E N I O R
S E N I O R S E N I O R
It’s no secret that the end of the school year is an exciting, but ultimately stressful time with various fnals, as well as AP tests. At OHS, certain teachers are going above and beyond by implementing unique review sessions to further motivate and assist students.
With an excessive amount of content learned throughout the school year, it is important for students to have a refresher.
Some teachers stress the importance of review sessions, and the various ways in which they aid students.
“I try to motivate all my kids to come in after school because APUSH is a monster,” said Uriah Cross, history teacher.
“We go period by period, week by week, just to review and keep these objectives that the kids know somewhere up in their brains, and just refresh those things.”
For many AP students, the school year is jam packed and full of stress. Review sessions give students a chance to take a breath and turn their focus towards excelling on the AP test.
“Some of the benefts from the study sessions are that I can reabsorb content that was in the beginning of the
year that I forgot about, and I think that’s really nice that teachers understand we might not remember everything from months and months ago,” said Caitlyn Tokuno, junior.
Certain teachers focus on creating a fun and engaging environment where students, in their own time, are compelled to show up. There is a lot that goes into these review sessions, and even more that can be taken away from them.
“I bribe the students with pizza and try to make it more fun. I get kids to compete and try to build a culture where a cool thing to do is be here, learning APUSH and giving efort because once again, that lesson can be taken away from OC with you wherever you are, because APUSH is tough, but life is tough also,” Cross said.
By building on what is taught in the classroom in a unique and entertaining way, study sessions can become a key component in captivating students further, and more efectively preparing them for big tests.
“Adding more of a fun factor does contribute to the efectiveness of the study sessions because when it’s fun you want to be there and you’re not dozing of,” Tokuno said.
Some teachers even organize events outside of school, their sole purpose being to create
a fun and productive study environment. These reviews can even become staple events that students look forward to participating in.
“I just invited all of the students who wanted to show up to Elevate Cofee, and it was a very small group the frst time,” said Richard Weyker, history teacher.
“Each subsequent year I’ve taught AP, the numbers have grown and grown, and now I have anywhere from twenty to thirty kids.”
Various teachers, especially those in AP, recognize the stress that is put on their students, and feel that it is part of their job to provide review sessions that can impart further aid and success.
“I think leadership is important. I mean, I’m asking a lot from the kids, so I feel in turn I have to give my part because I think that’s what
good leaders do; they model the hard work and efort that you’re asking of them, and when kids see that they’re more willing to put in that themselves,” Cross said.
Teachers taking the time out of their own schedules to provide these opportunities for students does not go unnoticed.
Students appreciate the content and review, but they also respect the intentional devotion that teachers are showing towards them and their success.
“I do really appreciate the teachers taking their own time to do these things because it makes me feel like they actually care,” Tokuno said.
Even simple activities and games can give students the fnal push to fnish out the year strong by creating a welcoming environment that can produce attentive and engaged students.
“I have a game that I do in my class called grudgeball, which is a very competitive and fun review game,” Weyker said. “It keeps the energy going on and it breaks up the monotony of education to occasionally do something like that, which is a little more engaging and interesting.”
It is important to recognize the needs and emotions of students as they progress through their years of highschool. In an education system that can feel very repetitive at times, a fun game or review session can make a tremendous diference.
“Long story short, as a teacher, you can’t take for granted that just because someone is an AP kid means it’s easy for them to focus or try. They deserve to have a chance to have some fun too, and it goes a long way,” Weyker said.
Thrift stores attract many diferent types of people trying to fnd quality clothes at a great price, and after the recent success of OC thrift, it is clear that OHS students are no exception. OC thrift was a new event put on by the OHS student council (STUGO) earlier this year, and will go down as one of the best events in STUGO history.
“OC thrift was our most successful event of the last year or two. I mean it was huge, from a sales perspective we have never had a better outcome,” said Tala Shammas, senior, student body treasurer.
The event had a multitude of vendors, including several of OHS’s very own students, as well as live music. Inspired by other local thrifting events, OC thrift brought vendors into the school cafeteria and created an atmosphere similar to an
actual vintage thrift store.
“The idea came from events like Pickers Playground and Rollin’ Retro. We tried to create an energy similar to those,” said Ella Jackson, sophomore.
OHS admin was also helpful in the process of creating an event like OC thrift, admin plays a very important role in the creation of events like these. Any events planned by STUGO need to be approved by admin in order to proceed.
“Admin was very helpful.
This year we have a great admin, Mr. Greg Caroll, he is phenomenal, he lets us do a lot, and really gives us the freedom to make great events for OHS,” Shammas said.
One of the most challenging parts of this process is sourcing vendors for the event who have the quality and the quantity of items needed for provisions..
“A lot of people in STUGO go to a lot of diferent thrifting events, so we know a lot of people from things like Ivory House and we invite them, and
some say no but a surprising amount said yes,” said Zaden Reed, senior.
The support shown by students at this event speaks to the faith put into STUGO to create fun and exciting opportunities for OHS students to express themselves through a school-sponsored event.
“It was very unexpected; the trust our community gave us in order to come to an event
like OC thrift, they weren’t sure what to expect,” Shammas said.
The inclusion of student vendors at OC thrift creates a great opportunity for students to interact with and give back to their community.
“Last semester we had some student vendors; It was a great opportunity for them to make some money and give back to their community,” Jackson said.
Following the initial success of OC thrift, STUGO plans to keep branching out with new and exciting events for the students at OHS to enjoy.
“We want to do things that our campus loves and will involve themselves in. We’re always trying to renovate and create newer, better experiences for students,” Shammas said.
Excelling across both the campus and state is not new to OHS, but the 2023-2024 school year has brought the most amount of athletic success and accomplishments ever seen. It is hard not to want to follow along the sidelines of each sport and cheer on fellow OHS students as they consistently exceed expectations and build a reputable name for OHS within their respective athletic divisions.
Setting of the school year on the right foot, girls volleyball, after getting runner up last season, persevered their way into fnally earning the state championship ring that they were working so hard towards.
“People will now see that we’re a competitive school. People will see that we are a threat to them, and that we want another state championship,” said Leylah Duran, sophomore.
While student determination and the team’s talent were the most defning components of their success, the OHS athletic department fostered their potential and aided in turning their eforts into something for other schools to be envious of.
“Girls volleyball had a maxout mindset person come in, and just work on team building, how we deal with stress and everything else during the game, and so we’ve tried to be more intentional at that,” said Jason Rypkema, Athletic Director .
Assistive programs and coaches that go the extra mile to set up their teams for success are not uncommon for OHS, diferentiating us from other athletics departments.
“We have a lot of power training classes, where the kids get to be together with their group of kids. Boys basketball does a ‘Mindset Friday’; they work together to build each other up, to work on teamwork, and do all that,” Rypkema said.
The boys basketball team proudly made it to the 6A division state championship this previous season, commending part of their determination to the resources and strategies used within their team environment. OHS prides itself in having that same grit and encouragement for all sports across campus throughout the year.
“There’s a lot of schools out there, they might have one sport that does well, and they
put everything in that -- that is not our goal. We want every single sport to be at the top level, so when we get to see that, and then everybody gets to cheer on everybody else, it just builds up community and school spirit,” Rypkema said.
The girls basketball team also fought to achieve their own respective spot in the state championship, bringing it all the way home, plastering the OHS name on the fnal trophy. Their success is an emblem of the abundant change and revitalization within the program that the recent season brought.
“I think it’s changed a lot with the new coaching staf, and new transfers coming in. I think we’ve defnitely built more trust with each other,
and our [team] culture is a lot better than the last two years,” said Bella Elsholz, junior.
Seen through OHS’s growing collection of trophies and winning games, the sports culture around campus continues to be fed by incoming students and rising talent. Girls soccer, for example, after seeing an infux of new players and uniting their team, came out of their season winning the program’s frst ever title as Region Champions.
“I don’t think it was very known. We had a lot of girls come out our freshman year, but it wasn’t the same as my junior and senior year, [where] we had a ton of girls coming out, and I think it’s really cool how we’ve built up a really
strong program.” said Jacey Donathan, senior.
The OHS sports legacy for this year in review does not end there. From August to May, the school’s sports continue to make a name for themselves across the state, making admin, students, and all supporters alike, proud of their collective accomplishments.
“Spring sports we have a good chance to win a couple state championships, and so that’s the goal, to just keep driving and going forward, but it has put people on notice,” Rypkema said.
While this 2023-2024 year has exceeded expectations and proved what OHS athletes are truly capable of, it only sets forth rising expectations for future seasons; something the OHS sports programs are fully capable of living up to.
“For girls volleyball and girls basketball next year, they’re going to get everyone’s best shot. Boys volleyball after they won it a couple years ago, and beach [volleyball] being back to back, [that means] everytime someone comes, they want to beat you, and so it’s having that grit and determination mindset [that will make the diference],” Rypkema said.
