75:09 June 9, 2023

Friday, June 9, 2023

What’s inside?

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“Don’t

Ventura High School’s chalk festival pushes students to explore new limits

Reading through time and beyond

VHS held its 41st annual Reader’s Faire between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. on June 1 in the Tuttle Gym and Main Street Gym. The event was organized by English teachers James Locher and Mary Dietz and their English 10 honors classes, though Dietz’s English 10, 11 and 12 intensive class also participated. It was the first Reader’s Faire at VHS since the 2018-19 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the faire, the classes were assigned the Reader’s Faire project, which required them to write a children’s book with their group to be read at the Reader’s Faire. During the event, the groups read their books to children ranging from kindergarten to second grade. Nine Venturan elementary schools visited VHS for the faire, amounting to approximately 1,000 students. These schools included Ventura Missionary, Mound, Lincoln, Pierpont, Sunset, Assumption, Elmhurst, Loma Vista, Will Rogers, Poinsettia, Junipero Serra, E.P. Foster, ATLAS, Lemon Grove, Citrus Glen, Sheridan Way, Portola and Montalvo.

The theme of the faire was “Through Time and Beyond,” and it inspired children to read and strive for personal growth. In total, 40 books were read to the children, and all centered around the faire’s theme. Locher and Dietz recruited the help of upperclassmen to serve as guides, who helped control the visiting classes. The English 10 honors classes set up “habitats” for each

High School dance teams step into the spotlight

Tyree Cruz passes the torch to Josh Spiker for cross country

Josh Spiker has been hired as VHS’ new cross country coach following Tyree Cruz’s resignation. Spiker is the owner of Mile 26, a running goods store in Ventura. He is also a VHS alumni and ran track in high school and in college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Spiker said, “I am really excited and have inherited a great group of kids. I have a lot to learn but look forward to the journey ahead. I am going to learn a lot from the kids

I am pumped. We have the best high school runner in the country on the team and we also have student-athletes who have literally never ran and my job is to help them both reach their max potential and that is really exciting.”

Previous coach Tyree Cruz had been coaching the boys team since 2002 and started as a coach at VHS in 1998. Cruz said, “[Spiker is] a great choice. He’s a VHS alumni, one of the best runners that we’ve ever had here, owns a running store in town and he’s been involved in running forever. I couldn’t ask for a better

elementary students had a book that was stamped by each group, which kept track of their attendance.

In addition to the June 1 Reader’s Faire, 55 seniors in Locher’s AP Literature & Composition class visited 11 elementary schools on June 2 to read their books, just as the sophomores had the day prior.

The children arrived at VHS by bus, private car and foot. The classes that visited VHS did not receive seniors, though Elmhurst Elementary School sent two classes to VHS

and had two classes be visited.

Rebecca Castro ‘25, a reader, said, “[My book is] ‘The UHS: the unidentified happiness ship.’ [It’s about] an alien who gets lost in space and lands on Earth and is unable to go home unless he finds happiness on Earth. [The children] have loved it so much so far. They love the drawings. They’re also sweet.”

Laird Pidduck ‘24, a guide, said, “My responsibilities are to make sure the kids are all organized and move about to open areas to read books, just so there’s not as much chaos. They are chaotic. They have a bunch of energy. Though it’s great to see these little

kids and sort of have them open to high school.”

Though being led by Locher and Dietz in cooperation with the participating elementary schools, this year’s Reader’s Faire was largely student-run. Students formed committees in charge of certain aspects of the faire, such as decoration.

The VHS Reader’s Faire is expected to continue in future years.

Dietz said, “This is a great event, and I’m really excited that we got to have it back here again. We really like having [the elementary school students] visit our campus. [Hosting it] here is more of a community feeling.”

and hope they are going to learn from me. I think we can do great things together.”

The VHS cross country team has nine runners competing in the California state championship prelimination round currently. VHS has had continual success in cross country in the past as well.

Spiker said, “Coach [Bill] Tokar, Coach [Preston] Biller and Coach [Tyree] Cruz have built a great program over the years and I want to build upon that. My hope is that both the boys and girls teams will always be podium contenders at state and bring home state titles.”

Spiker said, “[Coaching a team with high level talent makes me] nervous but in a good way. There are a lot of expectations and I have a lot to learn but

choice to come in and take the reins. Josh has been a part of running for a long time. He just has to learn how to manage the coaching part. He’s got to figure out all those things [behind coaching], but there’s lots of people here that can help him.”

Henry Hammel ‘24, a cross country runner, said, “I think that Josh taking over will definitely bring an exciting change in culture as Josh is very into the sport and a very inspiring figure in the Ventura running scene. I personally believe that Josh being hired will help nurture the already great team culture that we have created as a very dedicated group of individuals.”

In words of advice to Spiker, Cruz said, “[He should] make it his own.”

The Reader’s Faire returned to VHS in person

Photo by: Lourdes Almalab

Josh Spiker was hired as new VHS cross country coach

Ventura

Photo by: Leslie Castro

Photo by: Spencer Duffey

stop because you’re tired. Keep going because you’re almost there.” - Anonymous

Miles Newman

Samantha Castañeda

Alejandro Hernandez

The habitats at the Reader’s Faire were decorated according to the book it hosted.

Photo by: Samantha Castañeda book, and the children rotated from habitat to habitat in groups of classes, with each class visiting all 40. The

Hugh Murphy

“I want to build a program that welcomes everyone who is willing to work hard,” said Josh Spiker.

Fortune favors the bold at Ventura High School

Highlighting the military as a career for VHS students

Miles Newman

Hugh Murphy

Students at VHS follow many different career paths after graduation. One of those paths is the U.S. Armed Forces, the largest single employer in the world with around 3.2 million employees. Students are offered many opportunities to learn more about the military, in-

cluding frequent booths from different military branches which dispense information about recruitment and career paths. The booths are usually located by the flagpole near the senior lawn.

Jayden Johnson ‘23 is one of the students who will join the armed forces following her graduation. Johnson said, “I am going into the U.S. Air Force. I am going to interview to be a mental health technician.

It is a job that can’t just be picked. You have to be fit for it, prepared and ready for anything. You have to be resilient and an extremely patient person who knows how to separate work from home.” Due to the size and scale of the military, there are a multitude of paths that individuals who are interested can take. These include enlisting out of high school, attending Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at a college, getting hired as a private contractor and attending a military academy.

Johnson said, “The route to the military is different for everyone. Some people choose to be in ROTC, others have a family background and make that decision immediately, [or] maybe this was the only choice they had. I personally made up my mind when I realized I was ready for more than just college. I want to do more with my life at an earlier age. I have a better shot personally to become something because of the military.”

