RED STRING ISSUE 3:PRESSED

PRESSING ISSUES, PRESSED EMOTIONS, PRESS PLAY

RED STRING Pressed

issue 3

MEET RED STRING

WHO ARE WE? EDITOR IN CHIEF ISABELLE SON HEAD ART DIRECTOR CECILIA DUDA

PHOTOGRAPHER JEREMY BROAD-WRIGHT WRITERS ALANA WATTS AUDREY LEE NOELLE PANNA FINN PECK MIRA LEMSTROM

ABOUT THE WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “PRESSED”?

Being "pressed" doesn’t necessarily imply discomfort or frustration.

Instead, emotional pressure can reveal the importance we assign to certain things. Recognizing that our actions, words, or beliefs might have consequences, the feeling of being pressed often drives us to express ourselves. This need for expression can serve to alleviate our emotions or offer support and meaning to others in challenging situations.

WHY THIS THEME? The anonymity of online interactions, the lack of non-verbal cues, the ease of expressing opinions without immediate consequences, and the social pressure to conform to certain viewpoints within online communities create a pressed environment where strong emotions are hard to suppress this third issue allows readers to explore the pressing issues in our modern society. Whether it's the need to express ourselves, stand up for something, or share our experiences to help others. This gives emotional pressure a kind of purpose. It challenges us to examine what’s important and what we're willing to endure to fulfill or defend those values.

WHAT DO WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS ISSUE? We aim to explore the multifaceted nature of pressure and how it affects individuals in different contexts—personal, social, and professional. Our goal is to shed light on the complexities of emotional pressure, showing that it's not necessarily a negative or harmful force but rather something that can reveal what people truly value, need, and desire. We hope to reframe discomfort as something that, when managed well, can lead to greater fulfillment and purpose, rather than simply being avoided or feared.

THEME

Press Play

Red String editor-in-chief Isabelle Son’s favorite recent film release : Dìdi ,film by Director Sean Wang

To anyone raised by the internet, Dìdi feels raw and relatable. The title, which means "younger brother," reflects the film's eye-opening insights into this role. As an eldest sibling, I am familiar with the narrative of carrying the burden of taking care of younger siblings. However, this film uniquely explores the nuances of being an immigrant youth as a younger brother.

There’s a nostalgic charm in the protagonist Chris’s ventures beyond family, such as learning to skateboard and navigating his first crushes. At the same time, I found myself drawn into the emotional intensity of the dialogues between Chris and his mother. These moments portray the cultural disconnect and tension in their relationship with remarkable depth.

While Dìdi includes universally relatable themes, its intimate storytelling makes the narrative feel unique, fostering a deep connection even with viewers who do not share an immigrant background.

Red String art editor Cecilia’s favorite recent film release

The original Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton, was a groundbreaking blend of horror, comedy, and fantasy that established a unique tone that Burton would go on to refine throughout his career. The film became a cult classic, notable for its quirky characters, dark humor, and highly stylized visuals. The 2024 Beetlejuice faces a high bar set by the original, but it also has the opportunity to expand the world and introduce new characters, humor, and supernatural elements that resonate with a modern audience while maintaining the quirky, dark charm that made the first film such a success. The return of Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, and Winona Ryder guarantees a continuation of the film's unique tone, and the addition of new talent like Jenna Ortega promises a fresh perspective on the Beetlejuice.

romanticize the summer burn

MODELS: ABRAHAM BURANGULOV, ESHAN KAMAL PHOTOGRAPHER: JEREMY BROAD-WRIGHT

Sometimes We Like the Sting Enough time in the sun will transform you.

Whether that may be our skin turning darker or taking on a range of red tones; our skin changes indifferent to our melanin levels. Recently, the dangers of the sun have been taken more seriously due to the hyperfixation of aesthetics in today’s society. Fearful of wrinkles and freckles, sometimes skin cancer from UV rays feels secondary. More people are applying sunscreen religiously, but that hasn’t stopped people from basking in the sun.

Tanning culture has been extremely prevalent with tanning oils and tanning salons fulfilling that want for many people. Those who like to do it naturally however tend to want more than just a tan. A good burn too.

We also replicate this burnt look, applying blush in our makeup routines on the spots of our face that would see the most sun. For many, it makes them feel better and provides the notion they’ve seen the sun more than they have that day. Regardless of the fact we are aware of the dangers of the sun, there’s something so magnetic about sunburn in the right places of our body. If were to strip away the new seasonal fashion and the summertime trending styles, you’d be left with the sunburned look. That is the blueprint of what people look like during the summer.

However, a sunburn comes with more temporary pain than wrinkles and freckles. That’s the stinging feeling when our tender skin is touched after being kissed by the sun. There may be a sensation of regret, wishing you applied some sunscreen, in many instances, we appreciate the burn. We forget about the consequence and enjoy the way it makes us look. We look like summer.

