Volume 55, Issue 7

VOLUME 55 ISSUE 7

11 FLOATING ON

Sending off the class of 2025 as they move upward to college and beyond

MAY 2025

LETTER

FROM THE

EDITORS PHOTO | ETHAN YANG

21840 McClellan Rd. Cupertino, CA 95014 elestoque.org mv.el.estoque@gmail.com Editors-in-Chief: Sophia D’Sa, Jillian Ju, Isabelle Kok, Liz Liu, Stella Petzova, Benjamin Zhang Head of Design: Sih Yu (Melody) Lin Heads of Graphics: Grace Lin, Amberly Sun News Editors: Joyce Li, Zaid Naqvi, Aprameya Rupanagunta Features Editors: Corinna Kuo, Angela Poon Opinion Editors: Jonah Chang, Radhika Dharmapurikar, Suhana Mahabal, Asha Wojciechowski Entertainment Editors: Meghna Dixit, Sana Karkhanis, Vaishnavi Katukam, Kate Yang Sports Editors: Leah Desai, Ananda Singh, Ethan Yang Copy Editors: Giljoon Lee, Ellie Wang Staff Writers: Ananya Chaudhary, Anika Bhandarkar, Samika Bhatkar, Jason Chu, Arjun Dhruv, Ethan Eisler, Kathryn Foo, Niveda Hari, Aletheia Ju, Ethan Kellogg, Subin Ko, Manas Kottakota, Jami Lim, Katrina Lin, Erin Liu, Owen Liu, Megha Mummaneni, Sania Nadkarni, Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, Dylan Nguyen, Trisha Sannappanavar, Arshiya Sen, Arushi Singh, Varun Singh, Amberly Sun, Alan Tai, Samuel Teo, Raj Thapliyal, Eshika Tiwari, Archana Venkatesan, Alyssa Yang, Elizabeth Yang, Kaia Yuan, Eric Zhou Advisers: Vennessa Nava, Julia Satterthwaite, MJE Mission Statement: El Estoque will accurately inform our community through well-researched, unbiased and in-depth accounts of stories of the student body and staff, local news and developments and taboo topics prevalent in and near the MVHS realm. By investigating a variety of voices and credible perspectives, we hope to foster active discussion, effect positive change and spread awareness of timely and relevant content.

As a trustworthy, consistent 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 one another, 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 of reporters with a strong passion for our work and journalism as a whole.

To the Class of 2025 — It is that time of the year — when the blooming spring air carries as much hope for the imminent future as it does regret for the things we never got to do. Some might blame the pollen for our watery eyes, but as we prepare to say our goodbyes, it’s time to put words to the raw emotions. Throughout the past year, you have been setting the example for us to follow as we navigate through the rigorous MVHS environment. We’ve watched as you carefully articulated your ideas for personal statements. We’ve watched as your eyes lit up when talking about the next four years of your life. We’ve watched as your senioritis grew more and more severe.

In this issue, our Sports section celebrates senior athletes on their DIII signing day, and this is just one of the countless ways you have shown us how hard work turns into success. Each step along the way, you’ve shown us how to be students, leaders, friends and siblings. The senior columns in our Opinion section remind us of the endless wisdom and advice we’ve learned from you.

But now, it’s time to leave this school of yours behind and enter a world beyond the familiar breakfast burritos and advisories. Our Features section recaps your time here at MVHS, but also looks toward your plans for this summer and the majors you chose as you enter college.

We want to dedicate this magazine to our outgoing editors, who coached us through every skill we learned as part of this publication. Maybe there won’t be another Caltrain adventure to San Francisco nor a lunchtime escapade to Saratoga Bagels, but we will carry with us every comment you left, every piece of feedback you gave, every joke you made — and we know that the memories you’ve made here at MVHS and El Estoque will follow you as you sail through adulthood and achieve many more successes.

Sophia D’Sa

Jillian Ju

Isabelle Kok

Liz Liu

Stella Petzova

Benjamin Zhang

COVER | ISABELLE KOK AND STELLA PETZOVA

02 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS Testing theft

04

Housing or hassle?

06

New future

08

Making a splash

09

Spring news quiz

10

MAY 2025

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANYA DESHPANDE | USED WITH PERMISSION

PHOTO | OWEN LIU

FEATURES Senior sojourn

12

Major decisions

14

Beyond graduation

16

Senior in 4 S’s

18

OPINION Cutting costs

20

Travel under Trump

22

Admit it.

24

Staff Ed: Speak up

26

Life after ambition

28

As a runner

29

Book worm

30

Adult things

31

Finding belonging

32

Clown car home

33

Proactive preparation

34

06

HOUSING OR HASSLE?

36

PROM LOOKBOOK

PHOTO | DYLAN NGUYEN

ARTS & ENT Prom lookbook

36

What summer stereotype are you?

38

Match-a made in heaven

40

Taste the Twrl

41

SPORTS Committed!

42

Spring sports recap

44

Renewing the turf

46

44

SPRING SPORTS RECAP

EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

03

TESTING THEFT Students photograph and take copies of science tests at Model U.N. conference

BY YIXUAN (JOYCE) LI, ZAID NAQVI AND STELLA PETZOVA For the purpose of maintaining their anonymity, the Model United Nations member involved in the incident and interviewed for this story will be referred to as Student A.

D

uring the South Bay Model United Nations Conference on April 5, several students affiliated with the Model U.N. club snuck into MVHS science classrooms in the lower B building, which are all connected via a back corridor, whose doors were unlocked throughout the conference.

They went through teachers’ files, stole copies and took photos of tests used in Biology, AP Biology, AP Physics 1 and AP Environmental Science classes.

Conference presentations were hosted primarily in the science classrooms of the lower B building, with overseers — usually multiple Model U.N. officers — supervising each room. Model U.N. adviser and social studies teacher Pete Pelkey did not monitor the rooms and didn’t see students enter the back corridor.

Pelkey explained that he avoided supervising every classroom in the B building in order to not disrupt students’ presentations. He says this approach of supervision has worked in the past, and he doesn’t plan to increase stringency going forward.

Student A, one of the students who entered the back rooms, describes the situation as “spontaneous.” He says that students took advantage of easy accessibility to the tests for personal academic gain. According to him, the group involved was not a tight-knit friend group, but rather “a wide range of students from a diverse set of backgrounds and grade levels.”

04 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

“I think it was a thrill to have scheduled to host next year’s event, access to classrooms and to be and Pelkey says that HHS may host unsupervised,” Student A said. “The it again the following year if MVHS prospect of having access to such administration imposes restrictions lucrative things was the driving force on Model U.N. activities due to the of the incident.” incident.

According to Student A, several “The conference was very members of the club were called successful for the people that into the office and interviewed by participated in it, and to have this administration regarding the incident. incident happen really hurt the club Only one officer from MVHS was because my officers have worked very present at the event. Model U.N. hard to make this successful,” Pelkey President and said. “We don’t senior Charlotte want a bad rep Zhou, although to follow the not present club, because at the event, they’ve done expressed a really good disappointment job. I’m very in the students’ pleased with actions, citing my leadership their violation team.” of the academic Biology and code and Physiology detrimental teacher Lora effects on Lerner, who the club’s found out reputation. about the “It’s not a incident from reflection of the administration, club at all,” Zhou believes the MODEL U.N. PRESIDENT said. “From my club bears CHARLOTTE ZHOU understanding, responsibility our conference for what was just a catalyst for them to carry happened. She recalls feeling out these actions. It’s unfortunate that betrayed by the breach of trust. everyone is referring to this incident “It was like a gut punch,” Lerner as the Model U.N. incident, when, in said. “It feels like somebody broke reality, we have no association with into my house and was in my personal any of their actions. It’s just that they stuff. It’s a weight to carry, wondering happened to be part of the club and ‘Can I really trust them?’ about every used the club to their advantage.” student who I think I might be able to Pelkey emphasizes that the SBMUN trust. It makes that burden a little bit Conference is a crucial fundraiser for heavier to know that people would the club. Homestead High School is go to those lengths. It wasn’t just out

“

IT’S NOT A REFLECTION OF THE CLUB AT ALL. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, OUR CONFERENCE WAS JUST A CATALYST FOR THEM TO CARRY OUT THESE ACTIONS.

NEWS

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IT’S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE CAN’T MAKE PEOPLE HAVE INTEGRITY. THE CULTURE HERE AT MVHS IS THAT IT’S OK TO BE DISHONEST IF YOU CAN GET A HIGHER GRADE.

generally not easy to do well,” Student A said. “It’s extremely tempting to cheat, because you can study for hours and still do badly on tests. And since cheating is so widespread, the activities that are in the gray zone, like sharing answers between passing periods, are really common. It’s rare to get caught, and there is a really high reward.”

However, Student A claims that, if he could go back and change his actions, he would. He says he was hesitant to enter the science rooms and participate, describing himself as “not a generally dishonest person.”

“I would stay out of those classrooms and not do anything if I could,” Student A said. “This has caused me so much stress, and it’s just been a bad situation. I think I enjoyed my life more before this happened.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS | YIXUAN (JOYCE) LI

of convenience, like peeking at the leaders and faculty have turned their person next to them on a test. It was a attention to the broader factors that very deliberate effort to be dishonest, may have influenced the students’ which is very disappointing.” decisions. Zhou and her fellow Lerner says that many science Model U.N. officers agree that the teachers reuse tests from year to year, students involved should be barred so the breach from holding means those leadership tests will need positions in the to be rewritten, club, and she adding hours of believes that extra work for they should teachers over be removed the summer. from the While doors club entirely. b e t w e e n However, s c i e n c e Zhou, Student classrooms A and Lerner had been left agree that unlocked so the academic custodians culture of could access MVHS that rooms easily, prioritizes t e a c h e r s grades over SCIENCE TEACHER weren’t notified integrity and by the club that learning is the LORA LERNER students would root of the be in the rooms issue.

“It’s frustrating because we can’t over the weekend, so they left file make people have integrity,” Lerner cabinets containing tests unlocked.

Students are typically not allowed said. “The culture here at MVHS is that in the lower science building outside it’s OK to be dishonest if you can get of class time, according to Lerner, with a higher grade. We as teachers can the exception of parent-supervised encourage people by emphasizing, Science Olympiad students. However, ‘Hey, your integrity actually matters.’ security will be increased due to the We can try to scare them and say, incident; for example, she says student ‘You’ll get caught eventually,’ even tutors will no longer be allowed to though some won’t. wander in the back corridor outside of But in the end, I can’t control their TA period. people’s integrity, and they’re Lerner points out that if this were going to make their own decisions to happen at a college, the students about whether they’re willing to do would be expelled for trespassing. something dishonest because they Student A says punishments were think they’re gonna get something out varied, but that he “was very fortunate of it.” to have the administration be very Student A believes that the understanding and not be that harsh situation reveals deeper flaws in the in terms of his punishment.” academic culture of MVHS. In addition Administration declined to to widespread cheating, he points comment on students’ punishments to out that recent events like shooting preserve their privacy. threats reflect similar dishonesty to As the conversation around escape academic effort and pressure.

“MVHS classes are hard, and it’s consequences continues, some club

M A X E O I

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NEWS | MAY 2025

05

Sophomore Harshith Nelluri stands in front of Cupertino’s McClellan Terrace Apartments. Photo | Owen Liu

or hassle?

