Category: Uncategorized

By Emme McDonald, Stentorian Staff Writer

Winter on campus can be gloomy, especially when the sun is down practically as soon as you get out of class. You can still get off campus via bus, but rotting in bed often feels more tempting than braving public transportation, not to mention the cold. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to pass the time without leaving school! Here are a few recommendations for activities to survive the Dark Months at NCSSM:

Go to bed early:

Sure, keep telling yourself that.

Sweet treats in Hunt Kitchen:

Sick of the ice cream machine breaking down in PFM? Take things into your own hands and whip up some baked goods in Hunt kitchen! From chocolate chip cookies to brownies to crème brulées – wait, scratch that one, I don’t trust y’all with blowtorches – the possibilities are endless. Bring your friends to share or devour the whole pan yourself!

Hall Activities:

Did you know that CCs host 12 or more hall events every month? Check your hall calendar to see what’s coming up, and keep an eye out for interhall events where you can cook pancakes for your off-hall friends (and demolish your off-hall enemies in Mario Kart)! Hall activities are a great way to socialize with friends and relax after a long week of work: my personal favorites are painting, video games, and Capture the Flag. 

Library Room Lock In:

Fallen behind on work and need a distraction-free environment to focus? Reserve one of the library’s Yellow Rooms and invite your friends to join you! Each Yellow Room has a whiteboard wall and a ClearTouch screen with HDMI so you can collaborate easily. Talk to a librarian to book a time or, if you’re lucky, grab an empty room before anyone else gets there. Just keep in mind that you can be kicked out if someone with a reservation comes to claim it!

Sports (Intramural and Varsity):

One great way to leave campus legally during the dark winter months is to enroll in a sport like swimming, which buses over to Campus Hills for every practice. Bring some friends, and it’s practically an SAB Loop, except a lot colder and wetter. Want to get some energy out but don’t have the time for daily practices? Try intramural sports, which tend to be low-pressure and beginner-friendly! Winter offerings last year included dodgeball, badminton, and volleyball.

Party games (Online and Paper):

Woolworth and most hall lounges are well-stocked with board games of all kinds, many of which are perfect for cold, dark winter nights; some that I’ve tried recently are Codenames and Exploding Kittens. But if you’re chronically online like me and keep trying to scroll on your cards, online games might be more your speed. Some easily accessible and fun games include skribbl.io, Gartic Phone, and all those deranged group games on Roblox (if you’re up to dodging the screaming children and questionable adults that lurk on that platform). With larger groups, Jackbox Games can be super entertaining, though they do cost money. Keep an eye out for sales to scoop up a bunch for a reasonable price!

SAB Events:

The Student Activities Board is an amazing source of, well, activities all year-round! The best way to keep yourself informed on what’s coming up is to subscribe to the NCSSM Activities Google Calendar and to check the TWAN regularly. The highlight of the week during winter is definitely SAB loops, which take people to popular locations around Durham after dark (most often 9th Street). One of the best things about SAB is that you can get involved, too! Whether you have an idea for a new pickle cotton candy flavor or want to have a say in the prom decor, attending SAB meetings will keep you busy and in the loop for campus activities during the winter. 

It’s natural to want to get away from the academics of school every once in a while, so NCSSM winters are made all the more dreary by keeping you in one place. But don’t lose hope! There’s still a lot of fun to be had right here on school grounds. And who knows, maybe participating will give you a greater awareness of the vibrant campus life present the rest of the year! 

By Emme McDonald, Stentorian Staff Writer

As BB- residents shuffled bleary-eyed out of their dorms at approximately 7:30 AM on August 28th, a shrill chorus of fire alarms smugly narrated their exit. This had happened several times over the past few days, with some student data analysts proclaiming that the phenomenon lowered the average student sleep duration from three hours to two – time that was sorely missed, as several teachers reported students blatantly dozing off in class. 

“I was leading the lab orientation and went to point out the fire blanket, but it was missing,” one chemistry faculty member recalled. “Then I saw a student curled up underneath it in the fume hood. I don’t even know how she got in there.”

