzer beater to win against RAA and become co-champions of the league The LLA basketball team had a great overall season, with both tough wins and tough losses. The boys worked hard under the leadership of Coach Mark WillsandmadeittotheCIFplayoffs.
The boys had a nice run in the playoffs, winning their first playoff game with a blowout 64-22 against Crossroads Christian. This got them past the first round, which hasn't happened in the past two years The boys advanced to the second round and faced San Jacinto Academy This was a very intense game with the boys winning by two points 65-63. The team had an unfortunate loss against Valley Christian in round three of CIF playoffs. The game was close, and KevinHenry(26’) hit two free throws to tie the game. Sadly, the team lost in the last couple of seconds, but they had a great run in theCIFplayoffs.
Freshman&SophomoreDinner
-JavetWongkaren&EthanRow
Mystery and elegance filled the room as the classes of ‘28 and ‘29 gathered for this year’s Freshman–Sophomore Dinner, themed “Masquerade.” Glittering masks, glamorous décor, and an air of excitement transformed the evening into a truly extravagant experience. From the moment students arrived, the atmosphere reflected not only the beauty of the theme but also the dedication behindthescenesthatmadethenightpossible.
Bringing an event such as this to life required significant effort, careful planning, and strong collaboration between the freshman and sophomore class officers. To better understand the work that went into the evening, we asked some of the student leaders to reflect on their experience planning the event. Lucy Lopez (‘29), thefreshmanClassPresident,sharedherperspectiveonthe
in the Freshman–Sophomore Banquet was deciding games and entertainmentideas.Wecouldn'tfinda game that matched the theme during the first few meetings. Ultimately, we were able to come up with an interactive game by scheduling extra meetings outside of our regular officer meetups” Her reflection demonstrates the perseverance and commitment behind the scenes, showing that the evening's success was the result of dedicationandteamwork. process. “Planning this event went smoothly, especially because we had the class of ‘28 to rely on. We were able to experience what type of preparation goes into these activities.” Her comments highlight the importance of mentorship and teamwork between the two classes, showing how collaboration helped create such a successful and memorable evening. Beyond inquiring about the planning of the dinner, we wanted to ask about the factors that made this night memorable. Kara Fransisco(‘28), a sophomore class Senator, reflected on what stood out most to her: “My favorite part about freshmen-sophomore dinner was the game that everyone played. It was very engaging, fun, and brought people together. I also enjoyed the live music that was played.” Her words capture thespiritoftheevent aneveningnotonlyofelegance,butofconnectionandsharedmemories.
The Super Bowl, an annual American football event, took place on February 8, 2026, at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. This was Super Bowl LX (60), where the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13. During halftime at the Super Bowl, which takes place after the first two quarters and before the last two quarters, there is a performance by a well-known music artist chosen by the NFL (National Football League) entertainment team. The performance reminded the audience to not forget that the United States is not only the contiguous mainland and that Puerto Rico is one of the US territories that deserverecognitionaspartofAmerica
TheperformerforthisyearwasBenitoAntonioMartinezOcasio,alsoknownbyhisstagenameasBadBunny. Bad Bunny is most recognized as a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and record producer. He is very dominant on theLatintrapandreggaetonscene,aswellasonmusiccharts,especiallyafterhishalftimeshow. When the show starts, we are first introduced to Puerto Rico's landscape. Sugarcane fields serve as homage to the sugarcane farmers on the island. The sugarcane (dancers in foliage-like costumes) offered seamless fluidity that made the scene feel alive. Sugarcane has a bitter history in Puerto Rico, while it served as the backbone of the economy, the harvest relied on enslaved labor. Originally, the indigenous Taino people, Puerto Ricans were enslaved by Spanish colonizers who had also brought African Americans to the island to work Sugarcane and Jibaros (traditional farmers) are a major part of Puerto Rican history Fans who were invested in thehistoryoflaborandexploitationimmediatelyunderstoodthemessageBadBunnyboldlystated
In another iconic scene, Bad Bunny and a few dancers can be seen climbing large electrical poles. The electrical poles released violent sparks, and the dancers, along with Bad Bunny, appear to make an effort to fix them. This sets the scene for addressing the troubling state of the electrical infrastructure. Many people may not be aware of this, but there have been many electrical issues on the island of Puerto Rico. Following earthquakes and hurricanes in the past, their electric power system has been damaged and deemed unreliable Puerto Rican natives are no strangers to weak electrical infrastructure and power outages Though many efforts have been made in collaboration with the contiguous United States to address the issue, there is still work to be done to make Puerto Rico's electrical infrastructure reliable and resilient. This part of the performance raised awareness of this serious problem and served as a call to action for better infrastructure efforts in the future. A more thought-provoking and emotional moment in the show comes towardstheend.
