Volume 63, Issue 1, September 30, 2022

Minimumum Wage Increased for Chain Restaurants

By Jessica Poon, Staff Writer

On Labor Day 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill creating a council that could bump the minimum wage for Californian fast food chain workers up to 22$/hr and protects employees from discrimination. The idea of the Fast Food Council was created after the bill was signed. They are the ones who will determine the minimum wage, max hours, and several other working conditions. The Fast Food council will be elected through petition, only being able to be signed by fast food chain employees.The new bill, AB257, states that the council is allowed to decide the minimum wage between 15$/hr all the way up to 22$/hr starting Jan 1, 2023. A year after, on Jan 1, 2024, the minimum wage will be able to increase by 3.5% at most rounded to the nearest ten cents($0.10) to adapt to inflation. When the council no longer exists, which will be Jan 1, 2029, the wage will be increased by 3.5% rounded to the nearest ten cents ($0.10) until further notice.

According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, the current minimum wage in California is $15. The bill creates a possibility of increasing the wage by 7 dollars. Nicolaus Lau (17), a former Starbucks barista, says, “Yeah I only got paid like $15 an hour, it is not a lot at all. This bill would’ve helped me a lot if I still worked there.”

A 7-dollar possible increase of the minimum wage is exceedingly substantial. In addition, if you were to compare the current minimum wage to the national aver age minimum wage, which is $7.25, the difference would already be $7.75, which means the new capped minimum wage for 2023 is approximately triple the national minimum wage. With the wage increased, those working in the fast food industry would be able to take better care of themselves since majority of fast food workers are adults.

Another feature listed in the bill is new protection protocols for employees against discrimination from employers. Employers are not allowed to in any way retali ate or discriminate against employees for refusing to work under certain circumstances. As long as they have reasonable cause to believe that it would violate regulations or pose a health risk to themselves, other employees, or the public, the employers cannot do anything about it. Employers are also not allowed to discriminate against employees for responding to media and higher-ups with things such as health risks within the location or a news story.

Although this new bill seems like a dream come true for fast-food workers, will smaller restaurants be able to handle the change? Inflation is already causing prices to rise, and since the wages seem to be likely to increase as well, it is likely that the prices of food will spike once 2023 begins. A study on the new bill from UCR states that food prices are estimated to increase by 7%-22% due to possible compensation increases. On top of that, a statement posted by the International Franchise Association(IFA), displays several new complaints by franchisees, saying how the increase in compen sation may force them to close their doors permanently. One of the complaints displayed is from Alex Johnson, an owner of several restaurants. He says, “During the highest inflation in 40 years, this bill harms everyone from local businesses and their employees to the millions of Californians who rely on quick-service restaurants each week..”

This new bill has become a controversy for people working within the fast food industry. Many younger part-time workers support this idea of a wage increase, whereas many franchisees and store owners want the bill to be vetoed. Hopefully it all works out and both sides are able to compromise, and at least be able to keep the protec tion protocols for employees.

SMUHSD’S District Wide Equity Vision

By MIchaela Gonzalez, Opinions Editor

Beginning in 2018, the San Mateo High School District (SMUHSD) created an equity vision and General Equity Committee to cultivate a balanced learning envi ronment for all students.Their mission statement reads: “We will continually identify, disrupt and eliminate institutional biases and barriers to ensure that all students have the skills and knowledge to thrive physically, emotionally and academically.” Through this mission, the General Equity committee plans to create equal access and opportunity for all students, identify and terminate systemic barriers, stop unequivocal thinking, and match qualified resources based on an individual student’s needs. With appropriately qualified data, the committee plans to bestow those assets to stimulate them at their time at any San Mateo High School District.

According to collected data, 80-90% students meet the school’s academic expectations, 5-10% require supplemental instruction, and 1-8% of students need intensive instruction. The Equity committee plans to accurately target students at different levels three different tiers of action.

Due to this new provision of the ways of the school system, curriculum and training have changed as well. Students may have realized the dual electives taken during Freshman year; 2018 was the first year Ethnic Studies became a graduation requirement for all students. Mills students who have taken the class claim the curriculum greatly applies to life outside of school, recollecting being globally aware.

The Ethnic Studies course is a USC and UC transferable course, adopting the Social Science Framework for students to “develop respect for cultural diversity and see the advantages of inclusion”(SMHSD ETHS Course Study) Throughout the course, students touch on the experiences and struggles of immigrants, the LGBTQAI+ public, BIPOC, the disabled community, and body acceptance/normalization groups. Through these topics, the students then globally analyze their own identity and connect themselves to privilege and specific institutions. From politically, to socially and economically, students become conscious of their personal connections to local and global histories.

“I definitely learnt more about other communities and identities than my parents did in high school.”, reports Elaine Chan (10)

The General Equity committee is also facilitating a Multi-Year Racism Initiative throughout the district. This transformational journey plans to “holistically examine our system to uproot oppressive practices and policies that are harmful to students and their learning”(smuhsd.org) In the 2021-2022 school year, professional training days organized anti-racist proffesional training days for teachers and staff to combat racial and harmful experiences on campuses all around the district. These days consist of addressing a positive educational experience, accountability, and equity focused data. All in all, the initiatives of the General Equity Committee to create a safe and inclusive environment for the wide diversity of students is taking into great effect. From the Ethnic Studies course for students, to the Multi-Year Anti-Racism Initiative for teachers and staff, the San Mateo High School District is in the process of preventing systematic biases to the student body and designing a truly equal environment for all students.

Interview With Mills’ Two New Assisstant Principals

By Max Zaninovich, News Editor

Last year the Mills Community said goodbye to two of our beloved Assistant Principals, Mr. Gomez and Ms. Schlax, both of whom will be sorely missed. Nevertheless, this year we turn the page and welcome two new Assistant Principals, Mr. White and Mr. Ding.

Mr. White grew up in the East Bay, but he frequently drove across the bridge to visit family members in San Mateo and San Francisco. Mr. White formerly worked as an assistant principal at a high school in Richmond called De Anza High School. While he enjoyed his job as assistant principal there, he decided that it was time for a change. He specifically chose to come to Mills because his cousins went to Mills and really enjoyed their experience. When he was growing up Mr. White was much closer with the African American side of his family and the opportunity at Mills gave him a chance to really embrace his Asian heritage. Mr. White also emphasized the importance of Mills’ focus on race and equity, and how that played a big part in his decision to come here.

Mr. White’s favorite part of being here at Mills so far has been the impressive amount of school spirit of the students. A highlight of his so far was the rally and he says that he, “really gets the feeling that Mills students are proud to go to Mills.” Mr. White wants to build a culture at Mills where students can truly connect with each other, and he wants all students to feel comfortable trying new things and feel confident in who they are.