The sudden purchase of McClellan Terrace Apartments presents issues for residents

BY OWEN LIU AND ERIC ZHOU

06 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

The student source in this story is anonymous due to potential legal concerns in this ongoing matter and will be referred to as Student A.

of urgent student need, practical severing their ties with the MVHS feasibility and long-term strategic community. planning aligned with our mission and “They would be kicking us out Measure G obligations,” Kamei said. within a year, so halfway through my “And so many of the graduates of junior year, I’m going to have to restart oothill-De Anza Community the district become nurses, teachers, my life,” Nelluri said. “I’m gonna have College reached a tentative deal community leaders and workers, so to make new friends. I have to restart with Prometheus Real Estate we wanted to ensure that we could my grades and my social life.”

Group to buy the McClellan Terrace remove the barrier for them when it While Kamei, in a written response Apartments on Tuesday, April 29, with comes to housing instability.” after the initial interview, agreed that board members unanimously voting However, to current tenants of moving residents would be exposed to in favor of the decision to repurpose the apartment, such as Student a certain level of stress and instability, the current housing complex into A, transitioning from their current she still feels that the district has student dormitories. Financed by residence and its potential taken the 94 families’ situations into the approved Measure G bond, the implications has been tough. Learning consideration. apartment complex sold for $65.6 of these changes through local news “The District is working with a million, which was passed on March outlets, Student professional relocation 20, 2020. Due to the current tenants A comments services firm to provide of the McClellan Terrace Apartments that the personalized support to almost reaching a maximum capacity decision was each household,” Kamei of 94 households, the buyer hopes to shocking to WE WERE NEVER said in an email. “This use California Relocation Assistance the community TOLD ABOUT THIS includes assistance in Law, passed under California Prop currently in the identifying comparable 39, to fund any decisions concerning a p a r t m e n t s . OFFICIALLY UNTIL A housing, help with the vacating the premises.

D e s p i t e NEWSCAST CAME logistics of moving and Under the Relocation Plan Proposal Student A ongoing communication of Foothill De-Anza’s contract, FHDA acknowledging OUT. throughout the process.” promised to enlist relocation services that the However, Student A STUDENT A for the current tenants to ease the decision and and Nelluri still express transition process by studying the outcome were fair to the tenants their disapproval and disappointment marketplace for affordable housing from FHDA’s perspective, he feels that at the current situation, believing that, and funding any services under a the already tight-knit community will although their education won’t be budget of $30,000. With the proposal be disrupted. impacted, other families who have being implemented next year, current “I felt surprised when I learned younger children will, as they’ll miss tenants are allowed to stay in their of this, since we were never told out on the education here at MVHS. apartments until June 30, 2026, and anything of this, but some clues led up “We moved from Sunnyvale here their current leases are also extended to it, such as wanting to transform the for education, because that’s what to that termination date. main clubhouse into a gym,” Student almost every parent wants — they Director of Government Affairs and A said. “This hinted that they could be want education here,” Student A said.

Public Information Officer of FDHA, introducing student tenants. But we “I’m still able to finish 11th grade, I can Ellen Kamei, explains that the district were never told about this officially move somewhere else, graduate with aims to provide affordable housing until a newscast came out.” all of my credits, everything that’s within walking distance of Foothill Sophomore Harshith Nelluri, required. It’s more about looking out and De Anza another current for the future generations, people that College, of are maybe in ninth grade right now SCAN FOR MORE resident alongside the complex, and will be leaving the middle of high COVERAGE benefits agrees with school, which is a problem — it’s unjust such as easy Student A and in the eyes of the civilians.” access to has similarly convenience stores and pharmacies. filed petitions on the matter. He notes Kamei adds that Foothill and De Anza that his personal eviction process Colleges currently have no dormitories has been similar to that of Student or housing complexes, which imposes A’s — filled with uncertainties, with no challenges on low-income families. formal notice given. After the lease’s “The decision to pursue McClellan termination, Nelluri’s family may move Terrace was driven by a combination to another apartment and district,

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NEWS | MAY 2025

07

NEW

FU A

Bay Area residents examine the impacts of the Catholic Church’s new leadership

BY LIZ LIU AND APRAMEYA RUPANAGUNTA

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | LIZ LIU

PHO TO B Y

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08 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

While Hideliza Mojica hopes that Leo will show more support toward marginalized groups, she appreciates his stance on war, as he has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine and Gaza.

Sutton echoes this sentiment, and has found special appreciation in his American nationality.

“To have a pope that was born here in the U.S. brings me hope because this time in our country is really divisive,” Sutton said. “We’re all citizens of the world. His first words as pope, ‘Peace be with you,’ were emotional for me, because that’s what we all want. We want peace in Gaza. We want peace in Ukraine. We want peace in our own cities and neighborhoods. It gives me great hope for our future.”

Á TR

s white smoke billowed out of It irked me to the point where I just the Sistine Chapel chimney didn’t want to be a part of Catholicism. in Vatican City, Susan But I learned more about Pope Francis Sutton, English and Journalism teacher through my school and religion at Archbishop Riordan High School, classes. It really brought me back to knew the lesson she was teaching was the church. Pope Francis really did no longer important. Sutton’s morning something special for the world that at Archbishop Riordan, a Catholic no other pope has done.” school in San Francisco, started off Kellogg hopes that Leo will continue like any other school day, but when many of Pope Francis’ policies that she heard the announcement of a focused on social justice issues. She new pope, she expects that SCAN FOR MORE he will also quickly turned on the TV in her address new COVERAGE classroom and issues, such regular classroom as AI, because activities slowed to a halt. of its increasing threat in replacing Cardinal Robert Prevost human workers. was selected to be the pope by the MVHS Junior Margaux Hideliza Mojica College of Cardinals and chose the also hopes that Leo will continue Pope name Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May Francis’ policies, but notes that he 8. Born in Chicago, Leo’s election to seems more conservative. pope marked the first American pope “He’s more restrictive when it comes the church has seen in the Catholic to the LGBTQ+ community,” Mojica Church’s history. Leo was chosen 18 said.

“Personally, I’ve days after the death of Pope Francis, struggled with who previously served as the pope for identifying my 12 years. sexuality and Pope Francis played an integral gender, and it would part in Archbishop Mitty junior Megan be nice to have a little Kellogg’s religious journey. Kellogg bit of representation often felt alienated from the Catholic in the Catholic community since she disagreed with Church. I wouldn’t the political views that they had. want myself or However, Kellogg’s perception of her anyone to have faith and Catholicism changed as she to pick between familiarized herself with Pope Francis being Catholic or and his teachings. part of the LGBTQ+ “Pope Francis made me believe community because I in the church again,” Kellog said. “I would like to accept both parts of didn’t like how Catholic people were my identity, rather than shedding treating minorities and queer people. one for the other.”

In the summer of 2014, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral across social media platforms and inspired over 17 million people to pour a bucket of ice water over their heads to participate in the challenge. Spreading awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and encouraging funding toward The ALS Association, the challenge ultimately raised over $220 million for the association’s research and treatment.

In late March, students from the Mental Illness Needs Discussion Club at the University of South Carolina (USC) reimagined the trend through the #SpeakYourMIND Ice Bucket Challenge, which now focuses on fostering support and advocating for suicide prevention as well as inspiring donations towards Active Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to removing the stigma around mental health for young adults. Currently, over $430,000 has been raised.

, d by nt e s s pa fere rend n to dif a t e do r th ing “Afte le move of hav ut o d p peo s instea urse ab o g thin ed disc .” ti h d nee al healt Chagan t men r Shiva io Jun

MAKING A

The US C Ic seeks to e Bucket Cha lle raise aw around areness nge mental health

BY GRA CE LIN A AMBER LY SUN ND

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ld be a fun “I felt like it wou a couple thing to do with thought it of friends, and I experience. was a pretty fun t believe that However, I don’ the original it contributed to allenge.” cause of the ch Kumar Freshman Krish

47%

of MVHS students

have participated in the #SpeakYourMIND Ice Bucket *According to a survey of 119 people

NEWS | MAY 2025

09

TAKE OUR SPRING NEWS QUIZ

5 Healthcare

The outbreak of which disease was identified in L.A. county on May 7?

6 Space In which state did the U.S. F-16 reportedly encounter a UFO?

Test your knowledge of key events this season

BY ZAID NAQVI AND APRAMEYA RUPANAGUNTA

1 Religion Which religious leader was chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church on May 8? (Hint: pg. 8)

7 Community What festival celebrating local scout groups was held in San Jose’s History Park on May 10?

8 Sports

2 Conflict

In which town in Kashmir was there a terrorist attack on April 22 that led to rising tensions between India and Pakistan?

Which tennis star won the Italian Open on May 18?

3 MVHS

MVHS Assistant Principal Janice Chen was chosen as Principal of which FUHSD high school?

9 Politics

Which former U.S. President announced their diagnosis of prostate cancer on May 18?

4 Cupertino

10 Infestation

Who did the Cupertino City Council vote to place on administrative leave on May 2?

Which Cupertino supermarket was shut down due to a vermin infestation on April 23?

1) Pope Francis; 2) Pahalgam; 3) Lynbrook High School; 4) Pamela Wu; 5) Hepatitis A; 6) Arizona; 7) Scout-a-rama; 8) Carlos Alcaraz; 9) Joe Biden; 10) Whole Foods

Answers:

10 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

GRAPHICS | JOYCE LI, MELODY LIN, ZAID NAQVI AND APRAMEYA RUPANAGUNTA

ILLUSTRATIONS | CANVA.COM

IATNG

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Sending off the Class of 2025 as they move upward to college and beyond

BY ETHAN EISLER, KATHRYN FOO, ETHAN KELLOGG, CORINNA KUO, JAMI LIM, ANGELA POON, ALAN TAI AND ALYSSA YANG FEATURES | MAY 2025

11

SENIOR SOJOURN Seniors describe their senior trips

BY CORINNA KUO AND JAMI LIM JESSICA ZHOU

Senior Jessica Zhou labels a night on her senior trip this past spring break as “unreal.” After a long day of adventure in Hawaii, Zhou and her friends closed the day on a beach where she says they had one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

“We were just blasting music, singing along loudly and skipping around, while watching the waves at night,” Zhou said. “It was really fun — I felt kind of like an adult.

I felt like I didn't have to worry about how I was perceived.”

Zhou and her friends began planning their trip to Oahu, Hawaii, earlier this year. In addition to staying at a hotel, Zhou’s group decided to spend a few nights at the Aulani Disney resort, where the group enjoyed the lazy Senior Jessica Zhou and her friends pose for a photo on a beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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river, water park and Disney-themed and going to school and having atmosphere. Zhou says that the responsibilities. It was just group decided to schedule very carefree and fun.” the trip during the school semester out GERAD LEE of an eagerness to W h e n go, but believes senior Gerad coming back Lee and to school his friends was difficult b e g a n because of planning the return to t h e i r normalcy. senior are currently planning a “When we trip, they were on the trip, it initially senior trip felt very carefree,” planned to *According to a survey of 24 seniors Zhou said. “It really stay within the did just feel like we United States could have been college for ease of travel friends having a reunion. Going but ultimately decided back to MVHS, it felt like a little bit of a to seize the opportunity to culture shock because you'll have this travel internationally. The group freedom, and then it's just taken away. chose to travel to Tokyo, Japan, for I feel like it was kind of liberating to its safe environment and interesting be away from the Monta Vista lifestyle landscapes.

“It's one of those experiences where you're not with your parents and you're with your friends,” Lee said.