CountriesoftheAmericas-Continued
A little boy and his family are watching Bad Bunny receive a Grammy he had won recently on TV. Bad Bunny enters the scene and hands a Grammy Award to the boy. It was confirmed that the young boy (played by Lincoln Fox) is a representation of a young Bad Bunny. He handed a Grammy to his younger self to symbolize pursuing one's dreams and goals, and showed the audience that if someone elsecandoit,theycandoittoo.
The last major moment comes at the very end. Dancers proudly waving the flags of American countries surrounded Bad Bunny as he listed the names of the countries that make up America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Canada, United States, & Puerto Rico (a US territory) This representation of the countries of North, South, and Latin America encourages the audience to recognize all nations that makeuptheAmericancontinent.
Whatdoyoudoinchapel?
I’mthetech directorofchapel, soI’minchargeof making sure my lights, graphics/slides, and soundcrewarefunctioningproperly. How much time do you spend making chapel happen?
Usually 10-20 hours a week. Sometimes, more, depending on the chapel and the needs of the production. Next week, it’ll probably be more like 30-40+hoursforSWOW.
BehindtheScenes:Campus Ministries-Continued
Doyouworkduringchapel?
I’m always working during chapel. Mostly, I try to mix the sound if I have time and am not busy with another area of AV. Occasionally, I’ll be part of the worship band playing electric or acoustic guitar, bassguitar,synth,piano,ordrums. Whatisthehardestpartofyourjob?
pulled in a million different directions at the same time. It’s also hard because it is especially easy for a tech’seffortstogounnoticedandtofeelunappreciatedanddiscouraged. Whatisyourfavoritepartofchapel?
My favorite part of chapel is when I get to play music I feel a special connection and all my worries are out of my hands. I just zone in on playing, really get to enjoy the gift God has given me, and express it sonically at the same time. I also love it because I don’t have any responsibilities during chapel when I play music, so I can truly sit back and listen to the message being shared without being busy with a techproblemorsomethingelsedistractingmefromwhatGod’stryingtosay.
GolfTeamTakesonHawaii
-YehbinJeon
This year, the Loma Linda Academy Golf Team had the privilege of traveling to the beautiful island of Hawaii to kick off their season. From February 15 to February 18, 2026, returning players reunited in Oahu for a trip filled with daily golf rounds, team bonding, and exploring what the incredible island has to offer. As soon as the team landed at the Daniel K. Inouye in Honolulu, they rushed off to the Hawaii Kai Golf Course for their first round of the season. The players enjoyed each other’s company in a friendly9-holegameafternearlyayearapart.Afteraverywindyround,theyenjoyedadinnerfilled
reflected, “This dinner was surprisingly my favorite of the trip. Though the food was debatable, conversation was flowing, even though I haven’t seen theseguysinawhile.”
The next morning, the team was awoken at 5:30 AM to get ready for their 18-hole match against Hawaiian Mission Academy They watched the sun rise as theywaitedfortheirmatchtobegin
GolfTeamTakesonHawaii
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All the athletes were split into six groups of four at the beautiful Bay View Course Varsity player Nolan Jamison (‘27) shared, “This specific match was my favorite of the trip as it had the best views, and I was able to shoot my best.” Over the course of 5 hours, the team experienced rain, wind, sunshine, and even got to seearainbow.TheRoadrunnersultimatelysecuredthewin. Laterthatafternoon,theteamexploredtheWaikikiarea.They
participated in activities such as eating signature Hawaiian dishes, ukulele lessons, and soaking up the island sun. In the evening, they completed a 90- minute scavenger hunt, splitting up into teams of four to complete and document different tasks within a mile radius The winning team consisted of TylerPark,AlexCotton,EmilyChun(‘26),andNolanJamison.
The following morning, the team decided to bond over breakfast at Island Vintage Coffee before their next match at 10. Due to scheduling complications, the match against another school did not transpire. However, the coaches surprised the team by saying that everyone was able to play 18 holes, not only the varsity group. The entire group, including 3 coaches, multiple parents, and the LLA golfers, split into 5 teams to compete in a combined-score format, with the losing team enduring an embarrassingpunishment.
WhoisMs.Ramirez?
