Meet Phillip Hadley

Phillip Hadley

By Zoey Patterson

Phillip Hadley is the new Applied Calculus teacher at Athenian. Though he’s teaching his Nexus class from Nova Scotia, he’s looking forward to interacting with Athenian students.

“Back in 2008, I started swim coaching at Athenian, and I was at another school at the time...the students that I was working with through the swim team, they were mature, they were motivated, they had a tremendous sense of a responsibility to the community and to themselves,” Hadley said.

Hadley also expressed interest in working with other members of the Athenian community.

“I’ve really been enjoying and appreciating the community of educators,” Hadley said. “There are so many passionate teachers at Athenian that care so deeply about the art and the science of teaching.”

Hadley explained what he liked so much about interacting with the teachers in particular.

“When you’re around passionate people about anything, I think that it’s infectious,” Hadley said.

Hadley’s own passion for math was rather latent, and all but absent when he was a student.

“I did not enjoy math in any of my secondary education...and then I ended up doing my degree in physics and philosophy, so I dealt with a lot of math,” Hadley said.

He particularly enjoys the class he teaches, Applied Calculus, partially because of its appeal to students.

“A lot of our examples come from peer reviewed papers, so they’re not things that are just made up, so it’s very easy to answer that question students invariably ask me, which is ‘when is this math ever useful?’” Hadley said. “Well, in this case, it’s super useful!”

The world around us, Hadley added, makes the course’s subject matter ever more relevant and helpful.

“We do a lot of modeling and a lot of data analysis and a lot of looking at graphs and tables, and I think that that is tremendously important, knowing how to do that well, and effectively,” Hadley said. “We are just inundated with graphs and tables and charts, and being able to sort through those and think about them critically, I think, is an important skill to have.”

Math, however, is not the only powerful thing Hadley finds important in his day-to-day life.

“I can talk about film all day long...the power of film, to me, is it’s visual,” Hadley said.

Hadley has two favorite films: M, a 1931 German film, and The Bicycle Thief, a post-World War II Italian film, and loves both because they harness this power.

“With M, it’s a silent film, and yet the storyline is very easy to follow, and I would say even more so with The Bicycle Thief, because...it’s in another language and there’s very few subtitles, and I always say you could get along just fine without the subtitles,” Hadley said. “They really come back to the actors’ acting and...the cinematography.”

While Hadley’s strengths and passions seem to be film and mathematics, less enjoyable things have also played a role in his life and shaped who he is today.

“When I was a teenager, I used to do door-to-door sales in my first year out of college, and then became a car salesman, and the lessons that I learned in people skills in those two experiences were absolutely tremendous,” Hadley said. “I’m a terrible salesman...but I learned an awful lot about people during that time.”

This year, Hadley is excited to learn about the people at Athenian and how they’ve changed since he started coaching swimming here.

“Somehow, miraculously, the kids are even better,” Hadley said.

What really takes place inside China’s concentration camps?

Photo Credit: Huseyin Aldemir / Shutterstock.com

By Ilah Ross

Nestled on the outskirts of the Xinjiang district in China sits one of the Chinese government's “re-education” camps designed for the Uighur Muslims, an ethnic and religious minority group. Places where, according to China’s ambassador to the UK, “Uighur people enjoy peaceful, harmonious coexistence with other ethnic groups.”

However, despite the idyllic description painted by the Chinese government, this re-education camp does not look like a place for introspection and learning. Instead lies a series of cement buildings surrounded by barbed wire fences, with guard towers and military personnel pacing along the perimeter with weapons in hand. Inside these intimidating buildings are an estimated 1 million Uighur Muslims, who are being systematically detained, tortured, interrogated, and forced into labor against their will because of their religion.

The Uighurs are an ethnic and religious minority group originating from Central Asia who have historically had a fraught relationship with the Chinese government. After the state of East Turkestan was annexed by China in 1949 and renamed Xinjiang, the relationship between the Uighurs and the Chinese government worsened.

Following attacks in 2013 and 2014 that Uighur militant groups were responsible for, China introduced restrictions on the Uighur people as a whole. In late 2016, China began to detain Uighur Muslims living in the Xinjiang district, arguing that the Uighur people pose a security threat to the Republic of China. In 2017, the government of Xinjiang further restricted Uighurs’ religious freedom by introducing laws which forbade men from growing long beards and women from wearing head coverings. Since these laws were passed, many mosques have been destroyed in Xinjiang with no compensation for the Uighur people. 

Due to China’s ambiguous and misleading representation of the purpose and inner workings of these internment camps, it is impossible to determine the exact amount of Uighur Muslims that have been detained. However, many sources, including the Washington Post, estimate that the number is around one million. 

Though the majority of Uighurs are denied any knowledge of why they were detained, many leaked documents from a source inside Xinjiang show that individuals are jailed for reasons as trivial as having more than three children, wearing a veil, applying for a passport, traveling abroad, internet browsing, or even the frequency of their prayer. Once an individual is involuntarily imprisoned in the camp, they are subjected to “torture, solitary confinement, forced birth control, [and] forced brainwashing sessions about Communist Party propaganda,” Mark Moore wrote in an article for the New York Post.

By night, the prisoners endure this torturous mistreatment, and by day, many are sent to fenced compounds where they produce apparel which is purchased by US companies, such as Nike, Adidas, H&M, Calvin Klein, and many others. In addition to being subjected to forced labor, there have been many accounts describing hair weaves being sent to salons and individuals in the U.S. made from hair forcibly taken from Uighur prisoners.

The countless disturbing reports which have surfaced exposing what is really happening in these internment camps pose an important question: why are so many Americans unaware of the reality of this situation? There is no definitive answer as to why the situation with the Uighurs is largely underreported in the media. 

“The reality is that things happening in foreign countries can feel far away, so the situation with the Uighurs is unfortunately something that’s fairly easy to slip through the cracks,” Mark Lukach, Chinese History seminar teacher at Athenian, said. “Since there’s so much going on currently in the United States, and even more narrowly, in the Bay Area, there’s kind of a saturation point of attention.” 

Lukach discussed the question of why the Chinese government considers the Uighurs a threat.  

“Since its founding, Communism has been in conflict with religion. Since the Uighurs are a Muslim group, China doesn’t like them. China has gotten scarily good at using modern technology to keep track of citizens, so they are able to oppress the Uighurs very effectively because of this technology”. 

