Behind the potential ban of the beloved social media app, Tiktok.
Welcoming in the Lunar New Year of the Snake!
Holding Space for Wicked
The musical-turned-movie that topped box-office sales, watch the story of Elphaba and Glinda.
Bye Bye Tiktok?
Behind the potential ban of the beloved social media app, Tiktok.
On the seemingly countless evacuations and the new fre and smoke alarm systems.
Check out the newly opened location of Panda Express at Millbrae Gateway.
The renewed love and comeback of digitial cameras.
Our New Interim AP
Spotlighting the new interim Assistant Principal Wolfgramm.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!
Rehearsals begin for the Spring Musical, ‘Mamma Mia!’
Welcoming in the Lunar New Year the Snake!
The Mills High School Dragon Dance team stuns with New Year performances.
The acutal efectiveness of New Year’s Resolitions, revealed.
Golden Globes: Wear or Tear?
Let’s take a look at the best (and worst) fashion moments at the Golden Globes 2025.
The lack of integrity behind legacy-based admissions .
Should fnals be in the form of projects or tests?
Spring sports welcome back to the feld and court!
Controversy behind the validity and need for team captains.
Featuring Mills’s very own Weightlifting Club that meets in the Weight Room!
Let’s runback the 2024 pop culture highlights from ‘brat’ to the ‘Costco Guys’.
The musical-turned-movie that topped box-ofce sales, watch the story of Elphaba and Glinda.
Happy new year from your Editors-in-Chief at The Thunderbolt, Phoebe Piserchio and Elaine Chan! This January magazine is about 2025 and all its new beginnings. In light of recent events in Los Angeles, we want to take a moment to support those who have sufered loss from the wildfres and give our utmost appreciation to the frst responders that are bravely protecting the communities. To help out in any way possible, you can drop by the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) San Francisco to donate clothing, water, books, toys, and more. Your contributions, no matter how small, can provide comfort and support to those rebuilding their lives.
As we refect on 2024 and move into 2025, many feelings arise for us— excitement, nostalgia, optimism. The spring semester brings growth and a plethora of new adventures at Mills; from the upcoming musical, Mamma Mia, to the kickstart of spring sports, the campus is buzzing with activity. Our sections this cycle are flled with intentions for the new year, fashion opinions, anticipation for the TikTok ban, and of course, our staf held space for a Wicked review.
We hope this issue inspires you to embrace the opportunities ahead, stay curious, and to the class of ‘25: let’s make the most of our last semester of high school!
Best,
Elaine Chan & Phoebe Piserchio Editors-in-Chief
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Tianyou Lee Staf Writer
On Jan. 14 at 11:02 a.m., Ronan Gensel (10) should’ve been in the middle of a lesson about drug concentrations in his third period biotechnology class. Instead, he and the rest of Mills’ students were leaving their classrooms to evacuate to the feld — the necessary protocol for the fre alarm going off.
Gensel wasn’t exactly worried, however. “It’s come to the point where, because it happens so frequently and so often, I think myself and lots of others surely are sort of desensitized to the whole thing,” he says. And for good reason: he had just been through another evacuation the day before when after school, the alarms had been triggered while he was attending robotics.
“And now, whenever it goes off, we’re like, ‘Oh, here we go again. Someone’s vaping, or someone’s making popcorn,’ and then we just get up and go,” Gensel says.
The Jan. 14 evacuation wouldn’t even be the last one of the month. A week later on Jan. 21, Gensel would have to evacuate again at 12:23 p.m. due to the alarms going off once more.
No fres had occurred any of the days. Investigations from admin have revealed the cause for the frst two incidents: vaping in the school bathrooms.
Since the implementation of new, more sensitive smoke detectors at Mills, frequent fre evacuations in December and January have been caused by nonsmoke triggers like vaping. In addition to thirty-minute disruptions from class, the incidents have cumulatively racked up thousands of dollars in fees for Mills from calling the fre department.
Admin is currently looking at how best to approach the situation, especially placing emphasis on tackling vaping.
Charging the fnes to students and increased monitoring of the bathrooms are being considered.
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Back in December 2020, the SMUHSD Board approved a district-wide plan to replace their decades-old fre alarm system. At Mills, its implementation began three years later in May 2024 and continued early on into the 2024–2025 school year.
The new alarm system is equipped with a repeating automated voice system, as opposed to the old classic ringing, and fashing lights for center court. When triggered, it automatically messages a central monitoring station, which then notifes the local fre department to send frefghters to Mills. A $1,500 fee is billed to the school each time for using the fre department’s services.
As for how the system is notifed of a fre, locations in the school are equipped with either heat detectors or smoke detectors. The smoke sensors specifcally are more precise than the previous ones, yet they don’t just detect smoke better: they also pick up on other substances in the air, like the vapor from vapes, and are unable to distinguish between them and smoke, setting off the alarms regardless.
Since the new system was implemented, the fre alarms have gone off on Dec. 4 during lunch, Dec. 13 during fourth period, Jan. 13 shortly after school, Jan. 14 during third period, and Jan. 21 close to the start of ffth period. After each evacuation, Mills was able to conduct investigations to determine their causes, made easier by the alarm system showing at which times and locations the smoke detectors went off and the corresponding security camera footage.
According to Assistant Principal Fred Wolfgramm, who was recently placed in charge of managing the fre alarm incidents, the Jan. 13 alarm was set off in the 200 girls’ restroom, while the Jan. 14 alarm was set off in the 200 boys’ restroom. By Jan. 14, admin had concluded that the triggers for both were vaping and identifed the students responsible.
“We spent all afternoon dealing with that situation,” Wolfgramm says. “That’s why we were unable to be outside after the evacuation because we were busy going through surveillance, checking the cameras, and bringing in students.”
Dean Tim Christian also confrmed that the Jan. 21 alarm was triggered in the 200 boys’ bathroom, although admin was unable to determine the exact cause from their investigation.
The students who set off the Jan. 13 and 14 alarms received the appropriate consequences by Jan. 14. Wolfgramm did not explicitly disclose what those were, but he did share the potential repercussions for triggering the alarm.
Christian has additionally noted that “things are fuid” when deciding on the appropriate actions. “I don’t treat everybody the same, so I treat everybody for what they need,” he says. Some students do think a more severe punishment could be a beneft. Gensel is one of them.
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“There are the district class of programs, the programs that they offer for vape use,” Wolfgramm says, referring to intervention measures, “but there’s also the suspension piece that can go along with it. It’s a serious matter. So if it’s impacting the whole school, you’re looking at at least three days, possibly fve, if it’s a repeat.”
Making students who set off the alarms pay for the $1,500 fre department fee is “a potential consequence,” as Wolfgramm says, but something that has yet to be imposed. Signs have been posted on the bathroom doors warning “[i]ndividuals who [v]ape” that they will be “responsible for all costs” if the fre alarm is set off.
“You know, you should not be smoking, period, but you should not be smoking at school, in the bathroom. It just wastes everybody’s time,” he says. “I think it’s irresponsible and disrespectful to the teachers and your fellow student body to do something like that, and maybe there should be stricter or harsher consequences for behavior like that.”
Kayli Tsang (11), whose third period precalculus class got interrupted by the Jan. 14 alarm, is of a similar opinion. “I was actually pretty annoyed that it was wasting class time and pushed our work back,” Tsang remembers. “We had to do work outside of school when we could have done it during class.” She agrees that suspensions and fees “should be implemented.”
Apart from the frequent fre evacuations, the new system is experiencing other teething troubles. Christian mentioned an incident prior to winter break when the sensors had been set off in the front offce above Administrative Assistant Alana Tipton’s desk for supposedly no reason. On Jan. 14 and Jan. 21, the fre alarms had only sounded in select locations like the 200 wing, leaving out certain halls and requiring a speaker announcement for a schoolwide evacuation notice. Wolfgramm explains that the discrepancy was due to a lack of connection between the smoke sensor system and the heat sensor system. Buildings equipped with only heat sensors did not hear the alarm.
