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Check out THE EMOJI STORY documentary, available on @AppleTV + all major digital platforms on December 22 (today)!
AppleTV link to purchase the movie: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-emoji-story/id1540375585
Make sure to check out the amazing review for this movie here: https://yuniversitywriting.tumblr.com/post/638257137707106304/picture-character-the-emoji-story-film-review
Sorry for the long intermission, it has been a busy school season
For this week, we are going to explore the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, which is known for being themed after old school missions.
We first arrived at the inn in attendance to one of my relatives’ weddings, and the spot was beautiful. The first thing you notice when you arrive is the decor, which resembles an old style mission similar to the 21 that populate all throughout California. The main lobby as well is very old style, with a rustic feel.
Complementing its theme, the Mission Inn even has its own chapel (which is where the actual wedding ceremony took place). The interior is much smaller than an actual mission, but it’s design matches the chapels built over two centuries ago. It also still functions as an actual church, where ceremonies other than marriage can take place as well.
The Inn began to serve people in 1876 and started as a boarding house, but later moved on to being a full hotel in the 1900s. Not only is this site very popular with religious patrons, but it also features artwork, religious artifacts, and furniture from the past. It even has the oldest christian bell, created in 1247.
Throughout its history as an active hotel, the Mission Inn has served United States presidents, been the set to many movies, and also served many historical figures (some of which include the likes of Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, and John Muir). Overall, it’s rich history and its unique design makes up an interesting hotel, and a beautiful site to get married.
For more information on this hotel, check out its website:
https://www.missioninn.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1PTri5f36wIVxRx9Ch2JYQrVEAAYAiAAEgI0_fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
The YUNiversity Interns | YUNiversity Writing Dept. | YUNiversity Art Dept.
These photos were taken from my backyard in late May, when the flowers bloom with extremely vibrant colors. If I’ve learned anything through this time in quarantine, it's that there’s a lot of things that I used to take for granted, particularly with the beauty of nature in my own backyard. Even the most simplest looking of plants can have its flowers blossom. It seems as though this has been the one consistent thing throughout our time in social distancing orders. Nature still hasn’t failed to shine brightly.
Even though I have spent a lot of time in our family’s garden, I usually never looked twice at all of the plants we were cultivating, but the reality is that they are all unique and special in their own different way. During Covid19, I’ve realized now that each of the plants in our yard serve a purpose outside of existing. The flowers attract the bees which help pollinate our greenhouse. The produce such as lettuce and tomatoes not only feed us, but also the diverse amount of insects and animal life within the mini ecosystem. Whether it's out of boredom or curiosity, the purpose of these plants is something that I will never look at the same way ever again, especially after all the time I have spent caring for them and enjoying what they have brought to me during this quarantine. It feels silly to think about something so trivial, something so simple, or even bland. But the truth is, sometimes it’s normal to entertain random thoughts within your head, it can even help relieve the stress that pandemics and humanitarian crises bring on. It’s perfectly fine to want to indulge in the simplicities of life, and to want to clear your head.
Hopefully I was able to inspire you to sometimes just take a deep breath and live within the moment, maybe even think about the simpler things that make up your life. It can really help bring on a sense of calmness, relaxation, and clarity. Stay safe everyone.
YUNiversity Interns | YUNiversity Writing Dept. | YUNiversity Art Dept.
Photos by Yvette Lee
These are some pictures that I took on a trip to Downtown Los Angeles last year as a part of my photography class. This experience was truly fascinating as I got to see the beautiful and complex structures that were located in this bustling city of life and people that I had never previously noticed before. While taking pictures with my camera throughout this trip, I was encouraged by the abstract details of these objects and was truly inspired by how beautiful everything was from their colors to the patterns to the structure. These seemingly ordinary buildings that I would never have even taken a second glimpse at before and just ignore when I would previously visit LA, now seemed to hold so much life, personality, and each portray an aura of unique beauty in their own individual ways.
Overall, this trip taught me a lot in terms of my photography perspective and experience and was what really set off my personal passion and love for photography even more than before as I learned to focus on even the little details and assets of all my subjects and not to just solely pay attention to the big picture every time. I think everything you see in day to day life all has their own separate personalities and aspects that are unique to them, which is essentially the beauty of photography as this art allows you to truly dive deeper and uncover these hidden points and charms by looking closer than the surface level to see what they truly hold.
