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I Had Acne, Too, & I’m Here To Help

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By Jessica Denyer, thebirdonfire.org Editor-in-Chief

No matter who you are or what you do, everyone in the entire world has had at least a pimple in  life. Acne and general skin problems are recurring issues that billions of people deal with every day. I was one of them. I know how terrible it is to feel like you need to hide your face under pounds of makeup or try a new skin product every week. For those of you still suffering, I am here to help! Please, just listen!

Throughout most of middle-school and into my high-school years, I dealt with progressively worsening acne. It was really bad. No, like really bad. I have spent many nights crying into my serums just wishing that some day one of them would finally be the magic fix I needed. I know when I write these things, I’m really personal, but I know I’m not alone here, and I seriously want to help. 

I tried Clearasil. I tried Cetaphil. I tried every drug store brand. I tried every expensive brand. I tried Microblading. I tried special facials. I tried prescription creams and pills. NOTHING. Around the end of freshman year it was really starting to take a toll on me. Mentally, I was exhausted, and it was making me depressed. I would turn down plans regularly, and people would even try to talk to me in regards to my acne. “Have you tried….?” “Do you wash your face?” “You’d be so pretty if you could just get the acne under control.” Yes, these are all real comments I would get on a regular basis. Not to be dramatic, but it was totally ruining my life. I was at my wits’ end, until I heard about a skin expert and acne specialist named Nicole and her company Meta Skin Studio which was located in downtown Palm Springs but has since moved to Borrego Springs.

Nicole Mandallaz, or as I simply know her, Nicole, has been in the esthetics industry for over 13 years and has worked on everyone from Hollywood celebrities to little old me. For her, skincare isn’t just about getting the check; it’s about helping people and making them feel as confident as possible in their own skin.

Now, of course, I was skeptical, but anyone that knows me knows that I am never one to give up. I went home and checked out her website, and it seemed promising. I booked an appointment with her, and when I got there she was so lovely, and I could tell right away she was going to help me. I remember my mom even leaned over to me and said, “I think this one might finally work!” She assessed my skin, but also went on to ask me about my diet and regular habits. She was very detailed and wanted to know everything about me. No one else had ever gone into such detail. I think the thing I liked most about Nicole was the fact that she didn’t make me feel disgusted about my skin. She made me feel comfortable and confident that she was going to get me looking right. 

So besides her wonderful personality, what makes Nicole so special?

Nicole’s products contain ethically sourced, active plant extracts and botanicals that haven’t been diluted like most skincare companies, and they have research-backed results. Her products are all cruelty free, and her packaging is all completely environmentally friendly. I started on a special acne treatment of various products that she had hand picked for me, and she told me to try cutting out sugar, as my skin was inflamed, and sugar apparently contributes to that. After doing this for only two days, I couldn’t believe the immediate results I was having. My skin was less red; the acne itself had gone down, and the rest of my face was soft and smooth. I continued my treatment for six months, and by that time my acne was completely healed. Of course, I still get the occasional zit, who doesn’t? But, overall, my skin was perfect compared to how it once was. Now I use a different set of everyday products from her to keep my skin clear. 

So, what is the point of me writing this? So that the good people of this school who may also be dealing with similar skin issues as I did can finally have some relief. Meta Skin Studio is a small business whose products really work, and I want as many people to know about it as possible both for the prosperity of your skin and her great business. 

A message from Nicole:

“You can think you’re doing everything right from what you read on the internet, but treating acne takes many things internally and externally to help you get clear. It’s not going to be as easy as taking a couple pills or using a few creams, and everyone is unique. What I do is help give you tools to manage acne for the long run. The results are all you, I just help along the way.”


Nicole has relocated recently to her beautiful new spot in Borrego Springs. If that feels too far a drive, you can have an online meeting with her and send her photos of your skin. She can give you an assessment remotely. 

If you want to learn more, reach out to Nicole at (760) 835-2004 or at www.metaskinstudio.com. 

