Carlmont Highlander Volume 14 Issue 5 April 2023

THE BEGINNING OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE read it pg. 21

Carlmont Journalism

Carlmont Journalism is a nationally renowned media arts program run by the students of Carlmont High School. Our staff works to deliver the latest news to our student body, their families, and the community. News, within our school and beyond, is important to us, so we are committed to providing timely information, current events, and thought-provoking ideas to our audiences through storytelling, design, video, photography, and other emerging technologies.

Highlander Editor-in-Chief

Chesney Evert

Highlander Managing Editors

Lindsay Augustine & Grace Wu

Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief

Hudson Fox

Scot Center Editor-in-Chief

Hayes Gaboury

Social Media Editor-in-Chief

Mandy Mah

Faculty Adviser

Justin Raisner

Highlander Editors

Beck Von Tersch

Andrew Shu

Malina Wong

Isa Khalak

Inaaya Omer

Adelaide Reinshagen

Aidan Lynd

Aimee Teyssier

Alexander Menchtchikov

Andrew Tolu

Annabel Chia

Anoushka Mekerira

Audrey Burnley

Austin Li

Avery Wong

Carolina Cuadros

Catherine Eikelbarner

Charlotte Gordon

Emma Yin

Erik Cheng

Evan Leong

Gabrielle Shore

Glydelle Espano

Gracia Shao-Xue

Inaaya Omer

Isabel Wright

Izaan Masud

Jasneh Sasan

Letter from the Editors

Dear readers,

Welcome to the fifth issue of The Highlander! Seeing the school year draw to a close, we thought this was a perfect opportunity to acknowledge growth — and what the future holds. Many of us have some semblance of what our life will look like after this year of high school; maybe it’s college, a job, or vacation, but the unknowns are vast.

The government has established markers of adolescence and adulthood in the form of a birthday—our eighteenth one, to be exact—but the transition from kid to adult doesn’t happen overnight. Some cultures use lengthy celebrations to reflect on what it means to be grown-up. Others argue that the preparation for adulthood begins as a child and never ends, as we constantly re-discover the person we hope to become. All this is to say there’s a large gray area surrounding “adulting,” complicated by the physical manifestations of age, money management, and a sense of self that never stops changing.

Sienna Reinders

Oliver Fichte

Alice Lan

Lucy Sanders

Clementine Cunningham

Staff

Karla Lee

Kiana Hinkson

Linda Lin

Lucy Lopshire

Madelyn Mercado

Marrisa Chow

Maya Campbell

Myles Hu

Nyah Simpson

Piper Diehn

Quinn Rolland

Rintaro Sato

Robin Linares

Serenity Corbett-Richardson

Soleil Dam

Sophia Mattioli

Sophia Schreiber

Sophia Sunbury

Sophie Gurdus

Stella Pavao

Sydney Tao

Ujala Chauhan

Urvi Kulkarni

Ultimatley, the lessons we derive from a designated chapter in our life are what truly count (as cliche as that may sound). Growing up means as much to an individual as it does to a community, and even as the process might feel isolating, it's a universal one. We hope this issue provides some guidance and questions to ponder as all of us grow another day older.

Warmly,

Cover art by Emma Yin

Blurring the lines:

?

Headlines run the same phrase again and again: “Leonardo DiCaprio may grow old, but his girlfriends will stay 22 forever.” These articles recirculate every time the star is spotted with another 20-something — or, in this case, teenage — woman.

Fans speculated instantly when he was photographed beside 19-year-old model, Eden Polani at a party. Following the paparazzi pictures, headlines ran opposing announcements: some rejoicing the new couple and others refuting its existence. No sources have been identified, but anonymous ones claim the pair are not together in a TMZ article.

Regardless, this wouldn’t be the first time DiCaprio took the world by storm with a young girlfriend.

The media focus on DiCaprio’s love life first began with model Briget Hall in 1994. The pair had a three year gap — DiCaprio was 20, and Hall was 17. After they broke things off, DiCaprio went on to date Giselle Bundchen at

age 24 — she was 18 — until he was 29. The list goes on, DiCaprio never publicly dating anyone older than 25, even as he reaches his late-40s.

“I think it’s weird and extremely telling of him as a very well-off middle-aged man,” said Luiza Nunes, a Carlmont senior. “It’s not even as if he has on occasion dated someone significantly younger than him; it

be more nuanced than that.

They’re common even beyond Hollywood.

“I don’t necessarily think that all age gap’s relationships are completely problematic, but it does seriously vary from case to case,” Nunes said.

About 8% of married heterosexual couples have a 10 year or greater age gap, according to The Dark Side of Close Relationships II. That said, couples with age gaps of one to three years yield the highest levels of satisfaction. As the gap grows larger, relationship satisfaction decreases, according to the Australian study The Marital Satisfaction of Differently Aged Couples.

has happened so much that it’s his assumed preference, something to make jokes about and then brush off.”

DiCaprio aside, age-gap relationships garner their own debate. People may be quick to fault DiCaprio for dating someone nearly 30 years younger than him, but agegap relationships as a subject tend to

Still, age gaps and dissatisfying relationships are not mutually exclusive. Many couples with age gaps have successful relationships.

“Most of the couples I know say that they feel like they’re the same age,” said psychiatrist Dr. Loren Olsen.

Olsen attributes this to a combination of factors: chronological age, psychological

Sophie Gurdus

"Why don't you just date people your own age?"

Arman Agarwal

age, physical age, and sexual age.

“Age gap couples frequently are compatible in the last three,” Olsen said.

Though, in terms of teenage relationships, age gaps are more consequential, according to Nunes.

“It doesn’t have to be the case that all age-gap relationships are inherently predatory and gross, but the younger a person gets, the more likely it is that manipulation and coercion are happening to some extent,” Nunes said. “With a relationship with an age gap of 20 or more years, you are at significantly different stages of your life, and there will always be an inherent power imbalance within your relationship.”

Nunes isn’t alone in this opinion. Arman Agarwal, a Carlmont senior, thinks similarly.

“I think it's a little gross,” Agarwal said. “As a senior myself, it’d be kind of weird to date a freshman. And that’s just a four year age gap.”

Agarwal recognized a possible nuance to age-gap relationships but just can’t get behind DiCaprio’s actions.

Still, DiCaprio isn’t the only one doing this. Especially in Hollywood. Billie Eilish and Jesse Rutherford have a 11 year gap. Cher and Alexander Edwards have a 40 year gap. Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor have a 31 year gap. George and Amal Clooney have a 17 year gap. Madonna and Josh Popper have a 35 year gap. Alec and Hilaria Baldwin have a 26 year gap. John Stamos and Caitlin McHugh have a 23 year gap. The list goes on.

While age-gap relationships in

normal, everyday life aren’t exactly rare, they’re nothing compared to Hollywood stars' obsession with dating outside of their age group.

Mel Schilling, a psychologist featured in The Latch, attributed it to a focus on youth. She says these celebrities are focused on staying young, staying relevant. Dating someone years younger can help them with that.

Regardless, people on the outside can’t always get on board, Agarwal being one.

“A 30-year-age gap is weird,” Agarwal said. “Why don’t you just date people your own age?”

In 2019, Reddit user TrustLittleBrother created a chart outlining DiCaprio’s relationships through the years. It’s graphed by year and age, beginning in 1999 when DiCaprio was 24. The graph clocks several women, their ages when the pair dated, and a constant line of DiCaprio’s age at any given year.

IT'S NOT ALLMcDreamy

Kiana Hinkson

For almost two decades now, interns, surgeons, and nurses at the Seattle Gate have had a uniquely significant impact on millions through the TV show they belong to: Grey’s Anatomy. Although the lives they save are fictional, their influence on some fans' worldview and career choices is very real.

Anaïde Kupeliam, a sophomore at French medical school, Université Paris Est Créteil, is one of many who experiences the real-world impact of Grey’s Anatomy’s influence daily.

