February 2026

Story by Nathan Kim, Sophia Kim & Yutia Li

Cover by Ella Hughes & Emily Yen

Inaugural Jan Plan fosters spirit of adventure

Story by Riya Nimmagadda

Senior Abi Balachandran never imagined she would spend the third day of the spring semester training a Goldendoodle how to sit, yet that’s exactly where she found herself during Jan Plan.

In Paws On: Exploring Dogs Through Science and Service, students learned about dogs and their roles in society and the workforce.

“We met therapy dogs, K-9s and SWAT dogs,” Balachandran said. “It was such a cool experience that I never would have done without that week.”

After years of preparation, on Jan. 5, the Upper School finally debuted Jan Plan, a variety of half- and full-day courses that veered from more traditional academic courses. Other classes included Fashion in Film, The Magic of Glass Art, and Rug Tufting.

For some classes, part of the Jan Plan experience included taking field trips to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Barker Reservoir and Galveston Island.

Marty Thompson (‘91), Director of Experiential Learning, coordinated all off-campus trips, 54 in total, after months of planning.

“The idea of using Houston as a classroom excited me,” Thompson said. “My hope is that during Jan Plan, students had access to fascinating people and interesting places around our city.”

Thompson faced considerable logistical challenges and frequently communicated with teachers to ensure their plans could be executed, especially for the biking classes, where the majority of the day was spent off campus.

For senior Lachlan McFarland, who was a part of HustleTown Houston, a class that explored the city’s history through biking, getting off campus made Jan Plan special.

“It ended up being the perfect one for me because it is really important to see the city,” McFarland said. “When you’re going at a slower speed — and you’re not in a soundproof box — you

really notice how your surroundings change.”

At the end of the week, McFarland realized that Houston has more to offer than he previously thought.

”Houston’s not a boring city. You just have to seek the interesting parts of it.

LACHLAN MCFARLAND “HUSTLETOWN HOUSTON” PARTICIPANT

“Houston’s not a boring city,” McFarland said. “You just have to seek the interesting parts of it.”

While Jan Plan is novel to St. John’s, the concept is not new for local independent schools. Kinkaid’s program has been around since 1971 and currently lasts three weeks. Episcopal’s Interim Term lasts two weeks.

Former Head of Upper School Hollis Amley initially intended Jan Plan to kick off in 2020. However, the pandemic followed by a change in Upper School leadership stalled the program’s start. Head of Upper School Kevin Weatherill brought the program back to life.

“After two years of adjustments and faculty input, we launched a program that both teachers

Your childhood was sold to private equity

For holidays and family gatherings, Samantha Boyd and her family would visit Sprinkles Cupcakes, a popular nationwide bakery chain.

The junior was shocked to discover over winter break that Sprinkles had closed.

“Sprinkles was a big part of my childhood. To see it go away was very disappointing,” said Boyd, who enjoyed using the famous cupcake vending machine behind the Highland Village location.

Sprinkles is the latest in a series of closures of businesses that were local childhood favorites.

In early 2025, Party City, known for its assortment of helium balloons, costumes and superhero party favors, closed its doors.

“It really is so unfortunate what has happened to these companies.” said sophomore Anika Krishnan, who used to visit Party City before each holiday season. “It’s almost like seeing my childhood slowly dying.”

While it may seem personal for Gen-Z, financial experts say these iconic venues fell victim to the nature of private equity.

As reported recently by NPR, private equity decisions often play a major role in shaping which brands disappear. Through a variety of risky decisions and financial blunders, these firms have “hastened the failure and liquidation” of several major retail businesses. According to S&P Global, over 400 business closures since 2020 have been

linked to private equity.

AJ Alagarsamy, vice president of the Business Competition Club, says the goal of private equity is to adjust market inefficiencies — in layman’s terms, to stop wasting resources.

“Private equity firms seek out undervalued companies and purchase them to better manage their operations or sell them later,” Alagarsamy said.

Yet success is not guaranteed.

“Private equity can have benefits and downsides,” the junior said. “It is all dependent on the relationship between the firm and the purchased company.”

For small business owners like Molly Voorhees (‘94), who owns the local restaurants Beck’s Prime, Winfield’s Chocolate Bar, and Agnes Café and Provisions, private equity presents both a challenge and opportunity.

“It’s crazy how much private equity can make or break a company,” Voorhees said. “With the right firm, a business could grow into a global chain — or dwindle and shut down.”

Founded by ex-investment banker Candace Nelson in 2005, Sprinkles was promoted as a one-ofa-kind boutique bakery. After the initial success of its Beverly Hills flagship location, Sprinkles opened 21 stores in six states and Washington, D.C.

Hoping to grow her brand, Nelson sold Sprinkles to the private equity firm KarpReilly in 2012. Soon after the acquisition, Sprinkles began to cut costs. While the change enabled greater expansion, it

and students were excited about,” Weatherill said. Sophomore Riley Canonico took The Physics of Amusement Parks, which was one of her top Jan Plan choices. Ultimately, building two miniature roller coasters while applying physics concepts like gravitational pull and G-forces was a worthwhile experience.

“To be honest, I thought that a physics Jan Plan wasn’t going to be as fun as it ended up being,” Canonico said. “But luckily, when you’re building things that are equivalent to Lego roller coasters, it’s a lot more manageable.”

As with any first-year program, there were a few hiccups. For many freshmen and some sophomores who did not get any of their top choices, the week was less enjoyable.

“I think a lot of people got classes they didn’t necessarily want,” freshman Lucia Trachtenberg said. “It turned out to be really great for some people, but I know others who weren’t the happiest.”

The administration intends to continue Jan Plan next year and will implement the feedback from students and teachers alike.

“This year was a test run for the school,” sophomore Brooklyn Van Camp said. “But I think it will just get better next year, so I’m pretty excited.”

came with trade-offs. Consumers noticed, and customer service worsened.

Voorhees says this trend is typical when companies rapidly expand.

“I used to love eating at Sweetgreen, but I can tell you now that there’s not as much chicken on my salad as there used to be,” she said.

Beloved retailer Toys R Us was acquired by private equity in 2004. Three firms took on $5 billion in debt and, in an attempt to recoup their money, signed a now-infamous deal with Amazon, halting development of their own e-commerce website. By 2017, they declared bankruptcy, ending their reign as the most prominent U.S. toyseller.

While Toys R Us still exists as an online retailer — and in over 10 smaller-format locations with a few dozen holiday pop-up stores — the company operates at a smaller scale.

The brands that were once staples of elementary school life now struggle to compete in a digital landscape that includes online shopping services. Private equity acquisitions exacerbate the issue.

Still, Voorhees acknowledges that not all private equity collaborations end in failure.

“The biggest factor in private equity success is the strength of the partnership between the parties,” Voorhees said. “If a private equity company is too focused on revenue growth and expansion, it will not work as well as a company that understands the identity and soul of your business.”

BUILDING NEW TRADITIONS

Seniors Asa Gangjee and AJ Murray spent five days constructing on the Plaza.

Photo by Lisa Aragón-Stokes

Story by Evan Williams & Judah Sanchez Design by Ella Hughes

Additional reporting by James Chang

Surge in ICE raids, violence sparks local protests

On Feb. 7, over 300 Lamar students walked out of class onto Westheimer, parading Mexican flags and anti-ICE signage. Car horns sounded as drivers joined in approval.

The Lamar students were just a fraction of the participants in a series of coordinated state-wide peaceful walkouts. In the weeks leading up to the protest, students posted information and videos on social media, encouraging their classmates to participate.

“We need to do what we can,” said a Lamar sophomore, who asked to remain anonymous. “Ignoring the problem will never help because ignoring is a privilege. Everyone has to be a part of this.”

Protests were in response to the recent surge in deportations executed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the violence in Minneapolis.

The Department of Homeland Security reported that, in 2025, over 2.5 million individuals were forcibly removed, or deported, from the U.S., with one in four deportations occurring in Texas. Harris County alone recorded approximately 8,000 deportations, the second-highest of any region in the country behind New York City.

”Ignoring the problem will never help because ignoring is a privilege. Everyone has to be a part of this.

LAMAR SOPHOMORE

ICE has also focused its efforts in major cities like Chicago, San Francisco and Minneapolis. On Jan. 7, ICE officers shot and killed Renee Good, sparking thousands of protests nationwide. According to ABC News, Good, a Minneapolis mother of three, was shot three times, including once in the head, while driving away from ICE officers.

“It was shocking to hear about what happened

ICE TIMELINE

Jan. 7

to Renee Good and then to find out that she was not the first,” history teacher Rachel Podd said. “By virtue of the fact that Renee Good was a white woman, it was witnessed by people in public, and there was video — it really kickstarted more awareness of the situation.”

Two weeks later, another American citizen, Alex Pretti, was shot approximately 10 times after attempting to help a woman who had been knocked down by ICE officers. Moments after the incident, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Pretti “arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.” Numerous videos of Pretti’s murder told a different story.

“What the videos depict is that this guy did not walk up to anybody from Customs and Borders Protection in a threatening manner,” said former DHS Undersecretary for Intelligence John Cohen, a police trainer and ABC News contributor. Minnesota has recently become a major target of immigration enforcement, with over 4,000 individuals detained as of Feb. 6, according to the White House.