With these technical diffculties in mind, admin still places emphasis on curbing the vaping in the school bathrooms. Mitigation of the “congregating” or “chatting” happening inside them is a key part of their plan, according to Wolfgramm.
“If we see students [talking] in the restrooms,” he says, “we want to kind of clear them out and say, ‘Hey, you have all this space outside to be able to have those conversations.’”
Principal Pamela Duszynski believes that the fre alarm incidents will shift Mills’ priorities back to tackling vaping as a more general problem. “We know historically, when vapes frst came out, they really hit our kids hard ... . Then we had COVID and distance learning,” she says. “And now that we have a new fre alarm system, and we’re connecting many of the alarms to vapes, now [vaping is] kind of emerging again as a focus.”
Duszynski emphasizes the health ramifcations of vaping as well.
“They’re nicotine. I don’t even think the research shows us what the damage does to the human body over time,” she says. “If you have a friend that you know that vapes, whether they got caught doing it in our restrooms or not, you need to talk with them about their health and well-being. Please. We know that friends listen to friends more than they listen to adults sometimes.”
Madyson Tang Staf Writer
The Los Angeles fres have brought awareness to many natural disasters happening in our world. Having that mild Bay Area earthquake early morning on Jan. 10 brings the scary thought of how our community would react when faced with more devastating events to mind. If Millbrae was on fre, or if an earthquake caused many to lose their homes and power, what would we do?
Sandra Firpo is the emergency management coordinator for the county of San Mateo. In a discussion about our community’s preparedness for a natural disaster, Firpo shared that a “survey taken by a local community group…found 48% of respondents felt they were somewhat prepared for a disaster.” At the same time, Firpo also acknowledges the county’s room for improvement.
“The reality is that every one of us could be ‘better’ prepared, and by taking some steps, you can lower the stress that comes from any emergency, and make your recovery process smoother.”
Ms.Firpo also mentioned in awareness of the LA fres “ It is important, however, to know that every emergency is unique. If, when, and how people are evacuated will depend on the type of hazard that is requiring the evacuation. A wildfre, gas leak, earthquake, tsunami ... could each require some people to move for their safety. Quality information is vital during emergencies.” Firpo encourages everyone in San Mateo County to follow reliable sources on social media like their local fre department, police department, city, and Department of Public Works, as well as to ensure they are getting alerts through our SMC Alert system. (Sign up at www.SMCAlert.info”.)
Following that, Sandra Firpo says “We live in an amazing area, and maybe the price to pay for all our natural beauty is the potential for various natural disasters. As Californians, it is our responsibility to take some steps to be better prepared, so that our whole community is stronger together!
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Credits:
Mills High School students can do a lot to make your school community and your families more resilient like packing a to go bag, or having a family emergency plan.”
Firefghters around the world have an important part of helping others during natural disasters. Fireman Joel Sato, works for the San Francisco Fire Department mentions “The focus for San Francisco, and likely most of the Bay Area, is really earthquakes as far as natural disasters go. We also have awareness of tsunamis because of our coastline and it being a result of earthquakes occuring in the ocean nearby. San Francisco is surrounded on three sides by water, so a frestorm like the Palisades fre or the Camp Fire of 2018 is less of a danger. There are some larger areas that have natural vegetation which could pose a threat but it isn’t nearly as likely in San Francisco.”
Along with that, Joel Sato said, “If an evacuation order is issued, many people wait either because they don’t believe the danger is that signifcant, they want to protect their homes themselves, or they just want to leave only if they believe they really need to. That creates massive congestion along evacuation routes when time becomes short and slows everyone down trying to leave. The earlier people heed the warnings
and orders, the more orderly and effcient mass evacuation will be.”
Looking further into our local community, biology and biotech teacher Johnny Huang share’s Firpo’s passion for safety amidst natural disasters.
“A lot of times, people probably think of the siren on their iPhone as some kind of drill and think it’s fun, but they don’t take it seriously. So I think that one thing is educating the citizens that we need to prepare, take everything seriously, and probably every home needs to prepare a frst aid kit so that whenever this natural disaster happens, then they can just pick up that kid and immediately just run.”
Hearing a biology teacher’s opinion on what us Millbrae citizens should do in a natural disaster can really affect how we could handle it if one was to happen.
Lastly, freshman Samantha Duong voiced her thoughts on the LA fres. “The LA fres brought up so many issues. Bringing people together yet also showing the reality of what a wildfre can do to our world. So knowing our community is prepared can help a lot of people withstand a natural disaster.”
Overall natural disasters are not a joke, and they have the potential to cause harm to many. Putting in the effort and time to prepare in advance, could assist you better in the case of an actual emergency.
Matthew Du Staf Writer
Picture this: after a long day, you sit down and load up TikTok to relax only to discover that the app has been banned by the government. The app you love and have been using for the past fve years is unusable. How would Mills students react to this ban, and what does this ban mean to them?
TikTok, the short form content social media app owned by the Chinese tech company, ByteDance, is known for their viral videos, memes, dances, songs, challenges, and life hacks. On April 24th, 2024, Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications (PAFACA) with bipartisan support before ultimately getting it signed by then President Biden. Motivated by concerns that the Chinese government might access and utilize American data with malicious intent, the act would require TikTok’s company, ByteDance, to sell the company (which also includes Capcut, the TikTok alternative Lemon8, AI math homework help app Gauth, photo editing software Hypic, and more) or face a nationwide shut-down in the United States. The ban also planned to restrict app stores and the internet from hosting TikTok, as some US government offcials believed that the Chinese government would use it as a forum to manipulate their users, spread misinformation, and rig elections.
The legislation had been set to take effect by the US government on January 19th, but a surprising turn of events took place.
After going dark for about 14 hours on Saturday, TikTok as of January 20th, has received an extra 75 days to sell at least 50% of the company due to a deal with recently inaugurated President Trump. TikTok is still usable if the app is already installed, but it has been removed from both the Apple and Google Play Store.
Regardless of its enacted date, this ban would affect nearly over 170 million monthly users as TikTok is the ffth most used social media, just behind bigger social media platforms like FaceBook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Snapchat, according to SearchLogistics.
The TikTok ban doesn’t just affect content creators, it will affect Mills High School students as they have been using the app for years with TikTok being a part of their daily lifestyle. Many students have argued the TikTok ban is a violation of the American people’s First Amendment Constitutional right.
Senior Ameena Stringer (12) voiced, “I do see it is
wrong because America’s pushing for them to sell it, but if they don’t sell it, they’re just trying to hush, hush, take TikTok…A lot of people aren’t fnding out more and more of the truth of this country.”
Stringer also believes the government will use the TikTok ban as a catalyst to restrict free speech on other social media platforms.
Freshman Patrick Olila (9) expressed, “I feel like it’s a very negative thing for the people of America because people use TikTok as a way to speak their voice, speak their opinions, and taking it away is a violation against the First Amendment.”
Olilia added, “If America has the right to take away American people’s platforms then slowly they’re gonna be allowed to take away everything they have to use our First Amendment.”
I interviewed a lawyer and asked him whether the ban violated the First Amendment rights or not.
Lawyer David Loy of The First Amendment Coalition said, “The Supreme Court said that Congress was within its power to prevent that or guard against that risk of a large amount of private data collection by what they call a foreign adversary.” Loy then went on to say, “The Supreme Court is the ultimate decision maker on what the Constitution means and how it applies. The Supreme Court held that the ban does not violate the First Amendment.”
Loy said in his opinion, “I think that while there may be a risk of improper use of our collection of data, I think there are ways to address that without banning the platform entirely.”
Loy explains, “There’s always risks of data collection and improper use of personal data on any digital platform whether it’s Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and all these platforms vacuum up lots of data.” He believes that some of the data being collected should be restricted to prevent a nationwide ban.
Loy mentioned that if the platform is free, that just means you were the product.
While most students feel sad about the ban, some students see the ban as a way of limiting their phone use and a way for growth.
Freshman Messiah Lacsamana commented, “I feel that it [the TikTok ban] is benefcial to a lot of people…people on TikTok procrastinate from the work that they need to do. It’s becoming a part of everyone’s everyday life.”
