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The Mirror

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The student website of Van Nuys High School
Van Nuys, California
The Student News Site of Van Nuys High School

The Mirror

The Student News Site of Van Nuys High School

The Mirror

Joel Nam

Joel Nam, Opinion Editor

From trekking through national parks in Washington to scouring pictures on the internet at home, pursuing all things aesthetic is my favorite way to realize my values and dreams. As a new voice at Van Nuys High School’s Journalism team, my aspiration is to appreciate the untold stories that surround us in our daily lives and share them with everyone else. In my spare time, I can be found searching for (through elaborate testing) the ideal sleeping position.

All content by Joel Nam
Eminem and his mother: A timeline of turmoil

Eminem and his mother: A timeline of turmoil

Family dynamics shape musical themes
By Joel Nam, Abigail Kim, and Maya Diaz
Dec 11, 2024
American politics is deeply divisive and heated at times, as emotions charge rhetoric and drown out rational thought. It's time for political discussions to shift from blame to building bridges through compromise and cooperation.

It’s “just” politics. Everybody, chill out

Emotions overpower logic in political debates
By Joel Nam, Opinion Editor
Dec 11, 2024
 Trick or treat: Test your Halloween knowledge

Trick or treat: Test your Halloween knowledge

Scare yourself with these tricky Halloween trivia questions.
By Abigail Kim and Joel Nam
Oct 31, 2024
 Mental age quiz

Mental age quiz

Take this quiz to find out what your mental age is.
By Leon Weiss, Abigail Kim, and Joel Nam
Oct 14, 2024
Suppressing negative emotions, a precursor to venting, is not healthy. Bottling up your feelings can inflame stress and eventually lead to explosive oversharing.

The hidden dangers of venting and how it can backfire

While venting can provide some much-needed relief and comfort, it also carries risks that can spiral out of control.
By Joel Nam, Opinion Editor
Sep 18, 2024
A SAD REALITY The American civilian population possesses around 433 million firearms, putting innocent people at risk of being involved in a mass shooting.

Gun violence ricochets in America

In America, hundreds die as a result of gun violence. In order to save lives, we must take decisive action to address broad societal and administrative issues.
By Joel Nam, Opinion Editor
Jun 18, 2024
At its most fundamental level, religion is composed of beliefs that constitute values and standards necessary for the healthy functioning of society.

Rethinking Christian values

Joel Nam shares his understanding of Christianity and how its beliefs can benefit society by teaching us to exercise patience, compassion and empathy.
By Joel Nam, Opinion Editor
Jun 5, 2024
Detoxing: How to retake control of your life

Detoxing: How to retake control of your life

The abuse of cheap thrills and addictive products has become all too common in today's society. Taking a break from these destructive habits can liberate both the mind and body.
By Joel Nam, Opinion Editor
May 15, 2024
Students and admin need to be on the same page about censorship

Students and admin need to be on the same page about censorship

It is within the community’s best interests that high school administrations and journalists foster a spirit of understanding and work in tandem.
By Joel Nam, Opinion Editor
May 1, 2024
Clearing up the controversy: A writer’s response to criticism

Clearing up the controversy: A writer’s response to criticism

"Lose some weight, it’s not healthy to be heavy" is an article sharing my stance on obesity in today’s society. Here are my responses to the backlash voiced by student readers.
By Joel Nam, Opinion Editor
Apr 29, 2024
"Act Like You Care" by Susi Vasquez-Lara, Milbridge Elementary, 5th grade.

Quiz: Are you smarter than a fifth grader?

The average fifth grader can answer at least 10 of these questions. Can you match their score?
By Abigail Kim, Viktoriya Khanliyan, and Joel Nam
Apr 20, 2024
Feel the love: Valentine's Day trivia that will make your heart beat with pride!

Feel the love: Valentine’s Day trivia that will make your heart beat with pride!

Do you yearn for days of romance yore? Take our Valentine's Day history quiz to see how much you really know about this special holiday.
By Joel Nam, Abigail Kim, and Viktoriya Khanliyan
Feb 14, 2024
PLAYING CATCH UP LAUSD's late work policy is incentivizing students to procrastinate, leaving them with a disastrous buildup of late assignments.

Too little too late: LAUSD’s policy is sabotaging the next generation

The largest school district in California is holding their students back and getting away with it.
By Joel Nam, Opinion Editor
Dec 29, 2023
Gawrsh! Which Disney character are you?

Gawrsh! Which Disney character are you?

See where you belong in the Disney universe with this musical quiz.
By Joel Nam, Abigail Kim, and Viktoriya Khanliyan
Dec 15, 2023
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