Sophia Jazaeri (‘23), a junior at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, learned about these shootings from just over 40 miles away.

She serves as part of a broader student activism group at Carleton, which has over 800 participants. As part of her service, she spends evenings delivering groceries and making food pantry donations for Minnesotans afraid to leave their houses.

“You look at this community, and underneath, there’s this secret root system of people who are helping out,” Jazaeri said. “Resistance is underground, but it has always existed. I know it feels hopeless, like you can’t do anything, but I promise you can.”

Jazaeri credits the underground movement with providing essential help to those affected.

“People are putting their energy into community members directly instead of writing to Congress, which isn’t going to help anyone right now,” Jazaeri said. “We can only rely on each other.”

Guatemalan refugees as part of the Spanish and Service learning class. Vu was one of the first members of the course, which is taught by Upper School Service Coordinator Claire Nuchtern and Spanish teacher Raquel Gaytán.

In July, an ICE raid occurred at the building they served at, preventing them from continuing their work with the Guatemalan community.

“The whole point of our class was to build relationships with immigrant communities, to make them feel welcome, to help them live in the U.S.,” Nuchtern said, “It felt really heartbreaking to know that we were previously doing that and we had to stop working with this community.”

Senior Caroline Basu has attended numerous protests over the past year, including the No Kings rally on June 14. Although she recalls feeling safe and well protected at previous marches, she notes that protesting, especially on the subject of deportation, has become increasingly dangerous.

“Seeing people [who were] just filming law enforcement getting killed is horrifying. It seems like I can’t do anything in my power to prevent myself from being harmed if I’m acting on the First Amendment,” Basu said. “So it feels like it’s not safe to protest anymore, which is scary.”

Participating in service related to refugee resettlement and immigration enforcement has also become more difficult.

”Resistance is underground, but it has always existed. I know it feels hopeless, like you can’t do anything, but I promise you can.

SOPHIA JAZAERI (‘23)

CARLETON STUDENT

Jan. 24

Rice University freshmen Abby Manuel and Jack Vu (both ‘25) created a website, icemap.dev, that tracks ICE-related incidents and immigrant detention facilities in counties nationwide.

“ICE was spreading so much fear and uncertainty,” Manuel said. “Immigration felt very pertinent to us and our community, so we came up with this as a way to try and spread information and awareness.”

Marta, a junior who asked to remain anonymous, notes the frustrating hypocrisy of how ICE agents choose whom to question. Reports indicate that dozens of Native Americans have been questioned or detained by ICE officers.

“It is obviously not right to racially profile anybody and try to deport them, but it’s wrong especially for people who have been here longer than anybody,” Marta said. “At that point, if they’re targeting these people, it’s clearly not about keeping the streets safe anymore.”

Podd acknowledges that these trends are not new.

Thousands of students

Feb. 7 Feb. 12

Since its launch last June, the website has gained tens of thousands of monthly viewers and been featured on news outlets such as the Houston Chronicle, Rice Thresher and The Nation Magazine. Within a couple months, the site received over 40 donations, gaining significant traction when political activist Greta Thunberg posted their site on her Instagram page.

“We publicized mostly on social media, just to try to get eyes on the project and to spread awareness as best possible,” Manuel said.

The initial inspiration for the project came from Vu’s experience teaching digital literacy classes in East Houston, where he worked closely with

“It is a situation that we’ve seen happen over and over again,” she said. “What is so frustrating as a history teacher is feeling like we’ve seen this before, we’ve seen what happens, and we know that these sorts of injustices do not end without considerable upheaval and suffering.”

Jazaeri emphasizes staying hopeful.

“It’s important to remember that what they want is for us to give up,” Jazaeri said. “When we give up, they have won. And when you have nothing else left, you have to have hope.”

Story by Aien Du & Bella Dodig Design by Ella Hughes

COLD POLICIES

Abby Manuel and Jack Vu (both ‘25) developed a heatmap to track ICE activity.

Renee Good is shot and killed in Minneapolis, spurring thousands of anti-ICE protests nationwide.

Two weeks later, Alex Pretti is shot at least 10 times after moving to help a woman knocked down by ICE.

White House border czar Tom Homan announces the end of Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

statewide, including 300 students at Lamar High School, participate in anti-ICE walkouts.

Behind the kidnapping of a Venezuelan dictator

Story by Brian Kim

When Ana Salavarria snapped awake at 4 a.m. on Jan. 3, the sophomore had no idea why her grandmother was shouting so loudly.

Later that morning, junior Samuel Caruso woke up and was embraced by his tearful father, normally a serious man. The two soon heard the news from relatives: “Maduro cayó!” They spent the day contacting friends and family in Venezuela to celebrate.

As U.S. troops moved in to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores in a secret military operation, Venezuelans around Caracas watched as American aircraft swarmed into the city, circling the president’s residence.

After the raid, Maduro and Flores were taken into custody and flown to the U.S. to face federal charges for narcoterrorism and drug trafficking.

Operation Absolute Resolve began in August when C.I.A. agents entered Venezuela and gathered information on Maduro’s movements, acquaintances and even eating habits. On the night of Jan. 2, over 150 aircrafts carrying approximately 200 personnel departed from American military bases across the Western Hemisphere. As the aircraft approached Maduro’s compound, the fleet disabled air defenses in Caracas, collapsing radar coverage and causing widespread blackouts. Venezuela’s Russian-made antiaircraft system was already out of operation due to mismanagement, according to the New York Times.

During the mission, Venezuelan defenses struck one helicopter, injuring seven American officers. Venezuelan officials reported that U.S. soldiers had killed over 100 Venezuelan and Cuban government personnel.

companies to extract and refine Venezuelan oil.

As those companies discovered major reservoirs, crude oil quickly became the country’s primary export, especially during World War II. Cannon said this “enmeshed” relationship created massive economic growth for the U.S. and its most powerful oil companies.

After Hugo Chavez ascended to the Venezuelan presidency in 1999, he nationalized the oil industry to fund his Bolivarian Missions, social programs created to reduce poverty and inequality. Despite initial profitability, Venezuelan companies lacked the necessary experience to continue the country’s immense oil exports. Combined with political corruption and policies that crippled the economy, Venezuela descended into poverty and violence by the early 2000s.

It’s very clear that it has nothing to do with regime change or supporting a more democratic government.

ELEANOR CANNON HISTORY TEACHER

Although Caruso said he was distressed by the violence of the operation, “from a selfish perspective, as a child of Venezuelan immigrants, I felt relieved and hopeful.”

In a briefing to the United Nations Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz cited Maduro’s actions “destabilizing the Western Hemisphere” and “repressing the people of Venezuela.” Waltz compared Maduro to former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who was captured and imprisoned by an American operation in 1989. He said Maduro was a criminal with an “illegitimate grip on power.”

While President Donald Trump stated that Maduro’s criminal actions were the motivation behind the operation, it also allowed Trump to announce that the U.S. would take complete control of Venezuelan oil exports.

“The president said exactly what the motivation was: for us to have the oil and gain our wealth back,” said Eleanor Cannon, who teaches the History, Geopolitics and Economics of Energy class. “It’s very clear that it has nothing to do with regime change or supporting a more democratic government.”

The history of Venezuela’s oil dates back to before Spanish colonization in the 16th century, when indigenous groups used crude oil in medicines and construction. Without the necessary technical expertise and economic structure, the resource remained largely untapped until the early 20th century. After taking power in 1908, former President Juan Vicente Gómez began granting concessions to American

Under President Maduro, who was elected after Chavez’s death in 2013, the crisis accelerated due to the continued nationalization of industries along with the excessive printing of paper money. The inflation rate in 2019 surpassed 300,000%, and in 2020, over 95% of households were impoverished, according to Venezuela’s National Survey of Living Conditions.

“People were eating out of the garbage — not just poor people, but everyone,” Caruso said. “We would get massive suitcases full of everyday goods that we bought from Costco, and we would send them over to my family in Venezuela.”

Meanwhile, Maduro escalated human rights abuses, from the detainment of political opponents and journalists to the torturing of detainees, according to Amnesty International.

and illegality.”

Currently, former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez serves as acting President of Venezuela. Previously a Maduro loyalist, she was sworn in two days after his capture, backed by Trump. According to a poll of 600 Venezuelans published by The Economist, more than 60% of respondents said an election should be held within six months. Instead of Rodríguez, who only received 15% of support from respondents, more than 60% indicated they would vote for opposition leader María Corina Machado.

“The chain of corruption starts with Maduro, but it includes all of his officials and supporters,” Caruso said. “Ending that corruption is a process that’s going to take a long time, but I would love to see María Machado in power.”

Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of democratic rights in Venezuela, won her party’s primaries for the 2024 election with 93% of the vote. She was projected to win the presidency, but the Maduro administration banned her from running.

“Best-case scenario, María Machado becomes president because she will actually bring good change,” Salavarria said. “If not her, then somebody that the people vote for, since all the elections in the past have been rigged.”

Although Venezuelan sentiment has supported the American operation, as survey respondents either strongly or somewhat favored his capture, it raises questions for the future of global conflict.

