THE
QUADRANGLE
PAGE 2
COVID-19 COVERAGE PAGE 3 - 5
BLACK HISTORY MONTH PAGE 6
DECK THE HALLS PAGE 7
DR. SEUSS DAY PAGE S 9 - 1 0
A STUDENT'S VOICE PAGE 1 5
POPS CONCERT PAGE 1 7
FENCING WINS!
Celebrating
PAGE S 1 9-20
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS PAGE 2 1 - 2 2
LITERATURE & CREATIVE CORNER PAGE S 2 3-24
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT PAGE 2 5
FASHION & LIFESTYLE PAGE S 2 6-27
FILM & BOOK REVIEWS PAGE 3 9 - 4 0
MEET US!
YOU
A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS
Dear Reader, Winter has flown by! Newfield's Newspaper Club remains your partner in engaging, informing, and uniting our community through such uncertain times. The Quadrangle is excited to share the second publication of the 2021-22 School Year. In an eco-friendly initiative, we will continue to release our publications online. The publication is also available to readers through our Issuu link (found on our Instagram page) and our page on the school's website. All articles and artwork will be available on Fusfoo as well. In continued collaborations with Video Club, The Quadrangle looks forward to making broadcasting across campus a reality. In the coming weeks, we will be working ardently to bring this vision to life. If you have any comments or suggestions for us, feel free to email us at nhswolverine@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram, @thenewfieldquadrangle.
Happy reading! The Quadrangle Staff
JOURNALISM IS THE FIRST DRAFT
OF HISTORY.
Philip L. Graham
COVID-19 Variants By Diya John “Variants are spreading around really quickly, there are more variants popping up quickly. I think Omicron is the most popular variant.” - Newfield Student
"COVID has been around for a long time now, and more and more variants are showing up. The variants are coming up each day, a lot of them are found in other countries but they somehow appear in the US" - Newfield Student
Viruses have a tendency to branch off into new variants or strains. COVID-19 has been presented through many new variants, each becoming more contagious than the other. There have been many variants of COVID: Delta, Omicron, Alpha, Gamma, Beta, Mu, etc. Variants are highly transmissible and can be more fatal than the original. The new variant, B.1.1.529, or Omicron, as we know it, is now the dominant strain in the United States. Omicron was first discovered in South Africa and Botswana. Omicron causes more side-effects and after-effects, being less responsive to vaccines. Therefore, breakthrough infections are even more likely if you have Omicron, regardless of your vaccination status. Omicron has been seen as a highly transmissible disease, even more transmissible than Delta. Though there is still much to learn about Omicron, it is definitely, as the CDC calls it, a “variant of concern”. Delta, B.1.617.2, is yet another variant, first spotted December 2020 in India, before Omicron. Delta spread to 178 countries, in a matter of months, therefore, shown to be 50% more transmissible than other COVID-19 variants. Like Omicron, this variant is definitely more dangerous than the original strain of the coronavirus. Studies from the CDC stress that unvaccinated individuals are most likely to be hospitalized, as this is a more infectious strand of the virus. Alpha (B.1.1.7), Gamma (P.1), Beta (B.1.351), and Mu (B.1.621) are other variants. Alpha was first discovered in southeastern England, seen as 70% more transmissible, more transmissible than Delta. Gamma was first discovered in people from Brazil who traveled to Japan. Beta was first discovered in South Africa, 50% more transmissible than the original. Mu was first discovered in Columbia, reaching its peak in June of 2021. Delta and Omicron are seen as the most popularized strains of the virus, though there are others to watch out for. Variants are seen as more transmissible, more dangerous, and sometimes vaccine-resistant. In spite of all this, it is important to keep safe, wash your hands, wear a mask, and get vaccinated to protect yourself and others from this deadly disease.
February
B LA CK HISTORY American history.
Newfield Celebrates Black History Month By Saitta Roy
Chamber Orchestra performs.
On February 28th, 2022, for the first time in Newfield history, there was a celebration for Black History Month catapulted by our very own chorus teacher, Ms. Meichner. When asked why she felt that it was important for Newfield to have such an event she said, “So we can celebrate all of the contributions of the black community, not only in Middle Country but all of New York.” She adds, “Black people have contributed more than music but also to the sciences and engineering”. In addition to her endless thanks for the support from the Middle Country Community, she described the efforts of putting together such an event -- music rehearsals, dance rehearsals, advertisement, and securing Suffolk County Legislator Mr. Jason Richberg as a guest speaker. Mr. Richberg is a prominent minority rights leader in the Suffolk community. He gave a speech in which he expressed how all people, no matter what color, have the same goal of happiness and poetically described how Black History, and all history, is the unsung song of trying to secure that happiness. Other parts of the program included a performance by the Jazz Band, “Once More Once”,who took it to the nines with multiple saxophone solos. There was energetic dancing by Jasmine Recova, Sebastian Hererra, Chalaylee Myers, and Ashleigh Murray, who together form the Step Squad. There were two video messages, one from Broadway actress Q. Smith of “Come From Away", and the other from Jets player & proud Newfield alum Elijah Riley. Following were performances by the Chamber Orchestra and Drum Club, as well as the reading of an original poem by senior Cassie Bruscino. And to top off the evening, there was singing from all Newfield’s choruses joined into one, with their last song encouraging the audience’s participation and creating an aura of unity in the auditorium. Among the participants this year was Austin Pelissier, who was recently accepted into a selective program for the NAACP ACT-SO, as part of their Arts and Entertainment Initiative. Only thirty people are chosen annually and meet in a convention where they produce music and create projects to be presented at the NAACP Image Awards. Pelissier, who serves as Historian of Thespian Honor Society, Vice President of TriM Honor Society, and Vice President of SADD, performed with the Drum Club. He adds, "It's a celebration that is truly needed and it's very past due. Music transcends any border and any generation. We can all connect through music and it's a wonderful medium to convey such a critical message." When asking audience members for their comments on the show, one noted that “it was nice that they brought awareness to something and put something together with a purpose." Throughout Black History Month, Newfield had always found a way to implement it into their daily routine, like in the daily announcements. Yet, this was the first large, organized event we have held in its name. And for the greater benefit of the community, we hope it won't be the last.
Jason Richberg (left) and Principal Graviano (right) address the audience.
Drum Club performs. Photos by Lauryn Franco
"Your Black Is Beautiful" Original Poem by Cassie Bruscino Back when I was younger I had my lil fro Everyone would make fun You know how it go They’ll never understand They’ve never been their Never had to say No you can’t touch my hair I’m not a exotic animal Not a petting zoo My hair is thick coarse and kinky But it ain’t nothing new Braided, locd Left out with the curls The style don’t matter Because I’m always that girl And y’all could never tell me otherwise Let’s talk about something I really despise Over the years that I come to realize They don’t care about me They just care about what I make So then they can colonize and take take take Been told I’m not black Because I don't listen to a certain artist Yet he wanna be me Even tho he still think I’m tarnished Senior Cassie Bruscino powerfully recites a poem.