“When I first watched the show, their desire to learn and their enthusiasm to save lives really attracted me. I liked that they always seemed to want to give the best of themselves and discover new things. And because I am curious and like to give my best in order to help people as well, I wanted to be like them,” Kupeliam said.

Television representations of realworld opportunities influence many like Kupeliam through a feedback mechanism of media consumption: cultivation theory.

“Cultivation theory would be used

to look at television use in terms of a learning theory, where you utilize the media to understand the world around you,” said Don Stacks, a Miami University professor who studied the theory.

A Frontiers research journal study about the impact of television representations on personal beliefs used this theory to find that in order for a television series to contribute to one’s worldview, that show must represent something culturally new to its viewer in order to become the main avenue of their understanding.

This was the case for Kupeliam as she hadn’t seen a real life or other representation of the medical field until "Grey’s Anatomy."

“When I first saw Grey's Anatomy I was 12 years old and it was like a revelation. I didn’t know much

about the field before, but by a few episodes in, I knew that I wanted to become a doctor,” Kupeliam said.

Kupeliam’s lack of previous exposure to the field prompted initial interest that proved fitting for her ultimate career choice. However, there are many others who gained passion when first watching, but lost it from learning of a doctor’s reality.

“The idea of saving one’s life and not giving up as many characters portrayed in Grey’s Anatomy, along with my slight interest in the medical field made me want to be a doctor,” said junior Kellie Lam. “However, later on I learned about the years of medical school, internships, residency, and the low pay during that time: factors that together made me change my mind

In the popular and dramatic television show, Greys Anatomy, an intern interrupts mid operation.

about medical school.”

Statistics support Lam’s sentiment of drawbacks to pursuing residency as according to a U.S. Education Data Initiative report, “The average medical school debt is $202,450, excluding premedical undergraduate and other educational debt.”

Further, the reality of doctoral residency also changes one’s view of shows like "Grey’s Anatomy" as the show isn’t a factual representation of hospital workings.

“I see the show differently now that I am in medical school. In an emergency room you won’t see the surgeon first like what they show on "Grey’s Anatomy," they’re only called if we need them. The role of other hospital staff is also much more important in real life than what we

Gilles Mingasson

see in the show,” Kupeliam said.

Along with the unknown expenses and many differences from the show, pursuing a medical career requires drive to complete difficult work that doesn’t always guarantee subsequent opportunities.

“The study time and the amount of work is enormous. These are studies that require hard work over many years and it’s not easy. It’s also going to be difficult for me to find opportunities in medicine. Being a doctor is a vocation and you need to really want it to become one because the journey is so hard,” Kupeliam said.

According to a National Library of Medicine analysis of media representation’s influence on career popularity, these factors prevent

medical shows like Grey’s Anatomy from having widespread influence on career choice as it found that media portrayals overall have no influence on the popularity of pursuit of medical careers.

Despite this and the fact that not everyone chooses career paths based on a show, television portrayals still have impact.

According to a questionnaire-led study by Sage academic journal on the impacts of doctoral television portrayals on medical students, the way "Grey’s Anatomy" represents daily medical residency influences those in medical school through emotional connection to characters. These connections have the capacity to dictate what practices, values, and types of work that those students desire to emulate.

“Being a doctor is hard but for me it's worth it because it’s a beautiful job. It’s like my favorite line on the show, ‘It’s a beautiful day to save lives.’ It’s the dream of saving lives that we try to achieve when we are passionate, it’s like the show, it’s like me,” Kupeliam said.

Impact of student jobs

Aidan Lynd

As seniors began applying to colleges in the fall of 2022, they had to decide a number of things from what majors they wanted to pursue to adding extracurriculars to their activities list. For some, jobs offer a way to gain experience in their fields of interest, but for others, they are just a means to some expendable income.

Q: Why did you decide to work at Hollister?

A: "I wanted money of my own to spend on things like clothes because it gives me a little more freedom from my parents to buy what I want and not have to ask them for stuff. I'm also going to college soon so I wanted to have some money saved and it's good to get your first job over with early so I have working experience."

Q: Does your current job align with your future career?

A: "No, it does not. I want to be in the film industry as a director or producer, so folding jeans for a living is not really my end goal, but I have learned some skills when it comes to talking to people and having tough conversations. I think that can help in film because you have to direct people and deal with customers who are being rude in a positive way."

Q: Why did you decide to work at Bay Club?

A: "I think I realized that high school is the time to get a job and stop asking your parents for stuff, so I figured working would be a good way to pay those off while also saving up some money in the long run for other things with like invest with and stuff like that."

Q: Does your current job align with your future career?

A: "I would love to get into biotech or become a doctor. I wouldn't say my current job has anything to do with those, I took it more as an opportunity just because it was thrown right in front of me as a way to have my first job, so it really doesn't relate to what I want to do at all."

Q: What are some reasons you decided to get a job?

A: "I wanted to relieve my parents of some of their financial burdens by having my own money that I could spend on things that weren't necessities. I wanted to be in charge of what I was spending my own money on, and I also actually wanted to learn some financial responsibility and the value of a dollar and how that affects what I spend my now hardearned money on."

Q: Does your current job align with your future career?

A: For my preferred future career, I either want to be a political consultant or something in marketing. My job at Baskin-Robbins has nothing to do with my future career but it does have to do with what I like doing as a hobby, which is baking and cake decorating, so it is something that I intend to do in the future just not as a career.

Kellie McGuinness

Mahan Ghazizadeh

Sammy Kosman

Art by Andrew Tolu

Stepping away from senior pranks

Robin Linares

For seniors at Carlmont, there are a variety of traditions to look forward to: like senior ditch day, senior assassin, and senior sunset. However, one tradition has been less common in recent years: the coveted senior prank.

To better understand the current opinion on senior pranks, one must first look at the history of this tradition at Carlmont.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, an organization specializing in civil rights law, senior pranks are meant to stir up chaos, usually lightheartedly, to commemorate a senior's final months of high school.

Molly McNinch, Carlmont teacher and former Carlmont student, gave her experience with senior pranks.

"There haven't been a lot of senior pranks in my time as a teacher at Carlmont. There's been a handful of them, and they have always been fairly light-hearted. I see it as a final hurrah and putting the cherry on childhood in a way," McNinch said. "Senior pranks were definitely bigger when I was at Carlmont."

While senior pranks can be fairly harmless, there are downsides. Depending on the tastefulness of the stunt, or lack thereof, it can harm the school community rather than embrace it, as teacher Kelly Redmon explained.

"I remember one year when they toilet-papered the school. The sucky part is no one cleaned it, and then the three nighttime janitors had to clean it up," Redmon said.

Additionally, senior class president Nicole Miranda noted some of the main concerns when getting involved with a senior prank.

"We don't want to do something that will jeopardize our chances of graduating so late in the year," Miranda said. "We also don't want to do something that will just put more work on someone else. Our custodians put in a lot of work and hours, and doing that

to them would be really rude."

While there may be better ways to remember the senior class than a senior prank, Administrative Vice Principal Grant Steunenberg acknowledges the importance of recognizing the 2023 senior class, especially due to their unique high school experiences.

"This class is unique in that it had that pre-pandemic high school experience, had it ripped away from them, and they've come back and experienced a new high school experience as you all are exiting high school," Steunenberg said. "It would be great if a group of seniors would put together something to commemorate your high school experience as one of the most unique experiences any class has ever had. I don't know what that would be, maybe a unicorn dressed as Monty."

Students agree that there should be a more unconventional way to celebrate the senior class.

"If I were to leave something behind, I feel like instead of just buying something for the school like the benches, tables, and stuff, I want to do something more meaningful with a story behind it," Miranda said.

Another possibility could be a senior surprise as a way to give back to the entire school community.

"I think there is potential for something positive to happen around the idea of a Senior Surprise, and that's the type of event everyone could support," Redmon said. "It could be kind of like Valentine's Day, where there's a Valentine for everyone, and so if it's something like that, where it's building into the community, it's like the seniors celebrating the whole school."

