The Flash, Volume 30, Issue 2 - Winter 2023

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THE FLASH

“Since the shutdown of the internet it’s our responsibility to be their voice and spread it throughout the world.”

- Arsham Younesi (Iranian Women’s Movement full story on page 2) VOLUME 30 | ISSUE 2

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FLASH STAFF Front row: Milana Kozlova, Lexi Booras, Daniela Stuhlert, Cassie Le. Middle Row: Maddie Papia, Kaylee Madeline, Sofia Keefe, Radian Hong, Julia McLean, Taylor Aubry, Andrea Guzman.

Top Row: Shane Byron, Mr. Rubinstein, Mackenzie Wright, Trey Spencer.

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UPCOMING

EVENTS

Sadies Dance (casual) Fri March 24th 7-10pm

Rocklin High Track and Field Don’t miss a home meet!

Spring Break April 1st-10th

Scan to view the 2022-2023 Track and Field schedule

Spring Play April 20th/21st 7-8pm April 22nd 2pm-3pm, 7pm-8pm

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IN THIS

TOP SHOTS

PAGE 11

ISSUE

ew the 3 Track chedule

2-3 Iranian Women’s Movement 4-5 The Danger of Stereotypes 6-7 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Review 8-9 Culture Shocks 10-11 Top Shots 12-13 Netflix Origial Series 14-15 An Environmentalist Inside and Outside of the Classroom 16-17 Life is Strange Review 18 If Only There Were More Hours 19 The Cost of Being An Athlete 20-21 Midterm Elections 22-23 Book Reccomendations 24-25 Environmentally Aware at RHS 26-27 The Fentanyl Crisis 28-29 Seniors Voting 30-31 Fast Fashion 32-33 Teacher Paths

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Opinion: Rocklin High Student’s Voices Matter to The Women’s Rights Movement in Iran Sometimes it is hard to find the light beyond the mountains that seperate us from freedom and justice. This is exacly what the people of Iran are fighting for.

“Since the shutdown of the internet, it’s our responsibility to be their voice and spread it out throughout the world,” said Mr. Taghavi.

In recent years, the women of Iran have been fighting for their rights and freedoms in the face of a government that has increasingly suppressed their voices.

One of the ways the government has attempted to squash this movement is by shutting down the internet in Iran, making it difficult for women to communicate and organize with each other.

The struggle of Iranian women for freedom is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of a community coming together for a common cause. Despite the challenges they face,

“I get worried, my parents get worried about their parents, it’s hard for us to communicate to them,” said Alylin Kalantaripourdarranji.

Despite these obstacles, the women of Iran have not given up the fight. They have taken to the streets, marching and chanting slogans in support of their cause. “It’s fighting for ‘zan’ which means women and their freedom, ‘zindagi’ which means life, then ‘azadi’ which means freedom,” said Mr. Taghavi.

The internet shutdown has made it difficult for the world to hear the stories of these brave women, but they remain determined to have their voices heard.

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“I get worried, and my parents get worried about their parents ... it’s hard for us to comunicate

with them.” they remain undaunted and continue to fight for a better future.

The women of Iran are like tigers, fierce and mighty even though they may not be able to speak openly about their beliefs. Despite the efforts of the government to silence them, they continue to roar, fighting for their rights and freedoms. Just like a tiger, they are a force to be reckoned with, and their

determination and resilience will not be easily broken. They are the embodiment of strength in the face of adversity, and their courage and unwavering spirit serves as an inspiration to us all.

As the world watches, the women of Iran continue to fight for their rights and their freedoms, a reminder that the desire for freedom and equality is universal and knows no boundaries.

“My wife is actually in Iran right now.

Thankfully she is okay, it is a challange when you have family there because what you hear about here is terrifying, It’s a scary situation for a loved one to be in,” said Mr. Taghavi.

“We are proud to be Iranian, but we are not proud of the government that is in charge of Iran,” he said.

By: Trey Spencer, Staff Reporter

Listen to the podcast episode here!

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“They are fighting for their basic human rights, like they all deserve to.” - Iline Kalantaripourdarranji

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In today’s society, stereotypes are something that have been normalized over time that continue to affect foreigners and first generation children. These labels are harmful and have become standardized. Expectations that mount on top of these beings’ feelings are not taken into consideration.

“If you’re born in America,” said Saraswathi Murugan, Rocklin High School (RHS) 10th grader, “you’re raised with this mindset that it’s [America] superior, it’s better.” Being a child of immigrant parents, it was not herself or her parents that had to adapt to American culture; it was the atmosphere around her that had to get use to change. Students around her had fallen prey to labels and stereotypes that only told half the

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story. She said, “People would literally, like, yell across the classroom... just like, ‘oh yeah, you failed that test? I bet your parents are really mad’ when in fact, my parents don’t care how many tests I fail.”

Not all immigrant families are the same.

In fact, the only similarity they have is moving from one country to the US yet society will deem them all the same. The community needs to adapt and embrace new changes as not only are immigrants new to us, but we are also new to them.

A part of the assumption that majority foreign students are all smart is due to how their parents raised them and not purely because of ethnicity. Being raised with different mindsets influences how the kid sees themselves and their effort to try: “When you’re raised with the

expectation that you can do good and you are capable of getting straight A’s, it kind of gets ingrained in your head that you can [do that expectation] too…

It’s more of like ‘Oh, I know you can do it and I know your capability so you’re expected to get all A’s.’” It is not only the ‘strict parents’ scenario that explains the ability behind intelligence, but also the child themselves; they add onto their own pressure and get in the mindset that they have the capability to achieve above average.

“It’s [being raised in the US] completely different,” explained Sara, “especially the traditions and the cultures your parents carried to here.” She struggles

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Pictured: The struggles of having to hide one’s cultures to blend with society.

classes are what you build and how you show colleges what you’re interested in, but I mean, the amount of stress is just like writing the classes down and picking what you like versus what you should be picking is hard.” That pressure is like carrying two mental boulders on each shoulder, each having a long-term consequence of guilt/unhappiness: guilt from not carrying out those parents’ expectations, or unhappiness with not being able to dive deeper into one’s own interests. Those stereotypes

that label immigrants cover their struggles, and give them a single identity.

with choosing pathways for the future: to choose her own interests with the guilt of her parents or to choose her parents’ expected pathway at the cost of her mental health. Having parents who risk a new life to come to the states and the expectation of success is hard to decipher from one’s own passions. “If you really consider what your parents took to sacrifice to get to America…for them to get here, all that stuff, it feels wrong almost to stray from what they tell you to do and what everyone else is telling you to do because you feel like you won’t fit in.” High school is its own struggle; it’s a time that highlights what they’d like to pursue as a career to colleges. “The foundation of high school

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Moving is often for the better yet it leaves children feeling lost with identity, having to separate their cultural and American identity. “I was born in Virginia and I like all the things you like,” Sara exhausted. “I was raised with the same TV shows, honestly the same food 90% of the time except you take one look at me and you decide … I’m good at everything I study at, my parents are strict and they’re mean … and I’m gonna grow up to be an engineer and a doctor.” It is not only being indifferent to their peers, but the subtle signs of discomfort that feel like prejudice rather than innocence. “It’s not like being shoved in a trashcan but like, these subtle passive-aggressive comments that you get that’s based on, you know, your race or what your parents expect you to do, or how well you even did on a test and that’s where kind of the prejudice starts. People start to just enforce stuff that’s not true.”

