Graduation Edition 2022

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Volume 107 Editions 7/8

Graduation 2022

Congratulations, Class of 2022 Annual Multicultural Night Colors Malden High With Diversity Kaoutar Wakaf Head of Sports Lily Nguyen Reporter Dorothy Michel Reporter nce again, the city of Malden gathered to celebrate diversity with the high school’s annual Multicultural Night.

A long-standing tradition at Malden High, is the Multicultural Night. It celebrates the culture, inclusion and diversity that Malden has embraced among its citizens for many years.

On Friday, May 20th, event coordinators and club members breathed life and color into the Malden High courtyard with balloons, banners, among other decorations.

Stairway railings adorned with tendees to the courtyard.

Casual buzz sounded until

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Multicultural Night with an excitValedictorian: Jing Ren Profile on page 14.

Salutatorian: Olivia Chan Profile on page 14.

Orator: Tony Geich Profile on page 15.

President: Julie Huynh Profile on page 17.

Continued on page 37

Malden High School Student Art Awards Mack Keating Reporter

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very year, Scholastic hosts art and writing awards for high school students around the country, as well as by state. This year, Malden housed seven winners for the Massachusetts awards: seniors Vivian Hong, Mackenzie Smith, and Matilda Turck; juniors Regina Garza Ramirez, Jadelini Mora, and Jennifer Wong; and sophomore Helen Hoang.

The highest regional award to win is the Gold Key award. Four of the regional awards were MHS students: Garza Ramirez, Hong, and two-time winner Mora. Upon winning a Gold Key, the pieces are sent to be judged nationally to qualify for the same awards. Under these conditions, Mora later won a Silver Key national title.

Mora won both of her awards under the categories of Printmaking.

Jadelini Mora’s monogram, which won a Gold Key award.

“I was nominated for one model print that was imagination/my mind… one was one concerning my favorite Mexican mythology,” Mora explained. “I was pretty surprised.”

She elaborated, saying Art Teacher

Joseph Luongo had submitted multiple of her pieces, but she did not expect to win. “I did have plans to pursue art in the future… [but] kind of do it as a side hustle while I do my own thing.”

Jadelini Mora’ portrait of La Llorona, which won a Gold Key award.

Despite winning her Gold and Silver Keys, she did not think she would win. “Everyone has potential Continued on page 2

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Art Awards

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Continued from page 1 and talent, so it could be anyone,” Mora explained, noting her previous disbelief.

Fellow Gold Key winner Garza Ramirez also won two awards: Gold Key and an Honorable Mention. under the category of Drawing & Illustration. Like Mora, Garza Ramirez explained her surprise to her award: “I was just sitting in my room doing nothing like always and then all of a sudden I get an email.” was getting yet another update from Principal Mr. Mastrangelo. “It was actually not from Mr. Mastrangelo, it was from the Scholastic Art Awards.” Even with that, she did not believe she had won just yet.

“I thought it was going to be something like oh your art piece got sent to the Scholastic Art Awards and will be judged to see if they won an award or not.” She could not believe she would have won so quickly.

“And then I actually saw that it said Congratulations, [Garza Ramirez], you have won a Regional Gold Key.” “I literally ran downstairs to my parents… I was really excited. I even sent and forwarded the email to my teacher, Mr. Luongo… Then I just went back upstairs, my day being happier, even sending it to my friends and all that.” During her celebration, she received another email.

“I kid you not, 30 minutes later, I get another email from Scholastic saying I won an honorable mention for another one of my art pieces.” She went through the process of sending the results to everyone out of excitement yet again.

“That was a really exciting experience for me because I remember seeing all these other people win awards, and I was like, wow, it’d be so cool if I won one.” Despite her hope, she thought it was a “reach” to think she would actually win once, nevermind twice.

Hong, with her award under Printmaking. Her portrait was of Medusa from Greek mythology. She has declined to comment on her award.

Mr. Luongo, the teacher who nominated the students, noted how

Self-Portrait by Regina Garza Ramirez, which won a Gold Key award.

Gold Key Medal winner Vivian Hong’s portrait of Medusa.

proud he was. “They have to produce a really good piece of art,” he explained, to be nominated. “No matter what they say, there’s a level of subjectivity. You know, you may get a judge that looks at something [they] can really identify with and [they] like and… maybe not like something else. So there’s a little bit of that.”

“It has to, you know, adhere to all the rules of elements of art, principles of design. It has to visually solve a problem. It’s not enough to just do a rendering of something, usually,” he pressed. “It has to be something that’s drawn, well composed, well uses color… all those The awards, usually given out around February, come in the mail in the following weeks. “What used to happen, before the pandemic, is that there used to be a show - an exhibition in Boston - for the Gold Key winners. Obviously, they couldn’t do that the last three years now.”

This year, akin to previous years, the event was virtual. The students

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were honored and named at The Blue and Gold Art Gallery this year on opening night, among other Malden High art students.

The amount of student winners per year varies. Luongo pointed out

the drastic change every year: “It was 13 to 15 a few years earlier, the next year we got like 20 to 23 that year.” The deadline to submit pieces is fairly early in the year, which also

Helen Hoang’s portrait of Gene Tierney, which recieved honorable mention.

the pandemic putting a hold on everything. “The deadline is usually in ber,” Luongo mentioned. This only gives students a few short months to create pieces that would qualify for

an award.

Even with the short amount of time, the students were able to submit their masterpieces and win their rightful awards.

Jennifer Wong’s drawing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which recieved honorable mention.

Editorial

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Class of 2022, Signing Off

This editorial was edited from a transcription of our podcast episode, Breaking News, We’re Graduating! The full episode can be found on Spotify, The Blue and Gold: Podcast Edition.

KAREN: I feel like I’m getting better with the whole accepting our age and accepting that, in a couple months, we’ll be gone from here and we’ll be moving on with our lives but tance or even applying, none of it felt real. I was like, “I’m still a sophomore.”

CARLOS: I’m not an adult.

I might be 18, but I don’t feel like an adult. I act like a kid. I laugh at things that are childish. I feel like it’s so hard to nail what being a teenager feels like because when you look back on being a teenager, what you laugh at isn’t funny. It’s only funny because you’re doing it with friends. And that’s where the joy of the high school experience comes from, is KAREN: Although we talk about all the negatives about COVID, without it, I would have never actually stepped back to think whether or not the people that I was surrounding myself with were people who were going to build me to be who I want to be. You guys have given me the strength to want to do journalism and do something for my passion and not money.

Whereas, before, I was going to be a psychologist. But now I’m doing something that I love be-

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cause we love it. So it’s kind of like how Carlos said, you don’t really laugh because it’s funny, you laugh because it’s with the people that you love.

LAUREN: I was going to go into accounting. That was what I was dead set on until pretty much the end of last year when I took that step back, coming back from such a monumental change, being remote and all that, and just looked in the mirror and said, “I don’t love accounting.” Sure, I’m good at it. Sure, it’s easy. Sure, I’d make good money.

But my heart truly lies in journalism.

that’s not really my thing. When I graduate, I’m not going to become a journalist. It’s not my vibe. But, I still kept doing it this year, because I love doing it with you guys.

LAUREN: I feel like just going through the last four years, even though we’re not technically done yet, it kind of feels like we are. I feel like everyone has changed so much.

I for one am very grateful to have all of you as my best friends just because my old friends weren’t necessarily the greatest to me at times.

I’ve known Carlos since we were in third grade. I only met Karen, Sandra, Lulu, and Julie freshman year. And it took a while for us to get closer. It’s just crazy to look back and see where we were then versus where we are now. Because, if you asked me freshman year, like, “Oh, do you think that you and this person would be super close in a couple years?” I wouldn’t think that would be possible.

JULIE: Even though I am 17 now and I am gonna be 18 in two

months, I am still 14, 15, 16… like eight year old me is still in there somewhere. Like Karen, I considered psychology, I considered forensics, I like all these things, but I was just like “I guess I can do that.”

But it was never anything that I was in love with the way I am in love with the art of storytelling. I eventually realized journalism and writing, that’s my passion and that’s what I want to do. I think eight year old me will be happy with that decision.

She’s going to be happy that I chose something that I love doing. And I hope that’s something that she’s proud of me for.

LULU: Basically since I was in middle school, I knew I wanted to be a writer. And I think especially this year, being in the class with you guys, I was able to really explore that passion more. I want to create these connections with people and continue to just write and be a journalist.

SANDRA: From freshman year to senior year, there were so many changes that I went through. Coming into freshman year, I thought that I wanted to go into law to become a lawyer. And no, that was not for me. And then I decided I wanted then last year, I decided that it also was not for me.

I think being in the Blue and Gold for the past four years, and looking back, it really brought me out of my comfort zone. I never really expected to make friends with all of you guys, which I’m so thankful for. And it’s so fun. I really do think that writing and journalism is something that I want to do in terms

of what I want to pursue and my passion.

JULIE: Our school’s motto is “you are not alone.” It is something that our principal loves to say. I know everybody loves to hate on it, but honestly, at the end of the day, that’s how I feel at this school.

I really do feel like I’m not alone, having this support system of friends that are so close to me and that all share the same passion and goals in our lives. I feel like that is something that so glad and happy that we have this little community here. I know that we’ll always be there for each other. Something that our advisor said one time that really stuck with me was that no matter where we are in the room, or in the world, we always and I thought that was just super cute and true. We always end up being in sync with each other.

I’ve never really had a group of friends where we’ve all been so close on this level before.

LAUREN: I feel like we’re almost magnetic. Does that make sense? There’s a saying that’s like, “you’re magnetic to the things you love the most.”

I feel like that’s kind of how we are. I feel like there’s a force that’s greater than all of us that brings us together, which is irreplaceable.

Blue and Gold, 2021-2022

Editorial Policy The Blue and Gold is an open forum for student expression. It is produced by students for the school and the community. The views presented in this paper are not necessarily those of the advisor or the school administration. The views presented in the editorials are those of the editors-in-chief or guests. The goal of The Blue and Gold is to inform and entertain students as well as the community regarding issues that we feel are important.

We strongly encourage readers to respond to material printed in the form of signed letters to the editors. No libelous, malicious, defamatory, obscene, or unsigned material will be printed.

The Blue and Gold reserves the right to edit the letters. Names may be withheld upon request. Not all letters will be printed.

Although The Blue and Gold appreciates the support of advertisers, we may refuse any advertisement that violates the above policy or that promotes products questionable to student use.

Any correspondence concerning this publication should be directed to Mr. Ryan Gallagher’s

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Let Your Waves Crash Down On Me and Take Me Away Lauren Mallett Editor-in-Chief

H

igh school is a beach. Pun intended. But seriously, it is. Or, it’s more so the experience of going school experience.

The end of eighth grade is akin to stepping onto the boardwalk, the small remnants of sand trailed away by previous beachgoers, the grains slowly starting to stick to the bottom of your shoes. You can feel almost taste the salt from the water drifting in your direction.

Ninth grade. You pick up the pace and run into the banks of sand.

You take it all in and notice all the people crowded around you looking for a patch of land to settle on, or rather a seat in the Jenkins Auditorium. You sit for hours and listen to counselors tell you how quickly the next four years will pass you by, and maybe you tune them out or you listen like they’re lifeguards yelling about sharks in the water.

But we live in Malden, why would there be sharks in the water? Sure, they exist, but how often do you hear of someone actually seeing one here?

You take new classes, meet new people, and maybe even join a club the beach much later than you need to, just to be around people. You indulge yourself in the activities and opportunities presented to you, and you make friends with so many

people: some good, some amazing, and others not so much. But that’s okay. The beach is a big place and

your classes, sit in your kitchen as you decide which ones to take as a junior, and wait. You get to go to the

A year goes by and suddenly you’re picking up your towels, shak-

up the chairs and towels you left behind. Then you wait and wait and wait some more. The summer drags by and the days melt together. The beach feels like a distant memory.

down the beach, closer to the water. ogy MCAS, pick your classes for the next year, and after what feels like a criminally short summer break, you start tenth grade.

Things are going great until they aren’t. The weather on the beach was supposed to be clear skies all day, the sun beaming down on you and all your new friends.

Unfortunately, it seems the weather app on your phone lied to you because the sky has turned grey and you can hear the thunder in the distance creeping closer and closer.

You didn’t bring an umbrella because you didn’t know you would need one, and leaving the beach isn’t a feasible option. So you push through, your hair soaking wet, shivering from the rain pouring down on you as you struggle your way through math 3 honors and a whole host of new responsibilities. the water creeps higher up on the sandbanks, reaching for you, wanting to pull you in. And then the beach closes.

You spend the rest of tenth grade at home, trying to pull yourself together, getting the help you need. You don’t have the beach, and that’s somehow both a relief and a disappointment. You pass

starting 11th grade, junior year. The year when all of your choices matter most. What you choose to do at the beach becomes more than a way of making friends or killing time, but instead becomes a feature you are resume as you are advised to start looking into colleges. How are you supposed to look at colleges when you can’t even go to the beach? You sit in your desk chair at home, looking at videos of the beach on your computer, printing out photos of pails and shovels to build castles out of the sand in your dreams.

Months go by and the beach slowly reopens. You don’t have to go back, but you choose to. It’s not the same. It’s cold and lonely, and everyone feels distant, but at least you’re back at the beach, right?

Senior year. Now everyone is back at the beach, and you’re right against the water. You can feel it lapping at your feet, inching closer by the day. Before you know it, you blink and it’s May. You have seven days left at the beach before you leave forever. At this point, you’re all but swimming in the water. It’s risen up to your chin, just your head sticks out above the waves. You em-

brace it. You stand up and jump in, letting it pull you away. You close your eyes and when you open them again, you’re no longer there.

When you’re sitting in the auditorium as a ninth-grader, you don’t believe what you’re being told. You don’t understand how four years how before you know it you’ll be in that same room as a senior, waiting in line to receive your cap and gown. You don’t want to believe it because part of you doesn’t want to ever leave the beach. Leaving means growing up, and you just aren’t sure you’ll ever be ready to do that. But the beach doesn’t care if you feel ready, and neither does life.

By the time this editorial is in the hands of anyone who might care MacDonald’s Stadium, preparing to cross the stage and receive my high the beach, the waves washing away the last moments of my childhood, the tide pushing me toward the next time in a long time, I can say that a new destination awaits me, and this time it won’t be a beach.

Opinion

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SECRETS FROM A GIRL

intermission during our sophomore and junior years, it went by so fast that it took a much longer time for the emotions to catch up to me.

We are no longer those kids that walked through the auditorium doors in August of 2018. We’re no longer kids. When did we all become adults? When did everyone learn how to drive? Start working? Grow taller?

I have friends that are commuting to college in the fall, and others that will be moving across the world.

But no matter how far they go, this is

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AL (WHO’S SEEN IT

Julie Huynh Editor-in-Chief

A

s a writer and journalist, I often get the feeling that I am running out of valuable things to say. There are only so many ways you can rearrange the thoughts inside your head to come up with something unique.

However, when I start feeling this way, I think of what Annie Dillard once said, “Day by day you have to give the work before you all the best always be more.”

I think I have this irrational fear when I write something good, that I will never be able to top it. That I only have so many words inside me before I run out of anything meaningful. It’s easy as a writer to doubt yourself when you’ve been told your whole life that it’s not a real profession. It’s a hobby, not a career. Very few make it far.

It’s even harder when you set those high expectations for yourself because you feel like you’re also setting yourself up for disappointment.

the place we were made. Right here in J387, in the auditorium and the hallways, the cafeteria table that we claimed as ours, and the only open bathroom in the entire school.

I couldn’t wait to enter high school, then I blinked and it’s been four years. You turn 18 and graduate high school and everyone tells you this is when your life actually begins, so why do I feel like I’ve already lost the radiance I had at seventeen?

These are the kind of things that I worry about. I should be focused on getting my drivers permit or registering for fall classes, but I’m up late at night thinking about how I’m nowhere near where I want to be at this point in my life. A year ago, I thought I would be accepted into a competitive However, none of those things are true. These past few months, and frankly senior year as a whole, have been a humbling experience to say the least. I know that everybody wants the best for me, but I need to want it for myself too.

No one actually talks about how hard these last few weeks of high school are. The impending sense of doom that nothing will ever be the same again. The fact that you and your friends will never be in the same classes together after May 20th. Starting being able to do anything but let the time pass.

Now that the novelty of high

Lorde said it best, “Growing up a little at a time then all at once.”

I think in a lot of ways, high school was like that. The last four years went by at an incredible speed, despite having a literal pandemic as an

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of the memories that we leave behind?

In as little as three years, no student in the building will remember our names. I’ll become someone’s sister’s friend, just another soul that walked the halls of Malden High School. No one will know the hours I spent rehearsing for JV’s in the auditorium, the anxiety I felt in math class, the lifelong friendships that I forged in J387, the journalism room.

