By Jillian Flack Through her determination and hard work, the on-campus dance teacher, Ms. Alyssa Gallegos, was appointed as one of the Vice Presidents in charge of dance in the California Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD). This difficult responsibility means that she gets to finalize various changes in the California school curriculum for dance. Excited to take on this position, Gallegos is working her hardest to be a successful Vice President.  Ms. Alyssa Gallegos taught at a California Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) conference at Hyatt Garden Grove on February 22. Source: Ms. Alyssa Gallegos Gallegos was nominated for the role by one of her college professors and after taking a vote, the board decided she was perfect for the high-level position. In her role, Gallegos oversees and represents all of the dance programs in the state. She has the responsibility of supervising changes being considered in the requirements in dance categories and she helps decide whether or not the change should be carried out. While it is a very difficult position for anyone to hold, Gallegos has proven she is worthy and can handle the role. Through being the Vice President, Gallegos wants to educate people of dance’s high caliber. She explained, “Dance can sometimes be overlooked at [sic]. Some people might think, like, dance isn’t a sport or dance isn’t this and that, but I want to have a voice for dance and provide that support for all the dance teachers, not just here in Temecula, but over the whole state, be able to be that voice and that support in the dance industry.” So far, she has clearly shown to her students and audiences that dance is not an easy feat and it requires strenuous effort along with dedication. At the age of four, Gallegos fell in love with the art of dance. Throughout life’s struggles, dance was always there to help her get by along with it assisting her in meeting new people that share one common interest: the love of dance. This is what she wants dance to do for her students as well. She shared, “I love the kids. I love touching people’s lives everyday and I hope that I stay here [on campus] until I retire.” Especially with it being her first year as the dance teacher on campus, Gallegos has had to deal with the ups and downs of being the only one equipped to teach her students the beautiful art of dance. She has proved to be very successful through the difficulties she has faced, as shown through her students’ impeccable dancing skills. Gallegos remarked, “It has been quite a ride. It’s been amazing. I wouldn’t change the struggles that we’ve dealt with because that’s what makes us stronger as a program.” The students involved in the dance programs on campus are pleased by what Gallegos has taught them this year and are looking forward to the future. Throughout the position that she will hold for two years, Gallegos is excited for the changes she is going to help make in the dance community. With her passion for the art, she has shown that she can juggle her difficult role and her teaching job without faltering in either.
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By Yalena Aguirre As modern culture begins to grow more acceptance towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, more films are beginning to feel comfortable in portraying LGBTQ+ characters. On February 24, the directors for the Pixar film Onward released the news that one of the characters played in film will be the first openly gay animated character in Disney history.  Officer Specter is the first LGBTQ character in Disney history. Source: insider.com. Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios have had a history of only portraying heterosexual romances between their characters, thus creating stigma around represention of the LGBTQ+ community in animated films. Onward introduced Disney’s first openly LGBTQ+ character, a cyclops police officer named Specter, played by comedian Lena Waithe. The introduction of Disney’s first official confirmation of a character within the community, even though a minor character in the movie, is an immense first step into more open representation of the LGBTQ+ community in films, especially towards a younger, accepting audience. The character Specter is not alone as more minor characters in successful films are being confirmed as part of the growing community by directors. The character Oaken in Disney’s highest grossing animated film of all time, Frozen, has been confirmed that he is homosexual who is married and has four children, whom are briefly screened in a sauna in Oaken’s shop. In Disney’s first film about anthropomorphic animals since the 1978 film Robin Hood, Zootopia, directors Byran Howard and Rich Moore confirmed that Judy Hopps’ neighbors in her apartment complex when she first moved in, Bucky and Pronk, are a gay married couple. Finally, in the live action Beauty and the Beast film, the directors confirmed that Gaston’s loyal follower Lefou is indeed gay, which is shown when he and another male patron in the final dance scene in the movie are dancing together.  