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.
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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.
By Summer Folger On March 14, 15, and 16, the dance department, from Beginning to Advanced, was able to turn back time with the revival of the eighties. The theme of the show contained dances that incorporated elements that were able to revive the totally tubular time period. It was held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at 7PM for the three consecutive nights. In addition to the performances from the show, there was also some behind the scenes work such as the themed set design, lighting, and crew. For this production, students were able to pick the theme of “Totally 80s,” in which Mr. Scott Carey built stage pieces for the production, such as the sign that said “Totally 80s,” boxes for the background and made hanging signs that the AGI*LITY dance group performed with. Along with the set design, there was also the instillation of new lighting so then performances could become more dramatic. From the crew setting up the stage and the lighting, their work allowed the dances to become both energetic as well as dramatic. For the dance numbers, there was a variety of different dance genres besides the eighties, such as lyrical, jazz, tap, modern, and ballet. Throughout the production, a total of seven eighties-themed dances were performed by both Beginning and Advanced dancers. The theme was first portrayed in the opening number titled “Totally 80s,” performed by the Advanced Dance team where the dancers performed a mix of different dance moves and songs. It was later on shown through the beginning dancers in a jazz piece titled “Move,” where performers were able to bring an eighties flare to the piece, showing how the production was able to have all different levels of dance take part in experiencing the eighties. Not only that, but during the first half of the show, there was a lyrical duet by Sophomore Jackie Tat and Junior Hailey Wiltse entitled “The Speed of Light” and a slow hip hop solo performed by Senior Miguel Cruz entitled “Ultra Light Beam.” After intermission, there was a modern dance performed by AGI*LITY entitled “Gray,” in which dancers performed with a hanging set which looked like an art gallery. They would roll under the pieces or hide behind them for part of the dance. During the second half of the show, the Advanced Dance Ladies performed two eighties pieces in which they wore leg warmers and did a jazz piece titled “Cold Hearted” and a tap routine titled “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” In addition, the Intermediate Dance Team performed a dance number from the play “Zoot Suit,” where they wore black and red suits with red and orange lighting to make it more dramatic. For the closing number, it ended the eighties with hip hop style titled “Groove,” which was performed by Advanced Dance. Showing how the dances in the production have a variety of styles and genres from the 1980s to modern, each piece made the performances unique in their own way. Not only was this production enjoyable for the audience to watch, but it also helped students gain more experience in the world of dancing. Cruz talked about how with “this production, it was definitely a rough process creatively. Just putting the chero together, blocking, layering all the chero as in the arrangement of how we are going to be performing and everything,” since Cruz not only performed in the production, but was able to choreograph one of the dance numbers titled “Sunflower,” which was performed by Advanced Dance. Senior Marisa Zorrilla, who performed a lyrical solo titled “Say You Love Me,” explained her experience with practicing for the production, saying, “It was a little rough. It's, like, hard to get, like, a whole bunch of girls and boys together to make everything clean and look good. But I mean, in the end it came together a lot better than I thought it would be,” portraying how even though there were difficult trails during practice, the dancers were able to come together and perform for the production. All in all, through hard work and dedication, the dance department was able to come together and celebrate the revival of the 1980s. As well as showing a variety of different dance genres for the audience to enjoy, it gave the idea that the eighties still influence culture in both modern society and newer generations.
By Kylee Seamans Most applications (apps) created are made with the goal of providing entertainment to those who download them. While there are many apps created for the enjoyment of users, there are also other apps that can be used to help those who have anxiety and other mental disorders. These apps are becoming more common as attention is brought to these disorders.  Prune reminds users to only focus on the important things and to reach towards the sunlight. Prune is an app developed by Joel McDonald which won numerous awards including Best Upcoming Game from the Eleventh International Mobile Gaming Awards, Apple’s Game of the Year award, and The International Magazine of Events (TIME) Magazine Game of the Year award in 2015. The objective of the game is to “cultivate what matters” and to “cut away the rest.” By trimming back the trees, the user allows the tree to get bigger, new growth taking over the previously chopped branches until the tree reaches sunlight where its branches blossom into a bundle of white and yellow flowers. This reminds the player that there is always room to improve after harsh circumstances. “The calming atmosphere helps with stress and anxiety. It helps to calm me down since the entire [game] is based around cutting out the unimportant stuff and focusing on the better aspect of life,” explained Freshman Jasmine Brannon. To further reassure the players, the game uses a soft soundtrack and a monochromatic, simplistic, and minimalistic Japanese-inspired art style to help sooth the player, making it easy to focus on the task at hand as there are few distractions. The app costs $3.99 in the App Store, a small price