Friends will come and go, teachers will be in and out, classrooms will change hands, and all we’ll be left with is our legacy. Forever ingrained into the newspapers and yearbooks, the wall on the right hand stage in the auditorium where decades of students have signed their names, messages scribbled in bathroom stalls, but most importantly, in the people themselves.

Once we leave this school, we become walking time capsules. Carrying around memories from the last four years of high school, pulling them out during dinner parties or when meeting new college friends. “Oh hey, I knew someone like that once!” or “Me and my friends from high school…”

No longer your friends, or best friends, but your friends from high school. From another time in your life. I think the great thing about change is that it’s subtle. It happens gradually, over time, slow enough as if to dull

To my Blue and Gold besties, thank you for giving me the courage to pursue my passion.

To my teachers, thank you for always believing in me.

To my parents for trying their best, and my brother for always making me feel better.

And to the kid that reads this in a few years, though our paths may have never crossed, when the time comes, you’ll feel it too.

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Lulu Harding Editor-in-Chief of Web & Mobile Apps

I

’m writing this editorial a night before it’s due. I knew about it since the beginning of the school year, yet had to be done. Four years and I’m still a terrible procrastinator.

About three hours ago I performed in my last high school band concert with my small ensemble group (we absolutely slayed “Smells Like Teen Spirit”). Although I’m more than ready to leave Malden High in a week, it’s still kind of sad to leave some of the better parts of high school behind.

Looking back, while I will school concerts and spending time with my close friends, something that has always surprised me is how I will miss a lot of the people that I’m not even close with at all. There have been so many people that have made an impact on my life without them even knowing.

The people that I had a single conversation with during Freshman year, and we continued to always say hi passing in the hallways.

The girl that I sat with one time at lunch who told me all about her current life drama, despite us never having an interaction prior.

Even the freshman that complimented my eyeliner in the bathroom once.

All of these near-strangers and little interactions have had such back. Creating connections out of almost nothing, and knowing that even if it feels like the world and everyone you know is against you, there will always be someone.

I try not to live with regret, although if I could change one thing I did in high school, it would be taking more time for myself. For

into being a good friend to others, getting my grades up for colleges to see, and trying my best to make everyone feel at ease.

Until my senior year, I never really took the time for myself to grow into the person I wanted to be. Growing up with anxiety makes it ten times worse. Constantly second-guessing every move that you make, wondering how each person in a room will react to what you are going to say, being uncomfortable in your own skin.

While this has made me an extremely empathetic person and able to be there for my friends when they need it most, I forgot about myself and my needs. I didn’t take the time to step back and think about who I wanted to be perceived as, and instead spent all my time thinking perceiving me.

It’s exhausting.

For some reason, everything just clicked for me these past couple of weeks, with my graduation date creeping up behind me, the hindsight bias kicking in.

You can do all that you can to be there for other people, but sometimes, you just have to be there for yourself. Although I am always there to help, I am not responsible for solving everyone’s problems.

Starting to focus

solely on bettering myself these last couple of months in high school and letting go of even the slightest-toxic people in my life has gotten me farther than any it-will-get-betterdon’t-give-up advice anyone has ever promised me.

I will never be able to help everyone and make everyone happy.

Trust me, I’ve tried, and the only place that’s gotten me is a deep spiral of burnout.

Of course, I mean all of this not in a narcissistic way, but in the perspective of self-growth. I really do love you all.

With this being said, I think I have had a successful senior year. I next four years through a class that I did not expect to even be taking.

I originally took The Blue and Gold (sorry Mr. Gallagher.) However, I decided to stick with it, and four years later I’m one of the Editors-inChief.

I fell in love with all of the different aspects of journalism along the way and met some of my closest friends where we had so much fun doing what we all love. So much so that most of us decided to pursue a major in Journalism in college, including me.

Even just focusing on what I wanted to do has made my senior year so memorable to that meant going into Boston to spend half of my week’s paycheck on records, so be it. I have found that doing what I

love will eventually lead me to become someone that I love. in myself and who I am, and it’s almost relieving to leave Malden High can carry into college and the rest of my life.

Even earlier today, playing The person I was freshman year would have been freaking out if that was the case.

Becoming comfortable with lenging journey for me these past four years, although progress isn’t always linear. Rock bottom was although it never stayed that way. I continued to grow from everything I’ve been through, which has only given me valuable experiences that shape me into the person that I am today.

I know that my freshman-year self would be proud of the person that I have become. Her jaw would hair. And although I don’t know will look like for me yet, I am excited to begin a new chapter in my life and continue growing into the person I want to be.

Thank you to everyone who has ever crossed paths in my life.

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Opinion

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From a Blue Period to My Purple Era

Sandra Li Managing Editor he color blue. A complete contradiction. Oftentimes associated with tranquility, calmness, and reliability; it’s also well known as the color of distance, aloofness, and sadness.

For as long as I can remember, blue has always been my favorite color. The color encompasses this feeling of tranquility where it soothes the human eye as it overlooks the depths. It represents the sky and the sea. Most importantly of fort in the deep, dark, uncertainty of blue.

I can recall the time when I was

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through the window of my living room just contemplating life and the existence of it. Now as odd it may sound, oftentimes I was left alone in my thoughts, being an only child and all. Looking back, I remember questioning my own existence.

What is my purpose? Is there an alternate universe? Why are the clouds moving? Questions that a typical eight year old would ponder about. I think. Or at least, I hope.

As my days of being a highschooler are soon tapering away into mere memories, it has somewhat sinked in that it is over. Four years of purely treading along through work, but also four years of the most moment, as I’m writing this, I lay in bed typing desperately away in trying to put disorganized words to my experiences, and going astray.

Staring at the muddled words on my laptop screen, everything is just a haze, and it may or may not be due to the tears surfacing my eyes realizing that it’s really all over.

So, to whoever is reading this, here is my attempt at compiling together a bunch of jumbled emotions our passion” with “pursuing our passion and imprinting it into the rest of our lives.” I’m certain that most of us have fallen down that rabbit hole. How incredibly easy it is to comply with the idea that happy is by having a position that allows us to do exactly what we’re interested in. And my entire life I’ve struggled with that. I was grappling with trying to express my authentic self. While in the midst of that, there were many attempts made in perfecting this facade of an existence that ultimately made me feel hollow inside. In reality, I was just sort of there. I wasn’t truly living. I was just a meager teenager trying to bare her soul to the world, but failing to do so. have gone or will have gone through a blue period. It’s like Picasso’s time of blues, when he underwent an emotional turmoil and it just so moments in his artistic career.

As silly as it sounds, the phrase

blue period in fact reminds me of fast forwarding, past the dark clouds, and seeing another eventful chapter blissfully close.

And now senior year, at last, is drawing to a close. I made it. In some way, I made it past the fear of failing to remember assignments, the endless number of sleepless nights, and the panic over waking up early for school. Now I am once again furthering my journey jumping into the beautiful, yet unrelenting world of uncertainty and euphoria. Like Yatora Yaguchi, I was bored with life. I was encased within the monotony of my existence. Unlike him, I didn’t have this immediate revelation where I leaped right into stead, it took me years to eventually come to terms with my own humanity.

So, what is my purpose in life?

What inspires me to move forward?

To keep going? To be honest, I don’t can only have a mere grasp of what those may be. After all, I still have a lifetime to answer those questions.

Then again, I’m only 18.

And “those” being the people around me who have helped bring my purple out of the blue through Like a story is far from being incomplete without its characters, I up to this point without the incredible people that I’ve had the pleasure to cross paths with. That being said, to all those wonderful people, this is my thank you.

Thank you for helping me with becoming comfortable in extending my boundaries, thank you for allowing me to spill out my emotions, and most importantly thank you for showing me how to love myself.

The Blue and Gold June 2022

Opinion maldenblueandgold.com

Carlos Aragon Editor-In-Chief of Print

The Mural

T

he end. Graduation. Exciting, right? When this gets published, I’ll

the end. I’ve never been so excited to leave school. Don’t get me wrong, I had a pretty good run; I made friends, did good in school, and got into a great college. I look back on my high school years the way a painter ing? Sell it and start on the next. The problem is, I’m so tired that I can’t even pick up the brush.

I’m just so exhausted. I can barely bring myself to write this piece, let alone start the stack of assignments I have looming over my shoulders. around the corner, I lament the fact that legally, I’m an adult. Adults have full time jobs, bills, mortgage, gasoline, and responsibilities!

Which is alright. It’s not gonna kill me (climate change will though).

What I’m afraid of is that I’ll never shake this feeling of exhaustion matter how hard I try, it remains bound to me. What if I never want to paint again?

And this leads me to the terrifying question that everybody seems to ask but no one has a real answer for: What’s the point? Why were we put on this dying world, entrenched in doom and gloom, fated to just now, but for all of history; humans brought their own downfall onto themselves countless times and I don’t see what we’re doing to break this dreadful pattern. So why are we here? Is there some sort of grand purpose for our existence?

Nope. And that’s okay.

I would love it if our generation was the one to break the mold, to bring about some real change. After all, people are getting more and more aware of the problems in our world. We truly have become more empathetic and caring as the decades have gone by, I will not deny that.

But it’s probably too late. Century’s worth of hate has been imbued into our society, and the stench is permanent. No matter how hard we try to clean it up, it would take at least a century to uproot it from the foundation of our world. So what’s left for us? At this point, great grandkids will appreciate it though.

There isn’t really anything left for us in the big picture. And that’s okay. real, this isn’t a fantasy and the real world doesn’t revolve around of paint, let alone the focus of the frame. But everything’s all right, because I know that in this bleak future, I’ll have the memories I made to anchor me.

Who knows where I’ll be in 10 years? Maybe I’ll be out there trying my hardest to brighten the world around me, or maybe I’ll keep to myself and focus on my light. Either way, I’ll be happy.

Why? Because my joy is fueled by the little moments that make up my painting. painting in life, because our lives can’t be inserted into frames. Our lives are murals as grand as the Sistine Chapel, bursting with colors and detail that only the human heart could ever bring to a canvas. to the brim with joy, anger, sadness, idiocracy, wisdom, and most importantly, love.

Every day, I close my eyes and I see that mural. It’s stunning. Every day, it gets a little longer, a little taller, full of bright beautiful colors and the people who drown me with love. If you’re there, and you’re reading this, I just want to say thank you. For being there for me, for laughing with me, at me, for all the good times, the bad times, for all the little moments that keep us going. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past 18 years, it’s that the world is a cold place, and there’s nothing like a little bit of love to warm it up.

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Opinion

10

The Blue and Gold June 2022

maldenblueandgold.com

My Hardest Goodbye Karen Rivera Managing Editor

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or as long as I can remember I’ve dreamed of the day that I would walk the stage and recieve my diploma in front of all my classmates.

I pictured my prom, graduation and senior year to be exactly like it appeared in all of the coming of age movies I watched growing up.

For some reason I also never really believed that I would live to see the day that I leave high school. Not in a morbid and depressing kind of way, just in a “I never thought this day would come” kind of way. my mom told me was “it’s all downhill from here.” I immediately got defensive, and couldn’t believe she was feeding me such nonsense.

But here I am three swift years later picking my courses for my maas I struggle to fathom the idea of letting my friends go. the Jenkins auditorium on August 21st, 2018 for our high school orientation were “these next four years I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes a bit because I didn’t believe him one bit.

How could 720 days go by quickly?

I spent the next three years I could possibly speed up the year and move onto the next chapter.

I had countdowns on my phone for the last day of school, I planned out my absences accordingly so I could spend less time in the building, and I saw high school as a huge inconvenience.

By now we’ve exhausted the topic of COVID and the pandemic, but of course that had a huge impact on my experience here at Malden High school. It slowed life down which was something I was not accustomed to, and I grew to appreciate time.

Time with family, time with friends, and time within the walls of this old high school that I was itching to get out of.

Suddenly everything was hurdling at me and I had no desire to leave Malden.

The countdowns disappeared because as the days went down I grew anxious. My absences were

close to non-existent because I wanted to romanticize every second of my senior year. And I grew an appreciation for being able to wake up every morning to see my friends and sit in class.

As cheesy as it sounds, this year was something I really wanted to hold onto and everyday that has passed by I tried my best to cherish for the last eight months of my life.

I’ll miss complaining about the through everyday to get to all my classes.

I’ll miss walking through the halls and yelling at the sea of kids blocking my way because I’m a senior and that superiority really gets to your head quickly.

I’ll miss the collective struggle between the Class of 2022 as we all

through the last few days we have left.

But most of all I’ll miss all the laughs, rants and screaming fests I’ve shared with my friends because although they will follow me everywhere I go in my heart, their physical presence will be what I look for when I’m seeking comfort next year.

The pandemic also gave me time to think about the people I was surrounding myself with, and whether or not they were pushing me to be the person I want to become.

Friendships come and go but I I have in my life right now will be there forever because they made my senior year even more special.

As I sit here writing this editorial and blasting my graduation playlist on Spotify, I’d like to take the time to dedicate the next few paragraphs to each of my friends that made this year unforgettable.

To my besties Antonia and Sammi, I will never forgive myself for waiting until senior year to get to know you. One of the smartest decisions I ever made was taking sociology because it gave me you two.

Liv, I am so happy that I met you sophomore year because you´ve been a light in my life ever since.

I´d like to give a big shout out to Mr. Heon Fire for inspiring my February editorial, and for making it so easy to write about love.

There isn’t a day that goes by when I’m not giggling and laughyou for teaching me to not take life

so seriously and for giving me the promposal of my dreams.

You made me feel like I was in the coming-of-age movies I force you to watch with me, and you are the greatest friend I have ever had.

To my heads and editors who make me so proud to be part of The Blue and Gold, all six of you will be my hardest goodbyes.

I´ll miss the late nights hustling to get a story done as we all hover over a doc because we are all terrible procrastinators, but goated writers.

Our lunch table talks and rant sessions will be missed more than you know because it was our safe space, and great place to get things I’ll miss the way we all sneakily ter being separated in class because as much as we convince ourselves we don´t need to be together, we gravitate back to each other.

Each and every single one of you are so special to me, and your creativity and our shared love for storytelling is what fueled my passion for journalism.

You all played a role in molding me into a better student, journalist, reporter, but overall a better person.

True friends are rare but I was I´ve got a lot of regrets and things I would redo in my time here, but wishing I found my way to you Thank you for making me live, love, and laugh all year.

Although we´re all going to same way we did everytime our seats got moved in the classroom.

Thank you for giving me something to miss and hold onto. I love each and every single one of you and I can’t wait for the world to be blessed with your talents, the way that Malden High School was lucky enough to see for the last four years.

We will forever be Blue and Gold Besties.

As reality starts to set in, and the goodbyes come near i´m thankful that I can look back on these four years and see I’m content with the way I am leaving.

Malden High School, you will always hold a special place in my heart and no matter how many places I go from here, I will forever be a golden tornado and proud resident of Malden.

The Blue and Gold June 2022

Opinion

11

maldenblueandgold.com

It’s Time to Make Mistakes Courtney Fitzgerald Lead Reporter

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8 years of growing and 12 years of schooling, then we are expected to know exactly how our life will unfold. We are meant to know where our future is going, how we’re going

teen years later, the only answer I can seem to come up with is, “we’ll see when I get there.”

I’ve watched people not go to college and get jobs that pay their bills and allow them to live comfortably. And I’ve also watched people go to college and do absolutely nothing with their degree.

Now at 17/18 years old, those

their mind for years and years to come.

When I was seven I decided I was going to be a veterinarian. An ambitious seven year old, I went and researched the best colleges to go to that would eventually lead to me becoming a veterinarian. Ten years later applying to colleges, I didn’t apply to any of those colleges and the major I chose has nothing to do with becoming a vet.

When I was 14 I then decided I was going to be a brain surgeon.

After a few months of thinking and talking with family members, I realized that it was just a slight obsession to Grey’s Anatomy and being a brain surgeon was not in the cards for me. When I was 15 my next dethen the realization sank in that running into a burning building is not something I could see myself doing.

Now when people ask me about my future, I tell them I’ve chosen a major and have, now, chosen a college to attend. Where that will take me? I have no idea, but the journey

we are meant to make. I may not be 18 years old yet, but that sounds unrealistic to me.

Each year we get older and each year someone asks “what are you gonna be when you grow up.”

Every time they asked we gave them -

same teenagers are being told they have to have a plan outlined pretty much until the day they die. For some that is easy. They make their minds up at the age of eight, maybe ten, and latch on to the dream until it becomes their reality. For others, though, they struggle and change

jealous of those who made up their mind at an early age and are now following it through? Sometimes.

But I also know that I don’t have to decide right now. I’m seventeen, and in the words of Anna Kendrick in the movie Twilight Eclipse, “this isn’t the time to make hard and fast decisions, its time to make mistakes.”

Nothing is set in stone.