Natasha Cattolico, an RHS language arts teacher, added on that, “I think all of those subtle looks can become cumulative and so they can all become harmful. Especially if someone is subjected to some of those experiences often.”

She personally mentioned that being exposed to that atmosphere, it almost becomes a constant and they have to learn to adapt to it. “It kind of becomes the water someone swims in… and [that] you get used to, sometimes, feeling a certain way.”

On a global level, there is some truth to these generalizations, but it does not

apply across the board. “Anytime you generalize about a whole group of people,” explained Mrs. Cattolico, “it’s very dangerous because you are not seeing the individual stories that are behind somebody’s experiences.”

Even if she herself did not experience being shamed for being an immigrant child, Mrs. Cattolico believes that, “If their [students] individuality hasn’t been uplifted, you know, if they have not experienced all of the self-fulfilling, [and] self actualization properties of being one’s self…[then] how other people perceive them can affect their self-esteem.”

Breaking out of these generalizations that surround them and self-discovering one’s true self allows for stereotypes to not be grouped to just X, Y, or Z. Affirming students’ individuality and letting them embrace their identity gives them the confidence to not be weighed down by society’s expectations of a typical foreigner.

Taking in her own childhood and having time to reflect back on what creates academic success, she firmly encourages that different experiences are not attributed to ethnicity, but rather contributing factors in one’s growth to success.

In her family, Mrs. Cattolico talked of how she grew up with two parents who worked professionally while being fluent in English after immigrating. She had exposure to gain self-esteem that allowed her to thrive academically during her childhood. “There are a lot of factors that can contribute to somebody’s achievement or success that I think [when] somebody uses a stereotype like that, they are denying the importance of all of those contributing factors.”

However, it is not easy to overrule these assumptions no matter how dangerous they pose. Mrs. Cattolico feels that, “To minimize the danger of stereotypes, it’s kind of why I teach language arts…We talk about knowing more stories, knowing more experiences that other people have lived, that the multiple exposure to many different stories help us not to make those overgeneralizations.”

By: Cassiopeia Le, Editor-in-Training

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A Tribute Fit for a King

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Review

By: Shane Byron, Staff Reporter

The return to Wakanda? A new Black Panther? Namor in the MCU? “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” directed by Ryan Coogler brings all this to life, and is a movie that takes a literal deep dive into the emotional theme of grief and into the beautiful worlds of Wakanda and Talokhan. The movie follows the lasting effects of King T’Challas death.

Orlando Martinez, a Rocklin High School (RHS) sophomore said, “If you were to use the new ‘Thor’ as an example, this is definitely a step up.” This opinion is shared by many on social media and by critics in the movie community; “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” stands at an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, while “Thor: Love and Thunder” sunk to a 63%. Another sophomore at RHS, Dominic Rodrigues, said, “I don’t think they could’ve done a better job” when it comes to this movie and its emotional value.

Coogler shared this beautifully filmed movie on Nov. 11, 2022 as a tribute for Chadwick Boseman, who unfortunately passed away Aug. 28, 2020 at the young age of 43 years old due to colon cancer. Not only does this movie hit hard emotionally, but it also has the beautiful spectacles of the first installment along with the great action the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has to offer.

Touching on the subject of the MCU, this movie did not have the same level of hype compared to the first one. This is due to what some people are calling “Marvel fatigue.” Marvel Studios has released 17 projects in the past two years, causing many people to tire of the “quantity over quality” approach that Marvel has been taking.

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Ryan Coogler and the cast including Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, and Letitia Wright perfect these emotional theses in every way, from the loss of Chadwick Boseman, to the unexpected twists and turns, and to the deep and beautiful connections to grief and legacy.

All in all, this reviewer believes that “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” exceeds expectations and, in my opinion, is a top ten movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I give “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” an enthusiastic 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Match The Movie to its RT Score!

First person to come in to M-5 and show Mr. Ruby the match of each movie to it’s correct Rotten Tomato Score gets a donut delivery in their 4th block class!

Not So Marvel-ous?

Are viewers getting annoyed at the large waves of Marvel Studios media?

A large idea that has been spreading around the cinema community is that Marvel has been distributing too much media since 2021.

Since 2021 Marvel Studios has released 17 different and unique projects which has overwhelmed some fans. On the opposition, some fans welcome this content. It gives some fans a variety of things to watch but for others its a list of chores. With the intertwining stories of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and many stories that are being told it can confuse viewers and this is a reason behind the increasing idea of a “Marvel Fatigure.” The beauty of the pre-2021 MCU was the quality of story telling between a few projects that connected to each other in a simple way. Because of this abbundance of Marvel projects in the last two years it has caused a decrease of quality in return for quantity which has caused many viewers to turn away. Although some movies look visually stunning, the scripts and acting may lack and visa versa.

Another point brought up by fans is that they miss the feel of stability and direction for the MCU which used to be a staple of world building for Marvel. With the MCU’s “phase 4” ending with the second installment of Black Panther, many fans questioned what the direction this immersive world was going into?

In past Marvel “phases” it all hinted at the conclusion of their specific “phase” whereas in “phase 4” the only project that showed any hope for future storylines of future teamups was “Loki.” This uncertanty is causing worry for the future of the MCU. Yes, the plans for “phase 5” and “phase 6” have been announced but how much more “filler” can Marvel entertain its viewers with?

Although Marvel has always pushed threw fan backlash and improved their ways, the amount of fans turning away is alarming. Even with recent success at the box office, many people are looking for the variety of other films and leaving Marvel for the diehard fans.

The future of the average viewer’s opinion on the MCU is in the hands of President of Marvel, Kevin Feige and with fans complaining constatnly about the “quantity over quality” route that he is headed in, Marvel’s incredible growth could drastically drop in front of the world’s eyes.

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How shocking is America through the eyes of a foreigner?

Photo Credits: Marina Avagyan The American Dream. The scenic views, the abundance of money and the closeknit communities. From a foreigner’s perspective, Hollywood portrays America as perfect and dreamy. However, when it comes to immigration and foreign exchange, foreigners start to question whether the American Dream is just a mere movie or a reality.

Marina Avagyan, a senior at Rocklin High School (RHS), is an immigrant from Armenia. She moved to America in 2010 when she was 7 years old. When first moving here she said that, “Honestly, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t exciting, I wanted to be the girl who lived in America.”

Avagyan went to school in both Armenia and America and believes the education system in America is very different from her home country’s. She described the education system in America as much safer legally and free, saying that, “[The students in Armenia] would have to wear black and white to school and there was a lot of physical abuse from the teachers.” Luckily, after the fall of the Soviet Union, many Post-Soviet countries have improved their education systems therefore lowering the amount of abuse that previously existed.

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When coming to America, Avagyan was also surprised by the community.

Armenia is a small country with roughly 2.9 million people living in it as of 2021 (World Bank United Nations). However, despite it being small, the people are very closely knit and everyone knows each other in their towns. She thinks that, “Each state feels like its own country. In Armenia you could know anybody from any city since it’s so small.”

Being an immigrant, Avagyan struggled with how people around her treated her.

She didn’t expect there to be much of a difference however she said that from an immigrant’s perspective, “people still treat you like a foreigner, like you are below them.”

