By: Genesis Hodges
People keep on talking about those cookies from that Crumble cookie place. My mom even said that she wants to try it and might take my sister and I this weekend (fingers crossed). I have a big sweet tooth, which is wonderful and a bummer. It’s wonderful because I act like I'm 6 years old whenever candy is in sight. It’s a bummer because I already know my dentist is going to lecture me when she sees me again. Other than that I have a list of sweet treats that I will never refuse. First up are chocolate covered strawberries. I've loved strawberries ever since I was a baby. It took me a while to grow into chocolate but now I love it. When I was little my mom had bought this bowl and it had chocolate that you would heat up inside. She had also got strawberries and marshmallows and some more junk that 4 year old me probably shouldn't have been eating. My mom had dunked the strawberry into the chocolate and then gave it to me. It was the first and last time I ever had a chocolate covered strawberry. Turns out, I'm allergic to strawberries. Next up cake. Where to start with this. At pretty much every event people have a cake no matter what kind of event it is. When I was younger my mom would make me a cake for my birthday. Were they delicious? Of course they were. I would even get a birthday cake from my grandma like a month after my birthday. Where are they good? I would never know because she would always get me cakes with strawberries in the middle. But, based on what my sister would say, “This cake is really good! Do you want to try some? Oops, you can't because it has strawberries.” Every kid has a favorite candy. What's your favorite candy? I like anything fruity. Unpopular opinion, but candy corn isn't that bad. Some common favorites I’ve had are Twix, Snickers, KitKats, and Jaw Busters. Jaw Busters were my favorite for a bit, until my grandpa said that I would look like him with no teeth if I kept biting them. So I stopped eating them completely. Caramel Apple lollipop is a family favorite until the carmel gets stuck in your teeth or worse the lollipop does. After all this talk about sweets I really hope to go to the Cookie Crumble place.
0 Comments
By: Charles Gerard
Guns, firearms, and any type of handheld weapon should be legal in the U.S. However, I do recognize and admit that there is a huge problem with the misuse of personal weapons within the country. Every so often, there is a major news break that involves a tragedy, such as a person who opens fire on a crowd, or a school shooter, which influences some Americans more and more to push for gun bans. I can understand that wanting to ban all weapons can stop violence within the country, but I feel that outright banning guns is not the way to go. Many seem to think that criminals get guns legally, by just purchasing them from a shop. Buying firearms illegally is not only more efficient, but more cheap. There’s no need to register any weapon, no need to qualify to obtain one, and it’s much easier to get one illegally, so criminals will gladly take the illegal route. Banning guns for all will not change anything, especially because there are more than 200 million guns in circulation. When you are under attack, the best weapon to defend yourself with is a gun. If someone breaks into your house, the police would take a few minutes to show up and by then, the perpetrator would have probably escaped and left you injured or even dead. If criminals have weapons, then as an American citizens, everyone has the right to defend themselves. For the ones who think that every gun should be banned, how do you presume it happens? Should SWAT teams break into every household in America? What about imported goods from other countries? Should circulation be stopped? What about unregistered guns? There are too many variables, and will probably end up being like the War on Drugs, where circulation wasn’t able to be stopped and drugs kept on coming in, or like the ban on alcohol where the same thing happened. This is why it’s logical to keep firearms legal in America. By Serrae Bell
Last Wednesday was the first day back on campus for St. Anthony, and we were the first high school in Long Beach to go back to in person education. Because it is my senior year, I was so excited to go back and see everyone, even though I knew it was going to be very different. Those who chose to return to school were split into two groups, the Anthonians and the Paduans. I was lucky enough to be part of the former, and got to be on campus the first day it opened back up. For those of you who missed it, here is how it went. When I walked up to the school, I was met with the sight of a purple and white balloon arch reaching over the front steps, and a plethora of photographers and excited parents taking pictures of the students walking underneath it. There were President’s Ambassadors greeting me as I walked up the stairs, and our principal, Mr. Eureste, was waiting at the door. Once inside, teachers and administrators were asking each student if they had any symptoms of Covid-19, and a device was set up to take our temperatures automatically and from afar. It was slightly overwhelming at first, but it was all part of the new protocol. The change that was by far the most astonishing was that almost the entire courtyard had been blocked off, and there were piles of dirt and four tall columns coming out of the ground. This was in preparation for the addition of shades to the courtyard to create a more comfortable outdoor environment. However, it did create a minor inconvenience when it came to walking to class. This was solved by arrows taped on the wall directing students which direction to go. It was confusing at first, but is something that won’t take too long to get used to. The two groups that the school was split into, and the fact that some students decided to stay at home, made the classrooms emptier, but it also made learning feel more personal. Because there were a limited number of scholars, the student to teacher ratio was much better than if