THE COURIERNEWFOUND FAME2840 East Orange Rd, Lewis Center, OH 430358 | BRACKET BALLhistory of the madness17 | SERVING SMILESa spotlight on johnMARCH VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 6the changes of celebrity culture
ads | designer sakara ross2 march
TABLE OF CONTENTStable of contents | staffcover designer rylee bokesch | table of contents designer sakara rossWRITING EDITORS IN CHIEFabby kuilanabi wykoffSECTION EDITORSSTAFFkelsey beattygeorgia browningmalak chahboubava pazaktori de penataylor guzekava mejiasophia robinsongrant ruofcarter shillingabigail simmonselijah smiessavanna smithDESIGN EDITORS IN CHIEFsakara rossrylee bokeschaudrey del vecchiocate woolardkeira dicksonlyla biceBUSINESS MANAGERSaudrey del vecchiotenley walkerCOPY EDITORStenley walkerdelaney newellCOLUMNISTSshiv majmudaraudrey del vecchiocate woolardkari phillipsADVISER17 | PROFILEthe work and life of the school’s food service worker john charley10 | COVERthe changes of celebrity culture14 | SCENEolentangy model united nations summit7 | NEWSthe school’s orchestra’s trip to disney 14 167 17CHECK OUT THE COURIER’S ONLINE SITE! ALL YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS AND DESIGNERS GO DIGITAL. SCAN THE CODE WITH YOUR CAMERA TO BE TAKEN DIRECTLY THERE!PROJECTSreema mohamed rafiqmarch 3
STAFF EDITORIALplanted artists become popularwriter the editorial board | designer taylor guzek | infographic source instagram pollSombr, Addison Rae and Gracie Abrams: these are all names we think we know. But their journey to fame may not have been as di!cult as we thought. All these people have one thing in common: the accusation of being an industry plant.According to Complex, an industry plant is someone who becomes popular based on connections in the industry rather than real talent or hard work. Not to say that artists labeled as industry plants don’t have talent; in fact, lots of industry plants have a good amount of real talent.Industry plants can make the entertainment industry more arti\"cial, less personal and watered down, according to #e Able Show. And honestly, this makes sense. No one would like to \"nd out that one of their favorite artists was just set up to become popular.According to Miscellany News, Sombr, an artist that many of us have at least seen on social media, is a great example of an industry plant. However, Miscellany defended the artist and said positive things about his album, like the quality of production and his vocal talents. Something that kind of proves the industry plant accusation though is the songwriting, which can seem shallow sometimes.Identifying Sombr as an industry plant is a rather harsh judgment on the young star. We, as a sta$, actually enjoy lots of his songs, some of our favorites are “Undressed” or “Back to Friends”. His debut, and only album, “I Barely Know Her” came out on Aug. 22, according to Variety.Many popular artists have been accused of being industry plants. According to Bleu Magazine, Jack Harlow, Cardi B, Ice Spice and many more have been called out. While some of the accusations that have been thrown around recently are true, a big amount of them are not.One of the recent problems though, according to Complex, is that the term has become overused and doesn’t carry much meaning anymore. People will call out any artists who got popular quickly and claim them as an industry plant even if it’s not necessarily true. Also, people will call an artist an industry plant without even really knowing their background or how they became so popular.We, as a sta$, agree with this. People are saying that too many new artists, especially the young ones, are industry plants when that’s not even true. Lots of artists have to work super hard to get to where they are now, and it invalidates not only their success but also all the hard work they have put into their careers. Something that has not helped with the recent explosion of the term is social media. While the idea of industry plants is not a new thing, social media can make us more hyper-aware of the media we are consuming, according to Talent Resources. Additionally, when we are a part of a creator’s success, we become a part of their fanbase, which makes it all the more disappointing when the realization hits that their fame was set up. #e setting up of industry plants a$ects more than just individual artists, it also negatively a$ects the industry as a whole.Not only do industry plants make the industry less personal, but it’s also just not fair to those who don’t have all the same connections. Not everyone is born with a famous last name, and those who don’t have to do much harder to make it.Industry plants have access to multiple opportunities who other people don’t. #ese extra opportunities can really make a di$erence in the careers of rising artists and how long it takes them to reach their goals and become successful.editorial4 marchEDITORIAL STATEMENT#e Courier is the o!cial student-produced medium of news and information published by the Advanced Newspaper Journalism students of Olentangy Orange High School.#e Courier has been established as a designated public forum for student journalists to inform, educate and entertain readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school o!cials, adults or sources prior to publication.#e content of #e Courier is determined by and re%ects only the views of the student sta$ and not school o!cials or the school itself. #e Courier will not publish any material, determined by the sta$ or adviser, that is libelous, obscene or disruptive to the school day.#e adviser is Kari Phillips. Readers may respond to #e Courier through Letters to the Editor. Letters may be mailed, e-mailed to thecouriersta$@ gmail.com or dropped o$ to room 2213. #e sta$ asks that submissions be 300 words or less and contain the author’s name and signature. Editors reserve the right to edit or withhold publication of letters. #e Courier strives to uphold the Canons of Professional Journalism, which includes accuracy, impartiality, etc. #erefore, major errors will be corrected in the next issue. Distinction will be marked between news and opinion stories.!\"#$%&\"'()*+,-./\"%)01&$#(\".2)34+&\"5)6.\"/(\"(!-78.9.+:/%)68.+7(6$$/(-&);+%1:%)!</:%=>?@>?A@?A>?
TIKTOK TROUBLEmissing information misleads peoplewriter abby kuilan | designer taylor guzekImagine a group of middle schoolers all sitting on the !oor of someone’s dingy and kind of nasty basement. Huddled around together giggling as one person whispers into another’s ear while playing telephone. By the time the phrase is passed down the circle, it has become a dis\"gured and nonsensical version of its original form. Now, picture this silly children’s game but on a huge social media platform with people who believe there’s gullible written on the ceiling. Tiktok has become an incredible source of misinformation that can spread from just one singular comment and expand into a whole make believe story with thousands of videos and comments. #e most recent mainstream example of this is when Bad Bunny hosted the Superbowl last month. During his performance, he staged a moment when he brought out a little boy and handed that boy his Grammy award. When I went on TikTok a$erwards, so many comments were posted claiming that the little boy was Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5 year old who was detained by ICE in January. #is was just not true at all, and there was absolutely no correlation between the two. While this incident doesn’t seem inherently bad, it only showcases how quickly false information can spread with hundreds of videos and comments being made that night with a multitude of people claiming incorrect statements. “Social media platforms allow users to instantaneously publish on virtually any topic, regardless of their quali\"cations or information accuracy. Platforms enable rapid sharing of content, and misinformation can ‘go viral’, cause harm and change beliefs before it can be e%ectively corrected,” according to the Health Promotion International Journal. #e amount of misinformation being spread is rapidly increasing and in the current political state of the country with most people nowadays getting their news from social media, it can only harm and not help. It’s especially harmful since people switch up so quickly on social media a$er viewing just one video on a topic. #ey don’t bother to check the quali\"cations or \"nd evidence about what a person is claiming and just blindly follow it. It’s very abundant in the pop culture side of Tiktok. An example of this is when some famous in!uencer couple breaks up and multiple videos come out from a third party claiming person A did this or person B did that when in reality it’s all taken out of context or straight up lies. Or whenever there is a big scandal occurring in the media with celebrities and in!uencers, users on a Tiktok bandwagon to whoever’s side of the story is told \"rst and they’re assumed to be in the right who is telling the truth.#e most popular example of this is the Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter \"asco that happened around \"ve years ago, with Rodrigo releasing her album about her \"rst breakup and her ex moving on quickly to another girl. Everyone on TikTok then found out the new girl was probably Carpenter and then sent mass amounts of hate, including death threats, toward her when they didn’t even know the whole situation.It feels like now more than ever with the US government’s actions being constantly under the news with the release of Epstein \"les, ICE enforcement and the president’s actions with Iran causing people from all over to put their two cents in. Especially with the Epstein \"les since we still don’t know a lot about them except names, names of people who may just be featured in the emails as a reference and actually have no correlation with Epstein like host Jon Stewert. But even so, multiple videos have been posted about the \"les and the people listed in them, gaining millions of views when there’s just not enough information yet out. I do think Tiktok does an excellent job of having videos that catch one’s attention immediately and have that shock value to them, but it’s important to remember not to believe everything online and to always fact check before taking it to heart and sending it to others. editorialmarch 51,245 comments4219326112user_236864853user_843265763user_267593659user_396402744user_597503845LIVEIt’s so nice he brought out LiamThe kid is Liam Ramos, he was the one that ICE detainedThat’s not Liam, his name is Lincoln Fox, he’s a child actorFollowing For You2-8 reply2-92-8replyreplySo nice of him to give Liam his Grammy!!2-9 replyI’m so happy for Liam!2-9 replyAdd comment... @Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 60 halftime performance
