1. Teen Jess Mariano

Teen Jess has to be first on the podium. When Rory was falling apart, rather than telling her it was okay, Jess fought for her future. Importantly, he was not only a great boyfriend to Rory, but a wonderful friend. After Rory moved in with her grandparents, rather than shielding her from consequences, Jess showed his maturity in relationships by giving her a reality check about how stupid she was for dropping out of Yale.  Although Jess was initially presented as some bad boy, I do believe this kept Rory on her toes — and in a way, in line. Loreali was right about the initial judging though, the smoking and drinking is not okay. From first glance, Jess was certainly not the best guy, however, he is smart, witty and quick-to-play when it comes to Rory’s comments. This is reasonably better compared to Dean, who was lost all the time. Jess, although an imperfect, complex character, he was perfect for Rory. He communicated well and called her out on things that went against his boundaries. 

2. Teen Dean Forester

As a teenager, Dean was a pretty decent boyfriend. I will admit, his opinions on Donna Reed were unfortunate, but overall he  was a good boyfriend (taking into account he was just a teenager). First off, he built her a car, and a classic car at that. Dean was able to set their differences aside, by going to dances with her. For a boy who was very uncomfortable with those situations, showing up for Rory like that was amazing. Not many teenage boys would wear a suit with tails and gloves to escort a lady. Although Dean had been put through so much, he was nothing but kind and respectful to Rory and her mother. I will say, I didn’t appreciate that Rory felt the need to change for him and hide things from him in fear of fighting. It’s one thing to not like confrontation, but keeping secrets rather than communicating is just wrong.  However, in the end, I am proud of them for reconciling as friends before she attended Yale as it was a mature thing to do — especially since they were a part of each other’s lives for so long. 

3. Adult Jess Mariano

As the ultimate Jess lover, obviously, adult Jess has to be high up on my podium. He grew up to be an amazingly smart and mature man that still cared for Rory so much. I appreciate that Rory went to Jess with her problems as she knew that he would understand her. I mean, Jess even said “I know you better than anyone.” Her later going to him proves that. Later, when Jess reappears, in the revival series Gilmore Girls: A Year in The Life, rather than being together, Rory and Jess were adults with mutual respect for one another. Rory was struggling in her life as a journalist and Jess was there for her to lean on. Even though lots of fans have mentioned the fact that they would love Rory and Jess to continue their relationship, Jess still considers Rory as “too good” for him, making it impossible for them to rekindle their love. 

4. College Logan Huntzberger

In college, Logan was a decent boyfriend. It’s often said that Logan is the boyfriend that Rory loved most. While he did bring out a good side to Rory,I have to say I didn’t appreciate some of the other qualities in  Rory he brought out; she stole a boat when she was with him, and got arrested. I will never understand the hype around Logan because he truly did cause Rory to suffer. She went through numerous crises and Logan was no help whatsoever. I get that he is a businessman, but Rory was his partner and he should have been there for her. 

5. Post-College Paul 

Paul, known only for his brief appearance, and often deemed the forgotten boyfriend of Rory Gilmore. Throughout the series, Rory would often mention the mental note of having to break up with Paul. This all happened while she was in an affair with Logan. Loreali made her opinions clear, and even called Rory out about her disloyal decisions. Honestly though there is nothing to say about Paul though due to him simply not being in the series very long. To put it into perspective, we don’t even know his last name.

6. Post-College Logan Huntzberger

Tied for the last places are adults Logan and Dean. Maybe I’m just a hater,but I really do feel that Logan is awful. He was in a deeply-committed existing relationship when he reconnected with Rory — even if it was just with a fiance and not a wife, an affair like that is a major encroachment. The fact that he not only went out with Rory but ended up getting her pregnant is just not okay. He cheated.  Then, he proceeded to ruin Rory’s life as well as his fiance’s. 

7. Adult Dean Forester 

I can say with full confidence that Dean grew up to be a terrible man.  After he and Rory broke up officially, Dean moved on to Lindsey. I strongly believe that if Rory had just backed off once she went to Yale, and not tried to be friends with Dean after their two year relationship, Lindsey would not have been cheated on. So in reality, this relationship soured because of both Dean and Rory. However, I will say I am proud of Rory for not going to the wedding and just standing by –especially after a drunk Dean confessed his love for her. Although Rory didn’t know about the drunk confession, the fact that she still went after a married man was upsetting. Again, Loreali made her opinions clear by emphasizing: “He’s not your Dean, he’s Lindsey’s Dean,” which only made Rory more upset and distraught, which was an ultimate point of embarrassment for her.