Carbajal is the house representative for most of Ventura. To apply to a military academy, students require a nomination from a representative, senator, vice president or the president. Carbajal said, “It is so satisfying to host [Academy Nights] because you are our brightest and most precious resource as young people.” Graphic by: Hugh Murphy

Another opportunity for students comes in the form of academy nights, which occur yearly sometime in May. These events are designed to inform students and parents about the military academies, which

are colleges connected to the military. There is an Air Force Academy, Military Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy and Merchant Marine Academy. All of these colleges offer some of the best programs in the nation in fields like engineering, chemistry, physics and economics. Due to their small size and high prestige, these

VHS alum Julia Izquierdo secures the lower lot

New security guard keeps VHS students on campus

Kinda Mehael

Kendall Garcia

VHS alum Julia

Izquierdo ‘20 started her security job on the VHS campus in late March and has

been keeping students safe on campus ever since. Izquierdo graduated from VHS in 2020 and went on to her security job at DeAnza Middle School. When an opening at VHS came along, Izquierdo decided to come back to the

school she loved.

Izquierdo said, “[The transition to VHS has been] more calm, everybody is a little bit more mature and [VHS students] are more kind of miniature adults, so you guys kind of already know how to, you know [act]. Whereas the middle schoolers are well, having fun.”

Since Izquierdo was once a VHS student herself, so she knows a lot about what goes on both on and off campus. But her main priority is always keeping kids safe.

Izquierdo said, “[I want students to know] that I was once in your guys’ shoes and I know that you guys, in the blink of an eye, are gonna be out of here, so I think they should just have fun.”

Izquierdo is considered an addition to VHS’s security and not a replacement for anyone. Her goal is to stay at VHS for however long they are willing to keep her.

Jenny Michalec, who has been at VHS for security for the past year, said, “I think Julia is a good addition to VHS. She’s doing

military academies are highly selective in the admission process.

John Demers, the representative of the Naval Academy, said, “[The academies] look for strong academics, a top performer in GPA and SAT score, involvement in athletics, evidence of teamwork, leadership potential and the ability to overcome

adversity [...] though all of these categories are not required as I have seen every kind of student be accepted to and succeed at an academy.”

The military remains an option for all students at VHS, with paths available to all kinds of individuals. The military offers stable and meaningful careers yet requires full dedication and commitment.

good learning. I think she’s a good fit.”

Although Izquierdo focuses her time on keeping students safe while she’s on campus. Izquierdo also has some other hobbies outside of school.

“I’m gonna be a grandma again, I have a second batch of pitbull puppies that are gonna be on their way, I also have a couple of brothers,” said Izquierdo. On campus, Izquierdo is mainly placed by the bathrooms for breaks and lunchtime. She then moves to the lot after lunch and for dismissal.

Claire Clay ‘23 said, “I’ve seen the new security guard [Izquierdo] around for a little while now. I’ve talked to her a couple times and she’s really friendly.”

Izquierdo said, “My job is to make sure all of you guys stay on campus once you guys get here it’s my job to keep you here. Make sure nobody leaves, make sure nobody comes in.” Izquierdo said, “[The transition has been] good, it feels funny to be back [at my old school], but I mean it’s VHS.”

Lourdes Almalab

Isabel Andrade

Weston Blackburn

Samantha Castañeda

Leslie Castro

Adi De Clerck

Davin Dedman

Ella Duncan

Jayden Gentry

Santiago Gonzales

Lia Hersh

Kinda Mehael

Christian Montecino

Christopher Morrison

Anastasia Nisky

Emily Nguyen

Savanna Nustad-Franzen

Brianna Ramirez

VHS’ Military Academy Night was held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. May 1. The event was meant to inform students about the academies and how they can apply and featured a speech from U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal as well as booths featuring a spokesperson for each of the five military academies.

Photo by: Hugh Murphy

Julia Izquierdo ‘20 has been working at VHS since March of 2023.

Photo by: Kendall Garcia

Izquierdo can be found near the lower lot throughout the day. Photo by: Kinda Mehael

VHS prepares to say “farewell” to its foreign friends

As the year comes to a close, several exchange students reflect on their time in Ventura before returning to their homes across the world

Ava Mohror

Brody Daw

In the 2022-23 school year, VHS played host to several foreign exchange students who came to stay in Ventura for the year. Liviya

Nascimento ‘24, Elina Bahr ‘24, and Saana Jormalainen ‘23 came from Germany, Switzerland and Finland, respectively, for their foreign exchange year in the U.S. Foreign exchange students come to America through the International Cultural Exchange Services. The ICES is an official J-1 sponsor through the U.S. Department of State, giving students seeking experiences in the U.S. a visa to do so. Before a student showing interest in the foreign exchange program can join the program, they must take a language exam and participate in an interview with an ICES employee to ensure they can thrive in the U.S. Many of these exchange students landed in Ventura a few weeks before the start of school, and will fly back to their home countries a few weeks after the end of school, so they will be able to continue to spend their summer with the friends

they have made before returning home.

Nascimento came to Ventura from Geneva, Switzerland. While staying in Ventura, Nascimento is staying with Dani Simpson ‘26, a member of VHS track and field. “I’ve really enjoyed the year in Ventura. I really miss my friends and family at home and the food a lot,” said Nascimento.

California draws its visitors with its attractions, like Hollywood, the Channel Islands and the numerous beaches going up the coast.

Ventura’s foreign exchange students spent their year exploring these different attractions. Nascimento said, “Overall, I’d say [my favorite part of my experiences in Ventura] were the trips I did with my host family.”

Bahr is from Koblenz, Germany. While in Ventura, Bahr has been staying with Adalyn Moore ‘25, a varsity cheerleader at VHS.

Bahr was drawn to California for the beaches. She said, “California was my choice because I wanted to be close to the beach and because I was hoping for good weather.” Unfortunately for Bahr, California suffered severe rainstorms at the beginning of the year, reminding Bahr of Germany. While these foreign

exchange students have enjoyed their time in Ventura, they have also been missing aspects of their homes. Bahr said, “What I miss most is the freedom and the independence I had in Germany. Public transportation there is way better, teenagers are more responsible and I didn’t have strict rules in contrast to what I got used to here.”

Nascimento said, “I really miss my friends and family at home, and the food a lot.”

Jormalainen is visiting Ventura from Helsinki, Finland. While Jormalainen is here, she is not staying with any VHS students. Her host family is Ron and Krista Stevenson, former VHS parents. “I have really enjoyed my year here, and I love Ventura. It’s a perfect little beach town, and I will miss it a lot,” Jormalainen said.

While in Ventura, Jormalainen joined the VHS varsity girls basketball team. Jormalainen was eager to join the team at VHS because she was on her hometown basketball team back in Finland.