There is a plethora of advice geared towards the college admissions process. As colleges place less weight on standardized test scores and begin to review applications holistically, extracurriculars should take precedence in addition to academics;t. They ofer insight into who a student is as an individual.
“Spiking” refers to students who possess a specifc feld of expertise that they are more accomplished in, and they emphasize that area of interest through extracurriculars. The instruction to move away from the “well-rounded” approach showcases the current state of the college application process.
“The competition between students has signifcantly increased and it has become a lot more challenging to make yourself stand out. You could have the most wellrounded, diverse application, but sometimes that’s not what they’re looking for,” said Morgan Willis, junior.
In practice, spiking manifests in distinct ways. When developing a central and discernable theme, students need to search for activities they enjoy.
“I think the best way to develop a spike is to frst fnd what your passion is… My spike is around areas of business and law, and you
can really tell from the clubs that I have like FBLA, mock trial, and speech and debate. I’m really focused on more of the public speaking aspect of it,” said Elizabeth Young, sophomore.
There is a diference between a well rounded student and a well rounded class. The latter is achieved by selecting an assortment of “concentrated” students. The reason spiking may be perceived as more efective is due to the narrative it provides colleges with.
“It shows that you’re really invested in something. Like if you do a bunch of political science clubs, it doesn’t really look good if you want to go into engineering for example,” said Harsha Mahadevan, sophomore.
Spiking is not a necessity or requirement. There are multiple factors at play, including the year, how selective the university is, and demographics.
“I think that colleges would
look at both, but it depends on the degree that you are a well-rounded student or a student that spikes… if you’re good at what you’re doing well-rounded, then it shows colleges that there are some options you can take,” Young said.
An argument that arises when discussing a student’s desire to be hyper focused in an area is if it hinders their ability to explore other options. When choosing elective classes and signing up at club rush, students have to decide where to prioritize their time; others hold back from trying and putting themselves out there.
“If you want to be more adventurous, then spiking may limit your ability to do it. But there are always ways to ft stuf that you want to do into your schedule, like taking an extra class or just fnding time in your free time,” Young said.
While some students believe that they can start to
experiment in college, it may be more benefcial to begin now.
“High school is one of the best times to start experimenting academically and socially because it leads into your college life. The habits and the skills you establish now are applicable later in college and life,” Willis said.
Another question to pose when considering spiking is if identities can be expected to be fully formed. At this stage in adolescence, students are the most impressionable.
“It’s so hard to fgure out what you want to do and who you want to be. When you step back and look at it, we’re 14, 15, 16 years old and this is starting to determine our future,” Willis said.
For certain people, spiking is naturally occurring. They use extracurriculars to confrm and validate their path. However, for others that struggle with defning themselves, there is no reason to not put oneself out there.
“Spiking, in my opinion, isn’t for everyone… All of your explorations can even help with your college experience. Make it sound like you learned something and you took something away from it,” Mahadevan said.
It is important to examine the root cause of the issue and address why students are constantly presented with “magic formulas” for getting
into college, especially when the advice rarely comes from college admissions counselors and ofcers.
“A big reason for that anxiety is that it’s unpredictable. The unpredictability of college is scary… There’s no absolute guarantee that you’re going to get into certain schools. There’s students that have a 4.0 GPA, extracurriculars, and make 100K a month that don’t get in, and sometimes you’ll never know why,” Willis said. In recent years, social media has heightened the pressure of obtaining acceptance into certain prestigious universities and how it may impact one’s future.
“There’s a lot of infuences that are able to capitalize of the market and the algorithm loves feeding you fear. So if you start having anxiety over this, it’ll just keep feeding you,” Mahadevan said.
To quell these anxieties, there is a crucial truth all students must remember. The pursuit of knowledge and a career through higher education should not be reduced to a status symbol. It is not the destination, but rather a pathway and tool to advance one’s aspirations.
“The college you go to doesn’t defne your career in the future. As long as you’re a passionate person and you take action to pursue your goals, then you will become successful regardless of what college you go to,” Young
14 7 1 2 2 5 4 1 1 16 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 3 3 404 1
*Results taken from a survey given to the senior class. 486 seniors completed the survey.
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Adversity is everywhere, especially if it’s self inicted. You learn from it and when you learn from it you can see what to do better the next time and throughout your next stages of life.
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My two computer science classes my rst couple years helped me know what career I’m going into: software engineering. It has a lot to do with coding, so I got to learn the preliminary stu for that.
Jayden McCauley
ASU, majoring in Electrical Engineering
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Work harder not smarter; if you put in the work, then you will succeed later in life.
Jake Sanich
Don’t take pictures, live in the moment. Be there when you’re there.
Being in drama has really made me look toward the future. “ “ “
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NAU, majoring in Physical Therapy and Athletic Training
You can notice the development in maturity and responsibilities. It’s just a di erent mindset from freshman to senior year.
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GCC, majoring in Marine Biology NAU, Exploratory
The people you hang out with [in high school] really in uence your decisions and how you act and your overall experience.
“I have
the most fun
with sports. I would say if you can do extracurriculars I would recommend that.”
Southern Illinois Univeristy, majoring in Biology
“We’ve had our little ups and downs in our high school journey, but we’ve been there for each other.”
GCU, majoring in Mechanical Engineering
ASU, minoring in Theater
“One thing I’ve had to focus on is time management; juggling my honors and AP classes with my busy hockey schedule.”
GCU, majoring in Exercise Science
University of Arizona, majoring in Business
“I’m a lot more outgoing. I also used to stress out a lot about school, but I’ve come up with a good system to balance schoolwork and my social life.”
University of Nebraska, majoring in Communications
Don’t be a wall ower. Don’t sit on the sideline and watch your high school years go by.
GCU, major Undecided
You’re going to spend a lot of your time losing out on your early years and making friends but inevitably you’re still going to be where everyone else is.
I’ve de nitely become more con dent in myself and more outgoing because I’ve learned it’s so much more fun to talk to people and make friends than be quiet.
Claire Bixby
University of Nebraska, majoring in English
I think the teachers here de nitely create a great environment for students to explore their di erent interests. “ ” “
Maxwell Sanchez
Girls volleyball became state champions on November 10th
Beach
became state champions on April 24th
By ASHLEY PERERIA Design Chief
Band took home 3rd in state on November 11th
Last day of school countdown:
Several OHS students won awards in the FBLA state conference from April 8th-10th
basketball made history as state champions on March 2nd
As the 2023-2024 school year comes to an end, OHS seniors are deciding their futures, saying goodbyes, and enjoying their last moments of high school as they prepare to start a new chapter of their lives. The mistakes made, lessons learned, and knowledge gained throughout four years of high school provide valuable guidance for those still making their way through it.
High school is a time where any student has the freedom to try new things and get involved in activities they fnd interesting. It is important to seize these opportunities and ignore the stereotypes that deter students from building communities and friendships.
“I was in band my freshman year, I played baseball, I played track and feld, I did football for four years, and I did STUGO, but what people tend to do is think that they have to ft in one specifc category, and I just want to let them know that’s not the case. You can do anything you want, you can be with multiple diferent groups, and you don’t need to worry about it,” said Zion Sivoravong, senior.
Getting involved is one of the most efective choices a student can make to foster a more enjoyable school experience. Expanding circles of friends provides students with a strong community of support through the highs and lows of high school.
“I’m the president of the go green club; I’m also in honor choir, drama club, and a couple of other clubs like NHS,” said Elizabeth Oakly, senior. “I would say just get involved as much as you can because it’s so fun to meet so many new people and just enjoy being here because it
goes by so fast.”
Although high school tends to be plagued with procrastination and sleep depravity, it is vital to understand the benefts that hard work and success can provide a student with in the future.
“Try to make some friends and get involved, but mostly focus on your academics, especially in the beginning years because now that I’m getting ready to leave for college, I’m thankful that I worked hard towards my academics and it’s beneftting me as I’m getting scholarships,” said Maddison Amundsen, senior.
It is important for students to focus on what they are putting into high school, and what they want to take away from it. Keeping priorities straight and steering clear of drama can make high school more enjoyable for everyone.
“Don’t get caught up in all of that middle school drama. I know my freshman and sophomore year I got caught up in it all the time, and it just absolutely destroyed me my junior year. It’s not great for your reputation, and it’s not great for anyone really,” said Lauren Clark, senior.
The signifcance of high school classes is oftentimes
overlooked. However, having the right class, as well as the right teacher can change a student’s life and even help them decide their aspirations.
“My AP Physics 1-2 class was my favorite because that’s where I kind of found myself and found what I wanted to do in college, and I found my passion and it was really thanks to Mr. Wyllie,” Sivoravong said.
High school is a beacon of change, and a time in which everyone is collectively trying to fnd their identity. Acknowledging negativity is a necessary task, but not something to dwell on.