The conversations uncomfortable But we can’t ignore it But it’s what we be doing And I deplore it Now let’s move on Let’s talk about the word Been called it many times It’s really absurd I haven’t been called racial slurs just to be called white And yeah I know I’m bright But child I am black and I say that with pride These locs ain’t dirty These locs ain’t dreadful Y’all could never call me bald because I got a head full Of these long beautiful locs And from the scarf on your head To the toes in your socks Your black is beautiful in case you forgot
Deck The Halls!
Deck The Halls! Pt. 2
By Zakariyah Hanif
By Diya John Ho Ho Ho, Happy Holidays! It’s that time of year again, the holiday season. Once again, Newfield High School’s hallways transformed the school into a holiday wonderland!
Scan to walk through Newfield's holiday halls!
So many events have been held during the holiday season at Newfield High School, all being a great success! As every year has been, the classes, honor societies, and some clubs have competed with each other for the hallway decorating competition. The National Honor Society decorated the main lobby, the Tri-M and Thespian Honor Societies decorated the area around the auditorium, the LOTE Honor Societies decorated the language hallway, and the Technical Honor Society decorated the "Guam" hallway with a Wall-E theme. The Class of 2022 decorated the cafeteria hallway with a Home Alone theme, the Classes of ‘23 and ‘24 respectively decorated their hallways with Christmas and Charlie Brown themes, and the Class of ‘25 decorated the guidance hallway with an Elf theme. And our LGBTQ+ club, run by Mrs. Meichner and Mr. Martinez, decorated their wall in the Main Lobby for the first time. Last but not least, the National Art Honor Society decorated the area of their art rooms with a Spongebob Squarepants theme. All hallways were decorated wonderfully and brought holiday joy to the last few days of school before the winter break. Once the judging was over, with votes cast by faculty members, it was announced that the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) won the best hallway. The art students have repeatedly won this competition year after year. The nature of the contest relies on the group to have a strong, likable theme that can, preferably, be painted nicely. The hallway decorating at Newfield has become more of an art contest, seeing who can make the nicest paintings with the short amount of time students have to set up and paint these walls. Specifically this year, the NAHS faced some major competition with the Foreign Language hallway. Although not competing with their artistic talent, this hallway was the most decorated. They were the ones who began taping colored cellophane to the lights of the hallway, which other groups ended up mimicking: the Class of ‘25 and the NAHS. The hallway had also included a lot of lights and electrical components, including a small snowflake projector. This became a student favorite because of all of the decorations that had been invested into the hallway. Because of this, there were a lot of people unhappy with the results of the contest, as many students were rooting for the Foreign Language hallway to win. Is it fair for the NAHS to participate in a contest in which its results have been heavily determined on artistic ability? It was clear the Foreign Language hallway was much more enjoyed, while students also admired the artistic ability of the NAHS to complete a very impressive composition (most of which was completed in the very last few days of the contest). The NAHS has always won the contest yearto-year by no surprise, and the purpose of holding a competition has become meaningless. Should the NAHS not be allowed to compete or should the rubric that determines the winner change? Whether or not every group has an equal opportunity to win, the competition motivates all these clubs and honor societies to create decorations and paintings to bring joy to our Decembers at Newfield!
Holiday Hallway Decorating is an annual event that takes place during the Holiday season. When the month of December starts, the decorating starts as well, Newfield’s clubs change Newfield’s look when the holiday season approaches! By hanging snowflakes from the ceiling, putting cellophane on the lights, painting the walls, and setting up our very own Christmas tree, Newfield goes all out! Many clubs challenged each other and took part in decorating a hallway. The clubs chose their own theme and were assigned a hallway. The Class of 2022, Class of 2023, Class of 2024, Class of 2025, National Art Honor Society, Tri-M/Thespian Honor Society, and National Language Honor Society all took part in this amazing event, choosing from all sorts of themes such as Elf, Home Alone, Charlie Brown, Spongebob, and many more. The clubs get the whole month of December to decorate their hallway, then the teachers vote which hallway is the best. All the clubs put in their best effort, but yet again, this year the National Art Honor Society won, continuing their winning streak. After interviewing some who took part in the decorating, it is clear that this event is loved by the students of Newfield, here is what they said: “This is my favorite time of the year, painting the walls, hanging out with friends, beautifying the school, and having a great time.” “I love the holidays! This is my first time doing the Holiday Decorations for a school, I’ve never painted the walls before! I will definitely look forward to doing this once again!” From my personal experience having helped out decorating the hallway for the Class of 2025, I found myself having a great time. I had the chance to interact with many of my friends again, after being online for the past year due to COVID. We encountered many problems while decorating, but in the end, all our hard work was worth the trouble. Despite a few mishaps, the hallway came out amazing. Now with three more years of high school ahead of me, that means 3 more years to decorate the hallways. Though it will be hard to beat the reigning champions, the National Art Honor Society, it will still be a fun experience that everyone will be looking forward to. Holiday Hallway Decorating is an event everyone looks forward to, whether it be teachers, students, or just visitors. It truly is an amazing feeling walking down the hallways of your school, filled with all sorts of decorations and paintings to spread holiday cheer.
Dr. Seuss Day By Zakariyah Hanif Austin Pelissier and Shannon Matthews, playing Thing 1 & Thing 2.
Thespian and Tri-M Officers pose for a photo.
Since 2011, it has been a tradition for Newfield’s Tri-M and Thespian Honor Societies to spend Dr. Suess Day reading to the pre-schoolers at Bicycle Path, as well as doing arts and crafts with them. But with COVID restrictions, they had to adapt, and so they did. This year's virtual Dr. Seuss day was held in the library. With the help of our librarians, especially our new librarian, Ms. Cook, Google Meets were set up with several pre-school classes and the kids got to have books like “Green Eggs and Ham” and “Horton Hears a Who” read to them by the high school students. As of last year, a Google slideshow with pre-recorded audiobooks, voiced by some of the members of Tri-M and Thespian, was also made for the preschoolers to listen to at their leisure. Covid restrictions did not take away from any of the fun either. Officers from both Honor Societies still dressed up as Dr. Suess characters, face paint and all. Every meet was able to end in a special message from either The Cat In The Hat, Sam I Am, or Things 1, 2, and 4. Students were excused from periods four to five under the supervision of Dr. Goldstein, the Tri-M advisor, and Mr. Austin, the Thespian advisor. And from periods eight to nine, the afternoon class at Bicycle Path was able to get a special read-along with the Tri-M and Thespian officers dressed up in their characters. Throughout the past couple of years, the music department has had to make major adjustments to all of their programs and events, and they continue to persevere and find ways to continue doing great things for the school district!
