The Samohi 24-25 Cycle 5

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Addy Fiore Staff Writer

need

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Greater Los Angeles area was set ablaze in a series of the most destructive wildfires in LA history, destroying thousands of structures and taking many lives. These are the costliest wildfires in California history, with over $200 billion worth of destruction.

The initial fire began around the Temescal Ridge Trail in the Pacific Palisades at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, and ultimately ended up being the largest. By Jan. 8, it had consumed over 20,000 acres of land and destroyed an estimated 5,000 structures. Strong winds intensified the fire, prompting power shut-offs in areas such as Santa Monica, Brentwood, Venice and Encino. The Eaton fire started later that day near Altadena and quickly became uncontrollable, burning 14,000 acres. The same day, the Hurst fire erupted in the Sylmar area, burning significantly less land at 800 acres.

The scale and rapid spread of these fires, particularly in the Palisades, quickly raised questions about the origins of their whereabouts. The fires were most likely set unintentionally, emitting embers carried by wind to the brush. Typically, fires in California are triggered by the strong Santa Ana winds, which were amplified this year with gusts of up to 100 mph. Compounded with the lack of rainfall this winter due to the La Niña, this made conditions extremely susceptible to wildfires.

Increased wind speeds made the fires extremely difficult to suppress and hindered the helicopters’ ability to help extinguish the fires. Finding themselves outnumbered, the LAFD recruited firefighters from throughout California, even gathering assistance from Canada and Mexico. Simultaneously,

to

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about the LA wildfires

the water supply was scarce due to the drought, reducing levels of water in reservoirs used to suppress fires and supply water in fire hydrants. For the first 2 days of the Palisades fire, there was 0 percent containment, forcing over 150,000 residents to evacuate their homes, with some coming back to ashes.

Significant political controversy erupted on social media platforms hours after the initial fire in the Palisades, with conflicting ideas emerging about management for conditioning disaster aid, environmental policies and criticism of leadership. Generally speaking, Democratic party members have been more outspoken about the environmental effects of the fires with regards to the climate change crisis. Additionally, some have attributed the LAFD’s lack of resources and manpower to a series of budget cuts in 2023, with arguments that funding for the LAFD was redistributed to the LAPD at the cost of considerable staffing and resources within the department. However, it has since been confirmed that these budget cuts did not directly affect the LAFD’s ability to combat the recent wildfires. On the other side of the political spectrum, the Republican party has tended to be more concerned about more aggressive forest management, and opposes the idea of climate change having a major impact on the spread and start of the wildfires. President Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to properly manage California’s forests, claiming that Newsom has focused too much on climate initiatives. Trump argued that focusing on climate change is deflecting attention for more immediate and actionable solutions like forest management. Overall, Newsom aims to address the larger issue of climate change whereas Trump wants to initiate immediate solutions.

Lost landmarks

A devastating start to 2025 has seen more than 40,000 acres and 12,000 structures burned as a result of the Los Angeles wildfires that first erupted in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7. ABC News states that “the Los Angeles fires are already the costliest wildfires in history — not only in California, but in all of the U.S.” This is not only due to the wide range of the fires in a densely populated area, but also the damage done to iconic historical sites and cultural landmarks.

Many structures throughout Will Rogers State Historic Park were destroyed by the flames, most notably Actor Will Rogers’ 31room ranch house and stable. Rogers owned the property until his passing in 1935, and the house was donated to the California Department of Parks and Recreation nine years after. Additionally, Topanga State Park will remain closed until further notice due to the risk of additional brush fires. The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, founded in 1920, was submerged by the fires. Fortunately, NBC Los Angeles reported that staff members were able to evacuate safely along with the properties Torah scrolls on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

While the Palisades mall remains standing, many neighborhoods and beloved structures in the area were taken by the fires. Palisades High School was affected significantly, with principal Pamela Magee saying at least “40 percent of the campus was damaged or destroyed.” The surviving parts of the main campus still remain unusable due to current safety conditions, which has educators looking for an alternative location for their 2,900 students. Along the coastline,

Marquez Charter Elementary was entirely destroyed. Additionally, Palisades public library and car wash burned completely, along with the local Ralphs and Gelson’s supermarkets.

Just blocks away from the village, the Palisades Tae Ryong Taekwondo School was also lost after opening just four years ago. Master Nickie Quan reflected on the legacy and culture that was beginning to flourish prior to the fire.

“I will miss the people in Pali being pumped and proud to be growing that location the same way we grew the one in Brentwood,” Quan said. “I remember opening it and putting Brentwood kids on the banner, until the large monument sign was installed. The sign is the only thing that withstood the fire and remains standing on that block.”

Expanding along the coast, countless other shops and eateries were lost. Cholada Thai Beach Cuisine as well as oceanfront restaurant and watering hole Moonshadows burned down on Jan. 8. Iconic seafood spot and celebrity favorite the Reel Inn was destroyed after 36 successful years. 69-yearold Altadena diner Fox’s was also lost.

While not official landmarks, some of the most heartbreaking and large-scale losses came in the form of neighborhoods and scenic routes. Frequently traveled sections of the Pacific Coast Highway, particularly between the Pacific Palisades and Malibu, were demolished during the fire. The highway itself was built in 1934 and has remained a consistent viewpoint for residents ever since; large stretches of timeless homes and country clubs now appear as empty views of the coastline.

Trump mentioned the wildfires in his inaugural address on Jan. 20.

“We can’t let this happen,” he said. “Everyone is unable to do anything about it. That is going to change.”

A vocal critic of both Newsom and the City of Los Angeles’s response to the fire, Trump visited LA on Jan. 24 to survey fire damage in his first official trip as president.

Amid all the political debates online, the devastating effects of the fires are still being felt firsthand by the thousands of Pacific Palisades and Altadena residents who have lost their homes and been displaced. Unfortunately, there have been 28 fatalities and 25 hospitalizations, the majority a product of the Palisades and Eaton fires. Pets and wild animals have also been impacted—animal shelters across LA are reaching capacity due to an influx of displaced animals due to the fires. For instance, Pasadena Humane is caring for over 300 animals in a singular facility, 180 of which arrived after Jan. 8. Shelters in safer areas of Los Angeles are unable to accept additional animals due to overcrowding in existing facilities.

As of Jan. 23, the wildfires have collectively burned over 50,000 acres of the Greater Los Angeles area, destroying an approximate 16,000 structures and taking 28 lives. With the thousands of structures and acres gone, this was the costliest fire in all of California history. Although new smaller fires continue to emerge, they have been much less severe and caused less destruction overall.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the fires, there are several resources available such as the American Red Cross, Los Angeles County Health Services and many local volunteer organizations to reach out to.

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Samo student stories

Yaretzi Preza Staff Writer

Following the most destructive wildfire breakout in the Greater Los Angeles area in history, many Samo students have been forced to evacuate, with some receiving the heartbreaking news that they lost their homes. Residing in the Palisades, Malibu, Sylmar, Altadena and Pasadena, students who lost their valuables—from life-long houses to pets—carry heavy hearts into the new year. Those who have suffered great losses are backed up with full support from the media, first responders and others across the country.

Adele Jouffret (’26) was among the unfortunate who lost their home to the Palisades fire and was able to salvage very little. Jouffret is temporarily living in an Airbnb and is still on the lookout for her next home.

“I lived in that house all my life, and it was really heartbreaking and also traumatic,” Jouffret said. “I’m still taking things one step at a time.”

Samo student Liam Chutuape (’26) shared his experience leaving Santa Monica after receiving an evacuation order within the San Vicente-Montana area. He recalled the evacuation process as a stressful one and was forced to collect his possessions quickly.

“I panicked so I only got to pack the essentials: a few pairs of clothes, my book bag (for school to keep myself busy), toiletries, and some personal items like cameras and bookmarks,” Chutuape said. “I tried to stay calm because I knew there wasn’t a lot of time to spare.”

Also among those who received an evacuation order was Samo AP US History teacher

Maggie Colburn, who felt that she had more time to prepare than Chutape. Before evacuating to Encinitas, Colburn shared her determination to keep her cat safe, along with her other valuables.

“I packed my cat, some toys, food for about a week, his carrier, leash, litter box, and litter genies. He was the best packed,” Colburn said. “I packed some of my grandma’s jewelry that was easily accessible. I regretted that I didn’t grab my photo albums and my great-grandmother’s things once it became mandatory.”

Explaining her process in staying informed about the fires, Colburn emphasized the importance of finding credible sources.

“I got back on social media to follow SMPD [Santa Monica Police Department] and SMFD [Santa Monica Fire Department], but got really upset with a lot of the misinformation that has been posted, the lack of empathy and all-around lack of critical thinking from people I know,” Colburn said. “Social media is not a news source.”

With thousands of people across Los Angeles losing their homes, many families were forced to rely on close friends when finding a place to stay. Among them was Chutuape, who was grateful for the support of his friends in his family’s time of need.

“I evacuated to a friend’s house in Culver City, and they were so nice to let us stay,” Chutuape said. “Although they said they were returning a favor for dog sitting, it was a great helping hand.”

Many Samo students have assisted in relief efforts to help fellow students in need, organizing food and clothingdrives and offering homes for their friends and family.

Ryan Colvin Staff Writer

Many people in evacuated zones stayed behind to try and protect their homes with water or fire repellant, with some throwing personal items in their pools and clearing vegeation on the edge of their property. Those who lost their homes often visited the remains in an attempt to slavage their belongings.

Patrick Conlin / Contributor

Trump returns to Oval Office

Eugene Naruse Staff Writer

On Jan. 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. Alongside Vice President JD Vance, President Trump returns to office with unified Republican control of the House of Representatives, Senate and a conservative majority in the Supreme Court.

The inauguration ceremony which took place around noon (EST), held inside the Capitol Rotunda due to cold weather, followed a series of customary events that saw both outgoing former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the election to Trump in an unprecedented race, interact with the incoming administration. The scene was a stark contrast to Biden’s inauguration in 2021, when Trump sat out, refusing to certify the election outcome.

Hundreds of figures, such as former presidents, government officials, Supreme Court justices and prominent tech CEOs, including Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerburg and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, were all in attendance at the ceremony. Trump’s inauguration was the first to welcome foreign leaders, with Argentine President Javier Milei, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng in attendance among others. His reelection has also come with other firsts; Trump is now the oldest elected president in American history, and the first convicted felon to serve as president.

Following the oath of office, Trump then went on to make a 30-minute inaugural address, outlining his plans for his presidency and declaring major policy changes, some of which he signed as an executive order later that evening. These plans included everything from tighter restrictions on immigration to increased utilization of American oil and gas reserves, imposing tariffs, “reclaiming” free speech, “taking” back the Panama Canal and planting the American flag on Mars. Planting the flag on Mars was something Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump and head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), looked very enthusiastic about. Musk also drew fire later that day for doing what resembled a Nazi salute at the end of a speech.

Post-inauguration, Trump’s first day back in office saw swift ac-

tion, with the newly elected president repealing more than 78 of Biden’s policies and reinstating many of his own from his first term in 2016. Signing executive orders in front of supporters, Trump held a ceremony inside Capital One Arena, which housed multiple celebrations throughout the weekend. He later made his way back to the Oval Office, from which he signed more orders while answering questions thrown out to him by the press.

One of Trump’s first actions was to initiate the process of withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Accords and the World Health Organization (WHO), with formal withdrawal in one year. This move makes the US one of four countries in the world not in the Paris Climate Accords, which aim to limit greenhouse gas emissions and keep global warming below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and one of two UN countries not in the WHO. Trump, adhering to promises he made along the campaign trail, also pardoned roughly 1,500 defendants facing criminal charges following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in 2021. This includes leaders of far-right extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, and towards rioters charged with assaulting police officers. The topic of immigration, an issue paramount to Trump’s success in November, was also at the core of many of his executive orders. Declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, Trump has restored much of his immigration policies from 2017. Through these orders, Trump is calling for mass deportations by conducting raids using federal agents and local law enforcement, ending American intake of asylum seekers, restarting the building of a wall on the border, ending federal grants to “sanctuary” cities and states, deploying the military to the border and ending birthright citizenship, among other things.

Pushing his anti-transgender agenda, Trump also declared in his inauguration speech that “it will henceforth be the official government policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.” Later that day, he repealed a law allowing transgender troops to serve in the military, a bill passed by his predecessor. This paves the way for a complete ban on trans troops in the military. Trump also signed an order banning trans women from competing in female sports, which passed through the House of Representatives on Jan. 21.

Other executive orders ranged from policies regarding energy, to targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These orders effectively ban DEI hires in the federal government and place all DEI-related offices on administrative leave. Emails sent out on Jan. 22 by the Trump administration to federal employees also called to report any DEI initiatives they see.

While executive orders do not require congressional approval and cannot be directly overturned by lawmakers, it’s important to note that Congress “has the power to overturn an Executive Order by passing legislation that invalidates it,” and the courts possess the power to “ultimately overturn an Executive Order that is found to be beyond the President’s constitutional authority,” per the American Bar Association. Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship, for example, was almost immediately challenged in court, with more than 20 Democratic state attorney generals and multiple immigration rights groups filing federal lawsuits.

