February 2023

The Arcadia Quill

The official student newspaper of Arcadia High School since 1952

Newest Performing Arts Production:

Arcadia Young Democrats Special Event - What’s Up with Congresswoman Judy Chu?

By SARAH WANG Staff Writer

al in

building the set,” said senior Aiden Joe who is in beginning theater. “I hope that one day I

By JUSTINA LIU Staff Writer

The Arcadia Stage family has always brought us wonderful performances and is preparing for another amazing performance now!, They are currently putting up posters

performing arts theater teacher, and musically directed by Allen Everman, who is also the music director of our school’s Mama Mia! play. It would be produced with special permission by concord theatricals.

“I spent hours on the stage set building to make the set look just like how one would have imagined in their mind. I hope all the hard

“Cinderella is going to be an amazing performance! From the professional directors to the entire cast, I can see how much effort is going into the rehearsals every day. Most of the time, my friends have to stay after school until 6, and during tech week most stay at school until after 10. Everyone has to stay until 10. Arcadia Stage really is a magical experience, you’ll feel emotions you never thought you’d have,

The Arcadia High School (AHS) Young Democrats club featured a special event on the sunny Friday afternoon of Feb. 4 — a Q & A session with the first Asian American Congresswoman, Judy Chu, who is also the Congressional Representative for our district. The event was held from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the lecture hall with many AHS students interested in listening to her stance on current political issues.

At the start of the session, Rep. Chu stated that she is very glad to know that AHS has a Young Democrats Club, and how younger generations are in support of the democratic cause. Rep. Chu stated that she “believ[ed] in the ideals of...

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The Bright Side of Population Decline

The Arcadia Quill

Editorial Board

Editors-in-Chief:

Catherine Chan, Lilian Chong, Enzo Goebel

News Editors:

Stephanie Wang, Madison Yee

Opinion Editors:

Ashley Chan, Chloe Wong

Features Editors:

Darin Buenaluz, Pamina Yung

Arts & Entertainment Editors: Anna Odell, Maryam Sadeghifard

Sports Editors: Sophia Li, Sohana Sahni

Media Editor: Amanda Chang

Campus Focus Editor:

Michelle So

Publicity Manager: Vritti Godani

General Staff

Staff Writers:

Ryan Chai, Nathan Chen, Niyah (Elliot) Davis, Harini Devaguptapu, Juliette Fang, Jose Gama, Eleanor Gladson-Pang, Michelle Ho, Michael Hum, Amish Jha, Annie Jiang, Emily Lee, Caroline Li, Lisa Li, Justina Liu, Zhilin Liu, Samantha Luan, Victoria Thalia Mair, Emmaline Pan, Breeanna Pham, Ava Shaw, Sofia Payan Siegrist, Clarissa Suryapranata, Kaitlynn Trinnh, Ziming (Sarah) Wang, Kathy Wong, Lin Zhang

Media Staff: Lauryn Chao, Skye Escobedo, Veronica Meyers, Ainsley Najafzadeh, Katrina Reghitto, Lorin Teng, Vanessa Valentino, May Wang, Olivia Zheng

Advisor: Mrs. Lesley Lee

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy

The Arcadia Quill acknowledges the systemic inequities persistent in our country and community, and therefore we maintain a dedication towards equity, diversity, and inclusion. As a studentled organization, we strive to inspire high school students to use their voices to discuss issues that affect them in conjunction with our goal to provide a space of journalistic integrity and professionalism. We expect ourselves to be inclusive and respectful of everyone regardless of identity—including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic identity, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ability, and religious belief. We strive to put our values into action by doing the following: Highlighting the stories and experiences of students from backgrounds that have historically faced inequality. Assessing how The Arcadia Quill can improve by taking steps to avoid contributing to cultural appropriation and systemic injustice. Working to educate our staff on the impact of systemic inequality, and equipping them with tools on how to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within their own means. Following standards set by Arcadia Unified School District to confront systemic injustice including racial inequity.

We hold ourselves to high standards in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these efforts by The Arcadia Quill, please email eic. arcadiaquill@gmail.com.

Social Media & Comments

Social media will be used to promote appropriate media, to promote published content, and to engage with Arcadia and Arcadia High School’s community. The Editorial Board reserves the right to remove comments deemed inappropriate, offensive, or threatening. The information posted on social media platforms (i.e. Instagram) will be held to the same standards as all other reporting in terms of information gathering and fact-checking.

Bylines

If more than one person works on a story or an editor has to rewrite a significant portion of a story (as determined by the editor), all names of contributing writers will be listed on the byline of the article. All articles, graphics, photos, and other media, with the exception of staff photos, will be bylined with the photographer or contributor’s name. All bylined writers will be held accountable for their work and the information contained within.

Editorial Policy

The Arcadia Quill will not print anything in our publication (online or print) that is deemed libelous, obscene, or otherwise

offensive or inappropriate, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s justified standards. Rights are reserved to postpone, edit or withhold from publication anything submitted which does not meet the specifications.

Unsigned editorials represent the view of The Arcadia Quill Editorial Board. It does not necessarily represent the view of other Quill staff members. The Arcadia Quill refuses to print criticism which is not constructive and not supported by fact or evidence. The editors and adviser will make the final decision on all material appearing in The Arcadia Quill

The Arcadia Quill will not intentionally invade the privacy of any person or publish facts and quotes given off the record. Opinions will be clearly marked and found on the editorial pages or as designated on other pages (i.e.- front page). Signed opinion articles and commentary are the expressed opinions of the author and not of The Arcadia Quill and its editorial board, adviser, or Arcadia High School’s faculty or school board.

Staff members are guided by the Canons of Journalism of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, a code of ethics which outlines the principles of responsibility, fairness, and accuracy.

Corrections Policy

Corrections will be printed when brought to the attention of the staff. Original stories will carry bylines but additional contributors to a story will be listed on the byline.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism of any form will not be tolerated. Story ideas and article content are to remain completely original with the exception of the use of outside graphics/images/quotes, which are to be duly credited.

Quotes

Quotes are representative of a single opinion; they do not represent the beliefs of the student body and staff. Quotes are to be written in past tense with the correct style guide format.

Suppression of AP African American Studies

Thanks to the work of educators, historians, and scholars, College Board piloted a new Advanced Placement (AP) class this year: African American Studies (APAAS). However, what was supposed to be a revolutionary course about the experiences and contributions of African Americans has been met with considerable resistance from educational conservatives. While Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) hasn’t implemented any policy limiting what can be taught or discussed in classrooms, some states and school districts have taken measures to limit discussions on race, gender, sexuality, and inequality. But these restrictions on classroom discussions are counterproductive: rather than improving education, they prevent students from understanding the roots of American history and the varied experiences that have shaped our country.

In January, the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, immediately denounced

APAAS, stating it “could not be approved as written” because of how the content is “inexplicably contrary to Florida law,” citing the recently passed “Stop W.O.K.E. Act,” defining what Floridian classrooms can teach, and how APAAS “significantly lacks educational value.” Florida’s rejection of the APAAS course is based on a politically charged assertion about what should be taught to children, and raises several questions about the abuse of power in American education.

From a student’s perspective, the FLDOE’s decision is troubling. Our classrooms need engaging debates, important conversations, diverse curriculums, and greater cultural awareness; otherwise, students are confined to a singular worldview. School is meant to shape us into critical thinkers— topics that are complex or difficult to discuss are often the most important to promote a mature outlook on life. In the recent controversy, College Board has been accused of appeasing conservative governments due to removing certain key topics in the course–notably critical race theory and intersectionality—which, albeit controversial to some, are instrumental in understanding the perspective of African Americans.