Jormalainen reflected on her time spent in Ventura. “My favorite part was living in a warm place.”

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

NewLife Club: the newest club on campus is Christian

A new club to continue next year

The NewLife Club held its first meeting during lunch on April 18 in science teacher Heather Miyata’s room 62. The club’s leadership includes Miyata, the club’s advisor, and Alethia Martinez ‘24, the club’s president. The club is non-denominational Christian and will focus on religious education and awareness. It will meet during lunch on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. The club was originally conceived by Miyata and was brought to Martinez’s attention. Martinez also wanted to start a Christian club at VHS, so they united to create the NewLife Club.

Martinez said, “I began the NewLife Club for people to know Jesus and to feel the love he gives. We also sometimes have stress [because] of school or [something else]. I want this club to be [somewhere] where they can relax and let go of what they have. Anyone is welcome.”

The club will meet four more times after its first April 18 meeting. The four meetings will be centered around episodes of “Fire and Faithfulness” by Sadie Robertson Huff, with

Science teacher and NewLife Club Advisor Heather Miyata, center-right, leading club members introductions during the club’s first meeting on April 18.

Photo by: Alejandro Hernandez

every meeting including one episode.

The NewLife Club also plans on hosting an event in honor of the May 4 National Day of Prayer during its May 2 meeting. In addition, the club is planning to sell cookies at the VHS Food Faire on April 28.

Juan Coronado ‘24, a NewLife Club mem-

Ventura High School dance teams step into the spotlight

Recap of VHS dance teams 2022-23

VHS’ dance teams have been around since the 2000s. The school’s dance program, taught by Taylor Koester, has brought dance education to VHS students. VHS offers a variety of different skill leveled classes as well as youth camps, performance opportunities and open dance classes.

it was an exciting performance.”

They recently had a free open dance class series where they had Hip Hop on March 8, Musical Theater Jazz on March 22 and Reggaeton on April 5. All classes were from 6 to 7 p.m.

It was open to all VUSD students ages 12 to 18 in Room 40.

dance team and hip hop team to get to meet dancers from other schools and from other high schools and dance programs here in Ventura County.”

ber, said, “It’s important to have a community at our high school that involves [the] church and [Christianity]. My friend [Martinez] is the president of the club, so she did invite me to come and to show support and to see what it was about.

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

On Jan. 20, Dance and Rhythmics 1, Dance and Rhythmics 2, the hip hop team and the dance team had their Informal Showcase during period six from 1 to 2 p.m. in the VHS auditorium. Hip hop and dance teams have performed at football games and even basketball games. On Jan. 26, VHS hip hop and dance performed for their last game at the VHS versus BHS girls basketball game. The hip hop team performed “Diva’s,” by Beyonce and the dance team performed “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” by Jon Jovi. It was also the VHS seniors’ last game performance of the year. Ivana Rico ‘23, captain of the hip hop team, said, “My favorite performance has to be the homecoming performance year [2022-23]. It was a combinated dance with the dance team and hip hop team. I was [also] a part of homecoming royalty and

On Feb. 11, they had their very first competition at Agoura Hill High School for the West Coast Elite competition. The dance team took home fifth place for the “Small Contemporary,” and hip hop took third for the “Large Hip Hop” competition. Koester said, “It was so much fun and was definitely a new experience. It was very eye opening. It was really cool for [the]

Mission Statement

On March 18, they performed at the 805 Night Market along with other dancers around Ventura County, including the BHS dance team, the Alias Dance Fam and many more. In the first few weeks of May, there will be auditions for both hip hop and dance teams. Dance team auditions will be held from 3:45 to 5 p.m. on May 2 to 4. Hip hop team auditions will be held from 3:45 to 5 p.m. on May 9 to 11. The first two days of the auditions will be workshop days to learn the dance routines. On the very last day, auditions with the coaches will be held.

The Cougar Press is a completely student-run, public forum of the Ventura High School community. We strive to present all sides of an issue fairly and without bias while being as resourceful to our readers as possible. From time to time, we make an error. When this happens, we try to correct it as soon as possible. Students and community members are encouraged to write for The Cougar Press and to submit photos and videos. We welcome all submissions but may edit them for clarity and brevity. This public forum is only as good as the community support it receives.

Contact us at thecougarpressvhs@gmail.com

Mia Sinclair ‘24 and Liviya Nascimento ‘24 , left to right, sit together at a birthday party. Photo by: Ava Mohror

Elina Bahr ‘24 and Kaitlyn Seymour ‘24, left to right, before the VHS homecoming dance in October of 2022. Photo by: Ava Mohror

Alejandro Hernandez

Leslie Castro

The hip hop team performed “Divas” by Beyonce at their last VHS girls varsity basketball game against BHS. Photo by: Samantha Castaneda

Kate Duffey serves to impress

VHS’ very own volleyball player, Kate Duffey, is on top of her game

Ava Mohror

“Kate is one of the most valuable players a team can have,” said VHS varsity girls volleyball player Chloe Simpson ‘24.

Kate Duffey ‘24 is a setter for the VHS varsity girls volleyball team. Duffey played as the team captain of the VHS team this year, only stopping due to a back infection that put her in the hospital at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. However, after weeks on crutches, Duffey has been able to get back in the game and play for the majority of her junior season. Duffey has been playing since the seventh grade, and despite her injury, her hard work has proved to have paid off.

On the VHS varsity girls volleyball team, they placed first all-conference and second all- county.

Duffey also plays for a club team, City Volleyball Club. They have ranked fifth overall in southern California, as well as being named the Amateur Athletic Union Open All-American Team and Academic All American team. Duffey’s club team has received an open bid to move on to USA Volleyball Nationals.

Coupled with her two teams’ achievements, Duffey has also received offers from several different colleges to play volleyball on their teams. These colleges include Oregon State University, San Jose State University, Loyola Marymount University and UCLA. As

of May 12, Duffey officially committed to UCLA for volleyball starting in the fall of 2024.

Simpson said, “She’s so talented and one of the smartest players to come across. She is a supporting teammate and a leader. I can always look to Kate if I need help or in a rut.”

VHS varsity girls volleyball player Sophia Sletten ‘24 said, “Kate’s energy is unmatched to anyone I have ever played with

Sadie Engelhardt zooms past the competition

The sophomore already has several running records

Alejandro Hernandez

In June 2021, Sadie Engelhardt ‘25 broke the world record for the shortest mile time for females aged 14 and under in Huntington, Ala., with a time of 4:40.16 minutes. She broke a nearly 50-year-old record set by Mary Decker in 1973, who had a time of 4:40.1 minutes, which Engelhardt shaved by six centiseconds. At the time, Engelhardt was an eighth grader at Cabrillo Middle School. Engelhardt would later join the VHS cross country and track & field teams, where she continues to perform as a runner. In addition to her world record, Engelhardt holds the national records for female freshmen competing in the mile, 3,200, 1,600 and 1,500-meter events. She holds the California state high school records for females aged 15 and under in the 1,500 and 1,600-meter events.

before. Her being as good as she is also helps with her case, but she carries herself so confidently that it makes everyone around her play better.”