Though everyone has been affected somehow by the frequent false alarms, not many are aware of their origins. An email, sent out the day of the most egregious early-morning alarms, attempted to justify them by citing the detectors’ age and sensitivity to dust. However, there’s another story at play.

It’s common knowledge that the school updated its security system a couple of years ago, installing security cameras in most public areas to dissuade art pond dalliances and similar debauchery. What many don’t know is that each of these cameras is connected to a central AI network that aims to keep students safer by predicting and reporting situations flagged as suspicious before they escalate, a technology well-known to be utterly bias-free and benevolent. Upon reviewing the camera logs, it seemed that the network had been manually deactivated by campus security the morning of the alarms – right around the time that they had stopped for the day.

It may have been unwise to perform such a manual override, as the footage in question was indeed concerning: two students were huddled around a black, bulky device in their lounge, and the phrase “this ramen is gonna be fire” was heard multiple times, suggesting that they were planning to use the so-called “Maruchan cocktail” method to ignite a blaze on their hall. Understandably, the camera used its admin access to all the school’s alarm systems to trigger a building-wide evacuation. Subsequent alarms seemed to be triggered by suspicious conversation picked up as the students re-entered the school, namely “I heard that song is fire” (the student had clearly been alerted to a fire just as their playlist advanced to the next song), “PFM dinner is so fire today” (indicating premeditated arson in the dining hall during a high-traffic period), and “I swear to God, if we have one more alarm, I will set the building on fire myself, and I’m not even joking” (this last one may have been a false alarm).

By Emme McDonald, Stentorian Staff Writer

Ninth Street is great and all, but sometimes you want to get a little further away from campus and that calc homework sitting untouched on your desk. That’s where the Triangle’s public transit system comes in. There are tons of cool places scattered throughout Durham and its surrounding towns, and the fleet of buses belonging to GoDurham, GoRaleigh, GoCary, and Chapel Hill Transit lets you see all of them without ever needing to open your Uber app. With this guide, I’ll walk you through the local bus system while offering recommendations on places to take it during your time on campus.

Etiquette on Public Transportation

Never taken a city bus before? No worries! Here are a few key points from GoDurham to get you started:

1. Get to your stop 5-10 minutes early and stand in a place visible to the operator.
2. Before getting on, be sure you’re taking the right bus in the right direction.
3. Give seat priority to passengers with disabilities and elderly passengers–you’re allowed to stand if no seats are left.
4. Not all stops are announced, so keep an eye on your map and ask the driver to call out your stop if you’re not sure.
5. The bus only stops when requested, so pull the yellow cord or push the black/yellow strip to request your stop about a block before you need to get off.

An extra tip from me: Always thank your bus driver! They deserve it.

What bus to take?

GoDurham offers several ways to view its routes, including the Transit app and the maps available at godurhamtransit.org, but my personal favorite is through the transit feature on Google or Apple Maps. Simply enter your destination and click the train icon to view available bus routes, which will be broken down by total time spent traveling and the amount of time you’ll need to walk between locations. You can even use the “Arrive By” option to know exactly when you need to leave if you’re in a hurry, and the “Leave By” option to see what travel times are estimated to be like hours in advance. 

But hang on, what if you’re looking to hop a city over to Raleigh or Chapel Hill? If you punch that in on your maps, you might notice a subscript with the fare you’ll have to pay, usually around $2.50. That’s because there’s another service that covers the gaps between the various Go[City] services called GoTriangle, which, unlike most of its in-city counterparts, does require fare. Don’t stress about the loss of that money (which should rightfully be going towards the final exam season Celsius fund)–youth under 19 qualify for free rides on any public transportation in the Triangle. As long as you get a parent or guardian on board and register beforehand, you’re good to ride all the local buses fare-free. 