As we move through life, the

focuses are on the major moments: prom, high school graduation, college graduation, wedding, etc.

Anything in between is basically irrelevant to everyone outside of ourselves. If it’s not your birthday, a graduation of some sort, or something “worth” celebrating, people tend not to pay much attention to anything else going on.

That time in between, though, is our chance to make mistakes. It’s our time to travel the world and get lost and meet new people. There are endless possibilities to what we can spend our time on, as long as we hit those milestones. Stones are meant to be skipped and that is exactly what some people do. They skip college and go right to a job, and nothing about that is wrong. They chose their path and stuck to it. Every path who is on it.

So, while I may have committed to Stonehill College with a major of English, there are still many things I haven’t decided yet that I probably won’t decide for another few years. I don’t know what career path I’m going to take, and I don’t know where I’ll live when I’m 25, but I know that I also know that I have the support of my friends and family to help me make the decisions I don’t know yet.

I might not have a map of my life laid out in front of me, but, for now, I’m just wandering, not lost.

Opinion

12

The Blue and Gold June 2022

maldenblueandgold.com

Fleeting Passion Liam O’Toole Lead Photographer

to look back on it all is something special. One thing I’ll always be able

I

ever used a camera for journalism. It was fascinating. Getting to learn all the little kinks of a camera and capturing a moment. I’m now aiming to make working with cameras in some form a permanent part of my life. That is a really special thing to me. Joining the Blue and Gold was a shot in the dark for me. I had no

honestly owe a lot to The Blue and Gold. I’ve made friends, been taught important skills, and even discovered a passion. Imagine that.

Four years of self discovery and change. I don’t want to ramble on too much and end up rewording the same things a thousand times, so I’ll cut to the chase. Being able

prior interest in journalism, so coming out of four years of it with an actual attainable idea of what I want to do forever is almost magical.

Now I said I would be keeping this short and sweet, here will be my attempt at wrapping this up: Take that shot in the dark and don’t be scared to try something new. The comfort zone is where you make it, so make it move with you through life.

The Blue and Gold June 2022

Opinion

13

maldenblueandgold.com

To College or Not to College Gabriella Ilebode Reporter

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he biggest decision of your young adult life is deciding what your life after high school is going to look like. Most young adults, including myself, have been thinking about this one moment since middle would go to school for, which school we would go to and how excited we would be to move on-campus and live the college experience. High school, they talked about the credits you need and what you will need to be able to apply for college, so with that in your head since you are 14 you feel that pressure, whether you realize it or not.

Junior year came around and that was when I really started to feel the pressure to start touring schools, thinking about what I want to go to school for and taking the SATs. Junior year started and ended faster than I could have ever imagined, and I had no idea what I was going to do, and I was even second-guessing whether or not I wanted to go to college. When I really started to vocalize my decision of not exactly wanting to go during junior year, I got a lot of backlash from people who I really thought would give me support on my decision. That’s when I really forced myself to start

applying to schools.

I eventually found a school that I really liked: Southern Connecticut State University. It was a place I could have seen myself at; it checked in a school, so I applied. I applied to SCSU and a few other schools in what schools I got into before winter break because of the anxiety I got from waiting. I knew I would need to know what I got into early so that I wouldn’t be stressed out for the remainder of my senior year. The day before winter break started, I was sitting in my American Law class when I got my acceptance email for SCSU. I was so excited because I didn’t think I was actually going to get into any school I applied to, not because I didn’t have the grades or anything, I just had doubts that I wasn’t good enough.

As I started the process of putting in my initial deposit for school, I hadn’t really told anyone because in the back of my mind it still just didn’t feel right. Something about the idea of going to college didn’t sit right. If someone asked me about school, it would seem to make me uncomfortable and I would avoid it even though I was getting into the schools I applied to. I didn’t fully accept what I had really wanted for myself.

Society is constantly changing

and one of the ways that it is happening is that people are constantly conforming to what is popular during that time, and the pressure of conforming to it is happening more than ever due to the media. People spend so much time consumed on their phones, and what they see on it and hope someone online might react to a decision that they made because they want the validation of others, even though that person won’t care after they see the post. I have been guilty of this idea as well as so many other people my age and even younger people.

I had to take a step back, and really think about what would be good for me.

With reading that sentence you might have even formed an opinion on what you think will be best for me, even if you know me or not.

Everyone has an opinion, whether you think it will be good for me to go to college because you think it is the proper way to set up my life, and that is the only way I will truly succeed in anything further I do in my life. Or you think not going to college is best for me because you think that real-life experiences are the best ways to learn about the real world as well as yourself.

Those are the opinions I have been fed with since I learned about college and life after high school in middle school. Constantly hearing

everyone else’s decisions for your life and what it should look like without even fully knowing you as a person, what your values are and what your dreams are, can really dim a light in your own life; because they did for me. I conformed myself into something I wasn’t so that people wouldn’t judge me, so that I wouldn’t get yelled at by people I care about because I didn’t choose the path that they wanted me to go with. I already knew I wasn’t happy, was going to be like.

So, I decided not to go. I thought that I would need to explain myself to everyone and apologize for it; but why do I need to apologize to someone for something that has nothing to do with them? Life is worth so much more than just conforming to the validation of others rather than validating your own decisions in life. I want to do what makes me happy; and that might not look the same as what makes someone else happy. But that’s okay because evfuture will look like? Of course, because no one knows exactly what their future will look like. But I am ready to live; whatever happens I have faith in my decision regardless if anyone else has faith in it nor me.

Dog day care center in Malden, Massachusetts

72 Pleasant St, Malden, MA 02148

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Local News maldenblueandgold.com

Valedictorian: Jing Ren

The Blue and Gold June 2022

Salutatorian: Olivia Chan Kaoutar Wakaf Head of Sports

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Krishany Marius Head of Local

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s the class of ‘22 celebrates and throws their caps in the air, they will wonder who made an impact in their class that they will somehow be remembered for in high school.

That could mean sports, extracurricular activities, creating a voice in top of their class.

It is something that is hard to reach and accomplish, though Jing sible while juggling many things at the same time. She is not surprised at becoming the valedictorian; it was her goal since freshman year. When Ren noticed the valedictorian at her sister’s graduation, she realized that women could do the same thing when it came to terms of creating a speech for her graduating class.

She never told anyone because she did not believe it was possible, “the thing with me is that I would do it only if I know I will be the best.”

Ren was not always involved in extracurricular activities due to having so much homework and always working at her parent’s restaurant, “I couldn’t even be able to hang out with my friends, I was doing homework while answering phone calls.”

However, it did not stop her from still being involved and doher and possibly study subjects that she would major in in college, like QuestBridge, College Prep Scholar, and National College Match, HPREP. She also did a Young Leader Summit program.

Ren Plans on majoring in mathematical economics at the University of Pennsylvania for now, however it

Photo submitted by Jing Ren. may change. What made her so passionate about math growing up in a family business because she was always involved in numbers. Realizing that you have to learn to use the knowledge that you have the skills that “I have in math, but also applying the real world of economics.”

Knowing that math only has one answer, and that there may be mistakes while doing math, however when it comes to economics, Ren goes on to explain, “when you’re talking about economics it’s not just money it’s about resources,” and the limited resources that the world has Ren being interested in math does not stop her to have political views or be able to want to help the world in a way that she knows she can be able to make an impact, “the ism is an issue that is contradicting progress,” and it is still going on and preventing women that would like to pursue STEM majors or in the stem workforce.

Ren has noticed that there were only two girls in her physics class and three girls in her AP computer science class and seeing that “the STEM workforce is already having a huge negative impact on girls at such a young age,” Ren’s main goal is to major in math and combine her skills with a minor in gender and sexuality studies.

Figuring out “how gender affects other people’s choices,” she is very excited to be stepping into a new stage in her life, going to a new city in Philadelphia. She loves the scenery of the city and wants to be reminded of her home especially

since Malden is very diverse livia Chan, who is president so she chose somewhere near of the History Club at Malden the city.

High School, has made it to the top “Social life in college is three of her senior class. Although making it to the top of her class was adults…” Seeing kids from a goal for her, she says it wasn’t a all over the world coming to goal she would “actively pursue.” this college makes her a little “I believe it was only until worried because she is going sophomore or junior year when I to an Ivy League school and realized I was in the top 10 by checkshe is not sure how college ing Naviance. After that, it was sort is going to go since kids are of a goal for me to sort of retain my often from wealthy families. rank because I didn’t really want to disappoint myself.” group, people from the same Chan describes her high school - experience as a “time for change.” dents background.” ent person from when I graduated low-income student, “with Middle School. I went through difparents who are immigrants, ferent changes like being more open that could not provide that to trying new classes and things that much resources,” Jing wants to prove to other people that Among her many achievestudents like her can be able ments, Chan is most proud of taking to be a valedictorian. “Hu- AP Seminar during her Junior year, mans can rise above any situ- and making the presentation for the ation if you just work hard, college board. “I don’t really like and have determination.” speaking in large groups, but I think Ren wants to establish that AP Seminar was something that an impact in this world and really helped me improve my comthat means making big or- munication skills,” explained Chan.

Like every student, Chan also ganizations by spreading the word and giving out resources to people that are not given that many oppor- plained that during her senior year, tunities or advantages, “just to help she found it sometimes challenging kids with college applications, and just apply my knowledge to real- through her senior year, especially world situations.” Furthermore, Ren because a lot of her classes were wants to get her degree to not just extremely rigorous. “I think my have it but to do something with it, getting a degree may be nice though BC because of the amount of work. what are you going to do with that Also, math isn’t exactly the subject degree, “I want to use that degree to that I like the most. So I think that help the world.”

In ten years she sees herself through senior year was the biggest surrounded by professionals, who struggle for my high school career.”

In addition COVID also bit share the same interests and goals as her, “helping students, especially into a part of her sophomore year. from a disadvantaged background.” “I think that some of the topics that Jing Ren is a hardworking, pas- I was supposed to learn at the end sionate woman who plans on mak- of sophomore year were a little bit stunted, so I had to put a lot more to her. She has managed on being at ics going into junior year when we the top by time management, being were still online.” Chan also recalled optimistic with herself, and having that during remote learning, it was a humble personality. Ren has had a little bit hard to wake herself up to risk a lot while being number one in the morning, but she pushed through it. in her class.

After high school, Chan is planShe acknowledges that it is not easy and gives advice to those who ning on attending Tufts University want to be at the top of their class. to major in Biology and complete a “When you fail, do not cry over that four year degree.

Chan’s advice for underclassone thing, you have to learn to pick yourself up and learn from your men is to give people a chance because “a lot of people are more mistakes.”

That you have to learn to be friendly than you think.” In terms of resilient and patient with yourself, academics, she says one must make “you can’t give everything else up sure to both challenge and pace and start questioning your own ability,” try to stay calm and think logi- breezing through honors classes, cally and always tell yourself that then that might be a sign that you “there are always other chances.” maybe want to try an AP. However, Ren going forward after high school you also don’t want to overwhelm just surrounds herself with positiv- yourself because that will only make your grades drop. Go for the chality and is able to grow. lenges, but make sure that you can handle it.”

The Blue and Gold June 2022

Local News

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maldenblueandgold.com

Orator: Tony Geich

Chaimaa Assli Head Copy Editor Sandra Li Managing Editor

Photo Submitted by Tony Geich

Jennifer Wong

Chaimaa Assli Head Copy Editor

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adjusting back into school but overcame those challenges. As the captain of the swim team and an accomplished student, Giech is an exemplary Malden High School student.

Giech will be attending Northeastern University next year and plans to major in computer science.

Giech was glad to be back in school after spending a big portion of high school online. He liked coming back and being able to see everyone and being able to go to class with his friends.

“You don’t really know how much you’ve missed out on until it gets taken away from you,” he said. Although his senior year was a little stressful because of the college applications he still had fun and it was exciting. Giech also had a lot of fun with his last swim season because it was good to end his four-year swimming career at MHS. “There have obviously been ups and downs, but it’s been fun.” ”I came into high school thinking it was going to be like High School Musi-

espite having high school cut short due to COVID, Jennifer Wong had many achievements including coming out at the top of the class of 2022. Wong plans to go to UMass Amherst to major in biochemistry and molecular biology.

Wong said that COVID made everything a whole mess. “My experience with COVID was pretty interesting because I always expected my four years of high school to be just normal,” Wong said. For her, the most challenging thing after COVID was connecting people’s voices with their faces since she hasn’t seen everyone for over a year.

“Our class has been in challenging situations with the pandemic restricting us from in-person learning but we were persistent and I enjoyed volunteering for events like JVs and our senior class bake sales to fundraise,” Wong said.

Wong felt that the clubs she joined freshman year helped her come out of her shell more since she was extremely about. Wong is very excited about a new start in college. She is also excited about her major. Although she knows it will be

since it was a new experience and he met new people. what he was interested in. For example, he pursued computer science and found new hobbies like running.

The college application process was stressful for Giech because there was al-

don’t even know where to start,” Giech said. Even with the stress, he thinks it was a good learning experience because “it forces you to analyze yourself.”

One of the biggest things Giech is looking forward to in college will be meeting new people and the new experience. “It’s a great opportunity to learn from

James Valente has known Giech since his freshman year but only had him as a student this year for the Maldonian Yearbook. Valente thought it was great to have Giech in the class.

“One of the things I can say about Tony is that he is the consummate high school student: he’s athletic, he’s personable, he’s academic, and he’s communityorientated. He really gets it,” Valente said. This was one of the things Valente loved best foot forward and that he never held back.

Valente believes that something that stands out about Giech is his integrity and his humility. “He’s always saying ‘I could have done better. And next time, I’m going to do better.’ And I think that’s important for everyone,” Valente said. He Continued on Page 17.

Wong hopes to get her bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst. From there she thinks she might want to be a lab technician. She is also considering a master’s degree and a physician’s assistant program.

Some teachers that made a big impact on Wong’s four years of high school are Jessica Webber, Kayla Scheitlin, and Joseph Luongo because they reassured her that her future is ways being supportive and always providing a safe space in her classroom.

Webber taught Wong her freshman year for bio and then again her senior year for biotech. Webber said that Wong was one of the best students she has had academically because she is diligent and never misses details. “She works really, really hard for her grades,” Webber said.

Webber believes that Wong grew in terms of coming out of her shell more and being more of a leader in the school since she was shy as a freshman. She also loves how modest Wong is. “No one would know how smart she is.”

Webber is going to miss Wong a lot. “She is so important to me as a person but also she helps me so much and she keeps me organized and my classroom organized and I will really miss her because I see her every day.”

After she graduates with her degree Wong hopes to travel and visit her parents’ home towns in China and Myanmar.

Local News

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The Blue and Gold June 2022

maldenblueandgold.com

Vice President: Sarah Oliveira Juliana Luong Head of Sports

President: Julie Huynh Courtney Fitzgerald Lead Reporter

the day, it will all be worth it once we walk across the stage.”

Through all the fun, there were also times of stress. Shortly after Huynh, and the rest of the

everything went into lockdown.

With only one fundraiser under

Photo Submitted by Julie Huynh

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ulie Huynh, class president for the graduating Class of 2022, completed a lot in her four years at Malden High School.

Huynh was elected vice president during her sophomore year Photo Submitted by Sarah Oliveira

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arah Oliveira was elected Vice President of the class of 2022 in the 2020 school year. Since then Oliveira has sustained the position for two years in assistance to the Class President. Oliveira contributed to event plans and organization, Junior Varieties being one of them. Oliveira said, “I truly enjoyed planning and bringing Junior Varieties to life” and “watching the curtains open the council as a whole.

Oliveira described the toughest part of being on the stuschedules which made it hard at times to meet, especially under the duties as student council ofProm was the main and biggest priority to the Class of 2022 prom

was

transformed

into

hoped for.

Oliveira is graduating with a plan of attendance at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she will study biology and biotechnology.

Oliveira left the Malden High School student body with memorable advice. She said to “live in pursuit of your happiness.” She continued, “I encourage that you aspire for greatness, perity, all the while, prioritizing part of you. Settle for nothing.

You deserve everything this life

gained a class advisor. noting that she originally wanted to run for secretary. However, after talking with their advisor Daniel Jurkowski, she questioned whether she should stay in this category or run for vice president. After much thought, Huynh made the choice to run for vice president and ultimately succeeded. She said that “after being elected as vice president and seeing all the support I got from that, I said, you know, I can run for president junior year.”

Huynh expressed, “being on student council comes with a lot of responsibilities, [so] it’s also been super hard, trying to make sure everyone is happy.” She continued, “but I think the most exciting part is just knowing that at the end of

a way to adjust to online fundraising. Huynh noted, “that was super hard, learning how to adjust and do fundraisers online and still be able to connect with everyone, virtually, and not being in person.”