Trump’s first acts as president have already evoked both praise and significant backlash from the public and politicians across the board, painting a picture of what may become the new norm for the next four years.

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SM and the new immigration policy

President Donald J. Trump began his second term on Jan. 20th and subsequently has major plans to revamp the current federal immigration policy. Many of these changes will directly impact citizens nationwide and even Samo students, as immigrants make up 23.2 percent of the population in Santa Monica.

Following his inauguration, Trump has fully sealed off the US-Mexico border. He has also planned to carry out many mass deportations in Chicago starting next week. Minutes after Trump was sworn in, the app CBP One, which provides immigrants with the opportunity to legally plan appointments for naturalization into the U.S. was eliminated. Almost one million people have used this app to enter the US and after the inauguration, thousands of appointments were cancelled. Trump also signed an executive order on Inauguration Day suspending asylum law until what he called the “invasion at the southern border” ceases.

Recently on Jan. 26, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made 956 arrests in Chicago, as well as numerous

arrests in LA. This is a preview for how Trump’s administration plans to crackdown on immigrants.

In his previous term, Trump tried to crack down on immigration and turn migrants away by utilizing Title 42 during the pandemic. Title 42 states that there can be curbs on immigration in favor of public health. The president-elect’s advisors have spent months trying to find a disease that will justify his case for closing the border in his second term. The plan is to invoke border restrictions based on sporadic cases of illnesses or even the fear of an illness.

Immigrants account for half of all doctoral-level STEM workers in the U.S. however Trump’s new policies on visas, particularly the H-1B [the most commonly given visa for skilled immigrants], could change this. Soon into his first term, he issued numerous executive orders restricting H-1B visas and in 2020 he completely suspended them. Trump’s position on H-1B visas is currently unknown and many publications have reported on a conflict in his administration between more traditional factions of the MAGA movement and influential tech figures such as Elon Musk, who support immigration for high-skilled individuals.

Trump plans to install officials such as Samo alum Stephen Miller (’03) and Thomas Homan, both of whom backed his push for crackdowns on immigration in his first term.

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press”, Trump said he “absolutely” plans to cease birthright citizenship. Birthright citizenship means that anyone born in the United States has automatic citizenship. Trump argues that there should be a more rigid process to become an American citizen. He said executive action may need to be used to get around the 14th Amendment which states that, “All persons born on naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein

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they reside.”

Ahmet Ataman (’25) an immigrant from Turkiye expressed his views on some of these new policies.

“I support deporting all illegal immigrants because they’re criminals. It’s really dangerous to have undocumented people,” Ataman said. “They’re not being held up to the same amount of scrutiny when entering the country as a legal immigrant.”

Hannah Margulis (’28) a politically active student explained her reservations towards this perspective, citing opposition towards the initiatives in question.

“I am definitely against Trump’s new immigration policies because I mean these people have made lives in America, so why should they have to leave now?”

In lieu of these new laws, CASA, an immigrant protection program, has been holding “know your rights” seminars to help migrants in the case of ICE raids or mass deportations. Samo also offers resources for immigrants such as the Welcome Immigrants Club! who Alice Jane-Lambert (’26) is the co-president of. Lambert, who immigrated from France explained why she thinks immigrants are integral to the US and the Samo community in particular.

“In LA there are so many people from everywhere,” Lambert said “Everyone’s trying to welcome everyone and it’s very nice. People can find a community that speaks the same language as them and, at least in LA, it’s a place where immigrants can go and feel welcomed.”

With almost a quarter of Santa Monica’s population being immigrants, the federal policies of the new administration regarding immigration will be a continuously relevant topic in the community in the years to come.

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Staff Writers

Athena Barefoot, Laurel Cohn, Ryan Colvin, Addelyn Fiore, Emma Godfrey, Alisa Ignatenko, Sia Kresch, Leo Lucente, Koi Lerner, Eugene Naruse, Yaretzi Preza, Arata Sakamoto, Kamerin Shakir, Imani Toler, Hope Wang

Morry Gash—Pool/AP / Contributor

Donald Trump takes the Oath of Office inside the Capitol Rotunda, alongside Melania and Barron Trump.

The Samohi is a monthly newspaper by, for and about Santa Monica High School students. Our goal is to empower the student body through information. We do not represent the views of the administration or staff. We do not endorse advertisements placed in our paper.

Laurel Cohn Staff Writer

Santa Monica Public Art Archive / Contributor This is the mural at 2200 Pico Ave., depicting folkrico dancers, and the historically diverse Santa Monica population at large.

What’s going on around Samo?

Kamerin Shakir Staff Writer

As an initiative to promote Holocaust education, Samo hosted Holocaust survivor Eva Perlmen in Barnum Hall on Jan 22 just before International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Perlman was born in 1932 to German Jewish parents. As Hitlers’ power rose and Jewish professionals faced more challenges, her fathers colleague offered him a job in Paris, while Eva and her mom remained in Germany. Later she escaped from Germany and hid in France. She titled her book “Guided by Miracles”, referencing the miraculous occurrences that led to her survival.

The Holocaust was a period during World War II when Nazi Germany systematically persecuted and murdered six million jews, along with millions of others, including Roma, disabled in-

In 2025, a new law inspired by a former lawmaker whose DUI derailed her political career, is adding additional coursework dedicated to the harms of alcohol at Samo. Currently, California schools are required to teach about general information about alcohol, narcotics and other dangerous drugs. The law would require schools to include instruction over the short and long term effect of alcohol, especially with its links to chronic diseases, mental health problems and deaths.

As of this moment, Samo has a few resources al-

dividuals and political dissidents. The genocide took place from 1941-1945, which was driven by extreme racist and anti-semitic beliefs and remains one of the most horrific events in human history.

Samo ASB Treasurer, Sadie Gryczman (’26), a descendant of multiple Holocaust survivors ,spearheaded the event. She explained why Holocaust education is so valuable.

“The whole point about learning history is to not repeat the mistake we previously made. Therefore, learning about the Holocaust, which obviously was a tragic and terrible series of events, is important; especially with the rise of antisemitism and people who act oblivious to the fact the Holocaust actually happened,” Gryczman said. “People who are ignorant and not informed need to be educated about history because being educated is a powerful way to combat ignorance.”

Eva Perlman’s visit left an impactful influence on students and staff, by offering a firsthand account of the horrors she and many others endured during the Holocaust. For those who missed the event, her aforementioned book “Eva’s Uncommon Life: Guided by Miracles” provides an even deeper look into her experience and is a valuable resource for understanding the lasting effects this event had on not only the past but the present as well. Copies of the book are available in the Samo library.

ready. On the website, Samo has already compiled a list dedicated to substance abuse such as Rehab Spot and Didi Hersh: Substance Use. In 2024, Samo also updated the board policy on students caught using substances- switching from automatic three-day suspension to meetings and counseling sessions. This switch was to stop the abuse directly, instead of simply keeping the kid stuck at home.

The new law aims to equip students with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about alcohol consumption. Shuli Lotan, Mental Health Counselor Coordinator at Samo highlights the motivation behind the policy, by expressing the benefits about the implementation of the policy.

“More knowledge about alcohol’s effects can help students make better decisions. Instead of just getting the ‘don’t do drugs and drink motto’, which we’ve found has only tempted kids,” Lotan said. “We’re actually trying to make sure they fully understand the consequences that come with any substance.”

The new curriculum will focus on the long term health effects of alcohol, safe practices and practical knowledge, such as what to do if someone is inebriated at a party. Schools will enhance substance counselors, providing a safety net for students. With these changes, the hope is to reduce the prevalence of alcohol-related issues in schools, ultimately promoting a healthier student community.

California Science

Center offering internships to students

The California Science Center in Los Angeles is now accepting applications for its prestigious highschool internship program. The program was created to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators. This hands-on opportunity allows students to explore various scientific fields and engage in exciting projects while also working alongside experienced professionals. Interns will gain valuable skills and insights into careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), but still be interactive in exhibits and educational programs.

The internship program is open to high school students aged 16 years and older and applications are due by March 15. Selected interns will benefit from mentorship, networking opportunities and the chance of making a real impact on their community at such a young age.

Samo student Elliot Decker (’25) who’s applying as a physic major for multiple prestigious colleges, referenced his fond memories of the California Science Center and why he believes the opportunity being offered to students is so important.

“Ever since I was a kid, I always had an intrest in space and aerospace,” Decker said. “I would definitely apply! Internship opportunities are rare for highschool students and they are fundamental for future job opportunities and college applications. I think highschoolers should definitely look into this opportunity.”

If you are interested, do not hesitate to apply today. Just visit the California Science Center website to fill out the application.

Last semester, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) took the freshman class to Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in West LA where they got the opportunity to learn about the adoption process of pets and even interact with the animals.

Richard Bucha (’28) recently participated in an animal shelters where he volunteered and assisted staff with various tasks.

“The Project allowed me to meet new staff members and students as an incoming freshman and also gave me the opportunity to help many kinds of animals,” Bucha said. “I was able to feed the animals, sit with them and learn more about the different species. Overall it was a great experience and it’s something I’ll continue throughout highschool.”

PLTW emphasizes the importance of strong math skills, critical thinking and collaborative work. Students enrolled in PLTW will get hands-on projects that challenge them to apply their knowledge in practical settings. The curriculum not only prepares for future studies and engineering but also helps students to learn central problem-solving skills that are

valuable in all areas of life. With PLTW, Samo aims to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators, equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.

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A BOOST for health students at LACCD

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is in the process of implementing a new program called Building Outstanding Opportunities for Students to Thrive or otherwise known as BOOST. BOOST selects 250 students pursuing health careers to receive a thousand dollars each month for one year to help students who face financial challenges and might otherwise struggle to continue their education.

The funding for BOOST comes from The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Young Adults Forward Fund, an initiative of the California Community Foundation. According to the LACCD website, BOOST is the largest Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) program for community college students to date, with 3 million dollars in funding allocated to support the 250 students pursuing careers in healthcare. By doing so, the program aims to close the growing gap between financial aid, wages and the students’ cost of living.

Many students at community colleges across the country face financial barriers such as struggles to afford tuition, textbooks, housing and basic necessities like food. These challenges often force students to work multiple jobs, reducing the time they can dedicate to their studies and increasing the likelihood of dropping out before completing their education. According to the National Institutes of Health, 75 percent of US students experience high fi-

nancial distress. Studies have shown that those students are more likely not to continue their schooling. Financial insecurity can lead to students prioritizing immediate needs, such as housing or food, over their education.

“LACCD is at the forefront of addressing gaps in the healthcare industry, providing programs that prepare students for vital roles like mammography technicians, respiratory therapists and addiction counselors,” said LACCD Board President Nichelle Hender-

son. “With the launch of BOOST, we are expanding opportunities for students pursuing healthcare careers while strengthening our commitment to the community and the healthcare workforce.”

BOOST is available at four LACCD colleges: East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and Los Angeles Southwest College. This program is not only innovative but also designed to address the acute healthcare labor shortage in the Los Angeles area.

Samo’s College Counselor Ernesto Flores observed that after the pandemic, the two year community college route boomed across the state of California.

“Here within Samo we usually average anywhere from 27 to 30 percent of our students end up going to a two year college for economic reasons or whatever it could be,” Flores said.

According to the Education Data Initiative website, 70 percent of medical school students use loans to help pay for medical school. These facts may appear discouraging for Samo students who are considering entering the medical field. Edward Wallace (’25) a member of the pre-med club analyzed how LACCD’s BOOST program is a step toward ensuring that financial challenges no longer affect the potential of students entering the healthcare professions.

“Since the medical field is really daunting when you’re at this

because it’s expensive and you spend all your life doing it,” Wallace said. “So I think this can really help

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Holocaust survivor hosted at Samo’s Barnum Hall

age

This image shows the exterior of the Helen Miller Bailey Library at East Los Angeles College. One of the colleges that are participating in the BOOST program.

Arata Sakamoto / The Samohi

Arata Sakamoto Staff Writer

Francisco Bejarano / Contributor

This picture displays the Endeavour Space Shuttle which successfully made 25 missions into space, located at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Exhibit at the California Science Center.

PLTW volunteers at local animal shelter

Richard Bucha / Contributor Freshmen PLTW students posing in front of the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in West LA after complteing their work assisting the shelter.

Brooke Mekshow / Contributor

This image shows Perlman beginning her testimony in front of a crowd of attentive freshmen.

Samo to introduce new state-wide alcohol curriculum

Kamerin Shakir / The Samohi

The Samo’s Nurse’s office offers informational posters about Drop In Mental Health Counseling Services in the Admin building.

HOTLB: what’s your favorite conspiracy theory?

would be celebrating… Something else has to be going on.”

- Leo Seccuro (’26)

Whether it’s about government secrets or mythological creatures, conspiracy theories always seem to get people talking. Even if they are totally out there or just make you think for a second, they’ve got a way of sticking in your head. Around school, students shared their favorite theories that have kept them thinking, and maybe after

pigeons and recreate their species to spy on everyone. Like how did pigeons know how to send messages in wars?

That cannot be real.”

