May2017 by The Burlingame B Newspaper

THE BURLINGAME B theburlingameb.org

May 26, 2017

What’s Inside?

Jordan and U.S. women’s futsal team win World Cup PHOTO COURTESY OF JILLIAN JORDAN

Issue 7 Vol. 108

Senior reporter Alex Lee interviews Burlingame University graduates.

Read about students who are going to college abroad or taking alternate paths.

Looking back on Principal Belzer’s first year

BY SOFIA GUERRA

Senior Reporter

Computer Science teacher The U.S. women’s futsal team celebrates their victory after their game against Australia. ifornia. Her hard work and talent then another cut for the team that Christina Wade wins BY PRISCILLA JIN have opened up several opportu- would travel to Spain for the world Senior Reporter Teacher of the Year. nities for her as a futsal player, in- cup,” Jordan said.

6-7 The Senior Map is here! See where the class of 2017 will be headed next year. Designed by Lena Banchero and Stella Lorence.

cluding the chance to play on three regional championship teams and three national championship teams. She has also traveled to Florida to play against other U.S. teams. Then in 2016, Jordan was invited to try out for the national team for the World Cup in Costa Brava, Spain. On Sunday, May 14, she traveled to Barcelona with the U.S. women’s national futsal team for the IFA Futsal World Cup. Jordan did not gain a spot on the team overnight. Through her hard work and experience, she was noticed by Roxy Kamal, who was a player on the national team. Jordan was invited by Kamal to train with the team. Once Kamal became the coach, she held tryouts for new players. “There were two rounds of cuts for the training pool and

After being selected for the team, Jordan began to train for the World Cup with the team. “We have been practicing three days a week for the last five months,” Jordan said. “We scrimmaged some male futsal teams and spend one day a week doing fitness such as weight lifting and agility work.” Jordan is grateful and awed by the opportunities that have been presented to her as a result of her love for futsal. “The experience my sport has brought has provided me with chances to play at a level I have never participated in before,” Jordan said. “This team will continue to grow from World Cup champions onto many more things, and the opportunity to be a part of it means everything to me.” PHOTO BY LILY PAGE

Editor-in-Chief Felicia Azzopardi examines the dangers of the popular Netflix series “13 Reasons Why”.

On Sunday, May 21, junior Jillian Jordan and the U.S. women’s national futsal team defeated Australia 2-1 to win the IFA Futsal World Cup in Costa Brava, Spain. The team consists of a wide array of ages, with their oldest player being 34 years old and their youngest being 16. Jordan is one of the youngest players and traveled with her team to compete for the World Cup. The team played extraordinarily well over the five days of the tournament, winning four of their five games and tying once. As the buzzer sounded to end their sixth and final game, Jordan and her teammates stormed onto the court, holding up the U.S. flag and cheering for their victory. Jordan, who has been playing futsal since 2011, started playing for the Burlingamer Sports Center in 2013, when she moved to Cal-

10 Check out the Senior Wills, a Burlingame B tradition to see to whom seniors will leave their sports or organizations to.

12 Read profiles of students attending college for sports and the arts.

The annual senior awards ceremony took place in the auditorium on Monday, May 22. Seniors, their families, and faculty gathered to recognize the class of 2017’s outstanding achievements. Awards were presented from community organizations, in subject areas, and by multiple booster groups. Above, senior Max Gaines recieves the On Track Lane scholarship from Ms. Carrie Lane. Read more about the ceremony, awards presented, the selection process and the senior winners themselves on Page 2, written by Staff Reporter Lily Page.

Principal Paul Belzer has made it his mission to spread a message of cooperation and openness since taking up the administration’s highest position on July 1, 2016. From prioritizing meetings with the Associated Student Body Council to establishing an open door policy and frequently walking among students, Belzer’s approach to administration has been student-oriented since day one as principal. Yet, after twenty years in education, he admits that having an individualized approach at a public high school is always a challenge. Every workday for the new administrator begins with emails involving a myriad of interests. “When you try to recognize and support the interests of 1,450 students and 70-80 faculty members, just trying to keep the bandwidth of doing the right thing and being in the right place in each individual moment can be an obstacle,” Belzer said of typical administrative struggles. In addition to the everyday challenges of an educational profession, he has learned that transferring to a different school requires a flexible administrative philosophy. “At one school I was the disciplinary, at another school I was kind of the easygoing assistant principal,” Belzer said of his evolving administrative roles at different schools. On the transition from Mills to Burlingame, Belzer said that, despite the similarities between the two schools, transferring means starting fresh from an expectational perspective. “There are a lot of differences in culture and where the students are coming from, and it’s really about trying to learn the intricacies and strengths and weaknesses of Burlingame,” Belzer said. While the district shares a certain amount of academic achievement and motivation in its students, Belzer believes that Burlingame has a tendency to “hang onto tradition, which can have positive and negative elements because it’s important to honor your history, but it’s also important to be in the moment and be more forward-thinking.”

See Belzer on page 2

News

Eyes on the prize: a recap of Senior Awards Night PHOTO BY LILY PAGE

Isabela Acenas receives a Burlingame Lions Club scholarship alongside Vanessa Chen, Larissa Qian, and Aislinn Gilmartin. BY LILY PAGE back to their communities even afStaff Reporter ter they got into college. It was this As “Survivor” champion Adam declaration on compassion and perKlein ambled onto the stage to sistence that set the tone for the rest receive the BHS Alumnus of the of the awards ceremony. Last Monday night, May 22, Year award, he modestly protested the grand but well-deserved intro- senior students walked out of the auditorium duction that preceded him. In his balloon-festooned clutching certificates laden with plaid shirt, and wide smile, Klein scholarships and prizes. It was Sespoke about his dedication to do charitable work throughout his high nior Awards Night, an event that school career (Relay for Life and celebrates diligence and passion American Cancer Society to name a within the student body. “We honor students for a range few of many). He ended his speech by stating that he would be happy of things,” Jonathan Dhyne, Colto see students continue to give lege and Financial Aid advisor, said.

Belzer continued from Page 1

“There are a bunch of awards that the faculty and staff decide on, like students that have excelled in different subjects, and then various scholarships: if you got an award from the Rotary Club or the Lions Club, you get it on [Senior] Awards Night. All the booster groups, like athletics, drama, music, offer scholarships, so we recognize those students too.” 125 students were celebrated for their wide-ranging achievements, from internships with local laboratories to National Merit finalists who placed within the top 5 percent of nationwide scores on the PSAT. Moreover, the aura of surprise lent the event an extra sense of wonder. Students were invited to Senior Awards Night not knowing which award they would receive. Regarding the social science Faculty Achievement Award winners (Andrew Chai and Tiffany Hua) and social science Parent Group Award winner (Benjamin Rosenberg), social science teacher Annie Miller said, “they represent great qualities of historians: curiosity, a love of learning, solid writing skills, and they care about the world.” Although Miller referenced this vigor in regards to social studies students, it applied to award recipients all across the board. Kevin

Cahua was the recipient of the Faculty and Staff Award, presented by counselor Karen Latham. “He’s demonstrated academic achievement, displayed outstanding citizenship at school, and also shown a true commitment to community service,” Latham explained during the awards ceremony. “He’s very capable, helpful, and tons of fun.” In addition, Isabela Acenas and Alexander Vina were presented with the Citizens Environmental Council of Burlingame award for actively instigating change within the Burlingame community concerning environmental issues. Katherine Brogan and Diana Daniels each received $500 scholarships from the San Francisco Aeronautical Society for writing essays about the China Clipper, an early airplane with extensive impact on aviation history. “That goes to show how many scholarships there are out there,” Dhyne said. Throughout the year, subject departments compiled lists of students that deserved recognition for their hard work. After information was obtained from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) that each student submitted, the Faculty Awards Committee

PHOTO BY MAGGIE MURDOFF

Teacher Adviser: Melissa Murphy Editors-in-Chief: Felicia Azzopardi Andrew Battat Charlie Jones

Business Manager: Renata Servulo Web Editor: Christopher Hu Chief Photographer: Jason Rundle

through spirit days. “He called me in one time to discuss how the freshmen were disconnected from the campus, so I could see how much he wanted to get input from students, especially since he goes into student council meetings every month and takes notes,” Samsami said. Since Belzer’s office is somewhat secluded compared to the office at Mills, he makes sure to walk among students during brunch, lunch, and passing periods and makes an extra effort to observe classes frequently. To keep himself from applying preconceived notions to the school, he emphasizes on learning the “culture, strengths, and operational norms” and making sure he is “sensitive and compassionate to what people have brought in this moment,” Belzer said. Belzer has come to the conclusion that there is somewhat of a divide among students because “there are students who are so academically motivated that stress is an issue ... but we also have students who maybe aren’t motivated enough.” This year’s Healthy Kids Survey revealed that less than a quarter of students surveyed (the classes of 2017 and 2019) felt that they

