2025-26 Issue 4

Thousand Oaks High School

LANCER The

Volume LX, Issue 4 - February 6, 2026

2323 N. Moorpark Rd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

www.tohsthelancer.com

Love is in the air

The Lancer dives into customs (and alternatives) of Valentine’s Day

What’s Inside 4

Heated Rivalry heats up romance section

7

New Red Bull flavors become favorites

11

A$AP Rocky releases fourth album

14

Winter Olympics return in 2026

2 NEWS

Thousand Oaks High School

STAFF LIST JOEY GOODNIGHT Editor-in-Chief

Center scholar wins big Senior recognized for innovative research project from The Center program

LAILAH SERNA News Editor

GEMMA SPRAGGINS Editor-in-Chief JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ Managing Editor KAILAH SPENCER Managing Editor MADELYN FRIEDMAN Business Manager LAILAH SERNA News Editor

Thousand Oaks High School is home to many high-performing students who are consistently being recognized for their intelligence and achievements. Many of these young scholars are part of an academic program called The Center for Advanced Studies and Research at TOHS, and in this program, they spend much of their time researching a topic of their choice for submission and review by AP graders, often for either AP Seminar or AP Research classes.

ABIGAIL KERNS Opinions Editor SOPHIA MUNHALL Co-Sports Editor LILAH SWAVING Co-Sports Editor Staff MIKEL GONZALEZ KELLY HOOLBOOM JORDYN LIEBOWITZ JACKSON MOSTON JOHNNY PHAN SOPHIE PODERS APRIL RAMOS AVA ROCHA

The Lancer

Cornerstone Photography

Senior Lila Papavasiliou has been selected as a Regeneron Science Talent Search top 300 Scholar in the Humanities and Social Sciences pathway.

Papavasiliou dedicated her time and resources to collecting research for her project titled “Identifying the Existence of Unconscious Gender Bias in the Perception of Political Speakers Using EEG.” “It started with the presidential election last year,” Papavasiliou said. “I was really interested in what determines how voters choose their candidates and whether there is some unconscious bias.”

The Electroencephalogram (EEG) machine was used to measure brainwaves and engagement levels across male and female political speakers to determine whether they are more inclined to support one party based on the way they speak, which will affect how they vote.

“I had listeners hear different speakers of both genders using assertive and controlled speech,” Papavasiliou said. “Then I compared the change in engagement, which allowed me to identify a disparity in the change of female and male speakers, which favored male speakers using assertive speech, which indicates that people are more likely to be persuaded by them and that affects the way that voters think.”

The entire gathering of data and research took Papavasiliou six months to

complete, with the experimentation of the brain waves taking about one month of this time period, including the paper she wrote.

But not all great ideas come to life without a little setback.

“It was a struggle to get the machine to connect a lot of the time because it has to be applied to the participant’s scalp,” Papavasilliou said. “Sometimes it would take up to three hours to get the machine connected and then get the recordings to work.”

In recognition of her hard work, Papavasilliou will be gifted with $2,000 for earning her high spot in this competition.

TOHS will also be receiving their own prize of $2,000 per scholar in the Center program towards future students and their research projects.

Even if she wasn’t able to take her research to the next level, Papavasiliou is still very proud of all the hard work she put in over the last few months.

“It’s very rewarding. I love my project, and it’s still so interesting to me,” Papavasiliou said. “And I think it’s important to have awareness about unconscious bias out there.”

Congratulations to Lila for this major accomplishment and for being recognized for her dedication to preventing unconscious bias among voters, which could drastically change the way people act when voting.

Interest in crime drives passion

Adviser JOANNA OTEY The Lancer is the official school publication of Thousand Oaks High School, created and produced by students in Journalism 1, Advanced Journalism and Advanced Journalism Honors courses.

The Lancer reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed inappropriate for high school publication. Guest editorials and “Letters to the Editor” are welcome, but must be signed and are subject to editing for length, libel, obscenity, and grammar. They can be sent to thelancer.tohs@gmail.com.

The Lancer is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NPSA) and NPSA AllAmerican Hall of Fame. The Oct. 31, 2024 issue of The Lancer took 9th place in NPSA’s Best of Show contest in Philadelphia, PA. Email: thelancer.tohs@gmail.com Instagram: @tohs_thelancermedia Website: www.tohsthelancer.org

JULIA PINEDADOMINGUEZ Managing Editor Sipping on warm hot chocolate on a sunny spring morning, junior Blake Cook stared at her blank computer screen preparing to write the second most important essay of her school year.

AP Seminar is one of the most rigorous courses Thousand Oaks High School offers, specifically being taught to students in The Center for Advanced Studies and Research. The class consists of two written performance tasks and two oral presentations. The first performance task is a group effort, with each individual sharing a certain perspective of an issue, and coming together to acknowledge and solve said issue, while the second is an individual essay addressing a problem that incorporates the provided stimulus materials.

For the 2024-2025 year, the stimulus materials followed the theme of memory and nostalgia, allowing students to dig deep into their creativity and pick a topic/ issue for their paper that was related.

While many in the class struggled to find issues that could surround the topic of memory or nostalgia, Cook found it easy to find one that aligned with her interests.

“Sophomore year, I was very interested in criminal justice,” Cook said. “In crime

TV shows, I would get rage-baited by how investigators just take the word of eyewitnesses or whoever, so that started my interest in witnesses.”

Interested in the psychology of criminals and the reason for their actions, Cook decided to focus on the question, “To What Extent Will Educating Jurors on Memory Fallibility Improve Fairness in Legal Outcomes?” The essay highlights how memories that are emotionally driven can be inaccurate, due to coping or memory tactics witnesses use, that can often distort how a certain event occurred, leading to false precautions and injustice in the courtroom for serious cases.

While finding her focus was simple, the process it would take to exemplify the significance of her topic was difficult.

“One struggle for sure was having others understand my ideas,” Cook said.

“When writing, a lot of the time, it sounds smooth and logical because you’ve done all this research, but the reader hasn’t, so you have to write it in their shoes.”

One of the most significant criteria you have to meet in AP Seminar is how well you can explain your topic to the audience professionally, but simply, making it one of the biggest difficulties for students.

Cook decided to combat this issue by revising templates given by the teachers, curating it for her to understand more clearly.

“If you have a better way of working on something, do that even if it doesn’t really follow the way the teachers teach,” Cook said. “I really think if you have more confidence in yourself [by doing it] in a different way, do it that way.”

Cook emphasizes how different the processes people use look, urging readers to look at their strengths and weaknesses from a different perspective, and revise plans to fit their needs in order to find success.

By creating a new template and planner for her paper, Cook’s writing process proved effective, eventually leading to her recognition for her PT2 paper by the College Board as a high scoring model.

“I thought it was just really cool…it gave me a little bit of confidence back,” Cook said. “I did not have high confidence in that essay; just know even if you don’t have confidence in it, other people will have it in your work.”

Finding it hard to find the light in a stressful or insecure time because of the strenuous and importance of this paper to her AP score, Cook’s belief in herself was restored, as was the reason why she chose to investigate this topic. While Cook hoped to score well, she wanted her research on criminology to be seen and awareness on the topic to be spread, exemplifying her steps further into politics and social science.

Off Campus Pass

Creative Commons

Gifted Prize - Trump holds Machado’s Peace Prize.

Nobel Laureate gifts Peace Prize to President

Trump discusses potential Greenland annexment

Astronomers discover a new cosmic object

On Jan. 15, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, gave her prize to President Donald Trump. The 2025 laureate offered Trump the framed prize at the White House, praising him for his support on Venezuelan freedom.

Norwegian politicians criticized the gesture, saying the Nobel Peace Prize title is not transferable and the laureate cannot be changed. Nobel officials reinforced this fact, stating that in the history books, winners remain the only recipients. Critics say this event could risk politicizing and undermining the award’s prestige.

On Jan. 18, President Donald Trump escalated a diplomatic standoff by linking his push to take control of Greenland to his discontent of losing out on the Nobel Peace Prize. In a message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump suggested that because he did not receive the Nobel, he is no longer inclined to “think purely of peace,” and can now focus on U.S. interests, implying that he will forcibly take Greenland because they cannot defend themselves. European leaders have emphasized that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, with threats of tariffs and concerns about cooperation within NATO occurring.

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope discovered a new type of cosmic object, a starless, vast cloud nicknamed, Cloud-9. Unlike other galaxies, the structure is made mostly out of neutral hydrogen gas and dark matter, categorizing it as rare, “failed galaxy” that never formed stars. Scientists call this kind of object a Reionization-Limited H I Cloud (RELHIC), with Cloud-9 being the first confirmed example. The intriguing starless nature of Cloud-9 was first identified in January 2023 during a radio survey. Since Cloud-9 has a large amount of dark matter, researchers can now study parts of the uwniverse typically invisible to other telescopes.

Issue 4

February 6, 2026

Anti-ICE protest at The Oaks Community gathers to spread awareness on tensions regarding immigrantion

JOEY GOODNIGHT Editor-in-Chief It was a warm and windy January day, when over a hundred community members found themselves together on the corner of Lynn and Hillcrest Roads for one reason: to show their support for the antiUnited States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) movement that has been taking over the country. Each corner of the four-way intersection was crowded with people boasting signs, megaphones and whistles, as they participated in chants and encouraged passing vehicles to show their support by honking.

It was only a week prior to the event that organizer, Claire Gillette, had been researching local anti-I.C.E. protests online when she discovered a noticeable gap in the Thousand Oaks area. There were plenty of protests happening in Oxnard, and one almost every single day in Los Angeles, but nothing in the Thousand Oaks area.

She had attended a No Kings protest at the intersection in front of The Oaks Mall early January, but after the killing of Renée Good, and the increase in I.C.E. violence across the country, she felt it was important that every city show up and make their opposition heard.

“It sounds kind of cliche, but you should be the change you want to see,” Gillette said. “I wanted to go to a protest, so I decided to host one…it was surprisingly easy.”

Gillette used an online political action website to plan out the protest; all she had to do was put the basic information: where the protest would be held and what it would be called, into the website and share it on her social media. From that alone, she was able to garner a pretty strong response from the community.

“I felt really supported,” Gillette said.

“All the political organizations in the area were happy to share the news about this protest, and it gained momentum pretty quickly.”

Looking at the signs the protesters were holding, it was clear that a myriad of different issues were on people’s minds, from the possible military action against Greenland and the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, to the recent fatal shooting of Renée Good by I.C.E. and the presidents’ relation to the Epstein files. Local Thousand Oaks residents young and old had a variety of concerns with the direction the current administration has been going.

“There are so many things to be concerned about right now. First, international affairs and Donald Trump’s handling of that has been massively illegal and a major problem in terms of world peace, and then, I.C.E. is its own problem entirely,” Gillette said.

“At the end of the day, it all boils down to Trump for me. If you take him away, you take away all the other problems.”

One protester, who wished to remain anonymous, helped lead the charge that evening with a megaphone in hand and a Palestinian scarf covering her face. She paraded from one corner of the intersection to the other, starting chants and organizing people, and she spoke to The Lancer about

“Until they see just how mad people are, nothing’s going to get done.”

ANNIE WETHERBEE

her reasons for attending the protest.

“From what I see, Minneapolis is just the beginning of that type of hostility in this country,” she said. “I think it’s very important, no matter what your beliefs are, to stand up for your rights. If we let this go, can you imagine what will happen in the future?”

She told The Lancer that in her mind, just as she had been going street corner to street corner chanting, being loud is important.

“It’s absolutely good to peacefully protest, but it’s also good to be a little bit disruptive,” she said. “When you’re hearing

Joey Goodnight - The Lancer

Coming Together - Community members join together on the corner of Lynn and Hillcrest Roads to protest the increase in immigration enforcement violence.

NEWS 3 Venezuela president taken into custody Recent political moves by Donald Trump raise concern around country LAILAH SERNA News Editor

Joey Goodnight - The Lancer

Standing up - Thousand Oaks resident shows support for the cause. someone talk with emotion and passion in their voice, I think that just brings another level of empathy for the cause; I want people even just driving in their cars to feel like, ‘Yeah! Even if I can’t join the protest, I agree and I think something needs to be done’.”

She went on to speak to a common thread amongst protesters that evening; the feeling of hopelessness that comes with watching as democracy appears to be crumbling, and feeling like the politicians running the country have lost their minds.

“A lot of us feel helpless because we can’t really do anything about what’s going on in the government right now, so this is the only thing we can do,” she said. “It’s the only way to let this feeling of frustration and anger not really mess you up on the inside.”

People supported the protest in a plethora of interesting ways, from handing out whistles, bringing megaphones, and playing instruments, but one thing that stood out was how Annie Wetherbee chose to show her support. Wetherbee handed out handmade frosted Anti-I.C.E. cookies to protesters.

The cookies were a hit. People standing in the hot afternoon sun were delighted to have something fun to snack on while showing their support.

“We need to be out here every single day,” Wetherbee said. “Until they see just how mad people are, nothing’s going to get done.”

As protesters sang and chanted, cars going by had mixed reactions; the majority honked and gave thumbs up out of their windows, but not everyone was so pleased with the sentiments being shared. Plenty of drivers gave thumbs down out of their windows, or even more crude gestures.

Regardless of the mixed reactions, the active protesters believed that it was a success, as they brought the community together to emphasize a growing issue and stood up for what they believe needs to be fixed to ensure the stability of the country.

Just a few days into 2026, major political turmoil began between the United States and other countries.

Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, and his wife were captured by the United States military in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 3 and indicted in the southern district of New York, awaiting the next move by President Donald Trump.

According to Trump, the U.S. used intense military power to conduct this attack on the capital, with hundreds of U.S. military aircraft and multiple warships. Trump spoke on the matter in a news conference the day of the kidnapping, providing the public with information.

“It was an assault like people have not seen since World War II,” Trump said.