Number 1: Fusion
In first place comes Fusion, a pop of color and one of the most detailed and content filled yearbooks. The creators, Jenny Xu and Emily Lu efficiently showed each and every student’s unique experience at Westwood. This yearbook is like eye candy! There’s not one as colorful or eye-catching as Fusion. Moreover, it encapsulates the culture in 2019 like how Bob’s Burgers, Brooklyn Ninety, and Young Sheldon were one of the most popular shows at the time. The pictures are dramatically and sharply captured pulling in the reader and, to top it, all of the theme is unique and combines all the different facades of Westwood.

Number 2: Every Little Thing
In second place we have Every Little Thing, which encapsulates many emotional memories. This yearbook focuses more on content than the aesthetic of the book. Which I felt like made it really stand out compared to other books. Daphne Longenbach and Amelia Spielman put their sweat and tears into making sure this yearbook was going to move others. Even when this yearbook is based on details of people at Westwood, the aesthetic did not fail at all either. Mods pop out to your eyes and never fail to draw you in.

Number 3: The Heritage 1982
Third place goes to the Heritage yearbook from 1982, which is the first Westwood yearbook ever created. The list wouldn’t be complete without this yearbook because it is the start of all collections of Westwood memories. This yearbook also holds a lot of comedic moments and is sure to give you a laugh if you ever get to read it. With it being a yearbook from the 80’s it would be presumable that it is in all black and white, but surprisingly, many pages are colored! It’s also just super interesting to go back to old yearbooks and see how people from different times dressed and used their vocabulary.

Number 4: Outlines
Fourth place in this ranking goes to Outlines from 2009. This yearbook is the first yearbook in all Westwood history to be in complete color. All the yearbooks beforehand had a mix of both black and white, but we felt this book would be influential to put on this ranking because of its iconic stance of being the first yearbook in full color. This was definitely more of a big deal back then compared to now, but we still appreciate that Westwood worked very hard to make sure this was the first yearbook in complete color.

Number 5: Vision
Fifth place in this list goes to Vision from 2020. The concept of this yearbook was very interesting. The editors of the yearbook came up with the idea to make the pictures almost blurry, but provide blue and red glasses inside the yearbook to wear whenever you look at the photos, which made them clear. Although it is a cool concept, it’s hard not to cringe whenever you see the images and to some people, the point could be hard to get across that you have to wear the glasses when looking at the photos. The color scheme of the photos was a red and bluish green, which was interesting though. Although the concept is very cool, the vibes of this yearbook are just overall sometimes cringe which is the reason it’s at the bottom of this list.

1. My favorite song on the album is Means I Care. Means I Care is about how Mcrae struggles to show how she feels about someone and instead of wanting to form a deeper connection, she tries to cut them off instead. This sentiment is represented in lyrics such as “If overnight I up and end it, run away without a mention, go ghost, I like you the most” which shows that she ends up leaving the person she feels most attached to. While this song was initially much lower on my list when the album was first released, after multiple listens, this song really encapsulates the feeling of the album. It represents her being in love with someone but still struggling to keep a connection with them which is a recurring theme in her songs like in Greenlight.
2. Next on the list is Nostalgia. One of her most underrated songs on the album, this song brings out Mcrae’s vulnerabilities as well as mentions of her family which is a rare occurrence in her music. Upon first listen to this album, this song quickly rose to the top of my favorites list because it brought back the feeling of her last album, Think Later, which was the album that first introduced me to her music. Additionally, the lyrics to this song feel relatable to teens like much of her other music. The lyrics “And I, I manifested you would leave, So the day you did, I had you beat” talk about how she was always afraid of losing this person and then leaving made all her fears real. At a young age, many people can connect to this line as they’re afraid of losing friendships or relationships.
3. Third on the list is Siren Sounds. This song was first introduced to me through TikTok where fans had released snippets of this unreleased song. At the request of many of her fans, Mcrae released this song in her SCTW bonus album three days after the release of the first version of her album. While initially I wasn’t a big fan of this song due to how much it was overplayed on TikTok, after looking at the lyrics and really understanding what the song meant, it slowly became one of my favorites. The imagery she uses in this song ties with her vision of an unstable relationship and using the analogy of the burning house with a bad relationship depicts her vision perfectly. The bridge “We’d keep living in a burning house, Might be crazy to stick this out, But we can’t see all the flames around” shows how they can’t see how toxic and bad this relationship is for both of them and so they continue to stay in it. The bridge of this song is one of my favorites to sing along with, because of the level of emotion she sings with and the background music. 
4. Like I Do is next on the list. This song is a little different from the others as she isn’t really talking about a love relationship, but rather someone who’s trying to be her but doesn’t understand who she is as a person at all. During my first couple of listens to this song, I didn’t like it too much because I wasn’t able to understand the lyrics or what she was saying. However, after reading what the song was about, I really started to appreciate the theme of it because of how relatable it was. Many people at least at some point in their life feel like they know someone who doesn’t understand them as a person and isn’t always looking out for their best interests. This song encapsulates that feeling so well with the repetitive lyrics of the chorus “You don’t wanna know me, you just wanna do what I do.”
5.  Last but not least is Bloodonmyhands ft. Flo Mili. This song started as one of my top three songs from the album but dropped as I overheard it on social media and just played it too many times. However, the beat of this song is a huge change from her last album which makes it more interesting and allows a larger number of people to enjoy Mcrae’s music as the beat of this song is very different from her previous, more mellow songs. The addition of Flo Mili to this song adds a new kind of tone where it sounds like she’s taking charge of the relationship instead of just dealing with whatever is happening. The contrast of Mili’s lyrics with Mcrae’s creates a piece of music unlike her usual. Lyrics from Mili such as “I’m pretty and worth it, My feelings ain’t hurtin’, Won’t stay if it ain’t workin’” contrast with lyrics from Mcrae such as “I was so prepared to let you cross all my lines.” Finally, along with the beat and lyrics, the dance that Mcrae adds to this song when on stage makes it even more memorable and fun to watch when performed.

