Twice-Told Tale

The Student News Site of Lake Highland Preparatory School

Twice-Told Tale

Twice-Told Tale

Serena Young

Serena Young, Director of Photography

Serena Young is the Director of Photography of Lake Highland Preparatory School's Upper School newspaper Twice-Told Tale, a publication ranked first in the nation by American Scholastic Press Association. Young is the Co-founder of Athena Sisterhood, a community of over 1.6k women, and was a teen speaker at the Global Youth Mindset Summit. She has traveled to 30+ countries, volunteered over 1,500 hours of community service, and has 7M+ views on Google Reviews. Young started her personal development journey at the age of seven and has attended Tony Robbins's Unleash your Power Within, Global Youth Leadership, Business MasteryLeadership Academy, and Date With Destiny. When not taking a good nap, Young enjoys gourmet food, running long distance, watching award winning movies, and spending quality time with family and friends.

All content by Serena Young
(Above) The inspiration that Star Wars took from Dune is so clear after watching the film. There is the first obvious parallel between the countless desert planets of the George Lucas films, most famously Anakin Skywalker’s home planet of Tatooine and Dune’s desert planet of Arrakis. Then there’s the advanced physical and psychological manipulation capabilities of the Bene Gesserit, a skill they call “the Voice that mirrors the body and mind control called “the Force” that Jedis possess. Both have evil emperors ruling the galaxy, strong brother-sister ties at the center of their stories, and a powerful drug called “the spice” as a popular commodity. There are also tremendous differences. While Star Wars mainly focuses on smugglers and rebels, Dune is a story about feudal aristocracy. It dives into the complex questions of using religion as a tool for politics and the limits of human capability. Star Wars, on the other hand, can seem more like a fairy tale in comparison. It has a greater emphasis on spirituality, with Luke saving the galaxy by saving his father’s soul, and in this vein, it is fundamentally more optimistic.

Revisiting “Dune Part One”

Serena Young, Director of Photography
April 5, 2024
(Above) It is said that, while gold is valuable, jade is priceless. Jade bangles were popularized by Yang Guifei, a beloved concubine from the Tang Dynasty, who believed her jade bangles accentuated the graceful curves of her wrists. Some believe that wearing jade over an extended period of time helps promote blood circulation due to the gentle weight and swinging motion of the jewelry. While choosing which wrist to wear the jade bracelet is mostly up to preference, some would recommend the left wrist due to its proximity to the heart. Jade bangles, besides being naturally beautiful, are thought to have many emotional and spiritual benefits. The cool weight of it brings one’s mind to focus on the tranquility of the stone on the skin and creates a peaceful state of mind. It is also believed to attract good fortune to the wearer. Strenuous labor to craft this exquisite gem is part of a long and prized traditional culture. The gemstone’s symbolism of virtue, purity, and eternity is something that is cherished in Chinese tradition. As such, receiving jade as an engagement ring has been gaining more and more popularity.

Jade: From Myth to Mineral

Serena Young, Director of Photography
March 8, 2024
(Above) So much of the modern world is visual. Poetry doesn’t have to come through just black and white letters on a page; it can dance in swirls and color too. Through this poetry collage, there can be seen contemperorary poets such as Ocean Vuong and Louise Glück. There are 19th and 20th century poets such as Maya Angelou and Emily Dickinson. And of course, there is the newest brand of one-line poetry popularized by Atticus, a pseudonym for a poet who remains anonymous. There is still a whole world of poets and poetry to explore beyond the frames of this one collective photograph. The following list of additional poets I would personally recommend is by no means comprehensive: K-Ming Chang, Ross Gay, Hanif Abdurraqib, Victoria Chang, Sonia Sanchez, Sylvia Plath, T.S. Eliot, Percy Shelley, and William Wordsworth.

The Rise and Fall, and Rise Again, of Poetry

Serena Young, Director of Photography
February 6, 2024
(Above) The ambience of Kung Fu Kitchen set the tone for a wonderful meal. Although the place is small, it filled up extremely quickly.

“Kung Fu” Delivers a Punch

Serena Young, Director of Photography
October 23, 2023
(Above) Mr. Parke was a chaperone for the 6th grade Washington D.C. trip when he snapped this selfie in front of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. “I’m a huge quotes guy,” Mr. Parke says as he pulls up his favorite from MLK quote and reads it aloud: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

New Dean Doubles Duties

Serena Young, Director of Photography
October 12, 2023
(Above) Serena Young, grade 12, adjusts the volume of her earbuds as she picks the episodes for her car ride the next morning. Sometimes her morning routine is rushed, so it’s better to have a playlist prepared beforehand.

