Volume 52, Issue 2, November 3, 2021

elESTOQUE NOVEMBER 2021

18 DIWALI

Illuminating the preparations, culture and traditions behind Diwali

VOLUME 52 ISSUE 2

elESTOQUE

21840 McClellan Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014 elestoque.org mv.el.estoque@gmail.com Editors-in-Chief: Michelle Chen, Anushka De, Jayanti Jha Managing Editors: Ishaani Dayal, Devin Gupta, Lance Tong, Matthew Yoshimoto Copy Editor: Meggie Chen, Sophia Chen, Sarah Liu News Editors: Melody Cui, Jefferson Le, Tanish Mendki, Jisha Rajala Opinion Editors: Diya Bahl, Shivani Madhan, Kripa Mayureshwar, Jiya Singh Feature Editors: Riya Ravuri, Jannah Sheriff, Prisha Tiwari, Mira Wagner Entertainment Editors: Justin Kim, Gauri Manoj, Aditya Shukla, Shivani Verma Sports Editors: Anna Jerolimov, Irene Tang, Nika Zamani, Michelle Zheng Graphics Editors: Mikaylah Du, Sophia Ma, Lillian Wang Website Editors: Krish Dev, Devin Gupta, Gavin Hung Staff Writers: Crystal Cheng, Nameek Choudhury, Tvisha Gupta, Minjae Kang, Anna Kaminitz, Taryn Lam, Sarah Liu, Amber Milesi, Anika Sharma, Geethi Tarra, Aashna Patel, Kalyani Puthenpurayil, Aashi Venkat, Sonia Verma, April Wang, Alex Zhang, Angela Zhang Adviser: Julia Satterthwaite Mission Statement: El Estoque will accurately inform our community through well-researched, unbiased and in-depth accounts of the student body and staff, news and developments and taboo topics prevalent in and near MVHS. Investigating various voices and credible perspectives, we hope to foster active discussion, effect positive change and spread awareness of timely, relevant content. As a trustworthy and reliable source of information, we strive to be accountable, adaptable and ready to correct and address our mistakes.

Constantly striving for improvement, we will uphold integrity and ethics to be respectful and empathetic to our sources and our readers. We will exercise our press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment and California Ed Code 48907 while maintaining a community passionate about our work and journalism as a whole.

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS As seniors, we have big dreams. We constantly anticipate how we may (or may not) be heading to the college of our dreams in less than a year. We’re on the cusp of living our lives independently, and we’ll finally be able to reap the fruits of the sacrifices we made in high school.

Granted, these dreams didn’t begin when we became seniors — we’ve been thinking about college since before freshman year, carefully considering extracurriculars and crafting our schedules for four years so that when it came time to apply, we would have something to show for ourselves.

Now, we find ourselves amid a seemingly endless stretch of college applications, complete with SSR deadlines and FAFSA forms, all of which will culminate in a final milestone: the second semester of senior year. Our expectations are high, and rightfully so — after four years of devotion, the grueling experience of applying to college should fittingly end with all the high school memories we never made, as we indulge in our last moments of childhood recklessness.

As two of us finish our last season of field hockey and volleyball, we can’t help but reflect on the friendships we’ve cultivated, the challenges we’ve faced and the persistence it took to overcome them. Our fond experiences on our respective teams remind us of what seizing the day, not just the future, truly means.

As we sit in anticipation for the best semester of our lives, we find ourselves pushing through each sleep-deprived day mindlessly fighting to stay afloat in a sea of fluctuating grades and infinite essays. So when the sports we’ve attached our identities to abruptly end, we’re left almost blindsided at all the memories we forgot to make. We find ourselves asking, “Where did all the time go?”

While there’s nothing wrong with prioritizing the future, let’s take a step back to remember that high school and our childhood is passing by in the blink of our eyes.

Rather than putting our joy on the sidelines and pushing through each day without a second thought, let’s remember that there is beauty to be found in both the future and the present. That being said, next semester cannot come soon enough—we’ll set aside our fixations over the future and focus on the present. It’ll be our very own, and very first, semester of life.

PHOTO | ISHAANI DAYAL

Corrections from the October issue: The correct spellings are Rhea Rai on page 35 and Arshiya Choudhary on page 31.

Junior Amy Hu on page 8 and junior Kira Sun on page 22 were misidentified.

COVER PHOTO | JAYANTI JHA

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

Michelle Chen

Anushka De

Jayanti Jha

PHOTO BY LUKE BOWMAN | USED WITH PERMISSION

PHOTO | LANCE TONG

8 IN

8 THIS

What’s your sign?

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

4

PHOTO | KRISH DEV

ISSUE

What’s your sign?

Gun violence

Examining the recent rise in gun violence and its impact on the MVHS community

8

More than an email

District administration should change the school calendar to reflect the cultures present on our campuses

28

My type of person

Looking at how accurately the MBTI types represent individuals

30

Under pressure

How pre-game thoughts and emotions affect competitors

PHOTO | MIRA WAGNER

18

Celebrating Diwali

Shining a light on the cultural significance of the

BY SOMEONE | USED WITH PERMISSION festival and how itPHOTO is celebrated

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

03

GUN VIOLENCE

Examining the recent rise in gun violence and its impact on the MVHS community

BY JISHA RAJALA AND ALEX ZHANG

R

eports of a student found in be reported that month in previous years. possession of a gun at Homestead “I feel like I’ve always had that concern High School, on Sept. 14, 2021, like every time I walk on campus I see a inspired fear within the Fremont Union glass window I’m like, that’s dangerous,” High School junior Amy Hu D i s t r i c t said. “It’s not community HHS something that I’m senior Anna Zhou always stressed explained that the about, but it incident put always comes up fellow students “a here and there.” little more on With the edge” because it increase in brought the were reported nationwide in school violence, reality of gun September alone S o w j a n y a violence closer to *According to the Center for Signamsetty, home. the mother of Homeland Defense Security For millions of MVHS sophomore students across America, the threat of gun Medha Singamsetty, expressed the violence Woften looms over day-to-day complex emotions that hit her due to the activities. In fact, the Everytown Research uncertainty about violent occurrences & Policy group found that around 3 potentially occurring at school. million children in the United States are “The children and teens in this country exposed to shootings each year, with experience really high rates of gun deaths more than 3,000 of them shot and killed. and injuries,” Singamsetty said. “This is a In September alone, 55 school shootings really threatening situation for everyone. were reported nationwide, more than As a parent, I’m really worried if this double the number of shootings ever to would make a huge impact on my kid’s

55

school shootings

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

psychological and mental well-being.”

In light of events such as the HHS gun incident and the threat of school shooters nationally, Hu believes that now is the time for action.

“I think there should be more policies and regulations regarding ownership of guns and the use of guns,” Hu said. “I know in other countries like Germany you have to get a license and in a safety compartment, whereas in America … you could just give a gun as a gift and that’s normalized and I don’t think that’s OK.” While the annual active shooter drills may serve as a means to assuage fear, School Psychologist Annie Roe believes that having Advisory lessons and conversations about this issue is a strong alternative.

“I hope that there is some ​​ education around that piece of [gun violence],advocacy,” Roe said. “If you see something, say something. Maybe a lesson around the people you can contact that you can go to and these are ways that you can try to intervene.”

ILLUSTRATION | ANGELA ZHANG

PHOTO | TANISH MENDKI

CUSD CLOSES REGNART, MEYERHOLZ AND JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Exploring the CUSD Board’s statistical process in addressing declining enrollment

BY NAMEEK CHOWDHURY AND TANISH MENDKI

U

sing the rubric with weighted categories, the CUSD administration evaluated each elementary school. Each category was given either a “yes” or “no” which, when paired with the weight, yielded a score between 0 and 30. The administration recommended closing the schools with the highest scores, as these schools received the most “yes” answers in the categories that were weighted the most. For example, Regnart has a “yes” in eight out of 10 categories while Eisenhower has a “yes” in only two — making Regnart a school the board recommended closing.

By using statistics from previous years and creating a model for enrollment at elementary schools, the board predicted the approximate enrollment at each school 10 years into the future. Blue Hills, Dilworth, John Muir, Meyerholz and Regnart Elementary had the lowest projected enrollment. This data was then used to formulate the board’s Oct. 14 decision to close Regnart, Meyerholz and John Muir this fall.