As a blueberry lover, blueberry scones are a great way to bring spring flavors into your home and heart – plus you can show off your killer baking skills! Now, I know that scones sound professional and seem like they would be hard to make, but they are actually pretty easy –  I make them all the time! I would make sure when you make them, to freeze and grate the butter because it makes the mixing so much easier. Remember, a scone is like a biscuit so after mixing, if it looks a little crumbly it is okay.

Recipe here

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

I am aware this is a very generic recipe and in some cases is considered basic… However, these muffins are so delicious and very easy to make. They are also a pretty universally loved flavor. When it comes to making muffins, the only tip I can give is not to overmix the batter. Also, as the muffins bake they will expand, so make sure you do not overfill the tin to prevent flooding. If you want to add more of a sweet flavor you can always make a vanilla glaze to counteract the sourness of the lemon!  

Recipe here

Raspberry Crumble Bars

Raspberries are a spring favorite and really easy to use when baking. When the sweet on sweet can be too much, using a tart fruit like raspberry may help. I am someone that can only handle a little bit of sweet here and there. Raspberry crumble bars are a great way to compromise. This is because the sweet of the crumble pairs and calms the tartness of the raspberry making the bars a perfect snack! These bars are also a great meal prepped breakfast option if you don’t want to cook.

Recipe here

Pistachio Layered Pudding

With hit or miss sunny or rainy weather in the spring season, having a universally suitable dessert is helpful. This dessert is perfect as not only is it pastel green, it is also light and airy. It is a very smooth dessert and is sometimes used as a palette cleanser. Either way it is absolutely delicious with the mix of the nuttiness and the cool whip. However if the richness is too much, adding some pistachios on top is a good way to add texture and makes each bite salty and sweet.

Recipe here

Strawberry Shortcake

This cake gained a cult following when the well-known redheaded star, Strawberry Shortcake came to life. The mix of sweet shortcake and tart strawberries balance each other out perfectly and the red and white color combination is spectacular. My favorite part of this cake is the whipped cream frosting. It’s super easy to mix and match the flavors. If you don’t want vanilla, add strawberry or lemon – it’s whatever you decide!

Recipe here

1. Magic Kingdom:

Ranked at the top of the list, Magic Kingdom is a classic park that brings out childhood nostalgia for many. This is the best park to visit on your first vacation because of the variety of things to do there. From roller coasters like Space Mountain to kid friendly rides like the People Mover, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The People Mover is an especially great option to go on during the fireworks at night, giving you a view of the tremendous show without the crowd as it passes in and out of sight of the castle. This park is most like Disneyland and gives families with younger kids a good place to vacation. Castles and towers can be seen from almost anywhere in the park, creating a beautiful scenic route as you walk around.