Trump justified his decision by claiming that it was done with the intention of protecting American citizens and their sovereignty.

Maduro has been directly accused of narco-terrorism by President Trump, claiming that Venezuelan forces played a major role in the distribution of many deadly drugs and weapons onto U.S. territory. In court on Jan. 5, Maduro pleaded not guilty to these charges and accusations.

Trump claimed that Venezuela had “stolen” U.S. oil and he had intentions of attempting to reclaim it with the U.S. seizing multiple Venezuelan oil tankers.

Delcy Rodríguez, the vice president to Maduro, was sworn in as the interim president shortly after Maduro was taken into custody. Rodríguez has been advocating for the release of Maduro and his wife, labeling this political power move by Trump a “kidnapping.”

This squabble has caused much political drama regarding Trump, with many other nations providing their opinions and their leaders taking to the X platform to express their thoughts on the matter.

Even the United Nations expressed its disdain for the capture of Maduro and his wife, implying that this event violated major international laws.

Many are asking, what will happen with Venezuela next?

Maduro’s second court hearing is scheduled for Mar. 17, but plans are likely to change given the intensity of the situation.

All these recent military and political power plays by Trump have raised concern not only for American citizens, but from outside leaders as well. This endless cycle of radical moves and empty threats have many asking, what is to come in the three remaining years of Trump’s term as president?

Creative Commons

Political Takeover - Venezuela’s political tensions with America increase as Trump takes aggressive measures.

Off Campus Pass Ford recalls 119,000 vehicles due to fire risk

I.C.E official runs for congress

Elon Musk predicts robots will outnumber humans

In January 2026, the Ford car company recalled about 119,000 vehicles due to a defect in the engine block heaters, increasing the risk of a potential fire hazard. Select vehicles include some Focuses, Explorers, MKCs and others equipped with 2.0L engines. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) says the vehicles’ block heaters have the possibility of short circuiting when plugged in as a result of the development of coolant leaks. Letters notifying owners of recalled vehicles of the safety risk are expected to be mailed in February, with repairs expected to be available in April.

On Jan. 15, Madison Sheahan, ICE’s second highest ranking official and close ally to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, resigned from her position to run for U.S. Congress. Previously an aide to Noem’s governorship in South Dakota and later secretary for Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, she joined during a period of pressure for officials to conduct immigration arrests and deportations. Shortly after her resignation, Sheahan posted a message on X to her fellow ICE employees and the President, thanking them for their commitment and leadership.

On Jan. 22, businessman Elon Musk attended the WEF (World Economic Forum’s) annual meeting in Switzerland.

The event hosts global leaders and more for the discussion of world issues such as climate change and the economy. At the meeting, Musk stated that Tesla’s mission now includes “sustainable abundance,” which he plans to execute through the development of robotics. Tesla is currently developing, Optimus, a humanoid robot.

Musk added that humanoid robots could take care of the elderly in a world where there are not enough young people to take care of older citizens.

Creative Commons

Age of AI - The future of Tesla’s Optimus robot is displayed.

4 OPINION

Thousand Oaks High School

Is overthinking overrated?

Why overthinking is not necessarily a bad characteristic go wrong. So we choose the one with the best success rate in our minds.

“But overthinking can also make a person not Overthinking: An issue many of us have that do things as they planned. For example, if you’re haunts us in the back of our minds almost all taking a test and you keep overthinking your of the time. But the question that lingers is if answers, it might lead you to the wrong answer,” overthinking is truly an issue. It creates a person said Nadig. who is prepared for almost anything that could A downfall to overthinking many of us possibly go wrong in a single situation. However, experience, is getting stuck on one test question it also causes unnecessary stress on that individual, where all the answers seem like they could be so we return to the question and correct, but at the same time debate the pros and cons. they all have one detrimental “Overthinking can lead Overthinking is defined in characteristic that could make you to an unconventional the dictionary as “to think about them wrong. So many of us something too much or too answer that could actually proceed to read the question long,” however, this definition be really effective towards over at least 10 times, thinking barely scratches the surface the problem you’re trying of which could be correct. of what overthinking really Before you know it, there is to solve.” does. Keiona Nadig, junior and 5 minutes left on the clock to chronic overthinker, a trait many finish the last 20 questions.

KEIONA NADIG of us share here at Thousand The pros, coming up with Oaks High School, gives her thoughts on what an unconventional solution, and cons, second overthinking can really do. guessing oneself, almost balance out.

“I’ve noticed that overthinking can help you In the end, overthinking should not be when you’re in a situation that requires it,” said considered completely good or completely bad.

Nadig. “If you’re doing something really hard, It can help people prepare and come up with overthinking can lead you to an unconventional creative solutions, but it can also cause stress answer that could be really effective towards the and make simple situations harder than they problem you’re trying to solve.” need to be. While it may feel useful at times, While overthinking does cause stress, it can too much overthinking can hold a person back be really helpful in the ways of coming up with instead of helping them move forward. Finding a solution that not everyone would think to do. a balance between thinking things through and Increasing our problem solving abilities but trusting yourself is what truly makes overthinking making one think of all the ways a solution could manageable.

ABIGAIL KERNS Opinion Editor

Low standards lead to low performance Students reflect on highs and lows of state testing, expectations JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ Managing Editor Students commonly dread the infamous junior year of high school because of the rigorous classes and adulthood being right around the corner. To add to the stress many feel in planning their future, junior year is also known as the year we take the CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress).

CAASP testing is a method used in public schools to measure students’ learning, help to build new learning tools, address teaching methods, get feedback, and understand where the school stands compared to others, potentially influencing the number of students who choose to attend.

Though this test is very impactful to the school, it is student-dependent, and because of the timing of the test and the inconvenience it can cause, many students are not driven to do well. The test usually occurs in early March and takes students out of only one of their class periods.

“It takes up a lot of time…time that I could be spending on things that are important to me and my future, like my grades and APs,” junior Keiona Nadig said. “It’s just tough because junior year is so busy already, [CAASPP] feels unnecessary on top of my other million tests.”

With APs approaching two months later, many students plan on spending any time they can learning, memorizing, and studying starting in January or February. AP classes usually do not stop teaching until about a month or a few weeks before the test, meaning missing one class period can delay the time we have to become prepared.

Aside from students feeling that the time of year the test takes place is inconvenient, they also acknowledge that the significance of the test isn’t discussed enough, leading many students to find it unimportant.

“I’ll still try on it, but I won’t go out of my way to excel,” junior Fabian Santos said.

Emphasizing how the test does not improve our grade, Lancers are less motivated to try and, rather, will work to quickly get through the test.

“I’m not super motivated to do well because it’s not part of a grade, but I still try on the

tests,” junior Savannah Smith said.

As a junior who is taking five AP classes, I find the timing of the test concerning because, on top of the homework I get daily, I also have to find time to study. I usually lock in during class to prioritize studying at home, but with the test coming up, I worry about which class I will have to miss. AP Biology and AP United States History are known for being two of the hardest APs because you have to fit so much content in only a few months. Meaning, I cannot waste any time and need to learn as much as possible before the test, so I can still advance my knowledge on the topics I will learn a few days before the AP test.

Performing well on the CAASP test is another issue that I have to address. The test is very significant to the perception of Thousand Oaks High School, but as much as I would like to take my time and use my skills to the fullest of my ability, I need to recognize that this isn’t for a grade and is not one of my biggest priorities. On the day of the test, I will, of course, try my best, but because I lack the motivation, I feel that can make me unconsciously perform poorly.

Because lack of motivation is the biggest issue that most students face, spreading awareness of crucial importance of the test results to our community could be key.

“Explaining why the tests matter may make some students care about them more, but since scoring doesn’t really impact them personally, not much would change,” Santos said.

Realizing that students have other subjects that are important to them might also help to lift the negativity that comes with CAASP testing.

“I think also giving an incentive, like extra credit or a reward like a trip or ice cream or something, if the school scores above a certain level, could encourage students to do well,” Nadig said. “Also, giving students leeway and understanding that their studies are more important than the CAASP.” As far as I know, TOHS performs generally well compared to other schools, despite many individuals seeing it as unnecessary.

Personally, I believe it is necessary, but the timing of it makes it one more annoying obstacle that juniors have to overcome to make it to graduation.

The Lancer

Heated Rivalry

A closer look at the show that has captivated audiences ZOE SELLERS Guest Writer

The book to screen adaptation of “Heated Rivalry” has quickly become one of the most talked about series’ we have seen in the media.

“Heated Rivalry” is the second book in the “Game Changers” series which tells the story of two rival hockey players, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, and their careers in the NHL. Quickly after getting drafted, their relationship off the ice becomes more personal. The book and television series follows their relationship as it addresses the complexities of navigating a secret relationship while both of their careers are under a spotlight, and also figuring out what they are to each other.

I’m sure many people would agree that the book series is not an impressive work of literature, but that is one of the factors that makes it compelling to read. Many popular books online are classified as “easy reads,” yet still manage to deliver story lines that people fall in love with. Oftentimes, converting a book into a television series is very complicated, as there is already an established fandom with high expectations for the adaptation. It is very common that directors take advantage of their creative liberties when transforming a book into a series, but that is something that the creator of “Heated Rivalry” deliberately avoided.

As someone who has both read the book and watched the series, I think this is what made the show rise to fame so quickly, because fans of the book enjoyed how their favorite moments were honored so well. Additionally, bringing a story like this into the media is very difficult and risky, but also very important when done right. From what I have seen on social media, the publicity of this series has addressed minority groups in major league sports and highlighted a community of people that rarely sees themselves represented in the media. Viewers are also seeing a rising interest in attending in-person hockey games, which sports fans are always excited about, even if

it means posting videos of a face-off with the caption, “Where’s the part where they kiss?”

I would recommend this series for a lot of reasons, mainly because it explores complex subjects in a way that feels very real and relatable for a lot of audience members. One of my favorite aspects of the show—and book—is how they frame Ilya’s relationship with his family and how that translates into his relationship with Shane. Growing up in postsoviet Russia has its own challenges, but his story goes beyond that. His father was verbally and physically abusive which motivated his mother to commit suicide; he was dealing with this while also hiding his identity from the world. The book addresses how he used hockey as an escape from his toxic household, and as he got older, it became his way out of Russia. Still, his family finds ways to demand money from him, and make him feel guilty for leaving.

On the flip side, Shane has experienced nothing but love and support from his parents, and has been able to play hockey in Canada for his whole life. This makes their dynamic of being opposites and rivals more complex, as even their personal upbringings are vastly different. This brings me to one of my favorite scenes, which is in Episode 5. In Ilya’s hotel room, Shane asks him if he would want to be together, if they could. Ilya shuts this idea down immediately telling him they can never be anything because of the laws against homosexuality in Russia. This scene is especially important because it is the first time Ilya tells Shane anything about his family. He doesn’t say much, but the audience knows this is a huge step for him.

There are many situations in this show that I think many people will find themselves in at some point, and I cannot wait to see how “The Long Game” gets portrayed on screen.

Ultimately, the creation and adaptation of this series is a huge step for queer representation in mainstream media, and I, like the rest of the world, am very excited for Season 2 next year.

Hidden art (or trash) of AI prompting Exploring the nuances that differentiate AI art from human art KELLY HOOLBOOM Staff Writer The debate over not only the ethics of AI (Artificial Intelligence) art, but the question of whether it truly is art has raged on for years.

Now, a new talking point is starting to rear its head: the validity of the effort put into actually generating an image, or the prompting itself.

After all, there is a specific language needed to be able to properly get what a person wants out of an AI image generator. How is the skill of using an AI bot any different than how any other art tools and technology have developed, such as cameras, digital art, or even online soundboards?

For most people, the difference comes in the actual difficulty and creativity of the skill, specifically. Does a Google search have the genius and creativity behind it that a painting from an art student does? Most people would argue no. To be brutally honest, the difference between a Google search and an AI prompt is non-existent; it’s essentially the same skill.

Simultaneously, if you were to ask an older person to write a Google search; it’s a bit tougher for them, indicating that the act of prompting search engines or AI bots is a skill to be built through experience. But not all skills have the same level of difficulty or even weight and efficacy in real-world scenarios.

True human-made art on a professional level can be hard to come by, and quite frankly, expensive. This stands to reason as to why so many companies are jumping at the chance of replacing them with this new wave of technology.

However, when the act of prompting has such a low bar when it comes to the skill needed to perform it, it will stand the risk of being replaced by the very technology it prompts.

Suddenly, the argument wraps back around to where it was originally. If the prompting cannot

be art, why is anything the AI generates not art itself?

If we break it down, generative AI systems treat art incredibly similarly to the way we do. Taking in information from all across the internet, or in our case, our lives, and printing something out that averages them in a way to perform on the idea that’s been given to us somehow. Even the ‘human-made’ element talking point falls apart, considering the art we’ve seen other animals create, down to unintentionally beautiful ways of life, such as the shells of hermit crabs, or purposefully putting animals in front of a canvas with a paintbrush.

Most people try to argue this debate over the validity of AI art with rationality, but when it comes to art, in reality, nothing is rational. Art corresponds to a core part of our being where logic may be applied, but is not needed. All forms of art come from some aspect of the human-experience, something that even animalcreated art can replicate, considering our relation to those creatures. We do not relate to generative AI, and it does not relate to us.

AI has no thought process when it averages all of the paintings it has seen on the internet; it just follows certain patterns it has seen and recreates them. Though, by doing so, it loses the little details and the intention in the subtlety of art. Even if a person-made piece is bad, its source is what makes it matter. Somebody felt passionate about something in their life and decided to act; that passion is nonexistent in AI. At its core, the argument is cliche, yes, and absolutely cheesy, but that’s sort of the point.

Everybody feels passion to some degree, and AI does not, and maybe prompting has a glimmer of that passion, but ultimately, the low bar of skill and the lack of control over the intricacies of the piece separate it from all other forms of true art.