CUSD SCHOOL CLOSURE CRITERIA

18% 16% 15% 15% 10% 8% 7% 5% 3% 2%

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| NOVEMBER 2021

05

CROSSWORD CRAZE: MVHS EDITION Play this crossword to test your Matador knowledge

BY MELODY CUI AND GAURI MANOJ

PHOTO | FIRSTNAME LASTNAME

SCAN FOR ANSWERS

ACROSS:

4. Annual tradition where seniors wake up early and gather on the upper field before school 7. Tutorial periods where students learn various lessons on important topics from their fourth period teacher 10. The only science class available without an AP option 12. Juniors and seniors who sign up to guide freshmen through their first year at MVHS 15. Card that gives students a yearbook and free admission to FUHSD sports games 18. Standardized test that grants the National Merit Scholarship 19. Website where students can look up their grades and class resources 22. Program in which students can get tutored by other students 23. Sport in which performers spin flags and rifles 24. Event held the week before school starts that includes freshmen orientation and textbook pick-up 25. Last name of the counselor for students with last names She-Z

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

DOWN:

1. Advanced mixed vocal choir at MVHS 2. Building with the biology classrooms 3. The community college that is closest to MVHS 5. School spirit event in which boys typically cheerlead while girls play football 6. The Homecoming 2021 theme 8. AP exam with two separate parts 9. The four-year elective class that helps students prepare for college 11. Shakespeare play that is part of the ninth grade literature curriculum 13. The journalistic magazine at MVHS 14. The annual football rivalry game against Cupertino High School 16. MVHS anthem beginning with “Hail to thee ‘ole MV High” 17. Annual project completed in Physics classes 20. A literature course offered to seniors 21. The name of the MVHS yearbook

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MORE THAN AN EMAIL District administration should change the school calendar to reflect the cultures present on our campuses

ILLUSTRATIONS | LILLIAN WANG

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

S

OPINION

chool holidays are indubitably New Year. However, these holidays are some of the most anticipated not reflected in our Christian-based parts of the school year. Whether school calendar, and are instead merely it’s a three-day weekend or two weeks, recognized by an annual email, wishing breaks from us a holiday school serve that brings as a brief happiness intermission and joy. f r o m H o w schoolwork are we a n d supposed to provide the appropriately opportunity celebrate for students to t h e s e school interferes with non-Christian holidays that spend more religious or cultural events time with mean as *According to a survey of 198 students their family much to us and friends as Christmas — time that is especially appreciated does to others? Though we are given during religious holidays. time off from school to decorate the Of course, we all know and love Christmas tree, put up stockings and Christmas — or at least the designated hang up colorful lights, seniors on the two-week break that accompanies it.

MVHS Dance Team, Cheerleading But Christmas is only one of the team, Football team and Marching many important holidays celebrated by Band who our student body, with other examples c e l e b r a t e Thanksgiving or Labor Day. Yet, D i w a l i despite the myriad of holidays that are will have celebrated throughout our campus, a to attend select few are given more attention their Senior than others.

Night event MVHS is a diverse campus, with this year students coming from a variety of cultural, instead of ethnic and religious backgrounds. h e l p i n g Along with this diversity come different their family festivities, such as Diwali, Ramadan, decorate the house with colorful Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and Lunar rangolis and tiny candles to observe the festivity. While we are given the time to have a stress-free Christmas dinner with our families, those celebrating Eid al-Fitr aren’t able to fully enjoy the traditional elaborate feast as they have homework due the next day.

Having to manage school on these valuable holidays creates a barrier between students and the festivities that are important to them, which is why our school calendar should work to be more inclusive of various religious

60%

of students think

events. Adopting holidays that most of our student body celebrates into our calendar is conducive towards creating a community in which all students feel appreciated and seen, and would help our campus feel like a welcoming place for all.

This idea isn’t new — incorporating non-Christian religious events into public school calendars is something cities around the country have already been doing for years. In 2015, public school districts in New York City became one of the first to close their schools in observance on the days of two major Muslim holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Students and parents were delighted that their community was starting to recognize the importance of their religious events, and felt that it was a large step forward towards being more inclusive of other religions besides Christianity.

Students should not have to choose between celebrating holidays with their families and being absent from school and potentially f a l l i n g behind on schoolwork. Changes in the school calendar that recognize these holidays by marking them as days off would greatly benefit our community, because it would ensure that all members of our student body feel that their religious beliefs are included in what our school district deems important holidays.

Acknowledging non-Christian holidays with more than just an email would make sure to represent the people on our campus more accurately, and would be a step in the right direction towards embracing all religions and cultures.

OPINION | NOVEMBER 2021

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ILLUSTRATION | MIKAYLAH DU AND LILLIAN WANG

I WANT MORE

Examining how current media motivates us to engage in consumer culture

BY JIYA SINGH

I

nstagram, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Google, Amazon. Besides being the most used applications for the average technology user, these large corporations are popular for their easy accessibility and frequent upgrades.

At the same time, a less obvious similarity between these corporations is the way that they all use hidden strategies to keep customers clicking, purchasing and staying on their site for longer. Such schemes negatively affect anyone with some kind of online presence and contribute to a larger problem — consumer culture.

Consumer culture, according to

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

the Oxford Bibliography is defined as a culture facilitated by the increased spending and use of media and material goods. Specifically, it is about the power of consumption leading us to believe that we are not truly satisfied after making purchases. As corporations increase their tactics to encourage unnecessary consumption, it becomes even more important for us to actively recognize such schemes and stop our engagement with consumerism to prevent billion-dollar companies from controlling our time and spending habits.

With the growth of social media,

having access to any “free” online platform has become easier than ever –– and, not to mention, incredibly addicting. Businesses have understood and quickly adapted to the vast digital age by updating their marketing techniques to convince users to stay on their site for longer, thus making them more likely to make a purchase.

Instagram, most commonly used by teenagers for posting pictures and stories, announced a new “Shop” feature in May. Cookies, small pieces of data that save users’ personal information, are used to target posts and advertisements. The “Shop” feature

ILLUSTRATION | LILLIAN WANG

uses such cookies to provide users with mass media producers and marketers a selection of clothing items curated for to continue “buying” parts of our minds their taste. The layout of the app was for a profit. modified in order to make the “Shop” While most people are used to feature one of the five principal functions advertisements while scrolling through on the app, located between “Reels” Facebook posts or watching a YouTube and “Profile.” By shifting the location video, many don’t realize that such to where the previous “notifications” advertisements have sneakily become Relying on teenagers’ muscle memory part of our online presence. Large from previously clicking corporations on the “notifications” d i s g u i s e LOOKING AT tab, Instagram utilizes its promotions as CONTENT THAT IS layout to subconsciously just another PICKED OUT ‘JUST make users more likely post, and use to click on “Shop” and data collected FOR YOU’ PERSUADES be transported to the from previous THEM TO KEEP online shopping center. searches to COMING BACK. However, “Shop” purposefully is not the only way in place advertised which Instagram has tried to motivate products on consumers’ feeds. users to continue purchasing while on Even with sites that do not contain the site. According to Instagram, 87% of advertisements, such as Netflix, the users say that influencers have inspired problem with consumer culture still them to make a purchase while on the exists in the slightly modified form — app, and 70% of avid shoppers look media culture. While Netflix is a less to Instagram for finding new products. suitable platform for advertisements, its The act of influencing, whether by constantly changing interface contains advertisements or people, empowers so many features that the average user the already powerful, encouraging is subconsciously tempted to watch

27%

“just one more episode.”

In fact, through features such as “automatic play,” Netflix does not even require users to click a button to continue watching. This instantly draws viewers to be lured in once again by extraneous media that they didn’t originally mean to consume, contributing to binge culture. Binge culture provokes viewers, consumers and users alike to subconsciously continue the act of consumption for our supposed benefit while in reality tricking our minds into endlessly consuming media when that time could have been better spent elsewhere.

Living in the Silicon Valley — a region literally named for its masses of technological materials and large and generally rich working class — most of the population is extremely familiar with the prevalence of these corporations in our daily lives. The existence of headquarters of companies such as Facebook, Apple and Google in the Silicon Valley facilitate the discussion of consumption in the Bay Area, but don’t encompass the entire picture.

Looking deeper at MVHS — a school which relies on technology and social media for communication of announcements, homework, certain online applications — it becomes clear that we perpetuate consumer culture at a higher rate than others. The amount of time we spend on screens every day, relating to school or not, is heavily increased with the addition of targeted lures to keep us scrolling, clicking, and purchasing away.

It becomes even more important for us to recognize and stop the engagement of tactics used by both ourselves and market producers to ensure less time interacting with digital and material goods that we don’t really need, and more time strengthening the relationships with each other.

of MVHS students have purchased an item as a result of a targeted ad on social media *According to a survey of 198 MVHS students

OPINION | NOVEMBER 2021

11

FALLING OUT OF GIFTEDNESS Considering how students transition from gifted programs to burnout

BY LILLIAN WANG

T

he disease has struck again. Its new victim: a talented student who studied two years ahead of the curriculum and racked up esteemed awards in elementary school who’s now taking a nosedive in high school.

