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Without Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, we as a country are moving backwards
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion [DEI] initiatives promote fairness and equal opportunities for all Americans. Under DEI policies, companies evaluate all candidates equally [regardless of race, sexual orientation, disabilities or other factors] during the hiring process and provide adequate training based on an individual’s needs, such as language-based training. However, under the Trump Administration, DEI-supporting…
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Volunteer from the heart, not from ambition
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For as long as I can remember, volunteering has always been a part of my life. In elementary school, families were encouraged to help around the community, so I would spend a few weekends working to take care of the garden. In middle school, students were required to complete several hours of community service,…
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Forgiveness opens opportunity for freedom
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The first thing I learned on my silent retreat last June, away from home and technology for four days in the heart of Los Angeles, was that you have to forgive yourself for your past mistakes before you can fully move forward. I remember the weight of the tea house smoke and the condensation…
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University federal funding cuts halt development
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Universities across the country have faced federal funding cuts, stated to be a result of ongoing investigations by the Trump Administration. Many of these investigations are in regards to anti-Semitism on campuses, programs that align with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and an overall reduction of government spending. With federal funding making up about…
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The fear of rejection creates inaction
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Fear allows us to survive; it is an emotion characterized by a perceived danger or threat that forces a fight or flight response. When we feel fear, our bodies experience a surge of stress that alerts us to take action and protect ourselves. Whether the fear one feels is real or imagined, the emotion…
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Scandinavian Festival celebrates 51 years of culture
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Children singing and dancing, rows of booths, each filled with unique trinkets and artwork, the smell of pancakes filling the space like a cloud, and hundreds of people were all brought together by the culture of Scandinavia. The two-day Scandinavian Festival, held at California Lutheran University [CLU] on April 5 and 6, brought European…
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Aggressive coaches create quitters; kind coaches create winners
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Since March 24, a video of a girls’ high school basketball coach in New York aggressively yanking an athlete’s hair has been circling the internet, igniting outrage. The coach was fired and cited with harassment. From personal experience, I know that the energy a coach brings to the team can make or break an…
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NPHS’ track and field athletes race against themselves
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With the finish line in front and a personal record to beat, NPHS’ track and field runs toward their goals. Student athletes and coaches alike find themselves with their own unique set of challenges to overcome within this sport. Jeanette Flores, track and field coach, uses her years of knowledge of various sports to…
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Boys’ lacrosse cradles new experiences for athletes
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California Interscholastic Federation [CIF] data has noted an 11 percent increase in lacrosse participation from the 2022-23 season to the 2023-24 season. Newbury Park High School’s boys’ lacrosse team is embracing this momentum with a welcoming attitude toward new players and a strong sense of community. Since the 2022-23 season, the boys’ lacrosse program…
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“A Minecraft Movie” flint and stole my sweet and precious time
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When the Lumière Brothers opened the first movie theaters in turn-of-the-century Paris, do you think they could have seen this coming? When George Méliès wrote and directed “A Trip to the Moon” in 1902, do you think it occurred to him that we could end up here? When Victor Flemming pioneered color cinema with…