The pattern of experiencing that stinging feeling, yet finding a way to not be disheartened by it is reflected when we emotionally pressed as well.

Being pressed doesn’t mean a state of discomfort or frustration. Rather, being pressed emotionally can reveal that you value a certain thing. Knowing that there may be repercussions from what we do and say, or what we stand for, the feeling of being pressed provokes our need for expression in certain circumstances, to make us feel good or in the hope that the way we express ourselves will provide aid to others. Likewise, when you lay out in the summer’s sun, you know what the stinging sun feels like. You crinkle your nose at the strength of the sun’s rays, but you do it regardless, for enjoyment or for aesthetics. Sometimes, you fight the sting of periodic annoyance to get what you want.

Opportunity or Inequality? Magnet Programs and Their Role in Reinforcing School Segregation written by Sanabil Wajid

Magnet programs are seen as the pinnacle of high school education, providing students with specialized advantages that enable them to perform better on college applications.

Programs like the International Baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge (AICE) have gained popularity in the American High School system as the distinguisher between just Advanced Placement (AP) courses and markers of an elite education within public schools. But behind the facade of prestige, these programs that are meant to foster giftedness end up reinforcing school segregation by dividing the privileged and the underprivileged.

The False Beacon of Hope Magnet programs such as IB or AICE were brought to the United States in the 1970s as a tool of desegregation in the public school system, aiming for a diverse group of students from different parts of town in one school and classroom.

The hope was to bring these programs to underdeveloped areas, developing such areas by bringing the privileged population to them. This effort however fell short as it created a divide between students from the privileged/developed side of town and those from the underprivileged side in the city. Due to this, education has become a status symbol, reinforcing the notion that academic achievement is tied to socioeconomic status, for it is within human nature to make hierarchical groups.

This has led to a dual education system where one's background determines access to quality education. Through the dual education system, contemporary public schools with magnet programs are often surrounded by gentrification or segregation. Consequently, there’s an inequality feedback loop where programs pull students from higher-income areas to travel to lower-income areas where such programs exist.

However, schools within the community often lack resources and funding for major program education, making more funding and resources go towards magnet education.

The promise of magnet schools that they would create a more diverse and equitable system offering opportunity for all is in ashes because educational excellence has been pawned off as accessible only to those with the advantage of having resources and time to pass such rigorous programs.

The Facade of Equality Often promises of bridging the gaps between magnet students and their major diploma students base itself within a facade of a promise. Magnet programs, usually marked as “inclusive” uphold this facade by emphasizing merit and academic performance as the sole determining factors of admission and success. These programs fail to account for systemic barriers faced by underprivileged students who are not offered the plethora of resources such as tutors, preparatory education, extracurricular activities, or the financial means to navigate the application process. The rigorous admission criteria of magnet programs kill their inclusive labels.

Moreover, magnet programs often publicize diversity within their student body, yet this diversity is superficial, masking the deeper segregation by race and socioeconomic class.

While students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds may sit in the same classroom, the majority come from wealthier families with cultural and material advantages. This facade of equality serves to validate the existing social hierarchy rather than disrupt it, allowing privileged students to gain further advantage. At the same time, the structural issues of public education remain unresolved. This segregation also manifests in the mindset of students, whether consciously or not, perpetuating the social divisions established by the flawed administration of magnet programs. As a result, students contribute to maintaining the racial and socioeconomic divides these programs were supposed to break down.

A Step Forward While Magnet schools provide high education such as the IB and AICE programs, they inadvertently create a divide that should not exist within educational spaces. It is the responsibility of the adults in charge (administrators and educators) to address and break down these divisions. Through promoting inclusivity and encouraging interaction across all groups, a step forward toward equitable education can become possible.

entries from Red Letters

what’s wro s u ng tell

xo

xo

A udre and y

l l e No

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Pressing Advice

Relationships

Self improvement

and more...

WORDS FROM WRITERS AUDREY LEE & NOELLE PANNA

What is the difference between having a crush, thinking someone is attractive, and falling in love? They seem like a simple concept to everyone, but to me they are really hard to define.

Hi reader!

It's important to be able to differentiate between thinking someone is attractive, having a crush, and falling in love. This is especially important in a high school setting where sharing genuine emotions can be very difficult.

While these can conceptually seem very daunting with their implied similarity, these classifications regarding romantic relationships can be defined with ease. We’ll break it down in an easy-to-understand way: Thinking someone is attractive - This classification is, generally speaking, very surface level. Simply put, it is the appreciation of one's beauty whether physically, or internally. Some examples are a person's behavior, level of implied intelligence, or style. It’s fleeting and doesn’t necessarily go deeper than admiration. Think of it like seeing a beautiful sunset: it’s nice to look at momentarily, but you’re not emotionally invested.