Issue 4

OPINION 5

February 6, 2026

THE JOUST Lancer students weigh in on high school relationships MADYLAN HARRIS Guest Writer

JULIO CAUICH CRISTOBAL Guest Writer

In the case of the question of whether high schoolers should be in romantic relationships or not, I think they should, and personally, I believe high school relationships can even be beneficial for high schoolers to be in.

Being in a romantic relationship in high school teaches kids lessons they can carry with them as they grow to find their life partner, if that is the path they choose.

Having relationships in high school can be a good lesson in communication, time management, and balancing things such as work and friends with romantic life.

Dating in high school teaches teens useful skills, like how to have big conversations with their partners and how to set boundaries with someone. It also teaches people how to handle and move on from heartbreak using healthy coping mechanisms, while they still have support from parents and close friends around them.

I personally have been in a couple of relationships so far during my high school experience, and I’ve taken lessons from every single one of them. They’ve taught me how to set healthy boundaries, make decisions and choices that are best for me, and leave things behind when they’re not treating me well or hurting me.

Dating in high school even helped me figure out who I am as a person, and learn more about myself and my identity. High school relationships are an important time to explore and learn about yourself and what you’re looking for in a partner. High school relationships allowed me to explore my sexuality and queerness, giving me time to accept myself. High school relationships allowed me to get to know myself way better as a person; I don’t think I would’ve learned about myself in those ways or gotten to explore that side of me as freely as I did if not for dating in high school.

All in all, high school relationships are a less pressured environment to figure yourself out and learn lessons in, and I personally am in support of them.

Dating in high school is often hyped up as something everyone should experience, but the truth is that usually causes more stress than it’s worth. High school is already a confusing time when you’re figuring out who you are, what you like, where you fit in, and what you want for your future. Adding a romantic relationship on top of that can make things overwhelming.

Most teenagers are still learning how to manage emotions, communicate clearly, and handle conflict, so relationships can quickly turn into cycles of jealousy, misunderstandings and unnecessary drama. Instead of feeling supportive, dating often becomes another source of pressure in an already demanding environment.

High school relationships are heavily influenced by social dynamics, rumors spread fast, opinions matter too much, and social media can turn small problems into big ones. A single argument or break up can suddenly feel like the entire school is watching. Break ups are especially hard at this age. Since everything feels intense in high school, the end of a relationship can feel devastating, even if it only lasted a short time. Teens may tie their self-worth to a partner’s attention, making rejection feel personal and crushing.

Instead of dating, high school is a better time to focus on friendships, self confidence and discovering passions. Learning how to be comfortable alone builds a strong foundation for healthier relationships later in life. Dating in high school isn’t always a great idea because it can add a lot of stress. These years are meant for learning, growing, and discovering who you are as a person. Adding a relationship can create unnecessary pressure like drama that distracts you from school and friendships.

Many teens feel rushed to commit before truly understanding themselves or what they want.

When relationships end, the emotional stress can affect confidence and focus. Instead of worrying about dating, high school students should spend this time building memories with friends, and developing connections with others.

Waiting to date doesn’t mean missing out, it means protecting your peace, avoiding unnecessary stress, and giving yourself the chance to grow into someone who knows their worth before sharing it with someone else.

Freshman view on Semester One JACKSON MOSTON Staff Writer The stress of entering high school is large for a number of reasons, such as being surrounded by older people with cars and jobs, teachers not helping as much as they did in middle school and grades taking a leap from easy to very difficult to manage.

Lots of, if not most, new high school students experience stress in this new environment.

Many find it troublesome balancing school and home life, and it’s very important to identify reasons for stress to figure out ways to cope. A few easy ways to manage stress include getting eight or more hours of sleep, normal exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. Deep breaths and meditation while in a state of stress also prove to work.

“When I’m stressed, I like to think simply about my breathing and give myself space,” freshman Kailani Cruz said.

Students also claim that being involved in school activities like clubs or sports helps with meeting friends and staying socially active.

“I like to listen to music and play video games with my peers,” freshman Cooper Giuliani said. “It calms my mind.”

For future Lancers and even current students

at Thousand Oaks High School, staying true to yourself and not letting the negativity get to you or disturb your peace, are great ways to reduce the stress that comes with being a high school student.

“Don’t let pressure and anxiety block your ability to have fun and be yourself,” Giuliani said.

Lastly, sophomore Dominick Diaz gives advice to freshmen.

“If you have an A in math and a C in English, don’t worry about keeping the A,” Diaz said. “Just worry about getting the lower grade up. It’s okay if your grades slip a bit to get to your goal.”

Emphasizing how to not worry too much and focus on your mental health more than grades.

Many freshmen at TOHS found that even though the first semester in a new environment was stressful, they are eager for more work and progress.

For new students, remember to stay true to yourself and find a few good people to be friends with. Don’t worry about popularity or “cool points” because none of that matters anymore. Enjoy your time here because good education and friends are truly a blessing.

through MY EYES GEMMA SPRAGGINS Editor-in-Chief Although we’ve all seen the no longer a free country. videos flooding online of I.C.E. (U.S. Just a reminder, I.C.E. agents are Immigration and Customs Enforcement) not police officers, but are a federal terrorizing and harassing people, not agency within Homeland Security many know the extent of their actions. whose jobs are to enforce immigration On Jan. 7, 2026, 37-year-old Renee laws, investigate cross-border crimes, Good was shot and killed in her vehicle and manage immigration detention and in Minneapolis by I.C.E. agent Jonathan removals.

Ross. Good was a United States citizen.

The United States of America is a Born in Colorado, she and her wife, place for everyone to pursue their dreams Becca Good, were in their car with their and create a new life, not somewhere dog, on their way home from dropping where you should have to fear walking off their three children, when they passed down the street, especially as a U.S.

by I.C.E. agents in their neighborhood. citizen. I.C.E. agents are attacking and The couple stopped to observe the I.C.E. murdering people who were born in the agents with the intent to support and U.S. and have every right to live here. help their neighbors. Becca Good exited While some might see I.C.E. agents the car to record the I.C.E. agents who doing God’s work by removing so-called began to harass them and block their “illegal aliens,” which is dehumanizing vehicle. When Renee Good attempted enough, they are ripping families apart to drive away, an I.C.E. agent appeared and threatening non-criminal immigrant to step towards her vehicle, and in “self- lives. defense,” he shot and killed her.

The difference between how former With video footage of the event President Barack Obama and Trump circling the handle illegal internet, we have immigrants is points of view vastly different.

“If this is the life that we have from both Officer Obama prioritized to fear by practicing our civil Ross himself and immigration bystanders who enforcement for rights and fighting for our witnessed the individuals who beliefs, then America is no event. Both pieces were threats to of footage show national security longer a free country.” how Renee Good and public safety. was trying to drive Trump handles GEMMA SPRAGGINS away from the it by sending out scene, even being I.C.E. agents to heard saying “I’m not mad at you,” to the raid homes, businesses and public places, I.C.E. agent just moments before being taking children and parents away from murdered. each other, even if they have no criminal The video clearly shows Renee record. These disgusting acts made by Good attempting to drive away in the Trump are sabotaging our nation and direction the I.C.E. officer wasn’t in. destroying the country. As a U.S. citizen, Trump’s response to the video included: I understand the need for a crime-free “Based on the attached clip, it is hard to country, but never should it be enforced believe he is alive,” referring to Officer by sending agents out to the streets to Ross, who murdered Good, “but is now abuse innocent people. recovering in the hospital.” Blatantly To paint a perspective, there truly isn’t lying, Trump claims that the murder was much of a difference between the actions in self-defense, when in the footage we of Nazi’s and I.C.E. While they occurred can see Renee Good making no attempt at completely different times, people to harm the I.C.E. officer. have also gone into hiding, scared to go On Monday, Jan. 24, 37-year-old outside with the fear of being captured.

ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot and Similar to how most of Europe during killed by an I.C.E. agent. Pretti was a the Holocaust was blind to the power white American born citizen living and Adolf Hitler had, and the damage he was working in Minnesota. Videos shows doing with it, Trump is brainwashing Pretti recording I.C.E. agents out in most of our country into believing what public when a women next to him was he is doing is good. shoved by an agent. In response, Pretti America is a scary place right now, attempts to help the woman up when and as long as Trump is president, it I.C.E. agents begin harassing him aswell. will continue to be. We have spent more Shoving Pretti, agents began to pepper than 250 years creating a country that spray him, while his hands were in the is welcoming and home to everyone, air. Ending up on the ground, Pretti had and Trump has managed to destroy that six I.C.E. agents surrounding, dragging, in less than a year. His idiotic actions pepper spraying, and punching him. The are creating a hostile environment for agents then removed his permitted gun everyone, including legal citizens. that was tucked away, and proceeded to I, along with many other people, see draw a firearm. One shot after another my future taking place far away from the occurs, resulting in ten shots being fired U.S.. Hopefully, that won’t be necessary, at Pretti while he is still on the ground. but if the next president performs the With wounds all over his body he is same way as Trump, it might be a lot treated on scene, but sadly, passed away. of people’s realities. Not only is this The physical attack towards Pretti was immoral, but it is also going against basic an attack against civil rights. By using human rights and it is insane to consider his freedom of speech, his life was taken how people think justice is being served. from him. Yes, he had a gun, but last Political violence is unfortunately time I checked, that specific state fought inevitable, and because of this, 2026 has for the right to bare arms and to defend already had a very bad start to the year. I yourself, which he could have done, but blame Trump for every aspect of the U.S. didn’t. If this is the life that we have to that has gone wrong, starting Jan. 20, fear by practicing our civil rights and 2017 to the current day. fighting for our beliefs, then America is

6 OPINION

Thousand Oaks High School

The Lancer

Finding comfort, consistency in a can The Lancer explores Red Bull’s popular new, improved and unique flavor lineup introduced for spring 2026 season

ABIGAIL KERNS Opinions Editor If you’re a full-time student who falls behind in every class because of sports or jobs, then you’re probably aware of an energy drink company called Red Bull that so many consume on a daily basis. These drinks are sold everywhere, from gas stations to Target, with special additions constantly getting added and taken away. Common favorites include Peach-Nectarine, Watermelon and Passion Fruit.

In 2026, Red Bull reintroduced the fan-favorite White Peach flavor. White Peach was initially a limited edition item, only in stock during the summer of 2025.

Red Bull has since listened to us and our demands to have, arguably, the best flavor revived for the new year.

The return of these beverages has helped full-time students, and athletes alike, pull through assignments, practices, games, and presentations. Along with

White Peach, the winter addition Iced Vanilla Berry is making a comeback. Iced Vanilla Berry is characterized by sweet vanilla mixed with fruity blueberry and notes of eucalyptus, giving that classic Red Bull boost of caffeine that keeps you alert all day. Iced Vanilla Berry is one of those flavors that gives a nostalgic feel from winter break or going out with your friends on a cold night.

While Red Bull has done a great job bringing popular flavors back into stock, they have to get rid of some less-favored flavors as well. The sugar-free versions of the Watermelon and Kuruba-Elderflower Red Bulls are both being discontinued in early 2026. Personally, those flavors will not be missed much by me, or anyone that I know.

Enough talk about the old, let’s talk about the brand new flavors coming to stores statewide that hasn’t been seen before. Red Bull is launching a spring edition, the flavor being called Cherry Sakura, unheard of before. People are

unsure what to expect from this edition that releases early March of 2026, coming in both regular and sugar-free forms. So far, there have not been any cherry flavors in the United States, but the closest the company has ever gotten would be their Cherry Blossom flavor, centered in Japan.

While the Wild Berries flavour may hint at cherry, there has yet to be any explicit mention of cherry in any flavor distributed in the United States.

Red Bull is continuously a staple in the diets of many students and athletes. With the school year continuing on and major exams rapidly approaching, a pick-meup is an essential part for those people, myself included, to stay productive.

While new flavors may seem to be a trivial part of one’s day to the common person, it means a moment of comfort and consistency during an otherwise fastpaced and demanding start to the year. If you are looking for a good pick-me-up to aid you in life, consider stopping by your local store to pick up a Red Bull.

Abigail Kerns - The Lancer

Red Bull - The (re)release of fan-favorite Red Bull flavors has avid drinkers excited to continue their regular consumption.

The stain on our calendar Wellness center successful Exploring the cons of January, why it’s the worst month KELLY HOOLBOOM Staff Writer December is famously the month of joy and connection with those around you.

Mostly due to the onslaught of holidays throughout those cold 31 days. With the month of magic reaching such a peak in a positive atmosphere, the one to follow could never live up to the hype, but it does even less than failing to meet expectations.

January not only marks the end of the holidays, winter break, and the start of finals for most, but there is also a lack of activity in the month as a whole. Yes, leaving the final stretch of the year and the over-abundant holiday season is already sad, but entering a new era with nothing new to celebrate sort of drives the point home; January is a depressing sludge of nothing as a month, and marks the worst part of the year.

However, January does have one holiday marking a historic figure, Martin Luther King Junior Day. While such a holiday is an important part of our country’s history and is vital that we remember, it doesn’t exactly produce an atmosphere such as other commercial holidays.

The doom and gloom of January isn’t just defined by the lack of holidays, but the impending ones. February marks a month of love and deep connection, allowing many to celebrate those who are special in their lives.

But to some, it becomes a grim reminder, and pressure to find a person to prepare for said holiday, for an already existing one can leak into the mid and late weeks of January.

Leading to the disheartening decomposition

of holiday spirit leftover from the end of December, plaguing the start of January, while the stress of future holidays and how they can represent a hole in people’s lives looms over the latter half.

Generally, climate speaking at least, winter represents death and delay. Many plants die, storms wreck many habitats and rip out foliage, and mammals hibernate. Winter in most places is a desolate wasteland, devoid of life. However, the commercial Western holidays often mask this with corporateproduced joy. Once again, though, this is through by January, leaving the month’s only purpose to act as a vessel for the destructive, lifeless force that is winter.

