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ePathfinder Staff

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[wow_title text=”Recent Stories”]

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• Forever YoungMarch 20, 2025
  The evolution of Barbie in the world Living in a perfect world, Barbie has grown up and yet ironically stayed forever young throughout the decades. Formally known as Barbara Millicent Roberts, Barbie debuted on March 9, 1959. Created by Mattel Inc. The original Barbie doll was based on the German-built Lilli doll. Far from what is known now, the original Barbie doll wore a black and white strapless swimsuit, sunglasses, earrings, stiletto-heeled shoes, and bold makeup, and she had quite arched eyebrows. Although Mattel was the manufacturer, Barbie’s life came from the heart and mind of Ruth Handler. An inspiring woman who was born on November 4, 1916. Her purpose for Barbie was to inspire young girls to imagine their future beyond motherhood and get rid of the idea that women have certain expectations in society. The name of Barbie was inspired by Ruth’s daughter, Barbara and as Barbie grew, she influenced ideas of women empowerment, beauty standards, and gender roles turning into a cultural icon after starting as just a playing doll for young girls.  Over the decades, Barbie has changed appearances and transformed. As different styles became popular in fashion, Barbie adapted. From the original look of pale white skin and bold makeup to softer looks and outfits that reflected current trends, to now being diverse with multi-cultural Barbie dolls and inspirations. The first multi-cultural Barbie doll was introduced in 1980, but some question why it took so long to promote it. It wasn’t until 2022, that Mattel released its first LGBTQ+ Barbie doll. “Barbie has always portrayed the message of ‘you can be anything you want’ especially towards a girl population,” said DBHS junior Jordan Juste. Starting in the 1960’s, Mattel introduced the friends of Barbie. Starting in 1961 with Ken, her boyfriend, and her first best friend, Midge in 1963. After that, more friends of Barbie were introduced creating a large population to be interested in her as there weren’t only new girl Barbies but also new boy Barbies. But then again, it raised suspicions as to why other cultures weren’t introduced until 1980. As much as Barbie has grown and changed appearances, she has stayed young, being a 19-year-old girl since the start.  “She’s very versatile, and there are different variations of her so she’s not just one thing, she’s implying to others that you can do anything, you’ll just be as good as the next person,” said DBHS junior Jordan Juste. Today, young and older audiences are more inclined to Barbie because of the films. In 2001, the first animated Barbie movie was released introducing a whole new look towards Barbie and her world. Creating not only a toy doll for assumingly young girls, but an entertainment enjoyment for all ages. With the most recent Barbie live-action movie from 2023, the Barbie franchise doesn’t face as many problems as it did decades ago when the world wasn’t the same. Barbie TV shows and series have also made their way into the world, like the iconic ‘Barbie Life In The Dreamhouse’ from 2012. As of 2025, Mattel has yet to release Barbie dolls surrounding the Polynesian and Pacific Islander culture. So even though Barbie has changed a lot, there’s still a lot of room for improvement and even more growth. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit Published March 20, 2025 | ePathfinder | Perspectives 
• The Ban Of TiktokMarch 19, 2025
  A small change that affected many  On the morning of January 19, 2025, TikTok was banned in the U.S., but the ban did not last that long which was about 3 hours long of the ban. The government had concerns about TikTok being owned by a Chinese company (ByteDance). The U.S. Government were worried that they could access the American user’s data and confidential information and spread the information. Because of these concerns, they thought it would be a great idea to ban TikTok so that nobody would have access to American users’ information.  Most people who use TikTok were disappointed in the ban. This made many people protest the decision, arguing that TikTok is just a normal social media app like many other social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. Some people even took legal action to fight against the ban. Meanwhile, Influencers and business owners who make money from TikTok lost that place of income, and since TikTok was banned, they were worried that the ban could hurt them financially.  “The TikTok ban was so unnecessary, and the government is dumb for thinking that TikTok is spying on us,” said DBHS Junior Katherine Landero.  It has been rumored for years that Tiktok would get banned, so many thought this was just another false alarm. But the surprise shocked them all when it happened this time.  