Copy Editor: Benjamin Rosenberg

Senior Reporters: Victorya Cintra Sofia Guerra Priscilla Jin Alex Lee Jilly Rolnick Staff Reporters: Juliet Adelman Sasha Benke Charles Chapman Mira Guleri James Lowdon Melissa Milligan Maggie Murdoff Lily Page Vishu Prathikanti Amanda Teoman Summer Utigard Daniel Yu Page Desingers: Lena Banchero Darrion Chen

meaningfully participated at school. Policy Statement: Belzer’s goal is to combat the pre- The Burlingame B is a student-run newspaper with the sole purpose of providing vailing nature among teens in gen- an open forum for student expression. Anything printed represents the opinion eral that steers students toward of the writer, but not necessarily that of the The Burlingame B staff, the admin“empty goals” like volunteering istration or faculty of Burlingame High School, or any person affiliated with the merely for college applications. A San Mateo Union High School District. The Burlingame B does not discriminate survey at Mills High School, which against race, political orientation, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or revealed that 80% of students turn disability. Although The Burlingame B will never refuse to publish student guest to peers in times of stress, is part submission based on the aforementioned factors, we reserve the right to edit or of what inspires Belzer to support not publish them. the new mental health initiative this year, which consists of wellness counselors, a new club, and a freshLetters to the Editor: man yoga program in physical edu- Disagree with the writers? Bring your letters to the room A120 or email them to cation classes. <theburlingameb@gmail.com>. Letters may be considered for publication. The While this year called for a tran- Burlingame B reserves the right to edit for clarity, length and accuracy. We welsition period marked by simply come all comments. getting to know students, there is room to grow regarding cultivating a more unified student culture that focuses on authentic goals based on “the experiences, the character, the relationships” that are formed at school, rather than strict academic achievement. “Any time you put competition into the mix, it makes for winners and losers,” Belzer On the next goal, Belzer said that “what we want to do is create a school culture where everybody can find a place and to find a cohesive Belzer wore a red graduation gown in March to explain to student set of values that respects all indi- council members his decision to promote solidarity through a singular viduals.” color on the class of 2017’s graduation gowns. PHOTO BY SOFIA GUERRA

When pressed for a specific example, however, Belzer found it difficult to name one. Looking back at traditions like graduation gown colors, he agrees that gender plays a role in school culture. The backlash caused by the decision to make all graduation gowns red was put to an end by his speech at a March student council meeting, in which the principal cited solidarity with the transgender community as one of the reasons behind his decision. Nevertheless, Belzer believes that observation and understanding are important regardless of a school’s history. Junior Jasmine Samsami, who serves as United Associated Student Body president for the San Mateo Union High School District, can speak to the great lengths Belzer goes to in order to establish a reliable presence in the school. “He talks to every group and goes to every single event,” Samsami said. “When he walks through the halls, he cannot get from one end to the other without talking to at least five students.” As the spirit commissioner, Samsami is one of the many students who has worked with Belzer to promote an overall goal of unity

decided who received the major scholarships. “It’s based on merit, and it’s based on need,” Italian teacher Antonella Wemple said. “So we try to match these, and then break up piles of money so that students get help.” To students that have worked tirelessly yet anticipate monetary difficulties regarding their future educational careers, these scholarships are the difference between pursuing higher education and entering the workforce. Like Klein noted at the beginning of the ceremony, giving back to the community is a worthwhile endeavor that benefits both parties involved. In the end, Senior Awards Night gave students the opportunity to reflect on their triumphs in the last four years, a symbolic “pat on the back,” according to Dhyne. As students exited the auditorium, they chattered and embraced one another in the full knowledge that they had positively impacted others in their community. “I’m happy to know that I’m making a difference in people’s lives and that I’m just able to put a smile on someone’s face every day,” Cahua said. “It feels good.”

The Burlingame B Staff

Design Editor: Stella Lorence

New staff members, including Principal Belzer, ran through a banner at the first rally of the year in September as they were welcomed to the staff for the 2016-2017 school year.

May 26, 2017

Features

May 26, 2017

Burlingame University graduates reflect on a successful four years Senior Reporter This year is an especially unique one for Burlingame University, BHS’ special education program. Burlingame University is a program for special ed students who have already graduated high school. A number of students have or will soon be graduating the program, and will be heading into the workplace to pursue a full-time job. A central aspect of Burlingame University’s mission is to prepare students for graduation and to help teach them the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. They accomplish this by using a variety of methods. They help current students find part-time jobs and teach them valuable skills like cooking

and networking so that these students will be prepared for full-time jobs after graduating the program. Travis McNutt is a former student at Burlingame University who graduated the program last December. He is currently working at the Home Depot. According to McNutt, his day-to-day routine is repetitive but enjoyable. “I wake up, and then I shower,” McNutt said. “After that, I take the bus to work. When I get to work, I clock in, and I get carts, direct customers to the right aisles, help people to their cars, and more. I like it all a lot. I definitely like the money, but I also like making new friends with coworkers and customers.” According to McNutt, one of the most memorable moments of PHOTO BY ALEX LEE

Burlingame University student Fernando Sanchez prepares to put dog treats and toys onto the shelves.

working was when he received his first paycheck from Home Depot. “I was like ‘what the heck. This is a ton,’” McNutt said. “I bought myself a new basketball jersey and a new hat. I’ve also saved up enough to buy a car, and I’m going to buy a Subaru very soon.” Eventually, however, McNutt aspires to move out of customer service and into a job where he can use his hands. “My dream job is to be a mechanic,” McNutt said. “I love car parts and being able to fix and create things.” McNutt graduated from Burlingame University in December, but there are even more students graduating at the end of this year. Joseph Langridge is one of these students. After graduation, he plans to begin working at Chili’s restaurant, where his friends and his brother work. “I’m going to be working at Chili’s,” Langridge said. “All of my homies are working there. My brother and dad are managers there, and a couple of my friends also work as waiters. We are going to be running that place.” McNutt and Langridge also plan to continue to make visits back to BGU. “I’m definitely going to come back because I’m going to miss everyone so much,” Langridge said. “I’m going to try and help out

PHOTO BY ALEX LEE

BY ALEX LEE

Burlingame University advisor Steven Meyer teaches student Peter Choy how to stock shelves at the PetFood Express. with some of the younger kids, as help us get a job or get us into unimuch as I can because I’ve got to versity. Jobs include kitchen work, give back. BGU has made me feel pharmacy, office work, and waremore confident in myself, and I’ve house work.” learned a lot.” Burlingame University director Andrew Bay is also a student at Jenna Smith recognizes that this Burlingame University who will be is a special moment for the entire graduating this year. He is current- program. ly working at Pet Food Express in “It’s two things,” Smith said. Burlingame but will be participating “I feel really happy for them and in a program after graduation that proud of the future they get to will help him find a full-time job. have, but a little piece of my heart “I’m going to be attending proj- goes out the door with each kid, ect search,” Bay said. “It’s a disabil- because I’ve had them all day every ity type program that helps get us day for three to four years.” out here in the real world; it can

AP classes work on creative projects after testing

BY JILLY ROLNICK

Senior Reporter

Following the College Board’s AP tests during the first two weeks of May, many AP classes choose to spend the last few weeks of the school year working on more creative activities. All AP classes have to follow the same curriculum nationwide leading up to these tests, but after early May, AP teachers have the flexibility to choose different activities in their classes. Students use skills they learned throughout the year on a myriad of projects, from music videos to pig dissections during the time remaining in the school year In both AP Calculus and AP Statistics, students have the option to make “math music videos.” For this project, students rewrite lyrics to popular songs or create original songs or skits to include material they have learned this year.

Calculus AB teacher Traci Kreppel has been doing this project for 15 years in her classes. Though the videos originally began as a serious calculus project, “slowly, over 15 years, it morphed into just a video project,” Kreppel said. “And so, we couldn’t fight it anymore.” Many students feel that this project helps them learn math in a more fun and creative way. “It’s a good way to review everything we have learned over the course of the year,” junior Kelsey Kuwahara said about the music videos. Math students and teachers alike are in agreement about the best part of the project: seeing everyone else’s video. “My favorite part of the project is getting to see students’ nonmathematical creative side” said Calculus BC teacher Erik Bennett. If students in AP Calculus AB wish to not make a video, they can

teach themselves a subject learned in AP Calculus BC instead. Similarly, students in AP statistics can instead conduct a survey using methods they learned throughout the year. Another popular project is the fetal pig dissection in AP biology. The project happens a week after the conclusion of the AP tests and can take several days. AP Biology teacher Michael Dunn has been dissecting fetal pigs in his class for four years, as long as he has taught the class, but says performing fetal pig dissections is a Burlingame tradition and has been taught at BHS for years. As humans and pigs are very similar, this project is somewhat of a physical representation of what the class has been studying throughout the year. “My favorite part [about the dissections] is how much students enjoy it… the first time I was surprised how much they enjoy it,”

Dunn said. “Most people have never done anything like it.” Although the project has a “gross factor,” as Dunn would say, the dissection is extremely popular among biology students. “I’ve dissected things before like a frog, a squid, and a grasshopper… [the fetal pig] is definitely my favorite,” junior Isabelle Metzcus said. Senior Gemma Collins’s favorite part of the projects is “getting hands on experience” and likes that the year’s work has culminated into something real. In addition to dissecting fetal pigs, the AP biology class also entertains guest speakers, such as someone who works in DNA sequencing, in the last couple weeks of school. The AP environmental science class is doing two interesting projects. The first is a sustainable school project where students identify aspects of the school to min-

imize Burlingame’s long-term environmental impact. Every group has a different area of focus at the school. The projects were presented in a way similar to TED Talks, with the students presenting in front of the class. “Some of the ideas were so smart and so useful in our daily lives that I think the school should take a look into [them]” junior Emily Shatz said. Shatz’s group focused on the area near the Burlingame Aquatic Center, practice field, and portables and proposed several ideas to improve the sustainability of the school such as implementing solar panels and starting a BHS garden. In the participating AP classes, these projects are meant to provide a creative outlet and lower stress for students and teachers in the midst of spring finals.

