April Carlmont Highlander

The

Highlander Everything you wanted to know about prom Pgs.10 & 11

April 2013, Vol IV, Issue VII

www.scotscoop.com

Mean words hurt

Carlmont confession craze

Good words have gone bad.

Pgs. 4 & 5

College

By Arianna Bayangos Staff Writer

Check out some unique options for college.

Pgs. 12 & 13

Glasses

The good, the bad and the hipsters. Pgs. 14 & 15

Carlmont Dance

Learn about the life of a dancer. Pg.8

“I confess that this page is the only reason I’m still awake,” posts a student at one in the morning.

Many students have become obsessed with sharing and looking at other people’s feelings and secrets through the internet.

High schools and colleges around the nation have created confession pages for their students to anonymously share their opinions and secrets. The page is administered by an unidentified student who transfers the posts from survey websites to Facebook in order to filter through inappropriate posts.

Carlmont has also caught on to the craze with over 800 likes and 400 confessions on its page.

The administrator of the page said, “I started this page because one of my friends from another school was talking about her school’s page and how everyone was getting into it. What’s better than some more school spirit through social media where everyone can feel included and comfortable?”

The confessions page has been a source of entertainment, ranging from different confessions about other students’ crushes, complaints and compliments to teachers, to humiliating and funny moments.

Mackenzie Phillips, a junior said, “There are certain unspoken things that everyone does or likes to think that other people do so it’s an outlet for them. People just find it entertaining to hear about weird things that other people are confessing.”

Even though some people see the page as a harmless and fun, the anonymity may be a source of trouble at school.

Sophomore Ravina Gujral believes that it would be a problem if the page wasn’t censored well enough.

Gujral commented, “There would be more hate posted and the confessions wouldn’t be positive.

Instead, they’d be something insulting towards other people.”

In fact, in some universities and high schools, their pages are not as censored as Carlmont’s with students posting about their illegal actions, sexual conquests, and sometimes threats.

Recently, Aragon High School’s Confessions page was shut down due to a student who posted a threat for a shooting on March 21.

In “You do not have a name,” an article by an Aragon student, Sangwon Yun, he writes, “On Thursday, March 21, a noticeably heightened security presence was observed on campus, with about half the student population marked absent.”

Continued on pg.16

The evolution of prom today

From sundresses to glitter, glitz, and glamour

By Rachel Schuster Senior Editor

Prom today is an iconic, fundamental part of the high school experience. Students arrive in limos, dance the night away in gorgeous ballrooms, elect a king and queen, and most importantly, wear dresses worthy of movie stars.

However, prom has not always been the elaborate, inclusive event that it is today.

According to science writer Matt Soniak, the first proms were held at colleges and were simple, home-grown events meant to teach good manners.

By the early 1900s, the prom had spread to high schools. The senior class, dressed in their “Sunday best,” convened in the gym for tea and light refreshments, socializing under

paper streamers, under clear supervision of chaperones. By the 1930s, proms began to feature a banquet dinner with music provided by a local band or a record player.

“I think the dancing styles and music were totally different at the first proms,” said Marcus Fukuhara. “Especially if you watch movies from around that time, everything was different. The whole thing was so much more simple.”

Prom for many young adults was a time of “firsts.” Generally it was the first adult social event for teenagers, the first time taking the family car out after dark, the first real dressup affair, etc.

Proms also served as picture-taking events, similar to a first communion or wedding, in which the participants were taking an impor-

tant step into a new stage in their lives.

Occasionally, prom may have even served as an announcement of engagement for the “best couple” after the prom court had been crowned and recognized.

Proms eventually became increasingly extravagant and lavish as changes in the social schemes began to take effect.

Locations moved from gyms to ballrooms, competition between students blossomed, and teens strove to have the best dress, the best mode of transportation, and the best looking date.

The importance of the prom court also intensified, since the title of “prom queen” became a distinction of popularity.

“I think prom really has been blown up Continued on pg.16

News and Opinions

Page 2

How to have fun at prom

By Sarah Levin Columnist

Apocalypse survival

By Annie Wesolek Columnist

Brace yourselves. Prom is coming. And with it comes the inevitable stress that your night won’t live up to your expectations.

Luckily, as someone who has barely gone to any high school dances, I consider myself more than qualified to offer advice on how to make your prom night wonderful. Or, at the very least, memorable.

First: make sure you get a date. After all, it’s scientifically proven that going to a dance without one means you will have the worst time imaginable. Going with friends? Please!

Everyone knows friends are for losers.

If you’re a guy, you probably should have asked a girl within the first few days of the school year. One can never start too early. However, since it’s illegal for girls to ask boys to dances we are left out in the cold. This is why it’s important to subtly hint to your love interest that you’d like to go with him. I recommend faking allergies, and inserting the word “prom” into every cough and sneeze. A large neon sign spelling the words “ASK ME ALREADY” can’t hurt, either.

Remember: asking someone to prom automatically means you want a serious relationship with them, so plan accordingly.

Next, outfit choice is very important. Not for boys, of course. Just throw on a tux and you’re ready to go. But girls have an entirely different situation.

First, you leave school early and hightail it to your local beauty salon. It will of course already be filled with dozens of other desperate girls, but give yourself the false hope that you’ll get there on time. Spend no less than two hours getting hair and makeup done, allotting for a few minutes of hysterical crying and insisting you look like a moose in drag.

Hurry home and stuff yourself into that dress. Spend another few minutes asking everyone in your surrounding area if you look fat, or ugly, or both. They’ll say no. Don’t believe them.

Meet up with your date and take a few awkward pictures during which neither of you knows what to do with your arms, then drive to the dance.

This is followed by the most important picture of your life: the prom picture. You will end up leaning on one leg, shoulders squished forward, head tilted ninety degrees to the left. You will feel very stupid, and look amazing. Or vice versa, as there is no middle ground with this.

Eventually you’ll start dancing. Remember: anyone can dance, as long as they only shuffle very slightly back and forth in one tiny area. Or jump. Jumping is always good, provided some girl’s heels don’t skewer through your feet.

There will inevitably be a few people at prom who truly know how to dance, and they will show off all night. If you value your reputation, DO NOT JOIN IN. Just stand nearby and try to absorb some secondhand coolness.

There will be a place for snacks. Guys can go after this, but ladies, don’t bother. You’ve already been sewn into that dress, and your perfect hourglass shape is not worth one mini hot dog wrapped in pastry.

The night will inevitably draw to a close, and after spending a few hours doing Godknows-what you’ll be back at home. Your ears will ring, your feet will hurt, and you’ll be content in the knowledge that tonight, you were a god among men.

That is, until you remember you have to wake up at six thirty to work at Starbucks; you spent five hundred dollars on a dress or suit you’ll never wear again, and you may or may not have lost your phone.

But, hey. That’s prom.

Almost all scary movies have that crucial scene right before something bad is about to happen, when the suspense is building and everyone in the theater can guess what will happen next. As an audience member you wonder if the characters of the movie can sense the oncoming trouble as well; and if they can, why wouldn’t run as fast as they could away from the danger?

An obviously oblivious girl staying a bit too long in a haunted house or an egotistical spelunker deciding to explore an uncharted cave alone make the audience shake their heads in disapproval of the character’s clear stupidity in the face of danger. The audience objects to the character’s antecedent action, or more commonly lack of action taken before the disaster.

It’s easy to see how these character’s passive or often stupid behavior lands them in trouble. Just as it’s easy to think: if I was placed in a similar situation, I’d be able to avoid destruction by reading the context clues better and bolting from the premises at the first signs of trouble.

We’d all like to imagine, that in the real world, trouble is avoided through creatively maneuvering out of dangerous situations using intellect and action. However, real life is not so clean cut, and situations can arise where taking survival action isn’t plausible.

Similar to these characters who find themselves on a path towards disaster, we as American citizens find ourselves in a precarious situation with North Korea’s announcement about launching nuclear missiles at the United States. Though the probability of this threat being carried out is under question, it’s existence at all is unsettling.

What is even more alarming is the lack of alarm shown by American citizens at the present danger of a nuclear explosion on American soil. Much like in the movies, despite the palpable the growing tensions life continues on, unchanged by the recent declaration. It seems as if our nation was falling into one of the classic hollywood pitfalls of passive behavior and it is distressing that no one is preparing themselves for the possibility of an attack.

But how would one prepare or take preventative measures against such a possibility? As it turns out, there is no way to prepare except to panic.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States came incredibly close to a nuclear confrontation with Soviet Russia. Because of government propaganda, the red scare, and Cold War tensions, the public was in an absolute panic over the probability of destruction.

Yet still during that time, amid the chaos the panic caused, life also continued on undisturbed. The citizens understood that the action that needed to be taken was above their pay grade and instead of cowering in the basement panicking, they chose the action of continueing on.

Similar to the situation back in 1962, the power to affect this threat lies outside the publics’ control. The human survival instinct may be unsatisfied with passive behavior, but at times passive behavior is the only viable option available. Although it may seem like we as citizens are comparable to a schoolgirl who is walking through a cemetery at night, our lack of preventative action shouldn’t be disapproved of.

Though the threat of a nuclear attack is becoming more plausible, the power of prevention lies beyond the grasp of the average citizen and as Americans though it may seem like foolish option, passiveness, is the only available response.

It’s not fair that AP students have to take finals

Administration is placing greater emphasis on the rule that AP students have to take a final exam

By Kellan McDonough Multimedia

This year, Carlmont administrators are placing emphasis on the fact that students taking AP classes still have to take a final exam after completing the AP test.

In previous years, students were basically done with their AP class once they took the AP exam. The rest of the year and especially finals week was easier, knowing they had finished all the preparation and testing to get college credit.

It was never a rule that AP students are not expected to have a final exam. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

By school board policy, every course should have a final examination.

Instructional Vice Principal Robert Fishtrom said, “The precedent in Carlmont culture was that it was okay not to have a final exam in AP classes. It has always been a rule that every course, by board policy, should have a final

examination.”

Some would argue that AP students were let off too easy with no final exam. They got to skate through the last month of school with no real motivation.

Current senior Christina Rice commented, “AP students should get some sort of break. They work so hard all year.”

Although having no final exam seems to let the AP students off too easy, it is absolutely fair because the students have spent the previous seven months cramming and preparing for a grueling test.

The purpose of taking an AP class is to pass the AP test, so once the test is over, it should not be mandatory to take a final exam.

And it’s not necessarily true that students slack off after they have taken the AP test. In many AP classes, teachers assign projects and long term assignments that still have an impact

on the students’ grade and motivate them enough to continue working diligently.

Fishtrom commented, “I do not think AP teachers slack off at all. I just think it was the culture of Carlmont not to give a final. I think they provide a very rigorous curriculum.

Students who have prepared all year to pass the AP test should be allowed to have some sort of relief after the AP test is finished.

The purpose of a final exam is to test students on the curriculum they have learned all year. The same definition applies to AP exams. A student can pass the AP exam by studying the curriculum they learned all year.

Therefore, is a final exam really necessary?

No, in essence, the AP exam and a final exam are the same thing; they both test students on accumulative knowledge from the whole year.

News and Opinions

Page 3

Why privacy does not matter anymore As social media continues to become more ingrained in society, privacy ceases to be a concern

By John Russell Staff Writer It used to be that the most important concern of internet users was maintaining privacy.

This notion was held by the generation who had grown up before there was an Internet, before our hyper-connected era.

One would have thought it unwise to freely give out information on one’s place of work, date of birth and relationship status. That breach of privacy was tantamount to giving away a social security number or a credit card number. Now that the main users of social media and other internet services are young people who have grown up with social media, the culture of sharing has been established and people are no longer as concerned with maintaining privacy on the internet.

Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Tumblr; all are geared towards sharing more content about ourselves. We post pictures, statuses and

messages about intimate details of our lives in order to convey to the outside world what we are up to.

The early 2000s saw young men and women anxious about inputting this type of personal information into the internet.

Cautionary tales of identity theft created a climate of fear and anxiety over the new form of crime that came with this expansion of the human experience.

A decade of internet usage later, users now share data without a second thought.

As this trend continues, the importance of privacy in the internet age ceases to hold much weight.

It is part of our culture now to be plugged into various social media outlets and to actively update content on all fronts.

Despite the decrease in privacy, there has been a noticeable trend towards brevity in social media. Instagram, Twitter, and Vine all emphasize the importance of being succinct when sharing. Instagram uses image to

convey user’s activity, with little words, while Twitter limits it’s users to 140 characters per tweet. Vine, the proverbial new kid on the block consists of user-made 6 second video loops.

Services like MySpace, and even Facebook start to look aged in the face of this ever increasing speed of communication. The amount of content on Facebook is undeniably large, but this generation is less concerned with detail and quantity, rather they are concerned with how current the content is and, with ever-shortening attention spans, how long the content can keep them interested.