With the logistics out of the way, let’s cover some popular bus routes near NCSSM:

1. Duke Gardens [25 minutes] – Walk down to Ninth St to the Safeway St stop in front of Vin Rouge and Moe’s BBQ. Take Bus H1 and ride 4 stops to Yearby Ave & H Lot, then walk about 5 minutes to the entrance. Make sure to check out the koi pond!
2. Downtown Durham [30 minutes] – Take a right out of Watts Circle onto Broad St, then turn left on W Club Blvd until you reach the Club Blvd & Clarendon St stop. Take Bus 1 inbound all the way to Durham station, then walk about 10 minutes to reach the plethora of shops and restaurants downtown. Grab tickets to see a show at DPAC if you can!
3. The Scrap Exchange [40 minutes] – Take Bus 1 inbound to Durham station, like in the last route. Then, get on Bus 10 or 10B outbound and ride 10 stops to Chapel Hill Rd & Palmer St. Walk northwest for about 5 minutes to reach the plaza. The Scrap Exchange has two stores, one for traditional thrift store merchandise and one for arts and crafts supplies, so be sure to stop by both of them!
4. South Square Mall (Target, Li Ming’s Global Mart, Ross & more) [50 minutes] – Go to Durham station via Bus 1 like in the last couple routes. Then, hop on Bus 10 or 10B outbound again. This time, stay on for 31 stops and get off at University Dr & Westgate Dr. Head north to the main plaza, then grab some groceries at Li Ming’s or do some shopping at Ross. Just make sure to get back before check!
5. New Hope Commons (Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy & more) [60 minutes] – Take a right out of Watts Circle and walk down Broad St to the Broad St & Markham Ave stop in front of Dollar General. Ride Bus 11B outbound for 6 stops to Erwin Rd & Downing St, then switch to GoTriangle Bus 400 (toward UNC Hospitals) and ride 5 stops to Durham Dr & Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. Walk about 15 minutes along Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd to the main plaza. While you’re there, try checking out Duck Donuts for made-to-order sweet treats!

By Aryahi Tiwari, Stentorian Staff Writer

NCSSM is known for its academic excellence, rigorous coursework, and below-average housing facilities. A rather unknown fact to the public, but commonly discussed among students is the high insecurity and mental pressures students commonly face. One of which is the Imposter Syndrome. The National Library of Medicine in the 2023 article Imposter Phenomenon defines the Imposter Syndrome as “a behavioral health phenomenon described as self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals.” Beyond this definition, the Imposter Syndrome is also commonly referred to as the Fraud Syndrome, drawing from the aspect of individuals being unable to internalize their own success and living in fear of their falsely advertised achievements being exposed. 

The effects of Imposter Syndrome, better known as the Imposter Cycle, can be observed through two broad categories of NCSSM students’ work: those who over-prepare excessively to validate their abilities and those who procrastinate out of fear of failure. This cycle draws from attributes such as perfectionism, Atychiphobia, Intellectual self-doubt, and low self-esteem. 

NCSSM students are often dissatisfied with their work, causing them to procrastinate and piece together an assignment that does not represent their abilities or spend much more time than necessary on an assignment. Their relentless pursuit of excellence causes them to be unappreciative of their own achievements. Many students express dissatisfaction with what are widely considered high grades due to unrealistic expectations set by themselves or family members.

Imposter Syndrome is closely linked with mental health issues such as Anxiety, Depression, low self-esteem, and burnout. NCSSM may be one of the few schools in the world where teachers must set maximum word counts and time limits on assignments—a practice designed to prevent students from overworking themselves. It is necessary for students to not fall into the perils of the Imposter Syndrome to prevent mental health problems, cheating, and burning out.

By Trinity Tunby, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

 Rose petals lay scattered, dusting the ground as individuals among a procession line themselves along either side of an elegant arched window. One may assume this scene to be the site of an ordained, traditional wedding ceremony—but on August 27, this was the offshoot of a pancake hall event between Third Bryan and Second Hill in the PFM. (The homey aroma of pancakes lingered in the air from afar, decadent notes of a promising reception.) Amid amused head shakes from adults watching the events transpire, former Community Coordinator Hope Gambill officiated, with an earnest sincerity, the “unification” of students Blaney Blizzard ‘26 and Haley Filzen ‘26.