Senior Aidan Brown (12) looks ahead to a brighter future: “I think I’m gonna go out to nature more. Go explore the world instead of using my phone.”
Andres Luis Makilan Staf Writer
Chipotle, Habit, Tiger Tea, Starbucks. Establishments, well, established, in close proximity to Mills. These businesses can always count on high schoolers tired after a hard day of work to spend some of their cold hard cash on their food and drinks. Recently though, Panda Express seems to have entered the fray, setting up their train of American Chinese cuisine right on the corner of Millbrae Station.
Walking down the bridge connecting El Camino to Rollins Road and up the sidewalk, there isn’t really anything to notify you that there is in fact a restaurant in the corner of this soon-to-be apartment building (aside from the three tables set up outside and the giant Panda Express sign set up right before the turn of the corner). The minimalist architecture gives the outside a bland favor, but these are all small nitpicks that don’t matter as much as other aspects of the restaurant.
When you walk inside, the tone and vibe seems to undergo a total 180°. The minimalist structure still prevails, but this time with a coat of red paint and added references to Chinese culture. The lights give of this yellow glow separated by the Chinese lantern shell the bulb is placed in. The counter is almost reminiscent of Chipotle’s, as both are designed in a way so that the customer can see and smell the readymade food selection. I briefy wondered if the choice of music being Tame Impala and Hoobastank was beftting of a place like this, but the music shortly turned into background noise soon after that thought.
The food and service can be best described with Little Caesars’ trademark phrase “Hot n’ Ready”, as the employee on the counter is ready for whatever you order and the food they give is steaming hot. The ordering process is fast, as you only need to say a handful of things to get the order through to which you can then take your tray to whichever table you so choose.
Abby Chai Center Spread Editor
Like most people on the internet today, I always enjoy a quick matcha run. However, matcha is one of those things that ALWAYS seems to difer in quality and is quite difcult to get right. And as a casual matcha enjoyer, I may not have the best taste of judgement when it comes to this beloved tea, but I wanted to try it from three diferent standpoints to fnd out what really is the most bang for my buck. Let me preface that I generally enjoy my matcha beverages less on the sweet side!
business)
Nestled in Redwood city’s downtown area, you’ll fnd a serene foral shop that also doubles as a small cafe. From matcha lattes to spritzes, they had a nice variety to choose from, but I opted for their matcha cold brew. While I probably should’ve gone for a standard matcha latte (for scoring purposes), I was too intrigued by the concept of a matcha cold brew to pass it on. As expected, the drink lacked sweetness and defnitely brought out the “grassy/ earthy” undertones of matcha; aspects which I all honestly loved. The taste of the matcha was nothing short of strong and despite how cold the weather was that day, I found the drink refreshing and delicious. At $7.50 a cup, it is on the pricier side, but it never hurts to treat yourself once in a while. (4.5/5)
Bought)
For $4 a bottle at Whole Foods, you can buy yourself a quick matcha latte on-the-go. Pop & Bottle’s matcha latte was quite smooth and as it uses dates to naturally sweeten their drinks, it had a subtle sweetness which I thoroughly enjoyed! However, the matcha taste wasn’t nearly as strong as I would have liked and was only particularly profound when frst sipped. And as someone who typically enjoys their lattes with almond milk, I didn’t particularly mind the lasting aftertaste of almond the drink left, but regardless, wished the matcha was more present. (3/5)
While just one of many cofee chains out there, Peet’s Cofee serves a sweet and simple matcha latte that you can’t go wrong with. Despite often enjoying my lattes with almond milk, I decided to go for an oat matcha latte (as per advice by a good friend) and wasn’t disappointed! It wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet and there wasn’t just a whisper of matcha. Matcha is typically difcult for many chains to get right, but I thought Peet’s take on it was quite nice! (3.5/5)
By: Elijah Cabatic, Staf Writer
One of the biggest things that people say about digital cameras is that there is more artistic merit to digital photography than if you took it with the phone. For Emily Anning (10), leader of the Mills Photo and Film Club, “Yes, defnitely. I feel like when I’m using a digital camera I’m able to frame what I want the photo to look like… I like the fact that with a digital camera, I’m able to more closely control what the actual photo is going to look like, and I think that’s important for how you want it to turn out, what you want it to look like.” This sentiment is echoed by Violet Martin (11) of @violct.png who says, “In a way, I do believe so…I believe
Onceupon a time digital cameras ruled the world. The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA), an organization whose members include the top 5 digital camera sellers Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujiflm, and Panasonic as well as many smaller brands, was mainstream. At its peak in 2010 they sold over 120 million cameras annually, but by 2023 it had fallen by 94% to only 7.72 million units yearly. Many saw this as the downfall of digital cameras with smartphones largely replacing them through their convenience and accessibility in one’s pocket. A small minority of people held onto their digital cameras including me and some Mills students and they are having themselves a small cultural comeback.
My frst “real” digital camera was a cute, but pretty terrible Sony Cybershot U20 (the silver camera pictured above), but what really got me into digital photography was when my dad gave me his Canon point and shoot camera. It helped me really start to enjoy photography as a hobby and it has only grown for me from there. For me at least, there is something more merited when you
there is much more you can do with digital cameras than with phones, especially with all the settings and modes that a lot of digital cameras have. I also fnd that the pictures taken on digital cameras, whether taken in a professional manner or not, have a lot more life to them than they do on phones.”
Kaylin Lam (11) who runs the Instagram page @kaylincam_ has a diferent view on the subject as she says, “I wouldn’t say more artistic merit, but [more like] a diferent vibe. Phones are super convenient, but with a camera, you’re forced to slow down and think about the shot. That intentionality feels more artsy to me, but both have their place.”
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As the spring semester starts here at Mills, we are delighted to welcome our new interim Assistant Principal, Fred Wolfgramm. As an interim he will temporarily be taking the role as an assistant principal for the rest of the school year. Mr. Wolfgramm has proudly been working in schools around the bay area for 19 years, one of them being Peninsula High School which he worked at for six and a half years before coming to Mills. He began his career as a campus aide for both Capuchino High School and Hillsdale High School. He then moved on to being the dean at Burlingame high school for 10 years after graduating from there himself. Mr. Wolfgramm also worked 13 years as a Group supervisor at San Mateo County Juvenile Probation and coached varsity football and girls basketball while at BHS, CHS and HHS. As an AP, Mr. Wolfgramm is in charge of many things around campus. This includes, Athletics and Athletic boosters, 12th and 9th grade students, Facilities, Field Trips, Master Calendar, Evaluations, Instructional Technology, 504’s for 12th and 9th grade, Graduation/Dances, etc.
Since Mr. Wolfgramm is only an interim Assistant principal; he is still not completely sure if his spot at Mills will be permanent . However, he is making sure he does a good job to earn his keep and try to stay. The only thing that would keep him from returning would be if something at Mills didn’t work out too well or another opportunity presented itself that he’d like to pursue. Mr. Wolfgramm understands why teachers stay at this school for so long as he believes it’s a wonderful place with a great community, great students, and amazing staf. He also mentioned the way students and staf were welcoming on his frst couple of days in the ofce.
By: Elizabeth Paniagua, Staff Writer
By: isabelle yang, sports editor
For the 2025 spring musical, the Mills drama department will be performing its own version of Mamma Mia!, featuring the iconic music of famous pop group ABBA, energetic choreography, and heartfelt scenes. Although the production will be performed in late March, the cast and crew have been preparing since selective auditions last semester.
Mr. Hudelson, head of the Mills drama department, attests to the cast and crew’s hard work since Thanksgiving break. With weekly music, dance, and acting rehearsals, Hudelson believes the show will top those performed on Broadway or the West End. “There’s some more interesting scenic elements, and we’re really highlighting the idea of Greece and the idea of ABBA as key components of the play,” says Hudelson.
Hudelson also credits the production to everyone involved, from crew to teachers. Mr. Gregoric and Ms. Himes are respectively coaching the students through the music and dance aspects of the musical. “[Mr. Gregoric] is the only music director at any of our schools in the district who chooses to do the musical conduct and work with the kids,” says Hudelson. “He’s passionate about it. He’s a wonderful teacher.” He also mentions Ms. Himes’ knowledge of each student’s capabilities and supportive nature.