Cats vs. Dogs

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An Op-Ed By Alyna Rei

A common question I hear a lot is “Do you prefer cats or dogs?” Both animals bring comfort to many people. It really does depend on the person if they prefer a cat or a dog. If you are into a calm, quiet, lazy animal, go with a cat (not saying all dogs aren’t calm). If you are into a more energetic, active, and happy animal, go with a dog. Cats will be in their own world and will come to you when they want to while a dog sticks by your side.

If I were to choose, I would choose dogs. For example, we have cat allergies in my house. So getting a cat would be torture. Another reason I choose dogs is because dogs help me stay responsible and active. Cats to me are more of an indoor pet, while a dog needs exercise. I have never seen someone “walk” their cat. 

I also just learned that cats can not be service animals. The only animal that can be a service animal is a dog. 

Below are my two golden retrievers, Lucy and Ethel. I’ve had them since I was in sixth grade. Both have taught me and my brother great responsibility: we feed them, clean the yard, and take them for walks.


Here are people’s opinions on this common question: Do you prefer dogs or cats?

“Dogs.  Cats are bendy and weird.”

Sienna Price (8th grade)

“Both. I don’t want to be biased.”

Abigail Horwitt (10th grade)

“Both. I’ve always had cats, but dogs have been a revelation in my life.”

Ms. Zachik (teacher)

“Dogs. I’m allergic to cats. Dogs have more personality.”

Lilah Nick (sophomore)

“I prefer dogs because I find them to be more fun companions than cats. I appreciate cats’ independence, but dogs tend to play more and engage more with humans. Plus, no scratches with dogs!”

Ms. Coffey (teacher)

“Dogs are cool? But so are cats? Cats are a lot more mellow while dogs are a lot more active? I like them both.”

Cole Robinson (sophomore)

“Dogs. Dogs are so much more playful. Dogs are also good for protection. It depends which type of dog you have, but dogs are better at protecting. I doubt a cat would attack an intruder. I personally like dogs better, but I’ve also never had a cat.”

Christina Lam (sophomore)

“I like cats because they’re small and friendly. They are also cute, and their purrs are sweet. Dogs are more dangerous than cats.”

Jocelynn Montoya (junior)

Why do People Love to Hate?

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An Editorial and Explanation by Abigail Horwitt

According to my classmates, I am known to hate people. I wouldn’t say it’s something to be proud of, but it is something normal among people. Let me explain the reasons behind why people enjoy hating other people. 

First of all, what is hate? According to medicine.net, “Hate is the feeling of intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or a sense of injury.” Enough hatred towards a person can lead to hurting them, or even yourself.  Everyone has gone through uncomfortable hatred at some point, either after being betrayed, or hurt physically or emotionally. Yes, it is normal to have hateful thoughts sometimes, but having the feeling of hatred build up for a certain period of time can mess with your mind and body. It can also bring out more negative thoughts and feelings which can affect personal and general relationships. On the other hand, hatred can change the chemistry inside your brain by stimulating the area in your brain that is responsible for planning and putting actions into motion (medicine.net). This part of your brain will trigger aggression, causing you to either defend or attack. While that is happening, your brain will increase two of your hormones called cortisol and adrenaline which can cause things like weight gain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and other chronic illnesses (medicine.net). The feeling of hate can further trigger anxiety, restlessness, overthinking, and paranoia. Very often your brain will try and predict what the person you hate might say to defend themselves against you. Overall, hatred can take a major toll on your mind and body, to the point where if you hate for too long, it could completely affect and hurt your mental health. Your body’s nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system are also negatively affected by hating someone. Having these extreme emotions can also trigger the release of stress hormones in your brain, and over time the stress hormones can cause inflammation throughout your body that can result in serious health consequences (medicine.net). The more intense your emotions become and the more you hold on to the hatred the more it affects your body. 

Love isn’t actually the opposite of hate. Love is the feeling of deep affection towards someone. The actual opposite of hate is mental and emotional indifference. Why? The reason for hate not being the opposite of love is because hatred is a form of attachment to the thing or person you hate the most. Instead of affection towards someone, the feeling of hate can falsely inflate the ego and creates a false sense of superiority and self-righteousness against the thing or person who is hated (medicine.net). What makes you feel better about hating?