This is not a standalone event: Prior to my spontaneous becoming father-of-the-bride that night, I had been invited to another hall wedding (of which I have been sworn to secrecy). Following the advent of this article, I presume more hall engagements will make an appearance before the student body. Although this event has since faded from many of our memories, there is more to be obtained from the experience. These satirical ceremonies of ours may prove to be a testament to characteristic qualities of our senior class: the ability to not take ourselves too seriously and challenge tradition.

The ceremony retained several key elements of holy matrimony: a bride and groom, a wedding party, a “giving away” ritual, prepared vows, a ring ceremony, speeches, and a bouquet toss. Blizzard, the designated groom, was even seen sporting thrifted tweed, becoming the point at which the wedding was set to model the 1930s. But the individuals composing the wedding party challenged these traditions with many plays on gender roles—something that so happens to not be a new invention.

Other satirical weddings have existed in this form, productions that have come to be known as “Bestiemonies.” These plays have sought to seal the sanctity of a loyal friendship—but they also tend to be hyperbolic, particularly magnifying potential absurdity within the predominant and heteronormative Western marriage ritual. Blizzard and Filzen sealed a loyal friendship that night—while perhaps unwittingly challenging the institution of marriage as we know it.

My role involved masquerading the solemnity of a father-of-the-bride, something proving strangely empowering in the moment. The portrayal of masculinity was not the potent force driving this empowerment, but rather, it was the caricature embedded within “giving away” a friend, a wholly laughable concept (and indeed, we did laugh).

The bouquet also happened to land in the hands of a male student, an unintentional yet brilliant ending to the ceremony. 

As we await the appearance of more wedding rituals, it brings into question what more we will challenge as a student body. Among lookalike contests and a “Performative Male Contest,” we have continued to transform ideas within our humble community, something that quietly persists in distinguishing us as trailblazers. 

By Trinity Tunby, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

Dear Juniors,

Fated many years ago, your elders once gathered their wisdom and enumerated their cautions in enclosed booklets—these were the pages that composed the buried NCSSM Survival Guides. As is my sacrosanct duty to give to the youth, I will be passing on to you the knowledge us Editors-in-Chief have collected in our day living and learning at our revered hospital home. This piece shall be in honor of the following token from the 1995 edition: “Correspondence as an art form is not dead—write.” Whether our correspondence be through the written word or verbal communication, I should hope you heed with discretion the advice of your seniors.

Find Communities That Energize You

Regardless of whether you identify as an introvert or an extrovert, you are human, and as such, you must socialize (a painful admission to make as one self-proclaimed introvert). To be perfectly clear, the socialization with which you engage should be measured qualitatively. It is necessary to consider that some will require larger communities with more variation each day—and others will require smaller and more interwoven groups. Many of you will find yourselves somewhere in between. You should consider how your community serves you, and correspondingly, what you can do for your community. Prioritize empathy, empowerment, generosity, and kindness towards the people you meet, and surely, you shall find what it is that you seek.

If You Are Without a Space Where You Feel Comfortable: Make One

Do not let my words above mislead you: I know that finding a community that energizes you is no simple feat. It is very likely, however, that if you wish to surround yourself with a certain energy, there will be others—strangers to you—with similar desires. This conviction can be incredibly difficult to hold firmly as you navigate a new environment. However, it may be that your ability to foster environments where others will want to engage is something you must create, rather than something that has yet to be discovered. These spaces can be accomplished through the enactment of new clubs and forums, as well as through a bold commitment to your values as you continue to interact with your peers.

Seek Opportunities That Help Remind You Why You Are Here

I must provide you with one difficult truth: The workload will seldom cease its burden upon you. You must resist its diminishing of your unique essence. Carve out time from the very beginning—or as urgently as you can—to determine what opportunities will nurture who you are and the person you wish to become. To be quite blunt: In times of doubt, do the thing anyway. You truly will not know what you can do if you do not try. 