Duffey shared that her favorite part of playing volleyball is being surrounded by her teammates and playing in a competitive environment, allowing her to work hard and be successful. “[It] just makes me so happy to be out on the court,” said Duffey.

Engelhardt began running in the fourth grade when she started cross country at Poinsettia Elementary School. She gradually became a more competitive runner, joining track in middle school. Engelhardt knew she had tremendous running potential when she ran a 4:40 minute mile in eighth grade. During the fall of the 2021-22 school year, she joined the VHS cross country team, which began her running career at VHS.

Felix Cortez steps down as basketball coach

Cortez’s career spanned from 1987 to 2023

Alejandro Hernandez

On April 20, former varsity boys basketball head coach Felix Cortez ‘83, a VHS alum, coached the basketball team for the last time. It was his last official day as head coach. Cortez stepped down after coming to an agreement with the VHS administration to leave coaching, ending his 37-year-long career coaching basketball at VHS, with his first year at VHS being the 1986-87 school year. Cortez now works with athletic equipment and performs custodial duties, which he does with the VHS PE program. He plans to continue working in that position for the foreseeable future.

Cortez said, “37 years is a long time. I think my [coaching] style is a little bit different than what the kids nowadays want. [It’s] not that I don’t get along with them, I just have an old school approach. I think kids want some more freedom on the court and more chances to be creative. To me, a team sport is the old school.”

Cortez has noticed the divide between his coaching style and his players for years, but he said that it became especially pronounced after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he saw changes in VHS basketball culture over his coaching career and since his playing career for VHS in the early 1980s, he said that the changes that motivated his departure were about player mindset, not athleticism. Cortez said, “I actually think the players [today] are more athletic [than when I started coaching at VHS].”

Principal Marissa Rodriguez said, “A discussion about the [basketball]

program led to a mutual decision. Athletic programs are reviewed with coaches frequently. Our discussion led to a mutual decision to go in a different direction with the boys basketball program effective immediately and for the [20]23-24 school year. Coach Cortez dedicated [37] years to the program and we would like to thank him for his commitment and dedication to our Cougars.” Cortez said, “I was able to coach in five CIF finals [and two state] finals. But the most important thing is the relationships that I’ve been able to develop with my former players, my peers, my colleagues from throughout the county and [in] our leagues. I think those are [my] greatest accomplishments because ultimately when we work in this business, it’s about kids. It’s about relationships. VHS has afforded me [the] opportunity to be the best I could be.”

Jack Rose ‘23, a varsity boys basketball player who Cortez coached, said, “[Cortez] coached here for over 30 years, and has stuck with the program through its ups and downs. You won’t find a person, coach or not, who is more passionate and loyal to Ventura High athletics. What was always clear with coach Cortez was that he placed a great emphasis on personal accountability, togetherness, playing with respect and honor and above all, playing tough. No matter the coach, there is always bound to be pros and cons, but one thing I don’t think anyone ever questioned was coach Cortez’s care and interest in each of his players’ lives, both on and off the court.”

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

Engelhardt said, “[Running] only really got competitive [in] eighth grade. By that, I mean harder workouts and actually traveling to go to races and things like that. Then I got to high school and I think everything was new and exciting for running. That kind of kept me going during my freshman season. My passion is running, and that excitement from [my] freshman year has kind of bled over into sophomore year.”

Tyree Cruz, the distance coach for the VHS cross country team and track & field team, said, “[Engelhardt] likes to work really hard. She’s dialed into her mileage and what she’s doing. She’s really goal oriented in trying to break [her] records and chase after those mile times. She loves being part of the team and everybody loves watching her race.”

Engelhardt runs 40 miles a week as of May, but she has no desire to slow down. Instead, she hopes to increase her weekly mileage as she gets older. She said, “[I’m] very cautious about my mileage just because I am still a sophomore. Even though I’m running against girls that are running like 50, 60 miles a week, I have to remember that I’m an underclassman, and that I have so much more potential down the line. I don’t want to ruin it all now.”

Nick DeGeorge ‘24, a member of the VHS cross country team and track and

field team, said, “She’s different from a lot of other runners because she’s humble [and] never brags, and is willing to work hard for others, not just herself. She definitely deserves all the success she has received.”

Engelhardt will compete at the 1,600 and 800-meter events at the 2023 CIF State Track & Field Championships in Clovis, Calif. on May 26 and 27. She will later race the 1,500-meter event at the Portland Track Festival in Portland, Ore. on June 4. Then, she will race in Philadelphia, Pa. to break her 800-meter personal record of 2:05 minutes and compete in the mile event. In her final scheduled event, Engelhardt will compete in the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships, an outdoor track and field competition, in Eugene, Ore. on July 1 and 2, where she will compete in the prelims, which will determine if she moves to later rounds.

After high school, Engelhardt wants to pursue a professional running career. She said, “Going pro is kind of like every runner’s dream. Just like doing what they love, which is running as a career. I’m excited because I can finally talk to colleges [in mid-June]. I like the pressure that comes with [my] records and stuff like that. Those bars that I work towards help me stay motivated.”

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

Cortez, center-left, was the head coach of the VHS varsity boys basketball team for most of the 2022-23 school year.

Photo by: VHS Yearbook

Kate Duffey ‘24 went on an official visit to UCLA on May 5 before officially committing to the university. Photo by: Spencer Duffey

Felix Cortez was the head coach for the VHS varsity boys basketball team for two seasons before his departure.

Photo by: Alejandro Hernandez

Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Honors perform

The two groups performed and featured various senior soloists

Alejandro Hernandez

Adi De Clerck

Katie Rundle

The VHS Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Honors performed during the Spring Concert Series II from 7 to 8 p.m. May 25 in the auditorium. It was the second of two concerts in the Spring Concert Series, with the first occurring on May 12. However, the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Honors did not perform at the first concert.

The Symphony Orchestra played four pieces between 7 and 7:45 p.m., and each piece featured a senior soloist who played their respective instrument. After the orchestra’s performance, the Wind Ensemble Honors played three pieces, with two featuring a senior soloist. The soloists went through a selection process before the concert. The final piece, “Give Us This Day” by David Maslanka, was not headlined by any soloist.