FETCH YOUR TICKET‘mean girls’ comes to the stagewriter abi wykoff | designer ava mejia | permission to print ava mejia The dazzling lights, cra!ed sets and exciting music welcome the eager audience into the theater. Each year, Orangelight Productions, the school’s theater department, puts together the spring musical. \"is year, they will be performing “Mean Girls: High School Version” on March 19-22.\"ese shows are so much more than just the performance seen on stage for four nights. \"ey include hardworking and dedicated students in every aspect of their cra!, from tech and management to acting and props. “I’m so grateful to be part of this production and can’t wait for audiences to see what we’ve created together,” senior Dria Mogaka said.Mogaka is one of the many hardworking actors in this year’s musical, playing the character Janice Ian. Another actor in the show is junior Grace Hardjono, playing the iconic role of Regina George. “It is hard stepping into such a character that is so drastically di#erent from how I act. Regina’s songs are also very vocally demanding, so I need to be able to keep up the energy for the entire show to make that possible,” Hardjono said. \"ere is a lot of vocal work that goes into all of the music for each song, and many of the leading actors have music backgrounds.“I am also taking private voice lessons, which I know many other people are doing as well to help prepare for the show,” senior Olivia Pazak said. Pazak is playing the leading role of Cady Heron and is among the many vocalists working hard outside of rehearsals to make each song its best. “I also train with my vocal coach, Justin T. Swain, who helps me strengthen my musicality and maintain healthy vocal technique throughout the run of the show. Keeping my voice strong and healthy is a huge priority for me, especially during a demanding production,” Mogaka said. Beyond the vocals of each song, there is also a lot of dancing in this production. Mogaka and Harjono are two of the dance captains, while their role tends to work in the shadows of the show productions but really pulls the scenes together.“In this leadership role, I help coordinate and clean choreography when our choreographer isn’t present. I absolutely love dancing, so getting to fully dive into learning every detail and assisting with choreography when needed has been such a rewarding experience,” Mogaka said. \"e other dance captains working hard to clean up each aspect of the dances are junior Allie Zigler and junior Natalie Deutschendorf. Movements like this are a lot more than what is seen on the stage. “\"e way that we operate quick changes backstage is something that I think a lot of people overlook. We have to be intentional with every movement and there are a lot of people involved. It is honestly a performance in itself,” Hardjono said.\"ere is so much that goes on backstage and behind the scenes to make each performance and scene $ow with ease.“\"e biggest challenge with the show will be managing the backstage elements and calling cues during the show. Most people don’t realize all the technical components, set changes, for example, that go into creating a show, and the work that goes into coordinating all of them,” junior Riya Pallapotu said.Pallapotu is in charge of many of these behind the scenes elements, within her role as student stage manager. But there are so many other students working in the shadows of the show, senior Jaiden Harper is an example.“I am a co-lead for our set crew, along with Mary Marallo. Being a crew lead comes with a lot of thought and responsibility,” Harper said. \"e set crew leads help a lot with the inner workings of shows; they do a lot with woodworking and aesthetics.“Together, we are leading our crew through the building and painting work that must be done in order to create all of the backgrounds and objects that are seen throughout the musical,” Harper said. \"ey start the rehearsal process over two months before the performance weekend.“‘Mean Girls’ is such a massive performance and complex when you weave the actors and tech aspects together,” Pallapotu said.\"ere are more than 80 hardworking students dedicated to creating this year’s performance. “I’m most excited to put on a performance that is incredibly iconic and resonates with our generation. I can’t wait for people to come see this and talk about it,” Pallapotu said. So be sure to get your tickets for the show this weekend. \"ey are available for purchase at orangeproductions.ludus.comnews6 marchSeniors Olivia Pazak, Dria Mogaka and Sam Hardjono rehearse ACT I of “Mean Girls” a week before opening night.
MAGICAL MUSICorchestra’s disney tripwriter elijah smies | designer ava mejia | permission to print lydia wendorfThe most magical place on earth was the most recent destination for the high school’s performing arts program, as the orchestra traveled to Orlando, FL, where it visited Universal Studios for a weekend of activities.Every year, the performing arts program takes trips to various places around the world, alternating between large trips, such as the band’s Ireland trip, and shorter trips. Every year, the trip switches between the band and orchestra as to which group takes the trip, and this year was the orchestra’s turn for a large trip to Disney.“During our trip to Orlando, orchestra students had the opportunity to participate in a workshop with a professional musician and teacher from the Orlando area. !ey also visited three Disney parks (Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom) and two parks at Universal Studios,” Orchestra Director and trip leader Lori Cornett said. !e group \"ew to Orlando on Friday, Feb 13, taking o# at 6p.m. taking a charter bus with a tour guide to get around in the city and between the locations they visited. “!e transportation was good, although the time for the \"ights was a bit exhausting. But we had a charter bus and a tour guide, and it was really cool and a good way to get around. Overall, it was good, but the timing could have been a bit better,” Chamber orchestra bassist and sophomore Daniel Whitehead said.!e educational side of the trip, the music workshop, had the group perform in a music studio and learn a piece of Disney music to play and record in a professional setting, while getting feedback from professionals on how to elevate their musical performances. “!is was my second time participating in the workshop, and while it was di#erent from what we experienced in 2016, it was very well done and valuable for the students,” Cornett said. !e workshop was focused heavily on future-readiness, with common themes about the life of a professional musician and the necessity of being able to put in short amounts of practice time to perform a piece at a high-quality level.“All of the chamber kids were a bit bored with the music because it was for all high schoolers, not just the highest orchestra, but then we got to do what a professional recording looks like, and all of us really enjoyed that,” Whitehead said.On the fun aspect of the trip, the group had the chance to experience the parks in small groups and were able to go wherever they pleased in the parks.“I feel that any time a group spends a lot of time together, it helps them bond as a group. While many people just hung out with their regular friend group, I saw many other groups merging and people $nding new friendships with students from other grades or ensembles,” Cornett said.!is time spent in small groups greatly helped to create bonds between the students who they hadn’t had in the past, creating deeper friendships that both helped them throughout their high school experience as a whole and also their ability to create music as a group that is interconnected in so many ways.“I’d say I de$nitely bonded more with the other students. !e biggest thing was the walking groups that we were in at our park. We’d all sit there in line together, and those who you were with you got to know a lot better and could have a lot of fun with,” Whitehead said.Overall, the trip was a massive success, with students’ musical abilities greatly improved and great memories made that will last for everyone who went for countless years to come.newsmarch 7Orchestra students Cate Woolard, Lydia Wendorf, Mya Roush and Riya Pallapotu spend time in Disney during their trip to Orlando in February.
BRACKET BALLhistory of the madnesswriter kelsey beatty | designer carter shillingIt’s March Madness season again, meaning it’s time to pull up those trusty brackets, !ll them out, and, if one is feeling lucky, send that bracket o\" for a chance to win $1 million.#e NCAA tournament, otherwise known as March Madness, and those 68-team brackets seem to be inseparable; the format is even wound into the logo, splayed across every $oor tournament games are played on. But it was not always this way: before 1977, there were no NCAA tournament brackets at all.In that year, Jody and Mary Haggerty started an NCAA tournament pool at their Irish pub, Jody’s Club Forest, in Staten Island, according to NCAA.com. #e pot started at $10 each, and began as only an idea to drum up business, according to the couple.#e contest exploded from there, bringing in people from all over the country as word spread. Pots reached seven digits twice in the contest’s run, according to Spectrum News. By 2006, the pool was $1.6 million for the owner of the most correct bracket.But this e x p o n e n t i a l growth turned out to be the H a g g e r t y s ’ downfall. According to Spectrum News, when the 2006 winner reported the sum on their taxes, the IRS sought out the pub owners and reviewed the pub’s records, busting the couple not on mismanagement of the betting pool, but rather on underreporting their own income from the bar. A%er that, Jody’s Club Forest’s NCAA brackets faded into history.However, there are other claims for the invention of the March Madness bracket. While the Haggertys were selling brackets and beers, a Kentucky resident was cra%ing a bracket for the 1978 tournament based upon his recreational so%ball league bracket, according to PBS News. His bracket, which started out as a game amongst friends and relatives, quickly spread once it was digitized with the launch of Excel in the 1980s.And yet, the bracket has grown so widespread that it is now impossible to track down where it began at all. It simply is, with tens of millions of brackets !lled each year, according to NCAA.com, and millions of people spending their March rooting for an arbitrary combination of teams they have chosen.Despite all the mania, there has never been a veri!ed perfect bracket in the 40 years since the 68-team format’s introduction in 1985, according to NCAA.com.But this doesn’t stop anyone from trying, including students at the school; senior Angel Duarte never misses a year of the tournament.“I’ll be doing three brackets this year. I’d rate my con!dence level [in my bracket] at about a 6/10,” Duarte said.Freshman Adam Ellison shares this commitment to the contest.“I’ve been doing a bracket [every year] since sixth grade, and I’ll be doing one again this year,” Ellison said. “I feel pretty con!dent in my bracket, but it may be a little straightforward to be totally correct.”But he disagrees with Duarte on the proper way to play the tournament.“I’m only doing one [bracket] because I feel like if I do two, that’s cheating,” Ellison said. “You should be con!dent enough in your bracket that you can only choose one winner, and only need one shot.”But even with their two di\"erent schools of thought, the two had some of the picks in the end.“I’ve got Duke, Houston, Arizona and Virginia as my Final Four, and Arizona winning,” Ellison said.Duarte’s was similar in some ways. But while neither chose any “Cinderella” teams, the senior’s lineup was controversial in that he had No. 3 Illinois overtaking No. 2 Houston and claiming the NCAA South.“I have Duke, Illinois, Arizona and Iowa State in the semi!nals, with Arizona winning,” Duarte said.sports8 marchOOHS
