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Mission Viejo’s Funky Fresh Back to School Dance

MVHS Staff
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Sophia Haque

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From left to right: Skyla Davis and her friends Shelby Mills, Grace LaMarre, and Bella Maldonado at Mission’s 2018 Back to School Dance.

Students hopped back into the new school year at Mission’s 2018 Back to School Dance.

     Mission’s 2018 back to school dance was on Saturday, September 8th. Students were expected to wear their class colors; Freshman: black, Sophomores: white, Juniors: yellow, and Seniors: red.

    Tickets cost a whopping $20 and came with a class shirt. The night was very casual and fun-filled. Most students do not ask someone to be their date at the back to school dance.

    After interviewing multiple students about music, it was clear they believed that the DJ from the dance needed improvement.

    Senior Romina Dagher says, “I wish they would have played more dance music,” because of the lack of bops necessary for a good time. She believes that ‘Yeah!” by Usher, “Fireball” by Pitbull, and “Yeah3x” by Chris Brown are some popular classics.

   Possibly “DJ Griff” recommended Gabriel Malik.

    Although, Sarell Ming, MVHS’s art commissioner, said the music was “great” and found it “awesome how hard ASB worked to make this event super fun!” Sarelle also added that by the time they got there, the food had run out, so there was only water.

    Anna Parks also suggested that there should be “more things to do if you didn’t want to dance.” Booths and food could give off fun carnival vibes and provide as an alternative to dancing. These booths could also raise money for programs at our school.

    Janae Sperling believed that “freshman seemed overwhelmed while us seniors had fun.” On the other hand, freshman Skyla Davis said, “The dance was very entertaining! I loved how it was 3 hours instead of 2 like middle school.”

    Sophomore Abbie Gardner describes the night as “fun, loud, sweaty, and memorable.”

    After interviewing Tanner Spree, a senior who was injured at the dance, I was given the complete opposite answers. “Not many people went, the music was not good,” and “I did a backflip, and someone hit me mid-flip, and I landed on my face,” says Tanner.

     Possibly why there is a “no moshing” rule at our school dances now.

    Mr. Zides decided to add the saying, “Keep it classy, never trashy!”, to our school days because of the many supposedly dressed code girls.

     Tanner ultimately does not recommend doing “backflips in the middle of a mosh pit cause you never know if you’ll get hit.”

   These school dances are amazing to attend because there is a good energy and you can hang out with friends and make long-lasting memories.

 

All Aboard: Paul McCartney releases Egypt Station

MVHS Staff
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All Aboard: Paul McCartney releases Egypt Station

Keira Deer

Egypt Station” album cover, via Paul McCartney’s Instagram page

Paul McCartney releases his first new album in five years, already making it to the Top 200 Billboard Charts.

    Listening to the first track of Paul McCartney’s newest album, Egypt Station, my mind was brought to Las Vegas, watching Cirque Du Soleil’s LOVE – a show entirely based around the music and story of the Beatles in America. I was eleven years old then, craning my neck to see every second and every movement on the stage that I possibly could.

    Fast forward about four years, I found myself hearing the sounds of the bustling train station and the voices of the choir that fill the empty spaces on the opening track, “Opening Station,” that made me feel like I was back in the theater, hearing the Beatles’ “Gnik Nus” for the first time. I had been a hardcore Beatles fan back then; now, even moreso.

    Egypt Station, released on September 7, 2018, is an accumulation of 16 songs, featuring “Come On To Me” and “Happy With You.” Not only is this McCartney’s first album in five years, but also his 18th solo album with Capitol Records.

    Along with the album itself, McCartney produced a short YouTube series called Words Between the Tracks, in which he gave fans an insight into what each song was written about. “Egypt Station starts off at the station on the first song,” McCartney says, explaining the sequence and concept of the album, “then each song is a different station.”

    After leaving the station, listeners are shown a wide variety of different songs – some acoustic, some rock, and some with an ever-present pop influence.