“I think because it was our second semester of senior year, our parents said, ‘Go try new things, because in the future you're going to ILLUSTRATIONS | have to travel and go CANVA.COM with your friends too.’

So I feel like it's a really unique experience.”

Although Lee and his friends only started planning the trip two weeks before and it was his first time traveling without his parents, he says he wasn’t too worried because he says his friends are good at planning and he knew they PHOTOS would take care of each other.

COURTESY OF JESSICA ZHOU | Not only does he emphasize USED WITH the high quality and affordable PERMISSION prices of Tokyo’s restaurants and stores, but he says he also

53%

of MVHS seniors

Senior Gerad Lee planned for and his friends Honolulu, pose in front of a Hawaii, as it temple in Tokyo, was one Japan. location the six of them agreed on and their parents approved of them going by themselves.

“I'm a bit nervous, but also really excited,” Chakravarty said.

“It's our first time by ourselves without any adults.

But the excitement outweighs the nervousness of it all.”

Chakravarty says her friend group has been preparing by compiling a list of activities they want to do, including paragliding KEYA CHAKRAVARTY and snorkeling, which Chakravarty By the end of her junior year, senior describes as “iconic” to do in Hawaii.

Keya Chakravarty and a group Ultimately, however, she says of her friends knew spending the last few they wanted to moments of high go on a senior school with her trip together. friends is the H o w e v e r, main intention deciding of the trip.

IT WAS REALLY FUN — exactly “We've I FELT KIND OF LIKE AN w h e r e b e e n t h e y ds ADULT. I FELT LIKE I DIDN'T fforr i ea nlong wanted to go t i m e , HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT t o o k for most HOW I WAS PERCEIVED. m o r e of high planning s c h o o l ,” SENIOR a n d Chakravarty JESSICA ZHOU thought. said.

“So Chakravarty we decided says they that we considered a wide wanted to variety of locations, get everybody including cities in Europe we could from our and Southern California. The trip, friend group to come. I’m just looking scheduled to take place immediately forward to spending time with my after graduation, was ultimately friends, honestly, and being with them

enjoyed the time his group set aside to freely explore the city, rather than plan specific activities.

Since they were only able to spend five days in Tokyo due to traveling during the February break, Lee wishes they had planned the trip for summer break instead, so they could have had an extra week to travel to cities other than Tokyo. From trying new foods, like authentic Japanese sushi, to facing his fear of heights by going to the top of Shibuya Sky, Lee says the trip left a significant impact.

“The trip was really, really fun, and it definitely went over my expectations,” Lee said. “I thought traveling outside the country would be a good experience, especially with your friends. But it was just so much more than that, and it's gonna stick with me for a long time.”

“

PHOTO COURTESY OF GERAD LEE | USED WITH PERMISSION

one more time before we all go our separate ways for university.”

Senior Jessica Zhou and her friends pose together in Honolulu, Hawaii.

FEATURES | MAY 2025

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MVHS community discuss doubt surrounding their major and going into college undeclared

BY ETHAN EISLER AND ETHAN KELLOGG

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VHS alum ‘21 Andie Liu was walking around her college campus with her friend when she was approached by a visitor. The visitor asked “What are you majoring in?”

When Liu responded “computer science,” the visitor gave a nod of approval.

The visitor then asked Liu’s friend, who said she was majoring in English, but the visitor dissaproved.

Liu was no stranger to judgement like this. In high school, Liu’s dad wanted her to major in computer science, but she applied as an English major and later switched

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to computer science. At the start of college she was often asked questions like “What are you going to do with that?” or “Are you going to be an English teacher?”

External pressure was not the only reason Liu switched from English to computer science. In her English classes, she felt out of place because she believed other students were just trying to sound smart. Liu later took an introductory computer science class, and she found it easier than expected. When she eventually declared her major, she chose computer science, even landing an internship the summer before senior year.

However, during the internship, Liu realized she didn’t actually

PHOTO BY ANDIE LIU | USED WITH PERMISSION

enjoy working as a software that they're taking from. So “Because you should engineer. Since the computer thinking about ‘Whether that not live your life for science major requirements had would work for me?’ your parents been fulfilled by her senior year, Or ‘Is this a good because it's she spent the year exploring choice for me?’ your life, interests outside of computer is important.” and you don't science.

S i n c e owe them “I had already been feeling s e n i o r anything, uncertain about whether computer Jinyong Um even if science would fulfill me,” Liu said. is unsure t h e y ' r e “So I was rethinking my whole of what he trying to thing and having a quarter life wants to guilt trip crisis, as you will. And so the next major in, you or semester, I didn't take a single CS he is going manipulate plan on changing their major in class. I was taking comparative to Purdue you or college. literature, Asian American ethnic U n i v e r s i t y anything, *According to a survey of 25 seniors studies, psychology as an it's your life. and Chinese. unspecified Please live it And that engineering for yourself.” was really major. He hopes Although Liu fun.

This to find a major that was able to explore semester I've he likes and also pays many different interests been doing well as a career. in her senior year of college, c r e a t i v e “I’m just going to hope that she is still sticking with the writing like somewhere in college I just find computer science path short fiction and something randomly that I really because she already poetry, and learning pottery and like, or if I end up liking one has a job from her calligraphy, which have of the core classes,” Um internship’s return been fun side said. “Worse offer. However, she quests, but I’m comes to doesn’t see herself still uncertain worse, I’ll staying in computer where it all just end up science forever and goes.” picking one. wants to pursue creative writing IF YOUR PARENTS M V H S But for now, on the side like some other tech ARE TRYING TO counselor I just picked workers do. Liu says this reminds Belinda engineering.” her of multiplicity, the state of GUILT TRIP YOU OR O l s o n W h i l e having multiple truths at the same MANIPULATE YOU OR s a y s Um hasn’t time, and also John Smith’s book that it is experienced “To the Lighthouse.”

ANYTHING, IT'S YOUR common pressure “Something that I learned LIFE. PLEASE LIVE IT f o r from his this year about multiplicity is s tudent s’ family, Liu actually through rereading ‘To the FOR YOURSELF. interests e x p e r i e n c e d Lighthouse,’” Liu said. “There are to shift pressure from so many different angles to you, MVHS '21 ALUM in college. her family. She and there's so many truths at once ANDIE LIU Olson suggests says that one way and they can feel contradictory that students to deal with parental and conflicting. But that doesn't should explore pressure comes from step mean all of it is false or only one courses in college so they can four of “How to Disobey Your is true, because I think it assumes learn if they like the subject or not. Tiger Parents, in 14 Easy Steps.” that there's a fixed context and “Keep in mind that you are the She believes that in the face of time. I want to emphasize that only one that has to go through pressure, it is good to tell others you don't really have to have a your experience,” Olson said. to back off so one has the time to narrative about who you are, just “As much as other people might figure out things by themselves. reducing you to this one thing at have influence, feedback or “Just do what you want and live this one time.” suggestions, it's their experience your life for yourself,” Liu said.

44%

of MVHS seniors

“

FEATURES | MAY 2025

15

BEYOND GRADUATION The MVHS community describes how their high school activities evolve into college

BY ANGELA POON AND ALAN TAI

A

s senior Katie Lee pushes off the starting block, everything fades away except the sound of her rapid pulse and the blur of the track sliding beneath her feet. Since sixth grade, running has anchored Lee’s everyday life as a source of motivation and connection, ranging from cheering for teammates at meets to conversing with friends postpractice around the Upper Field. The activity has ultimately grown into a community she calls home.

For Lee, a track athlete committed to Occidental College, pursuing track after graduating from high school was always part of her plan, whether it involved being on a collegiate team or joining a club, because of Senior Katie Lee holds the baton as she runs a relay race.

16

EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

the close community running offers. the community in high school activities Lee loves being a part of the track was especially important to him. community because she As a Model United Nations finds it easier to make member throughout high genuine friends school, Yang t h r o u g h made several s h a r e d close friends, interests. spending time “You get with them at to see a lot conferences of people at in the their lowest Bay Area. and their H o w e v e r, highest, he says intend on continuing their current and you the shift in high school activities in college get to know environment them for in college can *According to a survey of 24 seniors them, and not transform the necessarily for social setting of show,” Lee said. an activity.

“You get to see them “I think the Model every day, so being a part U.N. team in college has of the community is easier.” a little bit more of a party Similarly, Pomona College junior culture than is allowed and MVHS ‘22 alum Dylan Yang says in high school — most high schools probably cannot get away with the level of partying that some college extracurriculars can provide,” Yang said. “There’s nothing wrong with the college culture, but it wasn’t really my style. In extracurriculars where it’s not just you studying by yourself but hanging out with other people, the social aspect is important, and the social dynamics aren’t necessarily the same from high school to college.”

As a result of the differing social dynamics, Yang chose to pursue mock trial rather than continue Model U.N., which he discovered at a club fair his freshman year. He recalls being drawn in by the smart, competitive nature of the PHOTO BY club members, seeing the RICH SLADE activity as a way to further | USED WITH his interests in the political PERMISSION sphere.

58%

of MVHS students

Beyond an activity’s community, another key difference both Lee and senior Saanvi Goyal notice between activities in high school and college is the level of commitment and interest, a distinction they’ve observed through conversations with college students.

In high school, students might pursue activities solely because they’re good at them or need something to occupy themselves with. But in college, Goyal says that students often continue extracurriculars out of genuine love and dedication. Goyal, who participates in speech and debate at MVHS, PHOTO COURTESY OF POMONA says this commitment COLLEGE MOCK fundamentally changes TRIAL | USED WITH how people approach PERMISSION college activities.

“When people are pursuing things in college, it tends to be a lot more genuine, so you have people that are a lot more interested and really invested in what they’re doing,” Goyal said. “Whereas, in high school, it might be more of people trying things out and seeing what they can put on their college application. But by the time people get to college, because they’re really serious about it, the quality of those “He’s there when I’m having mental activities goes up by a lot.” breakdowns, he’s just always In the future, there to work Lee aspires to stay through it involved in track not and give only as a college me the athlete, but as reality a mentor who check I can offer need,” Lee THERE'S A LOT OF younger said. “He’s OPPORTUNITIES, runners given me the same more of AND I THINK IT'S support and the ability HARD TO GO guidance to look that she has back on WRONG, SO JUST experienced. what I just GO WITH THE FLOW. Specifically, ran and Lee hopes to see, ‘How MVHS '22 ALUM return to MVHS can I make DYLAN YANG to coach. As a it better?’ And specialist in the 100 I want to do that and 200-meter sprints, for other people, to she hopes to eventually work make them love the sport with the current sprints coach, Isaiah as well, or to give them the ability to Smith, on a regular basis. try and run better.”

“

MVHS '22 alum Dylan Yang poses with his mock trial team at the University of California, Berkeley in November 2023.

ILLUSTRATIONS | CANVA.COM

Going forward, Yang hopes to continue pursuing mock trial throughout the rest of his college career. For MVHS seniors hoping to find activities to define themselves in college, Yang says that while they don’t have to throw out the activities and passions they already have, college is a place where they can find new passions and room for growth.

“College is much more varied,” Yang said. “It’s the early stages of college where you’re finding your new community. You’re finding your new extracurriculars that are a good opportunity for selfreflection and identifying what kind of social spaces you want, and what kind of things you want to spend your time doing. There’s a lot of opportunities, and I think it’s hard to go wrong, so just go with the flow.”