IN THE ZONEformula one racingwriter audrey del vecchio| designer carter shillingEngines roar, champagne is sprayed over excitement as millions of fans from every continent tune in to watch one of the most fast-paced sports in the world: Formula 1. F1 is so much more than just a race; it brings in!uence to countries all over the world. Going into 2026, there is much excitement for the Formula 1 season, especially a\"er Lando Norris secured his #rst F1 world title in a three-way close race at the end of the 2025 season. Over the past decade, Formula 1 has transformed by mainly being a European sport to in!uencing fashion, #lm and social media culture, making it an international cultural phenomenon. As of 2026, the United States will host three major Grand Prix: Austin, Miami and Las Vegas. I believe that a wider audience has been opened up to this world through the movie “F1” starring Brad Pitt, which came out on June 27, 2025. $e movie showcased aspects of the sport that many people were not aware of. According to Variety, the F1 movie was Apple’s highest grossing #lm making $293 million in the #rst 10 days of release at the global box o%ce. $is #lm has kept Apple in the moviemaking business a\"er accumulating a few recent !ops. $is phenomenal success has led to the movie being nominated for four Oscars a\"er making $630 million worldwide according to F1. $e #lm’s accomplishments have proven one thing: people are captivated by the idea of Formula 1 racing. $e only question is are people truly interested in the reality of the sport or a #ctional story based on it. Many people may think that F1 is a fairly easy sport compared to others because it is basically just someone driving a car around a track, but it is so much more than that. However, F1 is one of the most di%cult sports because not only does it have immense physical strain on the body, it also requires high-speed mental pressure as well. F1 is also widely compared to the similar sport: NASCAR. NASCAR and F1 have many di&erences including NASCAR being a North American-based series with heavy, stock-style cars primarily on ova tracks. F1, however, uses very light, open-wheel cars on twisty circuits. F1 also focuses on engineering and speed whereas NASCAR places an emphasis on close-quartered racing. With the season starting, there is a buzz of excitement to see if Lando Norris can defend his title with McLaren. It will de#nitely be a challenge for Norris with talented competitors like George Russel with Mercedes and new rookies like 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad, the youngest winner in both F2 and F3 according to ESPN. $ere are many exciting changes that I am looking forward to along with many others that are coming with the 2026 season. For starters, the cars are going to be 30kg lighter, which will make it easier to take sharp turns on the tracks. Also, along with the exciting Barcelona race in Spain, F1 has announced that they are bringing the Spanish Grand Prix to Madrid. F1 keeps evolving every year with new technology and more rigorous competition that keeps everyone on their toes year to year. $is increase in competition leads to more pressure being put on these drivers which ultimately leads to every decision on the track being very important. I can’t wait to see how this new season plays out and what drivers soar to the top and take the championship win in the end. With all the international races, there will de#nitely be twists and turns that no one is expecting. Formula 1 continues to engage new audiences as it rede#nes the sport that so many people love. So, this 2026 season, tune in to Apple TV which is the exclusive broadcaster for the Formula 1 season and experience all the excitement and work that goes into the races. sportsmarch 9Sports columnists Audrey Del Vecchio and Cate Woolard.2026 UNITED STATESGrand Prix RacesAustin, Texas Miami, Florida Las Vegas, NevadaTrack: Curcuit of the AmericasTicket Price High to Low: $529-$67Average Attendance: 440,000 peopleTrack: The Circuit Ticket Price High to Low: $260-$71Average Attendance: 275,000Track: Strip CircuitTicket Price High to Low: $100-$10,000Average Attendance: 300,000
NEWFOUND FAMEthe changes of celebrity culturewriters lyla bice, audrey del vecchio & tori de pena | designer sakara rossThe concept of fame has always been an interesting idea, like how does one climb up to the height of fame. In the past, people would get famous through their talents and organic discovery. Now, there’s multiple tiers to fame. Celebrities could have famous parents and be born with a fan base or people could become an in!uencer who are now considered microcelebrities. Now, fame is found through a multitude of ways ranging from one’s talent to their social media following. How Fame Used to be EarnedTrying to make it in the 21st century without a \"lthy rich family or A-lister parents? Good luck. People used to get famous from a direct discovery; before the internet, talent scouts used to weave their way through malls and busy streets to \"nd silver screen starlets. Tabloids would risk everything to catch Hollywood’s newest celebrities out on the street to keep their loyal viewers reading. With lively commercials, several current celebrities had their breakthrough to get recognized for bigger projects. However, times have changed, and so has how people get famous.“I don’t see it (new ways of scouting) a#ecting the entertainment value, but the value of the art itself absolutely declines when we rely too heavily on legacy. New ideas are always needed,” President of Orangelight Productions senior Preston Bronder said.Notorious celebrities like Wendy Williams and Ryan Seacrest all started from working at their local radio stations before growing into hosts of very well-known shows. “Onehit wonders” was notoriously created during ‘WorldWideWeb’ days when viral videos or forwarded links in the media made someone an instant celebrity. $en, only a few weeks later, the said internet celeb goes fully incognito. For example, artist Ylvis, composer behind the song “$e Fox (What Does $e Fox Say?)”, had people singing non-stop, only to not Pamela Anderson, who got her \"rst modeling job by attending a football game and being televised on the Jumbotron. $e trick seems to just simply be in the right place at the right time. “I do think it is easier to \"nd recognition in the entertainment industry in the modern day. If you looked at the industry 50-60 years ago, your only option in the mainstream was Hollywood,” junior actor for Orangelight Productions Catch Haney said.In the good ol’ days, when there were no such thing as “personalized algorithms”, many now-famous celebrities appeared in commercials, print ads or posters early in their career, prior to having fan-edits made of them; these celebrities were all over our screens, television screens that is, causing a rip in pop culture and ultimately being advertised worldwide. Actors like Morgan Freeman and Drew Barrymore, both started with commercials for large companies, according to MSN.com. “$rough both digital projects and smaller development teams, it is much easier to get projects under your belt. However, this cheapens the overall mean quality of the projects, whereas 50-60 years ago there was no room for mediocre projects,” Haney said.Barrymore was only 4 years old when she acted in a McDonald’s commercial, and Freeman was cast as an electrician for a Polaroid commercial. In his early days of fame, “Friends” star Matt Leblanc appeared in a Heinz commercial in 1987, according to WatchMojo. A%er needing more than $11 in his bank account, he auditioned for the role of a typical New York-Italian roommate. Commercials used to be the foundation for celebrities, giving them a kickstart to their careers. $e “retro” version of scrolling through TikTok comments to \"nd celebrity news was magazines. $ey constantly updated fans on celebrity gossip, using sensational headlines to keep people buying and blogging, even if that meant lying.release any other hit single.Before the “In!uencer Era”, potential celebrities could get quite literally scouted anywhere. Charlize $eron was asked to audition for a movie a%er abruptly yelling at a bank teller for her paycheck, according to Buzzfeed. Many stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Natalie Portman started out with a career in modeling, before acting in Blockbuster movies. A%er dance class, Portman went into a pizza parlor and got scouted for modeling as she was eating, according to Glamour Magazine.“I feel like there are still tons of people making it in the business the ‘old way’. $ere are always new rising stars from all over, and it should stay that way,” Bronder said.Famous action-star Jason Statham was sought out for potential while selling counterfeit jewelry in London, according to Buzzfeed. Undoubtedly, the most memorable moment when a celebrity got scouted is “I remember buying magazines about teen celebrities when I was in fourth grade. It was way more exhilarating than scrolling through my feed on Google; they don’t make magazines the same anymore,” an Orange senior who wished to remain anonymous said.Very life-invading paparazzi would stop at nothing to catch a celebrity in the act. Celebrities’ relevance was solely based on what magazine they were going to appear in next, and late-night talk show hosts were people’s “Instagram Live’s”. In 2006, the “It” girls, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, were p h o t o g r a p h e d leaving a party, and the New York Post headlined it ‘3 Bimbos of the Apocalypse’, according to $eDailyBeast. Claiming they had “No clue, No cares and No Underwear”, these wildly inappropriate subheadlines kept people !ipping those pages. “$e exploitation of celebrities has worsened but for di#erent reasons. I feel like they advertise for brands they know nothing about, which could hurt their careers indirectly,” sophomore actress for Orangelight Production Sarah Benua said. $e most common way for the majority of young aspiring models or actors to get recognized in modern day is having a public Instagram account. Chris Pratt, most known for playing as Starlord in the Avengers, \"rst got scouted