-PDBM/FXT MVHS GRADS
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In Fyodor Dostoyevski’s 1864 novel, “Notes From Underground,” the narrator rails against social scientists of his age for applying logic and the scientific method to their thinking about humanity — arguing that it is impossible to describe the human condition mathematically and that mankind is inherently illogical. Mountain View High School graduating senior Kamron Sarhadi has never read “Notes From Underground” and probably won’t when he heads to U.C. Davis in the fall. Writing assignments often seem tedious to him, he says, and while he does read for pleasure occasionally, “it’s never been a huge part of my life.” Science and math have always been his thing, he says. A degree in one of the STEM fields is bound to give him a leg up over those of his peers who study the arts or humanities, he says. “It’s a way bigger risk,” he reasons, referring to an acting or philosophy degree. “You’re obviously not guaranteed a job out of college. I admire anyone who pursues their passion, but it’s the whole idea of whether you’re investing in something that’s really going to pay off in the future.” Career-driven Sarhadi’s utilitarian, careeroriented view of his future academic career is likely mirrored by a great many of his classmates — at least if New Yorker writer Ken Auletta’s observations of the attitudes of Stanford students have any parallels in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District. Auletta’s recent article, “Get Rich U,” highlights the connection between businesses and Stanford University and asks whether the school is too focused on turning out businessmen and -women, whether the students are too focused on making their first million and if not enough time is spent studying the classics and asking existential questions. A total of eight graduating seniors from the district — four from each MVHS and LAHS — were accepted to the prestigious Peninsula university this year. Craig Marker, who addressed the MVHS graduating class along with Sarhadi at the June 1 ceremony, has been accepted to U.C. San Diego and plans to pursue a degree in computer science. “There are a lot of job opportunities in computer science, which is always a plus,” Marker says. “To major in a field that is math-oriented or science-oriented, I feel like I can do anything I want.” But, like Sarhadi, he insists that 10
his decision wasn’t solely career oriented. “I’ve always loved math and always been good in math.” Though he may have a stronger interest in STEM subjects, Marker is still planning to take some humanities courses in college. He doesn’t want to be so focused on one subject that he is blind to everything else. “I want to stay broad,” he says. “I think having an understanding of the humanities is important — not being ignorant. But I definitely think majoring in broad studies that don’t have an obvious application in the real world can put students in a poor position.” With the world in the midst of another severe economic downturn, it is hard to find flaws in Sarhadi and Marker’s logic. Why wouldn’t they pursue degrees in fields that will give them a greater chance of landing a job when they graduate? Then again, if the humanities teach us what it means to be human, what are students who disregard the liberal arts missing? Are art and culture being replaced with cold, steely logic? Is it more important to pursue money than it is to wonder about the meaning of life? Helping people Sarah Benett, an incoming premed student at Johns Hopkins University, doesn’t think so. Like Sarhadi and Marker, she says that she was “always a math and science person.” But for her, medicine isn’t merely a smart career choice. “I wanted to help people,” she explains. In addition to studying at Johns Hopkins, Benett also plans to play soccer. Originally she wanted to pursue her passion at a Division 1 school, but she ultimately decided against it for a number of reasons — not the least of which is that she will be getting a much better education at Johns Hopkins (a Division 3 school) than she would have at any of the Division 1 schools she had considered. All three teens say they have passions that aren’t related to science, technology, math or engineering. Sarhadi likes to make hip-hop music, and Marker said he has always enjoyed public speaking. But each view education as a venture capitalist might view a group of startup companies — as a series of potential investments. And, in true Silicon Valley fashion, all three want to get the most out of their investments. They say they are optimistic. If they make wise investments now, all three say they will have time to do unplug down the road and enjoy penning a clever rap or kicking the soccer ball. “Life is long,” Marker says. “You’ll find happiness in whatever you do.” V
■ Mountain View Voice ■ MountainViewOnline.com ■ June 8, 2012
Rashawn Smith and his mother Pamela share a proud moment after Mountain View high’s graduation ceremony.