FEATURES | MAY 2025

17

5 ILLUSTRATIONS

is the average number of years the senior class has been on Instagram | ALYSSA YANG

632

83 59%

is the average number of followers the senior class has on Instagram

is the average Rice Purity score of the senior class

of seniors have had their first real kiss

56% of seniors have been in a relationship

29% 68% of seniors have been to a party with drugs or alcohol

SENIORS IN A closer look at social media, sex, substances and school for the class of 2025 from a survey of 72 seniors

BY KATHRYN FOO AND ALYSSA YANG

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

4

of seniors have used AI on an assignment

S'S

PHOTO | KATRINA LIN

PHOTO | ALAN TAI

PHOTO | ERIC ZHOU

PHOTO | ERIC ZHOU

CUTTING COSTS Funding cuts under the Trump Administration limit student research opportunities

BY JONAH CHANG AND RADHIKA DHARMAPURIKAR

T

he Trump administration froze $1 billion in federal grants to Harvard University following the school’s resistance to Trump’s recent policy demands in March. The grants, cut as a result of Harvard’s supposed failure to fulfill “its obligations to curb and combat antisemitic harassment” in light of increased protests surrounding the Israel-Hamas War, primarily funded technological and medical research for cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases. The administration’s rough handling of research reflects a growing disregard for scientific inquiry in higher levels of government. Not only does it disrupt n o t a b l e institutions such as the Centers for D i s e a s e Control and Prevention and United N a t i o n s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization b y undercutting t h e i r credibility and limiting their influence, but it also restricts student opportunities.

In the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency, U.S. research institutions have faced drastic defunding in the administration’s effort to divert resources from providers of “misleading information, risky research, and the promotion of dangerous ideologies." The executive orders that prompted this defunding also erased web pages that included

20 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

important information about HIV research.

Associate Professor of Medicine at the University IL LU ST of Chicago and infectious RA TIO disease physician Jessica N| AM Ridgway primarily focuses on HIV BE RL prevention, working to dissolve YS UN the barriers people face in getting AN D treatment, including financial M EL constraints, mental health challenges OD and a lack of social support. One of d i s a p p o i n t e d , ” Y L I Ridgway’s grants, initially funded by Ridgway said. “Their N the National Institute of Health, was research is in HIV, and there terminated near the end of March. Her are lots of other institutions and grant was originally spent studying other studies that have lost funding, possible treatments for substance use so it's not a great time for them to be disorder for trying to find new work in this area.” people living Junior Suhani Pahuja joined with HIV. Interdisciplinary Research and Project “It's really Design as a sophomore, inspired to setting us research autoimmune diseases after back to cut her younger sister’s diagnosis with r e s e a r c h Type 1 Diabetes in 2020. Driven by that's related curiosity and passion, Pahuja’s work to HIV at primarily focuses on the relationship this moment between cancer and epigenetic in time,” biomarkers.

Ridgway “Although the tech industry said. “We're and AI are expanding at a rapid at a time in rate, they can never really replace the United healthcare without medical research States when advancements,” Pahuja said. “Without we have that, we're effectively compromising the tools the country's healthcare system.” necessary to Pahuja was recently accepted actually end into MIT’s Research Science Institute the HIV epidemic around the world. program, where she will be studying We're making great strides toward biology and biotechnology. RSI is decreasing the rates of new HIV typically free for students. However, in acquisitions, both in the United States light of recent federal funding cuts, the and globally.” program had to collect donations from Once the grant was terminated, those accepted.

Ridgway’s team was left with Science curriculum lead and inadequate resources. As a result, they IRPD teacher Kavita Gupta says she were forced to let go of participating dedicates her teaching to helping each study staff and enrolled patients. student design, implement and scale “The staff were understandably their own research-based passion

OPINION project. Gupta worries funding cuts global health by funding research in Gupta agrees, believing research is not will stunt scientific progress, ultimately low- and middle-income countries. only at the heart of the U.S.’s economic leaving students uncertain about “The United States is looked on engine but also instrumental for the whether or not careers in research will from around well-being of be viable. the world as society.

“It's so disheartening to hear a shining star “The more about funding cuts for something so of research,” patents you instrumental in the advancement of R i d g w a y have and knowledge,” Gupta said. “Not having said. “I can't the more science-based discoveries and ways even begin research you to move forward and advance in to name all do, the more science is simply mind-boggling.” the advances you positively One of Gupta’s students, IRPD that we’d impact human member Anirud Sainarayanan, has lose. I can't lives,” Gupta dedicated his sophomore year to say enough said. “Research researching the potential uses of AI how important is at the core of for mangrove conservation. According f u n d i n g humanity.” to Sainarayanan, environmental research and Despite research is undervalued by the Trump investing in these funding IRPD TEACHER administration. research is cuts, many KAVITA GUPTA r e s e a r c h e r s “These cuts are very harmful for the for the health progress of the country,” Sainarayanan of Americans, are staying said. “I don't like how they're trying to but also just the health of everyone resilient. Ridgway recently appealed cut research down and make people around the world.” the termination of her grant and has more uneducated.”

Sophomore and Health Student been reaching out to foundations The U.S. has historically been at Tutor Aeshna Chatterji hopes to and private companies for alternative the forefront of public health research, pursue a career in health advocacy, funding. with two American scientists leading recognizing the universal significance Although the future of research the development of the COVID-19 of medical research and wanting to remains uncertain, Pahuja currently vaccine in 2020. Furthermore, the U.S. spread awareness. plans to follow a pre-med track in government contributed $32 billion to “You can have a million problems, college, striving to continue her mRNA research, allowing for a swift until you have a health problem, then studies and pursue various research response to the COVID-19 outbreak. you have just one problem,” Chatterji internships.

Ridgway worries that without this said. “No matter who you are, health “I do not think that progress will proactivity and support for research is the one thing that is universal, and stop entirely due to these cuts,” from the government, scientists will it's the one thing that everybody has.” Pahuja said. “The rate at which we can be unprepared for possible future The Trump administration released make progress and advancements in pandemics. a proposed the healthcare industry will definitely “ I t ' s budget plan be diminished. But I think it's definitely SCAN FOR MORE for 2026 on recoverable as long as our future inevitable t h a t May 26, 2025, presidents and our future leaders are COVERAGE eventually containing a more cognizant of the importance of there will 26.2% cut to the this funding.” be another Department of Gupta encourages professionals pandemic, and it could be way worse Health and Human Services as well and students alike to stay optimistic than COVID was,” Ridgway said. as eliminating cancer screening and about the future of research.

“People will die, and they didn't have prevention programs at the CDC. “We need researchers, we need to die if we had been able to invest in Chatterji, aware that cancer screening technologists. We just need humanity research and being prepared for the programs have the potential to makers,” Gupta said. “The future spread of infectious diseases.” revolutionize cancer treatment and of research has to be of value for Furthermore, the U.S. government assist professionals in discovering humanity, so don't lose heart. Stick is highly regarded for supporting potential cancer early enough to treat with it.” it, was disheartened by the news.

“

RESEARCH IS AT THE CORE OF HUMANITY.

OPINION | MAY 2025

21

TRAVEL UNDER TRUMP Trump’s immigration policy is impacting MVHS community members’ summer travel plans

BY SUHANA MAHABAL AND ASHA WOJCIECHOWSKI Two sources in this story are anonymous due to concerns about immigration status and will be referred to as Source A and Source B.

A

s we hunch over our desks, teachers assign an endless stream of final projects and air conditioners hum at full blast, our minds cannot help but be drawn to the promise of freedom and adventure awaiting in the approaching summer.

We dream about the friends we’ll meet and the places we’ll go, whether it’s to another country to visit family or an exotic location for sightseeing.

However, this summer in particular, a shadow looms over the usual excitement as stories flood the news about the Trump administration’s latest policies on immigration.

In the past few months, the Trump administration has taken increasingly aggressive steps to increase the number of deportations from the U.S. and to reduce immigration. The actions have centered around expanding the criteria for deportation and accelerating the process while also slowing the steps to achieving citizenship and tightening the rules for

ION

T STRA ILLU A

| ASH

22 EL ESTOQUE | OPINION 2025

legal immigrants. acknowledging her new status as an This has been achieved by chipping American citizen hasn’t arrived yet. away at certain protections for illegal Due to this, Source A, along with many immigrants and Biden-era immigration of her family members who are in policies, including attempts to lift the the same position, had to cancel this protected status of illegal immigrants summer’s plan to travel to Canada. from countries in crisis and restricting “We usually travel every two student visas and green card holders, years,” Source A said. “But because of with the threat of immediate removal citizenship issues, we might need to go if they commit a somewhere crime.

If I were SCAN FOR MORE else.

W h i l e to travel federal courts outside the COVERAGE have blocked country, many of the there’s no way administration’s more extreme to prove that I’m a U.S. citizen. But if actions, the aggression of Trump’s I say, ‘Oh, I’m not a U.S. citizen yet,’ policy changes on immigration has then, because of my lack of a green been alarming to many Americans, card, I would be sent directly to the including those within our community. authorities. If you’re traveling outside In Santa Clara County, 39% of people of the U.S. and you want to get back are immigrants, 60% of children have in, it’s very bad not to have evidence.” an immigrant parent and, as of 2021, Source B is a green card holder and there are 140,000 undocumented has been a permanent resident of the migrants within our community. For U.S. for over 10 years. Due to his legal students at MVHS, these are more status as a non-citizen, his summer than just numbers — the people plans to return to his home country included are our family, friends and in and visit family were also deferred due some cases, ourselves. to recent events. Source B’s green For Americans without legal card was stolen six months ago, and citizenship or paperwork, Trump’s the process to obtain a new green actions not only threaten their card could take over two years, likely livelihood, but also block most exacerbated by recent government prospects of international travel. layoffs.

According to a survey of 105 people, “I’ve already submitted a lot of 69% of MVHS students say they feel money and paperwork,” Source B concerned about themselves or said. “I’m still going to wait another 24 their families being impacted months for them to decide whether or

by Trump’s actions, and not to print, which is what complicates 18% say that their own everything. For 29 months, in theory, travel plans have been I can’t travel. There are ways to get affected because of stamps on my passport and proof that this. For MVHS student I’m a resident. But when Immigration Source A, the new seems to just have the smallest administration’s actions reason to be suspicious of something, are hitting especially close that presents the opportunity that I’m to home. Her citizenship coming back from summer vacation in ceremony happened just South Africa and then get sent home. months ago, but the paperwork Once that happens, the process of

getting back to the U.S. becomes way more difficult.”

Under the Trump administration’s first term, the processing time for citizenship increased significantly due to increased security checks and stricter policies. More recently, staff cuts at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have contributed to the wait times. This has led to a naturalization backlog; for certain individuals, the administration has completely paused green card applications, including approved refugees. Source B says his own journey to becoming a permanent resident was a harsh one, compounded by racist encounters within the system. When he first used his Zimbabwean passport to apply for a student visa in the U.S., the consulate denied Source B’s request because of his nationality. This initial rejection’s presence of his permanent record made it harder for him to obtain a visa.

“The immigration process is extremely difficult and bureaucratic,” Source B said. “Most of it hinges on either how big the company that you’re coming to work for is or the country that you’re coming from. In countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa, one in every one million green card applications might be awarded. A student in a class I had lived in Israel before, and they were like, ‘Oh, that’s interesting. One in five Israelis gets a green card if they apply.’ So that’s always been a thing in America. If you come from a certain country, you’re much more likely to get that opportunity.”