Ella Strong ‘23, a flute player, helped perform the first Symphony Orchestra piece, “Rondo” by Wolfgang

Amadeus Mozart. Then, Aidan Connelly ‘23 on cello, Liah Kraft ‘23 on violin and Eva Lechner-Hill ‘23 on clarinet then soloed for the pieces “Adagio” by Edward Elgar, “Allegro” by Felix Mendelssohn and “Il Concerto” by Oscar Navarro, respectively.

As for the Wind Ensemble Honors, Reese Whitley ‘23, a tenor saxophonist, soloed during “Omnifenix” by John Psathas. Kate Fallon ‘23, an oboe player, then helped play “Legacy” by Navarro. Finally, the entire Wind Ensemble Honors played “Give Us This Day” by Maslanka.

Kraft said, “I have done a solo in the past, [but] for a different instrument, piano. [I would solo again] if I had an easier piece and I was more prepared. [“Allegro”] is not my style of music. I can’t do fast pieces, only slow, pretty ones.”

In addition to the music, the concert had a bake sale run in the foyer of the auditorium by the VHS Music Boosters. The proceeds will go to funding the music program at VHS. The concert also had a table with photos of the senior soloists and text

providing a brief insight into their musical backgrounds. These were repeated in the program pamphlet distributed to concert attendees.

VHS Music Director Paul Hunt, who conduct-

Ventura High School’s chalk festival pushes students to explore new limits

The history, backstory and aftermath of the chalk festival

Lourdes Almalab

Belen Hibbler

The annual VHS chalk festival took place in front of the statue on May 12 and 13. The history of the chalk festival is rooted deep in VHS history. It is not just some random event put on by the art department.

The first VHS chalk festival began in 1987 with art teacher Patty Post. She attended the first chalk festival in Santa Barbara called I Madonnari in 1968 and felt very inspired, so she decided to bring the tradition to VHS. The chalk festival has been an arts fundraiser ever since. I Madonnari still takes place in front of the Santa Barbara mission every Memorial Day weekend.

Lauren Minadeo, a VHS art teacher, said, “I’ve actually been doing the Santa Barbara chalk festival and I was an invited artist for around 15 years. This year I have a giant square and I am taking like 10 or 15 students with me and they’re going to be doing like seven squares so that’s a big deal. I picked ... students that are really good because it’s a big responsibility.”

Most of the students that participate in the chalk festival are in Art 2, 3 and AP Art. Minadeo said, “There’s always like a random art one [student] because some of the kids are really talented.”

The preparation for the chalk festival is a little more complex than most students assume. The chosen sketches are not done by the students, but rather

Opinion: Alix Earle is the new Charli D’Amelio

22-year-old Alix Earle has gained over two million followers in the past two months

Ella Duncan

Kendall Garcia

Alix Earle is a fourth-year student attending the University of Miami.

Earle began posting on TikTok in 2020 but gained the majority of her followers over the course of the past two months. She became the face of the “get ready with me” trend, which allows creators to share what makeup and skincare products they use, and now has many major brands competing to work with her.

Earle has gained popularity due to her genuine lifestyle. Her TikToks generally frame her day-today life as a University of Miami student. Earle has gained collaboration deals with some large brands, such as Selena Gomez’s brand, Rare Beauty.

she’s the exact picture of society’s beauty standards. But Earle is actually a lot more than just another pretty influencer. Earle tries her best to stay real with her audience but while getting ready for major events she still discusses her late nights. In one of her recent TikTok videos, Earle said, “If you’re blonde and you’re thinking about going darker, you need to really consider your mental state.”

ed during the concert, said, “We gave [the soloists] a solo for seven years of hard work and labor [of being a musician]. They played very well.”

Alexa Pineda ‘26 said, “I would say I like [Earle], her videos are a little interesting. She is funny and seems like a nice person, so [I like her].”

At first glance, Earle seems like your average influencer, being that

Earle’s social media stays unfiltered. She normalizes her accutane treatments and does her best to stay real about her sometimes messy lifestyle. The platform she’s building definitely helps young girls and guys create a real vision of beauty in their minds. Her honesty creates a safe space for most, which helped her build her large platform along with her likable personality and funny videos. The majority of things that Earle recommends to her viewers on TikTok sell out in minutes.

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

Ventura High School’s Cesar Morales of Los Elegidos de Asis

Cesar Morales’s journey through dance

Kinda Mehael

Born in an Oaxacan household, Cesar Morales ‘24 has been familiar with “La Danza De Los Diablos” or “The Dance of the Devils” ever since he was a child.

“My parents are from Oaxaca, [Mexico] and I would watch [the dance] since I was a little kid and I just got interested in it and started dancing,” said Morales. “The Dance of the Devils” is a traditional dance from the town of San Miguel Cuevas, located in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca, Mexico. According to author Lujan Agusti, who studies Mexican masked dances, the Dance of the Devil was first created when the Spaniards brought Africans with them as slaves and persisted as a form of resistance. “During the days of freedom granted to them by their planters, the slaves went

from a ton of portraits, animals, flowers and other random pictures. Summer Rose Hayashi ‘23 drew Anthony Terrones. Terrones was a VHS student who passed

by different people from the VUSD. Minadeo sends an email out to the district, and anyone can send in anything, and it gets drawn, similarly to a commissioning system. Minadeo said, “People send pictures to me and I put them in photoshop and crop them so they can be gridded to the size that we need to sell them.”

“I take every picture that is sent in. That’s why we ended up with a lot of cats this year. It’s like a pet portrait year and they’re

pretty hard,” said Minadeo. Ellie Toumeh ‘23 said, “I think the chalk festival should continue because it’s a cool activity and it allows the students to showcase their art for everyone to see.” His favorite portrait was “The Last Supper.” He said, “I just felt a connection to it and was intrigued by it because I have the picture at home.” Continued

out to celebrate and dance,” wrote Agusti.

Although Morales has been dancing “La Danza De Los Diables” since he was a child, he has been dancing with Los Elegidos de Asis for the last six months. Los Elegidos de Asis, or “The Chosen Ones of Asis,” is a cultural dance group located in Ventura County, consisting of over 50 members. Although Morales has been in the group for only six months, Los Elegidos de Asis has been performing since 2015.

Los Elegidos de Asis perform in all types of events, such as weddings and quinces. “We usually dance at parties that we get invited to, like quinceaneras, weddings, stuff like that,” said Morales. On top of that, Los Elegidos de Asis have earned a lot of recognition. On the days of April 14 to 16, Los Elegidos

de Asis performed at the Universe Multicultural Film Festival, a red carpet event held in Los Angeles, where they won Signature Culture of the Year. “Last week we performed at a red carpet ceremony, there were many celebrities there, and we got the award for being the best culture of the year,” said Morales.