PHOTO BY JILLY ROLNICK

Right: Seniors Lorell Perillat and Gemma Collins and junior Isabelle Metzcus prepare their fetal pig, affectionately named “Lean Cuisine.”

Left: Juniors Sonia Popovic, Daniella Lyustin, and Robert Rochel edit their math music video for their AP Calculus BC class.

Left: Juniors Alexis Chu, Tiffany Jiang, and Emily Tam carefully dissect a fetal pig.

PHOTO BY JILLY ROLNICK

Right: Juniors Anais Macko and Nicole Malik film their music video to the tune of Hannah Montana’s song “Rockstar.”

Features

May 26, 2017

Seniors pursue international college options PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLIE ATKESON

Ireland and has been immersed in Irish culture from a young age and has always seen himself going to college there. “I’ve been to Ireland so many times, so I feel like it’s not going to be that difficult of a transition,” Howard said. “I have a lot of cousins and uncles and aunts back there. Ireland is my home away from here, so I’m not too afraid of that big move.” Because every country’s application process is different, some seniors know what country they will Senior Allie Atkeson will be attending University of St Andrews in Scotland. be going to school in, others have chosen to go to school but not which specifBY BENJAMIN ROSENBERG in an entirely unfamiliar country. ic university they will be attending. Copy Editor “I started looking at the U.K. Lisa Hayami moved to Burlingame While most students choose to because the system in Scotland is from Japan in eighth grade and will stay in the United States for college, very similar to the U.S.,” said Allie be returning to Japan for college. a growing number of seniors are Atkeson, who will attend the UniHowever, in Japan, students will considering international options. versity of St Andrews. “They’re finish high school in March 2018 There are a multitude of reasons both four-year systems. I knew that and start college in April, so Hayafor this trend, including cost, a de- I wanted to study international remi will be applying to colleges over sire to learn about other cultures or lations, so for me, it made sense to the summer. She knows she wants study in a particular area, and rees- do the U.K. system and just apply to go to school in the Tokyo area. tablishing a connection with family directly into a major, and then be Hayami’s parents will also be movorigins. secure in that place. It’s also really ing back to Japan for her father’s This year, 11 seniors are going to cost-effective to go to the U.K.” work. college abroad, in countries ranging Other students have more per“I consider both [the U.S. and from Canada to the United King- sonal connections to their countries Japan] home,” Hayami said. “It’s dom to Japan. Many either have and schools. Joseph Howard, who going to be a little bit lonely and sad family in their particular country or will be attending University Colto leave my friends here, but I’m were born there themselves, while lege Dublin in Ireland, has family in also excited to meet new people in

Japan.” Milla and Marcus Kanestrom, who are citizens of both the U.S. and Norway, are waiting to hear back from Norwegian universities, but are both likely to go to the University of Oslo. Because the Kanestroms are Norwegian citizens, college in Norway would be free for them, and they also have family in Norway with whom they wish to reconnect. They highlighted the focus on academics, rather than athletics and social life, as a hallmark of Norwegian universities. “Schools generally don’t have mascots, don’t have football teams,” Milla said. “It’s very much academic based. There’s a big focus on learning and research and less of a focus on sports and community. University is definitely an academic endeavor more than it is a social one. I take academics seriously. I want to major in bioengineering, and having the opportunity to work in these labs that have a ton of funding is an opportunity I wouldn’t have here.” Like Hayami and Howard, Milla and Marcus are very familiar with the country in which they will be studying and do not expect the transition to be difficult. “I do have a lot of friends in Norway, but first was being close to family,” Marcus said. “Experiencing the whole European culture more in-depth and actually having my own place there would be new and interesting.” Some students who have lived in Burlingame their entire lives, such as Peter Anders, simply wanted a change. Anders will not be very far

from the Bay Area, at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, but it is a different culture nonetheless and an adjustment from living in the U.S. “They have a really nice cognitive studies program and a really nice writing program, both of which I was thinking of going into,” Anders said. “I’m not entirely sure what I want to major in yet, so it’s nice to have those options. The number one appeal was that it was different; I get to go on my own adventure. I wanted to do something very different.” According to college and career advisor Jonathan Dhyne, 11 seniors are going to college abroad from the class of 2017, compared to five last year, two in 2015, and four in 2014. This increase is due to a variety of factors, including the rising cost of attending American colleges. Many of the students going abroad also cited the focus on a particular area of study, rather than general education, as a factor in their decision. “We have a lot of liberal arts schools here [in the U.S.], and you get a chance to explore your interest and take different classes and figure out what you want to do later on,” Hayami said. “In Japan, you have specific, small schools within the university where you study only one thing. You can study law, medicine, science, specific professional topics. You’re more committed to one [area of study].” A complete list of seniors going to college internationally can be found in the Senior Map on pages 6-7.

Seniors taking alternative paths after graduation While the majority of Burlingame’s graduating seniors will be working or attending college next year, a few of the senior class will be taking alternative paths to pursue their long-term career goals. One student, Taylor Cotchett, will be spending time abroad in India for three months and then travel to another country, possibly in Africa, for the following three months. Cotchett said that her plans after college have evolved since she began thinking of it freshman year. “I never expected that I’d do something like this,” Cotchett said. “All my friends in freshman and sophomore year were already looking into what college they would be attending, and I had an older sister who was a senior when I was a freshman, so I saw her go through the whole college process. I always expected I would be going to college immediately out of high school.” Cotchett said, however, that beginning her senior year she experienced a lack of motivation and realized she wanted time to collect herself between high school and college, so she began researching gap year programs. She said that not applying to college her senior year was a major relief; although, she did, at times, feel excluded from all the chaos her classmates were experiencing. Cotchett is traveling with Global Leadership Adventures, a volunteering program she has traveled with in the past. Through the program, she has fostered her love for helping others and discovered the value of travel. “I think exposing yourself to new cultures is so important,” Cotchett said. “If you travel while you’re young, that will give you a greater appreciation of life.”

Cotchett also mentioned that her time in India will be spent without internet connection. Additionally, in the first three months, the program will have mentors teaching her to travel independently so that when she travels to Africa, she can venture alone. In the long-term, Cotchett hopes to pursue work that involves helping the environment and those around her and allows her to garner a broader understanding of the world. As of now, she plans to return to school in one year, but she is open to changing her plans if another opportunity arises. If she were to advise rising seniors, she would encourage them to not feel obligated to go to college just because others are. “Keep your options open, observe how you’re doing in school— your motivation towards it,” Cotchett said. “If you feel that you will fit well going straight into college after high school and you think you’re ready, then do it. But if you’re not, then that’s totally okay. Don’t feel bad; if you need more time, take it.” Another senior, Dejanay Briseño, will be creating her own path by joining the Navy next fall. Briseño transferred to BHS at the end of her junior year, so the Burlingame norm of going straight to a four-year college out of high school did not push her to apply to colleges as much as it may have done for others. “Burlingame actually opened my eyes to new options because freshman through junior year I wasn’t thinking about after high school,” Briseño said. “And when I finally got the chance to, I found options besides college.” She said that she had been thinking of joining the Navy since she was young; the diverse opportunities intrigued her, and her father had also been a marine. Additional-

ly, the Navy seemed practical financially when compared to a traditional four year college. “I might have been in debt in college, but the military can give me a free education,” she said. Briseño will be leaving for Chicago on September 19 to go to Navy boot camp for four months and will then be stationed shortly after. The final two months will prepare her for the specific job she chose in the Navy based on her score on the placement test. Briseño will work as a machinist mate, which requires Navy members to operate, maintain, and repair equipment and machinery. She hopes that this engineering job will push her to see what she is capable of. Being exposed to tools and machinery will be foreign to her, and teach her about herself and maybe give her an idea of what her job as-

pirations are further down the road. Another appeal of the Navy to her was being able to travel and meet new people. “I wanted to leave California for a while, so being in Chicago for a few months, I will be able to do that,” Briseño said. Briseño advises underclassmen and rising seniors to know what they want to do after high school and commit to their choice. “Once you’re committed, other people may try and sway you, but you have to stay true to your Senior Dejanay Briseño smiles for her Navy decision,” she said. ID picture. She will be joining the Navy

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEJANAY BRISENO

BY MIRA GULERI Staff Reporter

after graduation.

