6. Sauerkraut 2025

     The people that we surround ourselves with severely have an impact on the type of person we then become as we grow older. When addressing the similarities and differences that individuals have with one another, it comes to show that humans have a lot to learn from each other; either it being important life wisdom or characteristics and personality traits. All in all, I believe that it is essential to surround yourself with people that have good morals and ethics, and also know how to lift your mood when feeling down in life.       Now, why is this so important? Life can be full of hardships and other types of adversity, however, if surrounded by the right people, a lot of those challenges can be addressed and broken down into small chunks that can much easier be handled. Now, this can be done with the help of other individuals, primarily being people that one can trust. Whether it is a teacher, student, parent, colleague, any trusted adult, or som...

  As we begin reading Everything I Never Told You , it reminded me of the section in the AP Psychology textbook that talks about how people having control over their lives has more benefits than just having freedom. In movies and books like the Dead Poets’ Society or EINTY, the importance of feeling in-control is apparent, especially how it is easily overlooked in children and teens.  The main characters in both of the works, Neil—with his father having absolute control over his extracurriculars and possible career paths—and Lydia—with a similar case to Neil—both are hopelessly controlled by their parents which deteriorates their motivation and general well-being because of their lack of free-will and ability to control their own life and actions (I am going to refrain from adding details for anybody who hasn’t watched the Dead Poets’ Society). What I have noticed, as I look at social media and explanations of both of the tragic instances of helpless teenage lives, is that ma...

This past weekend, I went to the Stanford Invitational Debate Tournament and was a finalist! Although I regularly go to competitions and talk until I can’t anymore, this one felt different when going up the seed bracket. This tournament made me realize the power of speaking.  After a gruesome ten rounds of one hour each, I learned that many people lost solely based on their presentation skills. Sprinkling their speeches with ‘ums’ or ‘but uh’ took a toll into wether they would actually go on to the elimination rounds or not. Their arguments were sound, and logic impermeable (of course not better than mine), but delivery made the huge difference.  I also realized I have that power very inherently, like a second nature. But others, can struggle immensely. Some competitors had brilliant ideas but faltered because their words failed to carry the weight they deserved. This overall experience made me reflect on the broader implications of speech beyond debate. The way we present our...

Two weeks ago, a passenger airplane collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, DC . Everyone on both aircrafts were killed, with this crash being considered the first major U.S. commercial flight crash in 16 years. Among the 64 civilians that were on the flight, 14 of them were U.S. figure skaters returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas. As a figure skater myself, this situation really shook me, especially since I was familiar with some of the victims on the flight, with many of my friends also being at the same camp as them just a day prior. Having skated in the same rinks and participated at the same competitions as these skaters, it felt so unreal to think about how I would never be able to see or hear anything about them again.  A photo of just 10 out of the 64 victims of this plane crash. Credit: Dailymail I think that this plane crash serves as a reminder not just to the skating community, but to the nation as a whole, ab...

Ye and a barely clothed Bianca Censori posing for cameras at the Grammys red carpet via Newsweek Last week, Ye (Kanye West) and his wife Bianca Censori arrived at the Grammys in Los Angeles. Under normal circumstances, many familiar with Ye could chalk this up to as another one of his past antics. This appearance, however, “outstripped” everyone’s expectations.  Dated February 2nd, the 67th Grammy Awards was set to progress like usual until Ye and Bianca Censori had arrived. Much of their arrival was recorded on a livestream by popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat . His stream allows us to pinpoint the pair’s appearance. Around the 1 hour, 44 minutes point, Kai Cenat spotted Ye and Censori. Notably, Censori was wearing a full-length black fur coat that she would later drop to reveal her controversial outfit on the red carpet. Naturally, Kai Cenat proceeded to greet and h ug Ye — an a ction that definitively put to rest the short-lived internet beef between them. Kai Cenat would go on ...

 Communication is the invisible thread that holds everything together, from friendships to global relations. It’s more than just words—it’s how we connect, influence, and understand one another.  Strong communication fosters understanding. When we express our thoughts clearly and listen actively, we build trust and reduce misunderstandings. Whether it’s a heartfelt conversation with a friend or a well-structured argument in an essay, effective communication ensures that ideas are not just heard but truly understood. However, when communication breaks down, miscommunication takes its place. A simple text message can be misread, a sarcastic comment can be taken seriously, or an unclear instruction can lead to major mistakes. Miscommunication can create unnecessary tension, damage relationships, and even escalate conflicts. A single misunderstood word or phrase has the potential to change the entire tone of a conversation, leading to confusion and frustration. Beyond personal rel...

At the bottom of the 2024 Marching Band Schedule lies a quote that holds a special place in my heart—“Music can change the world because it can change people.” This line was stated by Bono, an Italian singer-songwriter, demonstrating how music is a universal language significant to all cultures across the world. Different cultures can have different interpretations of how music is able to “change people.” Some will use music as a non-political political voice, while others will use it as soothing background noise at their next birthday party. Although they can widely contrast, various perspectives are applicable to the quote, and I’m sure everyone has experienced firsthand how much of an impact hearing the right music can have at particular points in our lives. For me, music has largely made a mark on my growth in the form of my involvement in the music program at American, with my participation in life-altering experiences like Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, the musical...