Category: Editorials

Parnian Esmaeilishayeh (12) | STAFF REPORTER

The primary point of incarceration is to rehabilitate individuals and help them reflect and recover from past mistakes. The justice system is to offer fair judgement to ensure that upon return from imprisonment, prisoners are “transformed”. However, we contradict this concept by limiting those who underwent such rehabilitation treatment and rejecting them, even though by law they are no longer considered criminals. If the core value of incarceration is to guide those who have made mistakes to become beneficial citizens, then why are they facing lifelong barriers that prevent them from truly getting a second chance? Formerly imprisoned individuals face limitations with employment, housing, and education, making their lives harder instead of providing new beginnings.  read more

Serena Ahmad (9) | STAFF REPORTER

Society has distorted the portrayal of mental illnesses through the increased usage of media. This has resulted in the term becoming desensitized amongst younger generations, evident through how individuals commonly misuse it. This crisis is often derived from the trends of self-diagnosis and the romanticization mental illnesses.  read more

Angela Xiao (9) | STAFF REPORTER

AI has increasingly become a crucial part of our lives, particularly in schools as it is used not only by students but by teachers, too. As AI continues to advance, we see teachers rely on it more frequently; however, teachers using AI to do everything from grading assignments to preparing lesson plans is simply unacceptable.  read more

Parnian Esmaeilishayeh (12) | STAFF REPORTER

Due to fast fashion, H&M, Zara, Forever 21, Shein, Urban Outfitters, and many more have become multi-million brands. The fashion industry has expanded tremendously over the years. Although many of these developments were positive, there has also been an expansion in fast fashion, which is appalling. Fast fashion is the leading cause of climate change, water pollution, and harm to aquatic life.  read more

Eva Guo (10) | STAFF REPORTER

History is far more than a collection of facts; it is an intricate web of events that are beyond simple judgment. Historians and scholars attempt to reconstruct the past, yet the lens through which they view events is undoubtedly influenced by contemporary values. Attempting to judge historical events by these contemporary values is inherently flawed due to the vast differences between past and present and the notion of justifying historical actions remains equally flawed. read more

Serena Ahmad (9) | STAFF REPORTER

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” as quoted by President Theodore Roosevelt, highlights that constantly comparing ourselves to others can cause us to feel dissatisfied with our lives. Beauty standards are a common source of this misery. Beauty standards are society’s perception of attractiveness. This often includes ideal facial features, body weight, skin tone, etc. However, the establishment of these standards are extremely toxic towards certain demographics, particularly young girls.  read more

Angela Xiao (9) | STAFF REPORTER

Throughout our life, we obtain skills that help us in school, work, etc., and these skills can be separated into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are technical skills that are relevant in certain jobs, such as having the knowledge of accounting or languages. On the other hand, soft skills are usually related to personality, such as time management or leadership skills. However, the debate remains as to which of these skills are more important. read more

Eva Guo (10) | STAFF REPORTER

Euthanasia, intentionally ending a person’s life to relieve suffering, is a subject of a multifaceted ethical and legal debate. Some argue that euthanasia is a merciful response to suffering that takes into consideration the wants and needs of the patient. Others say that it undermines the sacred nature of life and sets the groundwork for dangerous situations. Should euthanasia be accepted as a legitimate medical practice? Where should the line be drawn? read more