Features

May 26, 2017

PHOTO BY DARRION CHEN

Burlingame Dragons FC shoots for Christina Wade named goals and community outreach Teacher of the Year

The Jonestown massacre: a national tragedy with local roots “initially, he was a force for good,” and that he was considered a savior for the African American community. This attracted many idealistic youths who saw the group as a force for good and a chance for a new social order. Many of these youths lived in the Bay Area, as the group’s location exposed them to his teachings. Kislingbury’s classmate and close friend Jeanette Goodwin wrote in a memorial to Kislingbury that she “was always soul searching - trying to find her purpose in life and felt bad for the underdog.” Kislingbury was closely aligned with the beliefs of many in the group; researchers at San Diego State University assert that many “were idealists trying to create a perfect society.” Kislingbury was described as deeply caring and not wanting to be “materialistic and showy” according to Goodwin. Many in the group were similar, championing social and economic equality and seeing Jones as a facilitator for these goals. Many involved in local government supported the group and were hesitant to criticize the actions of the leader because the organization’s values were root-

ed in beliefs the community shared. The move to Guyana in 1977, the last location of the People’s Temple, was motivated by Jones’ desire for isolation where he and his followers could implement the ideas he had been preaching. Concern about those within the People’s Temple group began to intensify after the move to Guyana, causing a group of relatives of certain individuals within the compound who were concerned with the situation to form the aptly named organization, “The Concerned Relatives. The group made claims of armed guards stationed to prohibit people from leaving and complete authoritarian rule under Jones with no room for opposing opinions or actions. The group also warned of mock mass suicides, where group members were taught that such an act could be ordered in response to what Jones saw as “harassment.” Goodwin reported similarly regarding Kislingbury in her writings, saying, “[Kislingbury] was not allowed to talk to me or she would get punished,” immediately prior to the move to Guyana. On November 17, 1978 a con-

Wade (3rd from left) poses with the Burlingame Intermediate School’s winner Andre Monney at the BurlingameRotary Club. gressional delegation led by Rep. Leo J. Ryan that included journalists and photographers arrived in Guyana to survey the situation. Jackie Speier, the current Representative for the San Francisco Bay Area, was present on the trip before her time as congresswoman serving as legal counsel for Rep. Leo J. Ryan. The group, after waiting for permission, was allowed to enter the compound and interview those inside. A considerable amount of people within the compound requested to leave with the delegation to return to the United States. With those who chose to leave, the delegation returned to the airfield on November 18. Upon returning, the delegation was ambushed by members of the People’s Temple. Rep. Leo J Ryan and four others were killed; Rep. Speier was shot five times. The Concerned Relatives’ greatest fear became a reality in the time immediately after the ambush at the airfield. Jones ordered all members to consumer cyanide-laced punch, with children receiving the poison through syringes. Those who refused were shot by armed guards

with a few escaping into the jungle. Kislingbury, like many other in the group, entered with hope of a new society, centered on racial and economic equality. What began as a utopian community became a society that acted at the will of Jones, whose charismatic attributes shielded his followers from his potential for evil. PHOTO COURTESY OF CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BY CHARLES CHAPMAN Staff Reporter In November 1978, Jim Jones, leader of the radical leftist People’s Temple cult, convinced 909 of his members to commit suicide. Among those who committed suicide was Mills High School alumna Sharon Jean Kislingbury. Kislingbury was a victim of the cult’s mass suicide at age 22, four years after graduating. The massacre was the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act, until the September 11 attacks. The group originally was established out of an Indiana-based Methodist Church and moved to Northern California in the early 1970’s after Jones sounded cries of a new socialist order that could be established. Jones preached that salvation from the evils of America was found in socialism, telling his followers, “If you’re born in capitalist America, racist America, fascist America, then you’re born in sin. But if you’re born in socialism, you’re not born in sin.” The rhetoric of the group was rooted in equality. The New York Times asserted that

Every year, the Burlingame Rotary Club sponsors an award that recognizes the work of teachers. Burlingame High School teachers nominate and then select each year’s winner. This year, Christina Wade was the recipient of the award. “She was awarded primarily because of all of her hard work (and success) in bringing computer science and robotics to BHS and the District,” assistant principal Terrence Lien said. Wade teaches accelerated math and the introductory and AP Computer Science classes. 3 years ago, the San Mateo Union High School District did not offer computer science courses. Working together with Lisa Kossiver from Aragon High School, Wade and Kossiver created their own curriculum to teach Java to the students of SMUHSD. At first, they only offered the AP Computer Science course, but starting last year, they added an introductory computer science course called Principles of Computer Science. “It has been so satisfying seeing the hard work of starting a computer science and robotics program here at BHS pay off,” Wade said. “So many of our students are now going into STEM fields. Many of them come back to visit and are so thankful they had the opportunity to be exposed to computer science and robotics. I am so proud of my students and of the program. My goal as a teacher has always been to help students open their minds to what is possible and believe in themselves enough to push themselves to take risks and aim high. It is so rewarding to see the program grow and have more students decide that they are go-

ing to major in CS or engineering. Even though there are challenges, the students are passionate about STEM and becoming a leader in their community.” Wade is well liked by students who know her. Junior Isabel Dominik is in Wade’s AP Computer Science class and an active member of the Robotics Team. “She tirelessly teaches classes, organizes the California Scholarship Federation, and coaches robotics which are each a big responsibility and a lot of work,” Dominik said. “Despite having a family, she continues to stay involved and close to her students throughout the year.” In addition to teaching, Wade also manages the Burlingame robotics team, the Iron Panthers. Started in 2014, the Iron Panthers qualified for the First Robotics World Championships this year, which was a big achievement for the team. Everybody on the team values the hard work that Wade puts into pushing the team forward. Junior Serena Haddad is a member of the robotics team and was the coach for the drive team this year. “During our trip to Houston Championships for robotics, Ms. Wade organized flights, hotels, food and much more with some help from other parents. She sacrificed her time to help support us and organize activities for us. In addition to all of this, she always makes sure everyone is doing alright and is always open to counsel others who may be stressed. One day during our trip to Houston, the drive team was having a rough morning and she went out of her way to buy us breakfast that would help us manage through the day,” Haddad said. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROTARY CLUB

The Burlingame Dragons (striped) played the Fresno Fuego (white) on May 14 at the BHS field. BY DARRION CHEN resolve this year. School, said. “Their games are great Staff Reporter “Though we play on Burlin- place for weekend hangouts.” HasThe Burlingame Dragons soccer game High School’s field, it’s hard kell was in attendence at the May 14 team charged into its new season to get high schoolers attracted to game. Wayne Hardy, who is a first-year earlier this month with high aims of our games, since we play in the sumwinning the league and also reach- mer, when all the students are out member of the team, plays as goaling out and becoming a larger part of school,” team president Jordan keeper and recently made the team Gardner said. “The youth events at during open tryouts. “I am really of the Burlingame community. The Dragons play in the Pro- the end of May are for players un- excited and honored to be on the team, especially under the leaderfessional Development League, der the ages of seven and eight.” The Dragons will be hosting ship of Joe Cannon,” Hardy said. competing against other league Recently, the Dragons anteams like Fresno, San Francisco, their annual Torch Cup in May, a tournament focused towards youth nounced Joe Cannon as the new and Orange County. The PDL is coach. Cannon was a former goalthe fourth-tier league, under the soccer players. “It is important to reach out to keeper for the U.S. National Team United Soccer League and Major the youth league and give them a and the San Jose Earthquakes, League Soccer. The Dragons have chance to play,” Gardner said. and was recently inducted into the previously taken first and second in These outreach events in the Earthquakes Hall of Fame. the league in 2015 and 2016, respecOther than the goal of winning tively. In the past few years, several past have proven successful, attracting many youth teams and fans. the league, Cannon also stressed his Burlingame Dragons players have At the recent home game against goal of making an impact on the been moved up into higher leagues Fresno at Burlingame High School, Burlingame community. like the USL and MLS. “We aim to be part of the comSo far this season, the Burlin- many promotions were scattered throughout the event. These includmunity, in terms of the name and game Dragons have played 3 games ed free food, a castle bounce house, the theme of Burlingame,” Cannon in the league, with a record of 0-21, with a recent home defeat on and competitions with generous said. “The soccer part is small, and giveaways. The Burlingame Drag- it is more important to make relaMay 14 against the Fresno Fuego. With the Burlingame High ons’ mascot, a smiling green dragon tionships, and be an important pilSchool field as their home field, the named Torch, was also present at lar in Burlingame.” The Dragons will be playing Dragons do not play far from the the game, playing with young soctheir next home game at Burlinpopular Burlingame commercial cer players. “I like the team because it’s so game High School stadium on June district. However, lagging commulocal,” Tilly Haskell, a fifth grade 9th, at 7 p.m. Tickets are 12 dollars, nity outreach is still reportedly a problem that the Dragons want to student at Roosevelt Elementary which include a free burger.

BY DANIEL YU Staff Reporter

Sharon Jean Kislingbury, of Mills High School, one of the 909 American citizens that died in Jonestown, Guyana.