     2. Epcot:

Second on the list is Epcot. Often referred to as the permanent world’s fair, Epcot has lots of cuisines from all over the world. As you walk through the park, you’ll find yourself immersed in the culture of countries like Morocco, Japan, Canada, Norway, Italy, and many more. There are a few good rides, but the online queues are very hard to get into, specifically for the ride Cosmic Rewind. There are lots of shopping opportunities in every country that you walk through, with small rides in each country – in Norway there is a Frozen ride, and in France there is a Ratatouille ride. The Frozen ride is probably one of my favorites, with just the right amount of drops but also spectacular music and lights.

    3. Hollywood Studios

Originally known as Disney-MGM Studios, Hollywood Studios is known for its thriller rides. This park is not as good for young families and is best suited for teens or young adults. While the rides can be really fun, there are extremely long lines for most of the rides with the Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster being the longest. However, I noticed with some rides like the Rockin Rollercoaster, you can leave the ride in pain because of all the twists and turns, so be prepared to have your neck hurt a little. Depending on how much you like adventure and thrill, the wait may be worth it and this may be the perfect park for you.

    4. Animal Kingdom:

While there is really nothing wrong with Animal Kingdom, there is just not as much to do, and you could probably get through the park in half a day. There are a few big rides like Expedition Everest and the Flight of Passage, but the lines can reach up to three hours. I personally feel like both of those rides are worth the wait, especially the Flight of Passage. There even ocean and forest scents that waft throughout the ride and the seats even move to make you feel like you’re actually on a banshee. As for the best time of year to go to Animal Kingdom, I think that it’s better to go in the summer, especially so you can go on the water rides. The park also might not be as interesting if you’re not into animals because there are many animal shows and safaris. 

   5. Disney Springs

Ranked last on the list, Disney Springs is sometimes not even considered a park. It is essentially an outdoor mall for shopping with one ride. One cool thing about Disney Springs though is that they have the Cirque du Soleil which is an immersive acrobatic show. If you have one last day in Orlando to kill, and money to burn, this is the perfect place for you. 

Worst 5 numbers

1. Thirteen

Thirteen is perhaps the most superstitious number, especially in cultures that traditionally use the Lunar Calendar. In a lunar year, there are 12 “perfect” months and all the leftover days are put into a 13th, shorter (and oftentimes unlucky) month. For this reason, many buildings in east Asia (where lunar calendars are, historically, the most prevalent) skip the 13th floor. Furthermore, 13 is the quantity traditionally called a “baker’s dozen” (an expression I do not particularly like, as it’s rare that I ever have to reference a quantity of specifically 13). But despite all these unique qualities and superstitious importance, it is not a good number. It’s not divisible by anything (by virtue of it being a prime), something that makes calculations with it particularly difficult. Perhaps this number doesn’t sit right with me because it’s one of the two “-teens” that uses their cardinal number in their name (the other one being fifteen), or perhaps because the combination of 1 and 3 make an asymmetrical mess. In all, I do not like 13 and never use it for anything due to its superstitious background. 

2. Four

Four is a particularly weak number, because it struggles to follow in two’s wake as the second even number. Despite being the first perfect square, it’s still unequivocally boring. It’s not really any fault of four that it is overshadowed by the sheer greatness that is two, but this circumstance makes it pale in comparison. It’s not only the lackluster nature of four that is its downfall though, it’s also its lack of real significance. Four is the age one year after most begin forming memories, so it doesn’t represent any real threshold. Furthermore, when one tries to make the case of four’s significance by citing the amount of weeks in a lunar month, this is ineffective and largely false. This is because, only one month even has four weeks (February) and that’s only 75% of the months! While 4 has potential since it’s 2 squared, this is its only redeeming quality. These negatives are what place it soundly in second-to-last place.

3. One Hundred and Eleven

111 is a cheat and a lie. A scab on the nearly perfect record of eleven, it tricks many multiplication-table-learning elementary schoolers every year. It uses the beauty of 11 to construct its facade, a quasi-square of eleven. Many look at 111 and presume it to be 11 squared, but they are sorely mistaken – 121 is 11 squared. It’s also the most important “angel number”, but this in and of itself is again deceit (because I don’t care for angel numbers). Recognizing the same numbers often is simply the manifestation of human pattern recognition, but instead it’s twisted into spiritual jibber-jabber that equates coincidence to the divine. I am not a fan of conmen, and thus I am not a fan of the number 111, which earns it third-to-last place.

