Category: by Maya J ’16

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2016-2017 Archives by Maya J '16 Features students

Word from the Real World: Maya Juman

Being on my own is weird. It’s also the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I’m Maya Juman, a BSGE (and Bacc Rag) alum, and now a freshman at Yale University. I’ve been in college for two months and have already experienced so many incredibly new things of all sorts. I have my first real job. I’ve battled two bouts of “freshman plague,” as everyone refers to the perpetual sore throat/cold passed around freshman housing. I’ve learned the hard way that eating grilled cheeses and taking breaks to play pool in the basement at 2 am is an ineffective, albeit fun, way to get work done. I’ve done better on a midterm than I anticipated. I’ve done much, much worse on a midterm than I anticipated. I’ve traveled home on the Metro-North, which oddly enough was the first time college truly felt real. I’ve located the best New Haven pizza (Pepe’s white clam pie, of course). I’ve been evacuated from my dorm at 1 am because a freshman two floors above me broke a sprinkler and flooded all our rooms. I’ve tried things I never thought I would, like working out at 7 am, beekeeping, and taking a poetry seminar. I’ve located the best study spots in each library, the best place to watch the Wild Card Game with other Mets fans, and, perhaps most importantly, the dining hall with the most expansive cereal selection.

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2015-2016 Archives by Maya J '16 Features students

Letter From The Editor

It has been a great privilege of mine to contribute to the Bacc Rag as a writer and editor over the past five years.

I remember so clearly the first time I, a tiny, terrified eighth grader, was sent to interview upperclassmen and teachers for an article. One of my first assignments was asking several seniors to reflect on the college application process, and I recall thinking about how far away college seemed, and how scary the seniors were, and how long it would be before I would finally graduate from BSGE.

It definitely went by faster than I could ever have imagined. Graduating seems surreal, but so does leaving behind this newspaper, which, although at times can be crazy and dysfunctional (I know the staff will agree with me) is so full of life and spunk. I’ve poured my heart into the Bacc Rag during my time at BSGE, and I can only hope that I have done half as much for this newspaper as it has done for me.

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by Maya J '16

Thanks BSGE PTA!

As Bacc Rag editor this year, I would like to thank the PTA for continuing to support our publication. As in years past, the PTA helped us print our issues, which we consider a crucial part of what we do as a newspaper. Physical distribution remains one of our main priorities in sharing news. We are so grateful to have the support of the school, and look forward to another year of writing and printing. Thank you so much for everything!

– Maya Juman ’16, Editor

 

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by Maya J '16

Lady Sting’s Playoff Run Ends in City Quarterfinals

DSC05467This year, BSGE’s varsity softball team had their longest and most exciting playoff run yet. During the regular season the team was undefeated, finishing 15-0 in their PSAL Queens B Division, led by captains Nina Don ‘16 and Rakia Islam ‘16. Lady Sting was seeded #1 in Queens, and was given a first round bye. In the second round, the team defeated Robert H. Goddard High School 10-9 in a 6-run seventh inning rally. BSGE was then granted the overall #3 seed in the city out of the remaining 16 teams. After beating Sunset Park High School 8-1 in the third round, Lady Sting advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in BSGE history. Despite losing 3-0 to the High School for Math, Science and Engineering, Lady Sting still finished the season as one of the top 8 teams out of the total 133 in B Division softball, an accomplishment that the players, the coaches, and the many spectators and fans are truly proud of.

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by Maya J '16

A New Cafeteria Mural for CAS

IMG_5372The vast majority of BSGE students eat lunch in the cafeteria, and many spend time there after school for various extracurricular activities. Thus, for a group of five determined seniors, repainting the cafeteria mural seemed like the obvious choice for a CAS group project that would impact the entire school community. Isabelle Lee ‘16, Alvaro Bermejo ‘16, Joly Zakaria ‘16, Akib Rahman ‘16, and Sara Asprilla ‘16 wanted to replace the long-standing mural with a brighter, fresher design. With the supervision and input of the art teachers, Peter Wilson, and Vanessa Rabines, the group put in 20 hours of after-school work over the course of 2 months, sanding and repainting the original mural and creating the new design on the wall.

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by Maya J '16

BSGE’s Middle School Math Competition Success

0319161235aBSGE’s middle school math team has been succeeding in numerous city and state math competitions this spring, led by Mr. Mehan. 8th graders Rachael Cheung, Christie Choi, SiLiang Lei and Christy Guan, as well as 7th grader Ahmed Shekani participated in the MathCounts citywide chapter competition on February 6th at IS 74, where the team won 2nd place. They moved on to the state finals, held at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate New York on March 18th.