Whichever way seniors decide to commemorate their senior class, Steunenberg gives this advice.

"Everybody wants to be remembered. A part of the human condition is to want to know that we were there and that someone, in some way, remembered us," Steunenberg said. "So sometimes the best ways to be remembered is through positive rather than negative acts."

How teachers stay sporty

Hudson Fox

For many students and teachers, extracurricular activities and hobbies can be a source of relaxation, escape, or personal fulfillment. For teachers especially, it can be difficult to find time away from their educational duties. Some prefer to exercise and participate in sports; others rely on the outdoors.

For Rebecca Pearlman, an AP Statistics teacher, pickleball provided connection during the isolating times of the COVID-19 lockdown.

After bumping into a former tennis partner by chance, Pearlman, who used to play tennis and college squash, was invited to join a match at the Foster City pickleball courts.

“I feel like I’ve been waiting for pickleball my whole life,” Pearlman said.

Pearlman started racquet sports at an early age, picking up tennis by tagging along with her mom to lessons. From there, her love of the sport blossomed.

During the pandemic, the shorter game time and casual set-up were “conducive to chatting” and provided a social outlet.

Naturally, this “super social” environment acted as an important space for emotional connection during a time when physical separation was at a heightened level.

In that vein, a systematic review study recently published by the journal Frontiers in Psychology found pickleball to be associated with improved mental health among mostly older adults and seniors, yet a further study of this topic remains ahead.

Outside of the possibility of connection,

Pearlman noted how pickleball is available to everybody due to its lack of learning barriers.

All in all, Pearlman believes her passion for pickleball derives from the benefits of the sport.

“It’s just a fabulous sport to stay in shape or get in shape and to connect with a lot of people,” Pearlman said.

Art by Linda Lin

Dan nguyen

Dan Nguyen, whom many students know as their Algebra II/Trigonometry or Data Analysis teacher, is an avid rock climber climbing locally at Movement Climbing Gym and outdoor locations across California.

After hiking Half Dome in 2017, Nguyen’s viewing of “Valley Uprising,” a film about the subculture of climbers and the history of climbing in Yosemite, left an impression. Nguyen felt strongly about this newfound interest.

“That sounded like exactly what I need in my life,” Nguyen said.

The first few experiences were magical. The feelings Nguyen felt reflected the allure of recreational climbing.

“I just fell in love pretty quickly and became obsessed with it, as a lot of people do,” Nguyen said.

Since then, his love for climbing has blossomed. Recently, Nguyen embarked on a Presidents’ Day trip to Joshua Tree, returning to the place where he first learned to “trad climb,” rock climbing that incorporates self-selected routes and not on a predetermined route.

“Joshua Tree is where I really learned to cut my teeth,” Nguyen said. “It feels like my home park.”

Nguyen’s memories of climbing with friends fostered his dedication to the sport and kept him climbing through a series of unfortunate injuries.

A year into climbing, he fractured his ankle

bouldering. Seniors at Carlmont may remember his pink scooter, lent to him by the current principal’s secretary Sharon Bologna.

Only two years after the fractured ankle, Nguyen fell 18 feet in Joshua Tree. Despite his line arresting the fall, he refractured his left ankle after hitting the wall.

“It’s tough to be injured because your psyche goes down and you keep replaying what could’ve been,” Nguyen said.

That self-doubt crept throughout the healing process, but now Nguyen “couldn’t imagine stopping just because of an injury.”

“When I don’t rock climb for a long time, I don’t feel like myself,” Nguyen said.

Even before the recent debut of rock climbing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, more people were getting into the sport. Between 2014 and 2021, Statista figures report a rise in indoor climbing participants. For those getting into climbing, Nguyen cautions newcomers to be wary of the gravitational pull of the sport.

“Finding that balance between your personal life, climbing, hobbies, and work is a really important thing going into the sport,” Nguyen said.

Describing climbing as something that centers him, Nguyen reflected on how much of a privilege it is to climb.

“I go through every day with a pep in my step, thankful to be living and walking,” Nguyen said.

michael O’neall

Michael O’Neall, a biology and AP Environmental Science teacher, has always had an interest in climbing.

“As a kid, I would always climb on all kinds of stuff,” O’Neall said.

In his teaching career, O’Neall initially had problems with carving out enough time for climbing. While he aims to go to the gym two to three times a week, sometimes a busy work schedule prevents any visits.

“My first few years teaching were just so hectic designing curriculum, there was no way to have much of a healthy work-life balance,” O’Neall said.

Nowadays, O’Neall has settled in and currently finds climbing to be an entertaining form of

exercise. When seeking greater physical distance and escape from the workplace, O’Neall favors local hiking trails such as Castle Rock and the redwoods near Half Moon Bay. Even an archery range with a one to two-mile hike has caught his attention before.

But for local aspiring climbers, O’Neall recommends a slow introduction to the sport. He notes that people go with someone experienced when trying out the sport.

“That’s a sport you do not want to make a mistake in,” O’Neall said.

But with time and someone to “literally show you the ropes,” O’Neall remains optimistic that everyone can have fun while climbing.

Independent but

The reality of aging out of foster care

Gabrielle Shore

Adroplet of sweat traced a path down Alex Garcia*’s temple as he packed his tattered canvas backpack with the essentials – some clothes, a toothbrush, and a dilapidated stuffed rabbit. These few possessions were all he could carry, having spent the last decade weaving in

and out of foster homes.

Garcia wiped the stress-induced moisture from his forehead with his sleeve before slamming the front door on his last foster care placement. His heartbeat quickened with anxiety born from the anticipation of a seemingly exciting milestone: his 18th birthday.

For many U.S. teens, blowing out one’s 18th birthday candles ushers

in a fresh and exciting chapter of life, accompanied by a newfound sense of independence. But as young people in foster care approach this turning point, they face the more daunting reality of aging out of foster care.

“When you’re out of the system, it’s like, ‘Who are you?’ and ‘Who do you become?’ because all you’ve done is carried a bag from home to home, from

Photo by Ujala Chauhan

placement to placement,” Garcia said.

Garcia is one of the 23,000 individuals that age out of the U.S. foster care system every year, according to the National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI). These teens are known as “transition-age youth.”

The NFYI also reports the grim statistics that plague this vulnerable population – 20% instantly become homeless upon turning 18, 50% are unemployed by age 24, and 25% leave the system with Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD).

But behind these numbers are real stories of resilience and determination like those of Garcia and Lisa Arnett, another former foster youth.

When Garcia first left foster care in 2019, the world was far from his oyster, as the saying goes. Instead, it was an unforgiving reality that he was forced to navigate alone.

“I had to make my own resources from scratch. I had to find my own community from scratch,” Garcia said. “I realized it was all on me to give myself a better life, all on me to turn my struggles into something different.”

This sense of solitude is one of the most significant challenges that transition-age youth face in their quest for self-sufficiency. Garcia described how an overwhelming wave of loneliness would wash over him every holiday season – a time ordinarily spent with family.

“Whenever I’d really need someone by my side, I was reminded that there was no one there,” Garcia said. “It’s honestly hard to think about me being 22 and independent without any support system or the resources that regular people have. It’s heavy when I think about it, really heavy.”

According to Garcia, the emotional weight of facing adulthood without a safety net was more difficult to grapple with than

tasks like finding housing or a job.

A decade earlier, Arnett was facing the same obstacles. She described how her mental health struggles worsened her circumstances.

“Once you have survived trauma in foster care, it can be extremely difficult to relate to people and for others to relate to you. That’s a big reason why it was so hard to find resources,” Arnett said.

She also noted that foster youth are often held to a different standard than their peers, which places another obstacle in their path.

“Nothing I did was seen as normal teenage behavior. It was seen through a different lens because I had been through so much,” Arnett said. “That’s a common occurrence for foster youth; they aren’t allowed to make mistakes because when they do, it’s blamed on their past.”

Arnett’s struggle to find support left her without a roof over her head at 18, immediately following her transition from foster care.