Officer Specter is the first LGBTQ character in Disney history. Source: insider.com. Even though the confirmed characters only play minor roles compared to their main counterpart, they serve as a crucial catalyst for representation in the LGBTQ+ community. In a society where representation of multiple groups and minorities has been limited until recent times, the occurrence of a character that has been legitimately been confirmed by a major film company like Pixar to be part of the LGBTQ+ community elated members as they now have a character they can look up to. Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) member Freshman Emily Jovel expressed how she is glad that “Disney is finally the LGBTQ in their content.” Jovel elaborated on how the inclusion of the character is important to present to a younger audience so people can express to them that the community is “normal and shouldn’t be looked down upon.” The announcement of Specter being a lesbian in law enforcement created excitement in how Disney is representing both the community and female empowerment in the workplace. Furthermore, the character gives many young audiences the opportunity to have more understanding of the growing community that prides themselves on self acceptance. Pixar’s Onward held much importance into paving the way for more LGBTQ+ representations in their characters. The introduction of Specter has earned the hearts of many in the community as the animated studios have taken the time to hear the voices of the LGBTQ+ community hoping for some kind of representation in their films. Onward shines light on the LGBTQ+ community as they finally have their voices heard through animated films now and in the future.
By Jillian Flack Due to the notifications that are constantly popping up on a student’s phone and the reel of stimulating games on their devices, having the concentration to complete dull assignments can be difficult for them with all of the color and energy technology can bring. The obsession this generation has with technology does not just affect the completion of school assignments, but it can cause students to never accomplish their goals since some do not have the concentration or will to do so. Luckily, there are still plenty of people who are determined to complete what is necessary for their success and will not allow technology to come in their way. As it can be difficult to do this, many of these students have discovered phone applications (apps) that can help to increase their productivity and concentration on school work, such as Forest, Flora and Freedom.  Students have found that Forest helps set them on track for success in their assignments and goals. Source: Seekrtech Co., LTD On many occasions, time passes quickly when students are on their phones and they do not even realize how many hours they have wasted being glued to their gadgets until it is too late, causing them to be stuck with a stack of uncompleted assignments deep into the night before they are due. The app Forest can help prevent this. In Forest, students can pick an amount of time they would like to be off of their devices and in that time, an electronic tree grows on the screen. If they stay off their phones the full time they chose, the tree will reach its full height and be added to the student’s forest filled with the trees they earned from other times they were successful. If they fail and close the app, the tree will die and their forest will remain the same size. So far, students have found this to be a highly successful way to stay productive since they do not want to be the cause of the death of their trees, even if they are electronic. This app also allows students to add friends and share the over thirty types of tree species in the game with one another. Although the game costs a dollar and ninety-nine cents, people all around the country have found that it is worth it as it has significantly helped a multitude of them to be more productive in the real world.  Sophomore Stephanie Miranda uses the app Flora to stay focused on her assignments. Source: Jillian Flack There is also a free app close to Forest called Flora, which is similar in the sense that students can add friends and the tree growing method is used. In Flora, students can select a setting to pick an amount of money to pay if they fail and kill the tree by going on their phones. They have to pay the amount of money they chose if they are unsuccessful, which covers the costs to plant a single tree in the real world. Sophomore Stephanie Miranda, a user of the Flora app, explained, “I like how it [Flora] seems to have a friendly competition to it since you can add friends on it and compete with them to see who’s studied most.” Since students are able to compete with friends, this app can better encourage students to stay on task as many do not want to lose. If these types of methods are not helpful in improving a student’s concentration, there is also an app called Freedom that blocks the internet and other apps of a student’s choice for a certain amount of time to discourage phone use. While there is a small monthly price to pay in order to use the app, Freedom has so far increased the productivity of many of its users by several hours. So far, these apps have shown high levels of study success. As Advanced Placement (AP) exams are quickly approaching, these apps can help students stay off of their devices for several hours, giving them the chance to study without distractions.