The Things leave the pre-school classes with a special message.
UPCOMING EVENTS
A P R IL 1 4
BROADWAY NIGHT
g n i r p S
A P R IL 1 5 - A P R I L 2 2
SPRING RECESS NO SCHOOL A P R IL 2 6
PTSA COUNCIL A P R IL 2 9
CULTURAL DAY & INTERNATIONAL NIGHT MAY 2 - MA Y 6
TEACHERS' APPRECIATION WEEK
A STUDENT'S VOICE: THE STATE OF OUR WORLD
Writing vs. Typing: A Student's Perspective By Muhammad Chaudhary
I’ve been writing articles for the newspaper for some time now; since sophomore year. I love writing them, but also ... I don’t. When I’m writing an article or essay on a topic, I research, outline, and then I type. The problem with this method is that I type. When I’m typing, I hit writer’s block a lot (a sort of "creative slowdown" for an author), I am also distracted a lot when I’m typing an article. The only thing I have on my side is personal experience. Whenever I write an essay on paper, I can do it much quicker, with fewer distractions, and am less likely to hit writer’s block. With writing on paper, I can grab this small notebook with me anywhere I go, write on an island where there is no WiFi, no phones, no electronics. This is seemingly unrealistic since there are almost no places where Wi-Fi isn't available in 2022, but still my point stands. And, when I’m writing on a piece of paper, I feel like the old times, before technology dominated the world. It also might be helpful in that it’s very easy to collect your thoughts, and inexpensive: all you need is pen and paper. It makes your handwriting a little better after some time of writing almost every day on paper. I was not even sure of publishing this piece but I decided on doing it. My point is that writing, as in writing on a piece of paper, is much better than typing on a phone or computer. Side note: I still plan to use the Notes app because it is more convenient than taking out a notebook from my bag but I always plan on writing and graphing ideas on my notebook.
The End Of The Mask Mandate By Saitta Roy
After almost two years of being required to wear a mask to school, students and staff, starting on March 2nd, 2022 had the option not to do so. This decision by New York State came after evidence of a downward trend in new COVID-19 cases indicating that the Omnicron surge was over. In Governor Hochul's speech on February 27th, she said that “70% of the population right now lives in an area that’s considered low to medium risk” and that “that in low to medium [experts] recommendation is that there no longer a requirement that makes be worn indoors and that includes schools…”. Individual counties and districts have the option to overturn this but in our case, Suffolk County has made no such move. This policy change has also led to some changes in Newfield. For contact tracing purposes, teachers have to list who is wearing masks while taking attendance. This was especially featured on an ABC-7 Eyewitness News segment, as Middle Country appears to be the only school district doing this particular tracking. When asking a student who still wears a mask why they chose to do so, they replied “Because COVID's still here. You can get the flu shot but you can still get the flu." Another student hilariously replied, “I wear a mask to hide my double chin”. A student who doesn’t wear their mask anymore said they came to this decision based on a general consensus, “I asked so many people and the majority of them said they wouldn't wear one, so I didn't wear one.” Another comments, “I was like, I have COVID antibodies so I’m chilling with the covid antibodies”. Overall, the student body seems to be taking things on a day-to-day basis.
ART CORNER
The Revenger By Alexis Stokes
A View
Oil Refinery By Zakariyah Hanif
Sketch By Isaiah DeLaCruz
? t s i t r a n a re you
A
SUBMIT YOUR WORK TO US FOR PUBLICATION! Email your scanned submission, with title and artist name, to nhswolverine@gmail.com
or Join our Google Classroom!
MUSIC & DRAMA DEPARTMENTS
Pops Concert 2022: Band + Wind Ensemble By Tabitha Franco The annual POPS concert is something everyone looks forward to: from the performers, to the conductors, and finally to the audience. Newfield hasn’t had a POPS concert in about two years, making it an exciting time. This POPS concert will be a special one since this will be the first POPS concert for both freshmen and sophomores. This year, all bands will be playing Beatles music. Each year, songs are different and have a theme to them. When asked about how it feels to conduct a band again, Mr. Austin, band teacher and Thespian Honor Society's advisor, tells us, “I am thrilled to be back conducting a band. I'll never forget the first time we were all together this September. It was nice to hear all of the different instruments united as one, and refreshing to know that we're getting back to normal!”. Mr. Austin elaborated on his inspiration for this year's concert, “I've always been a huge fan of the Beatles, and I mentioned to Dr. Goldstein that we've never done the Beatles before and that it would be a great opportunity for students to "Come Together Right Now" in these challenging times, to learn a bit more about their amazing songs.” Dr. Goldstein tells us that he looks forward to younger and older students meeting each other, and playing together for a magical experience. “The music is chosen by the ability level of the groups and things going around like new movies, new songs, and popular things”. Dr. Goldstein adds that his favorite concert was the one with The Incredibles, with songs from Coco, and other Disney performances. His favorite concert of all time, though, was "Argentum", which was performed at Six Flags Great Adventure for a music competition, and came in first place overall. Dr. Austin adds that there is a lot to look forward to at this year's POPS concert. Many freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike all agreed that it feels amazing to be back playing in a band after the whole chaos of online school and playing in half of a band. One of the juniors when asked what they looked forward to in this year’s POPS concert responded saying, “I'm looking forward to hearing the energy the band has when we're all playing together. I can't describe how different it feels when we're all hearing parts we may not have heard before only a few days before the concert. I think it collectively excites us to create a type of sound we don't typically get out of one band, and for me personally, it's always super exciting to be in a huge group of people who love making music as much as me.” Collectively, everyone wants upbeat music that is exciting for all band members from horns, to woodwind, to percussion. Personally, I think that the POPS concert went off without a hitch. It felt amazing to play with all of the bands and hear all of the melodies put together. As a freshman in concert band, this first POPS concert was definitely memorable and it was awesome to see the reaction of the audience to many of our pieces. I can’t wait for what is in store for the POPS concert next year and the years to come, because we all know that Mr. Austin and Dr. Goldstein love to keep us on our toes!
