The Bright Side: Doctor Dogs, Earth Day, online college

Ryan Wang, Staff Writer • April 23, 2020

“The Bright Side” is a new series which will discuss three pieces of positive news taking place across the state, nation and world in light of COVID-19.

Editor’s note: “The Bright Side” is a new series that highlights three pieces of positive news that are taking place across the state, nation and world during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. News: There is still a shortage of testing kits for COVID-19 across the globe.

On the bright side: A medical charity in England has successfully trained dogs to detect if an individual has the coronavirus. Dogs have been utilized in the medical field to sniff out cancer, Parkinson’s disease, malaria, as well as other conditions. Having canines that are able to detect COVID-19 can provide an alternative to kit testing if unavailable, and may be especially useful when locating individuals who are asymptomatic.

2. News: Social distancing restrictions continue to be extended across the nation.

On the bright side: The world celebrated the 50th Earth Day yesterday. First celebrated in 1970, it’s now recognized by 193 countries across the globe. In almost unison with Earth day, reduced pollution levels in India have allowed the Himalayan mountains to be viewed from over 200 kilometers away, something that hasn’t been possible for 30 years.

3. News: Some high school students and graduating seniors have not been able to visit their colleges of interest.

On the bright side: Colleges across the nation have released various online courses, which can be accessed by students for free. Recently, University of California Berkeley has begun to offer their popular ‘The science behind happiness’ online, free of tuition. The ability to take college courses may aid students in determining their plans after high school, and allows them to get a glimpse of what each college is like.

About the Contributors

Ryan Wang, Section Editor

They say third time’s the charm, but as senior Ryan Wang struggles to write his third (and last) staff bio, he feels anything but charming. Being crowned the new Arts & Entertainment editor for TRL, he’s spent the past few months perfecting his craft by watching an unhealthy amount of movies.. Having lost touch with reality, he’s gone back to his roots and doing what he does best: making sandwiches, walking his cat, and shouting loudly at the Pittsburgh Penguins on TV. Needless to say, he can’t wait to go back to school to see his friends, zone out in class, and go on boba-trips eight times a week. Aside from running his extremely legit “Magic Zappy Machine” business, Ryan is also involved in speech & debate, investing club, dishwashing, NHS, and of course, The Red Ledger. He’s looking forward to another great year on staff, where he’ll be looking to connect with new writers, producing great content, and most importantly, raiding the local snack cabinet.

Hannah Gonzalez, Graphics Editor

Mama Mia, here we go again. As she takes her last ride in the TRL classroom, Hannah Gonzalez is ready to end this year with a bang. Gonzalez serves as a Co-Graphics editor for the third year in a row and this is her fourth year on staff. When she’s not making killer graphics, you can most likely find Gonzalez on the volleyball court, at FCA meetings, in school or going for a joy ride in the Jeep that she named “Beep.” Although TRL is life, Gonzalez also enjoys going for late-night ice cream runs, watching early morning sunrises, going to church every Sunday morning and going on an occasional lake trip. To add to her list of accomplishments, Gonzalez has won three state championships and is looking for a fourth. With her happy planner by her side, Gonzalez is looking forward to kicking procrastination to the curb as she conquers her final year as a high school student.