Bring a Mattress Topper

Given the rigorous courses and extensive extracurriculars NCSSM students take, a good night’s sleep is essential. As a most sincere warning, NCSSM’s mattresses are not fluffy, soft, or comfortable. Therefore, it is especially important to invest in a good mattress topper; the type that discourages you from getting up for an 8:30 AM class. Given the sheer number of retailers– Amazon, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, the list goes on– and personal preferences for a mattress, make sure to research what mattress topper would make you feel comfortable.

Attend Social Events

I spy with my little eye a shy person! No matter who you are– introverted, extroverted,, or anything in between– NCSSM is a place to branch out. Ask new hallmates to go eat dinner at PFM, attend block parties to learn more about a wide variety of cultures, and, in general, reach out to others! 

Go to O-Block

Taking tough classes is, well, tough. O-Block serves as a time for NCSSM students to meet with their teachers to ask any questions they might have. Addressing questions you may have in class early-on will save your grade (and sanity) in the long run. Is attending O-Block as fun as hanging out with friends? No. Is it important to develop good relationships with your teacher while making sure you are confident in your in-class abilities? Absolutely.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Your RLAs, CCs, teachers, and seniors are thoroughly experienced and will almost certainly assist at your request. Whether it will be timely assistance, I cannot foresee. 

Use This Rare Opportunity to Have a Pivotal Fresh Start

Do it scared and get out of your comfort zone. Talk to new people even if your mind is screaming at you not to.

Be Brave and Explore NCSSM and Beyond

Believe it or not, this place is yours now. 

Breathe

Breathe

This adjustment period is a very uncomfortable, present moment of your life. It will not be easy, but over 300 of you are facing the same challenge together.

To the Class of 2027, 

We wish you the very best in all of your endeavors, even in the moments you should choose to neglect or forsake our words. After all, are you not also here to take risks?

Sincerely,

The Stentorian

By Trinity Tunby, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

The time has come once again: students Tess Crumpton ‘26 and Jay Weaver ‘26 have inherited the legacy of the illustrious NCSSM Food Drive. This event has been shaped into a spectacle ever since March 5th, 2011—the day that NCSSM, after assembling the largest food drive held within a calendar day, became a Guinness World Record recipient. Boasting a collection of 559,885 pounds of food in a mere 18 hours, the landmark drive has nestled itself into headlines and proudly perches on the school website. Coverage in recent years, however, has faded among nominal collection averages and suffering involvement. The greatest concern reveals these numbers are also proportionally smaller than they appear, as food insecurity across the globe persists in shattering records each year.

This year, Crumpton and Weaver believe things will be different. The pair have held consistent meetings welcome to every member of the NCSSM community at any time; To them, there are no leaders. One essential component of their planning has involved scrutinizing the success of 2011, which even involved speaking with one of the student leaders, Ryan O’Donnell ‘11. The interview boiled down to three key elements for success: awareness, audacity, and passion.

In conversation with O’Donnell, the magnitude of the problem was acutely emphasized. “The problem of food [in]security has gotten worse. Food drive donations have decreased while food needs have increased,” he said. The majority of the population is sorely unaware of what lies at stake, and many of us sit oblivious to the effects on our own communities.

According to Feeding America, the food insecure population of North Carolina has surged upwards of 1,627,360 people throughout all 100 counties. The Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC has reported a population of 560,000 food insecure people throughout their 34 serviced counties alone—and this number was with an increase of 111,000 individuals from the year prior. Combatting food insecurity cannot be reduced to knowledge of a general hunger problem. Activism begins with understanding how crucial our aid is becoming; it is the very source upon which starving communities have been forced into reliance.

Why has this issue become our responsibility? Even after recovery following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Helene, North Carolinians continue to lack critical federal and state support. According to Feeding America, 2 out of 5 food insecure individuals are unlikely to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to cutbacks in funding. There is very little effectual support outside of these efforts, and thus our communities have been called into action.

