In fevered pursuit of Happy Meal Smurfs: a quest for the ages March 26, 2024 — by Emily Wu When my family first moved to California, little did my mom know that a significant portion of her time would be spent driving to every McDonald’s store around town in search of Smurfs. In 2011, McDonald’s launched a Smurfs figurine collection for the Happy Meal toys, and we fell victim to the company’s marketing genius. […] read more » The most important day of the year: Waffle Day March 25, 2024 — by William Norwood and Sarah Thomas Each March, seasonal depression starts to kick in. The cold months of regular rain descend upon us, and winter seemingly never ends. The time before spring begins is often filled with mundane school work, bitter cold and long waits for finals and AP testing to begin. The silver lining in this otherwise unilaterally horrible time […] read more » Marshmallows: malicious or delicious? March 24, 2024 — by Amy Luo In my childhood bedroom, I kept a designated drawer for stashing sugar, mostly in the forms of milk candies, lollipops, fruit flavored-mints and chocolates. Although the drawer was small, my unhealthy rate of candy consumption at the time prevented it from ever filling up to the brim. This habit continued until I experienced the trauma […] read more » Rainbow Loom: the childhood hobby that led to crochet March 24, 2024 — by Jane Lee Carefully following the YouTube video on my dad’s phone, 7-year-old me meticulously used a crochet hook to wrap rubber bands on top of each other around my plastic loom. I had fallen in love with this bracelet making craft — appropriately named Rainbow Loom — and spent all my afternoons poring over designs and untangling […] read more » Spicy ‘reaper’ tenders at Dave’s Hot Chicken fail to bring the heat March 24, 2024 — by Leyna Chan, Natalie Chua, Victoria Hu and Sarah Zhou Recently, four brave reporters from The Falcon (that’s us!) set out on an adventure to answer the burning question: Is Dave’s Hot Chicken actually spicy? This fast-food restaurant chain, based in southern California and backed by celebrity investors such as Drake, is best known for its Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders. We decided to […] read more » Caving into my cravings: my go-to comfort snacks March 21, 2024 — by Jessica Li It’s 3 a.m. and I have a decision to make: Do I attempt to quell my cravings with sleep, or make the arduous journey to the kitchen for snacks? Despite knowing that I will sorely regret grabbing a bite in the morning, I always choose the less healthy and more rewarding option — no matter […] read more » Are we truly living in a simulation? March 15, 2024 — by Victoria Lin What if you woke up one day and your entire life turned out to be merely a dream or some kind of a simulation? In other words, while you are real, you are surrounded by friends and loved ones created by your imagination. As a brain floating through an empty universe, you spend eons dreaming […] read more » Fighting the birthday blues and losing March 14, 2024 — by Shirina Cao Sitting in the dining room, I gloomily stare at the lit candle on the birthday cake in front of me. Alone with just my family, I manage a smile, thanking them for their out-of-tune singing, and blow out the flame with a generic wish about wanting to be happy. Birthdays are usually seen as an […] read more » Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
The most important day of the year: Waffle Day March 25, 2024 — by William Norwood and Sarah Thomas Each March, seasonal depression starts to kick in. The cold months of regular rain descend upon us, and winter seemingly never ends. The time before spring begins is often filled with mundane school work, bitter cold and long waits for finals and AP testing to begin. The silver lining in this otherwise unilaterally horrible time […] read more » Marshmallows: malicious or delicious? March 24, 2024 — by Amy Luo In my childhood bedroom, I kept a designated drawer for stashing sugar, mostly in the forms of milk candies, lollipops, fruit flavored-mints and chocolates. Although the drawer was small, my unhealthy rate of candy consumption at the time prevented it from ever filling up to the brim. This habit continued until I experienced the trauma […] read more » Rainbow Loom: the childhood hobby that led to crochet March 24, 2024 — by Jane Lee Carefully following the YouTube video on my dad’s phone, 7-year-old me meticulously used a crochet hook to wrap rubber bands on top of each other around my plastic loom. I had fallen in love with this bracelet making craft — appropriately named Rainbow Loom — and spent all my afternoons poring over designs and untangling […] read more » Spicy ‘reaper’ tenders at Dave’s Hot Chicken fail to bring the heat March 24, 2024 — by Leyna Chan, Natalie Chua, Victoria Hu and Sarah Zhou Recently, four brave reporters from The Falcon (that’s us!) set out on an adventure to answer the burning question: Is Dave’s Hot Chicken actually spicy? This fast-food restaurant chain, based in southern California and backed by celebrity investors such as Drake, is best known for its Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders. We decided to […] read more » Caving into my cravings: my go-to comfort snacks March 21, 2024 — by Jessica Li It’s 3 a.m. and I have a decision to make: Do I attempt to quell my cravings with sleep, or make the arduous