Not all hope is lost, as the representation of ecosystem rebirth, spring, is just around the corner, right? Not exactly, depending on that year’s wind patterns and general global climate, the overcast and gray-scale day-today can stretch well into March and April, encompassing almost a quarter of the year.

January is just the start of this; at least other months are closer to the end of the yearly climate desecration, but our infamous first month is only the start of the terror, with no end in sight.

January has nothing to offer, a useless, disgusting stain on our yearly calendar. All it ever does is ruin the lives of those who have to live in areas where the weather becomes substantially more frigid. The only possible hope for this month is the end of it, so everybody can be thankful the nail was firmly placed in its coffin for the rest of this calendar year.

Lancers find more help in Wellness Center than with counselors

purposes, to manage students’ schedules.

However, this isn’t entirely the fault of our counselors here. Each one has around 350 At the beginning of high school, everyone students to manage, that’s a whole lot of e-mails gets assigned a counselor based on the first letter and schedule change requests to look through. of their last name that is supposed to be there Additionally dealing with a loss of one of their to support our choices and give advice on tough counselors, so the kid count for each individual situations when you reach out for help. counselor increased, adding even more emails However, more often than not, this is not to look through in the 6-hour school day. Rather the case for students at Thousand Oaks High than continuously making attempts to reach out, School. Sophomore Sage Sheldon is one of she turned to another recent option at our school those students. for emotional support, the Wellness Center.

“I actually feel worse when I try to talk The Wellness Center strongly differs from to my counselor, it’s already the school counselor’s office, time consuming to try and “By the time I get in, providing a safe environment get an appointment with your that includes relaxing activities counselor, so by the time I get I don’t really feel like such as drawing, coloring, and in, I don’t really feel like talking talking anymore.” bracelet making, attracting many anymore,” Sheldon said. students having a tough day.

SAGE SHELDON Many students across campus While guidance counselors have a similar opinion that are more academic-oriented, our regular school counselors are too hard to counselors in the Wellness Center give mental reach, deterring students who need the support health support, with staff almost always available away. Sometimes it feels as though they are just to chat when students show up out of the blue. standing in the background, rather than playing “One staff member from the Wellness Center a crucial role in creating a positive mental named Tessa is my favorite. I always try to talk environment for students. They seem to say that to her when I go because she listens,” Sheldon they are unable to help with almost any request, said. “Playing calming music helps me relax or while this may not be everyone’s experience, it gives me another activity to do, like coloring.” certainly was for Sheldon.

The Wellness Center is a resource used “I’ve had times where I have tried reaching daily by the Lancer community when the out to my counselor through emails that went main counseling office becomes overcrowded, unanswered, so my teacher stepped in to see if providing a safe space for students to let go of he could get an answer through emails as well, all their negative emotions and start to regulate which again went unanswered,” Sheldon said. themselves in a healthy manner. More-so than Not even her teacher could get through to her the main counseling office, the Wellness Center counselor when she needed to switch a class she successfully creates a positive environment for was having trouble in, which is one of their main all students to learn and grow in.

ABIGAIL KERNS Opinions Editor

Finding quiet space for success, less stress Thousand Oaks Library is a resource that many students are not, but should be, taking advantage of during school year for success ABIGAIL KERNS Opinions Editor Do you face loss of motivation in your school work during the second semester? It feels as though we are close to summer break but too far away still to be letting our school work get the better of us. It becomes harder to focus on lectures and worksheets when winter break gave us a taste of what it’s like to not have to wake up at the crack of dawn every day and sit in a seat for a few hours to hear someone talk.

Doom-scrolling every day throughout winter break has shortened our attention spans, as

Sometimes, our beds can feel too in high school, I’m taking more we are all aware of but continue to do it anyway. This is yet another tempting, and inspiration to do the advanced classes,” Gharzuzi said. reason school work seems harder project due tomorrow night is simply “The work pile keeps growing this time of year. Junior Audrey not there. So, in favor of keeping and the only way for me to keep Gharzuzi, a victim to the it manageable is to spend a temptations of just scrolling in the library, so I “The work pile keeps growing and the weekday usually go once every one or for the afternoon, shares her only way for me to keep it manageable two weeks.” thoughts.

“Well, when I am at home, The Thousand Oaks Library is to spend a weekday at the library.” sometimes it’s loud and I is a tool at the disposal of am around my phone, which every high school student, even AUDREY GHARZUZI student athletes with a rough is a constant distraction for me,” Gharzuzi said. “I can just start those grades from plummeting, practice schedule, considering that scrolling whenever I want to, but many students, including myself, it’s open until 8:00 PM on weekdays. [being at] the library forces me to resort to visiting the Thousand Oaks It is not just a place to sit, but an stay focused on my work because, Library to keep those grades and a environment where getting work who goes to the library to stare at high GPA. done is strongly encouraged with their phone? That’s so lame.”

“Now that I am an upperclassman books accessible to you on almost

any subject one could be learning in high school.

Are you struggling to figure out how to study for the SAT or ACT, but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on practice books, classes, and tutors? Well, the library can fix that issue with it’s free-use SAT practice books, as long as you stay in the library while you’re using it, or check out one of the books.

With its quiet atmosphere, long hours, and free academic resources, the Thousand Oaks Library proves to be more than just a study space; it’s a support system for students needing to stay focused and succeed in their work.

Issue 4

LANCER CONNECTION 7

February 6, 2026

LANCEROS Los

¿Cómo te gustaría pasar el día de San Valentín?

JIZELLE LÓPEZ Columnista Invitada El Día de San Valentín es una fecha muy especial para muchas personas, pero a veces no todos viven este día de la misma manera. Para ver qué tan diferente es la vida de cada persona, San Valentín no sólo es para parejas, sino también los momentos especiales con familia y amigos. Todos lo celebran en sus propios estilos, y eso es lo más amable de este día especial porque cada uno es capaz de expresar su propia forma de amar a los demás.

La primera pregunta: ¿con quién prefieres pasar el Día de San Valentín? El 75% dijo que con su novio o novia, el 25% prefiere pasar el día con amigos. Aunque nadie dijo que preferían pasar el día con la familia, lo más importante es pasar el tiempo con gente

que siempre estará junto a tu lado, porque lo más importante es pasar este tiempo con los que te ayuden a ser la mejor persona posible, todos los momentos con otras personas nos ayuda crear la persona que somos hoy.

La segunda pregunta: ¿Cómo pasarían su Día de San Valentín? La opción más popular fue ir al cine, con 50% de votos. 25% preferirían quedarse en casa, y el otro 25% decidió ir a un restaurante. Aunque nadie escogió pasar el día en la escuela, muchos sabemos que es muy probable que vamos a pasar todos los años, pero este no porque el Día de San Valentín cae en sábado. Última pregunta: ¿Cómo te gustaría que alguien te pidiera ser su Valentín?

Una pregunta que muchas personas han pensado, 100% de estudiantes dijeron que les gustaría que fuera con un poster o/ y flores, esto muestra que no es tan difícil

Jizelle Lopez - with permission

Ser mía - Jizelle López celebra para el día de San Valentίn con sus amigos. para ser algo tan simple. Esto también muestra los detalles visuales y románticos que siguen siendo muy importantes. El 75% de personas mencionaron dulces, Sabritas, bebidas y fresas con chocolate. Aunque son unos regalos tan simples, lo que importa es el esfuerzo y dedicación.

Bad Bunny en el Super Bowl AMÉRICA MÁRQUEZ Columnista Invitada Bad Bunny hará un concierto en el medio tiempo del Super Bowl se llevará a cabo el ocho de febrero del 2026. Esto es muy importante para la comunidad hispanohablante y para todos sus fanáticos, ya que El Super Bowl lleva de sesenta mil a setenta mil aficionados cada año. La cantidad de aficionados es muy importante porque el mensaje que Bad Bunny quiere darle al mundo es muy especial para todos incluyendo nuestra comunidad hispanohablante de Thousand Oaks.

El artista subió un comercial previo al día del concierto. Este comercial destaca la importancia de tratar a todos con igualdad y respeto. Este video enseña a todo tipo

de personas bailando su canción “Un baile inolvidable.” Esta canción representa el pasado y los recuerdos que se te quedan contigo y se vuelven nostalgia con el tiempo. La intención del artista es que toda la gente sepa todos tienen el mismo valor sin importar de que parte del mundo sean. La cultura nos junta a todos, aunque no seamos del mismo lugar o, aunque traigamos diferentes creencias. Esta canción que está en el comercial de Bad Bunny junta a toda la gente bailando con él, sin importar sus raíces.

El viene a representar su gente puertorriqueña, su cultura y la historia de Puerto Rico. Enseña que todos pertenecemos a este país, la igualdad y diversidad siempre tiene que existir por donde quiera. Este comercial ayuda a nuestra comunidad de

Tortas Fritas ZOE MALDONADO Columnista Invitada Ha sido una temporada de invierno irregular acá en Thousand Oaks, marcada por clima caluroso seguido por semanas de lluvia. En Argentina, es tradición comer tortas fritas cuando llueve. Normalmente se toma con mate o un tipo de té cocido, mate regular o chocolatada. También pueden cubrirse con azúcar o dulce de leche para obtener una combinación deliciosa de dulce y salado. Son hechas de masa salada frita para formar algo parecido a un bizcocho, pero más esponjoso. Esta receta me la pasó mi papá, y él la aprendió de su mamá.

Ingredientes: • 1 taza de harina común • Un puñado de sal (puede ser más o menos de un puñado, acorde a su preferencia del sabor salado) • 500 mililitros de agua tibia • Una gota de aceite (de maíz u otro parecido) • Aceite para freír Instrucciones: (Rinde para 8-12 tortas) 1. Ponga la harina en un recipiente y agregue la gota de aceite y el puñado de sal.

2. Agregue el agua gradualmente y mientras mezcle la masa con la mano.

3. Saque la masa del recipiente y amásela sobre una superficie limpia y plana (es recomendable usar un rodillo, amase la masa hasta que tenga un poco menos de ¼ pulgada de grosor).

4. Use un cuchillo para recortar las tortas con dimensiones de 10 centímetros por 10 centímetros (no tiene que ser exacto, puede ser del tamaño que quiera) 5. fríalas en aceite caliente por 1 minuto cada lado, o hasta que ambos lados se doren.

6. ¡Disfruten con azúcar y mate cocido! (U otra bebida de su elección)

Thousand Oaks a que se sientan orgullosos de tener raíces hispanohablantes y culturas especiales. El video conecta con nuestra gente y ayuda a que la comunidad se sienta bellamente diversa y conectada.

Esto da una tranquilidad y esperanza a nuestra comunidad hispanohablante después de todo lo que ha pasado en el año 2025.

Saber que alguien nos respalda y usa su voz para representar nuestra gente importa mucho, el comercial y la presentación de Bad Banny en el Super Bowl nos da mucha felicidad y sentido de unidad. Muchos de nuestros seres queridos y amigos están emocionados con este comercial y están todavía más entusiasmados de ver su concierto en el Super Bowl.

Las leyes nuevas de California para este año LUCCIANA PORRAS Columnista Invitada Las nuevas leyes de California para 2026 abarcan una amplia gama de temas, incluyendo, el fomento de la educación sobre el contenido generado por inteligencia artificial, y el aumento del salario mínimo a 16.90 dólares.

Muchas de estas leyes entrarán en vigor el 1 de enero o el 1 de julio de 2026. Principalmente en el ámbito escolar y tecnológico, se exigirán políticas que limiten el uso de teléfonos celulares por parte de los estudiantes a partir del 1 de julio. También se exigirán baños de género neutro en las escuelas de primaria y secundaria. Se prohibirán los alimentos ultra procesados en las escuelas. Esta ley, pionera en Estados Unidos, prohibirá que se sirvan los alimentos ultra procesados más perjudiciales en las escuelas públicas de California, ofreciendo a los estudiantes comidas más saludables y elaboradas con ingredientes naturales para mejorar su nutrición y salud en general. También se ampliarán los recursos de salud mental para jóvenes LGBTQ+. Esto requiere que las tarjetas de identificación estudiantil emitidas por las escuelas secundarias y preparatorias públicas, así como por las universidades públicas, incluyan una línea de ayuda disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, del Proyecto Trevor. Esta línea de ayuda brinda apoyo en situaciones de crisis y prevención del suicidio a jóvenes LGBTQ+. Además, garantiza que las agencias estatales de educación publiquen y mantengan recursos para estudiantes que sufren discriminación o acoso por su orientación sexual, identidad o expresión de género.

Empezó el segundo semestre SARAH CORRALES MOLINA Columnista Invitada Después de un par de semanas de descanso durante las vacaciones de invierno, volvemos a la escuela para comenzar el segundo semestre del año. Aunque un buen descanso era necesario, no siempre es fácil regresar a la rutina de la escuela. El segundo semestre es la recta final, donde se empieza a poner más intenso y serio. Algunos estudiantes regresan sintiéndose motivados y listos para regresar, mientras otros regresan del descanso sintiéndose menos preparados. Ya que no hay descanso, hay que volver a despertarse temprano, entregar tareas y estudiar para exámenes. Sin embargo, este semestre también es una oportunidad para mejorar y terminar el año escolar con fuerza. Para los estudiantes de clases de AP, este semestre es aún más importante y se pone más intenso porque los exámenes de AP cada vez se acercan más, lo que significa que ya es hora de enfocarse y estudiar. Aunque puede sentirse estresante, empezar desde ahora puede ayudar a hacer una gran diferencia en los resultados. El segundo semestre se trata de mejorar, y aunque se puede sentir difícil y largo, cada vez estamos más cerca de nuestra meta. Con esfuerzo, se puede terminar el año escolar de la mejor manera posible.