This month, the College Board

denied that the FLDOE had influenced any aspect of the course. Regardless, its decision to engage in a back-and-forth with Tallahassee reveals the influence partisan politics has over our education system; whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, that’s something we should all be wary of. Even disregarding the APAAS course’s importance, the FLDOE’s move to restrict what students can learn is a serious educational setback. By vetoing Black history courses, Florida has detracted from a varied curriculum in favor of satisfying a particular political group’s agenda.

After all, classes such as APAAS aim to spread cultural awareness and foster a more diverse educational environment. The bottom line is our curriculum needs diversity; we need to enrich our curriculum with perspectives and experiences stemming from our nation’s egregious history. Allowing partisan politics to silence young voices on crucial topics will only impede our progress in promoting a more educated, informed nation.

ARCADIA YOUNG DEMS PRESENTS:

“WHAT’S NEW WITH REP. CHU?”

By SARAH WANG Staff Writer

The Arcadia High School (AHS) Young Democrats club featured a special event on the sunny Friday afternoon of Feb. 4 — a Q & A session with the first Asian American Congresswoman, Judy Chu, who is also the Congressional Representative for our district. The event was held from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the lecture hall with many AHS students interested in listening to her stance on current political issues.

At the start of the session, Rep. Chu stated that she is very glad to know that AHS has a Young Democrats Club, and how younger generations are in support of the democratic cause. Rep. Chu stated that she “believ[ed] in the ideals of the Democratic party for equality and justice,” especially on modern issues affecting the daily lives of civilians.

Rep. Chu first addressed the recent shooting in Monterey Park on Jan. 21, which left 11 dead and 9 injured. Rep. Chu has lived in Monterey Park for 37 years, and with the city being a major part of her childhood, she expressed her deepest condolences to the victims’ families. Rep. Chu felt deep grief that this event happened at a time of celebration, and to assuage the fear in the citizens’ hearts, she encouraged local residents to continue attending the Lunar New Year festivities.

“We cannot let this shooter bring us backwards,” said Rep. Chu. “We must continue to live our lives, and let us do it together.”

She then talked about Brandon Tsay, the 26-year-old resident who immobilized the gunman and saved countless lives. Rep. Chu claimed that the brave young man earned his place as a hero in the hearts of herself and the rest of America. She stated that Tsay has been invited to the White House for a personal meeting with President Joe Biden, who appreciates Tsay for his courage and bravery.

Because of the Monterey Park incident, Rep. Chu has taken immense actions to reinforce gun laws in the U.S.

“We need to make sure victims and their families get the help they need,” announced Rep. Chu. “And we need to make sure that mass shooting does not happen again.”

Rep. Chu articulated the need to spread awareness about red flag laws— the gun violence prevention laws which restrict individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves and others from being able to purchase any kind of firearm. Rep. Chu claimed that Huu Can Tran, the Monterey Park shooter, had reportedly gone to the police station days before the shooting, complaining about the mistreatment he faced in his family. Rep. Chu stated that reporting “mental deterioration” should be more acknowledged within immigrant communities, and translated in different languages to rid citizens of ignorance to prevent the loss of more innocent lives.

Rep. Chu stated that assault weapons sold in the U.S. are weapons designed for massacre with no other purpose. Thus, she noted the “Universal Background Check” regulation, which requires the background check of all individuals purchasing firearms, no matter the circumstances. Rep. Chu is concerned that people are beginning to find “loopholes” in the background check requirements, such as in gun shows where no prohibition exists to the process of purchasing weapons.

After the mention of this heavy subject, Rep. Chu uplifted the audience’s spirits by listing a couple things she is proud of the Democratic party has achieved in the past two years.

First, she is proud of the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowers the cost of prescribed drugs and invests massively in fighting climate change. Rep. Chu promised that once the Democrats are in power again, they will ensure a brighter future for the next generations.

Next, Rep. Chu is proud of the Respect for Marriage Act. She states that the Supreme Court is

trying to demolish rights to same-sex marriage, and she is doing everything in her power to prevent their success.

Finally, Rep. Chu touched on reproductive rights. She is concerned about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and in response, she proudly announced that her 2022 bill, the Women’s Health Protection Act, had passed the House of Representatives. Rep. Chu is not pleased with the “unelected judges of the Supreme Court” stripping away the rights of Americans, and used the incident of her arrest to assure the people of the U.S that she will “always put [herself] on the front lines of reproductive rights.” Rep. Chu is disappointed by the fact that “young women nowadays have less rights than their grandmothers,” and promised the audience that their rights will be protected at all costs.

Many AHS students had the opportunity to voice their concerns of the current societal issues. The following are some of the questions that Rep. Chu was able to answer.

“Why do you focus on STEM education so much?”

Rep. Chu replied that she sees the importance of “looking forward to the future.” Right now, the U.S. is falling behind in science and technology. She claimed that the production of semiconductors in the U.S. have dropped from 40% to 12% in the past few decades, and she is in great support of opportunities such as STEM programs for young people to have a better future.

“Do you think gaining a gun license should be a similar process to acquiring a driver’s license, where individuals have to pass

To this question, Rep. Chu restated the necessity of background checks and safety precautions surrounding gun ownership. She is very glad that California is currently ranked #1 on its number of gun laws, making it #44 on the number of gun deaths that happened in-state—the least likely state to have gun violence. Rep. Chu thinks more states, such as Arizona which have no background check procedures at all, should begin to take action in restraint against assault weapons and maintaining the safety of its citizens.

“What are your life experiences that led you to become a congresswoman

“I thought that I would be a computer science major,” Rep. Chu stated. But her interests in politics began as she took an Asian American studies class in college and realized the discriminatory laws that were passed against immigrants. Rep. Chu mentioned the English-Only Movement that occurred in Monterey Park in the 1980s, which imposed a ban on the existence of Chinese on products, to eventually speaking them in public. Due to the pressures enforced on Asian Americans and the lack of action taken by the mayor, Rep. Chu decided to run for city council, succeeded, and eventually ran for state assembly to better represent and defend Asian Americans for their cause. Rep. Chu stated that she will never forget the day after she won the election when former President Barack Obama congratulated her for becoming the first Chinese American congresswoman

Rep.Chu provided an empowering experience for the Arcadia High School Students, giving us a chance to learn more about our modern world and how we can involve ourselves in helping to solve the existing issues today. We thank the Young Democrats Club for giving us such a significant opportunity to meet an American leader, which serves as an unique inspiration for many AHS students to achieve great things in the future!

“We cannot let this shooter bring us backwards. We must continue to live our lives, and let us do it together.”

REPRESENTATIVE JUDY CHU, on the shooting in Monterey Park, where she has lived for 37 years

Phioto courtesy of Arcadia Young Dems swang@arcadiaquill.com

By KAITLYNN TRINH Staff Writer

place from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., families and individuals had four hours to have fun and enjoy games, crafts, raffle prizes, performances, and more. With a variety of activities, bright smiles appeared among the large crowds of people and laughter was heard everywhere throughout the courtyard.

As visitors approached the courtyard, a mix of aromas from different food trucks filled the air. A variety of foods were available to purchase—including ice cream, churros, and garlic fries! Walking into the festival, there were many booths promoting their items. A popular booth sold handmade soaps themed for Chinese New Year and the upcoming holiday, Valentine’s Day. Other popular booths,

CPBC Hosts Lunar New Year Festival French Exchange Program 2023

By MADISON YEE News Editor

For the 2022-2023 school year, Arcadia High School’s (AHS) French program welcomed a second group of students from France for two weeks. Residing in Arcadia from Jan. 26 to Feb. 8, the French exchange students created lifelong bonds with their hosts, who brought them around AHS to give them the opportunity to fully immerse in the American experience.

From Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles to Hollywood and Little Tokyo, the French students visited famous California landmarks, exploring the Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Huntington Gardens, The Broad, and the Arts District. Additionally, some of the hosts brought them on exciting trips to go to Six Flags, play laser tag, go bowling, go shopping, experience parties, and go dancing.

During their two days at AHS, the exchange students also had the opportunity to

stop by various classes such as Sports Medicine and Food Science, while learning more about what it is like to go to high school in America.

Reminiscing on the memories made, se nior host Agnes Eng voiced how she loved embarking on all the activities, in which her favorite part was “staying up on the weekends, doing late night drives, and taking [her] French student Anais to [her] favorite places in town.”

This program is truly a once in a lifetime experience, and not only does it allow hosts to share the fun aspects of living in Arcadia, it also gives them the chance to grow their French knowledge at the same time.

“I learned more about [Anais’] life back home in France. My French is horrible, but she was willing to speak and learn more English words. I learned to be more open minded be cause I made new friends stepping out

hosted by Girl and Boy Scout troops, offered cookies and boba.

Lastly, other stands were hosted by AHS clubs, like Robotics Club and AHS’ Choir. A fan favorite booth was the photo booth! Constantly crowded, the photos were free and there were many decorative props to enhance pictures and create goofy memories. Adjacent to the photo booth was a hanfu stand. A hanfu is a traditional Chinese dress that often represents a strong sense of national pride and identity. The hanfu stand was completely free, allowing anybody an opportunity to wear one and embrace Chinese culture and reflect pride.

With many performances, guests were entertained for hours. Some notable performances included Orchesis’ performance, Choir, Drumline, the Chinese folk dance, the lion dance, and more!

“The Lunar New Year Festival was so fun.

I ate a lot of food and there were a lot of different activities and everyone was just feeling the vibe. Although I’m slightly biased, my favorite performances were definitely the choir performances,” excitedly shared junior Peter Zhang, one of the performers of AHS’ choir.

The CPBC’s goal is to connect the school and Chinese-speaking parents. Holding many

fundraisers similar to this festival, they hope to support varying school organizations such as Orchesis, Band, and Apache News.

Ms. Tong, the CPBC’s co-president, shared her thoughts on the festival with Quill, “This fundraising event is awesome! We’re so happy to see so many people attend this event. This is the first time we’re hosting something like this, and we’re amazed at the turnout.”

“Like [Tong] said, this is our first time hosting an event like this. It was a great turnout and although there were some hiccups, everything turned out well, and we’re so happy everybody had a good time and enjoyed their celebration with us,” added Ms. Cheung, the CPBC’s other co-president.

Thank you to the CPBC for hosting an amazing Lunar New Year Festival and special thanks to everyone who showed up and enjoyed their celebration. The CPBC is looking forward to hosting their next fundraising event, and hopefully, we will see you there!

of my comfort zone!” Eng exclaimed. “It was

dent Nathan de Joannès also reflected on the two weeks with a similar outlook.

“This trip allowed me to improve my English skills, but it was also very rich in exchanges between different cultures,” said Joannès.

“The closeness with the pen pals and all the activities we shared with them made this exchange exciting and unforgettable.”

All in all, the French exchange program was once again a success, and we look forward to the exchanges in the future!

By MICHELLE HO

The BrighT Side of PoPulaTion decline

Staff Writer

As of 2022, the world has experienced a population decline. Even China, one of the most populous countries in the world, has seen a decrease in population for the first time since the 1960s. Although the decreasing numbers have been a cause of alarm and concern for many, the smaller population is a result of several technological and cultural advancements humans have made in this century. In addition, previous worries about overpopulation have shown that a decline in numbers is beneficial to our planet. The human population does not necessarily need to grow exponentially, so population decline may be just what we need.

Approximately 60 years ago, the world population was spiking to uncontrollable numbers, and overpopulation became a rising issue, particularly in China. In a panic to curb population growth, China implemented the one-child policy. This policy was, obviously, not ideal, as it resulted in sterilization and forced abortions of women, child abandonment, and infanticide.

The “local officials often [resorted] to coercion, [encouraged] widespread abortion and [intruded] into the reproductive lives of most married couples,” said Michael Weisskopf, writer of China’s Birth Control Policy Drives Some to Kill Baby Girls.

with “30 million more men than women, 30 million bachelors who cannot find brides. …they are the biological dead ends of their family,” said Mei Fong, a journalist interviewed in How China’s One-Child Policy Led To Forced Abortions, 30 Million Bachelors. The enormous gap in the gender ratio is another result of China’s one-child policy, and one of the consequences that have affected the population for many years after. The lack of women marrying and bearing children has also been a huge contributing factor to population decline. More women are getting older and remaining unmarried until their later years, or never marrying at all.

However, the smaller, younger demographic that resulted from the one-child policy is given more opportunities to find work and attend higher education, something that was difficult to come by before the decrease in population. As the population declines, there is more room for all people to live adequate lives.

Now, as the population starts to decrease, the world is panicking yet again. While the decrease may seem like a source of alarm, the decline can be partially attributed to several factors, such as the changing expectations of women and their roles in society. The longestablished assumption that women should marry and have children is slowly but surely evolving as more and more women enter the workforce, something civilization has toiled towards for decades. A decrease in birth rates is a

rates due to their newfound independence should not be frowned upon by whoever may blame these women for the population decline.

“As [women] gain access to education and jobs, they have alternatives to raising kids,” said Jeff Wise in America’s Population Could Use a Boom. “In the U.S., women with a master’s degree have their first child six years later than women who have only a high-school diploma.” Those who aim for a higher education put aside their plans for raising a family. 39.1% of women in the U.S. have completed at least four years of college, a significant increase from 35.3% in 1940. Women in the past had almost no options to choose their path in life, stuck in the roles of “wife” and “child bearer” with little to no educa tion and limited to low-paying work. Now that women’s empowerment has re sulted in population de cline, are we going to enforce the opposite of China’s onechild policy and force women to have more children? We saw the horrors of the previous “solution” to overpopulation, and to act impulsively to “fix” population decline can result in similar devastating outcomes that can greatly impact population numbers for several

Along with culture and education, the modernization of healthcare has greatly influ-

“Average world life expectancy has increased from 51 years in 1960 to 73 in 2019, and even more so in China, from 51 in 1962 to 78 in 2019,” says Wang Feng in The Alternative, Optimistic Story of Population Decline. A person’s lifespan has nearly doubled, allowing people to continue working into their later years and plan marriage and parenthood slowly. In the past, people married young and reproduced quickly. As mortality rates were high, couples, in particular women, chose to have multiple children to ensure that at least some would survive to adulthood. It is no longer such a pressing matter for couples to have children, as healthcare has decreased child mortality rates and enabled women to safely have children in their later years, past optimal child-bearing ages. One of the main causes of overpopulation was the increase in both healthcare and birth rates, but the recent drop in births has helped reduce our population. Fewer children mean smaller families, and smaller families result in population decline. If birth rates had continued

to grow alongside life expectancy, we would quickly be depleted of resources and room. There is only so much life that Earth can support.

Overpopulation has always been a global concern; this year, the population is reaching 8 billion people. If the population continued to grow exponentially without a de

transportation, healthcare, education, and em ployment to every person. Population decline helps alleviate the pressure that humans have exerted over the world for decades.

The planet itself is vast and capable of sustaining life at an unimaginable level, but “with a population approaching 8 billion, even if everyone adopted a relatively low material standard of living like the one currently found in Papua New Guinea, it would still push Earth to its ecological breaking point,” said Joseph J. Bish in Overpopulation: Cause and Effect. Lack of space and vital resources such as fresh water, food, and energy has been a pressing problem for several decades, and even though natural resources span across the Earth, there is simply not enough to support more people. Resources have been stretched thin and unevenly across the human population, and an increase in population would only exacerbate the situation. With a surplus of produce available to the rich and little to none for those in poverty, agricultural industries have failed to create an efficient food distribution system, consequently allowing billions of pounds of food to be wasted in the U.S. alone. As the population decreases, so does the pressure on global resources, allowing the world to focus on increasing the quality rather than the quantity of life on Earth.