Finding someone to hate with you.

The Science of People site asks, is the cliché true that “No bond is stronger than two people who hate the same person?” (scienceofpeople.com). Research out of the University of South Florida has discovered that people who are able to share their negative feelings towards someone compared to those who share positive feelings are more likely to form a stronger bond. So, that cliche does actually have some truth to it.

Even though hatred is socially unacceptable on most occasions, it’s natural; we’ve all felt it. Careful: hatred can be intoxicating. When we hate enough to share our strong feelings, we often find like minds, and people bond–but not in a necessarily healthy way (scienceofpeople.com).

Medicine.net recommends we acknowledge our feelings of hatred and find a solution to the problem; bring down our blood pressure; understand the root cause of our hate; and do something about it. Very often, the root of hatred is insecurity and mistrust. So, build and gather the tools you need to strengthen.

Senior Spotlight: Isabella Goetschel

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By Lilah Nick 

In just about a month we will all have to say goodbye to our beloved seniors. While they are still here gracing our company, let’s talk about them. Here’s graduating Senior Isabella Goetschel. 

I have known Izzy since I was a freshman. We’ve acted together. We share ASB responsibilities. So, I talked with Izzy and asked her some questions about high school. 

How was your high-school experience?

I think I have had a pretty good high school experience. I have been so lucky with some of my teachers and the friends I’ve made have been…interesting. Interesting but hilarious. I’m truly grateful to have been able to enjoy it as much as I have.

Do you have any favorite memories?

There are so many funny memories. A lot of them are probably from lunch in the student lounge. I do have a really good one from golf, but I can’t expose Jane like that–lol.

What’s your favorite thing about high school?

My favorite thing about high school has got to be the people. My friends and teachers have just been the best!

What’s your favorite subject?

My favorite subject in my whole high-school experience was probably AP Government or Algebra II.  I’ve just always loved politics and math. AP Gov really allowed me to learn more about the government and things going on in real time, which I loved. As for Algebra, I just find math to be fun when you understand it, and I just have fond memories of that particular math class.

Are you involved in any club?

In school, I’m the Captain of the Owls, Founder/ President of Amnesty International Club, President of United Way, President of Film Club, and Vice President of Junior Statesmen of America (JSA).

Are you excited to graduate from PVS?

Let’s just say I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited in my life.

What university are you going to?

As of right now, I’m going to UC Santa Barbara, but it all depends on whether I get accepted from the waitlist at UC Berkeley.

What are you planning on majoring in?

I plan on majoring in Political Science with perhaps a double major or minor in French.

What are your plans for the future? Dream Job?

I would love to become a civil rights attorney. If not that then something with human rights and perhaps public administration.

What are you most excited about in the future?

I’m definitely most excited about the independence and freedom that comes with college.

What are your favorite hobbies?

My favorite hobbies are definitely dancing and acting.

What are some things you do outside of school?

Outside of school, I’m usually at work. I work at the movie theater. I work at the Cinemark at the River. Honestly, it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve had in all of high school. I love working there! I also do dance! I mainly do contemporary and lyrical dance. I love hip hop as well, but I find it much harder to find a good teacher for hip hop. I tried to find a lot of places to dance here in the desert, but they were either too far or just not the right fit for me. I danced at Starlight Dance out here for a while, but then Covid hit. I plan on just picking up dance again in college rather than finding a place now.

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

My favorite thing to do in my free time is read. I loveeee reading!! I also love to watch youtube. I can’t say I have a favorite book because there are just too many good ones, but one of my top books is for sure the Shadow and Bone/ Six of Crows series. If you read them, READ THEM IN ORDER!!! Do not start with Six of Crows!! 

What’s a fun fact about you?

 A fun fact about me is that I used to go to a French school.

What is your favorite kind of music?

My favorite kind of music would have to be rap. I’m really the type to listen to everything from classical to rap, but there’s just something about rap music. I have wayyy too many favorite songs. I love music so much, I could never pick one, and they constantly change. Right now some of my favorite songs are probably “Lucky You” by Joyner Lucas and Eminem, “Parents” by YUNGBLUD, and “Achilles Come Down” by Gang of Youths. Veryyy different songs but all so good! I usually use the last one to study or do homework.

