1. “The Fault in Our Stars”

Romance bloomed this summer as Hazel and Gus embarked on a journey of love and loss. Hazel, a cancer patient, meets Gus, an amputee, at a support group, and soon these teenagers fall in love. While Shailene Woodley, playing Hazel, and Ansel Elgort, playing Gus, portrayed the multiple facets of their characters in this film, some students such as Nikita Ramoji (11) believe that the movie may not have been similar to the book.

“While I have never seen that many people cry in a theater before, the movie was very dramatic and the some of the characters from the book were not featured in the movie,” Nikita said.

This movie adaptation of John Green’s best-selling novel was very popular at the box office this season, grossing over $48,000,000.

2. “Divergent”

Suzanne Collin’s bestseller “Divergent” became the summer must-read this year. Readers can follow Tris Prior in discovering her true identity and facing the many dangers in the dystopian world she lives in. In this world, people are divided into factions based on virtues. Being a Divergent, Tris can fit into more than one faction and poses as a threat to the strict government. With the help of Four, another Divergent, Tris goes on a journey to find the reason her people are sought after by the government.

3. World Cup

The 2014 FIFA World Cup was held in Rio this summer. As teams from across the world gathered to participate in this championship tournament, fans also eagerly watched many games on television and in Rio. By the end of the games, many teams such as Germany and Argentina gained large fan followings. In the Bay Area, some companies allowed their employees to watch the games at work and revel in the spirit of soccer. The next world cup will be held in 10 cities across Russia in 2018.

4. White Nail Polish

Say goodbye to the classic pinks, oranges and purples, white is here! From matte white to glossy white, this color has come up to par with black in terms of popularity. Actors and models such as Kim Kardashian and Scarlett Johansson are sporting this color in their movies, cover shoots and fashion shows around the world. A white nail color can complement any outfit or accessory with ease. To add extra oomph to this nail color, use a glitter topcoat of any color or put on a matte topcoat.

5. Outside Lands

Kanye West, Arctic Monkeys, Macklemore and many other musicians gathered in San Francisco for the annual three day music festival. With a wide variety of artists, Outside Lands attracted flocks of Bay Area natives, including many students from the Upper School. “Outside lands was the most amazing experience of my summer,” junior Sahana Narayanan said. “Everyone was so nice and the vibe was just so artistic.”

6. Jay Z and Beyoncé at AT&T Park

Beyoncé and Jay Z’s songs came to life at their two-day finale concert at AT&T Park on Aug. 5 and 6. Despite the divorce rumors, this power couple completed their On the Run tour with a bang.. Many upper school students attended this concert, and believed that it may have been one of Beyoncé’s best performances ever.

7. Kylie Jenner

Pastel lipstick, leather crop tops and amazing nails define Kylie Jenner, a summer’s trendsetter. From her constantly changing hair to her classic Kylie style, this teenager has become the it-girl of the younger generation. The Kylie style includes over-the-top nails, chopped hair in a spectrum of colors, crop tops, mini skirts and strappy heels. Kylie’s Instagram has also become a source of inspiration for hair, nails and clothing. “A lot of teenage girls can relate to her fashion sense, and she always tries to experiment with her clothing,” Stephanie Huang (11) said.

8. Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black has redefined “binge watching” for students and celebrities alike. Netflix releases a complete season of OITNB, an original Netflix series, around every six months. This television series, inspired by Piper Kerman’s memoir, revolves around Piper Chapman’s year in prison due to her previous involvement in a drug smuggling case. While in prison, Piper meets her old romantic interests and rediscovers her identity. Now in its second season, OITNB has received critical acclaim and popular reception.

9. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has taken social media websites by a storm. This challenge was created in order to bring awareness to ALS, a disease that causes the neurons in the brain to stop working, leading to paralysis in some patients. A person who is nominated for this challenge can either take the challenge, which requires the participant to drop a bucket of ice on themselves, or donate to the cause. Unlike any other donation campaign, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has raised more than $20 million to fund research for ALS.

10. “Transformers: Age of Extinction”

The fourth installment of the “Transformers” film series was another summer hit, grossing over a billion dollars. This movie featured a new human cast along with new robots. The movie revolves around a group of humans fight together with the Autobots to defeat a hunter from another world. Although this movie was a commercial success, many critics gave negative reviews to the film.