How do we address this problem, contained within our modest campus community? We don’t. We manage everything at our disposal to reach those beyond ourselves. In reference to his previous statement, O’Donnell affirmed, “This is urgent. It is okay to be bold and obnoxious to feed hungry people.” Change often begins small, but audacity is essential to witnessing large-scale change.

Until researching this article, I assumed the success of the NCSSM Food Drive to have remained consistent, and thus, I perceived my help as inconsequential. The problem may be that the NCSSM community doesn’t know the scale to which it has tapered off, either. For instance, what were those “nominal collection averages” I cited earlier? The annual food drive has received an average of only 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of food in recent years. While still benefitting many, that is at most a 98% decline in collections since 2011. Something needs to be done. We need to be passionate.

Hunger is greater than NCSSM. Hunger is greater than our state. But small changes lead to big changes, and in some cases, to major headlines and world records. Even without monetary means, there will always be a way to contribute: attend meetings, approach family and friends, and volunteer. If tempted to opt out of PFM food and doordash, why not instead make a donation? Our attention should be focused on making our voices heard, advocating for more support, and reminding ourselves of the immense suffering that provoked our passion. As food insecurity has become a wildfire, our aid has become a subtle flicker. In the words of O’Donnell, “Don’t let the spark die.” 

By Trinity Tunby, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

What will you do with the opportunity you have been given? At NCSSM, the options can be overwhelming. The numbers speak for themselves: Our community boasts over a hundred listed student organizations, demands ten intensive academic courses each year (with some students “overloading” their schedules), and asks that we wedge in 60 hours—after classes, assemblies, and hall meetings—of service to our state. These statistics echo from between the folds of brochures, perch themselves proudly on our school website, and promise greatness to the underrepresented students of North Carolina—none of which are inherently harmful. The problem becomes when new students conflate their potential with a burden of expectation, and it is only addressed when we identify the distinction that makes one mindset supportive and the other detrimental to success.

Self-Optimization in a Broader Context

Self-optimization is the concept of consciously bettering oneself to achieve an imagined “best version” in various pursuits, ranging from cognitive performance to sociality to physical health. The social media we consume on platforms such as Instagram and Tik Tok only perpetuate this narrative—and even the most cynical of individuals are susceptible to its influences. Even if you have not fallen victim to the whims of “gymfluencers,” content creators who post fitness routines often preceding the crack of dawn, you likely have engaged with videos detailing the “stats” of students who have been granted admission to top colleges and universities. Comparison is frequented as a survival tactic for accomplishment, however, it also breeds unchecked perfectionism and burnout. I often find myself cringing at language such as “lock in,” “grindset,” and “cooked,” not simply due to the short-lived resonance of generational slang, but also because it is unnecessarily harsh and absolute. Regardless of the subject or how it is presented, this culture of discipline is constantly and formulaically rebranded, such that influencers are able to guarantee the highest level of success. Consequently, this notion suggests that if the viewer does not subscribe to the exact steps outlined in this content, it means there is something that they are willfully avoiding on the path to personal growth. This language has a tendency to reinforce the “suck it up” mentality in which many learn to neglect the hardship in their personal lives in a quest for recognition. 

How Does Self-Optimization Appear at NCSSM?

One of the first pieces of advice a junior may receive is from their Cornerstone: They are told that alternatively to vying with peers over who received the least sleep, they should make it a competition to determine who received the most sleep. This advice rang true in the first semester of my junior year as I found myself and friends pulling all-nighters. I observed that many of us became less occupied—as we had been at our home high schools—with presenting sleep deprivation like an award of willpower, and instead, it developed into something of a consolation prize. The fundamentals of being a functioning human being—eating, sleeping, and socializing—quickly developed into competitions of their own. This effect speaks largely to the culture surrounding self-optimization of intelligence and cognitive performance at our very school. When we succumb to one perfectionistic form of self-help, the logic of other forms become amplified. In other words, you might scoff at an all-or-nothing fitness influencer right now, however, their words—over time—may be legitimated by the erosion of your own self-acceptance in pursuit of perfectionism. This issue must be addressed with the nuance and sensitivity that many supporters of self-optimization reject.