7 1 0 2

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

California State University, Chico Jamie Carey Haley Koenig Atley Sakamoto Alexander Vina Emily Williams Cabrillo College Haley O’Shea Cañada College Jalyn Basconcillo Naji Haddad Antonio Xuereb College of San Mateo Nuha Alhindi Daniel Alvarado Victor Alves Beatriz Araujo Xiomara Alban Alyssa Alindogan Kylie Balich Joel Bastidas Leon Bat-Erdene Battur Mateo Beacon Cudos Briana Cabrera Jackson Cabreros Arturo Castro-Franco Emily Chiesa Gemma Collins Nicole Condon Cecilia Cordero Arman Dizadji Murat Dincer Sophie Durham Salema Elgelda Brent Fahy Max Gaines Thomas Goodwill Annalise Harper Matthew Jiron Bridget Kelly Chan Kim Salimah Khan Strahinja Kovacevic Stephanie Kum Aliyah Lago Carla Lakah Chelsea Lopez Jalen Lutu Michael Martinelli Annabelle McAlindon Brandon McAllister Mary McAlorum Nicole Mills Dunning Arturo Molina Rios Kenari Nichols Alexander Oliyai Hero Orotea Lilliana Ortiz Ana Palu

Arlene Peraza Noah Pereira Renee Perez Francesca Quilici Karen Rios Cole Romero Aileen Rosales Vilma Rusley Sean Russell Szymon Ryng Sean Saunders Cameron Serran Gianna Solari Samaa Srouji Johannes Stoppler Christopher Suarez Priscila Tapia Trisha Tuvera Nicole Unger Jason Va’avaai Christian Villasenor Christiani Veimau Earen Villa Brunna Vinhal Jonathan Xolocotzi Cinta Aveda Cosmetology Institute Amanda Da Silva City College of San Francisco Jazmine Williams De Anza College Sean Tamturk Dominican University of California Lauren Thomas Foothill College Alejandra Laureano Mills College Alana Mendoza San Francisco State University Haley Crowell Angelina Dempsey Jacklyn Jajeh Cameron Pena Samantha White Julia Servulo Humboldt State University Gabriel Kim Josephine Licavoli Jack Phillips Saint Mary’s College of California Isabella Hernandez San Jose State University Ashley Bianchi DJ Capps Lucca Del Chiaro Walter Zhao Santa Clara University Gray Goodman Justin Ling Alexander Pratt

Spencer Pratt Alexander Varni Ian Wong Skyline College Anna Kleinekorte Paul Ferrari Derek Flowers Kayla McLoughlin Sonoma State University Emily Azzaria Andre-Marc Destree Katherine Lunsford Jack Thornton Stanford University Alexander Lee Elena Mosse Lucas Orts University of California, Berkeley Nicole Chin Gracie Kober Melissa Milligan Rohan Nath Rebecca Pei Kaeley Rollins Tyler Vanderley Lukas Viskanta University of California, Davis Felicia Azzopardi Vanessa Chen Lillian Cheung Hannah de la Calle Tiffany Hua Nadine Pickering Solomon Ventura Dione Wat University of California, Santa Cruz Gizem Akildiz Ivan Alvaro Michael Andrew Drew Ehrlich Roanan McCaa Truls Prather Renata Servulo Sarah Singer Carolyn Tang University of San Francisco Aislinn Gilmartin Sarah Intrieri Veronica Mah University of the Pacific Kevin Hee San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology Valeria Begazo West Valley College Mitchell DeMartini

365 members of the senior class 1. WASHINGTON

Gonzaga University Katherine Kawaguchi-Chu University of Puget Sound Lorell Perillat University of Washington Rachel Battersby David Craig Rachel Mellman Mollie Sobel Washington State University Jackson Whittaker Seattle University Serena Nash

Santa Monica College Nevin Alexander University of California, Irvine Katherine Brogan Vienna Wu University of California, Los Angeles Dana Aboukhalil Andrew Battat Erika Higuchi Jasper Kamb Cheryl Lee Hanna Rashidi Matthew Woods University of California, Riverside Shawna Ho Dominic Lee University of California, San Diego Easton Cullen Valerie Hon Jessica Orford Kevin Taggart University of California, Santa Barbara Aastha Adhikari Kevin Cahua Jack Cauchi Ariana Ebling Ariel Hsieh Brice Redmond Dylan Teahan Erin Woo Megan Yeager University of Redlands Brandon Beswick Kalli Vellis University of Southern California Oscar Bashaw Rebecca Ezersky Madelyn Levine Joseph Michael Dara Phung Larissa Qian

2. OREGON

10. wisconsin 12. michigan 18. massachusetts

Reed College Sonia Varah University of Oregon Elyssa Alfi Ethan Eliason Benjamin Gardner Justin Murphy Sean Privitera Kyra Novitzky Lewis & Clark College Tyler Gannon Willamette University Ashlin Pellegrini

University of Wisconsin, Madison Jack Baker Jacob Cohen Samantha Epstein Aidan Faust Lucas Flygare

University of Michigan Zachary Israelit Katherine Jenkins Julia Klein Amanda Teoman

Amherst College Diana Daniels Berklee College of Music Roxanne Urbani Boston University Jason Rundle Northeastern University Fiona Zhao

11. ILLINOIS

6. minnesota

DePaul University Declan Lighthouse Northwestern University Benjamin Rosenberg University of Chicago Leland Pereira

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Alysse La Mond

17. new york Columbia University John Kershner Cornell University Andrew Chai Priya Patel Fordham University Meredith Nash Hofstra University Linnea Visbal SUNY College at Cortland Marie Manh Vassar College Charles Jones New York University Isabela Acenas Ithaca College Shane Audet Jack Cody Pace University, New York City Emma DiCesare Cole Friedlander

1 2

southern california

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Solena Aguilar Sophia Bonk Maggie Chang Madison Fawcett Robert Harrigan Michael Johnson Ashley Kall Elliot Kane Kate Karson Leilani Recio-Butler Sydney Lee Julian Scigliano Sophia Shapiro California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Tesia Cheung California State University, Channel Islands Oliver Hawkins Jema Saldajeno Chapman University Gabrielle Bechwati Aashish Bhattarai Matthew Dahlberg Jackie Greene Alexander Gumas Maggie Johnson Sydney Kaufman Claremont McKenna College Christopher Hu Loyola Marymount University Jackson Post San Diego State University Logan Aitken Mariana Cardenas Pereira Audrey Oliver Claire Yballa Santa Barbara City College Alana Hroziencik

7 4

11 13

17 16 14

16. pennsylvania

3 5

18 19

Carnegie Mellon University Lena Banchero Drexel University Michael Adams Villanova University Daniel Diana Pennsylvania State University Erick Liu

19. connecticut University of New Haven Samantha Hale

7. iowa Grinnell College Emily Everson

3. arizona The University of Arizona Branden Abuyaghi Christopher Malatesta Lexi Monych Riley With Grand Canyon University Colin Smith

8. missouri 5. texas Baylor University Taylor Navas Texas Christian University Eric Hirth

4. colorado 9. louisiana

Colorado State University Lucas Avillez University of Colorado at Boulder Rachel Solomon Matthew Janc

Tulane University Sloan Cimmet William Karp

Washington University in St. Louis Benjamin Haber

13. indiana Butler University Elexi Kourtoglou Purdue University Brandon Chen Nicolas Sersch Indiana University at Bloomington Antonio Verrico University of Notre Dame Cristina Ribera

14. virginia University of Virginia Victorya Cintra

15. district of columbia American University Ravin Bramhe Georgetown University Caroline Cosovich

other Taylor Cotchett: Gap year/traveling Dejanay Briseño: US Navy Evan Hamilton: Gap year

international northern ireland

International University of Monaco Tara Baalbaki Sarah Baalbaki Queen’s University Belfast Siobhan Healy

republic of ireland

University College Dublin Joseph Howard

monaco

canada norway scotland japan

University of British Columbia Peter Anders University of Victoria Henry Keele University of Oslo Milla Kanestrom Marcus Kanestrom University of St Andrews Alexandra Atkeson University of Tsukuba Leona Nagao To be determined Lisa Hayami

Op-Ed

May 26, 2017

The dangers behind Netflix’s new series “13 Reasons Why”

that one must change their body composition to look beautiful is detrimental to mental health. According to nationaleatingdisorders. org, more than one-half of teenage girls and a little bit less than a third of teenage boys try to control their weight using unhealthy behaviors such as fasting and vomiting. This is why it is hypocritical to reprimand others for their body shape in the name of being “healthy.” It almost mocks individuals that have developed mental illnesses as a result of bullying and social pressure. Doctors are the only people with the jurisdiction to counsel others on their weight; they have certification and years of training to decide who needs medical care, and how to provide it. So it seems that the only way to vanquish this destructive phenomenon is to hold each other accountable for using negative language to describe our bodies, and collectively remind ourselves that bikini bodies are made when people put bikinis on their bodies. Furthermore, representation matters. We need more models with different body shapes, more models of color, and more models with disabilities. Popular culture is a reflection of consumer ambitions. Art imitates life. So until the magazines that line the checkout aisle at Safeway exhibit a diverse range of models on their covers, consumers need to spread a creed of body positivity. Lana Del Rey was right. Summertime Sadness indeed.