Source A feels disappointed about the increased processing times the Trump administration has implemented because of the weight becoming a U.S. citizen holds. The oath ceremony, often a revered and momentous time for immigrants, has become much harder to finally achieve.

“It’s unfortunate that Trump’s policies are slowing down the citizenship process when that’s the point of living here,” Source A said.

“It’s the American standard. You don’t have to become a citizen, but you

lived here for eight years. You’re finally for immigrants. able to gain U.S. citizenship after living “I feel incredible empathy for here for so many years.” someone who has to go through that,” Trump’s immigration policy also Source B said. “It’s also ironic because raises concerns for those who have a lot of workers who come would like the ability to travel abroad despite to go back and then come back and the recent deportations. According to work and contribute and then go home Math and Computer Science teacher and not be a leech on society, and not David Greenstein, who is a U.S. citizen have to sneak the family in and live in and has traveled poor conditions to 36 countries and everything and visited all like that, now are seven continents, forced to stay Americans and do just that.” already have a In our poor reputation community, the abroad.

He strong immigrant worries that presence can because of contribute to a Trump’s actions, feel concerned about sense of safety which the rest themselves or their families from Trump’s of the world *According to a survey of 105 students actions. Source largely disagrees A says that she with, Americans’ reputations will only doesn’t feel that she is as affected deteriorate. in Silicon Valley as she would be “I’m afraid that people are not going elsewhere in the U.S. However, it still to like Americans, so I’m going to have raises the question of what we can do a more difficult time on my travels,” if we are U.S. citizens or otherwise in Greenstein said. “It was already a position to protect members of our difficult in some cases, because community who are more vulnerable when you travel from America, they to aggressive immigration action. consider you a rich country, so when Greenstein says that we can help you go someplace, they charge you by protesting harmful policies and differently than they charge other electing people to office who will tourists. Now, it’s going to be worse take steps to counter the ideologies than that.” driving anti-immigration legislation.

According to Source B, this is Source B agrees, saying that lobbying related to the large influence that politicians for immigration reforms and the U.S. has on the economies and exercising our voting and freedom of progress of other countries. He says speech rights as American citizens is the American government has a crucial. significant impact on nations across Overall, as MVHS moves into the the globe, especially through their uncertain summer ahead, our unity as funding and aid to underdeveloped, a community is vital to weathering the third-world countries. difficulties to come and ensuring our However, for refugees forced loved ones are safe. If international to flee the instability of their home travel isn’t an option, you can still countries, moving to the U.S. doesn’t enjoy your summer through domestic offer a safe haven because of how travel; if you feel threatened, reach difficult it is to actually achieve out to an immigration lawyer or seek legality, contradicting anti-immigrant support from the community around conceptions that illegal immigrants you. Ultimately, we must all do our best should “just come in legally.” Such to stand against the ideologies and ideas rise from misinformation and policies seeking to hurt and oppress, nationalistic feelings, ultimately whether we are an immigrant, a U.S. creating an unwelcoming environment citizen or a student.

69%

of MVHS students

OPINION | MAY 2025

23

Admi MVHS students and staff discuss the choices of sharing college decisions

BY SIH YU (MELODY) LIN AND ELIZABETH YANG

F

or many high school seniors at MVHS, the moment they’ve anticipated and prepared for their last four years arrives in the form of an email notification — it’s the building suspense as they silently deliberate, their finger hovering over the bolded email before the portal opens! And there it is: a college decision that could shape their future. Some of them gasp in joy, some quietly process a rejection and others freeze in disbelief or uncertainty. After the initial shock fades, there’s a question that lingers: “Should I tell anyone? Who can I tell?”

At MVHS, where academic competition is a prevalent contributor to student stress, the college admissions season seems to further the sense of competition around decisions and acceptances. Some students want to keep their college admissions and commitments private. Others want to share since they feel that doing so makes them happier about themselves and their achievements. While senior Adriana Hernandez Aldana doesn’t mind sharing college commitments with friends and family, she also sees

24 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

why students with other concerns, such as being worried about unfair comparisons, may hesitate to publicize their decisions.

“People who get into top colleges sometimes don’t want to share it,” Aldana said. “It’s either because they’re worried about making other people feel bad if others got rejected from those schools, or sometimes they’re worried people might be jealous and feel resentment.”

According to College and Career Counselor Rogelio Calderon, this hesitation represents a broader trend — as decisions start to flood in throughout spring, the expectation to share and hold conversations about admission decisions becomes increasingly pressing. However, not all students are comfortable with being in the spotlight.

Calderon has seen a variety of sentiments among seniors across the school. As someone who often supports students during their admissions journey, he believes that it’s not as simple as sharing or not sharing college decisions. Rather, he believes the choice to share admission decisions is often influenced by a student’s environment, such as who they often talk with and if other people are willing to share similar college decision experiences.

“What I tend to hear coming out of students’ mouths a little bit more are the rejections,” Calderon said. “I think one reason for this is the commonality.

When they hear that other students have also been rejected, it helps them feel like they’re not the only ones.

When someone else says, ‘Well, I also got rejected there,’ it kind of gives them a little bit of an ‘Oh, OK, cool, I’m not alone in this,’ feeling. I think that this little bit of that companionship is one reason to share their rejections.”

Due to this pattern, sharing rejections becomes an unexpected act of community. According to Aldana, it’s an honest acknowledgement that they aren’t perfect, and that even if nothing goes to plan, at least they aren’t alone in this sentiment.

mit ti .

On the other hand, sharing acceptances, especially acceptances into more competitive schools, can make some students mistakenly believe sharing results with each other is bragging or insulting others for not having the same accomplishments.

Calderon explains that for some students, privacy around college decisions comes from deeper insecurities like impostor syndrome.

Senior Billy Levison says that he didn’t feel the need to keep

his acceptance a secret when s h a r i n g his college decisions.

Levison believes that sharing college decisions is a personal choice, and that it doesn’t necessarily warrant comparison with other students.

“Once I got my decision, I sent it to my main group chat,” Levison says. “I think people could definitely develop doubts about their own ability, or doubts about what other people might think, but I didn’t feel a pressure to hide where I got in.”

However, Levison agrees with both Calderon and Aldana that one’s perception of releasing and sharing college decisions can differ from person to person. He also says that the decision to share acceptances and admission decisions should be a personal choice rather than an expectation.

“There’s definitely a stigma around While external factors play a role in certain schools, like De Anza,” Levison influencing an individual’s decision said. “I get why people might want to in sharing their college decisions, hide their decisions, like if you didn’t both Levison and Calderon believe get into your first pick, or you think that internal comparison is likely what other people are judging your school. causes students to feel the most But personally, I don’t know why there insecure about their schools. are certain stigmas that surround “There’s a phrase, ‘Comparison is certain schools. There’s such a big the thief of joy,’” Calderon said. “I really culture around live by that. colleges at SCAN FOR MORE It’s important our school. to recognize COVERAGE Once college your own acceptance goals and your s e a s o n own journey, comes around, everybody’s asking because you don’t know what’s everybody, did you get into a good happening behind closed doors.” school or not, so I definitely think In the end, every student’s path is people could develop complexes of, their own. Whether someone posts oh, ‘The school I got into wasn’t good a proud acceptance on Instagram, enough,’ they might think that they keeps it between family or moves on could have gotten into a better school. from a rejection, every reaction is valid Most of the time though, they still got and a student’s own personal choice into a good school.” and reflection of their own beliefs.

The name of a college can easily “Sharing your overshadow the journey can help hard work, others to realize obstacles they’re not alone,” and even A l d a n a the reasons said.

“But b e h i n d u l t i m a t e l y, c h o o s i n g I think it’s that school up to people specifically. to decide for Not all themselves on how schools public or private they a c c e p t want their decisions students by the and choices to be. same standards — some take students by major, schoolwide priorities or by athletic abilities, all of which differ from student to student.

Being aware of that doesn’t exactly stop the subconscious competition between students. MVHS previously held college signing celebrations yearly during the admissions season before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the tradition was discontinued a couple of years ago due to concerns that it caused more unhealthy competition.

OPINION | MAY 2025

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People with legal citizenship need to be more proactive in protecting those threatened by the Trump administration’s recent immigration policy

26 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

T

he Student Press Law Center issued a media alert to school publications on April 4, urging them to review anonymity policies, be transparent with interviewees and educate staff on the risks sources and writers may face if their guidelines are ignored. The SPLC felt it was necessary to release this statement following the arrest of Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, who co-authored an opinion piece criticizing the university’s response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

In response to the warning, El Estoque updated its anonymity policies to protect sources and writers who may be threatened by the Trump administration’s immigration policy.

Other educational institutions have taken strides to r e a f f i r m protections for students regardless of immigration status, including FUHSD, which sent a notice to staff, parents and students promising “to create a safe, positive and welcoming climate for every student that walks through our doors.”

While the efforts that institutions are making to protect their students are critical, administrations need the support of communities to carry out policies. Now more than ever, it is important that students with legal citizenship recognize their privilege and use it to stand up for those endangered by Trump’s policies.

In addition to the press, other institutions are struggling to counter Trump’s attacks on undocumented immigrants. University leaders have advised threatened students to hire immigration lawyers while studying abroad. Prestigious colleges, including Cornell University and Duke University, are offering support for immigrants living in the area after hearing about ICE arrests around their campuses.

The Trump administration’s agenda shows no signs of slowing. Rather, the scale of the government’s actions

only appears to be growing, as it has recently begun deporting U.S. citizens convicted of crimes to El Salvador, blatantly violating the 14th Amendment. The Trump administration has previously attempted to defy the Constitution and target not only undocumented immigrants, but also those with opposing ideologies. The administration’s attempt to strike birthright citizenship reflects this broader trend of defiance in spite of legal resistance.

It’s evident that no one is truly “safe” from the president’s threats, even with supposed protection from schools, making it increasingly critical that student activists take action. Youth advocacy has historically been effective.

In 2018, s t u d e n t s from Marjory Stoneman D o u g l a s High School launched into protests after a school shooting killed 17 in 2018. This movement, called the March for Our Lives, is a primary example of students’ voices being heard. Students were able to rise to the occasion, creating lasting discussion and influencing policy change by engaging with the media and using broadcast journalism to reach the public. Following the protests, state legislators across the country, including 14 Republicangoverned states, began passing laws to restrict gun access.

Still, despite this success, the impact of 2018’s gun control activism later came into question, with some arguing that advocates’ disruptive protests ultimately made little difference.

Students may worry they too will be disregarded, believing they would have little power to affect policy, and that the Trump administration would not listen. Additionally, some believe it would be safer for students to stay out of the conflict, fearing they would become vulnerable for opposing the government.

However, public indifference

like this has a historical precedent, where, eventually, everyone becomes vulnerable to new, aggressive legislation as a result of no one speaking out initially. In the words of German pastor Martin Niemöller, “Then they came for me / And there was no one left / To speak out for me.”

Restricting journalism, defying the law and targeting minorities represent a dangerous departure from democracy, and it is up to us to uphold it.

For students, this can be done in a variety of ways. Consider investing time in volunteering at organizations like the International Rescue Committee or IRC, a team dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to refugees and aiding civilians in conflict.

The U.S. Comittee for Refugees and Immigrants, a similar organization, provides legal protections as well as social and health services to refugees, trafficking survivors and immigrants in all 50 states. Providing financial support and actively volunteering at their events exhibits compassion in the most crucial times.

Most importantly, we need to express solidarity with those struggling as a consequence of Trump’s policies.