By Emma Carrero Creative online comic app, Webtoon, has become the trendy and convenient path for teen web novel readers. The free innovational platform sparks a considerable amount of interest from teens with around fifteen million daily viewers and original stories from writers. Founded in 2004 by Mr. Junkoo Kim, the Webtoon app allows in the making composers to publish their comics on canvas for free. From here, the creditor’s artwork is open to the public eye and can be featured on the homepage. If featured, the artistry has a high chance of becoming a Webtoon original. A webtoon original allows the comic to be featured on a daily basis to achieve more interest from users. Becoming a webtoon original author is a huge perk. Their story is then featured on a daily basis creating even more interest from readers. Another advantage from this accomplishment is collecting revenue. In order to earn money from their work, writers must first apply for the Advertisement Revenue Sharing Program, then achieve 1,000 subscribers and 40,000 monthly page views from the United States. Early Beta Creators may also be paid an extra 100 to 1,000 dollars solely based on their project’s performance. The author’s story can range from any genre and include fast passes. Fast passes are locked episodes of the series that can be unlocked with coins. Coins are available only through in app purchases. That does not stop subscribers from viewing and sharing their favorite webtoons. At the top of the list in all genres as of right now is “Lore Olympus”. Lore Olympus, written by Rachel Smythe, has over two million subscribers and a rating of nine out of ten stars. Recently it was announced that the comic signed a deal to become an animate series with the Jim Henson company. The story revolves around the daily life of greek gods and goddesses. Particularly the love story between Hades and Perspehone. Second in the ranking is “True Beauty”, drawn by Lim Ju Kyung, with over three million subscribers and a nine out of ten star ranking too. Translated into several languages, the comic centers around the life of popular high school student, Jugyeong Lim, who is completely unrecognizable when she takes off her makeup. Although the art may seem like unnecessary leisure time for students, it does have a role in their lives. Junior Jasmine Perez explained, “It inspires me to enjoy what life has to offer, seeing other people’s comics always makes me smile.” She also recommended some comics too, such as “Lookism” and “I Love Yoo”. There is additionally a special element to this online culture, Junior Stephanie Phan expressed, “I love the art and usually pick the comics based off of their art styles. I also enjoy the storylines because webtoon has so many selections of genres to choose from.” Clearly there is a special ingredient mixed in with the comics attracting a variety of audiences. Webtoon is an extraordinary tool for new artists and writers to gain experience in publishing and receiving criticism. It is also a nice way to earn money doing what one loves. Not only does it provide a place for creative work, but also a comfort and happy moment for teens.
By Emma Horwood The beauty community of YouTube seems to be in the spotlight more often than not, with the most prominent influencers and gurus consistently reaching the top of the charts and becoming increasingly relevant. While these channels are often created as a way for makeup artists (MUA) to make a name for themselves and to provide advice on lifestyle and cosmetics, lately that aspect has taken a back seat. The cut-throat world of the beauty industry is a breeding ground for drama and scandals, as beauty icons often resort to creating conflict and insults to gain popularity and to become recognized on this platform. One YouTuber, Shane Dawson, dives into the intricacies of this ever-changing topic with his nine part series following the life of famous beauty YouTuber, Jeffree Star, who is the founder and owner of the multi-million dollar company, Jeffree Star Cosmetics. Dawson’s choice to shadow Star also gives the viewer insight into the latest disputes in the community along with a fair evaluation of Star as a businessman, a guru, and a person. “I’d watched previous series with him [Star] in the past, so I kind of already had a feel for what he was like,” Freshman Carmen Gonzales explained. While many have already formed opinions, good or bad, of Star and his role in the industry from seeing how he presents himself on YouTube and other social media outlets, Dawson’s series goes deeper in hopes of showing the viewer what day to day life with the multi-millionaire is like. In the recently released episodes, Dawson and his crew tour Star’s lavish mansion, follow him to fan meet-ups, switch lives with him, and investigate the inner workings of the beauty industry and community from the influencer’s perspective, as he is often in the center of the action. Star’s expertise and Dawson’s objectiveness combined allow the audience a better look into the reality of life in the beauty community. Throughout the series, Dawson portrays a mix of surprise and intimidation for Star’s extravagant lifestyle and extreme fame. Amidst the nerve-wracking interviews and important business deals, Dawson adds his signature comedic relief that sheds light on the heavy situations. His series maintains a mix of the seriousness of a documentary and a light-hearted casualness of two close friends just going about life. Junior Max Bosworth commented, “The fact that they went over