Juliana Chipelo sits down with Claire Keegan

I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous for an interview. 

After spending a semester studying award-winning Symposium author Claire Keegan and her works, I felt nothing but admiration and inspiration. I had fallen in love with her novellas and looked up to the way she fearlessly and seamlessly weaves politics into her literature. 

I was absolutely terrified that she would think I was unintelligent, criticize me, or shatter the gilded picture I had painted of her in my mind.Luckily, after meeting her, my fears were almost immediately extinguished. Although I only spoke with her a few times during her week in Connecticut, her personality quickly became clear. She was sharp, funny, extraordinarily intelligent, and with a strong sense of self that made me admire her ever more than I had before. 

I had the honor and privilege to sit down with her for a thirty minute interview, in which I discovered that she speaks exactly as she writes: with passion, clarity, and conviction. Read on for an abridged version of our conversation. 

Juliana Chipelo: What was it like growing up in Ireland?  

Claire Keegan: Well, I grew up on a farm in County Wicklow, on the Wicklow/Wexford border. And I was the youngest of six. My eldest sister finished high school before I was born. So, really, I grew up kind of at the tail end of the family, and we had horses and sheep and cattle, pigs, and I liked living where we lived. I liked being outside, and I liked having four seasons, and the harvest, and the hay, and the winter, and Christmas, all of that. The season’s really, really mattered to me, and I liked rural life, and I still like country life. I’m not sure that country life in Ireland is the same as, or is regarded in the same way, as country life in the United States. And I have spent eight years in the United States. One of the things about country life in Ireland is, well, country life in the United States, it seems like people want to get out of there when they’re young. They want to get out of the small town and go to the city and be successful, whereas I’m not sure that that is something that we share in Ireland. You can have a really good style of life and live in a very nice house in the countryside in Ireland and not feel that you’re missing out on having a career or having a better life in the city. 

JC: So what ultimately led you to make the decision to leave the countryside, and go to America? 

CK: Well, I just wanted to go to university, so that was the reason, and, really, that was the only reason that I went to New Orleans. That was the only reason.  

JC: In general, what is your writing process? Can you describe the feeling you get before you begin writing?  

CK: It just feels like something is asking to be written. And it doesn’t go away. I think the things that you don’t really need to write burn off and disappear. But the things you need to sit down and write and spend time on and thoroughly imagine are things that stay with you. It could be anything. It could be anything at all. It could be an image, it could be a piece of dialogue. It could be a circumstance, it could be a paragraph that suggests another paragraph. There’s nothing specific I can think of that comes every time I need to write something. 

JC: How do you further dive into this idea or this feeling? Is it kind of this general progression from one idea or feeling to just diving into it completely? 

CK: I don’t know. That sounds like a big passionate thing to do. I think I write quietly and evenly and just try and write one paragraph and then write another that feels like it belongs to the paragraph that I have just written and goes on rather than going on and on. 

JC: Do you ever have an urge to write, but you just don’t have a feeling or something to write about? 

CK: No, I don’t really feel the urge to write when I have nothing to write about. Anyway, I’m not sure that I’ve ever had nothing to write about. It feels like the world is full of things to write about. It’s a matter of choosing one rather than searching for one. 

JC: Which authors are your favorite to read? What draws you to these authors?

CK: Well, I like Chekhov. Elizabeth Bishop, Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, John Cheever, James Joyce, Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, John Millington Singh, D.H. Lawrence, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Hardy, Tolstoy. It’s just good writing. The writing feels good, and lively, meaningful, and humorous, and it takes me somewhere. It takes me into imagining another set of circumstances, a set of circumstances, not my own.  

JC: We talked a lot in class with Dr. Gleason, whether or not your writing was minimalist or maximalist or somewhere in between. Do you have a take on where you think you fall on that spectrum?

CK:  I don’t. I’ve never analyzed my work in that way. And in fact, I don’t even know what maximalist means. What does that mean?

JC: It’s the opposite of minimalism. Ultimately, we all agreed that your writing was more towards the center. 

CK: I think it’s a compliment. That’s exactly where I like to be: in the center. 

JC: If you could have any Symposium author, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

CK: Oh, what a great question. Goodness. God, it’s a hard question to answer. Because you want somebody who’s generous, and will show up and talk. 

I would have to say, it’s probably Chekhov. I think he would be good, fun, and lively, and give lots of advice and be sociable and want to meet people and be well-mannered and that his talent would come out, and I would imagine that he would be the one I couldn’t resist if I could have my choice.