Though many nations vehemently insist that religious, racial, and ethnic persecution are things of the past, China’s treatment of the Uighur people confirms a very different reality.

How Does Climate Change Connect to the California Wildfires?

Photo Credits: StratosBril / Shutterstock.com

By Noelle Woodward

In the last few months, thirty-one people have been killed and over four  million acres have been burned all over California, resulting in deadly smoke, ash, and apocalyptic orange skies across the west coast. 

The California wildfires have been burning since August, with little signs of letting up soon. What started as record heat waves and an unusual lightning storm has grown into the most devastating wildfire season California has seen in many years. Worsened by global warming, these fires are likely to return next year, resulting in even more destruction.

“Experts agree that human behavior, land management, arson, and the effects of climate change caused by human industrial activity helped spur these massive fires, worse than any in recent memory,” wrote science journalist Matthew Rozsa in Salon. 

The fires, which mainly started from a major lightning storm in late August, have escalated due to a lack of rain, record high temperatures, and fierce winds. They are now releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, exacerbating the already dangerous heat waves in California.  

“One thing [heat] does, it causes the ground [and] plant life to dry out, which makes it a lot easier once things do catch fire, for things to spread and burn very quickly,” said Environmental Science Teacher Brittany SchlaeGuada. “The warm air also causes weird things to happen like the lightning surges we had which isn’t typical for this area. The actual temperature effects are due to global warming and climate change, and the fires are a subsequent repercussion of that.”

Beyond identifying the numerous factors that contribute to the escalation of wildfires, it is also important to note the key differences between climate and weather in order to understand the causes behind them.

“Climate is essentially the long-term average weather,” wrote Dean L. Urban, Professor of Environmental Sciences and Policy at Duke University in an email to Salon. “So in the west now we’re seeing a warming climate, plus a long-term drought, plus freakish short-term weather (for example, the lightning storms in [California], and the crazier than usual winds). Climate change and weather are linked, of course, in that under climate change we expect warmer weather but we also expect more extreme events.”

The widespread impact of wildfires this year has caused many Californians to seriously consider the influences and effects of climate change.

“[When] people think about climate change, they think [about how] the weather gets hotter or ice caps are melting,” said SchlaeGuada. “[They think about these effects of climate change] that are far away, not really measurable, and that don't usually come into contact with our lives, but the truth is that climate change and its effects are kind of everywhere and people are starting to realize that with the seriousness of fires this year.”  

Although the denial of climate change has decreased as people start to personally experience it’s effects, it still makes a difference when public leaders recognize and respond to it’s presence. 

California’s governor, Gavin Newsom acknowledged this influence of climate change in a September interview: "The debate is over around climate change. Just come to the state of California. Observe it with your own eyes. It's not an intellectual debate. It's not even debatable.”

However, Newsom hasn’t just accepted the reality of climate change. He has begun taking much-needed action on behalf of California to reduce it’s impacts. 

“One thing that [Governor Newsom] just signed recently was an executive order in the next 15 years to make California's car market 100% emission free.” said SchlaeGuada. “So that all new vehicles sold in the state of California 15 years from now will all be electric vehicles or some other type of renewable source. He's taking strides to try and push California in a better direction when it comes to climate change.” 

Newsom isn’t alone as he combats our climate crisis. Many Californians have been coming up with their own proposed solutions over the last few years. Some popular suggestions include forest management and stronger fire regulations, which although easier to implement, will only provide temporary relief. 

“If we do not address the climate change issue, no amount of forest management is going to avoid this sort of situation in the future,” said Professor Francis E. Putz, botanist at the University of Florida in an interview with Matthew Rozsa.

It is clear that we need a long-term plan set in motion- and soon-  as many climate scientists have predicted the wildfires to continue in the coming years, likely getting worse over time. 

How the Pandemic has Changed College Admissions for the Class of 2021

Photo Credit: Rawpixel.com/ Shutterstock.com

By Amanda Cutrer ’24

In March, Americans were told to shelter in place, changing the world as they knew it. At first, bread baking, puzzles, and “Tiger King” served as pastimes for many. However, as the quarantine progressed, people felt anger and stress from the changing world with many working from home, being unable to see family, or experiencing other hardships. 

For the class of 2021, not only have they started their senior year in distance learning, but the previously unchanging college admissions process is transforming, unleashing a wide variety of emotions among the senior class. 

The SAT and ACT exams were repeatedly pushed back, and many students found themselves unable to take a test. Danielle Nader ’21 signed up for at least 8 cancelled tests, causing her to feel a lot of frustration and stress. 

“Being told I can no longer take the test that I’ve worked and studied so hard for is very disheartening and disappointing, especially because I have zero control over it,” Nader said. Since then, she was finally able to take one, but many students like Nader will be applying without having taken a test.

Though many students feel helpless in terms of testing, the majority of colleges are becoming test-optional or test-blind to accommodate. Even the UC system has already announced it will be test-optional for 2021 and 2022 students and become test-blind in 2023 and 24, so not having a score on a standardized test may be something students will have to get used to. 

Schools are saying that a lack of scores will have minimal impact. They say that when reviewing an application, it is about much more than a test score.

“[The] admissions team takes a wide-ranging and holistic approach to application review,” said Ross Bronfenbrenner, Associate Director of Admissions at Macalester College. “Our system is not based on a formula, but rather on a nuanced understanding of each applicant in their own context.”

Small and large schools alike always work hard to get to know each student that comes on campus, so even though Athenian students won’t have high test scores to show off their smarts, the schools understand the difficulty of Athenian. 

“I know Athenian’s rigor and procedures regarding grades and coursework well. Not having test scores will not affect this year’s applicants,” said USC admissions counselor Will Peters.

Students can take a deep breath when submitting an application without test scores. Unfortunately, the class of 2021 has also been unable to visit colleges, a practice that many students and families partake in and enjoy when getting a sense of which school is right for them. Mark Michelini ’21 was concerned with finding his perfect fit. 

“I always counted on being able to visit one of my top schools in person and having an ‘aha’ moment when I realized what my first choice was,” Michelini said. “This has been completely thrown out the window.” 

He was able to adapt and find new ways to see where he wants to spend the next four years, such as Zoom calls with admissions counselors, alumni, and current students. Seniors like Michelini that expected to discover their top choice in person were faced with a dilemma, but luckily, colleges have done a lot to provide ways to get to know the school. 