“I started showering at school and staying on people’s couches,” Arnett said.

While she emphasized that every transition-age youth’s experience is different, Arnett was not the only 18-year-old to be left on the streets. According to Alternative Family Services (AFS), about 30% of transition-age youth will, endure homelessness at some point.

Due to her struggle to find a stable home and maintain a job, Arnett opted to enlist in the military – a common path among transition-age youth, according to the NFYI.

“I realized that couch-hopping was not going to get me where I needed to go,” Arnett said.

Using her military experience, Arnett now works as a helicopter mechanic, raises her 2-year-old daughter, and uses any extra time to advocate for those still struggling in foster care.

However, the military is not the

The truth behind

FOSTER CARE

The American foster care system provides for children who are not living with their birth parents. Yet the care a child recieves ends when they reach adulthood. This infographic tells the story of what happens after.

23,000

Individuals age out of the US foster care system each year

25%

Of foster care children leave the system with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

30% 50%

Of transition age (18-21) foster youth will endure homelessness at some point

Of foster youth will be unemployed by age 24

www.nfyi.org

www.afs4kids.org

Infographic designed by: Isa Khalak

only way former foster youth can achieve success, and there are some efforts to help these young adults secure housing and employment. AFS, a Bay Areabased nonprofit offering comprehensive programs for foster youth is one such example.

“Housing is the biggest transition difficulty, especially in the Bay Area counties,” said Patty Cala, the director of transition-age youth services for AFS. “A lot of young people, if they don’t have the support of transitional housing program like ours, cannot afford to live in their local area.”

Cala and AFS organize housing for these struggling young adults to ease the transition from foster care to independent living.

However, Arnett contends that the current availability of such programs is insufficient. She explained that foster care currently fails to support the transition out of the system and advises youth to take charge of their own circumstances.

“A lot of caseworkers do not want to put in the work, and it can be really hard for foster youth to advocate for themselves because it feels abnormal to be able to do that,” Arnett said.

While Arnett’s focus on self-advocacy serves to empower individuals, Garcia emphasized that a shift in the way society views foster youth could spark nationwide change.

“If people could only see us for all our good and bad, as individual people and as a suffering community, then maybe foster youth could finally leave our time in the system in the past,” Garcia said.

Similarly, Arnett noted the importance of viewing foster youth without judgment.

“We have to stop blaming children for situations they didn’t ask to be put in. While it may be hard to relate to them, and they might come across as a little abrasive or different, we have to remember that

it’s not their fault, and we need to stop treating them as such,” Arnett said.

Despite the challenges they face in aging out of foster care, Garcia, Arnett, and the thousands of others in similar circumstances show real stories of resilience and determination.

On his final note, Garcia made a point to acknowledge that transitionage youths’ plight should not dismiss or overshadow the struggles of anyone crossing the bridge from adolescence to adulthood.

According to Arnett, while the road to adulthood can be fraught with challenges, it is also a time of growth and self-discovery that can lay the foundation for a fulfilling and meaningful life for anyone.

“You’re going to struggle, and when you do, that doesn’t mean you’re failing,” Arnett said.

*This name has been changed by the author to ensure the anonymity of the source.

back to Earth

For some, using substances will guarantee a fun time. But moderated usage can lead to dependence, and what once was used to enhance one’s experience becomes a crutch. It leaves the user chasing a never-ending high in fear of coming down and falling apart.

Addiction is common in America. A National Survey on Drug Use and Health study found that approximately

19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that 10% of American adults struggle with addiction at some point. However, most strikingly, 75% report not receiving any treatment.

It is difficult for an addict to hold up a mirror, fearing what they will see in their reflection. One must be honest with themself — along the steep climb to the surface, one must confront the ugliest parts of their reflection.

Rehab serves as the arm that shoves that mirror in your face because the first battle requires awareness and accountability. It is the return to reality, aiming to help individuals tie themselves back together.

There are many ways for someone to enter rehab. Some join of their own volition, others are referred there by their loved ones. However many are given mandatory rehab stints by the courts due to drug-related offenses.

Chris Morales, the director of operations of the treatment program Our Common Ground, explains the expected initial mindset for addicts enrolled in rehab by the court.

“If somebody is being sentenced they may not really want to change what has put them in this position. They might just be choosing us as an alternative to jail because it’s not as bad in their mind as going to jail and doing time,” Morales said. “You might see an individual like that may not seem as motivated to actually change and may feel like they’re just saying the right things or just doing time, so to speak.”

Whether a person wants to change, treatment centers provide an environment where patients can

be vulnerable and heal. Through individual therapy sessions, group meetings discussing specific facets of addiction, and overall time spent living at the facility, addicts slowly begin their climb. Regardless, the ultimate transition is a changed mindset.

“The longer people are here in the program, the more of a shift in their attitude and their behavior, you see, and so some who come here, originally not wanting to be here, but being sentenced to be here through criminal justice, after a month or two may start to think to themselves, maybe there is something to this, maybe I do need to make a change, maybe I should be living a little differently,” Morales said.

Ultimately, a way to measure progress is by the mindset shift driving individuals to want to fight the battle. Not only are they swimming against the current, but they are doing so without the “support” that substances previously provided. However, inner motivation

combined with the organization’s support can help turn the tide in their battle against addiction.

To curate this shift, the organization

Carolina Cuadros & Izaan Masud

“After a month or two they may start to think to themselves, maybe there is something to this, maybe I do need to make a change, maybe I should be living a little differently,”

Chris Morales

focuses on group therapy techniques using peer pressure to its advantage. While many clients feel apprehensive at first, seeing the progress of the longertenured patients in the facility can serve as a reminder that the surface is not too far away. After patients break the initial barrier of being vulnerable in front of strangers, they can take advantage of the peer-styled approach to help each other move forward.

“There’s something about being able to look to someone who’s been in the same chairs for a little longer, who’s turned the corner showing them that it’s possible. Like I felt like you did eight months ago. But here I am now,” Morales said.

In the eyes of many, a successful stint in rehab is kicking one’s addiction entirely and living a sober life. However, Morales’ experience in the rehabilitation field has caused him to redefine his idea of success to more of a spectrum. Morales believes it is up to individuals to develop their own measure of success.

“You might have a client, one client, whose outcome was x, with four different people who have vested interest, who all might have a different definition of that client. One might say, 100% successful for sure. One might say, absolute failure,” Morales said.

Our Common Ground’s graduation illustrates this idea — all patients who make it through the entire program graduate the program. The diploma they receive from the program is permanent. However, Morales knows that even when one makes it back to the surface, it’s a struggle every day to keep swimming.

“There’s no last step to sobriety. It is something that people will have to deal with for the rest of their life. They’re either constantly working toward it, or they’re slipping away from it,” Morales

said. “Let’s say five years from now, ten years from now, you fall on hard times, you relapse, you start using things are spinning out of control. We will get you a bed in our program; you can come right back in. Whether you just need 30 days to kind of get back on your feet and catch your breath.”

Read more on Scot Scoop below.

A day in the life of a flight attendant

Day in the life of a flight

attending,” Pierce said.

TAimee Teyssier, Clementine Cunningham, Ujala Chauhan

hirty-six thousand feet in the air, we sat down with Southwest flight attendant Brooke Pierce. Literally. We were in our seats (the seatbelt sign was on) while Pierce knelt in the aisle between us.

At cruising altitude, Pierce walks through the aisles, passing out snacks. But Pierce is much more than a glorified waitress; she’s constantly surveying for a host of possible safety issues.

safety, safety,” Pierce said.

Thirty-six thousand feet in the air, we sat down with Southwest flight attendant Brooke Pierce. Literally. We were in our seats (the seatbelt sign was on) while Pierce knelt in the aisle between us.

We got to learn everything a flight attendant’s job entails, from Paris to poor manners. As we soared through our flight, Pierce highlighted what made her gravitate to this career.