    “People Want Peace” takes a look back into McCartney’s time with the Beatles, exploring the theme of world peace, freedom, and the power of the people. Former Beatles, George Harrison and John Lennon, were both outspoken in similar world issues (Harrison with “Give Me Love: Peace on Earth” and Lennon with songs like “Give Peace a Chance” and “Power to the People”), as well as Ringo Starr with his latest album Give More Love (2017) and his personal mantra “Peace and Love.”

     From station to station, McCartney brings the audience to different times in our lives as well as different places in the world with songs like “Caesar Rock” (a seemingly Spanish inspired song) and “Back in Brazil” (a jazzy, Steely Dan like song).

    McCartney even implemented a pause in “Back in Brazil” for voices to shout “Ichiban!” meaning “number 1” in Japanese. Listeners took this quite literally – Egypt Station is McCartney’s first album to make the Billboard Top 200 in 36 years.

    McCartney closes the album with “Station II,” a return to the first track, that leads into the introductory guitar riff of the final song – a 6 minute, 23 second three parter – “Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link.” This last track is absolutely Beatles era McCartney.

    In “Hunt You Down,” the steady cowbell backbeat and trumpets make for a perfect Beatles song, even bringing to mind McCartney’s solo song “Junior’s Farm.” This first third of the song comes to a close and leads into the second piano based part called “Naked,” and then on into “C-Link” – a guitar solo reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s guitar intros and slow beats, like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”

    Although 76 years old, McCartney has continued on as a relevant and legendary musician of the past, present, and future. With a lifetime of experience, he connects with people young and old, teaching us all a valuable lesson: to live life confidently, together, hand in hand.

 

My My, Just How Much I Missed You!

MVHS Staff
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My My, Just How Much I Missed You!

Nicole Burns

Credit: Tyneside Cinema

Mamma Mia is back a decade later with the same charm as the first, but twice the fun! *SPOILERS AHEAD*

     Ah, yes, everyone knows it. Everyone hears it getting closer in the night, peeking in the corner of everyone’s eyes: the dreaded sequel. Now, rarely have there been remakes, reboots, and sequels that have been on par with or daresay, better than the original film, but Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again might be the exception.

    Now, no one thought the 2008 classic, jukebox-musical, Mamma Mia would be getting a sequel. Especially not a decade later and yet, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again hit theaters on July 20th, 2018, only ten years and two days after the first movie.

   The trailer made some wary as it contained Cher and… no Meryl Streep! Well, the trailer included the iconic Donna Sheridan in the form of flashbacks and being referenced in the third person. Everyone’s worst fears came true: Donna Sheridan was dead.

   The movie, unfortunately, was lazy in this aspect and never truly explained her death, only the fact that she had been dead for a year. However, the characters are seen grieving in ways very akin to their personalities.

    Even without Donna in the form of Meryl Streep, she is still present in the form of her younger self (played by Lily James).

    The film captures the younger Donna’s adventures traveling the world and meeting the three potential fathers of Sophie. Now, in the first film, it is never shown who Sophie’s real father is and much to the audience’s dismay… neither does the sequel.

    Yup, that’s right. Ten years and two films later, the identity of Sophie Sheridan’s father is still unknown. Despite that, the sequel is still an amazing film.

    Here We Go Again carries the same charm from the first film, bringing back classics like Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, The Name of the Game and more, while it also throws in some new Abba songs like Waterloo, When I Kissed The Teacher, Why Did it Have to be Me?, and more.

    Lily James expertly captured the same wild, and reckless energy of Donna Sheridan and made for an excellent performance. She brought a vibe to the film that was simultaneously new and fresh while still familiar.

     Of course, the matured Sophie Sheridan still had the same recklessness and passion about things, especially when it came to remodeling the falling-apart hotel from the first film in her mother’s name.

    It is also discovered that her boyfriend, Sky, is off in New York learning how to manage hotels and the two face problems, leading to a tear-jerking duet of Knowing Me, Knowing You.