El equipo de fútbol masculino de JV DAIYANA POLINO Columnista Invitada AMÉRICA MÁRQUEZ Columnista Invitada La temporada de fútbol de los hombres ya se está acercando a su fin, y con esto, las reflexiones sobre lo que se logró y lo que se puede mejorar también llegan. Aquí les traemos una entrevista de unos de los jugadores del equipo para obtener más información sobre cómo les fue a ellos durante esta temporada y conocer sus experiencias tanto dentro como fuera del campo. A través de estas entrevistas, pudimos comprender mejor los desafíos que enfrentaron y cómo se sintieron como equipo.

Entrevistamos a dos de los jugadores del equipo Junior Varsity: Christian Matías y Andrés Cantrell, quienes representan a nuestra escuela con esfuerzo y dedicación. Ambos jugadores compartieron sus opiniones de manera honesta y reflexiva, demostrando una actitud madura ante los resultados de la temporada. ¿Qué posición juegan?

Christian dijo: “Yo juego como lateral o defensa central. Mi trabajo es ayudar a defender y asegurarme de que el otro equipo no tenga muchas oportunidades de anotar”. Andrés explicó su posición diciendo: “Yo soy delantero. Trato de apoyar al equipo atacando y buscando oportunidades para meter goles”. ¿Cómo les fue durante los partidos de la temporada?

Christian nos dijo: “Perdimos tres partidos, ganamos dos y empatamos uno. Para mí, este año fue uno de los más difíciles.

Nuestro equipo es muy joven y muchos jugadores están en la etapa de aprender a jugar juntos. A veces no jugamos lo mejor que podemos, pero siempre tratamos de dar nuestro máximo esfuerzo.”

Andrés también se expresó sobre el desempeño del equipo y dijo: “El equipo no está mal, pero tampoco está en su mejor nivel.

Siento que pudimos jugar mejor y comunicarnos más en la cancha.

Cuando jugamos como equipo, las cosas salen mejor”. ¿Qué aprendieron de esta temporada?

Christian dijo: “Aprendí que el trabajo en equipo es muy importante y que no siempre se gana, pero cada partido te deja una lección”. Por otro lado, Andrés dijo: “Aprendí a no rendirme y a seguir esforzándome, incluso cuando los resultados no son los que esperas”.

Ambos coincidieron en que este año podrían haber hecho un mejor trabajo, pero también estuvieron de acuerdo en que obtuvieron experiencias valiosas. A pesar de los desafíos, se sienten orgullosos de haber podido representar a su escuela. Con más práctica, comunicación y unión entre el equipo, esperan que la próxima temporada sea más exitosa y positiva para todos.

Daiyana Polino- with permission

Listo para el juego - El equipo de fútbol se toma un tiempo para reunise antes el medίo.

8 VALENTINE’S DAY

Thousand Oaks High School

The Lancer

Love notes from Lancers Dear Jason Frey, You may not know me but I think you’re the cutest boy ever. I wish I could tell you who I am but that needs to be kept anonymous, for I am Batman. We should go on a date together though.. do you like pho? Maybe you do know who I am. Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, Moo (secret admirer) Amanda, You are so funny, smart, and one of the kindest and most genuine people I know.

You have such a big heart, and how you never fail to make me and all your peers around you smile.

- Your Secret Admirer Deanna Pham!

You are such an amazing person to be around, and I’m so thankful to have someone to listen to me talk nonstop in Precalc…I’m your biggest fan on and off the court, love you!

- Your Secret Admirer To Daniel, So happy we met freshman year in Ms. Moore’s English class. We’ve been together ever since, traveling, supporting each other, and growing, side-by-side. We wouldn’t want it any other way. I love you.

- Abby Maddie, You are sooo kind. You make everyone feel so loved and are such an amazing person.

Love youuu.

- Your Secret Admirer

Naomi Guerrero, I don’t know when it happened, but somehow you became the person my thoughts drift to without permission. Your smile has a way of making everything else feel quieter, calmer, and better. When you laugh, it sticks with me longer than the moment itself, and when you’re around, even ordinary days feel special. I admire your confidence, your kindness, and the way you’re effortlessly yourself.

- Your Secret Admirer Dearest Kaylie, Thoust an excellent friend! I recall thy conversing with I a year before in Miss Wohlstattar’s English lesson. Presently, we are fellow students in two scholarly pursuits.

My heart is replenished with mirth when I am in thy presence. Thou art fair and temp’rate.

Fare thee well.

- Your Secret Admirer

Francesca Kim, You are one of the funniest and most supportive people I’ve ever met. I trust you with my life, and I love you as much as you love Taco Bell (if that’s even possible).

- Your Secret Admirer Dearest Gwen D, You are the sunshine to my clouds, the chocolate to my strawberry, and the peanut butter to my jelly. My life has been so much better since meeting you, and I hope it will stay forevermore. Happiest of Valentine’s Day to you, with wishes of candies sweeter than the cotton candy clouds of the sunset.

With utmost love, A secret admirer

Jackson Reznick is super cool.

He is cool like a pool.

Jackson Reznick is nonchalant.

He is nonchalant like an elephant.

Jackson Reznick is very handsome.

He is handsome like a ransom.

Jackson Reznick is the coolest person to ever exist ever, and that is a fact, not dependent on the weather.

- Jackson Reznick’s Secret Admirer To my dearest, Andrew Cole, I love you so much and I am so mad that we broke up. I wish to see you again. I miss you. I miss sitting next to you at lunch. I miss the smell of Chick-fil-A sandwiches with you, preferably Combo #1 with Chick-fil-A sauce.

You heal my canker sores. Love you, boo.

XOXO, yours, Bryce May Dear Lily, I’ve been your secret admirer since I was a freshman. I love your energy and the vibes you bring to the school.

- Your Secret Admirer Josue, I know you moved on and I’m happy for you but I mean like in the first period I can’t stare at your eyes too much because it gets too weird but you’re so beautiful.

- Anonymous A is for how AWESOME he is.

R is for this poem’s sponsor, Raising Canes!

I is for intelligence, which he probably is.

Put that together and that spells Ari. Thank you Ari. - Your Secret Admirer

Our encroaching co-dependency

The Lancer explores common, modern-day high school relationsh KELLY HOOLBOOM Staff Writer From the start of the texting age, expectations on the availability

1.

2.

3.

1. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) 2. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) 3. She’s the Man (2006) 4. Notting Hill (1999) 5. The Princess Bride (1987) 6. The Notebook (2004) 7. 500 Days of Summer (2009) 8. The Proposal (2009) 9. Love Actually (2003) 10. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

of others have quickly risen, pushing the goal post further and further. With the insane popularity of social media in the past decaade, the window into other people’s lives has grown as well, giving a larger glimpse into others’ shoes, even if it’s an artificial recreation.

High schoolers are the most vulnerable group to wide social changes, so how do these things impact them?

From sleeping on call all night, having Snapchat and TikTok streaks that stretch hundreds of days, and constantly sharing their location, modern teenagers expect constant access to everyone in their lives, especially romantic partners.

It’s more common than ever for high school partners to try to have the same social circles, style, music taste, and identity as a whole. Although people tend to be drawn to those with similar interests, the problem

lies in intentionally becoming or placating your partner after the fact.

This sort of phenomenon among teenagers can be quite an unhealthy one for this generation’s development.

“Overreliance on others for one’s happiness can add stress and pressure to those around us.”

KELLY HOOLBOOM

Having security and agency within oneself is a core part of being a productive adult in the future, and a huge player in keeping oneself mentally healthy. If a person in one’s life who they base their personality on were to be pried out of it somehow, suddenly their life falls apart.

Issues like this are not just prevalent in generation Z, there are buds of it in younger generations as well. Generation Alpha’s dependence on screens echoes this similarly. “iPad

Kids” always of social stimu they’re not act talk to people al YouTube videos Lack of the a emotions is a lar as well; withou mechanisms wi people depend those around th their mood, w many relationsh Relying on tough times i aspect of the hu it bonds us toge deeper level t hobby could. B on others for can add stress those around us Creating a identity and h sustainable coll mechanisms all relationships to as well as allo alone more of with who they a general self-con

Issue 4

VALENTINE’S DAY 9

February 6, 2026

Valentine landline

How to have fun on Valentine’s Day as a single person JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ Managing Editor Feb. 14, often known as the day of love, for some is celebrated like any other day. But, the question is are there ways you, as a single person, can have fun on Valentine’s Day? Rather than sulking in your house about your non-existent love life, focus on the people around you and the platonic love you have for them.

Valentine’s day is often associated with romantic love and physical affection, however, it is a day you can celebrate with friends or family.

On the daily you spend most of your time with your friends at school, often forming strong bonds over the things you relate to and enjoy doing. Leading them to become the people who know you the best and stand by your side.

Valentine’s day can be a day you celebrate the support you give each other during the hardest or stressful times in your life. You can do this by going to dinner at a nice restaurant and dressing up, putting on a nice dress, suit, or shirt, while bonding and having fun in each other’s company. Doing so, gives you an excuse to dress up nicely, and go all out without being self-conscious about

y issue

hip dynamics

need some sort ulation; even if tively having to ll the time, many s fill this void. bility to manage rge aspect of this ut proper coping ithin themselves, d too much on hem to determine which can strain hips. others during is an essential uman experience; ether on a much than any small But overreliance one’s happiness and pressure to s. an individual having a large, lection of coping lows for external be strengthened, owing one to sit ften, be happier are, and increase nfidence.

what anyone else thinks, because they are also trying to look their best.

With the crowds of couples surrounding every restaurant, restaurants may not be fun for everyone.

If this is the case, you can throw a small gathering for you and your friends, where you guys do some fun activities, such as painting, charades, playing boardgames/videogames, watching rom-coms, or baking/cooking.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones, where all your friends have a significant other who they are spending the day with, take the day to practice some self care. Do some retail therapy, put on a comfortable outfit, make or order some delicious food, and throw on a face mask while watching your favorite movie.

It’s important to take time for yourself and relax after a long week, doing the things you love will prevent you from being overwhelmed and encourage an optimistic outlook.

The bottom line is, while it can be nice to have a significant other by your side on a holiday such as Valentine’s Day, it is not a necessity, but a want. You can have fun with those around you or by yourself. Quality time is the best gift you can give to anyone whether you are in love with them or not.

Planning a perfect date Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be hard Kailah Spencer Managing Editor The pressure of planning the perfect Valentine’s Day date is completely unnecessary. Social media posts that normalize extravagant dates create an unrealistic expectation for what should be done on Valentine’s Day, but the reality is, we’re in high school. There’s no use in spending everything you have on a date, especially if it is more for show than for really showing your partner that you care.

The key to a good date is simple: just do what you know your partner likes. In a relationship, you bond over the things you both like, but also the differences you share. Listening to your partner is important to understanding them as a person, and knowing what they do and don’t like is important to having a successful date and a successful relationship.

While it may be cliché, the thought really does count.

If your partner likes the beach, take them to the beach. If they love movies, find a nearby drive-in theater playing a romantic movie or a movie they like. An easy, classic date idea is sitting down together and eating your/their favorite food. It is really not as complicated as society makes it out to be.

With that being said, the date can still be “fancy”. Put on a nice outfit and switch things up from your casual, every-day appearance. It’s nice to have an excuse to dress up, so why not take the opportunity?

With all of this in mind, remember: The thought is more important than the cost. Expensive gifts and dates mean nothing if they aren’t aligned with your partner’s interests and how you really feel about them.

A gift they will love Show your significant other you care on Valentine’s Day JOEY GOODNIGHT Editor-in-Chief As Valentines Day approaches, the time available to get your significant other a gift is quickly disappearing.

If you’re trying to make sure you get the best gift possible to show your significant other you care, then you’re probably starting to sweat thinking about what you’re going to get them, but fear not! The Lancer has the ultimate gift guide to making sure your significant other is impressed with your chivalry and thoughtfulness.

The ultimate tip for anything you’re planning to get your partner is to ask their friends if you aren’t sure. If you don’t know what flowers or colors your partner likes, or whether they would want a necklace in silver or gold, your girlfriend’s friends are going to be your most valuable asset. Even if they don’t know, I promise they can slyly figure it out.

If at all possible, do not just ask your significant other what they want; that takes all the romance and the surprise out of receiving a gift, and can even make your partner feel like you don’t know them well enough to know what to get them.

One of the best options for a simple Valentine’s Day gift is flowers, but not when they’re random flowers from the grocery store, still in the plastic. The type of flowers you buy and how you present them matters, so if you have the extra money, go to a flower shop. There, you can get much nicer flowers, and the shop can help you build a color palette based on the colors your girlfriend actually likes.

If you can’t afford that, go to Trader Joe’s and either pick out flowers to make a bouquet yourself or pick out a nice bouquet of flowers you know your girlfriend likes–classic Valentine’s Day flowers like roses are always good (but make sure your girlfriend doesn’t dislike roses before you choose this option). If you get flowers from Trader Joe’s or any other grocery store, at the very least take them out of the plastic and put them in brown paper. Tip: Trader Joe’s sells brown paper sleeves right next to the flowers, so there’s no excuse to leave them in the plastic you get them in at the store. Even better, if you are thinking ahead, stop

by Goodwill and buy a vase for $1-2 to take the flowers to the next level.

Another important note about Valentine’s Day gifts is that, generally, funny Valentine’s gifts/cards don’t hit as well as you think they will; unless your girlfriend is the unromantic type and has a really outstanding sense of humor, stick to the traditional romantic cards.

The second most common Valentine’s Day gift is chocolate, but the chocolates you choose can either make your gift feel romantic and classy, or cheap and unthoughtful. There are two ways to make chocolates a perfect gift for Valentines Day: choose something high quality, or something that is super personal to your partner. Higher end chocolates that come in a nice tin box will almost always be a hit, such as See’s, Lindor, or Ferrero Rocher. With a bouquet of flowers, a gift of chocolates feels classically romantic in a way that almost always impresses.