Mr. Ding’s role as assistant principal at Mills is his first assistant principal job. Mr. Ding graduated from Aragon and was drawn to Mills because he liked the diverse student body and high population of Asian American students. Mr. Ding actually accepted a different assistant principal job from a school in the SFUSD (San Francisco Unified School District), and shortly after, canceled his interview with Mills. That was until, Principal Duszynski called him personally and pushed him to reconsider. Mr. Ding was so touched by the personal call that he took the interview and eventually accepted the position at Mills.

So far in his time at Mills, Mr. Ding has made an effort to connect with students and he has noticed that Mills students are very receptive to talking. He emphasized that if you see him around campus, not to be shy and come up and say hello. When Mr. Ding was at Aragon he says that he, “never felt a sense of belonging,” and he hopes to ensure that students at Mills don’t feel the way he did at Aragon.

Ironically, Mr. Ding and Mr. White knew each other before their assistant principal positions brought them together at Mills. They actually earned their masters degree together and were good friends. Both Mr. Ding and Mr. White stressed how coming in together made their transition much easier. They share the same core values, but often offer different perspectives and approach challenges in different ways. As a result, they frequently look to each other for advice and are excited to continue working together in the future. When they are not hard at work, you can often find Mr. Ding and Mr. White bouncing fashion styles off each other, discussing their favorite sneakers (Mr. Ding’s favorite is the Nike Air Sacai and Mr. White’s is the Jordan Retro Bred 4), or talking about music. Both Mr. Ding and Mr. White are avid hop-hop fans and agree that The Blueprint by Jay-Z, is the greatest album of all time.

Mr. Ding and Mr. White are looking forward to helping all Mills Students along their highschool journey and can’t wait to continue their work as Assistant Principals here at Mills for years to come.

Millbrae Recreation Center Completed By Noor Abdullah, Staff Writer

The city of Millbrae opened the new Recreation Center to the public on July 10th in Central Park to the thrilled welcome of the community, six years after the previous recreation center was unfortunately destroyed in a fire set by former Mills High School students in the summer of 2016. The new Recreation Center cost $28 million to build and consists of a two-story building that stretches 24,000 square feet with a modern-looking glass and stone exterior

“I’m proud to say this beautiful building will not only meet our needs today, but meet the needs of Millbrae residents in the future,” Mayor Anne Oliva stated.

The new building is a major upgrade from the dated-community center which centered around a small auditorium. The new community center consists of two large great halls, a kitchen, two classrooms, an art center, two conference rooms, a game room, a senior lounge, and a fitness center. Central Park was also upgraded during the reconstruction of the Recreation Center. There is now a new colorful playground, many picnic tables, a biking path, and a well-kept grassy field and trees.

“Every aspect of the new Recreation Center, from the architecture, landscaping, building materials, and art, strongly ties into Millbrae’s rich history and culture. Our mission is to create a space for everyone.” Justine Bleeker, Millbrae Public Information Officer When the previous Recreation Center was burned down in an apparently accidental fire in 2016, a new Recreation Center was promised to the community. However, three long years went by as the city had to settle with insurance companies and create new modern plans to accommodate the changing needs of the Millbrae community. After the new construction plans were shared with the public in 2019, construction of the new recreation center began in 2020 and was completed in two years. With the completion of the new community center, the city of Millbrae created a new mission statement for The Recreation Center. “To engage the community in quality, innovative, and exciting experiences.”

Mills Student Chloe Ho (11) shared, “I go often, I was there last Sunday to attend a MHAI meeting and it was just a nice place to gather. It was our first meeting there, the rooms are very clean and spacious and the lighting gives it a very optimistic vibe.”

In fulfilling the new Recreation Center mission, the City has created a long list of community events, sports training, and classes for people of all ages. Kids aged 0-14 seem to have the largest variety of classes offered to them from an array of music and art classes to multiple different sport and dance groups. They may also par ticipate in classes for debate skills, money and investing, and “Roblox Game Design”. Adults and Seniors are offered many engaging and affordable activities including Line Dancing, Senior Boutique Club, Ballroom Dance, Quilting, Chinese Line Dancing, and Sunday Social Dance. Many of these sessions are either free or cost as little as $3.50.

Unfortunately, high school-aged students seem to have the short end of the stick when it comes to the selection of activities with mainly academic support classes being offered. Students between grades six and 12 may take AP Chinese Support as well as enroll in the Daily Academic Support System geared toward kindergarteners to twelfth grade students. The only sport lessons offered are tennis lessons for anyone aged six and 17.

An event opened to everybody is Movie Night which will take place in the Great Hall of the Recreation Center. The Nightmare Before Christmas is going to be played on October 14th at 6:30pm and Elf is going to be played on December 9th at 6:30pm. Mills High School student Sarah Lam (11) shares, “I think the movie nights are a sweet way to put the Recreation Center to use. I’ll for sure be bringing my little sisters, they’ll have fun.”

The new Recreation Center provides Mills High School students and the entire Millbrae community with a modern site to learn, gather, and have fun.

Jamie Wong Staff Writer

The beginning of the school year can be a challenging time for everyone as we say goodbye to summer and settle back into our school year routines. Freshmen are entering a completely new school, where they are experiencing high school sports, clubs, and academ ics for the first time. With their first month of high school behind them, we asked Mills freshmen to reflect on their experience so far.

For many freshmen, high school has exceeded their expectations, one reason being the opportunity high school has given them to meet new people. Kevin Ren (9) says, “High school is much better than what I expected it to be. Adapting to the much larger environment has not been hard at all. Making new friends is not as tough as I thought it would be.” Similarly, Chloe Amayun (9) mentions, “I thought it would be awk ward or bad, but I made new friends and became comfortable in the en vironment. I adapted really fast.”

to look for volunteering opportu nities and getting to know other people.” Amayun joined Filipino American Alliance (FAA) because she enjoys “connecting with peo ple that are the same ethnicity and [who have similar] values.”

Other clubs popular among freshmen interviewed were Heart in Motion and Red Cross Club.

A general trend among fresh men was their enjoyment of the freedom high school has granted them. Kaden Ren (9) states, “The environment is much bigger and exciting. There are so many more classes, clubs, people, and sports to do. I enjoy the options and the freedom high school offers com pared to middle school.” Fresh men also like the freedom to move around the campus. Ethan Cabrera (9) explains, “In middle school, I felt like we always had to be monitored. In high school, we’re free to go to the fields without being watched and we can also use our phones too.”

tually passionate about what they teach.” One example Naugh ten provided was her Biology teacher, Mr. DeBois (a favor ite among freshmen, along with Ms. Cañas). On the other hand, Amayun prefers the teachers she had in middle school. She says that since she went to a private school, she formed closer bonds with her teachers there, and be lieves that these connections are somewhat lacking in high school. Amayun also stated, “I think [in] high school, there’s more freedom. I honestly thought it was going to be harder, but I actually like the work here.”

freshmen on their experience so far

I’m incredibly grateful for their generosity and help. Everybody has given me tips on how to be a better runner, and I think I’ve improved because of them.”