They procrastinate late into the night, struggling to find the motivation for academics and failing to study between crippling spells of stress and self-doubt.

Although this self-sabotaging phenomenon sounds silly and uncannily specific, “gifted kid burnout” is a popular concept. It’s not a real condition, but overachievers have circulated stories of their burnout online for years, sardonically describing experiences ranging from a breakdown over an 85% to losing interest in long-term hobbies out of the fear of being average.

Their stories expose the paradox of gifted programs, which seek to be

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

motivating and engaging for children of “above-average intelligence” but instead leave students burnt out, wallowing in insecurity when their talents seem to run dry.

Gifted programs are a double-edged sword, turning selfdoubting tendencies into damaging habits by encouraging an unhealthy level of perfectionism. The overachieving environment drills students’ mindsets to prioritize accomplishment instead of growth — a harmful combination for the slippery slope of the hypercompetitive high school experience.

According to psychological studies conducted by Tracy L. Cross, former professor of the National Association for Gifted Children, this success-oriented mentality is correlated with oversensitivity to criticism, fear of making mistakes and high levels of anxiety.

Even without the influence of gifted programs, the “gifted” identity inevitably becomes a prison. These labels are internalized as pressure to achieve at a high level, so when gifted students start missing the mark, they become frustrated and stressed, wondering where they

GRAPHIC | LILLIAN WANG

went wrong. Minor academic failures can feel like the end of the world to students blinded by residual overconfidence from growing up under the gifted kid label.

Eventually, they come to a ridiculous conclusion — “I peaked when I was 10” — ignoring their growth in favor of the cynical conclusion that their intellectual genius ended in elementary school. And still, a part of them clings to the talent they were always applauded for, hoping it’ll be enough to succeed.

Partitioning kids into gifted programs at an early age drastically degrades the self-esteem of children within the system. However, the root of the gifted paradox lies with our mentality. We — everyone, from burned-out overachievers to average students, and even the parents of this generation — must let go of the concept of giftedness altogether.

MVHS’s competitive environment cultivates an accomplishmentprioritizing culture. We frantically share test grades in a battle of quantifying and calculating our achievement, letting numbers determine our selfworth. Misleading conceptions of talent have no place in this overly competitive atmosphere.

“Gifted” or not, we are just people, and we’re bound to take falls.

Overachievers tend to cope poorly with this reality, but adopting a growth mindset — the mentality that skill can be practiced and developed — shapes our perspective of defeat as a challenge to improve, not an indication of mediocrity.

Once we accept the reality of failure, we can truly escape our insubstantial giftedness and look towards growth.

ICEBREAKERS WORK All classes should provide students the opportunity to share about themselves

BY ISHAANI DAYAL

E

62%

of MVHS students

class may be. That investment, in turn, will contribute to an environment that will actually lead to more productivity as well, through a stronger sense of community and more willing communication between peers.

Educators who are in charge of day-to-day curriculum in classes are responsible for hosting a classroom environment that supports students no matter their identity. Regardless of the subject, it’s necessary for people to feel comfortable in whatever environment they are in to create a place for growth and learning. By allocating time at the beginning of the year — and a few times each semester — for students to speak about their identities and personalities, students and teachers will be able to take a step forward in ensuring that MVHS remains a place where students are comfortable sharing their identity with others.

ILLUSTRATION | MIKAY LAH DU

very school year brings a new and other topics can help cultivate a safe set of people into every class, classroom environment according to and with it, a new set of names Edutopia, a resource for educators. The to learn and personalities to discover. goal of icebreakers is to create “identity Students are often given the chance to safe classrooms,” environments in familiarize themselves with the people which students are not at odds with their around them through icebreaker sense of self and are comfortable with activities. These name games and get- their knowledge of others. By opening to-know-you activities permit students up the floor for everyone to speak on to become more comfortable with their individuality and experiences, each other and recognize others in students have the opportunity to their class, establishing a less rigid and acknowledge and s u p p o r t more effective their peers, l e a r n i n g who would environment. otherwise be But some unaware of educators go the unique a step further circumstances in their efforts that set to familiarize students s t u d e n t s apart. with their To foster think that icebreakers are classmates. In m o r e important to learning Contemporary identity-safe L i t e r a t u r e , *According to a survey of 190 people classrooms, for example, educators seniors participate in activities that let should encourage students to them share different aspects of their elaborate on their own experiences identities and personalities beyond just and hear others’ perspectives as well, their names and favorite colors. Topics which would allow for more opensuch as race, gender, sexuality and mindedness and diversity of thought. socioeconomic status are discussed in Educators should refrain from diving depth in activities at the beginning of straight into the coursework every the year. day, with no time dedicated Identity and related topics play a to icebreakers, large role in some of the units covered b e c a u s e in Contemporary Literature and certain it can be other classes at MVHS, which is clear — d i f f i c u l t 48% of students say their English class to feel a offers the most opportunity to share sense of their identity, according to a survey of community or 183 people. However, this shouldn’t c o m f o r t a b l y restrict classes of other subjects c o l l a b o r a t e from hosting similar conversations. w i t h All teachers should work to foster an classmates in atmosphere in which students are those classes. able to feel comfortable with each T e a c h e r s other, which can be achieved through should take introducing activities that allow students measures to to open up about their identities. promote inclusivity Organizing activities that specifically in the classroom, affirm identity and spark in-class despite how rigorous or discussions on race, gender, sexuality academically intense the

OPINION | NOVEMBER 2021

13

I WENT ON A DATE ALONE Discovering how to manage my loneliness

BY SHIVANI VERMA

I

GRAPHIC | KRIPA MAYURESHWAR

miss you.”

My mom turned around from where she was standing near her bedroom door, a few feet away from me.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she responded.

“I know, but …”

I didn’t have the words to describe how I was feeling. I didn’t know how to explain that the mere feet between us had suddenly morphed into a gaping chasm, and she felt too far to reach.

This sudden, hopeless loneliness appears every so often. I don’t know what triggers it, but it feels like a tidal wave crashing against me, and out of nowhere I’ll be drowning while everyone I love feels fathoms away.

I hadn’t always had these bouts of loneliness, though. I don’t recall feeling lonely when I was younger, even though being alone was commonplace. I was an only child, none of my school friends lived nearby and my parents were divorced and still single. So while they handled single parenthood, juggling work, domestic chores and taking care of their daughter, I spent hours busying myself with solitary activities: immersing myself in Rainbow Magic and Geronimo Stilton books, doodling aimlessly on any printer paper or legal pad I could find, creating dramatic lives for my Barbies in my threefoot-tall dollhouse and engineering complex plots for my invisible friends.

The number of

14

extracurriculars I could participate in each other’s company through all the was restricted, too, because my parents ups and downs of the pandemic, but could only drive me to so many places. my newfound independence allowed Inevitably, I had to find some way to me to tighten my grip on my friends entertain myself, and I was really good without realizing it. More than ever, I at not giving my parents too much was relying on their company to fill up trouble; this was the that hollow pit in my way my life was, and I chest and keep me THROUGHOUT was happy with it. going. I didn’t know THE YEARS, I HAD But as we all who I was without my BEEN FOCUSING grew up and gained relationships. Other more autonomy, my people became my MY ENERGY ON childhood pastimes entire identity.

OTHERS, WHILE didn’t spark my Eventually this MY RELATIONSHIP interest anymore, so teetering situation WITH MYSELF FELL I yearned for a social came crashing down.

THROUGH THE life like the ones I saw In the last week of on Disney shows. school, my friends CRACKS. “Having playdates” posted a picture of eventually became “hanging out,” and them getting lunch together on their with that shift, everyone was doing Instagram stories. The moment I saw things with their friends outside of that photo, jealousy and hurt poured school more often. Being with people like gasoline onto that dangerous mass felt exciting and interesting, and when I of neediness, setting it aflame. Now, it couldn’t have that, being alone felt like burned with resentment. getting left behind.

That was the moment I knew I’d truly Throughout my teenage years, gotten addicted to my friends. It hurt responsibilities piled up, and so I found both with and without them around. I myself escaping everything I disliked by knew I needed to step away from them, attaching myself to my relationships. My but being alone felt like a punishment. tolerance for solitude dwindled, and the My solution, as crazy as it sounds, was desire to be part of everything, to be delivered to me in the form of ramen. around everyone all the time, only grew. More specifically, a ramen craving.