The more quality options are on the pricier side though, and if you’re hoping to stick to something a little more cost effective, then your best bet is to get specific. Places like Target or Walmart have all kinds of cardboard candy box hearts, but make sure that it’s a candy your partner loves, then the thoughtfulness of finding their favorite candy outweighs the price you paid for it.

Or, stop by Newberry Candy in Thousand Oaks (see The Lancer Food Review on page 10 for ideas)!

Overall, the best advice for picking out a gift is to try and be thoughtfu; the more you show you know your partner, you show them you listen and pay attention, a gift can be very inexpensive and still mean the world to someone because it was well thought out and showed that you put in the effort.

10 FEATURES

Thousand Oaks High School

All chocolate food review

The Lancer

Sponsored by

The Lancer staff tries customer favs and puts them in order of preference

#1 - OREO Caramel Apple Price: $10.99 Review: At first, the thick coating seems intimidating,

but once you try it, the OREO flavor balances out this treat perfectly. Not only a picture of perfection, the apple itself has a juicy flavor and a fresh, crisp feeling. To go with the perfect tart green apple, the caramel adds creaminess and flavor to the apple and the dark chocolate is the perfect balance, creating a perfect combination. The OREOs also add a nice crunchy texture to go along with the apple.

#2 - S’mores Bark Price: $11.99 Review: All the different flavors, including

#5 - Chocolate Covered OREO Price: $2.85/2 Review: The chocolate covered OREO is a perfect snack.

The balance between the chocolate and the sandwich cookie is perfect; the ratio keeps the cookie crunchy and there is not too much chocolate. For anyone who loves OREOs, the slight bitterness of the dark chocolate takes this sweet treat to the next level.

#6 - Milk Chocolate Toffee Price: $13.75 Review: This buttery toffee has a soft texture, not hard

marshmallows, graham crackers, dark and milk chocolates, blend together perfectly. The bitter dark chocolate balances out the sweetness of the marshmallows, and the milk chocolate brought out the S’mores appeal. The crunchy graham cracker added the perfect texture and help mellow out the sweetness, giving it the perfect ratio.

but slightly crunchy, with a balance of sweet and a little salty. Most toffee is almost too sweet, but this was the perfect amount of sweetness (to be able to eat a lot without feeling sick). The walnuts gave it a slight crunch and balanced out the chocolate, making it even more addictive.

#3 - Peanut Butter Cup

#7 - Chocolate Dipped Potato Chips

Price: $5.35 Review: The peanut butter in this treat is exceptionally

Price: $7.50 Review: While potato chips with chocolate seems like an odd

smooth and, surprisingly, not dry at all, having more of a creamy texture than the dry crumbling one we have come to know. While delicious, the thin chocolate shell was a little too thin; we would prefer a slightly thicker layer of chocolate.

combination, it’s just the opposite. The crunch of the chip mixed with the chocolate is so satisfying. The saltiness of the chip mixes perfectly with the sweet chocolate. Plus, the chip was only dipped halfway in the chocolate, which avoids the overwhelming taste of chocolate, making the ratio of this fun snack just right.

#4 - Milk Chocolate Fudge

#8 - Dark Chocolate Candied Orange Peels

Price: $5.25 Review: If you like fudge, this is one of the best.

Price: $12.25 Review: This treat is truly for the people who love citrus. The

Smooth, soft and creamy, the perfect fudge consistency, this simple fudge is sweet, but not overwhelmingly sweet.

Newberry Candy’s fresh, homemade fudge is the perfect classic fudge for any occasion.

perfectly chewy orange peel covered in sharp dark chocolate creates the perfect fragrant combination for a candy like a sugar gummy.

Instead of the bitter orange peel everyoneexpects, they are sweet, but not overly so; these remind us of the citrusy orange everyone knows and loves, made even better with chocolate.

Inside awards season 2026 Reviews of a much-anticipated series of award shows KAILAH SPENCER Managing Editor The early months of the year are always an exciting time for film, television and music, as stars and fans alike celebrate the incredible work put out in the past year from each respective industry.

The internet has been full of people discussing who has won, who should’ve won and who they think will win. While not everyone can be pleased, it’s nice to have the opportunity to appreciate the shows, movies and music that have entertained us for the past year. Dazzling red carpet looks and unexpected wins are just a couple of the exciting parts of awards season.

The first major ceremony for film and television this year was the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards, which took place on Jan. 4 in Santa Monica, California. Hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler, the show kicked off the award season in a star-studded celebration of acting, writing and production.

The top acting honors of the night, Best Actor and Best Actress, went to Timothée Chalamet for his role as Marty Mauser in “Marty Supreme” and Jessie Buckley for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare in “Hamnet.” Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster project “Sinners,” which grossed over $300M worldwide off a $90M budget, and Philip Barantini’s “Adolescence” took home the most awards of the night for film and television, respectively, with four each. The night ended with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” winning Best Picture after collecting a handful of other awards. Generating plenty of internet buzz, the Critics Choice Awards were a major

Creative Commons

Golden Globes - “One Battle After Another” won awards in four categories. precursor to the Golden Globes, which took place a week later.

The 2026 awards season continued in Beverly Hills, California on Jan. 11 at the 83rd Annual Golden Globes, which, similarly to the Critics Choice Awards, celebrates film and television, only with more separation between genres.

“Hamnet” earned the award for Best Motion Picture (Drama), while “One Battle After Another” added many trophies to its collection, including the award for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy).

“K-Pop Demon Hunters,” which took the world by storm only a few months ago, claimed the prizes for Best Motion Picture (Animated) and Best Original Song for its hit “Golden.”

Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”), Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”), and Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”), all won the highest awards for their leading film performances, with Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”) and Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”) winning award for their supporting roles.

Continued on page 13

Issue 4

FEATURES 11

February 6, 2026

A$AP Rocky’s title teaches life lesson

a musical deep-dive compiled by Jordyn Liebowitz

JOHNNY PHAN Staff Writer

Almost eight years after his last album, A$AP Rocky released his fourth album “Don’t be Dumb” on Jan. 16, 2026, a bright experimental hip-hop record. Before this album, I never really listened to A$AP’s music, other than his most popular

songs. I truly wish I was there for the eight year difference between albums to make an opinion as a true fan, but I wasn’t, so my first full impression of his music is the best I can do.

I’m a huge music lover, and it’s really difficult to disappoint me when it comes to music. In my opinion, this album is pretty good.

I’ve heard many mixed reviews on this album, and I understand why some longtime fans would be disappointed in this album, as it’s different from a lot of songs he’s released in the past. However, I can’t get behind the distaste for it. It’s creative, yet familiar, and together it’s its own piece.

One thing I love about this album are the features, such as will.i.am, Tyler, the Creator, and Brent Faiyaz. The day before the album was released, A$AP announced the tracklist and features. However, I

Marty Supreme

Creative Commons

The movie, “Marty Supreme”, was 2 hours and 30 minutes long, but it felt like not a single second was wasted. The movie primarily focuses on Marty Mauser’s quest to become the world’s best ping pong player, and he’s willing to do anything to achieve his dreams. The problem is that Marty is a bad person who steals, cons, and hustles, all at the risk of the consequences of his actions catching up to him. The overall story theme was that grit means nothing if you don’t have humility.

I rate the movie a 9.3/10, and the only reason why it is not a full 10/10 is that during some of the ping pong scenes, the CGI was not of the best quality, which bothered me. The color orange was heavily emphasized in the marketing, but I feel like they did not mention the orange ping pong balls enough throughout the movie, and it did not have that much impact. Essentially, what happened was that Marty believed the white ping pong balls gave the players a disadvantage and forced everyone to wear black, but white gave a classier look, so he designed orange ping pong balls with his best friend, called “Orange Spheres”. Out of frustration, his friend threw all the predesigned balls out the window in an argument between his father, who designed these balls, and Marty, because he would not spend the time to go out and try to sell these balls. Instead, he went out of the country to compete in huge ping pong tournaments. If you are an anxious person, beware, because I was so nervous and on the edge of my seat when watching the film in the best way possible. At first, I thought the movie would be mainly about ping-pong, but it turned into an insane actiondrama movie, an emotional rollercoaster at that.

The marketing for the movie was also great. An orange “Marty Supreme” blimp flew across the country, spotted by fans, and even the Las Vegas Sphere was made to look like a huge, orange ping pong ball. Advertisements continued with celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Hailey and Justin Bieber, Tom Brady, and even Frank Ocean sporting “Marty Supreme” windbreakers.

The setting of the movie was 1950s Lower Manhattan. The cinematography made it feel like old New York, especially because I watched it in the front row, since every showtime was entirely packed. The soundtrack was beyond beautiful. I was on Shazam the entire time while watching the movie. Another great addition to the movie was the casting. Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank made his debut as ruthless millionaire Milton Rockwell, Tyler, the Creator acted as Wally, and was Marty’s partner-in-crime as they con at local ping pong arenas. Also, Ted Williams, known as “The Man with the Golden Voice,” starred as an employee at Marty’s local table tennis club. Overall, “Marty Supreme” was a great movie that I would recommend to everyone, but be aware of some Roller coaster - Movie “Marty gore.

Supreme” released on Dec. 25.

wasn’t aware of that. I knew I was going to be reviewing this album and wanted to go in completely blind for the most part. So, I noticed when I first looked at the album that the features aren’t listed, so listening to it and hearing some familiar voices was a nice surprise.

With all albums, some songs will be better than others, but it’s all based on opinions. My favorite song on this album is “STAY HERE 4 LIFE,” which Brent Faiyaz sang and co-produced, alongside Hit-Boy. I will be honest, compared to other more hyper songs, this one is slightly lack-luster. Nonetheless, I love Faiyaz’ voice and his addition to this beautiful song about the fear of losing something you wish was permanent.

Another one of my favorite songs is the song “DON’T BE DUMB/TRIP BABY”. DBD is such a hypnotizing track. It’s the fourth to last on the album, and is, to me, a kiss goodbye

before leaving, like the song after called “THE END”.

Not only were the musical features a surprise to me, I was also intrigued by the cover art designed by filmmaker Tim Burton. I thought the album cover was interesting and unique. It doesn’t ruin the music for me, but I enjoy seeing the artist on the cover of the record. I feel that the album cover is a look into the sound of the album, The album includes songs of many different genres. “PUNK ROCKY” is a dreamy indie and psychedelic rock song, “ROBBERY” with a Doechii feature is a luxurious jazz piece, and “HELICOPTER” is an upbeat motivational trap song. This experiment of working various and contrasting genres together works well for me. I usually enjoy more cohesive albums, because I expect similar sounds within, but this was pretty enjoyable for me.

Creative Commons

On tour - A$AP Rocky at his 2013 “Under the Influence” tour.

I really enjoyed this album. There’s so much in this album that is available for anybody to enjoy. A vast amount of genres, a long list of features, and creative artistry are just some of the qualities featured in this piece.

AROUND T.O.WN

Compiled by KAILAH SPENCER Managing Editor

Seussical

Hillcrest Center for the Arts, Thousand Oaks February 6-22 7:30 pm (Fridays and Saturdays) and 2:00 pm (Saturdays and Sundays) Don’t miss Young Artists Ensemble & YAE Team-Up’s presentation of the beloved musical in honor of Dr. Seuss, “Seussical”.

Taking place in the Theatre On The Hill at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, “Seussical” blends everyone’s favorite Dr. Seuss tales in a musical wonder. Reserved Seating: $20 for adults, $17 for children, students, and seniors, $13 Super Fridays Discount (2/13 and 2/20 at 7:30 pm).

Boney Mountain Trail Half-Marathon & 7K

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, Newbury Park Saturday, February 7 8:00 - 11:00 am The 2026 Boney Mountain Trail Half Marathon and 7K will take place in Point Mugu State Park, starting at Rancho Sierra Vista/ Satwiwa. Challenge yourself with single-track, switchback climbs and descents, creek crossings, and a climb up the Old Boney trail. Half-marathon starts at 8 am, 7K at 8:30 am.

Book Sale at the Newbury Park Library

Newbury Park Public Library, Newbury Park Saturday, February 7 12:00 - 3:00 pm The Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library invites all book lovers to attend their upcoming book sale at the Newbury Park Library Meeting Room. This popular sale will feature a wide variety of books at affordable prices, including children’s books, adult mysteries, and romance titles. Most books will be priced from 50¢ to $1. The sale’s proceeds support library programs, collections, and community services. Early entry will be available beginning at 11:30 am for Friends’ members and teachers

The String Queen Concert

Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks Tuesday, February 10 7:00 - 8:30 pm From the Baroque Era to modern hits, The String Queens will take their audience on an exciting listening journey across many genres. The String Queens, or TSQ, has been featured in performances at renowned venues across America, including Carnegie Hall in New York City and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the nation’s capital. This is a free event. Seating will be open and available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Ladyface Mountain Film Festival

180 Promenade Way, Westlake Village February 19, 26 and March 5, 12 The Ladyface Mountain Film Festival celebrates real storytelling through powerful documentaries that highlight people, cultures, and the natural world. Featuring films from filmmakers around the globe, the festival values authenticity, connection, and the human spirit. Some activities are free of charge; others require the purchase of tickets.

World Ballet Company Presents Swan Lake

Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks Thursday, February 19 7:00 pm Performing with a live orchestra and featuring a cast of 50 international dancers, over 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, and stunning hand-crafted sets, the World Ballet Company captures its audience in a beautiful rendition of the classic ballet, Swan Lake. The show is about 2.5 hours long with a 20-minute intermission. Tickets range from $61.25 to $143.25 and are available online on Ticketmaster.