JC:  What kind of questions would you ask him?

CK: I’d ask him about how not to write. I’d ask him to do a session on paragraphs. I’d ask him about writing dialogue. I’d ask him about narrative structure and character and point of view and how to be light-handed, and I’d ask him where his athletic imagination comes from. 

JC: What do you feel like a paragraph can give you that prose or another form of writing maybe can’t? 

CK: Well, I think all the prose that I know of are written in paragraphs. I think of a paragraph as being like a bowl. So that everything that’s in it can touch everything else that is in it and they all belong together. And everything that’s in it talks to everything else that’s in it. And they’re not standing up straight, but rather leaning on one another so that when you get to the end of it, it’s more than the sum of its parts, and it can become meaningful and create a feeling, whatever that feeling may be. Sentences are gregarious. They like the company of other sentences. They’re social. They don’t want to be on their own. Every now and then you get a great, big, long one that wants to be on its own. And I have one of these at the end of a story called “So Late in the Day.” But for the most part, I think sentences want the help of other sentences in order to go into what it is that the paragraph wants to go into.

JC: Do you find yourself writing about common themes or situations throughout your short stories? 

CK: I don’t think about themes. I really don’t. I know that I’m very interested in how adults’ decisions can have terrible consequences for children. And I know that that interests me deeply, and that it’s there in both “Foster” and “Small Things Like These,” and “So Late in the Day.” I know that. They all have something to say about having children. 

JC: What challenges, if any, have you faced as a female author? How do you overcome these dead white males being the main source of inspiration in the literary field?

CK: Well, I didn’t know if I overcome it. I mean, that is still the literary canon, a dead white man. And I’m not sure that it should be anything other than that because, I mean, it seems that they’re the ones who did most of the good writing, but, I mean, there were reasons for that. Women didn’t have the opportunities to write, and often to be published, or to be educated to that level, or have that luxury. A  lot of women were raising children, or, if you’re working class. I just have the privilege now, and the great luck to write whatever I please, and to have it all be published and find many readers. So it’s not something I think about anymore, which is not to say that I don’t feel hugely privileged to be able to make a living in this way. I certainly do. 

JC: We talked a lot about how a lot of your books deal with misogyny. How would you personally define what that is?

CK: It’s regarding what women want as secondary to what males want. 

JC: How do you face misogyny? 

CK: With difficulty, with anger, with upset, with rage, with disappointment. 

JC: Do those feelings ever get less intense or upsetting?

CK: I think I’m more upset about it now than I used to be when I was younger, when I was your age. When I was your age, I didn’t notice it so much because I was in the middle of it. And Ireland was hugely misogynistic at that time. It’s getting better now. It really is getting better. But then it was just a matter of not accepting how things were. But not seeing how things could change. I think it’s probably more upsetting now because it’s less acceptable. And that’s a good thing. 

JC: How have you enjoyed your time at KO? 

CK: Oh, I’ve just loved it. I had the most wonderful time, and everything was so beautifully organized, and I’ve had the good fortune to meet so many of the students, including you. And it’s lovely to see how interested the KO students are in reading. It’s heartening. And just delightful. 

Author

Gratitude and Goodbyes: My Time with the KO News Community

Words are powerful, and change is possible. That is perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned throughout my tenure on the KO News. 

I began my journey with the KO News sophomore year, when I took journalism. I have always enjoyed writing, and this course deepened my love in ways I did not expect. It pushed me to experiment with my voice and, more importantly, engage with my community. I was especially drawn to writing features because I got to use my voice to share my community’s stories. It is a privilege like no other.

I joined the staff as an associate editor for both the features and arts departments, where I was given even more space to grow. My time as an associate editor allowed me to further develop my voice, and gain so much more confidence in my writing. That confidence, in combination with my love for writing, ultimately led me to apply to be Editor-in-Chief.

The application process was both exciting and intimidating. I quite literally read every single Wyverns Tale and Editorial on the KO News website, to prepare for my interview (by the way, none of these articles ever came up). As I did, I began understanding the impact that each of their words had on the staff, and the KO community. I learned that the Wyvern Weekly started being sent to students after an editorial article was published criticizing the lack of transparency. I saw countless responses to editorials from administrators at KO and Editors-in-Chiefs who expanded the paper in so many ways. I began to look up to their words and understand the importance of the media, even on small levels.

