And We're Back
by The Editorial Board
Hello dear readers! We’re back! This time better than ever.
We apologize for the late start, but as we’re sure you can imagine, things have been a bit hectic. Between worrying about college, juggling classes and after school activities, studying for standardized tests, and the sheer craziness of our everyday lives, we’ve been busy to say the least. Scratch that—we’ve been swamped. But, here we are. When we started this newspaper almost a year ago, we made a commitment—a commitment to ourselves and to you, our audience. No matter what it takes, we are going to see this project of ours through.
As per usual, we’ve drawn up a few goals we hope to accomplish this year. First off, we want to reach a greater audience than before; we want to make the Maya Gazette part of your life, even if it is for only one day a month. Second, we want to expand our journalistic horizons and write about more than what’s happening at CM, but about what’s happening in the world. Third, we want you. As it currently stands, we are a staff of 4 driven and ambitious young ladies, but we’ve finally come to terms with the fact that we can’t do this alone. So, we’re looking for writers with new ideas and a passion for journalism to join us this school year. No experience is needed whatsoever. No matter what it is you want to talk about from movie reviews to your stance on the Ebola crisis, school events to restaurant recommendations, we want to hear it. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or to talk to us in person for more information.
Last but not least, we would like to thank those of you who have stuck around since the beginning and those of you who are here now. More content is on its way, and we promise not to let you down. Here’s to the start of a new year.
Until next time,
The Maya Gazette Staff
We apologize for the late start, but as we’re sure you can imagine, things have been a bit hectic. Between worrying about college, juggling classes and after school activities, studying for standardized tests, and the sheer craziness of our everyday lives, we’ve been busy to say the least. Scratch that—we’ve been swamped. But, here we are. When we started this newspaper almost a year ago, we made a commitment—a commitment to ourselves and to you, our audience. No matter what it takes, we are going to see this project of ours through.
As per usual, we’ve drawn up a few goals we hope to accomplish this year. First off, we want to reach a greater audience than before; we want to make the Maya Gazette part of your life, even if it is for only one day a month. Second, we want to expand our journalistic horizons and write about more than what’s happening at CM, but about what’s happening in the world. Third, we want you. As it currently stands, we are a staff of 4 driven and ambitious young ladies, but we’ve finally come to terms with the fact that we can’t do this alone. So, we’re looking for writers with new ideas and a passion for journalism to join us this school year. No experience is needed whatsoever. No matter what it is you want to talk about from movie reviews to your stance on the Ebola crisis, school events to restaurant recommendations, we want to hear it. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or to talk to us in person for more information.
Last but not least, we would like to thank those of you who have stuck around since the beginning and those of you who are here now. More content is on its way, and we promise not to let you down. Here’s to the start of a new year.
Until next time,
The Maya Gazette Staff
Why I Still Love Halloween
by Emma Yee Yick
Halloween. My Grandma can hardly believe that I still go out trick or treating at my age. To be honest, if I were in the states I probably wouldn’t, but something about the culture here makes it socially acceptable to dress up and go house to house foraging for sweets no matter what your age. But, the reason I love Halloween goes beyond the candy factor (because boy do I love myself some candy). Instead, the reason I love Halloween is how for one night out of the year you get to be someone other than yourself. As I write this on paper, that almost sounds depressing—like I would kill for the opportunity to be someone else for more than the one day Halloween allows me, but that’s not what I’m getting at.
First off, life gets complicated….and stressful, and overwhelming, and a whole bunch of other not so wonderful adjective that I can’t begin to explain right now. Halloween provides me with the needed solace to forget those worries for a night. In an instant I can go from Emma Yee Yick, anxious and worried senior, to Wonder Woman, Amazonian warrior princess. The possibilities are endless and that in itself is a curious and inspiring thought. In a time when the possibilities of my life seem rather narrow and along the lines of “Make a college list, apply to said colleges, get accepted at hopefully three of aforementioned colleges, attend college of dreams (aka the college that gives the most financial aid), for once, I am being given a choice, a choice that isn’t narrowed down to a list of 8 or 10, but a choice with millions of options.
Secondly, being able to play dress up gives me the opportunity to reimagine, reinvent, and recreate myself. It gives me the opportunity to show who I just might want to become. Now, this point is not often true in practice because most high schoolers don’t choose to dress up as Jackie O or Malala Yusafzai. Either way though, in the weeks leading up to Halloween I tend to sit back and reflect on the person I want to become in the future, of the characteristics I’d like to embody someday, of the aura I want to give off.