“Every single school now has put tons of resources into their virtual engagement options, and it’s astounding,” said Athenian College Counselor Tillie Gottlieb. “I think it’s actually easier and I have so many more students engaging than ever before.” 

The amount of information available to prospective students online has increased immensely this year. This allows any student, even if they would not have originally been able to visit colleges, to check out any school across the world from the comfort of their home. Seniors can go to college nights and explore websites to learn about different schools.

In addition, there are many amazing virtual opportunities to replace the typical extracurricular activities that are not available in quarantine but would normally be included in an application. These opportunities are readily available for Athenian students. 

“I look at people like Mark Friedman who are making amazing opportunities in terms of service that are virtual and safe,” Gottlieb said. She also mentioned the possibilities of  “international and round square opportunities that are there, so much engagement with our equity and inclusion office[...], the athletic clinics, [and] people who lead forum.”

Athenian is providing students with a wide array of virtual ventures that help show what your interests are without having to physically attend a Round Square event, put on a play, or do any of the other activities that used to constitute a significant part of life. 

Right now, the stress surrounding college is very valid and common, but it’s important to look around and see what wonderful new resources are available as a result of a terrible situation. It’s impossible to  know how the admissions process will continue to change in coming years, but for now college applicants will have to explore and embrace the online world we’re living in.

10/17 Update: I Listened to the Billboard Top 10 So You Don’t Have To

Photo Credits: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

By Gianna Beltramo

Hello, and welcome to my column! I’m Gianna and I have frequently wondered what is going on in the world of popular music, and this is my attempt to figure it out. Every other week (and yes, I know that the Billboard lists update on Tuesday, which is highly unfortunate because it means that I’m doomed to forever be at least a week behind), I will be rating the top songs in the US as well as dishing out a steaming hot plate of commentary. (Please note that in the event that the Billboard doesn’t change that much, I might also do some music video reviews or something else on the side to spice things up a bit. On a similar note, when I was reviewing the songs, I did not watch the music videos to stop that from influencing anything. This is about the music.)

10. Mr. Right Now - 21 Savage & Metro Boomin feat. Drake

Everything about this screams “why.” Allow me to phrase it as a question: Why? I don’t know. I have no answers. Nothing makes sense anymore. This song is just bad. I dislike it so much that I can’t even think of a reason. I just do. Considering that these three gents have almost 31 million YouTube subscribers between them you’d really expect this song to have more views. And while I understand that music videos generally get more views than just the audio versions, these people have taken the polar opposite of what I like to call “the Justin Bieber approach” and have only posted the one video. That can only be a good thing: the less of a presence this song has in the world, the better. 64/100.

9. Runnin - 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

If asked to identify a single word in this song that is not “runnin,’” I would be unable to do so. It’s akin to a plate of spaghetti, in that you can identify what it is as a concept, but upon close examination all you can see is a tangled heap. Sure, you can pick out bits of different strands of pasta, but you can’t actually separate individual noodles. This song is kind of a mess (much like that simile), but it’s not the worst mess I’ve ever heard. The combination of vinyl record-esque crackling and creepy whispering at the beginning provides for a momentary unintentional ASMR experience before you’re forced to listen to the rest of the song. This may be an odd comparison, but the way he says “runnin’” reminds me of Seek & Destroy by Metallica (which is much more my-speed, and also an all-around better song). It’s not absolutely horrible, but I would describe it as being somewhat less than “okay.” I have no idea how to translate that into a number, so I’ll give it a C+ and call it a day. 78/100. 

8. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth

See 10/4

7. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch

See 10/4

 6. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

See 10/4 

5. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake

See 10/4

4. Mood - 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior

See 10/4

3. WAP - Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion

See 10/4

2. Dynamite - BTS

See 10/4

1. Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) - Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo

See 10/4 

A Cumulative Ranking

(Songs are ranked on a scale of 1/100 based on how much I personally liked them, as well as whatever comments on the actual quality of the music I made.)

Blinding Lights - 95 (A)

I Hope - 91 (A-)

Laugh Now Cry Later - 89 (B+)

Mood - 87 (B)

Savage Love - 81 (B-)

Runnin - 78 (C+)

WAP - 77 (C)

Dynamite - 70 (C-)

Rockstar - 66 (D)

Mr. Right Now - 64 (D)

10/10 Update: I Listened to the Billboard Top 10 So You Don’t Have To

Photo Credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

By Giana Beltramo

Hello and welcome to my column! I’m Gianna and I have frequently wondered what is going on in the world of popular music, and this is my attempt to figure it out. Every other week (and yes, I know that the Billboard lists update on Tuesday, which is highly unfortunate because it means that I’m doomed to forever be at least a week behind), I will be rating the top songs in the US as well as dishing out a steaming hot plate of commentary. (Please note that in the event that the Billboard doesn’t change that much, I might also do some music video reviews or something else on the side to spice things up a bit. On a similar note, when I was reviewing the songs, I did not watch the music videos to stop that from influencing anything. This is about the music.)

Hi! Great column. Moving forward, I would really suggest changing the review format so that there is less repetition and something for you to do in the weeks moving forward. 

10. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth

See 10/4

9. Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles

See 10/4

 8. Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) - Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo 

See 10/4

7. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch

See 10/4

6. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

See 10/4

5. Mood - 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior

See 10/4

4. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake

See 10/4

3. WAP - Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion

See 10/4

2. Dynamite - BTS

See 10/4

1. Franchise - Travis Scott feat. Young Thug & M.I.A.

At this point, I’m immune to surprises. This song simply exudes popularity. It was made to be #1, though that’s redundant considering most singles are, in fact, created with that very goal in mind. Maybe I’ve not grown immune to Billboard-induced surprise; maybe I’m finally realizing that such a ranking was not created for shock value. Upon pushing the dreaded “play” button, my brain immediately thought “Wow, WAP went grunge” and that’s not the kind of idea that is easy to rid one’s mind of. Upon further inspection, it only kind of sounds exactly like WAP. He really overdid it with the bass, though. Oh boy. You start the song and your ears explode. It’s an experience, and that’s all I will say about that. Coming back to that “grunge” idea, however, it sounds the way a hazardous waste facility smells—or at least the intro. After that, it lightens up a bit. Less strange background clanging noises. If I had to compare the energy/vibe/mood/tone of this song to that of a concept I made up in about ten seconds, it would be this: an Instagram post consisting of a very blurry, poorly-lit selfie of three 26-year-old men (two of whom are wearing sunglasses) in a dark room at 10:42 PM and a caption reading “vibin with the homies.” At the end of the day, I got more entertainment out of writing this review than listening to the song, so I’m going to give it (the song) a 73/100. 

