Category: February Issue

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Confirmation Reflection Letter by Isabelle Redfield

I definitely wouldn’t consider myself an open book in general, especially regarding religion. But, a lot of my spirituality has actually come from my being here at Catalina, so considering I probably will never have another chance to talk about my religion in front of a large group of people I actually like, I want to share my honest and unedited letter to the bishop about why I wish to be confirmed in the Catholic Church, because it sort of doubles as a reflection on my time here. It goes like this:

Dear Bishop Garcia,
I have wanted to continue my Catholicism this year through Confirmation for several reasons. Perhaps my most driving force is that I never want to lose faith. I am headed to college next year. I am certain I will lose my way more than a few times. I will no longer be required to show up to Sunday mass, and in many ways I’ll be held less accountable for my actions. I never want to forget or push aside some of the most spiritually formidable moments I’ve had these past four years.
Until Catalina, religion was never incorporated into my schooling or daily life. My parents had me baptized as a matter of course, I had my first communion, and I went to mass maybe six times out of the year when I lived in San Francisco. It was not until my sophomore year here when I really felt the value and the extremely strong connection to God and the saints that I do today.

The simple comfort of having the doors to our Rosary Chapel open at all times has enabled it to serve as my safe space. I’ve cried in those very pews and questioned life, my existence, and my purpose more than you’d think.


 I once spent some time with a legitimate horse whisperer and he told me something that has stuck with me forever and that is: “You are 100% responsible for 50% of every relationship that you’re in.” So, my intention in going through Confirmation this year has been to at least try and figure out if I can even get my “relationship percentage” with God up to 10%.  My biggest hope for the future is to one day never see religion as an on-and-off switch. It is so easy for me to connect with God and pray in troubled times when I’m upset, confused, and in doubt. That said, when things are going well in my life, and I am content with where I am, I have much more trouble connecting to God and the saints.

But I no longer want to lean on my faith only in times of trouble; I want it to be present with me at all times.  I truly want my faith to withstand my life’s journey, and I hope that one day my faith will become a more fluid part of me.


I see God in the unexpected places. I remember sobbing in these pews when my grandfather died, when best friend’s dad committed suicide, when I was in the middle of the college application process, and when I’ve been tested in relationships with loved ones. I can distinctly recall a flash of light, a flickering of a candle, and other more personal signs that have made me certain I am not alone.
 I have so much hope and expectation for my future. I have so much happiness and love within me. God has blessed me in more ways than I can count. I am extremely thankful. My greatest wish is for God to continue to guide me through times both troubled and wonderful, to bless me in moments both good and bad, and to always be with me—even when I’m in doubt.

It is my promise to God and our world to give back and share the gifts and talents he’s blessed me with.

I hope throughout my life that God continues to instill graciousness, humility, and strength in me. I want to continue to become a better friend, daughter, student, employee, and leader. As I continue to grow, I want to act more softly with more kindness, openness, and love. All around, I am so blessed and could not be more thankful for the life I have been given. I will miss this time in my life, this chapel, and those who have touched me. I will always hold my years here at Santa Catalina deep in my heart, knowing it was my purpose to spend my time here and not anywhere else. I thank you for your time, for the gift of my confirmation, and my future. Please bless me, my family, my loved ones, and those in need.
Lastly, to God, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, even when I don’t express it.

Kindly,
Isabelle Redfield

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Confirmation Reflection Letter by Charlotte Wade

Dear Bishop Garcia,

“God loves you.”

This is the statement of love that I get from my grandparents every time I see them.  In fact, they only recently started saying “I love you” to me, without the intercession of God. Thus, needless to say, God and religion have been a large force in my life. Baptisms and first communions and even funerals, the few I have gone to, are celebrations when the whole family comes together. However, I think for a long time this was all religion meant to me–a few rituals and a time for me to see my family. I have taken significant pride in my contribution in church as an altar server, but I didn’t know precisely what any of it symbolizes and what exactly the Church’s teachings are. I knew to treat others the way you want to be treated. I knew to offer up your sufferings for your sins, which was told to me by my mother any time I was in pain or complaining.