As for freshmen’s hopes for where they will be in their senior year, many of the “typical” responses arise: taking AP classes, participat ing in varsity sports, and simply having fun. Leo Voytovich (9) says, “I see myself on varsity in every single sport that I’m doing. I see myself

Chloe Ho Center Spread editor

Popular settings for freshmen to make friends are clubs because they serve as ways to explore their interests while meeting people who enjoy similar things. Benjamin Ahnn (9) says, “I have joined Interact Club (Trigger warning: This ar ticle revolves around the subject of suicide.)

This September was Na tional Suicide Awareness Month, a month that has been dedicated to acknowledging those affected by suicide and promoting aware ness and prevention around the topic since 2008, but yet suicide rates continue to climb.

According to UCLA Health, suicide is the second-most com mon cause of death among in dividuals aged 15-24. From 2008 to 2018, rates of suicide increased by 57% and from the 2019 Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Program, 18.8% of high school students have seriously contemplated suicide and 8.9% have actually attempted. Since then, that sta tistic has only continued to rise.

Socially and emotionally, adolescence is turbulent and unstable for many with the ex

Amelia Naughten (9) en joys that the community here is more accepting than at her middle school, Taylor. She feels that “teachers [at Mills] are ac

ploration of one’s self and the many changes in the brain as it develops. However, there are of course some external factors that contribute to this problem and adolescence is just a minor factor in compar ison. The increasing pressure to succeed academically and career-wise, for example, is a big stressor and contributor to mental health issues, which often lead to suicidal thoughts or attempts. Struggles with their gender or sexual identity, experiences with any kind of abuse, and poor relationships with peers, friends, or fami ly also are large contributors.

Stanford Medicine says that “normal developmental chang es can be very unsettling when combined with other events, such as changes in their fam ilies… changes in friendships, problems in school, [and] oth er losses.” Many other events can contribute to suicide ide

Apart from academics, fresh men discussed the wealth of ath letic opportunities available on campus. Amayun, a cross country athlete and basketball player, is excited to participate in athletics at Mills. She anticipates that high school sports will be different, perhaps more intense, than mid dle school sports. Cabrera, also a cross country athlete, says, “So far, I’ve joined the team and have been enjoying it! From the start, I feel like I’ve been welcomed by the upperclassmen and by my Coach.

ation, very often including be ing mentally unwell, and when not treated often lead to feel ings of helplessness and sud den changes in behavior; the latter is actually a major sign that something isn’t right, along with mentions of suicide, reclu sion, and noticeable loss of in terest in things once appealing.

Though suicide is becom ing less stigmatized, warning signs are still often overlooked. This may be because most signs are directly correlated with men tal illness and not automatically signifying suicidal thoughts, or possibly because people just don’t seem “depressed” or “the type to do something like that”. Additionally, having a conversa tion about suicide still remains difficult and tricky to instigate because of how personal the top ic is, but taking that courageous step could potentially save a life.

When having the conversa tion, it doesn’t need to be any

getting really good grades and getting a handle on all this work and Can vas, … doing clubs and knowing a lot about technology.” Ahnn, how ever, aims to be “somewhere hopefully ahead of where my pitiful self is” – an admirable goal many of us can relate to, regardless of grade level.

suicide prevention & awareness month

thing too complicated or long. Though definitely not a casual conversation, it’s not like a po lice interview either. Practice ac tive listening and keep the con versation on them. Be sure to ask three important questions: Have you thought about suicide? Do you have a plan? Do you have the means to go through with it?

If the first question is the only one to receive a yes, it’s okay for the conversation to remain pri vate but treatment should be en couraged. Advise them to inform a trusted adult (parent, school wellness counselor, therapist, etc.) and if possible, offer to ac company them. But, if all three questions receive a ‘yes’, it is im portant that a trusted adult gets involved in order to treat the is sue, regardless of consequences.

A lot of the time, that very first step is the trickiest: for them, fear of parents not react

ing well, being placed in mental health care, and for the person entrusted with the information, fear of losing the relationship or being subject to much anger and resentment. But it’s im portant to keep in mind that it must sting before it heals. An ger and inconvenience are tem porary, but the help received sticks with a person forever. If we all do our part brave ly and without hesitation, we could save lives we nev er knew needed saving.

COLLAGE: (top) Amelia Naughten, Chloe Amayun, Leo Voytovich (bottom) Benjamin Ahnn, Kaden Ren, Kevin Ren, Ethan Cabrera

“Bianca was one of the most creative, kindest, and prettiest souls I’ve ever met. I truly adored and admired her so much and will forever remember the positive impact she had on me and those around her.”

- Leanna Yu

“Bianca was a gentle and brightstudent. She’s the kind of studentI pictured would go on to do greatthings and I didn’t worry abouther being lost out in the world asan adult. It’s such a tragedy and aloss that she left us so early. I hopeshe enjoyed her time at Mills andin my two math classes. She will bemissed.” - Ms. Bui

“Bianca was the sweetest soul you’d ever meet. She always had a smile on her face and had the most adorable laugh. She was an amazing friend to me when I moved to Millbrae. We were best friends for five years and I miss her everyday. Even with the natural distance that grew with us I never lost love for her. I remember getting to see her during Covid once her doctor had cleared her. Even with everything going on, she was the same happy, optimistic Bianca. Life dealt her a nasty hand but I hope she’s remembered for the light she brought to everyone’s life. I miss her everyday.” - Karine Chan

“I am so overwhelmingly sad about the news of Bianca’s pass ing. Bianca was kind, graceful, creative, and very bright. Look ing over her essays and projects, I am reminded of her insights and elegance. Once, she worked with a group in AP Literature to combine Gothic, Romantic, and Victorian elements in a new way. Bianca and her group of three created a “once upon a time story” with three female heroines, and yes they did live “happily ever after.” Their story contained original ideas and art, and they shared it on-line and read it aloud to the class using varied voices. Our class (including me) truly loved it. I also deeply admired Bianca’s optimism and courage. Bianca was a representation of what is good in an individual and it’s a young person like her that gives me hope.” - Ms. Price

bianca reyesremembering

This past summer on July 12, 2022, Bianca Reyes, a dedicated former member of the Mills Thunderbolt, tragical ly passed away. She was diagnosed with leukemia a week before her 18th birthday, right as her life was truly be ginning. She fought hard against everything, but the cancer became too much for her. A kind, quiet girl who was beloved by all, her presence will be greatly missed. Bianca would always help her writers with a smile, patiently giving advice and corrections. The encouraging comments she offered on articles were a breath of fresh air in class. Her passion for design will remain a part of the legacy of The Thunderbolt. As center spread editor, Bianca would create the most beautiful lay outs, her love and passion for journalism shining through. Not only did she make gorgeous layouts, the articles she wrote conveyed her devotion to activism. She supported causes like feminism, LGBTQIA+ rights, certain racial issues. As a former Viking, her passing has greatly impacted the Mills community. Mr. Hensley, the advisor for The Thunderbolt, said “I have very fond memories of Bianca. She was in my journalism class for three years. As an editor, she contributed to the class by making wonderful, creative center spreads. Her work was always outstanding. As a person, she was sweet, thoughtful and smart . She is the kind of student that any parent could be proud of. I’m really sorry and sad about her passing.”