“The most valuable advice I could give is not to care what other people think. I’d say once I learned and understood that, I enjoyed things so much more when I was being myself,” said Quinn Jackson, senior.
Appreciating the little moments of high school culture and tradition, like class yells during assemblies and chanting in the student section, are memories that can last a lifetime.
“Some of the best parts of high school have been the football games, the basketball games, volleyball, and our sports have gotten so much better over the years so it’s fun to be a part of that,” said Rilee
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my church for two years,” Jackson said.
Many students cannot wait to enter adulthood and leave high school in the rear view mirror, but it is important not to grow up too fast in order to learn from mistakes, make goals for the future, and create memories.
“You only have one life, so live it to its fullest extent, and have fun because you’re so young now and this is the prime of your life. So just make core memories,” Vargas said.
Vargas, senior.
As college draws nearer, many students begin to comprehend the value of support from people around them. It becomes easy to recognize the relationships someone took for granted, and even easier to discern when those connections change.
“You just realize how much your parents do for you, and how much your friends are doing for you, and when you’re ready to leave, you don’t realize how much you relied on someone,” Amundsen said.
High school can be much more than just homework and tests. There are various clubs, classes, and programs that provide the opportunity to build strong friendships and important skills.
“I joined ROTC halfway through my junior year, and I would say it’s the best experience I’ve had my whole entire life. It is so much fun and you have a family here,” Clark said.
The years following high school provide endless amounts of growth and opportunity. There is a beauty to this change because each student seizes it in their own unique way and forms their own path.
“After high school I’m going to serve a mission for
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It is exceptionally more common to regret missed chances and experiences than to regret taking the risk of trying something new.
“Any goals that you have, probably the worst pain that you could get from them is regretting that you didn’t go after them. Going through it is not the bad part, it’s the pain of regretting that you didn’t do something,” Amundsen said.
Although the days and weeks of high school seem to drag on forever, when the moment comes to walk across the graduation stage, students wonder where the time went.
“I’m going to miss the structure of high school because once you leave, it’s kind of like you’re entering the real world,” Oakly said. “So just enjoy high school and have fun because it goes by so fast.”
This year’s seniors have gone through the rollercoaster of high school and are prepared to face whatever the future may hold with a sense of wisdom and maturity. However, they also recognize that no one, no matter where they are or what they are doing, is too old for a laugh.
“This is gonna be kind of funny, but my main advice is that if people are talking behind your back, then fart,” Sivoravong said.
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Tifany Ellis has always had an afnity for history. As a child, she treated vacations as a learning opportunity, and in the library, she was drawn toward the nonfction section, and learned about the tomb of Tutankhamun. While in the classroom, she guides dozens of students through arguably the hardest history AP class ofered at OHS.
Ellis began her teaching tenure in Washington state, frst as a substitute teacher, and then as a junior-high teacher in Federal Way, WA in 1999.
“I taught seventh grade my frst year, eighth grade my second year, and the third year was ninth grade - up there, ninth grade is junior high,” said Tifany Ellis, AP United States History, AP Human Geography, and Dual Enrollment American History teacher.
In 2003, Ellis and her fancé moved to Phoenix, and she taught World History and U.S. Government at a charter school, and realized her once dream of being principal.
“For two years I was actually the principal, and I didn’t enjoy being principal and I didn’t want to be at the charter anymore, so then I was hired at North High School to teach Home Economics,” Ellis said. After spending time with some of the North teachers over the summer, and hearing about a
handful of the school’s problems, she decided to apply to DVUSD, and was hired at Diamond Canyon in Anthem.
“When I started teaching up at Diamond Canyon, I did this teacher prep program through Gilder Lerhman… and they did a lot of teacher professional development classes, programs, and trips… and part of the program [was to] get a grant to start a sortof school-within-a-school,” Ellis said.
That school-within-a-school is the Academy of Civic Engagement and Advanced Studies, for which Ellis is a foundational member.
“I started here [at OHS] in 2009 when the Academy opened; they started with ninth grade, and they wanted me to teach the ninthgraders here, but they didn’t have a full-time job [in social studies] open yet, so in 2009 I worked frst period here teaching Academy students, and then I commuted and worked a full schedule up at Diamond Canyon teaching seventh grade,” Ellis said. It was not until 2010 that she worked full-time at OHS, now teaching two history AP’s: Human Geography and U.S. History. With AP U.S. History being widely regarded as one of, if not the hardest history AP out there, there is a special kind of emphasis put on the AP teacher and their style.
“I try to provide a variety. We try to do a lot of diferent activities in here, although with Advanced
Placement, it’s sometimes difcult because it’s so fast-paced…,” Ellis said, ”[but] breaking down big assessments that are kind of scary and daunting, I think I do a pretty good job.”
Ellis also forms bonds with her students; that is just her personality.
“I’m a pretty laid back person…I try to get along with students, and fnd out about them. I try to go watch students at athletic events and diferent extracurriculars, so I build relationships outside the classroom that way,” Ellis said.
It would seem like teaching was Ellis’ lifelong dream due to the way she approaches her classes and students, but indeed that is far from the truth.
“When I was little I wanted to be a mermaid, and when that didn’t pan out, I wanted to be a marine biologist, because I grew up on the waters of the Puget Sound. We lived on the waterfront, so I always wanted to do something with the sea,” Ellis said.
But after a while, she determined that working in the ocean was not for her, and chose to become a lawyer.
“I decided to major in history in college, but I fgured I’d go to grad school to be a lawyer, and after a while I got an internship working at a lawyer’s ofce and their jobs seemed super boring,” Ellis said.
She was left without a goal for a time, so Ellis applied to go on an archaeological dig in Israel, but ended up being the secondbest candidate, and left out of the
expedition. Again left without a dream, her parents suggested taking a ‘history of education’ class her senior year of college. She had previously interned at the Washington State History Museum, where she gave tours to elementary level students, and found it enjoyable.
“I took the ‘history of education’ class and I loved it, and that was it- I said, ‘well, maybe teaching would be for me,’” Ellis said.
After she graduated, she was reminded that education had always been a part of her life.
“My mom reminded me that when I was little, I would always get the neighbor kids and I’d line
them up in my house and teach them, and if they weren’t there, I’d teach my stufed animals,” Ellis said.
Fast-forward to today, and Mrs. Ellis has remained an incredible educator. She has already made a decision for when she does eventually retire, that combines every facet of what she has wanted to in her life.
“Here I am and here I will stay… [but] I fgure I’ll retire when the students hate me or I hate students… then it’ll be time for me to go, and my [next] career might be a national park ranger, which still involves teaching, just outside,” Ellis said.
While outside of the classroom, many students enjoy seeing diferent places across the globe, and the World Travel Club allows students to do just that. The club grants students the ability to travel abroad during the summer months as an efective aid to their learning.
The World Travel Club is run by a history teacher at OHS who shares a passion with her students for traveling abroad, while also learning about the history of the diferent countries she visits.
“My philosophy is that you learn more about history by going and exploring and seeing the places and the sights where history happened, so that’s why I feel like it’s an extension of what we learn in the classroom. It’s really great to just be able to go and experience the language and culture of the other countries,” said Laura McKinnon, gen ed and dual enrollment US history teacher.
While traveling abroad with the club, students can learn more about the culture and customs of diferent countries that they would not have the opportunity to visit otherwise.
“Throughout the road trip, I learned about the local people and
got involved in the local culture by participating and looking around,” said Ryan Ku, sophomore.
Many students who participate in the World Travel Club learn about it from their friends who have gone on the trips before, bringing the experience to more people.
“I think you defnitely get to meet people and my whole friend group signed up so we get to go together and I feel like not everybody gets to go on trips to all these diferent countries with their closest friends,” said Ella Faller, senior.
While on their trips, students receive a unique experience
provided by the club to show them more than just the usual tourist destinations.
“On these tours, you get to some small little things that are not really big tourist attractions and one of the things that we got to see on this trip was a candy factory and they give a demonstration on how they make their candy so the kids and we got to watch them actually making it,” McKinnon said.
Not only do students gain knowledge of places they would not otherwise, but they are also given free time to explore parts of the country they wish to visit.
“There was one day where kids could pick diferent things that
they wanted to go see that weren’t on the itinerary. There’s a little amusement park and then there’s diferent museums so that day was really fun because everybody got to do something they just wanted to do,” McKinnon said.
Some students choose to use this time with their friends to tour the city they are in.
“I think it was in Sweden, we had a bunch of free time to explore and we got to ride electric scooters around to explore. I think that was the best part,” Ku said.
While traveling to these other countries, several students discover a new favorite place that helps them appreciate places like
Sweden and the history they are witnessing for themselves.
“They have a lot of historic buildings because the United States is only about 200 years old, but they’ve had like thousands of years of history so they have a lot of those monuments still standing,” Faller said.
Before students even arrive on the trip, the countries that are a part of it must be decided and some places the members of the World Travel Club want to see are often included.