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by Maya J '16

Lady Sting Softball Off To Strong Start With 2016 Season

1918183_10204212323627360_8065897584736457814_nBSGE’s varsity softball team kicked off the season last week, dominating their first two PSAL games against the Young Women’s Leadership School, 20-0, and Long Island City High School, 21-1. The official games began after several weeks of non-league scrimmages against Division A and B teams, which Lady Sting ended with a record of 4 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie. Lady Sting is looking to win its division for the second consecutive season, and advance to the playoffs once again. Captain and shortstop Nina Don ’16 shared her thoughts on the start of the season. “I feel like it’s going really well. Our team is getting smarter and stronger after every game – even the freshmen are learning really quickly, and I hope this continues throughout the season.”

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by Maya J '16

The Force Awakens – And So Does a New Breed of Star Wars

Source: starwars.com
Source: starwars.com

I grew up on Star Wars – and yes, I am aware of the faint laughter I hear from “original” 1970s fans as I say that. But I’m as real a fan as a teenager in 2016 can be. My parents thankfully raised me on the original trilogy, and so when I heard that George Lucas had sold Star Wars to Disney, I cringed. I rolled my eyes at promotional merchandise and trailers and the spherical orange wannabe R2-D2.

But of course, on December 17th, I found myself at the premiere of Episode VII: The Force Awakens, robe-clad with lightsaber in tow.

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by Maya J '16

Burritos for BSGE!

This Sunday, November 22nd, Senior Council is holding a fundraiser at Chipotle on Austin Street in Forest Hills. If you grab a burrito, bowl, or any other Chipotle deliciousness between 2pm and 6pm and bring this flyer either as a printout or on your smartphone, 50% of the proceeds will go to Senior Council. Be sure to show your school support!

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by Maya J '16

BSGE Receives Its First 7 in IB Art!

"ghost in your garden" by Adela Goldsmith '15 (Acrylic on Color Film, Feb 2015). See the rest of Adela's work at http://www.nyclabart.org/ahrt/portfolio.php?portfolio=AGoldsmith2015)
“ghost in your garden” by Adela Goldsmith ’15 (Acrylic on Color Film, Feb 2015). See the rest of Adela’s work at http://www.nyclabart.org/ahrt/portfolio.php?portfolio=AGoldsmith2015)

Smith College is filled with many bright young women pursuing art, but BSGE alum Adela Goldsmith ’15 can proudly say that she is one of the few who have earned a 7 in IB Higher Level Visual Arts – and not just any 7. Adela is the first BSGE student to receive a 7 in what many juniors and seniors believe is the most challenging IB course offered at our school.

Adela, whose work features a mix of dark imagery (run-down houses, severed hands, and tombstones) and bright, eye-catching colors, said that it was “cool” to get BSGE’s first 7, although the college credit she received for it is not stopping her from “taking a bunch of art classes anyway.” When asked about the general theme for her body of work, Adela explained that she focused on “decay (very broadly), but also how it relates to the human experience, and the relationship between the natural and the man-made.” She intends to stay involved in art through college, with a potential major in Art History and a Museums Concentration; “possibly careers in curating or museum education,” she said.

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by Maya J '16

A Big Thank You to the PTA!

On behalf of the entire Bacc Rag staff, Lydia and I would like to sincerely thank BSGE’s PTA for their support throughout the school year. This year, we printed more issues than ever before, and it would not have been possible without the PTA. We are forever grateful for your help; thank you for your continued support for our publication! We hope to continue to improve next year with the encouragement of the BSGE community.

– Maya Juman ’16, Editor

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by Maya J '16

Lady Sting Ends 2015 Season

Photo Credit: Lauren Katzenstein
The team, coaches and alumni at the annual barbeque. Photo Credit: Lauren Katzenstein

BSGE’s varsity softball team has concluded what many consider to be its most successful season yet. Despite being eliminated by Robert H. Goddard High School in the first round of PSAL’s B Division playoffs, Lady Sting won its division, Queens B I, for the first time in BSGE history, with a season record of 15-1. Lady Sting was ranked #2 in Queens entering the postseason. “The 2015 season was the best season that BSGE has ever seen,” said co-captain Nina Don ’16. “It was fun. We played more efficiently than we had in previous years. It went well especially considering we lost some experienced players last year.”

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