    However, like any film filled with bright colorful sets and Abba songs, there is a happy ending. The hotel’s grand opening goes smoothly, Sky surprises Sophie (a scene serenaded by the classic Dancing Queen), and surprise! Sophie’s pregnant!

    The film comes to a close with a heartfelt epilogue in the form of a duet between Sophie and the image of her mother at her son’s christening. It’s pretty certain everybody in the theater was sobbing by then.

    Overall, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again is a heartwarming, tear-jerking, feel-good film that is just as iconic as the first film.

 

The Most Fire Student Section in the OC

MVHS Staff
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Sydney Wilks

 Formerly known as BSA, MVHS Inferno is an organization run by mostly seniors who are trying to boost school spirit at MVHS.

    Their main goal is to give our student section a second coming of sorts, and promote the love we all have for our school. Along with that, they’ve been continuously encouraging the idea that they’ll be the voice of the student body outside of ASB, if nobody else will.

    Much of the student body only knows Inferno from their undefined, unclear message of change from the year previous, but there’s much more to this movement than meets the eye.

   Diego Monico was a junior when this all started and was an avid supporter of his senior friends initiating the transformation. Now a senior himself, he’s become the one who’s spearheading this movement, altering the previous and not-so lovely opinions on what Inferno stands for.

    To put it simply, Inferno wants to promote a positive change in the student body, enhance fellow classmates’ experience at football games and school events and help students know that it’s acceptable to share your concerns out loud.

     MVHS has always been known for our exceptional football team, and that may be the school’s downfall because the majority of students think “Our football team is the best, so what’s the point of having spirit?”. This mindset is exactly what Inferno wants to change.

    Inferno wants MVHS to be widely known as not only having the best football team in OC, but the “hypest” student section as well. Their goal is to be exactly as lively as Carlsbad High School’s student section, or something as similar as possible to that.

     They (the organization) have had several meetings with ASB over the summer discussing ideas and laying out all their concerns on the table. They agreed on allowing Inferno members to lead the fight songs and cheers within the student section.

     However, this did not go all to plan. During the Santa Margarita home game, the Inferno kids were cussed at, had water bottles thrown at them and threatened to be kicked out by security. They were painted as the villian for wanting to lead some simple student cheers and have a good time.

     Inferno members felt defeated and upset, having been promised they were allowed to do their best to bring a little bit of life to the student section. Many of them felt unsafe and like outcasts in their own school.

     Since then, they’ve requested meetings with administration and Mrs. Ryan, along with a lengthy email sent as well. While a response was being waited on, Inferno promoted the student body to wear all black to the Upland High School game.

     Inferno wanted to support the team’s new full black jerseys and helmets. In tandem with that, they refused to lead the school cheers, contributing to songs only be led by the cheerleaders.

    The conflicting information confused students and the majority wore white, only leaving about ten to twenty people actually in all black.

     However, this small setback won’t stop Inferno, as they have the bigger picture in mind. One football game that could be considered a bust doesn’t mean anything to them in the scheme of things.

     Whether you agree with MVHS Inferno’s actions and what they stand for or not, it’s safe to say this organization is so much more than purple-wearing upperclassmen trying to spark drama for what seemed like no reason.

 

The Rise of Avocado Prices

MVHS Staff
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Breanna Huynh

How avocados are steadily increasing, both in cost and the world.

    With the trending rise of avocados, it should come to no surprise that the price of avocados has been steadily increasing. In one week, the price of an avocado went from $1.01 to $1.14 in California.

    Ironically, on the same week, the average price of buying organic avocados decreased by one cent. That saying, the price of avocados are not as expensive as they were in 2017.

    Ranging from around $1.25 per one avocado in the summer of last year, the price did decrease but is still at a price where it could increase as time goes on. The vice president of sales and marketing at Mission Produce, Brent L. Scattini, says, “Now that we have transitioned into the Mexican flor loca crop, the California crop winding down at a rapid pace…it is likely that we will see high prices for at least the next 9 to 12 weeks, and maybe longer.”

