Fun Summer Activities for Everyone

by Alicia, 9th grade

Summer is the perfect time to be outside, try new things, and take a short break from your routine. With long days, sunny weather, and plenty of time to spare, numerous fun activities can be enjoyed during the summer.

Spending time outdoors is an excellent way to celebrate those summer rays. There is nothing like being outside to keep you fit while enjoying the beauty of nature.

Water Fun: Whether it’s a day at the beach, swimming at the local pool, or simply running through the sprinklers in your yard, it’s all about getting wet and having fun in the sun.

Parks and trails: Parks and nature trails are great to walk, hike, or bike with friends and family. Fullerton has approximately 28 miles of multi-use trails and 53 city parks, according to the City of Fullerton Parks and Recreation Department.

Sports: If you enjoy sports, consider options such as playing basketball, soccer, or volleyball or simply playing catch at the neighborhood park.

Explorer: Summertime is the best time to discover new places No need to go far. A day trip to your local city, a museum, or visit a farmer’s market, food festival, or outdoor fair.

If you’re looking for something new, consider exploring summer camps, art classes, or community workshops that offer exceptional skills to learn, such as painting, dancing, or cooking.

Create: Try starting a DIY project, such as making friendship bracelets, painting, or building something with craft supplies you already have on hand.

Consider keeping a summer journal or scrapbook to document all your favorite memories. Not only are such activities enjoyable and relaxing, but they also let you express yourself in creative ways.

Chill and connect: It is also worth mentioning that summertime is an excellent time for relaxation and connection. Reading a good book, watching a movie with friends, or throwing a picnic in the backyard can be equally as fun as going out. A make-your-own-bed kind of party, roasting marshmallows, or simply lying on the grass and staring at the stars can transform an ordinary evening into something special.

Giving Back: Volunteering is a great start. Helping at a food bank, walking dogs at a shelter, or participating in a local cleanup event can be both rewarding and enjoyable. Giving back to the community is a plus!

Summer is a time for endless fun and memories, regardless of your interests. Whether you are being active, trying something new, or just relaxing, make sure to live in the moment and have fun!

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Designing My Dream

by Erin, 10th grade

At the beginning of this year, I made a vision board using snippets of pictures from Pinterest—quotes, good grades and my dream destination: New York City. I begged my parents to let me attend a design summer camp in New York City, but they weren’t willing to pay that much.

Still, I knew I wanted to pursue design, and I was willing to chase after anything related to it. I’ve always been the kind of person who puts her heart and mind into her goals, even when they seem unrealistic. So, on the day of the deadline, I submitted my entry to the Cooper Hewitt High School Design Competition.

I wasn’t aiming to win—I just hoped to be a finalist so I could go to New York and experience being surrounded by people who were just as passionate about design as I was. It felt like it was my last shot to check this off my bucket list. Honestly, I didn’t expect much, especially because I rarely won in anything. Knock on wood because, one morning, I picked up my phone and got a voicemail from Cooper Hewitt: I was a finalist! The only thing I could manage to say was thank you over and over.

I spent three incredible days in New York, living as if there was no tomorrow—from visiting a jazz club to walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. But more than that, the real turning point came during those two full days of developing ideas with amazing mentors and meeting the other finalists.

Everyone was so supportive and kind, and it was incredible how much I grew in just a few days. I had never taken an idea far, but now I think I might make it happen. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. And through it all, I realized something important: Even when things feel out of reach, trying is always better than doing nothing.

World Refill Day

by Mateo, 11th grade

One of the most significant environmental issues our world currently faces is the increasing amount of plastic pollution that contaminates our streets, parks, and oceans. According to the World Economic Forum, half of the world’s plastics are manufactured for single-use purposes, and just 9% of plastics globally are recycled. As such, many of the plastics we consume either occupy valuable space in our landfills or pollute the public places within our city, harming the climate and local wildlife.

World Refill Day, celebrated annually on June 16, aims to mitigate the potentially devastating effects of plastic pollution on our environment by highlighting the effectiveness of refillable and reusable packaging as an eco-friendly alternative to the single-use standard.

World Refill Day was launched in 2021 by the British environmental organization City to Sea. Founded in 2015 by environmental activist Natalie Fee, City to Sea strives to preserve the world’s diverse landscapes, from cities to rivers to oceans, through the elimination of plastic pollution and its effects.

By campaigning for the reduction of single-use plastics and advocating for change in the way brands and businesses package their products, the organization aims to promote sustainable and eco-friendly values globally.

World Refill Day is City to Sea’s cornerstone event in support of their mission to inspire action towards reducing the prevalence of single-use plastics, and there are many ways you can participate in their campaign.

The best way to do so is by opting for reusable containers instead of disposable plastics. City to Sea hosts a five-day challenge beginning on World Refill Day, encouraging the public to opt for refillable coffee mugs over single-use cups and reuse containers and bags when shopping.

Utilizing these alternatives not only helps reduce waste created by single-use plastics but also provides for more affordable shopping, as people no longer have to purchase containers alongside the products.

Additionally, you can take advantage of the Refill Return app on your phone. Developed by City to Sea, the community-run application highlights nearby eateries, shops and other businesses in your area that work to limit waste. According to the organization, Refill Return has garnered over 650,000 downloads and has saved hundreds of millions of plastic bottles that would have otherwise ended up in landfills or oceans.

Overall, World Refill Day encourages global support for a future where reusable materials are predominant. The ultimate goal of the event (and of the overarching movement) is to make at least 30% of all packaging reusable by 2030.
Although great strides must be made to reach this ambitious milestone, your efforts can still make a significant impact on the future health of our environment.

In honor of World Refill Day, consider incorporating more refillable bottles and containers into your daily life and join the millions of others in support of eradicating single-use plastics in the years to come.

Legal Insights

by Kathryn, 8th grade

Gideon v. Wainwright

The right to counsel in the justice system is common today. But prior to March 18, 1963, it was not guaranteed to everyone.

The effect of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright was to make sure every criminal defendant that could not afford an attorney gets one provided to them by the state. Gideon v. Wainwright also gave assurances of a fair trial and protected the rights of all people without regard to wealth or poverty.

In Gideon v. Wainwright, the issues began when Clarence Earl Gideon was charged with burglary in Florida in 1961. Gideon was too poor to afford an attorney, so he asked the court to supply him with an attorney.

The court denied him, and Gideon ended up having to represent himself at trial and was found guilty. While in prison, Gideon is successful at sufficing an appeal to the Supreme Court as an inmate alleging his Sixth Amendment right to be given counsel had been violated, and the case was about whether the right of counsel only applied to the federal courts and not state courts.
The Court ruled unanimously in favor of Gideon, and the Court held that it was in the Constitution that state courts could not stand to allow a criminal defendant to be provided for him/her an attorney in a criminal case who cannot afford one.

The Court also ruled that when an individual is given a conviction and sentenced to jail with no representation, they cannot assure fair trial. Therefore, it is unconstitutional to deny a person provided counsel based only on their individual financial situation.

The case began in 1961 and took nearly two years to reach a final verdict. Although the legal journey was long, it led to a powerful change in the justice system.

Today, public defenders are assigned to anyone facing criminal charges who cannot pay for a lawyer, ensuring that all citizens are treated more equally in court.

The decision in Gideon v. Wainwright remains a key example of how one individual’s fight for justice helped protect the rights of millions.