Huynh said that she has “always been a really ambitious person, even in middle school.” Even though student council was not a thing in her middle school, Huynh “knew that was something [she] wanted to be a part of” when she got to Malden High. She added that she “wanted to help make informed decisions for our class and help [the class] have a great four years.”

She decided to be a part of student council in an attempt to make her time in high school the best it could be. She expressed, “After I got elected, I saw how much support I got and how much people believed in me and just having that really encouraged me to do well for the next couple of years.”

Huynh was not only president during her senior year, but also President of the Feminism Club, Editor-in-Chief of The Blue and Gold, researcher for Psychology Club, a member of the National Honors Society and a part-time barista. “Everything I am involved in is something that I am genuinely passionate about,” she noted.

involvement during her time at MHS, stating “this is how I contribute[d] to the school. This is how I left my mark, and that was really important to me.”

After going through four year of high school, Huynh’s only regret was stressing so much. “I feel like for the past four years, I put all this weight on my shoulders, and there’s all this pressure around doing well and succeeding. But, at the end of the day, we’re all going Her favorite part of her high school experience was the community. “The community that we built, I know sometimes things get super stressful, but I think our senior class, the Class of 2022, is something really special. What we have and the community that we built, the friendships that we built, I think all that is irreplaceable.” moments play out, Huynh stated “it doesn’t feel real, but it is super exciting, knowing that everything will work out…and all the hard work we’ve put in for the past four years is going to amount to something great.”

The Secretary: Christelle Jean Krishany Marius Head of Local

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hristelle Jean is a strong activist and who has a powerful voice in the Malden community. In the last four years of attending Malden High School, she has done a lot and that includes being part of the Student Council, the Black Culture Club, the Step Team, and many other extracurricular activities at Malden High School.

Though being part of the Student Council for her class had been quite an experience, it was educational and it showed Jean what it takes to cooperate with people and create a positive working environment, which overall made her get to know her classmates better. plans that would satisfy the needs

life’s greatest endeavors, venture into the unknown, and do not be afraid to stumble because life has just begun.”

Although she does not regret taking part in student council, there were some moments where Huynh doubted being so involved.

“Sometimes I do kind of doubt myself, [but] I feel like that’s normal.”

Huynh revealed that while in the process of drafting her graduation speech, she felt like “there [was] so much pressure to really make something super meaningful.” She then reiterated that “having the support of so many people, that really pushes [her] to keep going.”

High School,” Jean said.

Jean’s student council position gave her many things: an opportu-

nity to interact with the students at Malden High School, a lot of “access to not only the students that were there, but the teachers and adminpeople gave her a chance to get to know her school.

Jean is passionate about students and even went on to say that most important to her. She believes that the student council prepared her for interactions with people that she will have in a workplace.

Jean has also taken the time to get to know herself these past four years at Malden High School. She is and ability to express them.

“If you don’t speak up, it’s like a closed mouth that does not get fed,” Jean went on to say. “You have Continued on Page 17.

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maldenblueandgold.com

Treasurer: Sammi Nie

Continued from Page 16. to actively get your input in to see the results that you’d like to see.”

Jean said that she would have wanted to be a little “more outgoing and participate more in activities” but she “was a lot more scared in freshman year.”

Her advice to any upcoming highschooler was to point out that “people are not watching you as often as you think they are.”

The biggest accomplishment of her high school career was being able to do a silent march during the summer of 2020. During quarantine, being able to gather the Malden community was really important not only to Jean but also to Malden.

It is something that Jean says she will “never be able to forget.”

Karen Rivera Managing Editor

how much money the class needs to reach a certain goal, and this year she overlooked prom ticket sales.

“It was kinda a little bit challenging because I had to keep track of whether or not we wanted to waste our time on certain fundraisers. I had to make really hard decisions, some of the fundraising

S

Photo Submitted by Christelle Jean.

position.”

“Honestly, I was hesitant, I was like ‘oh my gosh this is going to be so much more work, double the amount of stress’, and then I just decided to do it,” stated Nie. Nie’s position entails being present at fundraising events to take care of money, ordering items, mak-

oon to be graduate Sammi Nie leaves behind a legacy on the 2022 student council as class treasurer.

Nie was elected as class treamore year.

This was the initial election for the class as advisor Dan Jurkowski was signed onto the position earlier that year.

Nie stated that she “knew I wanted to be in a student council position and I think I just picked a random position… I just picked it up and was like okay I’ll be class treasurer, that sounds like a fun

council] was gonna put in so much raise any money,” Nie said.

Compared to her duties Sophomore year and Junior year, Nie described her position this year as “a “I was more involved because I knew what I was doing. It took because senior year is our last year and I can’t mess up. I had to calculate more, it wasn’t just fundraising like a few bake sales and counting the money…I had to pay attention more to liability, I had to reach out but I still had fun.”

Nie expressed that her involvement in student council as treasurer made her high school experience “A thousand times more stressful.”

“It wasn’t just about school anymore, I had to dedicate time after school, over the summer, I had to plan ahead of time. So it really solidify my position in this school and my impact I was making, however It was still stressful regardless. I really liked it despite everything.”

Despite the stress, Nie voiced that she will “miss the chaos” as she leaves her positon behind.

Nie joked and stated she will also miss ”The Blue and Gold interviews, and getting the scoop on things.“ “It was a positive experience, there was some negatives but overall it was a good thing.”

She also expressed that being part of student council “shaped” her. nized now. I feel like organized is a word we kinda throw around a lot but like you do not understand how messy things get.”

Nie expressed her sentiments as she closes this chapter School, stating “I feel depressed.

Like its so sad…I’m gonna miss being part of such a big impact on a school.”

Art Coordinator: Tony Giech of 2022 should get their advisor soon because of fundraising purposes. As a result, it made him realize that the class was behind which got him motivated to run for the position. “I wanted to see if I can

Continued from page 15. loves that Giech is working every day to make himself a better person.

Tony Giech, the Class of 2022 Art Coordinator, expressed that having been able to be a part of the student council for the past three years allowed him to recognize people and how to communicate.”

He explained that since the student council is diverse, there

impact with my efforts in any way possible,” he said. In addition, Giech enjoys art as he has “always loved drawing and sketching” so he felt that he could put his hobby to use.

As the Art Coordinator, Giech expressed that there weren’t necessarily Photo Submitted by Tony Geich challenges associated with his position, mindsets, but ultimately he was but rather what the student council able to cultivate impactful experi- faced as a group. He explained that balance all of that and communicate that we can all do our best and help ent ways… was what I learned the best,” said Giech. ran for the position in sophomore year due to his peers from the Class of 2021 talking about how the Class

they tackled as they lost fundraising. Despite it being a stressful time, he expressed that they eventually ured out a way to work around it. “I believe that we were very successful in that… I’m really proud of everything that my peers have done,” Giech said.

From these experiences, “we alities and our shared interests,” he explained. Giech emphasized how everyone is open and understanding because you don’t feel as if you are going to be criticized which contributed towards creating a stronger bond. memorable experience was Junior Varieties when after the show was over, the student council and the performers had cake and decided to smear cake on Class of 2022 advisor Dan Jurkowski’s face. Aside from this humorous moment, Giech expressed that overall it was fun to see everyone come together as it was a stressful time preparing for the show. “It was really great to see us work through that and overcome all those obstacles to put on that show..

And see everybody again after being away for so long for COVID,” Giech stated.

As Giech’s high school career is coming to an end, he mentioned how he has “grown so used to always having something come up.” Despite that, he is grateful for Jurkowski especially for all “we have put him through.” Giech is ultimately grateful for him to have done this and will “miss those moments with Dan and everyone else” as they come to an end.

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The Blue and Gold June 2022

maldenblueandgold.com

Mayada Giha: Event Coordinator but with the help of Event Coordinator Mayada Giha, the Class of

Carlos Aragon Editor-In-Chief of Print and Design

Initially, when Giha ran, she was afraid she would not be able to dedicate much time to the student council. However, she felt as though it was important for her to assist her class navigate the pandemic and ended up making it work. “I had many ideas for JVs and making it work amidst the pandemic and so I impulsively decided to run for JV coordinator,” adding that she was “eager to share the plans I had for the show.”

Overall, one of the biggest challenges Giha faced was the pandemic and the way it impacted their fundraising methods. Not only was contact limited, but it was also difimpact COVID had on them. This

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hroughout the past three years, the Class of 2022 has pushed through and struggled through the slog of 2020 and 2021. Many classes may have failed spectacularly when it comes to fundraising and events,

when it came to Junior Varieties.

“Not only did we have to overcome the challenge of planning during a pandemic where there were limitations and restrictions that left us re-

Tivian Nguyen: Event Coordinator

sponsible to make sure all protocols were followed, but we also had to gather enough acts which was difpresented only added to the stress of being the Event Coordinator.

Giha and her fellow coordinator, Tivian Nguyen, had to ensure each of the events and fundraisers would be worthwhile to hold. “There is so much that goes into planning a fundraiser that it was important that we would have an ideal outcome and not have wasted the time spent planning the event when another may have been more rewarding.”

In addition to this, the times made though social media did present itself as a useful tool.

Overall, Giha is quite proud how the Class of 2022 shined in the past couple of years. Giha expressed that it was an uphill battle with the

Hadjar Yousfi Lead Reporter

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ivian Nguyen has been the Event Coordinator for Malden’s Class of 22’ for two years. Nguyen

class advisor, but “considering the challenges we’ve faced, we have person you will ever meet, though accomplished a lot and have made to read, and listen to music (she senior traditions possible.” can’t live without it!) as well as being a bit too reckless, and saying some pretty weird things, mainly because she loves to make people laugh. “People always assume that granted and regardless of what hap- it’s all about raising the most class pens or what people may see, we do funds or guiding the grade. Even our best, and hopefully that’s good though it’s partly right, I wouldn’t enough!” say it represents the student counThrough this learning process, cil. Student council had taught me Mallett realized the importance of we are the voices of many students. remaining focused. “It’s important I’m thankful enough to have amazto be able to put things aside and ing people by my side that are focus not on your own personal proud about the accomplishments vendettas and messages, but put the they have done for the students, greater interest of the people you’re community, and most importantly themselves,” Nguyen explained - honestly. And overall Nguyen feels dent council over the past few years, as though she could not have asked but something I really admire about for a better team.. us as a group is that we’ve always been able to put that aside and put

Social Media Coordinator: Lauren Mallett involved in assisting the Class of 2022, as she had already been “volunteering at events… but I wanted to do more and cement myself in that, as more than just a volunteer.”

She elaborated, “I am very passionate about reaching out and getting people involved and kind of making sure that everyone in our grade has the same level of communication.”

Jessica Li Reporter

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auren Mallett is prepared to enter the next chapter of her life, leaving behind a legacy at Malden High as the Class of 2022’s social media coordinator.

Mallett was elected in December of 2020 during her junior year. She explained that she ran in hopes to “provide a good perspective” and bring her experience to the table. “I noticed there was a bit of a gap in our class’ social media presence” and “I’ve had my fair share of experience running social media accounts and doing design… and social outreach from my work with The Blue and Gold and Feminism Club and other groups that I’m a part of, and I just thought it would Mallett also sought to be more

winning—a wave of relief, “to not have to stress about it anymore… just the sense of like, okay, ‘I did it.

Now, what?’” Mallett laughed.

Mallett’s role as social media coordinator entailed a focus on social media work and community outreach. However, she described the council as “a lot more collaborative, helping each other out with the roles we each have.”

Mallett has played an instrumental role in organizing fundraisers, JVs and prom. She has done design work for her class, including senior hoodies and programs for the Junior Varieties show. She added, “I’ve done outreach with administration and other grades, as well as students in our own grade. I truthfully try to do whatever I can to things as easy as possible for us and our peers.” help with the Class of 2022, Mallett commented, “I’d like to think I have been [successful]. I know we’ve had with it. But I truly-—I feel like I have, and the rest of my peers-—my with the circumstances we’ve been

sure that we’re getting the work done and doing what we need to do in our personal life. And we’ve all, for the most part, been there for each other.”

Aside from her role as social media coordinator, Mallett has taken all Honors courses as well as 4 APs, always having a full schedule. She is the Vice President of Feminism Club; the Treasurer of Psych Club; a member of Key Club and NHS; and, the Editor-in-Chief of The Blue and Gold.

“To our class--the Class of 2022-I just wanted to convey that, you know, we made it. We got through everything. We were able to perseproud of us! We’ve had some ups and downs… and we very much had a rollercoaster ride of a high school experience. But, I think we’re really coming out on top,” Mallett communicated.

“And, to my friends, my other

for being there for me and being so great!”

“I’ve done The Blue and Gold for the last four years. And I feel like, for a long time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life and I bounced back and forth between super stupid jobs.” But eventually, it came to a point where Mallett acknowledged her passion for journalism: “this is something that I could envision myself wanting to do for a long time.”

She continued, “Journalism truly has the power to change the world… there’s a lot wrong with the world, especially right now, and I just want to be able to see that change and be a part of that.”

Mallett will be attending Emerson College for the next four years, majoring in journalism. She hopes to take that as far as she can, “looking forward to having a fresh start… and becoming myself and coming into who I want to be as a person.”

The Blue and Gold June 2022

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National Honors Society Completes Service Projects

Malden School Committee Explores Potential Removal of AEAP Program at Linden STEAM Academy

Senior Sarah Dzaferagic explaining her project to fellow members of the NHS. SAMARA VALENCIA

Mack Keating Samara Valencia Sophie LeBlanc Reporters

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ith the school year coming to an end, the National Honor Society’s (NHS) projects are wrapping up. Students are working diligently to meet their deadlines, and their works are coming to life.

Jason Ong, NHS senior president, had nothing but positive words to say about his peers: “Everyone in the club are great students—great people. That’s why they’ve chosen to be in the NHS.” Although the NHS is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors, “a lot of the members, right now, are seniors,” Ong explained.

“So, my hope is that they continue to keep doing this work after high school… I hope they continue helping the community and being great people overall.”

Paul Marques, who has been the NHS’s advisor for 15 years, is excited to return to the program this year. Due to the pandemic, students are only now getting more creative with their projects. “Last year… it was on Google Meet. It was pretty good, it depended on technology that was tough. It was really hard for them to do any type of project since everything had to be online.

So, fundraisers—everyone was doing fundraisers. Whatever we’re trying to do, everyone’s trying to

do. There was a lack of creativity since there’s only so much you can do.”

Despite those bumps, Marques believes the club is getting back on track.

“They’re doing their individual projects that can either be here in the high school, somewhere in Malden or really anywhere in the world,” Marques said. “You can do whatever, sending letters to soldiers overseas or sending Mother’s Day cards to the nursing home women.”

With a dozen projects open right now, students are at long last reaching their deadlines. Marques explained that on May 20th, the NHS plans to help the multicultural club. ”I think all clubs have also been hit somewhat by the membership; people are trying to get back into the swing of things,” he noted. “We’re going to help the multicultural club since we have so many [people] and they don’t have as many [people].”

One project, Ong pointed out, is the Play Like a Girl program, run by Junior Peyton Lightbody, Senior Lissette Curran and Senior Sara Dzaferagic. This project is a returning project from a few years prior but is being brought back from hiatus this year. “For a whole week over April vacation, we’re gonna teach [third to sixth graders] a new sport every day in hopes that we can get more girls interested in sports at a younger age,” according to Lightbody. “I hope that it gives the younger girls an idea of what they want to do when they go to high school or to just learn new things that they can use for the rest of their life.”

Lightbody also gave another perspective on the program: “When we were younger, we didn’t have the opportunity to see all of those sports, so now we’re trying to give the younger girls that opportunity that we didn’t really have.”

Seniors Sharon Pan, Maggie Yick and Jing Ren have their own project: Positivity for Children.

“Positivity for Children is a service project where my group is making friendship bracelets to donate to children at Tufts Medical Center,” Pan explained. She got inspiration from the thank you notes students had sent to Malden High’s faculty. “We believe that children at the hospital should feel loved and reassured as they are battling some health issues.”

One issue brought up, though, was numbers: “The most challenging aspect is trying to make enough bracelets for all the children so no one is left out.” Pan believes this is not as much of an issue as previously thought, as over 600 bracelets have been made, but they still have more to make.

Although there are a lot of bracelets to be made, Pan believes it is more than worth it. “The most rewarding aspect of this project is the sense of accomplishment that we get from making these bracelets. One may think that it is simply a bracelet, but in my eyes, it is more than that. It is a simple little thing that one can wear but holds the power of love and positivity as it can put a smile on children’s faces.”

With over a dozen projects, the NHS has its plate full but is ready to

Graphic by MACK KEATING and LILY NGUYEN. Mack Keating Lily Nguyen Reporters

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he Academically Enriched and Advanced Program (AEAP), sometimes referred to as the “gifted” program, is a longstanding program at the Linden STEAM Academy in Malden. Students would take a placement test to be administered up to eighth grade. At the beginning of the pandemic, the school committee made the executive decision to halt the application process for the program due to disparities between familial opportunities.