Twitter, Instagram and Vine are indicative of this deeper societal shift in this generation.

As with traditional media, the length of time for which kids can focus on a single task is shortening. As such, more and more services are competing for the attention of the youth by making content more engaging and less time consuming. Analogous to the shift from long form television to shorter Web-focused

Photo by: Jason Howie/Flickr

content, the shift from the quantity of content on networks like Facebook to Twitter and Vine will only increase in speed.

Ultimately, social media will develop and new ways of communication will wax and wane from the forefront of internet culture, but the undeniable erosion of privacy online will continue.

The important thing is that as the culture of sharing continues to become more widespread, people will give less thought to putting personal info online, and anxieties about identity theft and other forms of cybercrime will cease to plague Internet users.

Gleaton takes over the reins as Carlmont’s new principal

By Claudia Leist Staff Writer

It is out with the old and in with the new as Carlmont formally introduces its new principal, Lisa Gleaton.

Gleaton, who transferred from Sequoia High School where she was the Instructional Vice Principal, will replace Dr. Zamora as he moves on to become the Director of Classified Personnel in the Fremont Unified School District.

Gleaton began teaching at Carlmont in 1994 and has now returned to continue her legacy in an even more reputable role.

“I am not interested in coming here and changing things; I don’t have this manifesto of ‘this is how I see high school education,’” said Gleaton. “Carlmont is awesome. It’s so different from when I was here 12 years ago. I think I would be an idiot to come in and try to change things.”

Gleaton went to Sequoia to get better acquainted with their International Baccalaureate program, which she thought was interesting and new. The program aims to help students create a better world through internationally and culturally based education.

“I was happy where I was, but I was really looking for a principal position in the district,” she said. “I’ve always watched Carlmont grow and prosper. When I was here, we never had more than 1,500 kids.”

With over 20 years of experience as a teacher in the Bay Area, Gleaton looks toward the future with a smile on her face, confident of what lies ahead.

“Lisa will bring a wealth of experience, vision, and leadership to her new role as principal and help guide Carlmont

High School forward as it continues to promote and further develop a climate of academic excellence,” stated superintendent Jim Lianides in a press release.

Gleaton knew that if she waited long enough for the position as principal, some of the younger principals and people aiming to become higher rank would eventually go and look for even more superior positions such as superintendent.

With an extensive amount of competition in the interview process, Gleaton tried her best to make her specialties stand out.

“I know who I think I am and what I bring, but you never know who else is applying for the job. I had to convince them that whatever I bring is as good, if not better, than somebody who is already a principal,” she said.

Having had options to be accepted as principal at M-A and Woodside High Schools, Gleaton was ecstatic when she was accepted into the Carlmont community once again.

“I guess I did okay!” she said with a laugh. “I’m thrilled.”

“I hope she can help provide a better lunch program. I also hope she can set a standard for teachers so difficulty level is the same in all classes of the same subject. Some classes are so much harder than others because of the teacher,” said sophomore Nathan Klebanov.

Gleaton has her priorities in mind, focusing mainly on academics and the future the students hold as intellectuals.

“I do like sports and all of the different activities, but if I had to pick one thing, I am definitely an instructional administrator,” said Gleaton.

One of Gleaton’s main goals is not being a leader by sitting at her desk and giving orders, but rather by interacting with students and being well aware of the classroom environments

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at all times.

“I’m going to be in the classrooms a lot just poking my head in. I want to get a feel for what the awesome instruction is that we have here at Carlmont,” she said. “A couple of days a week I need my schedule open to be in classrooms.”

With a smile on her face the entire interview, Gleaton made clear that her main goal is for Photo by: Andrew Wedvick students, parents, and teachers to be happy and have fun.

“Sometimes I think administrators are too serious. I know that it is very important to take this job seriously, but it also has to be fun.”

“I am a happy person, I just am,” she said with a laugh.

As the 2012-2013 school year comes to an end, Gleaton aims mainly to settle in and end the year on a strong and positive note.

“Now I have to come up with something funny and witty to say at graduation, and I guarantee you it will be good,” she said.

Sometimes change is for the better, and with such a fresh mind joining Carlmont’s administration, the hopes are high for amazing years to come.

The mission of The Highlander is to accurately and honestly cover communal as well as school events. As a student run open forum newspaper, we strive to incorporate multiple views and represent the diverse community at Carlmont.

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Mean Words

Page 4

Faggot: a bundle of sticks or slur?

How the definition of the word faggot has evolved over the years

By Shira Stein Staff Writer Imagine the most insulting thing you’ve ever been called.

Whether it was stupid, ugly, fat, retarded, or anything else.

Imagine being called that every day because of who you are.

Not something you can change. Imagine being called that word, and that’s not who you are, just what others perceive you to be.

Faggot is what millions of people call others every day.

Faggot is a word that can cause pain and embarrassment, but is used and brushed off by people. Today it is used as a synonym for expressing hate, when in reality, it is saying that being gay is a synonym for expressing hate. It is saying that being gay, or acting “gay” is bad, or wrong.

Junior Kalila Kirk stated, “I think the word faggot is horrible and disgusting. Any time you use that word it is full of hate and you are showing that you are disrespectful to other people. To use a hate word against someone who is gay implies that you do not respect them for who they are. When you learn to speak without hate, it creates tolerance in your mind and in other’s minds.”

Saying this word is the same as calling an African-American person a nigger, or a Christian a bible-thumper. It’s the same as calling someone who has a genetic disorder retarded, or a woman a bitch. It’s hurtful, and is unnecessary.

Faggot is one of the most derogatory terms in our society, so why do people still use it? Today, when marriage equality is in the Supreme Court and on the news every day, how can people still be insensitive?

Same Love by Macklemore has lyrics that say, “Call

each other faggots behind the keys of a message board/A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it/Gay is synonymous with the lesser.”

Counselor Theresa Torres said, “In my mind there are two different types of students who use that word. Some are immature, used to hearing it, and don’t know what it means.

Then I think there are other students who have issues around this subject, like hate language they have heard at home, or they are insecure about their own selves.”

“Often, people who use that word are not using it within the context that people are gay, they’re using it as an insult or a replacement for stupid. In common culture, it is more of a put down than a factual statement. It’s not a definition so much as a degrading statement,” stated sophomore Nathan Klebanov.

While 79 percent of students who responded to an online Highlander poll stated they thought the word faggot is offensive, the other 21 percent do not. This shows that many students don’t realize the true meaning or connotation.

High school boys use the word to describe other boys as less than masculine, which they think will make them seem more like a real “man.”

“Before when that word was said, it was such a hateful word and there was nobody who stood up when it was said.

It was one of those terrible negative things that nobody ever talked about. I think things have gotten so much better, and yet I know it’s still said a lot in the halls. Now, even kids who are targeted have a whole group of people behind them,” commented Torres.

The origin of the work has changed over centuries from bundle of sticks, to a lowerclassman in Britain, to an ill-

tempered or shrewd woman. The first time it was used to refer to someone who was homosexual was in 1914 where it meant sissies.

Faggot was used to mean less than or woman-like, which was not okay in those times. It also could have come from the Yiddish word fagele, which literally means little bird. This reinforced the idea that being a faggot was wrong and too feminine.

English teacher Susan Gold said, “Language reflects and shapes cultural perceptions. To many people, it seems okay to use this word, but it reflects a problem because it is a hateful word. Students need to realize that their words have power.”

California has a law called AB 537, or the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000, which protects all students from discrimination based on sex, ethnic group identification, race, national origin, religion, and mental or physical disability.

“I have teachers calling me all the time asking me to talk to students who have used this language. I keep a record of every student who has used these words and make them attend a counseling session with me. If they have a repeat offense then they can get suspended. I’m not naive and I know the problem still exists, but I feel like we have some teeth in it,” stated Torres.

Each person’s background or personal bias also affects how they see the word, but using it associates negative feelings with those who are part of the LGBT community. The power of each person’s words makes an effect on themselves and those around them.

Cartoon by Veronika Dvorakova

A once forbidden language has become a part of our society

By Reggie Chatman Staff Writer Swearing, which at one point was a forbidden thing, has become a common part of peoples lives. Why has it become such a common occurrence for people to swear?

In a poll of 133 Carlmont students, 111 people responded yes to a question asking if they partake in swearing.

“People are starting to care less in front of others. They say whatever is on their mind... because they don’t feel it affects anyone,” said sophomore Cesar Arredondo.

This creates two categories of people consisting of people who swear and people

who avoid words they feel are wrong, inappropriate or profane.

The reasons for swearing or abstaining from it vary from person to person.

“I don’t really know why. I just do it. It happens,”said junior Nick Newberry. “If you’re around your friends nobody cares.

It might be because it’s a simpler way of speaking.”

“I find it unnecessary. I think if it’s done too much, it comes off as offensive,” said junior Athena Duran. “I don’t feel right doing it. I feel like I’m doing something bad. It doesn’t make me feel comfortable.”

Kids are starting to become exposed to swear words earlier in life than ever before.

With the amount of profanity shown on television, radio, and closer to home sources like close family and even parents, swearing has become integrated into the minds of kids by the time they can speak.

In the same poll, 23 percent of students said that their parents don’t know that they swear.

“When I go home, there’s a switch and I don’t do it. At school I do it without trying.

When I go home, it’s the opposite. I don’t think ‘oh I should not swear,’ I just don’t,” said Newberry. “When you are around teachers, or an interview or your family, you can’t be as dumb.”

“Parents can’t control that much stuff

anymore. [People] can say whatever they want on the internet and parents can’t control it,” said sophomore Cesar Arredondo.

People also associate swearing with being in pain or when scared.

In an episode of the tv show Mythbuster’s released on Apr. 28, 2010 called MythBusters: No Pain, No Gain proved that yelling swear words instead of yelling other words decreases pain by an average of 30 percent.

“People don’t know how to take out their anger on other things,” said sophomore Brandon Cuschieri.

Whether one swears or not depends on who one is and what one’s background is.

Mean Words

Page 5

Field trip by Anna Wheeler

The Power of Words

Do you think the word “retarded” is offensive?

Do you think the word “dumb” is offensive?

Do you think the word “faggot” is offensive?

Do you think the word “gay” is offensive?

Retarded: hurtful or harmless? Dumb: lacking the power of speech

By Karenna Meredith Staff Writer “I did the stupidest thing today, I’m such a retard.”

Similar phrases can be heard echoed throughout the halls of Carlmont. Nowadays calling something retarded is synonymous with being unintelligent or stupid. But what does the word “retard” really mean, and how did it adopt such a negative connotation?

According to Merriam-Webster, the word retard means “a holding back or slowing down.” Mental retardation is a physical disability where an individual processes certain mental elements more slowly and can include “decreased learning abilities or failure to meet the markers of intellectual development” as defined by the US National Library of Medicine.

Mental disabilities are out of a person’s control. Having mental retardation or a disability of any kind does not make a person stupid, and yet the words have somehow become interchangeable.

Karan Perras is the mother of Lindsay Perras, a young woman with Down Syndrome. “I am more sad than angry when those who use the ‘R’ word are supposedly my friends, and often, Lindsay’s friends as well. I think most people know it is offensive. Our family thinks the ‘R’ word is a close kin of the ‘N’ word. The growing realization of the ‘N’ word’s offensiveness was a slow process... depending on geographic location, education, race, etc. I think the same can be said of the ‘R’ word’s growing unpopularity,” said Perras.

Perhaps the reason that the word retard is used so casually is that the impact of the word is not immediately seen.

“I feel very sad because I work with so many kids and I see the other side. The kid who says that word, they say it and they

walk away and they go home and they never see that kid crying at night. It’s so difficult for kids at this age and they don’t realize how much the word really hurts, but I see the other side, I see the victim,” explained guidance counselor Theresa Torres.

“It’s not just the kid or the victim, it’s the people around who hear it and act like it doesn’t bother them, but those kids maybe have a brother or sister or cousin. The bully might be aiming it at one kid and doesn’t even realize there’s people around or even teachers who have suffered from it. They don’t even know how much negativity and bad feelings that spreads,” continued Torres.

Sixty-three percent of Carlmont students who answered the Highlander poll consider the word “retarded” to be offensive when used in a derogatory context.

“People say ‘retard’ like it means someone is stupid or inferior. It really means to slow down or slow improvement, but no one ever uses it properly,” said sophomore Kenzie Phillips. “I think that it is offensive if you use it as an insult. The word itself should not be offensive. It has developed that meaning through misuse in everyday conversation.”

“I can see where it can be offensive, I think that there is a time and place for everything, and people should choose their words wisely and should consider how their words can affect other people, it’s certainly not the best word choice and it can be offensive depending on the situation and surrounding,” said senior Ashley Moore.

However, changing everyone’s vocabulary may be nearly impossible, and eliminating a word completely can seem unrealistic.

