Oct 6, 2017 by The Castro Valley High School Olympian

Page 2: Why we oppose lower voting age Volume 61, Issue 1

October 6, 2017

Page 5: A week on the football team

Pages 6-7: Summer travels, internships www.cvhsolympian.com

Water woes: trying to get the lead out We are born to seek the truth!

By Mia Babasyan and Wailea Siler Water from one of the drinking fountains in the 100 hall contained double the recommended maximum amount of lead, CVUSD announced on Aug. 30. A total of 25 sinks and faucets at nine district schools had elevated lead levels according to tests that took place in August. The district has shut down the CVHS fountain and all the other water sources with excessive lead until they can be repaired. “We shouldn’t be guessing, we shouldn’t be saying ‘Let’s try this first.’ We just have to shut it all down,” said Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi. CVUSD voluntarily contracted with ACC Environmental Consultants in August to analyze the safety of the drinking water at Castro Valley schools. After The Olympian requested its report under the California Public Records Act, the district released the test results. Twelve of the 25 water sources had at least double the recommended lead maximum of 15 parts per billion (PBB). A faucet at Creekside Middle School tested at 2,000 PBB, or 133 times more than the standard, though on a second test, the lead

Katelyn Wong/ Staff Writer

Twelve sinks and fountains had lead levels which at least doubled the recommended limit. level dropped to 40 PBB. Ahmadi explained how the district is handling the lead contamination in water fixtures as well as how it intends to pay for the repairs. “This is not something we can say we don’t have the money for and can’t do it. We have to look at our budget… but regardless it has to be done, we will get it done, and it fits within the

purpose of Measure G,” said Ahmadi. The district has been receiving replacement parts for fixtures to be repaired, however some take longer than others to service. The August testing involved 300 water sources in CVUSD. A full assessment of all water in Castro Valley schools will follow, Ahmadi said.

The superintendent did not know the last time school water was tested, or if it ever had been. “It hasn’t been something we’re required to do [in the past]. In fact we do have a board policy that says we need to be doing some of these things that we just adopted in 2016. It’s a new topic of interest... but we always look for any kind of possibly harmful chemicals in

all of the work that we do,” said Ahmadi. The administration announced that bottled water will be distributed to staff and students upon request. Other water fixtures at CVHS were found to have less than five ppb, well within the range declared to be safe. Other schools that have shown water with levels of lead over the recommended range include Castro Valley Elementary, Chabot Elementary, Jensen Ranch Elementary, Palomares Elementary, Stanton Elementary, Vannoy Elementary, and Redwood High School. “It’s more common than you would think. It probably has to do with the age of the pipe systems. Solder is used to join copper pipes, and there’s a place where that lead can transfer into the water. There could be other things bonding onto that lead oxide in the older buildings,” said science teacher Nathan McCreary. If lead levels found in water have exceeded the recommended range, modifications or improved installations must be made to that site to ensure safety for consumers. Installing new fountains or components will not eliminate lead completely, but is expected to reduce the ratio of lead to water.

No later school starts, no cell phone searches, no younger voters By Hannah Johansson Editor-in-Chief

California high school students will not get to sleep in later, and 17-year-olds will not get to vote after all, but at least schools still cannot search students’ phones. California state officials had proposed three separate pieces of legislation in the past year that would have affected CVHS students directly. The three proposals would have allowed school staff members to search students’ cell phones, prohibit school start times earlier than 8:30 a.m., and lower the voting age from 18 to 17 in California. On Sept. 15 all three failed to move forward in Sacramento.

Assistant Majority Leader Jim Cooper of Sacramento proposed the bill to allow phone searches without warrants in an attempt to combat cyberbullying. The California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA), signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2015, requires government organizations to have a warrant before searching through personal electronic devices. Cooper’s bill would have set public school students outside of CalECPA’s protection. The bill had not seen much action since April, so its failure was not surprising. In stark contrast to the cell phone bill’s inactivity, the “Start the School Day Later”

bill (SB-328) made significant progress since it was first proposed in February. This bill, an attempt to improve teens’ health, attendance, and safety, would have required all California middle and high schools to push back their start times to at least 8:30 a.m. Although the later start time did not explicitly include zero period, the early morning classes “would also start at a correspondingly later time,” according to the Start School Later organization. State Senator Anthony Portantino of San Fernando Valley proposed this bill in response to numerous studies which illustrate a correlation between later start times and positive

effects such as decreased car accidents, better test scores, and less substance abuse and depression among teens. “I think it’s important to follow research and the data that’s available that shows high school students will perform better when they’re healthier, and having more sleep creates healthier students,” Portantino told The Olympian last May. However, some were hesitant to agree with the proposed change because of possible conflicts with the consequent later release times, such as after school sports and parttime jobs. While that bill gathered attention, Assemblyman Evan Low of Campbell proposed a

California state constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 17 in California. “Lowering the voting age will help ensure the next generation is engaged and empowered to hold their representatives accountable,” said Low. He argued that allowing 17-year-olds to vote would not only ingrain a lifelong habit of voting, but catch the youth perspective while they are still connected to their schools, their homes, and their families. Critics argue that lowering the voting age would lead to more uninformed voting, since many 17 year olds have not taken a government class, graduated high school or lived in the “real world.”