while being a waiter at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. a%er the customer asked if he’s ever acted before. “Yeah, I act. You should put me in a movie,” Pratt said sarcastically. He was on a plane to Hollywood only four days later, according to Medium.com. seems everyone can have their \"ve minutes of fame. So, while a celebrity’s publicist used to control a celebrity’s cache, these days it can happen to just about anyone with a viral video,” Ohio University Communication Professor Elizabeth Hendrickson said. With social media platforms changing every day, the idea of in!uencers and how they coexist with celebrities changes too. During 2020, in!uencers became much m o r e p o p u l a r, and it b e c a m e k n o w n that social media is an easier entry for ordinary people to go viral in seconds. In!uencers have taken the idea of fame and completely altered it, making the concept of celebrities today take on a new meaning. “ I think of influencers as microcelebrities, as they are only known by those who know them via tailored social feeds. Companies pour money into them if they hit the same demographic or market, which then feeds their need for fame, ad nauseam,” Hendrickson said. It has been a topic of debate, whether in!uencers show more of an authentic, relatable side compared to the traditional celebrity who has curated their image to perfection. Instead of playing a character or being controlled by a manager, many in!uencers run their own platforms and create organic everyday life content that more and more people have begun to trust over other sources. “In!uencers are more authentic than normal celebrities because they are showing their day-to-day activities and documenting People used to get famous anywhere at any time, meaning one’s time in the spotlight could shine unexpectedly.Influencer FameFame, once on red carpets, has begun to appear through TikTok or Instagram instead. Celebrities used to captivate audiences through television, music and hard-earned talent, and now social media has introduced the world to a new idea of fame: in!uencer fame. With the new age of technology, one doesn’t need to work through countless auditions for the next big-time movie or take hours of singing lessons to become famous. Instead, it just takes one press of a button to upload a video on social media and reach millions of people in seconds. “In this day of social micro-trends and algorithmic control of your social feeds, it covercover10 march march 11tween’s lifeSummerSplurge!60 Girl Talk A girl’s guide to shopping!8 Read His ThoughtsWhat does his text *really* mean?Should You Kiss Him? 2 1,192 guys reveal the new romance moveReinvent Yourself 35 easy beauty looks37
NEWFOUND FAMEthe changes of celebrity culturewriters lyla bice, audrey del vecchio & tori de pena | designer sakara rossThe concept of fame has always been an interesting idea, like how does one climb up to the height of fame. In the past, people would get famous through their talents and organic discovery. Now, there’s multiple tiers to fame. Celebrities could have famous parents and be born with a fan base or people could become an in!uencer who are now considered microcelebrities. Now, fame is found through a multitude of ways ranging from one’s talent to their social media following. How Fame Used to be EarnedTrying to make it in the 21st century without a \"lthy rich family or A-lister parents? Good luck. People used to get famous from a direct discovery; before the internet, talent scouts used to weave their way through malls and busy streets to \"nd silver screen starlets. Tabloids would risk everything to catch Hollywood’s newest celebrities out on the street to keep their loyal viewers reading. With lively commercials, several current celebrities had their breakthrough to get recognized for bigger projects. However, times have changed, and so has how people get famous.“I don’t see it (new ways of scouting) a#ecting the entertainment value, but the value of the art itself absolutely declines when we rely too heavily on legacy. New ideas are always needed,” President of Orangelight Productions senior Preston Bronder said.Notorious celebrities like Wendy Williams and Ryan Seacrest all started from working at their local radio stations before growing into hosts of very well-known shows. “Onehit wonders” was notoriously created during ‘WorldWideWeb’ days when viral videos or forwarded links in the media made someone an instant celebrity. $en, only a few weeks later, the said internet celeb goes fully incognito. For example, artist Ylvis, composer behind the song “$e Fox (What Does $e Fox Say?)”, had people singing non-stop, only to not Pamela Anderson, who got her \"rst modeling job by attending a football game and being televised on the Jumbotron. $e trick seems to just simply be in the right place at the right time. “I do think it is easier to \"nd recognition in the entertainment industry in the modern day. If you looked at the industry 50-60 years ago, your only option in the mainstream was Hollywood,” junior actor for Orangelight Productions Catch Haney said.In the good ol’ days, when there were no such thing as “personalized algorithms”, many now-famous celebrities appeared in commercials, print ads or posters early in their career, prior to having fan-edits made of them; these celebrities were all over our screens, television screens that is, causing a rip in pop culture and ultimately being advertised worldwide. Actors like Morgan Freeman and Drew Barrymore, both started with commercials for large companies, according to MSN.com. “$rough both digital projects and smaller development teams, it is much easier to get projects under your belt. However, this cheapens the overall mean quality of the projects, whereas 50-60 years ago there was no room for mediocre projects,” Haney said.Barrymore was only 4 years old when she acted in a McDonald’s commercial, and Freeman was cast as an electrician for a Polaroid commercial. In his early days of fame, “Friends” star Matt Leblanc appeared in a Heinz commercial in 1987, according to WatchMojo. A%er needing more than $11 in his bank account, he auditioned for the role of a typical New York-Italian roommate. Commercials used to be the foundation for celebrities, giving them a kickstart to their careers. $e “retro” version of scrolling through TikTok comments to \"nd celebrity news was magazines. $ey constantly updated fans on celebrity gossip, using sensational headlines to keep people buying and blogging, even if that meant lying.release any other hit single.Before the “In!uencer Era”, potential celebrities could get quite literally scouted anywhere. Charlize $eron was asked to audition for a movie a%er abruptly yelling at a bank teller for her paycheck, according to Buzzfeed. Many stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Natalie Portman started out with a career in modeling, before acting in Blockbuster movies. A%er dance class, Portman went into a pizza parlor and got scouted for modeling as she was eating, according to Glamour Magazine.“I feel like there are still tons of people making it in the business the ‘old way’. $ere are always new rising stars from all over, and it should stay that way,” Bronder said.Famous action-star Jason Statham was sought out for potential while selling counterfeit jewelry in London, according to Buzzfeed. Undoubtedly, the most memorable moment when a celebrity got scouted is “I remember buying magazines about teen celebrities when I was in fourth grade. It was way more exhilarating than scrolling through my feed on Google; they don’t make magazines the same anymore,” an Orange senior who wished to remain anonymous said.Very life-invading paparazzi would stop at nothing to catch a celebrity in the act. Celebrities’ relevance was solely based on what magazine they were going to appear in next, and late-night talk show hosts were people’s “Instagram Live’s”. In 2006, the “It” girls, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, were p h o t o g r a p h e d leaving a party, and the New York Post headlined it ‘3 Bimbos of the Apocalypse’, according to $eDailyBeast. Claiming they had “No clue, No cares and No Underwear”, these wildly inappropriate subheadlines kept people !ipping those pages. “$e exploitation of celebrities has worsened but for di#erent reasons. I feel like they advertise for brands they know nothing about, which could hurt their careers indirectly,” sophomore actress for Orangelight Production Sarah Benua said. $e most common way for the majority of young aspiring models or actors to get recognized in modern day is having a public Instagram account. Chris Pratt, most known for playing as Starlord in the Avengers, \"rst got scouted while being a waiter at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. a%er the customer asked if he’s ever acted before. “Yeah, I act. You should put me in a movie,” Pratt said sarcastically. He was on a plane to Hollywood only four days later, according to Medium.com. seems everyone can have their \"ve minutes of fame. So, while a celebrity’s publicist used to control a celebrity’s cache, these days it can happen to just about anyone with a viral video,” Ohio University Communication Professor Elizabeth Hendrickson said. With social media platforms changing every day, the idea of in!uencers and how they coexist with celebrities changes too. During 2020, in!uencers became much m o r e p o p u l a r, and it b e c a m e k n o w n that social media is an easier entry for ordinary people to go viral in seconds. In!uencers have taken the idea of fame and completely altered it, making the concept of celebrities today take on a new meaning. “ I think of influencers as microcelebrities, as they are only known by those who know them via tailored social feeds. Companies pour money into them if they hit the same demographic or market, which then feeds their need for fame, ad nauseam,” Hendrickson said. It has been a topic of debate, whether in!uencers show more of an authentic, relatable side compared to the traditional celebrity who has curated their image to perfection. Instead of playing a character or being controlled by a manager, many in!uencers run their own platforms and create organic everyday life content that more and more people have begun to trust over other sources. “In!uencers are more authentic than normal celebrities because they are showing their day-to-day activities and documenting People used to get famous anywhere at any time, meaning one’s time in the spotlight could shine unexpectedly.Influencer FameFame, once on red carpets, has begun to appear through TikTok or Instagram instead. Celebrities used to captivate audiences through television, music and hard-earned talent, and now social media has introduced the world to a new idea of fame: in!uencer fame. With the new age of technology, one doesn’t need to work through countless auditions for the next big-time movie or take hours of singing lessons to become famous. Instead, it just takes one press of a button to upload a video on social media and reach millions of people in seconds. “In this day of social micro-trends and algorithmic control of your social feeds, it covercover10 march march 11tween’s lifeSummerSplurge!60 Girl Talk A girl’s guide to shopping!8 Read His ThoughtsWhat does his text *really* mean?Should You Kiss Him? 2 1,192 guys reveal the new romance moveReinvent Yourself 35 easy beauty looks37