Without the media, we, as a society, would lack one of our most powerful tools for progress. Which is why (would it really be a Wyvern’s Tale if I didn’t get political), it is so important to have a free press. Seeing the hate that certain journalists are getting from Doanld Trump and Karoline Levit disgusts me. There is no circumstance in which the president should be harassing female reporters calling them “Piggy,” “Ugly,” “Fat,” or telling them they don’t smile enough. Their job is to educate the public, not please men. Allowing journalists to just do their jobs is so crucial to the well-being of our democracy, and the KO News has certainly shown me this (even if it’s on a much smaller scale).

This responsibility made me all the more excited (and nervous) to follow in their footsteps. It made the job seem ten times more important; it was my duty to be a catalyst for change. I have absolutely loved watching each writer grow over the past year, seeing them gain confidence, tackle difficult subjects, and use their words to uplift the community.

The editorial section, in particular, has meant so much to me. It gave us a platform to advocate for change, whether large or small. It felt all the more special to get a response to an editorial written about AI usage from Mrs. Loeb. It showed me that our thoughts, concerns, and words were heard, and reaffirmed why student journalism is so essential. 

Nothing, however, will ever come close to what an honor it is to write the Wyvern’s Tale each month. My first Wyverns Tale allowed me to share my backstory while reflecting on recent events that have deeply affected me. This article let me perfectly capture how I was feeling at that time in my life, and hearing that it resonated with others reminded me why I write in the first place. Most importantly, however, it made my family (my most loyal readers) proud.

My most recent Wyverns Tale, about the pressure from society to get in a relationship, felt vulnerable and risky. I was nervous to publish it. But I did. And while it sparked debate, it also sparked connection. It helped others feel seen and validated. To me, that is the purpose of writing; for no one to feel alone in their thoughts or circumstances. 

On behalf of Jordan and I, we extend our deepest gratitude to Ms. Schieffelin. Without her, this paper would truly not be possible. She has helped us navigate this new staff and allowed us to grow and blossom in our new positions. She has demonstrated how to be a true leader and we are forever grateful for her guidance.

We would also like to thank the head editors– Aarav, Austin, Gordon, Ishaan, Miles, and Sanya –who took on much more responsibility than head editors have in years past. We will always cherish our editorial meetings, with conversations that feel infinite, and all the work you have put into editing never ending articles. 

Finally, thank you KO. Thank you for trusting me with your stories. The KO News is truly my biggest blessing and leading the paper has been the highlight of my senior year. There is no better feeling than holding a copy of the KO News fresh off the press (you know the smell), knowing that every late night, every edit, every word, every conversation was worth it. It is an indescribable sense of pride, excitement, and joy, in which I have felt nowhere else. It is such an honor to tell your stories. To share your successes. To showcase your talents. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Author

Passing the Torch: A Message to the Class of 2027 on Getting Involved at KO

As March break approaches, we can feel graduation looming. Our days at KO are coming to an end, and, as an editorial staff, we feel it’s important to send a message to the incoming seniors, the class of 2027. 

We sat down for our final editorial meeting and realized something was a bit off. When thinking about the paper’s future, we realized that we have only one junior on the KO news staff. Our editorial staff is made up of only seniors and next year we will lack experience due to the missing presence of juniors on the KO news staff. 

With this realization we began talking about other organizations at KO and how we feel there is a missing presence of juniors in a lot of them. We know the junior class is smaller but we feel they’re yet to embrace their role as upperclassmen and really get involved in KO’s abundance of amazing clubs and teams. In our final editorial we feel it’s best to send a message out to the incoming seniors about the importance of getting involved here at KO.

KO is a tight knit community with only about 500 students including the middle school. This means that getting involved is all the more important at a school like ours because every single individual can make a different impact in the various sectors at KO. And despite the small size of KO there are so many things to get involved with in our community. 

Starting with our afternoon extracurriculars, whether it be sports or the arts, the biggest recommendation we can give to you juniors is to try new things and embrace the challenges. There are so many seniors currently playing new sports in their last year at KO and even seniors who gave the musical a shot. These are great ways to make a splash in the community and also enhance KO’s success in the arts and sports. You never know the impact you can have on a team if you never give it a try and we know the junior class is filled with talent, we just want you all to show it off more. 

Next, we want to encourage the juniors to get into more of the clubs KO has to offer. Using the KO news as a first hand example, we lack presence from their class and it will be felt on the staff next year. Although it may be a bit late to get involved with the KO news it is not too late to get involved with other clubs whether it be the investment club or the green team. Additionally, you are always free to create your own clubs. If you really enjoy something, and wanna share it with the community, allowing others to experience it, you can make a difference. Your impact as seniors will be felt in these areas and if you get involved now it will leave these clubs in a better position come next year.