CARTOON BY DARRION CHEN Staff Reporter

Stagnant Government

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conflict occurs due to pressures surrounding gender identity. That is, women are told to be small and thin, while men are told to be buff and muscular. At the core of this conundrum is a doctrine of rampant sexism that nominates men as breadwinners, scientists, and astronauts, and women as homemakers and walking uteruses. Whether a person does or does not take up space should not dictate whether they gain their peers’ approval. Yet that is exactly how diet culture decides which individuals deserve respect; the fact this process operates off of gender stereotypes makes it, quite frankly, even more disgusting. It’s social poison, disguised with toothy smiles, coiffed hair, and glimmering abdominal muscles. This is not to say that individuals who fulfill the standards set by diet culture are somehow in the wrong. When pop celebrity Meghan Trainor sings, “I’m bringing booty back/ go ahead and tell those skinny b****** that,” she also judges other women on the grounds of their looks. This violates a basic principle of body positivity, the idea that all bodies are equally valuable. “Not everybody, but many people, just want to fit in, look the same, and want to be liked and admired,” local therapist Barbara Seifer said. “And who doesn’t want to be liked and admired? That’s okay, but sometimes the cost is too great, and people go too far.” Unsurprisingly, the message

Government, simplified

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BY LILY PAGE Staff Reporter As I walked into the Safeway checkout aisle on a warm May evening, my thoughts were jolted from counting off my grocery checklist to questioning whether I would be able to wear a bikini during the P.E. swim unit in the following weeks. This shift in thinking was prompted by a glance at a magazine cover. It proclaimed messages about how to tone various body parts in order to look presentable in a bathing suit. I exited the grocery store concluding that I would be better off with a one-piece. The models pasted on these magazine covers are supposed to be the epitome of attractiveness. When most of them are the same shape, race, and size, (in 2016, only 29% of the cover models were women of color, and only 0.6% were plus-size according to thefashionspot.com), it implies that there is something wrong with the bodies of individuals who do not fit the cookie-cutter mold. “People just want to conform,” junior Tiffany Jiang, a member of Mental Health Advocacy Club, said. Ironically, many magazines and advertisements rarely use the words “weight loss” when describing weight loss programs. Instead, phrases like “get in shape” and “detox” or “slim down,” are used to subtly convey the toxic diet culture that pits adolescents against their own bodies. Often enough, this internal

More than anything, “13 Reasons Why” cannot be attributed with being the much needed discussion of mental illness. People should not be watching it and thinking that “they get it,” because a glorified version of teen suicide can only strengthen the stigmas surrounding it. A television program cannot be a substitute for listening, learning, and communicating. If anything, the prominence of the show is evidence that a greater conversation needs to be had; one that includes those who have struggled with, attempted, or been affected by suicide, rather than turning them into caricatures for the sake of drama and ratings. Above all, Sust believes that it is important “to promote help seeking behavior in individuals and their peers.” “I think the show doesn’t accurately depict the options available to all students and the importance of not only reaching out to people who are in distress but also finding some resource or trusted adult to talk about this with,” Sust said. “Helping someone can be complicated and knowing to reach out for help in that situation could save someone’s life.” It is important to understand that the show misrepresents the support systems most teenagers can access, even if they are not yet aware of them. Rather than giving people suffering from mental illness options to find help, it reinforces the dangerous belief that suicidal young people are alone. You aren’t. If you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of hopelessness, depression, or suicidal ideation and needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline), 650-579-0350 (Star Vista), 866-488-7386 (the Trevor Project Lifeline) or tell a trusted adult.

Time

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Unmasking the negative implications of diet culture

forms accessible to young people. What stuck with me the most, however, was Hannah’s assertion that, had someone noticed, had someone tried to help, she would be alive. More specifically, if she had been loved by the quiet boy with the good heart, she would not have done it, that this boy would have made everything magically better. While that is sometimes the case, while people do suffer in silence without any help or support, many young people do not commit suicide because the people in their lives aren’t doing enough. On the contrary, sometimes teens struggling with mental illness have all the love and support in the world, but still feel as if suicide is the only option. Not once, in “13 Reasons Why,” do they attempt to discourage this belief. They do not tell the truth; that the people that these teenagers leave behind are not to blame. That no one is. That there are rarely 13 answers. That, usually, there is just a lot of grief, too much for anyone to know what to do with, let alone look for revenge. When someone takes their own life, there’s rarely mysterious villains or conflicting sides. There is silence and empty bedrooms and unanswered phone calls. Rather than teaching teenage viewers lessons about kindness and humanity, the program romanticizes suicide and revenge. Given BHS’ vicinity to Palo Alto, where there have been two major suicide clusters (three or more suicides in the same period of time in the same community) in the past ten years, we should be wary of the glamor surrounding Hannah Baker. In the recent Healthy Kids Survey, data demonstrated a large jump in students feeling chronic hopelessness and sadness, particularly among females in the class of 2017.

Progress

You’ve probably seen “13 Reasons Why”, the new hit series on Netflix. If you haven’t seen it, chances are you’ve heard of it or its upcoming second season because, frankly, no one has really stopped talking about it since it was first released on March 31. The show has reached international popularity among teenagers and young adults. “13 Reasons Why,” which spans 13 episodes and is based on the 2007 young adult novel of the same name by Jay Asher, chronicles a group of teenagers after their classmate Hannah Baker commits suicide and leaves behind 13 tapes explaining why she did it. The tapes are each directed at a single person, who Hannah presumably blames for her death. Once someone receives the tapes, they must listen to all of them and then pass them onto the next person, or risk the tapes and their secrets being distributed to the public. Clay, the main character, receives a tape simply because Hannah believes he did not do enough to save her. The show has already received quite a bit of positive press. It has been commended for “helping erase the stigma” surrounding suicide and for helping people understand that their actions have repercussions. It has been called a true representation of the horrors of high school; bullying, slut shaming, isolation, and assault. The problem with the television adaptation of the popular novel, however, is that it is in no way a realistic portrayal of the struggles of a suicidal teen or the people they leave behind. Above all, it fails to fully address the

the guidelines.” The show did not follow a single guideline. In fact, it seems to do the complete opposite in every instance. Producers were also discouraged from releasing the show by multiple mental health professionals. Obviously, they chose to do it anyways. In Hannah’s death scene, the director leaves nothing to the imagination; we see her slit her wrists in high definition. We see a life end as a plot point, as a glorification of the struggling mysterious girl who had to die to teach her peers a lesson. The scene is so graphic that no trigger warning could prepare you, which results in “13 Reasons Why” excluding or traumatizing what should be it’s target audience; teens who have struggled with mental illness. In one of the episodes, Clay hallucinates Hannah’s dead body covered in blood, wearing white, laying on the basketball court as a game continues around her. What would have been a beneficial platform to create a support system for suicidal teens instead turns them into set pieces in a thrilling revenge drama. Teens who may have hoped to turn to it to feel less alone are quickly excluded from the narrative, because “13 Reasons Why” is merely a drama about those left behind. “We do not recommend that vulnerable youth, especially those who have any degree of suicidal ideation, watch this series,” an official statement released by the National Association of School Psychologists said. “Its powerful storytelling may lead impressionable viewers to romanticize the choices made by the characters and/or develop revenge fantasies.” The NASP is not the only major organization concerned with the show. In fact, multiple schools and countless advocacy groups have called for its removal from plat-

Progress

The following article contains spoilers of Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” and may be upsetting to some readers.

issue because mental illness is barely addressed in the show. In fact, the word depression is never mentioned once. Not only that, but it reinforces the dangerous misconception that young people only commit suicide because of outside circumstances or specific traumas, rather than mental health or long term feelings of hopelessness or despair. Of course, Hannah deals with a lot of traumatic instances. She is bullied, sexually assaulted, betrayed, and feels that she has no support system and nowhere to turn. But the chronicle of her death is not an inclusive portrayal of suicidal teens, a group that is already largely misrepresented, stigmatized, or completely ignored in mainstream media. Instead, it adds fuel to the fire. Hannah is portrayed as vengeful and angry. Her decision to commit suicide is fueled by other people and by the effect she will have on them once she is gone. Her story is not even really hers, seeing as she is not the narrator or central focus of the show, Clay is. Her story is not representative of the nearly 30,000 Americans who commit suicide each year. Nowhere in the show do they acknowledge that, for every death by suicide, 25 will attempt. Nowhere do they offer resources for those contemplating suicide or grieving a loved one. Nowhere do they do anything to make people struggling with mental illness feel less alone. Even worse, they glorify it. They make it seem glamorous and dramatic. They romanticize the effects she has on the people left behind. According to Stanford mental health professional Dr. Steven Sust, “there are guidelines for portrayal of suicide in the media, and there are instances that show how the show’s depiction doesn’t address

Progress

BY FELICIA AZZOPARDI Editor-in-Chief

Time

May 26, 2017

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Student Life

May 26, 2017

Seniors pursue their artistic passions in college

Senior Wills

BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI

2. I, Christopher Hu, hereby bequeath my apprentice Vishu Prathikanti the honorable title of Web Editor of The Burlingame B as well as periods of creativity and sanity when dealing with the website’s technical difficulties.

Staff Reporter This time of the year is when many seniors start to set their futures in motion. Many students will be graduating with the intentions of doing wonderful and unique things with their lives, and a particular group of talented seniors will start to pursue their love for the arts in college and beyond. Madelyn Levine, who recently starred as Sala in the spring production of “Letters to Sala,” will be attending the University of Southern California to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting. “I started doing theater when I was five and then when I was in middle school around age 13, I started seeking out other opportunities,” Levine said. One of the many reasons that Levine enjoys theater is because it is a medium to discuss both historical and modern day issues, and she enjoys bringing these real world issues to life in a meaningful and impactful way. “When you are performing a really controversial story or play for an audience, they can’t deny what is in front of them,” Levine said. “So if you’re exposing this issue, they can’t ignore it, or they can’t pause it on a TV. They have to accept what’s right there, which I really think is remarkable.” Dara Phung will also be attending the University of Southern California, and double majoring in music and communications. At BHS, she has primarily played the piano, and plans to do so in college as well, but has also had a few opportunities to play the melodica as well. “I’m studying music in college because it’s something I genuinely love to do, and I enjoy being a part of the music industry for the one-of-a-kind experiences and connections,” Phung said. “Either way, I have four jobs at the moment, three of which are music-related, so maybe I will continue that trend in the future.”