Band By Saitta Roy
The band portion of the Newfield High School Pops Concert went off without a hitch! It’s been two years since the last POPS Concert and the excitement was evidently seen with a sold-out crowd of 250 people. After backstage preparations, the band went out to perform their program of three pieces. First was “America” from the classic film West Side Story, performed by the Wind Ensemble. Once members of the Concert and Symphonic Band filed in, combining for a total of over 140 performers, two medleys of popular Beatles songs, including “Let It Be”, “Hey Jude”, “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”, and many more were performed. The two medleys were conducted by Mr. Austin and Dr. Goldstein respectively, both adorning wigs resembling Ringo Star’s bowl-like hair. All of the performances were met with roaring applause. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the “Friends of Music'' organization, the night ended with the awarding of $500 scholarships to three seniors who are a part of the band program. The winners were Dean Mauri of the Alfred Longo scholarship, Geffrey Alpers of the Marc Greene scholarship, and Austin Pelissier of the James Trucello scholarship. Huge congratulations to them!
Orchestra By The Newfield Wolverine
Newfield's orchestra performed to a packed crowd, full of family, friends, and fans. The orchestra portion of the POPS Concert included music from Wicked, Brave, and Avengers. Mr. Martinez appeared in full regalia with a witch's hat from Wicked, as the musicians combined for a magnificent performance. Friends of Music announced their scholarships to Arabel Rodriguez of the James Trucello Award, Zarif Karim of the Alfred Longo Award, and Mehreen Chowdhury of the Marc Greene Award.
Chorus By The Newfield Wolverine
Newfield's chorus, led by Ms. Meichner, performed songs from Natural, In The Heights, and Lean On Me. It was yet another spectacular performance on behalf of the Music Department. The James Trucello Award went to Allyson Short, the Alfred Longo Award went to Liam Ortiz, and the Marc Greene Award went to Grant Yoches.
Chorus Trip to Suffolk County Legislature By Diya John Though COVID is still hanging around, some sense of normalcy can be seen as schools can go on field trips once again! On December 21st, 2021, some students enrolled in Chorus went to the Suffolk County Legislature. The chorus as a whole sang a variety of songs, including Merry Christmas, Silent Night, and Joy to the World. The Star-Spangled Banner was sung by Ally Short. They also had the opportunity to take a tour of the legislative building and learned about the different departments people worked in. After the trip, they went to the mall as well. When students who went on the trip were asked about their experience, here is what they said:
“The trip was really fun, we had a tour of the building and we also saw another school's football team there. Everyone was super nice and I got to meet new people that have the same interest in singing.”
“In my opinion, the trip was quite a phenomenal experience. I also learned about taxes and it really showed that the taxes we pay can lead to good.”
“Though COVID is still going on, it seemed almost normal, since we are having field trips back again. I enjoyed it a lot, especially the part where we went to the mall!”
“The trip was so much fun and I hope that if given the chance, I would do it again soon. It was a great experience and I’m very happy I was given the opportunity to go.”
SCHOOL & PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
Fencing & I By Sadaf Mansib I was “supposed” to write a very informative, detailed, and factual article about our fencing season of 2021-2022 (this winter season). But, being that I am already way past the deadline and am not willing to put together all the minor and major details of the season, I will either be referencing the three fencing weapon groups or just the whole team in general because, in my eyes, highlighting some of the best fencers of the team (who deserve the recognition, no doubt) still takes the pride and respect away, often, from some of the lesser-known fencers- some who may have not shined as much, and some who didn’t have the proper chance to shine yet or won’t. In the end, I see our team as a whole where everything may have gone wrong if even one person who should be there, wasn’t. An Undefeated Season The previous season was a total miss-out on my end. I think I went to maybe two whole meets, and that’s it. Didn’t even get to go to the County Championship to watch/help out, let alone fence. So it was nice seeing some of the familiar faces return, and it was equally sad to see some had given up on the sport after the hectic previous season for various reasons. Following up to the first meet, we were reminded again and again that the previous year, we had only one loss in the season and that was the first meet of that season where we underestimated our opponents. Maybe they were still very good and could be respected for that, but we definitely, as the coach kept telling us, let our plans for the bigger goal get to our head. So, we took things as we should’ve: one bout at a time, one touch at a time. Next thing you know, we are fencing against Commack in a very hard position to ensure an undefeated season. We won, barely yet with flying colors, with a score of 14-13. Those that fenced that day, the way they handled our initial losses and score gaps, will forever have my respect and admiration. We had gotten into another similar tight spot against Ward Melville, but that too we overcame, with a score of 15-12. The rest of the teams we fenced against, we won with flying colors. Some of them are Centereach, Brentwood, Sayville, Huntington, Lindenhurst. I may be missing one or two more. The Loss at Playoffs We were League Champions. So were the girls, who had a similar record like us so far. Now it was time to fence and beat Commack, the other League’s Champion. The girls had an away meet at Commack, and we fenced them home. The winner gets to fence in the LI Championship. To put it mildly, we couldn’t pull it off. To be exact, we fell short by the tiniest bit. Sometimes, that’s all it takes- one or two simple mistakes and shortcomings. I was preoccupied in the last bits so I couldn’t see some of the last losses of our team and was enough discouraged after the loss to not ask around about what happened. But in the beginning, when we were still getting banged up, I could see nothing wrong. It just wasn’t our day. We beat them before, so I knew we could do it. But we didn’t. First to 14 wins, and we lost 14-8. The girls, I heard after, had a better time than us, but they too lost, 14-13. I don’t think it took us very long after that night, our first loss of the season, to get back into the right mindset and prepare for the final and greatest event of the season: The County Championship.