4. One

While this may be a controversial pick, I believe it’s sound. The number one is so low on this list because it lacks mystery. It’s quite literally the most simple you can get, as is evidenced in its ease of writing in many scripts, such as in Mandarin Chinese, Roman numerals, and the Arabic numerals that we know and love. While being simple and unassuming isn’t totally bad, as is showcased by our beloved number two, taking this to an extreme is what leads to one’s downfall. In my opinion, one shouldn’t even be considered a number, it is more like the essence of a number. When one tries to mathematically operate on numbers using the number one, they are left with dull results. Multiplying by, dividing by, or even raising something to the power of one just leads you right back to where you were – the original numbers. It’s this uselessness that leads me to place the number one so low on this list, despite its prominence.

5. Zero

Zero is so pessimistic. It detracts away from everything. When you multiply any number by zero, it just brings it down to zero. When you raise any number to the power of zero, it makes the number one (a number I’ve already outlined my hatred for). Zero is also a bandwagon digit, since it came a few thousand years after the other digits. In Chinese for example, the character for zero (零) is notably more complex than other numbers like three (三) because it was invented after the invention of the Chinese character system! I don’t like how zero attempts to piggyback off the success of the other digits, and that’s why it’s placed as the fifth-to-last number of them all.

Top 5 Numbers

5. Eleven

Eleven is a curious case for me, as it suffers from the same negatives that plague thirteen. But, despite its disadvantage in the rankings, 11 makes up for it in its mathematical and symbolic significance. When multiplied with any of the 9 digits, it repeats the number twice (ex: 11 times 2 is 22), a characteristic that makes dividing small multiples of 11 super quick and satisfying. Furthermore, eleven has strong temporal significance, because it is the optimal time to go to sleep for many and also the age where children start to make their transition into teenagehood. It also is the first number to cross the ten threshold, making it a powerful base on which to make idioms about pushing limits (e.g. turning something “up to eleven”). It’s this mathematical satisfaction that is inherent with this numerical palindrome and its significance in everyday life that secures it the fifth spot on this ranking. 

4. Nine

Nine is both mathematically interesting and culturally significant. Much like 11, multiplying a digit by 9 results in the digit times 10 minus the digit, which is pretty fire in my humble opinion. This also made it extremely useful in elementary school. Nine is also the square of three, a number which I particularly enjoy. But the real beauty of the number 9 lies in its prominence within English idioms. For example, much like cranking something “up to 11” denotes the exceeding of limits, “going the whole 9 yards” is all about the pushing of limits to 10. The number 9 makes me happy, or rather, “on cloud 9.” For this reason, it is the fourth best number.

3. Three

Three is an interesting number, as while it may not outwardly exude any significance, a deeper look reveals anything but. It’s the closest integer to the two most mathematically significant constants, pi (3.1415…) and e (2.7183…), and is the square root of nine, a number I particularly enjoy. It’s also an extremely significant number in many religions, as it represents the Holy Trinity in Christianity and other trinitarian religions. The number 3 is also the crux of a phrase I live by: “third time’s a charm.” For these reasons, three is the third best number.

2. Seven

Seven is an unexpected, but satisfying number. It is a factor of very unexpected numbers (like 105 and, rather surprisingly, 999,999). Its significance in religion and spirituality is huge. In Christianity, the number seven is found in Noah’s seven laws and with the seven archangels. It’s also significant in the world, denoting the seven continents and the seven wonders of the world. Though these factors add to my love for seven, its mathematical surprises really seals the deal.

1. Two

Oh two, where do I begin? Two is the most important number in my opinion, in the world of mathematics and computer science (and the world in general). It’s the base of base 2 (as the name suggests) and forms the foundation for all programming. Furthermore, it’s the mother of all even numbers, numbers that prove very useful and easy to use when doing quick arithmetic. Its design is also simple but absurdly alluring, with the top hook being juxtaposed with its flat base. It also is the power that forms all squares and the denominator of the power that forms all square roots (½). This is why I have crowned two the king of all numbers, the summit of an infinitely tall mountain. Two, you are officially the best number.

In first place comes stuffed animals. Stuffed animals have been a classic gift for so long and they are so meaningful for the receiver. They are perfect for any age group whether it be for a child, adult, significant other, friend, or family member. Beyond just this special day, stuffed animals are great to have when sleeping or just chilling. Additionally, stuffed animals can be even more special for the receiver if they are customized or if they come with an add on like a written card. With the huge variety of choices in these nowadays, someone can find the perfect stuffed gift for someone they love.

