Team Owl

Gabriela Chavez, Kira Kovaleva, and Anya Benckendorff

LA World Cup & Olympics: Gold, Goals, and Growing Costs

This infographic explores the effects of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on local communities. It highlights concerns about rising costs, housing displacement, and public safety, which have all been issues before but are now increasing with these mega events. One key idea is that younger residents are much less supportive of hosting the Olympics than older residents. The infographic also explains that FIFA is expected to earn billions of dollars from the World Cup.

What Your School Counselor Won’t Tell You
The podcast, “What Your School Counselor Won’t Tell You,” features hosts Gabriela Chavez, Kira Kovaleva, and Anya Benckendorff. They explore the complex relationship among mental health, academic competition, and the pursuit of perfection. They analyze the intense pressure that students face while balancing demanding coursework, extracurricular activities, and college applications, and give advice on how to overcome these challenges and gain a slight advantage over other students. They challenge the belief that success requires flawless grades, holding several leadership roles, and outperforming fellow students. By reflecting on personal experiences, they discuss advice that has worked out for them and hasn’t been acknowledged. Their message encourages students to prioritize both their academic goals and their mental health, reminding them that long-term success is built on balance, self-compassion, and maintaining healthy habits rather than striving for impossible perfection.