I encourage you to perhaps try to look at things from a deeper perspective and see the beauty in all things of life because even seemingly ordinary and boring objects in day to day life can all hold their own personal, unique stories hidden deep inside, but we just need to uncover these secrets by really seeing what lays underneath the surface. Perhaps pick up a camera or your phone or even use your eyes to take some pictures and really start to see the different perspectives and purposes behind even ordinary life, and you might be surprised and fascinated at what you can discover.
Picture taken December 24th
(Disclaimer: the beach photos are still ongoing, but I thought I would take a break and show you a different ecosystem)
The photo above was taken at a pond in Desert Breeze Park, AZ, and depicts an American Coot. The American coot is a bird that, while resembles a duck, is actually a part of the rail bird family. These waterbirds often hang around ponds, and are a very adaptable species. Despite being of least concern (in terms of species endangerment), their population has recently decreased in the eastern side of the United States, largely due to threats that not only affect them, but also pond ecosystems (Source 1).
The American Coot is particularly susceptible to fire weather because wildfires can completely destroy its habitat, and decrease the land it has available for nesting and other purposes. While their population is decently stable now, this could potentially be a large problem in the future, as the increase in average annual temperature (due to climate change) is increasing the risk and chances of a wildfire (Source 2). The warmer seasons also pose a threat to their young, who cannot stand high heat (Source 1). Habitat destruction is also a problem in pond ecosystems in general, which can be caused by (Source 3):
• Pollution- Because ponds have smaller amounts of water compared to other aquatic ecosystems, it is much harder to recover from pollution damage since it can spread to the entire habitat so quickly. It can also be difficult for ponds to be cleaned, meaning pond water can be polluted for a long time.
• Human development- The development of human infrastructure often disrupts land by or on ponds (as the natural surroundings are replaced by more human ones). This effectively destroys their habitat.
• Increase in agriculture (Directly correlate with pollution)- Ponds have slowly decreased as more and more land is being set aside for agricultural production. In addition to this however, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are a huge threat to pond ecosystems, as they are heavy pollutants and can cause the eventual creation of dead zones, areas with oxygen hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and no animal or plant life.
For more information on the American Coot and threats to pond ecosystems, check out these great sources, and always be sure to take care of the environment around you:
SOURCE 1: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-coot
SOURCE 2: https://www.c2es.org/content/wildfires-and-climate-change/
SOURCE 3: http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/adlib/defra/content.aspx?id=000HK277ZW.09T3D0FQT56IF2
YUNiversity Interns | YUNiversity Writing Dept. | YUNiversity Art Dept.
I took this spontaneous picture of one of the cute lil babies at my church one sunny day before quarantine. All our church kids playing together and enjoying our time on the small scrawny playground, filled with laughter and joy, and the baby just randomly sitting down for a perfect model shot that I knew I couldn’t miss. I took many pictures that day and all of them exude radiation and delight from each one of their faces as we shared fond times together that day and even though it was only a simple random Sunday afternoon at church like any other, I knew that these times could never be replaced for the world.
These days full of life and cheer, while I do dearly miss them, have truly helped me to realize how precious even these seemingly minuscule memories are in our lives and have allowed me to truly comprehend how important even the little things in life are. These recent times, while difficult and worrisome, have ultimately taught me to now cherish all the moments in my life, even the little ones, which I try to hold deep in my heart because I’m now aware that these same memories will never come across in my life again. I hope that moving forward, I can always be grateful for everything in my life and not always yearn for “more and more” but just learn to be content and satisfied with what I have in the now. While quarantine and all these current situations throughout the world right now have most definitely been one stressful unprecedented ride for all of us, I do believe that, if anything, I have at least been able to take this meaningful lesson to heart out of this tough crazy experience in my life and I am truly grateful and appreciative for that.
Also, just a reminder again to stay safe and strong everyone! And that we can get through this together!
(Picture taken in mid December of 2019, at El Matador State Beach)
I found this creature sitting along the rocks by the shoreline of El Matador State beach, on the same trip that I took with my family before the start of quarantine. From what I’ve been able to research, I believe that it’s a Solitary Starburst Anemone, which is found along the coasts of Central to Baja California (Source 1). Considering that this is a creature commonly found in tide pools, I thought it would be good to shed some light on the threats that are currently impacting these habitats.