Second comes the handwritten card for obvious reasons. A handwritten card or gift expresses so many more emotions than a physical object or gift. The receiver can keep it for many years to come and continue to read it over and over again if they so wish. With a handwritten card, you can write anything important to you whether that be special moments, wishes for the future, your feelings for the person, or just a cute drawing. 

Next, jewelry is such a sweet gift for someone who loves it. The best part about this gift choice is that it can be found in such a variety that there is something for everyone. Whether it be the design, the price, the color, or even the brand, everyone can find something special that they love and their loved one will also love. Jewelry can be used for such a long period of time that the receiver will continue cherishing the gift. By choosing a piece of jewelry that means something special to the receiver in the form of a design or a color that they really like, the gift can be made extra special. 

Fourth on the list is chocolate. This is such a widely given gift and just like many others on the list, can be given to anyone such as friends or family. For someone who has a sweet tooth and loves sugar, this is the perfect gift. However, to me, chocolate isn’t as thoughtful as some of the other items on this list. Chocolate can be given on any occasion or even without occasion and therefore loses some of its meaning. While this is a great add on gift to something more personal, by itself it doesn’t truly have the same meaning as something like a handwritten note. However, if it were given just by itself, with a cute display and setup, this just might become the perfect gift.

Lastly, we have flowers. Even though flowers are nice to receive on occasions, I don’t think they have the same value as any of the other items on the list. Flowers can be a birthday gift, a celebration gift or sometimes, even just there for decoration and no occasion. So on a special day like Valentine’s Day, flowers just don’t cut it. Similar to chocolate though, flowers are great to pair with other gifts. 

While all of these are amazing gifts and anyone would be so lucky to have any of them, these are my personal favorites in order. In the end though, the gift depends on what the receiver likes and can vary hugely from person to person. With the added personal touch, any of these gifts can hold so much meaning and a variety past the common gifts can make it even better. 

1. Shan Yu from Mulan (1998)

Shan Yu considered the construction of the Great Wall of China a challenge for himself. The Great Wall was built to protect China, yet this made him upset for some reason. After invading a country, he proceeds to burn a little girl’s village down and massacre all the peasants, soldiers, and children, committing genocide when he actually could’ve gone around the village. He also may have set fire to other villages as well. He and his army are also responsible for killing General Shang Li’s father and his soldiers. With this many atrocities, Shan Yu brings himself to the top of the list of worst Disney villains. 

2. Ursula from The Little Mermaid (1989)

Ursula comes pretty close to Shan Yu but her intentions are more for personal gain. Ariel wasn’t the smartest character, but she didn’t deserve to get tricked and lied to. In the movie, Ursula allows Ariel to have a pair of human legs by trading away her voice. If she doesn’t get the prince to kiss her in three days then she’ll return to being a mermaid, but she’ll have to belong to Ursula for the rest of her life. The deal becomes unfair. In those three days, Ursula uses her eel friends and tries to sabotage Ariel by flipping over her boat. The next day, Ursula uses her wicked powers and transforms herself into a human, and using Ariel’s voice, she beguiles the prince to marry her instead. Poor Ariel had no idea what was going on. To assume power over the ocean, Ursula also turns King Triton and a couple of other merpeople into polyps, which is really cruel. 

3. Lady Tremaine from Cinderella (1950)

Lady Tremaine is the definition of the cruelest stepmother ever. One of the saddest things about the movie is that Cinderella became a slave in her own house after her father died. She was originally the daughter of a wealthy man, but Tremaine enters the picture and ruins her life. Cinderella suffers from the harsh and stupid tasks Tremaine makes her do like removing all the lentils (that she dumped in herself) from the ashes so Cinderella can’t make it to the ball. Lady Tremaine also encourages her daughters to torment Cinderella too. Her life is absolutely miserable up until the very end when her stepmother smashes her glass slipper to try and prevent her from marrying the prince. Tremaine and her daughters do all this just out of pure jealousy. It’s fair to say they’ve taken it way too far. 

4. Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

The name “Evil Queen” fits this woman perfectly. Throughout the whole movie, she had this unhealthy obsession with killing a fourteen-year-old girl who was casually living a happy life. When the Evil Queen finds out someone is prettier than her, she throws a hissy fit and wants her dead immediately so she can return to being the fairest of them all. What puts Evil Queen in the top five worst villains is that she uses many violent and cruel ways to get rid of Snow White, including hiring a huntsman to bring her heart back to her in a chest. In the end, her attempt to poison Snow White with suspiciously red apples works, as the apples stop her breathing and turn her blood solid, putting her into a deep slumber. None of the Evil Queen’s actions were reasonable. In reality, there is always going to be someone fairer than you. It’s time she should learn that. 

