This April, posts online showed participants of the University of South Carolina’s Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge being hit with a wave of shock as they were doused with ice-cold water. The challenge — thanking nominators, pouring ice on one’s head and nominating friends to do the same —...
Hovering, bulldozing or nagging? Take your parenting pick. Every student knows the anxiety of opening their to-do list and seeing the assignments pile up one after another. Imagine having a parent who organizes all of them for you, completes part of your assignment or constantly reminds you of all the...
Vin Bhat, Graphics Artist, Photographer
• May 30, 2025
Let me start with a disclaimer: I’m not here to paint this district as bad — in fact, I’d argue it’s one of the best out there. However, being the best doesn’t preclude us from missteps. As someone who regularly tunes into PAUSD School Board meeting livestreams, I’ve grown accustomed to watching...
In previous generations, being a masculine man was not something to be ashamed of. Recently, gender roles have undergone significant changes, many of which are beneficial for society. For example, women have found a greater sense of equality, taking on more power and representation. However, the shift...
Bamboo straws, paper bags and biodegradable plastic are all popular sustainable products that many people attempt to integrate into their daily routines. While these products seem like a key way to fight against environmental issues, they are actually not as beneficial as many believe them to be. Sustainability...
Prom-ises and price tags — this is the paradox of prom, or the rite of passage tradition, and its mounting expenses. From attire to transportation, students spend an average of more than $600 on prom, according to Yahoo Style’s 2017 Prom Across America survey. At the baseline of this giant price...
Although procrastination is an undoubtedly prevalent issue among teens, it has become normalized to the point where many fail to realize the true magnitude of its negative impact. More people need to learn that the temporary relief procrastination provides is not a solution. Rather, it is a method of...
Every time a hand is shaken, an email is sent or a LinkedIn connection is made, the sound of the “cha-ching” in one’s mental networking register echoes triumphantly. In contrast, others from the sideline scowl and express contempt toward such means of building connections and labeling the relationships....
Navigating the internet at an impressionable age, high school students are trying to build an accurate understanding of the world and achieve their goals while rowing against the current of misinformation. From consuming fake news to impetuously adhering to advice, youth are often blindsided by the eye-catching,...
Ya-An Xue, Features & Online Editor
• March 21, 2025
Social media has immense power—to inform and to connect. But when used irresponsibly, it also has the power to deceive and divide. The polarization fueled by algorithm-driven content, the rampant spread of misinformation, and the violent real-world consequences of online extremism all point to the...
The typical four-year college degree is often regarded as the only path to success, putting an immense amount of pressure upon students to stick to the traditional route for post-secondary education. This norm stems from the fact that attending a four-year college is associated with career success. However,...
There’s a strange phenomenon sweeping across high schools — creating clubs that look impressive and sound impactful, but almost only exist on paper. In the search for the perfect college application, students have turned clubs into something akin to performance art. They are no longer about gathering...