So, let’s all congratulate Izzy on her future endeavors. Izzy, keep us in the loop; drop us a line; let us know how you’re doing as a Gaucho or a Bear.

Everything That Happened at the Oscars

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By Lilah Nick

By now you have probably heard about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock over a joke involving Jada Pinkett Smith looking like G.I. Jane. You’ve probably also heard that Will Smith went on to win Best Actor for King Richard. I have watched the video of The Slap at least 20 times. It’s all my family and friends could talk about the next day. Despite this crazy interaction between Smith and Rock, so many other things happened at this year’s Oscars–from outlandish outfits to the first deaf man to win Best Supporting Actor. 

Best of the Red Carpet 

Let’s start with the beginning of the night, the Red Carpet. So many beautiful gowns and tuxedos were worn–but also some really bad ones that make you question, “Who’s idea was that?” We’ll start with the best of the night.

Lena Waithe

Lena Waithe wore a neutral tone suit. It was my favorite suit presented on the Red Carpet. It looks so good on her. It’s classy, looks amazing, and isn’t just a plain black tux. 

Lily James 

Lily James, who you may know from playing Pamela Anderson in the new show Pam and Tommy, wore one of my favorite dresses on the red carpet. It’s so beautiful, elegant, and looks incredible on her. I love all the embroidery and the added train in the back. 

The Worst

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart, nominated for best actress for her performance in Diana, was wearing Chanel. I totally get that her outfit was much more than a fashion statement, but it definitely could have been . . . better. I don’t think she should have worn shorts for a red carpet event. The jacket would have been classier with a pair of pants. Her hair is also not my favorite. I just don’t like it. The deep side part is not in right now. It’s not 2012 anymore.

Amy Schumer 

Amy Schumer, one of the hosts of the Oscars, was wearing Oscar de la Renta. Whoever decided she was going to wear this seriously did her dirty. I hate the bow; it’s so unnecessary, and it could be so much better for being The Oscars. This looks like something that’s sold at Macy’s for six year olds. Her dress also received a lot of backlash on Twitter. People were calling it “Hideous,” “God awful,” “so ugly,” and “unnecessary.” 

Firsts

  • Ariana Debose won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and was the first openly queer woman of color to win.
  • Troy Kotsur won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and was the first deaf man to win an Oscar. 
  • CODA was the first movie from a streaming platform to have debuted at Sundance to win an Oscar.

The Jokes

After The Slap, everyone stopped making the kind of jokes that might have made things less awkward. Everyone was waiting for someone to get on stage and make a joke to release the tension in the room. Amy Schumer finally came back out and relieved that tension, but it was about an hour after the incident. She came out and said, “There’s like… a different vibe in here,” and there was a roar of laughter. 

There was absolutely no way that everyone would have forgotten about The Slap. But, more jokes to ease the tension would have made watching the rest of the Oscars more comfortable.

On that note, there were a few jokes that worked. These from co-host Amy Schumer:

“I’m Amy Schumer or as they know me in Hollywood, ‘Melissa McCarthy said no.'”

Independent

“After years of Hollywood ignoring women’s stories, we finally got a movie about the Williams sisters’… dad.”

Independent

Top 5 College Majors You Should Reconsider

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By Levi Kassinove

It’s the end of the year. Graduating high-school seniors are signing up for next fall’s college courses, which means they’ve already made some decisions about what discipline they’re going to major in. This is a list of the majors that I think** you shouldn’t go into. Let me explain my reasoning. 

The undergraduate majors in this list aren’t necessarily the most useless ones, just the ones I personally dislike. If I offend anyone, hopefully it’s not someone I know personally. Also, this list is not in any particular order. 

*Levi’s Disclaimer: Do not take my advice seriously. Go into anything you want.