- Nyah Latif (’27)

all actually live in the Bermuda Triangle which is why no one has ever been there without dying. Literally no one knows anything about the Bermuda Triangle so whos to say that the megalodon and a bunch of mermaids aren't hanging out down there?”

- Lilah Radwan (’28)

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Trade school gives you skills that will pay the bills

Alisa Ignatenko Staff Writer

In the past 10 years, the advantages of attending a trade school have been more widely recognized as an alternative to traditional higher education. Despite this progress, there is still a stigma associated with trade schools as people tend to view it as the inferior option, as it is often considered a route for people who are not “good enough” for higher education. Yet, trade schools can lead to a lucrative career.

One of the most prominent benefits of a trade school is its significantly lower costs in comparison to a four year college. According to a 2023 U.S News and World Report article, the tuition would cost around $15,000 per year. This is substantially lower than most public colleges that charge $40,000 or more per year. In 2024, the Strada Education Foundation and the Burning Glass institute report 52 percent of recently graduated college stu -

dents are unemployed and ten years later, nearly half do not work in a field that requires their costly degree. Yet, as of 2024, College Vine reports that 75 percent of trade school graduates are employed.

In our today’s technology driven world, a growing concern in the workplace is AI disruption, something trade jobs are more resilient in avoiding. Trade jobs usually require some human problem solving skills that machines cannot learn, such as electricity, plumbing, welding, and HVAC systems. According to the World Economic Forum in 2024, 40 percent of manual and technical labor will not be taken over by AI. Trade school can be an amazing option to alleviate the concern of this. When comparing this to more traditional technology-based careers, 70 percent will be replaced by AI in 2030, according to Goldman Sachs. As stability becomes rarer and rarer in employment, trade school remains a reliable path to take that will survive the future.

All of 2024’s wildly popular “get ready with me” videos seemed to start off with excessive skincare routines. Many influencers promoted brands like Drunk Elephant and Glow Recipe that claimed to target every imaginable skin concern. “Flawless skin” was chased by layering on sprays, serums, oils and creams. In reality, one person’s 15-step regimen isn’t going to work for every skin type and getting caught up in endless product launches won’t provide any more clarity than confusion. Give your skin a breather and, in 2025, try just a few quality products instead of the popular quantity. Sometimes, less is truly more, and focusing on what works for you will give your skin the space it needs to glow.

Living in the Moment

Although 2024 passed in a second, it’s still hard to believe that it’s already a new year. Each year of my life time seems to move faster and faster and there are only a few moments to just breathe. Slowing down a bit is what everybody needs for 2025. I often find myself too focused on making sure I have pictures to post on Instagram or show others when I’m somewhere exciting or with my friends. Teenagers especially, myself included, are obsessed with glorifying and fabricating a seemingly perfect life so much that we rarely take a step back. For 2025, enjoy the moments as you’re in them, not just when you’re looking back at the highlights. In a world that applauds productivity and achievement, it’s hard to remember the value of doing nothing and taking a second to relax. Appreciate all the unfiltered moments of this year and the everyday experiences that are so often overlooked.

It’s common in young adulthood to juggle an excessive amount of responsibilities from education and employ school to two more time practo bilities, more flexible Trade schools can practical skills that lead rewarding careers and take a fraction of a students time. As students, it’s important to recognize the available education routes and understand that a tradition al four year college is not always right for everyone.

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Ins & Outs

By Emma Godfrey Staff Writer

Like every other teen this year I fell into the trap of procrastination and avoidance. I binged far too many TV shows, doom-scrolled on TikTok and shopped online for jeans and tops that were never going to leave my cart. Amidst all these, by far one of the most popular procrastination methods of 2024 was mobile games. Block Blast, the Watermelon Game, Brawl Stars and many more mini-games were downloaded onto millions of people’s phones. An easy way to escape from what seemed like never-ending work was a never-ending game. Yes, the boost of dopamine from clearing a level or beating a high score feels good in the moment, but very little is achieved from that besides the momentary bragging rights. In 2025, even out your daunting workload by tackling tasks one step at a time and not just getting sucked back into these addictive games. It’s time to achieve a lasting sense of satisfaction from checking things off your to-do list and making real progress.

Following Fashion Trends

Bows, cheetah print, jersey style tops. 2024 was marked by fashion trends that consumed every clothing store. Flowy bows and flashy cheetah prints were printed on every clothing item imaginable. You couldn’t walk in a Tilly’s or Urban Outfitters without seeing 5 different tops with random bold numbers on the front, mimicking a sports jersey. With all the popularity of these different trends, pressure grew to own these pieces simply because they were “in”. However, in this frenzy of “must-have” items, it’s important to remember that fashion is truly about self-expression. You don’t need to choose one aesthetic or style to stick to; wearing what makes you feel confident will always be more worthwhile, and worth your money. Whether it’s embracing comfort, feeling casually chic, or putting on a more formal look, it doesn’t matter what trends are “in” or “out,” as long as you feel like yourself.

Claire Harrison / The Samohi

Athena Barefoot / The Samohi

Athena Barefoot / The Samohi Athena Barefoot / The Samohi

Athena Barefoot Staff Writer

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian and Kayman Mangan

Take the passion pathway: do

Kayman Mangan Art Editor

1943, Carnegie Hall. Duke Ellington debuts “Black, Brown and Beige”, a 45 minute symphony that tells the story of African Americans. Storying from the slave trade to the Civil War to Harlem Renaissance, the show is proof that a career in art can be successful, impactful and well worth getting an education for.

Artists have and will always harness the power of the people, translate ideas into consumable culture and truly incite change. Humanity lies in the root of art, an outlet to relieve the intangible desire to create and bring us together. But, in a modern art industry that takes advantage of such humanity and often requires some hefty financial decisions, is it even worth it to pursue your passion in art?

Going to art school is a risk. Paying the costly tuition rates out of pocket is unthinkable for most, and enrolling in art school, for most, brings the unwavering risk of financial instability throughout your education and likely the rest of your life. Whether or not one decides to go to art school depends on many factors – ability to get in, talent, luck. But before we feed into the tortured artist stereotype, let’s get into what art school actually entails – and what it’s worth.

Depending on what career you as an artist see yourself pursuing, from art education to curation to fine arts, art schools offer a variety of specialty programs. Some schools use an experimental approach, working conceptually and often having an interdisciplinary system. Others are renowned for their formal programs, first and foremost focusing on improving students’ technical skill sets while guiding them towards a speciality.

A large part of going to art school is being surrounded by like-minded individuals. It’s an entirely new world for artists; Going from an environment where you feel isolated in your art to one where you’re surrounded by creative peers with mutual respect and understanding for your creations. Being in such a creatively nurturing environment encourages you to think critically and push your boundaries as an artist. Not only are ences, artists can you can make successful career

Many schools set their students with internship opportunities, giving them the space to lay the groundwork for future business plans.

Sadie Sills (25’), shares her verdict on pursuing your artistic passion. “Pursuing your passion is advice everyone gives you when you grow up. Even if art school isn’t considered the most practical path, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. You should never be held back by the possibility of

not making it.” Says sills. “For me, going to art school means being surrounded by creative people who get it. It’s a chance to focus on what I’m passionate about and learn in an environment where artistry is taken seriously. I want to build a career off of creativity and originality, which is something that comes from meeting unique people who bring fresh perspectives and inspire you to think differently in a creative space.”

Despite all of these positive aspects of pursuing a career in the arts, you still have to be prepared for how insanely competitive the art industry is and the difficulty you may be met with when attempting to find employment. Otis College of Art and Design, located in Los Angeles, California, offers an interactive online resource called “An Otis College Report on the Creative Economy”. This tool tracks the data of the creative industries and their effect on the economy in California in real time, issuing a report

annually since 2007. Taking a look at the dashboard, the report shares that as of 2024, there are 872,157 people employed with creative careers. The report also states that the average annual wage as of 2024 is $230,204. This wage definitely varies depending on what artistic niche one chooses to pursue as a career, but defeats the stereotype that “all artists are starving” and that it’s impossible to find employment in the art industry.

Pursuing a career in the arts won’t be easy, you don’t have a safety net and you will have to work to your wits end and beyond that. But there will always be a place for artists in our society, as humanity needs art to survive. Art eases the mind, it stimulates and provokes thought, pushing people to acknowledge and critique prevalent issues that we face as humans. Art cannot, and will not ever be disentangled from humanity.

The dangers of putting a buisnessman in power

Imani Toler Staff Writer

Richest man in the world and infamous CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, has appointed himself into foreign politics after his financial contributions in the recent election.

Gaining the title of one of the top financial supporters of a presidential campaign in the world, Musk has donated upwards of $260 million towards the Trump campaign. The super PAC named RBG PAC was operated without voters knowing that Elon Musk was its major funder. The information was exposed when the PAC’s finances became public and a $20 million donation under the name, “Elon Musk Revocable Trust” was shown. The name of the PAC references Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsberg and had the purpose of convincing voters that Trump’s views on abortion stood along with RBG’s, a disrespectful way of misleading voters.

Musk is notorious for focusing on the economic side of things and his increase in power in the government granted by Trump is worrisome for the future of the United

States, or even the world. Previously on Thursday, Musk held a livestream on his app X(formerly Twitter) talking to German far right politician Alice Weidel, who represents the political group Alternative for Germany, or AfD. AfD has strong beliefs against immigration in Germany, specifically Muslim immigration. Members of the group have been condemned for using Nazi slogans and offensively downplaying the Holocaust. Musk endorsed AfD in an op-ed he wrote in the Welt am Sonntag, a conservative German publication. “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country.” Musk wrote. Embracing Nazi-esque

political values like these while endorsing President Donald Trump should have Americans tense for what could be the future of the country.

“Free speech absolutist” as Elon Musk refers to himself as, prides his app X on being strictly against government censorship. Contrary to what Musk has stated, X has gladly been open to following government

restrictions and deleting posts from journalists—or anyone who disagrees with him. The multi-billionaire engaged in a debate with anti-immigration supporters on X, with Musk arguing about his immigration views in the US. After the debate, the many accounts arguing with Musk noticed that their verified check mark had gone missing, damaging the account’s ability to monetize their content. Yet, that’s not all that he’s done for censorship, previously Musk voiced his opinions on prosecuting his opponents, which is an aggressive direct attack on free speech.

A BBC documentary critical of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was requested to be banned from social media platforms after it was seen as a “propaganda piece” and anti-Indian. Shortly after, tweets regarding the documentary and all footage of it were deleted from the platform.

While censorship in the US has proved itself time and time again that it is still prevalent, influential power-holders such as Musk continue to highlight the dangers of restricting free speech across the globe.

Image of Elon Musk from Trump’s inauguartion goes viral for sharing stark resemblance to Nazi salute.

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

Samohi’s students campaign for 2026 ASB exec. positions

Hope Wang Staff Writer

Presidential Candidate:

“I love our school and have the skills and passion to continue making it the best place it can be. As a member of the executive cabinet this year, I bring a unique set of skills and firsthand experience that set me apart as a candidate.”

- Sadie Gryczman (’26)

Secretary Candidate:

“I’m very passionate about increasing participation and student involvement. I want to focus on bringing students together and give them the ability to feel more apart of our school.”

- Annabel Thorpe (’26)

Treasurer Candidate:

“I feel I could bring forth the knowledge and ability to change our student activities to suit us better. As Treasurer, I hope to give students what they want in their high school experience.”

- Waylon Cox (’27)

What

Hope Wang Staff Writer

As ASB executive board applications are approaching, many prospective students are preparing to run for leadership positions in office. Whether running for president, secretary, or any other position, an effective campaign strategy is essential.

Students can campaign in many ways, such as giving speeches and creating posters and handouts. As social media continuously increases in popularity, it is a valuable tool in promoting clubs and fundraisers. Online campaigning has become a major tool for quickly and efficiently reaching a wider audience.

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok allow more students to be reached and strengthen the connection between voters and candidates. Successful candidates know that it’s not just about posting frequently; it’s about engaging with students and building relationships online.

Presidential Candidate:

“Every single action I’ve taken during my two consecutive years as class president has been driven by my commitment to earning the respect of my peers and proving that they made the right choice.”

- Gelila Mihret (’26)

makes an

ASB

Secretary Candidate:

- Solonia Allen (’26)

Student Member of the Board Candidate:

“I noticed that sometimes people dont feel heard, or they dont feel seen. My goal is to reach out to the board and communicate what is happening on campus as a collective to make improvements.”

- Ameeya Flanagan (’27)

“As an extremely spirited individual, I feel like I bring more fun and interaction, while also improving skills such as communication and organization in ASB. I will make sure to prioritize every student’s voice and show my dedication to our school.”

Vice Presidential Candidate:

“I hope to include people’s voices a lot more and allow students to express themselves fully. Being on the executive board, I hope to make it more of a safe space for people to feel comfortable and express their concerns. “

- Aubrielle Gomez (’26)

Secretary Candidate: “I want to follow through with more promises and make ASB even better than it is now. I’ve realized that a lot of people see ASB as a very distant organization, I hope to make it feel closer and more engaged with students.”