Absolute Champions Now comes my personal stake: I was stoked and afraid. Only the day before I was informed I would be the third starter for my weapon to begin the day. Prior to that, it was my understanding that the third place might fluctuate between two or three people, but it didn’t occur to me that I might be the first to be put to test. Beginning of the season, even with early wins, I had some doubts about the extent of our team this season. I mean, many of them I haven’t really seen fence much before (mostly because of my last year’s partial absence). But that day, when we got on the bus at 6 to eventually fencing against Commack, the last team we’d fence, I knew we had it in the bag. We were that good the entire day, getting wins with large score differences each bout (which is important, as we’ll see next) against each team leading up to Commack. The girls were having similar momentum on their side of the gym. Now, looking at our nine bouts against Commack themselves- we lost, more brutally than I had hoped. The streak of losses, towards the end, was enough to break me. I mean, we came close to winning, so close, that if we did win, or lose, it might be by the slightest point differences. See, on top of wins and losses of each bout, the score differences in each bout are counted towards a final tally of scores. After ten or so minutes of waiting as the directors counted up and cross-checked the final scores, the coach came up to us and told us we did great today. Funny thing was, it sounded like we lost but gave it a good shot. A few minutes ago, the girls got their results and cheered as they were the County Champions, the first time in Newfield history the girls pulled that off. So when, after clarification that the boys indeed, too, won our side of the Championship, the day was half done with both Newfield boys and girls returning home later that night as County Champions: the boys defending our title from last year and the girls making history that I was lucky enough to witness, along with the boys’ side of excellent fencing. Side Event: Individuals To individual fencers, this event did matter. A lot more than maybe I could comprehend. After the County Championship was done, select fencers from each weapon class, chosen through the scoring system that was updated after each round of team match-ups, fence in an almost do-or-die manner against each other. The funniest bit was that some of the best fencers in the county now had to fence each other back to back, with little rest in between and not to mention after a tiresome day of fencing against other schools in the team competition. I ended up being a part of it and vaguely remembered how fun it looked two years ago when, before covid happened, I saw some of our previous starters fencing each other in the individual round in the County Championship of 2019-2020. It was no joke; I came really close to fainting because of the sweat and heat accumulated inside that heavy white clothing. It was fun, though. I went in expecting loss after loss but did end up doing pretty good if I say so myself. Those in our team who went into the individuals, both boys and girls, did really well overall. Roll The Credits In my eyes, there is nothing to look back on. And if anyone paid attention to the morning announcements every so often, they should’ve known by now how good the Newfield fencing team is by the regular recognition of the victories. Even now, when I’m putting this on a doc and closing this chapter of my life, I can still feel and remember all the moments of thrill, excitement, anxiety, nervousness, joy, pride, and many other emotions I cannot name, over the last three seasons of fencing for this wonderful team for this amazing sport of class and grit.
2022 Mock Draft 2.0 By Anthony Otis The first-ever 18-week NFL season has come to an end on Sunday, January 9th. The first round of team picks is set as the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI. As mentioned before, the 2022 NFL draft is going to be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. The New York Jets and the New York Giants have 2 top 10 picks from receiving the pick from the Seattle Seahawks for the Jets and the Chicago Bears for the Giants. The Jacksonville Jaguars have clinched 1st overall for the 2nd straight season(finished 3-14 in 2021 and 1-15 in 2020) on a 26-11 win over the Indianapolis Colts and a Lions 37-30 win over the Green Bay Packers. 1. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, MICHIGAN 2021 Record: 3-14 Divisional Finish: Last AFC South 2. DETROIT LIONS- Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, OREGON 2021 Record: 3-13-1 Divisional Finish: Last NFC North 3. HOUSTON TEXANS- Ikem Ekwonu, Offensive Line, NC STATE 2021 Record: 4-13 Divisional Finish: 3rd AFC South 4. NEW YORK JETS- Evan Neal, Offensive Line, ALABAMA 2021 Record: 4-13 Divisional Finish: Last AFC East 5. NEW YORK GIANTS- Kyle Hamilton, Safety, NOTRE DAME 2021 Record: 4-13 Divisional Finish: Last NFC East 6. CAROLINA PANTHERS- Charles Cross, Offensive Line, MISSISSIPPI STATE 2021 Record: 5-12 Divisional Finish: Last NFC South 7. NEW YORK GIANTS(via CHI, 6-11)- Tyler Linderbaum, Offensive Line, IOWA 2021 Record: 4-13 Divisional Finish: Last NFC East 8. ATLANTA FALCONS- David Ojabo, EDGE, MICHIGAN 2021 Record: 7-10 Divisional Finish: 3rd NFC South 9. DENVER BRONCOS- Matt Corral, Quarterback, OLE MISS 2021 Record: 7-10 Divisional Finish: Last AFC West 10. NEW YORK JETS(via SEA, 7-10)- Derek Stingley Jr., Cornerback, LSU 2021 Record: 4-13 Divisional Finish: Last AFC East 11. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM- Treylon Burks, Wide Receiver, ARKANSAS 2021 Record: 7-10 Divisional Finish: 3rd NFC East 12. MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Nakobe Dean, Linebacker, GEORGIA 2021 Record: 8-9 Divisional Finish: 2nd NFC North 13. CLEVELAND BROWNS- Garret Wilson, Wide Reciever, OHIO STATE 2021 Record: 8-9 Divisional Finish: T-3rd AFC North
14. BALTIMORE RAVENS- Andrew Booth Jr., Cornerback, CLEMSON 2021 Record: 8-9 Divisional Finish: T-3rd AFC North 15. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(via MIA, 9-8)- Trevon Walker, Offensive Line, GEORGIA 2021 Record: 9-8 Divisional Finish: 2nd NFC East Playoff Result: Loss WC 31-15 to TB 16. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS- George Karlaftis, EDGE, PURDUE 2021 Record: 9-8 Divisional Finish: 3rd AFC West 17. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Kenny Pickett, Quarterback, PITTSBURGH 2021 Record: 9-8 Divisional Finish: 2nd NFC South 18. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Jameson Williams, Wide Reciever, ALABAMA 2021 Record: 9-8 Divisional Finish: 2nd NFC East Playoff Result: Loss WC 31-15 to TB 19. PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Jordan Davis, Defensive Line, GEORGIA 2021 Record: 9-7-1 Divisional Finish: 2nd AFC North Playoff Result: Loss WC 42-21 to KC 20. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Ahmad Gardner, Cornerback, CINCINNATI 2021 Record: 10-7 Divisional Finish: 2nd AFC East Playoff Result: Loss WC 47-17 to BUF 21. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS- Logan Hall, Defensive Line, HOUSTON 2021 Record: 10-7 Divisional Finish: 2nd AFC West Playoff Result: Loss WC 26-19 to CIN 22. ARIZONA CARDINALS- Trent McDuffie, Cornerback, WASHINGTON 2021 Record: 11-6 Divisional Finish: 2nd NFC West Playoff Result: Loss WC 34-11 to LAR 23. DALLAS COWBOYS- Drake London, Wide Reciever, USC 2021 Record: 12-5 Divisional Finish: NFC East Champions Playoff Result: Loss WC 23-17 to SF 24. BUFFALO BILLS- Draxton Hill, Cornerback, MICHIGAN 2021 Record: 11-6 Divisional Finish: AFC East Champions Playoff Result: Won WC 47-17 vs NE, Loss Divisional 42-36 to KC 25. TENESSEE TITANS- Bernhard Raimann, Offensive Line, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 2021 Record: 12-5 Divisional Finish: AFC South Champions Playoff Result: Loss Divisional 19-16 to CIN 26. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS- Trey McBride, Tight End, COLORADO STATE 2021 Record: 13-4 Divisional Finish: NFC South Champions Playoff Result: Won WC 31-15 vs PHI, Loss Divisional 30-27 to LAR
Fan Sues Jets + Giants For Team Name By Anthony Otis On Saturday, January 8th, Abdiell Suero, a football fan, filed a lawsuit against the New York Jets and the New York Giants for their shared stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey instead of being in New York. This person is suing them for a total of $6 billion($2 billion for monetary damages and the other $4 billion for punitive damages. The New York Giants have been playing in New Jersey since 1976 after sharing Yankee Stadium with the New York Yankees and the New York Jets have been playing there since 1984 after sharing Shea Stadium with the New York Mets. CBS Sports has stated, “Although both teams operate in and represent the greater New York metropolitan area, the fact that the New York Giants and New York Jets have played in East Rutherford, N.J. for decades has been a point of contention for those whose pride resides on a certain side of the Hudson River”. According to a report by Larry McShane of the New York Daily News, a $6 billion lawsuit was filed in a Manhattan federal court in January that demands both the Giants and Jets abandon MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and return to playing in New York by 2025. "If the Giants and Jets want to call themselves New York teams, they need to come back to New York," Plaintiff Abdiell Suero of Greenwich Village stated in court papers. "I've traveled to and from MetLife Stadium by mass transit and car service, and both ways are a nightmare." “These fans are “subjected to expensive and time-consuming transportation” going from New York to New Jersey. The round trip “takes an average of four hours or more on game day at a very high cost either by way of public transportation or motor vehicle.” Tolls for bridges, tunnels, the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway exceed $16. Meanwhile, traveling by rideshare or taxi can run $125 or more”, Sportico states. The New York Jets and the New York Giants are not the only teams in the NFL with false locations. A few examples are the Dallas Cowboys play in Arlington, Texas, the San Francisco 49ers play in Santa Clara, California, the Washington Football Team play in Landover, Maryland, the Buffalo Bills play in New Orchard Park, New York, the newly relocated Las Vegas Raiders play in Paradise, Nevada, and the newly shared SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California home of the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers. We can only hope for the best in this particular case.