“We try to always add at least one new place, but I talk to the students who are in the World Travelers Club and they tell me places they want to go see and then we get a consensus,” McKinnon said.
This process occurs in advance for each trip the World Travel Club goes on, and now their next trip is rapidly approaching.
“This year is Greece and Italy so it’s a little bit more beachy so I just think there’s going to be kind of a contrast from last year because last year was kind of cold and more like a dark kind of vibe and this year we’re going to be right up next to the beach and going through the catacombs and everything so I’m super excited,” Faller said.
“We Can’t be Friends” is the tenth track on Ariana Grande’s new album, Eternal Sunshine. Grande hasn’t released new music since her 2022 album, Positions , and fans were eager for something fresh and upbeat. This bubbly pop tune did not disappoint. The media recognizes this single as a new staple in pop playlists everywhere. “We Can’t Be Friends” appears to be about two people who were once in a relationship, with Grande writing from the perspective of someone who has been hurt, and misses their other half but recognizes that for them to heal, they simply, “can’t be friends.”
“Calling After Me” is the third track on the highly anticipated Wallows album, Model. This single has a relaxed but upbeat melody, making it a perfect song to add to anyone’s summer playlist. With high expectations to follow the success of Tell Me That It’s Over (2022), it is safe to say that fans were not disappointed with this track. This song brings a fresh new outlook to their discography, leaving fans eager to hear the rest of the album. This single leaves listeners “calling after” Wallows for more music as they patiently wait for the release of the rest of the album.
Olivia Rodrigo is in the spotlight once again as she embarks on her Guts World Tour. Between viral TikTok audios and performances of heron tour, Rodrigo has been teasing the release of her new addition to the Guts album-“Obsessed”-for months. This song combines aspects of alternative rock and pop, giving it a funky beat and catchy lyrics that listeners can sing their hearts out to. This song details the mental anguish and jealousy that can come along with being in a relationship and comparing yourself to your partner’s exes. The lyrics might seem intense but Rodrigo cannot help it, she’s just… “obsessed.”
By AMAYA KELLY Sports Editor
Kacey Musgraves set a high standard for her new album with her debut single “Deeper Well.” Although Musgraves is a country artist, this single is for any listener, featuring slow, ethereal tunes combined with classic guitar strings. “Deeper Well” is the perfect song to listen to while studying in a cofee shop, going for a peaceful bike ride, or driving with the windows down on a sunny day. Musgraves showcases her powerful vocals in this song as she refects on her past life experiences, and who she wants to become as she sets out to fnd more happiness and joy in a “deeper well.”
“Why would I get you fowers; we’re already together?”
“I don’t want to have to wait and hold the door for you.”
“I don’t want to look like a simp.”
“That’s embarrassing. I don’t want my friends to see us together.”
Is romance actually dead? Recently, many have felt as though nothing they do will compare to the type of love they see in movies. The efort that used to be put into relationships has begun to disappear, and things like the ‘talking stage’ are ruining the way this generation views romance. The talking stage is a period of time before a relationship starts where it is clear that both parties are interested in each other, but are not yet fully committed.
There have been trends popularized by platforms like TikTok that are full of girls wishing guys would act romantic and do things as simple as bring them fowers without having to be asked.
Yet somehow, no one ever gets the hint. Signifcant others see these videos every day of ideas that are cheap and easily doable, and yet they still do not want to take even the smallest amount of time or put in even a bit of energy. When was it decided that relationships are not about love or even commitment?
Gen Z has done a good job at avoiding real relationships, and things like the “talking stage” are just new excuses used as a reason not to commit. People can spend weeks or even months talking to each other and doing everything that a normal couple does, but when it comes down to it, putting a label on it is still too much for some people. They would rather “keep their options open” than just fnd someone to solely focus their attention on. The fact that it has been deemed socially acceptable and even sometimes an accomplishment to be “talking” to multiple people at once is laughable–and not at all what real love is like. So, why is that? Why do teenagers not want real love anymore? The type of love that this generation’s grandparents
had. The type of love that can survive even when phones are dead. Social media has been ruining teenagers’ perception of what romance should look like. Before times of social media, people were forced to actually talk to each other and fnd the time to hang out. Now, social media has created a weird situation where a user can know everything about someone without ever having met that person. While it sometimes creates positive opportunities and allows people to frst see how they get along with each other, it is more harmful than hurtful towards relationships. Because they think they already know enough about someone, they don’t take the time to actually get to know them and form that deeper connection.
Not only does social media create an odd dynamic in the beginning stages of a relationship, but it can also cause issues in existing relationships. Who people are following, what posts they are liking, and the jealousy that this creates in a relationship are just a few issues that would not be a problem if social media did not exist. In earlier times,
the types of platforms and technology that are accessible now had never even been thought of, and it is clear that social media has infuenced teenager’s current perceptions of love.
The general standard that has been created of what love looks like has changed so much, and older generations seem to frown upon some of the actions so frequently performed by teenagers now.
This is not to say that people need to act the exact same as they did hundreds of years ago, or that technology should not be involved in relationships, but rather that some refection should take place and comparisons should be made to really understand how diferent it is now. People used to be so romantic and now they cannot even put their phones down long enough to give each other a proper compliment.
Modern society moves like the ocean, innovation’s fow washing over the world and changing its landscape, its ebb revealing the impact–both positive and negative–it has had on the present way of life. The newest discovery to have swept its tides across the entire world and brought about drastic change can be seen in the rapidity of communication, how anyone is only one call, one text message, one post away. Specifcally, the creation and growing prominence of social media sites–especially TikTok–has altered the nature of how people interact, the way one can create a perception of an individual they hardly know, and the fact that many people seem to see the value in privacy when it comes to sharing their lives to the entire world.
Recently, a bill has been circulating through Congress, and even passed in the House of Representatives, to force the Chinese owner of TikTok to sell the app or have it banned in the United States. While the future of this bill is difcult to predict as it moves through
the Senate, and it is largely out of the hands of the regular American, this government intervention has raised an important question: would today’s society be better of without the infamous app?
One of TikTok’s largest appeals to the younger generation is the aforementioned way that it connects individuals instantaneously. All one needs to do is open the app and have their “For You Page” fooded with videos about users’ personal lives, the stories they have never shared, the experiences that resonate with unknown viewers. One cannot deny that the sheer variety of information and life stories–the comical, the beautiful, the sorrowful–is incredibly powerful and benefcial to those who fnd solace in the short video clips or in diving deeper into certain niches and creators.
However, this plethora of information has a dark, destructive side that makes TikTok a slippery slope for many users. The near ubiquity of misinformation on the app can leave users feeling informed when in reality, they are being told fabrications just so that one creator can beneft
from the likes, shares, and reposts. While this problem is not unique to TikTok, with misinformation being spread on almost every social networking site, it is important to recognize how easily people manipulate and distort the communities on TikTok for their own agendas.
This issue of spreading deceit and falsity is only exacerbated by how quickly viral videos, trends, and clickbait “facts” move on the app, and how easily it is for anyone to get a platform on the app. The rapid rise to fame that so many infuencers and social media celebrities experience is a double-edged sword and a dangerous line for many to walk. One creator may blow up overnight due to their catchy new style of music or ingenious life hacks, while another individual could fnd their success in spreading hate or promoting controversial and polarizing opinions.
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In recent years, a concerning trend has emerged on social media and in popular culture–the rise of the “Trad Wife” phenomenon. Short for “traditional wife,” the movement romanticizes an era that never truly existed, incorporating both men and women into their demographics. This “trend” glorifes the institution of gender roles, emphasizing the virtues of women being submissive homemakers solely focused on catering to their husbands and children. While the desire to prioritize family life is understandable, the version promoted by the Trad Wife trend carries signifcant dangers and harmful ramifcations, particularly regarding fnancial dependence on men. It ofers simplistic solutions to issues that are far more complex.
The Trad Wife ideation may appeal to some frustrated individuals seeking a return to fundamentalist values and roles, even so it is crucial to approach it with critical thinking. Proponents of this viewpoint often cite nostalgia for a simpler time, where gender roles were rigidly defned and people were supposedly happier and more fulflled. Trad wives embody the capitalist fatigue that comes with “hustle” culture,
as many women perform domestic duties while also holding a job. However, the movement does not adequately address the nuances of this lifestyle and instead relies on a misunderstanding of history and the stigmatization of feminism.
Infuencers promoting this way of life showcase idyllic images of domestic bliss, homemaking skills, and submission to their husbands as the ultimate form of femininity. In reality, this portrayal gives audiences an unrealistic look at what it means to embrace traditional values or perform motherhood as it only showcases curated versions of their lives. A few of the most notable infuencers with large followings that span
beyond TikTok include Nara Smith, Hannah Neeleman of @ballerina.farm, and Estelle Williams. While some are not distinctly advocating for a specifc agenda, the patriarchal undertones that accompany their “infuencing” are inherently political, especially when they characterize their lifestyle as aspirational.