This year, the AEAP program was resumed and students were able to re-enroll. Due to parent complaints launching against the return of the program, that decision may soon be reversed. Many questioned the ethnic and economic diversity within the program and whether or not it was fully equitable.

However, AEAP student Dagny Boswell believes that the program is, in fact, “extremely diverse” and instead appears more concerned about its actual purpose for students: “I think it’d be better to re-do the AEAP program and make it more of a class that actually serves a purpose instead of just a group of ‘advanced children.’ Like, there’s no real meaning; even I don’t fully understand it.”

Continued on Page 22.

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Class of 2025 Hosts Elections Julie Huynh Editor-in-Chief

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n an email sent earlier this month, English teacher Leanne DeRosa announced that she would be stepping up as the Class of 2025’s advisor. Shortly after that, posters began showing up on the walls of Malden High School as the campaign season

The auditorium hosts the Class of 2025 elected officers results. JULIE HUYNH

Candidates had roughly a week to campaign for themselves and earn the support of their classmates. On April 14th during Flex block, they presented their speeches in front of their class in the hopes of winning their votes.

Elections were held virtually and opened after school on the 14th and ended at 11am on the next day.

For this voting period, the positions were president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, two marketing coordinators and volunteer coordinator.

After much competition and hard work, these are the elected of-

President: Lovely Anne Gerochi Vice President: Huong Ly Treasurer: Kevin Lin Secretary: Sarah Pham Marketing Coordinators: Ollie Dodge and Jessica Li Volunteer Coordinator: Abigail Lee “I wanted to be able to have a voice in our fundraising events and help come up with ideas to raise as much money as we could for prom,” expressed newly elected Class President Gerochi on why she chose to run.

During the elections, she had some mixed feelings. “I [was] up against some really great and qualifriends with.” people’s attention as they walked to class. Social media also played a huge role in everyone’s campaign this year as candidates listed out their involvement and accomplishments in Instagram posts.

Dodge, who was elected as one of the marketing coordinators, said that the role stood out to them because of their interest in social media and community outreach.

“I’m very lucky to have won, and I cannot wait to help create an amazing environment and help spread the word for various events for the Class of [2025].”

At the end of the day, Gerochi wants “high school to be memorable” and to “build a safe space” for her classmates.

Now that elections are out of the way, the Class of 2025 can begin planning fundraisers and events to raise money for their class.

The Blue and Gold June 2022

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The Downtown Paw Opens in Malden Samara Valencia Perez Reporter Lauren Mallett Editor-in-Chief

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f you want your dog to be groomed, cleaned or babysat, The Downtown Paw is the place for you. The recently opened store is owned by Malden resident Katherine Cruikshank. She takes care of the whole shop, and her mother helps around when she is available.

The shop opened a month ago. They have multiple forms of entertainment for the dogs to play around with.

Owner Katherine Cruikshank. LAUREN MALLETT

grooming. In an average week, they have around 7-12 dogs. Since they opened, they have had around 33 applications turned in.

Cruikshank’s dream has always been to own a business. She wanted to have a job where she would be able to bring her dog, so she started working on opening her own store last year.

Since COVID held back a lot of plans with opening the shop, she got the lease last April, and since then she ness has been doing really good,” said Cruiskank.

They are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. On weekends the store is closed. The Downtown Paw is located at 72 Pleasant Street in Malden.

Franklin sniffs his new friend’s hand. LAUREN MALLETT

Via Mayor Gary Christenson on twitter.

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Linden’s AEAP MALDEN FEATURED IN NEW BOOK Program Continued from Page 19.

The school committee met on March 4th of this year to discuss this controversy, but the topic was

Michael Cloherty’s “Abel Bodied” Covers First Murder Bank Robbery in the Country

weeks. With this in mind, the committee allowed public comments on the matter, and over half an hour of comments were recorded to be discussed at a later time.

Among those at the meeting, Rachana Gray, a Malden resident and mother of three AEAP graduates, shared her opinion. “I come as the parent… who sees the benchildren who have all passed through it. I’ve always thought of the accelerated program as a special needs program,” she told the board. “Additionally, I’ve spoken to a number of parents and a common theme is social anxiety…

Having that safety net of being in the same class, year after year, with the majority of the same kids helps ease that anxiety… they get to know each other, accept each other’s quirks and continue to challenge each other.”

Another AEAP graduate shared their thoughts: “It wasn’t until the fourth grade when I was selected into [the] accelerated program and my academic potential was discovered. Being in an environment that challenged me helped me unlock doors, provided opportunity and pushed me to want to succeed,” they explained.

“Being around other children who had similar intellectual pursuits encouraged and motivated me to take chances... I am thankful for this accelerated program because it has helped shape me into the person that I am today.”

Although the call-ins and public comments gave a rush of support for the AEAP program, there appeared to be a consensus that it has room for improvement.

Gray explained that they had to “improve the program, absolutely.

Make it more equitable, absolutely. Make it more transparent.”

The school committee reconvened on 4/18/22 to discuss this,and the meeting can be viewed following on the MaldenAccessTV YouTube channel.

A majority of the council voted to get rid of the program altogether, which upset a lot of families because of how it could have Because there were a few families and students pushing to try and get a new program started, Malden Public Schools is developing a city-wide program. The goal is to have a new and more equitable program up and running within the next few years.

First National Bank of Malden today is a restaurant and brewery. Source: TripAdvisor.

Cover of Abel Bodied.

Jullie Huynh Reporter

1

der during a bank robbery in the country took place at the First National Bank of Malden on Pleasant Street.

Michael Cloherty’s Abel Bodied, published June 2021, recounts the events leading up to the tragedy and what Photo of the First National Bank in Malden (on the left) by E.C. Swain. transpired afterwards.

Having been a lifelong resident, Cloherty has always been fascinated with the history of Malden and the Civil War. On his way home from school he would stop by the Malden Public Library, admiring the portraits of the Converse family.

Before he became known as the founder and president of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company and verse was the president of the bank.

Having newly moved to Malden in 1850, he was eager to contribute to the growing business that the city was generating.

The Converses were a wealthy and successful family. Their luck ran out on Dec. 15th, 1863 when their eldest son, Frank Converse, was shot and killed at the bank where he was working.

Abel Bodied tells the story of how Malden’s postmaster Edward Green murdered someone very close to him, someone he considered to be like a brother. In fact, the title of the book is a reference to the Bible

story of Abel and Cain, in which Cain murders his brother Abel.

Cloherty described how he appoached the beginning of the novel from a journalistic perspective, focusing on the historical facts of the case. However, once he introduced the characters, they began to get inside his head and create stories of their own. The novel grew from there.

Inspired by the works of Truman Capote and Erik Larson, Abel Bodied can be categorized as a nonrecollection of events in the novel was “completely journalism” while “Most of the people in the book are based on real people. I researched census records, [and] newspaper [articles] for the Greens and the Converses. Even the very small, minor characters are based on real people,” stated Cloherty.

While writing the novel, Cloherty wanted to be able to connect

with Malden residents. There are instances in the book where Elisha Converse visits Waitt’s Mountain, a well-known area for current residents, but one not established during the setting of the book. He also mentions several street names in order to emphasize the locality of the events that took place over 100 years ago.

He has been writing since 2012 and has been interested in the story of Green and the Converse family for just as long. Originally, the story was a side project for him, but the pandemic allowed him to take the time to write, hire copy editors and the long-term project.

He is currently working on a second novel that will continue Information to purchase Abel Bodied can be found on Cloherty’s website.

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CLEAN UP DAY AT PINE BANKS PARK Lead Reporter

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he Science National Honors Society (SNHS) knew that they wanted to do something as impactful as they could for Earth Day, but they did not know what exactly they should do. That was until they remembered their quite successful Malden River Cleanup from last year.

With inspiration from that event hosted by them the year before, the society decided to hold something similar at Pine Banks on April 23rd. The event itself was planned during FLEX block when to meet. Then the society’s advisor, Gregory Simone, tasked each small group with planning a hypothetical event. In the end, they voted on the Pine Banks clean-up; the idea was suggested by Edmond Chen, SabriChloe Yuan who were later labeled as Lead Planners.

Sammi Nie, a senior in SNHS, liked the event and felt that it was “a great way for us to make a direct impact,” as the students were able to see the world around them as they helped. This helped them start their

Maria Ganoza, a Junior student, and her friend picking up trash. CHAIMAA ASSLI

started bright and early at 10:30 AM. Then again, who doesn’t love the fresh air, bright and early on the weekends?

Originally Pine Banks was chosen because as Juliana Davidson, President of the SNHS and Senior student said, “we would like to eliminate any trash found alongside Pinebanks may be one of the busiest parks in the area, as well as the largest with many places to run, bike, play a sport or just have a picnic.

Which then tends to lead to a lot of litter, from those who use the park’s free facilities. That is why, as Chau mentioned, they “wanted to focus on public places.”

In fact, the thing that everyone seemed to agree on as their least favorite part of this cleanup, was just how much trash they had run into.

“It really put things into perspective once we realized the amount of litter there was in the parking lot alone,” explained Chen.

Davidson noted that unfortunately, the area with the most trash happened to be the area with lots, which tend to be the busiest, especially after school, when many sports teams meet outside.

When coming up with a plan for the clean-up, Chen noted that materials. What exactly would they need to provide to host an event like this? Thankfully the list was not too long with only gloves and trashbags on it. Then Simone reached out to

Junior Sabrina Flores Palencia holding trash. CHAIMAA ASSLI

Junior Edmond Chen pointing out trash on the rocks. CHAIMAA ASSLI

Senior students Ina Liu and Minh Thu cleaning up a part of the forest.

CHAIMAA ASSLI for them, and to make sure that they were in fact allowed to clean up. But

Students heading down a trail at Pine Banks. CHAIMAA ASSLI

more than willing to accept help from the SNHS, so they ended up

you and others can do together is always such a great feeling, many of the students confessed. Nie mentioned that “these are things I am going to miss the most” when she and the rest of the seniors graduate later this month.

When it comes to hosting more

of April.

The clean-up itself went quite well. Many students enjoyed the event, such as Chen who commented that “getting involved can

to contribute with protecting our en-

SNHS members looking over a cliff.

CHIMAA ASSLI events like this, Simone explained that they “might do a beach cleanup at the end of the year, like near graduation.” He went on to say he would like to then spend the rest of the day just having fun on the beach.

Hopefully as a celebratory farewell for the senior students.

Though most of those who came to this event were SNHS members, they all had a great time celebrating Earth Day in the best way possible—by cleaning it up! They enjoyed spending time together, taking pictures and conversing with a local college rugby team! And with that, may there be more opportunities to contribute to the planet’s well-being.

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The Blue and Gold June 2022

The Blue and Gold June 2022

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The Blue and Gold June 2022

maldenblueandgold.com Jessica Li Lily Nguyen Ashton Calixte Reporters

Special-ed teacher Victoria Atkinson turns her face to show students how unblended contour appears.

Prom Makeup Bootcamp teacher Kayla Morello instructs students how and where to apply contour.

All photos taken by Jessica Li and Lily Nguyen. Graphic by Lily Nguyen.

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s prom was approaching for the Class of ‘22--one of the most notable events in one’s senior year of high school. So, what distinguishes Malden High from other schools?

The answer is the implementation of a boot camp for students to better prepare themselves both physically, in terms of makeup, and mentally, with regard to feeling Makeup Bootcamp was held for two weeks, for their upcoming prom.

Bootcamp host Kayla Morello explained

Morello finishes Atkinson’s base with primer, concealer, contour, translucent powder and more.

makeup application. Through demonstrations, we will go over everything from picking a base to contouring to eye makeup design.” The second block has a greater focus on eye makeup techniques. sprung from “thinking about how it’s so expensive to hire somebody to do your makeup.” As they enjoy teaching, creating a makeup boot camp proved the best solution to saving students the cost of hiring a makeup artist and combining two of their passions.

They also mentioned their background in makeup: “I kind of just started learning how to do it by myself when I was in college.” It was after graduation that they realized their enjoyment of hands-on activities.

Morello applies highlighter to Atkinson’s cheekbone.

super creative. So, I kind of just kept practicing and doing it.”

They continued, “I watched a million YouTubers, watched a bunch of TikToks once TikTok came out, but I’ve been getting paid to do other people’s makeup since 2017. And before that, it was still people being like, ‘Would you do my makeup for my wedding? do it for me?’ And I was like, ‘Sure, why not!’

So I just read everything and watched all the videos I tried and just practiced by myself.”

Among their 40-minute lessons in which they impart their knowledge, Morello taught students how to apply a basic winged eyeliner and false lashes. They shared tips on

Mirror in hand, teacher Kayla Morello applies a perfect winged eyeliner on one eye.

setting powder and a q-tip and displayed their favorite eye products for sensitive skin.

In another, Morello encouraged students to color their makeup looks with cosmetic-grade glitter. Equipped with

knowledge from previous Joy sessions, the students practiced applying false lashes.

They had much fun practicing makeup on each other’s faces, playing with vibrant pigments, and adorning their cheekbones with gems and glitter. Morello shared additional beauty tips for longer-lasting wear while Ultimately, Morello emphasized that mastering the art of makeup is achieved through practice, “It’s not like inherently, some people are really good at it, some people are not. Just like any sort of discipline, the more you do it, the better you get at it.”

Prom may not be the only reason people signed up for the makeup boot camp.

The class constitutes students ranging from freshmen to seniors all attending for their ways of makeup. One of them, sophomore Alejandra Fernandez, shared, “I personally love to learn more about makeup because there are always new trends and tips that make makeup easier to do.” She followed, “Through attending the makeup boot camp, I hope to improve my eyeliner and contour skills.”

As May 27th neared, Morello hopesd that through hosting the Prom Makeup Bootcamp, they help students embrace their love people knowing that they’re beautiful.

They’re beautiful with or without makeup, but makeup enhances how beautiful you actually are. You should feel that.” guidance: “I’m really open to if anybody was like, ‘Mx, could you tell me how to do this?’

I would 100% do that: ‘Come down during lunch, I’m down during a study, and I’ll totally help you do that,’” Morello concluded.

As May 27th nears, Morello hopes that through hosting the Prom Makeup Bootcamp, they help students embrace their love people knowing that they’re beautiful.

They’re beautiful with or without makeup, but makeup enhances how beautiful you actually are. You should feel that.” guidance: “I’m really open to if anybody was like, ‘Mx, could you tell me how to do this?’

I would 100% do that: ‘Come down during lunch, I’m down during a study, and I’ll totally help you do that,’” Morello concluded.

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The Debate of Wearing Makeup Versus Not Wearing Makeup

Graphic by Lily Nguyen

Opinion Dani Licona-Cruz Gabi Ilebode Gianna Lally Reporters

I

n modern society, women are judged on nearly every aspect of their being. Even as little girls we are told what we should and should not do. We are told to close our legs when we sit, not speak unless spoken to, that we cannot like the same things as boys. Women are especially judged on their appearance nowadays. They are too skinny, too fat, too pale, too dark, too tall, too short and then there is the biggest one of all. The one we are branded way too young; ugly or pretty.

Luckily, or so it can be thought, a special tool to enhance appearance was created: makeup.

Makeup has become a norm for many teenagers in this generation. editing on photos for social media.

From left to right, top to bottom: Students diligently perfect their makeup looks; Students listen attentively to Morello’s explanation on face contour; A student carefully touches up their eye makeup; Morello delicately glues gems onto senior Imani Ligen-Chambers’s eyelids; Morello excitedly displays their false eyelashes set to students; Senior Imani LigonChambers observes Morello as they carefully prime false lashes; Freshman reporter Dorothy Michel brushes eyeshadow on a fellow student’s lids; Atkinson views the final makeup look; Students concentrate on refining their eye makeup.

Morello demonstrates applying concealer to Atkinson’s face.

“There’s something about doing a real quick wing or a smokey eye or something like that and walking around and being like, ‘I am the baddest one here!’

It’s so cool, and I love teaching people that.” - Morello

person’s looks, whether it’s for better or worse. Many women today have been taught from a young age that makeup is what they need to be seen as pretty.

Women have used oil, fragrances, powders and more to enhance centuries. It was all dependent on what men wanted. Whether that be thin lips or bushy eyebrows, it was Nowadays, women have started to take their power back and wear makeup in whatever way makes them feel best. The fragile Continued on Page 31.

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The Blue and Gold Art Gallery Returns After Two Years

Sandra Li Jessica Li Reporters

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fter two years of not being able to showcase artwork due to COVID, the Blue and Gold Gallery had the opportunity once again to display work from students.

Art teacher Joseph Luongo explained that the gallery has been it “showcases how talented our students are… And I think part of that has to do with the diversity of the school.” He added that it is important to “let people know, outside of the high school, that we have very talented students here at Malden.”