Finally, I love Halloween as a 17 year old, High School Senior because I know that this is one of the last pieces of my childhood that I’ll be able to latch on to for the rest of my life. There’s a whole lot of talk about everything that is lost in the transition from teenager to adult, but for me Halloween will never be one of them. I will be the college student who participates in her residence hall’s mock trick or treating night, the working woman who hosts the annual office costume party, the enthusiastic mother who thinks up family costume ensembles, and the little old lady who always leaves the light on the longest on Halloween night, waiting anxiously to get a good look at all the young people’s get-ups that year. As the years go by, I may get older, but Halloween? Halloween is forever young.
First off, life gets complicated….and stressful, and overwhelming, and a whole bunch of other not so wonderful adjective that I can’t begin to explain right now. Halloween provides me with the needed solace to forget those worries for a night. In an instant I can go from Emma Yee Yick, anxious and worried senior, to Wonder Woman, Amazonian warrior princess. The possibilities are endless and that in itself is a curious and inspiring thought. In a time when the possibilities of my life seem rather narrow and along the lines of “Make a college list, apply to said colleges, get accepted at hopefully three of aforementioned colleges, attend college of dreams (aka the college that gives the most financial aid), for once, I am being given a choice, a choice that isn’t narrowed down to a list of 8 or 10, but a choice with millions of options.
Secondly, being able to play dress up gives me the opportunity to reimagine, reinvent, and recreate myself. It gives me the opportunity to show who I just might want to become. Now, this point is not often true in practice because most high schoolers don’t choose to dress up as Jackie O or Malala Yusafzai. Either way though, in the weeks leading up to Halloween I tend to sit back and reflect on the person I want to become in the future, of the characteristics I’d like to embody someday, of the aura I want to give off.
Finally, I love Halloween as a 17 year old, High School Senior because I know that this is one of the last pieces of my childhood that I’ll be able to latch on to for the rest of my life. There’s a whole lot of talk about everything that is lost in the transition from teenager to adult, but for me Halloween will never be one of them. I will be the college student who participates in her residence hall’s mock trick or treating night, the working woman who hosts the annual office costume party, the enthusiastic mother who thinks up family costume ensembles, and the little old lady who always leaves the light on the longest on Halloween night, waiting anxiously to get a good look at all the young people’s get-ups that year. As the years go by, I may get older, but Halloween? Halloween is forever young.
The Scariest Things About Halloween
by Olivia Benecke
Here it comes again... the most terrifying day of the year. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore Halloween--jack o'lanterns, horror movies, costumes, candy...the list goes on forever. But look beyond the obvious and you’ll notice that this is truly the creepiest holiday in existence.
First of all, take a step back and think about what it really is to celebrate Halloween. Traditionally, those who celebrate the holiday are expected to imitate characters in elaborate costumes while knocking on the doors of strangers in pursuit of candy. Often times, we threaten to “pull down their underwear” if they don’t comply. Some enthusiasts even go the extra mile and adorn the house and front yard with excessive amounts of toilet paper. Only today does extortion become socially acceptable. This is the definition of bizarre.
It’s also worth considering the origins of this night. 2,000 years ago, October 31st marked the end of the Celtic harvest. They believed that on this night, ghosts of the dead returned to terrorize the living and destroy their crops. Their solution? Dress up in animal heads/skins to distract and confuse said spirits. So when you think about it, the little girl in the princess costume is equivalent to the Celtic man wearing a sheep head. Enough said.
Next, not all, but a lot of people spend scary amounts of time and money trying to look dead, dismembered, or disfigured. Americans alone spend about $6 billion each year on such Halloween costumes. Is this not COMPLETELY BACKWARDS? Imagine explaining this to a foreigner who has never heard of Halloween: “We spent this week's paycheck on makeup to pretend we’re dead for one night,” or “Look! It looks like my leg has been sawed off, and it only cost me $250!” And to really top it off, it’s the only day in which children carrying knives, scythes, swords, sickles (I’ve seriously answered the door to children holding all of these things), you name it, is considered normal. This mentality, alone, is enough to freak me out.
Remember that this is the only time of year candy corn becomes available. If you’re like me, you don’t just eat it...you inhale it. Fun fact about this stuff: throughout the rest of the year the same material is used to make patio candles. That’s right, we eat sugar-infused patio candles, and we like it...what?
Again, don’t get me wrong. I love Halloween more than a person at my age should, but read this and tell me you’re not weirded out. It’s not just the costumes that’ll scare you now.