Pierce took the first steps to become a flight attendant immediately after high school. She started five days before her 19th birthday, and 10 years later, her passion for flying has yet to descend.

“After graduation, I wanted to get out of the house and travel. My parents told me I needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I put two and two together and came up with flight

Pierce is much more than a glorified waitress; she’s constantly surveying a host of possible safety issues.

Pierce is a first responder, but she is not usually fighting fires or capturing criminals. Instead, she’s protecting traveling passengers.

“Just last week, we had a woman who couldn’t breathe, so we had to give her oxygen immediately,” Pierce said.

We got to learn everything a flight attendant’s job entails, from Paris to poor manners. As we soared through our flight, Pierce highlighted what made her gravitate to this career.

According to the Airline Academy website, over 65 airlines have hired Airline Academy graduates, and the academy has an 85% confirmed placement rate with an airline.

Pierce is a first responder, but she not usually fighting fires or capturing criminals. Instead, she’s protecting traveling passengers.

To become a first responder and facilitate her acceptance into an airline, Pierce attended the Airline Academy. While this is an optional step to becoming a flight attendant, Pierce found it to be a valuable experience.

Pierce took the first steps to become a flight attendant immediately after high school. She started five days before her 19th birthday, and 10 years later, her passion for flying has yet to descend.

“The Airline Academy was absolutely wonderful. I was fresh out of college with no work experience, so this was definitely the right choice to get me the flight attendant job,” said flight attendant Rebecca Tynes in a testimonial on the Airline Academy website.

“Just last week, we had a woman couldn’t breathe, so we had to give oxygen immediately,” Pierce said.

Now that she’s hired, Pierce’s schedule looks far different than it did as a trainee.

“The Airline Academy helped me in the long run because it connected me with airlines. Once I made those connections, I got an interview with an airline and went through their training. The training is pretty much safety,

To become a first responder facilitate her acceptance into an airline, Pierce attended the Airline Academy. While this is an optional step becoming a flight attendant, Pierce found it to be a valuable experience.

Pierce is in and out of boarding gates all day. Whether it’s a red eye across the country or a two-hour flight, her work schedule isn’t like your typical 9 to 5.

“Most flight attendants’ schedules are three days on, four days off. Some flight attendants work their time, but I have a mortgage and things to pay for.

“The Airline Academy helped in the long run because it connected me with airlines. Once I made those

Aimee Teyssier, Clementine Cunningham, & Ujala Chauhan

flight attendant

glorified surveying for but she is capturing protecting woman who give her said. responder and airline, Academy. step to Pierce experience. helped me connected made those

But then we also have friends who we can pick up trips with. In October, I picked up two trips with one of my friends, which was very nice,” Pierce said. However, all airlines are different, and each has its own policies regarding picking trips.

time with her family: her parents and dog.

with an airline and went through their training. The training is pretty much safety, safety, safety,” Pierce said.

“My parents recently moved in with me because they retired, which we had planned to do. It works out nicely because they watch my dog while I’m working,” Pierce said.

According to the Airline Academy website, over 65 airlines have hired Airline Academy graduates, and the academy has an 85% confirmed placement rate with an airline.

“With my last airline, I had certain benefits that let me travel overseas. My best friend is from France, so I’ve actually been there about 10 times. I’ve been to Brussels, Australia, Thailand,” Pierce said.

As much as she loves her job, Pierce relishes the moments when she’s home with her loved ones before her few days of break pass and she’s back at the airport again. There are more passengers to assist and more destinations to fly to.

But being a flight attendant, with its jet-set allure, isn’t always like sitting in first class with refreshments abound.

“A lot of passengers are a little on the rough side, and many flight attendants don’t want to deal with jerks and rude people in enclosed spaces. Some days are better than others, but, despite that, I still love my job,” Pierce said.

These taxing overtimes make flight attendants privy to running out of fuel.

“The Airline Academy was absolutely wonderful. I was fresh out of college with no work experience, so this was definitely the right choice to get me the flight attendant job,” said flight attendant Rebecca Tynes in a testimonial on the Airline Academy website.

“Once, a flight attendant came by my seat when I was very airsick. I said I felt nauseous and claustrophobic — the stuffiness and recirculated air were really getting to me. She reassured me that it was normal to feel this way and handed me an airsick bag,” said Emily Hamanaka, a junior at Carlmont. “She was very helpful.”

Art by Aimee Teyssier

Now that she’s hired, Pierce’s schedule looks far different than it did as a trainee.

The Beginning of the Rest of Your Life

by Aimee Teyssier & Urvi Kulkarni designed by Andrew Shu

From taking your first step onto your college campus to spending years of marriage with the one you love, each stage of adulthood reveals that life does not always go as planned. But in exploring the stories of others, it is possible to gain insight into one’s metamorphosis.

SCOTLIGHT

LARVAL GROWTH

The FreshmanCollege

Lucia Acosta began the journey of earning a college degree while balancing life inside and outside of lecture halls in the fall of 2022.

Currently a freshman at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Acosta has had to adapt to dorm life while tackling a rigorous course load. Still, she has found comfort in knowing that many students are navigating similar challenges.

“Everyone is going into college together. Everyone will be equally scared as you are, but people are open to making new friends. You just have to push yourself into situations that you wouldn’t have while you were in high school,” Acosta said.

In a new environment, it's natural to feel out of place or isolated at first. But by taking the initiative to introduce yourself and engage with those around you, you can build a support system that will help you thrive.

Making long-term relationships is not as simple as turning casual acquaintances into strong friendships, even in college. Although most students are striving to meet new people, the overabundance of opportunities can make it difficult to find relationships that last.

“The hardest part about college is making long-lasting friends. It can get lonely, but not because meeting people is difficult. You can make a lot of friends, just not really close ones,” Acosta said.

Committing to groups and forming small communities can be of significant help

in making new friends. College campuses feature clubs, Greek life, internships, jobs, and housing arrangements that promote such interaction between students.

However, while working to create connections, it is important not to ignore signs that some situations may not be working out.

“I know a lot of people who had higher expectations for their college experience than how it turned out to be. Some are even finding that their college is not their perfect fit, so they’re considering transferring,” Acosta said.

No matter how much preparation and planning go into decisions and thoughts of the future, the most important skill to develop is adapting to new circumstances. As Acosta believes, unexpected outcomes can lead to the most successful paths.

“My hopes for the future are changing as I learn about classes. As I learn more about what interests me, my dreams are slowly shifting. There are so many opportunities, all of which are shaping what I want to do in the future,” Acosta said.

Acosta’s evolving hopes epitomize life’s unforeseeability. Controlling every situation is just too unrealistic considering the uncertainty of the future.

“Even if you're not the happiest about college admissions coming out, you're going to end up where you're meant to be. You'll have a good time, so just keep an open mind. Even though rejections hurt, don't be offended because it will be okay in the end,” Acosta said.

Urvi Kulkarni

It is nerve-wracking to think about it, I don't want to mess this up, and it's a huge responsibility,” Sangwasaro said. “We're anxious in a good way; I would be worried if we weren't nervous because that would mean we don’t care as much as we should.”

Yet Sangwasaro had not always believed she would become a mother. Having the capacity to take care of another life requires knowing oneself. However, it is important to take the time necessary to do so.

“Five years ago, I wouldn’t have guessed I'd be married with a baby on the way. I might even have been a little surprised by it. During different times in my life, I saw my future in many different directions. I both expected this and didn’t,” Sangwasaro said.

Predicting the future is impossible to do

intelligent 18-year-old. Looking back 10 years later, she fully realized the sheer amount of options she had.

“I would have loved to spend more time in school: take extra credit, participate in extracurriculars, maybe even take a year off before going into nursing school. I was tough on myself then, but being easy on yourself is important. Don't be in such a rush to grow up,” Sangwasaro said.

Structuring her life to accommodate these career goals, Sangwasaro had numerous unanticipated changes nonetheless. Having goals for herself financially and relationship-wise is important, but being flexible and open to change is vital.