Similarly, art teacher Mary Ann Seager expressed how the gallery enables “us to get out into the community… because people

Senior Jennifer Wong’s piece depicting Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Display of ceramics at the back of the art gallery.

don’t always come to school…they don’t have the opportunity to know what’s going on in school.”

Seager mentioned that prior to not having a gallery, she and the Fine Arts Club felt that the school needed to get public. So she wrote a grant to the Cultural Council to see if they

pieces that they believe are strong and representative of each class level. Seager also included that they pick out pieces not because they are the most beautiful or the most successful, but because the student put edge that they have a place in our culture as well,” she explained. for framing and they presented their Luongo emphasized how most case which resulted in the establish- of the work was done remotely, and ment of the Blue and Gold Gallery. even despite that “the quality of There were various types of artwork that were chosen to be dis- at all.” Part of the reason why he played, ones from many disciplines believes this is because after coming including watercolor, ceramics, back in-person, he recognized how digital art and many more. The selection process in picking the pieces explained how during remote learndepends on the teacher; they choose ing, it was challenging due to not

being able to supply students with the necessary materials.

In addition to the pieces, the opening day of the gallery showcased nine students who won Scholastic Art Awards where students’ artwork is submitted to a national competition. Luongo mentioned how there were four gold key winners, one silver key and four honorable mentions.

“I think that it’s important that we participate in the cultural heritage of our city… for the people in that community, to see students as part of the community, and that we are participating, and that we have Seager.

Senior Lillyana Mayo’s work, inspired by “The Doors of Perception,” on display.

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Dark abstract art paired with a vast variety of bright portraits.

Sophomore Gilberto Linares explores the wall of artwork in front of the gallery.

Wall of uniquely drawn portraits.

Attendees observing the hall of portraits.

Abstract artwork alongside painted portraits and skulls.

Attendees surrounding the front of the art gallery, congregating and observing the pieces.

Junior Kyle Lee taking in the ceramics section of the gallery.

Colorful, hopeful pieces.

All photos taken by Jessica Li.

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Class of 2024 Election Results Lead Reporter

A

And the winners are...

fter a long wait, Malden High’s

advisors. This would mean that they are now able to hold elections for their student council. This will then rations for JVs and Prom, which are two of the biggest parts of the MHS experience.

Though mostly uncommon, as the Class of ‘25, ‘23, and ‘22 all have one advisor, the Class of 2024 has three. Jessica Webber, Shannon Votaw and Kristen Kirby are all members of the science department, who agreed to take on the role of assisting the Class of 2024 with their preparations for senior year.

Webber explained that she and the others decided to step up as advisors because “we want to help the sophomore class really have the high school experience that they deserve.” Webber elaborated that she had been asked multiple times, give the Class of 2024 the help they needed.

However, many students have mixed feelings about how long it took to get elections started and to have one or more advisors instated.

Some believe that the amount of time it took to get our advisors was reasonable. Giselle Dessert, who was running for President of the Class of 2024, said that “due to COVID, all the classes felt the impact of being cut short of the whole high school experience.” Dessert knows that classes, but she knows the school is doing its best to help.

Meklit Abel, another student running for Class of 2024 President, was a bit surprised by how long it took to get the advisors but is just thankful to have some now. “Being an advisor is a very hard job and very time-consuming.” So she unbers were not as open to the idea of becoming an advisor.

Though many people have similar opinions and even more that some sort of update and movement in the process of building up their Student Council. Larissa Granja, who is running for Treasurer of the Class of 2024, expressed that she feels that “we have less time to fundraise for things that we should have had more time for.”

Principal Chris Mastrangelo explained that when it comes to “the class advisor role, people are always very reluctant to do it because it’s a lot of work and they don’t get paid a ton of money,” but he explained they always end up loving it. So it was all just a matter of picking who

President of class 2024, Meklit Abel

Vuce president of 2024, Makeila Scott

Secrectary of 2024, Abdullah Khan

Treasurer of class 2024, Larissa Granja

Social Meida Coordinator of Class of 2024, Shuyi Chen

Social Media Coordinator of 2024, Keira Lin

Fundraisinf coordinator of 2024, Tyler Edmond was most willing to sit through the tough beginning and develop a relationship that would last with their class.

Mastrangelo mentioned that at ferent reasons, they ended up not being able to go through. So Mastrangelo is thankful that eventually, a few teachers made the decision to help out.

As many people know, the school year is coming to an end.

-

Fundraising coordinator Erikah Macharia

rations for JVs at the end of the Class of ‘24’s junior year. JVs is an annual talent show, held by the junior class each year, and has been running for 60+ years. JVs tend to bring in the most money towards prom but are draiser to plan, as it is held in high regard at MHS. Since the Class of ‘24 is currently behind, Mastrangelo mentioned and 10th-grade classes to split the at graduation to ensure they both

get a good headstart on fundraising next school year.

Votaw explained that in the end, she knows that she and the advisors “want to try to hit the ground running to… make up for lost time.”

With the campaigning time coming to an end on May 5th, the voting will also take place on said day. And with that, good luck to all those who are running. May the Class of ‘24 receive the best student council possible.

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Malden High School Celebrates Haitian Flag Day Ashton Calixte Reporter

Ewald Charles with Elizabeth Pierre, The 100th Miss Massachusetts, and the Mayor of Malden, Gary Christenson. ASHTON CALIXTE.

H

aitian Flag Day is a holiday that celebrates the creation of the

The start of the event was slow, with people coming in with -

each year on May 18, which is the adoption in 1803. The Haitian Culture Club at Malden High School, advised by French teacher Paul Degenkolb, organized a Haitian Flag day event at Malden High School.

their clothes or just the colors blue and red, which are the main colors When it was announced that Elizabeth Pierre, the 100th Miss

Massachusetts, attended the Haitian Flag Day event, the music started to play. The DJ had the crowd dancing to songs such as “Cheri Benyem”

by Harmonik and a mix of Kompa songs.

With people dancing and all of the excitement buzzing in the air, people started to grow an appetite, so when they announced that food

was ready, a crowd of people ran towards the area where the food was being served ready to eat. After the food was served the performances began with the Step Team and members of the Haitian Culture Club.

Each dance tapped into the culture of the country Haiti.

Continued on page 33

The Debate of Wearing Makeup Versus Not Wearing Makeup Continued on Page 27 masculinity of men and overbearing patriarchy does not seem to enjoy this in the slightest.

If a woman wears makeup, then she is told she is most likely ugly without it. This most often occurs on social media where men take to the comments and say “one wipe and it’s over” or “take her man Natalie Keating said, “the way I typically wear my makeup is very bold and noticeable. So when I don’t wear it, I get a lot of comments about it. I don’t know why every single person feels the need to comment on it every time, though.”

Senior Sarah Benson is someone who wears makeup every day, so it has become a big part of her style. She feels “obligated to wear it” even to the point where she feels “gross” when she does not. She has tions from other people.

If a woman is not wearing makeup and seems to be comfortable with her bare face, she is told by people in society to wear makeup to look “prettier.”

The presence of social media

obvious since the school year started is that, the younger classmen have really focused on their appearance, even going to school. Dressing up more often, to make them be perceived a certain way.

However, as a freshman who

few years ago. Something that new generations are facing is the fact that they are hyper exposed to all standards of beauty through social me-

feel the allure from social media.

Sometimes I mess around with the idea and post it, that is if I am satis-

things that alter the way that they look. Makeup does the same thing Even between seniors and freshmen, there seems to be this invisible barrier between them. A good amount of freshmen wear eyeliner, mascara and full faces of makeup to school. In contrast, most seniors tend to stick to simpler looks or just bare faces. Of course, this is not an exclusive observation. There are seniors who wear makeup and freshmen who do not.

Something that has been more

posted twice on Instagram with makeup and already those posts have a good 20 likes more than my others.

I do not believe it is a coincidence that more likes went to the posts with makeup. With online reactions like this, young women and girls are being taught that they need to wear makeup to be pretty. This is why a lot of freshmen girls know how to do their makeup a lot more than seniors did at our age.

This is not the only issue with makeup, however. The other problem is who is “allowed” to

wear makeup. Nowadays, society is growing more comfortable with dismantling the status quo. One of the ways they are doing this is by breaking gender stereotypes and pointless gendered activities. Men and non-feminine presenting individuals have begun experimenting with the idea of wearing makeup and though they receive backlash, it is quite the statement.

To say it has all started now would be a lie. There is simply more discussion about the topic due to social media. This is what one could call “the good side” of social media.

It helps young kids know that it is not bad to like these idiotically gendered activities and that they are free to express themselves as they so choose.

Makeup is for whoever wants to wear it, however they want to wear it. This is regardless of how people identify or how society wishes them to conform.

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Choral Arts Presents...

Choral Arts Society Performs at the Annual Spring Concert Zachary Nedell Lead Reporter

M

alden High School Choral Arts Society held their annual Spring Choral Concert on May 4th in the Jenkins Auditorium. The show ran under the direction of Todd Cole and Cindy Horsman Mckeen, who played the piano throughout the program. The show consisted of performances by the Mixed Chorus, Concert Choir and the Madrigal Singers.

The show began with Cole introducing the audience to the mixed chorus and Mckeen. A mixed chorus opened with numbers such as “Hashivenu” by Michael Ryan, “J’entends Le Moulin” by Emily Crocker and “Bist Du Bei Mir” by Robinson, ending their segment of the show with “Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia” by David L. Brunner and “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?”

by Greg Gilpin. Cole mentioned that he was extremely impressed with the mixed chorus, as they had languages for the spring concert.

Afterward were the Madrigals who began by singing “O What Shall I Do?” by John Wilbye, “Come, Sirrah Jack, Ho!” by Thomas Weelkes, “Mignonne, Allons Voir Si La Rose”

by Guillaume Costley and a touching, heartwarming piece called “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by Jay Althouse, which was supposed to be the last song in the Madrigals section. Instead, the members went Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a song that they had been practicing for the majority of the school year and even had help from band students to perform a song for the ages. their piece, it was time for Concert Choir’s Tenors and Basses to perWestside Story. Senior Lucas WilSong played a Judge and Jose Mejia played a social worker, James Holland played a psychologist, while Sophomore Brian Vences played Anton “Tony” Wyzek, the main character from Westside Story with the rest of the Tenors and Basses singing in the company. The entire song was a hilarious act that combined physical humor with song and dance.

he is the way he is, from diagnosing him with a “social disease” to saying “he needs a year in the pen.”

After going all throughout town,

Krupke caught Tony and then hit him over the head with a newspa-

on the head and a good old “Krup you!”

As the rest of the concert choir dents to sing songs like “Sing My Child” by Sarah Quartel, “Domine Fili Unigenite” by Antonio Vivaldi, “Eleanor Rigby” by Arnold Freed, “Hamilton Highlights” by Lisa

not be hit lightly so that way the comedy of the situation would not be compromised. He described his head after all the performances as “slightly dented.” The performance consisted of Tony going to several

performed, the seniors all came down from the bleachers and were presented with a rose and congratulations from Cole.

About 30 seniors were in the

dents to continue next year. As a going-away present, they gave Cole a poster of his favorite quote

by Robert Shaw: “In these days of political, personal and economic disintegration, music is not luxury, it’s a necessity; not simply because it is therapeutic, nor because it is the universal language, but because it is the persistent focus of our intelligence, aspiration, and goodwill.”

After an emotional speech from Cole, the concert chorus began their After the concert was over Cole lief.” He felt like the students “had an opportunity to really perform at the level that they were truly capable of.” He expressed gratitude to everyone who was in the concert but

wanted to stress that “there must be a level of talent that [the students] come in with, a sense of musicality, so it’s just my job of pulling it out think I work miracles here.”

With the concert behind them and the future to look forward to, the seniors prepare to leave Malden High, but Vences wanted to say, “if you are thinking about doing choir or mixed chorus or something like that, or even just voice classes or anything related to that, but you’re like I don’t know how to sing, I don’t know how to read music or anything like that. We literally teach you how to do that. So, like, if you think you’re out here tone-deaf, Mr. Cole literally teaches you how to pick it out.” Check out the chorus if you are interested.

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maldenblueandgold.com

MICCA Contest Dani Licona-Cruz Gabriella Ilebode Lead Reporters

T Boys Choir perform a short musical at the concert. KAOUTAR WAKAF.

Members of choir sing a song together. KAOUTAR WAKAF.

he Malden High School Choral Arts Society and their band participate in the annual Massachusetts Instrumental Choral & Conductors Association (MICCA). It is something that both classes work towards year.

Mixed Chorus perform a song. KAOUTAR WAKAF.

The seniors were given roses to close off their last performance. KAOUTAR WAKAF.

Malden High School Celebrates Haitian Flag Day

Due to the pandemic, it has been two years since both the chorus and band had participated.

For the Choral Arts Society, Choir Director Todd Cole realized that even though he had seniors in his class, no one had performed at MICCA before.

He had expected the seniors to have an understanding of how the festival would go, what the “expectations were” and could at least help out, but later realized that would not be the case this year.

Senior Natalia Matos and longstanding alto section leader of the Choral Arts Society admitted that she “didn’t have any real expectations coming into MICCA.” Matos explained that she was “going into it blind, not having experienced it before. I knew I was going to be nervous and intimidated.”

But as the performances went on, Matos stated that she was “able to tune out the nervousness and sing the best of my abilities” and “I was able to actually have fun with it.”

Each performance is scored by adjudicators. The score is evaluated by the diction, posture and overall sound.

Senior Yusra Tafraoui, the sopranos section leader, felt that participating in MICCA was still a “very exciting” experience despite the competitive atmosphere.

The concert choir group that performed was awarded a silver medal for their performances that day.

The songs that the band had prepared to perform at MICCA were “Country Gardens,” “Ave Maria” and “Brighton Beach.” This because they practiced six feet apart at the beginning of the year due to -

Students having fun celebrating Haitian Flag Day, with special appearence Mayor Gary Christenson. ASHTON CALIXTE.

the band members were happy to return regardless of the protocols; it felt good for them to be performing together again.

With their fantastic performance, the band was also granted a silver medal. Although members would agree that they “needed to work on some small things in the songs,” they did not fail to acknowl-

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MHS Alumni Association Hosts 5th Julie Huynh Editor-In-Chief Lulu Harding Editor-In-Chief of Web and Mobile

M

alden High School’s Alumni

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony showcasing eight notable Malden contributions to one of the followgovernment, media, science and technology.

The event was a long time coming, originally scheduled for May of 2020. The people that were honored Alumni become eligible to be nominated by the committee 10 years after graduation and receive both an award as well as a permanent plaque that is displayed in Malden High. All of the net proceeds from the event go directly to the Malden High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, which awards money to Malden High students entering college the following year.

This year’s inductees included:

Albert Spadafora (Class of 1964 Business) Norman Greenbaum (Class of 1960 - Arts) Nancy Finkelstein (Posthumous, Class of 1960 - Education) Richard C. Howard (Class of 1970 - Government) Michael Goldman (Class of 1967 Government) Ron Cox (Class of 1960 - Media) Sandra Velleman (Class of 1977 Science) Phil Hyde (Class of 1982 - Technology) The night’s MC was none other than Malden High School’s Principal Christopher Mastrangelo.

He opened his speech, “Many blessings I have to be the principal of Malden High School, and this is certainly one of them, to be part of the induction to so many impressive people that have done impressive things since leaving the high school.”

the city of Malden, but the foundation that has been laid by all of you has never cracked. Thank you for the positive impact that you have had on our Malden Public Schools and the city of Malden.” night was for the owner of Anthony’s, Albert Spadafora (Class of

able to make an impact on [her stuand the Early Childhood Center. He previously served as president of the Malden Chamber of Commerce, Director of the YMCA and Commissioner of the Malden Housing Authority.

Nancy Finkelstein (Class of

with her sister Ellen and brother-inlaw accepting the award on her behalf. She was an English and French teacher for Malden Public Schools and the President of the Malden Teachers Association (MTA). After eight years as president of the MTA, City of Malden, who was not pres- she was elected as President of the ent for the event. Howard earned Massachusetts Teachers Association.

Her sister explained how she Law School and was instrumental strongly believed that Nancy “was providing hospitality services in Malden and has been a recipient of numerous awards given for his generosity to the community.

Next was Richard C. Howard

their dreams,” and she was always “a really good teacher, a good listener, a good advisor… I lost more than my sister, I lost a really good friend.”

While accepting the award, she also quoted what Nancy said while addressing the Massachusetts Association: “When people have asked me what I do, I never respond that I am a union president. I tell them that I am a teacher. I am proud to be a teacher. I am proud to be a president of teachers. And I am proud of all of you.” is the CEO of InContinuum and Software and Chief Architect of its

Mayor Gary Christenson during his opening remarks.

LULU HARDING

singing of the national anthem by senior Yusra Tafraoui, Mayor Gary Christenson spoke before dinner was served to the guests.

