Story by Cloe MaurerAssociate Feature Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Writer Love is Blind, Netflix’s first attempt at a reality dating show, has been a wild success on paper. The show gained a large following and even a pull-down tab on Buzzfeed — major accomplishment alert. In the show, men and women live on separate […]
Brian Wong: finding a second family
Story by Lilian ZhuStaff Writer Photo courtesy of Matt ScholtzContributor Brian Wong wobbled on the ice. He had just joined the West Valley Wolves hockey team. He pressed forward, slowly gaining momentum, and glided across the rink. The junior didn’t know it yet, but this sport would strengthen his bonds with his family and also […]
Nutrition: the unseen factor critical to a runner’s success
Story by Sofia AlvaAssociate Sports Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Natural-born talent, dedication, and training regiments all factor into a runner’s performance, but a strict diet is just as important. With nutritional research rapidly advancing, runners are constantly searching for anything that can gift them a slight advantage. As veganism and other unique diets […]
Opinions on the best and worst athletic uniforms
Story by Cloe Maurer & Matthew TsaiAssociate Feature Editor & Sports Editor Photos by Jayden Eden, Katelyn Hernandez, Ella Jayasekera, & Oscar WalshStaff Photographers, Associate Photo Editor, & Photo Editor Every athlete patiently waits through offseason workouts and preseason practices for the moment they finally get to put on their official uniforms. From utter disappointment […]
Mr. G: Unraveling the enigma under the cowboy hat
Story by Kimberly HsuehStaff Writer Photo by Sean JinStaff Photographer Many people view Mr. G — Megerdich Baghram Gregor — as just a staff member on campus, unaware of the captivating stories hidden under his cowboy hat and sunglasses. Students, intimidated by his poker face and aloofness, often walk past Gregor. Little do they know […]
Salt & Straw loses authenticity through overcomplication
Story by Audrey Ernst Staff Writer Photos by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer Cardamom Black Pepper & Port Truffle probably isn’t the first flavor that comes to mind when thinking about ice cream, but at Salt & Straw, it’s an option in its wide variety of eccentric flavors. The Portland-based ice cream shop opened in Old Town […]
Reassessing the VPA requirement
Story by Noah KuhnStaff Writer Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator Arts are integral to humanity as an avenue for self-expression. Unfortunately, forcing art on those who are not enthusiastic about it causes it to lose many of these celebrated qualities. The UC system currently mandates that all applicants take one year of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). […]
Sustainability demands conscious shopping
Story by Haelee KimAssociate Opinion Editor myconjoinedjourney.com Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Certain American shopping habits have become increasingly commonplace as new, more desirable products flood the market every day. Specifically, many people have begun browsing online in the comfort of their own homes as opposed to shopping in person; clicking one “buy” button to […]
In remembrance of Kobe
Story by Matthew TsaiSports Editor Contribution by Preston SharkeyEditor-in-Chief Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator I didn’t believe the news. I was about to eat lunch with some family friends when my phone buzzed: “Breaking: Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash.” In the following seconds, my phone flooded with texts, messages, and notifications. “Is this real?” […]
TAAGLAA: Exploring Laurel Canyon
Story by Cloe MaurerAssociate Feature Editor Photo by Sean JinStaff Photographer Echo in the Canyon is a lauded 2019 documentary from director Andrew Slater and Jacob Dylan (son of folk legend Bob Dylan). Last summer, I went to a screening followed by a question and answer session with Slater and Dylan, which attracted longtime residents […]
SPHS must address the amenorrhea problem
Story by Lilian ZhuStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnAssociate Design Editor Sophomore Sadie Metcalfe, a member of the SPHS swim team, began to notice something off about her period in March. Despite having a developed regular period since she was 14, there was no sign of menstruation for several months. “Nobody really ever talks about […]
The decline of multisport athletes
Story by Noah KuhnAssociate News Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Photographer Sports have always played a major role at South Pasadena High School. They are a source of school pride, exercise, and community connection. However, despite a plethora of programs in three different seasons, more and more students find themselves limited to playing a single […]
Liam and Grace Markus: the sibling water polo duo
Story by Sofia AlvaCo-Associate Sports Editor Photo by Oscar WalshPhoto Editor Liam and Grace Markus huddled around the living room TV. The siblings anxiously watched the 2012 Summer Olympics gold medal water polo match. When Croatia blocked Italy’s final shot and the clock ticked down to zero, the Markus family erupted in roaring cheers, celebrating […]
It is time to bury the “dead white men”
In 1999, Harper’s Bazaar magazine published the essay I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Sing by reporter and essayist Francine Prose, a critique of the quality of high school required reading. Prose argued that in high schools, a book’s status as a classic will often override the substance and relevance of the book. The […]
Winter sports: end of the regular season power rankings
Story by Amber Chen, Kimberly Hsueh, Zoe Schlaak, Haelee Kim, Noah Kuhn, & Aanji SinStaff Writers, Associate Opinion Editor, Associate News Editor, & Senior Staff Writer Photo by Oscar Walsh, Ella Jayasekera, Jayden Eden, Katelyn Hernandez, Sean Jin, & Sarah LeePhoto Editor, Associate Photo Editor, & Staff Photographers The Rio Hondo League (RHL) has ended […]
The self-destructiveness of comparison
Story by Sofia AlvaStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Academic comparison is ubiquitous among SPHS students and high school students across the world; students often use comparison to measure success and take into consideration their peers’ GPAs, SAT scores, and the amount of APs they take. In fact, comparison is a natural reaction to a need […]