Those who deleted TikTok off their phones and tried to get it back realized that it was no longer available once deleted. Other people who had TikTok on their phones would go as far as selling their phones for 10k+ dollars and people who were too obsessed with the app would buy it. Some people would change their regions to Canada to get the TikTok app back on their phones. The ban on TikTok, though it was only for a short time greatly impacted the United States.  On February 13, 2025, at 1 PM EST, TikTok was finally back up on the App Store and working again. When Tiktokers heard about this, they were relieved, especially influencers and business owners who relied their money on TikTok. This brought everyone’s hopes up that TikTok is not getting banned for now. Written by Perla Aguirre | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit Published March 19, 2025 | ePathfinder | Entertainment 

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[wow_title text=”Content by Janna Margar Pit”]

• The Summer I Turned Pretty 
  Love-triangle of the decade The teen love show, The Summer I Turned Pretty sparked every fan’s heart with a second season. The first season was released only a year ago which makes it even better. Originally being a trilogy book series by author Jenny Han, it is now a TV series giving its fans a fresh look at each character. Actress Lola Tung starred as the main character Isabelle “Belly” Conklin, a sweet teenage girl caught in between a dilemma with Jeremiah Fisher, played by Gavin Casalegno and Conrad Fisher, played by Christopher Briney. These characters make up the love triangle that builds throughout the show, and a group that constantly makes fans shuffle between all three sides. Considered a coming-of-age story, The Summer I Turned Pretty focuses on Belly, who holds a romantic connection between two teenage boys who happen to be brothers. It begins with a longing crush on her childhood best friend Conrad. All she’s known is her fixation on him but during her summer break in Cousins Beach, a series of events makes her question whether she likes Conrad, or his brother, Jeremiah. Without a doubt, this is more complicated than any other love triangle. It plays with the dynamics of love, friendship, family, and morals. The first season was released on June 17, 2022, and the second season was released on July 14, 2023. The book author, Jenny Han also contributed to producing and making an appearance in the show. This helped the director and other producers get a better understanding of what was supposed to happen because they had her insight. Since the newest season came out, many new fans have shown support with its concept. The series does an excellent job portraying the emotions of a teen girl stepping out of her comfort zone and into the experiences of being 16. It gives many other teenage viewers someone to relate with. “It made me so sad, but it was entertaining and that’s why I liked it. When it comes to Belly, I kind of relate to her because it was a little hard for me growing up, from being a kid to as I am now,” said Deerfield Beach High School sophomore Anisah Mohammad. The Summer I Turned Pretty does not just give an entertaining plot and an exciting love triangle but also shows a realistic situation of a summer vacation with family friends. Lately, it was announced on August 3, 2023, that a third season will officially be coming out eventually. Although the exact date is not clear, many fans and DBHS students alike are excited to see where the story is going to take this love triangle. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit Published September 22, 2023 | ePathfinder | Entertainment 
• Standing in the Spotlight
  The MTV Video Music Awards People were celebrating this year’s VMAs on September 12th, 2023. Many celebrities and artists surprised the masses with their talent and got the recognition they deserved. In 1984, MTV began the VMAs (Video Music Awards) to award and recognize talented individuals and move their rank up in the singing industry. Since then, the VMAs have entertained their audience and have given the winners something to motivate them to keep doing what they are doing. Looking back at older VMA celebrations, things have changed since the first VMAs were held. Iconic artists of each generation perform at the VMAs to give their guests something to look forward to besides the award-giving ceremony. In one of the earlier celebrations, bands like the Smashing Pumpkins, The Rolling Stones, and artists like Snoop Dogg performed and were unforgettable. In this year’s VMAs on September 12th, 2023, artists Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Karol G, and Demi Lovato performed on the stage with many songs and incredible talent. Even the K-pop or Korean Pop groups Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER performed. These talented individuals should be proud of the recognition they are granted for being invited to