LITERATURE & CREATIVE CORNER
The Cycle of Roses By Weronika Karpio There once was a Rose by a riverbank So brilliant So red That all the Gardeners wanted to have her She, however, was guarded Guarded by her thorns One day, a Gardener As quiet as a mouse Caught the Rose’s eyes So mysterious So dark Her opposite So she tried to catch the Gardener’s eye But his eyes were only for Chrysanthemum The Rose devastated, tried to find another But all those who loomed Could not bloom The progression of doom And the core of the Rose started to shatter So she waited Day and night Unsuccessfully imitating the Chrysanthemum But she could never gain those pearly white petals That captured the Gardener’s heart But any wise Gardener knows what a Chrysanthemum represents Unlike the Rose Who births love A Chrysanthemum is more sinister When she is plucked She brings death and mourning So when Rose saw that the Gardener plucked Chrysanthemum And smiled so lovingly at the flower of death She almost cried out to him To stop and drop the cursed flower But her thorns stopped her The Chrysanthemum looked at her for the first and only time Her gaze was so cold So distant As if she was a thousand miles away And her smile was so empty As the Gardener slipped and fell into the riverbank With his clench on her stem And her clutch on his heart Where both the Gardener and Chrysanthemum stood There was nothing
So once again A brilliant Rose sat near a riverbank So brilliant So pink No competition to be seen And no Gardeners to be found
All but death surrounded her The Rose , wanted by all Slowly withering away Her color turning pearly white Turning slowly into the Chrysanthemum she wanted to be At the riverbank
Where it all began Stood a Chrysanthemum and a Rose So red So mysterious That all the Gardeners wanted to have it The process of the Chrysanthemum and Rose Began, yet again
The Maiden of Marsonville In The Sun
By Emma Raver
By Erin Margaret Looney
Craw’s Town was a place for those who had no ambitions. It was a dark, foreboding, place that lacked happiness and joy. However, it was not just the town itself that felt unearthly, it was the large Gothic mansion that lies within its core. There is a woman in that mansion who has lived there for quite a long time, although very few have seen her. It is rumored that she is extraordinarily beautiful and has multiple suitors in her court. Her life is unknown to the people of Craw’s Town. There have been reports of missing men who went to the mansion, but there is not any evidence to support those cases. It wasn’t until a man named Stanley Wright came across the mansion that the true secrets of the horrifying mansion would be revealed.
For My Mom; I Love You & Miss You For Eternity
I remember the days of sunny smiles I remember the way your hair glowed in the sun I remember how your smile laughed throughout me You are the crisp lemonade on a summer day You’re made up of oh-so-beautiful rays Full of life, full of the bright I’ll always love you, through the nights The sun goes away, the skies are grey But I sleep dreaming of the day we meet again I sleep wondering where you are out in the sun I hope you smile wider than you ever have before I’m right here, I’ll always be right here. Your warm embrace hugs me tight I promise to hold your hand tonight I promise to sing for you throughout the night When I go to sleep you’ll be in my dreams When I wake another, I’ll cry through the thunder. Another breath I breathe will be for you Another day that I do Is another one closer until I see you I want life to be more than what it’s meant to be To find a way through the muddy ponds To love again through your tender heart Meet me outside in the sun Where you shine bright and love me like no other one I’ll meet you up there someday when it’s light I’ll adore your smile and cherish your inner child.
I have been walking for three hours now in the damn rain. I have absolutely nothing to worry about anymore since the divorce has been finalized, I have no job, and I’m running out of money. I moved from New York to England in 1946 to start my life, and to build a family after the war. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way for me. My life was just as much a waste back in the States. So, where the hell is my life actually going? Where am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do now? The answers are not in existence at this point, that’s why I’m here in Craw’s Town. This place is disgusting and uncanny but I was drawn here for a reason. The past couple of days I have basically drowned myself in scotch at nearby brothels, and have crashed in some old rustic barn. I was just about to keep walking until I saw an older woman standing ahead with a candle, ushering me to come into some tavern. To Be Continued ...
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Student Athlete of the Quarter: Brennan Robins By Sadaf Mansib
A Nurtured Talent Brennan has been fencing for our school team since freshman year. He admits to being hooked to the sport ever since he was introduced to it by another one of our best athletes over the years, William DeMeo (the person Brennan is posing with after our victory at the County Championship this year). For someone with no prior experience of the sport, he was a force to be reckoned with even back then, polishing and changing his style ever so slightly upon every loss and racking up wins since his freshman days. His “obsession with getting better, to the point where no one else could beat me[him]” became ever more apparent over the years as he trained at Mission Fencing Center and as he came across more and more talented fencers within our team and as opponents over the years. It would be false to say that he didn’t have any talent to begin with, but it would be equally false to state that he hadn’t worked hard for the fame and recognition he has received this season and the season prior in the school team, and what he helped the team accomplish as well.