-NolanJamison&AdamNahab
YoumayknowMs.RamirezasyourEnglishteacher,butthereismuchmoretoherstory. High School teacher Ms. Ramirez has an extraordinarily unique grasp on the English language, affording her status as one of the favorites amongst the upperclassmen. We sat down with Ms. Ramirez to gain insight into what she can be found doing when she’s not standing in front of her classroom, guiding students through a novel or narrative poem In this interview, we will go into more depth and detail into the mysterious life of Ms. Ramirez, including her interests, experiences, and life lessons.
Ms. Ramirez was born in New Hampshire and moved to California when she was 2 years old. She then attended La Sierra Academy from kindergarten through twelfth grade before going to Walla Walla University for college During her time at Walla Walla, she had the opportunity to study abroad at Oxford University, where she attended Keble College for a semester. She enjoyed spending time in the library as well as singing in the chapel choir. Ms. Ramirez describes it as one of the best experiences of her life. Although she originally planned to pursue a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, her path changed when she saw an opening in the English department at Loma Linda Academy. When asked about her favorite part of her job, her answer was very simple: her students. She values the relationships she builds in the classroom and enjoys watching students grow throughout the year Likemanyteachers,sheadmitsthatgradingcanbeoneofthemorechallengingpartsofthejob.
WhoisMs.Ramirez?
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Ms Ramirez also shared advice for students as they think about their futures While career goals are important, she emphasized that “relationships and family will ultimately matter most in life.” She encourages students not to simply let life happen to them, but to think intentionally about what they want their future to look like and how their career can support their long-term goals. One of her biggest goals moving forward is to “continue growing spiritually and finding more ways to serve God andothers”
Outside of school, one of her favorite hobbies is singing. She regularlysingsforFusion,ayoungadultministryaimedatcreating aspiritualcommunityforthehomelesspopulationofSanBernado. Shealsoenjoyscooking,especiallydishesfromdifferentcountries One of her favorite cuisines is Turkish food, in which she likes to cook menemen. Although she does not currently have a TV, she enjoys reading regularly. In addition, she roots for the Dallas Cowboys. Whether she is leading a class discussion, reading the classapoem,ordrinkingtea,Ms Ramirezmakesitclearthatshe trulycares.WhilemanystudentsknowherastheirEnglishteacher, herimpactgoesfarbeyond.
RoadrunnerBaseballW/ AndrewPennell -RyanSeheult
Baseball season started on January 20th The baseball team went undefeated in league last year and even made it to the CIF playoffs, where they finished as quarterfinalists. Many people consider AndrewPennell(‘26) the best baseball player on Loma Linda's baseball team. I asked Andrew,¨How long have you been playing baseball for and what age did you start playing?” he responded by saying¨IstartedplayingbaseballwhenIwas3yearsoldsoIwouldbeplayingbaseballfor14years¨
How do you think you did at today's game? I think today's game went great. We beat out our opponents 13-0, and it was a walk in thepark.
What do you think you could've done better? I think just looking atthecoachforsignswould'vemadeourgameplaymuchbetter. Do you think all the hard work that you do pays off when you play? Yes, hard work pays off to get the results you want in a gameandforyoutobeabetterplayer. Howdifficultwasthisteamthatyouplayed,andwhatwillyoudo to make it easier for yourself if you go against them again or if another team is like them? This team was really easy. I think just playing how we play would make it easier if we went against them again.
2026Boy’sVolleyballSeason
-BraydenPark&JoshuaRai
Although they lost 6 core members who had graduated last year, the volleyball team had a great season. They played their season opener, a first non-league game, against La Sierra Academy on February 24. LLA was missing Joshua Rai (‘27), a middle blocker who plays an instrumental part on the team Benjamin Monongo (‘29) filled in and played extremely well Brayden Park (‘27) had sprained his ankle the day before in practice, but still played the whole game. However, LLA still came out victorious, winning 3 - 1. The first home game was the day after that, on February 25, 2026, againstABMiller.LLAhadwon3setsto0.Thoughthematchwasclose,theyhadgoodteamwork and communication, which had led them to victory. LLA is definitely the underdog going into this game, since they were swept 3-0 last year. The tournament held here at LLA on March 11th was an amazing experience, as LLA won 2 of their 4 games, putting them in 4th place overall. They played against Redlands Adventist Academy, San Gabriel Academy, Glendale Adventist Academy, and Escondido Adventist Academy. Playing in this tournament helped them grow as a team and demonstrate what they have been practicing. On April 9 the team held their annual senior night, honoring the seniors who have led the team. This year, the boys’ volleyball team celebrated Ethan Chang, TylerPark,andcaptainOwenBelleau(‘26). th,
GroundhogDay
-PriscillaAlao
On Monday, February 2, 2026, was Groundhog Day. This year, they predicted six more weeks of winter. According to the Library of Congress, Groundhog Day originated from German Pennsylvania Dutch settlers in the 18th/19th century who brought European culture to America. It evolved from a tradition of watching badgers or bears on Candlemas Day to using a groundhog to predict either an early spring or six more weeks of winter. In 1887, this holiday became more popular after the newspaper editor Clymer H. Freas wrote an article about it, making it more well-known to the public. Punxsutawney Phil is the name of the groundhog. Based on his shadow, they determine whether there are six more weeks of winter or early spring. According to legend, a special “groundhog nog” haskepthimalivefor140years.