Lowering the voting age has more cons than pros

Editorial: A new state constitutional amendment was proposed but failed to advance, moving that the voting age be lowered from 18 to 17 for all elections. Assemblyman Evan Low proposed ACA 10 in order to influence youth voters to build a stronger habit of registering. Although youth voting numbers are historically quite low, we at The Olympian believe the efforts put into raising these numbers will likely be futile. We side with the opposition of this proposal and believe that the amendment is ultimately not a good direction for youth voting in California for several reasons. At the age of 17, most Americans are high school seniors who are taking their first government class. Prior to this, they have little to no knowledge of how the voting system works. Because of this, The Olympian feels that our youth is not yet informed enough to vote in primary and general elections. Also, The Olympian feels that at the age of 17, many teenagers are not mature enough to vote responsibly. Some

of a candidate, a young voter might be more likely to choose a candidate based on looks or another unimportant trait. At the same time, others might make a decision based on the views of their parents because they have yet to form opinions of their own. For many teens, parental influence is a prominent factor that plays into the way people tend to carry themselves or behave. A family which tends to vote more conservatively might pressure more liberal minded students to vote that way as well, despite their true opinions. The proposed amendment has not been approved in Legislature. Regardless of whether the amendment passes or not, The Olympian feels that changing the voting age would not make a dramatic difference in our democracy. Although the amendment proposed a way to fix the dip in youth voting numbers, our voting system will still remain fairly similar in the years to come. As Andrew Watanabe Winston Churchill once said, “democmight see their voice in the elec- the youth of America tends to vote racy is the worst form of government, tion as a joke. Often times, as pre- for the most popular candidate. De- except for all the others.” viously seen in school elections, spite specific political viewpoints

Juggling school with hobbies Fashion is expression

By Olga Buzueva

Staff Writer I’m sure we have all faced the problem of hobbies clashing with required work. We want to do something, like playing video games or watching TV, then homework gets in the way. I had a few clashes with that, but, for the most part, have been able to manage. I get my homework done, then go watch shows and play games. For me, the main instance of this began over the summer. I signed up for three accelerated classes for the 2017-18 school year, two of which required summer homework. I looked over my schedule and figured it was nothing I couldn’t handle. It wasn’t too difficult, just reading “Lord of the Flies” and taking some notes. I could easily spread that out over the course of the

summer without any stress, and still have time for my hobbies. Then, my mother offered me some online art courses, one in watercolor and one in illustration. I’m an artist, so naturally I agreed. I wasn’t a huge fan of watercolor, but it was recommended that I take that course before illustration, so I did. My amount of free time decreased drastically. At any point I had time to draw, I was expected to be doing watercolor. It was honestly frustrating, because I’m primarily a digital artist and had my own plans over the summer. I was so frustrated with watercolor, and soon my work was beginning to decrease in quality. Homework was taking much longer and began to seem much harder. I didn’t finish the watercolor course by the time the deadline rolled around, and I was disappointed in my inability to finish it. Then came illustration, which I was actually handling much better, mostly because I was allowed to draw digitally. I did finish this course, as well as my homework, and was able to enjoy a week in Los Angeles. That’s when I remembered something. My parents had signed me up for cross coun-

LETTERS To the Editor

try, and practice was every day of the week. This worried me immensely, especially since I was taking three accelerated classes. I still did it, and would come home tired and sweaty. Once school started, my worries were realized. Honors Chemistry and cross country were the things that consumed most of my time. I was still getting all my work in on time, but all my non-required pleasures were pushed back. Art became a weekend pleasure, with a few scarce moments to draw. Most of my other hobbies I haven’t done in nearly a month. What’s to learn from this? At the end of it all, I’m enjoying Honors Chemistry and cross country. Neither of them are actually required, either. I chose to do them. They could help me get into a good college later and be a root to success. This is why I decided to do them. But, the work in these overrides my desire to do non-school related activities, like drawing. At the same time, the pressure to get that work done is increasing. The moral is to try to create a balance between what you want and what you need, but don’t go so overboard you end up overwhelmed.

of the modern artist

confidence and fearless attitude towards the world by exposing people to a more open way of thinking. He was inspired by the way people react to seeing something so different and limitless. “It's fun to play with people's ideas of normalcy. As we are moving into the future I want to use it as an act of resistance,” said Shand.

By Gianna Ellis

Staff Writer Wear what you want, it’s 2017! No longer do we carry the burden of being condemned based on the way we dress. We should all embrace our creative freedom and flow with the progressiveness of our time. San Francisco photographer Devlin Shand is using his creative freedom to implement a genderless fashion industry as the new standard. Shand first began wearing women's clothing on a regular basis because it made him feel good and empowered him greatly. “At first I was dressing this way because it felt good,” said Shand. After a while, Shand realized that he could use his

The Olympian encourages letters from our readers. Letters must be signed and no longer than 200 words. They can be e-mailed to cvhsolympian@gmail.com, delivered to Mr. Johanson’s box in the office, or delivered to room 113.

“

In these modern times why should the individualists of the world be restricted to a single gender wardrobe?

”

I applaud Shand for his forward thinking and his bold approach towards fashion. In these modern times why should the individualists of the world be restricted to a single gender wardrobe? Here is how I see it: a shirt is a shirt, a shoe is a shoe, so on and so forth. All labels do for society is confine us as individuals. Positively expressing ourselves is one of the most important ideals of life. As long as freedom of expression is not considered a social norm we will continue to be a close minded society. Dress for yourself while respecting the way others choose to express themselves. This is fashion for the modern civilian.