Population decline is what the world needs, especially since, just a few years ago, overpopulation and lack of resources became a pressing global issue. Overall, the population decline is beneficial because, as society advances, it should be expected that, at times, the numbers may drop or increase at certain rates. There is no reason that the human population should stay at its current numbers or increase. Sometimes, some regression is progression.

Happiness > Money

By VICTORIA MAIR Staff Writer

As teenagers grow and mature into young adults, we are frequently asked the question, “What is your dream job?” or “What do you want to study?” But oftentimes, teens interpret that question more like, “What job do you think you would earn the most in when you graduate?” Although you can tell that these are two completely different questions, when considering the reality of the world, they can often seem identical.

As someone whose family is of a lower socioeconomic status, I dream of a future with a lot of money so I can have a sense of security. However, I don’t want to sacrifice my happiness for wealth—-I’d prefer a life where I can’t wait to go to college, or wake up the next day for work. Of course, high-paying jobs may seem like the best option when

best option in life is to go to school for 12 to 16 years, then get a degree that tells the world that you are officially prepared to work in a high-paying job in domains such as law, medicine, or engineering. But what if someone said that choosing one of the highest-paying jobs would prevent you from expressing your true talent or passion?

Lindsey Macmillan, author of two novels “The Heart of the Deal” and “Double-Decker Dreams” always had a passion for

eyes to a different world, and photographers that know how to perfectly capture meaningful moments that aren’t noticed by many. The occupations in the art industry help our society; from creating a safe space through self-discovery to clarity in environmental conflicts. This passion should be promoted rather than squashed by capitalism due to its competency in helping society in the processes of emotions and understanding our surround-

world than just mail and letters. But mailmen help meaningful love letters reach those with a special admirer; they deliver everything from party invitations to baby goods. I admired that boy when he said he wanted to be a mailman: he wanted to have the pleasure of helping people receive valuable items, and that’s the only purpose that mattered to him. Although money is a necessary need to be part of societal standards, the idea of fulfillment in helping our society is a greater inducement.

“All the stuff that we want from our work, the opportunity to feel like we are ourselves, the opportunity to open our minds, to broaden and build and grow, all those only happen when you’re doing something that you love,” said best selling author, Marcus Buckingham.

Part of our society thinks that money brings happiness. I used to see it the same

ence,” said Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Com puter and of Pixar Animation Studios. Society generally informs us that the

also a great number of artists who make you feel like you’re living in the painting, writers that increase your imagination and open your

why. You could argue that he was just a little boy, and wasn’t aware that there’s more to the

“It is natural to ponder our future earnings when choosing a profession, but we should also consider the passion and desire we have to spend on the profession we choose longterm.”

CHATGPT: A NEW ERA OF EDUCATION

By AVA SHAW

Staff Writer

Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT) is one of the most revolutionary technologies to be seen in a while, yet many educators are short of eagerness and are left worried about the future. Quickly and with just a few simple clicks, a piece of writing regarding any subject desired can be generated with this highly advanced chatbot. Although a potentially helpful tool for teaching, many fear that ChatGPT is a dangerous threat to academic integrity.

ChatGPT was released in November 2022 by tech startup OpenAI, an organization notably linked to Elon Musk and Microsoft. The program is a form of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Users are able to type in a question or prompt in exchange for a response that is indistinguishable from traditionally writ-

ten text. This technology is similar to predictive text when sending text messages but on a much grander scale. For instance, one may instruct ChatGPT to write an essay about different kinds of dogs and would receive just that.

“I don’t think I would use ChatGPT, although I find it fascinating,” said sophomore Chloe Shiu. “I don’t fully trust it quite yet, and I feel that an essay written by AI would not read like something written by me. My teachers would probably suspect something.”

As for ChatGPT’s impact on schooling, arguments stand on both sides of the issue. On one hand, some educators are embracing the future, offering a warm welcome to the new programming. Some teachers view ChatGPT as a useful tool in the classroom, as it has the ability to help facilitate learning and

discussion. As an example, it can be used to be used to quickly create a passage for students to analyze or a word problem for students to solve. Some draw comparisons to the graphing calculator, a tool once questioned, but is now a relevant and widely used device in education.

On the other hand, ChatGPT has also faced major backlash from schools across the country. School districts including Los Angeles Unified School District, have blocked the site from being accessed on school-administered devices. ChatGPT has been criticized and feared for its ability to allow students to cheat so easily, as their homework and assignments can be practically done for them.

“I’m sure that ChatGPT will change the way teachers teach, especially English teachers,” noted English teacher Ms.

Kathryn Doring. “To prevent cheating, perhaps students will be writing more in-class assignments as a result of this new AI.”

“I haven’t heard much about ChatGPT, but I feel like technology can always be used for good and bad. Right now, however, I think that I have enough resources to teach without ChatGPT. In this case, it may be more harmful than helpful because it can encourage students to cheat, which can be a challenge,” said math teacher Ms. Sabrina Galvan.

The future remains uncertain with ChatGPT. The launch of this fascinating software marks a new era for education, as both a blessing and a curse. ChatGPT is truly a sign of the times, as technology continues to inch closer and closer to mirroring humanity itself. One may even wonder, was this article authored by a human or ChatGPT?

M ulti -F unctioning A ir F ryers

By SARAH WANG

Staff Writer

Once in a while, everyone has a sudden craving for fries in the middle of the night. But the thought of turning on the fryer, pouring in half a gallon of vegetable oil, getting the greasy stench in your hair, and finally dumping out the leftover fat which can cost up to 40 dollars per liter is enough to diminish however big an appetite you had. Luckily, a more ethical method is at hand.

The trend of air frying has spiked over the past few years, as showcased in cooking videos, and has led to the development of convenient recipes that normally require an hourly process to make. Just fill the basket, spray a little fat, set the temperature, and done! Fried food with minimum efThe air fryer uses the method of

convection heat transfer—a process of heating the air on the bottom of the fryer, causing the hot air to rise and cooking the food in the process. The flowing hot air dries the food’s outside and steams the inside, mimicking the texture of crispiness favored in fried foods. Furthermore, air fryers have been proven to cut calories by 70% to 80% compared to foods that are cooked in grease. These benefits led to the craze over these devices, with some cooks even going to the extent of making air-fried meals for an entire day.

However, the reason for the air fryer craze does not end only in its compatibil ity but is also affected by current circum stances. Because of the pandemic, the stay-at-home policy denied people access to restaurants; and many were tired of cook ing three meals a day by hand. As of the mass-seeking convenience, fryer market is preface rapid growth in profit in the next few years.

“We use air fryers a lot for frying chicken, making rice, making French fries, heating up food, liter

junior Kinsey King. “It’s really helpful and convenient as we don’t have to use a bunch of pots and pans or the oven to make a meal.”

“Things become soggy and taste awful when I reheat them in the microwave,” said junior Michael DerMovsesian. “I think having an air fryer can really make my life easier.”

The growing fame of air fryers can also be proven beneficial, as these devices are environmentally friendly and very sustainable. Air fryers don’t require much electricity to operate, as their only function is heating. The lack of grease also prevents damage to drainage systems, and the harm of these oils on the environment. Not only that, its convenience in cooking encourages healthier eating habits, which is extremely beneficial with the U.S. having 41.9% of its adults categorized as obese.