Despite the treatment she received, she believes that there are many advantages to being a foreigner. Avagyan believes colleges seek diversity in their campuses and having experiences as being an immigrant and living in a foreign country could help boost the chances of getting into a desired college. She also believes that, “having a diverse perspective and being exposed to more than just one country” helps build more understanding and awareness of other individuals’ cultures and helps to build openness to

Photo Credits: Marina Avagyan

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their ideas and traditions.

Khaghan Mehdiyev, a senior at RHS, is a foreign exchange student from Azerbaijan, a Post-Soviet country. He has been in America for about 3 months now and so far is enjoying it. He says that he hasn’t actually experienced too many culture shocks here saying that, “actually, my host mother’s personality is really close to my real mothers personality.” For Mehdiyev, this made becoming accustomed to the family environment quite easy.

Mehdiyev has really enjoyed living in America. If he had still lived in Azerbaijan, he would have to enlist in the military since it is legally required. Azerbaijan requires men between the ages of 18-35 to perform military service, sources indicate that the duration of compulsory military service is 18 months, and 12 months for “university graduates”.

Mehdiyev, being a senior who has a passion for learning, said that if he was in Azerbaijan “I can’t go to college, I would have to go to the military.”

students go to their classes. However in Azerbaijan and other Post-Soviet countries, the teachers will come to your class instead. Khaghan thinks that, “It’s a good thing because you get to make a lot of friends, but a bad thing is it is also possible to get no friends.”

Similarly to Marina, he believes that the connections here with peers are different; he says that, “they are social, but not so social with other people.” Compared with the fact that in Azerbaijan and Armenia you have the same class for years and the sizes of the countries are small, they think they build much closer connections.

One thing Mehdiyev really enjoys about the United States is the amount of opportunities available. He thinks that, “it’s

born from education, you can’t do that in Azerbaijan. For example in Azerbaijan you can learn how to play chess but you won’t be able to learn how to play well because there is nobody good to play against.”

Overall, being an immigrant in the United States has its advantages and disadvantages and the experiences in individuals varies. However, there are things that foreigners learn and might find surprising the same way as when anybody visits a foreign country they could be surprised or confused by their lifestyle or mindset. With that being said, Avagyan urges people to,“Open their minds to multiple perspectives.”

By: Milana Kozlova, Editor-in-Training

He has experienced some culture shock though, specifically in school life.

Students living in Post-Soviet countries often stay with the same class from their first year of school to their last. In typical American public schools, high school

Scan the QR code here to listen to the podcast!

Photo Credits: Khaghan Mehdiyev

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Sree Satya Jayanth Gudapati­­­­

Jaclyn Christian

Chase Nakumara

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Diego Nunez

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Diego Nunez

Channel Soup

Miya Walker

Simon

TOP SHOTS

All photos captured by the Photojournalism students of Rocklin Media. If you are interested in being a future Photojournalism student, email Mr. Rubinstein at: jrubinstein@rocklinusd.org

Chase

Diego Nunez

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NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

Rumors on social media say that Netflix expects to remove password sharing.

Recently, Netflix has made changes limiting the amount of users per account.

These are only a few of the recent changes that have sparked controversy among many users.

New Netflix Original Series are undoubtedly good and they have different shows and movies for different preferences. Some honorable mentions I’ve seen include Stranger Things, You, The Crown, Black Mirror and Orange Is the New Black.

Removing many classic favorite tv shows and movies such as Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries and The Notebook has disappointed many subscribers. In 2012, Netflix began to come out with Netflix Original Series with around 1,500 total to this day. Getting rid of these shows caused many Netflix subscribers to expand to other platforms such as Hulu, HBO Max, Showtime, Disney Plus or Amazon Prime Video.

I feel that Netflix is still worth the cost considering how many amazing shows that it offers. Considering how these streaming services have taken over tv compared to cable has completely changed everything. I hope to see Netflix continue series many people have been waiting on for a long time.

The cost of cable tv stands between $20 and $250 monthly, with $87 being the average cost. With most of these As of January 2023, there are many op- services being $15-20 monthly, I think tions as to different pricing and plans for it’s a much better deal to have a variety your netflix account. The Basic plan with of different platforms rather than just ads is $6.99, Basic is $9.99, Standard is cable. $15.49 and premium is $19.99. All of these are chargeed monthly.Although There was decrease of Netflix users the Premium plan is the most costly, it between 2021 and 2022; a difference of allows 4 users to watch at once. around 80,000 subscribers. Since 2011, the number of users has doubled every Although they have changed the pric3 years. Removing many classics has not ing, they are offering a more affordable unnamed Netflix as a high standing tv plan with ads. While Netflix is removing show and movie classic website. many original favorites, other platforms still offer them. I can primarily underStory and Design by Design Editor: stand the increase in monthly cost, Sofia Keefe but removing shows is taking away the value of what it once held.

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How Netflix has changed over the years

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An In of

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An Environmentalist Inside and Outside of the Classroom

Pics of Mr. Kimmel’s Recommendations!

Mr. Kimmel shares his adventures that led him to become a high school science teacher.

Rocklin High School [RHS] science teacher Mr. William Kimmel hadn’t always planned on pursuing teaching.

While in college at University of the Pacific, Mr. Kimmel was a pre-med student, hoping to become a doctor. All of this changed when he attended a National Outdoors Leadership School [NOLS] semester abroad in the Wind River Range of Wyoming, Southern Nevada, and the Utah Canyonlands. Throughout this trip, his passion for ecological and environmental sciences grew. “NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that seeks to help you step forward boldly as a leader.” (nols.edu). “I did a semester with NOLS, and I have always loved the outdoors but I wanted to learn skills. I knew that NOLS could provide me with those skills, I just didn’t know what an amazing experience it would be. They challenged me in ways I had never been challenged before. It made me grow.” said Mr. Kimmel.

Throughout his time with NOLS, Mr. Kimmel adopted a variety of outdoor leadership skills. “You are always in control, assessing your risks, and making sure that you are prepared. Learning that at a young age carries throughout your whole life,” said Mr. Kimmel. “The skills I learned throughout my time there helped me become a better student when I came back, and a more thoughtful leader. Everything about it made me a better person.” Alongside the technical skills that Mr. Kimmel learned, he also had the opportunity to form meaningful relationships outdoors. “The sharing of books, poems, ideas and meeting people from very different places at that point in my life made me realize how different things are for everyone else all around the world.” said Mr. Kimmel.

After his NOLS semester, Mr. Kimmel returned to become an instructor, pursuing a teaching route. “Once I started working with students and really seeing the growth, most teachers will say that is the main reason why they are in this [as a teacher]. When students grow and become a better version of themselves, there is nothing better. That is the best part of being an educator.” said Mr. Kimmel. However, being an outdoors guide is not an easy lifestyle. Mr. Kimmel said, “You are spending a month out, and a week in, and a month out. It’s hard on relationships.” To spend more time with his family, Mr. Kimmel transitioned from outdoors instructor to a high school teacher.