Quarantine, of course, didn’t exactly A couple weeks into summer, aching help. I managed to stay afloat during for something exciting to fill up my days, the first couple of months when the I could no longer resist the way the world felt lost at sea. But just as it felt ramen from the Mitsuwa Marketplace like others were getting used to their food court had been calling my name. I’d circumstances, mine suddenly hit — recently discovered my love for ramen, the loneliness set in, and by the end of but despite my longing, I hesitated. My the remote learning school year, it had mom had work so I couldn’t go with her, compounded into an ocean of sadness and I didn’t really know who else to go and anxiety. with … Wait.

But in April, I finally broke through Why did I have to go with anyone at the water’s surface — I got my license. all?

At once, the world was mine to It’ll be a date, I convinced myself as I take on. I wanted to go out, do things put on mascara and eyeliner. Something that I’d never been able to do when to dress up for. And if it ended up being my parents controlled my travel. So I awful, well … at least I’d have satiated drove everywhere, all the time — even my craving. So, wearing my favorite spontaneously on weeknights — just to tank top and with $20 in my pocket, I go see the people I had been missing. decided to go get ramen and boba by My friends and I had been clutching myself.

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

(AND SO SHOULD YOU) And honestly, it was one of the best days I’ve had all year.

I came home with my head clearer and heart lighter than they had been in weeks. Making a date out of it had done the trick. Even the most mundane things — listening to the car radio on my drive to the grocery store, ordering my lunch, perusing the manga section — were something to savor.

That day, listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s “SOUR” and slurping ramen at a table for one, being alone didn’t feel lonely.

It reminded me of the days I could entertain myself for hours alone, carefree and happy with myself.

Why had I never done this before?

As kids, we’re eager for independence, but something changed as the years passed. When I thought about it more, I realized that subconsciously, I had been subscribing to the idea that there’s something wrong with being alone in public. In the media, and in reality too, when someone is alone in a public space, the impression is that they have nobody to be with. They have no choice but to be left lonely, and that’s pitiful, almost embarrassing.

Throughout the years, I had ended up focusing so much of my energy on others that my relationship with myself

fell through the cracks. And quarantine made me remember who I am, or figure had only sped up the process. Eventually, out who I want to be.

I didn’t feel like I was someone worth As high schoolers, so much of our spending time free time is with, and so I spent with other couldn’t help people — our but search for friends or our satisfaction family — before in others. Yet we go back to being in the the daily slog BLOOM Mitsuwa food of homework, court alone that eat, sleep, SHIVANI VERMA day wasn’t sad repeat.

The or embarrassing — it felt peaceful. consequence of neglecting your ‘Alone’ and ‘lonely,’ I realized, didn’t relationship with yourself may not have to be the same thing. be apparent until you feel like you’re Now, going out alone is now one drowning. But even if you don’t struggle of my favorite ways to pass time. For to keep waves of loneliness at bay, someone who surrounds herself with none of us really know who we want to people constantly, spending time by be, and how are we going to find out myself has been freeing. without ever getting the chance?

It’s not like my loneliness completely So go give yourself time to go out vanished. Even now, sometimes my and have fun alone. If it feels awkward, loved ones feel far away when they’re you can even make a game out of it. You right next to me. But I’ve started to see never know, it might surprise you. You that loneliness as a part of what makes could learn something about yourself me who I am. When I feel the envy and you’d never thought was there. bitterness bubble up, that’s when I And if you want a recommendation? know I need to unclench my fists from I heard the ramen at Mitsuwa is a good my relationships. For so long, I was place to start. defined by everyone else, but setting aside time to really be by myself has

GRAPHIC | KRIPA MAYURESHWAR

OPINION | NOVEMBER 2021

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LET’S TALK FOOD WASTE Examining the factors that lead to students throwing away school meals

BY MICHELLE CHEN

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ntouched breadsticks in the trash, crushed muffins on the floor and rotting bananas left in backpacks are common sights at school. Accompanying them are the myriad of complaints about the school cafeteria food, ranging from the quality of the ingredients to the portion size, that ring through the student union and echo across the rally court during brunch and lunch. These occurrences highlight the urgent issue of food waste and its causes.

There is no question that this is a serious problem — around 30 to 40 percent of the food supply in the U.S. is lost to food waste. However, the problem has been largely overlooked by an apathetic student body, and aggravated by the free meal policy, food quality and other factors.

The state-wide free school lunch program, which was implemented in the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, qualifies all students for free meals, regardless of family income. The policy undoubtedly has benefits, such as targeting food insecurity and

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improving student health, particularly food thus aggravates the insensitivity for students from low-income families. around food waste, feeding into the At the same time, however, students mindset where students don’t realize are now incentivized to take food items the gravity of their actions when they that they wouldn’t have normally taken, throw leftovers away. Because they simply because they are free. The see others around them doing the free meal policy inadvertently creates same, students begin to develop similar a harmful mindset where students, attitudes and behaviors. because they A d d i t i o n a l l y, associate little some students to no value with have meetings school meals, or other are indifferent to commitments throwing them during lunch and away.

While aren’t allowed to there have been eat in classrooms measures taken due to COVID-19 at MVHS to throw away some part of their mask restrictions, minimize food leaving them waste — for school brunch or lunch no time to finish example, the *According to a survey of 196 people their meals, thus addition of food having to throw share bins in the Student Union for them away. Beyond lunch activities, unwanted fruit that would otherwise some people may not be able to finish be tossed in the trash — students are simply because they spent too much still just as likely to toss their untouched time in long lines waiting to get their meals into the trash. food — a problem that was worsened Of course, food waste stems beyond by the free meal policy, although the simply the new policy — there are many school has tried to remedy it by adding other aspects that play a part in the a third line in the main gym lobby. problem. The cafeteria must account Other students feel pressure from for a variety of dietary restrictions, their parents to accept the free meals all the while meeting the specific on the basis that they are free and it’s nutritional guidelines set by the more convenient, although students government. As a result, the themselves may not want to eat them. staff struggles to balance In order to combat food waste at these regulations with school, students need to be more food taste and quality, aware of the implications of throwing leading to criticism away their meals. Small changes can from students. The make a difference — whether that be degradation of simply not taking the food items they cafeteria know they won’t eat or by saving it as leftovers to eat at a later time. Simple habits such as planning ahead to bring lunch as needed are an important step towards reducing food waste, and when implemented at a school-wide level, would reinforce sustainable eating habits.

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

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CELEBRATING DIWALI Shining a light on the festval’s cultural significance and how it is celebrated

By Crystal cheng, anna kaminitz, jannah sheriff, sonia verma, mira wagner and Matthew yoshimoto

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

PHOTO | MIRA WAGNER

TASTING THE FESTIVITIES

Students and staff share their favorite Diwali dishes

BY MATTHEW YOSHIMOTO

PHOTO BY JIA DESAI | USED WITH PERMISSION

PHOTO BY RIA MITTAL | USED WITH PERMISSION

(Left) Gulab jamun, one of senior Jia Desai’s favorite Indian delicacies, is a fried doughnut made with milk, sugar, rose water and cardamom powder.

The desert is also soaked in sugar syrup and sometimes served with dried fruits and nuts such as pistachios and cashews. She shares that her family has passed down a recipe through generations and is “really fun” to make.

PHOTO | MATTHEW YOSHIMOTO

PHOTO | MATTHEW YOSHIMOTO

(Left) The crispy, fried flour cookies, shankarpali, are senior Neelkanth Shitolay’s favorite bitesized snack during Diwali.

(Left) English and AVID teacher Monica Jariwala’s favorite dish is ghughara, a fried dumpling with a sweet filling of dried fruits, nuts, mawa, or dried milk solids, and semolina flour. Her mom makes this treat during Diwali, which Jariwala explains is a time-consuming process. She and her sister would sometimes assist their mom, calling it a “family project.” She shares, “There’s always something really nice and something that feels like home whenever [she has this dish],” since her parents live in southern California.

(Above) Freshman Kaveen Goswami savors the taste of chana bhatura and the onions that often accompany the dish. The meal consists of a tangy chickpea curry with varying levels of spice and fried, fluffy bread.

PHOTO | JAYANTI JHA

PHOTO | MATTHEW YOSHIMOTO

(Above) As cream flows from the center of the treat, sophomore Ashika Mittal enjoys chum chum, a spongy dessert cooked in brown sugar syrup and filled with cream. She says “sweets are a staple [in] every Indian festival.”

(Above) Cut into diamond-shaped treats and sometimes layered with edible silver foil on top, sophomore Ananya Nadathur enjoys kaju katli, a soft, cashew treat. Nadathur highlights the sweet flavor of the food.

PHOTO BY DIYA SARIN | USED WITH PERMISSION

(Above) Served with bread, or pav, and minced onions, freshman Parth Upadhyay savors pav bhaji, a blend of vegetables mixed with spiced tomato gravy. It’s his favorite since it’s a classic, and “classics tend to be really good.”