their lifestyle consistently,” junior Jenna Frase said. Traditional fame was awarded by record labels or T.V. networks for what they deemed worthy of attention. Today, in!uencer fame is given through algorithms and engagement metrics making it the audience’s behavior the deciding factor of who and what becomes popular. “I want to go viral on social media because it is fun to create content, and it can also be a side hustle to generate money through brand deals. I would love to grow my TikTok account, jenna.k259, enough to work with di\"erent brands like many in!uencers do,” Frase said. A problem that has arisen from the new impact of in!uencer fame is how long someone will stay relevant until a new creator or trend comes in. Traditional fame has been seen to last generations and leave a lasting legacy, while in!uencer fame can come overnight and vanish just as fast. “Every time a social feed is refreshed it’s another chance for the audience to look elsewhere. Traditional celebrity fame is more culturally saturating and has a much longer shelf life,” He n d r i c k s o n said. Celebrities who have a c q u i r e d traditional fame over the years have worked hard to master their cra#and have m a n y t i m e s e a r n e d the chance to step into the limelight, while many times in!uencers become famous by accident with no true talent other than personability. Society has changed a lot over the years with what it accepts as talent and how it re-works the construct of fame and its identity. “In!uencers have risen to fame because of their relatable lifestyle that they publicize. $ey have shown a friendlier side to fame over Hollywood celebrities because in!uencers are more relatable to their audience,” Frase said. Public %gures and in!uencers seem person based o\" of them having a family member in the same industry. According to People, the term “nepo baby” has grown in popularity since the 2010s, and it is applied to those who have bene%tted from nepotism. $e phrase is usually used for %gures such as celebrities, musicians or the ultra wealthy, but it can also apply to a regular workplace or social setting in which there are perceived favorites due to relation.“Simply put, nepotism means that some people get advantages that are not available to other people. It also functions to maintain inequality because it allows those who have more resources to pass them onto their children, and it means that there are fewer resources and opportunities available to other people,” Michelle Maroto, Ph.D. said. Maroto is a Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta in Canada.Although some nepo babies might grow more fame than their parents or family members, having a strong start early in their careers is an advantage. Having family with connections helps to navigate easier through an industry and can open doors that can bene%t their careers. “Parents can also provide social capital, which refers to access to social networks and social ties that create additional opportunities. In the case of nepo babies in the entertainment industry, this is o#en in the form of creating social connections and providing opportunities to join in!uential social circles. If you have a celebrity parent, it’s going to be much easier to meet other celebrities and people in the entertainment industry,” Maroto said.In the %lm industry, many nepo baby actors begin their careers by making appearances in %lms their parents star in. For example, Sunny Sandler, the 17-year-old daughter of actor Adam Sandler, has appeared in over 15 %lms with her father, according to Time.“Events like the Golden Globes have historically given the famous persons’ children a chance to get their foot in the door and hobnob with industry insiders. However, a#er that, it’s up to the kid. Charlie Sheen, for instance, is a famous child of Martin Sheen, but he struggled with drugs and alcoholism for decades. Meanwhile, Martin to want endless visibility while traditional celebrities retreat from recognition into privacy. $is cultural shi# leaves audiences unsure of how fame will evolve and what it will represent in the future. “Honestly, I can’t even imagine (what fame will look like). We already have politicians who care more about how they look on TV than how t h e y represent their constituents, which is a new (and horrifying) dimension to fame that borders on demigod. $en, you have movie stars who honestly don’t want to be recognized in public. It seems everything is currently upside down,” Hendrickson said. Nepo BabiesImagine being born into a life where one’s last name de%nes many of their future decisions and image, where people are resented for a fate they couldn’t control. $is is the plight that plagues children of the elite, royalty and celebrities. Nepotism is de%ned as the hiring of a Sheen’s other son (brother to Charlie), Emilio Estevez, found more success and ful%llment working behind the screen,” Ellen Gorsevski, Ph.D. said. Gorsevski is an Associate Professor at the Bowling Green State University School of Media and Communication.Many people see nepotism as harmful, as it can give fewer opportunities for underprivileged people or people in minority groups. “It’s not only nepotism that’s problematic in many industries like entertainment, but also the systemic ways that talented individuals, whether women or historically marginalized individuals or groups or communities, get short shri#ed and blocked from meaningful participation and/or career advancement,” Gorsevski said. Nepotism can impact the image of the person bene%ting from it as well. According to Forbes, perceived nepotism can cause resentment to build and trust to fade. Even if a person is highly quali%ed, people’s perceived nepotism might disregard that person’s negative connotations,” Gorsevski said. Comparison culture is extremely detrimental to any person experiencing it. Although nepo babies might have a systematic advantage in their careers, the scrutiny of the media and the pressure of fame can be immensely damaging to a person’s mental health and self identity. So, the next time a media outlet or a fan online jumps to conclusions of prejudice and privilege, consider that they didn’t choose to be born with that last name and to be forced into the media spotlight from an early age.“It’s not always ‘easy,’ and may even be harder in some ways to live with always being compared to your rich, famous parents, their beauty, their success, etc,” Gorsevski said.capabilities and write them o\" as privileged or less deserving than others. Crediting someone as a nepo baby can imply that they are not as capable as others and rather gained success through the work and connections of others.“It can be damaging when the person is not talented, or does not put in the work. Children of the famous who grow up in the spotlight, like Kendall Jenner, have described how much of an emotional toll the trolls in social media and elsewhere took out on her until she achieved fame by proving herself to be a true pro at her modeling career, by showing up and doing the work consistently and well for over a decade. So, by proving the naysayers wrong, many children of the famous can indeed surmount much of the covercover12 march march 13!\"##\"$%&'\"#()** +,\"\"#%&-,)$*.\" +)#(*\"$%&+/##0“Traditional celebrity fame is more culturally saturating and has a much longer shelf life,” Ohio University Communication Professor Elizabeth Henrickson said. “It’s not always ‘easy’ and may even be harder in some ways to live with always being compared to your rich, famous parents, their beauty, their success, etc,” Associate Professor at the Bowling Green State University School of Media and Communication Ellen Gorsevski said.
their lifestyle consistently,” junior Jenna Frase said. Traditional fame was awarded by record labels or T.V. networks for what they deemed worthy of attention. Today, in!uencer fame is given through algorithms and engagement metrics making it the audience’s behavior the deciding factor of who and what becomes popular. “I want to go viral on social media because it is fun to create content, and it can also be a side hustle to generate money through brand deals. I would love to grow my TikTok account, jenna.k259, enough to work with di\"erent brands like many in!uencers do,” Frase said. A problem that has arisen from the new impact of in!uencer fame is how long someone will stay relevant until a new creator or trend comes in. Traditional fame has been seen to last generations and leave a lasting legacy, while in!uencer fame can come overnight and vanish just as fast. “Every time a social feed is refreshed it’s another chance for the audience to look elsewhere. Traditional celebrity fame is more culturally saturating and has a much longer shelf life,” He n d r i c k s o n said. Celebrities who have a c q u i r e d traditional fame over the years have worked hard to master their cra#and have m a n y t i m e s e a r n e d the chance to step into the limelight, while many times in!uencers become famous by accident with no true talent other than personability. Society has changed a lot over the years with what it accepts as talent and how it re-works the construct of fame and its identity. “In!uencers have risen to fame because of their relatable lifestyle that they publicize. $ey have shown a friendlier side to fame over Hollywood celebrities because in!uencers are more relatable to their audience,” Frase said. Public %gures and in!uencers seem person based o\" of them having a family member in the same industry. According to People, the term “nepo baby” has grown in popularity since the 2010s, and it is applied to those who have bene%tted from nepotism. $e phrase is usually used for %gures such as celebrities, musicians or the ultra wealthy, but it can also apply to a regular workplace or social setting in which there are perceived favorites due to relation.