Maximize Carrides with Podcasts

Serena Young, Director of Photography
October 6, 2023
(Above) Chef Jose Tavarez and Ms. Carmen Ortiz work together to make delicious pepperoni pizzas for Friday’s lunch. At FLIK, all the meals rotate in five-week cycles, and each day of the week has a theme: Monday is comfort food, Tuesday is Latin American food, Wednesday is Italian food, Thursday is Asian food, and Friday is pizza.

FLIK: Going Behind the Kitchen

Serena Young, Director of Photography
September 22, 2023
(Above) I’m so grateful to watch each and every one of these girls go through a transformation. “Do you want to do it again next year?” my mom asked me. I smiled and nodded my response.

China Summer Camp Becomes A Reality

Serena Young, Director of Photography
September 13, 2023
(Above) My grandparents from my mother’s side helped raise my brother and me until I was six and he was three. Seven years prior, they had dropped everything and flown from Shanghai, China, to take care of us. At that point, they were already in their late-sixties, but family always comes first. Photo courtesy of Mr. Samuel Young.

Benefits of Being Bilingual

Serena Young, Co-Editor/Director of Advertising
April 20, 2023
(Above) At the Homecoming pep rally, David Copperfield’s Project Magic
astounded the audience in their circus themed costumes as a tribute to the
shows in Las Vegas. Shown are Tina Zhang, grade 12; Aishwarya Vangala,
grade 11; Ava Sharon, grade 11; Karisma Kohn, grade 11, and Carolyn Rogers,
grade 11, on tissu—more commonly known in the dance world as aerial silks—
in a performance directed by Ms. Ginger Bryant. Incredibly, before taking
the class, more than half the cast had never touched a magic trick before,
and yet their performance was ready after 26 days of 45-minute practices.

All photos by Serena Young.

Discovering Arts at LHPS

Serena Young, Co-Editor/Director of Advertising
March 22, 2023
(Above) After being separated into groups of 50 students in a, “Family group,” students formed their own, “Home groups” as a sharing hub during each exercise. Serena Young, grade 11, especially enjoyed the contest to see which home group could come up with the most obscure simiarites. Photo courtesy of a SDLC student participant.

Students Dive into Diversity

Serena Young, Co-Editor/ Director of Advertising
February 6, 2023
(Above) The Seafood Siu Mai was significantly larger than anything we had ever seen before. The insides were filled with twice as much meat as those in most restaurants and grocery stores. The abalone on top was an appreciated rarity in most dim sum restaurants.

A Pro-Chef Rates Restaurant’s Authenticity

Serena Young, Director of Advertising
November 7, 2022
(Above) Miya Okuda, grade 12, shares how she’s recently been doing two-shades on her nails. Her go-to nails are a shade of pink or blue, and anything with sparkles. This set reminded her of cherry blossoms, and she described them as, “Bright, sparkly, and fun,” adding how they reflect her personality. She would love to try storyboard nails and believes nails are really important because they, “Are one of the first things people will notice about you, especially when shaking your hand or when you’re moving.” When someone has nails as strong as these, they certainly are a great point of conversation indeed. All photos by Serena Young.

Express Yourself From Tip to Toe

Serena Young, Director of Advertising
October 21, 2022
(Above) While living in Bath, England, Mr. Sharkey and his son,
Mathew, and his daughter, Rebecca, had a fun day trip to London,
England in the year 2000. Moving to Orlando, Florida, was a huge
contrast to the dreary U.K. weather. Mr. Sharkey says, “I love it

here...I love the heat and blue skies...” Photo courtesy of Mr. Sharkey.

Meet Mr. Sharkey: The True Scottsman of LHPS

Serena Young, Director of Advertising
October 19, 2022
Cottageccore is an aesthetic that incorporates a romanticized version of rural life,
although more recently with a Victorian twist. This is mainly due to the popularity
of shows such as Bridgerton and adaptions of Jane Austen novels. The outfits have an
element of a corset,
puff sleeves, and floral
prints. Think about
taking a garden stroll
while bread is baking in
the oven. Shoes can be soft
leather boots and short
to the ankle. Wear a
straw hat for the sun
and adorn with delicate
jewerly. Comfort and simplicity are prioritized, whether
through soft cottons or handmade accessories. As
long as everything is minimalistic and intentional, it is Cottagecore. Photo by Serena Young.

Style Up Every Season

Serena Young, Director of Advertising
October 6, 2022
(Above) AP Art students work on their individual projects
during classtime. Their pieces count towards their end of
the year AP portfolio. Students use an array of mediums
such as markers, pastels, and pens to create their pieces.
Photo by Serena Young.

Bridging the Brain Gap

Serena Young, Director of Advertising
September 16, 2022
(Right) Stephanie Hsu as Joy, Evelyn’s daughter, just turned her opponent into a flurry of confetti. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph.
(Photo courtesy of The Telegraph.)

Must Watch Film Soars Above Expectations

Serena Young, Director of Advertising
September 16, 2022
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