Author: Ana Farah

  • Fast Fashion: Paying Less for Worse – Sara Youcheff

    Fast Fashion: Paying Less for Worse – Sara Youcheff

     As a sophomore, I was assigned the task of researching a controversial topic for this year’s research paper. I have always loved expressing myself through clothing; therefore, it was no surprise that I was interested in the topic of fast fashion. Through this project, I learned about the many consequences of fast fashion and how important it is to be a conscious consumer. 

    At first, you may not be familiar with the term fast fashion and all that it is. Essentially, fast fashion is the name for companies that produce designs quickly with an inexpensive price tag. Some fast fashion businesses work to release new designs daily. Most of your favorite businesses may be considered fast fashion. For example, stores like Forever 21 and H&M are fast fashion companies. However, the biggest name in fast fashion today is Shein. 

    These businesses seem extremely tempting to buy from. Who doesn’t love a $5 top? And with many new designs, you are almost guaranteed to find something you like! Of course, this comes with its consequences. 

    To allow for these low prices, businesses must cut costs somewhere, and unfortunately, the cut seems to be within the factories. Within the factories of these companies, workers face extreme conditions. They work for long hours with minimal pay. These poor, overworked laborers are also exposed to terrible chemicals with lasting health consequences. Picture this: 27 days a month within an unsanitary space where you are scared of many different diseases. Even worse, your pay is only a couple of cents an hour. It is barely minimum wage, and you cannot afford any of the necessities needed to live. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many of the workers within those factories, and that is no exaggeration. 

    These factories also produce extreme amounts of greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases cause irreparable damage to the environment. Similarly, the many products that these businesses create produce excessive amounts of waste that arrive in landfills. These businesses promote overconsumption, which is incredibly dangerous to the environment. 

    With so many new trends, prices begin to add up. Therefore, a different version of a popular product with a cheaper price tag is extremely appealing. However, many of these designs are stolen. The original business rarely receives credit for the original product, as they may not be able to afford the legal battle. Similarly, many smaller businesses are run out of business by the swift pace of fast-fashion companies. 

    Overall, this is a lot of information to take into consideration when purchasing clothes. Avoiding all of these fast-fashion companies with a budget is nearly impossible. Instead, I’ve learned how important it is for consumers to be just a little more conscious of the decisions they make when purchasing their clothing.

    Unfortunately, fast fashion is not going away anytime soon, but small changes to your shopping habits allow everyone to be one step closer to tackling this issue.  Here is a list of some things you can do as a consumer to reduce your consumption of fast fashion within a reasonable budget! 

     

    1. Thrifting 

    I absolutely love going to thrift stores. It is one of my favorite activities to do with friends. It is also so much more affordable than going shopping! Buying clothes second-hand reduces the amount of clothes arriving at a landfill and gives them a second life. By doing this, greenhouse gases may be reduced, which is better for the environment! When thrifting, you can even find some great pieces, and not all thrift stores are the same. There are the standard thrift stores like Goodwill and Community Aid, but there are also more luxurious thrift stores, such as Re-Uzits, which are larger and provide more name-brand clothing still at a reduced price! 

     

    1. Limiting consumption 

    Instead of purchasing new clothes frequently, limit your consumption. Repeating outfits is not a bad thing! It means you are getting wear out of the clothes you purchase! By limiting your consumption, you are again limiting the clothes that are deposited in a landfill. Keeping up with every trend is nearly impossible, so instead of putting that pressure on yourself, just continue wearing the clothes you do have. You may end up saving more money than you think!

     

    1. Encourage your friends

    You can continue to spread awareness of this issue. Action is always greater in numbers, so by promoting awareness, you are encouraging others to make small changes to their fashion habits as well. Everyone can make a difference! 

     

    While these actions may seem small, they truly can make a difference in discouraging fast fashion! I hope that this has inspired you to become a more responsible and conscious consumer!

  • Pippin – Directors Note

    Pippin – Directors Note

    At its core – Pippin is a story about our lives. This story is about a young boy searching for meaning in a world with endless possibilities. Pippin goes through temptations and experiences that we all can relate to. He is disappointed by the things he imagined he would enjoy the most, and ends up appreciating the things that he never thought he would. In our lives, we all have felt uncertain; whether it’s because we have pushed ourselves outside our comfort zones or it’s because we don’t know what comes next. Our society has put value on always moving to the next best thing, rather than slowing down and seeing what’s right in front of us. Pippin fights his battles with the voices in his head by reminding himself that he doesn’t have to fit into a box that was pre-imagined for him, and he can feel fulfilled by the little things in life. 

     

    Throughout this show, I have had the honor of working with an insanely talented cast to portray a powerful story. Backstage we had conversations where we analyzed how Pippin’s story was actually relatable. Some admitted, “I don’t know what I should even do after high school” and others reflected, “I have too much on my plate; I should take a break this weekend.” Bleeding through our different backgrounds, cultures, and struggles, was a community that came together to tell a very important story. As silly as it sounds, Pippin was more than a show for us – it has been a reminder that while we all grow into ourselves, we should remember the importance of the connections we have built, the love we have shared, and the growth we have experienced. 