The Olympian Oct. 6, 2017

High schoolers need sleep too

By Rachel Stein

Staff Writer Many students will tell you that they are seriously sleepdeprived and, as a result, are often late to school. The 7:05 a.m. start time for zero period at CVHS is especially cruel to teenagers, who are not wired for rising with the sun. I average four to six hours of sleep myself, and many of my friends tell me they get about the same. No one I know comes close to getting the nine hours of sleep recommended by doctors. At CVHS, first period also starts early, at 8:08 a.m. This is about average for California’s high schools according to State Senator Anthony Portantino, author of unsuccessful legislation that would

have required California public schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The bill failed due to opposition from a number of groups, including the California School Boards Association. This position prioritized the convenience of adults over the basic needs of students. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes in a letter of support for the bill, SB 328, that, “due to hormonal changes, most teenagers naturally fall asleep later than younger children and older adults, and rise later as well -- unless sleep is interrupted by a 6 a.m. alarm, in which case they go to school poorly rested.” The AAP also notes that sleep deprivation in teens can lead to “driving drowsy,” which is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Pediatricians point out that teens lacking sufficient sleep are also more prone to suffer from: “depression, weight gain, irritability, inattentiveness, academic difficulties, and more.” The benefits of a g oo d night’s rest, according to Portantino, include: “increased attendance rates, grade point

averages, state assessment scores, college admission test scores, student attention, and student and family interaction.” Many will argue that starting school later is pointless because school will end later and students will have to stay up longer doing homework as a result. However, this seems more humane to teenagers, as we are prone to sleeping and waking up later. On top of the sadistically early schedule, the amount of homework assigned to students every night is obscene. If teachers could assign even slightly less homework, students could go to sleep at a more reasonable time. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the school board need to unite and come up with a schedule that is workable for all, but that also respects the needs of high school students for a good night’s sleep adjusted to their later sleep cycle. Just because the state legislation failed to advance this year doesn’t mean that CVHS should stick to the status quo. Change can be hard, but this is a change students need to survive and thrive.

pressure I felt from my coaches and parents to do well was too much and it made me feel like anything I did was just not good enough. Playing National Premier League (NPL) soccer put a lot of pressure on me to do well, not just for myself, but also my team, and the amount of investment that parents have in the game at such high levels manifests in ways that can discourage players. I used to get so anxious about making mistakes and getting yelled at by coaches and parents that I would feel sick with fear and get massive stomach pains. Many players, including myself, had considered injuring themselves for the sole purpose of not being fit to play. Children and teens should never feel as if everything they do is not good enough. Parents can diminish the negative feelings their child experiences during sports games by keeping their opinions to themselves and offering encouraging support. Statistics show that during 2017, one in three children consider quitting the game because of “over-engaged parents.” School sports at CVHS were such a great experience for me that I wondered why I was so stressed about club sports, and I realized that it was because the pressure to do well during school soccer was far lighter than during club play. Almost all of my teammates on the school

team agreed with me and said that they felt more confident and composed during games, improving their performance overall. One girl I interviewed about this topic said that she not only performed better, but also had more fun on the school sports team because her parents wouldn’t yell at her as much, and the coaches were a lot more understanding about her mistakes. Sports games are just games. Games are meant to be fun and exciting for the players, not something they despise because of the misbehaved parents and coaches. Children should be encouraged and supported by their parents in everything that they do, and not be ridiculed for for making small mistakes with unhelpful comments. Everyone makes mistakes, and if done so during a game, players should receive constructive criticism from their coach on how to avoid making the mistake again. Parents yelling at their child to “stop doing that” or to “pull yourself together” multiple times a game cause the players to become more and more nervous about making a mistake, and often make one. Parents should be supportive of their children and offer compliments about what they do well. Improved behavior from adults on the sidelines of sports games will make the players less stressed about doing well, and they will continue to love the game.

I quit my sport for a good reason

By Emma Yin Staff Writer

Playing sports is supposed to be fun and fulfilling, right? What about when parents and coaches are yelling at you to run faster, work harder, do better? Sadly, this type of shouting happens all the time during sports games and makes the players’ experiences less fun and more nerve racking. Verbal abuse dished out by parents over invested in their children’s games distracts and stresses out players, no matter what it is they are being scolded for. Coaches should be the only people giving players constructive criticism, the parents instead providing encouragement and support. Any opinions voiced from the sidelines will make players feel anxious, as if every split-second decision they make will bring ridicule and criticism. I have experienced much of this anxiety playing sports. I quit soccer because of the

HAS TV GONE MONOCHROMATIC?

By Isabelle Voix Staff Writer

Despite Hollywood calling for equal rights and representation, its main industry seems to fall short from representing the true diversity of the United States and elsewhere. It seems like every aspect of the entertainment industry is dominated mainly by white, cisgender men. A survey taken through 2014 to 2015 shows that 69 percent of episodes are directed by caucasian males. For first time episodic directors, 84 percent of them are caucasian male directors. Out of 30,000 Hollywood film characters, 73.1 percent are white. These statistics make it clear that we need to take more action in diversifying the entertainment industry. With Hollywood being predominately run by white men, minorities don’t have as much of a chance to express their creative works. The United States itself is known throughout the world as a giant melting pot. Immigrants from all around the world come to the US in hope of achieving the American dream and experience equality in all aspects. However, if we just look at

the entertainment industry alone, we wouldn’t be able to tell that the United States is so diverse. A cartoon that tries to show how the United States is a melting pot is a School House Rock cartoon called“Great American Melting Pot.” But Hollywood makes the U.S. seem quite caucasian, with 90 percent of all leading characters in shows from 2016-2017. One can’t say that the US is a land of equal opportunity when minorities and women aren’t being equally represented and given the chance to be part of the entertainment industry. Instead of hiring people of color for roles, Hollywood tends to cast white actors to play people of color. Hollywood has been continually practicing whitewashing since the beginning of the entertainment industry. In 1915, “Birth of a Nation” was released and it’s so systematically racist that they applied black face on white actors. Directors come up with outrageous excuses for whitewashing such as claiming that people of color are harder to cast because they’re not as expressive as white actors. This excuse is not only untrue but also racist. The movie “Ghost in the Shell” used a white actor instead of an Asian one as the main character. If the United States is truly a melting pot of equal opportunity, then Hollywood will give equal opportunity for all people despite their gender, sexual orientation and ethnicity.