Additionally, the crew’s talent behind the scenes is essential to the musical’s success. “We have a super experienced crew with stage manager, Michelle Yeung, who’s done it before, two ASMs who have done it before, Mia Khan and Maya Eidson, and then a wonderful group of kids behind the board,” remarks Hudelson. With ABBA being such an important role in the musical, auditions were held earlier to allow cast members to prepare for the complex songs over break.
Naia Germain (11), acting as Sophie, listened to the songs and watched the flm multiple times to prepare. Attending other high school
this spring 2025
productions of Mamma Mia! has also given her more insight into the musical. Brianna Kei (12), who will be playing Donna Sheridan, highlights “Dancing Queen”, “Slipping Through My Fingers”, and “The Winner Takes it All”.
Another crucial aspect of this production is the lively dances. Choreographed by Ms. Himes, the Mills dance teacher, the cast members have expressed their excitement about learning and performing the dances. “I’m really excited to learn and see the choreography [Ms. Himes] comes up with,” says Germain. “So far, we’ve only had one dance rehearsal, but the two songs she taught us looked really really good.”
The cast conveys their appreciation for Himes, who has been constantly preparing numbers for the show. “I expect the students to do their best to pick up choreography fast, review on their own time, and absolutely kill it on stage!” says Himes. Along with her expectations, she aims to make dancing fun and build confdence for the cast.
Furthermore, Kei looks forward to seeing the completed costumes and elaborate set, which features elements of Greece, where the musical takes place. “This year, the audience should expect a show that will bring them to the islands of Greece through stunning visuals, dances, and timeless songs,” says Kei. With four consecutive shows in one weekend, the musical will be an exhilarating and interactive experience. “It’ll stay with you for, who knows, your whole lifetime. You’ll be a fan of ABBA and Mamma Mia,” concludes Mr. Hudelson.
By: Hayden Bunce, Staff Writer
Have you ever wondered how to tie your interests, aspirations, and future careers in one place? A club is a great place to start. The Mills Architecture Club, among the abundance of groups at Mills, does just that. This club fosters an environment that welcomes all students to dive into architectural concepts and a glimpse into the profession. What inspired the club to bloom was the passion that the president, Sophie Hohmann (12) had for architecture. She said, “In the club, I wanted to give members the chance to witness and experience architecture in a new light and undergo a real-world design project.”
courses at school and gaining more experience through being a teacher’s assistant for the beginner course, Hohmann realized she wanted to share her knowledge. Additionally, she wished to serve as a mentor to others new to the subject and guide them to explore their interests through reallife design and club events.
The space created there allows members to engage in competitions, develop skills in team collaboration and presentation, draw visuals, and explore various programs
Carisa Chiu, a 2022 Mills graduate who is currently attending UC Davis, shared a glimpse of life after high school during my interview with her. She talked about her experiences tied to graduation and college enrollment . In addition to that, she gave helpful pieces of advice to high school students throughout our conversation. Here’s what she said:
When asked about what her graduation was like, Carisa responded, saying, “I think graduating was very bittersweet for me. I got especially close with some of my best friends and met my boyfriend senior year, so while I was happy to graduate and move on to the next chapter of my life, it was hard knowing I would leave all of the fun memories behind.”
I followed up, asking about any drastic changes between high school and college after leaving Mills. She shared, “My eating and sleep schedule sufered the most during my frst month of college. [Going from] being used to eating meals with friends/family to revolving my eating schedule around classes was tricky at frst but you learn to adapt.” Carisa also shared a new challenge she experienced after the transition. She reminisced, “I miss how
close everybody was in high school since as you get older, it gets harder to make an efort/stay in touch with everyone.”
Another adjustment she faced was going from her high school classes to college courses. In regards to what she’s currently studying, Carisa commented, “I am currently a pre-law, philosophy major here at UCD!” As a suggestion for students planning to do something similar, she said, “I would encourage those with similar interests to be as open-minded as possible since philosophy requires you to think outside the norm and to look at situations from multiple diferent angles. ” Carisa explained her college applications situation saying, “The hardest part of college apps for me was the imposter syndrome and feeling as though everyone was better than me.” As imposter syndrome with college apps is doubting one’s abilities and skills through things such as academics, she reassured students worrying about this, explaining , “A lot of people [feel] like this and [you should] remind yourself of your own achievements!”
Finally, she ended, sharing , “My biggest advice would be to prioritize experiences that bring you joy. Participate in clubs, sports, and social events, and don’t hesitate to try new things. Balance work and play—while academics are important, the friendships and adventures you have will shape who you are. Cherish the moments, both big and small, as they often become the best stories to tell later in life.”
After taking the architecture and design
As the clock strikes midnight and !reworks light up the night, the new year is welcomed with excitement. Seeing the new year as a fresh start, people around the world set New Year’s resolutions—hopeful promises of self-improvement and growth. In reality though, most resolutions fail to make it past the !rst week of January. Despite its long history, the e ectiveness of New Year’s resolutions is o en called into question. Many people struggle to keep their resolutions and fall into an all-or-nothing mindset, giving up in face of unrealistic goals. So, have New Year’s resolutions really lost their power or is there a better way to create meaningful, lasting change?
Rooted in the ancient Babylonian custom, the origin of this global tradition dates back about 4,000 years and has evolved and endured the test of time. During their 12-day festival new year known as Akitu, Babylonians would make promises to the gods to gain their blessing and favor. In contrast to modern resolutions, these vows were tied to practical goals such as returning borrowed farming tools and paying o
Over time, this tradition has evolved into a secular, more personal practice focusing on selfimprovement. e most common resolutions are centered around health, such as exercising and losing weight. Others strive for personal development through learning new hobbies, reading more, and getting more organized. So why are so many of these resolutions short-lived?
Natalie Lo (11) shared her thoughts on why New Year’s resolutions are so di cult to keep. “For me personally, I think it’s because there’s no one to keep me in check. It’s not like homework… Setting your own resolutions and following them with no one other than yourself is hard.“
Like Lo, many also !nd it hard to follow through with their resolution without the support or even pressure of others. erefore, consider sharing a goal with a friend or family member, so you can o er each other motivation and support. is way, you can work together and make it a fun, social activity while still holding each other accountable.
giving up entirely even sooner. If they fail or forget their resolution once, they feel as though they’ve already failed completely, resulting in abandoned resolutions.
To combat this, a better approach is to focus on your intentions over outcomes. “If you yourself, just think of the exercise as like just for the physical aspect and looking good… en what’s driving you is your physical appearance,” said at may not be as good as like, ‘Oh, you’re doing this for your health’ for like the future. I think if you, depending how you rethink your goals and how you reframe ects whether you achieve them
By Staff Writer, Jada Pan
At the same time, breaking a long-term or big goal into smaller, more manageable goals is another great way to prevent burnout. Everyday goals, especially for those who are busy, may become overwhelming as they are harder to achieve. Rather than seven times a week, adjust the goal to four times, allowing yourself to have three days of rest and the !exibility for other responsibilities you have.
Celebrating little wins along the way is another great way to help keep your resolution, especially for long-term goals. By rewarding yourself for these successes, you give yourself more motivation to keep going, encouraging lasting personal growth. is is particularly helpful in the early stages of a goal, acting as
“What I’ve noticed this works for me is having kind of like, not a reward system, but once you do it, then you can reward yourself with something else,” said Yan. “ c goal, then a month. And then if it works out, then maybe I’ll increase the duration of the goal to two months.” is year, let’s not give up in January. Shi your focus to the intentions behind your goals, break big goals into smaller steps, and celebrate the small wins. Rather than perfection, your progress is more important as you turn resolutions into lasting habits. With this in mind, make 2025 the year you keep your resolutions!
By Staff Writer, Emily Wu
As we approach the end of January, we are also approaching Chinese New Year. A celebration that can be traced back thousands of years in history, the holiday is known for family reunions, superstitions, and festive traditions.