“Simply put, nepotism means that some people get advantages that are not available to other people. It also functions to maintain inequality because it allows those who have more resources to pass them onto their children, and it means that there are fewer resources and opportunities available to other people,” Michelle Maroto, Ph.D. said. Maroto is a Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta in Canada.Although some nepo babies might grow more fame than their parents or family members, having a strong start early in their careers is an advantage. Having family with connections helps to navigate easier through an industry and can open doors that can bene%t their careers. “Parents can also provide social capital, which refers to access to social networks and social ties that create additional opportunities. In the case of nepo babies in the entertainment industry, this is o#en in the form of creating social connections and providing opportunities to join in!uential social circles. If you have a celebrity parent, it’s going to be much easier to meet other celebrities and people in the entertainment industry,” Maroto said.In the %lm industry, many nepo baby actors begin their careers by making appearances in %lms their parents star in. For example, Sunny Sandler, the 17-year-old daughter of actor Adam Sandler, has appeared in over 15 %lms with her father, according to Time.“Events like the Golden Globes have historically given the famous persons’ children a chance to get their foot in the door and hobnob with industry insiders. However, a#er that, it’s up to the kid. Charlie Sheen, for instance, is a famous child of Martin Sheen, but he struggled with drugs and alcoholism for decades. Meanwhile, Martin to want endless visibility while traditional celebrities retreat from recognition into privacy. $is cultural shi# leaves audiences unsure of how fame will evolve and what it will represent in the future. “Honestly, I can’t even imagine (what fame will look like). We already have politicians who care more about how they look on TV than how t h e y represent their constituents, which is a new (and horrifying) dimension to fame that borders on demigod. $en, you have movie stars who honestly don’t want to be recognized in public. It seems everything is currently upside down,” Hendrickson said. Nepo BabiesImagine being born into a life where one’s last name de%nes many of their future decisions and image, where people are resented for a fate they couldn’t control. $is is the plight that plagues children of the elite, royalty and celebrities. Nepotism is de%ned as the hiring of a Sheen’s other son (brother to Charlie), Emilio Estevez, found more success and ful%llment working behind the screen,” Ellen Gorsevski, Ph.D. said. Gorsevski is an Associate Professor at the Bowling Green State University School of Media and Communication.Many people see nepotism as harmful, as it can give fewer opportunities for underprivileged people or people in minority groups. “It’s not only nepotism that’s problematic in many industries like entertainment, but also the systemic ways that talented individuals, whether women or historically marginalized individuals or groups or communities, get short shri#ed and blocked from meaningful participation and/or career advancement,” Gorsevski said. Nepotism can impact the image of the person bene%ting from it as well. According to Forbes, perceived nepotism can cause resentment to build and trust to fade. Even if a person is highly quali%ed, people’s perceived nepotism might disregard that person’s negative connotations,” Gorsevski said. Comparison culture is extremely detrimental to any person experiencing it. Although nepo babies might have a systematic advantage in their careers, the scrutiny of the media and the pressure of fame can be immensely damaging to a person’s mental health and self identity. So, the next time a media outlet or a fan online jumps to conclusions of prejudice and privilege, consider that they didn’t choose to be born with that last name and to be forced into the media spotlight from an early age.“It’s not always ‘easy,’ and may even be harder in some ways to live with always being compared to your rich, famous parents, their beauty, their success, etc,” Gorsevski said.capabilities and write them o\" as privileged or less deserving than others. Crediting someone as a nepo baby can imply that they are not as capable as others and rather gained success through the work and connections of others.“It can be damaging when the person is not talented, or does not put in the work. Children of the famous who grow up in the spotlight, like Kendall Jenner, have described how much of an emotional toll the trolls in social media and elsewhere took out on her until she achieved fame by proving herself to be a true pro at her modeling career, by showing up and doing the work consistently and well for over a decade. So, by proving the naysayers wrong, many children of the famous can indeed surmount much of the covercover12 march march 13!\"##\"$%&'\"#()** +,\"\"#%&-,)$*.\" +)#(*\"$%&+/##0“Traditional celebrity fame is more culturally saturating and has a much longer shelf life,” Ohio University Communication Professor Elizabeth Henrickson said. “It’s not always ‘easy’ and may even be harder in some ways to live with always being compared to your rich, famous parents, their beauty, their success, etc,” Associate Professor at the Bowling Green State University School of Media and Communication Ellen Gorsevski said.
THE SCENEthe scene | model united nationsdesigner rylee bokesch | writer rylee bokesch | permission to print abby kuilan14 | march model united nations | the scenemarch | 15Senior Samira Kandhari speaks at the Model United Nations Summit which was Feb. 19-21st at the Ohio Convention Center as the General Assembly President. “The Summit is a huge undertaking as it is almost entirely organized by students, managing over 600 delegates is no easy task. I am proud of our team and officers for making the event a success,” Kandhari said.
THE SCENEthe scene | model united nationsdesigner rylee bokesch | writer rylee bokesch | permission to print abby kuilan14 | march model united nations | the scenemarch | 15Senior Samira Kandhari speaks at the Model United Nations Summit which was Feb. 19-21st at the Ohio Convention Center as the General Assembly President. “The Summit is a huge undertaking as it is almost entirely organized by students, managing over 600 delegates is no easy task. I am proud of our team and officers for making the event a success,” Kandhari said.
Similarly, a negative mindset can cause one to become ‘unlucky’. If one views everything in their life with a negative outlook rather than a positive one, they’ll manage to convince themselves that they’re unlucky. “Also, people see themselves as unlucky because of experiences they have had that reinforce that thought. So, if you never win the lottery, you could see that as unlucky and consider yourself as such. At the same time, if you never take the chance, you won’t have an opportunity to win,” Archibald said.Speaking from her own experiences, Lee also said that mindset a!ects performance. \"e way someone sets themself up a!ects the outcome. “I believe your mindset in#uences how you perform so if you have a positive mindset of yourself, you’ll perform better. With a negative mindset, you’re setting yourself up for failure because you’re already thinking you failed before even performing the action,” Lee said.Psychologist Richard Wiseman from the Forbes magazine also accounts for one’s opportunities as a reason behind this supposed level of luckiness. He believes that ‘unlucky’ people o$en miss opportunities because they’re more focused on the past or negative possibilities.“People who are able to notice opportunities and then take certain risks have a higher chance of experiencing luck due to those opportunities they take advantage of. I think that would take some preparation and then follow through,” Archibald said.So, while luck may seem like it’s predestined, that might not always be the case. Having a positive outlook despite negative experiences could help twist one’s luck. Luck itself seems to be rare, but the way people approach experiences and opportunities can impact their level of luck. For those who feel unlucky, try to keep a positive outlook and see if your luck changes. TRICKS & TRAPScatching leprechaunswriter lyla bice | designer sophia robinson | permission to print lyla biceDuring the month of March, when one thinks about luck, it’s usually associated with St. Patrick’s Day or leprechauns. But beyond the holiday, the mischievous little St. Patrick’s Day leprechauns and four leaf clovers, there is more behind ‘luck’ than people see. Popular belief is that luck is predestined, that a person is born either lucky or unlucky. However, this common belief might not be true. School Psychologist Jill Archibald said luck itself is very rare.“I think ‘actual luck’ is pretty rare! It happens of course, but sometimes people are lucky because of certain chances they take or opportunities they have,” Archibald said.\"is can be seen in senior Cindy Lee. Lee tends to keep a very positive mindset despite the challenges she faces in her high school life. Lee is committed to the University of Chicago for the coming fall semester, a school known for its rigor and its selectivity. “I consider myself somewhat lucky. I feel like there have been moments in my life where I feel like luck de%nitely played a part whereas I feel like I worked hard for this good thing to happen,” Lee said. Some people also tend to feel luckier due to their outlook and what they have experienced. Interpretation also changes the level of luck people tend to feel. For example, if one interprets everything in a positive way, they’ll see themselves as luckier. “\"is all depends on their life experiences and how that can impact their outlook on life. People have impressions of themselves that can in#uence how they see themselves in the world. For example, if you have a more optimistic outlook or are a person who has ‘rose colored glasses’ you may interpret more things as lucky compared to others who tend to see things through a negative lense,” Archibald said.Junior Lyla Bice in 2019 next to St. Patrick’s day gi$s.culture16 march