39th Annual Spring Art & Crafts Festival at Borchard Park

190 Reino Road, Newbury Park Saturday, March 7 10:00 am - 4:00 pm The Conejo Recreation & Park District hosts its 39th Annual Art & Crafts Festival, where more than 100 artisans and craft persons present their unique artistry. The event will include fun activities for all ages, along with food and drinks to enjoy while you browse. The event is free and will take place rain or shine.

Bark in the Park

1379 E Janss Road, Thousand Oaks Saturday, March 14 9:00 am-12:00 pm Bark in the Park is planned for Conejo Creek Park North, behind the Thousand Oaks Library. Special activities include a dog costume contest, big and littlest dog contests, small dog races, dog entertainers, dog agility course, vendors and more. The event will also feature dogs available for adoption. Admission and activities are free, while food will be available to purchase.

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The Lancer

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Issue 4

FEATURES 13

February 6, 2026

Caffeine becomes part of high school day Once “adult drink” officially becomes notable teen addiction MADELYN FRIEDMAN Business Manager Walk through the halls before first period and you’ll see it everywhere: iced coffees, energy drinks, Starbucks everything.

What used to be more of an “adult drink” has officially become part of teen culture, and for many high schoolers, coffee feels extra essential.

According to a recent C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll, about 31% of U.S. teens aged 13-18 regularly consume coffee in addition to other caffeine sources like soda and energy drinks. Parents report that nearly 1 in 4 teens consumes caffeine daily or nearly every day, 9% saying their child drinks it every single day.

These numbers reflect a broader trend in how young people are getting their caffeine. A CDClinked study found that coffee’s share of total caffeine intake among youth grew from about 10% in 1999 to roughly 24% by 2010, while soda’s contribution dropped significantly. In other words, teens are shifting from soft drinks to brewed beverages, and that change has come with both social perks and

health questions.

“Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system,” says pediatrician Susan Woolford, M.D., co-director of the poll. Too much of it can affect mood, sleep, and school performance, she notes.

Teenagers are starting to drink coffee at an earlier age than past generations, and it’s not hard to see why. Early school start times, packed schedules, sports, jobs, homework and social lives all compete for sleep. Coffee promises energy and productivity. Add in the factor of cozy cafes, drive-through chains, and aesthetic coffee content on social media, and caffeine has become more than a drink–it’s a lifestyle.

When senior and Makenna Koffee employee Niki Krupnick was asked how coffee has impacted teen culture, she mentioned, “coffee has impacted teen culture in a good way, and it’s given teenagers a fun way to add some excitement to school mornings.”

According to health organizations, caffeine is the most commonly used stimulant in the world. Studies show that a majority of teenagers consume caffeine regularly, whether through

coffee, tea, soda, or energy drinks.

Experts generally recommend that teens limit caffeine intake to about 100 milligrams per day, but many students admit they go over that.

Sophomore Addison Anello says she drinks coffee every morning before school. “I make my own at home. I don’t like spending money on my coffee.” She also states, “I think coffee has positively impacted teen culture; it makes you very energetic and everyone needs that.”

Anello’s view suggests that coffee has become a shared language for teenagers. It serves as a collective “energy boost” that helps students keep up with their academic and social lives.

Madisyn Lezandro and Xander Gaskins, both sophomores, believe caffeine is heavily relied upon and “we should start cutting back on it.”

“I think people care a lot about coffee than other things, but it’s pretty good and it gets people caffeinated for finals,” Gaskins says. He stated he drinks two Alanis a day, as well as Bloom and the iced energy drinks.

Coffee culture is also social.

Cafes, like Makenna Koffee or Five07, have become popular hangout spots after school or on

Madelyn Friedman - The Lancer

Caffeine at work - Sophomores Alani Gray and Alea Connor sip iced coffees at the Starbuck’s across the street from Thousand Oaks High School. weekends. Meeting for coffee is seen as low-pressure; students can study or just sit together without much expectation.

Still, there are downsides. Too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, trouble sleeping, headaches, and crashes later in the day. School counselors and health teachers encourage students to prioritize sleep, hydration, and balanced

meals before relying on caffeine.

For many teens, coffee is a comfort and a routine. Like most things, moderation matters. As coffee culture continues to grow in high schools, the challenge is learning how to use it wisely.

Whether it’s a morning iced latte or something seasonal, coffee has definitely earned its place in teen life.

Continued from page 10

WINNERS: Globes, Grammys In television, Apple TV’s “The Studio” and HBO Max’s “The Pitt” earned top awards. Once again, “Adolescence” swept and took home four awards, the most for a television series that night. In 2025, then 15-yearold Owen Cooper became the youngest male Emmy winner for his portrayal of Jamie Miller in the show. Now 16, he continues with that theme, becoming the second youngest male Golden Globes winner of all time and the youngest Critics Choice Award winner.

This year’s Golden Globes also marks the debut of the Best Podcast award, which went to Amy Poehler for “Good Hang With Amy Poehler.”

Sunday, Feb. 1 marked music’s biggest night, with stars pouring into Los Angeles for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. This year’s Grammys, hosted by Trevor Noah for a sixth and final time, were monumental for several reasons.

Amidst the current political climate, celebrities were unafraid to take their stance, whether on the red carpet or on stage. While lots of Sunday’s fashion sparkled and shined, the most impactful statement pieces on many outfits were white pins reading “ICE OUT.” This theme continued throughout the ceremony, with artists like Kehlani and Billie Eilish, who won Song of the Year for her 2024 hit, “Wildflower,” proudly denouncing ICE during their acceptance speeches.

Creative Commons

Winner - Bad Bunny accepts Grammy for Album of the Year.

The first award of the night, Best New Artist, went to British pop sensation Olivia Dean, following back-to-back performances from her and her fellow nominees. Record of the Year was awarded to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for “Luther” and Bad Bunny made Grammy history by being the first artist to win Album of the Year for a Spanishlanguage album with “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”. This comes just one week before Bad Bunny’s much-anticipated Super Bowl Halftime performance.

This year’s Grammys also marked the end of an era. After 54 years of being broadcast on CBS, the Grammys will move to ABC, Disney+ and Hulu for a 10-year deal with the Walt Disney Company. This platform change is set to be in place for the 2027 Grammys.

With the Grammys and the Globes just behind us, and the Oscars soon ahead, the 2026 awards season has proven to be an exciting one.

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14 SPORTS

Thousand Oaks High School

The Lancer

Lessons in loss: Thousand Oaks Basketball aims to bounce back After three tough losses, Thousand Oaks aims to refocus and finish year strong

Dylan McCord - with permission

Strategizing - Varsity boys’ basketball coach, Logan Baltau, in his fourth season with the Lancers, provides game plan during a time out for the team to execute.

LILAH SWAVING Sports Editor From dominance to doubt, Thousand Oaks High School Boys’ Basketball fell to Westlake, Calabasas, and Oaks Christian after winning 16 straight games overall, building a solid record of 16-0 before the losing streak. Although they haven’t won any league games, TOHS is going to bounce back from this minor setback.

“I feel disappointed, but I’m not worried. I’m hopeful that we’ll get through this,” senior Stefen Sherman said.

Junior Jaydon Nwene shared his thoughts on the reason for the team’s lack of success.

“It was a lack of focus,” Nwene said.

“Our coaches gave us a game plan to follow, and we would follow it for slow spurts, but towards the end, we lost focus, and that’s why we ended up losing.”

Sherman expressed a similar sentiment.

“Our focus was bad, we weren’t locked in on our assignments,” Sherman said.

“We had been focused for 16 games and then stopped.”

The losses served as a wake-up call

for the team, helping them re-focus and approach each game with greater discipline and effort moving forward, reminding them that every game matters.

“We need to start playing for each other and not for us individually, just follow and listen to the game plan,” Nwene said.

Moving forward, the Lancers plan to refocus, trust one another, and bring the same intensity and discipline that helped them start the season.

The losing streak has shown the Lancers that staying focused is extremely important. After winning 16 straight games, they admitted they were unable to maintain mindset that helped them be successful early on.

“I think our mindset changed. We thought that we were going to win all these games, and it was going to be easy,” senior Dylan McCord said. “We came in thinking we were going to win and we lost because of it.”

When the team stopped paying attention to details and defensive assignments, it made it easier for other teams to take advantage of them. Although winning the league and going into CIF is now more difficult, the Lancers are not giving up on their goals.

“The main goal is to win the league, which is now in jeopardy, but if we can get into the playoffs, we will try our best to win,” Nwene said.

There is still a chance to turn the season around, playoffs providing another opportunity the team to prove themselves.

Every game from here on out matters, and the team understands the urgency.

“In the moment after the losses, [I was] disappointed in the guys and myself because we came this far and now, we’re letting up,” Sherman said.

The losses have been frustrating, but the team is staying positive. With better focus and effort, the Lancers hopes to bounce back, work together, and finish off the season strong.

A look inside Olympic winter sports

Jordan Chiles has been an absolute star for the UCLA women’s gymnastics team this season, and she has already done so many amazing things that show why she is one of the best gymnasts in the country. As a senior and a twotime Olympic medalist, Chiles came into the 2026 season with a lot of expectations, and she has definitely lived up to them. From the very first meet, she has proven that she isn’t just competing — she is leading her team. At the season opener, she dominated the competition, winning first place in all four events and taking the all-around title.

Her floor routine, full of energy, creativity and precision, was especially impressive, and many fans have been talking about it online.

Chiles’ impact goes beyond just the highlights. She consistently earns top scores in vault, bars, beam, and floor, helping UCLA stay at the top in every meet. Right now, she leads the Bruins in the all-around average, 39.650-39.658, which shows both her talent and consistency. Every time she competes, she performs well under pressure, which is one of the most important qualities for a great gymnast.

Her performances have made a real difference in the team’s overall scores, helping UCLA win key meets and stay competitive in the season.

One of the biggest moments of the season so far was when Chiles earned her first career perfect 10 on vault.

This is a huge achievement because very few gymnasts ever score a perfect 10, and it has even been compared to the performances of Olympic legends. That perfect score gave the team a big boost and showed everyone that UCLA has a serious contender this season.

Chiles also makes a significant impact off the mat. She sets a great example by staying calm and focused, especially during big moments, and that confidence spreads to the rest of the team. Her guidance and positive attitude help the Bruins work together and stay motivated for bigger goals, such as winning a national championship.

Overall, Jordan Chiles has had an incredible impact on UCLA this season. She is earning top scores, inspiring her teammates, and proving why she is one of the most talented and important gymnasts in college gymnastics.

Her second senior year is shaping up to be unforgettable, and she continues to show what it means to be a true leader on and off the floor.

From skiing and bobsleighing to figure skating and hockey, the Winter Olympics bring together the world’s best athletes on ice and snow every four years LILAH SWAVING Sports Editor APRIL RAMOS Staff Writer The Winter Olympics takes place every four years and alternates with the Summer Olympics, which allows an Olympic event to take place every two years. There are many different sports athletes can compete in, including biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, skating, figure skating, speed skating, short track, ski mountaineering, and many types of skiing events. From Feb. 6-22, the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Athletes like Mikaela Shiffrin, who is known for alpine skiing, and Chloe Kim, who competes in snowboarding, will be participating in the Winter Olympics and representing their countries on a worldwide stage.

Most people are familiar with the Summer Olympics from watching them on TV, but many athletes competed in winter sports, which led to the creation of the Winter Olympics. When the Winter Olympics first began, they were called an “International Winter Sports Week,” and over time, they grew into the major global event they are today.

Athletes in the Winter Olympics compete in 116 different medal events, meaning there are 116 different competitions where gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded.

This makes the games very competitive and challenging since each event includes some of the best athletes in the world.

Even though winning medals is important, being part of the Winter Olympics is not

just about winning or being the best. Many athletes feel proud just to qualify and have the chance to compete at such a high level.

To reach the Winter Olympics, athletes need years of training, strong physical endurance, advanced skills and often financial support for equipment, coaching and travel. Many athletes start training at a young age and dedicate most of their lives to their sport.

Athletes are chosen by their national Olympic committees, which is another reason why competition can be so intense.

Only a limited number of athletes are selected to represent each country, making

qualifying extremely difficult. Even though there are many medal events, no country wins all of them. In the most recent Winter Olympics, the 2022 Beijing Games, Norway won the most medals with 37 total, including 16 gold medals.

The Winter Olympics are also broadcast on national television, allowing people all over the world to watch. NBCUniversal is the main network that covers the Winter Olympics in the United States. Events will be shown on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC, and streamed on Peacock, giving viewers multiple ways to watch.

Creative Commons

Suited up - Ripping through the course, Olympic skiiers train for years to somehow find a way to beat their fastest time in ski mountaineering, all for the gold.

Creative Commons

Stick it - A two-time Olympic medalist, UCLA’s Jordan Chiles continues to raise the bar, on and off the mat.

Issue 4

SPORTS 15

February 6, 2025

TOHS WINTER SPORTS ROUND-UP

Sponsored by

JOHNNY PHAN Staff Writer

BOYS’ SOCCER

GIRLS’ WATERPOLO

Coach: Mark Tietjen

Coach: Craig Rond

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

2024-25 Record: Overall: 12-8-2; League: 6-3-1

2024-25 Record: Overall: 23-8; League: 7-1

2025-26 Record: Overall: 3-7-1; League: 0-1

2025-26 Record: Overall: 12-4; League: 3-1

Top Players: Senior Till Koehler, senior Santiago Diaz, senior Alex Marco, junior Grant Weeks

Top Players: Senior Aspen Abernathy, junior Kira Jones, junior Abigail Kerns, junior Charlotte McAuliffe, junior Delaney McDonough

Coach: Logan Baltau 2024-25 Record: Overall: 13-15; League: 3-7 2025-26 Record: Overall: 16-1; League 0-1 Top Players: Senior Gabriel Chin, senior Stefen Sherman, senior Dylan McCord, senior Kaden Glover, junior Jake Ange, junior Jaydon Nwene Inside Story: Gabriel Chin, the top player on varsity boys basketball, committed to UPenn for Track and Field, risking his scholarship to play basketball his senior season.