the award show. Few people know the importance of giving awards to those who work hard. VMAs are influential to lots of celebrities and always aim to appreciate artists who deserve it. It is wonderful how the VMA Awards bring celebrities and artists together to celebrate each other’s talent. “It’s good to recognize artists because it appreciates their work and brings them out there more. The fact that it’s so many artists in one place and getting awards for everything makes it special,” said Deerfield Beach High School freshman Brianna Rivera. Although not all that participate in the VMA awards receive an award, the awards are given to the ones that deserve it the most and worked the hardest for it. It is a fan-voted award, so it all depends on an artist’s fan base to push them to the top. In this year’s VMAs, some of the most viral winners were Taylor Swift for all three video, artist, and song of the year. Ice Spice won Best New Artist, Maneskin won Best Rock, and many more artists won awards for their talented work. Not only do the VMAs recognize singers and artists, but also influence their music to give people what they want. The award show has done an incredible job of helping artists continue their careers. Annually, numerous people look forward to watching the VMAs celebrate big and small artists. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit  Published October 6, 2023 | ePathfinder | Entertainment 
• Slam Dunk
  Dribbling into this basketball season Returning to the court for the upcoming basketball season are the Deerfield Beach High Bucks. Starting the season, the girls’ basketball team has their first game on November 13th against the Cypress Bay Lightnings. The boys’ basketball team also has a game on November 13th against Somerset Keys Lions marking the first of a long list of competitions. The players are pumped as they enter this next period, and a lot has changed since the last. Different expectations are rising for this year; the boys’ and girls’ basketball players are preparing to reach them with a slam dunk. “My expectations are for it to be challenging and I hope to come out a district champion,” said DBHS senior Shanice Rebecca. “I’m excited for the journey and to see how I develop on and off the court.” The Deerfield Beach High basketball initiative provides many opportunities for talented players to achieve their goals. Basketball is also a great sport to help strengthen the minds of students when it comes to partnership and competition. Players build up this innate skill with techniques like defense and rebounding drills with their teammates by their side. As soon as the games start, players have to be ready mentally and physically. The school is confident that the teams will have more wins than losses and is looking forward to the games that have yet to come. The tickets to attend an upcoming or future games are available for purchase on GoFan. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Daniel Sasson  Published November 3, 2023 | ePathfinder | Sports 

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[wow_title text=”ePathfinder Stories”]

•  Legacy Of LaughterMarch 31, 2025
  The Origins of April Fool’s Day  April Fools Day is a holiday that involves practical pranks and jokes, with origins dating back to the 1500s. While the exact origins of this holiday are uncertain, it shares similarities with other celebrations, such as Hilaria in ancient Rome. Hilaria was known as the eighth of the Calends of April, which strongly links the festival to April first. Another possible origin is the Medieval Feast of Fools, which emerged sometime in the late 12th century in Central Europe. The feast involved electing a Lord of Misrule, who would preside over a day of revelry, including pranks, jokes, and general disorder. “I’ve always wondered why we celebrate April Fools,” said DBHS Sophomore Darline Mondesir. Another possibility of how April Fools started goes back to the 1500s in France. When the Julien Calendar was changed to the Gregorian calendar. The first day of the year changed from April to January. Word traveled slowly, and people who still used the Julien Calendar were mocked as “April fools.” Some sources believe the practice of telling April Fools jokes spread rapidly, and it has continued over the last 500 years. “I like April Fools Day but I’ve never thought about where it came from,” said sophomore Dylan Ortiz. Although the origins of this holiday are unclear, it does not stop people from celebrating in the slightest. Statistics show that 21% of respondents said they are likely to prank someone for April Fools Day this year and 25% expect to get pranked by others. Even businesses participate in the holiday. In 2022, Sprite and McDonald’s teamed up to create a hilarious prank promoting a canned version of McDonald’s Sprite. The same year 7-Eleven introduced “Tiny Gulp,” a humorous smaller version of their big gulp drinks, “for just 7 cents for 0.7 ounces, you can quench a small fraction of your thirst.” Companies celebrating April Fools Day could increase profit and relate to their customers.  “I love when companies do pranks, my favorite is Duolingo,” said DBHS Sophomore Adin Julien. While April Fool’s Day’s origins remain uncertain, people all over the world and throughout time have had similar holidays. Holidays like April Fools are here to bring humor into people’s lives. Whether rooted in ancient festivals or cultural traditions, the day continues to bring lighthearted fun. Written by Camila Castro  | Graphic Designed by Camila Castro  Published March 31, 2025 | ePathfinder | Feature