     

    I would like to thank the directors, cast, crew, pit, and everyone that has put their all into this show. It has truly paid off. As for the audience, I hope you will enjoy the show and while doing so, reflect on your own life. This show serves as a cautionary tale that stands the test of time; each character represents something we should carry into our own lives. Berthe reminds us to appreciate the time we have on this earth, Charles’ story explains the age-old adage “walk a mile in my shoes,” Lewis warns against self-obsession, and Fastrada reinforces the belief that we never know one’s real motive. As Leading Player orchestrates this magic, I encourage you to think of a time when the little voice in your head led you astray. For example, when you talk down to yourself, or compare your experiences to others, you are allowing yourself to be led astray. Like all of us, Pippin makes mistakes, but when doing so, he is simply trying his best. Whether Pippin, and each one of us, makes the right choices, is up to us. 

     

    So as you watch this story unfolds, I hope you see pieces of yourself in Pippin’s journey—his doubts, his dreams, and his desire for something more. May this show remind you that mistakes are inevitable, but growth is always possible. More importantly, may it encourage you to appreciate the moments, people, and love that make life truly extraordinary. Thank you for being here, for supporting live theater, and for allowing us to share this story with you. Enjoy the show!

  • Punta Cana with Ana; Travel Tales

    Punta Cana with Ana; Travel Tales

    My ideal New Year’s, and I imagine our readers would love this as well, is spending it with family somewhere warm to escape from the cold winter. Our family has been accomplishing this by going to Brazil and staying with family for the past few years. However, this year we had the privilege of flying out to the Dominican Republic to stay at Iberostar’s all-inclusive resort on the beach of Punta Cana.

    I remember feeling like a new chapter had started, with the sound of Spanish humming in my ear and the bright sun and vibrant blue skies as we walked off the airplane. When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by warm smiles from all the workers, and you could feel a shift in the atmosphere. One of the funniest parts of this experience was that, although a few members of my family speak proficient Spanish, including myself, everyone knew we were Brazilian immediately. When I asked how, they said our accents were a giveaway, but that our Spanish was great nonetheless.

    The most beautiful part was the clean, soft-sand beaches with the clearest water. It was breathtaking how much I could see underwater, and as an ocean lover, it made the trip all that much more perfect! My family and I went on an excursion where we stopped by a “natural pool” in the middle of the ocean and jumped in for a swim. We found so many starfish and other sea creatures in the crystal blue waters. The pictures don’t do it justice!

    Another one of my favorite parts was the wonderful New Year’s experience. Our hotel had a dance party, which was filled with people from all over the world, after a dinner that was exceptional. We decided to walk to the beach for the actual ringing in the New Year, and it was totally the right move! We saw so many fireworks, and the beach was completely empty. It was such a special moment for our family! After that, a bus took us to the golf course in the hotel, where there was yet another dance party and even more fireworks—though I have to say the second ones were even better.

    Between the kind community, pristine beaches, and endless dance parties, my trip was amazing! Overall, my experience in Punta Cana was unforgettable, and I am so grateful to have experienced it alongside my favorite people in the world.

  • Mini-MUN

    Mini-MUN

    If you play sports, you might have practice every day from 3-5pm. Or if you are in a music ensemble, you might have rehearsal everyday during period 2. For the Model United Nations club, we don’t really get to “practice.” You get better by attending conferences and participating in the moment, which can be super nerve racking. This is why we try to hold a “mini-mun” for our members where we do a more exciting topic with low stakes to help practice procedures and public speaking. 

     

    Junior Lexi Purkanto presenting in front of the club.

    Last Saturday, we had an early wake up call and reported to the school at 8:00 am to set everything up for our conference. Students started arriving in their business attire and we had some warm breakfast items to help ease the discomfort of being away at such an early hour. However, as soon as the debate began, everyone was awake. With around 20 students participating and a little push from President Cambria Green, almost everyone got up to speak (including multiple new members). The study hall room was bursting with collaboration from a variety of students, representing a variety of countries, and it was wonderful to see them all working together. 

    Delegates talk during a conference break.

    The following students were recognized for awards:

    1. Best Delegate – Viet Cao
    2. Outstanding – Ethan Wolfgang
    3. Honorable Delegate – Alex Bien
    4. Best Position paper – Michela Soares
    5. Best Newcomer – Milan Gerald 
    6. Verbal performance – Alexia Purkanfo

     

    These students all stood out with some amazing communication skills and I personally observed and admired the way they carried themselves as delegates. Congratulations to all! 

  • The Princeton Trip (with Model UN)

    The Princeton Trip (with Model UN)

    Often, students hear about others joining clubs just for fun trips and getting out of school and although I think we can all relate to wanting a weekend away from home, our school’s Model United Nations Club is so much more than that. This past November, 15 students from MUN went to the Princeton Model United Nations Conference, accompanied by Mr. Gaeta. Our itinerary included a very long bus ride which we spent talking for hours, door-dashing a bunch of food, playing trivia, and most importantly, attending our conference committees. 