Having a crush - A common sign that a crush is developing could include idealizing a person without there being a serious connection. It’s often hard to tell the difference between like and love, especially with the infatuation that accompanies having a crush on someone. We believe that there is no clear line to indicate if you love someone; however, it is easy to mistake a crush for a love when you have already created the perfect image of them in your head. One easy way to understand it is that it’s like fantasizing about your dream destination without experiencing what life there is truly like.

Falling in love - This goes beyond surface-level attraction or infatuation; love is a deep, enduring connection that involves emotional intimacy and a deeper level of care for the other person. Falling in love involves truly knowing someone and embracing them for who they are, imperfections and all. A common sign is that you care deeply about their well-being and happiness. Oftentimes people will put their loved ones’ needs/wants before their own- an indicator of how strong of a force love really is. While these gestures can build an even greater relationship, it’s also important to prioritize your own needs and wants in a healthy manner. Think of falling in love like a campfire: It starts with a spark, requires patience and care to grow, and provides lasting warmth and comfort when nurtured. Hugs!

“Is it worth it to cut off my old friends if it means I'll have no friends at all?”

Hi reader, The nature of this question poses lots of nuance, so we’ll do our best to make our response as clear as possible. Our first question is: what did these people do to warrant your disassociation from them? If in your mind they have truly crossed boundaries in an irreparable manner, then we suggest you discontinue any further attempt to re-engage them in your life. While this message can seem harsh, it is important to recognize those which you align with as you travel through life. Accordingly, situations which may seem to pose little significance can be true indications of one's true character. For this reason, we express that if you see red flags early on, it is okay to seek self preservation over relationships. One valuable sentiment that we believe maintains heavy relevance to your situation is “as life changes, so will your circle.” This quote encapsulates the notion that friends come and go as you age, and the best way to remain true to yourself is to embark on your own journey of self discovery to determine what character traits you do and don't value in those closest to you. Sadly, this can be cutting people off who used to be close to you. However, it is important to remember that the same way friends go, they also come. It can feel isolating having to make the decision to unassociate yourself from a few people who you feel know you, but the world is wide and you have no limitations if you choose to follow your morals in pursuit of those who align to you better. Good luck!

“My boyfriend is manipulative and he's my only friend so I don't know who to tell.”

Hi reader, It seems to us that you're facing a difficult series of choices. To start, in what ways is this person manipulating you? While it is easy to get lost in the construct of love and the idealization of your partner, a rude awakening is that someone who truly cares for you does not seek to manipulate you. The choice to engage in partnership is based upon trust and mutual respect, and the act of outwardly manipulating you completely derails this fundamental ideology. You cannot trust someone who resorts to dishonest methods in attempts to control your emotions. With this being said, we suggest that you begin to distance yourself from this person, effective immediately. It is thousands of times easier said than done, but the recognition that this person does not truly care about your well being is the first step. From here, we suggest engaging more with your peers and people who you share commonality with to reintegrate yourself back into the social bubble that you have been lacking in this relationship. After you reestablish these basic connections, the next step would be to strengthen these bonds and discuss your struggles with people you connect to in the pursuit of eventually leaving this relationship. We should note however that it is important not to make people feel used during your journey. Throughout this process, stay true to yourself and if worst comes to worst, we suggest talking to an older person you can trust such as a sibling, parent, or counselor. You have a community here for you, and the right people will accept you rather than bash you for choices you made in the past. Wishing you the best!

“What do I do if a boy keeps trying to make me jealous?”

Hi reader!

Situations like these can be difficult because they affect both parties heavily. In regards to people attempting to provoke you into a response, it's definitely best to keep calm and focused on yourself regardless of outside influence. The majority of the time when someone is attempting to make you jealous, they are either testing the waters, or insecure in their position in your life. When people feel threatened or insecure in relationships or even situationships, oftentimes an instinctual reaction is to seek security in the validation that the other person cares at all. This can lead to attempts to make others jealous, and the best way to combat this is to stay grounded and not play into their games. If you value your connection with this person, consider addressing their actions directly but kindly. However, if their behavior feels manipulative or doesn’t align with how you want to be treated, it’s okay to set boundaries and distance yourself in order to maintain your personal well-being.

“What can I do for people to view me more positively?”

Hi reader!

In our opinion, one easy way to positively enhance the way others view you is by first fine tuning your morality. Ensuring you exhibit valuable principles such as loyalty, kindness, and trustworthiness in a consistent nature in your everyday life, both in public and in private settings, can very effectively sway public view of you from any ordinary person, to a person who others strive to be like. From here, you can work on external contributing factors such as hygiene and style, but it is important to first recognize how to bolster the attitude people associate with you.