details of, like, the drink that they got at, like, 7/11 together. I just thought that was fun.” The two of their personalities clash in a hilarious way that adds a sense of camaraderie rather than it coming off as an interrogation. The series goes above and beyond as it captures business in action within the beauty industry, with Dawson and Star collaborating on creating a makeup pallet. They discuss the business tactics and secrets of other popular makeup brands and walk the audience through the process of designing a Jeffree Star Cosmetics pallet. Dawson shows admiration for the way Star aims for quality rather than profit when conducting business and the honest, respectful way he is treated while working out the details of their. The upcoming episodes promise to uncover more secrets of the beauty industry and more laughs with Star and Dawson along the way. This revealing series is an opportunity to look behind the masks of these big makeup brands and to know more about the effort or lack thereof that some companies put into their products. Though opinions on Star’s business practices, personality, and the lifestyle he endorses may vary, his collaboration with Dawson is providing the audience and consumers a chance to better understand the beauty community.
By Yalena Aguirre During recent years, there has been an increase of mental health illnesses through adults and children alike. Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and many more mental illnesses are becoming an international problem due to many outside factors like poor home life and low self esteem, amongst other things. In the midst of it all, the online network program Netflix has taken action and is spreading mental health awareness of various issues through producing television shows regarding the topic and including characters that have mental health issues.  Netflix’s critically acclaimed show 13 Reasons Why presents various mental illnesses such as depression and PTSD and how it impacts teenagers in high school Credit: Netflix In the last few years, depression and anxiety have been the most diagnosed mental illness among the young and old alike. The consistent barrage of self doubt flooded through the minds of those who have depression and anxiety can make people feel alone in the world and as if not many people understand them. Netflix has taken note and has made shows such as 13 Reasons Why to demonstrate how one’s actions and words can lead someone to develop depression, which would lead people to go as far as ending their own life. “[13 Reasons Why] was really popular. . .and they portrayed them [the characters] very well, better than most shows do,” commented Junior Madison Bjorstrom on the critically acclaimed show. The show has taken great lengths to provide the most accurate representation of mental illness to teenagers and young adults. Netflix has also produced the show Orange is the New Black, which portrays almost all the inmates of the prison with some form of mental illness to some level of severity, like narcissism, abuse, psychopathy, and more. It heavily implies the importance of receiving help and treatment for these illnesses to get the best quality of life possible, even for inmates. “I think it will [impact people] because it will cause many people to receive help and even understand the mental illness more,” Bjorstrom expressed, “It also allows people around the suffering to look out for signs.” These shows produced by Netflix have taken immense lengths to present the most accurate representation of mental illnesses to inform people and students about the rising epidemic and share the importance of receiving help for the various illnesses. In the events of the increase of mental health awareness being spread by Netflix, they have taken action in producing more and more shows and films documenting these illnesses. On September 13 of this year, Netflix released an original series called Unbelievable, which tells the story of two female dectectives investigating a slew of eerily similar rape attacks after a young woman was accused of lying about being attacked. The trailer presents the negative toll a traumatic experience has on many young women after experiencing the event on their mental health. Netflix also released an educational series called The Mind, Explained on September 12, which dives deep into the science of the human mind and analyzes many mental illnesses on a scientific level. These shows provide people with more knowledge about mental illnesses and how if affects people’s daily lives. “I think it’s important because people need to see that it is okay and should get help,” Bjorstrom emphasized, “It lets people know that they aren’t alone.” In a time where mental health issues are increasing more and more, Netflix will continue to educate people and students about mental health as “society cannot ignore this rising epidemic. More people are being diagnosed than ever before,” Bjorstrom commented. Netflix has taken action on providing mental health awareness in hopes to educate people about the rising epidemic. Mental health awareness is very important in this day and age as more and more people are diagnosed everyday with these illnesses. Netflix has taken action in providing people with spreading awareness that will likely help many people and students alike struggling with mental illnesses. By producing more shows addressing mental illnesses in people, it would increase the public’s knowledge about it and how to receive proper help for many people struggling with it.