“The biggest life change I didn’t

responses with beautiful—and sometimes bittersweet—roots. In the end, the deep connection Sangwasaro had with her grandmother was something to be celebrated.

But as relationships end, new ones are formed. To Sangwasaro, reflecting upon the past is important to apply experiences to the future.

“My grandmother was a huge part of my life and she inspires me for the future. The biggest feeling that I have is gratitude for every day: I'm married to a really wonderful man and we're expecting a baby. There’s a lot to look forward to, and I’m very excited for the future,” Sangwasaro said.

Aimee Teyssier

BURGEONING CHRYSALIS

The Working Woman

Urvi Kulkarni

Growing anxiety about the future can stagnate even the most prepared young adults. For many, it can lead to hyperfixating over every detail in hopes of gaining some control over the unpaved road ahead.

As the Chief Marketing Officer at the software company Hazelcast, Jackie Geiger knows a thing or two about what it takes to achieve executive board status.

“Realize that any decision you make is not etched in stone. You can take a step back. You can take a step in a different direction,” Geiger said.

But if she was asked what she wanted to do with her life as an undergraduate student at McGill University, she would have declared that she was on track to becoming a lawyer. Though her aspirations would take a variety of paths –– beginning with a detour to major in psychology — her initial studies in law would introduce her to new curiosities.

“When I became a psychology major, I also took on journalism as a side project. I came to the realization that I was simply reporting on the news; what I actually wanted was to create the news. That’s how I arrived at marketing: advertising and public relations (PR)—the other side of the equation,” Geiger said.

During graduate school, Geiger took interest in representing fashion companies,

envisioning herself building a career in New York City. When a professor could only connect her with high-tech PR firms for an internship, she took her chances. As it turns out, her open-mindedness paid off.

By not confining herself to a certain image, Geiger was able to take an experimental approach to her career. Envisioning her career growth to be more of a climbing wall as opposed to a ladder, Geiger welcomed a variety of positions, from managing marketing at a smaller company to being in charge of PR.

“Now people say, ‘Oh, wow, Jackie has this incredible breadth of experience. It makes her a better candidate for this role than someone who might have taken a straight-up journey through one single path,’” Geiger said.

But her vast expertise did not exempt Geiger from one of the greatest challenges one can face in their career: being laid off.

“The first time I was let go, it shook my identity. I had put my heart and soul into this job and now they were letting me go? And it hasn’t just been a one-time thing, it’s happened to me multiple times,” Geiger said.

Be it the unstable economy or company acquisitions, layoffs are inevitable in the workplace.

“I’ve now been in both positions. I’ve had to let people on my team go, not because I wanted to, but because of company circumstances. Being let go myself, I have

learned that when one door closes, another door opens,” Geiger said.

As if being laid off isn’t challenging enough, putting oneself back into the job market can prove to be just as daunting of a task.

Geiger suggests counteracting thoughts of self-doubt by evaluating the skills and experiences you gained through your previous job.

“Be able to give yourself a pat on the back. Turn around and promote yourself,” Geiger said. “If anything, you can learn more from a lay-off than a huge success.”

Another struggle Geiger encountered was one often experienced by women in male-dominated fields. She found herself achieving similar results to her male counterparts, only to be promoted years after them. Brimming with frustration, she discovered that if she wanted to make a name for herself, she needed to seek the help of her allies.

Such allies can take a variety of forms, but Geiger discovered that the guidance gained from a simple cup of coffee or a lunchtime chat can result in a much-needed support system.

“Find the people that really support you, those that can always be there to advocate for you. The people who championed for me are the ones who really helped me make it to the CMO seat,” Geiger said.

Long-Lasting Love

Aimee Teyssier

What started off as a blind date would later blossom into a 65-year-long marriage. As a setup orchestrated by their mutual friends, Paul and Carole Barrish first made each other’s acquaintance over a plate of pasta and a bottle of wine.

Quick to take interest in one another, they planned to catch a movie soon after. However, Paul fell asleep during the film. Slightly embarrassed and eager to create a better impression, he asked Carole out for dinner the next day.

“I was in college, so when I had a date it pretty much meant pizza. But Paul actually took me for a real dinner, so I was very impressed with him,” Carole said. “It was really a delightful date. It was something totally different in my life.”

Carole had always pictured her life a certain way: a college degree, a job, and a family. From the moment Paul introduced her to his welcoming family, she had a feeling that she had found just what she was looking for.

As for Paul’s early aspirations, he had been an adventurous young boy with an interest in machinery.

“I knew people were being put in an active duty circumstance to help in World War II though I was quite young. And even after studying engineering at the University of Colorado, I decided I wanted more adventure. That’s when I joined the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps program,” Paul said.

Paul was happy to have a family in his early years of being a naval officer, but his service would mean that he would have to be separated from them for extended periods of time.

Lacking the modern technologies of email or text messages, Paul was able to counteract the significant disconnect between him and his wife by flying down to see her whenever he could.

“Later on, I really thought that since I married a naval officer we should live together as often as possible. When he

changed stations, I changed homes so that we were able to be together as much as possible,” Carole said.

The couple had moved a total of 30 times, and on one move, the Barrish family ended up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As the Naval Attaché, Paul's job was to provide air travel for the ambassador, while Carole served as the American Secretary to the Council General.

“That really was a happy time for us. The whole thing, not just the working environment, was a high point for our family,” Carole said.

But times of separation were still persistent throughout the couple’s lives and would generate conflict from time to time.

“We still had a family that we loved. We loved each other, we just had to find out how to live together,” Carole said.

Counseling showed them that they both wished to stay married, and that good communication would be the key to doing so.

“Uplift the person you’re living with. Keep them feeling like they’re important to your life,” Carole said.

To really communicate their love for

one another, Paul and Carole renewed their wedding vows after being married for 25 years. Both partners composed their pledges to be simple and straightforward.

“The typical wedding vows are ‘love, honor, and obey.’ But we changed them to ‘love, honor, and negotiate,’” Paul said.

For Paul and Carole, honor meant having respect for each other.

Such respect can tie into the couple’s last clause in their vows: negotiation. The couple switched the patriarchal undertone of the original vows to something that would better fit their relationship. They had come to understand how a lack of communication could lead to bitter tensions.

“Respect the person enough to listen to everything that they have to say. Hear their perspective and recognize their cues,” Carole said. “After the vows, I realized that we stayed married for such a long time because we are still crazy about each other. Marry someone you can’t live without to

High school jobs disconnect from the adult world

of participants regarding high school graduates in the 21st century.

High school students often turn to job employment to establish a sense of order and schedule within their lives. However, it is difficult to grasp a realistic view of the world through one job, especially in one's adolescence.

A lenient workplace for someone might be an unmanageable environment for another. However, this concept goes beyond high school jobs, as every place of work has different management styles and rules in the adult workspaces.

According to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, in their Visions of the Future analysis, 66% of survey respondents stated that they feel college-ready when graduating from a United States (US) high school. Only 42%, however, said that they feel career-ready after graduating. In addition, 70% of participants shared that they thought high school graduates from the 1950s and 1980s were significantly more prepared to be successful when entering the workforce than 49%

We are in the midst of the most technologically advanced era, but as this advancement becomes more immersed into the US culture and on a global scale, true success is harder to achieve. A common misconception about the evolution of technology is that it means our world is moving toward more groups of individuals being able to get above the poverty line, but I think this could not be further from the truth. Although technological advancements are creating more job opportunities within the technology industry, many are unable to study its concepts or even able to enter this industry.

The Brookings Institution reported that 15% of all young people, 4.7 million, fall into the disconnected youth category, meaning they do not have stable jobs or are in school. Many young adults that do have jobs but are not in school currently, 33%, cannot move forward into specific career paths as they have yet to obtain a high enough level of education.

I have concerns about my future career choices and whether they will be limited even after my plans to graduate college, as many industries are rigorous in their hiring selection processes. Even if you get the job and settle into that work environment, adolescents’ expectations about their career job from their current job will likely lead to faulty conceptions about how to function in adult

Catherine Eikelbarner

Photos by Ujala Chauhan

workspaces.