Additionally, KO offers so many experiences for you all to create more connections and lifelong memories. Whether it’s attending Tobati or the Europe trip, these are all opportunities to get closer with your peers and, in the instance of Tobati, make a positive impact in the world. Go on the sports trip, and spend time with your teammates. Some of the highlights of our years at KO have been on yearly trips. Spending a week with people brings you close, and spending nights together makes memories. You may find yourself wandering the streets of Italy, or kiki-ing in a DC hotel room, or sleeping in a hundred-degree room in the middle of South America. You know what KO is like; you’ve been here for a few years, but now your time is waning, so make the most of it and continue to learn and grow until it’s over.

Be a leader; you will soon be one of the oldest students on campus. So many of your younger friends and classmates will look up to you for answers, to help them with chemistry homework, or for you to proofread their essays. You are the future of KO. You will be leading the sports teams and the clubs, and everything in between. Be confident and have fun with your newfound power.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to explore! Whether it’s trying out a fun elective, sitting at a new table at lunch, or talking with some of your lesser-known acquaintances, it will create fond memories to look back on. Soon, your time at KO will be over, you will take your final midterm, finish your applications to college, and, most heartbreaking of all, finish your last KO news article.

As we pass on the torch to you all, we are sad that our time is over, but excited to visit next year, and to see how you guys run the school, and how you continue to bring pride to KO.

Author

Valentine’s Day returns to Dunkin

The Dunkin Valentine’s Day menu has brought lots of joy in these cold winter months. With Dunkin’s donut boxes filling advisory groups on KO snack days, the new menu items brought much-needed change to the regular assortment. Due to the clever Valentine’s Day themes, every exclusive item was a hit. 

There were seven drinks included in the menu this year. Lattes, refreshers, espresso, chai, matcha, and even a spritz were selected. When I picked up the Blush Spritz, I did not know what to expect. I had assumed that it was just another refresher and a rip-off from the other drinks Dunkin has to offer. However, the pink, bubbly drink perfectly matches the Valentine’s Day theme and was an excellent choice for the menu. While it is similar to the Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher, the Blush Spritz differs in a major way that sets the two apart. Both share the same strawberry dragonfruit base; however, the Blush Spritz uses sparkling water instead of lemonade or green tea to dilute the concentrate. This gives the beverage carbonation and dulls its sweetness compared to its neighboring refresher. I was pleasantly surprised with the Blush Spritz and found that the sparkling water was a great addition. 

The Dunkin Valentine’s Day menu also includes three different donut variations. There are two heart-shaped donuts, named the Brownie Batter Donut and the Cupid’s Choice Donut, along with Munchkins encased in Valentine’s Day sprinkles.

Out of the two heart donuts, I widely prefer the Brownie Batter. The donut itself is soft and pillowly, and the brownie batter filling is thick, fudgy, and delicious, adding a great amount to the flavor profile. I love how it tastes exactly like the brownie batter I make at home. Topped with chocolate frosting and Valentine’s Day sprinkles, the Brownie Batter donut will always hold a place in my heart and keep me coming back for more every year. 

The Cupid’s Choice donut made less of an impact for me, due to it practically being a Boston Creme donut in a heart shape. Frosted with Dunkin’s own strawberry frosting and Valentine’s Day sprinkles, it’s still delicious, but a regular Boston Creme should satisfy my craving for the rest of the year. As for the sprinkled Munchkins, they are at the bottom of my list. I find that you should not mess with perfection, and for me, regular Munchkins are just that. 

Overall, I quite enjoyed Dunkin’s take on Valentine’s Day this year. The drinks and donuts were delicious, and I loved getting to try and review them. The concept and execution of a limited-edition menu created new excitement around Dunkin’s brand. I look forward to seeing their take on other holidays, and I can confidently say their Valentine’s Day menu has set the standard high going forward. 