An Important Figure Last year, when every single sport and school team across the country suffered and wriggled through their seasons (often abandoning it all together), Newfield HS was fortunate and cautious enough to have shortened seasons, with indoor athletes required to even wear a mask during practice and competition days. The Newfield fencing team followed suit, prioritizing player health and safety over a high-bar goal. At such a time of desperation, a group of our fencers pulled through and believed that we could become county champions, and Brennan was one of them. Not only did he adapt very fast within the circumstances, he excelled at it when some of us rolled off our couches after the season was canceled a few months ago, and some preferring to practice on their own and pass up this season (2020-2021) as a lost one. Due to limited seating and restrictions, many of us didn’t go to many competitions. But throughout the season, we passed around names of athletes to look forward to learning from and fencing alongside the next year, and Brennan was the person me and many of the foil athletes were looking up to. When asked for his brief statement on this outstanding athlete, coach Kyle Schirmer had to say this: “Brennan has played an integral part in building our boys and girls foil team. His knowledge and skill set is something to be admired. Both boys and girls on the team know they can turn to him for support”. Brennan’s view of the sport resonates with much of what we saw him accomplish over the years - “I think fencing is a very underrated sport. It requires physical fitness, strategy, the ability to adapt, and it can be a super competitive sport or a hobby”. The sport “drives me to be better", he adds. Back-to-Back County Champions In the 2020-2021 season, Newfield fencing won the County Championship title. So this season, we had a target painted on our backs, and a belief that we couldn't afford to sleep on anyone. Amidst all the talented and hard-working starters this year, Brennan shined the brightest. As one of the few seniors on the year, he was expected to do great things in his final year and be a good rolemodel for the underclassmen, and he delivered on both. He had an undefeated season this year, having also been the leader of the Foil fencers of the team who had consistent records all throughout the season. We won the league title, and after a gruesome yet fun and accomplished day of Counties, we won the County Championship of 2021-2022 as well. Brennan was there, loud and proud, and “a menace on the strip” for it all. He also won the Individuals on the County Championship, coming in at first place after going on-andon against some of the best fencers in the county, some of them his own teammates. This also earned him the Most Valuable Player award for the Newfield fencing season of 2021-2022, awarded at the Winter Athletic Awards Night. Not only did Brennan go through every team and opponent with his best, but he did so without any sign of despair or fear. He always fenced with his all, helped his teammates get better, and never passed up opportunities to perfect his moves ... no matter how tired he was. Things to Look Forward To Brennan plans to fence for Sacred Heart University in this upcoming Fall, which is a Division I school for fencing. He has two brothers, twins Nathan Robins and Harrison Robins, fencing as Sabers the upcoming season and given what we’ve seen from them this past season, they will do great things in place of Brennan, who will be missed. Brennan speaks of his hobbies of hanging out with friends and playing video games, so before we see him get on the big screen as an full-time accomplished fencer, some of us will face him in Fortnite, which is his “favorite game”.
Meet Newfield's Student of the Months! By Asim Sheikh & Dora John Mehreen Chowdhury
Co-Curriculars: President of Tri-M Honor Society, Treasurer of Class of 2022, Fencing (Sabre) Captain Congratulations to Mehreen Chowdhury for being December’s Student of the Month. She credits her success to properly communicating with those around her. Whether it be with teachers, students, or guidance counselors, she believes that communication is the key to helping oneself and utilizing all resources available. A significant moment in her highschool career was when she decided to join the fencing team where she discovered her passion for fencing. It was on the team where she learned self-discipline and responsibility as well as feeling pushed both physically and mentally in freshman year. She draws her inspiration from her close friends and teachers and uses it to become the best version of herself possible. She believes that self-care is often neglected when pursuing success because some are so devoted to one goal. She stresses the importance of mental health and communication with teachers over assignments in order to benefit one’s mental health. One of Mehreen’s goals was to become top of her class, which she accomplished by making it to the top 25 in her grade. She also realized that high school has more to offer than that and that you just have to explore these opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys reading and loves to compose poetry. One bit of advice Mehreen offers is to use mistakes as a chance to learn, regardless of what those around you think. Congratulations, Mehreen!
Ally Short
Co-Curriculars: Vice President of Thespian Honor Society, Secretary of Tri-M Honor Society, Drum Club President, Treblemakers Co-President, Theater Arts Club Student Leader (2020) Congrats to Ally Short, Student of the Month for January! Ally is a rising star in theater, recently being voted "Most Likely To Be On Broadway" by her peers and serving on the lead role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. In terms of service to the community, Ally has served as an Altar Server for four years, performed for residents at Sunrise Senior Living, donated profits from original songs (available on Apple Music, Spotify, etc.) to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and many more. At school, Ally serves as Thespian Honor Society's Vice Presiddent, Tri-M Music Honor Society's Secretary, Theater Arts Club's Student Leader during the Fall 2020 Cabaret, Co-President of Treblemakers Choir, and President of Drum Club. In addition to all these activities, Ally has secured first place at the local Island Idol Competition for the past three years, placed second at Suffolk's Got Talent in 2019, and performed the Star Spangled Banner at Selden's Fire Department, Brookhaven Fire Chiefs' Council, and the Smithtown Concert Series. For these activities, Ally was recognized by Leg. Nick Caracappa with a Special Recognition Proclamation and won the Friends of Music James Truscello Award for Chorus. Academically, Ally has excelled in several AP courses and Honors Courses, securing an unweighted GPA of 93.0870 and weighted GPA of 96,7826. Ally has been admitted to Marymount Manhattan College, among several others, and is seeking to major in musical theater. Her future goals include success in the music/theater business and to perform on-stage on Broadway. She also looks forward to releasing original music and spreading positive messages through her songs. What an inspiration! Congratulations, Ally!
FASHION & LIFESTYLE
Buffalo Chicken Dip Delilah Fay Ready in 40 minutes Serves 10-15 people 144 calories
Stawberry White Chocolate Brownie Alexis Stokes
Ingredients 2 chicken breasts 2 packets of cream cheese 1 pint of sour cream 1 bag of shredded cheese hot sauce seasoning of your liking oil tortilla chips ranch Utensils Saucepan Medium-sized Bowl Beater or Forks Mini Spatula 9”x9” Baking Pan Preparation 1. Season your chicken breasts. Then, put the chicken breasts in the fridge to marinate for at least an hour. 2. Fry your chicken breasts. Fry at medium to high heat, using one tablespoon of oil, until golden brown. 3. Shred your chicken. Take the chicken and put it into a bowl, using two forks or a electric beater for faster and better results. 4. Put chicken back into the pan. After, put your cream cheese in the middle of the pan and let the cheese melt then you mix it in with the chicken until combined. 5. Mix in the rest. After, put the cream cheese in you want to add the sour cream, once mixed you then add your hot sauce and ranch to your liking. Cook until it boils. 6. Transfer to a cooking pan. Prepare a 9"x9" pan with oil and put the dip in, spread it out evenly and sprinkle the shredded cheese on top. After you do that, put some dashes of hot sauce on top. 7. Put your dip in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Farenheit. Then, broil the top at a low setting for 5 minutes. 8. Let your dip cool down and enjoy!