to pay for its many benefits and high popularity. Calm Harm, however, is a free app created with the hopes to help those struggling with self-harm but can be used to help those suffering from anxiety, depression, and other disorders as well. The app provides a multitude of ways to help “ride” the urge to harm oneself. Ranging from comfort to distractions, the app supplies the player with six activity types all fit to perform different tasks. The user would press on which activity type they would prefer to do and the app supplies a list of activities that a person could use in order to help them. For example, after pressing “Comfort,” the app asks whether or not they should set a timer for five or fifteen minutes, the player then presses their preference and is then given a long list of helpful tasks. If overwhelmed by the number of options, the user could press the random button on the bottom and will then be given a random prompt. These prompts range from grounding oneself, which would be helpful during an anxiety or panic attack, to drawing over the place where a person would want to hurt themselves. Every time a user opens an app, it asks for a password, ensuring the privacy of the individual and does not mention what the app is about until the password is correctly put in. Stem4, the developers of Calm Harm, also created an app called “Clear Fear” which helps an individual manage their anxiety. Clear Fear educates the user on the different types of anxiety and their symptoms and has an “Immediate Help” button for the user to press if their anxiety was becoming unmanageable. The “Safety Net” option allows the user to call a friend or family member from inside the app while the “Gritt Box” holds inspirational quotes as well as a “my positive thoughts” option where the user can add their own personal thoughts to help cheer them up on a future day. By pressing “Clear Your Fear,” the user is asked what they need assistance with and would press the option that best suits them, much like Calm Harm. There, they could quite literally “battle” their negative thoughts by pressing “Combat Negative Thoughts” or organize their worries using “Deal with Worries One Step At A Time.” Both Calm Harm and Clear Fear were created by professionals with the help of some teenagers and is tailored to fit the needs of whoever is in need of help. Although these apps are created to help lessen the effects of anxiety in an individual, they are still only aids. They are not proper treatments but instead are a guide to help reduce the impacts of anxiety. If a person is suffering from constant anxiety or any feeling of being overwhelmed, they should go speak to a professional. There are counselors on and outside of campus who are there to help guide and get help for any individual suffering from anxiety or depression.
By Jillian Flack Creating art can be a useful way for one to express how they feel, which can help one to convey confusing emotions. This can help someone figure out what they will do next when faced with a problem. Along with this, art can also help improve one’s mood, which can lead to a more positive lifestyle.  This drawing by Allison Rousseau depicts her unique art style. Credit: Allison Rousseau Some emotions can be difficult for a myriad of people to explain in word, but creating art has helped an abundance of people express their feelings. Junior Carla Hurtado shared,“I think it’s a way to express myself and I feel like an image is worth a lot more than words so when I paint, . . .I’m able to say more than if I were to write it. . .I can’t find the the right words, but with colors and images, I’m able to express myself better.” Through art, students are able to figure out how they feel about both the positive and the negative events occurring in their life. This can even help them to decide how they will move forward after various situations. The process of creating art does not just help people figure out their feelings, it can help them express their feelings. Junior Allison Rousseau stated, “It helps me express myself in ways that I can’t really express myself in real life and how I feel because some people just can’t tell that stuff.” For many, it can be hard to share how they really feel about something, often due to the fear of being judged. With art, one can express how they feel without being judged for their emotions, which can be quite helpful for a multitude of people. Designing art can improve the mood of both the artist and those who are viewing one’s works. This can help people to stay positive even when something bad is happening. Hurtado said, “I usually try to convey happy emotions so I use bright colors that usually are warm, such as yellow, orange, like, really happy colors.” Making positive artwork can help one to be happier from just seeing the creation, which can help to increase one’s mood and improve one’s mental health overall. Bright colors tend to bring out positivity and energy, while cool colors are inclined to bring calm and relaxation. Rousseau shared, “It helps me, like, escape from problems that I have to deal with and it makes other people happy.” If one can forget their problems for a while, it can help the artist feel more relaxed along with the person who is enjoying the art. The benefits of art are for both the artist and those admiring the art. While the artist was able to express themselves through their art, the admirer of the art can appreciate the talent in the art as well as interpret the art into a meaning that they find fulfilling. Rousseau said,“I try to make more of happy stuff so people can escape the. . .negativity in their life.” When artists express themselves through art, it can help them to calm down from strong emotions they may be feeling, helping them to think more clearly. Art can be a great outlet for expression for artists when they are going through hard times. Devoting time to art can be a valuable way for an artist to analyze and understand the way they are feeling. This can lead to a better understanding of the events taking in their life and the way they feel about them.