Editors-in-Chief..................................................................Mia Babasyan Hannah Johansson Copy Editors......................................................................Nisha Lal News Editor..............................................................Stella Ho Opinion Editor............................................................Emily Salazar Feature Editor.....................................................Wailea Siler Sports Editor................................................................Pau Gutierrez Arts and Entertainment Editor......................................Da Di Photo Editor........................................................Beruk Tsegaye Video Editor........................................................Mara Moysen Business Manager........................................Audrey Manzano Online Editor..............................................Ria Panjwani Staff Writers: Shaelly Adams, Sam Ahm, Milagros Aquinos, Olga Buzueva, Gianna Ellis, Layne Johnson, Bilal Messaoudi, Hayate Moro, Amina Moummad, Derek Neyer, Nathaniel Ortiz, Jenny Pham, Young So, Rachel Stein, Thomas Vergara, Isabelle Voix, Andrew Watanabe, Katelyn Wong, Emma Yin Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

The Olympian Oct. 6, 2017

Cut down on plastic for you and the planet

Our world, our plastic, our problem By Mia Babasyan Editor-in-Chief

Would it be possible to go a full day without using any plastic? For the majority of

us, the answer is no. There are little things you do every day that, even if you never realize it, involve some form of plastic. From brushing your teeth to using your phone, when does plastic not play a role in our daily lives? Since the 1940s, plastic has been mass produced to create anything and everything to make life easier and more convenient for consumers. Its endless possibilities will allow the US plastic industry to expand into a worth of $654 billion by 2020. Plastic is cheap and easy to produce. But with what cost does that come? Plastic is dangerous to many things, including human health. Many chemicals used to make plastic are

categorized as carcinogenic (cancer causing) and potential endocrine disruptors (hormone disruptors). Toxins can be transferred from plastic to humans through

water bottles, children’s toys, and even medical supplies. However these chemicals not only harm us, but also our environment.

Because of its persistence, plastic causes damage and makes its way into oceans before it can degrade. There, marine wildlife and other organisms consume plastic which can injure or kill them. According to the National Academy of Sciences, “90 percent of seabirds carry around 10 percent of their body weight in plastics - a similar proportion to airline hand luggage allowance for humans. This figure is expected to increase to 99 percent by 2050.” Even though our world is wrapped around plastic and the possibilities it gives us, there are things we can do as a society to replace its unnecessary uses. For instance, packaging is a major

component of plastic waste. Styrofoam, plastic utensils, plates, cups and packaging can easily be replaced with paper, or even better, non-disposable alternatives. Plastic bags are also unnecessary when we have paper and reusable bags. We live in a world that depends on what we’re used to, but that doesn’t mean trying something new can’t be just as convenient. It may not be as simple to buy a non-disposable toothbrush or phone made without any plastic, but there are other things we can replace. So next time you’re offered a plastic straw or bag, think of the impact you could make by changing your decisions every day.

Miss America misunderstood, more than beauty contest

By Shaelly Adams Staff Writer

The Miss America pageant, started in 1921 as an annual beauty contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has changed dramatically throughout its history. The most recent competition took place on Sept. 10. Today, Miss America has turned into a scholarship open to women in the U.S between the ages of 17 and 24. This year a panel of celebrity judges asked questions to the contestants concerning the Charlottesville attack, climate change, the Trump Administration’s problems with Russia, and Confederate War monuments. After being questioned on President Donald Trump’s response to blame “many sides” for the Charlottesville attack, Miss Texas stated, “I think that the white supremacists issue...it was very obvious it was a terrorist attack. And I think that President Donald Trump should have made a statement earlier addressing the fact, making sure all Americans feel safe in this country,” she said. Over social media, thousands of people were unhappy with the political questions given to the candidates. The same people pointed out that Trump is the person that funds the competitions, and

their answer should’ve been more appropriate. I mostly noticed hundreds of angry moms on twitter arguing how they tuned in hoping for a family friendly night of classic American television. “I am so sick of this. It was just so disgusting, but at least I had another chance to tell my daughter how liberalism is a huge mental disorder,” said mother Alicia Jones. “Sadly, the 2017 Miss America pageant was like a jazzed-up version of a Nasty Woman March. Instead of hemp sweaters and Mexican man shoes, the girls were wearing evening gowns and lip gloss,” wrote journalist Todd Starnes from Fox News wrote. I believe that we should hear the contestants’ views on life and politics. Politics has always been intertwined in the competition throughout its history. In the original 1921 Miss America, personality played a large role in the voting as masses of people surrounded each contestant to get to know her better and throw questions at her throughout the event. In 1969, The “No More Miss America” protest was attended by about 500 feminists and civil rights advocates. The protest included tossing a collection of symbolic feminine products pots, false eyelashes, mops, and other items into a “freedom trash can.” They also burned hundreds of bras on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Some of their slogans called the pageant a cattle auction, for parading women to walk around and be judged off their looks, just how men judge their cattle for their worth. This is solely because the Miss America

contestants are often only recognized by society’s impossible standards of beauty and the expectations of being innocent and pretty. More importantly, there was blatant inequality in encouraging girls to become Miss America. The standard line was that boys could become President of the United

States. Why not women? What about their role in politics? Where are their hard working jobs? In today’s society the Miss America Foundation strives to change lives and influence young women across the country. Although there are still bathing suit and beauty contests, Miss America has

changed throughout the years to give out scholarships to intelligent girls to provide direction for their future. I believe from the start of the competition in the 1920s, there are a couple of things that have stayed the same: the contestants’ personalities, ideals, and beliefs of the world we live in today.