FEATURES | NOVEMBER 2021

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bonding with fireworks, food and family Students and staff discuss their experiences celebrating the Hindu holiday of Diwali

BY MIRA WAGNER

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fter watching the largest firework of the night light up the sky in shades of red and orange, junior Avni Gandhi remembers walking into the kitchen and smelling sugar from the various sweets her family baked in India for Diwali. For Gandhi, this memory represents the excitement she feels when Diwali occurs every fall.

Chemistry teacher Supriya Moore also remembers the fireworks as a highlight of Diwali celebrations, even detailing the specific events preceding the lighted display.

“It was a whole big process of making a list about what we want to buy for the fireworks and then going to the shop and buying them and storing them and looking at them every day and being like, ‘Oh my gosh I’m gonna set them off on Diwali at night,’” Moore said. “That was the most exciting part for kids.”

As a child, Moore also used to participate in the religious aspects of the holiday and recalls the historical significance of Diwali as being the celebration of the “victory of good over evil” in Hindu mythology. Stemming from the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana, Diwali marks the day that Prince Rama returned to his kingdom of Ayodhya after being banished for 14 years. To celebrate this arrival, thousands of lamps were lit.

Junior Kushagra Srivastava also places emphasis on the religious elements of the celebration, which he says begins with prayers, or “puja,” and includes wearing ornate Indian outfits to light firecrackers, eating traditional Indian food and spending time with family. He explains that partaking in each of these traditions is what makes Diwali so memorable.

Moore also considers family to be an important aspect of Diwali celebrations.

Because some of her relatives live in the Bay Area, Moore views Diwali as an occasion to reconvene with her

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

PHOTO BY KUSHARGRA SRIVASTAVA | USED WITH PERMISSION

The Srivastava family lights diyas and places them in front of photos of Indian deities for a Diwali Puja.

family and celebrates with the mentality, “the more the merrier.”

Similarly, Srivastava enjoys the celebratory aspects of Diwali, but also finds a deeper meaning in the holiday.

“I think [Diwali has] tied me back to my culture at home,” Srivastava said.

“Being in America, it’s sometimes difficult to have that kind of connection, so through celebrating you feel more a part of the culture.

It gives me a place, where by celebrating Diwali I feel like I’m giving back to my community, or I feel like I’m part of something greater, in a sense, morally, at least.”

PHOTO BY SHAURYA SRIVASTAVA | USED WITH PERMISSION

Junior Kushagra Srivastava poses for a photo with his mother during a Diwali party.

KINDLING festivities Students and staff describe their preparations for Diwali

BY CRYSTAL CHENG AND SONIA VERMA

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PHOTO BY SRI SINGAMSETTY | USED WITH PERMISSION Medha Singamsetty (right) and her mother make rangolis (drawings made with colored sand or rice) outside their house.

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celebrations were when she first moved to the U.S. When she was 5 years old, her family would spend more time arranging plans for Diwali and organizing a huge gathering. Recently, a combination of the Bay Area housing crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic has led to smaller celebrations.

“Every year, our expectations and our preparations get more and more lax,” Singamsetty said. “When we first came, it was a big thing where we’d have boxes and boxes of firecrackers, but this year there’s a few boxes and sparklers and some pom poms, maybe a few flowerpots.

It’s [also] sad because [my neighbors GR

n the weeks that lead up to Diwali, senior Atmaja Patil and her family clean their home and string up bright, festive lights. They also light diyas, which are little clay lamps, and make rangolis, which are drawings with colored sand, in front of the house.

They decorate their home shrine and buy new clothes in preparation for the holiday. , Similarly, Attendance Accounting Technician Shilpi Jain prepares weeks before the Diwali celebrations begin.

I start cleaning and organizing each and every bit of my house about six weeks or a month in advance,” Jain said. “Another one is [to] put lights everywhere in the house. That’s where the whole family chimes in and [it’s] a fun project [for us].”

Along with cleaning and decorating, for Patil, preparing food for Diwali is also a group event. She and her family often make a variety of sweets, including jalebis, gulab jamuns and various types of ladoos, as well as savory snacks like Chakri.

Sophomore Medha Singamsetty often engages in community activities to celebrate Diwali.

D u r i n g the festival, Singamsetty usually visits the VEDA temple in Milpitas and watches various singing and dancing performances.

She also visits her neighbor’s houses to exchange gifts.

“Moms will generally [say things] like, ‘OK everyone, come to my house starting at seven o’clock and then I’ll be done at eight o’clock, [so] I’ll start going to people’s houses,’” Singamsetty said. “There’s a schedule and everything just to go visit people, which is kind of funny.”

Singamsetty recalls how different

and family friends] all moved away so [my family] doesn’t have many people to celebrate with anymore.”

Last year, Jain and her family celebrated with their friends over Zoom. Now that people have been able to get the COVID-19 vaccination, she hopes to be able to celebrate with more people this year. “[Celebrating] might be different, at least with my close immediate family members. I’m still not sure about [celebrating with] all of my friends,” Jain said. “[Diwali] feels like [a] celebration where everyone comes together.

It didn’t feel that way last year, and I hope that this year is better.”

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

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COMPARING DIWALI IN THE US AND INDIA Community members discuss differences between Diwali celebrations

BY ANNA KAMINITZ AND JANNAH SHERIFF

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eflecting on her 26 years growing up in New Delhi, India, AVID and Physics teacher Sushma Bana remembers Diwali by the decorative lights that illuminated entire communities: a glow that she describes as “visible from the sky.” She contrasts this with her experience in the U.S. “Here, when you go out in the neighborhood, it doesn’t feel like it’s Diwali because not many homes have lights,” Bana said. “In India, there [was] no way to miss it.”

Senior Arshiya Choudhary, who lived in India for seven years, similarly describes the celebrations in India as “grand” and community-oriented in comparison to those in the U.S. Choudhary remembers events in India such as festivals, prayers and the lighting of fireworks.

For sophomore Raashika Biswari, Diwali was marked by the routine flight

from her home PHOTO | SUSHMA BANA of Bangalore to North India, where she celebrated every year with extended family.

Students had the week off of school because Diwali is a national holiday in India, and Biswari spent it in a “celebratory mood,” staying up until midnight and watching fireworks with her Sushma Bana rests dias in her backyard for Diwali celebrations. cousins.

After moving to the U.S., Biswari’s identity, which her family reinforces by experience of the week-long Diwali reciting the story behind the holiday every year. However, she reminisces celebrations in India changed.

“Activities stay the same but feel on the personal importance the holiday different,” Biswari said. held for her in India.

“There’s acknowledgement, but “In India you have a lot of people doing there’s not that sort of deep bond you the same things, [so] have with people and you don’t sit there’s a larger sense down for hours and just talk to them,” of community over Choudhary said. “It’s just a passing moment like, ‘Oh, Happy Diwali,’ and there.”

Despite the that’s it. I still value it a lot, but I think differences between the importance in my life unfortunately the U.S. and India, Bana has.”

Bana compares Diwali celebrations notes that the holiday’s religious significance in India to “spring cleaning,” describing has remained constant how families would replace old items, in her life.

She buy new products and exchange gifts describes Diwali as during the holiday. Bana highlights a “cleansing of the how the “simplicity” of Diwali that she body, soul and mind” remembers from her childhood in India and uses it to reflect has been lost in the commercialization on her habits while of the holiday.

“The commercial aspect of Diwali has focusing on the central meaning of the holiday: really exploded and corporate culture “ e n l i g h t e n m e n t , has embraced Diwali like anything,” knowledge [and] Bana said. “Instead of that, look at your community, how you can be helpful, kindness.”

Choudhary also and keep that flame burning inside you PHOTO | SUSHMA BANA views Diwali as a and your community of goodness and Physics teacher Sushma Bana holds sparklers in her home to celebrate Diwali. reminder of her cultural kindness.”

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EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

ILLUSTRATION | SOPHIA MA

ARTS & ENT | NOVEMBER 2021

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culture and the future How culture and religion affect MVHS community members’ views of the future

BY JAYANTI JHA AND TARYN LAM

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Annie Roe

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espite moving from Korea to the U.S. at 10 years old, psychologist Annie Roe continues to feel the rooted presence of Korean culture and tradition. Roe’s parents both graduated from Seoul National University, the No. 1 college in Korea, and Roe says her parents thought the only way for her to be successful in the U.S. was to follow a secure career path. However, she opposed her parents’ wishes and didn’t aspire to become a doctor or lawyer — the top job contenders in their eyes.