Lena Banchero will be attending Carnegie Mellon University. While currently committed to the School of Art, Banchero hopes to pursue a dual degree in art and history. “I’ve done some public art that you can see in Redwood City if you want to walk down the street,” Banchero said. “I did a couple murals on electricity boxes, so if you’re in downtown Redwood City you might see it. I’m going to do two more things like that over the summer, and I like that because it brightens up the city.” Stevie Kum, known for her popular art Instagram profile @akkaai, is attending the College of San Mateo this fall and hopes to major in illustration and animation. “I think it’s a really unique way to express one’s self,” Kum said. “Visually, you can have so many hidden messages through symbolism and you can express something without explicitly saying it. Maybe the people who you’re trying to convey a message to will get it, but you’ve made it so that no one else will get it. I just really like that idea of a secret language, and that visual representation and creativity. Overall, I think it’s a really unique platform, and that’s why I’m passionate about it.” When many people think about the arts, they think about the unpredictability of the field. Kum offered advice to anyone who is hesitant to start pursuing art as a job rather than a hobby. “If you want to do it as a job, I would say, be diligent. Be committed, practice, and see bigger artists as inspiration, not people who [make you think] ‘oh they’re better than me, I have to get on their level.’ Don’t make private competitions with yourself against another person, and always look to other people for inspiration. The art community is relatively friendly; if you ask someone for help, people will be open to help you.” Read the profiles of students pursuing art on page 12.

1. I, Sam Hale, leave to Stella Lorence and Ally Rosales the patience and strength to deal with actors and Ron Ho for another year of productions. I know you two can do it!

3. To Margaret Jane Murdoff and Charles Fletcher Chapman, the B is yours. We wish you the best with PDF days and loads of AP Style. Wear the stress with pride. Turn this pamphlet into a paper! Best wishes, Andrew Battat, Charlie Jones, and Felicia Azzopardi, 2016-2017 Editors-in-Chief 4. We, Haley Crowell, Emily Williams and Nicole Condon, will the varsity softball team to the juniors. We know you guys will make us proud! Don’t mess up! Try not to get run ruled! Retire #7, #3, and #11 into the hall of fame. :) #figure4 #sniper #seniorsstepitup 5. We, Drew Ehrlich and Lorell Perillat hereby grant Peter Crosatto and Stella Lorence reign over the tech booth for school productions. Do Ron Ho proud! 6. We, Diana Daniels, Felicia Azzopardi, and Johnny Kershner leave the responsibility of Relay for Life to Sasha Benke, Kelsey Kuwahara, and Makenna Mahrer. As stressful as it will be, we hope the work is as rewarding and empowering for you as it has been for us. Finish the fight! 7. We, Logan Aitken, Gaby Bechwati, Gracie Kober, and Julia Klein, will the Varsity Lacrosse team to Hannah Sarwar, Jilly Rolnick, Kailey Nichols, and Tori Rickman. Follow our lead and sail the ship to a second, undefeated season as league champions! 8. We, Solena Aguilar and Kate Jenkins, hereby leave the yearbook in the hands of Casey Lim and Ashley Chambers. This is the greatest honor that could ever be bestowed on a Burlingame Panther, so take this position with a sense of immense pride and responsibility. Keep the candy drawer stocked, run spell check on everything, meet your deadlines, and make sure to keep your sanity. We will be watching. 9. I, Benjamin Rosenberg, leave the cross-country team to Chris Xue, Jillian Jordan and Ariana Chin, so that they may continue the team’s fun traditions and our streak of not finishing last in the PAL. Best of luck and keep up the great work! 10. I, Andrew Battat, leave the Model United Nations Club to Anton Bobrov. Carry on our club’s commitment to building a place where ideas are shared, cherished, and explored. 11. We, Katherine Brogan and Gracie Kober, leave Stella Lorence the Burlingame High School Marching Band. Good luck, and never forget the Velcro Dynasty :) 12. We, Mollie Sobel, Kalli Vellis and Lilly Ortiz, give the Girls Wopo team to the juniors, Allison Sullivan Wu, Ariana Bellanti, Ashley Chambers, Claire Lei, Maggie Murdoff and Rachel Maxwell, in hopes that they will lead the team to victory. If you guys bring your beast mode anything is possible. We love you all so much and we’re excited to see all the great things each of you will achieve. 13. We, Gracie Kober, Erin Woo, Meredith Nash, and Michael Johnson, leave the Iron Panthers Robotics Team to captains Isabel Dominic and Katherine Mohr. Good luck, we know you will take our team to champs once again! Hopefully you can overcome the effects of senioritis better than we can!

Sports

May 26, 2017

BY BENJAMIN ROSENBERG Copy Editor The boys’ lacrosse team was not concerned about their 1-7 start to the season. They knew that playing teams like Serra, Sacred Heart Prep and St. Francis would prepare them effectively for league play. And just as it did in 2016, the Panthers’ hard work paid off. Burlingame clinched its second consecutive PAL Ocean Division championship on May 11 with an 11-7 win at Sequoia. The Panthers won their final five games of the season and their last seven league games to finish 9-9 overall, 7-1 in league play. It was enough to finish one game ahead of Carlmont and two ahead of Aragon in the standings. “I do think there was an added sense of pressure because last year we were pretty dominant,” senior

midfielder Matt Janc said. “We did graduate a lot of players, but everyone that was on the team last year believed that we could do it again.” After losing their first league game at home to Carlmont, 10-7 on March 27, the Panthers played with the desperation needed to successfully defend their division title. They proved their grit with one-goal wins at Aragon on April 20 and at Carlmont on April 27. On Senior Night, Burlingame put themselves in position to win the division by beating Aragon 11-7 on May 9, and wrapped it up by beating Sequoia two nights later. “They did great,” Arabejo said. “We came a long way. We stacked our schedule to be really tough in the beginning. It really tested us and helped us grow.”

Undefeated girls’ lacrosse wins league championship This season, the girls’ lacrosse team has gone undefeated in the WBAL Skyline Division, winning each game by at least seven points. On Saturday, May 14, they won the league championship against Aragon 12-2 and took home the banner given to the league champion each season. When reflecting on the successful and exciting season, junior Kailey Nichols noted the close dynamic of all the team members and coach Chris’s positive attitude as factors leading to their success. Nichols also noted that seniors Logan Aiken, Gaby Bechwati, and Gracie Kober were major contributers to the team’s triumph.

Baseball advances to CCS semifinals BY AMANDA TEOMAN Staff Reporter

heavily favored Sacred Heart Cathedral. They played Live Oak in the semifinals at San Jose Municipal Stadium on May 23, the day our newspaper went to print. A victory would advance the Panthers to the CCS finals on Saturday, May 27. The Panthers gained momentum for the playoffs with an 18-2 win over Woodside on Senior Night, May 10. The team honored its 11 seniors in an on-field ceremony after the game. In the first round of CCS, the Panthers defeated King City 8-1 at home on May Junior Savaun Brown sprints 17, setting the stage for their victotowards first base after hitting ry over top-seed SHC. the ball into the outfield during For the season, the Panthers Senior Night, on May 10. are 13-12-1, and finished tied for The baseball team advanced fourth in the eight-team PAL Bay to the CCS Division II semifinals Division with a 7-7 league record. on May 20 with a 3-1 victory over Senior pitcher Jack Cauchi is proud

of the team for making CCS and working hard to secure victories. Cauchi has noticed many improvements throughout the season. “We found success through our pitchers, both the starters and the relievers, who were able to perform top to bottom,” Cauchi said. Cauchi and his senior teammates have had a bittersweet last baseball season. “I will miss the game a lot, but I am excited for the future,” Cauchi said. Senior Tyler Gannon is committed to play baseball at Lewis and Clark College next year. The other players on the team are sad to be losing an experienced group of seniors but look forward to an even more successful season next year.

Softball wins uphill battle with rivals

“I’m really excited [for the next season], but I’m sad that the seniors are leaving,” Nichols said. Though the team is happy with their success, they feel that they were not necessarily challenged enough this season. Nichols explained that due to the less experienced nature of other teams, the team had to work on being less aggressive towards them on the field. This season, the coaches have made a unanimous decision for the Burlingame girls lacrosse team to move back up to the Foothill Division so they can be challenged by other teams of their skill level. While next year’s season will be more challenging and competitive, and the team will lose some key seniors, the future looks good for varsity girls’ lacrosse.