Christenson, MHS graduate attendees, “On behalf of the city council and the school committee, [they] also say thank you, because as you know, we have gone through

Norman Greenbaum during his acceptance speech.

LULU HARDING

Sandra Velleman giving her speech after accepting her award. LULU HARDING

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maldenblueandgold.com

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony CloudController technology. Not only is he a technology entrepreneur, but he also speaks four languages.

He studied physics at Syracuse University and earned a dual degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from completed his Masters in Business Administration at the University of Colorado, and now resides in the Netherlands.

Some words of wisdom from Hyde: “Life takes you on a path, and you have to follow that path… or better yet, you make that path. Dedication, commitment, ambition; those are words that simplify somebody who does what they love. I don’t

have a job. What I do is something that I just feel like doing. Anybody that’s been in business and said that ‘I’ve only had ups’ hasn’t really been in business because there’s also downs. Sometimes you have highs that are high and lows that are low.”

Dr. Sandra Velleman (Class of

program in skeletal muscle development and has published over

professor for her research in Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, in Animal Science at Ohio State University. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from

the gender initiative for the college of Food and Agricultural Environmental Science at Ohio State University.

“I feel so fortunate. I could not have grown up in a better community than Malden and I am always appreciative of that. I thank you so much for this honor; it means the world to me,” Velleman concluded

PHD from the University of Condeveloped a nationally and internationally recognized research

in her acceptance speech.

Executive Director of Urban Media Arts (formerly MATV), Ron

seven book chapters. achievements, Velleman is active in helping females and minorities succeed in agricultural sciences. From

expand UMA into more than just a TV station. Today, it houses journalism programs, podcasts and collaborations with community groups.

He is also an active member of the Malden Chamber of Commerce and ultimately plans on retiring in the late spring.

“Never in a million years did I expect this. I am overwhelmed at this honor of being inducted into the MHS Alumni Hall of Fame. The last time someone tried to induct me was is special, it’s from my hometown, the place where I grew up. Where I made my friends and began my my way into the world… Almost 30 years ago… I went from a volunteer member to a video instructor, to eventually the executive director.

It’s an incredible story. This award is really special to me because of the quality of the Malden High School teachers,” expressed Cox in his speech.

Composer and musician Nor-

Principal Christopher Mastrangelo announcing one of the inductees. LULU HARDING

Ron Cox, executive producer of Urban Media Arts, during his acceptance speech. LULU HARDING

The entrance to the event, with a sign congratulating the Hall of Fame inductees. LULU HARDING

Phillip Hyde during his acceptance speech. LULU HARDING

“Each of these citations state that the positive impact of the inductees here this evening truly embody Malden’s motto of ‘strong past, proud future.’

On behalf of all of us here in the city of Malden, a lot has changed and I know many of you have said that you did not recognize the downtown, but the fabric of who we are, which is a welcoming community and a caring community, will always remain the same because of you.”

— Mayor Gary Christenson

recorded the iconic songs “The Eggplant That Ate Chicago” and “Spirit in the Sky.” A mural called “Spirit in the Sky” is dedicated to him at the 110 Pleasant St. building in Malden. the memories that our other speakers have because I’ve been gone so long… [but] it did all start here in Malden,” he commented in his acceptance speech.

After telling stories from Hollywood and recalling memories from junior high, he concluded with a bit of advice for the audience: “Hang in there, know what you want, and go for it. You’re not all going to make it, because you still might make it with that.”

Finally, Michael Goldman for his accomplishments in government. He formed Goldman Associhas taught at many colleges, includUniversities. Goldman is a political analyst on both TV and radio and is currently a political columnist for the Lowell Sun. At the end of the night, Vice President of the Alumni Association Arlene Ceppetelli commented, “I thought it was an amazing event, just being around the kids and the honorees and listening to the exchange and the questions, to me it was exhilarating. Everyone else seemed to have a great time, and that makes me happy, to see everyone else feeling so good. It’s just special.”

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2022 Spring Concert Awes Spectators Daniel O’Toole Lead Reporter

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fter winning a silver medal at the annual MICCA contest in April, the Malden High School Concert Band put on its last show of the year on May 11th in the Jenkins Auditorium.

For many members of the band, this was their last ever performance as high schoolers with around 10 members being seniors.

The night opened up with performances by the band’s three small ensembles which were composed of smaller groups of musicians. Sonor, who was made up of Finn Sedan, Joao Bereta and Lima Nesmith, were up was the Popular Lunch Table ensemble which featured Donald Ford, Lulu Harding, Kai Santos, Nour Belkessa, David Martins, Victor Desouza and Sarah Machado.

It was easy to tell the crowd had a fun time when Popular Lunch Table started playing the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana,the last of the small ensembles to perform was 6 Inc. which included Leo Chen, Nick Nguyen, Soup Nguyen, Jene Jean, Victoria Loreus and Nicholas Alves-Silva.

A small inclusion into the program was two performances by the MHS Jazz Band who brought a unique and interesting sound to From top left to bottom right: Erick Rodriquez plays the saxaphone; senior Shai Cohen and Freshman Sean Retotal play the night. They played the songs the trumpet; senior Lulu Harding plays the guitar during the Small Ensemble’s performance; sophomore Jelani Tah plays “Perdido” by Juan Tizol and “Don’t the drums. NATHAN DEAN and JESSICA LI. You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” by Stevie Wonder. all students that take her class. I seen them mature and grow since The third part of the concert was 7th grade! We have formed a really parts of band, Ford spoke about the recommend that other people who played by the Concert Band itself tight bond together. We helped each people he met and what he has been have taken an instrument to try it who played the songs “Winchester other through the pandemic and al- able to learn from them has helped out.

Chronicles” by James Swearingen, ways had our class to look forward him get into his dream college, the The thought of being a senior Berklee College of Music.

“Symphonic Chorales” movements to.” next year and having a larger role When further asked about get- in the band is both “scary and exthree and four by John Moss, “RusOne word Mazza used to sian Sailors Dance” by Reinhold describe these seniors is “persever- ting into Berklee and how being in citing,” for Li. He dove deeper into Gliere, and “Livin on a Prayer” by ance.” “They went through a lot, band helped guide him to get to that this saying, “As a senior, it is scary Jon Bon Jovi. stuck with the band through remote point, Ford said “band has helped because it felt like our time in high learning, recorded a full virtually me understand so much not only school passed by really quickly, and play was the Wind Ensemble. The winter concert, then came back and on music in general but piano too. only after what feels like 5-10 years ensemble opened with a less tradi- won silver in the state competi- It really got me prepared for my have passed by that we are almost tional piece called “Michael Jackson: tion. Perseverance easily describes audition because if it wasn’t for me adults.” Li continued, “however, it working with mazza and improvis- is exciting because I believe that all Through The Years” by Michael them!”

Looking ahead to next year’s ing/ practicing on the piano 24/7, I students have potential, and that ent from the rest was that it included concert band which will be led probably wouldn’t be in the position the generation before us will be parts of popular songs by Jackson, by this year’s juniors, Mazza is I’m in which I’m so grateful for.” able to enjoy what we were able The thing Ford will miss the to.” so it was more of a collection of Li hopes to be able to guide his perform to the best of their ability. most about band is “the perforsong. The next two songs, “Country “I have some amazing juniors! [A] mances and the moments I’ve made peers and those less experienced Gardens” and “Ave Maria” by Percy very talented and gifted group of with the friends I’ve made that I can than him next year because he benow call best friends.”

Grainger and Franz Schubert relieves that “for children to grasp at spectively, were two songs that the going to have some work to do, but ideals, it must be the responsibility scheduling due to Covid, junior of adults to be able to protect them band performed at MICCA. The last Ryan Li felt he “was able to do for those hopes and dreams to fossong of the night was “The Queen of amazing.”

Soul” by Aretha Franklin.

Donald Ford is one of the se- well.” Li, who has played Clarinet ter. This is what should be done, Erin Mazza, the teacher and niors in band who you may have for almost two years now, joined the and what I hope will happen for us conductor of the concert band, heard from outside of the band from and what we will do for our underthought that the performers “did his many performances at Junior Va- colleges could favor him more be- classmen.” really well,” and was proud of all of rieties with his piano playing skills. cause of this extracurricular activity.

As the curtain closes for this every group. Mazza mentioned how Ford thought “I think I did well. Over time, Li has come to love the group of seniors in the concert special this group of students is to Honestly, I stopped trying to play program and doesn’t regret joining. band, a new window of opportuher, saying “this group of seniors has well and just wanted to have fun “I love the program that we have been with me since 7th grade. They and that probably made everything at MHS, especially our very sup- are taking their place. were part of my middle school-high feel way better and easier because I portive teacher, Mazza, who makes the class both fun and enjoyable for schools transition program. I have was so nervous!”

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Annual Multicultural Night Colors Malden High With Diversity

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Kaoutar Wakaf Head of Sports Lily Nguyen Dorothy Michel Reporters Continued from page 1. ing beat.

As the doors to the gallery opened, immediately, fragrances of the world palate escaped to the public. Their senses curious, dozens of and utensils for a taste.

On the gallery table, dishes from various cuisines were neatly arranged. Such cultural dishes as Haitian macaroni au gratin to Salvadorian pupusas attracted the taste buds of attendees. Several plates ended up with a little bit of everything.

As diners settled for the warm afternoon, host Witchie Exilhomme welcomed the performers with traand their faces beaming with pride.

Mayor of Malden Gary Christenson also held the microphone to express cheerful remarks about Multicultural Night and his pride in the city’s diversity. His announcement was met with warm applause.

Yahaira Marquez, Multicultural Club advisor and main coordinator for this particular event, highlighted that this was Malden High School’s ninth annual Multicultural Night.

However, what allowed this year’s event to stand out from the rest of the multicultural events was the new collaboration between the city of Malden and the high school and

Attendees wearing their cultural attire for the fashion show. LILY NGUYEN.

Attendee showing off the Haitian flag. LILY NGUYEN.

Sophomore Saia Hussain performs a traditional dance, her passion exciting the audience. LILY NGUYEN.

Such collaboration for the event allowed for the use of the “food trucks in addition to the food that also think we were able to get more outside entertainers and families to show up thanks to the publicity through the city.”

Marquez stated, “My expectations are always to represent the school’s cultures whether it’s through the food, performances, the display tables…etc. I also had to make sure that enough people from the school and community would show up, and I think we were very successful in that since, I would say, hundreds of people showed up.”

She believed the event “did meet my expectations, especially

Attendees line up to adorn their hands with henna art. LILY NGUYEN.

we’re hosting this event. It feels like we kind of have to rebuild the celebration again because of COVID; ally well.”

Chris Mastrangelo oversaw the collaboration that began taking place during the start of the second semester between the city and the school. He thought that “it was so well-organized, so well-planned. I thought it was outstanding.” Mastrangelo even shared that it brought him out of his comfort zone as he was able to try various cultural Junior Edmond Chen plates cultural dessert for an attendee. Mayor of Malden Gary Christenson orates about celebrating dishes he was not familiar with. diversity at Multicultural Night. LILY NGUYEN. LILY NGUYEN

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Zachary Nedell Lead Reporter

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Play Production’s“Odd Couple”

or their last play of the year,

at MHS, Play Pro performed “The Odd Couple” on the 20th and 21st of May. They have worked on this performance the cast was all boys and the second performance was by calling Friday “for the boys” and dubbing Saturday as “girls night”.

The director of Play Production, Leanne DeRosa, mentioned that she chose The Odd Couple because “...it is a well-loved classic.” She said, “I also thought we had some folks in class who could really dig into these roles well. It was a tough choice. I had a hard time choosing the spring play but Mr. Cole encouraged me to do The Odd Couple because he is, and has been, a big fan of the show.”

DeRosa directed the girl cast while Mena Alayan directed the male cast.

Senior and stage manager Minh Thu Do expressed that she felt “bittersweet and angry” as her time in Play Pro was cut short because of COVID. “The learning process of being a stage manager could have been much more extensive if it wasn’t for COVID. So I was kind of bitter about that. However I appreciate this great ending as a senior…”

Thu Do is trying to be a dependable student to her peers and be someone her friends can rely on.

Another senior actor, Imani Ligon-Chambers, agreed with Thu Do that the play felt bittersweet to perform in. “I’m glad this is the last show of the year, and I’m glad that it’s something that’s going to be funny for the audience, but it’s also kind of sad that it’s the end of everything, and that there is a next chapter coming, and I won’t be able to do it with this particular community ever again.” ing, mentioning that she “wanted to try out for Olive because Olive is the messy person between the two.” messy person when it comes to anything about my life. But I ended up getting Sylvie…I actually am happy with what I got.” She continued by saying that Olive is a fast person can somewhat relate with that, and in hindsight she would not have changed her casting at all.

Matthew Goroshko, a sophomore, wanted to tryout for the main role, Oscar, but ended up getting Roy. However he, along with Imani, agreed that he would not have changed his casting. “I think that able character for me. Roy is still a pretty cool character.”

Brian Vences, another sophomore, attempted to get Oscar as well, but ended up getting Murray.

Girls Performance for the “Odd Couple” play. All photos by JESSICA LI. From top to bottom, left to right: Olive sitting with Manolo(right) and Jesus(left); friends trying to help Florence afer her divorce, carrying her around the living room; Olive and Florence on a date with their neighbors, Manolo and Jesus; Florence and Olive; Olive trying to help Florence, as she is in distress; Florence on the phone, while Olive is trying to take it from her; the cast of “Odd Couple” come out on stage at the end; Olive trying to comfort her friend, Florence.

Like his peers, he did not want to change anything about his casting.

“I think all the roles that were chocially the roles of Felix and Vinny. I feel like the people that were casted roles.” He continued on to say that, “If you want to join Play Pro, do not

be afraid to join. Everyone has their strengths and everyone has their weaknesses. If you don’t want to be an actor, if you can’t sing, then you don’t have to do a musical. We have plays where you don’t do any singing. If you’re not an actor, but crew person. If you’d like to write,

we do fests where we write our own play, so you can be in the process of writing a play. If you’d like to do marketing we have marketing teams to promote our shows, and all everybody.“

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Malden Malden Girls Girls Softball Softball Hits Hits Season Season Out Out Of Of The The Park Park

Right Fielder Linda Le going for a bunt hit. NATHAN DEAN Juliana Luong Head of Sports

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he Malden High School Softball Team had a great season coming back to school in person. Not only has coming back made academics better, but the student athletes have felt like more of a team. The Softball Team was one prime example. As

their games, the players explored what they needed to improve and get more practice. Their last game with Lynn English came to a close call, and the players pulled through and won.

The regular season has concluded, unfortunately, but that does

Hayes said, when the team spent really helped them become closer and as a result of that, “we work better as a team rather than only seeing As the team grew closer and bonds between the girls were made, the team had a tradition before every game. Each player wrote a note to another player which gave from the team. With the team working together “this is the best season we’ve had in the [three] years I’ve played for [Malden High School],” said Hayes.

The season carried on playing better and working harder. Even though the team did not win all of

because, from the win against Lynn English, the team has made it to the state tournament.

We have not seen the last of the Malden High School Softball Team.

The team won the game qualifying them for the state tournament, something Malden High School has not done in years with the softball team. These girls have made Malden High School history and are very proud of each other. Hayes said that “knowing that we haven’t been

Captain Peyton Lightbody starting her pitching motion. NATHAN DEAN

pattern is a feeling I [can not] even describe, and to do it with some of my best friends made all the hard work worth it.”

“This season exceeded my expectations because we honestly hit it out of the park, literally.” - Noelle Hayes

Captain Lissette Curran taking a swing at the ball. NATHAN DEAN.

Players huddling up with their coach during a timeout. NATHAN DEAN

Senior Linda Le catching a pop-up in right field. NATHAN DEAN.

Senior Alexandra Celona catching a ball out in mid-field. NATHAN DEAN.

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Crew Finishes Up First Season Back at Malden HIgh School

Gabriel Fesehaie Lead Reporter

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s the 2022 school year winds down to a close, so do their sports. Crew, one of the many summer sports at the high school, is nearing the end of their season, with their last matches approaching in the coming weeks.

In terms of the team’s performance, both coaches are proud of what the team has done. Coach Tiffany Cane and Coach Kevin Isaza, the two coaches of the rowing team, have both expressed pride in what the team has accomplished, with Cane stating that “the team performed better every day and truly showed growth from day one to the last days of the season.”

In terms of the team’s strengths throughout this season, both Cane and one of the captains, senior Natalia Carillo, stated that a major part of the team’s success came from their teamwork. Carillo especially said that “our team spirit is awesome and one of our best qualities as a team is the way we constantly support each other through good and bad outcomes.” Cane seemed to agree, saying “they truly worked together by giving each other pointers, communicating, and helping each other throughout the season.”