VHS English teacher Paul Togneri said, “[Morales] is super friendly, amicable, and has a great sense of humor.” For fun, Morales likes to hang out with his friends, hang out in his bed and play with his dogs. Morales’ favorite classes at VHS include Metal Shop and Margaret Sellers’s English class. He likes to go to the mall for fun. Morales said, “Ms. Sellers’s class is really motivating for me. That’s why I like it.”

The musical groups played a variety of musical instruments at the concert. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

The chalk festival art ranged

away. Photo by: Lourdes Almalab

Cesar Morales ‘24 wearing traditional Oaxacan clothing in a Dia De Los Muertos dance event. Photo from: @bobdebris on Instagram

The use of phones in class will always be impossible to regulate

The never-ending debate between teachers and students

Lourdes Almalab

The use of phones in class is a constant subject area that teachers are having to cover more and more. It’s not uncommon for a teacher to interrupt a class in order to tell a student to put their phone away. I think that phone usage in class is annoying, and I get the teacher’s standpoint, but in reality, technology being such a huge part of our lives and continuing to grow makes it hard for students to disconnect themselves from it.

However, students do need to learn that there are boundaries when it comes to using phones in class because sometimes it’s simply disrespectful.

Logan Scarlett ‘24 said, “I feel like there’s a time and a place for [the phone] to be away like when you’re taking a test but other than that, I think it’s fine.”

Teachers, especially mine, have continued to show frustration with phones being out in class because they want their students to make use of all their class time and worry about their phones during their free time. These teacher complaints make tons of sense, but it is hard to follow these guidelines when bored out of your mind in class.

Gigi Scaglia ‘26 said, “Sometimes I text my friends or when I have nothing to do I might go on social media.” It is a chal-

Let’s talk about sex-ed for all four years of high school

Why barely one-quarter of sexual education at VHS just isn’t enough

Sophia Nacu

Soraya Stegall

During their freshman year, VHS students are required to take a course in health. This class is paired with college and careers. Since each course is a semester-long, there is already a shorter time frame to cover a vast area of subjects. Toward the end of the health course, students cover sexual education. As for the rest of high school, a health course for each following year isn’t required, which means that sexual education is seldom taught. This is different depending on what science course you take, but for those not taking a medical class, there is little to no knowledge given regarding it.

Teachers should not have to continuously interrupt their lectures to get you to put your phone away. Be respectful and considerate. Graphic by: Lourdes Almalab

lenge for many students to stay engaged in class because of all of the busy work and downtime, especially right now, closing out the second semester.

Something that needs to be considered when thinking about whether phones in class should be eliminated or not is what students are using them for and if they are beneficial to the

learning experience. I think phones are one of a student’s biggest assets. Nothing else allows for so much access to the internet, and honestly, sometimes, using my phone just helps me learn complicated things in such a simple way.

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

Get rid of socratic seminars

So, not only is the overall subject of health crammed into one measly semester, but sex education is crammed into an even tighter time slot. It’s simply impossible to cover all the bases in such a short time.

Jack Rose ‘23 said, “I’ve never really had a sexed class at VHS. I think it’s something many can benefit from. I think there’s valuable information in any sex-ed course that if you apply in the right way, can be very helpful in everyday life.”

The time allotted for “sex education” – if one can even call it that – consists of a video of a woman giving birth within a documenta-

ry, an explanation of what a menstrual cycle is and a demonstration of how one uses a condom and a halfas*** presentation regarding the other ways to prevent pregnancy or STI.

London Fletcher ‘23 said, “I don’t think that the sex education in VHS has prepared us for the real world at all, and I think that it should because I think it’s pretty common sense for people to assume that kids in high school are engaging in sexual activity. I don’t feel as though VHS has educated us enough on it.”

Abigail Block ‘23 said, “I feel like there isn’t really any sexual education [taught at] Ventura High. I honestly only remember one segment from freshman year health class in the one semester that we get, but I feel like for the most part it’s catered towards students that are practicing abstinence and people who don’t partake in any sexual activities and it’s not preparing anyone to engage in those [sexual] activities.”

For the longest time, the practice of celibacy has been the primary response to preventing unwanted pregnancies or STIs. Yet this method is outdated and useless.

Obviously it’s common sense that if one is not sexually active, then they will not be faced with the risks that come with it, but as long as testosterone and estrogen continue to exist, so will the

Socratic seminars in classrooms can be anxiety provoking for students and are negatively affecting the classroom environment.

Kendall Garcia

Socratic seminars are a method used to try to understand information by creating a dialectic class in regard to a specific text. However, they do not belong in a high school classroom environment. Many English, science and history teachers on the VHS campus use socratic seminars to grade students on their knowledge of a topic.

Claire Clay ‘23 said, “I’ve participated in a couple socratic seminars but I don’t think the method is better than just doing quizzes and stuff. They seem kind of outdated.”

A socratic seminar is a student-led conversation based on texts that are appropriate for the class being taken. Students may have socratic seminars on books, articles, essays, videos or movies.

There are many problems with using socratic seminars in the classroom. The biggest problem I see with this method would have to be that socratic seminars can often be anxiety provoking for students. The grading scale of most socratic seminars is also a big issue. The majority of socratic seminars are graded based on how much a student talks during the discussion and what ideas they bring to the table. But is this really fair to the students?

I say that in a perfect world, all students would be comfortable enough to speak up in discussions, but in reality that simply isn’t the case. Just because a student doesn’t talk during a seminar does not mean that they didn’t do the same amount of work a student who speaks a lot during a seminar does. It’s not fair to grade a student based on how

much they did or didn’t speak in front of their classmates.

Greg Raney, an English teacher, said, “I assess [students’] preparation for the discussion [when grading]. Are they prepared with notes? Are they ready to discuss or have they done their reading?

I also evaluate whether they know basic factual information about something, and at the same time if they are able to use that information to formulate their own opinions and ideas and interpretations.

I also evaluate how often they refer to the text, you have to cite evidence and point to certain things, which takes patience. I kind of evaluate how well they listen and how well they actually build off of each other, and use each other’s ideas to reach a deeper understanding.”

Another flaw in the grading scale is grading students on how much they talk but not really what they say. Some students can speak a lot during a seminar but bring no new ideas to the table, while others only speak a little but have the most intellectual ideas.

Raney said, “I think getting students talking and discussing over any text, or just having a discussion as a class is a great strategy and routine. I think discussing anything is challenging, especially after distanced learning and COVID-19 and with the amount of time we spend on screens, I think having a face-to-face conversation is essential and powerful. It’s one of the learning goals for my class, it’s also a state standard, to practice listening and speaking.”

natural human instincts and urges to be sexually active. We need to throw away this dismissive response and instead provide students with methods to practice safe sex as well as actual solutions to turn to when they find themselves in a rut.