The campaign “R-word: Spread the word to end the word” asks people to pledge to try their best to eliminate this word from their vocabulary, and spread the idea that using the phrase is demeaning and derogatory.

“The kid who says that word, they say it and they walk away and they go home and they never see that kid crying at night.”

- Theresa Torres

Although many people are unaware, “dumb” is a more offensive word than it may seem to be

By Virginia O’Callahan Staff Writer “Dumb” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary means “lacking the human power of speech.”

This word is used so commonly in the English language it has lost that meaning and has turned into a colloquial term that is spoken freely in the regular conversation.

In ordinary spoken English, a sentence such as “he is dumb” will be interpreted to mean “he is stupid” rather than “he lacks the power of speech.” “Lacking the power of speech” is, however, the original sense of the word, but it has been eclipsed by the meaning “stupid.”

“I can see why it could be offensive,” said sophomore Olivia Gomez. “But it’s used too often that it isn’t something people can change.”

Over time, words have changed their meaning; some examples of this include “gay” or any other now offensive word that does not pertain to the person’s real being.

Words change over time frequently, that is the basis of any language. But some previously normal words can be turned offensive if it is used in a negative way for long enough period of time.

Some modern offensive words were not considered so rude centuries ago. This is due to society’s ever-changing ideas about what’s taboo.

A derogatory term only turns offensive only when it is intended to be offensive. A word becomes offensive when enough people empathize with the ones being offended that it offends them at the same time.

“I don’t really think of [dumb] as an offensive word, but I guess people take different words and names differently,” said freshman Sierra Segal. “Dumb could be

offensive to a person, though, if it’s said in a negative way.”

Invasions and immigration mixed English and other languages, and this helped word meanings change. Our modern interpretation of the word could be due to the Germans.

German language has a similar word “dumm” that means “stupid,” and over time, as a result of the waves of German immigrants to the United States, it has come to influence the meaning of English “dumb.”

Languages influence other languages all the time, for good and for bad. In this case, an already fairly mean word can be turned into something slightly more derogatory.

“Dumb is used so frequently it isn’t that bad of a word, I think,” said senior Mary Farmar.

The perception of the word dumb varies among people as well. While some people think it offensive, there are others who do not find the word offensive, or at least as offensive as some other words that could mean the same but have grown to become worse than the word “dumb.”

“I guess it really just depends on the person who says it and the person who is in the receiving end whether or not the word is taken badly,” said Segal.

There are worse ways of calling someone stupid than the word “dumb,” but the word and its origin are unique and depending on how a person says the word or how it is taken, it can very easily be taken badly.

While it is not considered a completely taboo word or needs to be censored, “dumb” with the connotation meaning “stupid” is still mean. It does not matter if it could be considered a toned down or nicer variation of other similar words, “dumb” is still offensive to some people.

Page 6

Studying abroad

Adventure is out there Home is where the heart is

By Andrew Wedvick Staff Writer

Many students have mixed feelings about studying outside of the country, however studying abroad can change a person’s life for the better.

Some students, like Brandon Moyle, a Junior at Carlmont High School, think that studying abroad would be “pretty awesome, depending on the country.”

Others, like Claudia Pazmandi, also a junior at Carlmont, think being in another country would be “disorientating at first because of culture shock, but it would be amazing to learn about a whole new culture and step outside of my comfort zone.”

While the thought of being a long distance from home may seem intimidating to some, this kind of independence can have a tremendous, positive impact on a student’s life.

The biggest benefit of studying in a different country is the insight gained into a new culture. When a student is thrust into a new country, they must learn to adapt to not only the language, but also the nuances of a new culture.

This kind of cultural immersion can give students a new perspective on global issues, such as poverty and social inequality. It also provides an opportunity to receive a better education than one might receive at home, because many study abroad programs are hosted in countries with education systems that are far more advanced than those of the United States.

Most popular study abroad programs are in countries that speak a different primary language than English, so this presents an ideal opportunity for students to pick up a new language. There is no better way to learn a new language than being in a place where you are forced to use the language to communicate with people whose primary language is not english.

Studying abroad can benefit students in the long run, as well. Employers who see that a

By Alan Yan Staff Writer

person has studied in a foreign country, and is fluent in a different language, are more likely to view that person as an asset to their company, than a person who has no worldly expertise.

Aside from gaining a valuable new perspective on things, students also get to spend time in places such as Barcelona, Paris, and London, where they get to enjoy the art and culture of some of the world’s finest cities.

Looking at pictures of the Great Pyramids is interesting, but does not hold a candle to standing at the foot of them, and actually understanding all the work that went into making them. These are the kinds of experiences that cannot be fulfilled vicariously, and must be had in person to truly have an effect on a person.

Many students who choose to study abroad will select a host country that they have some ancestral ties to. This gives the students an opportunity not only to continue their education, but also to learn about themselves and discover their own heritage.

The connections that a student makes in a foreign country are just as crucial to the cultural experience as the education itself.

Befriending locals can open many doors for exchange students, and make adjusting to a new culture less of a shock.

In addition to recreational connections, exchange students also have the opportunity to create professional connections and networks that can lead to internships and even jobs.

Living as a student in a foreign country may sound like a daunting task, however adjusting to life in a different culture is not as hard as it seems. In fact, the challenge that it presents to students offers far more benefits than disadvantages, and is one that should be taken on by all students who wish to improve themselves as students and citizens of the world.

Image courtesy of Google images

In a land far, far away

By Grace Chang Staff Writer

Traveling abroad gives students the opportunity to experience an entirely new culture and language.

AFS is a program that allows high school students the chance to study abroad.

AFS offers year-long, semester, summer, and gap year programs in over 40 countries including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin American, and Oceania.

AFS’s gap program after high school allows students to explore the world and learn more about themselves before making any major academic or professional decisions. It gives people the chance to save money by skipping college language requirements. By taking the gap year abroad one can also impress colleges and gain more experience in one’s interests.

The high school year or semester program gives the opportunity to live with a host family for 5-11 months, to cultivate strong relationships, fine-tune another language, and experience living abroad and discovering the rhythms of everyday life in one’s host country.

The AFS summer program allows students

to experience another culture without compromising the responsibilities at home. There are over 20 programs each with a different emphasis on language study, community service, home stay, high school, sports, and arts.

The convenient part of the summer program is that it doesn’t require students to miss out on important school activities and academics.

Students living 4-6 weeks in a new place can experience a whole new culture.

Many students enter AFS with little to no language experience but they come out fluent in the other countries’ language.

Another way to learn about another culture without actually going is hosting an exchange student. Every year AFS exchanges over 2,300 students from over 90 countries.

Students come from all around the world such as Belgium, Argentina, Finland, and the Czech Republic.

Having foreign student in one’s home creates a different perspective.

AFS has existed for over 65 years with many different programs in different places.

If adventure is calling AFS is a great program to join.

When studying abroad, one dives into a totally different country and experiences problems with that new nation.

“Being far away from your friends and parents is hard and the first few months are definitely painful,” said junior Giulia Polchri, an exchange student from Italy.

When studying abroad, one would have to stop normal life and activities and plunge into a completely different way of life. The loss of normality forces the student to rapidly change and adapt to the student’s new surroundings and might put extra stress on the student.

“It’s a foreign place, so I would be not used to the culture, people, atmosphere-it would take a while to adjust, and it might hinder my studies,” said senior Sarah Xie. Being thrown into a foreign place pose problems if students do not understand the language or culture. Language barriers make communication frusturating for exchange students.

Polchri said, “I could not understand the teacher. I thought ‘What is homework?’ before. I did not understand a word they were saying!”

Another major problem associated with studying abroad is the challenge of making new friends. Without friends, studying abroad will become a drab and, in effect, make learning harder.

Polchri said, “Sometimes it could be hard to make friends. People are very interested in you at first because you are the new exchange student, but people have their own lives and they will not just come to talk to you.”

Friends are vitally needed to create a good support system, especially when one is in an unfamiliar place. Some people’s personalities are better fit for the challenge of studying abroad.

Instructional Vice Principal Robert Fishtrom said, “If that student’s personality is shy and introverted, it might be harder to make friends compared to someone who is outgoing and extroverted.”

Before one would even get to go on these trips, it is a hefty price to study abroad. Studying abroad is very expensive and the price alone usually turns away many people.

Sophomore Mitchell Wright said, “The cost would make studying abroad hard. Paying for the ticket, living costs, and just buying stuff would make the price too expensive.”

Some students would be able to earn a scholarship, but even with that, the price of studying abroad is still high.

“It was a little bit more than nine thousand dollars and I got a scholarship too. And I think it is even more expensive for people who come from here,” said Polchri.

There are many challenges that need to be overcome associated with studying abroad, however studying abroad is still a learning experience.

Fishtrom said, “Studying abroad gives students more experience, makes them more wellrounded, and makes them more understanding of other cultures and customs.”

There are academic reasons, and life reasons for studying abroad.

Polchri said, “It is a bit hard in the beginning, but it is like a new life and it is something everyone should try.”

Features

It is all for show Just

By Karissa Tom Staff Writer

iPhone cases are unique to the owner. As iPhones are becoming more popular, iPhone cases are becoming a way to be original and showcase one’s personality. They can be anything from funny to sparkly. They can also be references to movies or favorite quotes.

Sophomore Mariya Chichmarenko said, “It can show your interests. It can show what your favorite color is or what your favorite character is.”

Sophomore Andrew Wach agreed, “People have favorite colors and characters. A lot of places you go like stores or amusement parks, like Disneyland, have cases made for people who like those kinds of things. I feel like by looking at someone’s case you know what they like.” iPhone cases can not only be purchased at the Apple store, but at other places like clothing stores or online.

There are countless websites where creative iPhone cases can be purchased.

Some websites allow artists to sell cases by uploading their artwork and having it printed on a case. These websites include Redbubble and Society 6.

Senior Haley Ivers began creating and selling her art on phone cases. She had been making art all of her life and her mom suggested that she sell her art. Ivers came across the Society 6 website and started selling her art.

Ivers said, “I wasn’t expecting any sales at all and then I started getting sales and I’m like okay this is a good idea. I started doing more art for it and more people kept finding my art. It has just gone up from there.”

She uses Society 6 as a way to share her art with others.

“When people buy my stuff, it makes me so happy and excited that people enjoy my art and support me,” said Ivers.

Some people opt to buy their case from Etsy, a website where people can sell homemade things. Etsy sellers can offer the buyers with a unique way of obtaining a new case.

The downfall of attractive iPhone cases is that they can often be poorly made or have bad quality. iPhone cases can be machine made or handmade.

While some cases are attractive, they can also be unconventional. Some handmade cases have crystals or trinkets attached, making them hard to carry. While these cases are attractive, comfort or convenience might outweigh their qualities.

They have become less about protection and more about style.

There are also stores, like Target, and websites that allow people to have their personal photos printed on cases.

Some phone case companies that sell cases meet a middle ground providing iPhone cases with both protectiveness and prettiness.

The Speck company offers iPhone cases with unique patterns and different colors.

Cases are usually made of either silicon or plastic.

Silicon cases are easy to put on your phone and shock-absorbing. They have strong grips on surfaces but unfortunately collect lint and dust.

Plastic cases are harder and able to have unique designs. Although they have easy maintenance, plastic cases are also more slippery and can break easily.

Whether it is silicon or plastic, iPhone cases are becoming a creative way for students to express themselves and their interests.

Case closed.

Page 7

in case

Image by Karissa Tom

Protecting your phone

By Monica Bayasgalan Staff Writer

One of the biggest decisions when purchasing a new cell phone is what to put around it.

Many people are willing to pay for expensive iPhone cases just to accessorize their phones. Kate Spade is a well know designer of iPhone cases that are mainly meant as decoration with its bright colors and eye catching designs.

“I have a Kate Spade case, I think it protects my phone well, but it looks cute at the same time,” said sophomore Shannon Briggs.

Having a protective phone case can help

Images courtesy of Google search

the lifespan of your phone. It can also prevent it from serious damage such as cracking the screen.

“I would much rather have a protective case since it’s not worth breaking your phone because you didn’t have a secure case. Also the, safer cases tend to have more simple designs and I feel like you would get tired of a crazy, decorative design after a while,” said junior Jessie Real A poll taken by Carlmont students stated that 35 percent of students have designer cases, while the other 65 percent said that they had a protective phone case instead.

“I prefer to have pretty case because I think it looks better on my phone,” said sophomore Frieda Freeman.

The survey also revealed that 60 percent of Carlmont students would much rather have a secure case rather than a decorative one.

With the number of iPhone owners increasing, companies have recently been coming up with many new ideas for protecting your phone.

For example, there are now lifeproof cases which you can take underwater, cases that charge your phone, and cases that hold valuable things like credit cards and money.