we were all in school. The teachers were able to assist any students that needed help, as well as tend to the students on Zoom. I even had a class where it was just me and one other student. This made it easier to communicate with the teacher, and even made class fun, despite the desk shields. Although everything was very different, and even a little bit weird at first, I am glad that I decided to go back to campus. It was great to see some of my friends and familiar faces, and I’m sure all the teachers would agree that it was good to see actual people in a classroom again. Although the new split lunch schedule will take a little getting used to, it will be worth it if I get to be back on campus one last time before graduation. To all the people who decided to stay home, or who might go back to remote learning after their one day at school, especially the seniors, I hope the decision is thought-through . If you change your mind, and stay with on-campus learning, it’ll be worth it. By Serrae Bell
Recently, more and more people have been receiving the vaccine for COVID-19. It has become more widestream, and will hopefully soon be available to the general public. Right now, it is available to healthcare workers, those 65 and older, essential employees, people who are disabled, and those who have conditions that could increase their risk of getting the coronavirus. Last week, I was lucky enough to get the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine myself. I, like some others I know, was able to volunteer at the workplace of a friend, who is a healthcare worker, which qualified me for the vaccination. I also got service hours in the process, and learned many new things about a field of work I had never considered before, so it was a win-win situation. My experience getting the vaccine was an overall good one. The staff was instantly welcoming and cheerful, and there wasn’t an endless amount of forms to fill out or boxes to check. My sister and I did hit a slight bump in the road because we didn’t have a parent there to give consent because we were minors, but the workers were patient and understanding, and a quick phone call to our mom solved the issue. It was smooth sailing from there. We did not have to wait long, and the actual administration of the shot only took about three seconds, and was only slightly painful. After that we were asked to sit in a different area for a fifteen minute observation period, and then we were free to go. You may have heard stories from people who got vaccinated about experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, having a fever or fatigue, or not being able to move their arm all the way. While these are probably true, and I myself know people who have had bad experiences with it, mine was surprisingly easy. As we left the vaccination station (sorry, I couldn’t resist), we were reminded to keep our arms moving throughout the day to prevent pain in the next. This might be what saved me from feeling no more pain than what a normal shot would cause, but as for the other symptoms, it was probably just luck that I had none. I have heard, however, that the second shot is sometimes worse than the first, but I am hoping for the best. Going into the vaccine, it is important to know that no one’s body is the same, so some people may react to it differently. Remember that getting the COVID vaccine is not only for yourself, but for the safety of others as well. It has not yet been proven that those who have been vaccinated cannot still spread the virus, so wearing a mask is still essential. Getting vaccinated may be a monumental moment for you, but there are still millions of people to go. It does not mean that your life can instantly return to normal. It just means that we are all one step closer to returning to a normal life. By: Genesis Hodges
As a kid, I pretty much grew up with animals. Although my first family pet was a cat, when I got my dog I loved her from the start. She just had everything I needed in a best friend minus the smelly breath. Like I said before, I love my dog and I wouldn’t replace her for anything in the world, but when she moves on I know that I’m going to want another dog and I already have a list of what possible dogs I might want to get. The first dog that I’m hoping to get is a Alaskan Malamute. They remind me of Huskies but fluffier. This is the dog that I’ve wanted for a while. They are very loyal dogs, so I may not have to worry about it running away. They are also playful which is good cause they will always be happy, which will make me happy. I was also thinking about getting a Pomeranian. They are smart so they will be easier to train. They are also super cute and social so everyone will love them, except for my allergies. I may end up sneezing for days but it will be worth it. Beagliers are so cute as puppies. They also have short fur so my allergies won’t hate me as much. It’s a mix of a Beagle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel which are two adorable dogs that made an even more adorable puppy. They get along well with other dogs and people so I think they will be ok with me adding another dog to the family if i wanted to. My dog is a Cavapoo. Even though I don’t want a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, they still make the cutest dogs I have ever seen. This dog is very small but if I had one I would treat it like a baby. I would be one of those people who you see holding their dog and never put it down. By: Charles Gerard