Our hearts go out to Bianca’s family and friends; the pain of following and supporting Bianca through her harsh battle must have been unbearable. Two of her aunts, Jocelyn Vellila and Joanne Vellila, have created a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses. Any extra money will be donated to St. Jude and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you would like to donate, scan the QR code.

Leukemia is one of the most common cancers found in children, and despite a bone marrow transplant from her brother, her body couldn’t handle the overwhelming cancer and tiring medications. May she be remembered as a blessing to all, and her family find comfort in knowing she has to struggle no longer. Bianca, thank you for being a ray of sunshine in our lives.

“I remember Bianca as such a positive spirit in my class.” - Mr. Von Euw

“I remember Bianca as a bright ray of sunshine in our Geometry class.” - Ms. Kovacs

Studying With Music: An Aid or Distraction?

Elaine Chan Staff writer

For many students, cracking open the books to kick off a lengthy study session in turn comes with press ing play to your favorite playlist. But the question arises: does lis tening to music assist or distract? While many swear by the smooth jazz or uplifting pop that pours in through their headphones, opposing beliefs argue that the rhythm and rhyme lingers more than the words crafted on the pages before you.

A study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center, unveiled that music helps to stimulate both the left and right sides of the brain. With an activated brain, you can expect higher levels of productivity. Fur thermore, with producing better cog nitive performance, music also has tremendous effects on one’s emotion al state; a decrease in blood pressure and slower heart rate contribute to a tension-free study session. Wheth er it be a silky melody, or a cheer ful beat pulsing through your veins, slipping on a pair of headphones can greatly affect your overall mood. A happy mind equals a happy student. Endless hours spent poring over text books and handwritten notes can grow to be quite monotonous, so an obvi ous choice of relief from the growing pain in your neck would be turning the volume up to your favorite songs. Supporting the emotional benefits of music, it assists your brain to catego rize and process information as well.

When using an MRI machine, a study led by Stanford displayed how the brain recognizes and retains infor mation, whilst playing music, with

ease. Digesting the material shortly after reading it is a beneficial asset for studying, and it is proven that music can truly be of aid. While observing our complex minds, the parts responsible for attention span and memory appear to be high ly engaged whenever we hit play.

Despite the sizable list of bene fits, the topic of studying with mu sic has its fair share of drawbacks. Exercising the short term memory, music may hinder your ability to retain material for longer periods of time. This could ultimately reveal itself in poorly-timed forgetfulness, especially during an exam. While many have attested that music gen uinely improves their performance, in some cases it can actually have adverse effects. Overstimulation of the brain can bring about the inabil ity to organize information. Since memorization is linked to famil iarizing yourself with patterns and rhythms, some students can even

form a codependency with mu sic. While this may not seem particularly negative, when taking a test in a silent environ ment, these students may find it impossible to focus; they have become reliant on their music.

After asking multiple other students, many have reached a similar verdict: it all depends on the type of music they select. The great mass of the student popula tion agree that calmer music paired with little to no lyrics benefit their study hall the most. Aligning with that state ment, music that is lyric-heavy or borderline noisy can be of disturbance. From person al experience, music is my backboard whenever I feel my concentration slipping; keep ing me awake and attentive.

“I end up writing the lyrics down instead of my thoughts

sometimes, but I’m al most always listening to lofi while I work,” con fesses a Mills student. Music can be a stress-re lieving and effective tool while hunkering down over your His tory notes. Yet, some believe silence is their best companion when it comes to studying. A place of common ground however, is that there is no better way to end a rather taxing day than plugging in your headphones and escaping behind an en chanting melody, per fectly lost in the music.

Where Did the Cobra Go?

ic Masculinity” for the longest time and had what was coming to him.

whether it be hate or valid criticism clearly shows that his ego is way over his head. A second supporting fact is that Andrew Tate with his self-centered characteristics creates an environment where women do not feel safe.

Though it may sound as if a specific gender is being catered to, it certainly does not give the excuse for Tate to exploit his position as an influencer to spread distress to others.

This is how he takes over the algorithm and finds his way to all screens.

At this point, what can be agreed on is that Andrew Tate is a decent business influencer but a disgust ingly toxic person of a “role model.” Tate has proven to be the complete opposite of what a help ful influencer should be. The first notable fact of the matter is the way he has put himself out there immediately labeling him a self-centered attention seeker. His lack of care for what others think

But, this did not stop him from being on the rise, as his popularity has now scarred the youth of many young and partic ularly male adolescents. The most notable trait Tate has influenced is that of treating women as if they were below men. How has he he committed these utter acts of misogy ny? Through the platforms he had been banned from such as Tiktok and Insta gram, where he would use multiple profiles run by his fans and associates in or der to spread his influence with short videos usually under a minute. The catch: Tate’s figure of speech contains very intense phrases which grabs the attention of all who watch.

ral for his “Alpha-male” content on social media. For a long period of time, Andrew Tate has been a relevant person in all as pects of social media.. His most notable public ser vices are his online cours es Hustlers University 2.0 and his “War Room,” both of which are his major classes for his fol lowers. The Hustlers Uni versity is held online and the War Room in person. However, recent events have caused Tate to be wiped off of social media platforms almost entirely. His supposed ban is due to alleged cases of violent speech such as “how he would assault a woman” and how “some women bear responsibility for be ing sexually assaulted.”

Despite the recent events, Tate has been labeled as the “King of Tox

Brendan Phim southam Staff writer

A large number of ado lescent young boys are in need of a role model to look up to in this day and age, as it is harder for them to find a proper role model in the fami ly where sanctuary for their growth and devel opment is needed. Most of the time, these young boys will look up to in fluencers on the inter net who pose as these role models and give advice whether it be for good or for the at tention and money they receive when doing so.

One example of these influencers is Andrew Tate or “Cobra Tate,” who has become vi

Where Do Dress Codes Go Wrong?

Phoebe Piserchio entertainment editor

When getting ready for school in the mornings, how many of us actually think, “I love this outfit, but does it conform to the Mills dress code?” Our dress code is one of the many policies listed in the student handbook, which most of us have adopted the habit of blindly signing off on at the beginning of the year; we don’t often worry about dealing with any consequenc es because of what we’re wearing. Unfortunately, not all students have had that luxury.