A Cumulative Ranking

(Songs are ranked on a scale of 1/100 based on how much I personally liked them, as well as whatever comments on the actual quality of the music I made.)

Blinding Lights - 95 (A)

I Hope - 91 (A-)

Laugh Now Cry Later - 89 (B+)

Mood - 87 (B)

Savage Love - 81 (B-)

WAP - 77 (C)

Franchise - 73 (C)

Dynamite - 70 (C-)

Rockstar - 66 (D)

Watermelon Sugar - 64 (D)

The 1910’s: Music Through the Ages

“Scott Joplin” Photo Credits: The Library of Congress

By Alekhya Maram and Anna Ravid

The 1910’s marked the beginning of a new era of American music. The advent of joyful ragtime amongst African Americans in the Deep South starkly contrasted with the realities of wartime America. Ragtime, a precursor to jazz, quickly flourished, and this new style of playing enthralled audiences, especially the bright piano playing of Scott Joplin.

Joplin, born to a formerly enslaved father and a freeborn mother, is credited with popularizing and influencing ragtime. His most famous piece, “Maple Leaf Rag,” is still widely known today— if not by name, then certainly by ear. While there are no recordings of Joplin, his music was preserved through piano rolls, a preservation method by which each note played is perforated on a roll of paper. This roll can be fed into a self playing piano in order to mirror the live performance of a famous artist.  

According to Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, “Joplin's death is widely considered to mark the end of ragtime as a mainstream music format; over the next several years, it evolved with other styles into stride, jazz, and eventually big band swing.” 

Photo Credit: The Library of Congress

While the springy tenor of ragtime makes for easy listening, it lacks in complexity when compared to blues and jazz. The songs are often so whimsical they border on childish, and after listening to a few, it becomes hard to distinguish one from the rest. 

Around the same time ragtime was developing, blues were born out of the plantations in the Mississippi Delta region. Originally, blues music was improvised, and lyrics usually pertained to feelings of melancholy and sadness. Guitar players often used a bottleneck slide instead of strumming, creating a sad voice-like effect that exemplified blues guitar. One notable artist who emerged during the 1910s was W.C Handy, known as the “Father of Blues.” Born to a family of methodist ministers, Handy was prohibited by his father from playing any instrument other than the organ. Thankfully, Handy did not comply. At the start of the decade, Handy moved to Memphis and began his career as a musician, performing frequently at the Beale Street Clubs.  His most famous compositions, “Memphis Blues” and “St. Louis Blues,” were inspired by his experiences in the titular cities. 

As opposed to ragtime, which was primarily played on the piano, the blues music of the 1910s included brass instruments. Surprisingly, W.C. Handy’s blues music bore more similarities to the buoyant melodies of jazz and ragtime than the melancholy tones usually associated with blues. Those dolorous tones, along with lyrics describing the many woes in life, would reemerge in later decades, bringing blues music back to its roots. Though Handy’s blues compositions represented significant achievements in the genre, his songs don’t capture the deep soulfulness that makes the style so distinctive. 

In 1917, the year of Scott Joplin’s death, ragtime exited the musical mainstream, giving way to jazz. Though jazz and ragtime music originated in black communities, the first jazz and ragtime recordings featured white artists, as black musicians were often barred from entering the recording industry. The very first jazz record produced contained the song “Livery Stable Blues,” performed by the all-white Dixieland Jazz Band. 

The production of this record marked the entrance of jazz into mainstream society, a force that would both shape and reflect the coming decade: the Roaring Twenties.   

Cyber Seats Concert Review

By Sahana Garg

For all the music lovers out there, I understand how hard it is to experience the miracle of live music during Covid-19. Being stuck at home, you can’t go out and experience amazing concerts. But, all of our favorite artists are doing things to help us connect during this time. 

During this series, I will be introducing digital concerts that make it feel like the world isn’t so different now. You will gain insider musical knowledge, tips, and music recommendations. 

To kick off this column we have Girls With Guitars. This is a weekly series started by Bay Area R&B artist H.E.R.. The goal of the series is to showcase the talents of female artists around the world. Every episode features two to four guest stars, such as Tori Kelly, Alessia Cara, UMI, Tiara Thomas, ChloexHalle, and Willow Smith.

So far, there have been seven episodes and there are plenty more to come. Every song performed was accompanied by a guitar and all versions of these songs were acoustic. Every artist performed at least one original song, one personal favorite song, and some even sang unreleased music. 

Photo Credit: Music Connection Magazine

There were some flaws in this series. This series was conducted over Instagram Live, so all the episodes were very glitchy and there were many instances where guests were kicked off the program. The large amounts of talking in between detracted from the musical experience. Throughout every two-hour episode, only four or five songs were performed. The majority of the show consisted of conversations about music. During these talking sections, the artists provided insider knowledge about their musical origins, icons, and favorite quarantine music. Another excellent aspect of this series was getting introduced to new artists such as Tiara Thomas who originally wrote the song “Bad” by Wale, and Priscilla Renea who wrote the songs “California King Bed” by Rihanna, “A No No” by Mariah Carey, and “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony.

Overall I would rate this series 8/10 but would still recommend it to any R&B lover. I definitely enjoyed watching these and will most definitely be looking forward to more episodes.

Song Shoutouts: 

“Thinkin Bout You” by Frank Ocean

“Slow Down” by Skip Marley and H.E.R.

“Ex-Factor” by Lauryn Hill

“Bad by Wale” ft. Tiara Thomas

“Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan

The Inside Scoop: Talenti Roman Raspberry Sorbetto

Photo Credits: Alp Aksoy

By Kati Wilkes and Savonnah Wong

For our first scoop into the world of non-dairy ice cream alternatives, we decided to pick up the Talenti Roman Raspberry Sorbetto from our local Target. As suggested by the name of the product, this non-dairy alternative has a similar composition to most traditional sorbets. However, unlike those traditional sorbets, this Talenti “sorbetto” boasts a similar consistency and taste to most fruit-based ice creams. 

At first glance, this sorbetto has a similar, creamy texture as one would expect with any traditional fruit-flavored ice cream. Unlike most non-dairy sorbets, this refreshing treat doesn’t crumble nor does it have an icy texture whilst scooping. This perfect emulation of ice cream’s consistency doesn’t leave much left to be desired. 