Now, as a high school science teacher, Mr. Kimmel carries his experiences in his teaching and is an avid outdoors advocate to his students. “If you get people outside and get real sunlight and see trees and listen to birds, a five minute walk through a forest has an incredible impact on your physiology and the chemistry of your body,” said Mr. Kimmel. “ We are so unbelievably fortunate, especially here in the United States to have an abundance of food, money, and resources. It is not okay that we are as sad as we are. For me, one of the solutions to that is that it is hard to be sad when you are in a beautiful place.

If you are in a beautiful place with beautiful people, you can be happy.”

Mt. Shasta, CA This is a great place for ice axing and hiking.

Zion National Park, UT Hiking The Narrows is one of Zion’s most famous features.

By: Taylor Aubry, Editor-in-Chief

Desolation Wilderness, CA Fantastic backpacking and lakes here!

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NOTE: This is a review of this game’s first release, not the remastered version. Elements of the game that are the same in both versions of the game are purely coincidental.

Life is Strange is a game that was not highly anticipated from its beginning, yet became a diamond in the rough. Life is Strange is a chapter formatted video game franchise that has three main trilogies with one spin-off connected to the first game. It was developed by two studios, Deck Nine founded by Mark Lyons and DONTNOD by Oskar Guilbert, its first episode “Chrysalis” published on January 29, 2015 by Square Enix.

The concept of the game was inspired

by Remember Me, one of DONTNOD’s first works. After releasing a heavy combat game, the company wanted to take on a slower, more narrative, consequence-based game. Life is Strange’s story was first launched into process during April of 2013 with a small team working on it. Their sights were not set on success or target audiences but on the story the game desires to tell.

Stephen King’s works had inspired the plot and universe of the game.

However, the concepts did not meet the standards of what society thought should be video games: there was not a male protagonist and not many action scenes as it was a story-driven game. The little fight scenes wouldn’t stimulate enough dopamine to keep audiences interested, and the longpaced story wouldn’t keep the audience’s attention. Fortunately, on the brink of bankruptcy, Square Enix decided

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to collaborate with them on the idea.

What was a surprise it was to see the video game skyrocket even as it became less known as the years passed. Life is Strange’s art style was unique, it brought light to societal topics, and its story was engrossing. It went as far as to win awards such as Performance of the Year (VA: Ashley Burch), Best Episodic Adventure in PlayStation’s official Magazine in 2015, and Best Story at 2016’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA).

The game’s design focuses on a scrapbook element, with protagonist Maxine Caulfield writing down the events of her life in a journal. The first episode, “Chrysalis”, entails her life in Blackwell Academy. In this episode a storm is brewing that threatens Max’s hometown, Arcadia Bay, and she has been thrown back in time to stop it. She is a photography student who discovers she has the ability to rewind time. After seeing her close friend, Chloe Price, get shot in the school bathroom, Max triggers her ability in an attempt to stop the scene.

The game has a light hearted atmosphere before engaging in serious topics that surround main antagonist, Nathan Prescott.

The option to rewind time in this game seems fresh and thrilling! However, this special ability in actual gameplay just seems stagnant and very slow-paced.

Honestly, having to go back in time just to pick a “better” option, only to arrive at a destination that doesn’t seem all that

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different from the first time, led to a lot of missed opportunities. For example, this often led to interactions with other characters that felt not as impactful, it was like watching them live out their life with Max not being significant in their life.

The game’s dialogue writing isn’t all that great. The spoken lines are often a poor attempt at being interactive and funny.

How the characters execute each line is not all that enthusiastic and makes the audience shudder in embarrassment.

The game tries very hard to immerse itself into “teenage language” with its horrible slang, clumsy pop culture references, and awkward jokes. It sounds like an outdated adult trying to fit in. While the overall storyline is great, the dialogue makes me internally scream. It would not have been much extra effort for the game writers to research how teenagers talked during the 2010 decade.

Even though this game has weaknesses, I do think the game is worth it to play - I give it 4 stars!

There are things to enjoy here: The story tackles mature topics and the game has a relaxing soundtrack! The character designs are decent, though they could have been improved. Characters movements, for example, are a little off-putting because their voices don’t exactly sync up with their lips. The voice acting was not dull and was emotional.

The game is extremely engaging, almost like watching a movie. Life is Strange is extremely good at setting the mood with its music and beautiful scenery. Though the characters are cliché, their stories are interesting to dive into, and have traits that are endearing. This remains an incredible narrative driven game, which I highly recommend to those who don’t like combat games.

By: Cassiopeia Le, Editor-In-Training

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At Rocklin High School, students with jobs take different approaches to balancing work and school depending on their priorities.

RHS juniors, Gwynevere Barnes and Amelia Lees, know what it’s like to squeeze both work and school into their schedule. “I would say it’s difficult. Often I have tests. … It’s sometimes hard to manage my time,” Barnes said. She started at Top Golf over summer and grew accustomed to having school be the least of her worries.

However, Barnes soon had to adapt once the new school year began. “I learned to prioritize school over work as much as I could by finishing my homework before my shift so I don’t have to stress so much about it,” she said.

Barnes continued to explain that it is difficult having to ask people to pick up her shift because of schoolwork, considering many of her co-workers are also students.

Lees said, “I don’t think it’s very hard for me to balance both. … I’m able to do my homework during lunch and plus rather than having to take too much time out of my day and job to do it.” She recently began working at a women’s clothing store, The Loft, and enjoys back stocking and filling the sales floor with new items and merchandise.

A

“My priorities are definitely not straight,” said Lees. “I always pick up shifts rather than doing school work. … My priority is money and school work doesn’t really reach that high on my list.” She spoke highly of her job and emphasized the responsibility it takes to keep her grades up while working every shift required of her.

By: Tatiana Patton, Staff Reporter

On the other hand, Amelia

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2/27/2023 11:03:05 AM

w

Football:

Shoulder Pads, Pants, Griddle,Cleats, Jersey, Helmet, Knee Pads = $520

Soccer:

Jersey, Shorts, Soccer Cleats, Shin Guards, Soccer Long Socks = $425

Wrestling:

Singlet, Shoes, Knee Pads, Wrestling Headgear, Mouth Guard, hoodie, Shirt, Sweats = $300 Athletes have had to make some hard calls on how to spend their money,

especially because of holidays and the rise of inflation.

Inflation has hit many athletes at Rocklin High School hard in the past year, especially over the holidays. Many have to make difficult choices on how to spend their money as funds are drained. With prices increasing, many people have difficulty participating in those which used to be normal activities.

According to PBS, over the past year, inflation has caused prices to rise by over nine percent. Inflation has increased since the pandemic with supply chains experiencing shortages accompanied by sanctions because of the war in Ukraine.

Price increases affect not just food and gas, but sports gear as well.

Aubrey deBar, a freshman cheerleader at RHS, said that rising gas prices forced the team to carpool more often and prevented them from taking any trips together over the summer.

Another athlete, Mark Podja, shared his experience with inflation as someone

who does motocross. He said, “...[I]t’s just hard to go dirt biking, I can’t do it as much because of gas. One day out is about 50 or 60 dollars. Each ride is extremely expensive, not to mention the gear and the bike itself.”

Mr. Wagner, a health teacher at Rocklin High School and coach of the varsity girls golf and junior varsity boys golf teams, gave a coach’s perspective on the issue. From ordering uniforms to renting and fueling a van, prices have increased, he said.

This situation is more acute around the holidays. Elli Wines, a water polo player at Rocklin High School, said, “we have to order things far earlier and we have to be far more careful about who we’re shipping with just because of how expensive it has become.”