BY SOFIA GUERRA Senior Reporter Finishing the season with a 5-9 league record, the Panthers experienced a series of ebbs and flows, struggling during early non league games and enhancing their offensive skills as the season continued. The team thrived with the help of father-daughter team coach John Saucedo and assistant coach Natalie Saucedo. Since coach Saucedo had worked with many of this year’s players as an assistant coach for the junior varsity team, varsity was able to train with consistency. As the Panthers built up their stamina against rivals at Carlmont and Half Moon Bay, they were hit by injuries of vital players like sophomore Sophia Palacio. Despite the obstacles, junior Amber Moss said that they were able to work through the dry spells and the challenges of the league. Moss recalled one successful point in the season when they upset

Sophomore Chloe McNamara is set to lead a set of strong pitchers for the Panthers next season. Hillsdale 7-3, a team the Panthers ing up next year,” Moss said of the had not defeated in years. season’s prospects. “Now that we “Our pitching seems to be con- know what we can do and what we sistent again, and we seem to have need to work on, we can only get a really solid group of girls com- better from here.”

Track season ends with limited success

BY PRISCILLA JIN Senior Reporter The 2017 track team saw many changes from the beginning of the year, including a higher division and a more exclusive recruiting method. Although these changes seemed to restrict success for the varsity team as a whole, the team continues to be optimistic for CCS and next season. “Our smaller team size held us back in most of the meets because we were outscored by our competition, but individually a lot of our athletes ended with successful sea-

sons,” junior Nate Potter said. Junior Sean Rodriguez suggested that the individuality of the sport was both beneficial and detrimental to the team. “On a team sport, if something goes wrong, the team has a collective blame. With individual sports like track, you only have yourself to blame if you mess up,” Rodriguez said. Despite a less-than-stellar season for the team as a whole, many are satisfied with the individual results.

PHOTO BY LENA BANCHERO

PHOTO BY JASON RUNDLE

Senior Logan Aitken cradles the ball during the senior night game against Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Seniors Cristina Ribera and Ashley Bianchi, along with junior Allison Sullivan Wu and Sophomore Rei Kuramoto, competed at CCS at Santa Clara University on May 12.

PHOTO BY JASON RUNDLE

BY SUMMER UTIGARD Staff Reporter

tion. Ashley Bianchi, Rei Kuramoto, Cristina Ribera and Allison Sullivan Wu placed 14th with their 400 free relay. Sophomore Rei Kuramoto got her best times for both the 100 yard butterfly and 200 IM and qualified for the state championships in both events. “I’m sort of proud of my swims, but I am still not happy with it. It’s mostly because CCS is some of the rare opportunities for me to compete with fast swimmers, some of which are going to Stanford and Cal. So I don’t wanna be just happy with my time, I want to be able to compete with them.” Kuramoto competed in the state competition on May 19 and 20 at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex in Clovis, California.

PHOTO BY MELISSA MILLIGAN

PHOTO BY AMANDA TEOMAN

The senior team members pose for a photo before their win against Aragon on May 9.

BY VICTORYA CINTRA Senior Reporter The swim season came to a close earlier on in the month, but many athletes advanced to the Central Coast Section competition. Burlingame swim competed in numerous events at CCS, which took place on Friday, May 12 at Santa Clara University. All the girls relays, which include the 200 yard individual medley, 200 yard freestyle, and 400 yard freestyle, along with the boy’s 400 free relay qualified for CCS. Additionally, there were many swimmers who qualified for individual events, including Ashley Bianchi, Rachel Maxwell, Cristina Ribera, Rei Kuramoto and Alec Sasano. Only the girls 400 yard freestyle relay and Rei Kuramoto made it to the second round of the competi-

PHOTO BY JASON RUNDLE

Boys’ lacrosse repeats as Swim team sends members to CCS Ocean champs

Freshman Cooper Glavin runs the 110 meter hurdles at the meet against Menlo Atherton on March 22.

Senior Caroline Cosovich is committed to Georgetown University’s Division I crew team starting next fall. Cosovich, who has been rowing since sophomore year, first started crew at the urging of her mom, but soon after fell in love with the sport. “My favorite part of crew is the teamwork that goes into it and the balance it creates [in] my life,” Cosovich said. During her high school crew career, Cosovich rowed for the NorCal Crew team in Redwood Shores, which is ranked ninth in the nation for her specific lightweight category. As of now, Cosovich is majoring in linguistics but is also interesting in exploring business. She plans to row on the team all four years of college.

In the fall, Lucas Orts will be wielding his sabre for the Stanford men’s fencing team. Orts was ranked 50th nationally for cadet’s foil, and more recently was ranked 64th nationally for junior foil. He has attended tournaments all over the world, including at Budapest and Bratislava. Orts looks forward to college fencing as a different experience. “I would say that there is a much stronger sense of community and team at the college level,” Orts said. “In high school, I fenced by myself mainly, but in college there’s a team that I’m going to be able to get behind. I can feed off their enthusiasm and spirit.”

PHOTO BY LENA BANCHERO

PHOTO COURTESY OF MADELYN LEVINE

PHOTO BY MAGGIE MURDOFF PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY ANDREWS

A year from now, senior Tyler Gannon will be playing baseball for the Lewis and Clark Pioneers in Portland, Oregon. Gannon was a key member of the varsity baseball team this year, playing multiple positions for the Panthers at different points during the season. He also was one of the team’s most reliable and consistent hitters. After four years of hard work at Burlingame, Gannon is excited for the opportunity to play at the next level. “I’m looking forward to playing with and against people who are truly passionate about baseball,” Gannon said. “Tyler’s dedication to the game and his ability to adjust to any situation will really help him as he plays in college” senior teammate Alex Vina said.

BY ALEX LEE Senior Reporter

rachel mellman

madelyn levine

BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI Staff Reporter

BY JASON RUNDLE Chief Photographer

BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI Staff Reporter

Madelyn Levine will be attending the University of Southern California to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting. “At this point, I do a lot of straight plays. I did a lot of musicals when I was younger, but I really am drawn to straight plays. They’re really honest, and usually have really strong character development, which I like,” Levine said. “I had an audition for a play, and my family had just moved to Las Vegas, and it was my first time with this company, and I was a little nervous. I just thought to myself, okay, you can either get over these nerves and use them onstage, or you can stop because the nerves are a part of [acting]. So I said ‘I love it too much’ to stop, and that’s when I got over my stage fright and realized that this is what I wanted to do.”

Rachel Mellman will be attending the University of Washington. Mellman is currently an astronomy major, but hopes to study drama. “The best piece of advice I’ve ever heard was ‘the day you stop feeling nervous is the day you stop caring’ and I think that as a performer, you’re always nervous,” Mellman said. “You’re always worried about messing up, people won’t like you, you’re going to get shunned, and that people are going to hate you. But if you never take that risk, you’re never going to get anywhere, and you can use the phrase, ‘it is better to have loved than to have lost,’ and for me, it’s more like better to have loved at all; it’s better to have tried.”

lena banchero

PHOTO BY CHARLIE JONES

stevie kum

PHOTOS BY LENA BANCHERO

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARA OF PHUNG PHOTO COURTESY KELSEY

dara phung

BY PRISCILLA JIN Senior Reporter Having played water polo for the past four years, senior Kalli Vellis (middle) was excited to pursue a spot on a collegiate team. In November 2016, Vellis was recruited by the University of Redlands by emailing the coach to express her interest to join the team. She will be playing defense, but will also play some offense as well. Vellis acknowledges that playing in college will be much more demanding than playing in high school. “College water polo is extremely different from high school because you have to re-learn new techniques,” Vellis said. “I’m excited to challenge myself on a new team.” However, she is excited to use the skills and techniques she has acquired from playing on the BHS team to enhance her performance at the collegiate level.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCAS ORTS

BY JILLY ROLNICK Senior Reporter

lucas Orts

kalli Vellis PHOTO COURTESY OF KALLI VELLIS

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINE COSOVICH PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY ANDREWS

caroline cosovich

tyler gannon

May 26, 2017

Student Life

ANDREWS

BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI Staff Reporter Dara Phung will be attending the University of Southern California, and double majoring in music and communications. At BHS, she has primarily played the piano, and plans to do so in college as well, but has also had a few opportunities to play the melodica as well. “Ever since I started piano lessons at age five, I’ve constantly been involved in orchestras, jazz festivals, choirs, and other gigs,” Phung said. “Participating in so many musical activities has naturally forced me to take music seriously. These gigs require commitment; you can’t take a performance or job lightly. So I’d say I’ve always been a serious musician.”

BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI Staff Reporter Stevie Kum, known for her popular art Instagram profile @akkaai, is attending the College of San Mateo this fall and hopes to major in illustration and animation. “I was passionate about industrialization, and how it negatively affects mother nature, and I thought that it would definitely be very strongly taken if I personified her,” Kum said. “[In it], I made her a young woman, and she’s crying, and she has buildings coming out of her, like scars and tumors, and she’s deteriorating. There’s stuff falling out of her ribcage, like tubes and pipes, and her spinal cord is this dying tree. I definitely think that what kind of message that you want to send and who you want to send it to is [important to] how I like to see art.”

BY VISHU PRATHIKANTI Staff Reporter Lena Banchero will be attending Carnegie Mellon University. While currently committed to the School of Art, Banchero hopes to pursue a dual degree in art and history. “I just started drawing and painting as a kid and I never stopped. I want to pursue art at a higher level because art can change someone’s mind about a particular topic, influence someone to do something, or just make them smile. When deciding to study in college, I simply figured that if I didn’t study my passion, I would always regret it,” Banchero said. “In college, I’m most excited to study new media like sculpture and metal works in addition to continuing my love for oil painting.”