Pulp Fiction, a 1994 non chronological crime and drama film, is one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time, scoring very high from critics and casual audiences, as it is funny, smart, and superbly directed and acted. It should be on the top of everyone’s list of movies to watch next, as it is a masterpiece of writing, acting, direction, and storytelling. Pulp Fiction centers around the episodic stories of two L.A. hitmen named Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield, who are involved with a series of crimes and actions that influence them to change themselves for the better. Other characters who make up the story are Marsellus Wallace, a crime boss and an employer of Jules and Vincent, Mia Wallace, Marsellus’s wife, Butch, an aging boxer on the run from Marsellus, Ringo and Yolanda, thieves, who plan to rob a resturant, and many other distinct and memorable characters that makes this movie have one of the best casts in fiction. It doesn’t sound like much when I describe it, but you really need to watch the movie to understand how well everything clicks together. One of Pulp Fiction’s many claims to fame is it’s unorthodox and non chronological structure of the story. Many will say that they timeline of the story is unnecessary and makes the film seem smart to casual movie watchers, but it really makes the movie infinitely more watchable, the more times you see it, you see subtly clues and hints towards future events, you see references to older movies, you make parallel comparisons to all three stories in the movie, and it is one of the most analyzed and talked about movies of all time. This movie is incredible, and I not only recommend it to movie fans, but regular people and people who enjoy good stories, good dialogue, and good acting. Just an excellent movie and one everyone should watch. By: Genesis Hodges
I love animals. As a kid I always wondered what they were thinking. As I got older, my curiosity never stopped. I think it got more intense after watching Mr. Mittens from Johnny Test trying to turn everyone into cats. As I think about it now I wonder what the world would be like if it was ruled by animals. Just think about one of two things could possibly happen if animals were to rule the world. All the animals would get along or they all try to kill each other until there is only one species standing. While everyone is betting that bigger animal is going to win I'll vote on the cute but deadly animal. Because from what i've learned the best pick is the one no one expects. First thing is that if there are no people then we are animals as well and I would want to be a wolf just for the fun of it. Now remember how I said it could either be one of two ways? Well this isn't the Zootopia movie they are real animals which means trouble. There are monkeys swinging from trees and alligators on land walking around like they own the place or probably looking for their next meal since they ate all the fish. One minute they are all having fun, then a cat hisses at a dog and now cats and dogs are at war for the second time this week. The pigs are having the best mud bath ever, then they are going to sleep. The little bunnies most likely went into hiding after the news never to be seen again. The birds just fly around to see what's going on with the world today. Needless to say it sounds like a lot would be happening. Maybe even too much would be happening if that is even possible. I think the world is fine just the way it is. It could use a few things here and there but other than that it is perfect. By: Serrae Bell
For everyone who attended St. Anthony last year, today marks a year and one day since our last time being on campus together. I know. A year. Back when we were all excited for what we thought was going to be an extended spring break. Back when we could be together and share food and hug without a second thought. Back when we took everything for granted. In the year since the pandemic started, we have learned a lot about ourselves, each other, and life in general; whether good or bad. But now, things are getting better. We are allowed to eat outside of restaurants again, sports are slowly coming back, and some schools are even opening back up. We are regaining a sense of normalcy, but it might look that normal at first. While I don’t know what is true, and I certainly don’t want to give anyone false hope, I have heard that there is a possibility that St. Anthony will return to school in March. All of the teachers I have talked to seem confident that students will return to campus once more, and sooner than we may think. Returning to school has become a somewhat controversial topic, with some students happy at home with no desire to go to school in person, and others saying they will go back with no questions asked as soon as the opportunity presents itself. I consider myself part of the latter. As a senior, I will gladly put on a mask and get tested regularly if it means I will get to go to school and see my friends again, even if it is through plastic desk dividers. Starting school back up for students will take a lot of effort from everyone involved. There will be many new guidelines to follow and rules to enforce. Classrooms will have to be cleaned frequently and temperatures will have to be checked at the door everyday. Students will have to be carefully watched to make sure they are keeping their masks on and being safe. It would be a good idea to require a negative test result every two weeks or so too, just to be safe. Even with the new regulations that will have to be put in place, I can see why one would be wary about returning to school. It is impossible to guarantee that everyone will take the proper precautions to protect themselves and others. If we do end up going back however, it will most likely be hybrid, with both virtual and on campus learning. This way there won’t be too many students at school at once, but everyone who wants to go still gets to. To all the seniors contemplating whether or not returning is the best option, I say go. It’s our senior year, and we only get one. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it is not to take things for granted, especially school. I used to sit at a desk all day, often wishing I could be somewhere else, but now all I want to do is step into a classroom again. It is better to take chances rather than play it safe because as we learned last year, there is no telling what the future will hold. |
StaffPLearn more about the people behind the stories by clicking the button below. Archives
September 2023
Categories |