The upsides of these devices do not stop there. Air fryers are also said to benefit a person’s life in the business aspect. Because of air fryers, many creators are able to find their place and careers on different social media platforms,

unlocking a source of income during the pandemic.

Air fryers pose as a symbol of modern technological advancement created to benefit our lives and the environment. So if you’re struggling with oil waste or lacking skills in cooking, it’s a sign to get an air fryer in your kitchen today.

swang@arcadiaquill.com

Graphic courtesy of FLATICON.COM Design by Lauryn Chao

THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY PRESENT

By ELLIE GLADSON-PANG

Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, there are innumerable holidays that turn stores into madhouses, jam-packed with holiday shoppers. Each of these holidays, and the corresponding decorations adorning displays and shelves, seem to spark unique gift-giving inspirations.

Everyone knows what to buy their friends and family for Valentine’s Day— just peruse a conveniently-themed catalog, and you’ll be on your way. Red envelopes on Lunar New Year are expected, considering just how simple and beloved the convention is. All you’ll find in the Father’s Day section are neckties. That’s easy enough, no thought required. But the one holi day recognized by everyone, doesn’t afford shoppers the same easy luxury of traditional guidelines.

Take a sec ond, and try to recall the last time you searched for a gift for a friend or family member’s birthday. What gift ideas sprung to mind first? Unless you were armed with a list of requests, you probably went in blind, delving into the depths of Amazon or wandering a Target store aimlessly. Everyone has a birthday. But few know how to shop for one.

“I always struggle with buying birthday gifts for my friends. It’s really difficult to find a gift that is meaningful and thoughtful, so I usually end up searching for hours and not finding anything perfect,” said sophomore Stephanie Ho.

A few factors exacerbate the issue: the distinct lack of theme, for one. Excepting a smattering of children’s birthday parties and frat-house ragers, most birthday celebrations don’t follow a central theme. There isn’t any comprehensive guideline to follow for what kind of gift to get, and no expression of a certain interest to type into a search bar. The only “theme” is the increase of age, and there certainly aren’t any gifts that an entire age group would enjoy. That leads to another problem: no two

people are the same, and no one is exactly the same as their former selves. That’s the only thing stopping us from buying the same gift every single year, for every single birthday.

“I usually look for something that means a lot to the person or something that relates to an inside joke,” said sophomore Patrick Andrianopoulos. “But oftentimes it’s a struggle to find something really special.”

So how exactly are we supposed to highlight our friend or fam -

ily members’ valuable qualities and interests if we lack creativity and have 20 minutes before the store closes? Here are a few tips and suggestions to celebrate your friend.

1. Have a go-to gift. Yes, yes, everyserving of a special gift. But that doesn’t mean you can’t always keep one idea as inspiration, especially if you have a lot of friends with similar interests. Try looking at skincare or bath products, stuffed animals, bags, posters, or jewelry.

2. Try out a gift basket: If you find yourself with a lot of smaller gift ideas that you don’t think are quite substantial enough to make a really good birthday present, combine a few of them! Find a receptacle (cotton rope baskets are cute and reusable, but any small storage container or bin will also work). Add in snacks and treats, and maybe some Easter grass, and voila! Think of it as a Christmas stocking, but for a birthday.

3. Level up the wrapping: You may have seen cloth wrapping paper around recently, but there are so many other creative ways to better

present your birthday gift. Even if you don’t make it into a gift basket, a reusable storage container is useful to give someone. You can even go as far as using ceramics or pottery! Another bonus is the sustainability of this trick.

4. Food is always well received: Baked goods are a tried and true gift. Materialistic gifts aren’t always the best choice, especially if there isn’t anything the recipient especially wants or needs. Whether homemade or bought, baked goods and special foods are delicious and thoughtful. Fill a mason jar with homemade cookies and use cloth and ribbon to close it. Stop by a bakery for a special item that they can share with others. You can even bake them a birthday cake if they don’t already have one or plans to make one!

5. Gift them a memory: Making a photo album or scrapbook for someone takes a lot of effort and planning, but it can be really fun if you’re crafty. Buy an empty album or scrapbook from a craft store, some fun paper and stickers, and print out photos of you together to make a really meaningful gift that they’ll cherish. If you don’t have the time for this, another great option is buying a nice frame and having a photo printed for them.

6. Books, of any and all kinds: Books can make perfect gifts for so many different people– everyone loves to receive a book as a gift, as long as you put in the effort to find one they’ll love. From children’s picture books to information manuals, books make a greatly versatile present.

In the search for a birthday present, we’re

really searching for a way to show our friends and family that we care. It’s a small struggle lots of people face, and may end up feeling like they’ve let down their loved ones. But putting in care to a present doesn’t have to mean buying the most expensive item in the store or spending hours laboring over it—love is all you really need to spend. Being a thoughtful and conscientious gift-giver, while keeping an eye out for the environment and cost, is the best way to show your appreciation. So if you dread your friend’s birthdays and end every shopping trip being yelled at to hurry up, keep these ideas in mind.

egladsonpang@arcadiaquill.com

Photos Courtesy of UNSPLASH.COM

Staff Writer

BFFs BFFs

By MICHELLE HO Staff Writer

Those who are single dread Feb. 14. Without a significant other to celebrate with, the day may feel lonely, awkward, or just plain sad. But celebrating with your friends and family can be just as fun! Galentine’s Day falls on Feb. 13, a day before Valentine’s Day. Make your February a little brighter by going out with your friends and celebrating your friendship and platonic love together.

Traditionally, Galentine’s Day is a holiday aimed at celebrating the close friendships between females, hence the word “gal” in the holiday’s name. The day actually originated from a popular TV show called Parks and Recreation. The 16th episode of the show features fictional character Leslie Knope celebrating the February holiday by having a waffle brunch with friends and coworkers, as well as exchanging gifts and appreciating one another’s company. The holiday celebrates female friendships and girl power,

taking the day before Valentine’s to appreci- ate and remember how impactful a girl’s besties are to their lives and the support that they give. But Galentine’s Day can just as easily be used as an opportunity to hang out with friends of any gender or family. Like Valentine’s Day, it is just an easy excuse for you to grab the people you love and hang out with them for a day. While supposedly designated to two different kinds of relationships, they can really be celebrated by anyone with anyone you like.

Planning a day just for you and your friends is an exciting and daunting task. Where will you go? Are all your friends available? What will you do? There are so many questions and so many different ways to plan Galentine’s that planning the perfect day out may be as simple as staying home and watching a movie or going out exploring different places all over the city and eating at different restaurants all day. Everything is up to you and your friends, but there are a few simple ideas that you and your friends can build on to make the holiday unique and unforgettable.

As Knope describes it in the show, “It’s only the best day of the year! Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it—breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies.”

Knope and her friends celebrate the day every year with Knope’s favorite foods—breakfast items. Knope also sent her friends a 5,000 word essay detailing her love and appreciation for all of them. While this is certainly a great idea for Galentine’s day, it might not be for you or your friends. For those who prefer a simpler, less glamorous day, going out to grab some food with your friends might

be enough for Galentine’s. Additionally, staying home and having your friends come over may also be a good option where you can build pillow fort castles together, tell secrets under a blanket, and play board games for a fun and cozy night-in.

For those who are more adventurous, going to an amusement park, playing laser tag, or going camping might sound more appealing. Make the day exciting and memorable by going somewhere you’ve never been before. But the day of fun and friends doesn’t have to end when nightfall arrives: plan a karaoke night, where you all can truly let loose! There are dozens of different ways to celebrate Galentine’s Day, and the day definitely doesn’t have to be spent with just friends. Having the day with family might be just as enjoyable! Don’t forget that the day doesn’t have to be overly complicated or crazy, it can also be a simple tradition you and your friends or family do each year. The most important thing is to have fun!