- Liam Yang (’27)

Student Member of the Board Candidate:

“As the current Student Member of the Board, I’ve already started tackling many key issues and concerns on campus, I want to continue working toward the changes I’ve started. This position gives the power of advocacy which is so important for representing youth.”

- Haley Castanaza (’27)

Vice Presidential Candidate:

“I hope to make an impact here on campus because I truly care about Samohi and its constant advancement… I will keep trying to improve everyone’s experiences here and truly make school an enjoyable place to attend.”

- Archie Winsor (’26)

Treasurer Candidate:

“I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t, and I’m ready to help us create something even stronger.”

- Yazabeth Baza (’26)

Student Member of the Board Candidate:

“I believe my ability to cooperate and work with others can help improve student activities and participation. I am excited for this experience to enhance samo’s involvement and collaboration.”

- Kaleab Seyum (’27)

campaign click beyond the ‘like’ button

Haley Castanaza (’26), an ASB Student Member of the Board, shared that one of her key strategies for a successful campaign is to promote themselves as much as possible, whether through flyers or business cards.

“I made business cards with my name, the position I was running for and why students should vote for me. I passed them out during lunch and throughout the school day. It really helped get the word out,” said Castanaza.

Strong and interactive visuals are crucial in attracting voters’ attention. Whether it’s posters around the school or stand-out social media graphics, eye-catching and unique visuals are essential in creating a strong and memorable impression. Sadie Gryczman (’26), who successfully campaigned for ASB Treasurer, explains how she used design to her advantage.

“I had my campaign as a brand with a specific color scheme and design that is easily recognizable,” Gryczman said.“It really stood out, and that consistency helped draw

attention”

While social media is a great way to interact and attract voters, Castanaza and Gryczman both emphasized that it’s about more than just online presence. Physical outreach, like Polaroid posters and uniquely themed flyers.

“... It [business cards] was something different that grabbed people’s attention. No one else was doing that, and I think it made a lasting impression,” said Castanaza.

A strong speech is vital to a successful campaign, as it allows candidates to convey their beliefs and perspectives to voters clearly. To be effective, a speech must be clear and focused on the main values that resonate with students. It should highlight the candidates’ values, future plans and solutions to problems the candidate finds concerning, while being delivered with confidence and passion, inspiring trust and engagement. When giving a speech it’s important to be authentic, fostering connections between

the speaker and students. Gryczman shared how she crafted an effective speech.

“I really focused on explaining why I was a good fit for the role, what I planned to do, and why I was passionate about serving our school. I also talked about specific goals, like projects I wanted to work on, and how I would make a positive impact,” said Gryczman.

Both candidates agreed that successful campaigning requires thorough preparation and strong commitment to the process. A clear, compelling message, shaped by active engagement, and thoughtful planning, with much dedication, is essential to run an effective campaign. Sharing your genuine reasons for running and your vision for the school year can make a significant difference when running for such a position.

“Give it your all, put your best foot forward, because you never know what will happen,” said Gryczman.

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Scholarship opportunities close Jan. 31 for seniors

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian / The Samohi

What dystopia tells us about... us

Imani Toler Staff Writer

As a dystopian future only heard of in science fiction films inches closer and closer to becoming our new reality, sci-fi writers such as Margaret Atwood, Ray Bradbury and George Orwell, along with movies like “The Matrix” and “Blade Runner 2049,” are proving themselves to be somewhat predictors of the future.

In “The Matrix,” a reality exists where humans are trapped within a simulation, controlled by machines that use brain chips to harvest energy while hiding the true, bleak reality. This concept of the technology-mind connection is uncannily familiar to what is happening in our reality. Technology companies can take some of the blame for the worrisome increase of control—Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a device intended for individuals with cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); is a small chip planted in the brain by robots to aid patients in movement using technology to detect brain waves. Three Neuralinks have been planted, with competitor Synchron’s implantation of 10 more.

The MIT Technology Review underscores Musk’s efforts in technology development.

OPINION: The true danger of censorship

Emi Yamashiro-Hergert Centerspread Editor

“It’s no secret that Musk is interested in using his chip to enhance the mind,” the review said. Political, economic and social trends in our society continue to be eerily predicted by dystopian fiction. “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury warns readers of the potential dangers that censorship and technology can bring. In Bradbury’s dystopia, censorship and the overuse of technology were the downfall of society. Similarly, in our reality, the push by the US Congress to ban the popular social media app TikTok sparks speculation that the US is unfairly censoring Americans under the guise of “prevent[ing] foreign adversaries from conducting espionage, surveillance, maligned operations, harming vulnerable Americans, our servicemen and women, and our U.S. government personnel,” as Maria Cantwell of the Senate Commerce Committee put it.

This also brings about the issue of surveillance capitalism, which refers to an economic system where personal information and data are collected without explicit consent, and then used for profit. This echoes George Orwell’s cautionary tale “1984,” in which the totalitarian government has total control over its citizens, manipulating information while spreading fear and propaganda. Similarly, today’s technology companies are known for their algorithms, which manipulate user information, leading to influenced political views. Google, Facebook and Amazon all participate in surveillance capitalism, gathering data for targeted advertising while molding user behavior. The Party in “1984” monitors civilians openly—these tech companies often operate invisibly, but are just as powerful.

As dystopian fiction is becoming increasingly and frighteningly relevant, no one knows what the future holds for our developing world. Although we can take advice from the warnings written by Atwood, Bradbury, Orwell and so many more, countless new inventions and capitalistic views leave us standing on the precipice of a future where the line between science fiction and reality will only become more and more blurred.

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Let’s get this straight: censorship is a real problem. Not the Elon Musk, billionaire woe-is-me-I-can’t-hateon-minorities-online censorship; that’s just common sense. The real problem is the fascist, Orwellian government-media-control type. The type that aims to reduce the general population to the tech-dependent, tongue-lolling airheads in Wall-E.

In the digital age, all areas of society are increasingly forced to get shorter, faster and easier. This isn’t a good thing. As layer after layer of ease filtration is applied to social media, consumers’ ability to think critically and consider complex issues dumbs down more and more. It’s not just some byproduct of internet culture — the worsening of media and general literacy has been weaponized for politics. Uneducated voters, especially non-minority individuals, are especially susceptible to false facts and partisan indoctrination, according to Moisés Naím with the Washington Post.

“Our democracy’s problems are not just caused by bad

leaders but also by indolent voters,” Naím’s article said. “The Internet makes apathetic voters especially vulnerable to the manipulations of demagogues, particular interests or even foreign powers.”

Barely two decades have passed since the internet, well, went viral. In the time following the explosion of the online sphere, billionaire media CEOs such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have grown increasingly close to the highest seats in government. At the same time, their platforms have shifted into far-right tools for spreading propaganda and political disinformation. During the 2024 election, MAGA advocates and conservative influencers frequently posted deepfakes and made-up stories to “sway voters, twist perceptions, and make people believe negative material about various candidates,” as the Brookings Institute reports. Social media users, dependent on ten-second clips and images they can scroll past in the blink of an eye, tend to absorb these false posts as true without doing their own research. That’s how a felon won the presidency: through the ignorance and short attention spans of uneducated, chronically online, gullible voters.

It’s becoming much more difficult to nip media illiteracy in the bud. Public schools’ divergence from the liberal arts in favor of STEM subjects contributes to nationwide declining literacy rates and postsecondary success. Rose Horowitch, a journalist for The Atlantic, reports that college undergrads, even at the most prestigious universities, are struggling to complete books and often are only taught simple excerpts or short poems in high school English.

“The problem does not appear to be that ‘kids these days’ are incurious or uninterested in reading,” Horowitch said in her article. “Instead, young people might be responding to a cultural message: Books just aren’t that important.”

If the education system has declined so far that we cannot finish one book, there is little hope for our collective social future. As right-wing politicians and parents crack down on curricula containing racial, feminist and LGBTQ+ themes, it’s important now more than ever to become radicalized students and teachers. Literature and the histories it contains teach tolerance, complexity and human connection. Without these skills, we become complacent citizens endlessly scrolling through lies, opening the door to a real dystopia: oligarchy, theocracy, government-censored media and everything else Ray Bradbury warned us about.

So what can you do? If you care about humanity at all—go pick up a book.

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Art by Kayman Mangan

Comic by Kayman Mangan

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

& our road toward it

Koi Lerner Staff Writer

Some may argue that our path is one of darkness. However, they fail to acknowledge our advancements, which shows signs of a future utopia. Advancements in medicine, technology and improving our relationship with the earth all point towards the betterment of society.

Advancements in the medical field mean more efficient doctors and healthier patients. Surgical robots, commanded by a surgeon at a console, have increasingly become prevalent in assisting operations. According to Mayo Clinic, these robots have been shown to give a surgeon increased precision, flexibility and control during an operation, along with the ability to see operation sites better and perform delicate and complex procedures. In terms of patient health, robotic surgery is usually done by small, minimally invasive cuts, leading to less bleeding and pain, fewer complications and a quicker recovery time.

Additionally, MedPark Hospital writers believe there are even more advancements on the horizon. Precision medicine—where a patient receives medical treatments tailored to their genetics, lifestyle and environment—opens the doors to treating previously untreatable conditions. Genomic research is expected to advance more in 2025, so that healthcare professionals can more deeply understand the mechanisms of diseases with an emphasis on genetic disorders and cancer. Even AI is predicted to assist doctors with diagnostics and patient care, such as coming up with treatments and cures for illnesses.

Jacob Gilshteyn (’26), the president of the Samo Medical Club, discusses a medical advancement to look forward to in the upcoming year and the general look for the future within advanced medicine.

“Intranasal insulin is a big one,” Gilshteyn said. “You basically sniff insulin and what it does is that it travels through the nose… and allows drugs to get more easily into the brain, which is really important for addressing neurological diseases, like Alzheimers. I think it holds a lot of promise if it could be improved… Medication and saving peoples lives in

ers pay attention to more meaningful and high-value activities. AI can benefit other divisions of labor, assisting farmers with optimizing use of their land, providing weather forecasts, instructing workers for plant care and more.

We will likely see improvements in worldwide conditions caused by climate change as humans work toward a better relationship with the biosphere. In certain areas, such as Canada, single-use plastic is completely banned. According to the EPA, Ireland has banned multiple different kinds of single-use plastics such as cutlery, plates, straws and all oxo-degradable plastic products, along with 91 countries and territories that have already partially or fully banned plastic bags. Countries have been coming together to fight: on Nov. 24, 2024, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) agreed to triple the finance to developing countries for a total annual budget of $300 billion by 2035. This will limit the effects of climate change on developing countries to promote clean energy as they advance, ensuring the global environment will promote the survival of flora, fauna and humans for years to come.

Carlos Fernandez (’25), an AP Environmental Student, discusses the ways our society has begun to fight climate change already.

“A lot of nations are doing really good things,” Fernandez said. “Many nations have been trying to work to lower their fossil fuel emissions…There’s already new clean energies, like algae, that people are implementing more instead of fossil fuels. Even on a smaller scale, there’s beach cleanups in our community. There’s even programs trying to get Samo running on perfectly clean energy.”

Although there are flaws now, our world is getting better. We’re fixing it. Modern technology and medicine are bettering lifestyles. Even one of the biggest modern issues, climate change, may recover as time goes on. With a few more decades under our belt, who’s to say our world won’t improve? Fernandez expresses his opinion on the future of global society.

“We’re reaching for a utopia,” Fernandez said. “We might have a long way to go, but we’re getting there. Step by step, piece by piece. It’s not a far off dream, not as far as some may think.”

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

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Freedom or liberty?

Alisa Ignatenko Staff Writer

Equality and freedom are essential pillars of our democracy, yet their tension has been fiercely debated for centuries. The US was founded upon the principle of liberty for good reason, as it is key to a functioning democracy. At the same time, without the fight for equality, we would still be stuck in colonial times where only property-owning, cishet white men had any say in government. As students and future global leaders, we must aim for the highest possible levels of freedom and equality that can reasonably coexist.

Instead of aiming for true equality, however, we should be looking to implement equitable systems. Equity acknowledges that each person has different circumstances, and should be given the resources and opportunities they specifically need for true fairness to exist. Think of equity like this: three people of different heights are trying to reach a shelf. The shortest person would need a tall stool, the person of medium height would need a moderately sized stool and the tallest would not need anything. These different boosts would make them all the same height—equals—yet the amount of boosters for each person would vary. If we took an equal route, everyone would still be at different heights.

The US currently functions under unstable proportions of freedom and equity. Recently, our democracy has especially struggled with freedom of speech and equal rights. Since the recent inauguration of Donald Trump, many large corporations in America have gotten rid of protections against hate speech and/or discrimination. As the Washington Post reports, Amazon quietly got rid of protective rights for LGBTQ employees; Mark Zuckerberg discontinued hate speech filtration on Meta platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, according to AP News.

Many Americans argue that these initiatives uphold their constitutional right to freedom of speech. However, the freedom to spew hatred online or in the workplace infringes upon minorities’ rights to equal and fair treatment. A middle ground does exist: Companies could dedicate more resources to examining each instance of controversial speech on a case-by-case basis rather than using an algorithm or a flat-out ban on censorship.