First of all, take a step back and think about what it really is to celebrate Halloween. Traditionally, those who celebrate the holiday are expected to imitate characters in elaborate costumes while knocking on the doors of strangers in pursuit of candy. Often times, we threaten to “pull down their underwear” if they don’t comply. Some enthusiasts even go the extra mile and adorn the house and front yard with excessive amounts of toilet paper. Only today does extortion become socially acceptable. This is the definition of bizarre.
It’s also worth considering the origins of this night. 2,000 years ago, October 31st marked the end of the Celtic harvest. They believed that on this night, ghosts of the dead returned to terrorize the living and destroy their crops. Their solution? Dress up in animal heads/skins to distract and confuse said spirits. So when you think about it, the little girl in the princess costume is equivalent to the Celtic man wearing a sheep head. Enough said.
Next, not all, but a lot of people spend scary amounts of time and money trying to look dead, dismembered, or disfigured. Americans alone spend about $6 billion each year on such Halloween costumes. Is this not COMPLETELY BACKWARDS? Imagine explaining this to a foreigner who has never heard of Halloween: “We spent this week's paycheck on makeup to pretend we’re dead for one night,” or “Look! It looks like my leg has been sawed off, and it only cost me $250!” And to really top it off, it’s the only day in which children carrying knives, scythes, swords, sickles (I’ve seriously answered the door to children holding all of these things), you name it, is considered normal. This mentality, alone, is enough to freak me out.
Remember that this is the only time of year candy corn becomes available. If you’re like me, you don’t just eat it...you inhale it. Fun fact about this stuff: throughout the rest of the year the same material is used to make patio candles. That’s right, we eat sugar-infused patio candles, and we like it...what?
Again, don’t get me wrong. I love Halloween more than a person at my age should, but read this and tell me you’re not weirded out. It’s not just the costumes that’ll scare you now.
Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas
by Eun Biy Ko
Halloween is just around the corner, and I know that many of us--myself included--have absolutely no creativity and originality to come up with a good costume. For those of us who are looking for inspiration, here are several Halloween costume ideas:
I am joking. We want a little more creativity for our costumes, don’t we? I am not saying that the costume ideas mentioned above are not an option, but these are very commonly seen outfits on October 31st. Halloween is probably the only time in which it is acceptable to be someone (or something) else--no judgement.
So, here are some creative and fun Halloween costume ideas you can rock this year:
I hope you got some inspiration from these quick and simple costume ideas. Costumes don’t have to be complicated and intricate. It is all about having fun putting it together and having the chance to be someone else, even though it’s just for a little while.
- Draw whiskers and a black nose on your face, get ears, and use black clothes to go as a cat.
- Rip some old t-shirt and draw a scar and bruise on your face--you’ll be a zombie.
I am joking. We want a little more creativity for our costumes, don’t we? I am not saying that the costume ideas mentioned above are not an option, but these are very commonly seen outfits on October 31st. Halloween is probably the only time in which it is acceptable to be someone (or something) else--no judgement.
So, here are some creative and fun Halloween costume ideas you can rock this year:
- The simplest one, yet the most overlooked one: the ninja. Dress with a long-sleeve black shirt and pants and get a black handkerchief to tie around your face. If you want to spice it up a bit, you could add a long piece of red (or any color of your choice) piece of fabric and tie it around your waist. It looks like you put a lot of effort into your outfit when you actually didn’t, and, on top of that, you’ll look really chic and cool.
- If you want to look cute and colorful for this year’s Halloween, try going as a unicorn! It involves a simple DIY (do it yourself) project, but it’s nothing complicated. You can easily get a cone-shaped styrofoam piece in the crafts store and decorate it however you want. Then, you can either don an all pink outfit, or mix up any colors you wish.
- If you happen to have a vertical black-and-white striped clothing item, be it a shirt, skirt, or pants, then you can dress as a referee. Just get a white or gray shirt or pants, a cap, and a whistle. You could either carry around a soccer ball, football, or any other ball of your choice.
- Many of us have a flannel shirt lying around in our closets, but instead of going as a cowboy/cowgirl, as many do, why not go as a scarecrow? To complete the costume, get a straw hat and some old jeans, or overalls if you have them--and you’re now a scarecrow.