Before she was born, Roe’s parents had gone to visit a fortune teller in hopes of selecting a name based on her birth date and the moon cycle that would accurately represent her future.

Renee Ou

Heaven and hell — two ideas of Christianity that senior Renee Ou says have become oversimplified into a “good place” and a “bad place.” For Ou, there are more factors involved than Freshman Krish simply being a good and bad person.

Lariya boils “karma” She believes people don’t have to down to “if you do good “necessarily live a perfect life” to go to things, you’ll be rewarded heaven. Rather than focusing on the with good things.” Because complicated future of heaven and hell, one of the key ideas of Hinduism Ou says that she doesn’t “dwell too is reincarnation, karma plays a large much on the concept of hell.” role in Lariya’s life — since these “good “I want everyone to be in heaven,” things” determine the luck in one’s Ou said. “If somebody talks to me about current life and future ones, he views what it’s like being a Christian, I don’t these lives as “second chances.” want to be like, ‘Here’s hell, and it’s this In his daily life, Lariya tries to obtain terrible place,’ because it doesn’t really good karma by respecting his elders — give people that much hope. So I would an important like to focus on the value of positives and talk about JUST BECAUSE YOU Hinduism — how being a Christian and doing GRABBED A PEN OR has impacted me rather community than just heaven and PENCIL DOESN’T service. hell, because I think that MEAN YOU CAN’T BE He also a lot of the things that we THE PERSON THAT practices do as Christians impact GRABBED THE MONEY. thinking the material world rather before he than just dictate where PSYCHOLOGIST s p e a k s we’re going to go after ANNIE ROE because life.” he wants to Still, Ou tries not to be “respectful to everyone” and avoid focus on sinning, which she describes pushing “anything too far” while making as “doing bad things,” and instead aims jokes. He says that karma makes him to be a good person. She says the consider the “difference between right “crowd you hang out with” can have a and wrong, and which side [he] should strong influence on the way one looks be on.” at sins, as potential bad influences He credits this critical thinking can result in an individual frequently to his family, who taught him these questioning if they’re committing a sin. values through discussions starting in Because Ou has carried these values elementary school. His parents would throughout her life, she says that they remind him of karma when he shared have become “the foundation of her his mistakes, and as Lariya grew up, he current values.” Now, the teachings began believing in karma himself. For from her faith have led to her being example, he would attribute a simple optimistic about the future. action of stubbing his toe to be a result “I think a lot of religions are the same of procrastinating on his homework or way where it gives you hope that there upsetting his parents. is something greater than life,” Ou “If I do something good, I feel like I said. “And being a Christian gives you would be rewarded with a good future purpose, which impacts someone’s life [with] enjoyment, and even [just] a lot. When you have a sense of purpose enough money to survive,” Lariya said. in your life, then you feel motivated to “Karma [is] a big thing, and it ties back to just stay alive and keep doing things to everything in Hinduism — a lot of things make other people happy.” are based off of karma, [and] I think the future relates to karma.”

Krish Lariya

In the end, t h e y settled with Young Yim. “Young is supposed to mean ‘swim,’ as in getting over obstacles in life,” Roe said. “Yim is supposed to mean duties and responsibilities.

So the name is supposed to mean going through all of the obstacles in my life dutifully and responsibly.”

Roe’s parents also held a Doljabi ceremony for her — a common Korean tradition celebrating an infant’s first birthday. The festivity includes a lighthearted custom where the child is exposed to a variety of objects and is told to choose one. The chosen item is then said to determine their future career path or lifestyle. Although Roe doesn’t remember her Doljabi, she recalls a photo of herself “pulling [her] hat off because it was itchy, and [using] a pencil and a pen to try to get the hat off.”

Typically, infants choose only one item — Roe chose two, however, both of which she says represent pursuing education and being intelligent. Despite undergoing the ceremony, Roe still resonates more with her name than her Doljabi, as she feels like she “did well” overcoming the challenges in her life as an immigrant. Still, she has reservations about traditions that predict a child’s future.

“Just because you grabbed a pen or a pencil doesn’t mean you can’t be the person that grabbed the money,” Roe said. “You can have these fortunes but you can [also] become wherever you want to be.”

ARTS & ENT | NOVEMBER 2021

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what’s your sign?

A look into how the MVHS community views astrology

BY SHIVANI VERMA

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fter using Snapchat’s Astrological Profiles feature when it was released in November of 2020, senior Lydia Lu, who is a Libra, recalls learning that she and her friend, senior Matthew Yoshimoto, were ranked as highly compatible according to their star sign. Looking through their Astrological Profiles, the pair realized that several predictions about their relationship seemed accurate, such as how they viewed each other as friends. “[The feature] would be like, ‘You see Matthew as someone who anchors you,’ or for him it [was] like, ‘You see Lydia as someone that you admire a lot because of the traits that [she has] that you might not necessarily have,’” Lu said. “And those two things are things that we never voiced vocally, but when we read it, we clicked and we were like, ‘That makes sense 100%.’”

Astrology is the practice of predicting an individual’s identity and future by using the placement of the planets at the exact time and place of their birth. Initially, astronomy — the study of the universe — and

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astrology were intertwined. Now, while from constellations. The period of the astronomy is considered a science, year corresponding to a certain sign astrology is deemed a controversial, means that the sun is passing through pseudoscientific practice. While MVHS the area of the sky that contains that ‘20 alum Lakshanyaa Ganesh, who sign’s constellation. However, the is a Cancer, enjoys practice of astrology learning about doesn’t only interpret [ASTROLOGY] IS astrology, she doesn’t the sun sign. It also [SOMETHING] I CAN completely believe includes many other in it due to its often facets that consider WORK ON [IN MY] vague nature. the placements of DAILY LIFE. IT HELPS “There are all the planets. After ME BECOME MORE certain aspects of doing more in-depth OBSERVANT. my personality that research about JUNIOR astrology, align with what my junior ALICIA XU Alicia Xu, who is a astrological sign says my personality should Scorpio, believes that be,” Ganesh said. “But I don’t fully buy it has affected her life, particularly her into it because a lot of horoscopes and understanding of people. descriptions of what each sign means “[Astrology] is something that makes are very general. If you look at it, you’re me happy,” Xu said. “It’s a thing that I like, ‘That makes sense, that’s me,’ but can work on [in my] daily life. It helps me then [when] you think about it more, become more observant. If I observe you’re like, ‘That applies to literally people, I can be like, ‘Oh maybe their everyone.’” star sign is so and so,’ and then I can The most general aspect of astrology expand upon that on my own, and is the zodiac sign, also known as the just think, how could that affect this sun sign. Zodiac signs were created person and how could that affect my

astrological terms

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Big Three

In Retrograde

Sign Elements

The term “big three” refers to a person’s sun sign, moon sign and rising sign. Rising signs are discovered through locating which sign was coming up the horizon at a person’s birth.

When a planet is in retrograde, it appears to be orbiting backwards due to an optical illusion.

Astrologically, this means that the planet will impact life differently than it normally does.

Each sign has an element.

Fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

GRAPHICS | KRIPA MAYURESHWAR

relationship with that person.”

One way of gaining insight into an individual’s life and characteristics is through the use of the astrological birth chart, a circular diagram with twelve categories that describe a person based on where the planets are in the sky, and which category those planetary positions correspond to. The categories, known as ‘houses,’ correspond with a specific zodiac sign.

After viewing her astrological chart, Xu says she has become more aware of her own behavioral habits. “[Looking at my own chart], I’ve noticed smaller details about myself,” Xu said. “I’ve thought, ‘I just made this action or just thought this thought that was similar to what I’ve read about my chart.’ And I think it’s cool that I can connect it, even just in my daily life, just on my own.”

According to Lu, many people generalize astrological predictions and mistakenly believe that astrology states that everyone born on the same day has the same personality. Lu has seven people in her life who share her birthday, yet she maintains that they all have their own distinctive qualities because personality and identity are not defined by astrology alone.

Similarly, Ganesh says that in spite of the ambiguity of astrology, many people don’t account for the complexity revealed by birth charts, and believes that astrology has accurately predicted some of her own attributes, such as being maternal or emotional.

Ultimately, Lu notes that despite the varying opinions on astrology, it has the power to form communities easily.

“I think that zodiacs in general are a really nice way to bond with people, because you can take each other’s astrological placements and try to see if it overlaps,” Lu said. “[If] they are true, [or] if they aren’t necessarily true, at the end of day [that’s] also fine. It depend[s] on the individual, but I do think it can bring people together, because they all have something that they have in common and they have similar interests. They’re able to learn more about something that they’re really interested in and intrigued about.”

astrological birth charts The astrological birth chart above is a general chart that displays each house and the zodiac sign it corresponds to. Zodiac signs were created from constellations. Interpretations about an individual’s life are determined by a combination of three variables: the house, its sign and the individual’s planetary placements. Follow the steps below to find your own astrological birth chart.