According to an article titled, 14 Most Outrageous Dress Code Scandals, by Hannah Orenstein, a student in Florida who had won a county-level National Honor Society competition had her title revoked for wearing a sundress with spaghetti straps during her speech. In Ten nessee, more than 40 high schoolers were sent home for wearing leggings without a dress, skirt, or shorts over them. These and countless other similar experiences

stopped in the hallway by a teach er and sent to the office for wear ing a skirt deemed “too short”. She was then forced to wear an outfit specifically designed by the school for dress code violations, which included a bright yellow shirt and red sweatpants, both which featured the bolded words “dress code violation”. According to the student, the school itself described what became known as the ‘shame suit’ as a way to purposely embarrass you and discourage future violations. This shocking story highlights one of the main reasons why dress codes have been so problematic; they are unfair towards young women and can result in dehumanization.

Nevertheless, in places where they aren’t so draconian, dress codes can still set a positive tone at schools for what is and is not ac ceptable, like supporting religious and self-expression and drawing a line against violent or hateful speech. For instance, offensive language or images on clothing should not be condoned.

Personally, I think the idea behind the purpose of dress codes makes perfect sense-- for instance, show ing up to school naked shouldn’t be an option. However, it goes

Instagram Reels Vs. Tik Tok Vs. Youtube

Daniel Gao Staff writer

TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Youtube shorts all have been go-toplatforms for students when they crave for entertainment to distract or unwind. However, which mind lessly-scrolling app is scientifically proven the best?

TikTok was the first platform that exclusively provided short video content and has created a brand name for itself since 2016. Its con tent ranges from 15 second shorts to 10 minute long videos about pranks, skits, lifehacks, and “tiktok dances”. Instagram Reels is also similar to TikTok providing short clips no more than a minute long in the Instagram app. Youtube Shorts similarly has a feature showing 60 second films within the You tube app. With their similarities, it seems hard to distinguish which platform is the best.

short and long videos pertaining to the content I consume on one platform is convenient.” Others simply just stick to a single app as Charles Yao (12) who claims that he is too lazy to download extra apps on his phone.

made me wonder: what’s the deal with traditional gender roles and biases, and why do they still make an appearance in our dress codes today?

Since 1969, dress codes have been enforced in schools to promote and establish safe ty, education, and image. Our own district, San Mateo Union High School, has a policy that states the student dress code should support students’ “body-positive self-image.” The dress code also should be conducive to a comfortable and active school day that is free of unneces sary discipline. Although well-intentioned, these and other regulations have fre quently been the subject of intense debate elsewhere.

In September 2014, a fe male student in Florida was

without saying that these rules can, and will, be twisted to a ridiculous level. The notion that “spaghetti straps cause distrac tions” and the “fingertip policy,” which mandates that all bottoms must fall below one’s fingertips, are the most commonly refer enced examples of dress codes taken to an extreme. It’s import ant that students feel empowered to dress in a way where they can express themselves and match their identity.

Lucky for me and you, Mills has a very reasonable dress code. We can come to school wearing pa jamas, spaghetti straps, and even onesies—free of worry about be ing stopped in the hallway. While we can only hope for a change in places such as the ones alluded to above, here at Mills, with regard to the dress code, we can be con tent with the status quo

In a recent student survey, 38.5% of students preferred TikTok, 30.8% of students preferred You tube Shorts, and 30.8% of students preferred Instagram Reels. This makes TikTok the most preferred app with Youtube Shorts and Instagram Reels coming in at a tie respectively. With TikTok exclu sively making short film content as its focus, it is easy to see why it’s the fourth most downloaded app in the Apple app store. According to Phoebe Zhang (12), she believed that “TikTok has more variety of videos and aren’t as repetitive as reels or shorts.” Many students also like the simplicity of TikTok with being on the landing page immedi ately after opening the app.

On the other hand, many students can debate on this perspective. Kyle Chan (12) said that “With TikTok, you couldn’t really choose what you watch and see the recom mended clips beforehand, unlike Youtube Shorts. With Shorts, you can choose what you can watch by scrolling though on the main You tube home page before watching it.” Youtube user Christie Tjandra (12) also finds that “having both

Furthermore, this also seems to be the case with students who vouch for Instagram Reels. With most students already fostering an Instagram account, there is easy access for them to watch Reels on the explore page along with other trending posts. With Instagram providing more utility with integration of direct messages unlike youtube shorts, many see Instagram as the “does-it-all” app that would centralize their social media life into a single platform. Jamie Wong (12) prefers Instagram Reels because she felt that it would be a big waste of time if she downloaded TikTok. With many interviewees, time management seems to be the top deciding factor in which platform they use. Mills Se nior, Serena Mezzetta (12) who chose Instagram Reels testified that “[although] TikTok has the best content and is the most interesting out of the 3 options, I found it too distracting and deleted it.”

Focusing on these points in mind, there are clear winners depending on the main fac tors of the user’s preferences. Depending how busy a student is, Instagram Reels or You tube shorts could be their main sources of entertainment. These short video clips are already integrated within Youtube and Instagram apps which makes them winners in convenience. However, if time is not a problem and watching quality content creators is your choice, TikTok would be the best fit. In conclusion, these social media giants are neck and neck, con stantly involving and improving their services to better fit their consumers wants and needs.

SPORTS

Mills Football On the Come Up Joshua Alcantara, Sta Writer

On Friday, September 2nd, our Mills Vikings stepped onto the feld to play their frst home game against the Kennedy Eagles. By the looks of the Eagle’s performance in the previous season, it was anyone’s game. As students began to fll the stands, both teams covered the feld with their special teams lineup. To start off the game, we broke the tension in the air, stopping the Eagles run at the 35 yard line. On the second play of the game, our defense penetrated the Eagles offensive line and forced an early fumble. Dylan Shu (12) started the game off right by leading the defense and setting the tone for the game. Throughout the fght in the frst half, our defense continued to shut down the Eagle’s offensive drives. However, due to many turnovers from our offense, the Eagles were given more opportunities to gain the lead. Over time, the Eagles were continuing to widen the gap in score until the fnal whistle was blown. The long night ended with the Eagles taking a knee to fnalize the score 9 - 26. Regardless of the score, our Vikings used their mistakes as lessons to prepare for the next battle ahead of them.

Our second opponent, the Alameda Hornets, shared the same 0 - 1 record. Like last game, either team could have brought their school a win. However, many of our Varsity’s core players were not able to participate with their fellow Vikings. Regardless of the roster, the remaining players drove an hour to face the Hornets. Due to the changes in the roster, a new defensive scheme was made to better prepare for the game. Our defense yet again proceeded to stop the Hornet’s frst offensive drive. The Hornets reciprocated the same defensive aggres sion and were able to withold us from scoring. With the help of a 35 yard run, the Hornets were able to run the ball into the endzone. Unphased by the previous play, our kick return team responded with a touchdown. Kick returner Rodolfo Carvhalo (12) made the highlight reel as he ran 70 yards to even out the score for us. Both teams took turns making big plays and scoring back-to-back touchdowns. Amongst these big plays, Carvhalo striked again to add on to the scoreboard. Shortening the distance, our Varsity team kept fghting with the hope of coming back home with a win under their belt. Fighting until the very end, victory fell short right beneath our feet, with the fnal score reading 23 - 34. After a good clash with the Hornets, our Vikings took it back to the drawing board to discover and implement a strategy. and start redrawing plays and looking for places to improve.