By Emma Horwood Among teens and young adults, the noticeable decline in mental and physical wellness can lead to academic difficulty, social stress, lack of focus, health complications, and a generally less fulfilling life. Those who struggle with them are often in need of ways to manage these challenges in order to lead a happy, healthy life. One factor that has coincided with this diminished well-being is the decrease in time spent outdoors. Statistics have shown that today’s youth spends less than half the amount of time outside than the previous generation. The strong connection between one’s personal welfare and regular access to nature is shown through the handful of both physical and mental health benefits that engaging in physical activity or even just being in a natural environment offers. The environment can act as a calming setting for those dealing with excess amounts of stress, anger, and other overwhelming, negative emotions. In fact, the relationship between nature and one’s well-being is so powerful that even simple actions like keeping a houseplant or taking a fifteen minute walk can significantly reduce anxiety, promote physical healing, and produce endorphins. Along with relieving stress and depression, “forest-bathing” has been shown to improve short term memory and improve focus. People who regularly spend time outdoors have displayed superior creative thinking and productivity. Vice President of Take A Hike, Senior Sabrina Moreno commented, “Just being in nature I feel, like so free and, like it’s liberating to be up there.” Surrounding oneself in a healthy, green environment is an easy and reliable way to manage mental wellness and reduce symptoms of mental conditions. Along with a healthier mind, the natural environment promotes physical activity. Walking, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities are opportunities for fitting in exercise into a daily routine. Being physically active, especially outdoors, eliminates mental fatigue, which can lead to better focus in school and more energy in general. Incorporating small things such as a walk or a bike ride outdoors into your day will produce long term health benefits like lower blood pressure, a reduced risk of cancer, and a stronger immune system. There is even a link between more time spent in nature and improved vision. Exercising outdoors provides unique, physical benefits that can not be recreated in a gym. Though in Temecula Valley, there are limited options in terms of lush, green spaces, there are some great spots for hiking and other outdoor recreation nearby. The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve (as of now closed indefinitely due to damage from the recent Tenaja Fire), is a twenty minute drive from campus, and offers moderate to rigorous hikes, amazing views, and a chance to visit 150 year old adobe structures. More accessible to those without cars, a short walk from school is the Harveston Lake Park that includes walking trails around the water and beautiful spots for picnics. These locations, along with other parks and trails nearby, provide easily accessible to the public. Regularly spending time in the great outdoors will greatly improve productivity, focus, fitness, and overall satisfaction.