My friend is a party friend and I love being around them, but when they party it’s also an issue. They get really violent. How can I tell them it scares me without hurting their feelings and guarantee they will change?

Hi reader, This submission caught our attention because we think this concept is something people can relate to universally. Beyond aggression linked to partying, many people have friends who exhibit worrying behavior when caught in a party setting with the wrong people. It's important to be friends with people who you feel uplift you, and if you feel a person is exhibiting aggression toward you, it's especially important to ensure you don't become a target for their aggression for your own safety and peace of mind. It can be very scary when people you feel you know inside and out flip a switch circumstantially, so to begin we suggest you pick a good time on your own judgment, where this person is calm and removed from the setting that triggers their behavior. Let them know you only want to have this conversation because you value them and your friendship, and ensure you have past examples of concerning behavior to reference in your discussion. Finally, aim to develop different suggestions to help avoid similar events in the future. If this concern persists in the future, we suggest you set boundaries and reevaluate the time and place you interact with this person. While you can't predict the outcome of their response, you can aim to prevent similar outcomes in the future while putting your own well being above all else. We hope this helps <3

“What's one thing you could do everyday to make yourself 1% better?”

Hi reader!

First off, it is a promising sign that you are actively searching for ways to improve yourself, and that you have the patience to progress in a day-by-day method. It shows that you have faith in your ability to make positive change in yourself over a long period of time. Here is just one small act that can go a long way: do one good deed every single day, but never tell anyone about it. It’s easy to do something good for the sake of appraisal from others, but it takes a special kind of person to do good purely for the sake of goodness itself. Making kindness a silent habit will build integrity and your feelings of self-worth. It also shifts focus away from external validation and towards internal growth. While it is a simple practice, these small acts help create self-respect and admiration for the person you are becoming. We hope your journey goes well!

“Am I a bad person if I feel jealous a lot?”

Hi reader, Off the bat, we believe the answer to your question is “no.” Jealousy is a natural part of the human experience, and is something many individuals struggle with. When you're jealous about events or opportunities or even people, it means something very obvious: you care. While it's easy to generalize yourself as a “bad” person if you feel your jealousy is affecting others/overwhelming your life, it is important to stay grounded when facing intimidating thoughts. In life, jealousy often signifies feelings of insecurity whether pertaining to yourself or other relationships. By default, the most effective way to approach these feelings is to understand where they stem from. Determining the happenstance in which you feel vulnerable may be a key component of the process to eliminating its presence in your life. From here, we suggest searching for healthy ways to manage your feelings. For example, practicing self love, talking things out with a trusted individual, or regrounding yourself by reminding yourself of what you have rather than what you are missing. By reframing your jealousy as a portal to self understanding rather than as a detriment to your character, you can only fight this mentality, but actively engage on a path to self acceptance.

Breaking Boundaries: New Sports Shake Up the Olympics written by Finn Peck

Olympic breakdancing makes its debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics (Men's Journal) The Olympics are known for their daring sports, from gymnastics to racing. The inclusion of such sports dates back to early Athens, where the first Games were formally established in 1896. Over the years, the Olympics have evolved, incorporating a diverse range of new sports. Among the most groundbreaking additions is breakdancing.

First showcased at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018, breakdancing was officially included in the 2024 Paris Olympics as an official sport. Dancers are evaluated on various criteria, including creativity, technique, variety, performance, and musicality. Despite its relatively recent debut, breakdancing has already seen the rise of talented gold medalists like Ami Yuasa in the women’s category, and Philip Kim in the men’s.

Dancing has always been a means for people to unite and express themselves, so you’d think it’d be accepted with ease in an Olympic Games setting. But the criticism was harsh, particularly against Australian breakdancer Rachel Gunn, who went viral with her moves and was quickly put in the direct firing line of criticism. In a video responding to the controversy, Gunn stated, “While I went out there, and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off, preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all truly. I'm honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic Team and to be part of Breaking’s Olympic debut.” Rachel’s response can be used as an example of countless other new sports that attend the Olympics every year.

People don’t always accept change, especially in such a big event such as the Olympics. But, like Rachel, instead of turning away from doing something they love, competitors should embrace their talent for their choice and work equally as hard despite the hate they may receive.

Australian Ray Gunn puts a unique spin on breakdancing at the Olympics (Salon) In addition to breakdancing, other sports like surfing and skateboarding, which made their debut in the Tokyo Olympics, are also making a return for a second appearance in Paris.

Although controversy is expected with the new additions, the continuous introduction of new sports enriches the Olympic program and reflects the dynamic nature of global athletic culture. As the Games move forward, they continue to embrace innovation and diversity, captivating audiences and celebrating the evolving spirit of competition.

Olympic surfer defying gravity in viral photo (WFLA)

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PRESSED

issue 3