A message after this second game from main scorer Carvhalo stated, “I know Mills foot ball hasn’t been the best recently, but we are ready to display the work we put in. Stay tuned”. And he wasn’t wrong. In our fourth game against the Saratoga Falcons, our Vikings won 3028 on their own turf. This game has sparked a fre inside of our football team, as they plan on using that faming energy for the rest of the season. With half of the season over, our Vikings have high hopes on what they can do for the rest of the season.

New Coaches for Mills Cheerleading

Alysha Louis, Sta Writer

The past couple of years have been rough for the Mills cheer team. Last year was a substantial struggle due to the lack of a coach to mentor the team, leaving it to the team to resolve issues by themselves. This year, the Mills cheer team has 2 new coaches, Jada Corbin the Varsity coach, and Ella Reyes the JV coach. So far, the Mills cheer team is loving their new coaches and they feel that they will have a lot of success this year.

The JV team worked all summer long to learn new stunts and routines before the start of the year. Now that the year has started, the girls are getting the feel of games every friday. Reyes says she was frst interested in the job for Mills cheer coach because she had started cheer when she was a freshman in high school, and ended up loving it. She decided to pursue her passion by sharing her experience and knowledge with the team. One of her favorite things about the team so far is how fast they were able to connect with each other and bond with the new coaches. JV cheerleader Charlie Bingham (10) said, “I’m really loving this year! I’m a new student and I’m so happy to be a part of a team. Everyone is so sweet and has really good energy. I’m really excited to get to know everyone. I was a little nervous about changing schools, but I think it was a great choice because I met all of these sweet girls and great coaches. Reyes said she’s loving her job as coach and that she’s really having a lot of fun with it.”

So far this year, the cheerleaders have been having so much fun at practices and games. Var sity captain Chiara Torres (12) says, “My favorite thing about cheering at games so far is defnitely the crowd. I feel like with our new cheers and sideline dances, the crowd gets more and more excited. Hearing the crowd cheer with us and watching them dance along really makes me happy.” Corbin says, “What made me interested in coaching Mills cheer was from getting an overview of how previous years were and how the coaching and training system wasn’t there. I wanted to join in order to switch everything around and make both teams the best they could be. The girls have also been working really hard since summertime to be able to perform at the amazing level that they’re at. I love working as a head coach of the cheer program and love being able to bond with these girls and getting the experience of watching them learn new skills.” Alex Basco (12), another one of the Varsity captains added, “Something I look forward to this year is hitting newer and harder stunts. With our two new coaches, I’m confdent that we’ll be able to reach our goal. I can’t wait to show them off at the games. The thing I’m most excited about is spending time with the team and creating stronger bonds with everyone!”

One thing special about this year and the Mills cheer team is our winning catchphrase. The new coaches this year are helping to bring together both the JV and Varsity teams, and forming stronger friendships. The Mills cheer team is so glad to have these amazing new coaches, as they have created a wonderful team with a powerful bond.

Cross Country and WOPO Overview

Samuel Lam, Sta Writer

The school year has started, ushering in the exciting season of fall sports. With the graduating class of amazing athletes leaving, many wonder how these teams will fare as they start up their competitions. Among these many astounding fall teams at Mills, this article will spotlight the Cross Country and Water Polo teams.

Coming off an amazing season with the Men’s Varsity Cross Country team, coming closer to qualifying for the state meet than any previous team had ever had, many on the team wondered what direction the team would take. Considering half the Varsity team, consisting of Jason Habash, Lokesh Kumar, and Aaron Chin, had graduated the previous year, many people will have to step up and fll their shoes. According to an interview with Lawrence Cappel, the current coach of the Cross Country team, last year’s team was probably the best team Mills has seen in recent history.

Despite the pressure of flling in the shoes of the amazing season of the previous year, the team had an excellent start to its 2022 season. 38 athletes represented Mills at the Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park on Saturday, September 10th, with various athletes breaking their personal records at this course. Among these athletes were three stellar freshmen, Kaden Ren (9), Kevin Ren (9), and Ethan Cabrera (9), who all took home medals from this event. These freshmen also ran alongside Gabriel Solano (12), Samuel Lam (12), Remi Palomo (12), and Kyle Chan (12), putting up remarkable performances in the frst Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) Meet at Half Moon Bay High School. Each of the freshmen put up remarkable performances and times with the top 5 runners of Mills fnishing within an astoundingly slim margin of 30 seconds.

With another interview with Coach Cappel, he expressed his excitement about the girls teams. “This is the frst time in fve years that we have both a Frosh/Soph and Varsity Team.” Looking back on the performances on September 10th (Lowell Invitational) and on September 14th (PAL #1), Coach Cappel has hinted at the legitimate chance of taking our Mill’s Girls Varsity Team to the Central Coast Championships (CCS) alongside our Varsity Boys, and looks forward to an amazing if not a better season than any previous one.

Yet another sport that has started off their season and has needed to recover from the loss of alumni is Water Polo. Mills has always been seen as an underdog within their league and grouping. This year is not any different with the loss of amazing graduates and players. With a lot of freshmen wishing to make their debut in highschool Water Polo, many incoming seniors and juniors have commented on their need to step up. Especially considering the fact that there are less players who qualify for the Varsity spots. However, there seems to be some hope.

One player on the girls Water Polo team comments that she thinks that the team has lots of potential for this season. “I think our team chemistry is really good. We communi cate very well with each other and I think we have a very strong group.” All the recent games have set them in perspective with the rest of their competition and details the work that they must do in order to improve.

When interviewing another Water Polo member, she detailed their aspirations and goals for the upcoming season. “With a new season comes new opportunities.” With an amazing mindset, they gave this quote of inspiration, “It is early in the season. Now is the time to make mistakes and to learn from them and improve.” As much as Water Polo is a team sport, each must improve to bolster the team spirit and performance as a whole. As such, the Water Polo team’s goal as a whole has always been to not only improve as a team but to improve as individuals as well.

We cheer on both of these amazing and spectacular teams as they continue through their seasons. Many of these stellar student athletes dedicate themselves to these sports towards the goal of improving their craft while juggling school work and other extracurriculars. We applaud them as well as other athletes of various sports on their dedication and determination to see these sports through. Go Mills!

Girl Tennis Game Recaps

Rachel Cheng, Sta Writer

W

ith the start of the 2022-2023 school year, our Mills Girls Varsity tennis team is excited to participate in the upcoming season. The team’s frst two recent games started with a trium phant victory against the Terra Nova Tigers followed by an unfortunate loss against the Capuchino Mustangs.