Recently, I have come to really appreciate all the teachings that the Catholic Church has for us as followers. The unending and undiscriminating love preached from the Gospels and Catholic social teaching have inspired me to think deeper about my actions, my understandings, and my relationships with others. Not too long ago, I heard something that really struck a chord with me:

when you are in a relationship, you may be tempted to think it is a give-and-take relationship when really, it should only be giving, you giving all you can with nothing expected in return.

The unselfish and pure love and respect of the Catholic Church I think is demonstrated in those few words. Keep giving what you can, being the best version of yourself you can be, and expect nothing back.

Confirmation class has really given me a chance to think about my role as a person under the teachings of the Catholic Church, and I am excited to live my life out in a kind and loving way.

 

Sincerely,

Charlotte Wade

 

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Confirmation Reflection Letter by Taylor Moises

Dear Bishop Garcia,


 I have grown up as a Roman Catholic. I was baptized as a baby and received First Communion and did First Reconciliation in second grade. I go to church weekly and have participated as an altar server, lector, and usher. I also have gone to a Catholic school for thirteen years. Because of my schooling and religious parents, my knowledge of the Catholic Church is pretty vast. The majority of my relatives are Catholic, and my friends from childhood were also primarily Catholic. Filipinos and Mexicans are traditionally Catholic, so at my Catholic School in Salinas, Madonna del Sasso, and as a part of a Filipino family, it was the norm for people to be Catholic and less common to be protestant or unreligious.

Being raised in an environment primarily made up of Catholics, and growing up learning almost all there is to know about Catholicism and scripture, I have strong roots in my religion.


 Beginning in my teenage years, however, I began questioning my faith. This is the common time for kids to reassess values and beliefs, in attempts to differentiate what we believe from what we have been told to believe by our parents. I started going through this process in middle school, when I started to feel distanced from God. I realized I had stopped praying to Him as often as I used to when I was a child. It had been a while since my nightly prayers with my parents before going to bed. I would only pray sporadically when I wanted something from God, rather than just talking to Him or praising Him.
For a while I tried to resolve my faith issues, and at one point during my freshman year I decided I wanted to be known as the girl in my class who had the closest relationship to God and her faith. Although Catalina is a Catholic school, fewer of my peers here are Catholic than were at my elementary school. Perhaps as result of that, I felt closer to God when I was ahead of my classmates in Scripture class, since I already knew the ins and outs of the Bible and Catholic traditions. However, again after my freshman year,

I realized I wasn’t actually closer to God; I only knew Catholic traditions and what to do in mass better than others who do not have the same background as mine.

Again, I struggled with my faith and felt lost from God, especially as I learned about the scandals the Catholic Church has been through in history classes and through media outlets.
I knew my school offers Confirmation every two years, and I knew my parents wanted me to get confirmed, but because of my growing weariness from my religion, I had been waiting to tell my parents I did not want to get confirmed. However, my parents were not backing down. While they will occasionally let me skip Sunday mass when I’ve been overworked from school or extracurricular activities, they were not going to let me go unconfirmed. I joined the Confirmation classes grudgingly, along with my other classmates.
However, my reluctance was misplaced; Confirmation has strengthened my faith and has been a wonderful experience I am forever grateful I went through. Mr. Riley, our advisor, relayed to the others and me early during the process–in response to my concerns about my struggle with my faith–that

“faith is a personal, ongoing process.” This simple statement opened my heart to a willingness to work for my relationship with God.