5 What a girl learned on the boys varsity football team By Pau Gutierrez Sports Editor

unning back Austin Fields gets the ball and starts running towards the end zone. Every single person in that game was running behind him, including those of us on the sideline. Once he scored, everyone ran down to celebrate, hugging and banging helmets. Well, not the helmets part for me. I’m a big football fan. I get excited while watching games, but the roller coaster of emotions while being on the sidelines during the CVHS vs. James Logan match was definitely one of the greatest experiences. With the help and supervision of football head coach Denny Molzen, I joined the football varsity team for a week. From practice and study hall to team dinner and game day, I got to completely experience what it felt like to be a football player. With my only football experience in the annual girls powderpuff game, I really didn’t know what to expect. My first day as a football player was mind blowing and I got off the field completely shocked. “Ready, hit,” were the words that started my first day of practice. Being the only girl among more than 20 male football players was a little nervewracking and it sounded like a better idea in class before I got to the field. Coach Molzen and I discussed the terms and rules since days before, and he did an incredible job throughout the week to ensure I was feeling comfortable and getting as much insight as I could. For safety, I only participated in non-contact drills. Every day varied, some days I did some running drills, some others I

Hannah Johansson / Editor-in-chief

Pau Gutierrez prowls on the sidelines during the Trojans’ game. just helped catching footballs or doing weight lifting. But even without the security limits, it would have been really hard to keep up with such great athletes. The level of not only varsity but the entire football program is something you cannot reach within just a couple of days. “I love this game and it’s been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s one of the biggest reasons I am a person that I can be proud of today and, out of respect and love, I lay my heart out on that field,” said senior Cameron Brown. here are two things that really impressed me: some of the drills and the amount of concentration and mental strength this game requires. One of the drills that stuck in my mind looked pretty simple and basic at the beginning as players ran with the ball. But out of the blue, Molzen joined

in with a big black pad hitting the players trying to knock the balls loose, teaching them to hold on tight and not fumble. The sound of helmets and pads hitting against each other was really intimidating during the first days, but towards the end of the week I believe I actually learned to enjoy it. The second thing, and the one that had a bigger impact on the way I viewed this sport, was the fact that this is more of a mental game than it is physical. Besides the pain and exhaustion, the players also had the coaches constantly pushing them hard. “Football prepares you for life. When you go out to the real world you have to be committed, on time and work really hard. I you don’t, you get fired and in football you lose,” said senior Ricardo Rodriguez. My favorite part of this whole experience was the team dinner. Being part of the football team is not an individual effort; it

becomes a family commitment. Every Thursday before a game, a different player hosts dinner for the team. There’s food, team bonding, laughter and games. When I first got to the house it was a little weird for the parents, but after a while they noticed how well I had bonded with the team. We ate and played some games; I think I had never laughed as hard as I did while playing basketball with the boys. If there had been any awkwardness between any football player and me up to that day, after dinner it was definitely gone. riday came, it was game day. As part of the team, I had to wear my jersey to school. I got some looks from curious people and a lot of “Are you really on the football team?” After a while I just started saying that yes, I was indeed part of the football team, at least I was for a week. The players and I had to show

up at the field two hours before the game started. First, they got taped and I got to watch. But since I couldn’t be in the locker rooms with them I had a whole hour of being by myself in the bleachers doing homework, waiting for the team to come out. It was a tough game. James Logan scored the first touchdown, and when we were about to tie, the referees decided to override Field’s first scoring play. During halftime, Molzen emphasized the importance of being “all in” during the game. “This is a team. There can’t be only a few people giving their all and leaving their hearts on the field. If you don’t start acting like you understand what ‘all in’ means, we’re not getting anywhere, no matter if we win or lose,” said the coach. After struggling for a while we

“I love this game

and it’s been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Cameron Brown

”

got that tie, but unfortunately the Colts took back the lead and later won the game, 41-28. Still, it was a great experience. I learned that the commitment student athletes make is huge. These guys are driven by passion and talent, anyone who gets the chance to see them work notices it right away. I not only got to learn about football and work out a little bit, but I got to meet amazing guys and prove to myself and everybody else that this game means something to girls too.