Author

The 5 Worst Films I Watched Last Year

I watch a lot of movies every year. This past year, I watched around 90 new movies, about half of which were from this year. With this incessant film watching, I also end up seeing a lot of terrible movies. Today I want to talk to you about some of them. These five films stood out to me as being the worst films I watched this year. These are not in any particular order, and two are films that predate 2025. I do not recommend these films, and, honestly, I would say shame on the directors for crafting these films. Also, the Minecraft movie is not on this list, even though it is bad, because I at least had fun watching it in the theaters. Anyway, I want to start with…

“Wicked For Good”

As I predicted last year, this film is considerably worse than the first (and I didn’t even like the first that much anyway). This film is vapid, it’s overly long and boring, and the songs aren’t very good. There’s no charm in this movie, which at least the first one had. It has all the same problems in the story as the second act of the stageplay, but they’re even worse because this film lengthens it out and makes it utterly uninteresting. The message is all over the place, and the performances, which were a highlight of the first film, were extremely lacking. I am completely unshocked that the film was not nominated for any Oscars, and I hope that Jon Chu learns in the future how to add color to his films, cause this movie feels like it’s stuck in Kansas. This movie sucked so bad I didn’t even dignify it with a full-length review. Just watch the first one, cause at least it was a little bit of fun.

“House Of Dynamite”

House of Dynamite was about 40 minutes of a good film, and then another 70 minutes of the most drawn-out filmmaking of all time. The whole conceit of the film is that we are watching 20 minutes before a missile hits Chicago, and the different responses to that attack, as we keep going back 20 minutes to see different perspectives. The first time through the 20 minutes is great; it’s tense, it’s interesting, and then after the first perspective shift, it becomes completely uninteresting. The film keeps treading over the same ideas and topics over and over again, yet does nothing new with them. It feels trapped by its own concept, which makes a somewhat interesting idea fall flat on its face. Not even a killer score and solid performances from Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson could save this film. Watch the first part of this film, then turn it off, because that’s all the good you will really get from it.  

“Never Been Kissed”

This film is a 1999 romcom about a fully grown woman who pretends to be 16 to get the scoop on teenagers for her newspaper. She ends up dating a fellow student, and her English teacher falls in love with her under the pretense that she is an underage child. I feel like I don’t need to explain why I hate this movie anymore, but I will. This movie, besides having aged terribly, just isn’t funny in the slightest. Oh, I was laughing, but in disbelief at how bad and awful this film was. Also, the central romance is just bad between the main girl and the teacher. It feels like there is zero tension there, and honestly, I don’t think they should have gotten together in the end. One, because she lied to him, and that’s not good for any relationship. And two, because he was interested in her first WHEN SHE WAS PRETENDING TO BE A MINOR! Avoid this film like the plague; it’s about as rancid.

“Jurassic World Rebirth”

I have many problems with “Jurassic World Rebirth,” but I would say the biggest one is that the film never figures out what it wants to be. There are like 3o different plot lines, and none of them really come together in any meaningful way. I would say the worst part of the film was easily Scarlett Johansson. Both her performance and her character as a whole are bad, which really sucks for this film because she is the main character. The new dinosaur is pretty cool, but it’s only in the movie for like the last 20 minutes, and at that point, what is even the reason for having it? I think the film could have been a lot better if it had focused on Duncan Kincaid, played by Mahershala Ali, because he was the only good character I felt you could have actually built a movie around. Anyway, I hope they never make another one of these again, because they haven’t been any good since the first one. 

“Gone With The Wind”

I know I said this was not a ranked list, but this is easily the worst film I watched last year. Would it shock you to hear that an almost four-hour-long movie was a slog to sit through? There are two things I absolutely despise about this movie. One is that it’s extremely racist. It is basically lost-cause propaganda and sets up from the first seconds of the film that the Confederate South was the last bastion of chivalry in the world, and that the Union destroyed it. Also, every single Black character is the most stereotypical racist depiction imaginable. The other thing I hated about it was that the story just wasn’t very good. It’s long, and repetitive, and the central romance is absolutely awful. Also, there were a lot of weird things that were just accepted by the story, like incest, which freaked me out. I actually laughed when the main character’s infant child died, because at least it made me feel something. I cannot believe this movie is considered a classic of cinema. The only reason people say it’s important is probably because it made a bunch of money and was the only one in color to be that long. If you are going to watch a long movie in color, watch “The Bridge over the River Kwai” or “Laurence of Arabia” because those films do things with the actual art of filmmaking that are extremely impressive and have good stories. If I have to hear about Tara ever again, I might just hurt someone. Don’t watch any of these films, but this movie in particular you should not watch. I would petition for this film to be struck from movie history and cast into the depths of cinema hell.

Anyway, those are five films I found particularly annoying last year. I do think last year was a great year for film, and the only reason I’m writing about these bad movies is because I didn’t really get to talk about movies I disliked this year that much. I hope that next year has just about as many amazing films, and I also hope that I will never have to hear about “Gone With the Wind” ever again. 

Author

Who needs a Valentine when you can have a Galentine?