In terms of taste, the Roman Raspberry flavor carries a perfect balance between sweet and tart and doesn’t overpower you with pure sugar, which is fairly common in most fruit-based ice creams. The This light flavor and rich consistency meld together to create the perfect frozen dessert. 

Our only complaint would be that due to the sorbettos fruit and water-based composition it tends to melt quite quickly. After having the pint out of the freezer for only 20 minutes, the perimeter of the container had melted into a mildly, thick liquid that resembled the consistency of a smoothie that had been left out for just a bit too long. Though this was a bit of an inconvenience, the liquid still tasted the same as the rest of the sorbetto and it didn’t pose any real issue in the enjoyment of this iced confection. 

Taste: 🍦🍦🍦🍦/5

Consistency: 🍦🍦🍦🍦/5

Similarity to Ice Cream: 🍦🍦🍦/5

Overall: 🍦🍦🍦🍦/5

Personal Responsibility Is A Key Component of the Climate Change Battle

Photo Credit: DisobeyArt/Shutterstock.com

By Alekhya Maram ’21

“Climate change.” Though the phrase is rooted in science and data, it has become fraught with emotion, evoking images of inundated islands, raging forest fires, and cities choked with pollution. Despite the near consensus of the scientific community, the growing body of climate research, and the pleas of younger generations, the United States (and much of the Global North) has failed to make any substantial headway in combating the issue. Emissions have continued to rise steadily, and we have already exceeded 1 degree of warming. 

The question begs to be asked: how have we allowed this to happen? Why have we elected an intellectually impotent president bent on eviscerating environmental legislation? Why are we constantly highlighting the economic costs of transitioning to green energy when the cost of warming-induced damage is slated to exceed today’s global GDP? Why have we continued to turn a blind eye to the crisis when we have seen an uptick in the prevalence of climate-related disasters within the last decade?

At the heart of the climate crisis is convenience. Plugging your phone into the wall, taking a bite of your tri-tip sandwich, climbing into your car each day—none of these actions necessitate any thought. For better and for worse, capitalism has created a culture of convenience, where anything and everything one could possibly want is at one’s fingertips. Everything is just so easy, and for this reason we have allowed ourselves to be lulled into a kind of complacent inertia. 

It’s not just convenience that makes this crisis easy to ignore. It’s the distribution of the climate burden. Despite the fact that the United States and Canada emit some of the highest levels of CO2 (both per capita and overall), the Global South will be most impacted by the repercussions of climate change due to its proximity to the equator, poor infrastructure, and a dearth of funding. South and Southeast Asia will be hit particularly hard, as hurricane-fueled deluges, extreme heat, sea level rise, and malnutrition converge to create unlivable conditions. If we do not take action now, millions—if not billions—of people will suffer. 

If we are to have a chance at preserving humanity, we in the Global North must understand that we cannot continue living in excess. The importance of tackling emissions produced by corporations, and transitioning to 100% renewable energy cannot be overstated. But the change can’t end there.

We must also acknowledge our individual responsibility in creating this crisis. Even if we were to become 100 percent net-zero emissions today, our overconsumption would still be driving Earth towards the point of collapse. Halting global warming will require nothing less than a lifestyle change. We must downsize our homes, make a switch to public transportation, eschew meat in favor of plant-based diets, preserve our fresh water, and much more. We must give up the simplicity of convenience, and most importantly, the privilege of not having to think about the consequences of our actions. Because pretty soon, they'll be impossible to ignore. 

Ask Athena: Athenian's Advice Column

Ask Athena is Athenian’s very own advice column that aims to help readers think through common challenges. Students may submit questions about all aspects of life, inside of school or out. The answers in this column are the opinions of Athenian’s patron goddess, Athena, and are not meant to serve as definitive solutions to the questions posed. Questions may be submitted at any time via pillar@athenian.org.

What should I do about a teacher that I do not have a very good relationship with? 

The first thing to consider is why. Do you show disinterest in class? Do you not complete homework assignments? Make sure your participation and your work show your commitment. Attending C&C is an excellent opportunity to show interest and improve your understanding of course material. Teachers tend not to prefer students who disrespect them or what they teach. But if the teacher is treating you in a way that feels unfair, the best course of action is talk directly to them. This may not resolve the problem but it will inform the teacher that the relationship needs attention. It’s usually in both of your best interests to make sure you have a good relationship. If you’re having a serious issue you can’t resolve one-on-one, talk to your advisor about what to do next.

What should I do when my opinion goes against what a majority of the school thinks? Is it worth it to say anything if people will judge me for having a different opinion?

Open discourse allows everyone involved to develop more educated ideas, and you have the opportunity to express ideas without being shunned. If the issue is important to you, and the opportunity arises to have an open conversation, share your ideas but also show respect. Just as you are smart, capable, educated and secure in what your life experiences have taught you, so is the other person. There is always room to learn and grow and engage in productive discourse. With that said, people’s minds are difficult to change. This has been proven time and time again by behavior heuristics such as confirmation bias. Be prepared for opposing points of view. If you want to stand by your opinion, think critically about whether your beliefs are driven by logical and coherent reasons. When you speak about your beliefs, aim to show a new perspective, even if you cannot convince them. Your goal should not be to have others suddenly agree with everything you say, but for them to respect your point of view. If you aren’t confident in your reasoning, don’t say anything. But if you think you can present your idea in a way that sheds new light, it is absolutely worth it to express your opinions. 

How can we not have terrible mental health while going to a school that is so difficult (and don’t give me self-care, go for a walk)?

DISCLAIMER: This is an advice column asked and answered by students. Responses should not be considered qualified medical advice. If you are having an issue with mental health, please lean on adult members of our community like our upper school counselor, Rose Stoloff, or please consult an outside mental health professional.

Mental health challenges can occur for many reasons. In some (not all) cases, finding strategies to proactively manage potentially stressful situations can be helpful. As an example, if some of your mental health struggles stem from a sense of feeling overwhelmed by the Athenian course load, you might consider rethinking how you manage your time.

Self-care may be a good way to manage stress that’s already set in, but it doesn’t necessarily solve the root causes of stress. Though workload management strategies might not be simple to think through and implement, making small changes in lifestyle and habits can make a big difference. 