“The biggest ethical question is whether the U.S. and other countries should be able to control foreign affairs through violence or kidnapping,”

said Suraj Verma, vice president of the St. John’s Political Education Club. “It sets a dangerous precedent that something like this can happen very easily.”

The chain of corruption starts with Maduro, but it includes all of his officials and supporters.

“You don’t want to provoke people there because a lot of times they carry guns or have connections to gangs,” said Salavarria, who last visited her Venezuelan relatives in 2022. “Lots of people don’t even stop at stoplights because highway pirates can knock on your window and try to rob you.”

SAMUEL CARUSO JUNIOR

According to Reuters and the U.S. Energy Information Association, in the late 1990s, Venezuela exported over three million barrels of oil per day, almost two million of which went to the U.S. In 2020, that number had fallen to just 569,000 barrels. For Cannon, this is a textbook example of the paradox of plenty.

“There tends to be a correlation between having great natural resources and anti-democratic or authoritarian governments,” she said. “Human beings want to extract as much as they can out of those situations, and those extractive policies often turn the nation into a victim of corruption

Looking ahead, Trump has announced that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela, but the specific plans and level of American involvement remain unclear.

“The right steps are for the U.S. to directly help Venezuela transition and recover from all the economic downturns that happened during Maduro’s time,” Verma said. “The U.S. also needs to dissolve the overall conflict between Maduro’s supporters and his opponents.”

Despite the uncertainty of the situation, both Caruso and Salavarria remain optimistic regarding Venezuela’s future.

“I hope the people can have a say in choosing their leaders and be able to express their real opinions. I hope the economy improves, and the country takes control of its oil,” Salavarria said.

“If the U.S. can keep the Venezuelan government in line, then the people will get back on their feet.”

POWER REALIGNED On Jan. 3, Venezuelan President

Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. troops.

Video courtesy of Pedro Caruso

Serving Face: Addressing pretty privilege

Illustration by Jennifer Lin

Brody admits that if he finds a girl attractive, his attitude toward her changes. When peers ask him questions in class, he subconsciously feels inclined to act kinder to those who are “prettier.”

This phenomenon, known as “pretty privilege,” is defined as the tendency for people who are viewed as more attractive to receive more opportunities, benefits and attention.

“There are certain people that exist out there that I guess people would be less inclined to help,” he said. “It’s just natural.”

Brody, not his real name, says that for girls, attractiveness also correlates with social status. “The way a girl looks matters first,” he said. “Even if you’re not trying to judge them, it’s just the way it’s going to be.”

Senior Colin Callahan says pretty privilege is based on first impressions.

“It’s a stereotype, but people want to get to know you more based on your looks,” Callahan said. “Since everybody looks at looks first, you’re more socially ahead — it gets you through a lot of doors.”

Pretty privilege also has roots in the workplace. During the recruiting process, the “halo effect,” a psychological bias in which positive perceptions of appearance influence one’s assumptions about a person, leads to more “attractive” individuals receiving higher-paying jobs.

of appearance on workplace decisions. After a colleague was fired for a small mistake, they said that if they had been prettier, the repercussions would have been much less severe.

“People will judge you more if you do something wrong and are not conventionally attractive,” Veronica said.

Tom, a sophomore, often hears his friends make disparaging comments about women. In these scenarios, boys call girls “chopped” to downplay their appearance. The term has been around for years, but recently its usage has skyrocketed. Teens use “chopped” as a synonym for unattractive as a more casual way of discussing appearance.

“The extent to which they call girls ‘chopped’ is crazy to me,” said Kaylie, a junior.

“They just throw around the word like it doesn’t even matter.”

”People

to look your best as long as it doesn’t interfere with who you are,” said junior Dylan Kramer. “But that’s the prime example of taking it way too far.”

Still, most boys treat looksmaxxing as a joke.

“It’s so feminine,” Xander, a junior, said. “I cannot stand people who seriously talk about looksmaxxing — it’s so unfunny.”

Senior Finley Watt says that the difference in perspective between genders can be attributed to patriarchal and heteronormative structures.

“People are trying to appeal to the opposite sex, and men have the power,” he said. “Therefore, their favor has more sway than that of women.”

will judge you more if you do something wrong and are not conventionally attractive.

Kaylie attributes the pressure girls feel to look pretty in public to the normalization of such remarks.

“Everyone cares what guys think of them,” she said. “It’s natural to want to be perceived more positively.”

The way a girl looks matters first. Even if you’re not trying to judge them, it’s just the way it’s going to be.

Spanish teacher Aline Means recalls how, when she worked in Chile as the academic coordinator for a language school, recruiters would look at photos of each applicant and sometimes disregard ones they believed were “not attractive enough,” ignoring their qualifications.

“I always presented myself in such a way that I got that second interview,” Means said. “But I’ve also seen my colleagues look at resumes and pitch them because they’re not-so-good-looking.”

Veronica, a junior who works at a boutique in a popular shopping area, has witnessed the effects

Pedro, a senior, notes that boys feel the same pressures due to the emergence of “looksmaxxing,” an internet subculture that encourages males to enhance their features — such as jawline and muscles — to reach what is considered peak attractiveness or “ascension.”

“It’s the idea that maxing out or ascending your looks will open doors for you and make you socially higher,” he said.

Online influencers promote extreme and potentially dangerous methods to improve appearance, including peptide injections and bone reconstruction.

“I feel like it’s not necessarily a bad thing to try

According to a study by the Dove beauty brand, approximately half of 13-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies. By age 17, that figure reaches 80%. As a result, female teens spend upwards of $350 on beauty products each year.

As a reaction to the pressures of pretty privilege, students pour significant time and resources into their appearance.

Since middle school, Blythe, a senior, has purchased over $5,000 worth of makeup and trendy clothes, with typical shopping sprees costing upwards of $300 each.

“It was a way of fitting in,” she said. “Some people noticed it, and some people didn’t.”

In comparison, the average American man spends over $700 on their general appearance, including haircuts and self-care, which account for over half of the total expenditures. Other primary expenses include gym memberships, health supplements and skincare products.

“Who doesn’t want to look good?” Pedro said. “Guys are just as susceptible to going down that rabbit hole.” Pedro acknowledges that this is the unfortunate reality of adolescence.

“It’s not a fair thing, but it’s unconsciously built into everyone,” Pedro said. “It’s hard to change.”

Back in a flash: How digital cameras have recaptured attention

While vacationing in Florida, Olivia Major went to the beach to take photos on a second-hand digital camera, a birthday gift from her parents. After spamming the shutter button like she would have on a phone, the camera’s screen started glitching. A few minutes later, her camera turned off. Permanently.

“I was so upset because I had been wanting that specific camera for a while,” Major said. “It was extremely hard to get.”

Major, a senior, started searching for alternative camera options. She found a way to download the beach photos, and their quality only increased her desire. A few months later, Major bought a Canon SX740 HS, and she says it is one of the best purchases she has ever made.

“If this one breaks down one day, I will save up my money and buy another one of the exact same model,” said Major.

The digital camera, a staple of the early 2000s, has returned as one of the most popular gifts for teens. According to the Camera & Imaging Products Association, digital camera sales increased for the first time since 2017, shipping 9.44 million units last year compared to 8.37 million in 2024.

Depending on the model, high-end digital cameras range from $600 to over $1,000. The Kodak, one of Amazon’s highest-rated cameras, is priced at around $100 because of its smaller size and lower-quality image. The iPhone Air, released in September, is comparatively priced to the Canon, yet it features a wider variety of applications including messaging and social media. Whether brand new or vintage, digital cameras are consistently sold out.

Caroline Basu’s mom gifted her a Canon SX740 for her 16th birthday. Basu’s dad teased her, claiming she was “copying older generations” because her mom once brought a digital camera to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

“Her photos are such a vibe,” said Basu, now a senior, “and I try to capture that every time I use my camera.”

When Major was younger, she loved taking pictures on family vacations using her parents’ digital camera from the 1990s. When the “digi cam” became a recent trend, Major remembered how much she loved using her parents’ vintage camera, prompting her to get one.

Photography and Visual Arts teacher Scott Johnson attributes the trend’s return to influencer culture and the camera’s nostalgic feel.

“What is nice about the older cameras is you are able to get more rich, film-like photos,” Johnson said. “I can understand why there’s a resurgence for the demand of that digital aesthetic. It’s very stylistic.”

When you have your phone, it’s an everyday object. When you have a camera, it’s an event of taking the photo and capturing the memory.

SAVANNAH BOYNTON

After finding out that devices are banned at Camp Ozark two summers ago, Savannah Boynton found a loophole by bringing a camera instead of a phone. Since then, she has used her dad’s old digital camera and says the memories she captures are worth the cost.

“It makes taking pictures more of an experience,” Boynton said. The junior says that for those who are reluctant to spend a lot of money on a digital camera shop at thrift stores, where cameras are more reasonably priced.

“You don’t have to buy the newest camera model,” Boynton said. “My camera is from the 2000s. If you care about photography, and you think it’s fun to take photos with your friends, it’s one-hundred percent worth it.”

Tiffany Li purchased a Kodak FZ55 from a friend in August for less than $100. The sophomore

brings her camera to swim meets, concerts and puppy yoga sessions.