By: Jason Cardanini, Staff Reporter

Water Polo:

Kick-back net, Water polo ball, Nike water polo swimsuit, swimsuit, Silicon swim cap, goggles, Swim harness = $470

Lacrosse:

Lacrosse Cleats, Helmet, Gloves, Elbow Pads, Stick, Chest Pad, Jersey = $860

Baseball:

Bat, Glove, Helmet, Batting Gloves, Hat, Uniform = $615

19

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2/27/2023 11:03:12 AM

Y

care.

yes, you should

Opinion: Young people 18 years of age or more who actively choose not to vote are wasting a privilege that they do not understand the value of. Empty complaining does nothing, but becoming educated on politics and voting does.

“So, the more that we can get our students to realize like ‘hey, no you should be paying attention to this because it does affect your life’. Every day government, social studies, it’s affecting your life on everything that you do.” — Mr. Spears Maybe you’ve never been the most politically inclined, or maybe you find yourself lost in the sea of information and opinion that is offered when trying to learn anything about the elections.

Whatever the reason, if you are one of the many who did not involve themselves in the midterms last year, let this article be your entry point into them.

it and the avenues students can take.

So, what happened? Well, the midterms came to a close last year with the last vote on December 6th in Georgia. The

Voter intimidation. An inflammatory pair of words, and one which was mentioned frequently last year. This frequently repeated pair of words came about because of a form of votig different to regular in-person voting. For voters last year, absentee and mail-in voting was an alternative method of voting that was offered. When compared overall to elections in the past, absentee voting is much more prevalent, making it very relevant to how people currently vote.

Voter intimidation.

An inflammatory pair of words... round of elections this past year was full of notable moments: such as popularly predicted Republican wins not succeeding, discussions of voter safety, and even claims of suppression. While these events may seem like subjects that only exist in the news, stuck on the 24 hour loop, they have very real effects.

Regardless of political alignment, or even whether you choose to vote or not, political events do change the way people live their lives.

Ryan Spears, a World History and AP Government teacher at Rocklin Highschool, took the time to share some insight on students becoming politically involved, emphasizing the importance of

22-23_Midterm_Elections_Andrea_Paz_Sepulveda_Guzman.indd 1

“I think a lot of time highschool students … think that they’re young, they can’t affect anything, nothing affects them; but I always tell my students that the government election is the number one thing they learn about in school that actually affects their life everyday,” says Spears.

Many people discussed the procedures surrounding voting in this way due to the advent of ballot drop-boxes, as some private citizens took it upon themselves to “guard” the drop boxes against alleged voter fraud, with some even being armed. From outcry against this practice to ardent support, a diversity of reactions resulted in a variety of outcomes.

Some states passed legislation to ban drop-boxes all together, while alternatively, some passed protections for drop boxes, like in Arizona where armed protestors are not allowed within 250 ft of drop-boxes.

as well. It can even be brought about by young people. One such case was when the United States was torn apart by the VIetnam War. When if you were 18 you could be drafted to die in war, but you could not vote. In response to this injsutice, young activists pushed to lower the voting age to 18 instead of 21.

This right to vote at 18 is recent, and remembering how recent it is is the key to appreciating it. Staying informed and active politically means you can be involved in the changes happening, even bringing about some yourself. But, even if you are interested in becoming involved in politics, how do you even go about it?

“Find something that you’re interested in and see how the government— see how things are affecting that thing that you’re interested in,” says Spears, “It could be anything, because the government affects everything that there is.”

Whatever the topic is, explore it and find out its place in the world. You might find that politics play a larger role in your life than you realized, and maybe that you’re even more interested in them than you ever thought you would be.

Change starts with those who care, it starts with you.

By: Andrea Paz Sepúlveda Guzmán, Staff Reporter

Change happens through other means

3/1/2023 11:05:18 AM

.

hey do does.

Youth Voter Turnout Percentage of eligible youth who chose to vote during midterm elections. Statistics from CIRCLE at Tufts University.

2010

20%

2014

21%

2018

31%

2022

27%

Voting Through Absentee Ballots How voting through mail has fluctuated over the years. Viewed through percentage of voting population that elected to vote through mail. Percentages from U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

2016

2018

23.7%

25.8%

2020

43.1% 21

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3/1/2023 11:05:22 AM

Six of Crows Outcasts alone? Unusual. Outcasts working together to complete a heist worth a lifetime of riches? Chaotic at the very least.

They all work together wonderfully... when they arent trying to kill each other.

I personally loved Six of Crows. If you’re looking for a good fantasy read you will definitely want to check this one out. There are so many amazing plot lines, the chapters are short, and the characters are humorous and relatable. Leigh Bardugo did such a good job with this book, theres not much to dislike about it.

It has so many different intricate sub-plots that weave together to compliment the overarching plot of the story. Leigh Bardugo likes to change the POV (point of view) in order to hide vital information about a specific plot line from the reader. When she would do this, it would frustrated me because I wanted to know more about where the last character left off. But then the next POV shift made me completely forget about my curiosity until I was reminded of that character’s existence later on. Each character has their own plot and character development, and it’s amazing how well Leigh brings them all together into one larger overarching plot.

Another thing I love is that the chapters are short and sweet, which makes it super easy to read for a long time. Knowing you accomplished one chapter has you gearing up to absolutely destroy the next. I was planning on reading for maybe an hour, but I accidentally finished the entire book in one day. The book just has a way of drawing you in and keeping you there. So be warned, if you start this book you might just have to finish it.

It’s not only entertaining, it also brings up very relevant problems we all face. The problems the characters face are those of a fantasy world, but the relationships between the characters and their growth is much like our own. Each character has their own unique personality and problems, making them easy to relate to. You can’t help but root for each of them as they take on obstacle after obstacle.

Although this book is fiction, there are so many good take aways that are applicable in our everyday lives. This entire book is just phenomenal and I would definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone.

By: Maddie Papia, Staff Reporter

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder A murder investigation reopened. Not by the police but by a local high school senior adament on proving the original verdict wrong.

As she gets closer to the truth, she learns some things are better left buried. And if she’s not careful, she’ll be one of them.

The p lot and a lines are gr lth ea be a b ough it ma t y a well w sic pick it i s orth r eadin g.

“I remember when it first came out I thought, ‘oh I don’t wanna read it, its gonna be too sad.’

Well it was everything … It’s like you celebrate parts of the book because good things happen. But it’s really a good book. I’d say its definitely one of my favorites.”

T he Help What do a bitter black maid, a friend with a loose tongue, and a white scholar without a husband have in common? Set in Jackson, Mississippi, 1962, three women band together to write a book with the potential to change the perception of a small town.

Man’s Search for Meaning is a philosophical narrative written by a Holocaust survivor. Along with recounting his experiences, he shares what he learned and what he believes to be the overall meaning of human life.

“There are many levels to this book and it really makes you think.”

23

G

OPINION: Rocklin High School Students should make efforts to be more environmentally aware.

In March 2021, our lives were in chaos.

The pandemic held a firm grip over lives globally, and political instability wreaked havoc — that’s only the beginning of a very long list. From coping with the year before and the year to come, we exacerbated an existing culture of instant gratification. The mind-numbing experience of apps like TikTok were a guilty pleasure. Those eight seconds of reprieve from the world’s crises were all I needed to form an addictive habit of mindlessly scrolling on various social media and entertainment apps. It had suddenly become rare to think about anyone but myself.