journey to the kitchen for snacks? Despite knowing that I will sorely regret grabbing a bite in the morning, I always choose the less healthy and more rewarding option — no matter […] read more » Are we truly living in a simulation? March 15, 2024 — by Victoria Lin What if you woke up one day and your entire life turned out to be merely a dream or some kind of a simulation? In other words, while you are real, you are surrounded by friends and loved ones created by your imagination. As a brain floating through an empty universe, you spend eons dreaming […] read more » Fighting the birthday blues and losing March 14, 2024 — by Shirina Cao Sitting in the dining room, I gloomily stare at the lit candle on the birthday cake in front of me. Alone with just my family, I manage a smile, thanking them for their out-of-tune singing, and blow out the flame with a generic wish about wanting to be happy. Birthdays are usually seen as an […] read more » Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
Marshmallows: malicious or delicious? March 24, 2024 — by Amy Luo In my childhood bedroom, I kept a designated drawer for stashing sugar, mostly in the forms of milk candies, lollipops, fruit flavored-mints and chocolates. Although the drawer was small, my unhealthy rate of candy consumption at the time prevented it from ever filling up to the brim. This habit continued until I experienced the trauma […] read more » Rainbow Loom: the childhood hobby that led to crochet March 24, 2024 — by Jane Lee Carefully following the YouTube video on my dad’s phone, 7-year-old me meticulously used a crochet hook to wrap rubber bands on top of each other around my plastic loom. I had fallen in love with this bracelet making craft — appropriately named Rainbow Loom — and spent all my afternoons poring over designs and untangling […] read more » Spicy ‘reaper’ tenders at Dave’s Hot Chicken fail to bring the heat March 24, 2024 — by Leyna Chan, Natalie Chua, Victoria Hu and Sarah Zhou Recently, four brave reporters from The Falcon (that’s us!) set out on an adventure to answer the burning question: Is Dave’s Hot Chicken actually spicy? This fast-food restaurant chain, based in southern California and backed by celebrity investors such as Drake, is best known for its Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders. We decided to […] read more » Caving into my cravings: my go-to comfort snacks March 21, 2024 — by Jessica Li It’s 3 a.m. and I have a decision to make: Do I attempt to quell my cravings with sleep, or make the arduous journey to the kitchen for snacks? Despite knowing that I will sorely regret grabbing a bite in the morning, I always choose the less healthy and more rewarding option — no matter […] read more » Are we truly living in a simulation? March 15, 2024 — by Victoria Lin What if you woke up one day and your entire life turned out to be merely a dream or some kind of a simulation? In other words, while you are real, you are surrounded by friends and loved ones created by your imagination. As a brain floating through an empty universe, you spend eons dreaming […] read more » Fighting the birthday blues and losing March 14, 2024 — by Shirina Cao Sitting in the dining room, I gloomily stare at the lit candle on the birthday cake in front of me. Alone with just my family, I manage a smile, thanking them for their out-of-tune singing, and blow out the flame with a generic wish about wanting to be happy. Birthdays are usually seen as an […] read more » Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
Rainbow Loom: the childhood hobby that led to crochet March 24, 2024 — by Jane Lee Carefully following the YouTube video on my dad’s phone, 7-year-old me meticulously used a crochet hook to wrap rubber bands on top of each other around my plastic loom. I had fallen in love with this bracelet making craft — appropriately named Rainbow Loom — and spent all my afternoons poring over designs and untangling […] read more » Spicy ‘reaper’ tenders at Dave’s Hot Chicken fail to bring the heat March 24, 2024 — by Leyna Chan, Natalie Chua, Victoria Hu and Sarah Zhou Recently, four brave reporters from The Falcon (that’s us!) set out on an adventure to answer the burning question: Is Dave’s Hot Chicken actually spicy? This fast-food restaurant chain, based in southern California and backed by celebrity investors such as Drake, is best known for its Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders. We decided to […] read more » Caving into my cravings: my go-to comfort snacks March 21, 2024 — by Jessica Li It’s 3 a.m. and I have a decision to make: Do I attempt to quell my cravings with sleep, or make the arduous journey to the kitchen for snacks? Despite knowing that I will sorely regret grabbing a bite in the morning, I always choose the less healthy and more rewarding option — no matter […] read more » Are we truly living in a simulation? March 15, 2024 — by Victoria Lin What if you woke up one day and your entire life turned out to be merely a dream or some kind of a simulation? In other words, while you are real, you are surrounded by friends and loved ones created by your imagination. As a brain floating through an empty universe, you spend eons dreaming […] read more » Fighting the birthday blues and losing March 14, 2024 — by Shirina Cao Sitting in the dining room, I gloomily stare at the lit candle on the birthday cake in front of me. Alone with just my family, I manage a smile, thanking them for their out-of-tune singing, and blow out the flame with a generic wish about wanting to be happy. Birthdays are usually seen as an […] read more » Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