•  Chasing VictoryMarch 21, 2025
  DBHS Boys Soccer  One of the most played sports at any given high school, soccer has had many ups and downs throughout its seasons. As any team would, the boys’ soccer team feels they may need to work on things like communication and working together once they’re on the field. All factors play an important role in ensuring the best outcome of the game.  In DBHS, soccer team goalie Juan Salinas Gonzalez’s case, when asked about what he felt the team needed to work on he said, “I think we need to work on working together as a team and communicating when we have to’. This is a very good skill the team could work on to better themselves for next season. Keeping in mind that a team needs to cooperate among themselves to improve their communication.  The soccer team has a lot of potential when it comes to their games, but it’s important to take a step back and examine what went wrong and what needs improvement. When asked how far the soccer team went into the season, DBHS boy soccer team goalie, Juan Salinas Gonzalez stated, “We lost in finals for district, so we didn’t move on to regionals”. Now although the team probably didn’t make it as far as they would have liked they still put up a fight and did what they could to make it as far as they could. This season can serve as a learning opportunity to work towards bettering themselves and making sure they get to regionals next season.  To sum it all up, the boy’s soccer team did not make it to regionals but put up a fight, and they will be taking the time to work on improving themselves, whether it be on their skills or bonding to make sure they make it farther next season and come back better and more prepared for their games. And of course, they look forward to what the next season has in store for them. Written by Giselle Gonzalez   | Graphic Designed by Giselle Gonzalez  Published March 21, 2025 | ePathfinder | Sports
• Forever YoungMarch 20, 2025
  The evolution of Barbie in the world Living in a perfect world, Barbie has grown up and yet ironically stayed forever young throughout the decades. Formally known as Barbara Millicent Roberts, Barbie debuted on March 9, 1959. Created by Mattel Inc. The original Barbie doll was based on the German-built Lilli doll. Far from what is known now, the original Barbie doll wore a black and white strapless swimsuit, sunglasses, earrings, stiletto-heeled shoes, and bold makeup, and she had quite arched eyebrows. Although Mattel was the manufacturer, Barbie’s life came from the heart and mind of Ruth Handler. An inspiring woman who was born on November 4, 1916. Her purpose for Barbie was to inspire young girls to imagine their future beyond motherhood and get rid of the idea that women have certain expectations in society. The name of Barbie was inspired by Ruth’s daughter, Barbara and as Barbie grew, she influenced ideas of women empowerment, beauty standards, and gender roles turning into a cultural icon after starting as just a playing doll for young girls.  Over the decades, Barbie has changed appearances and transformed. As different styles became popular in fashion, Barbie adapted. From the original look of pale white skin and bold makeup to softer looks and outfits that reflected current trends, to now being diverse with multi-cultural Barbie dolls and inspirations. The first multi-cultural Barbie doll was introduced in 1980, but some question why it took so long to promote it. It wasn’t until 2022, that Mattel released its first LGBTQ+ Barbie doll. “Barbie has always portrayed the message of ‘you can be anything you want’ especially towards a girl population,” said DBHS junior Jordan Juste. Starting in the 1960’s, Mattel introduced the friends of Barbie. Starting in 1961 with Ken, her boyfriend, and her first best friend, Midge in 1963. After that, more friends of Barbie were introduced creating a large population to be interested in her as there weren’t only new girl Barbies but also new boy Barbies. But then again, it raised suspicions as to why other cultures weren’t introduced until 1980. As much as Barbie has grown and changed appearances, she has stayed young, being a 19-year-old girl since the start.  “She’s very versatile, and there are different variations of her so she’s not just one thing, she’s implying to others that you can do anything, you’ll just be as good as the next person,” said DBHS junior Jordan Juste. Today, young and older audiences are more inclined to Barbie because of the films. In 2001, the first animated Barbie movie was released introducing a whole new look towards Barbie and her world. Creating not only a toy doll for assumingly young girls, but an entertainment enjoyment for all ages. With the most recent Barbie live-action movie from 2023, the Barbie franchise doesn’t face as many problems as it did decades ago when the world wasn’t the same. Barbie TV shows and series have also made their way into the world, like the iconic ‘Barbie Life In The Dreamhouse’ from 2012. As of 2025, Mattel has yet to release Barbie dolls surrounding the Polynesian and Pacific Islander culture. So even though Barbie has changed a lot, there’s still a lot of room for improvement and even more growth. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit Published March 20, 2025 | ePathfinder | Perspectives 
• The Ban Of TiktokMarch 19, 2025
  A small change that affected many  On the morning of January 19, 2025, TikTok was banned in the U.S., but the ban did not last that long which was about 3 hours long of the ban. The government had concerns about TikTok being owned by a Chinese company (ByteDance). The U.S. Government were worried that they could access the American user’s data and confidential information and spread the information. Because of these concerns, they thought it would be a great idea to ban TikTok so that nobody would have access to American users’ information.  Most people who use TikTok were disappointed in the ban. This made many people protest the decision, arguing that TikTok is just a normal social media app like many other social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. Some people even took legal action to fight against the ban. Meanwhile, Influencers and business owners who make money from TikTok lost that place of income, and since TikTok was banned, they were worried that the ban could hurt them financially.  “The TikTok ban was so unnecessary, and the government is dumb for thinking that TikTok is spying on us,” said DBHS Junior Katherine Landero.  It has been rumored for years that Tiktok would get banned, so many thought this was just another false alarm. But the surprise shocked them all when it happened this time.  Those who deleted TikTok off their phones and tried to get it back realized that it was no longer available once deleted. Other people who had TikTok on their phones would go as far as selling their phones for 10k+ dollars and people who were too obsessed with the app would buy it. Some people would change their regions to Canada to get the TikTok app back on their phones. The ban on TikTok, though it was only for a short time greatly impacted the United States.  On February 13, 2025, at 1 PM EST, TikTok was finally back up on the App Store and working again. When Tiktokers heard about this, they were relieved, especially influencers and business owners who relied their money on TikTok. This brought everyone’s hopes up that TikTok is not getting banned for now. Written by Perla Aguirre | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit Published March 19, 2025 | ePathfinder | Entertainment 
• Spring Break March 18, 2025
  Information on the next school break  As the academic year progresses, students and educators in Broward County Public Schools eagerly anticipate the arrival of Spring Break. This year, the 10-day long hiatus from March 21 to March 31 offers a much-needed break from the stress of school life. With the weather warming up and the days growing longer, families are making plans to enjoy the break to its fullest. Local attractions are gearing up for an influx of visitors. Popular spots like Deerfield Beach, Butterfly World, and the Museum of Discovery and Science are preparing special events and activities to cater to the influx of students and families. The beaches are expected to be buzzing with activity as residents and tourists alike go to the sandy shores to soak up the sun and enjoy the ocean. For many students, Spring Break is also an opportunity to give back to the community. Various volunteer programs and community service projects are organized during this time, allowing students to engage in important activities that benefit the local area. From beach cleanups to food drives, these initiatives provide students with a chance to make a positive impact while enjoying their time off. As the break comes to an end, students and teachers will return to school refreshed and ready to tackle the final stretch of the academic year. The memories made during Spring Break, whether through relaxation, adventure, or service, will certainly provide a boost of energy and motivation to finish the school year strong. Written by Leila Rogers | Graphic Designed by Leila Rogers Published March 18, 2025 | ePathfinder | News

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