Personally, I’ve found that the best way to improve my own mental health has been to manage my time well while doing homework. I do this by regulating myself into not getting distracted (watching YouTube, looking at social media, etc.), and not procrastinating. I find that the best way to finish homework is to get into a “zone” where I’m very productive and sustain this flow for as long as possible. If you try this, you can take breaks if you feel it will help your productivity, but I find breaks to be disruptive. As with all attempts to find life hacks, use trial and error and do what works for you. Hopefully, once you reduce feelings of overwhelm, you can also have time for activities that help you relax. 

Blog Post Title One

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

College Application Season: A Stress Survival Guide

      College applications are quickly approaching for the class of 2023, and many juniors feel that preliminary college-app stress that we’ve all heard seniors complaining about. With their complaints of heavy workloads and high stress levels still fresh on our minds, many wonder how we can possibly survive this dreaded stage of highschool: college app season.

       With advice from Kimiko Sera-Tacorda, a former admissions officer, and Mark Van Warmerdam, an Athenian college counselor, we tackle the issues that past seniors have faced during the application process to learn from their experiences going forward. Here is a guide to lessening that burden and making the process easier on yourself.

How can my application reflect who I am?

Kimiko: Ask yourself: what do they want to hear from me? You’re not doing it for them, what do you have to say for yourself? 

How do I know which colleges are worth applying to?

Mark: A part of our conversation is, we get to know students and talk to them about their interests and their goals and aspirations. Compiling that with our information and the data that we have about colleges, [we] provide suggestions and help students broaden their search. There’s definitely a large amount of it that falls on the student to do the research and the exploration to see what works for them and what they’re interested in. We also do our best to keep a pulse on what’s happening in admissions to use that information to help students understand or estimate the likelihood of admissions.

What are colleges looking for? 

Kimiko: Depth  of involve-ment and a true passion will show up in your writing, and that is much more meaningful than a big laundry list of activities. I would extend that to be true for classes. They want you to absolutely push yourself to do your best, but that you’re doing something that interests you.

One senior brought up a concern about the difference between college essay style and the way students are taught how to write in school. How can students write good college essays?

Kimiko: We write reflections —that’s what they’re looking for, to be reflective. You do have more practice than you think. Reflect on college apps about what your passions are.

How can a non-humanities student approach college essays?

Kimiko: Everyone has to be a good writer and communicator. Colleges aren’t shifting their expectations based on your interests. There’s a sense of being sincere: that doesn’t mean that as a science person you can’t talk about your passions, your passions are just different. Tell a story, no matter if you consider yourself humanities or science. We are all human and we are all storytellers. 

In a senior survey, over a third of mentioned difficulties balancing school work and college apps. How would you suggest seniors find this balance?

Kimiko: Seniors should have most of the college applications done by the time school starts. Most of that work you can do over the summer when you have less stress and your brain is free to write well. When you’re trying to balance all the other due dates, it’s a lot harder.

Mark: We’re really trying to encourage students to begin early, so leading into senior year, a lot of the foundational work has been completed already. What tends to happen is that students don’t make spring a priority to make progress on the process because it’s not a it’s not an immediate deadline, and that’s when it becomes stressful in fall of senior year.

How can deadline-driven students keep on track? 

Kimiko: Use the resources you have—ask teachers for extensions, if you have to. Plan out the week before based on the Canvas agendas. If you care about it, you should plan for it.

Mark: We are providing, particularly through the Canvas now with target deadline dates for the different items to complete. And so sticking to that structure, and making a commitment to that, and building time to do that work into their schedule. A little bit of time every week will allow them to make a significant amount of progress that will benefit them down the road.

How would you suggest a student resolve differing wants and expectations with parents?

Mark: We encourage open communication both ways, between students and parents. A common way to do that is to set up a designated time to talk about the college process. This is about [the student’s] next steps and their college experience. In many cases, if the student can put forward a strong argument, and make a case for what they want, why they want it, and how they’re going to go about doing it, most parents are going to be receptive to that. We’re happy to be part of that conversation at the family meetings or additional meetings if it’s helpful to try and facilitate that communication in any way that we can.

What if there’s a lack of communication between the student and their college counselor? 

Mark: We’re sending out a lot of information. We do our best to be available, approachable, and accessible to students. I encourage them to reach out to us if they have any questions or if they have any needs that they feel aren’t being met.

What would you say to students who find the process especially arduous?

Mark: It depends a lot on how you approach it. There is a lot of work to do but if you plan and manage that in an effective way that can help minimize some of that stress around the workload. If students approach that in a realistic manner and if they’re open to a broader range of possibilities, that’s going to help them. Knowing that there are lots of great options out there can make it a much less stressful process.

If you had to give incoming applicants one piece of advice, what would it be? 

Mark: Start the process by being self reflective, and thinking about what’s important in their college experience. Continually ground themselves in that, and not in all the other noise that goes around the college process.

Kimiko: Plan and start early. As for essays, tell your story.

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

International Cooking: Laskiaispulla

Photo Credit: All photos provided by Gianna Beltramo

By Gianna Beltramo

Laskiaispulla. Also known as semla and fastelavnsboller, among other things, this traditional pastry is eaten in a variety of Northern European countries. There are small differences between each version, but I have decided to focus on the Finnish form, laskiaispulla. They are traditionally prepared during the Lent and Easter season, hence the more generic category they fall under: Shrovetide buns. However, the food actually predates Christianity; Laskiainen is an ancient Finnish holiday in celebration of the beginning of spring which has incorporated elements of Christian tradition. Laskiaispulla themselves are cardamom-seasoned pastries which are often served cut in half with a filling of whipped cream or strawberry or raspberry jam, though I believe that they are just as good plain.

I baked these! It was certainly an experience.

I haven’t baked anything in a while, so it was fun to get back into it, if only for a day. I discovered that cardamom is woefully expensive and that vanilla sugar is not exactly a common ingredient. (I ended up having to substitute it for a mix of vanilla extract and sugar, but it turned out fine.)

The following are a few of the thoughts that were running through my mind over the course of the morning:

“Is this wrong? This is wrong”

“Should I be using a whisk right now?”

“Oh wait...that says teaspoons, not tablespoons”

“I was probably supposed to melt the butter first, wasn’t I?”

“THE YEAST”

For the record, I absolutely loathe yeast. I’ve only baked with it a handful of times, and there’s a reason for that. It’s so...clumpy. I do not like it. Yet I swallowed down my ill sentiments and got on with it. Until I realized that instead of “2 heaping teaspoons of vanilla sugar,” I’d added two tablespoons. Already off to a great start! So, like any sane person, I took the first solution that came to mind, which happened to be eating the excess (which was a lot). It was disgusting. And of course, immediately after I’d decided I had a sufficient amount of sugar left, I realized that I could have just used less normal sugar instead of subjecting myself to multiple spoonfuls of pure sugary torment.