    Climate changes, seasons, the trade, and the rise of supply and demand are all factors affecting the cost of avocados in California. The flora loca is part of the bloom where avocados grow in Mexico and is where California usually gets its avocados.

    The bloom is hard to predict but the harvest is usually in August which is why avocados are usually in season for the summer and late fall. California mainly gets its produce from Mexico and its farms, so trade markets are a major influence.

    With more demand for avocados and less supply of it, or supply and demand, this concept is why it might be hard for avocados to ship in the United States. Interferences in the negotiations between two countries can limit how much avocados are being shipped to the United States.

    Not only that, but weather is another huge influencer in whether or not avocados will be expensive this year. Due to California’s droughts and heavy fires, there’s a likely chance that avocado prices will go up because of the decreasing surplus.  

    So far, the average consumption of avocados per week in the U.S. is around 47.63 million pounds. With that many people consuming avocados, the climate changes and weather could drastically reduce the supply of avocados.

    With the increase in prices, avocados have been trending throughout the world. New Zealand is currently having an avocado shortage which is the reason for the rise in avocado related crime sprees.

    In one case, two robbers stole $4,300 worth of avocados from an orchard. In another case, it was reported that 70% of a farmer’s avocados were stolen, ultimately causing him to $66k worth of produce. Besides the shortage of avocados, the average cost per avocado in New Zealand is $3.30.

    California’s average price is exceptionally lower, but with the trend of avocados, nobody knows if the price may go up.

    Avocado burger buns, toasts, fries, popsicles, and seeds are all of the different food trends that have been going around California since 2017. Luckily, there should be greater volumes of avocados coming into California this year with Mexico, Peru and Californian farms producing large crops.

    The executive director of the Hass Avocado Board predicts, “There will definitely be more fruit than last year” and that the total volume will reach up to 2.4 billion pounds.” With the increase of avocados coming into California, if you haven’t tried any of the avocado trends, then you’re in luck.

Burn, Nike, Burn!

MVHS Staff
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Lydia Curry

It’s the first amendment to the Constitution, but the moment it goes against conservative beliefs, it’s disrespectful.

Colin Kaepernick was one of the National Football League’s best quarterbacks and was loved by fans and sports enthusiasts alike for his amazing talent. His story goes to show just how much race divides our country whether we admit it or not.

In September of 2018, Nike announced that Kaepernick would be the face of its 30th anniversary of the“Just Do It”campaign, with the words “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything”, which brings attention back to the issues of why Kaepernick kneeled in the first place.

The former 49ers quarterback’s choice to kneel was not to disrespect our troops, but to bring light towards the systematic oppression and police brutality evident in our country.

The way the NFL handled Kaepernick was not okay nor was the way the President attacked him for his peaceful protest. Now, things have seemed to spiral more out of control and more away from the point that Kaepernick risked his career for.

People who believed that what Kaepernick did during the anthem was wrong began to burn their Nike shoes and cut holes in their socks where the Nike swoosh is.

All of this burning and smoke in the air is reminiscent of another group that enjoys burning things to prove a point.

More recently, conservative and somewhat backward views have been taken from the home to the workplace. The Texas Farm Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, two major agencies, have banned their employees from wearing Nike.

None of their employees actually wore Nike on the job, but this was done to supposedly keep their views in line with all of the other conservatives. As if they believed that now standing up to oppression was a personal belief and should be expressed at home.

What right do these departments have to tell their employees that they can’t wear a brand because it has different views than theirs? It only seems to prove Kaepernick’s point of why he knelt.

It goes to show that an oppressed/black person can trust that Nike is looking out for them and sees what’s happening in this country, but an actual department of the federal government does not agree that we should bring attention to the fact that people are shot down in the streets everyday.

It gives the belief that freedom of speech is not a right that black people and people against this horror are granted, but it’s only one to those who have views in line with the government.