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies

It’s the study of leisure. This is the major for people who want to create summer camps, become a recreational therapist, and design parks. That’s fine, but my question is: Why? Why would you want to spend your time in college learning about recreation, which is something we all take part in regardless of the presence of government-provided recreational services. You could learn about something that actually advances the world. Creating a park designed for maximum leisure isn’t going to stop wars. It’s not going to advance our scientific knowledge. So, it just seems like a waste of time and potential to me. 

Computer Science

Too many CS students only sign up for the money that comes with computer-science-related jobs. Says Michigan Computer-Science Professor Igor Markov, “Based on my recent teaching experience, there are definitely many students signing up for CS majors who aren’t prepared enough and have difficulty getting through foundational material” (Forbes). I say, it’s a fine major, but it’s too popular. We don’t need a million people trying to be computer scientists.

Junior High/Middle School Education

The people who have the patience to teach kids in middle school are a godsend, but it’s not something that I’d do for a million dollars. 

Astronomy

I love looking at the stars, and I’d love to have a nice telescope for astrophotography, but learning about space is something that doesn’t interest me at all. I feel that the secrets of the universe are more easily discovered at the quantum scale rather than astronomical. Also, you won’t become the next Stephen Hawking. Realistically, you’re gonna end up recording data for the rest of your life. You aren’t smart enough to become a theoretical physicist surrounded by giant chalkboards with equations written everywhere. 

Pre-law/Criminal Justice

Too many movies depict lawyers as the most arrogant and pretentious people in the room. They’re right. I participated in Mock Trial once, and some of the “attorneys” were infuriatingly rude. There was one girl who kept cutting me off in the middle of my testimony! She would ask, “Did you see Jamie and Eric arguing at Jamie’s mother’s funeral?” and I would respond, “Yes, but-” and she would cut me off right there. Now, that might just be my anecdotal experience, but according to law gazette.co.uk, the general public views lawyers as “arrogant, disinterested or unapproachable.” And, on top of being viewed as an arrogant lawyer, you may end up defending people that strike against your moral compass. Criminal defense lawyers often have to defend clients against charges of pedophilia, murderer, rape, and other unsavory acts. So, unless you want to be viewed as a narcissist while also having to defend the worst people of society (if you choose to be a criminal defense lawyer), getting into law is a bad idea. 

While these are my least favorite majors, most of them are still useful to the world. But, I ask: How do lawyers deal with the guilt? And, thank you middle-school teachers. Also, I used to love running around the playground and sliding down slides; so, I guess I have Leisure Studies majors to thank for that. If any of these majors are right for you, it’s not my place to say it isn’t. But, I hope I convinced you to re-think that career in law. 

*Our Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by Levi Kassinove are solely his own and not necessarily those of thebirdonfire.org.

Student Led Conferences: Good Educational Practice or … What’s the point?

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By Lilah Nick

Quarter 3 ended on March 11th, and the school year is quickly coming to a close. Thus, Student Led Conferences (SLCs) arrived on April 4th. SLCs are conferences with students, advisors, and parents. The purpose of them is for students to talk about all of their classes with their parents and advisors and then come up with ways for them to improve. But are they really necessary?

Most teachers and parents will argue that SLCs are good because you work together as a team, there is communication and transparency, and it allows the student to be in charge of the conversation. For certain families, there isn’t much communication about grades, so SLCs might be a good idea for them. 

Personally, I don’t really like the SLCs. I have never liked them. You get a script, fill in the blanks, and talk to your parents and advisor about it. I’ve always found that most people fake their way through the scripts and put minimal effort into them. For example, there’s the value question. The script asks, “Which of the PVS values am I exhibiting regularly? How?” In my personal experience and that of my friends, we all fake this question the most. I’ll usually just select the value “Inquiry and Exploration.” I say I exhibit the value regularly in that I “ask questions” and I’m “interested” in my classes. It’s one of the easiest answers that we can just slap on the page.  

My parents are always looking at My Backpack and checking my grades. If I have a low grade, they’ll ask for me to get it up. I don’t find SLCs necessary for me, but for other students whose parents don’t check their grades, it might be.

Let’s ask around: How do you feel about SLCs?

“It’s half an hour of my life wasted.”