Tide pools are pools of saltwater found along the intertidal zones of beaches, and are hosts to numerous different types of plant and animal life. Because they are isolated from the ocean, these pockets of water are mainly threatened by pollution and runoff (which is essentially water drained from human structures into the environment, usually it becomes a problem due to the chemicals and pollutants dragged along with it). The most common types of tide pool pollutants consist of trash, oil, sewage, and even chemical substances (Source 2), and though many large organizations (such as seaworld) help to clean up beaches from time to time, the sheer amount of pollutants that reach the ocean still causes substantial damage.
Another issue that negatively affects tide pools is climate change (though climate change is a problem for the environment as a whole, Source 2). The increase in ocean water temperatures caused by climate change can push animals to find new living spaces to avoid the risk of damage, thus lowering the distribution of animals within the area. This can reduce the biodiversity of the ecosystem, which leads to its overall deterioration.
So how can you help? In terms of pollution, the best way to help is to throw away your trash and or prevent it from hitting the ocean or the beach. It’s also a good practice to bring reusable beach gear, to reduce/minimize the amount of waste that you produce. As far as climate change goes, some of the best things people can do are driving less, consuming less water, and reducing their household power usage (Source 2). Such little changes can make such a big difference.
The YUNiversity Interns | YUNiversity Writing Dept. | YUNiversity Art Dept.
These are some pictures that I took while fostering puppies a while back during this time of quarantine. Fostering was truly an amazing experience that I will never forget and I’m so glad that I decided to take the initiative to try something new and take care of these beautiful sweet angels during this time of crisis. The pup siblings that I fostered were miniature pinscher terrier mixes and their names were Adeline and Kinsley. These puppies truly provided me with joy and comfort throughout the days with their never-ending excitement and playful energy as well as their love for cuddles especially during naps. While separation was the hardest part of the journey which was filled with overflowing tears of sadness, I do believe that this was overall a great experience and learning opportunity for me and my family. While we were fortunately able to have the opportunity to adopt Adeline as our own, Kinsley, on the other hand, was adopted by another family which was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life but I do believe her new loving family will take great care of her in their home and I hope she’s having a great time right now :) I’m so grateful that during this time I was finally able to have the opportunity to take care of dogs like I had always wished for and I’m glad that I was able to perhaps help these little animals by providing a safe home for them even if it was only for a short while <3
Even during quarantine, while it may be hard to stay home all the time, I believe that there are many different unique activities and options according to our own personal interests that we can rely on and utilize to help us all get through these unprecedented times together (such as fostering puppies in my case). Instead of looking at this in a negative sense, I think trying to open my mind and creativity during this time to different new activities and passions that I had been wanting to pursue and try before but never really had the time to until now has personally really helped me to look more towards the positive aspect of the situation and even discover new interests that I had perhaps previously never known about or realized before. Now, more than ever, I believe we must persevere and get through this together, doing all that we can to take the proper precautions to stay safe and healthy while also making sure to remain mentally stable and happy as well :) Let’s all stay strong and overcome this together!
As I’m continuing to try to educate myself on the Black Lives Matter Movement, I decided to watch “The Hate U Give”, which is a movie highlighting the life of a young teenage girl named Starr who is forced to find a balance between her black heritage and community back in her hometown versus her white privilege at school. I decided to make a collage highlighting some of the impactful quotes and pictures from this movie in order to share the powerful message and importance of this movie especially in light of the current times today. This movie was such a compelling and inspirational film as it encompasses the reality of police brutality, the fear and uncertainty that black families have to constantly face throughout their whole lives even at a young age, as well as a young black teen girl finding her own voice and speaking out for what’s right as she stands up for her beliefs after experiencing a traumatizing incident that alters her perspective and life forever.
I highly recommend this movie (and the book which this movie was based on as well) as it truly opened my eyes to the perspectives of the black community and really helped me to further grasp and understand the cruciality and power of the Black Lives Matter movement in their situation as a reflection of the current times today. I believe that even watching movies, listening to podcasts, reading books, and more that highlight the Black Lives Matter message is a really great and accessible way for us all to further educate ourselves on this movement as well as we are able to further our knowledge and understanding from the perspective of the black community. Moving forward, I plan to continue to utilize all the widely available resources to me and do all that I can to learn and broaden my perspective so that I am able to fully support and understand this movement and the black community to the best of my abilities.