!e Chinese zodiac calendar consists of 12 animals; the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. !ese animals were chosen from a Chinese story of a Jade Emperor who wanted to create a way to measure time, so he organized an event known as the Great Race. !eir sequence was chosen by the order they completed the race, with each animal taking up one year, and hence creating a 12 year cycle for all animals.
!is year is the Year of the Snake, a time for wisdom and renewal. People born under this sign are known for their intelligence, determination, and care, being able to navigate through challenges with a calm process. Along with the snake, this year is paired up with the wood element, a symbol of growth and strength. As we embrace the Year of the Snake, it also gives a moment to re ect on aspects that bring Chinese culture luck and positivity.
In Chinese tradition, certain numbers and colors are believed to hold special value. !e number 8 for instance, is considered to represent wealth and prosperity, while colors like red, yellow, and gold are seen as symbols of success, power, and happiness.
While the culture acknowledges the lucky elements, it is also
important to know which ones to avoid. !e number 4 is known to bring misfortune, as its pronunciation in Chinese is similar to the word ‘death’. Colors like black and white are also connected to bad luck, negativity, and mourning.
Chinese New Year o ers traditions to ward o misfortune and invite good luck to the new year. Red envelopes are one of the most popular traditions, bringing more excitement towards kids and teens. Generally given out by elders and adults, envelopes lled with money are handed out to children to wish them luck for the year ahead. Families can also be seen cleaning out their houses and surrounding areas before the start of the new year. Cleaning their homes can be associated with removing bad luck from the previous year to allow for a fresh start.
To bring communities together, the dragon dance is a highlight of Chinese New Year celebrations. Teams of dancers control a long, colorful dragon puppet made of paper and fabric and carried on poles. !e dance is believed to drive away bad luck and symbolize power and strength.
As we celebrate Chinese New Year, we not only honor the history that has been passed down but also the signi cance of renewal, family, and community. !e Year of the Snake, with its focus of wisdom, intuition, and growth invites us to re ect, embrace change, and welcome new opportunities.
By Staff Writer, Andres Luis makilan
A!er a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mills Dragon Team is back and taking on their biggest challenge yet: the Lunar New Year Parade on the 15th of February. ey’ve recently performed in school rallies and events, but nothing compares to the sheer scale of the Parade. e route of the parade is long and arduous,with hundreds of spectators keeping their eyes on you, and not to mention this is the reformed team’s rst event of this scale and size.
For the captains, there is a general feeling of excitement and nervousness because of the importance the event holds over the club. “I’m pretty excited to go to the parade since I know it’s such a big event and that it’s really important to our history,” says Kelly Dang (11), one of the four captains of the Dragon Team. “I can’t wait to… experience [it] for myself and to see how it goes.”
Another captain, Don Huang (11), says that it’s “de nitely exciting for everyone,” even though the feeling of nervousness is still evident due to the fact that nobody in the team has ever experienced the parade before. However, they do have some experience in performing, and it seems like their routine from the rallies with one small change is going to carry over to the parade.
Captain Coby Chen (11) says that there’ll be no more ag waving done by any of the members, as those will just be on the truck bed of the truck that’ll be cruising through the parade. For the routine itself, Chen says that “It’s mainly just going to be the dragon following the pearl.” He also adds, “We’re just going to do a lot of these loops and run around endlessly for an hour or so.”
Chen himself interviewed the
general members of the team about the Parade, and based on their answers, he thinks that “[ ey] are pretty committed,” and they since they’re committed, he thinks that people are more likely to be excited about the performance itself, whether it be the team themselves, or the spectators on the street or up in the ra!ers. Dang also added that once all the members get there and see the place in and of itself, they will feel a lot more interested and feel a lot more emotion going into the performance.
When asked about possible new prospects coming into the team, Huang says that the Dragon Team is welcome to anyone, and that it is a “great chance to be part of something bigger than yourself.” He adds that new members can learn and perform, and through that, learn and spread Chinese culture.
e Dragon Team is thankful for the support of their coaches, past and present advisors, and past alumni. Without their continued support, the revival of the Dragon Team would not have been possible. eir current advisor, Ms. Chong, can be found in room 144 to answer any inquiries or general questions regarding the Dragon Team.
Each January, audiences of renowned cinema, television, and entertainment are welcomed with the Golden Globes broadcasted to start of their year. Dating back to 1944, the award show is not only highly anticipated because of the nominees, winners, and guests, but also the fashion. Like most events in the entertainment industry, those tuning in from home enjoy seeing each guest’s distinctive looks while voicing their opinions.
As each celebrity walks the carpet, their pictures are taken to be plastered across the media. Viewers either love or hate their looks, whether it’s their outlandish styles or fashion that embodies art. This poses the question of whether events like the Golden Globes have shied away from their true purposes and pose as an outlet for celebrities to showcase their wealth.
It seems to me that some of the looks aren’t quite practical. They look rather uncomfortable to function in nor show much relevance other than the connections celebrities have with designers. Sophie Hohmann (12), who loves the fashion industry, comments, “Events like the Golden Globes give celebrities a chance to put their status on the podium, making viewers focus less on the beauty and artistic design behind the pieces and more on who wears the most expensive pieces of clothing.”
Maizie DeGuzman (11) says, “I think it’s more about showcasing diferent styles rather than just showing of money or connections,” she adds, “celebrities do have access to luxury brands, but I think they use these occasions to experiment with bold looks and highlight their personal style.”
However, some looks I adored were from actresses Zendaya, Demi Moore, and Margaret Qualley. Their looks were a great mix of sophistication while encapsulating the essence of 80-90s fashion with touches of modernism. These looks were all elegant and stood out while also holding that timeless feel. DeGuzman shared that she enjoyed Anna Sawai’s
Dior gown. A look that stood out to Hohmann was “the director of “The Substance,” Coralie Fargeat had the most avant-garde and deconstructed dress that stood out against numerous celebrities. The almost architectural, asymmetrical look from Balenciaga is very daring and holds depth.”
An outft I was not the hugest fan of was Melissa McCarthy’s bubblegum pink jumpsuit layered with a rufed shrug. The look just didn’t feel quite right, and the jumpsuit’s material looked cheaply made, although the jewelry she wore was divine. Timothee Chalamet played it quite safe but I feel he could’ve done a little more. A looser ftting silhouette could’ve been added, or more jewelry to elevate his black dress shirt, slim dress pants, and a skinny blue scarf that draped on his neck and chest.
Fashion has certainly evolved over the years and people have noticed the shift, especially through these high class events. DeGuzman explains she feels the styling is “more minimal” now and how, in past years, actors dressed with more creativity.
Fashion aspects that would be nice to see more of at future Golden Globes’ and other events are more diversity in men’s fashion. Almost every male attendee wore a variation of a black suit. While that looks good and timeless, I feel there are small touches one could add to personalize their outfts, such as adding a diferent colored tie or jewelry. Additionally, DeGuzman suggests that, “pieces that emphasize individuality should come back. More pieces that make a statement and refect personal style, rather than conforming to trends.”
Trends that shouldn’t come back so frequently are crazy rufes or pieces that stick out to0 much. It’d also be nice to see looks that refrain from simple colors like beige. “Out-dated outfts and clothing that lack authenticity and creativity in their designs should stay behind, and jewelry shouldn’t be the only focus to elevate looks!” adds Hohmann.
By: Abigail Chai, Center Spread Editor
From a seemingly endless pile of essays to complete to the desperate scramble for letters of recommendation, there are various steps of the college admissions process that seniors across the country attempt to perfect each year. However, there’s one factor of the admissions journey that is out of all students’ control: their legacy status.
Dating all the way back to the 1920s, “legacy preferences”- which give those related to past alumni of a university (e.g. parents or siblings) an advantage over other prospective students in application reviewshave become a principle for many elite colleges in the nation. However, despite now being a standard custom for various schools, it remains a topic that exasperates families and students each year. Frequently deemed unfair, many are led to question the usefulness and justness of considering applicants’ legacy status in college admissions.