The veneer that women can trade in work for romanticized aesthetics begins to peel and crack when people realize that domestic labor is still arduous work. Particularly in feminist frameworks, domestic labor is unpaid. People can fail to remember this reality because, through the lens of capitalism, it is not directly proftable or stimulating the economy. Nevertheless, the US Bureau
of Labor Statistics reported that it would cost $120,900 to employ all the cooks, cleaners, chaufeurs, and nannies needed to meet a housewife’s annual contribution to the home. Furthermore, trad wife infuencers generate income through social media. The majority of women ofine do not have access to this and at times must work multiple jobs to ensure their household survives. Liberation is for all women, not just those that can aford it. Moreover, the trad wife movement does not communicate the risks that accompany the mindset that outearning a husband is emasculating. The greatest hazard is the high probability of fnancial dependency. It can
strip women of their autonomy, leaving them vulnerable to various risks such as economic abuse, lack of control over their lives, and difculties in cases of divorce. It can also perpetuate unequal power dynamics within relationships, where the fnancial provider holds signifcant leverage over decision-making.
Some argue that being a trad wife is simply a lifestyle choice, not a movement. This line of reasoning is deceptive and has tangible consequences. Believing a woman’s primary place is in the home is not a “choice,” but is an ideology that bleeds into law and afects all women. Legislators have repealed reproductive rights and repressed childcare reform, actions that work in tandem with trad wife beliefs.
In the end, it is essential to recognize that being a wife and a mother is an honorable and valid life goal, but it should not come at the cost of fnancial independence and autonomy. Encouraging fnancial literacy, healthy partnerships based on mutual respect, shared responsibilities, and equal decision-making ensures individual agency. The notion that being a “traditional” wife returns women to their roots and “primal feminine existence” is a misinterpretation of history and biology. Throughout every century, women have had practical positions outside of the home sphere. The trad wife is a 1950’s construct and illusion.
Dune: Part Two, the highly anticipated flm, set a new standard for movies after achieving the largest box ofce debut of 2024. The heart-pumping, action-packed flm had audiences on the edge of their seats.
Based on Frank Herbert’s world-renowned series, the bar was set high for this flm, especially after the success of Dune (2021). Director Denis Villeneuve split the frst book into two separate flms, and took creative liberty in making Dune Part Two a continuation of the previous movie.
Following the story of Paul Atredies, this flm focuses on the trials and tribulations he goes through as he navigates joining forces with the Fremen of the desert planet, Arrakis, in plans to take down House Harkonnen.
House Harkonnen destroyed House Atreides in the frst movie, leaving Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica, without a faction, which is why they are so determined to take it down.
The frst flm displays Paul’s rise to leadership, but now that house Atredies has been destroyed, he has new responsibilities to look after, including Lady Jessica.
Lady Jessica is a product of the Bene Gesserit, a school that taught women to develop superhuman mental and physical abilities.
She faces the adversity that comes along with both being pregnant as well as being a product of such a taxing group and passes this struggle to Paul, making the Fremen believe he is untrustworthy.
There are rumors that Paul is the “Lisan Al Gaib” considered the “chosen one” after proving his skills throughout the desert and impressing the Fremen.
Some Fremen struggle with the idea that Atreides’ blood is the Lisan Al Giab. Paul faces of with Feyd Rautha, the most skilled swordsman in the universe to prove his skill and change of heart.
As fans were left with a clifhanger wondering about the future for Paul and his true intentions, it is expected that fans will have to wait a couple of years until the next flm of the trilogy, Dune: Messiah, is released.
Displaying some of Hollywood’s rising stars such as Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh, audiences were not disappointed with this flm’s star-studded cast.
From some of the most impressive CGI that the flm industry has seen yet, to an incredible portrayment of each character, it is safe to say this franchise is in good hands, and has lived up to the essence of the books.
The third and fnal season of Young Royals has arrived toNetfix, leaving viewers in both shock and awe with its beautiful and bittersweet end. People fell in love with this story, its characters, and the beauty of love captured in heartfelt moments that always seem to impress.
Young Royals frst aired in 2021, stealing the hearts of many with its sensational story. The Swedish show continued to grow a larger fanbase with the incredible characterization, and the soundtrack that encompasses the story, contrasting from the setting and truly setting itself apart from many other shows. The setting and cinematography add to the experience of watching this show.
With the beautiful flmography that Young Royals brings, comes the unique and vibrant soundtrack. The music contrasts many of the diferent themes of the show, in a way that connects the viewer and the story. Along with the incredibly fascinating soundtrack, brings Omar Rudberg and his vocals in the show, singing live on set and in the studio to create the atmosphere and setting. This show has a way of making people
every
it.
come their way. It is messy, heartfelt, and a rollercoaster of emotions. It perfectly captures how teenagers react in troublesome situations, allowing viewers to connect with the characters.
The show stretches over three incredible seasons, following the love and lives of many characters. The dynamic between the two characters, and how the actors can portray their love for each other while having incredible chemistry of-screen is endearing and beautiful to watch.
The authentic and difcult situations and emotions capture the viewer’s attention, allowing people to connect with the characters and the story. The writer, Lisa Ambjörn uses this wild and dramatic story to bring awareness to serious topics like mental health, trauma, discrimination, etc., and learning how to overcome those issues.
The genuine attention to such delicate issues holds the viewers close and comforts them. These situations are immensely cared for and thought out, and it allows the viewer to empathize with the people and the challenges they face.
Young Royals, the gripping, engaging series of young love and identity has taught many all over the world to continue to be themselves, and viewers can always fnd peace in the heartfelt, revolutionary love story.
Hulu’s latest hit Shogun has debuted with immense amounts of success. The mini-series opened with a 100% on rotten tomatoes, and has been compared to HBO’s Game of Thrones. Shogun takes place during the 1600s in Japan and follows a lord on the run from his enemies inside the government. Critics and audience’s biggest compliment to the show has been the scale and how it keeps the viewer engaged throughout every episode.
As of now, there are five episodes released and each episode has improved from the previous one. This season feels very similar to Game of Thrones season one where it focuses on politics but the viewer can tell that these political decisions will lead to crazy events towards the end. The end of episode four had a jaw-dropping ending which let the viewers in on what to expect for the rest of the show. The show also does a good job of balancing
the Japanese culture and making it accessible to Americanaudiences.
Shogun is an adaptation of James Clavell’s book under the same name. Fans have said the show builds upon the book and even is better than its source material. Many shows try to balance groups of characters and it typically feels too confusing, but Shogun does it perfectly and the viewer can really connect to the characters.
Every character has their own dynamic and role in the story so it will be exciting to watch when all of these characters finally meet. A lot of shows and movies nowadays are mostly CGI and green screen effects but Shogun perfectly nails the essence of Japan and does not really use any CGI. Even some of the scenes in the film that are visual effects do not feel like it and that adds to the authenticity
of the show. Audiences have been subjected to Marvel’s bad visual effects so when a show like this can look good, and is actually a really good show, fans latch onto it.
Shogun is one of the best shows that has come out this year and not all the episodes are out yet there is no reason to expect it to be botched. It will be bittersweet at the end of the show because
there will not be any more seasons, but one season feels like just the right length. A lot of times showrunners will drag out a show due to how successful it is but Hulu and FX are being faithful to the book, and will not try to make up anything just to keep it going. Shogun is definitely a must-watch and will most definitely hook the viewer from the opening episode.
The world of superhero television has been dramatically changed by the addition of Invincible, the animated series based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book of the same name. The first half of season 2 that left audiences eagerly awaiting the arrival of the latter half. As the second part of this season hits screens, deeper character exploration, darker themes, and even more of the incredible story courtesy of Amazon Prime.
The first season of Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a senior in high school, who discovers he has powers resembling those of his father Nolan, known as “Omni-Man” to the rest of the world. As Mark’s powers emerge, and he develops his superhero identity, he decides to go by the moniker “Invincible.”
The original season of Invincible was met with great reviews, receiving a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and nominations for multiple awards. The second
season, while admittedly unfinished, has received even better reviews, as of April 8, 2024 a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
What caught the ire of many fans is the way the show is being released, one episode a time every Thursday at 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Many fans feel that after waiting for multiple months the entire half of the season should be released at once, instead of an episode at a time.
The second installment of Invincible while very impressive on it’s own, pales in comparison to the original season, missing much of the charm the first season had. As the storylines get more complex they naturally become harder to follow, as the show expands to encompass characters across multiple planets and even whole timelines, the show can become slightly convoluted at times, the second season trades its charm for more action and an expanded world.
One of Invincible’s greatest strengths is how the medium of animation is
used to support the original art style from the comics.
The animation, done by Skybound Animation is incredible, bringing the 2D characters of Kirkman’s into 3D seamlessly.