Keep up the pressure, just because the “trend” is over doesn’t mean the movement is over. The impact and power that the unity of this movement has been creating is tremendous and we can't stop now. Anything helps and we will keep fighting on together for justice and change, we got this!
I have included some links down below to different websites that provide a wide range of various movies, books, podcasts, and other really great resources that help educate on the BLM movement as well so feel free to check them out if interested/ want to learn more!
https://www.cnet.com/news/black-lives-matter-movies-tv-shows-and-books-on-systemic-racism/
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bUJrgX8vspyy7YttiEC2vD0DawrpPYiZs94V0ov7qZQ/htmlview
https://www.vromansbookstore.com/blm-learning-about-anti-racist-work
https://fashionmagazine.com/culture/anti-black-racism-awareness-books-movies-resources/
The YUNiversity Interns | YUNiversity Writing Dept. | YUNiversity Art Dept.
(Picture Taken at El Matador State Beach in 2019) As the second national spike in Covid19 cases begins to sweep through the nation, some states are beginning to close off public places once again, including beaches. While this may be a huge disappointment, it's important to note why these closures are necessary to prevent the spread of this disease.
The spread of the coronavirus is dependent on person to person contact, meaning social distancing is possibly the most important defense mechanism we have against this disease. Unfortunately, this means that beaches can be a large hotspot for the spread of covid19, given the sheer amount of visitors (in many states, hundreds of millions annually) that they can attract. Not only is this the safest option, but it can hopefully improve oceanic health as well considering that less visitors to the beach will likely result in less on shore pollution. It’s also worth noting that it's in the best interest of states to protect their beaches, so it's likely that they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
It may be difficult, resisting the beautiful waters and the scenery, but it’s important to remember that the safety of yourself and others takes priority. This summer, instead of going to the beach, maybe try reading a new book, or getting invested in a new show. For the time being, it seems like some of us will have to wait before swimming in our favorite oceans. Stay Safe everyone!
For more information on the current status of Covid19, Check out the World Health Organization and the CDC’s Websites, which are constantly updated with new information about the pandemic. Here are their links:
WHO- https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019?gclid=CjwKCAjwi_b3BRAGEiwAemPNUwwaMpsV3xjolpxbQA3DasN2a5MWVFoV5t59zYBAAf9KcVpb9getQhoCjagQAvD_BwE
CDC- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Amazing writing from amazing teens.
Amazing artwork from amazing teens.
Interns — The YUNiversity
While we may sometimes feel locked up in quarantine right now due to the current situation or perhaps feel enclosed and chained up as we’re safely social distancing at home, I urge you to know that we’re all in this together and if we stay united, we can all persevere and get through these unprecedented times together! Whenever I have personally felt stressed or anxious during this time of quarantine, I usually find that taking a walk outside/ going on hikes and enjoying the fresh air (while wearing a mask of course), connecting with friends, family, and loved ones, exercising and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, exploring new hobbies and passions while revisiting my old ones, trying to stay productive and focused, and more really helps me to cope during these uncertain times (and they might even help you too)! Just remember that your mental health and body are the most important so if you can, try to take some time off for yourself to relax and do what makes you feel good/ happy while also making sure to always stay safe and healthy! (and another friendly reminder that you got this!)
Also, in regards to the current ongoing prominent events that are occurring throughout the world right now: while some (such as myself) might be wondering how to help out even while self-isolating at home, I have found that there are various different ways to act out in support of these crucial events depending on individual circumstances even from the safety of our own homes. Whether that be through donating, signing petitions, reaching out to representatives, supporting advocates, sharing on social media, learning, and so much more, I believe we can all unite to contribute and positively work towards making a change in the world and I hope to do my part in any way that I can as well. If we open our minds and use our creativity, even through our own personal passions such as art, photography, writing, reading, and more, I think we can utilize even our own individual passions and aspirations to create our own personal unique voice in support of these crucial causes as well and I believe that’s the entire beauty and power of these movements <3
Here are some links to refer to for some more specific information and resources on some of the current ongoing events/ different ways that anyone can help if interested :)
https://dotherightthing.carrd.co
https://educateurself.carrd.co
https://issuesintheworld.carrd.co
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
https://yemencrisis.carrd.co
https://standwithhongkong.carrd.co
https://helppalestine.carrd.co
The YUNiversity Interns | YUNiversity Writing Dept. | YUNiversity Art Dept.