Spicy ‘reaper’ tenders at Dave’s Hot Chicken fail to bring the heat March 24, 2024 — by Leyna Chan, Natalie Chua, Victoria Hu and Sarah Zhou Recently, four brave reporters from The Falcon (that’s us!) set out on an adventure to answer the burning question: Is Dave’s Hot Chicken actually spicy? This fast-food restaurant chain, based in southern California and backed by celebrity investors such as Drake, is best known for its Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders. We decided to […] read more » Caving into my cravings: my go-to comfort snacks March 21, 2024 — by Jessica Li It’s 3 a.m. and I have a decision to make: Do I attempt to quell my cravings with sleep, or make the arduous journey to the kitchen for snacks? Despite knowing that I will sorely regret grabbing a bite in the morning, I always choose the less healthy and more rewarding option — no matter […] read more » Are we truly living in a simulation? March 15, 2024 — by Victoria Lin What if you woke up one day and your entire life turned out to be merely a dream or some kind of a simulation? In other words, while you are real, you are surrounded by friends and loved ones created by your imagination. As a brain floating through an empty universe, you spend eons dreaming […] read more » Fighting the birthday blues and losing March 14, 2024 — by Shirina Cao Sitting in the dining room, I gloomily stare at the lit candle on the birthday cake in front of me. Alone with just my family, I manage a smile, thanking them for their out-of-tune singing, and blow out the flame with a generic wish about wanting to be happy. Birthdays are usually seen as an […] read more » Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
Caving into my cravings: my go-to comfort snacks March 21, 2024 — by Jessica Li It’s 3 a.m. and I have a decision to make: Do I attempt to quell my cravings with sleep, or make the arduous journey to the kitchen for snacks? Despite knowing that I will sorely regret grabbing a bite in the morning, I always choose the less healthy and more rewarding option — no matter […] read more » Are we truly living in a simulation? March 15, 2024 — by Victoria Lin What if you woke up one day and your entire life turned out to be merely a dream or some kind of a simulation? In other words, while you are real, you are surrounded by friends and loved ones created by your imagination. As a brain floating through an empty universe, you spend eons dreaming […] read more » Fighting the birthday blues and losing March 14, 2024 — by Shirina Cao Sitting in the dining room, I gloomily stare at the lit candle on the birthday cake in front of me. Alone with just my family, I manage a smile, thanking them for their out-of-tune singing, and blow out the flame with a generic wish about wanting to be happy. Birthdays are usually seen as an […] read more » Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
Are we truly living in a simulation? March 15, 2024 — by Victoria Lin What if you woke up one day and your entire life turned out to be merely a dream or some kind of a simulation? In other words, while you are real, you are surrounded by friends and loved ones created by your imagination. As a brain floating through an empty universe, you spend eons dreaming […] read more » Fighting the birthday blues and losing March 14, 2024 — by Shirina Cao Sitting in the dining room, I gloomily stare at the lit candle on the birthday cake in front of me. Alone with just my family, I manage a smile, thanking them for their out-of-tune singing, and blow out the flame with a generic wish about wanting to be happy. Birthdays are usually seen as an […] read more » Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
Fighting the birthday blues and losing March 14, 2024 — by Shirina Cao Sitting in the dining room, I gloomily stare at the lit candle on the birthday cake in front of me. Alone with just my family, I manage a smile, thanking them for their out-of-tune singing, and blow out the flame with a generic wish about wanting to be happy. Birthdays are usually seen as an […] read more » Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
Elementary school: the most enjoyable time of my life March 14, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As we grow up, the reality of approaching adult life begins to descend. Due mainly to college-related pressures, many of us sacrifice our former free time in favor of extracurriculars. In elementary school, however, life was very different. Each day was a blank canvas, ready for me to paint with whatever fun and games I […] read more » An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast
An overextended student’s guide to tackling the beast of junior year March 13, 2024 — by Saachi Jain As a current junior, I am well acquainted with the trials and tribulations of 11th grade: AP and Honors classes, extracurricular activities and looming college applications combine into an often overwhelming mix. Growing up, I always dreaded my junior year. I had heard horror stories and warnings that portrayed it as a mountain I would […] read more » previous12345...1020304050...nextlast