Manika Porchezhian, A&E Section Editor
Manika Porchezian is one of many returning seniors on "The Blaze" staff. As a second-year staff member, serving as our Arts and Entertainment Editor, Manika plans to focus heavily on her contribution to "The Blaze." Manika hopes to continue working hard in several endeavors such as creating and editing for "The Blaze," completing college applications, and consuming all forms of entertainment. Manika thoroughly enjoys her position as she can be the first to get details on the newest albums, movies, trailers, and more. As she departs from Rock Ridge, Manika strives to leave a lasting legacy within our Arts and Entertainment category by shining a light on its ability to convey deep and meaningful messages through a unique lens.
![During halftime of the homecoming football game, senior Jack Capobianco wins homecoming royalty and is officially crowned by junior Maggie Miller. “I wasn’t expecting [winning homecoming royalty] at all,” Capobianco said. “I was very surprised but very excited.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DSC_0911-900x600.jpg)
![Leaving the season behind, sophomore Aiden Patel walks along a golf course holding all his golf equipment. Patel, although not yet a senior, is already thinking about his future in golf. “Hopefully, [I’ll continue golf] in college, and if I can go pro, a 100%,” Patel said, “But if I cant, Ill probably just find a job.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Aiden-Patel-900x600.jpg)
![The Phoenix prepare to face the Huskies in a new play. “[We could improve by] focusing on trying to get people healthy, running the ball, and getting people work at different positions just in case [of] injuries,” Qadri said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC_0070-900x630.jpg)
![At Rock Ridge’s home meet on Jan. 4, sophomore Micah Younger, junior Alyssa Tucker, and sophomore Lilia Jones line up at the start line for the Girls 55m Dash. “[The most difficult thing about this season] is that I’m not at my best right now, but I’m going to get there in [outdoor track],” Younger said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC_0524-900x600.jpg)
![Senior Mehma Kathuria keeps the ball away from the Bolt defender. “Our game was together, we were playing with a new play,” Kathuria said. “[The Team’s] chemistry builds and gets better every game.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/use-this-e1676057711919-900x883.jpg)
![Principal cello senior Sydney Pascual plays her solo piece: “Cello Suite No. 3 Sarabande” by Johann Sebastian Bach. “She has a lovely sound, a nice tone,” orchestra director Teresa Gordon said. “She always has, I remember when she was a freshman, taking notice of how beautiful her [playing was].”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/6-IMG_2060-e1685552671223-731x900.jpg)
![As social media becomes more popular among teenagers, many are affected in negative ways. Sophomore Zahra Amusa believes that social medias growing popularity is one of the reasons why it has such an immense impact on teenagers and their beauty standards. “I think I can speak for myself and everyone when I say that social media has negatively impacted everyone because most people have it these days and have [in some way] been affected by it,” Amusa said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Beauty-Standards-900x506.jpg)
![Keynote speaker Kate Kelly gives a speech about her advocacy, her book and her organization called “Ordinary Equality.” She shared how her life has changed from being a committed Mormon to advocating for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and other human rights. “[It] was so interesting to hear her story, it was really moving,” senior attendee Arria Budram-Dawkins said. “I was kind of tearing up when she was speaking. Shes so very powerful, and its an inspiration to so many people.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DSC_0750-900x718.jpg)
![Junior Sneha Nekkanty, freshman Arjun Alagappa, and junior Joanne Ma play the flutes in Ralph Vaughan William’s fast-paced “English Folk Song Suite.” “We did well blending with each other during this concert,” Nekkanty said. “Our intonation was also better [compared to] the beginning of the year.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DSC_0645-900x600.jpg)