Before covid19 had become a huge issue, and before the latest tragedies involving police brutality, my family and I had taken a trip to El Matador State Beach, one of the most beautiful and scenic beaches that I had ever been to. I was able to capture many different views from the shore, and even bits of wildlife (such as the birds perched peacefully on the cliff side). In a modernized society, such hidden gems are hard to come by.
Despite the beauty that nature can offer, there are those who will always try to exploit our ecosystems for monetary gain. Case in point: in the first week of June, President Trump signed an executive order to waive regulations on new infrastructure from some of our most important pieces of environmental legislation, including the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. This means that large scale farmers and industrial organizations can avoid waste reduction and damage minimization rules for production. It could be a large problem for ecosystems like El Matador State Beach, as now pollution will be more and more prevalent without these integral pieces of legislation.
My hope is to show the beauty of these delicate ecosystems through photography, and by doing so, emphasize the importance of preserving nature, not just for practical, but also aesthetic reasons.
The Yuniversity Interns | The Yuniversity Writing Tumblr | The Yuniversity Art Tumblr
I took this picture on a trip to downtown LA previously in the year not knowing what would come of our society in the following times.
Now, at a time when our country should be united as a whole, we are broken apart as a nation due to the cause of unacceptable treatment towards blacks. I believe that the American flags in this image really show a representation of our country as a whole because this movement not only affects the black community but also affects our entire country as a whole, nationwide impact and movement.
Although I, as a young Korean-American teenage girl living in a small town, can not even begin to understand the context of this whole situation from the perspective of the black community, I am constantly trying to educate myself on this matter and continue to learn. I truly wish to support this movement to the best of my abilities and help support the black community in fighting for their cause as best I can. I will use my voice and do all that I can to speak out on behalf of this movement. Through my photography, I will work to spread awareness, take action, and amplify the voices of the blacks in full support of this movement as an advocate of change and justice.
Black Lives Matter and always have/will matter. Enough is Enough.
The YUNiversity Interns | YUNiversity Writing Dept. | YUNiversity Art Dept.
video by Yvette Lee
👉 Read the YUNiversity’s interns collective opinion on BLM through this link.
👉 Check out this amazing artwork drawn by one of the YUNiversity interns.
The YUNiversity Interns | YUNiversity Writing Dept. | YUNiversity Art Dept.
DIEGO P.
Granada Hills Charter High School ’21.
Diego is currently a 17-year-old junior hoping to one day become the next great game/software designer. He is a proud Mexican-American, raised under both the Arizona and California sun, and if he isn't exercising or doing homework, then you'll probably find him hanging out with his family and his dog.
Studying is one of his number one priorities, but relaxing always comes a close second. His hobbies include gardening, playing video games, watching horror flicks, and the occasional browsing of YouTube. His biggest influences are his parents, who cheer him on in everything he does.
👉 Check out Diego’s Instagram.
YVETTE L.
Santa Susana High School ’21.
Ever since she was young, Yvette has always been fascinated and curious about the world around her, leading to her passionate love for travel as well as her strong desire to explore and experience as much of the world as possible. Wherever she goes and whatever she does, Yvette always makes sure to capture and express these special moments in life through her photography to cherish these precious memories forever. While she may sometimes feel overwhelmed by challenges and burdens, Yvette finds that taking time to separate herself from these worries and responsibilities to simply enjoy the natural beauties of life, such as by going on hikes, helps her to especially destress and relax.
When she has free time away from her academics, Yvette enjoys spending time with friends and family, serving at her church and community, exercising, listening to music, and watching Korean drama and shows. While Yvette does feel an especially strong bond towards her own Korean heritage, she is constantly looking to learn more about other cultures as well and always has an open mind when trying new activities. She hopes that through her photography, she is able to uncover the vast life and beauty of the world around us or simply express her own passions, interests, and hobbies, or perhaps even just share content that can be relatable, entertaining, and provide others with joy throughout their day.
👉 Check out Yvette’s Instagram.
Photo by Hope Jin (photo intern @theyuniversity)