Trojans slay Dragons on tennis court in close contest

By Hannah Johansson Editor-in-Chief

The CVHS girls varsity tennis team worked hard to defeat Bishop O’Dowd on Sep.14 with a final score of 5-4. “We were nervous. Bishop O’Dowd is a good team. We made sure to try our best,” said co-captain Rachel Dong. Two of the team’s top varsity players were out sick the day of the match, which contributed to the girls’ nervousness. However, singles player and sophomore Gabby Madison eased the team’s anxiety right away with a quick on-and-off match. Madison played with determined consistency. She allowed her opponent to win only six games during the entire match. Sophomore Sammie Lee kept the match moving the right

direction. She worked until the very last second. Lee lost the first set, but this did not stop her. She took back the second set with a 6-2 score. Although it was exciting, it came as no surprise when Lee also won the tie breaker, setting the CVHS team ahead by one point. New doubles partners Kele Fong and Paige Cason also played a quick match, defeating the opposing team by an incredible 6-3 score in both sets. After these wins, CVHS and Bishop O’Dowd were tied with three points each. CVHS parents, team members, and spectators nervously wondered if absence of the two top varsity players was too much for the team to handle. Co-captain, senior, and number one varsity player Rachel Dong stepped on court. “From the start of her match,

Rachel took immediate and complete control,” said coach Greg Lowe. While matches for number one varsity players can last over an hour, Dong defeated O’Dowd in under and hour. She allowed her opponent only three matches in both sets combined, with a score of 6-1 in the first set and 6-2 in the second. “I was just glad it was over,” said Dong. Dong pushed CVHS ahead to 4-3. Co-captains Lauren Fung and Tania Beringer kept Dong’s momentum and closed off the evening with their victories. Fung won with easily with a single set of 6-1. Tania Beringer did the same with her final score of 6-2. While the Trojans may have been nervous at the start of the match, they were still able to slay the Dragons.

HANNAH JOHANSSON / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lauren Leong serves during her match against Bishop O’Dowd.

Summer sojourns: students travel around the world Midnights in Mexico By Emily Salazar Opinion Editor

One of the many chocolate shops in Belgium prepares its delicacies.

Mara Moysen / Video Editor

My terrific trip touring in Europe By Mara Moysen Video Editor

Over the summer, I went to five countries in Europe over 16 days. We covered cities in Spain, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy. My grandma turns 80 this year, so her son and daughters wanted to give her an experience. They chose to send her to Europe because she had never gone. I went with my aunt, cousin, and grandma. We covered the cities of Madrid, San Sebastían, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Lourdes, Blois, Orléans, Paris, Nice, Zurich, Lucerne, Venice, Padua, Florence, Assisi, Rome, Montpellier, and Brugges. A lot of our time was spent in the bus travelling to different cities and countries. To be honest, I don’t really think that it has hit me that I actually went to Europe. The trip came as a surprise to me too. Ever since I came back, people have asked me and more often about my trip: what was my favorite experience? I had

to answer this question a lot, especially when school started, and teachers made everyone talk about what they did over summer. My response has been that my favorite experience was the metro and bus system in Paris and Madrid. It is kind of a strange answer, because it’s not an answer like the Eiffel Tower or seeing the Vatican. The public transit in both those cities are amazing. There are a lot of cars in the city so there’s always a bit of traffic, so many people rely on using public transit to get the work. When I went to the Palace of Versailles, my aunt and I took the metro, and at the end of the line, we transferred to a train to bring us outside the city. The train was very clean. A side note, the Palace of Versailles isn’t really worth it as you’re pretty much looking at paintings of people that lived there, unless you want to pay more to see a few rooms. The line to get in is also a really long line. A much better suggestion would

be the Louvre, but that’s just my opinion. I don’t think I experienced much culture shock. The tour my family took was in Spanish, and for most of the countries we went to, the second language is Spanish or English. Food was amazing. I would not suggest going to Europe if you’re currently on a diet. Most of the food is on a heavy carb diet. I guess to them it doesn’t really matter since everything is super close and you can basically get anywhere you want by walking or taking public transportation. If you’re able to travel to Europe, I suggest planning out everything you want to do, but don’t overbook yourself. Set some time aside to just explore the city and walk around, or even take public transportation. When you travel it’s always best to take advantage of your time there to take in the culture and the culture and the experience. I loved my time in Europe. I hope that I can return to travel some more in the future.

This summer, I had the pleasure of traveling to Guanajuato. Regarded as the home of the momias and a smaller, lesser-known state in Mexico, it doesn’t immediately attract the eye of world travelers. It however has one thing that no other place has; family. Being the “American” cousin/niece/granddaughter/ somehow relative, most of my communication with my family in Guanajuato has been through social media, phone, or video calling. From giving them advice in their English classes to chatting about what our crazy uncle is up to, I try to stay involved in their lives as much as I possibly can. But nothing can beat being there in person. Starting from the point I was picked up in the airport, not a single hour was wasted. That same night I flew in, family surrounded me until the early morning of the next day even though many of my cousins would have school

later. Skype did no justice to the way they’ve grown since the last time I’d seen them in person. It was soon realized the only ones shorter than me were my two ten-year old cousins who would inevitably surpass me and I was goaded on until no end. I spent time with my grandmother either talking of the past and present, picking up fruit from across the street, or just sitting with her at the front of her store. Some days I went with others to the central city, making friends with strangers while eating in the Plaza de la Paz or sipping a caffeinated concoction on a Callejon del Beso-esque styled balconies. However, my favorite memories aren’t being surrounded by grandeur architecture (as beautiful as they’ll always be). My favorite memory of that time will be dancing away from a hot dog shop at 2 a.m., with nothing but the small rural streets, clear dark night, and family surrounding me, our laughter and a lone dog’s wolf echoing around us.

Mia Babasyan / Editor-in-Chief

Mia Babasyan runs toward a calf in Nicaragua.