By giving my faith back to me and making it less about the Catholic Church as an institution, I have been able to pray for myself and do things at my own pace. With my long commute to school, forty-five minutes each way, I take some time while I drive to thank God for ten things and ask God for his blessing for ten other things or people. Additionally, during these past few months, Confirmation has been my weekly moment when I get to gather with my friends and just get to be in their presence. Some of my best friends are going through Confirmation with me, and it is such a joy to go out to dinner before Confirmation meetings or stay late afterwards talking with them. Confirmation has confirmed my faith within me, and it has given me precious time to spend with my best friends. Although it was hard sometimes to stay late on a school night, having this repetitive carved-out time to reflect and talk has been a much-needed experience during my very busy schedule. I’m forever thankful for this opportunity and look forward to completing this process on Saturday.

Sincerely,
Taylor Moises

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Social Media Diet by Isabelle Redfield

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I felt consumed by my online life, profile appearances, and the carefully-picked, highly-thought-out, edited pictures that showered my days. Considering unfollowing someone is the equivalent of saying, “I really don’t care about you.” I found myself seeing posts from acquaintances I could have sworn I never agreed to. Inevitably, I lost the daily interest to keep up with so many people’s manicured lives. I wanted to take some time for myself.

The bathroom, Chapel, formal dinners, the laundry room, a five-minute walk around campus, lunch with friends. These are just some of the many unnecessary appointments I made certain my phone joined me for. A well-worn love quote, “You’re the first thing I think of each morning when I rise; you’re the last thing I think of when I close my eyes,” essentially illustrates my former affinity towards Instagram. After turning off my morning alarm, Instagram was the first app I opened. At night, after setting my alarm, it was the last app I closed. One Sunday evening, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to delete every last social media app my phone held. My fingers worked hastily.

Once the deed was done, I put my phone down, and something in me, even if it was minor, shifted.

Though my act was a seemingly insignificant and rash adjustment, my life felt very different. Logistically, I hardly ever had to charge my phone. Until now, I was convinced my iPhone 6 battery was faulty; I’ve since figured out it’s me, not you, Apple. This realization is still slightly difficult to accept. My mornings became more peaceful, I paid attention at the lunch table, and I couldn’t be disappointed by a lack of notifications–there were no tagged memes to be notified of. I poured my time into my friends, myself, and my schoolwork (not that there was much). The items scattering my various to-do lists were checked off immediately, and I finally started going to bed at a reasonable hour.

Other than WSJ articles, there was simply no reason to sit on my phone anymore. Each day I got hours of my life back.

Since even in the most boring of moments resorting to the ‘explore’ page on Instagram was not an option, I instantly became productive in my free time.

Whenever I had the urge to type “Faceb-” into my search bar, I clicked on this blog instead. Any time I had nothing to do in Environmental Science, I clicked on this blog. I replaced scrolling with writing. As I think anyone will agree, there’s something so satisfying in the production of tangible work.

I missed two things while on my short-lived diet. Naturally, I missed the hilarious life moments I’d normally capture through Snapchat. I was forced to take camera roll pictures and send them in group chats. Perhaps I lived slightly more in the moment, but my humor proved less effective. Secondly, I genuinely missed the search bar of my Facebook. Random questions like, “Where does she go to school again?” or “What’s her boyfriend’s name?” went totally unanswered.

I was reminded daily that our generation’s main form of communication is through social media. Of course, I talked to dozens of people via text and FaceTime over the two weeks. Not that I questioned my friendships, but it was reassuring to see these relationships prove stronger than a mere like or comment.

Best of all, I felt autonomous. I didn’t feel excluded.

Instead, I felt a kind of purposeful and peaceful detachment. By the third day I had no urge to get back online.

I’ve always gawked at the few people my age whose lives exist purely offline. Only after my digital “cleanse” did I face the simplicity and beauty my everyday life presented me with, but that I typically ignored.

I’ll leave you with advice you’ve heard before and will hear again. This is because it is pure:

Our accounts are highlight reels of the most photogenic, manicured, and bright times in our lives.