One of the most important factors to consider is that many teenagers decide to obtain jobs in their adolescence for discretionary reasons, meaning they are not financially essential and have part-time occupations. The National Academies Press (NAP), in their Work's Effects on Children and Adolescents, concluded this observation along with research on how adolescent employment affects the outcomes of successful students.

Furthermore, the NAP reported that balancing the demands of school and work is arduous. Employed students may see its rewards as more crucial to their success, adding to a lack of focus on school and a greater possibility of dropping out of educational institutions.

The system of the economy's demands often outweighs the wants of pursuing academic interests and is something I have been a victim of. Despite numerous efforts toward my education and academic success, I often succumb to my ingrained necessity to earn enough money so that I do not have to turn to the adult figures in my life.

Nine to five jobs are what I perceive the education system is setting us up for. They are easy enough to get employed at but not enough to live off of substantially. I am lucky enough to be able to currently rely on my family for some of my expenses, but this will not always be the case, and turning 18 has made me increasingly aware of this fact. Many young persons fall victim to the crippling cycle that is

debt, as many are unaware of not only how to properly handle their money and live off of minimum-wage salaries.

Demographics of Debt by America's Debt Help Organization stated that the average debt held by U.S. citizens is $90,460. Roughly $16,043 is the average amount held by young adults of Generation Z, our current generation. This number may not seem like a significant amount compared to the debt of older generations; the reality is, however, that debt is attached to all of us. No matter how new we may be as independently acting consumers, debt consumes all of us.

It seems inevitable to outsmart a system that does not have our best interest at heart, but we do not need to outsmart it to become successful. Although it is challenging to glide through life without encountering struggles, understanding that our adolescent job experiences will set us free, at least partly, from the patterns of debt and poverty.

My experience in my current job is something I will cherish forever, but I will only take with me the organizational skills and tasks I learned within the job. Just as no two individuals are alike, no two jobs, even in the same field, are similar either.

Kids are growing up too fast

Marrisa Chow

The age-old question of the century:

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

When I was four, my answer was “princess.” At 12, it was “doctor.” Now, at 18, it’s “not sure.”

I am not a unique phenomenon. Classmates all around me bemoan the pressures of growing up, of “adulting,” of the shroud of mystery surrounding the future.

It feels like we’re pushed to grow up before we’ve even had a chance to breathe, and the modern digital age is only exacerbating the transition to adulthood.

A report by Common Sense released in 2021 found more than half of American children own a smartphone by age 11. The consumption of media through tablets and phones continues to reach younger and younger ages, providing them with newfound freedom. This constant overexposure to technology and social media means access to endless unfiltered information.

Widespread use of technology has also encouraged the rise of celebrity culture, and often children feel compelled to mimic their styles or actions. They see glamorous highlight reels and want a piece of it, but often forget their childhood is elusive in their haste to grow up, leading to the destruction of their innocence.

The rapid abandonment of their childhood leads young people to feel pressure to conform.

But this pressure doesn’t only come in the form of technology. Parents are a driving force behind introducing adulthood to their children, and today, “helicopter parenting” is the norm.

These parents are eager to test the limits of their children, swayed by videos of 6-year-olds singing at Carnegie Hall, or shows like Child Genius, where child prodigies are pitted against each other in an intellectual competition.

Inspired, they pile up schedules with test prep and Little League, tutoring and volunteering, desperately trying to prove their child is a diamond in the rough.

But this hyperattentive parenting can backfire; in their quest to produce the next Einstein, they often don’t leave space for children to problem-solve and learn.

And here is the root of our problem: in encouraging kids to grow up faster, they end up woefully unprepared for the workforce and adulthood. Their foundation is not stable enough.

Typically, there are five common indicators of adulthood: finishing college, leaving their parents’ home, finding a job, getting married, and having children.

According to a mass survey published in the research journal Child Development, adolescents “are taking longer to engage in both the pleasures and responsibilities of adulthood.” The findings of this survey, which span over four decades, demonstrate these milestones are happening later

Some researchers claim the entire developmental pathway has slowed down. But what’s most worrying is the lack of independence prevalent in today’s generations. College administrators discuss students who can’t seem to do anything without phoning their parents, and employers are just as

In order to be successful adults, parents need to ensure teens are receiving the opportunity to develop the necessary skills required for adulthood: independence, social skills, and other decision-making skills.

But just as important is holding adults accountable for teaching responsibility and conscious behavior around technology consumption. Digital regulation should fall on the companies aiding and abetting in the overexposure of technology.

It doesn’t fall just on the kids; everyone here is responsible.

Art by Glydelle Espano

Editorial: 18 is too early

Life is uncertain. That’s probably the only certain thing about it. You never know where life will take you, and navigating it is like trying to read a map that changes every time you blink. What you might be interested in now could be the bane of your existence in a few years. This is the issue with deciding college majors — something we want to pursue now could be something we hate after a single semester.

So why are we expected to suddenly have our lives together when we turn 18?

According to the Saint James School of Medicine, the brain’s prefrontal cortex (the part that tells you to make good decisions) does not fully develop until one is 25 or even older. However, when the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971 under the 26th amendment, it was decided that this clearly meant that we have the capacity to make good choices about the rest of our lives. Not to be too dramatic, but it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Now that I’m an adult, I can vote, enter the lottery, enter legally binding contracts, sue or be sued, join the military, get a tattoo… you get the idea.

But in addition to these things, I’m also expected to attain a higher education. The university I plan to attend required me to decide my major when I submitted my application.

Clearly, going around the sun 18 times means I should now know what to do with my life. Cue an eye roll.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a third of all United States college students change their major before earning a degree. One-tenth of students change their major multiple times. With those numbers, I wonder why people still expect students to decide their major as soon as they apply — it would probably be better to allow us to complete our general education requirements before having us decide on majors. Not only that, some colleges have minimal or no general education requirements, making it even more difficult to explore potential interests.

On top of that, some colleges make it difficult to change majors. I have never understood that. We should be encouraging expansive learning, but putting barriers to changing one’s major discourages exploration by forcing students into something they may not even like.

Some people, including some of my friends, plan to major in fields they dislike for the sake of going into wellpaying jobs as soon as possible. I don’t blame them — a good job with high pay is necessary for survival today, especially if we all want to stay in the San Francisco Bay Area. But that means they’re locking themselves into a field they aren't interested in. They feel like they can’t escape it because it’s challenging to change their major, and because how else will they make a living?

College and early adulthood should be a time to explore our interests. But the idea that we should have our life together at 18 pushes that idea out the door. It terrifies me — I don’t know where I want to live once I’m out of college, how long it will take to pay off any student loans I acquire, and part of me doesn’t even feel ready to graduate high school.

Eighteen is too early to know how the rest of our lives will turn out. So let’s try to make it easier for people to navigate the ever-changing map in the early years of our independence.

This piece was written by Beck Von Tersch on behalf of the Highlander Editorial Board.

Bahar@Apex-Payrollservices.com

Stages of brain development

Adelaide Reinshagen

Womb

Birth to age 6

By 2 years old, the brain is at 80% of its size, and by age 6, it is at 95% of its adult weight and peak energy consumption. According to the Urban Child Institute, during this time, a child’s brain creates 200% more synapses than an adult’s. Because of this, harmful treatment may come with emotional consequences in the future.

Ages 23 - 30

Once the human brain has stopped developing, the brain continues to create and eliminate synapses for the rest of its life. Because the frontal lobe is fully developed, mental illnesses can tend to flare up. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, most diagnoses of anxiety and schizophrenia happen during this time.

After 65

During this time of a person’s life, critical brain cells are lost, primarily in the area of the brain that processes memories. With an increased risk for diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, it’s important for adults to maintain a healthy lifestyle to help support their brain.

In the womb, a fetus's brain develops and grows. During this time the brain forms and develops neuron pathways and connections. When someone is born, they already have around 100 billion neurons.