“You’re actually going to want to go places with it,” Li said. “It just makes you so happy when the final result pops up, and it’s such a good photo.”

According to Johnson, the most important thing for novice photographers is practice.

“I always say that my favorite photo is the next photo I take,” Johnson said. “You learn more from your errors than you do from your successes.”

Boynton says she is constantly learning different functions of her camera, such as filters that enhance warmth or saturation.

“I’m an amateur, so I let the camera do what it does,” Boynton said. “It would be interesting to learn more about the features, but I like how it’s beginner friendly.”

Though she enjoys taking landscape photos, Li says her favorite photos with the digital cameras are those taken with friends. During outings, they enjoy finding restaurant spots to take group photos. Li has wanted to post on social media more frequently since getting her camera.

Basu says she feels more present in the moment when she takes photos on her camera as opposed to her phone.

“I’m not getting any notifications,” she said. “It’s just about taking the picture.”

Boynton also notes that people are less critical of their appearance when captured on a digital camera.

“It’s not like you can zoom in on every feature and wonder if your smile looks weird at that angle,” she said. “You are just happier in the photos, and they turn out more fun and memorable.”

Because photos from digital cameras require actively connecting to another device, Boynton says the resurgence of analog photography reinforces intentionality.

“When you have your phone, it’s an everyday object,” she said. “When you have a camera, it’s an event of taking the photo and capturing the memory.

Travels with Tiffany Li

Story by Lee Monistere & Payton Tu

Photo by Jennifer Lin Design by Emily Yen

Students polish their nail art skills

Story by Juliet Dow & Amina Zegar

Upper School math teacher Alice Fogler (‘10) has become known around school for her frequent manicures. She uses nail art to reflect the changing seasons, holidays, and her style.

“Having my nails done has become kind of part of who I am,” Fogler said.

like many other traditionally feminine ways of upkeep, is not only a way to express one’s style but also has become an indicator of the state of the economy.

When sophomore Katherine Adkins began spending about $100 for every nail appointment, she decided to invest in her own equipment. For $400, her new tools allow her to create designs on her nails that salons do not provide.

gotten shorter and designs have become less eccentric.

“Today’s culture has strayed away from being more artistic, and instead people have become more reserved,” Khoi said.

Chu started doing her own nails when her mother appointments, which range from $50 for simple designs to over $150 for complex hobby. While the senior curve was steep, she

practice relaxing. “It’s like getting to draw or doodle

Adkins says nails are a part of her identity. “I like to be able to do different designs, and especially, going to a school with uniforms, it’s a big part of self-expression.”

It’s

like getting to draw or doodle — but on a mini canvas.

KENZIE

CHU STUDENT NAIL ARTIST

Economists use the term “lipstick effect” to describe the phenomenon in which lipsticks sales spike during an economic downturn since women look for more affordable ways to treat themselves. Similarly, in a declining economy, people look for ways to make their manicure last longer. “Recession nails” occur when women opt for shorter, less elaborate designs.

Whether as a signifier of the economy or an expression of one’s personality, senior Khoi Chu (no relation) has noticed that in a more conservative political climate, nail lengths have

To celebrate the end of his junior year swim season, Khoi decided to dive into the world of nail art. He landed on a pearl manicure to resemble the ocean and match with a teammate. Khoi spent time researching salons that would provide manicures regardless of gender. While he found no problem with getting his nails done for SPC, he found more difficulty when redoing his manicure for prom.

“There was a man who refused to do my nails,” Khoi said.

“Even though I was with my friends, it still made me uncomfortable that someone would refuse to give me something as simple as a manicure just because I was a guy.”

Regardless of politics or economics, Khoi says that nail artistry will remain a relevant aspect of society.

“It’s a way to treat yourself. Getting your nails done has been around for a long time and will continue to be.”

What once was lost might never be found

Iused to live in a locker: warm, folded neatly, and smelling faintly of laundry detergent.

Every morning, my human pulled me on, no matter how hot it was. One afternoon, I was left on a red chair outside the cafeteria. Just as class was about to begin, my owner put their plate away, picked up their backpack and rushed away while I stayed there, alone. Then, a facilities member carried me to a dark, quiet closet under the stairs near the Parent’s Desk.

Now, I am piled among dozens of other misfits: water bottles, calculators and books. We wait for someone to reclaim us. Most never do. Such is the life of a lost sweatshirt.

Every week, a variety of outerwear, watches, Airpods and car keys go missing. But the question remains: Where do these items actually go?

A hoodie’s journey begins far from Houston, in a HanesBrands factory in El Salvador. There, the

growing collection every day. She even found a model alligator head one time.

Teachers, security and the maintenance staff usually drop off these items at the office.

According to Assistant Dean of Students Lori Fryman, the majority of lost items come from Flores Hall. “Students eat, take off a sweatshirt, leave a water bottle, and just never come back for it,” she said.

Despite the volume, only a small portion of items are ever reclaimed by their rightful owners. Leakey estimates that about a third are reclaimed, while Fryman thinks it’s even lower.

“In the fall, maybe less than 10 percent,” Fryman said. “We put everything on tables, and most of it is still there when we pack it up.”

Timing often plays a role. Students who lose items check the lost and found quickly, but the items themselves may not arrive there until days later.

The most expensive items, like cell phones, laptops and key fobs, are kept at the Parents Desk instead of the closet, so they are easier to retrieve. Still, some valuables go unclaimed for weeks.

“We’ve had car keys sitting with us for a considerable amount of time,” Fryman said. “It’s hard to understand how someone hasn’t come to look for them.”

Michelle Woo, who works at the Parents Desk, constantly finds high-end technology.

“Our drawers sometimes look like a Radio Shack — it’s all random electronic bits and parts here and there,” Woo said.

hoodie is worn, until it is misplaced or forgotten. Eventually, the same fate. That’s when their second journey begins.

Upper School

According to US Administrative

Becky Leakey, new lost item is

Students eat, take off a sweatshirt, leave a water bottle, and just never come back for it.

LORI FRYMAN US ASSISTANT DEAN OF STUDENTS

Though many items never reunite with their owners, thankfully, there’s a new life.

Every summer, St. John’s hosts Summer Express, a community service project where students tutor underprivileged children.

“Primarily, what we do with the lost water bottles accumulated over the year is box them up, and give them to Summer Express. Then, they give them out for free to students who attend Summer Express.” Fryman said.

Other items, such as books and bracelets, are donated to organizations like Goodwill.

While most items can be donated, SJS-branded hoodies and sweatshirts are thrown away.

“Sometimes, we are able to redistribute generic SJS clothing,” Fryman said. “But some hoodies that have someone’s last name in a specific genre, such as a sport or club, are harder to find a new owner.”

Even when students know exactly what they have lost, finding it is another story. Sophomore Zaid Alousi spent 10 days hunting for a birthday gift from his parents, a brand new watch, to no avail.

“I looked for a solid week-and-a-half and checked pretty much every lost and found in the school, and it was never found,” Alousi said.

On the flip side, sophomore Tate Allen said he recovered a vanished lacrosse stick in the lost and found closet after a week of searching.

Because most students do not have the time to go on a scavenger hunt for missing items, Woo suggests a shift in perspective: don’t just look harder, look later. Since the facilities staff are constantly moving around campus, it often takes a few days for a lost item to surface.

So, the next time you misplace something, take a long, deep breath. After all, your lost hoodie might still be in the dark, quiet closet, tucked between a cracked water bottle and a broken calculator. It’s still warm, still smelling faintly of home, and still waiting for those familiar hands to pull it back into the light.

It’s not just a hoodie, it’s a memory, waiting to be reclaimed.

Story by Hudson Brock & Niko Laskaris

Illustration by Emily Yen

Photo Illustrations by Emily Yen

Due to the nature of this story, we have changed the names of some interviewees to protect their privacy upon their request. To avoid speculation, we have also chosen to omit certain identifying information, including graduating class.

Millie thought she knew what she was getting into.

On the same day a cute guy added her on Snapchat, she discovered that they shared a favorite musical artist. Snaps progressed into phone calls within a few days.

Just a couple weeks later, Millie spent a Sunday visiting a family friend and did not check her phone for several hours. When she finally did, she found at least 40 angry texts and 10 missed calls. The messages grew increasingly frantic and culminated in accusations that she had been hanging out with another guy.

The next week, Millie sent him a Snap of her sitting beside her female best friend. He accused her of prioritizing “less relevant people.”

More conflicts unfolded in hours-long text chains where her boyfriend would routinely “play the victim.”

A month in, Millie ended the relationship exactly how she started it — over Snap.

Millie’s story reflects the volatility of modern high school dating. As relationships become faster-paced and more fragile, fewer teenagers want to engage in them at all.

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2014 and 2015, only 35% of those under 17 had been in some form of a romantic relationship, a drastic decrease from Baby Boomers (78%) or Gen X-ers (76%) at the same age.

This is the “romantic recession.”

SFLYING SOLO

usanna, an underclassman, wants to find “the one” — which is exactly why she is currently not in a relationship.

“I’m dating to be with someone forever,” Susanna said. “When you go into a relationship in high school, you have to have the mindset that, unless you are the one percent [of relationships that lead to marriage], it’s not going to last.”