By Rex Garcia In the afternoon once school has ended, most students go home, but some artists and athletes stay to improve their performance for the arts and sports. One of these artists, dedicated, happy and passionate, stays long after school to perfect her band work. Senior Noelle Villegas demonstrates consistently that she has what it takes to be a drum leader and advanced member in her band, and especially proves herself beyond school as she is one of the handful of handpicked members of the Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, a highly competitive non-profit corporation that aims to improve the lives of the public via the art of marching music.  Villegas practices on her marimba on the field in her performing gear. Source: Noelle Villegas Before becoming a member of the Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, Villegas would have no idea that she would be one of the eleven people to be accepted to be a part of the drum corps team. She had become one of the mallet percussion players who would play either the marimba or vibraphone and travel to competitions against other drum corps all summer. “I was very nervous and did not expect to get in,” said Villegas, “A lot of people audition and they’re the top open class drum core, but not a lot of people get in.” With this valuable opportunity, she has been able to further embrace her love for band. “I get to spend an entire summer doing something that I am very passionate about and I get to be taught by a lot of really good people. I love it,” expressed Villegas. As she continues to learn from them, her skill and appreciation for band will continue to grow from this honored opportunity to be apart of the Gold Drum and Bugle Corps.  Villegas warms up on her marimba outside with the rest of the percussionists. Source: Noelle Villegas Apart from her new opportunity, being a drum leader allows her to improve her and her bandmates’ skills and be the best role model she can be. “When I was a sophomore, it was really hard for me to understand what’s going on so when the other section leaders would help me. . .it was very helpful,” said Villegas, “I want to help people and help them grow because that’s like how I first started.” When she is not helping her teammates, she is always working to perfect and enjoy her own band music. “I practice one to two hours every day,” explained Villegas, “Technique is very important to me, and having a good attitude and making sure you’re having fun because if other people are not having fun then why are you even there?” As a whole, Villegas’ time in band has ultimately allowed her the pleasure of enjoying her four years in high school. “I know it’s made my whole high school career very memorable and I will always remember it. It’s very fun and you get to meet a lot of cool people here,” Villegas stated. Going forward, the team continues to work on their music, not only growing as a team but also having fun as a family. Villegas has been a part of band most of her life and still to this day finds great enjoyment in the activity. Looking back at her last days in high school, she can agree with herself that her four years were worth the time. With the Gold Drum and Bugle Corps acceptance already encouraging her to pursue her career in the future, Villegas will continue to find delight in her life as being a part of a band will still be in her capabilities. Whether it is finding something to do or wanting to have fun, there is be bound to be something that will satisfy the life of any individual.
By Jillian Flack As an abundance of people have found that singing can be a good outlet for self-expression, many others become interested in pursuing the pastime. For beginning singers, it can be quite difficult to learn how to sing correctly, often due to a wide range of factors. There are several different methods to help spot these mistakes and fix them, along with methods to help improve one’s voice.  Caption: Sophomore Genevieve Tichy exercises her talent by singing at the Holiday Concert on December 6, 2018. Credit: Jillian Flack When it comes to singing, a multitude of people make errors that can affect the way their voice sounds. These mistakes often have simple fixes that can help one to sound better. A common error is that beginners attempt to imitate the singing voices of professional singers. This can cause them to learn how to sing the music incorrectly, which can be difficult to correct. When this happens, one can fix it by having a vocal expert to teach them how to correctly use their voices. Once this problem is solved, singing often comes much more naturally to many. Along with imitating singers, many beginners can also find it difficult to produce the sound they are going for due to singing too loudly. This causes throat muscles to close up, making it much more challenging to sing correctly. If one maintains control of their volume, they can find more success in pursuing their singing passion and have an easier experience singing for longer periods of time. Another mistake that a large number of people often make is working their voices too hard. Senior Janine Cabaguas from Platinum FX said, “I guess, like, using your throat too much [is an issue for beginning singers.] That and straining too much. I guess if you overexert yourself then that just hurts. . .I mean, I guess people always try to, like, keep those high notes, but if you really feel yourself straining, that can hurt.” If one takes their singing training slow, it can help them to improve better than when working too hard. It can be difficult to sing with tired muscles because they can interfere with one’s ability to sing and can make it hard to perform at one’s best. While any of these methods can be helpful, one of the best ways to get better at singing is to stay patient. Cabaguas shared, “Learn some good techniques. Don’t give up. Just keep practicing because you’ll definitely grow in your voice if you keep exercising it.” One cannot become perfect in just a day of practice. Even the best singers had to practice frequently to get where they are today, so one will need to remember that it often takes plenty of time and effort to get better at singing.  One’s singing can be improved through the means of many different methods. Credit: dvci-hry.info Along with tips to correct errors, there are also a myriad of methods to help one improve their voice. Cabaguas stated, “I actually improved a lot by watching YouTube videos on singing. Of course, it depends on who you watch, but yeah, there’s some really good ones out there.” Videos can teach singers how to correctly use their voices, leading them to become better at singing. Junior Nicole Martinez from Platinum FX advised, “Trying to match pitch [is helpful when singing.]” Matching the pitch can help one’s voice to sound both smoother and stronger. This can be done by listening to the music one is singing to learn how they should sound. When this happens, one can sound more professional. Learning to match the pitch can take one a while, but it results in one having a better singing voice. By following set-out steps, one can be led on the path to success in their singing. Even with these methods, one should practice often to make their voices sound stronger. Many find it quite challenging to sing in the beginning, but with plenty of practice, one’s voice can significantly improve.
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