With that, we still reconstruct, censor, and doctor our most “postable” of moments. Almost nothing on a screen can paint a full picture. As much as I try, neither my pictures nor my writing will tell all. This is the way social media goes, and we’ll accept it. However, we must not lose ourselves in a series of small squares.

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US-Chinese Power Relations and Threats: Moving Forward by Loleï Brenot

China does clearly pose a threat, not yet major, to the United States, due to this rising power. To manage this and keep civil relations between the two countries, our President-elect must practice great caution and respect moving forward in economic and political dealings with China.

The Economist article entitled “The Dangers of a Rising China” aptly points out, “Chinese leaders’ history lesson will have told them [that] the relationship that determines whether the world is at peace or at war is that between pairs of great powers. Sometimes . . . it goes well. Sometimes . . . it does not.” Currently, many are concerned about American relations with the world at large, particularly China, due to the recent presidential election. The recent resurgence of Chinese economic and trade power due to a rapidly rising population has led to predictions pointing to China soon overtaking the US in terms of economic power. What this means for the United States is yet to be seen; however, China does clearly pose a threat, not yet major, to the United States, due to this rising power. To manage this and keep civil relations between the two countries, our President-elect must practice great caution and respect moving forward in economic and political dealings with China.

Chinese manufacturing and production has a current, crushing hold over the entire world that would be difficult to overcome, should Chinese global relations sour. As was pointed out in the Economist article entitled “Made in China,” Chinese global manufacturing, currently at nearly 25%, has risen dramatically since 1990, when it made up under 3% of global manufacturing output. This very rise in production is what has catapulted China to the top of the power spectrum, as the world relies on Chinese products, with China supplying nearly half of the world’s products. This hold over the world is why US-Chinese relations must remain strong, as China has an extreme power hold on the United States in terms of manufactured goods, similar to the leverage of oil-supplying countries. However, it must be kept in mind that while China’s economy as a whole may overtake the United States’, the country’s prosperity will likely not be as widely shared as it has been in the United States, with many Chinese citizens still living in rural poverty. This is a possible major threat to United States power, although not a direct one, as complete reliance on the Chinese can lead to extreme problems if a disagreement were to occur.

Already since the election of President-elect Donald Trump, waves have been made in regards to Chinese-US relations.

Already since the election of President-elect Donald Trump, waves have been made in regards to Chinese-US relations. Although a phone call may seem trivial, a call between Trump and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen reported by The New York Times has had the world on the edge of its seat, as Trump hints about recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign state, rejecting the decades-long “One China” White House policy, in efforts to make trade and other agreements. This American threat to Chinese power and sovereignty could possibly lead to China becoming a greater threat to the US, if it exerts its extreme power over America more fully. Trump’s already bold moves have threatened to send the world into a tailspin of anxiety, speculating as to what will come next. Professor Wenran Jiang of the University of Alberta points out in a Globe and Mail piece that “Mr. Trump has again demonstrated that he is perfectly willing to disregard traditional foreign-policy norms in Washington, even with a country that has enough military and economic might to challenge U.S. global supremacy.” The Obama Administration has also spoken out against Trump’s actions, noting that the decades-long, bipartisan-supported “One China” policy should not be used a a “bargaining chip” in American-Chinese relations, as reported by the States News Service. Additionally, the Chinese government’s response to Trump’s phone call with Taiwan was not one of ease, as the government stated that it is “seriously concerned,” as The Independent reports.

These actions of President Trump are only a taste of what is to come from his administration in the next four to eight years. While such an extreme statement is a bold way to begin the period immediately after his election, one should expect nothing less from a figure like him. But whatever the shock value of moves like the Taiwan call, there is likely definite forethought and an agenda behind any such action on President Trump’s part. CBC News reported International Studies Professor Wang Dong of Peking University pointing out, “‘This is a very deliberate move, calculated to test China. If China reacts strongly, then he might back off a bit. But if he perceives China to be soft, he will become bolder.’” While the President’s actions may appear to be brash and uncalculated, if Professor Wang Dong is correct, Trump’s dealing with China in the coming years may adapt and be influenced greatly, being less black and white than it appears, and making the threat of future relations souring quickly perhaps less immediate.