One Mills senior expressed discontent with the practice, sharing, “It doesn’t show that the person who got in really deserved it.”; perceiving the consideration as an ultimately unreliable factor of colleges’ criteria for students. A belief held by most who oppose legacy admissions, there’s a strong sense of bias in what many people deem this “birth-given” privilege granted by colleges.
Nonetheless, some students are more neutral regarding the controversial matter, with senior Matthew Situ being one of them. While he didn’t entirely agree that legacy should be the deciding factor in admitting students, he acknowledged that as private institutions, universities have free will in how they choose to assess their applicants.
Hayden Bunce Staff Writer
“(Legacy admissions) are done by private schools who are not funded by the government,” he stated. “So I think they’re free to accept these kids however they like.”
To many Californian families’ relief, though, on September 30, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1780, defnitively prohibiting legacy admissions and donor preferences in the state’s independent higher education institutions. The bill, which will go into efect starting September 2025, makes California just one of many states to recently outlaw the contentious practice that has infamed private universities and colleges.
However, while the wave of government opposition towards legacy admissions only grows, many colleges continue to support the custom as it’s seen as an essential part of preserving their reputation and community. As legacy students are often more likely to enroll once admitted, this allows schools to not just maintain connections with past alumni who can continue making important contributions to the campus (whether through fnancial or cultural means) but also increase their yield rates, an attribute which often indicates a university’s high prestige and desirability.
Aside from serving as a way for colleges to uphold their distinguished status, many also simply see the concept of legacy as a charming tradition. For instance, social sciences teacher Mr. Lira fnds a somewhat endearing element in legacy students, expressing that when alumni’ kids go to the same college, “there’s that special feeling that there’s some sort of belonging to the school.”
On January 24th, FKA Twigs released her fourth studio album called Eusexa. Eusexa is a noun made up by Twigs meaning euphoric. It is an 11-song album coming in at 42 minutes and 58 seconds. e 11-song album contains two features, Koreless and North West (yes, THAT North West), two explicit tracks are “Drums of Death” and “Sticky.” e album contains themes of euphoria, art, music, and sex. e album has a very electric dance-pop sound that came into the mainstream with Brat. If you like to dance, be sad, or expand your musical taste, I would recommend the album. With this album review, it is guaranteed I will be giving my album ranking unwanted but needed for the world to continue spinning. However, this album is not for everyone, so it’s important to come into this album with an open mind and form your own opinions.
inals are a time when many students begin to prepare for exams and projects. During this time, students study endlessly to prove what they’ve learned throughout the semester in two hours. In other classes, students tirelessly work on slideshows and reread their fashcards to ensure a smooth presentation.
Around Mills High School, every teacher has their own style of teaching. They also have their own opinions on fnal exams. Whether it be a cumulative exam or a fnal project, there are diferent perspectives on why these two types of fnals are given.
For Ms. Tara Donohoe who’s part of the Social Science Department, she believes projects are the way to go for her Ethnic Studies class. “We do a project as a fnal because the goal of our ethnic studies work is for you all to be active community members who are acting for justice, and so we like for you to have a capstone project where you’re trying to improve something at Mills,” she says.
By Mikayla Ho, Staff Writer
more important that, ideally, students remember the vocabulary for properly describing art with a specifc terminology, but it’s ultimately also about making the art and showing that you know the terms through the things that you make,” she explains.
While projects give students the opportunity to prove their potential, it can be time consuming. “A project takes a lot of time on the teacher’s end, a lot of preparation, a lot of scafolding and supporting, and then it takes a lot of class time that we want to provide you with, and then it takes a lot of time to present,” says Ms. Donohoe.
Projects ofer much more freedom for students to express what they’ve acquired throughout the semester. Media Arts and Video Production teacher Ms. Serena Arge believes that the best way to learn is doing project based learning. “It’s much more about acquiring skills and making projects. It’s
Often, the decision depends on the subject. “My class is very skill heavy, and it takes a lot of time to develop the skills, so I feel that projects best represent what students know for my content area,” Ms. Arge states.
While there are some teachers who like projects, others
think otherwise. Mr. Alex Lira, a Social Science Department teacher, strongly disagrees with giving his students projects. He believes that projects prevent students from proving what they have learned throughout the semester...
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As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, audiences are faced with the question: should movies go straight to streaming platforms, or should they premiere in theaters frst? The rise of streaming services like Netfix and Disney+ has changed how we consume media and flms, which creates a cultural shift and challenges the traditional moviegoing experience.
The move to streaming is largely driven by convenience and costefectiveness. With a subscription, viewers gain access to an entire library of content, allowing for much more ease of access as compared to going out to a theater. According to Serena Arge, Media Arts and Video Production teacher at Mills High School, the fnancial side is a major factor. “Ultimately, it comes down to costs—money drives what grows and what dies,” she explained. “Streaming allows companies to
By Noah Ung, Staff Writer
bypass traditional Hollywood production channels, cutting costs and reaching audiences faster.” The COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated this trend, as theater closures left streaming platforms as the primary way to release new flms.
However, while streaming is practical, it lacks the “magic” of the theatrical experience. Watching a flm on the big screen with an audience creates an atmosphere that streaming at home can’t replicate. Mark Chan, a flmmaker and senior at Mills High School, shared his thoughts on the matter.
“It’s great for accessibility, especially since theater prices are rising. People are left to wonder whether spending money on one movie is worth it at all, when you could spend the same amount of money on a streaming service subscription,” he said. Despite the convenience,
Chan believes there’s something uniquely special about experiencing a flm in theaters.
For many, the theater is more than just a place to watch movies— it’s a place where cultures come together. Arge emphasized the importance of preserving theaters, particularly indie ones. “Indie theaters provide such an important service for indie flmmakers,” she said. “They’re places for people to gather, hear diverse voices, and network.” These spaces often showcase independent flms and highlight underrepresented perspectives that mainstream platforms might overlook.
Streaming platforms, while convenient, also come with drawbacks. Creators often face the challenge of being fairly
paid for their work. Arge pointed to the example of Squid Game, whose creator received little fnancial reward despite the show’s massive global success.
“Streaming platforms aren’t the heroes we think they are,” she noted. Mark Chan also sees streaming platforms as an important tool for independent flmmakers, providing access to audiences that they wouldn’t have otherwise reached. “Absolutely. There are flmmakers that we wouldn’t even know existed if YouTube didn’t exist. Funny example, but look at Dhar Mann. His style of short flms would never be able to compete with other box ofce flms at the theater, yet they perform fantastically on YouTube, gathering millions of views.”
Warren Shiu Staff Writer
he team captain has been a staple of sports for many decades, helping to lead his or her team to success and enabling players to realize their full potential. These positions are very instrumental in ensuring teamwork within a group. However, how much power and responsibility the captain deserves is debatable. While the captain is expected to unite the players and drive the team forward, a question that lingers is whether his authority encourages camaraderie among the players or brings competition for a higher position on the team. Sometimes, being the captain of a team involves more than just playing in the game. It includes directing the team, either in celebrating its successes or managing its defeat.
Senior Tyler Ngo has been playing basketball since he was young, and is now the captain of the varsity boys basketball team. He shared his perspective on the importance of leadership. “The main role of a team captain is just being a leader, just keeping people locked in for games and practices. If your captain isn’t leading by example, nobody else will,” says Ngo. A captain’s infuence goes beyond the actions of the court into the mentality of a team and the focus that it would require, no matter
leading by example, captains also bridge the gap in quite literally serving as a bridge between coaches Roach (12), captain of the girls varsity soccer team, said, “If there’s something the coach might not see, then I have experience to just lead a drill in practice.” The relationship between players and coaches enables captains to iron out any disagreements in strategy and maintain order during games and practices to keep the team running smoothly both on and of the feld.
Yet, with leadership comes emotional burdens as well. For frst-time captains, the position can be a bit daunting, as senior Lainey Tsai describes when she assumed the position of a captain of the varsity girls volleyball team this year. “I felt a little more
examples. The ability to unite during good and difcult times is Whether on the feld or in the remain indispensable to guide their goals.