By Jillian Flack More recently, preserving the environment has been growing with necessity as Earth is becoming more polluted every day. In order to protect the world, a multitude of people, both on and off campus, are attempting to be more eco-friendly in a number of ways, such as by using products that help reduce the amount of waste on the planet. With help from the citizens of Earth, the deterioration of the world can decrease drastically. While protecting the world is important, some people refuse to help out as they believe that they alone cannot make a difference, but even small actions, such as picking up pieces of trash or recycling, can make a big impact on the planet. Senior Lilah Vener, a student from Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES), shared, “I think that the only way that the Earth is going to be able to sustain itself is if humans are acting on it and they start to realize our extreme impact that we’re having.” In order to keep the Earth from worsening, Vener urges students to help restore it to its former glory. Simple things, such as limiting the use of paper and planting trees, can truly make a difference and help more of Earth’s supplies be conserved. Mrs. Kathleen McFadden, APES teacher, warned, “In the last 150 years, almost all of our fresh waters are polluted. Our oceans are polluted. The soils are polluted with pesticides. . .We are in a crisis.” A myriad of students believe that if people do not help the environment now, the Earth will be ruined due to pollution. To help preserve the worsening Earth, there are an abundance of products that students can use, such as reusable containers and metal straws. A large percentage of the ocean is afflicted with plastic, which is harming wildlife since they have to live among the abundance of debris. By reusing containers instead of constantly throwing away cheap plastic products, students can ensure they are not contributing to the filthiness of the ocean. McFadden explained, “Instead of throwing stuff away, it’s [sic] finding new uses. . .Reuse, recycle what you can. . .Buy more things that are easily recycled. Like, if I can get something in glass rather than plastic, I’ll buy it in glass because I can reuse it or it can be easily melted down and made into other things. . .Plastics are kind of hard to recycle.” Using metal straws and reusable containers can limit the use of plastic, which helps the environment contain less bacteria since a number of people who use reusable items are contributing to the cleanliness of the world. Vener said, “I think that instead of buying, like, bags of things, buying bags of food, all of those things, you can bring reusable containers and reusable drink containers because. . .a lot of people go for the easiest route, which is [using] plastic.” By recycling and reusing items instead of throwing them away, students can help the world contain less waste as it plagues wildlife and animals’ habitats. All in all, people believe that the world needs to be helped in order for humans and animals to be healthy. In order to do this, many people have already begun working together to protect the environment because even doing small things can help the world drastically. By helping the planet, people can help future generations to live longer and be happier, which is beneficial for survival. Therefore, a multitude of people find that helping the planet is a necessity for the survival of the human race.
By Yalena Aguirre There are many types of music genres that students enjoy on campus. The lyrics and enjoyable beats made by top artists have received much praise from their supportive fans. This year, well-known artists like Post Malone and Melanie Martinez have released their new albums that were highly anticipated by their followers.  Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleeding is said to be his best album release of his career Source: pitchfork.com Various genres like rap and contemporary pop music have been favored by fans thanks to their catchy beats and memorable lyrics. Hollywood’s Bleeding is Malone’s latest album, being released on September 6 of this year. His album debuted as the number one album on the Billboard charts, featuring numerous artists such as Halsey, Ozzy Osborne, and other well-known figures. “I like it [Hollywood’s Bleeding] because it's the most unique of all his albums and it was really cool to see him collab[orate] with other artists,” commented Junior Isaiah Cabanas. Cabanas expressed that he admired how each and every song was unique in their own way. Hollywood’s Bleeding is a representation of Malone being on his best behavior and demonstrating a want for love that seems slightly out of reach from him. The album also depicts the many different personalities of Malone throughout various songs. “I feel like so many people like his music because they can relate to it. . .he talks about more personal things in Hollywood’s Bleeding,” Cabanas explained. He and so many of Malone’s fans are beyond impressed by the new album and the deeper meaning to each song and the album itself. The genre electro pop is one that most people do not recognize at first but is recognizable to fans of Martinez. The artist debuted her new album, K-12, the same day Hollywood’s Bleeding was released. Her album was featured in her film, also called K-12, revealing snippets of her songs like “Nurse’s Office” and “Show and Tell.” Junior Ambar Faba stated, “Melanie’s music always has really cool vibes to it.” Faba emphasized how the album has expressed multiple ideas people can relate to. The album itself is a story set in a school, where Martinez’s character “Cry Baby,” is stepping outside of her family life and love interests. It follows her experience through her perspective as she learns about the school she is in. Faba commented on her interpretation of the album as a “recurring theme of the school system and how it affects them [students].” Faba, along with countless fans of Martinez, have expressed their enjoyment of the album and how her style of music is expanding and growing as her career moves forward. There is a variety of music genres that are enjoyed by many students on campus. The music industry’s well-known stars, like Malone and Martinez, have released their new best-selling albums in their music careers. Fans worldwide are ecstatic about their favorite artists releasing new and original music, which artists put much effort into making their album the best it can be for their fans.