Coach John Daquioag, the Girls Varsity tennis coach, expressed his confdence in the tennis team this year. “Our seniors’ hard work, camaraderie, and keen sense of sportsmanship instills confdence in the rest of the team.” He shows pride in his seniors’ and juniors’ skills and looks forward to coaching the new underclassmen recruits, who will be the new future of our Mills Girls Varsity tennis team.

When inquired about her experiences being on the tennis team for the frst time, Natalie Cheng (9) responded, “Tennis has been fun so far, but also challenging at times. So far, I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and improving my tennis skills. Although it can sometimes be diffcult and test your perseverance, I look forward to this season.” In addition, Cheng left a motivational message for the team this upcoming season: “Believe.”

At the game at against the Tigers, the score spelled victory for Mills, winning 6-1. Through an intense singles match with Kylie Huynh (9), she made her way through with 3 sets. While losing the frst set 3-7, she broke through with a 7-6 (7) for her second set, fnishing it off with 10-6 for the third and fnal tiebreaker set. The other 2 singles matches were both successes with 6-2, 6-2 for Rachel Cheng (12) and 6-0, 6-0 for Alyson Lo (12). With no one available to play for singles 4 from Terra Nova, Mills automatically won the singles 4 match by default. In the doubles games category, doubles 1 unfortunately lost with an intense 5-7, 3-6. Although they only had a loss in their match, doubles 2 achieved their win after another 6-0, 6-0 and gained their last actual game win. The last team point was achieved through another default due to the Tiger’s lack of members.

When asked about the new singles 1 player for the team, Huynh, Daquioag stated that the team is “anchored at the top spot by a freshman who exudes camaraderie and sportsmanship. Instead of putting off the team, she gets them to rally behind her.”

Following the game at Terra Nova, the team went on to play their second game at Capuchino High School, which led to an unfortunate loss. Nonetheless, Huynh, along with Mina Law (12) and Chloe Feng (11) managed to win two team points through their effort and persistence.

With the season kicking off with an intriguing start, the captains of the tennis team express their confdence in the players to improve throughout the season. They believe that in order to refne their skills, players should practice as much as possible and keep a positive attitude no matter the outcome of a game.

Doubles 1 player Erika Kita (12) refects: “Last year, the seniors were really inspirational for me as a frst time player. This year, the singles players are rising to fll their spots. The freshmen who haven’t played before also work really hard, since they are attending every practice and improving fast. Even though a lot of us are new, we are treat each other as one big happy family.” Kita additionally suggests that if players are in search of help or feel out of their comfort zone, Coach Daquioag is welcoming and supportive as a coach and can assist with drills step by step.

Coach Daquioag announces that the team has shown “competitiveness and mental toughness against players who may have started at a younger age.” He leaves an inspiring message for players on the team: “Skills are built daily, and if we get better day after day, victory will be ours.”

Taylor Swift’s New Album “Midnights”

Abigail Chai Staff WritEr

On August 28th, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift struck gold and won 3 Video Music Awards for Video of the Year, Best Longform Video, and Best Direction. However, that night her fans were arguably even bigger winners, as Swift officially announced her long-awaited 10th studio album.

After receiving the award for Video of the Year, her third and final award of the night, Swift announced to the very excited crowd, “I had sort of made up my mind that if you were going to be gen erous and give us this, I thought it might be a fun moment to tell you that my brand-new album comes out October 21st. I will tell you more at midnight.”

Staying true to her words, when the clock struck 12:00 EST, Swift released an official state ment to her social media platforms, in which she of ficially revealed the album’s cover and title, plus the number of tracks that would be included. The cover includes a close up of Swift’s face, where she dons a blue, glittery smokey eye with a lighter held close to her face. The album, titled Midnights, contains 13 tracks. In her post, she describes the album as “. . .a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams.”

To no one’s surprise, Swift’s Twitter and Instagram posts sent social media into a flurry, with her posts collectively amassing over 9 mil lion likes. Topics in relation to the album quick ly trended on Twitter as fans began to storm the app, expressing their excitement for Midnights. Trending phrases included, “Taylor, Midnight sTS, and SCREAMING CRYING THROW ING UP”. The new album is a surprise to many,

as Swift had not previously hinted to potential new music any time soon. Nonetheless, it’s no secret that fans are ecstatic about the upcoming music. Fans hurried over to Swift’s official website, desperate to place a preorder on the album’s vinyl, howev er due to high demand, her website soon crashed.

While little is known about the album, fans have already begun to theorize about the aes thetic and potential content the album could possi bly bring. Swift, who is notorious for leaving easter eggs about upcoming projects, often has her devot ed supporters scrambling for any potential hints to wards possible announcements. Her fans, dubbed “swifties”, quickly got to work, connecting the wildest- yet plausible- fan theories of the upcoming album. One popular theory circulates back to Tay lor’s past album Lover (2019), in which fans believe that Midnights is a potential sister album to Swift’s 2019 album Lover. Lover’s pastel aesthetic and predominantly bright, loving message deeply con trasts with Midnight’s dark and depressive aesthetic, which has fans believing that the two albums could potentially be two different sides of the same coin.

To add on, in Lover’s final track “Daylight”, the closing lyrics are, “I wanna be defined by the things I love/Not the things I hate/Not the things I’m afraid of, I’m afraid of/ Or things that haunt me in the middle of the night/ I, I just think you are what you love.” Basically, Taylor ended Lover telling us she doesn’t want to fear the night anymore. Going back to what we know about Midnights, it’s an al bum “written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams,” so the album could possibly be exploring her fear of the night that she had previously referenced in Daylight. Despite the theory being super elabo rate and believable, Swift has yet to com ment on the theory, so as of now it’s sim

“Between 1&2” Album Review

Bruce Nie Staff WritEr

Almost a year after the release of Formula of Love: O + T = <3, by Korean girl-group Twice, comes their long-awaited comeback with their retro-inspired 11th Korean mini-album: Between 1&2. Featuring a total of seven new songs, Between 1&2’s uniqueness particularly stands out as over half of the songs were credit ed as being written by various Twice members.

Talk that Talk (TTT), the album’s lead single, encapsulates the synth-filled 80s dance-pop era concept of the album and serves as the perfect jumping-off point for listeners. While the 80s’ pop vibe isn’t en tirely new for Twice—tapped into by various b-sides tracks such as PUSH & PULL and MOONLIGHT—TTT is distinct from other title tracks as Twice has never experimented with this vibe in a song of this magnitude.