1. Find out the exact time and place of your birth.

2. Enter that information into cafeastrology.com 3. Read the information about your chart to understand how astrology interprets your life!

GRAPHIC | ADITYA SHUKLA

ARTS & ENT | NOVEMBER 2021

27

my type of person Looking at how accurately the MBTI types represent individuals

BY AASHNA PATEL

W

hen junior Ishaan Datta type] would play into that.” was in middle school, he Datta also found that the MBTI test took a career aptitude test was able to accurately convey his in one of his classes. [While he was interests in science and research, but researching] Datta also stumbled upon doesn’t think these results should carry the Myers-Briggs too much weight Type Indicator in one’s career personality test decisions. and got the INTP “I haven’t type. really considered With over my personality two million testtype when takers each deciding what year, the MBTI careers I think test, found on are interesting,” think their MBTI type accurately Datta said. “I just 16personalities. represents their personality com, has evolved think about what *According to a survey of 134 people into the most I myself think is widely used interesting, not personality assessment, becoming a necessarily what an INTP would think is staple for many schools, universities and interesting.” companies. Sophomore Madi Polidoro, Despite the test’s popularity and whose type is INFJ, says the test is appeal, many test-takers point to its intriguing because it reveals information flaws. For instance, Datta argues that the personalized to each test-taker. test oversimplifies the extent to which an “It’s interesting because you want to individual carries certain traits and forces relate to other people or to something an individual into one of two polarizing that describes you, and it feels good traits, when they are somewhere in when you’re [learning about] feelings between. that you can’t get on paper,” Polidoro Additionally, Polidoro believes the said. “[It’s] confirming what [you] already test offers specialized results of how have suspicions about.” one would perform under specific One feature the test offers is a list circumstances and environments, but of career paths geared toward each doesn’t provide a holistic representation personality type. Senior Nabeeha Ahsan, of personality. whose type is ENFP, says her suggested “I think a lot of people go into the test career fields in arts and design align with thinking it’s gonna be your entire being her creative personality. summed up into one [result],” Polidoro “I want to go into the field of fashion so said. “But the more you look at it, the I can see why the creativity thing would criteria on the test is very geared towards come up,” Ahsan said. “Personality-wise, how [people] interact with people in a I have a really hard time focusing on more professional setting.” things, so it makes sense that [personality Ahsan adds that another shortcoming

65%

of MVHS students

28

of the test is that test-takers carry implicit bias when answering the questions.

She claims that test takers know what personality type they want to get, leading them to choose the most appealing choices.

“It’s not just reading your brain,” Ahsan said. “It’s you, reading the questions and reading the answers it gives you. And you give what you think you should give instead of what answers you would give at that moment.”

According to Datta, his type wavers between INTP and ISTP. Ahsan recognizes this occurrence and believes that the test results are unreplicable, as she has friends who have “never gotten the same results twice.” According to IU, 50% of individuals arrive at different results the second time they take the test.

According to Polidoro, the varying results are due to inaccuracies of the test rather than actual changes in one’s personality. She thinks that although one’s personality could change under extreme circumstances, personality is built upon core traits that are unlikely to undergo drastic changes. However, she reasons that personality can still change slightly, such as if introverted individuals practice communication skills and eventually excel in a job that requires more interaction. Ultimately, she acknowledges reasons for the test’s large popularity.

“It’s a good icebreaker that people can jump on,” Polidoro said. “Like how Harry Potter houses have morphed into that … But it definitely should be taken lightly, and maybe not as a super accurate [measure] of personality.”

Extroverted vs.

Introverted

Sensory vs.

Intuitive

Thinking vs.

Feeling

Do you gain more energy from the outer world or inner world?

Do you rely more on sensory information or hunches, instincts and feelings when interpreting the world?

Do you use more objective criteria or subjective criteria in decision making?

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

Judging vs.

Perceiving Do you have an organized and structured or spontaneous and flexible approach to decisionmaking?

beyond bad luck

From lucky clothing items to energizing crystals, students use superstitions in their daily lives

BY TVISHA GUPTA

J

unior Shreya Akshintala rummages For senior Rishik Srivastava, his past all her clothing items to pick superstitions help calm his nerves, feel out a specific pair of socks and a more confident about his tests and shirt, her go-tos for karate competitions. provide a sense of control.

Although she feels nervous, she knows, “Before an important test, I wear a with the power hair tie most days of her special just for good luck,” shirt and sock Srivastava said. combination, “It’s had a positive luck is on her impact on my test side. performance, I feel Ever since good about going middle school, into the test.”

Akshintala says Wearing the that she’s won believe in superstitions color black, putting every time *According to a survey of 196 people on an energetic she’s worn song by artist Travis those clothing items, and that it has Scott and eating one bowl of Cheerios in evolved into a superstition. the morning are other superstitions he “For competition, [my charms] follows, which he finds help positively haven’t failed me yet,” Akshintala said. influence his academic performance.

Akshintala says her superstitions Similarly, sophomore Farida Shady are calming and help boost her uses her crystal-laden bracelets to performance when she follows them, radiate positivity and encouragement rather than when she doesn’t. in her life. Initially, Shady carried her “Superstition[s] [are] just something crystals in her backpack, but since she that you hold true to yourself and you started wearing them, she says she has believe in, even if it doesn’t really have seen an increase in her productivity, any sense,” Akshintala said. “You just do motivation and courage. it because you’re worried about what “They give me good energy which would happen if you didn’t do it.” gives me encouragement for tests and

35%

of MVHS students

projects,” Shady said. “It makes me feel better about my day.”

On the other hand, Akshintala mentions that not following her superstitions tends to have a negative effect on her performance.

“I think that it’s just mind over matter when you do them,” Akshintala said.

“You feel clear-headed and confident going in — you have the superstitions on your side. When you don’t do them, it just creates another mental block that you have to overcome so that’s made my performance decline.”

While Srivastava also acknowledges that not following his superstitions tends to have an adverse impact on his performance, he says they ultimately have a positive effect on not only his academic performance, but also on his life in general.

“Most of the time, I put myself in a good mood,” Srivastava said. “I feel good, I look good, I do good — that sort of mentality. It reminds me that I’m OK. It’s going to be alright.”

WHAT ARE YOUR SUPERSTITIONS?

Ishita Pesati, Junior “If I’m about to go out the door and I sneeze, I’ll go back inside and drink a glass of water because it’s bad luck to sneeze before you leave.”

Arun Gosala, Freshman “When I play basketball and I’m done, I have to make a shot from the freethrow line before I leave.”

Katherine Chui, Junior “Our [Color Guard] coach passes us Tic Tacs and before we put it in our mouths, we say, ‘Suck now so you don’t suck later.’”

Shirin Haldar, Junior “If I don’t practice [singing] ‘Mic Drop’ by BTS, I won’t be able to [sing] other songs well.”

ARTS & ENT | NOVEMBER 2021

29

ILLUSTRATION | ANUSHKA DE

How pre-game thoughts and emotions affect competitors

BY ANNA JEROLIMOV AND LANCE TONG

A

a lot. If I miss a shot, [it] gets in my head s the football team runs off the get onto the field, it’s muscle memory.”

Sophomore and Cross Country a little bit, but I just try to ignore it.” field during halftime, junior and Chui says that color guard has a Color Guard member Katherine runner Neal Jain agrees with Chui, Chui’s pregame butterflies kick in. While recalling how before his first meet, he saying they use in order to motivate halftime for the football players is a time was much more nervous than he is performers. Her coach also emphasizes to relax and recharge, Color Guard, before meets now. Jain says that this that practice and repetition will increase nervousness came from the quality of the performance.

Marching Band and “[Performing] is not as hard because Cheer have this time to How often do you the fact that he didn’t perform. Chui regards experience anxiety want to be “disappointed you’ve been practicing,” Chui said. “And in his time.” then also, Guard has a little thing that these performances before games?

“When I start warming we do which is ‘Good, better, best, as nerve wracking, up and stuff, most of [my never let it rest, good is better and and highlights how the anxiety] is gone, and then you’re better best.’ And we just do that team uses breathing 10% during the race, I don’t every time before we perform.”

NEVER exercises to relieve really feel anything at Jain says that his coach also anxiety. all,” Jain said. “I’m just encourages his runners to try their best 19% “Breathe.