Mountain View High School Graduates Heidi Diane Aguilar Maria Fernanda Aguilar Tara M. Ahi Jessica Lineth Alarcon Brenda Altun Hernandez Claire Charlotte Amsden Theresia Andrean Emily Madeleine Andrew Sarah Elisabeth Antonsson Heidi S. Aronson Gustavo Arredondo Dylan Eli Auerbach Kira Elena Bacsi Alexander Baek Ryan E.K. Baer Zachary Philip Baier David Harold Baird Isabella Bandeira de Mello Cheyenne Kuulei Barela Benjamin Jacob Barton Joe Aric Beamon Jr. Jazmine Beltran Sarah Elizabeth Benett Collin Mark Bengle Makena Catherine Berchem Eric Charles Berg Jun Bernardo Foster William Bettman Elly Whitney Biggs Nathaniel Ethan Bischoff Ian C. Bogle Timothy William Bommarito Nicholas Werner Bondy Jacob Steele Bosset Wesley Augustus Brandemuehl Troy William Briggs Samuel Johnson Brigham Allan John Brooks Peter Nicholas Bulash Richard K. Burch Thomas S. Burch Michael Patrick Butler John Samuel Byrom Samuel Evan Caber Candace Briana Call Nelsi Marcela Candanoza Martin Benjamin Capati Erik Nathan Caragan Kelsey Culpepper Carlson Sam Isaac Carmel Iva Celan Ana Maria Cerna Steven Watson Chakerian Jerry Chang Justin Hum Chang Tina Chang
Marisa Anne Chao Catherine Chen Michael S. Chen Thomas Guan Chen Steven Yuchen Chou Alice Wing See Chow Deanna May Chung Weronika Teodozja Ciok Dylan Scott Collins Robert Jin Comstock Klisha Tupoukolotolu Cook Misty Dominque Cunanan Paul Michael Javier Custodio Bryan David Daetz Colin Shea Daley Zachary Parker Daniloff Kayla Christine Davila-Elrite Audrey Wen De Guzman Yoseline Gabriela De La Riva Camacho Daniel De La Torre Brian Jeffrey DeAngelis Senem Marie Degerli Arian Bahram Dehnow Cornelius Francis Dempsey IV Andrea Desgrousilliers Mariateresa Di Nunzio Emily Dietz Raymon Trey Dinco Oscar Loera Dominguez Valeria Dominguez Qingya Seika Dong Lena Donner Sarah Frances Drew Marie Garance Dubuisson Shannon Nicole Duong Tori Ngoc Duong Ehrenstrom Xia Elder Spencer Reed Elman Christina Anne Eliopoulos Elizabeth Tenaya Ende Austin James Evans Austin James Farmer Nicole Taka Seifollahi Farr Alexandra Ester Farrales Erica H Fischer-Colbrie Rachel Elizabeth Fish Clark S. Fisher Kyle Sterling Fitz Jasmine Roxanna Flake Kateryna Fomenko Brandon William Forrest Caleb Thomas Fowler Michael Cary Francisco Vanille Celine Fricker Derrick Douglas Frieson
Yuping Fu Justin James Gabbard Alex F. Galioto Paloma Jazmin Galvan Jingze Gao Anna Alexandrovna Garachtchenko Benjamin Elliott Garber Yvette Mercedes Garcia Esquivel Joseph Fu Seng Garvin Gerardo Gatica Isaiah D. Gayles Aaron James Gee Brian Patrick Gerard Jessica Lina Ghanma Daniel John Girerd Beatrice Goh Anna Lee Goldberg Melissa Consuelo Gomez Raquel Lisette Gomez Valerie Aurora Gordon Gutierrez Monica Lee Goulette Franklin Paul Grabowski Avery Grimes Farrow William Frederick Groethe David Christopher Grubb Matthew A. Gruspe Cristina Idalia Guardado Jorge Angel Gutierrez Viria Elena Guzman Dor Gvirtsman Samuel Travis Hacker Eunice Haeja Hahn Tyler Bryce Halsted Kenneth Robert Hampel Brittany Anne Harper Alyssa Ann Hartje Megan Abigail Hartney Thomas James Hartshorn Brandon E. Hayes Rachel Hayward Rafael Hermosilla Casado Sophia Orzano Heye Adelaide Amy Hill Sean Jeremy Hinson Amanda Elise Hirsch Sophie Ngoc-Hanh Ho Laura Christine Hofen Brittany Anne Howard Bonnie Evelyn Huff Dominic John Hugyik Reyna Marie Hulett Rida Hareem Ilyas Kathryn Kisako Inamori
MICHELLE LE
Ashwin Mohan Jaini Alexander Nils Johansson Ryan Francis Johnson Sagar Joshi Devin Tyler Joy Rachel Christine Jue Matthew Hoon Kang Natalie Masaye Kato Kenneth Brian Kauffman Wesley Kennedy Sara Kianian Joseph J Kim Hannah Eileen Kirn Joshua Michael Kirsch Shaw Warwick Kitajima Nicole Ilana Kliger Andrew Garrett Knochenhauer Shane Keli Knowles Amanda Jane Koci Benjamin Sean Kohn Karina Jean Kono Oleg Sullivan Koujikov Thomas Masami Koyama Michal Pawel Krupa Stephanie Helene Kuborssy Elena Marie Kuhn Arjun Karthi Kulandaivelu Evelyn Paige Kwong Jeffrey Kye Austin Melward Labson Lisa Jean Lacampagne Maya Rose Ladenheim Clayton Glen Lambertson Patrick Dominique Lane Amanda C. Langill Naomi Michelle Lattanzi Kevin Alexander Lattin Daniel Shoji Lau Nelson Launer Sherman Shu Yan Law Brian Lee Eric Chia Shan Lee Kendell Christopher Lee Stefan Mikhail Lemak Heather Nicole Lenk Kristofer Loren Lenk Michael Lerner Malik Kuso Joeli Letatau Yuhao Liang Stella Claire Ligon Aaron Fang Hao Lim Soojin Rachael Lim Vinicius G. Lima Luc Amram Lisi Andrew Jehan Liu Benjamin Denis King Lovett
See MV GRADS, page 13