“Personally, these cases are all too bulky for my liking. I'd rather have a plain protective case that's not bulky and it's sole purpose is to protect the phone not charge it or allow it to go underwater. Also I'm afraid that the waterproof case wouldn't work and then all of a sudden I would be spending 300 bucks on a new phone again.” said senior Sydney Smith.

Whether a case is made to be lifeproof or just as a fashion statement, they come at a cost. Brands such as Speck, Case Mate, and Otterbox range from $30 to $40 per case.

Expensive cases can be found for cheaper on online websites such as Amazon.

“I find a lot of protective and pretty cases on Amazon for cheaper, it gives me a wide variety of cases to choose from,” said Freeman.

These less costly phone cases have the same, if not better, durability than a hyped up brand like Tory Burch.

Websites like Amazon let high schoolers to have a better array of cases to choose from without having to worry about how much it will cost.

No matter what the cost, people like to have some sort of protection over their phone. Therefore it mainly depends on if you are willing to pay the price for a new case or a broken phone.

Page 8

Entertainment

Dance the day away, the untold story of time and toil

By Dominic Gialdini Junior Editor In a high school environment where the importance of sports is stressed, the demanding nature of dance is often ignored.

Some people do not realize the level of difficulty and commitment that comes with being a dancer. Many Carlmont dancers who take dancing seriously spend extensive hours rehearsing.

Junior Kiana Yekrang said, “I dance five hours a day, six days a week.”

That amounts to 30 hours of dance in one week alone. This means that over the course of the year, Yekrang spends the equivalent of just over two months worth of time dancing.

Multiple factors attract people to the art of dancing, to the point that they believe that all of the time they invest in it is worth it.

“I’m a dancer because I think it’s really beautiful,” said freshman Allison Schrick.

“It’s a really great way to have fun and express yourself.”

Sophomore Kaitlyn Kelly said, “I love to dance because it relieves stress and is great exercise. It is also a way of expressing myself.

It is so much fun.”

While dancing may be fun, dedicating so much time to it comes at a price.

“The most challenging thing about dancing is the commitment. It’s hard to be a freshman in high school with all my workload, trying to balance friendships, and having a boyfriend all while having dance everyday,” said freshman Emily Sevillia.

Most dancers at Carlmont feel that dance is grossly misrepresented and that it does not

get as much respect as it deserves.

“People think dance is easy and it’s just girls in booty shorts turning around. It takes a lot of time and effort to become a good dancer,” said Yekrang. “I have been dancing for seven years now and everyday I improve my weaknesses to become a better dancer.”

Senior Sam Ek said, “I wish people thought of dance as a serious activity and not just some recreational thing kids do for fun. Yes, that is the case for some, but a lot of people take it very seriously and don’t like it when people think of it as a ‘lesser’ activity compared to football or soccer.”

Dancers also take issue with the perception that what they do is feminine.

“What bugs me is when people, both guys and girls, think that dancing is a ‘girl’ thing and that there aren’t any straight males that dance. The male dance role is very masculine and has never been a sign of something that only girls do,” said Ek. Dancers fervently believe that what they do should be considered a sport.

Sevillia said, “I do consider dancing a sport because people who are serious dancers are really in shape and healthy. It’s a really good workout and it makes you strong. It helps build your energy and your stamina which is what other sports are supposed to do.”

Some may argue that dancers can’t compare what they do to sports because they have no experience with the “real” sports.

To challenge this idea, Ek said, “I grew up playing baseball, soccer and basketball, but dance in my opinion is a lot more physically demanding than any other sport I have played. The stamina required is something

Cartoon by Isabella Paragas

that has to be built up after years of practice and repetition. Dance is like any other sport, it takes years of practice to really get good and to perfect it.”

Many Carlmont dancers intend to incorporate their passion for dance into their futures.

Schrick said, “In the future I hope to continue to dance. I want to go to college and major in dance and get a job that has some-

thing to do with teaching choreography.”

While some students hope to have their professional lives involve dance, others will not pursue dancing as a career, but will instead stay involved with it for recreational purposes.

Junior Jessica Real said, “I don’t think I am going to make a career out of dancing, but I definitely want to keep it as a passion.”

The debut: 2013 ‘Inspiration’ Spring dance show

By Jessica Adair Staff Writer

Behind every great production, there are hours upon hours of preparation.

This is no exception for the Carlmont Dance Program, as they have been hard at work on their spring show since January.

The show’s performers consist of the advanced dance group as well as the intermediate dance group. Their performances are known for their spectacular costumes, well-choreographed dances, and interesting themes.

But behind the scenes is something very different than what the audience sees. They appreciate the beauty of the production, but do not realize how much preparation it takes to pull off the show.

In order for the dance show go off without a hitch, hours of hard work need to be contributed. Kaitlyn Kelly, a sophomore on the advanced dance team, said, “We rehearse every class period and sometimes at lunch. We also have additional practice from 3:45 to 6:00 on Monday through Thursday when it starts getting close to a performance.”

Although this is a lot of practice time, the dance team utilizes every second of it.

Dance instructor Amy Secrist said, “January through March we focus mainly on the movement and teaching the movement. Then shortly after, we edit the movement and make sure it looks right. Three weeks before the show we do most of the blocking, and make sure everything looks right

on the stage.”

Another prominent part of the Carlmont dance program is the interesting themes for their shows. Last year, the spring dance show’s theme was seasons and the winter show was based off of the comedy, Elf. Secrist said, “At the end of each year, we all brainstorm and collect ideas about themes that we all like and can agree on.”

With the theme in place, Secrist explained the process of how everything comes together, “The students have to perform a solo as part of their grade, and based on their cohesiveness with the theme of the show and the quality of the dance, I will choose which dances get put into the show.”

After the theme and dance are in order, the costumes and staging are purchased and built to center around them. “Our costumes are delivered from various costume companies and sometimes even places like Forever 21. As for props and scenery, we usually make them ourselves,” said Kelly.

Although long hours of preparation are more than half the battle, there needs to be some type of extra edge present in order to put on a spectacular performance.

“Without organization a show cannot be successful. Everything needs to be pre-planned and a lot of preparation needs to be behind it. Also, when an idea comes up you really need to follow through with it and explore it and see if it works. Then it all comes down to execution,” said Secrist.

Even during all the hard work, the dancers still find a way to have fun and appreciate their hard work.

Kelly said, “We all have fun dancing together, while still working hard. I love seeing the dances that we’ve worked on, evolve into the dances that we perform on stage.”

Secrist can also contribute to that satisfaction. “I feel really

Advanced Dance students practicing their choreography for the show Photo by Gianna Dimick

happy and proud at the end of every show because I know the kids worked really hard to deliver a quality show.”

The feeling of accomplishment after a dance show is bittersweet for some members of the team, who will be doing their last show for Carlmont.

Kayla Wright, a senior and advanced dance team member, said, “I’m going to miss putting on shows in general and all the friends that I’ve made. I’ve done dance at Carlmont all four years and it has definitely become part of my life. I will miss all the underclassmen and Ms. Secrist as well.”

The Spring Dance Show this year will be held on May 9 through May 11 in the Carlmont Performing Arts Center.

Kelly said, “This year’s theme for the show is: inspiration. I think it will be a great show.”

Entertainment As social media matures, so does its users Page 9

By Kristen Friis Staff Writer

What ever happened to MySpace, the forgotten social network? Instagram, Twitter and Facebook is what happened. As social networks come and go, many of us wonder; which one is the best?

Facebook, created in 2004, is the number one social network with 1.06 billion users.

That is approximately 1/7th of the world.

This social network allows you to connect with friends by posting on their profile, messaging, sharing photos and much more.

It’s not as perfect as it seems. Although most Carlmont students have a Facebook, there are still a few who do not.

“A while ago I just realized that even though Facebook is fun for interacting with your friends it just comes with a bunch of drama,” said sophomore Toni Lupilin. “A lot of people end up tied in other people’s drama because they comment on something. It’s all so unnecessary but easy to get away from.”

With Facebook on top, barely anyone knows what MySpace is anymore. 31 out of 133 students have or once had a MySpace account according to a poll at Carlmont. According to Google Trends, MySpace was created in 2003, and reached its peak in 2007.

From there this social network plummeted as Facebook rose up.

“I used MySpace because at the time, more people had a MySpace then a Facebook account,” said senior Tatiana Viera. “It used to be the best way to connect with friends.

I think that MySpace became less popular because Facebook became more popular and people wanted something new.”

“I think that the use of MySpace died down because Facebook was so much simpler,” said sophomore Andrew Wach. “On

MySpace, you could change the background on your profile, but Facebook was just very simple and the same for everyone.”

Another popular social network for many Carlmont students is Instagram. According to a poll, 93 out of 133 Carlmont students use an Instagram account. Created in 2010, this network started to rise rapidly in March 2012.

According to expandedramblings.com, in April 2013, Instagram had reached 100 million users, and 4 billion photos.

“I use an Instagram account because it allows me to interact and connect with the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) community,” said sophomore Jacob Gioffre. “I think it’s better than Facebook because you can choose what you want to see when you’re scrolling down the page. My Facebook news feed overflows with things that I haven’t affiliated my account with.”

Twitter is also a very popular social network among Carlmont Students. 67 out of 133 students have an active Twitter account at Carlmont. There are about 500 million total users in the whole world, of which 200 million are active users.

“I use Twitter because it’s awesome. I like it because you can post a lot more tweets without people judging you for tweeting too much.

I think Facebook is probably better because you can message people and do more stuff on it,” said senior Luke Li. Tumblr also ranks very high with popular social networks. 74 out of 133 Carlmont students have a Tumblr blog, according to a poll. In the whole world, there are 170 million users, and 100 million blogs.

“I had a Tumblr because everyone else did and it was entertaining going through pictures and putting up my own,” said sophomore Justine Phipps. “It was addicting! The more I went on the more I fell in love with blogging. I don’t think it’s necessarily better than

Infographic by Sabrina Leung

Facebook because not everyone has a Tumblr so you can’t connect with as many people. I would definitely say Tumblr is more fun to be on, and there is a lot less drama on Tumblr then Facebook.”

Overall, as time goes on, new social networks will come and go. Like MySpace for instance, something better came along and was forgotten. Who knows, maybe in 10 years Facebook will be long gone?

Social media smackdown: is Vine going to take over Instagram?

By Tara Ebrahimpour Staff Writer There are many popular apps in the social networking world, two of the most popular being Instagram and Vine. Since its launch in 2010, Instagram hasn’t failed to impress users.

Instagram was created by Stanford graduates Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger in October 2010.

“It’s a way of taking fun, artsy pictures that your friends can look at,” said sophomore Angelina Castillo.

As of January 2013, it has over 100 million registered users and 90 million active monthly users. Over the last year, Instagram has become very popular. It has exploded in the social networking world. This everincreasing popularity was one main reason Facebook bought Instagram for one billion dollars.

One reason Instagram is so popular is the many ways users can use it. It is convenient because users can use it anywhere, on a smartphone, iPad, or computer.

As of 2012, the app has been made available for Android phones.

Instagram provides a fast and easy way for users to share pictures.

Another benefit is that it allows users to take good quality photos without the use of special photography equipment.

There are also many photo editing apps that accompany

Instagram. These apps allow users to edit their pictures using filters.

It can also change lighting and can enrich the colors that appear naturally in the original photo.

Instagram gives people the opportunity to connect with their friends through pictures.

“It’s fun to look at all your friends’ pictures and see what everyone is up to!” said Castillo.

However, one drawback of Instagram is its instability; it crashes often, especially when users are trying to download pictures.

Another problem many users face is that they spend too much time on the app.

“It can become addicting,” added Castillo.

Vine is another popular social networking app. Vine is a mobile app created by Dom Hofmann and Rus Yusupov in June 2012, later bought by Twitter. It officially came out on January 24, 2013.

Vine is similar to Instagram except users share videos instead of pictures. The videos shared are similar to the Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) that can be found on Tumblr. A GIF is a short video that loops. The difference between GIFS and the videos made on Vine is that on Vine, the videos can only be between three to six seconds long.

In contrast, Vine users can either view short video clips made by their friends and family or videos made by random people that tend to be very entertaining.

Within a couple of months of its release, According to theverge.com, Vine has became the most used video-sharing app on the scene.

Vine is currently the number one downloaded free app at the app store. It can be uploaded on iPhones and iPod Touch.

Twitter does not filter any of the content on Vine. As a result, many inappropriate videos have been uploaded to the app and have caused controversy. Consequently, on Feb. 5, 2013, Twitter changed the user minimum age from 12 to 17.

“I think it is right for them to make the new rule, so it doesn’t make parents mad about what their kids see on vine, but I still don’t think it will stop underage kids from getting them.” said Castillo.

Vine allows users to get creative, as all the videos clips are homemade. Vine is a great source of entertainment because a lot of the videos tend to be random and funny.