In retrospect, I probably should have paid more attention to the recipe, because I also forgot the butter, which led to me ultimately getting covered up to my forearms in butter-dough slime, a substance that is neither pleasant to the touch nor easy to wash off.

Another interesting dilemma I encountered: the recipe does not mention how big each chunk of dough should be when you separate it into individual buns. The Internet had no answers, so as someone who had never eaten a laskiaispulla in my life, I was left attempting to gauge the size based on the ratio of whipped cream to bread in the pictures. This also was relatively unsuccessful, so I ended up making some 2-inch ones and some 3- to 4-inch ones, just in case.

I baked them at 400℉ for 15 minutes, and somehow all of them were perfect despite some being 4 times as big as others. Except for the bottoms, which were solid black but still tasted good. Baking is crazy like that. 

I had one straight out of the oven to make sure it was cooked properly, and it tasted amazing. I’d never had cardamom before, and I am obsessed. It was crispy and golden on the outside and so nice and warm and excellent-smelling on the inside. And the bit of crunch from the almonds was great; it really accented the softness of the whole thing.

Cardamom is officially my new favorite spice. 

Later that evening, I whipped up a batch of homemade whipped cream (which basically means that I just dumped a bunch of stuff I thought was in whipped cream in a bowl and mixed it) and it actually turned out really good. The coolness was a delightful addition to the warm spices, though it was a bit hard to keep that much cream inside the two halves of the bun without making a mess.

All in all, it was a fun little project. Amazing flavor, good smells, aesthetic Pinterest-esque photos, the whole nine yards. I do have some questions about the appearance of the finished project, however. Judging from the photos of laskiaispulla I was able to find on the Internet, mine turned out a bit...crispy. They also broke apart a bit while baking, which I don’t think they were meant to do, but that was a direct result of me not knowing how big to make them. I tried to cut the decorative almonds into slivers, but my almonds were strangely crumbly and altogether uncooperative so I had to make do with chunks. Other than those two things, I believe it turned out perfectly.

The recipe was super easy to follow and the end result was amazing. 11/10 would recommend.

Jokes aside, here is the recipe I used if you want to give it a try. If you’re considering it, definitely give it a go sometime!

International Cooking: Sütlaç

By Gianna Beltramo

Fırın sütlaç: the Turkish form of a dish that exists worldwide with a vast number of cultural variations. In sütlaç, a pudding mixture is prepared and then baked under an oven to give the surface a golden color and enhance the flavor. It is typically served cold. Sütlaç is very common in Turkey; it is eaten at various times of the day and enjoyed by many.

I’ve never had any sort of rice pudding before, much less made it. In truth, I haven’t boiled many food items in my lifetime. Looking back, it was one of the most dreadfully stressful—and mildly exhilarating—cooking experiences I’ve ever had.

Our story begins on a Saturday morning. I gathered my supplies, internally questioning whether I’d need such a big pot for the small amount of liquid I’d poured into it. I would come to eat those words—or thoughts, rather—when, just a few short minutes later, I began to chant a never-ending mantra of “don’t boil over, don’t boil over, don’t boil over.” Boiling food is incredibly nerve-wracking. I don’t know how people can do it every day. It was a half an inch of water, and within five minutes it had foamed up enough that some of it was overflowing. So temperamental, rice. 

Photo Credit: All photos provided by Gianna Beltramo

Having read over the instructions beforehand, I’d known that once I began, things would move fast. However, the very first step threw me massively off my game: the rice took approximately one-half of a second to boil and I spent the following five minutes with a watchful eye on the pot, having to continuously turn the burner down so it wouldn’t boil over. In doing all that, I completely forgot to measure out the ingredients for the next step beforehand. And after that, it all kind of snowballed. Somehow, I still had time to eat a large quantity of Wheat Thins. I dipped them in the milk-sugar-rice-vanilla-water mixture, because food hygiene is overrated anyway, and found the results to be quite pleasant. The taste of the liquid was quite familiar, invoking a certain sort of nostalgia, but it also just tasted...exactly like what was in it. Which is not a bad thing, to be honest.

If I had to describe it, it’s one of those things that taste absolutely delicious in the moment, but afterwards, when you think back on it, you just wonder “Ew, why did I like that? That’s nasty” but you go back for seconds anyway.

Don’t let this deter you! They were good. I would especially recommend a pairing of Original Flavor Wheat Thins.

As hard to believe as this may be, I’d actually had the situation under relative control. I’d only made several minor messes of the stove thus far, but then it came time to pour the liquid into little cups. 

The thing is, I didn’t have little cups. Well, I did, but I only had three and I didn’t want to waste so much food, considering how much pudding liquid I’d made. (Which most definitely was not because I didn’t boil it down anywhere remotely near “enough.”)

It’s kind of ridiculous how many individual problems occurred as the direct result of that mistake. Always boil things down properly, kids.

I ended up having to try to form little pie tin-adjacent things using a sheet of aluminum foil. I kept accidentally poking holes in them as I tried to shape the things, they didn’t really do much to hold the batter in, and they certainly did not fit the perfect Pinterest aesthetic I’d been going for, so I regretted that idea. You know what I should have done instead? Cupcake liners.

There was a two-minute-long interval between me filling the containers and them actually going into the oven; this was because I, in my adrenaline rush, had completely forgotten the egg yolk-and-milk topping. During this time, I performed an action I shall call “frantic egg separation” which was altogether unpleasant.

When I checked in on them about halfway through the cooking process, I was met with the unwelcome surprise of a complete mess. A few factors came together to create the horror show inside the oven. First of all, in my effort not to waste anything, I think I overfilled the cups. And second, the unusual liquid-to-rice ratio probably didn’t do much to stop them from continuing to boil, boiling over, and creating a very non-traditional pancake on the cookie sheet I’d been advised to place under the individual cups.

This substance is also very difficult to clean. Be warned.

Somehow, after all that, the tops were not even remotely browned (as the recipe had prescribed). In fact, I could go so far as to say that they were kind of nasty looking. But they tasted good! My mother made several unsuccessful attempts to pry the pudding cup from my hands, but it was too good. Very sweet, and I loved the texture of the rice. It’s a nostalgic sort of flavor that made me think that perhaps I have had rice pudding at one point or another.