Best Best ies ies

STREAMING SERVICES: WHO WILL BE THE NEXT NETFLIX

By BREEANNA PHAM Staff Writer

onsidering Netflix’s new regulations—putting a new system in place where a user will have to log in every 31 days—there are many people who will most likely be leaving the platform. Because this will most likely lead to the eventual collapse of Netflix, there are many platforms that are waiting to take their place: HBO Max, Hulu, and Peacock. Although each streaming service has their own notable attribute, there are quite a few pros and cons that come with each.

HBO Max has many popular TV shows that are well favored amongst teens. These titles include Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, and Pretty Little Liars. However, even though they have so many great titles on their site, there are many problems that they have yet to address. One being, their horrible site maintenance–many consumers using the site have noticed that it has not been working up to par recently, and there are many disturbances when trying different smart TVs like Roku. From personal experience, I have noticed that the app version of this site needs quite a lot of updating–from the app being a little bit glitchy, and the downloaded shows not being viewable on an airplane. Along with this, on tablets and cell phones, when watching shows, the fast-forward button must be directly clicked, which can become quite annoying after

a while. This feature should be fixed soon, considering how much money HBO Max is profiting from their popular titles. With all of these cons combined, it can be quite a deterrent, considering how competitive services are much more “advanced” than they are. This streaming service is technically the most expensive, being $9.99/ month with ads.

Hulu has been a staple of many people’s house holds, being that they are the oldest of the three stream ing services being spoken of. On the tech nical side, there are no great cons of them that are noticeable. However, one thing Hulu is quite tricky about is their advertisement of the shows they have available for viewing. Although their cheapest plan is $7.99/ month

(with ads), the way they advertise it is very off-putting. To begin, not all titles that are available on Hulu are in the cheapest plan–additional $60 plus dollars are needed to watch all of the more (objectively) entertaining shows. The $60 plus additional dollars will allow for the purchase of live TV. However, due to this false advertisement of allowing consumers to assume $7 will allow them “full” access to the entire site, many people may buy it without know-

access to all the features. The additional $60 plus allows users to more shows in their plan that require cable to watch. So, although it is technically the second most affordable, if you want to watch all (or most) of the good shows on the site, an additional $62.00

will be needed to watch everything you want. Finally, is the site Peacock.Although they are the cheapest of the three streaming services being spoken about ($4.00/ month with ads), they are the worst streaming service available. With the exception of The Office, and Modern Family, there aren’t many great shows that stand out within the site. Although the argument can be made that they are still a relatively new site, HBO Max has been available for a similar amount of time as Peacock and has quite a few more memorable shows than Peacock. However, this is predicted to change in the next few months to years as they improve.

Given all this information, all of these streaming services individually have quite a commendable number of memorable TV Shows. However, given Peacock’s small collection of interesting titles, they are most likely out of the running for being the “next Netflix”. And given the price point of Hulu to view any decent titles, it will probably be out of the running as well. However, unlike any of the other streaming services, with the “cheap” price of $69.99, live TV is available for that additional cost. So, given price, and the amount of good TV shows, HBO Max has the most potential to be the “next Netflix,” given that they do technically have all of the good titles that were originally on Netflix on their site.

bpham@arcadiaquill.com

Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One

By SRI HARINI DEVAGUPTAPU Staff Writer

Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible movies have always been fascinating to me, and remain some of my favorites. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, directed by Christopher Mcquarrie, is the seventh movie of the Mission Impossible series to be released since the last movie in 2018. This is going to be one of the two parts to the finale of the Mission Impossible series and is set to be released on Jul. 14.

Watching the nine minute stunt trailer, which introduces one of the many crazy feats that he has done for this movie, we find out that there is going to be a lot of excitement and much more action than presented. There is no doubt that Cruise has done a lot of dangerous action sequences by doing his own stunts in his movies, although Cruise called this one the most dangerous stunt he’s ever done.

It took years to plan this one out to

get it just right. The stunt is done on a large cliff in Norway where he rides a motorcycle to the end of a ramp where it leads to a cliff and launches off of it and base jumping to the bottom. To get the shot right, he attempted the motorcycle jump off the ramp six times until he was satisfied with how it turned out. Cruise has had a year of skydiving training doing 30 jumps and more than 500 skydives a day. He also had motocross training doing over 13,000 motocross jumps a day. After he got used to this, they made Cruise 3D models so they could clearly see how Cruise would do the stunt so they could film it. In the trailer, you can see the hardwork and dedication of making this work for Cruise. The anticipation of whether the entire stunt and plan will work out was really thrilling. The silence as the crew waited for Cruise’s parachute to open up, and the relief they felt as it worked out exactly as they envisioned it was radiating through the screen and everyone watching could feel their emotions. The best part was seeing Cruise ask to redo the

stunt a few times over, not even phased by the potential danger he could be in.

From seeing the trailer, the movie seems to be following Ethan Hunt who is an agent working for Impossible Mission’s Force and his team of operatives who are going to be working out completely new obstacles. The trailer offers a glimpse of all the different stunts, action, and settings that are going to be in this film. Because there wasn’t much revealed in the trailer, there is a lot of anticipation about what might be included in the film.

The cast of the movie does include most of the original cast members but has also added additional cast members.. The new characters of the movie haven’t been revealed yet although the director has discussed Grace, the character in the movie who he describes as a destructive force of nature who is ambiguous. Hayley Atwell talked about her character and how they are exploring her resilience to her situation in the movie. There are some new mystery actors they have said they are excited to work with, but we are yet to know

who they are.

Even though there isn’t a lot revealed about this movie yet, through the trailers, hints, and sneak peaks given there is a lot to be expected and it is exciting to see. The classic movie series is still continuing on to this day which is really fun. Continue to check out the updates about the movie!

MAKING A LIVING AS A MUSICIAN

By JULIETTE FANG Staff Writer

For millennia, music has been an integral part of peoples’ lives and cultures. However, despite music’s importance, a common misconception about the people who create and perform music is that they can rarely make a profit. In fact, many musicians can make a steady living without having to be the next Taylor Swift or Yo-Yo Ma.

One unique aspect of the music industry is that there are so many different options for career paths. Because of this, it is important for musicians to keep an open mind and be flexible to be able to take advantage of different opportunities.

“I think first and foremost it’s extremely important to be versatile and flexible as a professional musician,” said professional violinist Grace Rodgers, adding that “there are so many career options within music itself, so it’s beneficial to keep an open mind and try to adapt to the opportunities that come your way.”

Many freelance musicians have several sources of income. One of these is playing at gigs, such as concerts, events like weddings, or at venues like bars or restaurants. Finding these gigs, however, can be difficult. This is why being open-minded and building strong relationships is important to take advantage of these opportunities.

There are also a lot of opportunities for musicians in the film and television industry. This can range from recording music to arranging or composing music. For example, some musicians might compose jingles for advertisements or play in the backgrounds of music videos.

Another popular method of making money is teaching music lessons. Not only is this a good way to make a living, but it can also be very re creating type of a part of as the Los Metropoli ten a great steady as being a

Unfortunately, their value also makes these jobs extremely competitive, and hundreds of people often apply for a position.

Like many careers in the arts, being a musician depends on making a name for yourself. A good way to maintain a good reputation is to be prepared and flexible, but also to be good at working with others. From bands to chamber music, musicians are always having to work together, so being a good colleague is an important skill to have.

Being able to build and maintain strong relationships is also integral to being a professional musician, as the music industry is built on word of mouth. Musicians are often hired by people whom they have worked with before or through recommendations, so they should also try to get jobs with musicians who have a good and wellknown reputation.