Block said, “It isn’t fair and it’s honestly unsafe that educators aren’t teaching anything because then kids go into these sexual situations basically blindsided and uneducated, we’re more likely to make mistakes and get pregnant.”

Deniyah Alvarado ‘24 said, “[Sex education] is basically nonexistent, no one’s really learned anything about sex. I feel like we should learn about sex, we should be educated.”

In all honesty, it’s a complete joke that VHS has gone almost three years without sex ed instruction. The necessity for sexual education exists as long as students grow and curiosity blooms about their sexual orientation and preferences. The need to know about one’s self, inside and out, is important. Even the simple act of putting on a condom or putting in a tampon can be difficult, scary and shameful for some. When young adults find themselves in environments that deprive them of proper information about sexual health and practice, they can turn to other outlets.

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

Socratic seminars are regularly used in VHS English classes for all grade levels, but the method is seemingly outdated. Graphic by: Kendall Garcia

Raney said, “I would say [we do Socratic seminars] regularly, yes, but not frequently. We normally do it with the novels that we read, and when we do a novel, which is at least one per semester, we will do a handful of them [for] that novel.”

Photo by: Ella Duncan

Cougar critique: “Barry”

HBO Max hit series, “Barry,” is entering its final season as one of the best shows on television

Hugh Murphy

Miles Newman

“Barry,” the widely acclaimed series on HBO Max, has started its fourth and final season. HBO released the first two episodes of season four on April 16, with the first episode reaching 710,000 viewers, the highest for the show since the finale of season two.

The show was created and predominantly written by Bill Hader, a Saturday Night Live alum, who stars as the titular character.

Henry Winkler has won three Emmys himself, playing Gene Cousineau, a failed actor turned acting coach.

The series follows Barry Berkman, an honorably discharged Marine turned hitman under the guidance of his father’s friend Fuches, played by Stephen Root. While following a target in Los Angeles, Berkman stumbles into an acting class led by Cousineu. Berkman becomes captivated by the art of acting and attends the class while simultaneously carrying out his hitman work. While attending the class, he meets Sally Reid, an aspiring actress who becomes Berkman’s perpetual love interest. His relationship with Reid, acting and murdering for compensation, is an impossible juggling act for Berkman, and his dysfunctional life weighs on his mental health and eventually affects his loved ones.

Cooper Conrad ‘23 said, “I think Barry is a highly relatable character, aside from the whole hitman part. He is someone who is trying desperately to fit in and become a better person, but his previous actions keep catching up to him.”

Berkman’s main clientele is the Chechen mafia. Namely, a Chechen named NoHo Hank, played by Anthony Carrigan. Hank is a comic relief character with a depth rarely seen in the stereotype. He develops unexpected love interests and has his own plot line while coinciding with Berkman’s plot line simultaneously. Each character has singular plot lines that all coordinate with Berkman’s moral descent, each character’s journey exploring a unique facet of the modern human experience.

Morality is a major theme in “Barry.” In a Scorsesian fashion, we as viewers simultaneously root for Berkman yet are appalled with his actions, echoing Travis Bickle of “Taxi Driver” or Henry Hill of “Goodfellas.” Berkman makes us question our own morality at times. His actions deserve personal disenfranchisement. However, his choices almost warrant understanding, which makes him difficult to hate. We, as viewers, pity Berkman. His choices are made out of desperation to stay afloat, and these choices catch up to him, and he only falls deeper into the depravity that he has created yet cannot escape from.

“Barry” also

Cougar critique: “Untamed”

This non-fiction No. 1 New York Times bestseller leaves readers questioning things about their own lives

questions the ability of people to change. Every character in the show has something they are running from, a past that haunts their present and a facet of their life that they desperately want to change. The success of this change teeters back and forth throughout the show; with every triumph comes a downfall waiting around the corner.

Liam Clemow ‘23 said, “ I want the show to continue, as it is one of my favorite shows right now, but I think four seasons is good so they don’t overdo it.”

Conrad said, “I think that the show coming to an end in season four is bittersweet. Obviously you want one of your favorite shows to continue forever, but it’s better to end when it’s good and not put a blemish on the legacy of the show by making more poor and dry seasons.”

As “Barry” enters its final season, there are many loose threads to explore and get wrapped up in the story of this world. The first three seasons have been absolutely fantastic, and it will be hard to see such a great show end its time on the air, but it is good that Hader and the other staff involved get to end the show on their own terms, not by cancellation or a repetitive dragging out that eventually kills everything that the show originally stood for. The finale will be bittersweet, a hopefully satisfying conclusion to the story, yet also the end of one of the brightest spots on current television.

Cougar critique: “No Country for Old Men”

How the Coen brothers crafted one of the most iconic villains to date

Christian Montecino

Ethan and Joel Coen are no strangers to making movies with incredible antagonists. Tom Chaney from “True Grit,” Marge from “Fargo” and even Jeffrey “The Big” Lebowski from “The Big Lebowski.” However, none of these antagonists even come close to the level of evil, wits and determination that Anton Chigurh has from the 2007 movie “No Country for Old Men.”

“No Country for Old Men” is a crime drama thriller set in 1980s Texas, revolving around one briefcase full of cash. Out hunting, Llewellyn Moss comes across the aftermath of a drug deal and takes the briefcase full of cash and runs. This catches the attention of Anton Chigurh, our antagonist, who is the closest thing we will get to a true psychopath in movies today. Chigurh eventually hunts down Moss and threatens to kill his wife if he doesn’t hand over the briefcase, but we never know what happens next because the movie ends with Chigurh walking out of the house of Moss’ wife and getting into a car crash.

The reason Chigurh is the most real psychopathic villain is not because he kills. We already have an abundance of that in movies and television today. It’s the way he does it. In the movie, Chigurh goes all around Texas looking for Moss, and in this expedition, he comes across his main weapon for the rest of the movie, a cattle gun. This cattle gun is so important to Chigurh’s character for multiple reasons. It

A captive bolt gun, more known as a cattle gun, is a retractable metal rod hooked up to a carbon dioxide tank that, when used, swiftly launches and retracts a metal rod. This weapon is Chigurh’s weapon of choice, using it in different ways, like shooting the lock off of doors and killing other people. Illustration by: Emily Nguyen

gives us an outlook on how he views humans: as cattle. The intuition to also use it to break into rooms and bust locks is only rivaled by the likes of MacGyver. The reason he kills is probably the most important thing about his character. When Chigurh is set on doing something, he will do it not for himself but in the name of fate. He walks around with a coin in his pocket, waiting for a moment to flip it. He believes that he is a harbinger of fate with a complete lack of remorse and his own twisted set of

Kendall Garcia

“Untamed” is a memoir by Glennon Doyle published in March of 2020 by The Dial Press. The book revolves around Doyle’s real life. “Untamed” is a great memoir but leaves readers with a lot of much-needed self-reflection.