Of course, the lack of boiling down once again took its toll. There wasn’t very much rice in each cup; I’d say that it was somewhere between ⅔ to ¾ pure liquid (well, not liquid really, but substance-that-is-not-rice). It was still delicious, but I get the feeling that rice pudding is meant to have rice in it. Plus, all the rice sank to the bottom, which made for a very strange and jarring contrast in textures.

Because I couldn’t just accept failure, I did the whole thing again the next day!

(With ½ proportions, because I only had three viable containers to use.)

Considerably fewer Wheat Thins were consumed this time around.

It turned out so much better. Since I already had the gist of what was going on, the whole business felt a lot more under control. I cooked them for 22-odd minutes before popping them under the broiler for a couple more to brown, to generally good results. One of them did get a bit burnt, but it was no big deal, considering they were all much more appetizing than their predecessors. As could be predicted, they were pretty much the same in flavor, but there was a major difference when it came to texture. I didn’t really prefer one over another; they were just unique in their own special ways.

This recipe is honestly fairly healthy, as desserts go. (If you can look past the cup of sugar.) It’s quite satisfying, and the coldness is nice. However, I would not recommend it if you’re not a fan of sweet things, because as I just said, there is a cup of sugar in it and there’s not any salt or any other ingredient that will really counteract the sweetness.

I’m not sure whether I would give the experience a very low or a very high rating, for the exact same reason. It was chaotic, frantic, and the kitchen was filled with the sound of my pleas for the liquid not to boil over. I hated every second, and at the same time, I loved it. But honestly, at the end of the day, why would anyone ever cook anything if not for the adrenaline rush?
The recipe: 7/10. The final product: 8/10. Would I do it again? Maybe, someday in the distant future, when I’ve long since forgotten how terrifying cooking rice is.

A Beginner’s Guide to Quarantine Plants

Graphic By Alekhya Maram

By Savonnah Wong

Plants are an amazing way to decorate your space even if it's just a small desk plant. Along with looking nice, plants can also be fantastic quarantine pets or buddies! However, if you are a beginner in the plant parent world, buying a houseplant can seem daunting at first. There are so many varieties of plants out there, and if you are just getting started on your plant collection, you might be wondering how to determine which plant best suits your home, and more importantly how to take care of it. If you want a low-maintenance houseplant that will spruce up your home with a little greenery but want to stay with plants that are fairly easy to care for and are more forgiving, here’s a list of eight different plants to choose from!

Pothos

This trailing plant is one of the easiest plants to care for because of how forgiving it can be. If you are a beginner to plants, this is the plant for you! Pothos (a.k.a the Devil’s Ivy) can withstand over and underwatering and can thrive just about anywhere, except in direct sunlight. There are many types of pothos plants, from the Golden Pothos and Marble Queen Pothos to the Neon Pothos and Jade Pothos. These easy-to-maintain plants can be found in almost every nursery and plant store. For the best results, keep this plant in medium to low indirect light, and water when 1-2 inches of the top layer of the soil dries out.

Precaution: Keep out of reach of small children and house pets, like cats or dogs, because any part of this plant is poisonous if ingested.

Photo Credit: luca85/Shutterstock: Air Plant

Air Plants

Air plants, or Tillandsia, are plants that require very little attention and are an amazing addition to your workspace or home as decor! These plants are super easy to care for since most of the nutrients they need come from the air, and they grow without the use of soil. Air plants thrive in bright indirect sunlight and good air circulation. Just remember to water these plants once a week by soaking them in water for 15-30 minutes, and allowing them to dry out before watering again! After that you are good to go!

Succulents

These almost impossible-to-kill plants are the perfect addition to a window sill or as a small decoration in your room. Succulents are very easy to maintain and are great starting plants for people new to taking care of plants. There are a variety of succulents that come in different shapes, colors, and sizes! Succulents come from a family of drought-resistant plants, so these plants can survive without water for weeks on end! But please remember to water your plants! To get the best results and keep this plant alive, it is recommended to water every couple of weeks.

Peperomia

Peperomia have beautiful foliage and there are over 1,000 species of this type of plant! Some people call it the “Baby Rubber Plant,” because these plants actually just look a lot like miniature versions of a rubber tree. Peperomias are considered easy to take care of because of how adaptable they are to different levels of light, except for bright direct sunlight. These plants should be watered once or twice a week, but allow the top layer of the soil to dry out completely before watering again to prevent root rot.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

The Chinese Evergreen plant, or also known as Aglaonema, is the perfect plant for people who love to decorate their homes with plants but are beginners to being plant parents or are too busy to take care of their plants. Their luscious foliage comes in a variety of colors from green and white to pink and even red! Aglaonema are an amazing addition to a workspace, or as a centerpiece on tables! These plants are very easy to maintain, for they are incredibly forgiving when overwatered, and can tolerate just about any indoor conditions. Watering them every one to two weeks and allowing them to stay in low to moderate light allows them to thrive! 

Pilea (Chinese Money Plant)

Chinese Money Plants are known for their cute coin-shaped leaves and are easy to care for! Pileum (plural for Pilea) love to be in bright, indirect sunlight, and they should be watered when the leaves start to droop slightly and the first two inches of the soil is dry. This plant is also perfect for people who have animals, as the Pilea is a pet-friendly plant! Along with being easy to care for, this plant is known for being a “self-propagator”, meaning that the Pilea can produce small babies of its own known as “pups.” These pups can be replanted, and from there a new Pilea has been formed that can be given as gifts to others or to increase your collection of plants!

Photo Credit: dropStock/Shutterstock: Small Pilea Peperomioides house plant in a gray pot in front of a white wall

Snake Plant

This succulent plant known for its sword-like leaves is one of the toughest plants to kill. This is another plant that can withstand a lot and is great for people who forget to water their plants! Snake plants can go for weeks without watering because they like their soil to be dried in between waterings. With bright indirect light or low light and waterings from time to time, this plant will thrive! 

Prayer Plant (Calathea)

The Calathea gets its nickname “Prayer Plant” because of how the plant’s leaves curl up like prayer hands at night. There are many species of these plants which range in different shapes and colors! To care for the Prayer Plant, place it somewhere that receives bright indirect sunlight, and the more humidity the better. For watering, allow 1-2 inches of the soil to dry completely. An added plus is that these plants are pet friendly!