Although Vine is slowly catching up in popularity to Instagram, many users believe that it won’t become as popular as Instagram anytime soon.

“I think it’ll be pretty popular, but not as popular as Instagram,” said sophomore Emma Lin. “With time I think it can become as popular as Instagram but I don’t count on it,” said sophomore Kira Roman.

Although its popularity is growing, it is not perfect.

KIK

Infographic by Sabrina Leung

“All Vines have to be made with the actual app, you can’t use the video thing on your phone,” added Lin. “I prefer Instagram over vine. Vine has not become too popular because most people don’t know exactly what

it is, and don’t know how to use it,”

said Roman. “Also, not too many people have it.”

It will be interesting to see how these two popular apps continue to compete for the attention of the users.

Prom 2013 Where t

Page 10

Responsibilities of guys and girls

By Grace Yi Staff Writer There are colorful balloons set up around the Quad. The friends attract the girl’s attention by waving a big sign. The boy comes out from his hiding space, the music starts and he lets out his powerful vocal chords singing “Will you go to Prom with me?” She says yes and congratulatory cheers are followed.

Now is that time of year where everywhere one goes, there are cute Prom proposals, new videos and pictures are uploaded on the internet.

Although it seems like a happy occasion, there are stressful, underlying responsibility issues.

From the beginning when students ask another to prom, there are standards that one has to meet to please their date which requires many prom proposal arrangements. Nobody knows if that person will say yes unless the couple is dating.

Dames stated, “Anyone who is asked in a public way needs to say yes. They can talk to the person in private afterwards if they really don’t want to go or they have an issue.

[Rejecting someone] is not only humiliating, but rude and tactless.”

Prom comes with many responsibilities for both genders, dealing with clothes, matching dress color, and prom accessories.

For girls, prom responsibilities are extensive.

Girls have to accessorize and garment themselves in their exclusive dress that they are going to wear to prom.

Some girls drive hours away just to buy the one one-of-a-kind dress. It has gone to the extent that some schools have “Junior/

Senior Prom Dress” pages on Facebook where girls post photos of their prom dresses so that other girls do not buy or accidentally wear the same dress.

“Girls like to feel special. Spending money on a dress and searching for one that makes you feel pretty makes a girl a little attached to her dress. When another girl wears the same dress it takes away from how special it makes her feel,” said Dames.

For girls, dresses can range from $100 to $500, plus another $300 for shoes, accessories, hair, nails and makeup.

There are also many prom responsibilities for the guy as well. Guys also have to get their suit which values around $300, plus with shoes ranging from $50-$100.

Additionally, transportation is also an issue for couples. Some couples arrives in extravagance by renting a limousine. The guy usually arranges the carpooling arrangements and possibly a pre-prom outing such as a nice dinner before they arrive to prom.

“Usually the guys plan out the night, pays for the ticket, provides transportation. It’s kind of like taking the girl out on a date. Basically, the guy provides for the girl and tries to show her a good time,” said Pon. Traditionally, couples try to match each other’s prom apparel. This is done by matching the color of the dress to the vest or tie, and in which shopping becomes more difficult.

Dames thought guys and girls both have a hard time because of the amount of preparation.

“There is more pressure on the boys because they have to ask the girl, match her dress, and buy a corsage. But the girl has more stress because she is usually the one waiting to be

Creativity flows with prom competition

By Anna Wheeler Features Editor Prom season is almost in full swing at Carlmont; along with it comes the discussion of dresses, makeup, and creative ways that people get asked to prom.

This year, Carlmont ASB decided to introduce a new incentive to think of a creative way to ask a date to prom: a prom competition.

“We decided to do a prom competition because, for the past few years, people have been really into asking their dates in cute ways, and we thought it was a clever way to encourage people to have fun and go to prom,” said Monica Chin.

To enter the competition, you had to a video or a picture of you asking your date to prom on the Carlmont Prom Competition 2013 page on Facebook. All of the contestants received a minor prize, and two lucky winners received the grand prize: two free prom tickets.

In order to win, a contestant must get a lot of likes on his or her picture or video,

asked, she has to buy her dress early so the boy can buy his suit,” said Dames.

Andrew Durlovsky, a senior thought that girls would be more stressed than guys because of the amount of money she has to pay.

“Honestly the girl [has more responsibility and more stress]. The guy does whatever the girl wants because she is paying so much money and giving up her day for the guy,” said Durlovsky.

Ryan Pau, a junior, thinks otherwise, “It’s couple coordination. If a prom couple wants

win the support of the teacher panel, and win the support of the underclassmen panel.

The final day to enter was April 12.

According to Chin, “The judges are looking for creativity. They want to see the most unique and stand out proposal.”

Many Carlmont students are enthusiastic about the competition: “It’ll make the guys step up,” said Kendal Wise, a senior at Carlmont.

Others have a more negative view: “I think it’s a good idea and everything, but I feel like it’s going to be biased,” said Raychel Mattman, a senior at Carlmont.

With several videos and pictures getting over 200 likes, competition was tough and it was unclear as to who would win.

In the end, Brent Tom and Grace Chang won.

to have their ideal and perfect prom night, they both need to work it out together.”

Although there are many responsibilities with prom, there is only one main theme, which is “to make sure your date has fun,” said Dames.

This year, prom will be on Friday, Apr. 26, themed “Where the Wild Things Are.” Although prom is fun and filled with romantic aura, it still comes with many responsibilities that couples have to take into account.

the Wild Things Are

Page 11

Ticket to the Academy of Sciences After prom policies

By Jacob Rudger Campus Editor

Lions, tigers, bears, oh my! Students attending prom this weekend will be able to get in touch their wild side in what is certain to be a memorable night full of unique sights and sounds.

‘Where the Wild Things Are’ is the theme for Prom 2013, inspired by its exotic location--The Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

“It’s really exciting getting to go to the Academy of Sciences... it’s going to make prom more memorable,” said Lauren Denney, a senior.

ASB dance supervisors and commissioners worked tirelessly last spring to lock up the museum, which is one of the most popular prom destinations in the Bay Area.

“We really wanted to have prom in the city because there are so many things to do before and after,” said dance supervisor and senior Kelsey Morgan.

Students will check in at the main entryway, looking up at a massive dinosaur skeleton. The dancing will occur behind the dinosaur in the “Main Area,” an enclosed glass room where the DJ will drop the bass.

But the exploring doesn’t stop there.

Speakers will be playing in every room in the museum, allowing students to educate themselves and enjoy historic sights without missing a beat.

The aquarium and rainforest will be blocked off.

Photos will be taken in Tusher African Hall, which showcases restorations of zebras, gorillas, lions, and leopards in naturalistic habitats. Also in the African Hall are live

penguins, something students are looking forward to.

“Penguins know how to party, and I’ve always wanted to dance with a penguin, so I’m pretty stoked,” said junior Jared Fitzpatrick.

Right above the famous albino alligator, ‘Claude,’ there will be a chocolate fountain and a crepe station for sweet tooths looking for a free bite to eat.

One regulation for girls to look out for: the Academy of Sciences will not allow anybody to walk barefoot. However, they are offering complimentary foam flip flops to make up for the discomfort of high heels.

If students plan on driving themselves, it will cost $15 to park in the Academy of Sciences parking lot.

“I really hope the work we’ve put in to make this happen will elicit a good reaction out of the students,” said Morgan.

A large chunk of change

By Ayesha Abbasi Staff Writer Four hundred can buy plane tickets, college textbooks, or a new wardrobe, but it can also buy you the “prom experience.”

Students spend hundreds of dollars on limos, party buses, clothes, dinner, tickets, and before they know it they’ve spent hundreds.

“I never really realized how much it totals up to. I just looked at each price individually,” said Sarah Farbenstein.

Part of the reason why students put so much money into the “prom experience” is so that it lives up to their expectations. Many students feel that because senior prom is one of the defining moments of senior year, it’s worth spending money on.

“I’m really excited for my senior prom, money isn’t really a big issue it’s mostly about

having a good time,” said Ella Stoney.

Having the dream prom can come with a cost. A senior who would like to stay anonymous spent close to $800 for prom. “It’s not just one night, it’s more than that to a lot of people. It’s an important moment and I spent a lot of money not just for the dance but for after the dance too,” said the anonymous senior.

Prom is capable of strongly impacting students financially because of the expenses of just getting a ticket and something to wear.

Tickets this year sell for up to $75 a piece.

“The girls are pretty lucky because most chivalrous guys will end up paying for the ticket,” said junior Luca Cargonja.

Girls aren’t completely off the hook when it comes to overspending, however. “I ended up spending close to $400 for prom because of all the smaller things like hair, makeup,

nails, and of course the main thing, the dress.

It runs up a pretty big bill in the end,” said junior Samantha Corso.

Even when trying to save, girls can end up spending a lot.

“I went to prom last year as a freshmen and even when I had my friends do my hair and makeup I ended up spending around $200 just on my dress and nails. I never realized how expensive it would be,” said sophomore Jasmin Reidel.

At the end of the day, some see prom as an overall good experience, even if a large amount of money wasn’t spent on it.

“I wouldn’t spend any money on prom if I didn’t have to and I’d probably still end up having a great time with my friends,” said Cargonja.

In the end, the price put on high school experiences is all up to the buyers to decide.

By Carly Bertolozzi Chief of Design It is commonly known that on prom night the party does not usually end with the dance.

Students often like to rent a hotel room or house to continue the festivities after the completion of the dance.

Carlmont’s administrators want all students to be safe after prom, which is why they inform hotels in the surrounding area of the dance that prom is taking place. After which, hotels often take steps to prevent prom parties and illegal activities from taking place in their facilities.

Jennifer Cho, administrative vice principal, said, “We’re not micromanaging, we are just making sure people are safe.”

In the past, administrators have become aware of after parties during the dance and then have been forced to take action since there were minors involved. However, the consequences depend on the violation, said Cho. Assistant Vice Principal Ralph Crame said that the administration also speaks with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to help ensure the safety of students who attempt to rent houses after prom.

Crame recounted a recent story in the news of a girl who was found dead in the water with a broken back at an annual day party at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Although this is extreme, he relayed that dangerous situations like this are what administrators are trying to prevent to provide a safe night for Carlmont students.

The goal is to get everyone home safe and sound, which is why Instructional Vice Principal Robert Fishtrom said that the administration makes establishments “well aware that prom is taking place.”

Campus A worthwhile investment for the future Page 12

Students make the conscience choice to attend community college, aren’t looking back

By Gabriela d’Souza Staff Writer Most students want to attend the top notch schools, no matter the cost, and in this desire they tend to put down and criticize community and state schools.

When it comes to the college admission process students tend to aim for the most prestigious, and usually the most expensive, schools.

According to a poll of Carlmont students, community colleges ranked at the bottom of people’s college choices. However there are real benefits to attending community colleges.

“There’s definitely a competition for seniors for which schools they get into,” stated Rachel Cissna, a senior who plans to attend CSM, “but I think it’s ridiculous and I think they are going to be regretting it when they are still paying their bills off at 30 for their student loans.”

The cost of community college is signifi-

cantly lower than the cost of UCs or private schools and they both offer the same core curriculums needed in the first few years at any school.

According to CNN Money and College Board estimates, community colleges cost about 3000 dollars a year for full tuition while the average public university costs about 21,447 dollars.

“I would be taking the same classes for the first few years at four year and at CSM anyways,” continued Cissna, “I don’t want to pay for classes that I could be doing locally.”

Community colleges also offer more flexible schedules than other schools. Students can go to class when needed and plan classes that fit best around their personal needs.

“Community colleges are good for a transitional period because schedules are flexible,” stated Senior Keea Khalili, “I am going to Canada because I’m not ready to leave my dad and brother, we are really close with each other and I don’t feel like it’s the time.”

Some students leave senior year without

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The uncommon option: specialized trade schools

By Erica Valbusa Online Editor

Switching roles Sophomore Alenna Winfield (right) helps junior Gabe Crespin (left) get ready for Prom 2013 by putting clips in his luscious locks. The first annual Prom Rally featured two juniors (Gabe and Claire Noemer) and two seniors (Jacob Rudger and Monica Chin) who each had to switch gender roles. The boys had to dress up as girls, wearing dresses, heels, makeup, lip stick, and nail polish.

The girls had to dress up as boys in clothes from the thrift shop, make a “prom” poster to give to their dates, do ten push-ups, and eat a bowl of spaghetti without their hands. The seniors claimed victorius in the race to the finish line.

Photo from collegeofsanmateo.edu

knowing what they want to study. Community colleges offer a place for students to continue their education, while exploring different majors.

“There are a lot of people who go to community college because it’s also where they can figure out what they want to study and they can stay College of San Mateo is a popular local college choice home then transfer later when they know possible just because it is brand new, but a lot what they want to study,” continued Khalili.