These struggles may range from apparent, such as financial or careerrelated, or may be quieter, with several living in fear and struggling with mental health.

The simplest way one can contribute is to seek a greater level of understanding when it comes to immigration policies, topics and stories. With education, we can spread further awareness about the issues undocumented immigrants face and avoid succumbing to indifference.

What started with undocumented immigrants quickly expanded to journalists and will soon overwhelm everyone in opposition to the Trump administration. While our personal lives may feel untouched by the presidency, it is important that we extend empathy for those directly affected to ensure we preserve a fair, united community.

OPINION | MAY 2025

27

LIFE AFTER AMBITION How I learned to rethink ambition

BY JILLIAN JU

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s the year closes out, I’ve found a new form of active avoidance — doomscrolling through college acceptance posts on Instagram. On @2025mvdecisions, I mentally connect baby photos, committed colleges and the names of students I know. But the spiral keeps going — I follow up on mutuals from other schools, anyone with ‘25 in their bio, even my cousins who don’t follow me back.

Every time I don’t instinctively recognize a university logo, I’m reminded of something my mother said: if she doesn’t already know the name of a school, it’s probably not “good enough.” She meant it in a joking way, but as my junior year melts into my senior one, the reality of that judgment is beginning to bleed through: where am I aiming? And is it “good enough” for the people who have been supporting me for so long?

On a day-today basis, I try not to let the idea affect me — I do what I do because I love the work, even if it wouldn’t mean much to an admissions officer. But that dread, fueled by my caustic curiosity on Instagram, is deepening by the hour. If and when underclassmen see a decision post for me, what will they think? Was I hard-working enough, appealing enough, ambitious enough?

Ambition pervades MVHS’ sense of achievement, though we rarely frame it that way. All of high school demands effort, but it’s seen as normal for students to apply to selective schools, and it looks even sleeker if the applicant acts like associating with an top university is a given for them.

On the one hand, we take pride in being considered high achievers, but on the other, that appeal is multiplied by the unrealistic suggestion that we don’t work ridiculously hard for what we display — we love ambition and pretend we don’t.

So when I see people admitted into their dream schools or bragging about the Ivies they’re applying to, I wonder if, beyond hoping and working for more, I should be expecting more, too. I fear that I’ve become so fluent in Asian humility that I’ve undercut my ability to thoroughly, actually believe in myself.

Ironically, it was AP Chinese that had me rethinking my relationship with ambition.

During one of our scheduled tangents, my Chinese teacher explained the reason why she doesn’t wish students wealth or success, but rather abundance — being genuinely happy with what you have, and having enough to share with the people around you.

I placed the idea next to my concept of academic ambition. It initially sounded close to settling, the opposite of what striving for more means. But then I thought about how much effort goes into each goal — how easy is it to achieve abundance? And how does that effort compare to what it takes to get into an elite school?

I REALIZED I WOULD BE HAPPIER WITH ABUNDANCE, WITH OPENLY TRYING TOWARDS SOMETHING I BELIEVE IN.

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I don’t have quantifiable numbers for either of those, but removing the effort from ambition helped place my concept of success into perspective. I realized that if I had to choose a goal, I would be happier with abundance, with openly WORDS trying towards FOR THINGS something I believe in, rather than worrying about how my effort is interpreted by others.

So I’ve been trying to do that: I try to be less judgy, experiment with spirituality and reflect more on what I truly want to be. It’s corny, but in tough situations, I think about what the ideal version of me would do — listen, think about it and make a choice when I’m ready. The ambition of becoming a better person doesn’t automatically make me a better person, but the pursuit has made every effort I make just a little more meaningful.

I still take breaks from journaling to doomscroll, but the college acceptance posts have taken on a new dimension. Even if it’s not a mother-approved college, I hope they enjoy where they’re headed, literally and otherwise — I hope that in a year, I can confidently say the same.

ILLUSTRATION | JILLIAN JU

AS A RUNNER

I’m learning how to endure when times are hard

BY JONAH CHANG

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t is 6:30 in the morning. I’m running through a neighborhood, flanked by my teammates. It’s cold, and I’m tired. 6 a.m. has never been a great time to wake up, let alone run. But the morning is peaceful. And I can’t stop smiling, even as we veer off the street and begin the painful climb up what feels like a near-vertical hill. At Monta Vista Cross Country, we call this earlymorning excursion the Dawn Patrol.

As we hike up the hill, the morning sky turns a deep blue color, brightening with every step. I’m out of breath, and my legs are heavy. All around me, shoes scrape against the dirt trail. Halfway up, I begin to slow down. The climb feels endless. But I

ILLUSTRATION | JONAH CHANG

resist the urge to walk. My breath is endurance. The final quarter of the visible. The sky is growing purple. I 400 is the ultimate test of will. During grit my teeth and keep running. My the last 100 meters, it feels as if teammates do the same. Before long, everything is shutting down — your we reach the peak of the hill. The lungs burning and your legs dying. rising sun paints the sky orange.

When your body is ready to give up, it Waking up early in the morning becomes a mental battle. to run 13 miles was not what I saw I’ll never forget my first 400 race. myself doing two years ago. Instead, The first half was manageable. But I pictured myself by 200 meters, playing tennis fatigue hit hard.

DON’T KNOW under the midday My legs gave out WHAT TO DO sun, fighting down right before the WITH MYSELF to the wire to win end. I collapsed a point while my from exhaustion, parents cheered. stood up, fell again At the time, and practically running wasn’t crawled over even something I the finish line. enjoyed. It was just another way for Scraped up and humiliated, I resolved me to train for tennis. Later events in to conquer the event, promising my tennis career changed this. myself I’d come back stronger. I stuck Tennis is a one-on-one sport. The with the 400 and, over the course of only way to succeed in tennis is to the season, dropped my time from 66 beat your opponent. I struggled with seconds to 56. the mindset of “I need to be the best While no amount of training can to prove myself” for a long time, and minimize the pain of the final 100, the each defeat chipped away my self- run is absolutely worth it. Crossing the confidence. However, cross country finish line is the most amazing feeling. presented a new way forward.

First, there’s the relief of being done.

Rather than battling for top spots Then comes the pride of having or vying to be the fastest, everyone finished in the first place. After every seemed simply to enjoy themselves. 400, I feel like I’m on top of the world.

There was a strong sense of I’m not the fastest and don’t camaraderie and support. With no always win my races. But, if running’s pressure to outrun anyone else, for taught me anything, it’s that these the first time, I wasn’t measured things aren’t important. What matters against others — only myself. instead is grinding all the way up the Cross country redefined running Dawn Patrol hill, or pushing to the end in my eyes. Inspired to continue this of a 400, even when everything is spring, I joined the track and field screaming in pain. team. Despite being a long-distance Regardless of my placement, every runner, I’ve always been drawn to race feels like a victory because I sprinting. I chose to put my cross- push myself to the limit. In doing so, I country stamina to the test in a one- prove to myself that I have the power lap all-out sprint: the 400-meter dash. to persist. As a runner, I don’t need The 400 is a brutal race, requiring to win to succeed. All I have to do is speed in the first half and endurance persevere. All I have to do is keep in the second — and not just physical moving forward, one step at a time.

OPINION | MAY 2025

29

How I’ve held on to my love of learning

BY JAMI LIM

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comfortable — the books, films and essays presented me with all the knowledge I aspired to have while keeping the daunting nature of the world at arms length. In fact, as an introvert, it was liberating. But the highs and lows of high school taught me more than any book or documentary ever could have — it pushed me out of the shell I was comfortable existing in and into new spaces I would have never thought I’d find myself in. I realize now that the entire experience of high school, no matter how grueling at times, was the unknown I always chased through learning.

In my true fashion of inquisitiveness, I’m going into college undeclared. I still don’t know exactly what line of learning I will commit my life to, but I revel in the knowledge that opportunities to learn are all around me. I know my love for learning will follow me wherever I go, and to the places that await me — not just in textbooks or lecture halls, but in the spaces I have yet to experience and the people I h a v e yet to meet.

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sacrifice my true interests to pursue an academic grandeur that felt like life or death. The late nights studying until the sun rose, constant pressure to be the best version of myself and how quickly it felt like I had to grow up — it was hard not to feel like the world was no longer my oyster.

Looking back at the past four years, however, the difficulty of burnout and disappointment from how my priorities had changed overshadowed what I was learning.

Amidst the countless late nights on the phone with my friends as we spiraled over grueling tests, college apps or simply growing pains, I forged some of my deepest connections.

The mutual support I clung to taught me how to rely on others and how crucial it is to have a community that truly knows you. Moments in student leadership or collaboration where I felt misunderstood by others forced me to stand up for myself — something I had always avoided like the plague.

Instances of failure that felt like the end of the world (they weren’t) acclimated me to losses and taught me the subtle art of letting go of control.

I could go on and on about all the lessons I carry with me, but I think it’s something you have to experience for yourself. As cliche as it sounds, l e a r n i n g these things first-hand changed my life for the better.

Learning on my own from afar was always ILLUST

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y room is like a confusing archaeological site — books on Jungian psychology or Kant philosophy are strewn across the floor, pages from various film screenplays are tacked onto my walls and annotated poems with barely legible notations spill from my notebooks. If an anthropologist were to stumble across my room 200 years from now, seeking to study the teenage girl archetype of the early 2020s, I’m certain they’d leave more confused than enlightened.

For as long as I can remember, my innate curiosity has defined my life.

There was nothing I loved more than learning and embracing the unknown.

At age 11, I began an ever-growing list of books to read that now seems impossible to finish in a lifetime.

Everything from the psychology of parasocial relationships to the intricate manipulation behind the portrayal of the British royals fascinated me. I’m probably Netflix’s “Explained” series’ number-one viewer. For years, I loved the race against time to learn as much as I could in my lifetime.

But when high school rolled around, my enthusiasm began to change. I had anticipated getting busier and having to sacrifice my personal time, but had not considered that my fascinations would be completely replaced by school subjects that, frankly, didn’t spark anything in me.

The rigid structure of courses, culture of academic rigor, perpetual chase for recognition and inescapable competition caused my love for learning to deteriorate. Very quickly, the one thing I had found liberating was confined by timed essays, detailed rubrics and a numerical GPA measurement. Learning grew bounds, and I was begrudgingly within them.

And even though I fought against it, I felt like I had no choice but to

My previous home shaped the way I approach my identity

BY KATHRYN FOO

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was built by a particularly strange cast of characters, each person is ultimately the sum of all the unique experiences they have had. Instead of considering yourself as a puzzle meant to fit pieces neatly into place, I implore you to consider yourself more as a goodie bag, filled with trinkets and souvenirs from all those you’ve learned from before. If I’ve learned anything from my clown car home, it’s that life can be contradictory and complex, but that’s what makes it worth living.

To be honest, I have no idea where Gabby, Ray or Nathan are now. At some point, each of our parents found enough success to move out and on towards new lives. Even though they’ve left my life, I will always remember the freedom and resilience that they taught me, and I’m grateful that they gave me the confidence to cannonball on my own.

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home. I was no longer the eldest child, but rather the middle child of five. Each of our single parents spent a lot of time at work, so the five of us would go on adventures on the rooftop of the apartment. Gabby, Ray and Nathan taught me how to be a kid: they showed me how to play pool and forced me to watch horror movies to help me get over my fear (it didn’t work).

Because of this, I led a double life. At Dad’s, I was the poster child, focused solely on academic success.