    For those of you who don’t know, Model UN is quite literally a fake version of the United Nations where you represent a country or a person in a series of committee sessions which can last up to 3 hours, whilst we debate very interesting topics. If you are in a “crisis” committee, the experience is a lot different from the General Assembly, and a lot of students encountered this on our recent trip. On the first night of the committee sessions, I saw my friend Alex Bien who was representing the prince of Transylvania, Francis Rhédey, in his conflict, walking back to his dorm. It was his first time in a crisis committee and it was definitely scary at first; he mentioned how he felt like he was never going to figure it out. Other students in crisis were feeling the same way but after some moral support and advice from our favorite advisor, Mr. Gaeta, they all left with a valuable experience. They actually ended up having a lot of fun in committee for the next few days and grew tremendously as delegates. I want to congratulate all of them on this opportunity! 

     

    Personally, one of my favorite parts of this conference was getting to know all of the students from Princeton and chat with them about their experiences and how they achieved their personal goals. It is so valuable to learn from others who have recently gone through what we are going through now: high school. The chairs and everyone who made this event possible are all truly amazing and they completely changed my view of Model UN. We also got to do many fun things, such as send each other candy grams with funny messages and pretend it wasn’t us.  Additionally, our last committee session was called Fun-Mun where we played “hot seat” and got to know each other as people, rather than delegations.

    This was also my first year going to PMUNC, and I was super excited. It definitely lived up to all my expectations and I am so lucky to have gone with such a wonderful group of students and a great advisor who always knew how to calm us down from stressful committees. I am grateful for York Suburban administrators for helping our clubs and community and for supporting us to accomplish these amazing events. It is truly invaluable to my learning experience. 

     

    I would also recommend to any student who is interested to join Model UN to grow your debate, research, communication skills and more. This club has taught me more than I can express, and I am truly so thankful! 

     

    We will be back next year. See you later, PMUNC! 

  • Art of the Month – October Edition

    Art of the Month – October Edition

    One of my favorite aspects of being part of the Newspaper Club is being able to connect with teachers and students to see what everyone is creating. That’s why one of the most special parts of the month is being able to see what the Art Faculty recommends as some of their featured pieces of the month. This month we have three featured artists that we are so proud of and honored to share their art and stories. 

    The lovely Mrs. Fornadel has highlighted two students this month, the first of which is Weston Saunders. Weston is a freshman student at York Suburban, and he is currently in Painting I. He says that one of his many inspirations is a French painter, Claude Monet. Monet’s beautiful artwork often depicts a scenic landscape and Mrs. Fornadel says that Weston channels his love of nature in his artwork. Attached below is an image of Weston with his artwork “Autumn mountains”! 

    The next student Mrs. Fornadel has chosen to feature is Jaidan Kopp. Jaidan is a senior that has taken several art courses, including painting, drawing, introduction to ceramics, art portfolio, and will be taking sculpture and an independent study later this year! Jaidan’s love of art has led them to apply to study Art Education at Millersville. Jaidan’s inspiration for art is based on both famous artists and family members. Jaidan says that Camila Salina’s self-portraits are inspiring. Here Jaidan is working on a self-portrait in oils – so beautiful!

    Last but definitely not least is Star Jirtle, nominated by Mrs. Furjanic. Star is a junior and is taking Drawing I. Star says that her inspiration for her art is her mother! The Trojan Newspaper congratulates Star on her creativity and talent. 

  • Artist’s of the Month at YSHS

    Artist’s of the Month at YSHS

    One of my favorite things about York Suburban is the creativity of our students; especially in creating beautiful artwork. When I first approached the art teachers about this idea, I was expecting them to say that it was too soon and that their students had not expanded their skills enough yet, completely understandable reasons. However, the students and staff of YS never fail to achieve excellence! 

    This month, Mrs. Fornadel and Mrs. Furjanic both selected some students they would like to highlight for their incredible work. Under their guidance, these students were able to grow in their talent and truly produce beautiful pieces of artwork. 

    Milan Gerald, Junior, is currently in Painting I, a class taught by Mrs. Fornadel. In this class, they investigate warm color pallets and as part of her investigation, she had illustrated this gorgeous piece.  Inspired by the artworks of Amrita Sher-Gil, Home Salon was painted utilizing acrylics on canvas paper, and was clearly brilliantly executed. Congrats Milan! 

    Our next student is Olivia Diehl, who has gone above and beyond inshowcasing her artwork to the community. She is currently being featured at Creative York, who are displaying her work until November! Olivia also has her work accepted at The York Art Association Juried Expedition, which had 347 pieces of art submitted to it. She is such a talented artist and has depicted something so beautiful. This is truly incredible, we are so proud of you, Olivia!

    And last but not least is a piece by Christian Sandoval-Hernandez, who was nominated by Mrs. Furjanic. We love your creativity and artistic abilities, keep it up!