While Susanna is not completely opposed to being in a high school relationship, she remains wary of potential repercussions. Back in middle school, she and some of her friends had a crush on the same person, but when one of them made a move, the fallout broke up the entire group. Friendships were irrevocably ruined — all for a relationship that didn’t last.

balancing her academic responsibilities and social life. Last year, Kelli was a self-described workaholic who did not spend as much time with her friends as she wanted.

“If I’m struggling to have enough time with friends, then what’s to say I have enough time for a romantic relationship?” Kelli said. “If I were to start dating somebody, then that would just strain my relationships with other people.”

A lot of Susanna’s male friends share a common phobia: girls. Susanna attributes the current decline in dating to a fear of rejection, especially since dating standards expect boys to reach out.

“It’s come to the point where nobody’s making the first move. These days, it’s a lot more frequent for people to just be talking,” she said.

Gen Z uses the term “talking” in reference to the step between friendship and official dating — interactions mainly occur via text and social media. While those in the talking stage are not off the dating market, the possibility of them eventually becoming a couple remains open.

Susanna only talks to one person at a time. Yet she has observed others who talk to several people at once, which she considers a convenient way to remain uncommitted.

Keith, a senior, does not see an issue with talking to several people at once, as long as both parties understand they remain uncommitted. He adds that talking stages are not necessarily harmful.

“I think talking stages are integral to find the person you’re looking for,” Keith said. “But when one party isn’t committed enough and the other party doesn’t have, no offense, the self-respect to call it — that’s damaging.”

After his own official relationship came to an end, Keith wants to work more on himself.

“By getting into a relationship, you inherently share a lot of emotional burdens,” he said. “A lot of your mental energy is being put towards keeping the other person happy and keeping the relationship stable.”

It’s come to the point where nobody’s making the first move. These days, it’s a lot more frequent for people to just be talking.

While some view the end of a relationship as dramatic, Keith found that being single was freeing.

Rajszewski was initially hesitant to date before college but reconsidered after meeting Silsby.

“I was in the car with my mom, and I was telling her, ‘Hey, I actually met a pretty good boy,’” Rajszewski said.

A few weeks later, Silsby and Rajszewski visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science for their first official date. The rest is history.

Though Silsby and Rajszewski met in person, such an experience is becoming increasingly uncommon. As traditional third spaces — community hangouts including cafes and parks — continue to disappear, many teens turn to online outreach to form connections.

HAVE WE FALLEN OUT OF LOVE WITH

“High school romantic interests don’t last forever — but your friends should,” Susanna said. “It’s stupid to sacrifice your friends for a guy.”

Kelli, who has never even had a crush, considers friends more important than relationships, especially when it comes to

“You see a different aspect of yourself you don’t usually see in a relationship,” Keith said. “You get to focus on yourself.”

“That was a great campout.”

Magda Rajszewski, a senior at Lamar High School, read the text from SJS senior Winston Silsby.

As sophomores, Silsby and Rajszewski met as senior patrol leaders of their respective Scout troops.

According to the Pew Research Center, 50% of all teens have expressed romantic interest by following or adding someone on a social media platform, while 47% have done so by liking, commenting or engaging with that person’s posts. A quarter of teens with dating experience have dated or hooked up with someone they first met online.

A relationship is an agreement in which you both give it your all, and some people might just be afraid of giving 100%.

- ISMAEL SULTAN

For Rajszewski, chatting online is no substitute for face-to-face connection. “If people aren’t leaving their houses and doing new things, they’re missing the chance to truly meet new people,” she said.

Social media can also create problems for those already in relationships.

Millie found that relying on digital communication with her partner eliminated common conversational cues such as tone and body language. When they were mad at each other, they would intentionally take longer responding to texts, send fewer Instagram reels and merely like TikToks instead of commenting on them.

“These are small things, but we thought they made a major difference, and we wanted each other to notice them,” she said. “It was a way to send not-so-subtle cues.”

Knowing her boyfriend could track her location through Snapchat and see her active status online, Millie felt constant pressure to stay available. Her experience reflects a growing trend — about 20% of teens in serious relationships have been pressured by partners into immediately responding to calls and texts, and 27% admit to using social media to keep tabs on their significant other’s whereabouts, according to the Pew Research Center.

“I felt like I needed to tell my boyfriend who I was with and where I was at all times and to update him every hour of the day, or else I wasn’t doing it right,” Millie said.

Silsby and Rajszewski fault social media for perpetuating unrealistic expectations. According to survey results from Match, 41% of single people believe

This culture relationships

“I don’t want likes or comments,” between us, Although senior Ismael social media They say the has paved the term for relationships differ between seriousness.

“basically everything label and commitment.”

According U.S. have experienced 30% of those

EWhile the appealing, Sultan tionships assuming anxiety and “A relationship give it your just be afraid

ven proximity tionship

Seniors Jake friends since talking stage” who prioritizes relationship.

“A big thing er in the hallway of the day,” Bruno’s in-school forting. The interactions tensions in

Losing Connection perfect

“I feel like Outside of school, romantic couple,” lems. I didn’t Bruno started end of his freshman They messaged meeting in person. tion occurs each other about “Having social other as much

Story by Nathan Kim, Sophia Kim & Yutia Li Design by Jennifer Lin, Michelle Liu & Emily Yen

Dating Data WITH DATING?

BASED ON A SURVEY OF 100 STUDENTS

romantic media has set unrealistic expectations for love, and 43% think they will end up in a “picture-perfect romantic relationship.”

“People see what a perfect guy or girl should be like online, and they just keep raising their standards until nobody feels good enough,” Rajsze-

culture of comparison can shift the focus of relationships toward public validation. want to associate a good relationship with comments,” Silsby said. “I want it to be just not whatever social media labels us.” their first contact was over Snapchat, Ismael Sultan and junior Sonia Ambani cite media as a major factor in the decline of dating. the fast-paced, casual nature of Snap culture the way for situationships — an umbrella relationships that lack clear definition and between couples in terms of exclusivity and seriousness. As Ambani describes, situationships are everything about dating, but without the commitment.”

to YouGov, half of 18-34 year olds in the experienced a situationship, compared to those over 55.

no-strings-attached mentality may seem Sultan points out that many enter situaassuming they will not last, contributing to preventing emotional investment. relationship is an agreement in which you both all,” Sultan said. “And some people might afraid of giving 100%”

perfect Match

as relationships shift online, physical proximity still plays a role in whether a relationship will last.

Jake Hunt and Erin Bray, who have been since middle school, skipped the “traditional stage” and began dating sophomore year. Bray, prioritizes quality time, prefers an in-school relationship. thing for me is just being able to see each othhallway or say good morning at the beginning Bray said. in-school relationship was not as comSt. John’s student felt like his frequent interactions with his former partner exacerbated other their relationship. at school you should remain friends. school, that’s where you can be more of a couple,” Bruno said. “It led to a lot of probdidn’t want to see them.”

started an out-of-school relationship at the freshman year with his current girlfriend. messaged each other online for a month before person. Most of their current communicathrough Instagram and texting. They see about twice a month. social media makes it okay to not see each much in person,” Bruno said. “It’s not like we

have to send each other handwritten letters — we can still text and call every day if we want to.”

While Bruno considers social media constructive in his relationship, he says staying digital is not necessarily the best path forward.

“I got to know her really well online, but I didn’t know what she was like in person,” Bruno said. Still, many of his friends feel like “meeting someone online is sufficient to get in a relationship.”

Silsby and Rajszewski choose not to broadcast their relationship online, separating social media from their relationships as much as possible. Still, they coordinate with each other online.

“We guarantee at least one official date per week, no matter what,” Rajszewski said. “It’s a real commitment. We have a shared doc with our schedules. We plan everything out.”

Silsby enjoys the balance he experiences in his outof-school relationship.

“It’s like work and home life,” Silsby said. “You can give 100% to school, and then 100% to the relationship outside of it.”

LOVE Demands

According to an Add Health survey, men and women involved in a romantic relationship during their last two years of high school are at least 50% more likely to marry or cohabit by age 25.

The correlation, however, is not completely straightforward. The Society for Research in Child Development recently found that non-romantic relationships had the greatest influence on adult romantic relationships, even if the teens were concurrently involved with romantic partners.

Keith says that while his romantic relationship was “formative” to his development, his platonic ones have been even more influential. He adds that it can be difficult to be emotionally mature enough for a relationship in high school.

You have to be content with who you are before you can be content with someone else.

“You’re both super young. You don’t really know what you want yet in life,” Keith said. “If you have really strong friendships that can support you through the thick and thin, that’s way more emotionally valuable than having a good relationship in high school.”

Rajszewski stresses that healthy romantic relationships should be worth the effort.

“Only date if they’re actually adding to your life,” Rajszewski said. “If you’re crying all the time, worrying all the time, and you can’t trust them, then it’s built on insecurity instead of respect and care.”

Millie agrees.

“You have to be content with who you are before you can be content with someone else.”

To see an expanded version of this article, visit the Review Online: www.sjsreview.com

Have you gone on a date in high school?

Dhir named Houston Youth Poet Laureate

When Kaviya Dhir was named Houston’s 10th Youth Poet Laureate, she followed in the footsteps of Ariana Lee (‘22). Mayor John Whitmire awarded Dhir the title, given annually to the city’s best teen poet, during a private inauguration ceremony held at the Julia Ideson Building in November.