It’s been proven time and time again that any publicity is good publicity, and Nike’s sales have actually increased since the campaign (contrary to what the President may want you to believe). Whether it’s from people wanting to buy to burn, or buy to support the protest.

Truthfully, there is absolutely no harm being done (except to people experiencing police brutality and oppression) to kneeling during a song.

Never did Kaepernick say that he hates America, but that instead he wants to better the country for everybody. At the end of the day that’s what everybody wants, right? To make the world a better place?

Ignorance, something that the United States thrives on, is what seems to make these “protestors” to the protestors forget about why he did what he did.

Some will come out and ask: Why did he have to choose the National Anthem, something America bonds over? Honestly, no one thought much of the anthem before this. More importantly, how can someone love a country that constantly shows that it will do nothing to protect them?

 

Love Is Genderless In This Indian Ruling

MVHS Staff
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Love Is Genderless In This Indian Ruling

Farah Morris

Credit to GCN

In one of the biggest rulings of the year, India legalizes gay intercourse, with thousands celebrating not only in India, but across the world.

  Sometimes, living in America, many do not realize how lucky they are. While it is not a utopia, or perfect by any means, America has progressed far in human rights.

    However, this year marks a landmark for members of the LGBT+ community, as India has recently announced a major ruling: Gay intercourse has now been decriminalized.

    While for some that sounds ridiculous, because it is only gay intercourse, this means so much for LGBT people in India. In any place that is not a wealthy, first world European country, North America, or even South America, this is major.

    Surprisingly, only 27 countries have legalized gay marriage, while 71 countries still criminalize same-sex relationships.

     The only African country that opposes the criminalization of same-sex relations is South Africa, which is one of the 27 that have legalized gay marriage. The death penalty for “homosexual acts” is still in place in eight nations.

    India will be joining the list of countries that have decriminalized gay intercourse, which has over 100 countries.

    So, for many people in India, this ruling is life-changing.

    This ruling has been debated in Delhi High Court since 2001, specifically to repeal Section 377, which criminalized certain sexual acts, this including gay intercourse.

     While the High Court stated the addendum that criminalizes gay intercourse has been removed, it does still stand that certain sexual acts, such as that with animals, are still criminalized.

    Section 377 has been in place for over 150 years, originally instituted by the British government when India was still its colony.

    While it was not enforced too harshly, people have gone to prison for violating Section 377, such as a Arif Jafar, a man who had spent 49 days in prison for this violation.

    Nonetheless, this recent court ruling, which actually overturns an original judgment from 2013 that still abided by Section 377, was decided by a five-judge bench jury. The judgment in 2013 was made by the Supreme Court when the High Court ruled in favor of decriminalization in 2009, striking down their ruling.

    However, the High Court cited that the decision to criminalize gay intercourse is a violation of human rights, and unconstitutional in regards to privacy towards citizens. They stated that LGBT people have the right to privacy in their love lives.

    Despite this ruling, India is still a very conservative country, with large religious groups and political parties having been opposed to advancements in gay rights, though the political parties protested more quietly.

    It has been noted that it will take time before many citizens in India will completely warm to the idea of gay intercourse being legalized, as this is still considered a very taboo topic, especially in Asian countries.

    Of course, this does not change the fact that gay marriage is not legalized. Many fear that religious groups will increase their opposition and campaign against gay rights, especially marriage.

    Despite the fact, India still has many hurdles to leap, mainly also instating anti-discrimination laws, but this marks a victory for many LGBT people in India and is the first step to change and acceptance.

Word Count: 514

 

Wrapped Up In Controversy! Soft Shell Tacos or Hard Shell?

MVHS Staff
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Wrapped Up In Controversy! Soft Shell Tacos or Hard Shell?

One of the most debated topics in the world, one that has driven relationships between lovers, families, friends apart! What is the truth in this topic? Which is better? Find out down below!

 Among all the controversies in the world, none are so vicious and debated as hard taco shell versus soft taco shell.