Ingredients Strawberry cake mix ⅓ cup vegetable oil 2 eggs ½ cup white chocolate chips Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. 2. Combine ingredients, leaving some white chocolate chips aside 3. Spread batter evenly in an oiled/buttered 9"x13" pan 4. Place leftover white chocolate chips on top of the batter 5. Bake for about 20-30 minutes or until edges are golden 6. Let cool and cut into squares 7. Enjoy!
FILM & BOOK REVIEWS
To Kill A Mockingbird By Diya John To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a touching story showing the transition from mere innocence to understanding the utter cruelty of the world. This book revolves around the Finch family of Maycomb, Alabama during the early to mid 1900s and is narrated from the perspective of the 6 year-old girl, Jean Louise Finch, nicknamed Scout.
Harry Potter Series By Delilah Fay The Harry Potter series is about this boy that comes from a family of wizards. The boy is then left living with his aunt because his parents both died by one of the wizards that had been a bad person after he left the school. I liked this series specifically because it talks about a boy that overcomes his fears and strives to do better and protect others. On his birthday, he gets invited to this wizard school that his parents attended: the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry.
With the help of her brother Jem and her father Atticus, Scout learns the concepts of racism, discrimination, prejudice, and judgement. Scout truly learns the “way of the world” through her experiences with Boo Radley and her father's case defending Tom Robinson. Boo Radley was the Finch family's neighbor and the whole neighborhood claimed him to be a person who isolated himself in the morning, came out at night, and committed the most deadly crimes. Boo Radley was seen as a person to fear. Children were scared, running past his house, adults would walk the other way willing to walk another mile just to avoid passing the Radley House. The whole town had these false accusations against Boo Radley, based on unwarranted suspicion and no real evidence; agreeing and adding to the opinions and conspiracies of others. Scout understands further of the injustice in the world through her father, Atticus Finch. He was a lawyer, defending all people, regardless of race or religion. When Atticus was asked to defend a colored man, Tom Robinson, Atticus and his children were called many unbearable names. Despite their hardships, Atticus told his children to hold their heads up high and resist fighting.
He then gets picked into a class, Gryffindor. Harry, the main character, makes two friends, Hermione and Ron. Along the way they find many obstacles that they have to overcome like slaying dragons, fighting dementors, and making sure that they all come out alive. Although they get in trouble, it doesn't mean that they give up Harper Lee allows the reader to fall into the shoes of this young on saving the school, themselves, and their families. girl and experience her feelings of racism in her town. She realizes that opinions are something people make up and we This movie series is very popular in the modern world because there should not believe opinions other people have; rather, we should are young characters that are appealing to younger audiences and it make up our own opinions based on what we believe, and which makes them more interesting. I personally recommend this movie are based on our experiences. It is an extraordinary book that I series because it is very intricately designed. I admit it is very long. would highly recommend for all. It does have a total of eight parts with the movies each being around 2.5 hours each. But it is worth the time if you like magic and mystery. This one's a fan-favorite and a must-watch!
"The Masque of the Red Death" By Emma Raver In the story “The Masque of the Red Death” written by Edgar Allan Poe there are few important characters. The first character is Prince Prospero, who is extremely selfish, prideful, and foolish. The second character, collectively, is the Higher Class who are supported and protected by the Prince. The third character, collectively, is the Lower Class who are being destroyed by an unknown plague and were not being protected by the Prince because they were lower class. The remaining characters include the people in the orchestra, the buffoon, the ballet dancers, and the improvisatori. The last character is none other than Death. They all had important parts in this story so that the reader could understand the theme and message and a great deal of symbolism from the color of the rooms and what they each represent to the orchestra and the theme of Time. Prince Prospero hid and a thousand of his friends, who were Higher Class in his strong and big castle to hide from the plague. It separated them and the plague that killed citizens every half an hour. Immediately, you could characterize the Prince as selfish, foolish, and prideful because of the way Poe describes him gathering his friends to keep them safe. Poe states, “But the Prince was happy and dauntless and sagacious. When his dominions were half de-populated, he summoned of his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends among the knights and dames of his court, and with these retired to the deep seclusion of one of his castellated abbeys.” Later, Poe says “The external world could take care of itself. In the meantime, it was folly to grieve, or to think.” This was exactly what the Prince was thinking which indeed makes him a foolish man.
The orchestra, buffoons, ballet dancers, improvisatori, and the wine were another group of important characters. There was a reason Edgar took time to include these little details in this part of the story: they each, respectively, represented something. The Prince was having a party during a plague, instead of helping everyone. He threw the party to pretend like everything was okay, which is ironic because he called it a “...masked ball” and it was as though he was figuratively putting on a mask or hiding the problem. Hence, the orchestra, buffoons, ballet dancers, improvisatori, and the wine were even a distraction to an even greater degree. The Higher Class could be characterized as special because they were protected by the Prince. On the other hand, you could really characterize them as followers and egoistic since they went along with the Prince's wishes and failed to help the lower class. The Lower Class can be described as the poor and unfortunate. Death and Time go hand-in-hand: with Time comes Death and this is inevitable, and hence composes one of the many themes. Death is characterized as mysterious, unavoidable, and doesn’t have a tangible, physical figure. All the characters had important roles in the story and they all connect together. Without these characters, the reader would not be able to identify the internal conflict that the Prince has with outrunning Death.
Komi Can't Communicate By Ashley OConnell “Komi Can’t Communicate”, or “Komi-san wa Komyushou Desu”, is a show that many people can relate to. The story is about Komi, a high school student who is loved and even seen as a goddess by her fellow peers, who think she is perfect. Only one character, Tadano Hitohito, is able to find out about Komi’s secret: she has extreme social anxiety and struggles to communicate, even with members of her own family. The first season circles around how Komi tries her best to find friends with the help of Tadano, who is the only one outside her family who can truly understand her. The story is pretty interesting and is presented with short stories in each episode of the cast’s antics. Besides the story, the animation and art style was very well done and pleasant to look at. The characters were well-written in a way that viewers can relate to the character, even feeling joy or dread when they appear on the screen. It was very well done, relatable, and enjoyable to watch, but there were some parts where it felt like something was missing. Specifically, there were some parts that appeared overboard and other parts that could have used more work. Overall, I would give the show an 8 out of 10.
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