Youth Poet Laureate finalists submitted portfolios and later met with a panel from Houston’s literary community. The interview was intense and somewhat terrifying, “but they made me think.” The experience encouraged Dhir to quickly confront her obstacles, inspirations and aspirations when it came to her own writing and how she wanted to use it to contribute to Houston’s ever-expanding cultural community.

For years, Dhir attended several workshops, including the Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program, the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop and the Juniper Institute for Young Writers. Her work has appeared in Columbia Journal, the Oxonian Review, Wildness and elsewhere, and she was even named a commended poet for the Foyle Young Poets Award.

In May, she will perform at the Hobby Center. In the show Kāvya: Poetry in Motion, she will write and recite poems to Indian classical dances, merging language and movement into a single performance.

In Sanskrit, “Kaviya” literally means poetry.

When Dhir visited her grandfather in Sugar Land as a child, she helped him translate statistics textbooks, primarily assisting with grammar.

Inspired by his ability to express himself in five different languages, Dhir wanted to find her own form of expression. She discovered poetry.

“I found it very fascinating that if he had one

emotion or feeling, he had access to saying that in multiple different ways,” Dhir said. “Poetry was another opportunity for me to say one thing in multiple different ways that felt fresh.”

Poetry was another opportunity for me to say one thing in multiple different ways that felt fresh.

KAVIYA DHIR YOUTH POET

Dhir’s poetry education began in middle school when teachers encouraged students to submit for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In eighth grade, all of her submissions earned a regional Gold Key, the highest level of recognition at the regional level, inspiring her to pursue writing beyond the classroom.

“Poetry was a form of art that allowed me to take risks and explore uncertainty,” Dhir said. “I was

able to write a poem I enjoyed in just 10 minutes.”

Dhir serves as the senior poetry editor for Imagination, the SJS literary magazine. Faculty sponsor Cameron Dowlen noticed Dhir’s talent when she began working with her as a sophomore.

“My first impression of Kaviya as a writer was her thoughtfulness, intentionality and the specificity of her language,” Dowlen said. “There’s also a quiet power to her writing.”

Abi Balachandran, an editor-in-chief of Imagination, says Kaviya’s courage to take creative risks sets her apart as a writer.

“Her passion for writing shows in the way she approaches ideas and the way she makes it so memorable,” Balachandran said.

For Dhir, the importance of poetry lies in how it allows writers to explore thoughts privately while still connecting with others.

“It’s just you and the page,” she said. “Your words don’t necessarily have to make sense.”

For now, her goal is for readers to leave her work with something personal to remember.

“I hope they find one line — or at least one word — that reminds them of their own life.”

Story by Wanya Zafar, Emily Xie & Viv Fox

DHIR TO HER HEART

At the Julia Ideson Building, Dhir spoke during the ceremony honoring her induction.

Photo courtesy of Kaviya Dhir

TRing of Fire: How Mordy Became the Hula Hoop Girl

he annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day parade features dozens of floats, balloons and marching bands. In 2024, Arabella Mordy hula hooped her way through the two-hour procession. Marching in front of Olympic medalist Carl Lewis, she made up her routine on the spot — in front of over 200,000 spectators.

“The improv was easy. Every few minutes, I could repeat the same routine because I was in front of different people,” said Mordy, now a sophomore.

An after-school program called Mad About Hoops sparked Mordy’s love for hooping. At seven years old, she learned basic skills like isolation — a technique in which the hoop appears to float in a fixed spot while the hand moves around it. She practiced more intensely during middle school, adding more hoops to her performances until she could manage up to four at once. Her instructor, Amy Neel, was the one who invited Mordy to participate in the Thanksgiving parade.

“When I get bored, I just go straight to hula hooping,” Mordy said. “It’s an activity that I always find fun and engaging, and it’s good exercise, too.”

Last year, while browsing hula-hooping videos, Mordy came across clips of fire hula hooping, which consists of specially-designed hoops with a wire around the perimeter. The wire holds five candle wicks that, when lit with campfire fuel, resemble a ring of fire.

lot of courage to do that.”

Neel worked with Mordy for about six months, teaching her basic safety skills like how to light the hoops and manage the fuel, how to dress properly and how to make sure nothing else lights on fire inadvertent ly. “People assume that having fire circulating around your body is a lot more dangerous than it actually is,” Mordy said. “She was very reassuring that I would not get burned, unless I have prolonged exposure to the flame.”

val Fringe, the world’s largest performing arts festival held every August in Scotland. But first, she needs performer’s insurance to protect her from liability and possible damages that may occur. As a minor, most insurance companies won’t cover her due to her use of live flames.

She’s very dedicated. She always does very bold, out-of-the-box things, so fire hula hooping certainly is a representation of who she is.

MIA GUINN SOPHOMORE

As an added precaution, Mordy wears protective sleeves to shield her forearms and wrists. She only fire hoops outside on a cement driveway under Neel’s supervision.

When I get bored, I just go straight to hula hooping. It’s an activity that I always find fun and engaging, and it’s good exercise, too.

ARABELLA MORDY HULA HOOP GIRL

Mordy thought it would be a “fun addition” to her skillset and asked Neel to teach her the basics.

“She is very out there,” said sophomore Dancy Yates, one of Mordy’s friends. “You have to have a

Due to the lack of hula-hooping enthusiasts in Houston, Mordy has had trouble finding local events and competitions, so she performs in unorthodox venues. Since 2023, she has performed in front of 700 attendees at the Texas State Junior Classical League, an annual Latin competition for middle and high school students featuring academic, athletic and creative events.

“They don’t know my name,” Mordy said. “They know me as the Hula Hoop Girl.”

Mordy would like to take her show on the road to international fairs such as the Edinburgh Festi-

Mia Guinn, one of Mordy’s classmates, has seen videos of her performances and agrees they are lit.

“She’s very dedicated,” Guinn said. “She always does very bold, out-of-thebox things, so fire hula hooping certainly is a representation of who she is — very unusual, but in a good way.”

Story by Dalia Sandberg & Henry Kramer

HOOP DREAMS Sophomore

Arabella Mordy first began hooping when she was 7.

Photos courtesy of Arabella Mordy

Sophomore competes with Polish National Lax team

While her fellow classmates were gearing up for their first carrier classes on a Monday morning in November, sophomore Evie Ashcroft was scoring goals in a state-of-the-art Olympic lacrosse facility in Wałcz, Poland.

Ashcroft is a member of Poland’s U-20 National Lacrosse Team. Last May, she was invited to play with the team after attending a camp in Boston. Since 2018, the Poland Lacrosse Foundation has invited expat Pols and their children to play for Polish teams in an effort to popularize the sport. Ashcroft’s maternal grandmother was Polish, making Evie eligible to represent Poland in international competition. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to build a team that can qualify for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Ashcroft and her father traveled to Wałcz, a small town along the Polish-German border. She presumed that she would compete with fellow 16-year-olds, but instead the team’s roster included people of varying ages. Some of her teammates even have children.

Unlike in the United States, Polish schools do not field their own teams, and playing lacrosse “for fun” was something her Polish teammates did not understand.

“In Poland, the philosophy is: if you’re not good, don’t even bother,” Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft had never visited Poland before, but with her family connection, she could obtain a passport. Her grandparents moved to Canada in the 1970s, where they continued to honor their Polish traditions.

“My mom always spoke Polish at home as a kid,” Ashcroft said.

Since moving to Houston from Canada in 2012, Ashcroft and her family continue to celebrate their Polish heritage.

The origins of lacrosse trace back to the 12th century in North America, but the first official lacrosse game on Polish soil took place in 2008, when Polish citizens brought lacrosse to their homeland after playing it in the U.S. and Canada.

“It was fun to go see where my grandparents grew up. It made me feel more proud to be Polish.

EVIE ASHCROFT

U-20 NATIONAL LACROSSE PLAYER

Beyond playing her favorite sport, Ashcroft felt her trip to Poland helped her celebrate her cultural heritage.

“It was fun to go see where my grandparents grew up,” Ashcroft said. “It made me feel more proud to be Polish.”

Lacrosse is a common bond in the Ashcroft family. Her father, Andrew, was born and raised in Canada and grew up playing ice hockey. He was introduced to lacrosse by a group of friends and played frequently on the Manitoba reservation in northern Canada. Despite his struggles as a

beginner, Ashcroft’s father began enjoying the sport, partially due to the teasing of the kids who would one day become his friends.

“I fell in love with lacrosse after being told how terrible I was,” he said.

Today, Ashcroft’s father is a registered coach in both Canada and England, serving as Evie’s inhouse mentor.

Evie herself began playing when she was 5, shortly after her family moved to Houston. The sport piqued her interest in part due its cardioheavy, exhaustive nature.

“After lacrosse practice, there was never any question about whether or not she wanted to go to bed early,” Ashcroft’s father said. “For most young families, that’s like the greatest gift a sport can give.”

Since returning from Poland, Ashcroft has prioritized her fitness, aiming to get in the best possible shape. She routinely gets up on Sundays for a 5K jog before anyone else in her family is awake.