Outside of corporate and political America, the conflict between liberty and equity is still very much a reality. The National Center for Systemic Improvement speaks about how the United States education system lacks equity.

“Schools serving more students of color are less likely to offer advanced courses and programs for gifted children than schools serving mostly white populations,” the database said. “Additionally, students of color are less likely than their white peers to be enrolled in those courses and programs within schools that have those offerings.”

A way to fix this inequitable circumstance would be to give more funds to schools serving more students of color, and to offer advanced courses for all students. Currently, public education funding is contested by conservatives as they feel it infringes on their liberty by unnecessary taxation. Despite their views, equity is the best choice for students nationwide because it supplies the tools

Memorable moments that defined the trends of 2024

Arata Sakamoto Staff Writer

2024 was a year filled with constant change, from fashion embracing maximalism with bold oversized styles and food trends focused on experimenting with unexpected flavors, to the election, where candidates spoke on climate change and women’s reproductive rights.

FASHION

Fashion in 2024 was anything but subtle. Using social media trends many embraced bold designs including cheetah prints, camouflage patterns and bows. Students showed off a “clean-girl” aesthetic with a slick bun and simple put-together outfits. Others embraced the maximalist style with chunky gold jewelry and clothing aesthetics from the late 90s to early 2000s. Solen Suchet (’26) expressed that many trends were shaped by the social media platform TikTok.

“A lot of trends were just surrounding TikTok, as I would never have worn Uggs to school before, but with TikTok, it became socially acceptable, and you are either with it and love it or not and hate it,” said Suchet.

Other trends included vintage clothing such as flannels, timberland boots, Carhartt Detroit jackets and Birkenstocks. To achieve these archived styles, many students at Samo have been thrifting and going to flea markets to find oneof-a-kind pieces that reflect their unique personalities. Brenton Banister (’25) shared how TikTok influenced his personal style.

“Social media has introduced me to new trends and things that I like, especially TikTok,” said Banister. “I think without social media I would wear sweats, Yeezy slides, and a grey shirt all the time.”

FOOD:

Many of the 2024 trends included food such as tanghulu, Dubai chocolate and matcha which gained popularity through social media. Specifically, Crumbl Cookies, a bakery franchise chain in the U.S. and Canada has become one of the biggest food trends. Crumbl has made a name for itself by releasing a new, limited-edition flavor every week, keeping fans eagerly anticipating what’s on the menu next. TikTok has played a huge role in the brand’s reach with influencers filming themselves trying the latest flavors and sharing their reviews. Sydney Ong (’25) likes to experiment with foods she’s seen online, helping her create some of her favorite recipes.

“Inspired by Crumbl’s massive cookies and interesting flavor combinations, I decided to try my hand at recreating them,” Ong said. “Some of my favorites were my chocolate chip Biscoff butter cookies, matcha white chocolate cookies, and brownie cookies” Other food trends consisted with themes of sustainability including chai, dry yogurt, and acai bowls. Originally gaining popularity in 2023, acai bowls have continued to be one of the top trending foods in 2024. Packed with many health benefits including high antioxidants, fiber and nutrients, acai bowls are both nutritious and visually appealing. They also offer endless customizable options allowing toppings like strawberries, granola and banana to create the perfect story-worthy treat.

Campus redesign focuses on student wellness

Sia Kresch Staff Writer

As the exploration building wrapped up construction in Aug., Samo completed phase three of their campus revision plan. This phase featured the installation of the new Exploration building along with the demolition of Samo’s South Gym, which was replaced by a newer, more modern gym, the Gold Gym. Now that phase three has been completed, it is time for Samo to move forward with their plans into phase four.

Phase four will feature the demolition of the English, art and business buildings, the renovation of the humanities center, and the addition of a student art center, infant and toddlers center and a student services building. The construction is set to be complete in 2029, just in time for the incoming freshmen of 2029. Lucas White (’26) attended a meeting discussing the school’s construction plan and what the new student services building will contain.

“At the meeting, they went over the process of how they reached the final plans,” White said, “The ultimate goal is to make the campus feel comfortable and not like a building was just thrown out in the middle of it. To do that, they plan on not straying too far from how the school looks now.”

includes creating architectural drawings, working on construction documents and finalizing what will go into the building to best support students and their wellness.

These current plans include the implementation of a black box humanities theater that will overlook Barnum and will be the first thing constructed during this phase.

Within Phase 4, there are two separate phases; Phase A and Phase B. Phase A would include the construction of the new S house and the new Student Services building. As the Student Services building focus is to implement facilities that will best help and support students outside of the classroom, there are only three classes that will be taking place in the building: journalism, yearbook and ASB. The building will also focus on students’ mental health and overall well-being to achieve this, including the Venice Family Clinic, Margaret’s Place, the Family Center, the Nurse, the College Center and more.

Phase B would include the construction of a new library. Right now, Samo is in the process of hiring a contractor, to make sure their vision is capable of coming to life. To ensure the buildings are safe for students, 3d models are being made to ensure new pipes would not interfere with and go through steel braces.

“The spaces we’re designing are intended to help provide staff with the resources they need. When planning such spaces, we look to the next century in thought of what will happen. There are always so many changes going on, and we want to build for what the next century of students needs,” Baxter said.

POLITICS:

One of the most significant events to happen in the U.S. was the presidential election. Former President Joe Biden was originally the head of the Democratic Party, but amid the presidential race, he stepped down four months before the polls would begin. As a result, his running mate, former vice president Kamala Harris, stepped up in his place. Harris launched her campaign “a new way forward” to unite people not as any one party but as Americans. Her platform prioritized tackling pressing issues such as climate crisis, reproductive freedom and healthcare access. Harris’s approach was progressive, focusing on policies that appealed to diverse demographics, including the younger generations, women and people of color.

On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump’s campaign was rooted in conservative and nationalist principles. He focused on lowering the corporate income tax rate, mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, and cutting climate regulations. His voters predominantly consisted of white, older men who favored traditional conservative values. In addition, he received support and financial assistance from major technology companies such as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, X and Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple’s CEO Tim Cook. On Nov. 5, the results of the election were revealed, with Trump winning 312 electoral votes and becoming the nation’s 47th president.

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Samo is currently in the schematic planning phase. This phase

Dalia Puchalt / The Samohi The Samohi

Art by Kayman Mangan / The Samohi

In the meeting, phase four was displayed to students, focused on creating the new student services building, and is set to be complete in 2029.

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian / The Samohi

Arts and Entertainment

An eternal scare: “Nosferatu”

Yarezti Preza Staff Writer

Robert Egger’s new reinterpretation of the original 1922 “Nosferatu” was released on Christmas Day. Seductive and hauntingly gothic, the lm le audience members in gory glory.

Egger stories the sickly relationship between Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) and mentally unwell Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp). e adaptation earned $100 million in box o ce revenue a er only ten days in theaters.

was raw and annunciated better to create a more overwhelming feeling toward viewers. Skarsgard was also an important component of the sound design as before lming, he worked with an opera singer to expand the range of his voice to create the iconic voice he played as Count Orlok. As a lot went into preparation for his voice, Skarsgard went through a rigorous process of nding a proper vocal routine that allowed him to voice his character chillingly.

Leaving too much “Unknown”

Leo Lucente Staff Writer

While many potential viewers are put o by the “excessive” gore or lack of attractive vampires, the new “Nosferatu” is sure to make Letterboxd top fours nationwide.

Production designer Craig Lathrop captivates the audience; by bringing storyboards to life with historic period sets as a re ection of the characters. Cinematographer Jarin Blascke is equally talented, using color and saturation to clue viewers into Ellen’s state of mind. While visibly creating captivating scenes through lighting, Blascke approached moonlight colors showing onscreen as blue, highlighting the innocence between Ellen and omas away from the darkness.

Not only was the lighting tactical, but the dedication by actress Depp showed o her wide range in acting. In an interview with ET, Depp shares her challenges on set as Ellen. Tasked with the physically demanding work of replicating possessive-like motions through her body. Depp embodied the motions through constant movement to portray Ellen’s mental state as a supernatural being. Along with extreme movement in her role, Depp got access to research more about her character as Ellen from Egger’s to help originate her performance.

“All of us got a ton of knowledge to drive into, and inspiration for di erent things. Eggers sent certain things he liked for performance and atmosphere. I had speci c inspiration and everybody got tailor-made research for their character which was cool” Depp said.

Behind the eerie soundtrack, sound editor Damian Volpe and composer Robin Carplon worked in collaboration to enhance the spine-thrilling music. With the help of actors Bill Skarsgard and Lily-Rose Depp, they both underwent ADR sessions. ADR sessions [automated dialogue replacement] are set in a post-production stage while re-recording dialogue in the studio to replace lines from the lm. Because of this, more dialogue in the lm

In terms of sound design, editor Damian Volpe and composer Robin Carplan along with other sound supervisors used the participation of actors Bill Skarsgard and Lily-Rose Depp. rough ADR sessions with the actors, they rerecorded speci c scenes to accentuate the period lm. Skarsgard was a huge importance in sound design as he continuously worked with an opera singer to lower his voice an octave, pushing himself to a point where he almost damaged his vocal cords.

As Carplan was tasked to experiment with the music, he struggled with small tasks such as replicating odd sounds in the lm through instrumental tools. While also maintaining the emotion throughout the lm in di erent scenes.

“Rob is obsessed with authenticity and everything being periodically correct. I couldn’t use electronics and had to use traditional instruments and experiments when creating odd sounds.” Carplan said.

It’s clear that a er watching ‘Nosferatu’ viewers had explosive reactions when sharing their review on social media. From beginning to end, viewers online could feel the connection between Count Orlok and Ellen, romanticizing their relationship. Not only were viewers struck in fear by Count Orlok’s appearance, but many in their seats jumped from horror throughout the lm. In particular, Herr Knock (Simon Mcburney) appeared in scenes ooded with ghastly elements making his character unforgettable.

e lm has been in the early stages of development for almost a decade lm director; Eggers took a careful and selective approach to what he envisioned his reinterpretation to be before he announced starting production in July 2015.

A er watching the original Nosferatu as a teenager, Eggers knew he found his dream project in his future lmmaking career.

“When I was 17 I did a high school production of “Nosferatu” with my friend on stage. A er, a local theater impresario saw the show and invited us to do a more professional version of it in his theater.” Eggers said. “ at made me sure that this is what I wanted to do in my career.”

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“A Complete Unknown”, the Bob Dylan b iopic following the rise and transformative years of the folk singer, came out on Christmas Day 2024 and is still in its theatrical run. The movie begins as a young and mysterious Dylan tries to find his footing after recently moving to New York. The film which follows Dylan’s life from 1961 to 1965, is adapted from Elijah Wald’s 2015 book “Dylan Goes Electric!” Spoiler alert, Dylan goes electric. He meets prominent artists in the folk genre which help him reach then-unprecedented success and stardom in the folk world. Dylan struggles with the restraints of success and feels his creative freedoms are curbed. Chaos ensues. Despite impressive ensemble performances, “A Complete Unknown” feels almost like a one-man show. Director James Mangold also previously directed the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line”, which was fascinating because Cash was one of the only Dylan acquaintances in the film to not get overshadowed by Timothee Chalamet’s acting. The folk star was, and still is reclusive, mysterious, a complete unknown; he doesn’t show much of his character making the role nearly impossible to pull off. Chalamet began preparing for the role in 2019, spending five years learning the guitar, harmonica and how to talk and sing like Dylan. Additionally, the “Dune” star turned off his phone for the three months when they were filming, cutting himself off from the world and his family to better immerse himself into the role. Yet, dedication to any role is required especially when attempting to portray such an infamous figure; Chalamet succeeds in portraying Dylan externally but falls just short of giving a true insight into what Dylan is to himself.

it is cool to be able to sit in and experience what was one of the greatest music movements of the 20th century.

A Complete Unknown showcases plenty of Dylan’s music prior to 1965, including songs from classic albums “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” (1963) and “Highway 61 Revisited” (1965) All songs, however, are recorded and performed by leading man Chalamet. The success of the film can be, in part, attributed to leading man Chalamet’s press tour. The Dune star made numerous appearances leading up to the film’s release. Chalamet appeared on two podcasts Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend”, Brittany Broski’s “Broski Report” and in an interview with Nardwuar. Chalamet made headlines by sitting in on College Football Gameday, predicting the outcomes of upcoming games with Pat McAfee and other football media personalities. Chalamet additionally pulled off the rare SNL double, both hosting and performing as a musical guest, with his renditions of Dylan songs on Jan. 24.

As for the movie, fans of Dylan or Chalamet will love it, there is no shortage of either. Dylan’s character is a little bit of a turn off. Although it is the point of the movie and part of Dylan’s appeal that he’s so secretive and guarded, it just doesn’t translate to the best movie, especially for people who aren’t diehard Dylan fans.