Ages 7-22

Throughout these years, the last part of the brain fully develops, the frontal lobe, which is critical for decision-making, empathy, and impulse control. The frontal lobe causes people to partake in irrational and impulsive decision-making throughout these years. Around the age of 22, the brain reaches its peak power, which lasts for about five years.

Ages 30 - 65

During this time, memory for recalling episodes starts to decline, processing speed slows, and working memory stores less information. Most adults start noticing their memory begin to get worse, starting with their short-term memory.

Source: National Library of Medicine

Quick ‘n easy meal ideas

Emma Yin

Staring at the half-full fridge, you grab your dinner, a matter of convenience, a matter of feeding yourself. You don’t actually want to eat leftover instant noodles for the sixth time this week, but you don’t have anything else so what do you do?

Here are some easy ways to grocery shop and some quick and easy meal ideas!

According to viral nutritionist Kylie Sakaida, MS, RD, LDN, (nutritionbykylie on Instagram), an easy way to grocery shop for the next week is by buying:

• Four proteins—at least one low-prep option like yogurt or cheese

• Three starches

• Three vegetables (try to get as many colors are possible)

• Two fruits

• Two snacks

• Flavor enhancers if you are running low like marinara sauce, and such

• Drink options

According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study in 2011, depending on the person, one needs around 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day, and 9-13 cups of water. A nutritionist meal includes vegetables, fruit, protein, whole grains, and a small amount of healthy fat. It is vital that we get proper nutrition per our body’s needs and this includes eating and drinking enough.

Snacks

Snack combo 101

According to CNBC’s interview with dietitian Erica Leon, a snack that keeps you full includes both carbohydrates and protein such as combos like: Choose some from each column!

Carbohydrates

• Fruit (berries, grapes, bananas, apples)

• Crackers

• Pita bread

• Veggies

• Chips

Protein

• Cheese

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Nuts (walnuts, almonds, and more)

• Hummus

• Peanut butter

• Yogurt

• Cottage cheese

Breakfast:

Oatmeal 101 - 1 serving

• Ingredients: ½ cup of oats, 1 cup water or milk, toppings

• Microwave: ½ cup of oats, 1 cup water or milk; mix and microwave on high from 2.5 to 3 minutes

• Stovetop: ½ cup of oats, 1 cup of water or milk, boil water/milk, add oats, stir on medium heat for 5 minutes

• Toppings: fruit (banana slices, blueberries, apple, and cinnamon), egg, nuts, granola, and more!

Croissant sandwich - 1 serving

• Ingredients: 1 croissant, ham slices, eggs, cheese, and butter

• First cook eggs to your liking, then cut the croissant in half and spread butter across it, then add eggs, and ham slices and close the croissant. Then toast to your liking!

Lunch:

Sandwiches 101 - 1 serving

• Ingredients: 2 slices of bread of your choosing, condiments such as mustard, mayonnaise, jam, pesto, and more; meat and/or cheese of your choice, vegetables such as lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and more, and anything else you see fit to add in a sandwich.

• First spread condiments across your bread, and stack your fillings between the bread.

Salad 101 - 1 serving

• Ingredients: sauce of your choice, vegetable of your choice (like lettuce, spinach, kale, and more), herbs of your choice (mint, coriander, and more), beans and legumes, grains, protein, fruit and more.

• Add all dry ingredients and mix well.

• Then add sauces and other toppings of your choice.

Dinner:

Toast pizza - 1 serving

• Ingredients: bread, butter, ketchup, cheese, ham, and other various toppings

• First flatten your bread, then brush a thin layer of ketchup over it and add cheese, ham, and toppings. Then roll and slice it like sushi, placing it in a pan. Brush butter over the sliced rolls and lightly toast to your liking. Shredded cheese on top is optional and to your own taste.

Miso soup noodles in a jar - 1 serving

• Ingredients: 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base, Snowpeas, Shredded carrots, 3 oz cooked and shredded rotisserie chicken, rice noodles, cilantro, and boiling/hot water

• Add base sauces, then veggies, then proteins then noodles then garnish into a mason jar.

• Add hot/boiling water when ready to eat, let sit for 5-10 mins, shake and eat!

• Make sure the mason jars are at room temperature before adding hot water to prevent the jar from cracking!

COMING OF AGE FILMS

Chia

COMING OF AGE FILMS through the years

Even though the journey to adulthood is a commonality of life, people have still enjoyed indulging in movies that have captured it for decades. Epitomizing the adolescent experience is not a simple venture though, and the directors of the film industry have changed how they utilized this storyline through the decades.

Coming-of-age is a genre that deals with a transition from innocence to experience and highlights the emotional and psychological growth that young people endure as they search for their place in the world.

Here are just a few coming-of-age movies from different decades that share the themes of exploring the triumphs and challenges of growing up.

Stand by Me (1986)

The Breakfast Club (1985)

“The Breakfast Club” is a classic example of a coming-of-age film and a treasured movie of the 80s. It follows five teenagers who must spend a day in Saturday detention together. Each teen comes from starkly different stereotypical social roles, but by the end of the movie, they realize they’re not so different after all and overcome the stereotypes that previously defined them. Although this movie occurred within one day, they’ve all come of age when they gained the maturity to look beyond conventional perceptions.

Stand by me

“Stand by Me” is also a classic coming-ofage film and was adapted from the novella, “The Body,” by Stephen King. It’s a bit more unconventional with the spin of horror to it, yet it still deals with the journey from boyhood that defines the boys’ lives. The film follows the loss of innocence as four 12-year-old boys explore outside of their town in search of a body. Along the way, all the boys must confront their own grievances and the movie takes the readers along for the emotional ride.

Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

“Dead Poet’s Society” is considered a coming-of-age masterpiece as it delivered the remarkable message of “Carpe Diem,” also known as seizing the moment, that resonated with viewers. The film follows a passionate English teacher and teen boys at a prestigious institution, yet the teacher introduces them to poetry and the value of expression. He preaches vivid nonconformity which allows the adolescents to find themselves a bit more in the environment of strict traditionalism.

Juno (2007)

Perks of Being a Wallflower

“Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a cult-classic coming-of-age film that pairs cinematic visuals with a heart-throbbing plot. It follows the story of a high school boy who matures throughout his freshman year as he goes from being an observer to a participant, completing various rites of passage with his new older friends by his side. It grapples with mental health issues as well as sexual assault, which makes it stand out from prior coming-of-age films.

Boyhood (2014)

“Juno” is a comedic coming-ofage film that follows the accidental pregnancy of a vibrant 16-yearold girl. She’s complicated her teenage experience and within these nine clumsy months of pregnancy, she must grapple with growing up and the growing pains that come along with it. Juno is different from previous coming-age-of films as it gave a representation of women in a positive light for once instead of the previous misogynistic hyper-feministic stereotypes that were seen in films like “Mean Girls.” This film delivers a confident young woman who embraces her individualistic personality with an indie soundtrack to go along with it.

Little Women (2019)

Boyhood

“Boyhood” took a completely different path from its predecessors, as it was filmed over a 12-year span, following the protagonist’s emotional and physical maturation. The film takes a more show-not-tell approach and the life of Mason, the protagonist, unfolds in a cinematic, visual sequence. The true beauty of the film is how it can feel inseparable from reality, as the director has invited the audience to watch the actor grow up. In addition, Boyhood doesn’t focus too hard to create an exciting plot, rather it conveys the true experiences one goes through in life.

“Little Women” is a special coming-of-age story as it has been around since the 1800s when Louisa May Alcott published the groundbreaking novel. It has been made into a film adaptation five times prior to the 2019 version. The story follows five sisters and their stories while journeying through life and experiencing the emotions from transition through adulthood. They figure out their individual aspirations and come into their own by the end of the film. This version is special from the previous movie adaptations of the novel as the director Greta Gerwig has welcomed the feminist undertones of the story with open arms.

Annabel

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