- If you want to show that you still have some of that Disney spirit left, you could easily get one of your nightgowns and go as one of the kids in Peter Pan. If you want to go as Wendy, get a blue night gown and tie your hair back with blue ribbon. Or, if you want to go as John, use your white PJ’s with round, black glasses and a black top hat. If you happen to have a onesie you could go as little Michael, but if you don’t have one, just wear any matching PJ’s...and don’t forget the teddy bear! You’ll be comfortable in your PJ’s and still be dressed up for Halloween!
- If you want to look tough and stylish, why not go as a biker boy/ biker chick--it sounds complicated, but it really isn’t. Just get any leather jacket and black pants or jeans, and complete the look by accessorizing with sunglasses and a red bandana around your neck or head. If you really want to go over the top, get some temporary tattoos, or draw them yourself if you want to show your creativity.
I hope you got some inspiration from these quick and simple costume ideas. Costumes don’t have to be complicated and intricate. It is all about having fun putting it together and having the chance to be someone else, even though it’s just for a little while.
College Stress
by Shreeja Bhattacharjee
Senior year—that time when we blossom into our full potential as graceful butterflies....is what I wish I could say. A more accurate description would be... MOTHER OF GOD! WHY ARE THE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS DUE SO SOON AND WHY IS THERE SO MUCH HOMEWORK!? I AM GONNA FAIL THE SAT’s! Yes, while senior year should be dedicated to cherishing the fond memories, sadly, that is not the case. Instead we are “blessed” with the common application to complete. Really... thanks so much! It’s not like we don’t already have an intense workload when it comes to homework and the SAT’s. In any case, here are some tips to help you with dealing with college stress this year (or for the future):
In a weird way, applying to colleges is a bit like trying to start a relationship. You reach out to the other party hoping they’ll say “yes”. But remember something, just because you have been rejected doesn’t mean you are not talented, or stupid. Iit just might mean that that particular college wasn’t right for you. Similar to how you might be rejected when you ask someone out, sometimes it’s better if they tell you no right away than date them, and find out later that you two were completely incompatible. The colleges have been doing this for a while. They can almost always tell if you’re a fit. Hopefully, all of you are the right key for the door that you wish to open!
Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.
- The wisest of them all--Google. What is the SAT score range for a school? Google it! What is their acceptance rate? Google it! Where is this college located? Google it! Another good idea would be to visit the college’s website and get a feel for it. Often times we hear a name and think it’s the one. But the truth of the matter is that sometimes we visit the college or learn more about it, only to realize that maybe it wasn’t what we thought it was. A bonus point is that if you show the colleges that you researched it well, and know specific programs and such, you are more likely to get accepted. P.S. Here are some helpful websites: www.bigfuture.com, www.princetonreview.com, www.colleges.niche.com, www.collegefactual.com, www.talk.collegeconfidential.com
- The mother of common applications and all things college related--M to the K! If Google isn’t working out for you, or you need hardcore information, look no further! In room S-13 lies the humble and gracious Maggie Kayayan who (as the tales say) is a descendant of the God Colegio. She knows her stuff. Trrrusssstttt meee! If you need a one on one long talk, schedule a meeting.
- Don’t panic and stay on schedule. The worst thing you can do is panic. Studies show that the first response for most teenagers is to ignore whatever it is that is stressing them out. This will not help you. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do. Then, find the time you have to complete each thing and plan out the most effective and efficient way. I like to have a board of sticky notes of work to do. Then when I finish an item, I can peel off the sticky note and throw it away.
- This is for the college essay or writing supplements: have a notepad or your phone at hand at all times. Sometimes I think of a line that would be good for my college essay, and in case I might forget it later, I note that one line down. Over a month, the lines add up and soon you might be able to write an entire paragraph from it. Also do some some soul searching. Who are you? How do people see you? What are you positive attributes, and how can you show them? These are important things to learn about yourself as you do your college applications. Once you start to get a picture of who you are, you’ll know what it is that you can “sell” to the colleges. Your positive attributes and personality should shine through in your essay and writing supplements. I personally kind of like writing it. I mean, it’s just talking about who you are (or maybe I’m just mildly narcissistic).
In a weird way, applying to colleges is a bit like trying to start a relationship. You reach out to the other party hoping they’ll say “yes”. But remember something, just because you have been rejected doesn’t mean you are not talented, or stupid. Iit just might mean that that particular college wasn’t right for you. Similar to how you might be rejected when you ask someone out, sometimes it’s better if they tell you no right away than date them, and find out later that you two were completely incompatible. The colleges have been doing this for a while. They can almost always tell if you’re a fit. Hopefully, all of you are the right key for the door that you wish to open!
Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.