By Rex Garcia On March 22 and 23, the high school advanced drama team, along with Drama Teacher Mr. Chris Irvin, went to Fullerton College. The group came to the event day one by bus and day two via cars to participate and compete at the Fullerton Theater Festival with and against other high school drama groups. They also had the chance of spending educational and social time with Fullerton College Theater Art Department’s faculty and students through their competitions, workshops and college programs. The activities the students partook in included musical, improv, dramatic, comedic, monologues and scenes, where Advanced Drama got to finals for improv in day two, though did not place for any awards. Together, the team enjoyed this yearly opportunity to join, connect and learn with other drama students and professionals who love drama just as much as they do. At Fullerton, Advanced Drama could explore and interact at the festival which had a more passionate and family friendly setting than any usual competition. “There were people who were literally walking around with signs that said free compliments. People just walking around being friendly to everyone and you don’t even [have to] know someone,” said Junior Hayden Spangler. “You can just walk up to someone, start singing a song from a show that they were dressed to do and they’ll just immediately join in on it with you. The rules are like different.” Even though the group was there to compete against the other schools, the mood of the event remained friendly, encouraging and supportive of each and every individual. “Everyone is super kind and wants to get to know you,” mentioned Senior Gavin Powell. “It’s not really about winning, it’s more just about the experience and getting to perform in front of people that you potentially might be working with in the future.” Even in a competition, all competitors are there to encourage the best for each other, as all who come to the event love performing, no matter who places higher than the other. Mainly, the Advanced Drama who went to Fullerton as well as the others have a passion for drama that goes beyond winning recognition for skills, which represents the true worth, devotion and delightful hard work each individual puts into the drama department.  Advanced Drama’s official group picture at Fullerton. Credit: Diego Cruz When not exploring Fullerton, the Advanced Drama sectioned into separate groups where they all did their own thing in the different categories they were assigned to, where the experiences among each other was diverse from what they did to what they got to witness from other groups and professionals. One of the notable groups was the musical group, where every high school could only pick musical to compete with through the whole competition. “We chose Magic To Do from Pippin and we had to prepare it a month and a half before. We had to get the choreography, and the choreography was done by [Senior] Sam Selaya and [Senior] Isabelle Medina,” Spangler recalled. “We all entered a room and they have certain rounds in the morning [and] in the rounds there’s other groups that come in with you and you guys just all perform in front of the judges and each other, and then you walk out and that’s it.” Even with that, the other categories for other groups encouraged different preparation, such as how the improv team arranged for Fullerton. “We got a list of the improv games and just kept running through them even through normal rehearsals. We’d take the notes that were not only given to us but also to the improv team and we would take those and help [each other] out with it.,” said Senior Diego Cruz. “When we got [to Fullerton] what we ended up doing our own little thing to get our energy boosted up to make sure everybody has their mindset correctly so we can put up the best show we can.” During these competitions the team did not win anything physical, but were instead given the reward of new friends, new drama lessons and an unforgettable battle among fellow drama students. For the future, the Advanced Drama team looks forward to reexperiencing Fullerton as well as picking categories different to the ones they chose this year. In the meantime, Advanced Drama will continue to show booming signs of life in an art form that is somewhat underrated as well as well as being exceptionally more close and personal than that of fixed art forms. As the times encourage recreations of every movie and genre in the entertainment world, the potential for Advanced Drama and those at Fullerton to showcase their passion for drama beyond school and high school competitions may be greater and sooner than anticipated.
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