Of course, like any sort of job, being a musician comes with its fair share of challenges. Musicians, especially those who are freelance, cannot plan their schedules too far in advance. Gigs usually come up suddenly and can last late into the night. Even though this can create weeks with a lot of variety, not having a concrete schedule can become very stressful. This is why it is important for musicians to take care of their bodies and mental health despite how busy they can become.

“Staying motivated can be challenging be cause navigating new music and being exposed to it can be

One myth about becoming a professional musician is that it is easy and carefree, which is simply not true. Even though musicians do not necessarily need to have a degree from a conservatory, it still requires a lot of discipline and patience. Most musicians pick up their craft at a young age and work hard for many years to obtain the skills they need to become a professional. Building up the aforementioned relationships and reputations also takes time to bear fruit, and being offered gigs does not happen overnight.

“Professional musicians are some of the hardest working people I know! It is somewhat like a sport in that we physically have to stay in shape,” stated professional cellist Ginger Murphy. “Nobody will take you seriously in the professional world

unless your skills are refined, which requires practice, practice, and more practice!”

Despite these hurdles, becoming a musician for a living can be a fulfilling and exciting job. Unlike many other professions, the different gigs and opportunities there are for musicians create a unique career filled with variety.

“

” Nobody will take you seriously in the professional world unless your skills are refined, which requires practice, practice, and more practice!

- Ginger Murphy

Girls Varsity Water Polo League Finals

By MICHELLE HO

Staff Writer

Crowds roared with excitement as the first quarter of the Girls Varsity Water Polo League finals began on Feb. 2 at approximately 6:40 p.m. Darkness had already fallen, but the bright lights illuminated the pool for viewers to watch. The Arcadia High School (AHS) Varsity Girls Water Polo team played against Burroughs High School (BHS), in an exciting and intense match as both teams competed for victory. AHS won the League finals, ending with a close score of 11-9.

The opposing team started off strong, with BHS scoring 3 times within a couple of minutes. After back and forth play between the two teams, AHS was given a free throw, in which they scored their first point. After a few more scores from both teams, a timeout was called, pausing the game at 3-4.

From then on, the game was neck-to-neck. At one point, AHS made an amazing play, keeping the ball away from BHS players long enough to take a winding shot at the goal, but it was blocked by the goalie. The crowd buzzed with excitement, then disappointment as the shot was deflected. They supported the Apaches from the stands, and they chanted “Defense! Defense!” to encourage the AHS players. As the game continued, the score remained incredibly tied.

After the five minute break following the second quarter, the teams switched sides. At around 7:15 p.m., Burroughs stole the ball from Arcadia, missing their first shot at the goal but scoring on the second. After some play, AHS evened the score back out at 6-6.

At 6-7, BHS was awarded a free throw, and in an incredible defensive play, AHS goalie sophomore Elizabeth Ji blocked the shot; free throws are often difficult to block against, as no players are allowed to stand between the offensive player and the goal except for the goalie.

“I think I played pretty good overall; something that stood out to me today was that we won!” Ji said excitedly after the match.

The impressive defensive tactics were crucial to the girls’ gameplay that day, preventing the opposing team from scoring several shots and keeping the ball away from BHS.

AHS was awarded a penalty shot and suc-

CIF: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Bishop Montgomery

By SOHANA SAHNI Sports Editor

For the first round of CIF, the Arcadia High School (AHS) Girls Varsity Soccer team faced up against Bishop Montgomery High School (BMHS) on Feb. 8 for a thrilling and nail-biting match-up, going 1-1 and AHS winning in penalty kicks.

As the game began, both teams proved to be equally skilled, constantly kept at bay by each other’s defense. Within the first 10 minutes of the game, Bishop Montgomery star player, #13, broke the Arcadia defensive line by herself and scored a goal.

ceeded in scoring a point, pushing them ahead of BHS at 8-7. At that point, BHS advanced, playing more aggressively in an attempt to gain an advantage on AHS. But the Apaches were determined, and the field players aided the goalie Ji in protecting the goal by blocking any attempts to shoot the ball into the goal.

At around 7:30 p.m. in the third quarter, BHS was awarded three free throws, all of which were blocked by AHS goalie Ji in an amazing play of defense and athleticism. BHS scrambled to score more points before the end of the third quarter, scoring once while AHS scored twice and ended the third quarter at 11-9.

During the fourth and final quarter, goalie Ji blocked a shot, which rebounded back to a BHS player who shot again. Incredibly, fueled by adrenaline and lightning-fast reflexes, Ji blocked the ball for a second time, sending it out of the BHS players’ reach. With 37 seconds left on the clock, the teams met for a timeout to discuss their final strategy. Arcadia played the last stretch of the game by keeping the ball away from the BHS players, dribbling and passing the ball back and forth to each other to prevent Burroughs from scoring. At 7:45 p.m., AHS won the Pacific League Finals with a final score of 11-9.

“This is a season where we grew immensely,” said Coach Janice Clark, head coach of the Girls Varsity Water Polo team. “At the beginning of the season, we had seven returning players to varsity and the rest of the players were brand new. Most of [the new] players had only played for one year, and the growth over this season has probably been one of the best parts about this team…[the win-loss record] for this season is 19-9 overall, and in league, [the winloss record] is 8-1.”

Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Water Polo team for a well-played match and a wonderful end to their 2022-2023 season! The thrilling match with Burroughs was an exciting conclusion to the season, and their determination and perseverance that led them to win the finals displayed the talent and hard work that the girls put in. With a well-coordinated and synergistic team, the crowds will definitely be looking forward to watching them play again next year!

mho@arcadiaquill.com

As the half continued, the Arcadia offense kept the ball on the BMHS side of the field, yet as opportunities to score continued to arise, they were unable to finish them. Stuck in the frustration of not scoring, the Girls Varsity Soccer team took half-time to regroup, strategize, and prepare to win the game.

Following a tense first half, Coach Paul Miles grouped the team for an emotional, motivational speech, rousing them to get ready to storm into the second half with a fervor. After Miles concluded his speech, two of the four team captains, senior Destiny Delgado and junior Skye Escobedo discussed strategy and reinvigorated their team with encouragement. This motivation propelled the Girls Varsity Soccer team into the second half, and they continued the game with a vigorous and competitive edge to their play.

The second half began, and Arcadia’s offensive began their aggressive and skillful penetration of the Bishop Montgomery defense. AHS moved up their defensive line, consisting of junior Paige Monson, freshman Bella Kellerman, Delgado, and sophomore Malia Leba, and kept the ball on the other side of the field for a majority of the half. In the midst of their struggle to score, the referee continued to make many controversial calls on Arcadia’s defense just outside of the 18’s. These calls were dangerous, as they gave BMHS free kicks in the ideal spot to score, and this happened twice within a span of 40 minutes.

After making numerous attempts to score, #22 freshman Maddie Massie scored a corner kick in the last 6 minutes of the second half to tie up the game. Caught in a tie, the team went

into overtime in order to decide the match winner. Both teams were in search of their golden goal, a term used to describe their situation: as whoever scored first would win.

As the first overtime concluded, the second began, and still there were no goals from either side. Despite multiple good opportunities and a couple shots from the Arcadia offense, the team remained unlucky and couldn’t get any of them in.

Both teams were unable to score, and the match went into penalty kicks. During penalty kicks, both teams choose five of their most skilled players, and the teams switch off every other one, continuing to shoot penalties until one gets four goals to win.

The first penalty kick of the game went to Delgado, and the talented senior scored a goal in the corner of the box with ease. Following Delgado, #13 on Bishop Montgomery, their most talented player, missed her penalty shot too wide.

Next up was Kaya Chung, another practiced senior, and though her shot was wellplaced and forceful, the fast BMHS goalkeeper managed to block the shot. Following this shot, #10 from Bishop Montgomery, the second best player on the team, barely missed her shot, hitting the post on the side.