Notable: “Our team is versatile with everyone having their own strengths, for example, my scoring, Jake’s scoring, and Dylan’s scoring are significant, while Gabe’s defense, Micah’s defense, and my defense are also important. The mindset we have for every game is crucial to our victory, and I believe we will win the next few games to end our losing streak,” junior Jaydon Nwene said.

Inside Story: The team doesn’t plan any team dinners, but instead has Saturday golf nights where the team can bond and engage in pre-game pep talks.

Quotable: “Our mindset is to just win every game, and most importantly, have fun. Our new, inexperienced team with a bunch of juniors who were moved up from JV has led to a lot of struggle, but our captains Grant, Santiago, and Tristan lead the team really well and give the most quality on the pitch,” senior Till Koehler said.

BOYS’ WRESTLING Coach: Dennis Ritterbush 2024-25 Record: Overall: 3-5-0

Inside Story: “Before every game, we have pregame dinners that we call ‘carb loads’ and just see who can eat the most pasta, tacos, etc.” senior Aspen Abernathy said.

Quotable: “My mindset going into every game is just accomplishing our team goals and playing the style of water polo that we’ve been taught to play and to not be selfish,” junior Kira Jones said.

Notable: “As a first year on varsity and starting, it has been scary, but I’ve got it down quickly. Being a JV starter is different from varsity because there is more one-on-one work and the coaches focus on you a lot more,” junior Charlotte McAuliffe said.

2025-26 Record: Overall: 1-0-0 Top Players: Senior Jason Frey, senior Noah Kritscher, junior Lincoln Mayling

GIRLS’ WRESTLING Coach: Dennis Ritterbush 2024-25 Record: Overall: 2-3-1 2025-26 Record: Overall: 1-0-0 Top Players: Senior Bella Wojciechowski, senior Eileen Preston, sophomore Naima Hagadorn Quotable: “My sophomore or junior year, I had lost my last match in Masters. I made it to overtime, 12 to 12, but by then, I had already broken down. Even though we were tied, I panicked, and I lost the last point. That definitely got me to think before I panic,” senior Bella Wojciechowski said.

Notable: “While it can be about the physical strength, it’s also the mental toughness. If you’re specifically thinking about joining TO’s wrestling team, then you have to be solid in your self-worth, ‘cause they will test it,” senior Bella Wojciechowski said.

Inside Story: “Wrestling has taught me to be strong both mentally and physically, because wrestling is a hard sport and there’s a lot of hours and work that goes into it,” junior Lincoln Mayling said.

Notable: “If you’re thinking of joining wrestling, I would say do it. I know it might seem a little scary and that it takes up a lot of time, but it’s worth it in the end. The experiences you make along the way are super helpful,” junior Lincoln Mayling said.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Kira Jones - with permission

Coach: Clayton Cameron 2024-25 Record: Overall: 13-10-3; League: 5-3-2 2025-26 Record: Overall: 5-3; League: 1-0 Top Players: Senior Morgan Humphrey, junior Luchiana Shattuck, junior Presley Shattuck, junior Maddie Linville Inside Story: “I’ve been playing soccer ever since I was 4, Eagles club at 7, and ECNL at 11 until now. I got recruited to D1 at Pepperdine from playing through my club and going to scrimmages to get recognition. Traits that got me there were hard work, dedication, and, most importantly, work ethic,” junior Maddie Linville said.

Quotable: “Our group is really close outside of soccer, which is helpful on the field. We’re all really positive towards each other and show grit that other teams might look up to us for,” junior Presley Shattuck said.

Peter Wojciechowski - with permission

Notable: “[Luchiana Shattuck’s] leadership with the girls and the positive vibe she brings to the field is great and brings us success...I feel like our bond is really strong as a team on and off the field,” senior Morgan Humphrey said.

Leaving it on the mat - Senior Bella Wojciechowski stands triumphant at a wrestling match hosted by Thousand Oaks.

Record-breaking - Junior Kira Jones leads the Lancers with the most goals and field blocks in a single season.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Coach: Ashley Ontiveros 2024-25 Record: Overall: 19-8; League: 8-2 2025-26 Record: Overall: 20-2; League: 1-0 Top Players: Senior Jillian McGillivary, senior Hailey Lauritzen, sophomore Doran Lawrence, sophomore Raquel Daringer Inside Story: “Before games, we go to 24-hour fitness and shoot shots to warm up,” sophomore Doran Lawrence said.

“But I personally go to Jamba Juice before my games because it makes me feel better, which correlates to my gameplay.”

Quotable: “This year we are a lot closer as a group, so it makes it easier to support one another, which is what’s leading us to success,” senior Jillian McGillivary said.

Notable: “We’ve had a major comeback season since my freshman year; we went from being 0-10 to now being first in the league and a 20-2 overall,” senior Hailey Lauritzen said.

Double the sport, double the commitment LILAH SWAVING Sports Editor For many, the decision to play multiple sports stems from a longterm commitment to athletics.

Senior Hailey Lauritzen plays both volleyball and basketball, and has done so for most of her life.

Lily Munhall - with permission

“I’ve played both since I was a kid, and I couldn’t choose between either,” Lauritzen said. “The love and passion for both carried me through.”

Shelby Kaiser, a sophomore who participates in flag football, soccer, and softball, is driven to compete and constantly challenge herself. “I wanted to do more

Lily Munhall - with permission

Suited up - Junior Lily Munhall is a part of the girls’ varsity flag football team(#3) and the girls’ varsity softball team (#13).

than one sport because I’ve been playing two sports since I was, like, five years old,” Kaiser said. “Doing three sports was because of my competitiveness and wanting always to challenge myself.”

These multi-sport athletes use specific strategies to balance practices, games, schoolwork, and everything else in between.

“I go to school, attend practice after school, and then complete all my homework for that day and study for my upcoming tests,” Junior Lily Munhall said. “I often don’t have time for myself most days.”

Physical and mental skills often bridge the gap between different sports. Lauritzen noted that “having a voice on the court” is a skill required in both volleyball and basketball. Munhall found that the running and conditioning from soccer helped her stamina and speed in softball and flag football.

However, the workload presents challenges.

Kaiser highlighted the difficulty of

maintaining physical health.

“I forget to take care of my body, and I’m trying to please all my coaches and teammates so I don’t sit out or anything,” Kaiser said.

Munhall noted that transitioning between sports often leaves her feeling “rusty” regarding specific technical skills, like hitting in softball, requiring extra reps to recover her form. When asked for advice, these athletes emphasized the importance of self-awareness and organization.

“Don’t procrastinate...Set your priorities straight, because school is definitely the most important thing,” Kaiser said.

Munhall encourages others to try multiple sports for the experience.

“Do it because you get a lot of learning experiences, and you can carry a lot of your physical abilities into the next sport,” Munhall said.

Although playing multiple sports are time-consuming and sometimes a lot to handle, it’s a good experience if you can practice balance to accomplish it.

Hailey Lauritzen - with permission

Hailey Lauritzen - with permission

Suited up - Senior and captain Hailey Lauritzen juggles the life of playing varsity volleyball (22) and varsity basketball (55), dominating on both courts.

Issue 4

BACKPAGE 16

February 6, 2026

How T.O.: Budget

Every Lancer has a story

JOEY GOODNIGHT Editor-in-Chief

As Valentine’s Day comes right around the corner and we leave the winter holidays behind, it’s easy to feel like your money is just disappearing out of nowhere every time you check your bank account balance. Instead of simply letting your paycheck disappear within three days of it hitting your account, make plans to change your spending habits.

The first step to budgeting is figuring out what you’re currently spending your money on. Are you putting it into gas? Eating out during lunch? Or new clothes? You might think you know what you’re spending the most amount of money on from week to week, but you’re probably not keeping track of just how much you’re spending on each category, and without figuring out where the money’s going, trying to change its trajectory is pointless.

There are a couple different ways you can start keeping track of your spending, each with differing degrees of day to day involvement.

The most accessible option to most people would be to log into your bank’s app with your account information and go through the spending history of your account, adding up all the expenses you’ve had in the previous week, either in a spreadsheet or with a pen and paper. A much faster way of collecting all this information would be to download a budgeting app which automatically categorizes your spending for you, though these sometimes involve ads or paid subscriptions. The most time intensive way of tracking your spending would be to keep receipts from all of your purchases, and this allows you to keep track of your spending even when you use cash.

Once you’re able to look at where your money’s going, then you need to categorize your spending into two major categories, needs and wants. If you’re a high-school student still living at home, your needs might not be as obvious as fully independent adults, but things like gas to get to school or a replacement charger for your Chromebook would be things that count as needs. Anything that, without it, you couldn’t complete your daily responsibilities or survive counts as a need, while anything else counts as a want. Now that you’ve categorized your spending into each of the categories, how much money is going into

each, what percentage of your purchases in the past week were wanted, and how many were needed, and how much money in total did you spend on either category?

Though budgeting isn’t a one size fits all, your spending should generally fit into a rule of 50/30/20, with 50 percent of your money going towards things you need, 30 percent towards things you want, and the last 20 percent going into your savings.

If you don’t already, it would be an excellent idea to get yourself set up with a savings account, or an account you can put money into for later purposes that you’re not going to accidentally spend.

Having a savings account and putting roughly 20 percent of each paycheck you get into it is important for a multitude of different reasons. For most adults, having a savings account protects them from debt in case of an unforeseen expense. Say, for example, something in your car were to break, or your computer were to suddenly stop working, being able to replace those things in order to continue going on with your day to day life is important, and having the money to do that without overdrafting your bank account is even more important. Having a basis of $5001000 in your bank account is a critical part of planning for the unexpected.

Another way in which saving can help you better manage your money is through putting that 20 percent of your savings account into a sinking fund. A sinking fund is a chunk of your savings that you intend to use for an irregular large expense, such as Christmas gifts for all of your friends. Spending well over 300 dollars on gifts for friends and family can feel devastating to your bank account when it comes time to buy them in December, but if each month you put a certain amount of your money away into a savings account knowing that you will have that expense later on, it allows you to plan for those bigger expenses and prevent you from going outside your regular budget.

By tracking your spending, you can make your money extend much farther then it might feel like it does now, and make difficult money situations much less overwhelming.

Fancy or casual Valentine’s Day date?

100 roses or 100 pieces of chocolate?

What would the best Valentine’s gift be?

Nikos Dukakis

Eden Bosse

Gabriel Chin

“I like fancy for me.

It’s fun to dress up, go somewhere nice, and feel fancy.”

“100 roses. The most I’ve ever gotten was 50, so why not up it to 100 and go for double?!”

“I don’t really need a Valentine’s Day gift.

I think just spending time with my girlfriend would be fun.”

If you could spend Valentine’s Day with anyone, who would it be?

Night in by yourself or a blind date on Valentine’s?

Surprise or know about what your partner has planned for V-Day?

Avery Poehler

Josiah Kay

Gio Nugwynne

“My boyfriend, because we’ve been together for a very long time, and this will be our fourth Valentine’s Day together.”

“Blind dates are fun because meeting new people in general is pretty fun; it’s a nice adventure.”

“I want to be surprised because surprises are fun, and I get nervous thinking about what might happen.”

What should single people do on Valentine’s Day?

What do you think is the most romantic Valentine’s Day date?

What is your favorite type of flower?

Hilary Manalang

Ariana Joel “LEGOLAND, because we can go on the Ninjago ride together.”

Grant Stillerman

Valentine’s Day Trivia 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Cupid is the Roman counterpart to which Greek god?

On average, how many times does your heart beat per day?

What are red roses said to symbolize?

What element are diamonds made of?

Who is credited with creating the first box of Valentine’s Day chocolates?

How many cocoa beans does it take to make one pound of chocolate?

According to Statista, what’s the least desired Valentine’s Day gift by women?

8. Which famous playwright coined the term “star-crossed lovers?”

9. What does XOXO stand for?

10. National Single’s Day is commemorated annually during which month?

“They should take themselves on a date, treat themselves to any food.”

“Tulips, because my girlfriend loves tulips.”

Compiled by JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ Managing Editor

1. Eros, the god of love; 2. 100,000; 3. Passion and love; 4. Carbon; 5. Richard Cadbury; 6. 400; 7. Teddy bear; 8. William Shakespeare; 9. Hugs and kisses–specificallly, kiss, hug, kiss, hug; 10. September.

Valentine’s Day As the month of love is upon us, spread that love and let the people you care about know how much they mean to you. Whether it’s going on a date or staying in for a movie night, take the time to show others you love them.

“Tangled” Live Action Disney has casted actors closely resembling the characters of “Tangled,” that fans are happy with. With Milo Manheim portraying Flynn Rider, Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, and Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel.

Trips To The Snow January-February is without a doubt the best time to travel to places such as Mammoth and Big Bear. These next few months the snow falls more heavily and is consistent, so if you want to see snow now is the time to go and see it.

Golden Drinks and Cups Chick-fil-a creates their own blindbox, with the ability to potentially win free Chickfil-a for a year. Chick-fil-a has also introduced frosted sodas and floats, new sweet treats that the customers can customize.

Cold Weather With winter break far behind us, cold weather is no longer wanted and the countdown to spring begins. The cold and windy weather all day long is tiring for students and the flu is right around the corner.

2025 Filled with political violence and lots of controversy over the state of the country, we are happy to leave it behind and focus on the future.

Hopefully, we can see less issues arise or see more solved.

Rage Baiting Audiences Stranger Things left many fans desperate for an alternate ending. With the number nine being hinted, another episode was not released. Let’s leave interpretative endings in the past and give the people what they want.

“67” Making its debut in March of 2025, “67” can be left in 2025 and maturity can come in its place. “67” was funny at first, but now it’s too random and its meaning is still unknown.

compiled by JULIA PINEDA-DOMINGUEZ, Managing Editor