)

So there I was, on my couch, scrolling mindlessly on Netflix to watch anything when a new documentary came out.

Seaspiracy, directed and starred by Ali Tabrizi, was a story about the environmental impact of fishing and how we’ve turned our oceans into a toxic, plastic soup. In that hour, I had to confront a story that wasn’t mine — one I had turned I blind eye to.

Student throws away trash during lunch.

Trash artic;e.indd 2

One of the 20-30 apples left by the cafeteria each day at Rocklin High School.

I stopped using Ziploc bags because I learned they contributed to the rising number of micro-plastics (that now, according to Seaspiracy, outnumber the stars in the milky way galaxy by at least 500 times). I always tried to clean my plate and not use single-use plastics. However, what might be even better is not just me, but 2,000 other students making small efforts too. On campus, the half-eaten pizza slice being thrown away at lunch contributes to the 562,442 tons of waste schools, and universities generate trash annually throughout California. Many policies and programs have been implemented in various districts to combat this staggering amount of waste, but what exactly is Rocklin High School (RHS) doing? Better yet, what are we, as a whole, doing as a community?

I stopped using Ziploc bags because I learned they contributed to the rising number of micro-plastics (that now, according to Seaspiracy, outnumber the stars in the milky way galaxy by at least 500 times). I always tried to clean my plate and not use single-use

3/1/2023 11:38:46 AM

plastics. However, what might be even better is not just me, but 2,000 other students making small efforts too. On campus, half-eaten pizza slices being thrown away at lunch contributes to the 562,442 tons of waste that schools and universities generate annually throughout California. Many policies and programs have been implemented in various districts to combat this staggering amount of waste, but what exactly is Rocklin High School (RHS) doing? Better yet, what are we doing as a community?

“The concept of waste means that we’re wasting money and we’re wasting resource[s],” explained AP Environmental Science teacher Bill Kimmell. “... whenever you're wasting, you’re basically taking away from either somebody else or the next generation.” Excess trash bears the most potential harm to wildlife and communities and has implications that reach deep into the future, but dealing with it is one of the first steps to taking care of our planet. However, that step might not be what you think it is — it just might be the opposite.

According to Mr. Kimmel, “The best thing you can do is not consume something in the first place.”

Films to Watch

Rather than sorting that half-eaten slice of pizza into a compost bin, it would make more sense if the student finished the slice, didn't get one in the first place, or saved it for later. Reducing the amount of trash is not a new concept.

It’s an old story that has been told for decades, but no one is listening. While it's easy not to care, it's about time we did.

“Not to feel guilty, but to say where can I, with my life, do things to be a better consumer — a smarter consumer can make all the difference.”

It’s hard to imagine how we’re a part of something bigger and more important than our own lives, but we are. The current situation with our planet is a cry for help that will take millions and millions of years to recover. Give future generations the privileges you enjoy now — a world abundant with beauty, color, and life. It’s not too late.

A film about the human impact on marine life.

By: Saraswathi Murugan, Staff Reporter

Living in a cleaner world does not mean putting our trash into trash cans or even sorting them into fancy categories. All it takes is limiting the number of trash cans and trying to use them less. Don’t get me wrong — you should not leave trash on the floor, but instead, try not to generate it in the first place.

A film discussing why our coral are disappearing

25 Trash artic;e.indd 3

3/1/2023 11:38:49 AM

wwwww

Authentic oxycodone M30 tablet

Fake oxycodone M30 tablet laced with fentanyl

The Crisis Sweeping the Nation As the drug crisis continues to ravage communities across the nation, Fentanyl has become the deadliest player on the field. Placer County’s Attorney’s Community Outreach Unit Supervisor, Attorney Lisa Botwinik described the recent impact of Fentanyl overdoses on communities and urged public education on substance abuse and addiction, due to the toll fentanyl is taking on society.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids are a type of drug that includes heroin, synthetic opioids like fentanyl, and prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. These drugs attach to opioid receptors in the body and can reduce pain, produce feelings of euphoria, and cause dangerous side effects like drowsiness and confusion.

Misuse or large quantities can be deadly. It is often used in hospitals as a painkiller and anesthetic, but it is also used illegally to manufacture counterfeit pills that are sold on the black market.

Botwinik shared a personal story of a young man who survived a Fentanyl overdose but died several months later after buying a different type of counterfeit pill. “He bought a different type of pill and asked the dealer to make sure he gave him a legit one,” she said, “And that ended up killing him.” The impact of fentanyl can be seen in the staggering rise of drug overdose deaths in recent years.

In 2021, more than 70,601 overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, primarily fentanyl, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

She stated that “there are so many different reasons that we’re finding

26-27 Fetanayl Article.indd 2

that young adults are turning to pills, whether it’s self-medicating, experimentation, or looking for a high.” She highlighted the importance of getting the right medication for the individual and the right dosage as different types of mental health medication and dosages work differently for different people.

Botwinik stressed the importance of seeking help from the right sources and the dangers of fake pills in the market. She stated that, “when we’re dealing with teenagers, all anybody wants is for them to get help and to get better,” and it is vital to reach out to a trusted individual, such as a teacher, parent, or counselor. Individuals struggling with fentanyl addiction should try to seek help as this is the most highly addictive substance one can encounter and is extremely challenging to handle without professional help. Fentanyl has a significant impact on individuals struggling with addiction and substance abuse and highlights the urgent need for prevention and treatment measures.

Botwinik emphasized the need for young adults to reach out for help and utilize resources available to them rather than self-medicating with something off the street or social media, which could prove fatal if they take one of these fake pills containing Fentanyl. “There are so many nonprofit organizations in the county that can help people work with counseling, rehabilitation, medical-assisted treatment,” she added. Botwinik had spoken about the various reasons why young adults are turning to prescription pills and the dangers of fake pills that are circulating in the market at Rocklin High School’s Fetanyl assembly in December.

Furthermore, Botwinik discussed the reluctance of some students to come forward with an addiction due to fear of repercussions from their family or peers. However, she emphasized that help-oriented programs and policies are in place for young adults struggling with addiction.

Most schools in Placer County have a “See Something, Say Something” policy and online ways for students to anonymously report concerns or incidents they see.

Botwinik works with the Drug Court program in Placer County, which is an alternative to serving jail time, allowing individuals to serve their time in a treatment program. She emphasized the collaborative efforts of the courts, probation department, health, and human services, and her office to help individuals go through treatment and rehabilitation and turn their lives around. Graduates of the program become productive members of society, which can include being reunified with their children, getting jobs, and even having charges expunged.

According to Botwinik, one of the biggest dangers of Fentanyl is that it is often added to counterfeit pills, making it difficult for users to know what they are ingesting. “There’s no way of knowing if that pill contains Fentanyl or something else unless it’s tested,” she said. “And the only way to chemically test is to take it to a real laboratory like the Department of Justice, which is where we have our pills tested.”