“A Complete Unknown” does well in building up and immersing the audience into the novel New York Folk scene of the 60s. It is presented as a time when you could go into seemingly any cafe in Greenwich Village and see a Baez or Arlo Guthrie. A time when art was so rich and inspired and concentrated into one place. This environment was cultivated by the social unrest of the time, strong feelings about the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement translated to an influx of Folk music. For better or for worse, there is not a music scene like the 60s Folk today. And so,

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Emma Godfrey Staff Writer

TikTok has given many a place where their artistic self-expression can thrive, while for others, it has become an excuse to hit pause; whether or not the platform is creatively stimulating or artistically su ocating is almost as controversial as the ban itself.

Every January since 2020, the rumor of whether TikTok will be banned in our country has rapidly spread throughout social media. Many of us panicked, saved one too many dra s, and by February the conversation had quelled. Widespread concerns of the Chinese government possibly accessing personal data through TikTok caused the US government to leap into action. As of April 2024, former President Joe Biden signed into law e Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which allows the government the ability to ban any foreign-owned apps. A er reviewing the law, the Supreme Court decided to not block it. TikTok therefore shortly disabled the app in the United States, but only hours later, it was re-enabled. However, there is still

plenty of possibility for the situation to turn the other way, especially with President Trump’s wavering opinions on the matter. is dramatically changes the day-to-day routine of many of TikTok’s over 150 million US users. What blossomed into a combination of content-sharing apps like Tumblr, Pinterest, You Tube and Instagram has quickly become an unparalleled platform for people to connect. Like many other users, I nd myself opening TikTok at least once or twice a day, as it has become part of my daily routine and helps me unwind and relax. Creators are able to share countless forms of art by posting clips of their paintings and drawings, performing dances and songs, trying new recipes, journaling, writ-

ing poetry, sharing song lyrics and so much more. I especially love the fashion community that TikTok has created; people with all di erent styles following various aesthetics posting their “out ts of the day” and sharing how they like to dress. People have found con dence in connecting with complete strangers on topics they are passionate about or learning about new ones they are interested in.

With more and more fast-paced world attention spans, specifically in teenagers, TikTok hasn’t helped, adding to the problem by a tenfold. is has made people wonder if this never ending stream of videos is actually inspiring or simply overwhelming. Yes, falling into the mentally deadly trap of comparison is easy, and many assume that people have just become “too lazy” to go and create art when there is a constant ow of it ready for them to consume. However, the next video has every possibility to spark a new project or fuel somebody’s next big idea.

Art by Raha Ghoroghichian

Art by Kayman Mangan

Spaghetti and Strings serenades Santa Monica

On Saturday Jan. 25, amidst a hectic start of 2025, with raging res displacing many Palisades and Altadena communities, the Samo Orchestra opted to shi their Spaghetti and Springs focus this year towards upli ing Los Angeles. Reducing prices and fundraising for people in need, the Samo Orchestra proves that music truly can bring a community together.

Intermezzo student-rep Mario Scaduto (’27) opened the concert with an an upli ing speech.

“Our hearts go out to those you have lost their home, and those who have been a ected by these unexpected circumstances” Scaduto said. “I would like to express our deepest

gratitude to our re ghters and rst responders. We’ve been working tirelessly these past couple weeks to keep our community safe.”

Brooke Merriam (’26), Athena Miller (’27) and Olry Wilkinson (’26) share favorite aspects of the concert, how they helped out and their overall experience.

“My job was to carry the music stands, chairs and instruments from the orchestra room to the cafeteria and to set up the tables, chairs, and tablecloths. e day of it was easier to set up because that was done the day before” Merriam remarked. “My favorite performance this year was swan lake because it is one of my favorite pieces that I’ve loved since i was little, and it was a great experience to be able to play it.”

“My favorite performance was de nitely Symphony’s rst piece which was the suite from Cinema Paradiso. It brought a lot of interest to the audience and I could tell that everyone was in awe” Miller said. I wanna highlight how amazing the violin solos were, the soloist did an amazing job capturing the emotion of the music.”

“At spaghetti and strings the performance is only one aspect of the evening. It’s also about bringing the community together to support the orchestra program” Wilkinson stated. “At normal concerts, there is a lot less interaction with other orchestra families, and the focus is more on the music.”

“Squid Game” season two delivers an inky return

“I’m going to nd you. No matter what it takes”. Picking up where the rst season le o , we’re re-introduced to a determined Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-Jae), hellbent on nding the “front man”, the main antagonist and organizer of the games. Spending the last three years hunting down clues of the game’s whereabouts, Gi-hun seeks retribution; xated on bringing the games that he emerged from as the solitary victor and survivor to an end. In episode three, Gihun nds himself back on the island competing once again alongside hundreds of players, including his childhood friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan). With his friend and newly formed alliances, they play multiple games, eventually causing an uprising. With only seven episodes–two fewer than the rst– “Squid Games” cuts to a heartbreaking cli anger, leaving the series in strategic suspense.

Communication and complaints rapidly spread about the “Squid Games” continuation, with many arguing the similarity of the rst season to the second. In a way, the feeling of repetitiveness is inevitable; knowing what the games would entail, we don’t have the initial shock of horror and intensity of the games that was accompanied by the rst. But even though season two doesn’t exceed expectations, it excels in consistently o ering what made the rst so enjoyable. Season two also comes with heightened tension and comical use of both classical and modern music, which helps create a sense of irony in serious scenes. “Time to Say Goodbye” roars in the background as the “recruiter” (Gong Yoo), shoots himself in the head. “Fly Me to the Moon” plays as

Leo Lucente Staff Writer

anos (Choi Seung-hyun) dances while people die around him in a game of “red light green light”. With countless iconic scenes, for a sequel, season two is the absolute best version of what could have been made. Calling the second season a disappointment just because it felt “similar” to the rst doesn’t do it justice.

Character development was noticeably better in this season as well. From familiar tensions between the players, with bullies like anos, to fresh characters and dynamics including a mother-son duo and a transgender former special forces soldier, the show was lled with interesting characters, each with their backstory. e complex and likable characters, and the deaths of characters big and small, carried a bigger weight in our hearts.

In an interview with Net ix, Lee Byung-hun, who starred

as the front-man and player 001 in the second season, explained the feelings associated with being on the set.

“Honestly, every time we went on the set for each game, we were all speechless. It was so grand and amazing, like stepping into another world. e patterns and decor felt straight out of a fairy tale, but the things happening in there were so brutal and ruthless. at contrast was really interesting,” he said. “In a way, I think the mix of these beautiful spaces with such cruel events is what gives Squid Game its unique style and appeal.”

Cruel deaths and bloody gore, with everything from organ harvesting to being peppered with bullets and stabbed were a regular occurrence in the show. While the intensity of some scenes may turn away viewers, the series’ message isn’t supposed to be light. By showing the magnitude of violence and cruelty involved in the games, it succeeds in further amplifying the eeriness and message of anti-capitalism in the series.

e structure delivered by the show itself is also much like the Hunger Games theme and storyline. Both lead characters return to participate in the games in the sequels, and the underlying message of the shows are about the disparity between the rich and poor, the exploitation of the vulnerable for entertainment, and ultimately a message to our current world, where the rich have the biggest luxuries.

With the third season set to release later this year, we just have to wait, perhaps playing newfound children’s games, until all of our lingering questions are resolved.

Golden Globes are a contemporary catastrophe

The Oscars’ trivial little brother, the 82nd Golden Globes were hosted by Nikki Glaser at the Globe Theater here in Los Angeles on Jan. 5. To stand out from the plethora of award shows, the Globes’ quirk is that most of the awards are separated into two genres: ‘drama’ and ‘comedy or musical’. They also do awards for TV, which… alright. This year’s standout winners were movies “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Perez,” as well as the TV show “Shogun.”

“The Brutalist,” a nearly four hour film about the architect behind, you guessed it, Brutalism, won Best Motion Picture in the drama category. Although

struggling to connect with inner-city kids or looking like a pretentious douche-- took home the award for Best Drama Performance by an actor.

“Shogun”, the best show no one has ever seen, came away with a mountain of awards as well. The Hulu original won four Globes in the drama category: both the Leading and Supporting Actor awards as well as Leading Actress and Best TV Series.

Another big win was “Flow”, the Latvian animated film took down two Pixar films to win best Animated Feature Film. Moreover, Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for his role in “A Real Pain”, the directorial debut of Jesse Einsenberg, and the new and Globes-exclusive, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award, went to… “Wicked”.

“Dune: Part Two” probably should have won the award,

“The Brutalist” deserves some praise for making the Golden Globes only the second most boring thing on television.

“The Brutalist” achieved further success as Brady Corbet won best director. Its leading man, Adrien Brody -who you may know from TikTok clips of a teacher

Dominating the musical or comedy category, “Emilia Perez,” received four awards. By winning Best Picture, the Netflix original beat out two masterpieces “Anora” and “The Substance,” in a 2014 Grammy’s type snub. Even though they won more than “The Brutalist”, not all awards are created equal. The Spanish-spoken musical won awards for best non-English language film and best original song, not exactly the prestige of best director. Zoe Saldana also won for best supporting actress for her role as lawyer Rita Mora Castro, although she is not the titular character, watching the movie it is clear she is a lead. That being said, it is doubtful that the Hollywood Foreign Press, the group that votes on the Golden Globes, watched “Emilia Perez,” it is not a good movie. “Emilia Perez” is shallow, looks cheap, and “La Vaginoplastia” should be a contender for the worst song ever. Also, why is a French guy making a movie about Mexico’s problems? France is unemployed and perverted, write about that, Jaques Audiard.

In maybe the most competitive category of the night, Demi Moore won Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role in the body horror hit, The Substance. By beating out Mikey Madison (Anora), Zendaya (Challengers), Amy Adams (Nightbitch), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), and Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Perez), Moore won her first major acting award in her 44-year-old career.

Nikki Glaser, the risque comedian your uncle likes for all the wrong reasons, gave a successful performance as host. That’s not saying much as the standard for a good award show host performance is pretty low. And for the Globes especially, the bar is below the floor after Jo Koy’s bomb last year.

All in all, this year’s Globes was chock-full of excitement, controversy, and comedy. Still, it is unlikely the Globes will see a rise in viewership in the coming years. The show is boring and people have recognized that awards are not a true reflection of what is good or bad.

Art by Kayman Mangan

Max Kehoe/ The Samohi

Max Kehoe/ The Samohi

Max Kehoe/ The Samohi

Mayor of Santa Monica Lana Negrete talks to the men and women of stations one and two of Santa Monica’s fire department.

Samo Orchestra students serenaded guests as they walked in and served themselves to appetizers and drinks.

Left to right: Ava Brara (’27), Athena Miller (’27) and Amanda Camacho (’27) help run the drinks stand at the buffet. thesamohinews@gmail.com

Max Kehoe Arts & Entertainment Editor

Eugene Naurse Staff Writer

Professional athletes share perspective through podcasts

Kamerin Shakir Staff Writer

Recently, professional athletes have increasingly turned to podcasting as a platform to share their perspectives, insights and opinions. With the rise of digital media, these podcasts have become a significant trend within the sports industry. But why are athletes starting these podcasts, what social impact do they have, and how do they affect their teams and leagues?

One of the primary reasons athletes launch podcasts is to create a direct line of communication with their fan base.

Regular media often filters and interprets athletes’ words, leading to potential misunderstandings or misinterpretations. By hosting their own podcasts, athletes can control the narrative and provide their authentic voices and opinions. For many athletes, it’s an opportunity to share personal experiences and discuss their journeys while delving deeper into topics that matter to them beyond the confines of their sport. Current NFL tight end Travis Kelce and his older brother and former NFL center Jason Kelce, who co-host the podcast “New Heights”, are just two of the many athletes who have gone down the podcasting path.

Travis Kelce recently made headlines during an episode of “New Heights” where he discussed the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Houston Texans. He candidly addressed the controversial penalties that were called during the match, expressing frustration over the impact these decisions had on the game. Kelce highlighted how crucial

moments were overshadowed by questionable officiating, sparking a broader conversation about the role of referees in the sport. By sharing his thoughts he not only provided fans with a behind-the-scenes look at the game but also opened the door for discussions about accountability and fairness in officiating games.

The social impact of athlete-driven podcasts extends beyond just game commentary or referee calling out. These platforms allow players to discuss mental health, community engagement and personal challenges. Samo football and soccer player Johnny Rusler (’27) shares how impactful sports podcasts are to the sports community and how beneficial they are to sports fans.

“I’ve watched many sports podcasts. They are a fun way for me to stay updated with the sports community. They help me learn athletes’ mindsets and also shape the type of athlete I want to be myself,” Rusler said. “It’s also motivating to hear players talk about things that are also happening in my life. It makes me believe I can pursue sports on a deeper level.”

The podcasts humanize players and allow fans to see them as more than just athletes but individuals with complex lives and perspectives. This connection with fans can lead to increased support for various causes, creating a ripple effect that extends into the community. It also can tremendously impact the amount of people that start tuning into a certain sport, solely based on their love for the player.