5. Mother Gothel from Tangled (2010)

Mother Gothel’s case might spark controversy. She deserves a rank of five, as she isn’t as cruel as Ursula or the Evil Queen, but she did do some pretty terrible things. She kidnaps Rapunzel, the princess of Corona, and locks her up so she can keep herself young and beautiful since Rapunzel has magic hair that can heal people. This act put the king and queen in absolute devastation. Imagine losing your kid in the middle of the night and spending the next eighteen years trying to find your child. In the movie, Mother Gothel actually treats Rapunzel fairly well, as she doesn’t abuse her as Lady Tremaine did to Cinderella. Besides being unable to touch grass, Rapunzel keeps herself busy by entertaining herself in the tower. It isn’t until Rapunzel escapes the tower that Mother Gothel becomes a monster. For eighteen years, her manipulation skills brought her benefits. When Rapunzel is finally able to learn the truth about who she really is, Mother Gothel ties her up, gags her, and attempts to kill Flynn Rider (the man who helped Rapunzel escape) with a dagger. 

6. Hans from Frozen (2013)

The only character in Frozen who is logical and realistic is Elsa. She had every right to be scared and run away from the castle to protect her sister and her people. But Hans just doesn’t get it. He tricks Anna into believing that he loves her when he actually just wants the kingdom of Arendelle and doesn’t try to understand what the sisters are going through. He attempts to kill Elsa in her ice palace and he proceeds to put out the fire so Anna can freeze to death. He lies to Elsa, telling her that her sister is dead when she wasn’t, which leads Elsa to have a breakdown. Hans tries a second attempt at getting rid of Elsa with a sword, but Anna saves her life. Hans is cruel, but if he wasn’t so hungry for power, he would have been a decent prince in his land.

7. Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty (1959)

The reason behind Maleficent’s actions is pretty weak. She gets upset when she isn’t invited to the celebration of newborn Aurora and plots revenge by cursing the child. On Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, she’ll prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. Aurora hides in the forest for most of her childhood until Maleficent finds out her whereabouts and lets the curse do the work. While all this is happening, she kidnaps the prince who’s supposed to marry Aurora and plans to lock him up until he becomes old and haggard while Aurora stays young in her deep sleep. Just like Lady Tremaine, she took things way too far. 

8. Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Dr. Facilier’s actions are by far the most complicated. He’s a voodoo witch doctor who wants New Orleans and money to become rich and powerful. He turns Prince Naveen into a frog, then takes his blood, and turns Naveen’s servant into the human form of Prince Naveen to trick Tiana’s wealthy friend, Charlotte, into marrying him. Because of the dark spell Facilier puts on Naveen, Tiana also transforms into a frog after kissing him, and the two lead on sad lives as frogs. When Facilier asks his voodoo spirit friends to help him capture Naveen to take more blood, he promises them the souls of the entire city’s population. But Tiana breaks the talisman containing the blood and the voodoo spirits drag Facilier down to pay for his broken promise. Though the only casualty is Ray, the firefly that helped Naveen and Tiana, Facilier makes people shudder from the dark magic he does to trick people into accepting unfair deals. 

9. Jafar from Aladdin (1992) 

Like any other classic villain, Jafar wants power. He wants to become the sultan, and to do this he plans the murders of Jasmine and her father, the current sultan. He also wants the magic lamp, as it can grant him anything he desires. Jafar uses deceit and confusion to get Aladdin to bring him the lamp. He also tried to ruin Jasmine and Aladdin’s relationship in the process. When he finally obtains the lamp, his greed and cruelty shine through completely. He immediately uses up his first two wishes, becoming a powerful sultan and sorcerer, but gets tricked by Aladdin into using his last wish to become a genie, which traps him inside the lamp forever. 

10. Gaston from Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Gaston doesn’t commit many harsh crimes. He’s just really annoying (the facial expressions Belle makes when he’s near her make it clear). He’s the definition of what a narcissist is and believes that every single girl should admire him. Gaston thinks that women shouldn’t read and throws away Belle’s books. If he doesn’t like a girl who reads to become smart, then why is he so obsessed with her? He should just give up and leave her in peace. But he insists on trying to win Belle and when he finds out that Belle cares for the Beast, he gets angry and thinks that he’s going to “save” Belle by killing the Beast when he’s just making himself look worse. 