Attorney Botwinik mentioned that the chemicals that form Fentanyl are mostly made in China and are shipped to Mexico, where they are formulated into pill form. Botwinik noted that these pills are not made

3/3/2023 12:35:31 AM

in clean, regulated pharmaceutical labs, but in dirty, unregulated clandestine labs. This lack of regulation means that the pills are not uniform, making it difficult for users to know what they are getting.

and distributing these dangerous pills. “We need to hold these people accountable,” she said. She went on to say, “They are profiting off of the deaths and addiction of others, and they need to be stopped.”

If someone suspects an overdose, the first thing to do is call 911 and, if the person is not breathing, start administering CPR while waiting for emergency responders to arrive. The Attorney stressed the importance of having Narcan on hand for anyone who knows someone who is engaging in dangerous behavior. Narcan is a nasal spray medicine that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save a person’s life. However, opioid users aren’t able to give themselves NARCAN during a drug overdose.

The medication is fortunately quite simple for a friend or family member to administer. She also mentioned the need for increased awareness about the dangers of Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. “It’s not just the user who is at risk,” she said, “it’s their families, their friends, their loved ones. We all need to be aware of the dangers and take steps to protect ourselves and each other.”

To address the negative impact of the issue, Botwinik believes education is key. She cites the example of smoking and how as more people became aware of the health risks, fewer people began to smoke. “50 years ago, people didn’t realize how dangerous smoking was, so everybody smoked. It was the norm … But as time went on, and research was conducted, people realized the horrible medical conditions that smoking caused. It’s that educational piece that made people say, ‘Oh, maybe I don’t want to smoke.’” It is always that constant. Drugs are always changing. False marketing of Fentanyl as a “clean” and “safe” alternative to heroin or other opioids is contributing to its popularity. So there is a crucial need to update education and awareness so people know what those risks are.

However, law enforcement has been making progress in seizing large volumes of Fentanyl pills, but the problem persists. “Our law enforcement have made numerous arrests, where they have found people driving with thousands and thousands of Fentanyl pills in their car…So it’s crazy to see how much they’re seizing and taking off streets, but there’s still so much of it that we’re not catching,” said Botwinik.

In addition to these efforts, Botwinik suggested that law enforcement should focus on going after the people who are manufacturing

Individuals must understand that Fentanyl is not just another recreational drug, but a highly potent substance that can lead to fatal consequences. It is imperative to seek help and support for oneself or loved ones who may be struggling with Fentanyl addiction.

People can educate themselves on fentanyl by consulting reliable sources and seeking information from healthcare professionals or community resources.

The impact of Fentanyl extends far beyond the individual user, and it is up to everyone to take action and work towards a safer future for all.

By: Bhoomi Kumari, Editor-in-Training

Being An Eyewitness of Fentanyl’s Terrible Toll Fire Chief Jesse Alexander has been serving in the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for 23 years. During his career, he has witnessed the devastating impacts of fentanyl on both the public and emergency responders. Alexander shared his experiences and insights on the dangers of fentanyl and the importance of educating the public about this lethal substance.

Alexander shared a personal experience while dealing with fentanyl on the job from when he was the Incident Commander for the largest mass overdose due to fentanyl in US history. “14 people suffered overdose symptoms, resulting in 6 cardiac arrests … and ultimately 1 fatality,” said Alexander. This overdose was done by dab pens which are devices used for vaporizing cannabis concentrates. Dab pens are not the same as vape pens, which are used for e-liquids. When explaining his experiences with fentanyl and how it affects firefighters on the job, he said, “It takes an emotional toll on firefighters when dealing with the fatal effects of any overdose.”

One of the greatest dangers to first responders is accidental exposure to fentanyl. However, to decrease that risk, strict safety protocols are in place. Chief Alexander emphasized the importance of treating all medical emergencies the same by following safety protocols when on the scene of an incident involving fentanyl. These protocols include scene safety and body substance isolation. “Accidental absorption through the skin takes several hours and can be quickly mitigated,” said Alexander. Proper use and disposal of medical gloves to prevent accidental skin absorption is essential.

Chief Alexander also spoke about the impact of fentanyl related incidents on first responders and the community, stating, “the increase in usage and resulting overdoses from fentanyl creates a ‘draw down’ in fire, paramedic, law, and hospital services.

The impact to the community is similar to other highly addictive substances, including devastating results to family and loved ones from the high overdose rate.”

Alexander’s wants students to know that, “... accepting any type of pill or drug (outside of prescription medication from a pharmacy) carries a risk of accidental or intentional contamination with fentanyl.” He stressed the importance of seeking help for addiction and substance abuse issues. “It is highly addictive, difficult to identify, easily accessible, and extremely lethal,” said Alexander. He also advised people struggling with addiction to seek help as this is the most highly addictive substance one can encounter and is extremely challenging to handle without professional help. Fentanyl impacts individuals struggling with addiction and substance abuse, so there is an urgent need for prevention and treatment measures.

“Public service announcements, education in schools & colleges, and community outreach to vulnerable groups,” can all help to contribute to education and outreach to vulnerable groups, said Alexander.

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3/3/2023 12:35:31 AM

SENIORS VOTE

IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS

M

any Rocklin High School seniors 18 years or older voted for the first time in the midterm elections held on Nov. 8.

According to the United States federal government, midterm elections are held every two years to fill vacancies in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. State and local elections often coincide with the midterms, including elections for members of the Rocklin Unified School District Governing Board.

“I really wanted to vote,” said Rocklin High School senior Samita Parija. “I’ve been looking forward to it.” She said that she found voting for the first time to be rather “underwhelming” because she had a mail-in ballot. She read informational pamphlets and researched bills and candidates she was unsure about to make her decisions. The contest with perhaps the most direct impact on students’ lives was that for the three seats on the school board that were up for election.

Trustee Michelle Sutherland, who graduated from Rocklin High School in 2002, was the only new member to win a seat. “I really wanna look at how we can expand on educational opportunities for kids so that students that have

30-31_Seniors Vote_Radian Hong.indd 2

different ways of learning and different interests and things that they respond to, so that we have something for them in Rocklin Unified,” she said.

Sutherland is looking to implement vocational training opportunities for high school students in areas like money management and budgeting.

The school board has a large influence on students’ lives, managing the budget

They didn’t want to lose teachers or programs that they cared about that had made a really huge impact on their lives.

and making decisions that affect the future of the district. “Some of the things may be more big picture and may be more of a systems level type of change where it’s not necessarily something where they vote and then you come

to school the next day and something’s different,” she said.

Nevertheless, she encourages students to participate in or to attend meetings, which are open for public comment and are live streamed on YouTube.

Part of what motivated Sutherland to run was a board meeting she attended during a series of budget cuts to schools.

“There were students that came and spoke with a lot of emotion and conviction about issues that they felt needed attention. They didn’t want to lose teachers or programs that they cared about that had made a really huge impact on their lives,” she said. “Hearing the students be so involved and so brave really, to get up at a formal meeting in front of adults, it takes some bravery too. And so that was very impactful for me.”

Students are more politically aware now than when Sutherland was in school, she said. “What I’ve learned since becoming a voter and a parent and having a career and being active in local government is that the local elections and the local business that’s being done is really what impacts us on the day to day,”

3/1/2023 11:12:02 AM

said Sutherland.

Parija found her own ways to get involved in politics. She interned for Dr. Kermit Jones, a candidate for California’s third congressional district in the midterms. She planned to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade at

the Rocklin fireworks show, but found out too late that she lacked a permit to do so. She hopes to pursue a career in politics. “My dad doesn’t think I have thick enough skin,” she said.