How Do We Specifically Resist the Harm of Self-Optimization?

Self-optimization is persistently evolving to fit the needs of a society that is becoming more sensitive to behavioral psychology—but that also means it is becoming increasingly discreet with its evils. Resistance begins with acknowledging that goals are not linear, nor do they conclude in black-and-white: Self-optimization presents events as much more consequential than they may be in actuality. When we start to observe and reject the “either/or” language of capability, then we may be righteously angry and advocate for better practices of how we prevent burnout. This acceptance of nuance also involves acknowledging failures and setbacks not only as points of growth, but also, as moments where we can identify how we have learned to internalize them. What is the purpose of innovation and discovery, the qualities we pride our school on, if we do not afford ourselves a system that nourishes passion and self-acceptance?

By Sneha Khetan, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

One of my earliest and most vivid memories at NCSSM isn’t from a lab or classroom, it’s sitting on Bryan Lawn. A group of us sat in a circle, new to this school, new to each other, still adjusting to the idea that this was home now. It had only been two weeks since President Biden dropped out of the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris launched what would become the shortest presidential campaign in American history. The news felt surreal, and for a few minutes, our conversation reflected that. We laughed about Harris’s viral “brat” rebrand, scrolling through TikToks and memes, bonding over something light, something shared.

But as the sun dipped lower, the conversation deepened. We began to talk about real issues, from the ethics of affirmative action and the importance of raising the minimum wage to the nuances of gun reform. The laughter faded, replaced by careful words and furrowed brows. And then I noticed someone who had been animated just moments before go completely silent. At first, I thought nothing of it, but curiosity got the better of me. I turned to her and asked why she wasn’t speaking anymore.

She looked at me and said, “I’m scared that everyone is going to disagree with me.” That sentence stopped me cold.

For the girl who had always been staunchly opinionated and stubborn, who had never been one for agreeing with the opposition, who took pride in her ability to stand her ground even when she represented the minority view, in that moment, I wasn’t proud. I was humbled. Because for the first time, I realized that my certainty might have made someone else feel uncertain. That my boldness, however well-intentioned, might have created a space where others felt unable to speak.

Later, I learned that she identified as conservative. She felt like a minority at a school where most students leaned left. But what unfolded over the following weeks wasn’t a war of worldviews; it was a relationship built on mutual curiosity. We began to have real conversations about limited government, the economy, and the role of regulation. And while I didn’t always agree with her, I began to understand her. I began to see where she was coming from. And more importantly, I began to respect the thought and experience behind her beliefs.

We live in a world where polarization is profitable. Social media allows us to stay ensconced in our echo chambers. The “-isms” bark louder and louder and louder as algorithms feed us curated outrage, where entire platforms are built around the idea that those who disagree with us must be dangerous, uninformed, or evil. But if we accept that logic, we lose more than civility; we lose democracy. Because democracy, at its core, depends not on unanimity but on compromise. On discourse. On people from different backgrounds, with different beliefs, choosing to show up, speak up, and stay in the room, even when it’s uncomfortable.

And that’s why NCSSM is special. We come from all 100 counties in North Carolina and bring 650 unique sets of stories, values, traditions, and dreams that have shaped 650 different perspectives into one space. And in doing so, we are given the rare opportunity to learn not just from lectures and labs but from each other.

Most of us applied to this school because of its world-class resources and opportunities. But if we leave here having only taken classes and research electives, we’ve missed something vital. The real magic of NCSSM lies not just in its curriculum, but in its community. In the conversations that stretch long into the night. In the moments on Bryan Lawn that start with TikTok and end with policy debates. In the willingness to sit beside someone who thinks differently and to choose understanding over judgment.

So I challenge every student who walks onto this campus not just to chase academic excellence, but to lean into the difficult conversations. To ask the second question. To talk to the person who disagrees. Because when we do, we aren’t just building smarter students, we’re building better citizens.

And in a time when so much feels divided, that kind of connection might just be the most important science of all.