Doyle’s book begins at the zoo. Her family is watching a cheetah. It is then that Doyle realizes she is just as tamed in her current situation as this cheetah is at the zoo. Doyle feels as though she’s spent her entire life in a cage, just like the cheetah. From this point on in the book, Doyle writes all about how she has been tamed previously and how

she broke free from her cage. She had been previously tamed by her marriage, boss and church. Doyle then begins to write about how she fell in love with a woman while she was promoting her book “Love Warrior,” which was written to tell the love story between her and her husband, Craig Melton. This book shows how Doyle found herself and found tools to help rebuild her marriage with Melton. The only problem with the book became the fact that while promoting it, her marriage was falling more and more apart. Her husband was caught having an affair, and she was secretly falling for a girl she met at a work conference, Abby Wamboch.

She was telling the story of her love, but it was all a lie. Doyle then had to make a serious decision. She had to decide whether or not she would leave her husband and pursue a relationship with the new woman in her life.

Before Doyle’s now-wife Wamboch, Doyle had never been with a woman. The book discusses Doyles’ internal and external struggles with what seemed to be the biggest decision of her life, then shows how Doyle found peace and became “Untamed.”

To me, Glennon Doyle’s book displayed many different messages.

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

morals that bewilder even the deputy, who has seen almost everything there is to see in his line of work.

The thing that really ties Chigurh together is the acting. Without the incredible acting from Javier Bardem, this article would never be written. Bardem is a master at making characters pop, fully embracing the character that is Anton and playing into it perfectly. The way he has that cryptic and always empty look makes the viewer unsettled and scared for what might come next.

herself how to truly

Cougar critique: “The Male Advantage”

A book about a realistic male timeline

Alejandro Hernandez

Kris Sturmey’s 2020 book “The Male Advantage” is not genius for its writing; it lacks page numbers, clear organization and is laden with grammatical errors. Rather, it is genius for its ideas. Sturmey, a self-improvement YouTuber who runs the channel 1STMAN, created a guidebook for young men deceived into believing that high school is the best years of a man’s life and serves to guide young men toward a better life. Sturmey’s male advantage theory is based on the pursuit of becoming an outlier male, one who is fit, wealthy, articulate, cultured, disciplined and masculine. For Sturmey, outlier males are the one percent in his social value hierarchy, only below celebrities and billionaires. Outlier males are the product of years of sacrifice and hard work for self-improvement. The central argument of “The Male Advantage” is that young men need to work on several aspects of themselves for an extended period, struggling. Eventually, they will reap the rewards of their efforts and live the ultimate human experience.

According to Sturmey, outlier male status is accrued with age through the aggregation of marginal gains and is, on average, achieved in a man’s 30s and 40s. Sturmey’s idea of a middle-aged male peak is in fantastic contrast to the blue-pilled Disneyesque malocclusion that youth unequivocally prevails. He reasons that women peak in their late teens and early 20s and that society has wrongfully exported the

female timeline to men, setting unrealistic expectations on young men. In fact, Sturmey goes so far as to say that men begin life at 30, and everything before then is the preseason of a man’s life. He also notes the value society places on beautiful women but does not hold them in as high regard as outlier males. As he puts it, beautiful women outnumber outlier males 1,000 to one, meaning there is no shortage of beautiful women but a lack of outlier men.

In the chapter

“Men’s Lives Start at 30, Stop Living Life in Reverse,” Sturmey states, “The media have spun a narrative for decades, whether it’s ‘Sex in the City,’ ‘Friends,’ Hello Magazine or whatever else. Bloggers, writers and directors have implanted a fear of 30 years old … My concern is that they haven’t taken into consideration the [life] timeline of males. If a man’s life is over by 30 then it isn’t much of a life. In our teens and 20s we’re awkward, we’re broke, [we] struggle to attract women and make a relentless number of mistakes. If it gets worse beyond 30, I don’t really see any point in existing. Luckily this isn’t true.”

However, the greatest idea to come from “The Male Advantage” is the straight seven system. It states that outlier men should act as decathletes, reaching at least a seven out of 10 rating in as many aspects of life as possible, most importantly fitness and wealth. This obvious yet underlooked life philosophy ties “The Male Advantage” together. It is the

kryptonite of the defeatist black pill, the incel idea that if a man does not have perfect genetics, they are doomed to a depressing and nihilistic existence. The outlier male does not have to be a winner of the genetic lottery, as a seven out of ten rating in various realms is achievable by anyone through years of hard work. That’s the genius of “The Male Advantage,” that men don’t need to be born with a handful of aces and be a victim to their genetics; rather, their genetics may be a victim to them.

One must be willing to make sacrifices to achieve one’s male advantage. According to the book, men must work on weekends and give up the party lifestyle and any vices.

The outlier-bound man must exercise often, quit watching pornography, become financially literate, live austerely, improve their mannerisms and, most importantly, delay gratification. Sturmey asserts that too many men choose instant gratification in their late 20s by settling down with a woman around their social value just a few years before their peak. For this reason, few become outlier males, as they only complete half the journey and claim the lump sum before the fruits of their labor have fully ripened.

Evidently, anyone pursuing their male advantage timeline must avoid contentedness at all costs, for it is a premature end before one’s prosperous peak of hypermasculinity.

“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle is the story of a women who shows

live. Graphic by: Kendall Garcia

VHS on... Plans after high school

Angel Lara ‘26 said, “My plans after high school are to either be a musician or be a botanist, like plants.” Photo by: Anastasia Nisky

Ash Brace ‘26 said, “My plans after high school is to go to the university my mother works at because I would get in for less than it costs to get into a normal university, and after a few years there, I would like to transfer to one in France to get a higher degree.” Photo by: Anastasia Nisky

Emerson Mcmeekin ‘26 said, “[My plans after high school are to] go to college, get a job and have a family.”

Photo by: Davin Dedman

Juliana Coronado ‘26 said, “My plan [is] to become a registered nurse.”

Photo by: Brianna Ramirez

Emilia Reed ‘26 said, “I plan to be a fisherman. I really like fish. I don’t like to eat them, but I like the way they smell.”

Photo by: Brianna Ramirez

Miley Wong ‘26 said, “[I’m] going to college [and] getting a bachelor’s degree.”

Photo by: Davin Dedman

Nejohn Rice ‘26 said, “I’m gonna go to college and be in the NFL.”

Photo by: Davin Dedman

Jaliza Diaz ‘26 said, “I want to go to college.”

Photo by: Brianna Ramirez

Photostory by Brianna Ramirez, Davin Dedman and Anastasia Nisky