The Student News Site of Great Neck South High School

The Southerner
The Student News Site of Great Neck South High School

The Southerner
The Student News Site of Great Neck South High School

The Southerner
Kalli Zhu

Kalli Zhu, Web Editor

Kalli Zhu is a senior and a web editor for The Southerner. She has contributed to the paper since her sophomore year as both a writer and editor, and draws inspiration for her articles from her personal interests. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, watching reality TV, and trying new foods.

All content by Kalli Zhu
Celebrating National Poetry Month

Celebrating National Poetry Month

Kalli Zhu
April 4, 2025
Coast to Coast—In April 2024, 29 award-winning Great Neck South students arrived in Anaheim, California to compete in DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC). The following days were spent trading pins, competing, and exploring Disneyland.

DECA: Delving Into South’s Largest Club

Kalli Zhu
February 11, 2025
Cruising Through California—Situated in the heart of Los Angeles, Thirteen delivers an iconic portrayal of the West Coast. Main characters Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) and Evie (Nikki Reed) roam around places like Melrose Avenue and Hollywood, going on shopping sprees and immersing themselves in the local music scene.

Thirteen: Redefining the Teen Movie

Kalli Zhu
December 13, 2024
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess—Chappell Roan’s debut studio album, featuring elements of disco, country, and synth-pop, was released September 2023. Since then, it has gained a cult following for its bold sound and unapologetically “messy” lyrics.

From Chappell to Charli: Student Takes on the New Female Voices of Pop

Kalli Zhu
November 4, 2024
Sowing Brighter Futures—High School volunteers for ReWild Long Island’s Summer Program to Fight Hunger & Climate Change gather weekly over the summer at various locations to help maintain local native plant gardens.

The Power of Purpose: Community Service Over Summer Break

Kalli Zhu, Copy Editor
June 10, 2024
Mother’s Day Memorabilia—Stuffed animals, trinkets, and jewelry serve as gifts that can be cherished for years to come.

Shop Small, Love Big: Celebrating Mother’s Day with Local Businesses

Kalli Zhu, Copy Writer
May 8, 2024
Popcorn and Possibilities—Coming-of-age films usually involve sweeping character arcs and deep introspection on the protagonist’s part. They illustrate the full extent of the capabilities of the human mind to transform in the face of conflict. Courtesy of IMDb.

Six Coming-of-Age Movies for Any Audience

Kalli Zhu, Copy Editor
December 21, 2023
Global Pollution Has No Solution in Sight—The reach of microplastics—plastic particles less than five millimeters in length—has extended across every continent and ocean in the course of its incessant decades-long consumption.

Microplastic Pollution’s Proliferation: A Taste of Our Waste

Kalli Zhu, Copy Editor
November 11, 2023
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers: Divisions and Divulgences

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers: Divisions and Divulgences

Kalli Zhu
June 6, 2023
Still from the film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird—one of the most renowned classics of American literature.

Confronting Slurs in the Classroom

Kalli Zhu
May 24, 2023
Around 16 million tons of textile waste are generated by Americans on a yearly basis, most of which ends up in landfills (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Sew What?—The Rising Prevalence of Fast Fashion

Kalli Zhu
March 25, 2023
Full-Time Teacher, Part-Time Dancer: with a diverse number of dances under her belt, Ms. Tobin has amassed various poses that signify the end of each one. Here, she strikes the final pose of one of her more slow-paced West African dances—simple, but lively all the same.

Ms. Tobin: An Expansive History of Dance

Kalli Zhu
March 25, 2023
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