Newcomer to Nicaragua nurtures nature and nausea By Mia Babasyan Editor-in-Chief

Since freshman year I have wanted to travel abroad with Global Glimpse, an organization that works with our school to send students to developing countries and volunteer there. My older sister went to the Dominican Republic on her trip, and I hoped to gain a similar experience on mine. Over the summer I traveled with Global Glimpse to Esteli, Nicaragua with people whom I had never met before. I was so excited and had such high expectations for the friendships I would make and experiences I would gain. My group consisted of students mainly from Dougherty Valley High School. Others came from around the Bay Area and San Francisco. We

would live together in a hostel for the next two weeks. Every day held a new theme and was packed with lectures, activities, and field trips for us to gain a greater understanding of what being a global citizen is. From the people to the food, Nicaragua became our new home very quickly. Certain days had more impactful messages than others. I truly learned the privilege I have living in the U.S. after seeing whole families depending on the local dump for their survival. I lived with a family for a day who had only each other and a small mud house. It was in these situations where I fell apart and questioned what sort of world we live in. I thought that if only others could see what I am seeing, we would all live in a better place. I don’t think everyone was impacted

the same way I was, but we all learned something that made us see things a little differently. While on a hike in Somoto Canyon, the river that ran through was extremely high due to rainfall. My group (accompanied by two firefighters and two guides) trekked through the canyon, swimming against the current as it pushed us against rocks. Towards the end we came to a cliff approximately 25 feet high and had to jump off it in order to finish our hike. Due to the unexpected amount of water, there was no other way for us to get back. Personally, I was absolutely terrified looking down into the muddy water below me. I jumped in without plugging my nose and the first thing I said as I emerged was that I had drank the water. We had known from

before we even arrived that drinking any unpurified water would make us ill. Either way we had all gotten some into our body and it wasn’t seen as a big deal. However for me that was not the case. Two days after our adventure at the canyon I began to feel extremely sick. This led to a quick downfall and soon I was unable to take part in activities and could barely leave my bed. The leaders encouraged me to participate, drink, and eat, and I tried so hard to, but I had never felt so sick in my life. I didn’t eat for 5 days and lost all motivation by the end of the trip. Eventually I was taken to the hospital in Esteli where I was told I just had gas in my stomach and there was no infection. Once I got back home, my mom took me straight to the

emergency room, where after many blood tests and IVs, I was told I did have a severe intestinal infection. The last thing I wanted was this illness to be the main focus of my trip. But it wasn’t. It was an unfortunate ending, but it was not the definition of what happened to me in Nicaragua. I learned so much and looking back, had an experience of a lifetime. By the end of the summer I had recovered completely. Now I have hilarious stories to tell my friends about my roommates giving me piggy back rides back to our hostel. I believe that going into things with high expectations can sometimes turn out differently than what you hoped. But, the unexpected moments that come along can take you on some unforgettable adventures.

THE OLYMPIAN

Oct. 6, 2017

Wailea Siler pitches her app on Demo Day.

Wailea Siler / Feature Editor

Swimming upstream in the tech field By Wailea Siler Feature Editor

This summer I had the opportunity to do something most high school students can’t say they’ve done: I programmed a game for the Apple App Store. As much as I would love to claim that it was an effortless feat, I’m afraid I have to admit that it was one of the most draining things I’ve ever experienced. But it was worth every second of lost sleep, every blurry whirl of confusion, and every otherworldly commuting experience on BART. All of the exhaust I felt this summer paid off in the simplicity of being able to pull out my phone and proudly exclaim, “I made this.” Although I certainly learned a lot about coding in general, I definitely learned far more about myself. I was essentially working a nine-to-five job ev-

ery day, with an additional two hours of commute to Make School’s Summer Academy in San Francisco. On the first day, I was terrified. I didn’t know a single soul in that building, and to make matters even more petrifying, I was one of the only two girls in my class. I could barely see myself in the rest of the group; I wasn’t at all motivated to get out of bed every day and commit myself to spending most of my waking hours around people I felt that I couldn’t relate to. While my fingers ran rapidly across my laptop’s keyboard, I felt myself wanting to just disappear into the artificially-lit open floor plan. It wasn’t that I was in poor company; I met incredible people from all over the planet, who I know will go far in the tech industry. This was the first time, though, I was forced to recognize how difficult

it actually is being underrepresented in the tech industry. Instead of wallowing in self pity and ostracization, I poured myself into the two things I’m most passionate about: activism and coding. I designed an app to raise awareness to the rising effects of climate change to inspire the inhabitants of Earth to seek change and the protection of their environment. The patriarchal tide thrust a wave of realization and forced pragmatism in my direction. And boy, did I learn how to surf. I managed to remain productive throughout the summer despite my constantly heightening anxiety. In a way, leaning into the discomfort that I experienced on the daily only pushed me to work harder. Now, Upstream: Combat Climate Change is in the App Store and I’ve grown massively as both a programmer and person.

BART internship brings benefits By Stella Ho

News Editor Simple and convenient are two words that may come to mind when it comes to riding on Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). This summer I had the amazing opportunity of interning at the BART District Offices and learning that there’s more to it than meets the eye. I worked in the Human Resources department (HR) from nine to five on weekdays for about six weeks. My daily tasks consisted of creating graphics about health benefits, entering data into spreadsheets, filing confidential information, making folders with information about benefits, packaging boxes of health certificates for the retirees, and assisting with promotional and marketing events. Despite the long work hours, I was able to learn more about working in an office setting and with people of all ages, including my supervisor, other co workers, and another high school intern in my department. I blended in with the team by following their business casual dress code and attending

their weekly meetings. BART serves diverse people, and the workforce reflects this mindset. Everyone there was open and friendly, and I felt very at ease and comfortable working with them. In addition to regular work, interns were also provided with weekly professional development workshops, where some speakers and BART employees taught lessons about how to network and write professionally, as well as introduce us to the variety of careers offered at BART. I never knew before just how many departments there could be in a transportation agency: HR, Accounting, Police, Real Estate, Law, etc. This internship exposed me to new people, new opportunities, new ideas, and new insight. My time at BART opened my eyes and allowed me to see firsthand what goes on behind the scenes to keep the trains, and the business, running. Now whenever I ride BART, I keep in mind the knowledge of how much hard work hundreds of employees put in every day to help make transportation a little easier for the public.