By Lily Galapon, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

To The Juniors Who May Be Very Concerned,

What is this? A wall of words faces eye to eye with you… stamped on the floor, outside your new door. It has only been the first day of school, and already a curious pair of pages has traveled its way to your feet. Your eyes hover to the top of this mysterious paper, with a more obscure label: It’s the… Stentorian? The letters of this strange name fold themselves over in your head as you try to bring another foreign item of this school into familiarity.

Perhaps the rumors are true–unicorns do exist, and their secret hoofed society was behind the delivery. Or maybe, it was a ghost long ago from the Hill House… Stay enrolled here to find out until the end of October. 

But alas, the hypotheses draw for ages! If you have not already, I demand you to pick me up, as–speaking through the omniscient voice of the Stentorian–we have three important words to message you. 

Welcome to NCSSM! 

Yeah… you probably have heard this a million times since you moved in already: when you walked through Bryan Lobby, when the seniors helped you move into your dorm room, the list goes on. It is repeated over and over, to optimistically wiggle your adjustment into this new world, until the hyper-enthusiastic greeting has burnt into your skull. 

And while you have been constantly bombarded with a cheery, incessant “Welcome!” into this place, you still feel so… uncomfortable. You might be super excited to seize a new adventure of academics, friendships, and explorations! You might also be terrified at how volatile your life is right now, with every aspect changing the present into something so unfamiliar. Or maybe you’re experiencing every single feeling, all at once, like a giant pot anxiously churning in your stomach.

And I get it. From the day you clicked that “Yes!” button in April, it’s almost impossible to not drown when your mind has been flooded with an overwhelming load of information about how every single possible thing part of our school works. Hall meetings. Trying to figure out how exactly you should take a shower. Wait…there’s housekeeping too?! How can I do my physics homework, get through a sea of new clubs, and balance a hundred other things at once when I’m barely able to do my own laundry?

How am I going to live here? 

To the junior reading this: It may not seem like it at all, but you are doing just fine. The disordered, chaotic, unharmonious state of your life is normal and to be expected. Coming here can feel like driving a car you’ve always had, and suddenly having every piece become dismantled for you to rethink and rebuild again. But the comforting thing is, 50% of your classmates have been there. 

A year ago, I was in your exact footsteps. Our seniors– to you, your grand-seniors, their previous life as a student unicorn transformed to mythical legend as they become immortalized in conversations in the past tense– all told me that it was going to be alright. That I would get over it. Truth be told, what I really needed was for a senior to sit through with me and bear out this state of discomfort instead of brushing it off, because,of course, their junior hardships in retrospect are seen as easier than done (Author’s Note: type “glossing” into the search bar of our website to see when I was freaked out). Just know that it will get better. Life will become normal. I promise! Ask literally anyone around you. But fellow reader, adjusting is such a difficult thing for you to do right now. And I applaud you for your current resilience. 

This is the start of your journey here and it is the most surreal part. August serves as the pilot episode; you know this strange place as a campus, not as a community. Where the best friends of your future are still just…faces. And it may seem too simple and good to be true, but really do just stop for a moment and take a breath. You do not have everything figured out right now. But know that you are strong, and no matter how much it may seem like you are failing right now, you were chosen to be here for a reason. You are now in this quest of trying to navigate life—this giant, abstract blob now reshaping before your eyes– and have never felt so uncomfortable in this moment of acclimatizing. 

Absolutely nothing is going to come natural to you– and there’s a certain beauty in that. You have this opportunity of starting fresh, with this new life. Yes, this is a very humbling experience. Yes, you will be completely jammed with new information and yet know completely nothing. Yes, this school is going to challenge you; but it will change you for the better. 

Take things day by day. And you know what? Make yourself even more uncomfortable than you already are by doing everything scared. There is no turning back now! Talk to new people. Ask an unimaginable amount of questions. Wander around campus. Soak in these days of exploration. 

This is the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. And yet, this is the school where your life is about to become magical. So embrace your fears hard. And jump in harder with bravery. 

Maius Opus Moveo,

The Stentorian