    Okay, obviously it is not as hot as a debate as pineapple pizza or gender inequality, but nonetheless, hard shell tacos versus soft shell tacos is one topic that places many people at odds with one another.

    However, despite some people’s claims that hard shell tacos are better than a soft shell, they are simply mistaken, since soft shell is the superior choice of wrapping for a taco.

    This is why.

    Firstly, hard shells taste okay. They are not amazing, they are not anything special. It is a corn tortilla in a horrible shape. They are a complete sham.

    Softshell tortillas are much more fun, as they are more pliable and easy to handle. They also have a better taste to them, and add more to the taco as a whole.

    Secondly, hard shell tacos can become stale. When they are stale, they are even more unpleasant to eat. There is also an unusual taste to them that is uncomfortable.

    It is comparable to eating stale chips. Maybe a bunch of toppings can make it better, but in the end, is it really worth it?

    On the other hand, soft shell tacos do not become stale. One does not have to worry about their weird tasting, tough taco if it is a soft, nice tortilla. Why sit through a stale tortilla when one can have a nice, non-stale tortilla.

    Thirdly, a hard taco shell does not do well when eaten as leftovers. Overnight in the fridge makes the taco lose a lot of its crunchy factor. It becomes a weird semi-soft shell that is not very fun to eat at all. It simply feels more… depressing.

    Does a soft shell taco suffer from having their outer layer being semi-soft?

    No, because it is already soft and so they never have to face the humiliation of losing the quality of their shell.

    Fourth, taco shells are delicate. They break so easily. An example is when someone gets tacos at a drive-through.

    If they get the hard shell tacos, then there is a possibility that they could be broken on the drive home. Either from accidental rough handling or some mishap, that person can open the bag to find their taco, broken. Sad.

    On the other hand, if someone gets a soft shell taco, then they do not have to worry about whether their taco will be broken or not, because it cannot be broken. It is too powerful.

    If these top reasons were not enough to sway people’s opinion, one also has to consider the fact that hard shell tacos cannot fit as much.

    The way the taco is shaped can cause things placed on top to fall off. It rolls down the slope of the taco and either falls on the table, falls on the tray, or even on someone’s lap. That is so depressing and annoying because it can easily get messy.

    Soft shell tacos would not play people like this. People whose condiments fall out of their soft shell tacos do not hold it properly, because it needs to be cradled, not manhandled.

    Of course, in the end, sometimes people cannot be swayed from their desires.

    Nonetheless, hopefully, this convinced some people of the correct taco shell, and if not, then that is saddening news, but understandable.

tacoshells

 

The Cost of Freedom

MVHS Staff
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The Cost of Freedom

Rachel Soo

John McCain, former senator and POW, died on August 25th, 2018.

Taken by Rachel Soo

 According to Cancer.org, only 1 out of every 143 men are diagnosed with brain cancer, but of that statistic, only a lucky 36% are predicted to survive.

    John McCain, a national hero of war and a confident political figure, was not part of the 36%. At 4:28 PM on Saturday, August 25th, John McCain died.

    This veteran, decorated with the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross, was an important role model in our country. Senator McCain was a proud aviator and soldier.

    For five and a half years, he was trapped in enemy territory and tortured for our country. Three and a half of those years were spent in solitary confinement, where his only company was himself. But when it came to making a difference, he didn’t stop there.

    McCain was the Navy’s liaison to the US Senate briefly before he became Arizona’s representative, where he stayed for six years.

    This ambitious man also ran for president on two separate occasions, proving to be a tough competitor for former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

    Although he did not win either time, McCain has been far from absent in our current political scene. Just two years ago, in 2016, he faced a serious dispute with our current President, Donald Trump.

    As the elections were still in play, Trump spoke out against this prisoner of war. He went as far as to say that McCain was only a “war hero because he was captured” and that he liked “people that weren’t captured.”

    This blatant attack may have seemed like it rendered Mr. Trump with the last word, but more recent events say the opposite.