Invincible, while being animated, is still incredibly gruesome and even though the violence is often cartoonish in style, the show earns its “Mature” rating. The show also deals with many mature themes, making it clear that this show is not suitable for children, despite the fact that it is animated.
As of the time this was written, only three of the total five episodes have been released. These episodes are some of the most actionpacked yet, and all are receiving glowing reviews from critics and fans alike. The rest of the season shows the potential to be some of the best episodes yet.
Invincible has already been renewed for a third season, which has no official release date. Fans can only speculate as to when the third season may be released, but anything before 2025 seems very unlikely.
On April 5th, American singer-songwriter, Conan Gray, debuted his third studio album, “Found Heaven”. Prior to its release, fve singles from the album were released to the public: “Never Ending Song”, “Winner”, “Killing Me”, “Lonely Dancers”, and “Alley Rose.” The album itself is composed of 13 tracks total.
This new album has taken a distinct turn from the style of Gray’s previously acclaimed albums, titled “Superache” and “Kid Krow”.“Found Heaven” is a beaming ray of sunshine compared to the emotional downpour that Gray’s frst two records ofered to listeners. The sentimental, somber palette of his previous releases is opposite the high tempo, buoyant one of “Found Heaven.”
Gray’s previous albums dive deep into themes of heartbreak, yearning, friendship, and the pains of his childhood, and are much more poignant and emotion-evoking than his latest one. Gray has previously been known for his achey, indie-pop, stripped down style of music, but that has very obviously been converted with the release of “Found Heaven”. There is a drastic diference in the style, content, lyrics, and even perspectives of Gray’s frst albums compared to his most recent.
Another way this change is
marked is by the album covers, where “Superache” and “Kid Krow” are forlorn appearing and on the more monotone side, where the recent release is extremely colorful and incandescent, on the outside as well as its content.
There are many music artists who have branched out from their original genres, transitioning from country to pop, rock to country, and even pop to rock. However, Conan Gray has been one of the frst to develop from a previously indie, less blithe genre of songwriting and turning to a 80s, electro-pop composition. This album exhibits the transition into more of a pop-centered and disc style of songwriting.
Even though the topics of the songs may not demonstrate as much depth as they formerly have, the songs still address topics that portray Gray’s experiences in a different light. The song for the album’s namesake, “Found Heaven”, is extremely upbeat, however, it narrates an impactful journey, including matters such as pushing through selfdoubt, fnding self-worth, and identity, he song seeming to be speaking to a younger version of Gray, or even simply a diferent person entirely who may have had similar feelings as him when he was younger.
A single on the album outlying the others with similar lyrics to his previous albums, is “Lonely dancers”. As the name of the song suggests, the song discusses dancing, even
when feeling lonely or upset, heartbreak, and ex-lovers. One lyric in the song is, “We’re both alone now, tears in our eyes”, and this, despite the song being set to an extremely
Overall, Conan Gray has stepped into the next stage of his career through the release of his most recent album, and
with the distinct and astonishing progression of his songwriting from one genre to the next, what is to come from him in the
The movie franchise many loved as kids, has fnally returned to theaters: Kung Fu Panda 4. Having seen the previous Kung Fu Panda flms, many people had high expectations for this new addition. Although the trailer was jaw-dropping, and it was supposedly destined to be a hit, the movie proved to be divisive for its audience.
In the flm, it was time for PO, the main protagonist, to stop being the dragon warrior and instead pass on the staf of wisdom to someone else.
Master Shifu held tryouts for someone to become a dragon warrior. PO liked all of the candidates for the dragon warrior, but since he liked all of them it was very difcult for him to choose so he did not choose any candidates; instead, he chose a thief named Zhen. Zhen is a fox, and she stole some precious things
Zhen went to jail, there was another killer on the street, and her name was the Chameleon. She could shapeshift and copy their powers. In that process, she threatened everyone, so Zhen and PO went on a mission to stop the chameleon.
Kung Fu Panda 4 was a fastpaced movie, jumping from one scene to another quickly fast. The pacing of the movie afected it poorly, since many viewers were hoping to see the development of each of their favorite and nostalgic characters, In one scene, PO is against the bad people who work for the chameleon, only to fnd her going for the staf of wisdom in the next, using it to drain everyone’s ‘Kung fu’ and become powerful. The Chameleon is a lizard and a shapeshifter who is an ineffective villain because she has no good motive. She wanted to steal every kung fu that PO had fought, but in the other Kung Fu Panda, every villain had something against Shifu
or knew Shifu. In this movie, the Chameleon is not against Shifu; she does not even know who he is.
There is always good and bad within almost every movie out there.. In Kung Fu Panda 4, it was good to see that Tai Lung, towards the end of the movie, trusts PO and gives him respect. Before, they did not like each other at all. Another good thing about this movie was that in this flm, PO was trying to fnd inner peace. He faced many difculties and troubles during his journey but found peace by taking down Chameleon and saving everyone. It was nice to see another Kung Fu Panda movie after eight years of the flm frachise’s hiatus, and there were a lot of lessons to be applied to real life for everyone that watched it. So while it may have had unnecessary characters, and too fast of space, it was undoubtedly enjoyable to see PO and Shifu together once again.
Varsity:
OHS accommodates a myriad of powerhouse sport teams, but one of the most renowned and celebrated ones, rising to the top in recent years, has been the beach volleyball team.
Beach volleyball is a complex sport, where two players are on the court at a time. With this being said, players still compete and work together as a team towards a common goal - which they have now accomplished; winning the state title for the thrid year in a row. The team is committed to building each other up on and of the court, and this has allowed them to continue their run of very successful seasons.
“They always say you have a target on your back, and you can feel it, but when you’re in the game it’s kind of nice,” said Natalie Gilbert, junior.
Along with learning to perform despite the constant pressure to succeed, the OHS beach volleyball program makes sure that strong connections are formed between players.
“We’re really big on being
inclusive and working to build relationships within our team to make sure we stand out from other teams,” said Delaney Singleton, sophomore.
It is critical that beach volleyball players have the right mindset, especially with the countless factors that bear potential to negatively impact it.
“The hardest part of beach is probably, since there’s only two of you playing, staying mentally ready, staying really focused during the game, and if you mess up getting right back into it,” said Kate Smith, senior.
Along with practicing, training, and all other physical aspects of the game, there are also many mental details that need to be taken into account.
The program has a specifc way that prepares players in terms of mental preparation.
“We have a mindset coach who comes in on Wednesdays who works with all of us. We do breathing exercises and we talk about how to stay focused during games,” Smith said.
Each opposing team and each game presents a respective set of challenges that must be confronted in order for OHS to emerge victorious. Whether that be rivalries, poor
weather conditions, or any other infuential aspects, they all make each game a little diferent.
“My favorite part about playing beach is the continuous excitement because you never know what’s gonna come next,” Gilbert said.
Not only is beach volleyball connected through the court, but the players have forged connections among each other, on and of the court, which is important for a team to continue to move forward.
“I love building the relationship between your partners and your team, and evolving to the next level together,” Singleton said.
JV:
Overall, OHS fosters an extremely afrmative and uplifting program to allow every athlete to progress over the course of the season.
With every new year, OHS beach volleyball welcomes new players, and prepares them to compete at a high level, both through its energy and efective training.
“I was motivated to join because the environment of the program, it’s very positive,” said Alyssaa Archiello, freshman.
Along with the players, the coaches also promote connectedness within the program, the group as a whole pressing towards the goal of winning.
“Spartz is really motivating and encouraged me to take beach more seriously,” said Alexa Washington, sophomore.
It’s necessary for players to keep their personal mental game up, and it’s also essential for them to encourage their partner, to press forwards even when scores become tight.
“You always have to keep your partner motivated to keep going,” Washington said.
The OHS beach volleyball program creates an environment that allows its athletes to connect on and of the court.
“My team is very positive, and we’re all uplifting,” Archiello said.
Varsity:
Two years ago, the OHS boys volleyball program won it all at the state championship. This 2023-2024 season, they will once again fght for success, before they have to lose six seniors at the end of the season.
Many of the players are sure that they will make it all the way, and feel that winning state is achievable for their team.
“This season, I feel very confdent. We all are. We’re very good and we should win,” said Diego Garcia, junior.
Other players agree that a factor of success is the closeness of a team.
“We get along great; I think our chemistry has really improved over the years just because we’ve been together for so long. This is our fnal chance [to win] and it’s really fun to see it all come together,” said Braeden Baker, senior.
The team feels like a family,
and they hang out outside of practice in order to keep up a healthy team dynamic.
“My favorite part of being on the team is the on and of [the court] connections. We are all hanging out outside with each other, not just with our own separate groups,” said Carter King, junior.
Forming these strong bonds is important for a sport such as volleyball, where the mental component is half the battle of being successful.
“When your team is not working together and you guys aren’t communicating
well, it can go very wrong, very quickly,” Garcia said.
The team likes to remind each other that to win, good choices have to be made.