The third penalty went to Skye Escobedo, a junior and valuable asset to the team, who scored a stellar goal by shooting to the corner with speed and accuracy. Following Escobedo’s goal, Bishop Montgomery scored another goal as well, keeping up with Arcadia’s pace.

The fourth penalty went to Kellerman, and though it is her first year on the team, the newcomer scored an excellent penalty with ease. Following close behind, BMHS took another penalty goal.

For the final fifth penalty, stakes were high, and the goal decided the fate of the game. Freshman Zayne Bannoura was entrusted with the kick, and with a beautiful shot to the top corner, AHS won the game, advancing to Round 2.

Good luck to our Girls Varsity Soccer team in their future in CIF, and go support them in their Round 2 game this Friday at Don Lugo High School in Chino Hills!

ssahni@arcadiaquill.com

Photo by AINSLEY NAHAFZADEH

Photo by LAUREN CHAO

By KAITLYNN TRINH

2023 NFL PRO BOWL

Staff Writer

The 2023 NFL Pro Bowl occurred on Feb. 5 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The annual event was a showcase of the best NFL players from the league, who are voted in by a combination of fans, players, and coaches.

The week leading up to the Pro Bowl was filled with events and activities, giving fans an opportunity to interact with their favorite players. There was a skills competition, where players showed off their abilities in various drills and a charity game where players from the AFC (American Football Conference) and NFC (National Football Conference) teams went head-to-head in a friendly match to raise money for a good cause, such as donating to charity.

The Pro Bowl game itself featured a talented roster of players, including the league’s MVP, quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes was joined by his teammate and tight end Travis Kelce, who dominated the game with his dynamic game logic. On the other side of the field, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson led a talented group of players,

including running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

“We have the best of the best guys out here,

blows and putting on a show for fans. The first half was dominated by the AFC, with quarterback Mahomes leading his team to a 17-10 lead at halftime.

game. In the end, the AFC took a loss, with a final score of 33-27. The game was won by NFC thanks to a clutch touchdown pass from Wilson to Hopkins in the final minutes of the game.

The 2023 NFL Pro Bowl was a thrilling event that showcased the best talent in the NFL league. It set the stage for an even more exciting 2023-2024 NFL season, as it was also a great opportunity for fans to see their favorite players in action.

By SOPHIA PAYAN-SIEGREST

Staff Writer

The 47th Alpine Ski World

Championships takes place this year from Feb. 6 to Feb. 19. The cherished event will be held in two consecutive locations in the French Alps. Male skiers compete in Courchevel, a ski resort located in France.

Female

and it’s so fun to see guys get competitive,” stated Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks.

The game was a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, with both teams trading

However, the NFC was able to bounce back in the second half, with Wilson putting together a series of scoring drives to take the lead. The fourth quarter was an intense battle, with both teams fighting to take control of the

The 2023 NFL Pro Bowl was a fantastic event that brought together some of the best players in the league for a showcase of their skills. The game was a thrilling battle from start to finish, and it was a fitting end to a fantastic season. With spectators watching every move of each player, tension was built but quickly destroyed through watching each player’s spectacular talent, new skills showed challenges on and off the field and an exclusive live concert performance at the halftime show by Rae Sremmud. This year’s game was a thrilling match of some of the best talents in the season. The NFL is looking forward to the 2023-2024 season, and the Pro Bowl will continue to be a highlight in the NFL year.

ktrinh@arcadiaquilll.com

Photo courtesy of FLICKR.COM

competitors will be competing in Maribel, another popular ski resort in France. Despite the cancellation of many Alpine events in the last year due to climate change and lack of snow in the Alps, the ski season continues to move forward, giving prominent skiers from across the globe a chance to showcase their hard work.

“I have never watched the Alpine Skiing world championships, nor have I tried

skiing, but from what I’ve seen it looks fun and is definitely something I would like to try,” Arcadia High school freshman Kisanet Zerai shared her experience with skiing.

For those of you who don’t know a lot

about skiing, there is an explicit distinction between Alpine skiing and other forms of skiing. Alpine skiing, which developed in central Europe during the late 19th and early 20th century, requires athletes with fixed heel bindings, to ski downhill. As the latter name implies, athletes are expected to ski down the mountain and are judged solely on their time, for which they are awarded points. The International Ski Federation (ISF) is the establishment responsible for organizing the Alpine Ski World Cup and all other Alpine-related competitions.

The leading women’s competitor for this year is two-time Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin, who is the most decorated female Alpine skier in the world. Born and raised in Vail, Colorado, Schiffrin showed an early passion for skiing and later went on to attend Burke Mountain Academy– a private coeducational school that offers world class Alpine training. The 27 year old recently won her 84th World Cup race title, cutting close to the men’s world record of 86 wins. Great things are expected from Schiffrin in this month’s competition.

forward, the Men’s combined took place the following day, Feb. 7, Alexis Pinturalt (France) taking the lead, Marco Shwartz (Austria) in 2nd and Rafael Haaser (Austria) in 3rd. The first Super G (speed event) event took place on Feb. 8 with four women champions on the pedestal, Marto Bassino (Italy), Mikaela Schiffrin, Cornelia Hutter (Australia) and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (Norway). Nine more events are expected to take place this month and each can be watched digitally from www. skiandsnowboard.live or NBC-Peacock.

“I really enjoy watching the Winter Olympics with my family. Especially Alpine skiing. I don’t really watch skiing competitions, but I might try to watch the World championships this year,” Arcadia High School sophomore Jocelyn Lee explained.

the age of 10, he recruited by the Nidwalden Ski Association (NSV) where he was taught by NVS trainer Russo Lussi. As his devotion to skiing grew, so did his trophy cabinet. Besides winning 5 gold medals in his last junior competition, Odermat was awarded the Giant Slalom gold medal in Beijing, China, in 2022.

skiing grew, gold competition, Odermat was awarded the Giant gold China,

On Feb. 6 the Women’s combined event took place, with Frederica Brigone (Italy) in 1st, Wendy Holdener (Switzerland) in 2nd, and Ricarda Hasser (Austria) in 3rd. Moving

The Alpine Ski world championships is a widely anticipated event, with thousands of views world wide. As this event continues, new records are set and athletes from across the world are given the opportunity to shine. ssiegrist@arcadiaquilll.com

Swiss Alpine skier Marco Odermat will

Photo courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

in

competition.

to Shiffrin, Odermat showed an early interest for skiing and by

Valentine’s Day at Arcadia Valentine’s Day at Arcadia

How did you celebrate Valentine’s Day this year?

“I was more lonely than I have ever been. All I did was go to the gym and cry myself to sleep looking at cute cringe couples on tiktok.” -Sergio Diaz (11)

“I blasted metal in my headphones while working out in the gym.”

-Aarush Pandey (11)

“I went out to dinner with my girlfriend and we played arcade games. Then later we had dessert.” -Lana Menck (11)

What is your favorite flower and why?

“I find the red rose very amusing because I love the color of raw meat and actually find it very tasty because of the substantial amount of protein.” -Sergio Diaz (11)

“Tulips! Because I like the colors they come in.” -Megan Liu (10)

“Lotus, because my dad really likes them and I think it’s a Buddhist thing.” -Leheng Huang (12)

Romance or friendship?

“[I like] friendships more, because you can count on your homies.”

-Megan Liu (10)

“Friendship because you can have more than one person you can always count on. Also if the romantic relationship does not turn out well I will probably be depressed and go emo.” - Sergio Diaz (11)

“Romance because it is an exclusive club with an unlimited amount of seats but a limited amount of reservations.” -Casey Kim (11)