Unfortunately the stress of these midterms fall upon the students and the days are filled with studying and preparing. However, it is important to take time to yourself and decompress to get your mind straight. Here are some ways to do it.

Hang out with Family
Sometimes the best way to decompress is staying close to ones you love. Being with someone who has and will always be there for you can calm the nerves. Family time, even if it’s just venting is a good way to get your unwanted feelings out.

Draw
Drawing can be very therapeutic and stress free. Simple sketches of whatever comes to your mind may soothe the pre test jitters. Remember art does not have to be perfect, just draw what you feel and get all of those feelings OUT. Don’t be afraid to make it sad or happy. Just make it true to you!!

Walk Outside
When times get really rough, walking outside is a good way to relax. Going to the park or even going to sit in the grass can be very beneficial not only for stress levels but for mental health as well. Going outside for a picnic or even just to read feeling the breeze in your hair and the sun on your face helps boost the serotonin. Planting flowers or even just weeding the garden also helps boost serotonin levels!

Listen to Music
Listening to music is a perfect way to sort out your thoughts and boost your mood. Whether it’s Frank Ocean’s Blond or Mac Miller’s Swimming, music can make you feel any kind of emotion. Music is also a good way to focus as it adds a background that is less distracting than some other things at home. Plus, you’re in your own world, doing your own thing!

Self Care
Stress unfortunately can lead to breaking out so having an at home spa day is always a great way to unwind, regain a good mindset, and a perfect way to feel good about yourself. Whether it’s painting your nails a fun color or doing a face mask, taking that small time to yourself is very warranted especially with all the studying you’ve done!

S Tier 

Turkey: The star of the show! Turkey is a staple in most Thanksgiving feasts. In some homes the tradition of carving the turkey is a big deal. Obviously it’s not everyone’s favorite but with some cranberry jam or gravy most can admit it’s pretty delicious! 

Ham: Ham is one of the most loved main courses on Thanksgiving. If you have a honey baked ham, the sweetness of the honey and the tanginess of the meat itself makes for a nice and perfectly balanced flavorful dish! 

Cranberry Sauce: Although it’s not technically a food, cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving staple! It makes appearances only once a year. Plus, it pairs so well with turkey and makes the flavors of the turkey stand out. How could you not enjoy it? 

A Tier

Pumpkin Pie: The sweet pumpkin spice flavor and the graham cracker crust are the perfect combination. The sweet pumpkin filling and the sweetness of the graham cracker make this dessert irresistible. Adding a nice and airy whipped cream can help break up the heavy flavor profiles in the dessert. 

Sweet Potato Casserole: The sweetest of sweet dinner sides is sweet potato casserole. The sweet flavor from the brown sugar mixed with the yam itself is just heavenly, plus if you add marshmallows on top, it adds yet another perfectly sweet touch. However, sometimes it’s just too sweet with all the desserts being eaten anyway, so adding the casserole to dinner seems wrong…

Green Bean Casserole: Even though it is somewhat hated, I have to say personally I love green bean casserole. Again, I understand that some people do not enjoy the green bean aspect of the casserole. However, the salty and savory flavors are perfectly balanced with the seasoned green beans and crumbles on top. 

Yeast Bread Rolls: These buttery and fluffy rolls are so delicious. They go well with just about everything whether it’s gravy or even the sweet potato casserole. You can really do no wrong! When the rolls are fresh out of the oven they just taste the best.

B Tier

Gravy: Gravy has excellent flavors and pairs beautifully with potatoes or really any Thanksgiving dish! However, you can eat gravy all year round and it’s not a once a year topping like cranberry sauce, so it has a lower ranking.

Stuffing: This savory bread filled side is absolutely delicious. Not every feast has it though. The combination of high profile flavors are perfect and wonderful. In my opinion, the stuffing mixed with turkey and gravy are an irreplaceable trio. 

Mashed potatoes: As one of the most popular dishes during the fall and winter months, mashed potatoes are just delicious. However, just by itself the mashed potatoes aren’t the best – they’re very plain, it just needs that extra flavor to make it even better.

C Tier

Mac & Cheese: I know there are lots of mac & cheese lovers out there… Let’s be real, it’s delicious, however, it is NOT a Thanksgiving food. If it’s a late night in the middle of the week, then fine, but for a nice Thanksgiving meal I think not. There are so many other foods to choose from that are only around this time of year… Besides, one day without mac & cheese will not kill you.