While the Y2K-themed concept behind Talk that Talk’s music video is quite unique, the track itself doesn’t really stand out musically from other songs. On first listen, I simply brushed this song off as another ener getic, if not slightly outdated, pop song that doesn’t try anything new. Although this initial conclusion isn’t completely wrong (TTT defi

The Rise of

Nicole Lee Staff WritEr

nitely isn’t winning any awards for originality), what Talk that Talk excels at is making the perfect hit that you can’t help bobbing your head along to; from the silky smooth first verse to the absolute banger of a last chorus, TTT is a fun, insanely-catchy retro-pop song that under stands what it wants to be. It delivers without its gimmick feeling, well, gimmicky (cough* Red Velvet cough*). Despite its lack of originality, TTT does its job well and gives Twice fans another bop to put in their playlists. With the growing popularity of K-pop with Western audiences, the inclusion of an all English song has become almost a staple in many new K-pop albums.. Between 1&2’s second track, Queen of Hearts fulfills this role and then some, with a catchy...

Article Continued on millsthunderbolt.com

ply speculation. This huge theory is just one of many about her upcoming album. Fans are hopeful for a tour in support of Midnights, as Swift hasn’t toured since Reputation (2018); however, Taylor and her team have yet to confirm any upcoming tours. Since the official announcement of Midnights, she has released 3 new special edi tion vinyl covers and pressings available on her official website. Target has also an nounced a Target exclusive lavender vinyl and CD, that will feature 3 bonus tracks exclusively on the CD. Also, very recently Taylor has announced a series on TikTok ti tled Midnights Mayhem With Me, where in her words, she’ll “allow fate to decide exact ly what track titles I’m going to be announcing and in what order.” As of now, we only know track #13 which is named Mastermind. Fans excitedly await the announcement of new track titles along with the release of Midnights and any more news Swift may release.

Astrology Signs: Why Do People Believe in Them?

Michael Lin Staff WritEr

For centuries, humans have worshiped the stars and prayed to the heavens for answers, especially regarding their own lives. As early as 2,400 years BC, ancient Babylonians employed the symbols on the skies as celestial omens. By study ing planetary movements, they attempted to predict the future. By the 16th century BC, there was an abundance of compre hensive scriptures left behind carved on stones, consisting of 7,000 celestial omens. Upon the occupation of Egypt by Alex ander the Great in 332 BC, Egypt came under the influence of Greek culture. The city of Alexandria, which was founded be tween the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, cre ated Horoscopic astrology by mixing Bab ylonian astrology and Egyptian tradition. The new system included the Babylonian zodiac wheel, yet introduced the Egyptian concept of dividing it into 36 sections, 10 degrees each. The Egyptians also intro duced the planetary gods, sign rulership, and the four elements. The word ascendant in Greek is horoskopos, which led to the creation of the English word “horoscope.”

dieval culture, practiced by doctors, astrono mers, and mathematicians. In the midst of the following era, specifically the 16th century, men would peer to the skies and predict future events such as the French Revolution, the rise of Napoleon and Adolf Hitler, world wars and the catastrophe caused by nuclear weapons. India and China had their own ver sions of the Zodiac, whereas the West remained steadfast to Greek beliefs.

“ Time to BeReal.” The app that has been trying to build a name since January of 2020 has finally reached 2.7 million downloads as of late August and has sat as the number one free app in the iOS App Store for three consecutive months. Why is it that BeReal is suddenly making its rounds throughout many high school and college campuses?

Alexis Barreyat, the founder and develop er of BeReal, created a photo sharing app that pro motes authenticity unlike other platforms which are picked through and polished over to depict a flawless exterior to its followers. Other photo sharing apps, especially Instagram, are notoriously known to have misleading posts with highly edited and distorted re alities that become extremely toxic to viewers. It’s no secret that social media has created a false sense of expectations for many generations like what a “per fect” body should look like or people showing off the “ideal” lifestyle. There’s also been a demand for new photo sharing apps amongst younger users as they are fed up with Instagram’s constant changes and fea tures. What makes BeReal so popular is its concept of unfiltered posting and simplicity. Users don’t have

to think, they just post. The newest social media platform sends a random notification everyday stating that it’s “Time to BeReal.” Users have a two-minute window to take a picture from their front and rear camera in order to show their fol lowers what they are doing at that very moment. If posted after the span of two minutes, photos are marked as “late” and you are unable to see what your friends are up to until you post. Once posted, you and your followers can react to each other’s

In 140 CE, Ptolemy wrote Tetrabiblios, one of the famous astrology books to this day. The book explains planets, zodiac signs, and houses. The twelve houses are divisions of the ecliptic plane, they cover aspects of life including personal growth, survival meth ods, relationships, and existentialism. The houses are based on Earth’s 24-hour rotation, and once you are born, whichever sign that was rising in the east becomes your house. Astrology remained a central part of me

The main constellations consist of Ar ies, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. After the Roman conquest of Greece at 146 BC, Romans switched the Zodiac to planets: Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Sun, Mercury, Ve nus, Pluto, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. In China, astrology held close to Confucianism. The Chinese horoscope followed cycles of years and was represented by animals starting with the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. These animals each have distinctive personality traits that are to people who are born in that animal’s year. Nowadays, astrology is shunned by modern scientific communities. Most people claim that the predictions are random and simply errone ous. We would appoint meaning and therefore fill the hole of fear and despair that is the un certainties of life. In modern society where information is abundant, and accessible with clicks of our fingers, such information could be used as reference, entertainment, and perhaps a reassurance to the self. So perhaps Shake speare was right after all when he said “It is not the stars that hold our destiny, but ourselves.”

post by snapping a photo of yourself, sharing your genuine reaction. The app’s mission is to pro mote honest, genuine social media that isn’t very time consuming. One snap and you’re done! The app’s downloads spiked tremendously over the course of just a few months, however, this stardom was not the case at first. The app was founded in early 2020 but had not yet spiked until mid this year when it became all the rage thanks to young users promoting the app on TikTok, another popular social platform. TikTok allows people to post short clips and videos whether it’s funny memes or ‘how to’ videos. One of the many trends showing off the app’s features included a plethora of screenshots of people’s BeReals that captured what the person did that summer or school year. Some people took the authenticity of the app too seriously and posted TikTok videos of moments where it was time to BeReal at unfortunate times which blew up with millions of views. Barryat also hired young ambassadors across the country to promote his app at their col leges. Any college student can apply to become an ambassador as there is an application on the BeReal website. The app wants these students to introduce the application towards their peers which makeup the majority of users and bring their mission to campuses around the United States. Schools such as Georgetown University, University of Alabama and even Har vard University have been swept with the BeReal events to encourage more downloaders. BeReal has been extremely smart with their advertising and has worked hard to build their name and gain loyal users. The rapid growth has made its way to the Mills hall ways where you can find students from all classes asking their peers and staff to take their photo. Lets see how long this app can stay afloat and remain the talk of the classrooms.

MIDNIGHTS Taylor Swift

ALBUM COVER: Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” album cover.

JYP Entertainment

TWICE: South Korean girl group.