Every year, as Feb. 14 approaches, couples get excited, planning dates and asking people to be their Valentine. If you are not in a relationship, though, the big day, filled with red, white, and pink decorations, makes you feel like you’re being choked by love. The constant reminder of your relationship status does not feel great, making single people around the world dread this special day. But in this new day and age, maybe being single isn’t too bad. As a society, we have accepted that not everyone is in a romantic relationship, leading to the rise of a new trend that includes all the single people: Galentine’s. It shows that being single on Valentine’s Day may be a good thing and something to celebrate.

The celebration of Galentine’s has become more popular throughout the years, and is a great way to celebrate all types of relationships, more importantly, friendships. Additionally, it ensures no one feels alone on Valentine’s Day. A post on the health resource blog Healthy Set Go highlights the importance of friendships: “Some studies have shown that loneliness and social isolation are even more harmful to your health than cigarette smoking.” This echoes how important the friendships we have are to us, but also to our health, emphasizing the importance of Galentine’s and celebrating the love in friendships, while ensuring no one spends the holiday alone. 

Friendships are one of the most essential things in our lives. Throughout our lives, there are ups and downs, good days and bad days, but through it all, there are people, your friends, who stand by you. Having good, healthy friendships is something that should be celebrated and something we need to cherish. Having a Galentine’s does just that; having a Galentine’s celebration is a time that supports and celebrates all the special connections we have made throughout our lives. 

Senior Samaria Gonzalez shared her take on the importance of celebrating friendships on this day and not just your romantic relationship. “There are so many different people who love you, like your parents, your friends, your family,” she said. “And I feel like sometimes that gets forgotten about, and people just focus on solely finding a romantic partner for life. I feel like it’s important to cherish, celebrate, and acknowledge the fact that you have multiple people who love you, even if you haven’t found a partner or a significant other.” In all, the celebration of Galentine’s is important as it reminds us to appreciate and celebrate friendships and all kinds of love, not just romantic love.

There are many ways to have a Galentine’s celebration. One way that my friends and I celebrate is by getting together at someone’s house, sharing food, fun drinks, and doing a fun craft, which may include painting, baking a sweet treat, watching a rom-com, or playing fun board games. However, this is not the only way to celebrate Galentine’s. You could make cards with thoughtful messages inside to hand out to your friends and loved ones, make friendship bracelets to handout, or bake a dessert to share with others. No matter what you do or how you choose to celebrate Galentine’s, you can’t go wrong. The most important thing through it all is to ensure that your loved ones and friends know how much you care for them. 

 So who cares if you didn’t get struck by Cupid this year? Spend this Valentine’s Day with your friends, and make it a Galentine’s Day. 

Author

More than a Grammy: Why Bad Bunny’s win changed the industry

Album of the Year wasn’t just important for Bad Bunny – it was important for people all over the world. At the 68th Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny won Album of the Year for his album, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.” As soon as singer-songwriter and actor Harry Styles announced his name, the crowd erupted in applause, and a milestone was planted. His win marked the first time in history that a full Spanish-language album received the ceremony’s most prestigious award. This wasn’t just a win for one artist; it was recognition to millions of listeners who have seen their language and culture mistreated in mainstream American music spaces. It was an appreciation and recognition for Spanish music, artists, and people.

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocosio, better known as Bad Bunny, acts as a cultural icon. The Puerto Rican singer, rapper, and songwriter has transformed Latin music by blending genres like reggaeton, Latin trap, rock, and Caribbean rhythms into his own unique sound. He takes creative risks that don’t chase trends but actually set them. While he has collaborated with famous artists like Cardi B and J Balvin, he has never tried to fit his identity into mainstream expectations. Growing up in Vega Baja, Bad Bunny consistently uses his voice to highlight political issues affecting Puerto Rico, social inequality, and gender rights. What makes Bad Bunny admirable isn’t his genre-blending music, but his commitment to staying rooted in his culture and using his platform to stand for things more important than himself.

When Bad Bunny walked to the stage after winning Album of the Year, the atmosphere shifted from celebration to something more special. He was visibly emotional, fighting back tears before addressing the audience. Instead of switching to English for the sake of the broadcast, he chose to speak Spanish for the majority of the speech. This decision reinforced what his career has stood for: identity, culture, and being unapologetically yourself. He continued to thank his team, his family, and Puerto Rico, making it clear that this moment belongs to more than just him. He also dedicated the award to people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams. The emotion in that moment made the win feel raw and unscripted. It reminded viewers that global success comes from authenticity and dedication, which made the victory so powerful. 

