![Junior Mia Ronn performs the poem, The World is About to End and My Grandparents are in Love, by Kara Jackson. I think [the poem] is so relevant and impactful. It feels like the news is constantly overwhelming our generation, Ronn said. With COVID we havent especially gotten the same sort of teenage experience and all of the things that we sort of hoped to experience. I think were in a place of wondering what our lives are going to look like.Ronn originally won the school contest of the Poetry Out Loud competition last year in December and has now advanced to nationals as one of the top nine finalists.](https://archeroracle.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG-9751-1-900x675.jpg)
![Track and field team members Coco Takessian (28), Nissara Shah (28) and Mia Goldberg (28), get in their positions to start running in a track event at Brentwood School April 20. It is a really tiring sport, but I love the team so much, Farah Sandoval (28) said. We all were equally exhausted and worn out, so [the team] all had fun and joked about it after.](https://archeroracle.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ms-tf-fi-900x600.jpg)
![Graduating seniors from the Oracle Staff, Sports Editor Gracie Doyle, Editor-in-Chief Vaughan Anoai and Features Editor Thea Leimone, show off their college spirit together. I think from here on, its only exciting things, Doyle said. We have a really, really fun end of the year. We get to participate in all these traditions. Then we have summer, which is always fun, and then freshman year [of college], which is so exciting and new. But Im really ready for the next chapter.](https://archeroracle.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/IMG_9940-900x600.jpg)
From East to West: Through the eyes of Penny Franklin
December 19, 2020
During Christmas, Franklin and her sister enjoy a fun time at Rockefeller Center.
Photo credit: Penny Franklin
On Franklin’s last day in Brooklyn before she moved to Los Angeles, Franklin and her best friend Layla went to Brooklyn Bridge park.
Photo credit: Penny Franklin
Franklin and her sister in Joshua Tree. Franklin said she had a “great time” with her sister and can’t wait to explore more activities in California.
Photo credit: Penny Franklin
In this picture, Franklin poses for a picture on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Photo credit: Penny Franklin
Franklin skates in Central Park.
Photo credit: Penny Franklin
Before the Coronavirus, Franklin and her sister enjoy a Mets game in New York.
Photo credit: Penny Franklin
Franklin enjoys a dodgers game in Los Angeles.
Photo credit: Penny Franklin
Sixth grader Penny Franklin moved from New York City to Los Angeles towards the end of July. As it is Franklin’s first year at a new school and in a new city, she has aimed to explore Los Angeles but still keep the memories of the fun activities she did back in New York City with her friends, especially during the holidays.
“It’s been pretty crazy, especially because of Covid,” Franklin said. “I’m actually really liking it here in LA. And, yes, because of Corona it is really annoying, but there’s also some upsides to it, such as being able to have more chill time.”
Franklin said that the hardest thing about being in Los Angeles right now and adapting to a new school is missing her friends.
“I’m so far away from my really good friends because they’re on the East Coast. I mean, I still get to FaceTime them but it’s definitely harder,” Franklin said.
Franklin also said she finds school to be a little challenging especially at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Towards the end of her fifth grade year when the lockdown started, she said online school was getting a “little harder” and “annoying;” however, she has adapted to the Archer’s schooling system, which she said the school has made really “simple and easy to navigate.”
“I definitely think the work is challenging, but I love a good challenge,” Franklin said. “It’s not so hard but, at the same time, the teachers really are nice and supportive. Overall, it is really good, and I am adapting.”
As the holidays arrive, Franklin shared her favorite holiday memories and activities she did in New York with her best friend.
“My best friend also lived in New York City with me, and we would always go to breakfast,” Franklin said. “We would go shopping around the square, see the giant tree, take pictures and go shopping at the Lego Store, which was really fun.”
Some New York activities Franklin wants to bring to Los Angeles once the quarantine is concluded are to see many lights, go to popular stores and go window shopping.
“I’m not sure if LA does this because I’ve never been here for Christmas but there’s always so many lights and all the popular stores decorate their window so you can go window shopping,” Franklin said. “There is all of these amazing buildings and moving lights — it’s really cool and fun.”
Franklin described herself as a “person who loves the city” who enjoys walking around and taking the subway.
“In New York City, walking and the subway are your basic forms of transportation,” Franklin said. “Everybody is walking, everybody’s rushing and it always feels like something is going on There’s always lights around and especially during the holidays there are cute decorations. The stores were huge and I just feel like the vibe is really nice. I love it there.”
