Listen in as Minh and Gladis talk about the BL series My Love Mix-Up!
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BL Intel Episode 1: My Love Mix-Up
Follow Minh and Gladis as they talk about the BL series My Love Mix-Up!
November 22, 2024
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About the Contributors
Minh Nguyen, Staff Writer
When first stepping into high school, what were your expectations? Were they met or did you realize you were completely wrong? Minh Nguyen, a senior at Paint Branch, quickly discovered that high school wasn’t “like the movies” he’d seen. If Minh wanted to describe Paint Branch in three words, he would use “chaotic, messy, and dramatic.”
Now that he’s a senior, Minh is getting ready to graduate and set off into the real world. On a scale from one through ten, he would describe his excitement about life right now as a 7.5. He feels nervous because he has to become more independent and “won’t have someone to hold his hand.” But, simultaneously, he’s excited because he gets to gain more freedom. Minh, who says if his life were a song it would be titled “A Mess,” describes his life as being unpredictable and that he navigates it with an openness to embrace the fun and chaos. To help him decompress from the pressures of senior year, he loves to listen to his new favorite artist, Laufey, whose soothing voice induces a sense of peace.
Growing up, Minh was a Nickelodeon kid. His favorite childhood shows were iCarly, Victorious, and SpongeBob SquarePants. He loved the musical aspect of Victorious, inspiring his first dream career of becoming a singer. If he could give his younger self one piece of advice, he would simply say, “Go for it.” To him, it’s important not to hold yourself back and to live your life to the fullest. He doesn’t want to have any regrets in the future. This means fully enjoying his favorite seasons, fall and winter, which is a time he looks forward to each year. He enjoys these cool seasons because of the lack of insects and the long walks in the fresh, calming weather.
If Minh had to choose between living in a crowded and bustling city or a quiet and empty countryside, he would pick neither. “The countryside doesn’t have anything around it while the city has too much around it,” he says. Instead, his ideal place to live would be a balance of both. While Minh wants a suburban lifestyle for his day-to-day, he would love to travel to the tropical island of Bora Bora. He wants to experience staying in the famous bungalows which are directly above the lagoon. Swimming in the crystal-clear water and scuba diving down to the vibrant coral reefs are experiences he’s most excited for, as they offer a chance to fully explore the adventures Bora Bora offers.
After Minh graduates, he plans on heading to college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work. Currently, he’s in the process of applying to several universities and aims to get into his top schools, Berkeley or UMBC. As his backup plan, he plans on going straight to Montgomery College. He says, “No way I’m going to graduate college with debt.” Determined to achieve his academic goals without being burdened by loads of debt, he ensures that his financial stability remains a top priority throughout his years in college.
By: Rayisa Islam
Gladis Padilla, Staff Writer
Remember when quarantine ended and you had to go back to a regular school building after what felt like forever? How did you feel? Kinda nervous, right? Well, you’re not alone.
Paint Branch senior Gladis Padilla is no exception. She was very shy and quiet after quarantine ended and she entered high school in a new city. But then she auditioned for the school’s fall play, after an encouraging nudge from Mr. Woodward. She had a really fun time at the audition and recalls, “It was the starting point of me changing.” Her time in theater continued as she also worked on The Lightning Thief during sophomore year and once again had fun with it because “we had a really good cast.”
Other than taking part in musicals and plays, Gladis loves Paint Branch’s many clubs, her AP 2D Art and Design class, and spending time with her friends. On the weekends, she enjoys sleeping, going to the Wheaton Mall with her siblings, and eating Charley’s. She loves a good, relaxing Saturday where all her worries about school can just disappear.
Gladis is really into Alternative Rock and Indie music, but loves all types of music. Her favorite songs are “Die With a Smile” by Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga and “All Around Me” by Flyleaf. She used to love cats as a kid and always wanted one as a pet; but after she got a mini Golden Retriever in 2020, she started loving dogs more. If there’s one celebrity she wants to meet, it’s Justin Baldoni. He was an actor in the movie It Ends With Us, and she would love to see his original vision of the movie before others altered it.
Overall, Gladis is very happy with her life at Paint Branch. She loves the community the clubs provide, since they allow her to make so many friends and feel more positive about school. She loves her 2D art class because “it feels really free and relaxed.” Gladis is a great student here at Paint Branch and has, in her opinion, become a social butterfly since freshman year.
By: Riley Munger