At Mom’s, I began reluctantly letting my guard down and learning how to have fun as a real kid. These two lives I compartmentalized into separate boxes in my brain, and I really struggled to reconcile both parts into one coherent identity. Growing older, I’ve learned to thrive in the intersection. I only know success today because my father made me sit in front of a workbook and practice math problems after school. Still, I know true childhood because of those long pool days. Over time, I’ve come to recognize how lucky I am to have experienced both.

Just as my identity

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remember being nine and refusing to jump into the water. As a kid, I was convinced that playing in the pool when it was cold out would make me sick. Despite my worry, the four other children had already begun splashing around, joyfully laughing without a care in the world. I remember Gabby looking at me mischievously, before pulling herself and her brother out of the water in order to push me in.

I remember thinking it was the end of the world for a couple moments, before releasing the tension in my shoulders and splashing them right back.

At age nine, I lived in a threebedroom apartment. My mother, brother and I took the first room, while a single mom and her son, Nathan, took another and a single dad and his two children (the previously named Gabby and brother, Ray) took the last.

There were three families with five children living under one roof, lovingly referred to as my ‘clown car home.’

The apartment was nice, don’t get me wrong; I always had enough room for everything I needed. I just felt more mature and less willing to relax than the others, which in a house of five children, was not an especially endearing trait. I credit it to the way that I’d been raised. Growing up in my father’s traditionally Asian household, I learned to live by a very strict set of rules. I was the eldest daughter, meaning I should be proper and poised, disciplined in education and manners. After my parents divorced, I still lived in his house every Monday, Tuesday, and every other weekend, and I carried that image of myself with pride.

But when those Wednesdays, Thursdays and other weekends rolled around, I was thrust back into the chaos of my mother’s

OPINION | MAY 2025

31

Turning 18 changes everything, and yet hardly anything at all

BY ALYSSA YANG

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turned 18 in December, which means that since then I’ve been able to: 1. Use a meat slicer working at the deli in a grocery store 2. Go skydiving (pending courage, and maybe a coupon) 3. Compete on “Wheel of Fortune” (pending sudden extroversion) 4. Legally chaperone someone at San Jose Furcon (pending … my mental breakdown) None of that’s actually happened yet, but I’m holding out hope for the skydiving.

All jokes aside, though, there’s a strange in-between-ness with being 18. I’m technically an adult, but also not really, because I’m still in high school despite being able to (theoretically) buy a house. I sign my own dance competition waivers and go grocery shopping with a list and a budget — but talking to people over the phone is still scary, so if I had to schedule my own dentist

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appointments I’d probably freak out. We tend to equate adulthood with these tasks that demonstrate responsibility and self-sufficiency, but maybe that’s the problem: tying adulthood to a checklist of tasks.

Personally, responsibility didn’t wait for adulthood. It came to me through lessons on what it’s like to feel unsafe at home and what hotlines to remember.

Habits such as planning a go bag and running through a mental list of friends I could ask to crash with aren’t part of the conventional checklist for adulthood, but they taught me more than any birthday could. I learned to be someone everybody — my family members, my friends, even myself — could rely on.

That early sense of responsibility bled into virtually every part of my life — school, dance, the newsmagazine you’re reading right now. Honestly, I’m proud of becoming someone who gets things done. It helps that I’ve always liked the challenge of figuring out how things work. And at the end of junior year, my peers in El Estoque voted for me as “Most Inspiring,” which felt surreal given that under the surface, I’d been desperately trying t o hold

everything together.

Still, it’s not like any of that made me any more “adult” than my peers.

I’m 18, but it turns out, being an adult isn’t a finish line — it’s just another starting point. I still need to learn how to politely exit a conversation without ghosting the other person; how to have strong political opinions, yet also portray the amiability needed to keep family dinners peaceful; how to be independent, but not so independent that I lose sight of the people around me.

With college just around the corner, I’ve become increasingly grateful for all the ways I rely on my parents and the people who support me. I’ve also resolved myself not to be like my older brother, who’s recently called from the bank to ask “Mom, do you know my ATM pin?” or asked from the kitchen, “Mom, how do I swallow a pill?” Still, I’ve mentally prepared myself for my parents texting me “Did you eat?” weekly like I’m a Tamagotchi, since some things never change, not even with a diploma. And I’ve been learning to open up about the parts of me I usually keep tucked away, because at home I spent years being the strong one, the responsible one, only to realize that I never got the chance to be fragile.

So, here’s to being a legal adult! I remember my mom crying next to me for 30 minutes straight after I opened an acceptance letter. At one point she asked me, still crying, “Why aren’t you happy? I’m so happy!” Trust me, Mom, Dad — I am. I made it to graduation, and I made it to college. I’m ready to be vulnerable and embrace new opportunities to learn, because I’ve realized that the most adult thing I can do is admit when I don’t have the answer — and to trust that we’ll figure it out together.

ILLUSTRATIONS | CANVA.COM

Learning to adapt to a new culture helped me find both my voice and my community

BY SAMUEL TEO

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hen I first arrived at MVHS as a sophomore, I didn’t know a single person. Coming from Singapore, a place where modesty and reservation are deeply woven into everyday life, stepping into the extroverted, fast-moving world of an American high school felt disorienting.

I was an introvert by nature and the cultural shift made school even harder to navigate. Students didn’t just raise their hands in class; they sought out teachers during office hours, asked for extra resources and engaged in conversations that blurred the lines between academic help and personal mentorship. I found this intimidating, since back home, approaching a teacher directly would have felt disrespectful. I hesitated to ask for help when I needed it, fearing that I would be seen as either bothersome or incompetent. For a while, I kept quiet, struggling through challenges I could have made easier through a simple conversation.

But as time

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passed, I realized that if I didn’t adjust, I would only be restricting myself from opportunities that others were readily taking. The competitive nature at MVHS made me learn to be a little bolder, a little more indifferent to the discomfort. Each small step — sending an email to a teacher, raising my hand during discussions, volunteering for group projects — felt monumental.

Sophomore year marked another pivotal moment when I was interviewed for an El Estoque article about my Singaporean accent. At first, I was nervous. My accent, after all, was a lingering mark of the differences between me and my classmates. But the experience forced me to reflect on how much weight I had given to something that, in reality, most people hardly noticed. Speaking about my background openly made me realize that embracing my accent instead of hiding it allowed me to connect more authentically with others.

Gradually, I stopped thinking of my accent as a barrier. Friendships became easier and conversations became more natural. Integrating into American culture wasn’t about erasing who I was — it was about accepting all the parts of myself, even the ones that stood out.

If I had to sum up my experience with one phrase, it would be this Chinese proverb: 近朱者赤, 近 墨者黑. Roughly translated, it means, “One who stays near vermillion is stained red; one who stays near ink is stained black.” We are shaped by the company we keep, for better or worse.

At MVHS, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by some of the most hardworking, dynamic and inspiring people I have ever met.

They showed me that it was possible to balance grueling academics with vibrant, unique personalities. Their energy challenged me to be kinder, more ambitious and more open to experiences I might have shied away from before.

My senior year, I decided to join El Estoque. I had considered it during my junior year but ultimately hesitated, worried that adding another commitment to my coursework would stretch me too thin. I entered the journalism class with low expectations.

After two years of intensive literature classes, I didn’t think I could learn much more about writing or critical thinking. But I was wrong.

Working with multimedia design and journalism turned out to be one of the most enriching experiences of my high school career. It wasn’t just about improving my technical skills — though I certainly did — but about learning to collaborate in real-world conditions by meeting deadlines, pitching ideas and balancing creativity with structure.

Journalism, more than any other class at MVHS, pushed me to think beyond school assignments to real issues affecting the world around me.

As a senior, it taught me that maturity isn’t a fixed trait you simply gain with age — it’s something you build with every risk you take to step a little further out of your comfort zone.

I came to America unsure if I would ever truly belong. I’m leaving with the knowledge that belonging isn’t about changing who you are to fit in — it’s about letting the best parts of others draw out the best parts of yourself.

OPINION | MAY 2025

33

My loved ones have prepared me to tackle the demands of college

BY ANIKA BHANDARKAR

PHOTO | SOPHIA D’SA

ow do I become a go-getter?

It’s a question I pondered frequently as I tried to cram four years of high school into a handful of college essays, wishing I’d taken more risks and sought out more career-specific summer programs and research positions. Too often, I started my hunt for summer opportunities too late, and ended up submitting a poorly-written application the day it was due or, worse, missing the application deadline entirely. Even now, the question hasn’t escaped me.

As I prepare to be just one face in a sea of over 30,000 undergraduate students, I’ve come across users on Reddit forums and parents on incoming freshman group chats preaching the importance of being a go-getter.

34 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

The way my parents have defined it to me, a go-getter is a person who is proactive about seeking out opportunities like internships and research, especially by networking — that is, forming connections with many people around oneself, a daunting task for an introvert like myself.

I am a firm believer that people, including myself, can transform themselves for the better, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying.

Although maybe a bit overdramatic, part of me fears that not taking initiative won’t just stop me from finding new opportunities, mentors and friends — I fear I won’t be proactive about reaching out to my loved ones frequently enough, and thus will not be able to maintain long-distance relationships with them.

Granted, my friend group isn’t as split up as it could be — my farthest friend will be in Boulder, Colo. — and I’m barely 50 miles, or a two-hour drive on a bad day, away from home. But still, being separated from the friends and family and familiarity of the past few years, and subsequently being forced to learn how to stay anchored with my loved ones in a sea of new faces and more academic pressure than ever before, is intimidating. However, I’ve found some comfort in realizing that the very same people I am scared of growing distant from have equipped me with exactly what I need in order to stay connected with them as I get busier and farther away.

While learning to drive, my evenings have recently been spent on long drives with a parent to nowhere in particular. I raise my seat all the way up, click my seatbelt into place and start a steady stream of gossip between me a n d whichever parent

is sitting shotgun, interrupted only by their instructions to “slow down” or “switch lanes.” Over time, I’ve learned to balance being observant about the road around me while staying somewhat focused on my conversations with them. Surely, if I can do that, I can simultaneously stay vigilant about hunting for research and internship opportunities while making time to connect with my loved ones.

As I attempt to network with others around me, my memories with my cross-country team will serve as a reminder that connection with others can arise at unexpected moments — an unforgettable memory I have with the team is from an impromptu animal rescue in which we wrangled six bunnies we found abandoned on a trail. Between calling a ranger and working to capture all the bunnies, who, admittedly, easily outran us, the experience was a hectic few hours, but a powerful team bonding experience.

As I seek out new friends and mentors, this experience serves as a reminder that sometimes, friendship can be forged in unlikely moments — I just have to keep an open mind.

At the end of the day, the demands of college will be intimidating, but I’m far more prepared to seek out connections with friends and mentors than I think. To college, I will carry experiences with and values of the people I’ve surrounded myself with over the past few years — like my coach’s pre-practice lessons about how to practice gratitude and my piano teacher’s reminders that many small changes can transform a piece — that will help me not only stay connected with them, but also to seek out new opportunities and become more of a go-getter.

ILLUSTRATIONS | ANIKA BHANDARKAR

PHOTO | ISABELLE KOK

PHOTO | ERIC ZHOU

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PROM LOOKBOOK

Students provide an insight into the planning behind their prom outfits

BY MEGHNA DIXIT AND SANA KARKHANIS

JUNIOR ANYA DESHPANDE

Junior Anya Deshpande’s dress was more than just an outfit — it was a legacy. At prom, Deshpande donned a dress that her mother had originally worn 25 years ago. Deshpande aimed to stay true to the vintage style of her dress by pairing it with satin black gloves and rings and bracelets on top, similar to a Renaissance-era fashion theme. She also opted for a blowout to tie her look together.