“Now we just have to lock in; make the right decisions on and of the court,” Baker said.
The boys have had to learn how to adapt to each other, making sure that they all fulfll their roles during games.
“Normally, I’ve been the guy for my club team, but in this scenario we’re all the guy. We just have to adapt to each other.” said King.
They do a good job of
supporting each other, and leaving out any possible drama that could take place.
“We’re all very close friends, and we all rely on each other and bring everybody up. We make sure everybody knows that it’s okay to make mistakes,” Garcia said.
The main goal that all the players can agree on, is that they want to win. They are all putting in the work with the expectation that it will pay of efectively.
“This is our year, this is our chance to go get [another state championship],” Baker said.
JV:
The boys JV team has had an extremely successful season, only having lost one game at the time of this article being written.
Even though they did not keep their undefeated streak, the team has looked at the loss as an opportunity to better themselves.
“Physically, we’re defnitely the best team in the state. [In our last game] we got beat on the mental side, but I think it was a good, humbling experience. Now, we can learn from our loss,” said Blake McCarthy, sophomore.
Mentally tough games are when having good teammates matters the most. Players have to remember that they can’t get mad at each other for little mistakes.
“You have to be really forgiving on the court, and you can’t hold any outside grudges while playing,” said Gunner Mullins, freshman.
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Varsity:
The boys tennis program at OHS has shown great skill and potential thus far into their 2024 season. With many matches still ahead at the time this is written, the team will have a chance to prove their talent and infuence among other teams in the region.
Tennis athletes at OHS tightened up their schedule in the second half of their season.
“The beginning of our season is a little lighter on the schedule, but now we have four game weeks almost the rest of the time,” said Lance Gephart, varsity tennis coach.
Having the common goal of making it to playofs has motivated the athletes to continue working overtime during practice to get results.
“They defnitely have put in the time and the work. [I] just hope it shows up on the court; that’s the hardest thing,” Gephart said.
OHS and the tennis program as a whole provides its players with resources to excel at the sport.
“Having a power training
class, hitting more, and having more time my senior year to be able to do those things [has helped me succeed],” said Sean Alley, senior.
One of OHS’s very own foreign exchange students, Diego Arrivillaga, has come here from South America where he had been playing tennis for fve years. Tennis in the United States compared to tennis in Chile is played on very diferent scales.
“We have three courts in the whole town, and we have eight at [O’Connor].
We have clay courts and you have hard courts,” said Diego Arrivillaga, senior.
With players joining the team, it is important to build chemistry and bonds that will help the player’s performance in matches.
“We are able to have good chemistry and feel confdent in playing with one another,” Alley said.
This group of athletes in particular have built sustainable relationships that do not go unrecognized.
“[The] culture of our team is probably the one of best I have seen in a long time,” Gephart said.
Some of students’ most lasting friendships can come from sports. Tennis has cultivated an environment that encourages athletes to collaborate and interact even of of the court.
“My best friend that I met here in the US was because of tennis,” Arrivillaga said.
JV:
The JV tennis team has shown much improvement and dedication. And with the addition of new players and coaches they will continue to get better.
“We have improved our tennis program. We got a new tennis coach and he has [helped] build the team culture,” said Jayneal Patel, junior.
The morale of the team is an important factor in their winning mentality. Players recognize they cannot dwell on their past performances, but instead just look to improve.
“When we lose we’re not that sad, because we can win the next game,” Patel said.
The JV team is constantly striving for success and is looking forward to winning more matches this season.
“We’ve had so many close matches that we could be almost undefeated right now,” Gephart said.
The team is constantly looking for ways to improve and step-up their game to ensure the remainder of their season is a success.
“We just focus on some of the things I see in the matches
we need to work on and then address those issues,” Gephart said.
Team camaraderie is a major aspect of tennis. Luckily for the OHS JV Boys Tennis Team, players are not lacking in their relationships with one another.
“We are all connected well,” Patel said.
Varsity:
With each forehand, serve, and volley, the vivacious game of tennis plays out in front of the audience’s eyes. As an individual sport driven by team support, tennis brings communities together as players, coaches, and supporters alike are captivated by the spirit of competition and determination.
At OHS, the girl’s tennis team is flled with talented players eager to prove to themselves and their team that hard work can equal success. With many younger players joining this year, the future achievements of this program are unstoppable.
“We have a lot of new people on the team, a lot of new freshmen, so our team is pretty young but that’s what’s nice about it. It’s exciting and everyone’s really eager to learn and improve their game,” said Maehur Aulakh, senior.
With new players trying to fnd their place on the team, more experienced individuals were able to help on this exciting journey.
“We have a pretty strong team bond. Especially since there aren’t too many
upperclassmen on the team, so it’s really nice being able to kind of mentor them and guide them in the world of tennis,” Aulakh said.
Aside from the upperclassmen, the coaches also have a profound impact on the athletes, allowing them to forge connections with their players.
“They [the coaches] have been a big impact. Coach Brad, specifcally, he’s a big mindset type of coach..he knows how to talk to people and he knows how to get through people’s struggles during the match and after the match…I’ve never had that type of emotional support in my sport,” said Aditi Mahesh, freshman.
Both of these support groups help to create a nurturing community amid the competitive environment of
the sport.
“I’m not really the type of person to take losses really well so I feel like the support of our team and our coaches really help us through that, and seeing that it’s not really about the losses but what you gain from the matches,” Mahesh said.
As the years pass by, many lessons are learned through playing matches. While this can be categorized by an improvement in technique, other realizations come from recognizing the most important aspects of the game.
“Don’t be so negative. I used to be very negative and used to get in my head a lot but now I think what’s more important than anything really, especially as a senior, is having fun with the game and remembering the positive parts,” Aulakh said.
Following the precedents of teams before them, the JV girl’s tennis team is determined to persevere through challenges and create a legacy of triumph.
With matches getting more challenging as the season progresses, the team is aware of their strength in unity.
“Now we’re getting tougher competition so it’s really just about that mental game that tennis is and we’re working together as a team to support each other through the matches,” said McKenzie Rubenstein, junior.
Aside from the support within the team, intrapersonal perspectives have the potential to yield results on the gameday attitudes of the players.
“The mentality before a game is super important because if you feel like you’re
not going to win before you even step onto the court then you’re not going to play well,” said Naomi Garcia, sophomore.
Especially on a team with younger players, this community is an indescribable beneft as success begins with support.
“The coaches and overall some of the people have really been bringing us all together and it’s been so much fun… there are so many sophomores and freshmen that joined this year,” Garcia said.
Other sources of assistance, such as the power training class are helping these players fnd the time for enhancement in their skill sets and abilities.
“It has helped me improve a lot. My serve and my forehand would not be where it is today without power training because I don’t have the time on my own outside of school and practice to work on it,” Rubenstein said.
Overall, this season has been enjoyable and flled with everlasting memories for these participants. With every sport, it is essential that an exuberant atmosphere is sustained.
“It’s really fun. We always have music playing and the boys and girls, it’s never been like this before, where we have the same coaches, so we’ve been able to have a fun time,” Rubenstein said.
Track and feld is one of the better known sports at OHS with over a dozen events and hundreds of students in it, track and feld is truly a central part of OHS. Breaking records and setting goals have truly changed the sport for the accomplished team.
Some may not realize the exact extent of track and feld’s infuence at OHS. There is much more to the sport than what meets the eye.
“[In] track… there’s a lot of diferent events where each one is its own separate thing. Each one you’re trying to outcompete… people you’re going against and ultimately trying to improve on your own time or record. Whether that’s in the 100 or shot put,” said Carter Hancock, sophomore sprinter, jumper, and hurdler.
“There’s somewhere around ffteen diferent events you can choose, so there’s a lot of things you can specialize in.”
With all the diferent events one can choose from, the track team at OHS is incredibly large. In addition to this, there are no cuts from the track team as there are in other sports – everyone is welcomed.
“I think there’s currently a little bit more than 300 kids on the track team right now… because there’s
so many events and opportunities,” Hancock said.
With so many events competing simultaneously, track and feld might seem confusing and chaotic. However, the track program at OHS is well organized and highly functional.
“We have practices every day of the week and our JV meets on Wednesdays,” said Olivia Bowen, sophomore distance runner. “And pretty much every Saturday we have invitationals. If you’re a top three of your event then you get to go.”
Additionally, there is a lot of progress towards improvement within the track team. Whether it be personal or team improvement, the track and feld team encourages growth during the season.
“Right now I have the 800 meter school record and the 4 by 800 relay,” said Tyler Olsen, senior runner. “And hopefully by the end of the year I’ll break both of those and set the mile record… I [joined track] because it was the one sport that you can kinda be a tryhard at, and it would pay of.”
Personal achievements are not the only thing track promotes.
In fact, many students in track and feld joined in order to grow themselves in other sports, as it helps to heighten one’s skills.