SERVING SMILESa spotlight on john charleywriter abigail wykoff | designer sophia robinson | permission to print john charleyWhen thinking of a high school, a few main career roles come to mind: teachers, a principal, maybe counselors or administrators. What doesn’t always come to mind are the vital employees that make up the cafeteria sta!. One of these employees is beloved by the school’s students; his name is Food Service Worker John Charley. “I am a part-time employee, so I arrive at 9:30 a.m. Since the \"rst lunch begins at 9:50 a.m., my day begins with me logging into the register and getting the station ready for the day,” Charley said.Despite his day starting a little later than the rest of the students, he still makes a big impact on each student’s day. “I decided to work for the school system a#er I retired, because my wife is a teacher in the district, and I wanted a part-time job that would give me the same breaks and days o!. $is is my semiretirement gig,” Charley said.Prior to his job in the school, he worked in the federal government a#er graduating from Ohio University with degrees in Business Management and Finance.“I like interacting with him because he always has me leaving his cashier station with a smile on my face. Whether I was having a good or bad day before lunch, I know that any interaction with him li#s my spirits,” senior Tosin Otarus said. While only being a part of the school’s sta! since Feb 2022, he has become an indispensable member of the school’s community, especially to the students.“I always enjoy talking to him, and I purposefully try to go to his lunch line when I can,” senior Sam Vermeer said.Interacting with the s c h o o l ’ s students is a major part of what Charley enjoys about doing his job each day.“$e thing that I like about my job is getting to talk with the students every day. I enjoy hearing about their days and the events going on in their lives,” Charley said. John Charley smiles for the picture.His e!ort to make connections with these s t u d e n t s pays o!; Otarus even remembers \"rst meeting him three years ago. “I would d e s c r i b e him as an attentive and considerate person. I r e m e m b e r my \"rst interaction with him during my f r e s h m a n year and how he would ask me about my day and how I was doing,” Otarus said.His role and e!orts show how much of an impact that seemingly small interactions can have. “I look forward to talking to him, and I enjoy telling him about my day because he seems genuinely interested in my life and what I’m talking about,” Vermeer said.$ese actions by school sta! working to connect with students are a very important part of what makes the school community. “It’s important for school sta! to have a good attitude because having a cheerful and welcoming mood promotes happiness. $is can transfer through the students and pass on to one another, ultimately resulting in better moods and attitudes throughout the school,” Otarus said.$is community is one that fosters not only good connections between students and sta! but also within the sta! themselves. “I also enjoy my coworkers and feel that we have the best sta!in the district. Everyone works together doing all that we can to make sure the lunch experience for all of the students is enjoyable,” Charley said.And then his day ends, leaving the building with a few more smiles than how it started. “A#er the \"nal lunch period, I close out my register, and we clean the kitchen so that we are ready for the next day. My workday ends at 1:30 p.m.,” Charley said.John Charley ringing up student.profilemarch 17
FEELING LUCKYbeing lucky is more than a natural traitwriter reema mohamed rafiq | designer malak chahboubDuring the month of March, when one thinks about luck, it’s usually associated with St. Patrick’s Day or leprechauns. But beyond the holiday, the mischievous little St. Patrick’s Day leprechauns and four leaf clovers, there is more behind ‘luck’ than people see. Popular belief is that luck is predestined, that a person is born either lucky or unlucky. However, this common belief might not be true. School Psychologist Jill Archibald said luck itself is very rare.“I think ‘actual luck’ is pretty rare! It happens of course, but sometimes people are lucky because of certain chances they take or opportunities they have,” Archibald said.!is can be seen in senior Cindy Lee. Lee tends to keep a very positive mindset despite the challenges she faces in her high school life. Lee is committed to the University of Chicago for the coming fall semester, a school known for its rigor and its selectivity. “I consider myself somewhat lucky. I feel like there have been moments in my life where I feel like luck de\"nitely played a part whereas I feel like I worked hard for this good thing to happen,” Lee said. Some people also tend to feel luckier due to their outlook and what they have experienced. Interpretation also changes the level of luck people feel. For example, if one interprets everything in a positive way, they’ll see themselves as luckier. “!is all depends on their life experiences and how that can impact their outlook on life. People have impressions of themselves that can in#uence how they see themselves in the world. For example, if you have a more optimistic outlook or are a person who has ‘rose colored glasses’ you may interpret more things as lucky compared to others who tend to see things through a negative lense,” Archibald said.Similarly, a negative mindset can cause one to feel ‘unlucky’. If one views everything in their life with a negative outlook rather than a positive one, they’ll manage to convince themselves that they’re unlucky. “Also, people see themselves as unlucky because of experiences they have had that feature18 marchreinforce that thought. So, if you never win the lottery, you could see that as unlucky and consider yourself as such. At the same time, if you never take the chance, you won’t have an opportunity to win,” Archibald said.Speaking from her own experiences, Lee also said that mindset a$ects performance. !e way someone sets themself up a$ects the outcome. “I believe your mindset in#uences how you perform so if you have a positive mindset of yourself, you’ll perform better. With a negative mindset, you’re setting yourself up for failure because you’re already thinking you failed before even performing the action,” Lee said.Psychologist Richard Wiseman from the Forbes magazine also accounts for one’s opportunities as a reason behind this supposed level of luckiness. He believes that ‘unlucky’ people o%en miss opportunities because they’re more focused on the past or negative possibilities.“People who are able to notice opportunities and then take certain risks have a higher chance of experiencing luck due to those opportunities they take advantage of. I think that would take some preparation and then follow through,” Archibald said.So, while luck may seem like it’s predestined, that might not always be the case. Having a positive outlook despite negative experiences could help twist one’s luck. Luck itself seems to be rare, but the way people approach experiences and opportunities can impact their level of luck. For those who feel unlucky, try to keep a positive outlook and see if luck changes.
LANGUAGE LYRICISTbad bunny’s influential careerwriter vittoria de pena | designer malak chahboubBenito Antonio MartÍnez Ocasio, more popularly known as Bad Bunny, is a very successful Puerto Rican singer and rapper. Bad Bunny has hit an all-time high with his newest album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”, which translates to “I should’ve taken more photos”. His album highlights the importance of spending quality time with family and loved ones. Bad Bunny recently performed some of the songs from that album at the 2026 SuperBowl Hal!ime Performance.People seem to think that just because his songs are in a di\"erent language, the message of the songs aren’t universal, but this couldn’t be more inaccurate. My personal favorite track of the album is called “Nuevayol”. He represents New York and the many immigrants who helped build community in a city that promotes diversity. #is track shines light on the never-ending summer nights of New York and embraces all cultures like Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and every other place a certain type of people seem to be afraid of. He shares the Puerto Rican slang adaptation of New York (Nuevayol), to include the vocal in$ections that can be heard in a Spanish-speaking conversation and also makes references to Frida Kahlo and Big Pun as a tribute to the very important people in Hispanic culture. #e lyrics referenced translate to “selling CD’s like Frida Kahlo paintings” and “A heavy $ow, Big Pun”. A!er this album’s release in 2025, his music video for “Nuevayol” caused heavy criticism because it shared his opinion as an American citizen to speak about the recent immigration enforcement. More recently released songs, like this music video, address the harsh words that the current president said about immigrant families. #e constant attacks on families who are just trying to get by and have a good time with others shouldn’t be looked at as aggressive individuals. Just like what was broadcasted at Bad Bunny’s Hal!ime performance, “THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE”. opinionmarch 19Many of his tracks are love songs; they can make listeners cry and want to dance at the same time.#e third track on his album is called “Baile Inolvidable”, which translates to “Unforgettable Dance”, remembering the good times with a special someone, and their unforgettable dances together. #e devotion and passion of the beat of the song falls within the salsa romántica dance style. In many Hispanic cultures, dancing is like a love language; it’s very passionate and intimate. It holds a type of soul listeners feel only through the loud music. He resides in the memories of them together, and how he thought they’d grow old with one another. It’s one of those Spanish songs that is a sad story but listeners can’t help but dance to irresistible instrumentals. #is could relate to anyone, yes, even a non-spanish speaking person, it’s up to the person to dance or sit in the words that resonate.On the topic of resonating, Bad Bunny’s most beloved song on this album, as well as an impactful song, is “DtMF” which stands for the title of the album,”Debí Tirar Más Fotos”. It wasn’t until he performed that track at the Superbowl Hal!ime that I got very emotional. My father is proudly from the Dominican Republic and moved to New York, where I was then born. My Dominican culture became so important to me: the food, the music, the people, the dialect and the ability to love someone like you’ve known them for your entire life. You will never understand the importance of community until you’ve been a part of another’s, and it feels like family. Before his Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny was only seen by some as a “Spanish-only-Non-American Artist”, or when I publicly heard a grown man say he (Bad Bunny) was “trying to make America start speaking Spanish”. American citizens should know that Puerto Rico is part of America, American citizens should know that America has no o%cial language and American citizens should know what the Statue of Liberty stands for. It also seems that many American citizens need to re-learn the Pledge of Allegiance. If someone out there forgets the true meaning of America, recite the words “for Liberty and Justice for all”. #at “for all” tends to be forgotten quite o!en. To be American, means to embody the meaning of unity and opportunity. His performance was to unite every single person, whether that’s for the love of music, the love of community, the love of dancing or just love in general. People would have to go out of their way to have a miserable time while watching an upbeat performance.If they only care about the fact that it’s in Spanish and they can’t understand, they should do what they’ve done with everything else they’re unfamiliar with and look it up. #e internet came out years ago, use it. One doesn’t have to care about the lyrics either, just dance to the beat. It’s all just meant to be fun. Have fun, be with the people you love, eat good $avoured food and in the wise words of Bad Bunny, “tomar más fotos.”