Transferring from a community college to a of the professors are from MIT or Cal Tech university after two years is very common and so they know what they are talking about and the education is on par with the other UCs, less stressful and easier than applying straight it’s just less competition and they are buildout of high school, as students who already ing,” said Andrew Cardozo. have college credits are given a leg up in the Despite the disparaging view of community admissions process. colleges they really do offer many benefits to The general perception that attending a students looking for cheaper, closer to home, prestigious school is the only way to go does and transitional experiences. not only look down upon community colleges, but also on some UCs. “People think Merced is the lowest UC

Seniors graduating high school have numerous choices regarding their next path of education.

Many choose to attend a community college, a California State University, a University of California, a private university, an outof-state university, or a specialized trade school.

Specialized trade schools, also known as career colleges or vocational schools, are schools where students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job.

“There are many specialized schools, some of which offer technology, mechanics, art, and fashion programs. DeVry University offers many specialized programs,” said Carlmont Guidance Counselor Tammy DePaoli.

In the United States, vocational and career schools differ greatly.

Vocational schools are governmentowned and require two full years of

study.

Career colleges are not government supported and require roughly less than a year of study. “Many of these programs are 18-month programs and are rather expensive for the time that students are enrolled,” said DePaoli.

Senior Haley Ivers was accepted to the San Francisco Art Institute for the upcoming fall term.

“I’ve done art my whole entire life and I thought an art school would be a really good opportunity to learn even more about my talent and help me advance in my work.”

The application process for many specialized schools is rather similar to that of a four-year university.

Some programs require that students add additional elements to the application.

“It’s just like any application, except you have to submit photos of your artwork, like a little portfolio,” said Ivers.

“CSU and UC campuses each

have a standard app, and many private colleges use the Common App. Specialized schools and trade schools typically have their own application process. Some require letters of recommendation, but I haven’t been asked for any,” added DePaoli.

Vocational and career schools provide students with more focused curriculum in their field of choice, whereas two-year and four-year colleges and universities require students to take classes in various subjects.

Before deciding whether or not to apply to a vocational school, it is important to weigh the positive and negative aspects of this choice.

“I don’t plan on attending...just yet. I want to get my general education over with and going to SFAI, I would have to attend another school to get that done, since SFAI is strictly all about art. But, going to SFAI is definitely a possibility in the future,” said Ivers.

Campus

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Time out, or burn out

College admissions counselors are supporting the consideration of a ‘gap year’ after high school, should you?

By Graham Godwin News and Opinon Editor For soon-to-be college freshman, what options are available to remedy the crisis of academic burnout, overwhelming stress and the uneasy feeling that maybe I’m just not ready to start college? For some, the solution is found in taking a break called a “gap year.”

Deferring college entrance for a year is a tradition that has been well established in both Europe and Australia. In the United States the idea of a gap year is just starting to catch on. American students are beginning to realize the benefits of taking a year off before shouldering more stress and the heavy workload of college.

High school, for most students, is a tenuous, stress-ridden journey --- a rat race amongst America’s youth, all striving for that coveted place in the “right” college of their dreams.

Reports show that the chase for prized admissions starts earlier and earlier in

children’s lives. Childhood is scripted for a hopeful future of “success” with academic and extracurricular activities often based on the direction of hired outside tutors, counselors, and consultants. Admissions to selective pre-K, Kindergarten and grammar schools are proving to be statistically more difficult to gain entrance to than Harvard.

Senior Omeed Ansari commented, “Senior year is the cumulation of a lot of hard work, but our final year of high school isn’t a cakewalk, college admissions are stressful down to the wire, only then do people really feel like they can relax.”

Continuous high levels of pressure and stress at an early age are taking their toll.

High school students endure late nights often walking around in a fog of exhaustion trying to focus on their required tasks or preparing for the next big exam.

Sadly, some teens turn to binge drinking, drug use, abuse of prescription psychiatric medication and other self-destructive

behaviors in an attempt to deal with their adult levels of stress and uncertainty in their teenage years.

A recent study reported in the New York Times reveals that, “The emotional health of college freshmen, who feel buffeted by the recession and stressed by the pressures of high school, has declined to the lowest level since an annual survey of incoming students started collecting data 25 years ago.”

After understanding what a gap year was, Jordan Kiss, a junior, seemed enthused about embarking on one, “I’d love to take a gap year, it would be awesome to have a year off and just refocus for college.”

A gap year can be a time to recharge between the life stages of high school and college. The goal is to remove yourself from the regular routines and pressures of academic life and engage in something completely different such as getting a job, pursuing a personal passion of music or the arts, traveling, working, volunteering, or living abroad.

Admission officers from highly selective colleges including Harvard, Princeton, the University of North Carolina and Middlebury have come out strongly in favor of this approach, citing a year off as contributing significantly to their students’ overall college success.

Bob Clagett, a former director of admissions at Middlebury College, says taking a gap year can help students gain a renewed focus on academics. “By stepping off the treadmill, they frequently remind themselves of what their education is all about,” he says.

“They kind of reinvent themselves.”

A Gap year does not have to be an expensive year of travel and leisure, as long as it benefits the student in the long run and extends their academic success.

Gap years are a trend that will surely grow in the coming years, as more and more students realize the benefits that come with taking a year off and re-charging their energies for their college years.

Trapped in a bubble called America Even with the numerous opportunities given to college students, most Americans are reluctant to study abroad

By Sabrina Leung Entertainment Editor American colleges and international programs are pressing students harder to get out of their comfort zones by offering exchanges to exotic spots in Asia and Africa, and provide students the experience of learning new cultures and interacting with foreign students.

Despite the fact that studying abroad gives one the opportunity to discover new places, cultures and people, some students are still reluctant about it.

“I wouldn’t want to study abroad because I like being close to home. I’m not responsible or ready enough to be away from my family,” said sophomore Catherine Sue. According to the Institute of International Education, during the 2010-11 academic year, 273,996 American students studied abroad for academic credit, an all-time high, but still only nine percent of American students. While only one percent of students enrolled in higher education are studying abroad in the U.S, China has sent 23 percent more students this year to study abroad.

Most American students have the mentality that America already offers the best education in the world; however, this is not necessarily the case. According to U.S. News Education, University of Cambridge, London, and University of Oxford, London, ranked respectively second and fifth out of the 400 best universities in the world.

For many American students, cost is also likely to be a big deterrent in studying abroad. Nearly three-quarters of Americans said the expense was a likely obstacle to international study. Tuition to study abroad can range from $10,000 to $40,000, depending on the school location and the length of study.

Culture barriers make students even more tempted to stick together and prohibit students from exploring different cultures and studying abroad. A key observation noted about American students are that they tend to be part of are large groups, often won’t mingle with others who don’t speak English well enough, and will only converse with each other.

A lack of fluency in a foreign language or a reluctance to leave family and friends have often been seen as hurdles to studying abroad as well. Seventy nine percent of American students included “lack of language ability” as their top reasons for staying close to home and not studying abroad.

But a far greater deterrent, according to a survey of 10,800 British and American students in 2012 from the British Council, Britain’s educational and cultural-relations agency, in conjunction with the National Union of Students, only 24 percent of American and 22 percent of British students said they had enough information to make a decision about studying abroad regarding college credits and financial aid.

“I have no idea how much money it costs to study abroad, but I assume that my family would not be able to afford it for me to do so,” added Sue. However, there is plenty of of financial support for study abroad, like the American Gilman program for low-income students or Chinese-government scholarships for foreign students. Indeed, nearly 40 percent of Americans interested in going abroad said they were unaware of aid programs for overseas study.

The lack of awareness may come as a surprise to campus study-abroad offices, which regularly hold information sessions and open hours to get the word out about international study, but students are turning down information.

While these factors may still cause some students to hesitate whether they should study abroad, others believe the experience is still worth it.

“I’ve always had a fancy of studying abroad probably since I was eleven or twelve, Harry Potter may have had something to do with my fixation on Britain. It gives the opportunity to discover new places, cultures, people, but often you don’t get to really experience a place properly when you’re caught up in all the touristy traps,” said senior Rebecca Chong.

One primary draw to study abroad is traveling to a different country and experiencing another culture. Studying abroad offers students the experience of not only studying their subjects at a different university, but also learning to adapt to a country’s culture and environment.

“The world isn’t just limited to America: there’s so much more out there and your passion in life just might be something nobody back home has ever even heard of,” commented Chong.

“I’m paying money for college and I want to get my degree for all the tuition I’d be paying. But the experience seems to be so much more than just happening to be in a different location studying the same thing. Of course I’d miss California and everybody back home, but I take this as an opportunity to define myself outside of where I grew up,” added Chong.

In 1946, President Truman signed the law that established the Fulbright Program, which was designed primarily for graduate education. This program was the first major U.S. government effort to promote study abroad, and it firmly established the idea that studying in another country could be a means to advance peace. Today nearly 8,000 grants are provided annually to study and research in

Photo from amazon.com

more than 155 countries.

Historically, most study abroad has taken place in so-called “island” programs, where Americans live, study and often party together. However, U.S. colleges are now keeping a closer eye on the education side of the experience, particularly if they’re awarding course credit. Island programs remain popular and valuable for many students and generally appeal to those new to study abroad.

Recently, study abroad is following changes in higher education itself. Once reserved for a wealthy and adventuresome elite, it is now reaching a wider, more diverse population, which often has less travel experience and more educational learning. Today, the United Kingdom remains the leading destination for American students, followed by Italy, Spain, France and China. The State Department hopes to continue to push for increased participation among American students and encourage them to travel to more exotic places across the globe.

“While it’s not practical for most people, I think if people began to see the worth of exploring other culture, there might be a lot more understanding between the spectrum of cultures and ethnicities America has and a lot more perspective about the things many of us take for granted,” said Chong.

Although it may be hard for the American government to justify creating financial incentives for students to study abroad, studying abroad is a life-changing experience that offers students a new perspective of the world and an appreciation for the cultural diversity that the world has to offer. Encouraging American students to study abroad is a positive step towards creating a generation of Americans that are ready to handle the unique challenges of the 21st century.

Campus

Page 14

UV got to protect your eyes

By Natalie Tussy Staff writer

Designer sunglasses come at a high cost, yet so many people are willing to pay whatever it takes to get this pricey accessory.

From Ray Ban to Oakley, designer sunglasses are everywhere, and sometimes cost

up to $450. The price may make the glasses seem to be more protective, but in reality that is not necessarily the case.

“I don’t think designer sunglasses are worth the price because all sunglasses do the same thing and mostly look the same,” commented freshman Natalie Stainton.

The price differential between designer and non designer sunglasses is enormous. With that said, there is nothing wrong with buying a pair of cheaper sunglasses, as long as they still have good UV protection.

Sunglasses protect against UV A and UV B rays, which are harmful forms of sun exposure. It is best to have sunglasses with a high UV ray protection rate, close to 100 percent.

Sophomore Kristen Wehara stated, “I wear sunglasses because they protect my eyes and I can see everything, even when it’s really bright outside.”

The level of protection a pair of sunglasses has does not relate to how dark the lenses are, or how expensive they are. What is important is the percentage of UV rays they block, and this information can usually be found on the glasses themselves.

Wehara said, “People like to wear designer clothes and it’s the same for accessories.

They want the style and quality of a designer brand.”

Designer sunglasses may have the signature brand name, but there is nothing significantly different from a pair of sunglasses that costs exponentially less.

“I get my sunglasses at Target. I don't want to spend a lot of money on something I can get for $10 that has the same purpose and works just as well,” said sophomore Madison Norman.

These less costly sunglasses are much less of an investment, and have the potential to have

Sophomore Tori Hall protecting her eyes from UV rays in style. the same amount of protection as a pair of designer glasses such as Ray Bans.

Glare from the sun can impede a driver’s vision and become very dangerous. For this reason, it is important to wear some sort of eye protection when driving.

Norman stated, “I wear sunglasses when I'm driving so I can concentrate better because the sun isn’t as distracting.”

In a poll taken at Carlmont, 65 percent of students said that they wear sunglasses.

Students who do not wear sunglasses while exposed to the sun are at risk for photokeratitis (a temporary sunburn of the eye) and

Photo by Veronika Dvorakora

cataracts (damage to the retina).

The pros of designer glasses include the features of polaroid lenses and better durability.

In addition, Ray Ban lenses protect against glare that bounces off of many surfaces and can impair vision.

Certain aspects of designer sunglasses are worth the high cost, but the most important feature is protection against harmful UV rays.

Since even cheap sunglasses offer UV protection, anyone can choose between designer and non designer without the risk of hurting their vision.

Contact lenses: In the eyes of the beholder

By Kat Savin Staff writer Need a little clarity?

To improve eyesight, many people use contact lenses.

Contact lenses are thin plastics which are placed directly on the surface of the eye. They are shaped to correct vision without the use of glasses.