Nonetheless, moving forward, it is likely that President-elect Trump will continue to uphold his appearance of dealing with foreign policy in a manner similar to his business dealings, in hard-hitting and direct ways. This can be viewed both positively and negatively, as, while more may be done, the reactions of other countries cannot be gauged completely prior to these actions, and one can only hope that our future president does not ruin relations that have been carefully constructed. However, it must be kept in mind that China is a soft but rising threat facing the United States, as its power continues to grow, and great caution will be required in dealings with it.

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What’s Yours is Mine as Well by Jenna Downs

I, the props mistress, have the job to single out, create, and search for approximately four hundred knickknacks and doodads.

The current show is You Can’t Take It With You, I, the props mistress, have the job to single out, create, and search for approximately four hundred knickknacks and doodads that are hung and set on every surface of the set. Every drawer is filled will papers while every nook contains something unusual. Behind the set lies two full prop tables lined with butcher paper outlining each and every prop that gets brought on and off stage.
The prop house (or just up the wooden stairs in the maintenance building) has dust coating the floor and the beams hanging low enough that you run the risk of bumping your head against the old wood. Piled from floor to ceiling, on every landing, are mementos from each show Catalina has put on. Hobby-horses and wooden half trees I painted from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, casino chips from Guys and Dolls, saloon swinging doors from Scapino!, flower darts I made for Into the Woods, wooden train cut outs from Schoolhouse Rock Live, big, lumpy suitcases from The Diary of Anne Frank, and a dagger alongside a bag of chunky glitter from Peter Pan are just a few things I can recognize. Up in boxes high on the shelves are patriotic paraphernalia, burlap sacks, bedding and pillows, every kind of telephone you could imagine, books of all shapes and sizes, tea cups with saucers, camels without candleholders, fake rats and parrots, umbrellas of every color, old radios and record players, fake flowers bursting from buckets labeled “nature,” it’s all there and waiting for the right show to come around where it could be dusted off and set under the spotlights.

In the case of this show, a very specific list of items was provided for the Properties Mistress. Chinese inkwells and the small bearded head of a man were just two of the items I could identify that I did not have among the numerous shelves. I was then put in the position to use what could be salvaged and completely transform it into something different. I repainted a plastic skull to make a ceramic dish to hold various kinds of taffy. Paintings and pictures were pulled and loaded into the golf cart to be pulled apart and decorated to match the time period. Porcelain plates were washed and dried, silverware counted and matched–everything that was pulled out for the show had to be noted and organized in order so that we wouldn’t have to put back more than we needed to.

I was then put in the position to use what could be salvaged and completely transform it into something different.

Onstage, there was a desk whose owner was a playwriting dramatic who put every word down on paper. Naturally, that meant that said desk must have papers and letters of all shapes, colors, and sizes filling drawers, covering surfaces, and in the trunks beside the desk. When I pulled out a plastic tub of paper materials that had been accumulated of the years, I brought it back down to the stage to sift through papers that obviously wouldn’t work. I began picking up letters and noticed that beautiful handwriting and terrible scrawl were all directed toward a singular name: Naomi. Sure, I figured that just a handful of letters could have been donated to the theater department (it wasn’t that uncommon), but among the letters was various poetry from a “secret admirer,” pen pal letters from foreign countries, faded school records, and numerous post cards from aunts and uncles.

I began picking up letters and noticed that beautiful handwriting and terrible scrawl were all directed toward a singular name: Naomi.

I felt as if I was meeting someone for the first time; her writing suggested that through her creativity, she would find herself somewhere in the field of English as a career. Her family and friends from all over the states had sent postcards from museums and bookstores that would intrigue her. It was a brief meeting, almost like a quick conversation during a passing period. I had found something that was left in a bin to age in the prop house for the next decade or so.