Madrigals and Filharmonic singers made beautiful music together. Ria Panjwani / Online Editor

CVHS Madrigals meet, make music with the Filharmonic

By Ria Panjwani Online Editor

The CVHS Madrigals were given the incredible opportunity to perform with famous Filipino Acappella group, the Filharmonic, in a show at the CFA Saturday, Aug. 19 as well as take part in a training workshop Wednesday before the show. While many students enjoyed their time out of Castro Valley

during the summer, Madrigals, as well as many fall sports and other music programs, were out practicing and rehearsing to prepare for the school year well in advance. “It was an incredible experience and I feel so blessed to have gotten this opportunity,” said Britney Eng, a junior and first-year Madrigals student. The Filharmonic is composed of five singers that formed an acappella group right after col-

lege around six years ago. They first appeared on the “Sing Off Competition,” and from there sang in the movie, “Pitch Perfect 2.” Currently, they are touring around the country as well appearing on late night shows such as “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” Many of the Madrigals wondered how this famous group ended up at our school in the first place. “The CV Arts Foundation

originally approached us with the opportunity because the manager of the Filharmonic had found us through our Facebook page. They looked at some of our video footage online, and realized there was a choir program here that would be fun to do a choir education with,” said choir teacher Laryssa Sadoway. The concert on Aug. 19 allowed Madrigals a chance to open before the famous group took the stage. As it was the

group’s first performance together after only a week of rehearsing, Madrigals performed their two pieces “Ave Verum Corpus” written by William Byrd and “Light in the Hallway” by Pentatonix. “It was just this infusion of positivity from this really talented yet humble group of guys that are an inspiration and idols to a lot of you guys,” added Sadoway.

THE OLYMPIAN

Oct. 6, 2017

CVHS welcomes new staff members

Dana Adams-Huss Librarian

Lillie Allgaier Special Education

Julie Argyle Special Education

Jackie Cedillos Assistant Principal

Erin Cook English

Aaron Dennis English

“I love working in the library because the library is a place where you have the freedom to learn anything you want to learn.”

“Why did I get into teaching? It's fun! I have also been looking for a large school with a variety of options for their students.”

“I love CVHS! I have the most amazing students and outstanding instructional assistants.”

“I'm super excited to be serving our students in a new role. I feel grateful and a sense of honor for the opportunity to work with our students and staff.”

“I adore teaching as it allows me to make a positive impact in my students' lives! Working at CVHS allows me to give back to the community where I live.”

“I've been teaching young people how to do stuff for more than 20 years. I am excited to join the CVHS family and teach a diverse community of enthusiastic young learners.”

Jessica Hernandez Science

Christine Dixon Special Education

Peter Dragula Special Education

Canela Gearou Spanish

Robin Green Social Studies

Kory He Counselor

“I already knew two people who had worked at this school in the past.”

“I wanted to become a teacher because I enjoy helping others to learn and succeed.”

“I have known many teachers on the language team for several years and I am excited to have the opportunity to learn from such experienced, enthusiastic educators.”

“I am very excited to work here at Castro Valley High School. This school has so much vitality and energy; I am looking forward to getting to know the amazing students here.”

“School counseling is a very rewarding profession and I am happy to have the opportunity to work with great students, families, and educators in the Castro Valley community.”

Trent Logan English

Denny Molzen Physical Education

Heather O’Connor Science

Yvonna Rogers, Assistant Principal

“I love teaching students and letting students teach me. I came to CVHS because of the amazing reputation and diversity.”

“I am extremely excited and privileged to return to my alma mater as a teacher. I hope to have a positive impact on young people's lives like so many of my teachers at CVHS did for me.”

“I came to CVHS to shorten my commute and so far all the people here—teachers, staff, and students—are friendly and helpful. I'm so happy I made the change!”

"I am honored to be part of the administrative team. I look forward to serving the students, staff, and community."

Dan Van Stralen Special Education

Jorge Vilchez Spanish

Vivian Wong Science

“I'm happy to work at CVHS. The staff and students are so friendly and helpful. I'm looking forward to a successful year. Go Trojans!”

“The journey of a thousand steps begins with one. I am happy to serve the community and help guide our students into the wonderful world of education.”

“I have been enjoying my time here at CVHS. It's been a blessing to work with such amazing students and staff!”

“I got into teaching because I love to geek out on science and work with people. I am from San Diego, but the diversity, sun, and positive energy here makes it feel like home.”

Jack Hwang Engineering

Brian Hunt Social Studies "I enjoyed teaching summer school here so much I wanted to work here year round."

“I have a passion to help students learn and pass my work experience and education to them after more than 15 years working in the semiconductor industry. I look forward to getting to know the incredible community that is Castro Valley!”

Deysi Sahagen Spanish

Harmony Shrewsbury Math

“I came to CVHS to share my knowledge with great students of this beautiful community and hopefully make a difference in their lives.”

“I enjoy helping teens see themselves as powerful, knowledgeable, and capable community members.”

Louis Stanley Career Technical Education "I was really impressed by the extent of enrollment of students in CTE programs in CVHS as compared to many other schools in the other school districts nearby."