Podcasts can also influence team dynamics and league policies. When athletes voice concerns about officiating, player safety, or social justice issues, it often sparks conversations

within teams and leagues, prompting leaders to address these topics. This is extremely beneficial because it gives the audience a chance to finally have a say in what they get to know about their favorite sports and it also shows how important it is to communicate with fans. As athletes leverage their platforms, the landscape of sports continues to evolve, showcasing the power of their voices in shaping the future

Esports: The rise of a modern era in gaming

Koi Lerner Staff Writer

Esports, short for electronic sports, has be come increasingly popular in the last decade. With viewership in the hundreds of millions and projected revenues being up to $4.8 billion, esports has been taking the video game worldand the world in general- by storm. It’s even seeped into Samo, who hosts its own esports club.

Esports normally take form in organized video game tournamentswhere professional players compete for cash prizes- from numbers of a few thousand to a few million each in major tournaments. Some players may choose to play in leagues instead of tournaments- longer versions that could take place over several weeks. The tournaments and leagues can be played individually in a one-on-one format or in groups, depending on the video game. Currently, popular video games to play in esports competitions are Valorant, League of Legends, Over watch and more.

The first arcade game came out in 1971 and since then, video games have expo nentially grown in influence across the world. Esports started shortly after, with the first-ever competition being held in 1972 at Stanford University. However, it didn’t really take off until the 2000s- where it became increasingly popular in East Asia, with South Korea coining the name esports in 2000. It surged in popularity with the assis tance of streaming platforms, primarily You Tube and Twitch, and, by the 2010s became a major part of the video game industry. Esports have continued to surge- with revenues pro jected from $4.8 billion in 2025 to $5.7 billion by 2028. Max Bernstein (’25), the president of the esports club at Samo, discusses video games and the accessibility of esports.

“The appeal to it is so widespread,” Bernstein said. “It’s like nothing else… It’s incredibly ac cessible. You can get as good at Fortnite or

really important to a lot of local players.”

Many are expecting 2025 to be a year of maturation for esports. Steve Arhancet, the CEO of Team Liquid- which many view as the best current esports team, believes that esports will become a cultural phenomenon and finally shed its reputation that it’s a passing trend. But, many also believe that 2025 might have a less positive outlook- at least for smaller groups. Nicolas Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality, believes that the disparity between the industry leaders and smaller teams will only increase as time goes on.

There’s also an expected increase in mobile esports- with mobile games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, and FreeFire taking off. Mobile esports is predicted to have the most growth potential by many, including Oklahoma City University. Additionally, AI might begin to take a stronger hold in the gaming world. With its ability to analyze data, AI could begin to assist coaches with strategies, training regimens and even fan outreach. Daniel Finkler, the CEO of Berlin International Gaming (BIG) organization, discusses the expansion of esports.

“In 2025, esports will continue its global expansion, with classic esports and mobile gaming solidifying its dominance,” Finkler said. “AI and data analytics will revolutionize key areas like marketing, coaching, strategy and fan engagement, while teams increasingly adopt diversified business models to ensure financial sustainability.”

From a single tournament hosted at Stanford University to a cultural phenomenon of worldwide entertainment, esports has undeniably become an increasingly popular media. Many millions of people tune in to watch the competitions- either live or live-streamed. Bernstein discusses his belief in the future of esports.

“The appeal for esports is not going anywhere,” Bernstein said. “It’s still massive and I think it’s only going to gain traction as more and more people get on playing games and as more games come out. I think it’s only getting bigger.”

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Impact of air quality upon athletes amidst recent fires

Addy Fiore Staff Writer

Athletes in Los Angeles face unique challenges posed by the city’s air quality ranging from city pollution to wildfires. Air quality can have a major impact on an athlete’s performance, health and overall well-being.

Athletes face bad weather all over the world but Los Angeles is the number one city in the US with the highest ozone pollution. This is hazardous to not only the general population but athletes in particular. Athletes tend to take in 10 to 20 times more air when performing than when at rest, causing them to inhale more pollutants. Additionally, many athletes breathe with their mouths open. This lets toxins pass through without the natural filtration one usually gets from nasal breathing. These toxins then have the potential to travel to lungs susceptible to damage and infection.

Many pollutants are generated from industrialization as Los Angeles is a densely populated city with thousands of vehicle emissions per year. The recent wildfires have significantly affected the air quality as well, with chemicals such as benzene, lead, asbestos and formaldehyde all of which have derived from burned down structures built in the 70’s. All of these chemicals can increase the risk of cancer, lung infections and reproductive issues. This makes the air hazardous for athletes with prolonged exposure, especially without using protective measures like a mask.

Thousands of chemicals were released into the atmosphere, making the air quality index 300 from Jan. 8 through Jan. 13. The stan-

dard index for healthy air is between 50-100, meaning that 300 is extremely hazardous to humans. Typically, Los Angeles has a set index of 75, which is considered moderate and poses a slight risk of respiratory issues for athletes to begin with. After Jan. 13, the AQI reported the air quality as back to an index of 75, indicating it was safe to breathe based on pollution levels, however, this assessment does not account for the chemicals left lingering in the air. It may take years for Los Angeles air to become fully safe to breathe again, as asbestos is non-biodegradable and takes an exceptionally long time to break down.

Students have been struggling with the air quality, with various side effects such as coughing, shortness of breath and eye irritation affecting practices and games. The inability of some athletes to compete in their sports has had a significant impact, including delayed games, fewer practice days, and reduced athlete performance. In addition to this, athletes with underlying respiratory conditions face even greater challenges. If one has an underlying respiratory condition, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis, these conditions can be much more impactful, primarily because their existing system already struggles to cope with poor air quality and respiratory stressors.

Cecilia Fierro-Feinstein (’27) manages the challenges of living with asthma.

“With the conditions of L.A right now being extremely dry from the fires and bad air quality, it makes my asthma act up a ton, making my day-to-day life harder and definitely doing physical activities, like soccer.” Fierro-Feinstein said.

So the ultimate question is… is it safe for athletes to practice and

perform to their full potential in these conditions? The short answer to this question is no. Practicing in these conditions can lead to long-term health issues and as of right now, many outdoor athletes are not performing to their potential.

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

Art by Kayman Mangan

Patrick Conlin / Contributer

Samo student Patrick Conlin (’27) captures local teens looking over the aftermath of the Palisades Fire.

Steep prices and steep slopes in the US vs Europe

Olivia Stephansen Social Media Manager

Skiing has grown enormously in popularity throughout the years, but so have its expenses. As skiing is one of the biggest winter sports, only a small group of individuals can call it a common hobby as the price of a single ski trip can cost thousands of dollars. As so many travel around the world to experience the thrill of winter sports, the US and Europe remain the two biggest hot spots; but the question comes down to which trip is worth your money?

The beautiful landscapes of Park City, Telluride and Aspen make them some of the most popular places to ski in the US. That beauty however comes with a price, a price that some people might not be willing to pay. Staying at a ski resort can cost around $300, many visitors spend 2-3 nights upping that price to about $900. The average cost for a day lift pass for an adult is $100 and to rent a basic ski equipment package is around $50. At notable resorts including Park City those prices can increase even more, the average price for a day lift ticket being $240. On top of that, a round trip airplane ticket can cost anywhere from $200-500, putting a basic two-night ski trip for a single person can cost over $1000.

Damien Hashim (’27) a regular skier shares his experiences as someone who has skied in both Europe and the US,

“There are beautiful mountains in the US but it is way too expensive, especially with renting gear. The biggest difference of skiing in Europe is the price, it is way cheaper in Europe compared to the US in my experience. We were going skiing in Switzerland and they said one day was 70 bucks and I said

that’s cheap compared to what the prices are in the United States,” Hashim said.

The chance to ski in Europe is the trip of a lifetime, the hundreds of ski resorts in the European Alps including Zermatt, Switzerland and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Plane tickets are a part of the expense when traveling to Europe, costing up to $1000 for a round trip. While that price exceeds the cost compared to a US ticket, what saves a big portion of money is around $60 for an adult day pass.

“While the plane ticket does take a big chunk of money to go to Europe it depends on how long it is and if it’s worth it to you, I would rather ski in Europe and recommend that over the United States because of the landscape and it’s more beautiful in my opinion,” Hashim said.

As the ski season comes in full swing over the next few months it can be seen the different pros and cons while traveling to either Europe or staying in the country to ski. Both regions cater to a variety of skill levels making both options a dream for winter sport enthusiasts. Wherever is chosen is guaranteed to have a thrilling experience with breathtaking views.

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HOTLB: 2025 Super Bowl predictions

Manny Lopez Photography Editor

As the National Football League season ends, the postseason and race to the Super Bowl begins. In the American Football Conference, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, are once again favorites. The Buffalo Bills cannot be ruled out though either, mainly because of the MVP-type season quarterback Josh Allen is having. Over in the National Football Conference, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders stand out as top contenders, showcasing both dominant defenses and explosive offenses. The upcoming playoffs promise thrilling matchups between these teams as they vie for a Super Bowl title.

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“I think the Ravens will win the Super Bowl because they are the best team in the league in my opinion. They are super fast to the ball and can rally really well. Lamar Jackson will win the Super Bowl MVP because he individually has had the best season in the NFL.”

“I think the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl because they won it last year and they still look like a pretty strong team. Their offense is super tough and you can’t stop Ronaldo at Wide Receiver. Messi will win the Super Bowl MVP because he is in lockdown on the defense and it’s hard for people to get around him.”

“The chiefs are a good team to look out for since they won it all last year. They have the best quarterback and the best offense in the league. Patrick Mahomes makes crazy plays too. He will most likely win the Super Bowl MVP as well since they are gonna go back to back.”

“Ravens definitely have the best shot. Lamar just has to get past the Kansas City Chiefs, who don’t look too strong this year. Once he can beat them he can beat anybody. Lamar will win the Super Bowl MVP because he will probably already win the regular season MVP, which gives him better odds, and he can hoop.”

“I think the Carolina Panthers have a good shot this year. They have Bryce Young and he’s been balling out this season. They also have Travis Hunter who plays both offense and defense and he creates a big impact on the team. I think Bronny will win Super Bowl MVP because he has crazy athleticism and has the talent to make big-time plays.”

“Cincinnati Bengals because they have the best quarterback and wide receiver duo in the league with Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase. Joe Mixon is gonna win the super bowl MVP because of his hands. I mean everybody knows his hands are rated E for everyone, and it’s a good combination with his speed.”

An athletes struggle in staying fit over break

Winter athletes face so many hardships from weather to air quality, however winter break may be the worst one of all. For most winter sports, winter break falls right in the middle of their season. When athletes get back, some of their most important (league and CIF) games commence. However they can not let winter break stop them. So many athletes will cross train, utilizing indoor gyms that are not dependent upon weather conditions. Many athletes this season also had to face the consequences of

practice due to the LA fires. These fires affected air quality so much that outdoor sports couldn’t be practiced and all SMMUSD outdoor activities were cancelled. Indoor gyms that some athletes use to exercise were filled with New Year’s resolution makers and people affected by the fires who were utilizing free amenities offered by gyms in these times of need. Gaia Fulchimure (’28) explained how detrimental breaks can be for athletes.

“It’s really hard to come back to a sport after taking two whole weeks off and then being expected to have the exact same conditioning and fitness as you did before break. On top of that we had an extra week off where we couldn’t exercise because of the fires,” Fulchimure said.

Although there are preventative measures athletes can take from getting out of shape, nothing compares to having routine practices with your coach multiple times a week. This is why numerous Samo sports have practice during these two-week long breaks. Girls’ and boys’ soccer,

wrestling and basketball, as well as girls’ water polo, all had prac tices over winter break.

Winter break is another hurdle athletes face while competing, and continuing to train is the best way to prepare for an ath lete to return to being in season and competing at the best level they can.

Art by Raha Ghoroghchian

Manny Lopez / The Samohi

Art by Kayman Mangan

Laurel Cohn Staff Writer

Tarik Khosla (’27)

Manny Lopez / The Samohi Tatum Asla (’26)

Manny Lopez / The Samohi Zachary Bennett (’26)

Manny Lopez / The Samohi Jerald Wadding (’28)

Manny Lopez / The Samohi Kayla Yee (’26)

Manny Lopez / The Samohi Xavier Seldon (’25)

Girls’ waterpolo bounces back on path to playoffs

Claire Harrison Opinion Editor

As the girls’ water polo season has met its halfway point, they’ve totaled eight wins and 12 losses. Despite an early setback losing their first couple of games of the season, the team has since maintained an impressive winning streak from their past four games.

During a recent game on Thursday Jan. 15 against South Torrance highlighted some of their most notable performances of all season. From the second the buzzer went off, the team remained focused, scoring twice within the first minute of the game. Throughout the game, the girls were backed with unwavering support from family and friends in the audience, cheering them on through every play and ensuring their momentum never died down. Celeste Radusky (’25) attributes their moments of high performance to their strong team bond.

“Team dynamic is very important to us. We get along very well… it’s honestly like a second family and we’ve collectively stayed very committed,” Radusky said. “We all share the mindset that this team is a high priority for us and we’re going to give it our all.”

Thursday’s game also featured the team’s senior night, a

night to honor the team’s key soon-to-be graduating players. One of the most prominent players honored included Ellie Skalaski (’25), who coach Matthew Flanders deemed “a phenomenal goalie”. Skalaski, similar to the majority of the team’s players, began playing water polo in her freshman year. She originally only had experience in soccer, but after trying swimming as well, she found her spot in water polo playing field and eventually earned her place as goalie. Skalaski shares the importance of working in a group effort while in the pool.