Meaga So Staff Writer
Get ready for a wave of new competition, games, and rivalry as we enter the second semester of our 2024-2025 school year because the spring sports season is approaching quickly. !is new season provides an opportunity for teams to work together towards new goals and accomplishments, improving as they go. Let’s gain some insight on our new season and see what some of our spring coaches, star players, and returning athletes have to say about their goals this season.
Last year, the Mills So ball team rose to the top, allowing them to advance into a higher league. Returning player, So a Kwan, explained, “We are in a more di cult league now so it would be nice to prove ourselves and show that we deserve [to be there].” When asked about goals she had for this season, So a responded, “I hope that this season I will continue hitting well… and being more con dent when a ground ball comes.” As for possible goals for the team, she said, “ !is season I hope we make it further in CCS while having fun and playing [together].” So ball coach, Coach Michelle
Beauchemin added on to that, talking about wanting the team to have a balance between having fun and success, She continued, “Whether [this] is established by winning a game, improving individual skills or team growth, it is important to me that all players are proud of their accomplishments and being part of a “family” like team.” Coach Michelle also expressed how she hoped the team would win another Division Championship and have a better CSS outcome, similar to So a’s goal. She shared, “Both me and Coach Nate, [her so ball co-coach], want to improve our TEAM mentality [and] I am looking forward to being on the eld with a bunch of fun and talented ladies and building comradery and memories!”
For boy’s volleyball, returning senior Noah Ung shared some of his goals this spring. When asked about any personal goals this season, he said, “ !is year, I’m looking to get a consistent starting spot and manage the team well.” For the goals he had related to the team’s relationships, Noah shared, “Hopefully we’ll [get to] have a
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Biaca Pado Entertainment Editor
AtMills High School, the weightli ing unit may seem like just another Physical Education unit to pass the class. Many may picture this time to be something spent in solitude, pushing through another set at the gym. However the same cannot be said for the Mills Weightli ing Club, where the experience is anything but lonely. !is club is not only a high school club, but rather a community where everyone shares the same goal, encouragement, and the same drive to push.
!is newly established club was founded by Daniel Ingalsbe, a senior here at our High School. It di ers from the other clubs as it is one that focuses on the physical, using the school’s gym, basketball courts, and track during ex time on Wednesdays and Fridays. Although many would limit the club to just being for physical improvement, it is so much more.
When rst starting the club, Ingalsbe believed that it was important to put together a community with like-minded students, meaning anyone that wants to join is always welcomed.
“We welcome walk-in as long as you sign in, everyone is welcomed. Some people don’t want to weightli , but we support athletics in general. We have the track and eld open, we have the basketball courts opened as well,” expressed Ingalsbe.
While interviewing members of the club, it’s easy to tell why the club has so many people, as everyone is always so nice and supportive, no matter what level you may be at.
“I joined the club for self improvement and I just wanted to nd somewhere to be instead of wasting my time.” explained Domenic Ocon (11) As we continued to talk, he shared how many don’t think about the mental aspect of it as well. “It has also impacted me mentally because it makes you build mental strength. You know when you gotta keep pushing and pushing and it applies to academics and sports as well, when you gotta keep pushing forward,” he added.
!e club ensures that everyone is safe while using the weights, and they welcome sta members as well. German Gonzalez, a sta member at Mills High School stated, “I believe this club is di erent from the others in the sense of not only challenging the students physically but mentally as well, giving them a sense of purpose when it comes to weightli ing.”
Although the club may seem intimidating at rst, it is truly a live environment, lled with nothing but support. If you’re ever interested in wanting to push yourself, testing your limits, not only physically, but mentally as well, the Mills Weightli ing is a great spot!
Kalyssa Chu Staff Writer
As of now, the JV boys basketball team stands at a record of 144, going 4-2 in league. And this win pattern is no mistake, according to sophomore captain Brayden Beliso.
In his second year of being on the JV basketball team, Beliso attributes his team’s success to good chemistry, “We all get along really well, and we hang out a lot outside of the court. Between that and the good coaches, it just creates a good environment for the team.”
But, results take more than just teamwork. “It takes a lot of hard work,” Beliso stated, “We have a lot of 6:45 practices in the morning…it’s really tiring, but it’s worth it.”
To stay motivated, Beliso asserts that one must commit themselves to consistency. “[Success] is going to take time. You’re not going to just get over it in one try. You’ve got to keep trying over and over, and eventually it’ll turn out,” he noted, “All the hard work will pay o .”
Julia Xia
Editor
In 2021, the world was taken by storm by the new K-drama, Squidgame. A nine-episode drama following Seong Gi-Hun, also known as player 456, as he is forced to participate in various childhood games for a large cash prize. The flm captured the hearts of many with memorable characters such as Ali, an immigrant from Pakistan trying to support his wife and son; Kang Sae-Byeok, a North Korean defector working to rebuild her family; and Sangwoo, the former CEO of an investment bank. With its unique storyline and complex issues, fans of the show were left eagerly waiting for the second season.
Three years later, Netfix announced the second release of the series in December of 2024. This season was seven episodes long, following GiHun and his return to the games in the hope of ending them permanently. In the frst season, viewers watched as Gi-Hun participated in the games for the frst time. Oblivious to the horrors that would soon follow, GiHun approached the games, hoping to get enough money to fnancially support his ten-year-old daughter and pay of his debts. When he enters the games, he and the other 455 players quickly learn that they’ll die if they don’t win the games.
The Squid Games are hosted every three years, with six games spanning over six days. A recruiter comes to test them before inviting them; players are chosen based on their amount of debt and how desperate they are to get money. The games themselves change every year; for Gi-Hun’s frst game, they played Red Light, Green Light, Dalgona, Tug-of-War, Marbles, Glass Bridge, and fnally Squid Game. The purpose of each game is to kill of players until there is only one left. Each player is worth around 100 million won; once one player is left, the winner gets 45.6 billion won. The games end with Gu-Hun, the winner. He is sent back to his old life while he’s now a billionaire. His mother passed away when he played the games, and his daughter moved to America. The show ends when Gi-hun sees the recruiter in a subway station while traveling to the airport to visit his daughter. Witnessing more people get manipulated into playing the games, he contemplates visiting his daughter or following the recruiter.
Three years later, the show picks up right where it left of: Seong GiHun is at the airport contemplating whether to move on from the games and reunite with his daughter or go after the recruiter to infltrate them. Gi-Hun knows that if the recruiter is here, another round of the games will begin, and more people will
die. Ultimately, he chooses to abandon his fight and go after the recruiter. For the next two years, Gi-Hun uses his money to employ the gang members who used to harass him for money to help him fnd the recruiter. Gi-Hun’s plan is to demand the location of the games and infltrate them.
When Gi-Hun and the gang he employed receive a card with a location and date from the recruiter; they go to investigate. There, Gi-Hun is picked up in a limousine and demands to be sent back to the games. The Frontman complies; thus, Gi-Hun is back in as player 456. However, these games aren’t structured the same way as his frst game. After each round of games, the players can vote to either stay or continue playing and if the players vote to leave, they get to divide the money between each other. With past knowledge of how the game works, Gi-Hun tries relentlessly to persuade the players to leave with every game, emphasizing how they’ll die if they continue. Meanwhile, Gi-Hun’s gang and the police ofcer take to the sea to fnd Gi-Hun’s location.
Season two introduces the audience to many new characters within the games as well as fushing out a few characters from season one. The most notable characters from season one to make a comeback are In-Ho, the Frontman who entered the games to watch GiHun; Jun-Bae, Gi-Hun’s friend from season one who entered the games after his divorce and debt; and JunHo, the police ofcer as well as younger brother to the Frontman.
During the new season, we were introduced to Kang DaeHo, a young man who was once a marine; Jun-Hee, a pregnant young woman; Hyun-Ju, a transgender woman who was once part of the military; No-Eul, a North Korean defector and now triangle solider, and many more. One aspect of season two that difers from season one would be how it fushes out more characters. In the season, we have more scenes of the other characters interacting in their own groups, learning about each other, and bonding much more in comparison to the frst season. The characters themselves are younger and energetic, making many scenes slightly humorous. One character in particular who never seemed to take the games seriously was Thanos, a failed rapper who joked around during the games.