36% focused on the race and not worry about outcomes or things That’s really ALWAYS OFTEN and afterwards, I’m out of their control. important,” Chui either disappointed or Although Pow and Jain have both said. “A lot of happier with my time.” been negatively affected by anxiety times when 35% Freshman and before games, they agree that the people are ONCE IN Water Polo player benefits of being involved in a sport setting [up] their A WHILE Owen Pow states that outweigh the drawbacks that anxiety equipment, we’re in he had brings. Jain adds that *According to a survey of a cluster in the back.

117 students a different How severe is the he has learned to Usually I would take a experience in stop worrying about couple of deep breaths with anxiety? the outcome of his the [rest of Color] Guard to breathe in, his first game, as he performance. breathe out. We all do that before we was more excited than nervous. However, Pow’s “One bad race [is] not 9% walk on.”

SEVERE is at going to affect [you] Chui says that, due to her experience performance too much,” Jain said. in performance dance, pre-game times still affected by “There’s not much anxiety does not affect her as much anxiety, leading to pressure when as she has observed it affecting other struggles during his 38% 52% you’re doing races. performers. Dancing has helped build games.

“There’s always Once you get to MILD MODERATE her confidence and she adds that she know more people, tries to translate this nervous energy a little bit [of anxiety],” Pow said. the pressure eases into positive energy. down, and [cross “I’m excited that I get to perform our “You never know country] feels like a show in front of other people and other what’s gonna happen *According to a survey family.” bands or at football games,” Chui said. … [because pre game of 107 students “I try not to overthink because once I anxiety] usually affects me

30

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

STUDENT COACHES Three athletes discuss the impact of being both coaches and competitors

BY SARAH LIU

S

nior Ashley Twu is both a student e and a teacher — she’s both a player and captain for the Field Hockey team and a coach for the San Jose Fly Field Hockey Club, which she’s been playing for since she was 11. For her, it’s vital to know the specifics of a sport to be able to teach it.

“As a coach, you have to make the drills, you have to look at how the player is playing and you have to change what you want to teach them based on what you see,” Twu said. “And then you also have to recognize when there are errors being made.”

Junior Agnes Wang is a member of the Cross Country team and a coach for Wabi-Sabi Sports, a sports camp for children led by MVHS athletes.

Having experience leading children to engage in running activities, she adds that being in a teaching position has not only helped her gain a deeper understanding of her sport, but also helped her learn about herself.

PHOTO BY ARNOLD DE LEON | USED WITH PERMISSION

Senior Ashley Twu lunges forward to take a shot during a field hockey game.

“When you’re a coach, you become a lot more self conscious of a lot of things you coach, like your running form,” Wang said. “I guess the experience has made me more aware of myself.”

As the captain of the Badminton team and a badminton coach at the Cupertino Sports Center, senior Kevin Cuan has seen firsthand the impact his coaching has had on his students.

Cuan fondly remembers watching his students improve their technique and grow to be more open towards others.

“There’s this one kid who likes to talk a lot now. He’s in elementary school and I know what PHOTO BY KATHERINE SHEN | USED WITH PERMISSION YouTubers he watches, and he likes to talk Junior Agnes Wang gives a summer camp participant a about stuff that goes on piggyback ride.

at school,” Cuan said. “As you continue [coaching] for weeks over and over and over again, the kids sort of open up and you learn more about them.”

By implementing what he has learned from coaching to his team at school, Cuan hopes he will become more confident in his leadership skills during practices and games.

“I’ve never really thought of myself as a good leader, because I’m not really good at making decisions, and a lot of the time I let people do what they want to do,” Cuan said. “I feel like [I’ve] gained more confidence in telling people what to do.”

Similarly, Twu plans to implement what she’s learned from coaching field hockey to becoming a better leader for the field hockey team. Twu hopes to guide her team by passing on the skills she’s learned from her previous coaches to new players to help them improve.

“I’ve known some of [my coaches] since seventh grade, and they’ve shaped me into a great player,” Twu said. “And now I’m working alongside them to help coach new players and do the same kind of thing.”

SPORTS | NOVEMBER 2021

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SPORTS RECAP A review of fall 2022 sports and their season results

BY LANCE TONG

1

Senior Sophia Fu takes a shot during practice prior to the game against Lynbrook High School. The Girls Water Polo team is currently 2-7, having fallen into a slum with a three-game losing streak.

2

Junior Sydney Su swings at the ball for a kill against Los Altos High School. MVHS is currently 10-9 this season, with freshman Kiana Mark leading the team in kills.

3

Senior Rhea Rai swings at a serve during a match against Harker High School. The varsity tennis team is currently 5-5 on the season.

4

Senior Ashley Twu moves the ball upfield in a match against Saint Francis High School.

The field hockey team finished this season with a 2-12 record and is tied for sixth in the El Camino League.

5 32

Senior Ronit Ramchandani makes a running catch during the Helmet Game against Cupertino High School on Saturday, Oct. 16. The Matadors are currently 2-6 on the season, and lost the Helmet Game 45-20.

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

PHOTO | MICHELLE ZHENG

3 PHOTO | ANGELA ZHANG

4

PHOTO | LANCE TONG

2

1

PHOTO | LANCE TONG

5

PHOTO | LANCE TONG

SPORTS | NOVEMBER 2021

33

The Girls Varsity and JV Water Polo team poses underwater for a group photo (Kayley Kim far right).

TEAM CAMARADERIE IMPACTS SUCCESS

PHOTO | MICHELLE ZHENG

Examining the importance of relationships between coaches and athletes

BY MICHELLE ZHENG

S

imilar to how teachers motivate Sophomore and Girls JV Water students to participate in class and Polo player Kayley Kim agrees that complete assignments, coaches an understanding coach is significant. must build healthy relationships with According to Kim, “you can’t play well their players unless your well in order to being is good COACHES ARE REALLY encourage them first.” Kim says IMPORTANT TO HELP to attend practice that in addition MOTIVATE [PLAYERS] AND and improve to the need to as athletes. be mindful of CREATE THE TEAM ITSELF. Junior Saanvi student athletes’ THE ATTITUDE AND OUR Mantripragada, mental health, ACTUAL PERFORMANCE IN a member of a coach is THE GAMES – MOTIVATION IS responsible for the Girls Varsity A REALLY BIG PART OF THAT. pushing players Soccer team, emphasizes the to be the best SOPHOMORE that they can be. importance of KAYLEY KIM trust between “Coaches are coaches and really important players. According to help motivate to Mantripragada, if a coach does not [players] and create the team itself,” believe in a player, the player will Kim said. “The attitude and our actual not be able to believe in themselves. performance in the games — motivation “A couple years ago, I had a is a really big part of that.” really bad coach who didn’t put me Varsity Girls Tennis coach Gene [in] to play at all,” Mantripragada Fortino understands the level of said. “He didn’t believe in me. I kind competition at MVHS and says he of fell out of love with this sport.” respects his players’ schedules.

34

EL ESTOQUE | NOVEMBER 2021

However, he also has policies and rules to keep the team organized.

According to Fortino, to mitigate any misunderstandings, he makes sure that everyone understands his rules.

“At the beginning of the year [I state], ‘These are the rules. This is how I do it,’ and the girls respect that,” Fortino said. “[For] other teams there’s gray areas, and that’s where I think sometimes there’s conflicts with players and coaches and you have challenges.”

According to Mantripragada, if the bond within the team is strong and the relationships between the members of the team are fueled by communication, trust and boundaries, sports can be a fun journey.

“If you don’t like [your team], it’s hard to like the sport because you play with them all the time,” Mantripragada said.

“So team bonding and coach bonding is really important for team sports.”

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH ETHAN LIEN

BY ANNA JEROLIMOV

F

reshman golfer Ethan Lien began playing golf when he was 7 years old, taking after his older brother, a captain for the MVHS Golf team at the time. Seven years later, Lien is now the third best player in Northern California and in the Top 50 best players of the Class of 2025 around the world.

In order to maintain a high level of play, Lien practices six to seven days a week for up to three hours per day. On the weekends, he participates in tournaments that often span the whole day. One of these tournaments includes the Northern California Junior Golf Tournament, which Lien won on Saturday, Oct. 9. In the tournament, Lien was four points behind the leader going into the last four holes, but then managed to “clutch” after he made two birdies and his competitor made two bogeys.

Although he knows it will take hard work, Lien is determined to play golf professionally in the future.

He is also interested in joining the MVHS golf team in the spring due to his “good chemistry” with current members. “[Golf] definitely [affects other parts of my life],” Lien said. “It helps you to work hard and stay determined. I can’t imagine [my life] if I never played golf.”

11 260 3rd

Major tournament wins in 2021

Average driving distance in yards

Best player of the Class of 2025 in Northern California

PHOTO BY LARRY LIEN | USED WITH PERMISSION

SPORTS | NOVEMBER 2021

35

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