Some individuals have argued that Bad Bunny only won Album of the Year because of his rising fame, claiming that the Grammys were simply focusing on his massive global fanbase. Others suggested that a Spanish-language album shouldn’t have won, implying that the other nominees’ music was more traditionally “mainstream.” But those arguments don’t hold up, because being popular has never been a guaranteed win, and Bad Bunny’s music stands out. “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” and his music overall contain a swirl of meaningful storytelling, cultural purpose, and layered production. The album blends creativity with identity, proving that artistic excellence does not depend on language. 

Dismissing his win as just hype ignores the real work and craftsmanship behind his music. It also subtly suggests that Spanish music is somehow less deserving, which is completely false and does not reflect the quality of the work. While the other nominees like Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpender delivered strong albums, minimizing Bad Bunny’s album says more about lingering bias in the music industry than about the quality of art. 

Bad Bunny’s Album of the Year win wasn’t just a random decision or a headline-grabbing statement. It was the natural result of years of hard work, consistency, and the undeniable cultural influence. From reshaping global music to proudly centering his Puerto Rican identity on the world’s biggest music stages, he has continuously shown what mainstream success looks like. His risk-taking, intentionality, and artistry were evident long before his name got announced at the Grammys.

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Alysa Liu’s Olympic gold represents more than just a medal for Team USA

At just 16, Alysa Liu walked away from her dreams. Four years later, she returned, and now she’s standing at the top of the Olympic podium. When American figure skater Alysa Liu stepped onto the ice at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, expectations were high, but few predicted the historic moment that would follow. After years away from competitive skating and an unexpected early retirement at the age of 16, Liu returned to competitive skating with a mindset focused on joy rather than pressure. Her performance not only earned her Olympic gold but also sent a powerful message about redefining success, and showing that personal growth and resilience can matter just as much as medals.

Liu’s achievement was historic in measurable ways. According to coverage from NBC Olympics, she became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since 2002, ending a 24-year drought. Official Olympic results described her free skate as confident and expressive, with visible joy connecting to both judges and the audience. In interviews on “60 Minutes” highlighted by CBS Sports, Liu said that this Olympic experience felt different because she competed for herself and her own love of the sport, not the pressure of expectations. Coverage from the The Guardian emphasized that her comeback was fueled by passion rather than pressure, showing that the joy she felt on the ice translated into one of the strongest performances of the competition. Additionally, her score of 226.79  out of 240 points, not only secured gold but also demonstrated her skill and growth, proving that taking time away from competition can actually strengthen an athlete’s performance. 

For many teenagers watching around the world, Liu’s story is especially relatable. Students today face so many expectations, from grades to extracurriculars to social lives, and often feel they must be perfect to succeed. Liu’s journey shows that stepping back to reassess goals or take time for personal growth doesn’t have to be a setback. Her choice to return on her own terms challenges the common narrative that success requires constant pressure and sacrifice, highlighting the importance of mental health for young athletes. Instead, it can lead to a stronger return with clarity and confidence. Rather than training herself into burnout, she chose balance and joy, and that choice paid off. Her story also shines a light on U.S. figure skating as a whole, inspiring young skaters who may feel intimidated by international competition, proving that dedication paired with joy can lead to historic achievements.

In the end, Liu did more than win a gold medal for the United States. She redefined what it means to succeed, proving that resilience, joy, and personal growth can be just as meaningful as the trophies and titles she receives. Her story reminds young people everywhere that success doesn’t look the same for everyone, and that sometimes the most important victories happen when you find your own path, not just when you stand on the podium. Liu’s performance will likely be remembered not just for the medal, but for inspiring a generation of athletes to prioritize passion and self-care alongside excellence.

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Seda’s Rankings: Sage Dining desserts

When walking into the cafeteria, I am often thinking about what is for lunch, but what’s for dessert is equally important. The dessert can make or break the meal. These are Sage Dining’s best desserts. 

FIRST PLACE: Sundae Bar

The best dessert of all time is the iconic ice cream sundae bar. With an assortment of flavors including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, oreo, and mint chocolate chip, everyone’s flavor preference is accounted for. The wide variety of toppings is bound to make everyone’s day. Typically, when the lines get long in the cafeteria, I try to just have something else. However, never will I say that about sundae day. Sage Dining, my day is absolutely made when it’s sundae bar day. 