Compared to season one, In-Ho, the Frontman also appears much more in the show. After Gi-Hun’s stunt during Red Light Green Light,
the Frontman inserts himself into the games, appearing during the frst voting. While the show never stated what his motivations going into the games were, it can be inferred that he wanted to monitor Gi-Hun closer, making sure to know what he was planning and how he was plotting to end the games, and he wanted to mess with Gi-Hun. The Frontman wants Gi-Hun to accept that people aren’t inherently good, and when faced with such a large cash prize, they will turn on each other. Even after his frst game, GiHun adamantly believes that people are good and want to help each other; going into the games again, he still holds onto that. In-Ho wants to crush that belief. Overall, this season, while only having seven episodes, was packed with new backstories on the games and some of the players while also being a fun watch. I think the characters in this season were easier to get attached to; we were exposed to many new personalities that blended nicely together. I’m very excited to see what season three will hold for the players.
By: Kalyssa Chu, Staff Writer
As we leave 2024 in the past, one thing remains certain: the year was nothing short of unforgettable. From viral sensations to history-making achievements, here’s a look back at the pop culture highlights of 2024.
The University of Oxford named “brain rot” the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year. Brain rot, referencing the supposed deterioration of one’s intellectual state due to the overconsumption of superfcial online material, gained excessive prominence in 2024 as short-form media has risen in popularity. Brain rot is often associated with certain types of internet content on platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels, including the viral “skibidi toilet” and “TikTok Rizz Party.” This rise in online content has fueled the growth of internet culture, where consumers have also grown particularly interested in rising creators such as TikToker and model Nara Smith, streamer Kai Cenat and father-son duo A.J. & Big Justice—otherwise known as the “Costco Guys.”
One of the most defning memories of 2024 was the Summer Olympics hosted in Paris, France. As viewers witnessed the athletic excellence of Simone Biles during her Olympic comeback, gold-winning French swimmer Léon Marchand and Team USA gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, the 16-day saga led to some of the most iconic moments of 2024—including the confused global reaction to the performance of Australian breakdancer “Raygun” and memes over Turkish air pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec.
Finally, with the election of the 47th President of the United States, 2024 marked a major year for American politics. From the attempted assassination of Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump, the abandonment of President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, and the subsequent nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic contender, the 2024 presidential election was one for the books. Following this series of events, the campaign trail evolved beyond anything America has seen before, with candidates employing particular campaign techniques on online social platforms—such as playing into various TikTok memes or staging appearances on popular podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience or Call Her Daddy. This rise in online campaigning has summoned heavy discussion over artifcial intelligence and its role in election coverage. Candidate Donald Trump fnished by winning ofce in this historic election.
2024 was also the year of the female pop star. Artists Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX were some of the many musicians who took the year by storm with studio albums The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Short ‘n Sweet and Brat, respectively. Also, we can’t talk about music in 2024 without mentioning the biggest rap beef of the year between hip-hop artists Drake and Kendrick Lamar. The boil-over of the Drake-Kendrick beef in early May led to an unforgettable feud through tracks such as “Family Matters” by Drake and “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar. Music was also a main attribute of the big screen, with 2024 leaving us with popular musical flms like Wicked and the musical adaptation of Mean Girls
very trademark 2023
pink–and the iconic, winter country color: the launch movie musical, press product taken the casting as Glinda, fans under to say resurgence enough tour this emotions upcoming heard novel of the Gregory L. Baum’s (1900)
Wicked Born mother’s grows When Shiz abilities a flurry unexpected chance she befriends Upland, girl the friendship Witch
very cinematic era has its trademark colors. The summer of 2023 was marked by one color: pink–and not just any plain pink, but iconic, hot, Barbie pink. Come winter 2024, and theaters across the country are “holding space” for a new
It’s almost impossible to ignore massive reach that the recent launch of Wicked, part one of the movie adaptation of the same named musical, has had. From emotional press interviews to merchandise and product partnerships, this movie has taken over the media. Especially with casting of pop star Ariana Grande Glinda, one of the two main leads, were excited to see her back under the spotlight.
An avid musical fan, I’m happy say that I knew Wicked before its resurgence in popularity, being lucky enough to have watched one of the performances in SF. However, experience gave me conflicting emotions when I learned about the upcoming movie.
For those who haven’t yet heard of Wicked, it began as the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, reimagining Frank Baum’s Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba. Born with green skin due to her mother’s magical affair, Elphaba grows up ostracized in Munchkinland. When her sister, Nessarose, attends University, Elphaba’s magical abilities are accidentally revealed in flurry of emotions, earning her an unexpected scholarship at Shiz and chance to meet the Wizard. There, befriends Galinda (later Glinda) Upland, a popular and charming who is her polar opposite, and story explores their complex friendship as they become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the
Good.
On one hand, I was excited to be able to relive the magic of that night. But the fact that previous recent musical-to-movie adaptations, namely Mean Girls, was severely underwhelming wasn’t helping my case. I also had similar doubts about Grande’s role, and whether or not her status as a celebrity had played a bigger factor in the casting.
I ended up watching the movie one of the first weekends it came out–Wicked defied all the expectations I had.
The Sets
Right off the bat, the sets on Wicked drew me into the story. The first scene shows Munchkin children running across a field of tulips into their town square, introducing the first song, “No One Mourns the Wicked.” The Munchkin town featured a small mud village surrounded by what looked like miles of bright tulips–a more realistic interpretation of the 1939 production’s playful set. What surprised me even more? Those tulips were real, and over 9 million were planted to make up the set.
In similar ways, much of the sets in the movie were built with a focus on practical real effects, or as architect Nathan Crowley put it in an interview with the Architectural Digest, the team emphasized “taking things out” rather than risking cheapening the environment with CGI. From the Emerald City train station to the turning bookshelves in “Dancing Through Life,” the backdrops provided an immersive experience that grounded me in an otherwise unbelievable place.
Costuming
Another way that the producers elevated this movie was through the costumes. Already, the musical set a high standard to live up to, with Elphaba’s iconic frock and the Emerald City’s eclectic dresses. The movie’s costuming choices ended up being equally iconic but in a way that differed a lot from the musical, which I liked.
Although Elphaba’s frock wasn’t nearly as drab as the musical portrayed it, I think that it was an appropriate choice for an up-close movie where details could be better
seen and clothing wasn’t relied upon too much for storytelling purposes. Specifically, Glinda’s Ozdust dress and the Emerald City swirling skirts had to be my favorite pieces, but overall, I really enjoyed the asymmetrical Ozian feel that the costumes provided. Also, Cynthia Erivo (who played Elphaba) chose to have her green makeup applied physically rather than with a CGI overlay, which she has said helped her better embody the character in interviews.
Ariana & Cynthia’s Dynamic Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo both delivered their roles beautifully. They worked together so well and you could really tell that they had an almost sisterly bond by the end of the movie.
Grande paid really good homage to Glinda, and her singing was really on point for her character. Erivo also sang with so much passion and liveliness, even doing her own stunts. For example, in the final song of the movie, “Defying Gravity,” Erivo sang live while being hoisted up and flipped around to simulate flying.
Both characters felt natural and because it’s in movie format, you get to learn a lot more about them and see their emotions and quirks up close (something you don’t get in the stage show). At one point in the movie, the original actors from Broadway who played Elphaba and Glinda, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, made a cameo that symbolized the “passing of the torch” to Cynthia and Ariana. I’m glad that the two actresses captured these characters so well, and their performances really brought the show to life.
The hype around Wicked was well deserved, and movie-goers can expect to see part two of the movie in theaters this fall on November 21, 2025. Regardless of whether you think the movie was good or bad, the advertising entertaining or annoying, I think we can all appreciate that Wicked has brought justice to movie adaptations of musicals (and books by extension), and that it has allowed more people to celebrate musical theater. There’s not many movies that have been able to do so to the same extent, so I can confidently say that Wicked (which has racked up 10 academy award nominations) changed the movie industry for good.