When asked about the possibility of playing for the Polish National Team when she is 23 years old, Ashcroft said, “Yeah, maybe. But that’s a long way away.”

Welcome to the Zoo: Seniors support girls basketball

Sheamus Quinn to volleyball captain Maddox Kuy.

Since then, 10 have become Zoo regulars.

When “Zookeeper” Drew Kalapatapu cheered on the sidelines of the girls basketball game against Lutheran South, he found himself in the middle of a zoo: fellow seniors Sheamus Quinn, Maddox Kuy, Winston Silsby and Adam Wilson all sported distinctive animal onesies, roaring the team to victory.

“It was a great experience,” Kalapatapu said. “Showing our pride with those onesies, cheering for the girls — that’s what the Zoo’s all about.”

At the start of the school year, head girls basketball coach Kathy Halligan emailed Kalapatapu requesting his help in coordinating the Zoo, a group of male seniors designated to practice against the girls team. He agreed and began reaching out to students he thought would be interEventually, he assembled a group of 15, ranging from football captain

Starting from the first practice in early December, in which the Zoo scrimmaged against players, Kalapatapu has felt “a sense of team chemistry.”

“In basketball, you need to know the people you are playing with,” Kalapatapu said. “Thanks to the Zoo, I talked to so many people I usually wouldn’t talk to.”

In previous iterations, the Zoo made three or four visits each season. But this year’s squad comes to three or more practices a week, helping out with drills and conditioning in addition to scrimmaging.

“When they want to face some game-like competition or to practice their plays, that’s when they’ll call us in,” Kalapatapu said.

Captain Lily Dunlap appreciates the Zoo’s increased participation this year.

“They’re big and they’re strong, so they can match our competition in unique ways,” Dunlap said. “It brings the energy and intensity way up, and the competitive spirit is really there.”

Dunlap says the Zoo has forged unlikely friendships.

“The competitive spirit is there, but they are also super nice,” she said. “They want to help us — they give us tips, we give them tips. The community

spirit is great.”

Dunlap adds that playing against a group that does not know the plays allows them to replicate game conditions.

“When we play against ourselves, we know the plays and what to expect,” Dunlap said. “Playing against the Zoo is like playing in a game. I feel like team sports bring friendship because they bring trust in a way you don’t normally get — they’re like a second part of our team.”

Senior Henry Caputo, an active member of the Zoo who had not played basketball since freshman year, also enjoys the atmosphere.

“It’s an opportunity to have fun with my friends and engage with people I don’t usually interact with that much,” he said.

Senior David Qian appreciates having a new outlet to practice and engage in competition.

“It’s fun because we get to mess around and just play,” Qian said.

Qian also notes that, since the Zoo features a range of athletes who do not specialize in basketball, everybody has specialties that present a unique challenge to the girls team.

After quitting basketball his freshman year, Quinn joined the Zoo because he missed playing. “It was a fun opportunity to get back into the sport with my friends.”

Story by Eshna Das, Bella Dodig & Akshay Pandya

Photo by Jack Chavez

Story by Asher Gurr & Harrison Hadnott

LACROSSE THE WORLD Evie Ashcroft represents her heritage on the international stage.

Photo courtesy of Evie Ashcroft

Level 10 gymnasts vault into action

At a gymnastics meet last year, Ziya Ali overheard classified information: Simone Biles, the four-time gold medalist who had stepped away from the sport, would be practicing again with an eye toward competing in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Ali was there when Nellie Biles, the gymnast’s mother, shared the news with Ali’s coach, Mei Liu, who coached Biles for a couple months in 2017.

Ali has been training at Sugar Land Gymnastics for the past 13 years and has reached Level 10 in her sport. The USA Gymnastics Developmental levels demand a required skill set to meet competition thresholds. Only four percent of gymnasts reach Level 10; once there, gymnasts move onto the Elite track, allowing them to qualify for national and international competition.

Advancing through the sport requires Ali to spend almost 17 hours at the gym each week, yet even with the demanding time commitment, quitting was never an option.

“Middle school was rough because everyone was doing different things, and I was just doing gymnastics,” Ali said. “But I’ve never really done another sport, so I’ve felt like gymnastics was all I had.”

By the time many gymnasts reach Level 7, they opt for homeschooling, which allows for more training and a better chance at getting recruited for college.

Ali notes that while she is sometimes outperformed at competitions, going to St. John’s has given her an advantage beyond the sport.

“Homeschoolers spend their whole lives doing gymnastics, which makes injuries all the more likely,” Ali said. “But I’m fortunate that I can do other things like choir and clubs.”

Sophomore Charlotte Montgomery began her gymnastics journey in New York City, where she lived until she was 12. In Manhattan, gyms with top coaches are scarce, requiring gymnasts to travel long distances or settle for smaller, less specialized facilities, making the path to the higher levels all the more challenging.

“It was a two-hour drive each way,” Montgomery said. “And a lot of the coaches would get banned because they’d make people go in with broken legs — it was

After moving to Houston, Montgomery had a more positive experience.

While she had every intention to continue with gymnastics, and reached Level 10 by eighth grade, she made the decision to stop competing due to recurring injuries including simultaneous ankle sprains, tendonitis and multiple concussions.

“Injuries for all gymnasts are the most perilous roadblocks,” Montgomery said. “A sprained ankle can devastate a career, so perfect care is a necessity.”

By ninth grade, Montgomery switched to platform diving,

using the skills she learned from gymnastics to make the transition to aquatics.

In the absence of Simone Biles competing regularly, Ali now follows UCLA freshman Tiana Sumanasekera, the only South Asian gymnast at the most advanced levels.

In 2024, USA Gymnastics surveyed its members and found that 60% of its athletes identified as white while only 3% were Asian. At meets, Ali will sometimes see whole teams of girls with the exact same hair and mannerisms, which is why she appreciates the diversity of her gym, which “has helped me love the sport even more.”

As the only Level 10 gymnast at her gym, Ali competes alone at meets, yet she has found the gymnastics community to be incredibly supportive. It is not uncommon for her to hear complete strangers and opponents cheering her on.

For Ali, the skills she has honed transcend the sport.

“I’ve learned to be so much more persistent, both in and out of the gym,” Ali said. “The hardest part is doing it well because you may be able to do it, but if it looks bad, then why bother with it

My coaches have meant so much to me and have helped me grow up. I want to be able to do the same for the next generation of gymnasts.

ZIYA

ALI LEVEL 10 GYMNAST

at all?”

Since freshman year, Ali has coached elementary school girls twice a week. Ali notes that correcting them on their skills reminds her of what she needs to work on herself. After a long day of school, Ali’s students bring her joy and energy. For her, coaching is a way to pay it forward.

“My coaches have meant so much to me and have helped me grow up,” Ali said. “I want to be able to do the same for the next generation of gymnasts.”

Liu, Ali’s coach for the past 14 years, has seen the senior grow from a shy girl to a confident and talented teenager.

”She is an incredible role model for the younger girls. She teaches gymnastics with a strong passion and grace that surpoasses many other gymnasts.

MEI LIU ALI'S GYMNASTICS COACH

“She is an incredible role model for the younger girls,” Liu said. “She teaches gymnastics with a strong passion and grace that surpasses many other gymnasts.”

While Ali will not be competing collegiately next year, she knows that she will be practicing and coaching in the future.

“I really love this sport, and it’ll always be part of my life.”

Story by Riya Nimmagadda & Ved Kulkarni

Photo by Nathalie McDaniel

LEAP OF FAITH

Senior Ziya Ali began gymnastics at only four years old.

Photos courtesy of Ziya Ali

Loving parents, patiently

In my blissfully unaware childhood, I thought my parents had some all-encompassing guide to parenting – a magical manual shrouded in mystery, like Santa or Dr. Raulston. The guide comprehensively laid out the precise steps to raising a child, ensuring they would develop into a well-rounded, mature adult. After all, there had to be some secret to my parents’ endless wisdom and knowledge, right?

I grew up dutifully adhering to any and everything my parents said, not from fear or incentives, but due to a steadfast belief that I was on a set path toward adulthood, guided by my parents. Of course, I had my occasional fits of petty disobedience, but I knew that my parents were unquestionably correct.

Even the mistakes my parents made seemed to be teachable moments in disguise. Spilling a glass of milk? – a lesson on cleaning up. Rolling an ankle? – a message to be cautious. In my imaginative six-year-old brain, they were almost godlike.

I began to notice the cracks in the facade. My parents had faults, big and small. After a frustrating day at work, they sometimes came home angry and irritable. In the face of important decisions, they often hesitated and second-guessed themselves. When things went wrong, they occasionally fought. They made real mistakes, out of fear and confusion.

At first, this realization seemed to overturn everything I thought I knew. The perfect architects of my life were gone, leaving behind an unpaved wilderness for me to explore. I felt vulnerable,

Don’t yuck my yum

Opinion by Aila Jiang

Illustration by Jennifer Lin

Earlier this year, when I first saw a plate of saltand-pepper fries mixed with curry sauce and chow mein, I was horrified. This fusion, called British Chinese takeout, corrupted my TikTok feed for a week straight.

The incongruous ingredients were an affront to my ideas of traditional Chinese food.