How does this event work? While in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Phil emerges from hibernation to predict the weather. If it is sunny and he sees his shadow, legend says six more weeks of winter will follow. If it is cloudy, an early spring is predicted. Over the past 140 years of this tradition, Phil has seen his shadow 110 times, including 40 times in a row. This year, meaning six more weeks of winter. Although,accordingtorecentmediareports,Philhasanaccuracyrateof35%to39%asof1887.
Musicw/Hana
-HanaEnomoto
Music that makes us who we are. Music is a big part of everyone’s everyday life, whether you listen in the car, in the hallways, or while you’re studying, it’s everywhere. With artists constantly releasing new music and social media introducing trending tracks, songs can gain popularity quickly. However, beyond what is trending, a person’s personal taste can say a lot about them Music can bring people closer together and encapsulate someone’s emotions or moments. To see what some students’ favorite songs are at the moment, I asked two classmates what their favorite songs are and why they aretheirfavorites.NaomiNicholes(‘27)sharedthatthesongalwaysonrepeatforheris“HowtoLive” by “Del Water Gap”. She explains that this song is currently her favorite because “It makes me think about how people are living for the first time. This helps me reflect and be more empathetic with others,” she says She mentions that for the past few weeks she has been listening to this song at least8times!
Lia Dixon (‘27) said their favorite song right now is “Reason Why” by Grent Perez. She stated that this song captures a “calm, sweet, and loving” feeling. Although it might seem like a mellow song, “it honestly just has a really pretty tune, and I love the words”. “Words are a major part of why I like music, but the melody is so calm and pretty,IfeellikeI'minanotherworld,”sheexplains Personally, for me, it’s hard to choose one favorite song, but one song I’ll always go back to is “Do Not Wait” by the Wallows. Dylan Minette, the main artist, explains on Substream Magazine, “I wanted it to be the song that’s like, no matter what happens in your life, no matter what feels like the biggest deal in the world at some point in your life, really nothing really happened, and there is so much life ahead of you, and everything's okay.” The instrumental, along with the words and meaning, come together to create a feeling of growing up and moving forward, which is one reason I love thissong.
Although everyone's song choices are completely different, we all have a reason and explanation on why these specific songs have a special personal connection to them. Whether they just like the instrumentals or the lyrics, it can betakeninmanydifferentways
Trending music always moves on quickly, but someone's personal favorite song can give usaglimpseintowhotheyare!
This April, the school auditorium was filled with creativity and imagination as LLA’s performance club put on a play of the well-known classic, “Mary Poppins.” The cast and crew have been working behind the scenes since October 2025 to give viewers the best possible version of the movie that they can mix up. Auditions began early in the school year, with students reviewing potential roles andpracticingsongs.
Alexandria“Alex”Pacis(‘26), a member of the class of 2026, was one of the many people who were cast as a part of the ensemble. As part of her preparation for her audition, she said she looked up the play and practiced the songs with others. With a character in mind, she would research them and attempt to imitate their roles and actions to practice. Once she completed the auditions, she was finally given the role of a clerk. As part of this new experience, Alexandria had to hone her sight-reading skills, as it would help her practice for her role and support her fellow cast members inmemorizingtheirlines.Shewouldputtheseskillsintopracticeduringrehearsals, describingthem by saying, “ The rehearsals are separated by individual scenes, with each day being a different set of them. If someone can’t make it to the planned rehearsals, we choose someone to replace them during those specific scenes.” Alex went on to say that her lines took a lot of time and practice to perfect, and that the encouragement her peers provide is sufficient to move forward towards a successful production The cast and crew continued to rehearse their lines and prepare for an open dress rehearsal on April 1st. On April 2 , opening night, their hard work and dedication to this play broughtthemagicofMaryPoppinstolifeforalltosee.