Parija sees democratic participation as her duty as a citizen.

“I find it really

annoying when people complain about our government when they don’t even participate or try to change what’s happening,” she said.

By: Radian Hong, Editor-in-Training

Scan QR code to listen to podcast episode

VOTE HERE 29 30-31_Seniors Vote_Radian Hong.indd 3

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I want it, How fast fashion has changed the fashion industry.

IT TAKES

7,200

LITERS OF WATER

TO PRODUCE

ONE

COTTON SHIRT

“ 030-31 Ashley Kim Fashion Story.indd 4

In this new and evolving world of fashion, fast fashion has taken over much of the industry. Due to the recent detrimental rise in clothing waste, Rocklin High School students were asked about alternatives and their opinions on fast fashion. Fast fashion can be defined as “cheap, trendy clothing that can be easily mass-produced.” Apps such as TikTok and Instagram have made connections between consumers and influencers easily accessible. Thousands of advertisements get posted each minute, pulling in consumers.

Sophie Shin, RHS freshman, expresses, “I feel like social media gets us influenced … We’re like, ‘ooh someone has this? I want it,’” Sophie said, “A lot of influencers on social media definitely impact that ‘I want it, cause they have it’ mindset.”

She feels as influencers on social media platforms have special power over younger audiences.

However, there are solutions to sustainable shopping. Along with fast fashion, thrifting has been rising in popularity

I feel like thrifting is even cheaper than fast fashion… and you can really express your style more because fast fashion kind of has a set aesthetic already.”

recently. Thrifting is purchasing second-hand items for a discounted price.

Garage sales, thrift shops, Goodwill, and even on-line stores all are part of thrifting.

Sophie says, “I would definitely tell people to give [thrifting] a shot, not even by yourself, go with friends, it doesn’t really have to be your thing but it’s a very fun experience.”

Many people stray from thrifting because of how time-consuming it is to look for specific pieces they like.

However, Sophie encourages thrifting with friends and family to add to the experience. There are many on-line thrift options, such as Depop and Poshmark.

RHS freshman Brynn Eckardt, explains why she likes to use Poshmark, “It’s very easy to look at every single item rather than going through racks.”

From the comfort of her own home, Brynn is able to browse sustainable fashion on-line. Another benefit of thrifting is that customers can bargain with the owner, gaining better prices.

Brynn explains, “You can bargain. So if I want to, I can be like, ‘I want this to be five dollars,’ and the [store worker/ cashier/owner] will be like, ‘No, six dollars.’”

3/3/2023 11:35:04 AM

O

Srdjan Randjelovic/Shutterstock

Overflowing waste Fast fashion plays a huge role in the drastic increase of waste production. RHS Campus Closet President, Delia Kitzmann, explains why she dislikes waste production in the fast fashion industry. “... You end up actually spending more in the long run because if you buy a pair of new boots, and they fall apart in a year, you’re buying a pair of boots every year as opposed to paying for a more expensive pair of boots that lasts 30 years,” said Kitzmann.

According to Earth Island Journal, in 2018, the US generated 13 million tons of new clothing waste, 9 million tons of which ended up in landfills. Fast fashion is not looking to end soon. According to Fashionating World, as of 2022, the fast fashion industry is worth $99.23 billion.

By 2026, it’s projected to grow to $133

billion in only four years.

able to make a living wage.

Not only are there environmental problems, but there are ethical issues as well.

Every day, millions of workers endure harsh working conditions and earn unfair wages to make fast fashion clothing.

Right now, fast fashion is growing faster than ever. Consumer demand for clothing at a cheaper price has pushed the rapid growth of the fast fashion industry.

However, by shopping sustainably and cutting down on consumption, the most small efforts can lead to great results.

According to a U.S. Deparment of Labor Report, numbers of countries have been involved in child labor including Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Philippines, Vietnam, and more. Workers regularly breathe in dust and fiber, harmful chemicals, and undergo physical strains.

By: Ashley Kim, Staff Reporter

A report by Oxfam called ‘What She Makes’ found that women garment workers were being paid less than 37cents an hour. This leads to workers living below the poverty line; only 2% of them are

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Teacher Spotlight Does anyone really know what they want to be when they grow up? The childhood dreams have always existed and been in the back of the mind but does anyone really commit to those? When choosing, is it about money or what we enjoy doing? These teachers made their choice and they will be talking about their process of choosing and what they think of their choice so far. By answering these questions in order...

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?

2.What made you want to be a teacher?

3. Do you think you are the type of teacher you wanted to be when you started?

1. “My plan was to go play college football and then use that to become a college football coach.”

2. “My grandfather passed away and really made me reanalyze coaching and the people who coach as a career their life style. The moving around and the hours they put in and how little time they spend with family. It kind of made me realize as much as I love football, I love family more. I left coaching and I worked in the banking industry and everything but I was like, ‘I’m miserable and I wanna go pursue what I love,’ which was always teaching.

3. “In high school I had my history and government teacher which was a gentleman named Mr. Sulivan and they were both loud and boisterous and energetic teachers and I loved that about their classes. So for me, I always felt like that’s the kind of teacher I want to be. I don’t want to teach math so much as to make a fun class that happens to teach math.”

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1. “I wanted to be a nurse so I could make a lot of money” 2. “During my clinical rotations in graduate school for athletic training I always felt like something was missing. Until I was placed at a high school that had a sports medicine class where I would volunteer to assist the instructor with her lessons. Soon after I was teaching most of the lessons and supporting the students as if it was my own class” 3. “I wanted to create a space where students wanted to be. This year I’ve definitely focused more on the fundamentals of a successful classroom and have had a lot of push back from students, but I don’t regret this approach because I’ve found that it is much better for my sanity.”

1. “I didn’t think I wanted to teach, in my sophomore year like a career project… I did school psychologist but you have to get your masters… and then I thought about a counselor. Like being a highschool counselor because I thought high school was afun age and a fun environment environment” 2. “I was meeting with a counselor in college…. She was advising me at that time, “that it’s really tough to get into counseling at that point there’s a lot of budget cuts and they cut counselors a lot.” She was like “you should really think about teaching”. because if you start as a teacher you can always become a counselor later... so I took like ED 101 just like intro to teaching and I really liked it but I liked being a student I liked learning. So being a teacher is kind of like being a student all the time.”

3.” I was kind of the traditional student where i linked to sit and get meaning where you sit you listen to a lecture an interesting lecturer you take notes or you a do reading and questions it’s kind of more like individualized I think in my AP US class I am more traditional in the way that I teach that, but in an ideal world I think of like Mr.Hardy but it’s hard. He puts on a show he is so energetic and so enthusiastic and he’s funny and he’s entertaining”

By: Daniela Stuhlert, Staff Reporter

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ROCKLINMEDIA.ORG: We write stories. We take pictures. We make cool things: Podcast. Print Magazine. Online News. What about you? Do you like to write? Love to talk to people? Love graphic design? Love photography? Sign up next year for a journalism, photojournalism, or publication class! Email Mr. Ruby for more info at: jrubinstein@rocklinusd.org

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photo by photojournalism student: Diego Nunez

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2/16/2023 11:06:16 AM