Thousands of other American users shared the same repulsed, visceral reaction. “Get some REAL Chinese food,” people said, posting photos of Mapo tofu and steamed fish alongside the caption, “Chinese food is supposed to look like this.”

Yet with more research, I realized my reaction, along with the backlash I was agreeing with, was disregarding the history behind the cuisine.

As one of the British Empire’s last colonial footholds, Hong Kong became a key trading port, attracting many Southern Chinese seafarers who resettled in the United Kingdom.

To sustain these growing Chinese communities, migrants set up informal noodle shops and eating houses. During the mid-1900s, a restaurant boom emerged as immigration policies permitted increased migration. Food establishments began to adapt Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine to appeal to the tastes of non-Chinese clientele.

Who are Americans to judge and debate the merits of Chinese food when we have similar practices across the Atlantic? Chop suey, crab rangoon and even the orange chicken served in Flores Hall are the result of such innovations.

The earliest Chinese immigrants to the United States worked in gold mines and built the rail-

as if my training wheels had been prematurely stripped away. How could I trust my parents when they were just as likely to mess up as anyone else?

Over time, a sense of liberation replaced this fear. I found satisfaction knowing that my journey, however imperfect, was my own. I was free to make my own choices and spectacularly screw up in my own ways. I could fall into a ditch and break my arm. I could dent my car while parking in Taub. I couldn’t follow some ideal script because it hadn’t been written yet.

Understanding my parents’ flaws helped me reframe our relationship. When they made decisions, I began to speak up and share my thoughts, seeing my voice as just as valuable as theirs. I discovered that what truly made them special was not their infinite wisdom or perfect decision-making, but rather an undying love and commitment to look out for me.

Of course, not every child experiences this revelation in the same way. Some respond to their parents’ imperfections with anger and resentment, amplifying each mistake into a betrayal, finding malice where there is none (or perhaps, just a little).

When your desire for independence clashes with your parents’ ideals, it can be surprisingly easy to vilify them. But this perspective only harms yourself, creating unnecessary bitterness and distance with the people who love you most.

A healthy relationship doesn’t start with idealization or demonization. The sooner you humanize your parents, the sooner you start seeing things from their perspective. Forgive them for their mistakes and treasure how much they care for you. Most importantly, realize that while you are experiencing your life for the first time, they are, too.

roads. Yet rampant discrimination led immigrants to develop small businesses like restaurants. These “inauthentic” variations of Chinese food are a testament to their resilience and ingenuity.

So, what exactly does “real” Chinese food imply? Why should food be considered inauthentic the moment it is geographically removed from an idealized homeland? Shaming westernized recipes only reveals internalized prejudice.

Categorizing cuisines as authentic implies that food is monolithic and must conform to a specific set of flavors and preferences.

New cuisines did not only emerge from the demands of different palates but also from economic necessity and the availability of ingredients. Chinese immigrants in California substituted broccoli for unprocurable leafy greens like gai lan, which created the iconic beef and broccoli dish. These adaptations exist everywhere. Created by Tejanos, Tex-Mex originated as a blend of Mexican, Native American and Spanish traditions distinct in its heavy use of cheese, beef and cumin.

I’ve seen videos of people pointing out the red flags of “fake Chinese restaurants,” including egg rolls or brands of soy sauce not found in China. I even read a one-star review criticizing a local restaurant for not having its waiters wear traditional clothing, claiming it was not an “authentic” experience.

Just because General Tso’s chicken looks different from what my grandparents eat in Beijing doesn’t mean I should blacklist a local restaurant. I used to feel guilty for enjoying these “fake” dishes, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about food: it connects people. It should never be gatekept. Recipes should be malleable. You do not have to enjoy fusion fare, but you should not shame others for doing so. We should acknowledge the nuanced history of food and be proud of such creativity.

So, the next time you recommend or review an eatery, perhaps consider factors such as taste, price and service — and leave the nebulous definitions of authenticity for the trolls on TikTok.

Opinion by Brian Kim

Illustration by Emily Yen

Now that your print EICs are in the second semester of their senior year, it has been easier to find time to do things we love. Eshna enjoys going on long drives with friends and finding new online games. Dalia enjoys making gem art and going to pilates. Lee loves cross stitching and reading for fun (she just finished “The Nightingale”).

But we haven’t always had the luxury to slow down and have fun. Whether it be through completing annotated bibliographies, going to morning workouts or rushing to finish the newspaper on a federal holiday, every student is familiar with life in the trenches. While the days feel long, the months go by in the blink of an eye.

Don’t get us wrong — sometimes it’s important to lock in and reach “flow state.” But, for non-seniors, when was the last time you took a moment to eagerly talk to your family instead of going straight to homework? When was the last time you hung out with a friend after school (and not at Slowpokes)? When was the last time you called a person you care about that you haven’t seen in a while?

At a school like ours, it is so easy to keep your head down with one goal — getting through each day. We tend to focus on numbers: the grade we receive on every test, the time we spend studying and even the hours of sleep we can afford to sacrifice. Yet it is important to feed your soul: taking a day, or even a week, to do things you love. Our inaugural Jan Plan showed us the importance of slowing down. When you were petting service dogs, cooking Colombian food or tufting rugs, how worried were you about the impending start of second semester (see page 2)?

Whether they be romantic or platonic, when you find your people, cherish the time you get to spend with them. Seniors, who have more time to focus on these relationships, now worry about how we balance spending free time with family and friends before we leave. Sometimes, we are scared that it’s too little, too late.

So we mean it when we say to start capturing every moment with your friends, even with old-time technology (pg. 7), or try jumping through a “ring of fire” (pg. 11). Take time after school to get your nails done just for fun (pg. 6). Or play a game of pickup basketball with your friends (pg. 12) instead of immediately starting homework.

If you feel like all is lost, take time to visit the Lost and Found to reclaim that sweatshirt your parents bought you or the water bottle you got on a Target run with your friends (pg. 6). They miss you!

While grades are important, it’s vital to spend more time connecting with the people around you.

As editors and staffers continue to work tirelessly, spending long nights, weekends and federal holidays in Q201, we are committed to treasuring each other’s company and, truly, just having fun. We hope you find time to do so, too.

Warmly,

Ederle, Amina Khalil-Zegar, Mikail Khan

Huang, Sophia Kim, Wanya Zafar Business/Production Manager Riya Nimmagadda and Evan Williams

FREEDA F THE PRESS

by Emily Yen

Staff Isabella Adachi, Harry Alig, Hudson Brock, William Burger, James Chang, Noelle DiNardo, Juliet Dow, Rian Du, Viv Fox, Sophia Giron, Asher Gurr, Harrison Hadnott, Melody Han, Maggie Hester, Henry Kramer, Ved Kulkarni, Nicholas Laskaris, Ethan Ou, Akshay Pandya, Kavan Pandya, Judah Sanchez, Ailey Takashima, Payton Tu, Nico Valderrábano, Calla Wight, Preston Wu, Emily Xie, Brayden Zhao

Advisers

David Nathan, Shelley Stein (‘88), Sam Abramson

Mission Statement

The Review strives to report on issues with integrity, recognize the assiduous efforts of all and serve as an engine of discourse within the St. John’s community.

Publication Info

We mail each issue of The Review, free of charge, to every Upper School household, with an additional 1,000 copies distributed on campus to our 711 students and 98 faculty.

Policies

The Review provides a forum for student writing and opinion. The opinions and staff editorials contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Head of School or the Board of Trustees of St. John’s School. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the entire Editorial Board unless otherwise noted. Writers and photographers are credited with a byline. Corrections, when necessary, can be found on the editorial pages. Running an advertisement does not imply endorsment by the School.

Submission Guidelines

Letters to the editor and guest columns are encouraged but are subject to editing for clarity, space, accuracy and taste. On occasion, we publish letters anonymously. We reserve the right not to print letters. Letters and guest columns can be emailed to review@sjs.org

Photo by Bella Dodig

THE POWER RANKING: Alternatives to Valentine’s Day

When getting major dental surgery is preferable to going on another disastrous date.

3 4 5 11 12 13 14 15

When you really don’t want to go.

I can’t go out. My four cats have decided to sit on my lap for the foreseeable future. 2 Pedro Pascal-entines

I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And, gosh darn it, people like me!

When you stay home to make a pros and cons list about your green (and red) flags. I swear there aren’t that many red ones!

When you sit at home wearing your Lightning McQueen Crocs. Life is a highway.

When you decide to celebrate your demonstrated interest to Rice University.

When you brainstorm curses for your exes all night.

This is the way. 8

Just like Jacob, you also did not get the girl, but you can still rewatch the Twighlight movies.

7 9 10 16 17 18 19 20

Rinse. Lather. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

When you’d rather spend all night posting pictures from your Canon G7X.

When you decide to learn how to make that fancy bath towel origami that magically appears on your bed at a hotel.

When the only bow tie you put on is a pot of pasta.

When you listen to the National Anthem on repeat.

When you peaked in 2016, this is the night to relive the Good Ol’ Days.

When you curl up to watch some Olympic curling.

That sourdough starter isn’t gonna start itself.

When you spend all night rewatching the 2008 Wimbledon Finals.

When Archer Queen is the only woman you will interact with.

Design by Ella Hughes