“I chose contacts over glasses because they’re easier,” said freshman, Lucie Lehner.“You do not have to worry about glasses falling off your face or having the bulkiness of glasses.”

Contacts are a good choice for glasses wearers who play sports because of convenience and safety.

“I chose contacts because I’m a dancer and my glasses would always fly off,” said junior Jessica Real.

Contacts are less dangerous than glasses. For example, when it comes to sports, there is a high risk of glasses breaking and potentially injuring the face or other parts of the body.

“Contacts are more convenient for me because I play soccer,” said sophomore Griffin Kimura. “I don’t have to worry about the ball hitting me in the face, breaking my glasses, and even cutting me.”

At Carlmont, about 31 percent of the students wear contact lenses as an alternative to glasses.

Cosmetically, colored contacts are offered with both prescription and without in order to make the color of the eye appear to change. The colors can vary from natural colors to unnatural, like purple or red, and can even contain images on the eye.

Contacts are applied directly on the eye and automatically shape to the eye when put on. Once they are comfortably shaped to the eye, they almost feel like they are not even there.

Simply by blinking, contacts are hydrated and not being able to see is no longer a problem.

“Contacts are very comfortable,” said sophomore Gigi Vlahos. “They make you feel like you have perfect vision without having plastic on your face.”

Many people believe that contacts are too difficult and take

longer to put in. Although this may be true at first, it becomes routine and is very simple.

“Contacts are so much easier and after a little practice, putting them in is as easy as brushing your teeth,” said Vlahos.

Many people are afraid of contacts being painful or uncomfortable.

“Everyone has different eyes and there are many different brands so once you find the right brand they are totally comfortable and you can’t even feel them,” said Lehner.

Once applied, contacts are virtually invisible. Having the option to see 20/20 and not feel contacts or have anyone notice is an amazing opportunity for glasses wearers.

“I like wearing contacts because glasses tend to just get in the way,” said Real, “and after a while you forget you’re even wearing contacts.”

Contacts are the way to go when glasses are no longer wanted.

Eye can see clearly now

By Max Ware Staff writer It doesn’t take perfect vision to realize that, sometimes, older is better.

Whether a teenager is looking for convenience, class, or thrift, eyeglasses are a popular choice among high school students, as opposed to the also popular contact lenses.

Eyeglasses, which correct the vision of people who suffer from poor eyesight, are a very old tool, dating back to when the first magnifying lenses were invented. They have a wide assortment of styles, and the frames can be made from several different metal alloys and plastics.

These frames will outlast the lifetime of the lenses, which will last only until the wearer requires a new prescription. The frames can be reused by inserting the new lenses into the old frames.

On the contrary, contact lenses range from single-day use to three-month use disposable lenses. They also are more easily damaged, due to their overall flimsiness compared to solid eyeglasses.

This means that they must be replaced more frequently, and while each individual pair of contact lenses is nowhere near as expensive as an average pair of eyeglasses, the sheer volume of contacts that must be purchased adds up to a considerable sum.

This causes some to steer clear of purchasing contacts.

“It’s about the money. My parents don’t want to pay for it,” said Lumina Stock, a junior at Carlmont.

Additionally, contacts require more effort to properly maintain than glasses; reusable contacts must be carefully cleaned to avoid eye infections, and most contact lenses cannot be worn to sleep. Contacts also must soak for about six hours in their cleaning fluid

before they can be worn again, which can be a problem if they are needed before the hours are up.

This is in sharp contrast with standard eyeglasses, which can easily be taken on and off instantly, worn whenever the wearer needs them, and require only the occasional wipe with a cloth to remove dust from the lenses.

“I’m just too lazy to put them in,” said Ibrahim Ghali, a sophomore.

Contacts also must be disposed of exactly on time, which isn’t a problem for daily contacts, but can be difficult to keep track of for longer periods.

Sophomore Arthur Lam also weighed in: “Glasses are more convenient. There are too many procedures [for contacts].”

Even more daunting for some students than these other issues is the psychological aspect of placing the contact lens in one’s eye.

“I guess contacts would be a little bit uncomfortable,” said freshman Vanessa Som.

Contacts can irritate one’s eyes if worn for too long per day, and can be very painful to put in if incorrectly cleaned. They are also somewhat challenging to put in at first, and require a bit of practice to learn the best way to insert them.

These difficulties are far from the experience one has attempting to put on glasses, which simply must be unfolded and placed on one’s face. This can make glasses an attractive option to someone who only recently has realized that they no longer have perfect vision.

Overall, while contacts may be trendier to some, and can provide an edge to those who lead an active lifestyle, glasses are a preferred route to many, who choose to avoid the expenses, inconvenience, and possible fright of using contact lenses.

Campus

Page 15

Four-eyed freaks and brainiacs

By Sarah Klieves Staff Writer

Wearing glasses may make students look like different people. Do they also make students feel like different people?

Many students can be seen wearing glasses these days. In a poll of 69 students, 84 percent of students wear glasses because they have to in order to see. Students can be seen all over campus wearing glasses, making them a normal sight to see.

However, does a student who wears glasses still get classified as the typical "nerd?” And does wearing glasses define a student’s personality?

Sophomore Amy Nguyen said that she does not allow her glasses define who she is because “it does not matter if people see

you as a nerd or not because [the glasses] are helping you.”

In movies, “nerds” are often perceived as the ones who wear the big glasses and suspenders. However, Carlmont students do not let their glasses define who they are.

Some students do not mind having to wear glasses because they only wear them occasionally.

Wearing glasses less frequently, and perhaps instead wearing contacts, eliminates the potential to be teased by other students.

Many students feel that teasing related to their glasses is not an issue at all. Junior Liam Mercado stated he has never been called foureyes or any other names because he has only had glasses for a year. Mercado added that he does think that people do “form an opinion

about me because of my glasses.”

Carlmont junior Morgan Finlayson said, “I do not feel like people are judged for wearing glasses. Some people just have bad eyesight and there is nothing to do about it.”

Wearing glasses may not make students look “nerdy,” but can give them a look that they might not want.

Mercado wears his Ray Ban glasses every day in order to be able to see, not as a fashion statement.

Mercado stated that it bothers him when “people call you ‘hipster,’” and when “people ask if [the glasses] are real.”

Other students view wearing glasses as a positive effect on students’ looks. Finlayson said that “most of the time when people wear glasses, it makes them look more intelligent.”

Students are not ashamed of the fact they have to wear glasses. Nguyen said that wearing glasses is “great because I am confident because I can see.”

The many fashion choices of glasses allows for students to look and feel good about themselves while having to wear their glasses.

Finlayson said, “My glasses help me when my eyes are hurting and I love the frames, so it is a win-win.”

Glasses change the way people look. But they do not change how people feel and how people are treated. The classification of being a nerd because of glasses seems to be just seen in movies now.

Photo by Veronika Dvorakora

To look or for looks: reasons for wearing glasses

By Ashley Kawakami Junior Editor

Fashion loses functionality.

When first introduced, glasses used to solely be used to help improve eyesight, however with changing times glasses and contacts have become a way to accessorize.

Through time glasses have evolved with the time and technology. From thick bifocals, to monocles, to the large rimmed glasses of the 80’s glasses have seen some drastic changes. Glasses have continued to evolve in to the thinner more style oriented glasses of today. Eyewear has evolved right alongside of fashion and now walks hand in hand with looking good.

Everyone wants to be an individual, and finding unique or different glasses frames can help people stand out from others. People are starting to wear more unique frames that help them make a statement and stand out from the crowd.

Sophomore Mariya Chichamaranko said, “prescription glasses [can be an accessory] because now people are getting them in cool colors and different styles.”

Although there are some trending styles of glasses, different frames suit different people and their personalities.

Sophomore Amber Governale said, “I really like the black thick rectangular hipster frames but I also think that different people look good in different frames.”

Glasses are not the only eyewear people have begun to use as an accessory. Contacts are not normally thought of as being a fashion piece but colored contacts changes this idea.

Many people like colored contacts because they change eye color subtly or they can create a dramatic effect depending on the occasion and the contacts. They come in a variety of colors, some mimicking natural eye colors, while others have iridescent hues that create supernatural effects.

Colored contacts are ideal for costumes because they are visible on both dark and light eyes. As cool as it may look for a costume, people who wear colored contacts on a regular basis run the risk of looking unnatural.

Sophomore Marco Sevilla said, “Once I saw a lady that had colored contacts in and her eyes were glowing. It looked so unnatural, I think that colored contacts are better for Halloween costumes.”

Although they can look unnatural they can also enhance the color of a person’s eyes to something that stands out more.

Chichamarenko said, “[Colored contacts are] not for me but I think that they’re cool.

If I saw someone else wearing them I would be like, ‘That’s pretty cool.’”

Many people have always wanted glasses or view glasses as more of a fashion piece than something necessary for vision.

Some people improvise for glasses using glasses without lenses or just normal glass lenses. An old trend was to have 3D glasses from the movie theatre and punch out the 3D lenses to create “nerd glasses” with their thick black frames.

Sophomore Andrew Wach said, “I think [wearing 3D glasses is] very immature and you might as well go out and buy your own glasses because they 3-D ones are bad quality.”

In cases where glasses are necessary people are abandoning the true functionality of glasses for the style that they create.

Glasses have always been used to improve eyesight, but now they are beginning to transform into something that makes more of a statement. People are using their glasses frames as well as other non functional pieces of eyewear to create a certain look.

Glasses and contacts will always be used to help improve vision but with fashion and

eyewear combining it is becoming more of a fashion statement.

Functionality is going out the window as fashion steps forward.

Page 16

Extras

Carlmont confessions craze

Continued from front

Because of this incident, the administrator of Carlmont’s page promised to censor it carefully.

The administrator commented, “The things that stop me from posting certain confessions is mostly hateful things or things that make us, the student body and the school look bad along with the fact that I can’t ruin anyone’s reputation with the posts.”

Since March 20, more than 500 posts out of 1,000 submissions have not been published.

The administrator added, “I’ve been thinking of shutting it down lately because of all the hate not just towards me as an administrator, but the things people are saying about their peers is just terrible to read sometimes.”

Some students agree with the censorship of the page to prevent drama and cyberbullying.

Gujral said, “If they don’t censor the stuff that people send, it could end up being shut

Evolution of prom Continued from front

down and it could also make our school look bad.”

On the other hand, some people are bothered by it because their posts were not published on the page and they believe the administrator is being selective and unfair.

Anne Litton, a junior said, “They should post everything since it is a confessions page.

Everyone should be heard. I understand if it’s bad language or death threats but if it’s an argument with someone conveying his or her point of view then they should post it.”

While there is freedom of speech, one must also respect other people’s feelings and reputation while writing a hateful post to submit for the whole school to see.

The confessions page is an entertainment source and a place for self expression, not a tool for students to bully and slander others openly while keeping themselves hidden.

If it is not okay for students to bully their peers at school, what makes it acceptable to do the same anonymously online?

to be something more than what it really is,” said Sophia Strojny.

Today, prom is completely inseparable from the American high school experience, and it often features fantastic displays of dresses with four to five figure price tags, transportation by stretch limo, and crazy after-parties.

Prom has become an event which can be considered the pinnacle of every student’s high school career, right alongside getting licensed to drive and graduating.

So if this special night is supposed to create memories magical enough to frame and store in the family scrapbook, why do some students choose to pass on the opportunity entirely?

“I think a lot of people miss out on prom if they don’t have a date,” said Kiana Yekrang. “I think it’s great to go with a group of friends, but a lot of people feel like if they don’t have

been murdered.

These three victims were ordinary people, just like you. They had families, just like you.

They had hopes and dreams, just like you.

The only only real difference between you and them is that you are still alive.

What happened in Boston could have happened anywhere. The fact that it happened on the other side of the country causes many people on the West Coast the feel less alarmed for their personal safety but, in reality, they are still at as much of a risk of a terrorist attack as the people present at the Boston Marathon were.

People see horrendous events taking place far away from their communities and, because

they are not personally impacted, they think, “This will never happen to me. These kind of things only happen to other people, but not to me.”

Did the 13 individuals at Columbine High School think that? Did the 2977 victims of 9/11 think that? Did the 32 people at Virginia Tech, or the 12 in Aurora, Colo., or the 26 at Sandy Hook Elementary School think that?

These events could have taken place at Carlmont. We could have been the numbers that represented the very worst of humanity, or should I say, inhumanity.

We could have been the ones who died.

There is nothing special about us that

a date, then they can’t go.”

The main issue for not attending prom is the lack of a date. To resolve the pressure of making prom a night of romantic innuendos, some students bring friends to prom and clarify their boundaries before attending the event.

“My date and I are just going as friends,” said Yekrang. “We both wanted one, so we figured, why not?”