THE DIAMOND DUObest bridgerton couplewriters cate woolard and keira dickson | designer grant ruofIn a show !lled with longing glances, orchestral pop covers and scandalous secrets, no love story stands out more than Kate and Anthony. From the moment they lock eyes in “Bridgerton”, it’s clear their romance will not be so\". It will be a battle of pride and will for love. And that’s exactly why they are the best couple in the Bridgerton universe.Unlike the fairytale sweetness of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset and the friends to lovers trope of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, Kate and Anthony’s love story thrives on tension. Anthony Bridgerton, the duty-bound Viscount, enters the season determined to marry without love. Kate Sharma, who is !ercely protective of her sister and deeply skeptical of Anthony’s intentions, refuses to let him treat marriage as a mere transaction. #eir !rst encounters are sharp and competitive, causing them to have more chemistry.What sets them apart is that their love does not grow from societal pressure, but from understanding. Both are eldest siblings carrying the crushing weight of responsibility. Anthony is haunted by his father’s death, while Kate is driven by sacri!ce for her family. #ey recognize in each other a shared loneliness, a shared stubbornness and a shared fear of vulnerability. #eir love is not easy, but that’s what makes them more vulnerable to each other.#e infamous slow-burn of their romance is another reason they are the supreme couple. Every heated argument and breathless pause carries more intensity than entire declarations of love from other couples. #e wedding scene alone is a masterclass in chemistry. It’s !lled with pining and longing stares that say just as much, maybe even more, than words can. By the time they !nally admit their feelings, the emotional build up feels earned and much more satisfying.Most importantly, Kate and Anthony meet as equals. Kate challenges Anthony in ways no one else dares to. She refuses to $atter his title or indulge in his arrogance. And Anthony, in turn, learns to respect her strength and independence.In a world obsessed with appearances and social standing, Kate and Anthony’s love is raw, passionate and imperfect. It’s messy. It’s stubborn. It’s real. And that authenticity, wrapped in longing stares and smoldering tension. #is is exactly why they are, without question, the best couple “Bridgerton” has ever given us.“Bridgerton” has many amazing couples: Kate and Anthony, Simon and Daphne, Benedict and Sophie, but one simply stands out from the rest: Colin and Penelope are the best couple in Bridgerton.One thing that makes Colin and Penelope, or Polin, so special is the fact that they were friends !rst. One of the most important parts of a relationship is being best friends, and Colin and Penelope really are.Colin truly cared about Penelope and wanted to help her !nd a husband, even if he was in love with her. He wants her to be happy and will do anything to make her happy. Also, Colin hates to see Penelope upset, and when he found out that she overheard what he said about her at the ball at the end of season two, he hated that he made her upset and found her at her house just to apologize and tell her how much he cares about her.Some people say that he didn’t really love her, but this is de!nitely not true. Even if he didn’t realize it as early as Peneolpe did, he has loved her for so long. #ere’s so many times throughout the !rst through season where they make eye contact from across the ballroom and Colin is always !nding a way to talk to Penelope, or as Colin calls her, Pen.And I will admit, I didn’t really love how Colin reacted when he found out that Penelope was Lady Whistledown, but to be fair I would also be pretty shocked if someone I was dating turned out to be the anonymous writer who wrote bad things about my family. #e most important thing is that Colin apologized and admitted that he was just threatened by how talented and powerful she was.Colin also said that if his only goal in life was to love a woman like Penelope, he would be perfectly happy with his life. In the end, he ended up showing his love and support for her, and these qualities are both so important in a healthy relationship.#roughout the show, Colin has shown nothing but love and support for Penelope, and the same can be said the other way around. Penelope even risked the reputation of her own family to protect Colin from getting into a marriage with Marina. I don’t like how Penelope treated Marina in that part, but it shows how much she cares about him.opinion20 marchColin and PenelopeAnthonyKateColin and PenelopeAnthonyKateKeira - “Kate and Anthony” Cate - “Colin and Penelope”
KICKING CAFFEINEenergy drinks gone too farwriter abbey simmons | designer grant ruof | source mayo clinic, national institute of health, harvard healthThink of all the trends that have been dangerous throughout the years: the one chip challenge and the Tide pod challenge. However, they mostly end fast. But one trend that has stayed consistent is energy drinks. By just walking in the hallways at school, anyone can see dozens and dozens of students drinking energy drinks every single day.!is fad can have detrimental e\"ects to those consuming energy drinks consistently. For example, according to Mayo Clinic, around 400 milligrams of ca\"eine per day seems safe for adults. !e energy drink Alani, which is a popular drink for teenagers, contains 200 milligrams of ca\"eine in each drink. !ese cans are mainly 12 ounces of actual liquid. !at’s less than what is typically in a water bottle. According to the National Institute of Health, the rise of the energy drink market has caused a 70 percent increase of ca\"eine consumption in children from 1977 to 2009. !is is a huge change to society and has raised concerns for teenagers.Like I stated before, 400 mg of ca\"eine a day is the limit for adults. For teenagers, this limit reduces to 100 mg a day. !at’s less ca\"eine than most energy drinks have. !is fact is already alarming, considering that drinks like Red Bull and Monster have 160 mg of ca\"eine, meaning drinking one can of these as a teenager means consuming over the recommended limit.According to Harvard Health, emergency room visits that were related to ca\"eine overdoses or e\"ects more than doubled for children in middle school from 2017 to 2023. !ese facts alone should be alarming to anyone, especially those who value their health. !ese drinks simply harm people and also make them reliant on ca\"eine. According to the National Institute of Health, ca\"eine is the most commonly used drug in the world. !ey also say that although low to moderate consumption of ca\"eine is probably safe, more studies are showing that some people consuming ca\"eine become dependent on this drug and are unable to stop even though they are aware of the health problems it causes.!is sounds like something society is very familiar with: addiction. !is is very concerning. Teenagers becoming addicted to drugs that they know harm them will only take them down a bad path.In my opinion, we need to stop those under 21 from being able to have energy drinks. Ca\"eine is by de#nition, a drug. Including all the chemicals in energy drinks, I really see minimal bene#ts to consuming these drinks. !e only real bene#ts are maybe feeling a slight buzz and the taste. !ere are so many downsides it’s simply not worth it at all. !e e\"ects of ca\"eine are the same as any other drug, like alcohol.I do believe that drinks like co\"ee are okay, considering they have much lower amounts of ca\"eine than energy drinks, and the ca\"eine in co\"ee is found naturally in the plant.If people in the United States can’t have things like marijuana or alcohol before the age of 21, why can’t this rule apply to highly ca\"einated energy drinks? High amounts of ca\"eine have essentially the same e\"ects, and getting addicted to ca\"eine is just as easy as getting addicted to any other drug. Clearly, energy drinks have minimal bene#ts compared to the mass amount of negatives it has. High amounts of ca\"eine can be detrimental and deadly and simply shouldn’t be allowed to those under 21. !ere are so many things that are easy to do that can help stop relying on ca\"eine. Getting enough sleep, eating healthy and overall taking care of one’s health can help lower or completely stop the need for ca\"eine use. Making the e\"ort to stop high ca\"eine consumption could save lives.opinionmarch 21From 2017 to 2023, emergency room visits related to caffeine in middle school students have doubled.Caffeine comsumption has risen 70 percent in children from 1977 to 2009.Caffeine limit in teenagers: 100mgAmount of caffeine in Monster: 150mgAmount of caffeine in Alani: 200mgFacts About Energy Drinks
your pocket, but because it’s fun, because it ful!lls you, because this stu\" deserves to exist regardless of whether someone wants it or not,but at the same time, if you’re reading this, that means a lot to me, and I’m not ashamed to say that, because if you chose to listen to me yap about Stephen King novels and 80s movies and why AI sucks instead of doing anything else, that makes all of this worth it in the end, I think, because writing needs at least two people to make it matter,and in keeping with getting the sentimental stu\" out of the way, I just want to say thank you to you if you’re reading this, whoever you are, and before I get out of here for good, there’s one (or two) last thing(s) I learned, which is that everything you want to say doesn’t really !t in one sentence, but you try anyway, and that there aren’t any clean or happy or sad endings, just endings, and they all have one thing in common, which is that they always come faster than you expect, always catch you by surprise, but don’t worry, because no matter how fast time seems, or how much you feel like you can’t keep up, you just have to look back once and realize that you didn’t miss anything at all. one last sentencecolumnist shiv majmudar | designer savanna smith | photos shiv majmudarbut now, it’s time to roll the credits, do the sad recap of what I wrote and why I liked what I liked and why it’s important, but at the same time, that’s just really boring, so let’s not do that, and instead, let’s entertain ourselves by writing a neverending sentence, and !lling up all the blank space we have le#, reminiscing against our will, thankful that high school won’t ramble on any longer than it needs to, and maybe I’ll also think about what I learned over the past four years, or at least the two of my tenure of scribbling here, and if I learned anything from being the columnist of $e Courier, it’s that you have to put movie titles in “Quotations” and not Italics, don’t ask me why, but more importantly, I learned that sometimes you can say the same thing in 600 words instead of 1000, that more isn’t always better, that cutting words is healthy and necessary and makes everything much better, and you should always make your deadlines—both of which are important lessons, of course, but not as important as the realization that most people don’t have cash on them to buy stu\" you put time and e\"ort into, and that’s ok because you don’t write or make art or do anything for $2 in This is my last ever column, and before you cue up Green Day’s “Time of Your Life,” just remember the bright side, which is that it also means that school is ending, permanently (sort of) for me at least; and that’s something worth celebrating, because no one likes waking up before sunrise and learning things we’d much rather not, but at the same time, leaving high school is sentimental (barely) because, like it or not, it’s the end of something—your old friendships, old classes, this little back page in the paper—and that’s worth thinking about,and to be honest, as much as I want to pack up and run, but no matter how much I want this to be over, I keep thinking about the good times I had writing this column about books and movies and music and whatever else I wanted to ramble on about for 700-ish words (always more because I don’t self-edit), and the more I think about those good times the less I want to leave, sling some rucksack over my shoulder and ride on out into the sunset, like the end of the perfect Indiana Jones movie or a spaghetti western, because while life isn’t at all like the movies, it also kind of is, if you really squint and look upside-down, THE SCREENcolumn22 march& THE PAGE WITH SHIVphotos of columnist shive majmudar through the years
ads | designer savanna smithmarch 23PaintingPotteryWe are a walk in paint your own potterystudio. We have a huge selection ofpottery ranging in price from $6-$100\"aturdayĹ 10a-Ѷp \"undayĹ 1Ƒp-Ɣpon-$hursĹ 11a-Ѷp ridayĹ 11a-Ɩp1Ƒ0Ɣ ffolaris ffarkwayķ olum0us flhio ƓƒƑƓ0Spring has sprung and creativity is in BLOOM!!vcf.comMOREof what youVALUE