Maybe it wasn’t meant to be found, or even to be put in the prop house, but to me, the props mistress, creation and repurposing is essential to a successful production

Maybe it wasn’t meant to be found, or even to be put in the prop house, but to me, the props mistress, creation and repurposing is essential to a successful production, and through Naomi’s contribution to the theater department,You Can’t Take It With You became an even more convincing production, and as a techie, I give you my thanks, Naomi.

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Reflection on the Women’s March of January 21st, 2017 by Jessica Almos

On Saturday, January 21st 2017, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump, people from all over the world came together to participate in the Women’s March on Washington D.C.

On Saturday, January 21st 2017, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump, people from all over the world came together to participate in the Women’s March on Washington D.C. Although Washington D.C. was the main event, there were marches in almost every city in the United States along with many marches across the globe. Rain or shine, people were marching. In South Lake Tahoe, which is my hometown, people were marching in snow that was up to their waists.

Everyone at these marches wanted to take action to make their voices heard. Not only were people marching for women, but also the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBT+ community, pro-choice, climate change issues, and so many more. The vulnerability of everyone openly fighting for what they believe in created a united community all across the world. The Women’s March organization set forth the guidelines that there would be no hatred or violence, because the march’s purpose is to speak loud enough that the oppressors are forced to listen.

“Justice for LGBTQP+,” “Women for Revolution,” “No silence no violence,” and “MY body MY choice.”

One of the towns that participated was Monterey, on the CSUMB campus. When my friends and I saw that there was a Women’s March so close to us we decided immediately that we wanted to participate in it, even though it was forecasted to rain all day. On that Saturday morning we went to the art room to make various signs to carry during the march. After looking a long time for inspiration on the internet, everyone had prioritized what they wanted on their signs, saying things like: “Justice for LGBTQP+,” “Women for Revolution,” “No silence no violence,” and “MY body MY choice.” I was unable to figure out what was most important to me, so mine said “I am VERY upset”–with the “VERY” written in red.

Arriving was an experience that I will never forget. The event planners were expecting a turn-out of 80 people to come, but by the time the event had started there were thousands of people on campus ready to march. Though it was such a large group of unfamiliar people, I felt comfortable because I knew we all had a common cause–standing up for ourselves and for others who were unable to do so. I even met a woman who had a similar sign to mine that read “There are too many issues to put on one sign”.

Once the march actually started, everyone moved as one unit to start marching towards the gym where the speakers would soon be speaking about various topics. I knew there were a lot of people behind and in front of me, but it wasn’t until we started going up a hill, and I could look down to all of the people walking behind me, that I realized that there were actually thousands of people marching against hate in Monterey. There were thousands of signs and t-shirts displaying what people cared the most about, all within the theme of basic human rights.

Once we got to the end of the march, we were invited to sit closer to the front to be near the speakers. Looking around at the gym, it was hard to believe we could fit all participants in the march but everyone squeezed on the floor and bleachers so everyone could be present. The speakers had so many valuable things to bring to the table about human rights and how we can come together as a community and not back down to those who think they have power over us.

The community that has arisen since the events that have caused such fear throughout the nation has given me a sense of security, and seeing this community in action helped me realize that the world has been through many rough times, but that there will always be hope as long as people come together to make their voices heard.

The speakers that  I saw made a huge impact on me. They were able to speak about what they cared about so clearly, and inspired me to work on how I present my beliefs to the world.
The community that has arisen since the events that have caused such fear throughout the nation has given me a sense of security, and seeing this community in action helped me realize that the world has been through many rough times, but that there will always be hope as long as people come together to make their voices heard. The Women’s March of 2017 helped me feel like I was a part of a movement that will influence the world, and I will continue to fight for our needs as long as it is needed. The Women’s March stood as a sign to the world that we will not give up our fight against oppression.