    The death of such a remarkable political figure was saddening, causing people alike and different to gather and commemorate the veteran. Both President Bush and President Obama, John McCain’s former opponents in his running for president, attended and gave separate eulogies.

    Republicans and Democrats, people of different races and ethnicities, everyone met to remember what an important man John McCain was.

    That is, everyone except for our current head of state, Donald Trump.

    Senator McCain had been planning this disheartening occasion for quite some time, having found out that he carried a terminal brain tumor just over a year ago. It was made explicitly clear that Mr. Trump was not welcomed at the four day memorial.

    Unlike his wife, who delivered a short message thanking McCain for his service, Trump commented on the event with a short, 21-word tweet that reads “My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!”

    He made no mention of the years of service Mr. McCain dedicated to our country through his years of military service, and no formal proclamation was made at all regarding the incident, despite the flags being flown at half mast.

    Although the President may not formally recognize the valor and great impact John McCain had on our country, we thank him for his service and proudly remember the changes he made in our great country.

 

SEN19RS: Where Will You Be a Year From Now?

MVHS Staff
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SEN19RS: Where Will You Be a Year From Now?

Keemia Beizai

Taken by Keemia Beizai

Last year, some students feared rejection when asking someone to Homecoming. Now that they are seniors, they fear being rejected by college admission boards.

    “Your senior year is going to be much easier than last year.” This is what all of your teachers and other high school graduates tell you. However, they fail to mention the extra work and stress that comes along with having to apply to universities that can determine your future.

    For any high school senior who is planning on going to a four year college straight out of high school, this is the time that the past three years have all led up to.

    For years, many students have joined volunteer programs, started community service clubs, or taken challenging AP classes with the hopes of making their college applications look “perfect.” Some students have even done a combination of all of these things to try to compete with the wide range of qualified applicants.

    Something important to remember throughout this application process is to not compare yourself to your classmates and friends. Every student has their own strengths and weaknesses, and your essays are where you can show why you are a qualified applicant.

    Julia Savea, the Center Director of C2 Education of Mission Viejo and an experienced college counselor, agrees that staying true to yourself is crucial to writing good college essays. She advises students to “Be genuine. Colleges know all the little tricks… The most powerful thing you can put into your application is a genuine reflection of who you are, what you stand for, and what’s important to you.”

    Admission officers will already be able to see your transcripts and test scores. Your essays are where you can really express what kind of person you are and the experiences that have shaped your life.

    These essays can range from a short question that asks, “Describe yourself in five words,” to a 650 word essay that asks a broad and confusing question such as, “What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you?”

    Some colleges only require one essay question, and the Cal State schools don’t require any. However, some of the more competitive universities ask for more than ten questions so that they can get to know about each applicant.

    A helpful way to plan what to write about is to make a list of all of the things that you would like your application to feature. Then, try to fit these topics into the given essay questions in a way that represents all of your best aspects while simultaneously describing you as a well-rounded applicant.

   One factor that plays an important role throughout the application process is time management. If you are submitting an application to your dream school, you will want it to be the most accurate and well-written reflection of the things that you have done and the person that you have become.

     If you start writing your essays and filling out your application just one week before the due date, you will not have enough time to edit and submit an application that you are proud of. Leaving your applications for the last minute will also leave you with excessive stress during a busy time of the school year.

    Jiu Choe, a senior at Mission Viejo High School and a well-qualified college applicant, advises students to start working on their applications and essays as soon as possible. He says, “You should have a list of colleges that you’re applying to and find the dates that their applications are due so that you can make sure you have enough time to finish them.”

   Colleges are becoming increasingly selective, and highly qualified students get rejected from many schools each year. For seniors who fear of not getting into their dream school, it can help to take a step back and realize that where you end up getting your degree from in the end is more important than where you start. For some students, community college may be a better and definitely more affordable option.

    Although applying to colleges is not an easy task and only adds onto the stresses of senior year, it is just one small step towards a big future.

 

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