“It’s important we remember we’re all working together to wards the same goal. We always need to remember to stay calm and not get upset with our teammates because we’re really all working together as a group,” Skalaski said.

As the season progresses, improving upon their communi cation has been a priority for the team. Radusky reflected on how challenging it can be to effectively communicate while playing in such a fast-paced and physically demanding en vironment.

“Being in the water already makes it harder to actually see and hear what’s going on around you and that can really make communication more of a challenge,” Radusky said. “In all honesty, we need to be screaming out to each other what we need, like really letting your teammates know what’s

going on and what you want, otherwise nothing could get done.”

Despite these challenges, girls’ water polo continues to push through the season. Coach Flanders is particularly proud of their focus.

“The girls are great to work with, they have a great team culture and a positive outlook… Outside of the pool, they

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Girls’ basketball in battle for playoff contention

Leo Lucente Staff Writer

A little over halfway through the Samo girls’ basketball team’s season, the Vikings sit at fourth in the Ocean League with a league record of 3-2 and an overall record of 8-12. The Vikings have played all of their regular season games but still have a three-day league tournament and, if everything goes to plan, playoffs. Speaking to head coach Lance Radford prior to the season, the Vikings’ current success was expected.

“We have a strong group of seniors that have the ability to do something special this year,” Radford said. “Our expectation is to make the playoffs.”

The Vikings have a total of eight senior girls: Sophia Miranda-Morales (’25), Nylah Bennet (’25), Nyah McIntyre (’25), Amber Havel (’25), Yadira Lopez (’25), Jayla Johnson-Lake (’25) and co-captains Maya Allhouse (’25) and Kyla Cotton (’25). Flag Football athletes make up a large portion of the team as well. While the CIF champions play a pivotal part in the team’s success, chemistry was an issue earlier in the season.

“In the beginning of the season, especially, because a lot of our team comes from flag football we had a little bit of trouble fitting back in and getting into the swing of things,” Allshouse said. “As the games went along, our chemistry has gotten better. Just seeing from the start of the season to now, we play as a really cohesive unit.”

The Vikings’ season started out strong, scoring over 50 points to beat a non-league opponent in Crenshaw High School by a score of 53-39 at home on Nov. 18, 2024. Radford commented on the game. 8

“We shot the ball really well,” Radford said. “I think we surprised ourselves a little bit how well we shot. And I think the expectation is that we now realize what we can do.”

The girls fell into a slump following their opener, losing four straight. The Vikings lost to El Segundo, Thousand Oaks and Chaminade at home, and fell short to Buena Park, away. After the loss to El Segundo, Kalea Oshidari (’26) expressed how, although losing can be disappointing, it is important for a team’s growth.

“I think we could have done better. I was slightly disap pointed, but I think there’s a lot of room for improvement, and we’re working hard to fill those gaps,” Oshidari said.

Grow they did. The Vikings followed their four straight losses with back-to-back wins at home, defeating YULA 50-30 and Notre Dame Academy 47-35 on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 of 2024.

A week later, from Thursday Dec. 12, to Saturday Dec. 14, the Vikings played three games at the John Burroughs Tournament. In the first game, Samo was defeated 71-15 by La Salle. They picked themselves up, however, beating Burbank 57-49 in a barn burner. The Vikings finished out the tournament with a loss to Granada Hills Charter 5428.

Since the tournament, the Vikings have gone 4-5. Girls’ basketball lost five games to Village Christian, Shalhevet, Kennedy, Leuzinger, and Lawndale while defeating Cen tennial, Hoover, Inglewood and Beverly Hills.

pretty good stretches and some stretches that maybe didn’t go the way we wanted to. But I think as the season has progressed, we’ve gotten better as each game has gone along.”

Looking forward, Allshouse outlines her hopes for the remainder of the season.

“[Our goals are to] win each game that comes our way, and to make a really deep run in the playoffs because I know our team has the potential to do so, and hopefully we can just go on a good win streak and end the season

Looking back on the season, Allshouse is proud of the progress the team has made.

“The season has definitely had its challenges. We’ve had our ups and downs,” Allshouse said. ”We’ve had some

Samo wrestling continues to pin down competion

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The Samohi co-ed wrestling team began their long anticipated season in December. Led by coach Jason Mun, boys’ team captains Raden Madley (’25) and Frederick Ekberg (’25) and girls team captain Maia Baker (’25), the team has already won numerous duels against their rivals in Bay League. The team as it stands now, may have a shot at league championship and likely has multiple varsity candidates for CIF.

On Jan. 22 the Vikings had a successful away dual-meet against Mira Costa, with the varsity team leaving with a solid victory.

Ekberg, who was instrumental in guiding the team towards this achievement, gave some insight on how Samo’s performance against Mira Costa could foreshadow the season to come.

“I think we’re doing so well at the right time and we’re carrying good momentum into what’s going to be the postseason,” Ekberg said. “I expect a lot of our guys and girls to go to masters and beyond state.”

Mun also highlighted the freshmen varsity wrestlers and their performance at the Mira Costa dual, angling towards the success of the program currently and likely to be seen in years to come.

“We had some freshmen in the varsity lineup. They wrestled well and got some great pins for us.”

Regarding the team’s general performance, Mun was optimistic.

“We’re getting healthy and we’re looking better in practice,” Mun said. “As long as we keep fixing mistakes and getting better, we’ll be good to go.”

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South Torrance High on Jan. 16.

Samo team capitain Fred Ekberg (‘25) lifts up opponent during victorious duel-meet against Mira Costa.

Claire Harrison / The Samohi

Arata Sakamoto / The Samohi

Priya Mevasse (‘26) shoots a three-pointer against Beverly Hills on Jan. 17, 2025.

Leo Lucente / The Samohi

Senior night success puts boys’ basketball in a solid playoff position

Throughout the season, Samo has navigated through a challenging schedule, showcasing resilience and growth throughout their push for playoffs. They started their season on Nov. 19th, with an impressive victory over Los Angeles High School, dominating with a 75-35 win, and followed up with a hard-fought 73-67 win against Dorsey.

Despite a few tough losses, including a 59-49 defeat to Cypress and a narrow 54-53 heartbreak against Chaminade, the team bounced back with commanding victories against Triumph Charter High School, Valley View High School and Calabasas High School.

As the season progressed, the team faced multiple competitive matchups, including high intensity games in holiday tournaments. Although they fell to powerhouse teams like Rancho Christian High School, Long Beach Poly High School and Bakersfield Christian High School, they bounced back in games like the 61-43 victory over Woodrow Wilson High School and a needed 43-41 win against rival Beverly Hills High School, which set them at an overall record of 12-10.

While losses to Saugus High School and Rancho Mirage High School highlighted areas for improvement, the team strived through thick and thin entering league play. Co-Captain Xavier Seldon (’25) comments on their late playoff push and overall league play.

“I think that we have a strong team that can be dangerous when we are all in sync and have a rhythm. We should finish out league strong, with our momentum leading forward from our 2 past close wins at home. Our team chemistry will have a strong impact once we enter the playoffs. Once we are in the playoffs everybody has a fair chance to take their team far into CIF,” Seldon said.

Samo looks to finish strong through their league play, with key wins over Beverly High School and Lawndale High School to set them up at 4th in league. With crucial games

coming in at the Ocean League tournament, the Vikings look to solidify their spot in CIF. Samo looks to add to their winning streak on 1/29 in the Ocean League Tournament.

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Ocean League champs: Boys’ soccer goes 8-0 in league

As of Jan. 27, the Samo boys’ varsity soccer team holds an overall record of 17-2-1 and a league record of 8-0, maintaining the hopes head coach Chris Sandoval (’16) and several squad members expressed earlier in the season: to win

league and make playoffs. With the team currently placed 1st in Ocean League, Samo forward Nicholas Youseuf (’27) gives his insight on how he expects the rest of the season and playoffs to go.

“Teamwork is our best attribute as a team, we are very collective and organized,” Youssef said. “Because of that, we hope to go the rest of the league without conceding a goal, and we hope to win CIF [California Interscholastic Federa-

tion].”

The team has more than maintained a winning spirit during this season, beating the majority of their opponents in a purge. Samo played against Mira Costa High School at the South Holiday Classic Tournament semi-finals on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, losing 2-1. The loss against Mira Costa High School meant that the Vikings didn’t further quality in the Soth Holiday Classic. However, hoping to upgrade their 10-2-0 record at the time, they went head first a game against Redondo High School that same day, which resulted in a tie game that went to penalties, Samo won 9-8. Since the tournament defeat, Samo boys’ varsity soccer has been taking “New Year New Me” to a whole other level.

The first game the Vikings played in 2025 was against Inglewood High School on Monday, Jan. 6, in which they wiped the floor with a score of 12-0, since then they haven’t lost a game, currently keeping a 5-game win streak. The only way to describe Samo’s victories is overwhelming. in addition to their win streak, their defense has been top-notch, not allowing any teams to score on them this year. This has resulted in shockingly substantial scores such as their win against the Morningside Monarchs on Thursday, Jan. 16, beating them 10-0.

Their current home record is 8-1, and the Vikings are crushing away games, holding a record of 6-0 and have a neutral record of 3-1-1. The redemption from last year is apparent and the effort is crystal clear, Samo boy’s varsity is picking up what fans are putting down and is getting closer to grasping playoffs every game they play.

In the Vikings game against Beverly Hills High School on Friday, Jan. 17, Youssef scored one of the three winning goals.

“In the last game against Beverly, I scored my first goal on varsity,” Youssef remarked. “The Beverly game has been my favorite game so far this season, but, I aim to be more of a

goal scorer- more of a threat towards the goal”.

Viking forward Joshua Besser (’26) also discusses his favorite game this year.

“My favorite game this season was Lawndale senior night, it was fun to see everyone score,” Besser said. “We’re a lot more focused as a team this year and very cohesive- I hope we win CIF.”

The Beverly High School game was yet another victory for the books and displayed great effort from newer Samo boys’ varsity players, making the future of the soccer team appear just as bright as the prediction of winning CIF. The Samo boys’ varsity soccer teams’ hard work has not gone unnoticed, and by the looks of it, the 24’-25 season will be one of immense success.

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Samo girls’ soccer sets their sights on CIF playoffs

Toler Staff Writer

The Samo girls soccer team kicked their season off on Nov. 20th with a scrimmage against Marymount High School, with an end score of 0-0. The Vikings currently stand with an overall record of 7-7-1 and a league record of 6-1, putting them in second place in the Ocean League. At the start of the 24-25 season, the girls started off with a loss against Cleveland High School, ending the game with a score of 0-2. Next on Jan. 6, the Vikings demonstrated a well-played game against the Inglewood High School Sentinels, ending the game with an impressive score of 14-0, the record number of goals all season for the Vikings. The Vikings also beat Lawndale High School in another impressive game with a score of 10-0.

Coach Jason Daglis expresses that he is proud of the self improvement that the team has made throughout the season.

“We learned a lot of tough lessons against some of the really talented teams in the South Bay. Since then, we’ve found our shape, created more scoring opportunities, and finished our chances,” Daglis said.

As the winter season progresses and the team continues to improve, Co-Captain Bella Santiago (’25) shares her thoughts on the season’s momentum.

“The season has been going very well, we have learned to work better as a team with each game that we’ve played. We’ve worked hard to be undefeated in [the] league with shutouts every game. We’re looking forward to playing in the CIF playoffs,” Santiago said.

This growth has been clear with the Vikings and their ability to consistently put up big numbers on the scoreboard. While Drew Sievers (’25) and Bella Santiago (’25) have been noted as important goal scorers, Daglis also highlights the broader effort put in by the team as a whole.

“Everyone has been contributing with goals this season, which shows the depth of our individual talent,” Daglis said.

The Vikings’ senior night, which celebrated the team’s seven seniors, Ruby Winn (‘25), Poppy Carr (‘25), Drew Sievers (‘25), Bella Santiago (‘25), Mia LaPalm (‘25), Marisa Melendez (‘25), and Piper Forsyth (‘25), ended with a 0-3 loss to Culver City. The Vikings’ look forward to their first playoff game on Jan. 29th.

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Manny Lopez Photography Editor

Max Kehoe Arts and Entertainment Editor

Imani

Brenton Banister (‘25) dunks the ball while warming up before senior night vs Lawndale High School on 1/22.

Manny Lopez / The Samohi

The Samo girls varsity soccer team poses for picture after 1-0 win at Beverly Hills High School on 1/17.

Bella Santiago / Contributor

Osbaldo Rivera (‘25) traveling down the field during the first half of game against Lawndale High School on 1/22.

Manny Lopez / The Samohi

[From left to right] Charles Cravings (’25), Brenton Banister (’25), Xavier Seldon (’25), Miles Price (’25) and Jaylen Smith (’25), sit on bench before playing in their senior night game.

Manny Lopez / The Samohi

Gabriel Sherman (‘25) dribbes the ball through traffic and scores during the first half of their senior night game against Lawndale High School.

Manny Lopez / The Samohi