SECOND PLACE: Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

The most delectable treat comes after CKO, or on Valentine’s day. On the rare occasion that there happens to be chocolate covered strawberries for dessert, I am one happy person. They are the most delightful treat imaginable. The fruit juice combined with the smooth chocolate melts away with each bite. The two-toned chocolate tops it all off. I’ve never met anyone who can stay sad around chocolate covered strawberries, especially not from Sage Dining. 

Photo Courtesy of Matt Belo ’26

THIRD PLACE: M&M Cookies

Many members of the KO community rave about the chocolate chip cookies here, but I think the M&M cookies are even better. The best is when the cookies are a little undercooked, so they’re gooey and still warm. The sugar cookies are delightful, and the occasional oatmeal raisin cookies offer a good variety in flavors. Please, never change the recipe. 

FOURTH PLACE: Seven-Layer Bars

The seven-layer bars are like pickles. You either love or hate them. I am on the love end and could rave about them for hours. The coconut pieces and graham cracker crust both provide crunch, while the chocolate filling and marshmallows on top provide a soft texture. They are a combination of sweets I would never expect to love, but I do. My face lights up walking into the lunch line and seeing my favorite treat right there. 

FIFTH PLACE: Cereal Bars

While the name isn’t consistent, the delectable flavor is. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a classic, and these treats go outside the peanut butter cup idea. Taking a cereal, and mixing it with chocolate and peanut butter, then coating in powdered sugar is simply genius. The sweet and savory combination elevates my day, and my mood can’t be brought down by anything. 

SIXTH PLACE: Brownies

The fluffy and moist brownies by Sage Dining are masterpieces. They are fudgy and not over chocolatey, with an even consistency every time. They don’t crumble, and the pieces are big, making the perfect dessert. My only change would be adding vanilla ice cream for a brownie sundae. Otherwise, the brownies are flavorful and satisfying for everyone with a sweet tooth. 

SEVENTH PLACE: Cake

The cake at KO is a nice classic. With varying chocolate and vanilla flavors, you’ll never have too much. The fluffy texture reminds me of childhood birthday parties and innocence. The cake tastes like toy stores and stuffed animals. My personal favorite is the vanilla cake with vanilla frosting and sprinkles because it truly embodies childhood memories. Thank you for the warm feelings, Sage Dining. 

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‘Stranger Things’ season 5 leaves us with an emotional goodbye

After nearly a decade of Demogorgons and bicycle rides in Hawkins, “Stranger Things” drew its story to a close with season 5 dropping in stages, from Nov. 26-Dec. 31. The season feels a bit overwhelming with its multiple storylines but does a great job of leaving fans with a heartfelt closure they’ve all been waiting for. Though some fans were disappointed with this last season, I felt like it was a great ending to the series. Beware, spoilers ahead. 

The Netflix series “Stranger Things” has reached popularity since its first release in 2016. Since the first release, it’s been about a little boy named Will Byers who disappears, prompting his friends to search for him, where they end up discovering the parallel universe of Hawkins called the Upside Down. Secret experiments in the Hawkins National Laboratory (run by the Department of Energy) lead to opening portals from the real world to the Upside Down. The group of friends finds new mysteries in the Upside Down. 

The show has gained millions of fans and has been recognized for its suspenseful plot and storylines. It’s a show that covers the themes of coming of age, suspense, and emotional storytelling. The reason it reached millions of people is that it dives into the mystery of Will disappearing, rather than waiting for the right moment. Each season builds on the others, also allowing us to grow with the characters rather than knowing who they are until the suspenseful plot points. 

Season 5 wasted no time in explaining and getting things started; we dived deeper into the mystery, and Will Byers became a more developed character as he embraced his identity and sexuality. The season felt more developed in bringing Vecna and his place to life more realistically. Even with the hard-hitting plots, the last episode, the scene when Vecna gets killed, the emotions get higher with the pain and anger that fades away with Vecna’s death. One of the strongest parts of the season was character development, especially Eleven’s journey from being a frightened little girl, finding her way just to survive, into someone who will be there to protect others. Each character became fully developed by the end, especially Eleven. The actors do a really great job of bringing the characters to life. The scenes are very expressive, which also brings the moments to life. 

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There were some parts in the season that fell short, like the plot being rushed or a lack of momentum. Some of the emotional scenes could have used more time for the viewers to process. One of the biggest strengths in season 5 was how the danger felt more real than in the other seasons, as they kept finding out more about what was to come. 

Though the final season wasn’t the perfect ending, it still made for a memorable conclusion to the show.  With the strong friendships that bonded over multiple seasons, we were brought closer to the show. In addition to the 1980s music, which makes it feel nostalgic, the setting feels more realistic.

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