Sienna Price, 8th Grade

“I hate SLCs. There is no point to me when I can just talk to my parents on my own.”

Alyna Llapitan, Sophomore

“My mom doesn’t check my grades. So, if that report card comes back with anything other than what I promised, it’s game over.”

Jessica Denyer, Senior

”I always think it’s good when parents, teachers, and students work together as a team.”

Ms. Zachik, Teacher

For better or for worse, Quarter 4 has no SLC. In fact, we have only 27 school days remaining in the 2021-22 year. But, get ready; SLCs return in only six months . . . .

Palm Valley’s Red Carpet Premiere

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By Ani Madanyan

Palm Valley is hosting another SCHOOL DANCE! ASB Introduces…. Palm Valley’s Red Carpet Premiere. It’s going to be THIS SATURDAY, April 9th from 7-9 p.m. in the Lower School courtyard. As a member of ASB, I can proudly say that there will be a celebrity DJ and two mystery teacher bartenders. There’s going to be a gorgeous red carpet so that everyone feels as if they were to attend an actual Red Carpet premiere. There’s also a photo booth, boujee finger foods, and more that I cannot yet reveal. This is YOUR moment to be your own celebrity, so go for it. Tickets are $30 for a single person, but if you want a couple’s discount, it’s $25 each. Everyone received a special letter saying “you’re invited” so that must say something about how fancy it is…

The Story Behind Daylight Savings

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By Levi Kassinove

Daylight Savings Time (DST) is a period that lasts from Spring to Autumn, which begins when clocks are turned forward one hour. This offset lasts until Autumn, which is when clocks are turned back one hour. On that day in the Spring when we turn clocks forward, one hour in the day disappears. To balance it out, we gain one hour in the Autumn. Unsurprisingly, many people are unhappy about losing an hour in the day. But who is to blame? And, what are the pros and cons of the time shift?

It was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin who sarcastically said that waking up earlier would save candle use and money (Daylight Saving Time). It was then proposed by an entomologist in 1895 who wanted to have more daylight hours to devote to collecting insects (Daylight). His name was George Hudson. Nowadays, only a minority of the world practices Daylight Savings. Asia and Africa generally don’t, along with places of high latitudes and places near the equator (Wikipedia). The real reason for Daylight Savings is to follow the daylight shift that happens naturally as the seasons change. In the Summer, daylight lasts longer. So it makes sense to add an extra hour to the day by moving the clocks forward. If you normally wake up at 8 am, and the clocks are turned forward to 9 am, then you’d have to wake up at (your old) 7 am to wake up at 8 am. Now you have an extra hour of daylight. The same logic is applied for turning the clocks backward in the Winter, since daylight is shorter during Winter. You gain an hour in a day that’s growing shorter. It’s a little confusing, but the point is that Daylight Savings aligns our days with the changing sunrise and sunset. This is why places near the equator and places on completely opposite sides of the equator don’t use Daylight Savings. The places near the equator experience a negligible difference in the sunrise and sunset times as the seasons change. While the places on opposite sides of the equator, at high latitudes, experience such a drastic change in daylight hours that changing clocks one hour wouldn’t be enough. 

Daylight Savings has more downsides than upsides, according to many people. A common myth is that it was implemented for farmers so that they can have more time to water their corn or whatever farmers do. Point is, farmers hate Daylight Savings Time. They say that Daylight Savings Time disrupts cows’ readiness to be milked (Agriculture Myth). The actual reason why Daylight Savings Time (DST) was created was to conserve energy during WWI; however, multiple studies have shown that DST actually doesn’t save any energy (California Energy Commission Study). And, health experts argue that DST disrupts your circadian rhythm, which is otherwise in tune with Standard Time (uofmhealth.org). Despite this, Congress has been interested in permanently changing clocks to DST. As a matter of fact, the U.S. Senate on March 15 passed legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent starting in 2023. 

I think it’s clear that Daylight Savings is an outdated concept that should be abolished. It doesn’t save energy, and it has public health risks. And, when we switch between time standards, it’s such a pain to change mechanical clocks.