However, Strojny feels that “nowadays it is hard to bring a friend to prom because they are expected to ask you in this romantic way, which is awkward if you are just friends,” so going as friends can never really be just “as friends.”

From from papier-mâché decorations and sundresses to the modern glitter, glitz, and glamour, prom has evolved from a simply sweet social gathering to a night of extravagance over the past century.

Boston victims could have been you

By Dominic Gialdini Staff Writer

A restaurant manager. A graduate student.

An 8-year-old boy who just wanted peace.

Three young individuals robbed of their lives.

Dead.

The tragic fates of three innocent bystanders at the Boston Marathon is a stunning reminder that at at any given moment of any given day, someone’s life can senselessly be taken away.

Krystle Campbell, Martin Richard, and Lü Lingzi had chosen pathways in life that would have provided them with the opportunities for brighter futures. However, they will never realize their full potentials because they have

protects us from being killed by someone.

Although we like to maintain such a mentality, it is imperative that we realize that we are all mortal and that nobody is safe from death.

With that said, people shouldn’t live in fear.

Rather, they should always remind themselves that life is a gift and that they should be thankful for every moment of it because they never know when their time will come.

Don’t put off what you want to do for later.

You never know what hand will be dealt to you by life, and it would be awfully tragic if you waited too long to make something of the limited time that you do have.

Fun Page Talk Back: What are Horoscopes you doing to prepare

for the AP tests?

“What are the AP tests doing to prepare for me?”

- Sandip Srinivas, ‘14

“I am reviewing flash cards, my outlines, and some websites.”

- Angelica Gutierrez, ‘14

Page 17

By Scott Schulze Staff Writer

Aries - (March 21 - April 19) You will be more focused on your school work and put more effort into everything you do this month.

Taurus - (April 20 - May 20) This month you will feel better about who you are. There is no reason to worry about what other people think.

Gemini - (May 21 - June 20) Spend extra time with your friends and family this month. If you can’t, give them a call.

Cancer - (June 21 - July 22) Try to control your emotions. Think longer before you do or say things you may regret.

Leo - (July 23 - Aug. 22) If conflicts arise, try to solve them as soon as you can. Do not let them escalate more than they should.

Virgo - (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) Your luck will be at its peak this month.

Libra - (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) Try to do your best at everything you can this month, but do not get caught up with perfection.

Scorpio - (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) Try to be outgoing by meeting new people and eating lunch in a different location.

Sagittarius - (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Try something new this month. If a new opportunity pops up, see if it sounds fun to you.

Capricorn - (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) Set a goal for yourself this month and work hard to complete it.

Aquarius - (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) This month you will feel a little more flirtatious than you normally do.

Pisces - (Feb. 19 - March 20) Try to be more decisive this month and let your imagination run free.

Fun Facts A whale’s fart bubbles are large enough to enclose a horse.

Walt Disney was a high school dropout and was fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”

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Page 18

Sports

Nutrition key to athletic success

By Tim Layten Staff Writer It is not just about practicing and the pre-game speeches that athletes need in order to perform well. Nutrition is a key essential for athletes in order to be at the top of their game, especially high school athletes that are still growing.

Playing sports requires a lot of energy, it is important to be eating enough calories in between practice and competition.

According to Livestrong.com, the amount of calories that athletes who exercise consistently every day depends on several factors. The three main factors include an athlete’s metabolic rate, their weight, and their height. The average high school athlete should consume at least 3,000 calories per day.

Senior Andrew Cardozo has played water polo since his freshmen year and takes his nutritional values very seriously.

“I think nutrition is definitely a big factor. What you eat definitely has a big impact on how you play.”

Two days before he has a water polo match, Cardozo eats a heavy protein meal, and then the day before he eats a heavy carbohydrate meal. Cardozo believes that what you eat should never be ignored if you are competitive athlete despite how hard you work.

“It doesn’t matter how much you practice, if you don’t stay healthy, you’re gonna go downhill.”

Sophomore soccer player Brandon Cushieri is also a firm

Carbs Carbs are the body’s powerhouse fuel. Without adequate carbs, athletes will l;ack energy, experience muscle fatigue, think less clearly and be unable to work ar high intensity.

Recover Immediately Eating and drinking after workouts is essential to replenish muscle carbohydrate, repair muscles and restore fluids and electrolytes. Sustances with high amounts of protein are ideal.

Photo by Karenna Meredith

believer in eating right. He restricts himself from eating a lot of sugar and drinking soda.

“I used to drink soda and eat a lot of candy, then at the beginning of my freshmen year, I started to see if I stopped doing that it would probably reverse a lot of bad things that I noticed when I played.”

Cushieri likes to have pasta and salad before his soccer games.

Freshman track athlete, Gabrielle Dimick knows she has to keep up with her nutrition on a day to day basis as well as training hard.

“I think it’s important to balance both nutrition and training, especially for distance runners, before a race they should

Nutrition Tips

Nutrition tips and photo from “Stack” magazine

eat healthy because you don’t want to throw up during your race.”

As a young female athlete, Dimick also believes eating a lot of carbohydrates and proteins prior to competing.

“I eat carbs before I compete and the day of a race I eat something light like oatmeal.”

Freshman football player and track athlete Sami Makaffi has similar essentials for both football season and track season.

“I have seen some people that don’t eat enough before football games, and you can tell they look tired and don’t want to try as hard.”

Makaafi notices how weak he feels if he doesn’t hydrate or eat enough calories before track meets.

“If I don’t drink enough water or eat any power bars then I usually feel tired and can’t focus enough.”

Nutrition does not only affect an individual athlete, it can affect the the team as a whole during games.

“You can tell when someone eats poorly and it affects the way they play, which causes the rest of the team to pick up the slack during a game,” stated Cardozo.

Every athlete has their own opinion on their nutrition and their own personal routine of what they eat before practice and before they compete. It can have a different impact depending on the type of athlete and what sport they play.

Whether you are playing football or running track, you have to make sure you eat right and get enough hydration and sleep in order to perform at maximum.

Hydration Limit your sugar and salt intake before and after matches.

Hydrte often before, during and after each practice and game.

If you are thirsty, its too late.

Training your stomach Gradually increase your daily intake of the recommended substances in order to avoid stomach issues or bloating. Also try to eat at least 2 hours before activities.

Sports

Page 19

Athlete of the month: Nico Camerino

By Ivan Garin Staff Writer

This season the boys varsity swim team has made great improvements. For the first time in almost ten years, the team is expected to be PAL league champions. A lot of this recent success can be attributed to sophomore all star Nico Camerino, this month’s top student athlete.

Camerino started swimming at the age of 12, a relative newcomer in a sport where most successful athletes start before they turn eight.

His hard work translated to immediate success, and he has been making waves since.

Since he started swimming, Camerino has overcome immense obstacles yet remains one of the top swimmers in the nation. With a height of 5’6, Camerino is oftentimes a full

head shorter than those swimming next to him.

“Sometimes when I’m swimming next to someone much bigger than me, I can tell they don’t take me so seriously. I ignore it because it really doesn’t matter who is bigger, it’s who finishes first,” said Camerino.

Along with his height disadvantage, Camerino suffers from asthma. In a sport where oxygen intake is the only way to survive, he is oftentimes unable to breathe.

Since freshman year at Carlmont swimming, Camerino has been a vital addition to the team. As a freshman, he set junior varsity records in the 100 free and 200 medley relay at PALs. He is also seen as a leader by many of his teammates. “Nico is always the first one in

and the last one out. He is the one that is always motivating us as a team and is kind of like the glue that holds the boys varsity team together,” said varsity teammate Trevor Weden.

After last year’s successful season, Camerino has made big improvements. In a dual meet versus Mills, he had an incredible race in the 200 free against his rival, Jake Lin, and finished a mere two hundredths of a second ahead of him. His time of 1:48 is less than a second away from the Carlmont record.

Along with that, he is currently ranked third among all sophomores at CCS in the 200 free.

“This year I want to win PALs in the 100 free and 200 IM against last year’s champion.

Also I want to make finals at CCS in the 200

free while getting the school record in it as well.” said Camerino.

Camerino credits his success in the pool to his hard work and dedication, something that has also helped him achieve high grades and test scores.

This past semester he finished with an outstanding 4.5 GPA. Next year he plans on taking six AP classes and continue being on the honor roll for the rest of his high school career. His college choices include Stanford, Harvard, and Berkeley, all schools with a division one swimming program.

Camerino has high expectations for the rest of his swimming career at Carlmont. He plans on breaking as many varsity records as he can and take his swimming talents to a top ten ranked swimming college. With his high grades and impressive swimming talents, he is sure to continue making waves for a long time.

“Sometimes when I’m swimming next to someone much bigger than me, I can tell they don’t take me so seriously. I ignore it because it really doesn’t matter who is bigger, it’s who finishes first.” ~Nico Camerino~ Photo by Lisa Staton

Photo by Gianna Dimmick

A day in the life of an athlete

Cross country runner Mark Vingralek sheds light on his dedicated lifestyle

By Daniel Wang Staff Writer Many students at Carlmont find it stressful enough just dealing with academics, but Mark Vingralek has a lot more on his plate than just school.

Sporting a 4:28 mile, sophomore runner Mark Vingralek has proven himself to be one of the quickest long distance runners at Carlmont.

However, this accomplishment doesn’t come easily for the running star. To maintain his incredibly fast speed for many laps, Vingralek has to train hard day in and day out.

Vingralek’s track teammate Sami Makaafi said, “Mark Vingralek loves to train and eat nutritiously, which is why he’s so fast.”

When the season rolls around, Vingralek trains very hard to stay in shape for competitions.

“In the afternoon, I run a workout of some kind depending on the day of the week. I run at six in the morning on the weekends too,” Vingralek said.

On Mondays, Vingralek usually does a tempo run, but for the rest of the week, the workouts are randomly scheduled.

“In a tempo run, you run 3 or 4 miles starting out at an easy pace and pick it up and go really fast at the end,” Vingralek said.

On the other hand, “a track workout is where we do mile repeats at five minutes a mile with a couple minutes rest,” according to Vingralek.

Running a five-minute mile is extremely difficult for many high schoolers, but Mark is able to run at that speed repeatedly. This, in part, is also due to weight-lifting.

Mark often goes to the gym after his workout. “After running I usually do weights at my gym for a couple hours to work on strength to help running faster,” Vingralek said.

By lifting weights, Vingralek works out his leg and core muscles among others, which help him maintain his speed.

During the offseason, which consists of the summer and December to the end of January, Vingralek still trains with his cross country teammates.

“In the offseason, I also run twice a day to build strength for the upcoming season,” Vingralek said.

In addition to the track workouts and tempo runs he does in the afternoon, Vin-

gralek also runs at six in the morning for “an easy five miles or so during the offseason,” according to Vingralek.

Another major reason for Vingralek’s running prowess is due to nutrition.

Vingralek said, “I try to eat a lot of lean protein and complex carbohydrates, because sugars and fats and make you feel tired.”

According to Fitday, a website that covers the topic of nutrition, lean proteins are key to muscle recovery, while carbohydrates provide energy for workouts, which are two essential nutrients for devoted long distance runners.

The combination of dedication, training, and nutrition has made Vingralek into a very fast runner. However, all this training has a downside, too.

“Some days I might not get home until like 8 or 8:30 when I run and do gym work,” Vingralek said.

Mark Vingralek takes a few warmup laps

Mark and his Carlmont teammates celebrate after winning CCS in Salinas, CA.

After a five-hour workout, Vingralek has to come home, late at night, to a load of homework, which is a huge problem for many dedicated student-athletes such as Vingralek.

However, Vingralek says the homework isn’t always a problem, because on days he doesn’t lift weights he could get home by 6:30. Then, he has ample time to finish his schoolwork.

Vingralek plans to continue running after high school and beyond. “My main goal is to get a scholarship my senior year from running,” the sophomore runner said.

When asked about Vingralek, cross country teammate James Schulte, junior, said, “Mark is an exceptional athlete due to his intense dedication towards the sport of running and only accepts the best from himself. He is extremely passionate about running and has worked hard to be at the level he is at.”

“Mark Vingralek loves to train and eat nutritiously, which is why he’s so fast.” ~ Sami Makaafi~

Photo by Karenna Meredith

Highlander file photo

“Yeah, I use it more. I think it is easier to use and the water is cleaner.”

-Noor Dahbour, freshmen

The fountain head streams out water in a thin, straight flow to help prevent water from touching the lid and makes it easier to fill your water bottle all the way to the top.

Gobaltap is the compay that distributes these easy, clean drinking fountains.

You may recognize Globaltap’s water fountains because they are located all around San Francisco.

Do you use the new water fountain by the student union?

YES

To prevent messes, there is a drain at the bottom that recycles the water.

I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS THERE

37%

28% NO 35% If you scan this barcode with your smart phone, you will be taken to the Globaltap website!

By Alex Porter Managing Editor