Some things, however, have proven to be slightly troubling for the team. The crew team has not been a running sport at the high school for over two years as a result of the COVID lockdowns and the

switch of Malden to virtual learning. Coming back from COVID, the

Malden prepares to launch the Dan Walsh boat. LIAM O’TOOLE

new to the sport. Cane emphasized this, saying that “some of the challenges we faced were learning how to set up the boats, how to move the boats, and how to row in general… this year was a learning and experience year.” Carillo also mentioned a need to replace items, stating that the team needed a major increase in funding.

The chemistry of the team has also proven to be a major factor in helping the team. Carillo stated that members, helping them in the varia way to develop communication skills and trust. Both coaches agreed that the team’s social capabilities were helpful to how it functioned throughout the season.

In the way of future predictions, everybody seemed to have a positive opinion of next year. Seniors on the team are relieved by the fact that most of the team is underclassmen, allowing their departure to have a minimal impact on the team’s performance. Coaches are glad that the team has managed to stick it through for the entire season, and hope that the team can come back strong next year. Isaza also has a dream of the team’s future success: “...more meets with eyes on possibility joining the state tournament.”

From left to right: Seniors Lucas Williams, Ethan Dong, Natalia Carrillo, and Freshman Lanyu Liang row down the river. LIAM O’TOOLE

Malden and Somerville boats prepare to launch from the dock. LIAM O’TOOLE

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Baseball Team Closes Out Season

Sophie Leblanc Gianna Lally Reporters

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s the school year comes to an end, so do spring sports. This year, Malden High’s Varsity Baseball team had a disappointing yet enjoyof 4-14. Although the team did not qualify for States, Coach Stephen Freker believed that the players had a lot of potential for future seasons.

“We’ve been a work in progress... we’re always striving to improve in every way,” Freker stated.

“One important thing to consider is sophomores on our team.” He went on to note that the team struggled throughout the season since they did not have much varsity experi-

players and coaches enjoyed the season. The players, according to Freker, “love to play and enjoy every aspect of the season, whether it’s practice or games.”

“It’s been great to watch how some of our young players have grown,” Freker said. “We have three

freshmen, Aidan Brett, Chris Macdonald, and Bo Stead, who have all This season, baserunning has been the team’s strength, according in 13 games. He highlighted junior shortstop Ezekiel Noelsaint and seof whom had a .323 batting average.

“This year, we also have a strong sub-varsity team with a lot of ers,” he added. “Their coaches, Phil Cook and Liam Jordan, are great.”

Freker thanked everyone who helped make this season possible.

“I’d like to thank our varsity coaches, Mike DiCato and Ken Runge, for all of their hard work. Also, a great thank you to Athletic Director Charlie Conefrey and his assistant, Jeanne Marquardo, as well as our trainer, Jennifer Sturtevant, for their ongoing support.” He then added that Malden High Baseball had a “promising future.”

Simpson steps up to bat. COURTNEY FITZGERALD

Malden set up to bat during a time out. COURTNEY FITZGERALD

Players headed back to bench for batting gear. COURTNEY FITZGERALD

Robert Stead catches incoming pitch. COURTNEY FITZGERALD

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Outdoo r Track Reaches the Finish Line

Sandra Li Managing Editor

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fter an eventful season, the Malden High Outdoor Track team has ended their season on a high note.

Senior captain Leslie Rodriguez expressed that it is a rather bittersweet end for her after these past years. “I feel sad because I’m leaving track… But I’m also happy because I get to close this chapter on my life that has taken four years of my life,” she said.

She added that the memories she has cultivated during track as her including completing her goals for the seasons. “Being able to run at Reggie Lewis… and breaking my own records, and my personal best has been the best, but also making friends as well.”

doing track, sophomore Nick Duggan expressed that “I’m a little bit sad… it’s kind of like a family, but I’m happy to get back to training in summer.” Duggan explained that both a challenge and a success for him was “pushing past your limits, going the extra mile, and then when you’re in pain, going a bit further.”

For next year, Duggan hopes that “we all grow a bit more, we get a little bit faster, and then we get a lot more people on the team.”

Freshman Damien Josaphat joined because “I thought it would

Senior Aiden Thompson during the shot put. CARLOS ARAGON

“...Don’t be afraid to fail… You won’t win every time, but you’ll do just - Leslie Rodriguez As one of the captains, Rodriguez is going to miss the liveliness that the team brings. “It hasn’t been an easy season… But it’s been a strong season,” she stated. “Everyone is coming here every day… And they’re doing what they can and they’re doing their best… And they keep breaking records.”

Adding on to that thought, senior Aiden Thompson, who has been doing track for three years, noted that seeing himself improve in his events is special to him. He explained that “I didn’t know what I was doing… But it was a really welcoming community… We all come together and we produce something good every day.”

“Just seeing everyone doing all the practices and putting their all into it… it’s so good to see them make something even great and put everything together for the team,” he said.

Although it is his second year

be fun to join with friends, but I got really attached to everyone here.” challenge that allowed her to grow as a runner. During one of the meets, she had passed out while running for her 800 meter race. “Just like actually facing the fact that I need to listen to my body and when I’m hungry.”

“You listen to your body…

That’s the best advice… Everyone else is worrying about their times and what they want and how they look,” she said. “Don’t worry about that… you should worry about yourself… Don’t be afraid to fail…

You won’t win every time, but you’ll

Senior Leslie Rodrigues running the 800. CARLOS ARAGON

coming to an end, the team aspires to continue running at full speed through the challenges they face with their successes.

Senior Marcos Ruiz overtaking a Chelsea runner during the mile. CARLOS ARAGON

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Girls Lacrosse Season Comes to a Disappointing but Optimistic End

Nathan Dean Lead Reporter

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tough season lies behind the Tornado girls lacrosse team, but the athletes kept their heads up and will look towards upcoming seasons.

With a record of 1-11, the team will not be making it to States this season, nor will they be in contention for the GBL title. However, with zero senior players and many athletes expressing desires to return again next season, hopes remain high for future years.

There is, of course, no shortage of worries for future seasons. With only a few players on the team, this year’s girls lacrosse team was not able to have a Junior Varsity team.

Sophomore on the team, Belen Quispe Almendro, worries that there might not be enough players if sign-up rates remain at their current level. “There were a lot of people interested [in lacrosse] at the beginning, but half of them left for other sports,” explained Quispe Almendro.

As a result, Quispe Almendro felt that the team was “limited” and could not reach its full potential.

“It’s been a challenge… everybody tions,” added sophomore Briana Morales Pacheco, “but I think we’ve kind of gotten used to it now and

have gotten a lot better compared to the beginning of the season.”

In simple words, “join lacrosse” said Morales. “Lax is fun… we all kind of bond and communicate.

We all built relationships with each other,” added Quispe Almendro, emphasizing that the group always makes sure everyone feels like “a part of the team.”

Quispe Almendro wished to tell people who are thinking about joining lacrosse and sports in general, “I know joining a team for sports can be nerve-racking, especially if you’re a freshman and you think you won’t make new friends. I thought the same thing for track and all the other sports, but it’s the complete opposite,” adding that, “when you’re older you might regret it” and, “it’s a great way to make new For future seasons to go well, Morales said, “we need a lot of work on the basics: shooting, passing, and catching.” Despite this, Morales believed that, “next year we will games,” adding, “we will have a really nice shot at GBL.” She even I think we will win GBL.” All in all, the girls remained upbeat despite a disappointing season. Their sights are set on future seasons and things look great. A number of players will be returning next year and have already shown

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Girls Tennis Team Tops as Undefeated GBL Champs

Lead Reporter Photos by DANI-LICONA-CRUZ

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nally coming to an end, they are ending on a good note. One might say on a great note, as they have successfully become GBL Champions, and who are currently undefeated.

Junior Lorena Suzano hitting. DANI-LICONA-CRUZ

was on May 24, 2022, which ultiGBL champions this season.

When it comes to the team themselves, Natalie Chen, a Senior Captain explained that, “this year we have a really strong and wellrounded team, we have a lot of new members, but I’m really hopeful because we’ve gotten this far.”

According to the current Head Coach Cheryl Camassa, the girls nament, which they are looking forward to in the near future. Senior Abby Tang commented that “hopefully we do good in the state tournament if we have one.”

But of course, the end of the season brings lots of sadness alongside the excitement of the GBLs and state tournament. This year, seniors N. Chen, Cynthia Nguyen and Tang who are also captains this year are graduating from Malden High School in just two weeks.

Nguyen explained that they “haven’t had a season since sophomore year, so coming back to play again was really good.” Now that

Senior captain Cindy Nguyen serving. DANI-LICOSenior captain Cindy Nguyen going to hit. DANINA-CRUZ LICONA-CRUZ she’s leaving soon, she wants the many more to come in the future. seeing the seniors go as bittersweet underclassmen to know that she is “I’m sad that it’s over but happy that since, she had been coaching them - since freshman year. “I would like excited for their future. “I see there’s a lot of potential. I hope that when son,” explained sophomore student to congratulate all the girls on the they play against each other and Chloe Chen. N. Chen is incredibly team for all the hard work they put other schools they can grow and proud of the team, as she described into this season. I enjoyed coaching become even better than they are that “they’re very powerful… I’m them all. I wish all the best to seniors very hopeful for their upcoming Natalie, Cindy and Abby.” now.”

As this chapter for the Girls seasons without us.”

All in all, Camassa describes Tennis team is closing, there are still

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Boys Tennis Season Comes to an End

Malden’s Boys tennis team defeats Lynn Classical with a final score of 5-0 at Amerige Park. Junior Naveen Nemalapuri serves the ball. DOROTHY MICHEL and NORA HOUNAIN

Daniel O’Toole Lead Reporter

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s Malden Boys Tennis wraps up its inaugural season after a two-season hiatus due to Covid, it look forward to the next season.

The overall season for Malden Tennis was a success for both the girls and boys teams, as they eclipsed six or more wins. Along cord of 7-5, just behind Somerville who notched a record of 7-2 and took the GBL title.

Head Coach Mark Gagnon expressed how the team was trying to “have fun, especially after a couple of years of Covid.” He continued “we haven’t been able to have a full season in a while, so we aren’t taking it for granted that we’re able to actually get together years. I think this is sort of what the whole team has felt too by being able to play with each other.”

Gagnon thought “the competition between each other,” was something that really fueled the players during practices so they could improve their own game along with helping each other out.

“The challenge matches within the team show some healthy competition where the kids were able to show how much they’ve improved.

You can tell which kids have been working hard and practicing, serving, doing all the drills, and putting in a little extra time. They’ve all improved, but some have improved a little more, so it’s fun to see that when you win as a coach.”

One of the things that Ga-

gnon thought the team could improve on was when they were playing doubles. “Usually the doubles teams are newer, but in doubles, you really have to be able to move together. You really got to play for a long time with the person next to you,” said Gagnon.

Playing time was the main problem Gagnon described. “I think if our doubles teams had more playnitely would’ve beaten Somerville and maybe even Cambridge.”

With some extra playing time that the team could improve to the point that they could become GBL champions and not lose all the practice and hard work they’ve already put into the last few months.

Even with all the extra work

Sophomore Steven Luong and junior Wilson Jiang with their heads in the game.

NATHAN DEAN

team is already losing two of their better players. Despite this, Gagnon team to do well next year. “We’re losing two big pieces in Nam Doan and Davit Chobanyan, but we still along with all our freshmen. We have around 10-15 possible freshmen returning who would now have one year under their belts so we’re looking pretty good going ahead.”

Senior Captain Nam Doan’s favorite part about being a captain this year was “being able to see everyone improve as a team.”

Doan enjoyed the parts of the season where he was able to be in positions to “win a couple of intense matches,” and for the team was “when we all gather to watch the deciding match.”

Since Doan is a senior and will be graduating this June, he looked back on the time he has spent with the team and the memories he’ll cherish. Doan talked about how he’ll remember “doing fun and while working hard of course), the bus rides, how obnoxious we get

Junior Wilson Jiang with a little spring in his step as he performs a forehand stroke. NATHAN DEAN around each other and overall winning with each other.”

Edmond Chen, a junior, menfor many in boys tennis, including myself, so I think I was really sloppy “hitting the ball with too much force

and getting it out.” With all of his struggles, Chen said “the coaches and captains fostered a very welcoming environment where it was okay to mess up as long as you learn from it” which helped build “good chemistry” with his teammates.

Continued on page 47

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Boys Lacrosse Team Wraps Up For The Year

Zachary Nedell Lead Reporter

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ith one game remaining, Malden’s boys lacrosse team nears the end of their season. With 16 games played and seven won, the team was unable to qualify for States, but Coach Johnathan Copithorne is still happy with the outcome of the season.

Going into the year, the team was hopeful about the season, even battling through injuries to practice and prepare. Unfortunately, due to injuries, the team has not had a chance to perform at their highest potential. However, especially towards the end of May, the team has made great strides.

Copithorne acknowledged that their new player numbers were down, but believes this was not the only issue. He wishes that the season.

Coach Copithorne’s favorite game of the season was their game against Cambridge on Friday, May 20th where the team lost 10-3. “It’s the best game that I’ve seen us play all year,” remarked Copithorne.

His least favorite game was against Revere towards the beginning of

Continued from page 46 The season highlights for Chen were being able to learn from players, such as Junior Captain Naveen Nemalapuri and when the team was able to bond with each other in and out of games. “We like to have a lot of fun. Sometimes we play capture cetera to strengthen our team bond.

There have been games where we literally lift our teammates up to congratulate them on our win. This team, in general, is just so encouraging.”

Chen talked about how he wants to use the success of his peers as motivation to help him improve his game for the next season. After watching players such as Doan, Ne-

the season. Copithorne did not see much competition from the game and even quipped: “I think we got a little worse after [the game against Revere]. If you look at our next three games after, it showed.”

Continuing on about the game on Friday night against Cambridge, which was also the team’s senior night, Copithorne was excited to go up against the team that had already beaten them that season. “It just was had one of the best games you’ll see a goalie play, playing through some sort of injury and trying to make sure that they can help the team.

Everyone on the sidelines were cheering, and encouraging the team and there was tons of energy. It was everything I liked about the sport.”

With the team losing a major portion of their players due to graduation, Copithorne elaborated that “there’s going to be a lot of gaps in leadership that we’re going to have to address. We have a lot of hopeful returners that we can rely on,” adding that “they’re going to be tough to replace, but our returners are going to have to do a good job of recruiting, trying to get some more folks. Certainly, make sure that and I think we’ll have a chance to even improve on some of the good things we’ve done this year.”

malapuri and Chobanyan, they “inspire [him] to try harder and push [himself].” He continued saying “This year, I’ve mastered the basics of tennis, but next year I really want to start splicing, quick serving and more so I can improve my performance in varsity next year.”

“Next season, I’m mostly looking forward to seeing everyone again. Everyone on this team is so sweet and so kind I can’t wait to see them again. I’m looking forward to winning,” said Chen.

With the end of the season now past the Malden Boys Tennis team, Chen has placed a lofty goal for himself and the team with hopes of an “undefeated season,” that they’ll “do together as a team.”

47

Sports

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The Blue and Gold June 2022

maldenblueandgold.com

Boys Volleyball Team Make it to States

Chaimaa Assli Head- Copy Editor Krishany Marius Head of Local

The Boys Volleyball team ended the season ranked 13th in the state in Division 1 MIAA Rankings.

Their record on the season was 19-1.

M

alden Boy’s Volleyball team

and are planning to continue their good work while competing in States. They ended the season successfully with only one loss.

Coach Dan Jurkowski said that this season has been easy overall because the team knew what was at stake from the beginning and they have been ready for a while.

Jurkowski wants to focus all of his energy on this team to see how far they can go.

After losing to O’bryant 3:2, Jurkowski believes that the team grew more. “We realized that maybe we weren’t as good as we thought we were so we needed to get better. And then today, we came back and played O’Bryant again, we won three to one, so it was good.”

Jurkowski said.

Jurkowski noted that captains Kingston Chen and Yoji Yonetani hold everyone on the team accountable and make sure everyone shows up to practice on time and prepared.

“They’re just a group that’s super motivated right now.”

Chen, mentioned how “everyone puts a part into their team and steps up as a player. I feel like I don’t need to motivate my team to go to practice every day. I don’t need them to perform, I don’t need them to do the basics. They do more than enough.”

Chen had fun during his last season with this team. “I felt like everyone exceeded our expectations,” he said. Chen has no regrets about this season.

Yonstani the other captain of the Boys Volleyball team said, “I knew that this year we were going to have a really good team. So I was already excited about that.” To prepare for States Yonetani said, “we’ll just keep playing as hard as we did today. Keep the intensity and just have fun, volleyball is all about having fun.”

Senior Jason Chen said that this

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!"#$%&'()*+',-+..# season was fun but also stressful.

“I’ll miss it for sure, but I’m trying

to make the most of it right now.”

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