“I initially joined [track] because I was in football and [the coaches] said this is how you get faster - this
is how you get stronger in the of season,” Hancock said.
Track is a good sport to join between any of season, as it keeps an athlete trained for the next season.
“I was planning [my freshman year] to try baseball and track,” Olsen said. “You have a mile time trial for baseball… so the cross country coach kinda told me ‘hey you should join track to help with that’... so here we are.”
For those in track, the shared highlight among the athletes is the teammates and bonds formed with others through the sport.
“[Track] is hard but I think
when you have your teammates, it makes it more enjoyable and it’s not as hard because you’re doing it with other people,” said Arianna Mason, junior sprinter. “The people in it are really nice and really fun. They’re very positive even though the things we do might be very hard.”
The team gets along with one another incredibly well. They are always encouraging each other in every way possible to do their very best.
“[The most important part about track] is probably the environment,” said Cosette Mosely, freshman long distance
runner. “[The team] loves cheering each other on and encouraging each other so much in each event. We’re all like in one group. I love my teammates. They’re so fun [and] they’re some of my closest friends.”
Track and feld is highly recommended and fercely loved by its athletes. Any student looking for self-improvement and lifelong bonds should join the track and feld team at OHS.
“The team works together really well and everyone you’ll meet there is incredibly personal and nice to you. Everybody loves to connect,” Hancock said.
Varsity:
OHS softball is in the midst of its season and though there have been ups and downs, the team is doing well in their games by relying on each other.
This year’s varsity team excels in their games through teamwork and by receiving good leadership from their coach.
“It’s going well. We took fourth place in the Bullhead Tournament of Champions tournament so the girls fnished there very well and the season is in full swing and we play three games a week,” said Melissa Hobson, head varsity softball coach and P.E. teacher.
For the team to play as well as they are, athletes not only have practices but also specialized techniques to help them prepare for their games.
“Before every game, we obviously have practices leading up to that but we also have a mindset called ‘winning starts now’, so before our game even starts that’s what we’re thinking always. Whether it’s in the classroom for that day [or] right when we wake up, that’s our mindset, winning starts now,” said Raegan Holtorf, junior.
In addition to their mindset, the team implements other strategies
to help them mentally prepare to play their best.
“We pray and then also we just come together and realize this is just a game and we’re going to have fun. We’ve all been playing this game for a long time and just go out there and play our own game,” said Sydney Williams, sophomore.
Going into their games, the softball team knows that they can rely on each other, thanks to a bond that they have built up since the start of their season.
“At the beginning we were very separated, like freshman and all the others, sophomores, juniors, seniors, returning varsity players, but we’ve done some team
bonding stuf and we’ve all come together. We’re all actually super close and I feel now [the] seniors are best friends with freshmen. We’re all best friends now,” Holtorf said.
Though sometimes there are some ups and downs, the girls always help motivate each other to do their best.
“Sometimes it’s hard to practice every day and go to a lot of games but the girls really make it worthwhile to be there and be there for each other and the lifelong friendships that you make,” said Rachel Davis, junior.
JV:
The OHS JV softball team is also in the middle of their season and is continuing to play well in their games, representing OHS with pride.
Before joining the softball team, many OHS athletes have had prior experience with their sport, allowing them to succeed through their love for the game.
“I played in middle school and I fell in love with it and decided to try out for high school and see if I can go somewhere with it,” said Kylie Pruitt, freshman.
The team proves with each game that their teamwork skills allow them to play well.
“We’ve been bonding a lot better and working together a lot better. We have some things we need to work on, but we’ve been doing a lot better,” Pruitt said. By relying on the friendships they have made with each other, the team is able to help their fellow teammates improve in the game they all love.
“My favorite part of being on the team is being able to hang out with everybody and develop in the game,” Pruitt said.
Varsity:
OHS Varsity baseball came awfully close to a championship last year, fnishing in the semifnals and adding to their unraveling history as a top Arizona team.
They are bringing much of last year’s momentum into their 2023-24 season, with a 5-4 regular season record [at the time this was written].
“For the players, they have a championship mentality… for me, it’s great to come out and coach everyday knowing that these guys care as much or more than I do,” said Jef Baumgartner, head varsity coach.
Playing baseball at this high and competitive level is nothing new to the historically great team, and an adequate challenge for the well equipped program.
“We’ve seen the highest level of the state of Arizona, and we know we belong… we just have to keep working and see where it takes us at the end of April,” Baumgartner said.
Still, the already solid team recognizes room for improvement.
“Just situational baseball, what we have to do ofensively, being better base-runners… all those little things we’ve been known for over the years to be really good at,” Baumgartner said.
However this year the team won’t consider their history as a winning team and stay humble, eyes devoted to the state championship.
“We just want to focus on winning that state championship, play as a team, play for each other, and not really focus on where we’re ranked,” said Aiden Woolwine, junior frst-baseman.
The loss in the fnal four last season left a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of the team, but certainly fueled their ambition for this year.
“This is our year,” Woolwine said.
JV:
JV had a ‘breakout year’ last season, boasting a 17-1 record, and the returning players are carrying that momentum into this year.
“Baseball is wholly a mental sport, so you need to have a positive mind, and you’re sure to do well,” said Abel Garcia, junior.
Like the Varsity team, JV has identifed an area for improvement, citing their bond as teammates as a potential weak spot.
“We just need to be more confdent, and come together as a team,” Garcia said.
The team is doing a pretty good job at unifying together so far this year. With a 6-3 record, still great although not as stunning as the 2023 season.
“[We] still defnitely need to improve on [our bond], but we’re getting better,” said
Michael Leslie, sophomore. Freshman:
Incoming players on any team need to have a unique mindset as a freshman athlete. Bonding with their teammates, performing well as a frstyear athlete, and keeping in mind their future JV and Varsity aspirations can be a lot, but these players keep it under control and refne their mindset.
The mindset for all players is unique, but they all have their own character to them.
“Be calm, be confdent, be cool,” said Quinn Sullivan, freshman pitcher and frstbaseman.
It can be hard to generate confdence throughout the whole team, seeing as they are new to each other and the energy of high-school sports.
“In the dugout we’re really quiet,” Sullivan said.
Nevertheless, the team wants to improve, and have a mindset of bolstering their image in the eyes of coaches headed into the next season.
“Just show your best to the coaches, and show them that you belong at the next level,” said Dylan Turnquist, freshman pitcher.
With the difusion of infuencer culture into almost every corner of modern life, it seems that the rise–and fall–of TikTok celebrities will only continue for as long as the app exists.
While many who discuss TikTok focus on the content and creators that populate the app, one important factor to consider when thinking about its banning is what this app reveals about human nature. Many can agree that spending hours scrolling through short-form video after video, hardly taking in what is playing on the screen, is not good for one’s health or ability to focus for more than the duration of a thirtysecond TikTok. Yet, nobody is doing anything to stop themselves. Humans crave the quick burst of endorphins that each video brings, love to indulge in mindless hours of scrolling because it is much easier than, say, doing monotonous homework or holding an unfulflling, boring conversation. TikTok satisfes
these desires, and such behaviors will likely not go away, even if the app is banned. It is possible that users will just migrate to another platform with similar content or will fnd the newest thing to hold
their attention. If it is human nature to act in this way, then the restriction of an app will be largely inconsequential in the long run.
So, after taking many aspects, nuances, and idiosyncrasies
into consideration, the question still remains: should TikTok stay or should it go? There is no easy answer to this question, especially considering that it is unpredictable whether or not there will be an ofcial governmental prohibition of the app or whether the bill will die in the Senate. However, it is clear that TikTok as a whole represents a new wave of communication for society that is quickly washing over and clearing out all that was once known. Infuencers may come and go like the ebb and fow of tides, communities may foster positivity or sew hatred into their niches, and human behaviors may continue to change with this new age of short-form content, cancel culture, and all of the many corners and consequences of TikTok.
Practices are where things can get interesting, with every player on the team having the desire to win.
“We’re all really competitive, so it can get pretty intense at practice. The competition is what bonds our team,” McCarthy said.
Luckily, many players already are friends outside of
the team, and practice is just another excuse to hang out while working towards the same goal.
“It’s great bonding. I feel like before the season, I wasn’t as close with them, but now we’re a lot closer,” said Preston Delly, sophomore.
While volleyball is a very complex sport at this level,
the gameplay is not what players always struggle with. Sometimes, they have to adapt in order to get along with their own teammates.
“The actual act of playing volleyball isn’t that difcult, but learning to play as a team is what we’ve been working on,” Delly said.
Playing as a team is one of
the key aspects to winning a match. In order to do that, players make sure that they build connections whenever they can.
“It’s important to keep relationships strong, on and of the court,” Mullins said.
According to the boys on JV, all it takes is players having the ability to talk with each
other to be set up for success.
“Keep everybody up on communicating, because the more you talk, the more fun it is,” McCarthy said.