Deshpande initially began her search for an ethereal, sparkly dress to match the prom theme, “Enchanted Garden.” While the theme and her body type played a key role in her choices, Deshpande noted that tailoring the dress to her preferences was more of a priority than being trendy. However, she decided that her mom’s dress was best for the occasion since it fit the theme — and her — perfectly.

“It was something about it being my mom’s old dress,” Deshpande said. “I had an emotional attachment. When I was younger, I used to try on her dresses, and now this dress finally fits me, so I thought it’d be perfect to wear to my first prom.”

PHOTO | FIRSTNAME LASTNAME PHOTO COURTESY OF ANYA DESHPANDE | USED WITH

Junior Anya Deshpande poses for Prom, wearing a dress that PERMISSION once belonged to her mother.

JUNIOR KIRTHANA CHANDRASEKAR

Keeping it casual, junior Kirthana Chandrasekar opted for a figure-hugging, navy, satin dress with an embroidered top for this year’s prom. Chandrasekar plans to go big and bold for senior prom, so she chose to keep her outfit more modest this year. While she initially planned to wear red this year, she eventually settled on a blue dress with floral details because she felt it would go best with her skin tone.

Chandrasekar paired her dress with casual earrings and did her own makeup. She also got her nails done and straightened her naturally curly hair as a change of pace from her everyday look, keeping it down for the night instead of opting for an updo. When planning her outfit, Chandrasekar paid attention to her physique and prioritized personal comfort.

“You don’t have to wear a figure-hugging dress if you feel like you’re not going to be comfortable in it,” Chandrasekar said. “Just be you. Even though everybody’s getting a certain style that doesn’t mean that you need to get the same one.

Just do whatever you like.”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF KIRTHANA CHANDRASEKAR | USED WITH PERMISSION

ARTS & ENT SENIOR SAMIKA BHATKAR

Write your shwanky, pretty caption right here! It will probably be longer than this one.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMIKA BHATKAR | USED WITH PERMISSION

Finishing senior year with a bang, senior Samika Bhatkar says she was dressing to impress. For her final prom, Bhatkar wore a burgundy off-the-shoulder dress with sequins and a slit up the side, reflecting her desire to dress elegantly.

Bhatkar started her search in December to stray away from popular trends like florals and pastels, which she had already incorporated at last year’s prom. With a full list of criteria in mind, Bhatkar set out to find a bold look, opting for maroon or gold specifically.

After visiting several different stores, she fell in love with a red off-the-shoulder, but didn’t buy it due to its price. However, in a stroke of luck, her sister found a similar dress online that looked stunning on the model who had a similar skin tone to Bhatkar, which convinced her to buy the dress.

In contrast to her bold dress and makeup, Bhatkar targeted simplistic styles for her jewelry, heels, nails and hair to subtly complement her features without distracting from her dress.

“Don’t spend too much money on a dress that you don’t think is worth it,” Bhatkar said. “But at the same time, make sure you’re getting your quality’s worth. Get it off of a reputable site and, if possible, try on the dresses — that way you have an idea of the quality.”

DON’T HESITATE TO BE CREATIVE WHEN CHOOSING YOUR OUTFIT. USE CHATGPT TO DO A COLOR ANALYSIS AND FIND YOUR STYLE. MAKE SURE YOU CAN EASILY ACCESS THE BATHROOM IN YOUR OUTFIT. TRY TO USE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE TO CREATE A UNIQUE OUTFIT. WEAR WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF. *According to a survey of 124 Monta Vista students

5

FASHION

TIPS ARTS & ENT | MAY 2025

37

WHAT SUMMER STEREOTYPE ARE YOU? Take this personality quiz to decide which summer persona you conform to

BY MEGHNA DIXIT AND SANA KARKHANIS

INDOORS

START

WHERE DO YOU SPEND MORE TIME?

SWEET TREAT WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AFTERNOON SNACK?

EARLY BIRD

TI ON S

ST RA LU IL

38 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

ARE YOU AN EARLY BIRD OR NIGHT OWL?

V

NIGHT OWL

SAVORY MEAL

VA.COM AN C |

OUTDOORS

Nerd Alert:

Doomscroller:

You are a very academicallyfocused person. Instead of having fun in the sun, you would rather spend your summer doing something productive. Whether it’s taking college courses or signing up for 15 different programs, for you, summer isn’t a vacation at all. While your peers party and relax, you’re spending 20 hours a day SUMMER READING the encyclopedia. It better be worth it!

Instead of making plans to travel, you spend your days at home scrolling Instagram Reels for hours w/ your cat. In the rare times you do make an effort to interact with your friends in-person, you all silently lie in your bed and send each other the latest TikTok mukbangs. You wonder when you’re going to leave your house for the first time to try the Crumbl lineup for the week.

S

DOLPHIN

WHICH ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE FOR A DAY?

Beach Babe:

PARROT CAT

READ

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR IDEAL DAY OFF?

WHERE WOULD YOUR DREAM VACATION BE?

I EAT IT PLAIN

SALSA

Hand-Me-anotherkombucha bro:

GUACAMOLE

WHAT DIP WOULD YOU PICK FOR YOUR TORTILLA CHIP?

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

VENICE, ITALY

RIO DE JANERIO, BRAZIL

GO TO THE MALL

You are a very relaxed person who’s more concerned about getting tan than a summer program at Stanford. Instead of living cooped up in your room all summer, you’d rather get together with your friends and lay on the beach to soak up the sun. You love a good sunset over the ocean, and often post your daily iced coffee and book combo on your thoughtfully designed Instagram feed.

For you, summer is much more than just a break from school: it’s full days allocated towards building the perfect summer bod. From the moment you step off campus, you’re either going to the gym, chugging that kombucha, logging your protein intake for the day or living it up playing volleyball at the beach.

Each day is arm day AND cardio day, so you better not miss a moment!

Life of Every Party: You are a very robust and adventurous person. No one does summer break like you do, having each day scheduled with activities from top to bottom.

When you’re not on a plane to an exotic country, you’re playing beach volleyball with your best friends or working at a summer camp where you’re the favorite counselor. It’s safe to say that you have this summer on lock!

ARTS & ENT | MAY 2025

39

izumi matcha.

19740 STEVENS CREEK BLVD. CUPERTINO

The MVHS community discusses the increasing popularity of matcha

BY ANANYA CHAUDHARY AND DYLAN NGUYEN

W

iith a vibrant green hue and earthy undertones, refreshing drinks using matcha have recently gained popularity among 28% of MVHS students, according to a survey of 107 students. A powdered variant of green tea, matcha is made from tea leaves in Japan that are described to have a natural and slightly bitter taste. Senior Siyona Kathuria, a matcha enthusiast, correlates these unique qualities of matcha to its increasing popularity on social media and within the MVHS community.

“Matcha is something that’s different,” Kathuria said. “Before this, more people would get boba or coffee, which tend to be really sweet and make you feel lethargic. But when you drink matcha, you often feel refreshed.

You don’t feel guilty drinking it.”

Entire stores dedicated to selling matcha drinks and ingredients have opened in the past year, such as Izumi Matcha, a popular matcha hub in Cupertino, and Cere Tea, a matcha store in Saratoga. As a result, this surge in interest in the green beverage created a new opportunity for Kathuria to provide her own insights to the community as an avid matcha fan.

“Matcha has a super tight-knit community because we all just really enjoy the drink,” Kathuria said.

“Seeing this, I decided to open up a social media page with my friends, who also really enjoy matcha, and rate popular matcha places in the Bay Area. Our page not only helps other matcha lovers know the real quality of a certain place, but can also help promote new small businesses.”

AP Physics and AP Biology

40 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

teacher Julie Choi has also indulged in matcha. Choi has almost entirely replaced coffee with matcha due to her high sensitivity to caffeine, saying that “matcha is slower acting than coffee, so it doesn’t hit her or give her the same side effects that coffee does, which is a big plus.” Choi is one of many people at MVHS that enjoy matcha, contributing to a higher demand for matcha overall.

However, Choi relates this increased demand for matcha to an emerging problem: the Japanese tea industry is struggling to adhere to the drink’s significantly expanding market pressure, resulting in a matcha shortage. Along with this lack of matcha, the 24% increase in tariffs placed on Japan as of April 2 have made it increasingly expensive to import matcha and other teas into the U.S., causing delays in the American matcha supply.

Choi believes that people will panic if this shortage becomes more serious, with people immediately reacting and over-buying supplies when a shortage is announced. Kathuria, whose 276 followers rely on matcha places staying afloat, states that the rising popularity of matcha, along with the shortage that she hopes will bounce back, has limited her access to matcha.

“I think the supply of matcha will recover, but this shortage could potentially wipe out the amount of opportunities that matcha’s popularity brings, whether it’s health benefits, facilitating friendships and conversation or, in my case, a platform for my friends and I to freely express what we love,” Kathuria said.

$7.50 CREME BRULEE MATCHA SWIRL

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matcha madness.

cere tea.

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.

`

TASTE THE twrl Two Bay Area women built their own eco-friendly bubble tea business

BY SAGNIK NAG CHOWDHURY AND MEGHA MUMMANENI

M

example is through two collaborations with a local women-owned restaurant in Arizona to create a special edition drink line for Asian American Heritage Month in March and Women’s History Month in May. “There is a rise in ethnic founders — Asian Americans, Latinas and African Americans,” Chen said. “These are people who are pulling from their cultural heritage and their products really reflect what we would want to find in our pantries and our fridges. It’s brought us a little closer as a family as well, because there’s a whole centering about, ‘Boba is from Taiwan.’

Being able to celebrate that I’m Taiwanese-American with my family and being able to have a lot of our production in Taiwan has given us all a real strong sense of pride, being able to support our country in that way.”

O| OT PH I

N NE

MA

UM

AM

GH

ME

VHS alumna Olivia Chen anyone can drink it.” frequented places such as Chen’s son, Palo Alto High School Bobatino and Fantasia Coffee senior Julian Hong, helps promote and Tea when bubble tea first started Twrl to friends and peers. Hong recalls to become popular in America around running product demonstrations by the ‘90s. She recalled how those hosting samplings at grocery stores places were a big part of her inspiration like Whole Foods and Sprouts, tasting for creating her own boba milk tea new flavors and moving inventory. c o m p a n y.

Hong says he She is now enjoys helping the SCAN FOR MORE company in these the coCOVERAGE founder ways, especially and Chief seeing the pride his Marketing mother gets from Officer of Twrl Milk Tea alongside co- running Twrl. Even though the startup founder and Chief Executive Officer, has made it harder for him to spend Pauline Ang. The pair started the Bay time with her, Hong believes that he Area-based small business online in has benefitted from the soft skills the February of 2021. “job” has to offer in terms of improving After graduating from the University his communication skills. of California, Berkeley, Chen met “I saw how stressful running a Ang at Plum Tree Software. The pair business can be, especially as a quickly bonded over a shared love for female founder, and I really wanted to food, and for 15 years they considered pitch in and support her in any way I starting an Asian snack company — could,” Hong said. “I know at Whole an idea that they postponed due to Foods, I had a whole conversation motherhood and career obligations. with this dude about how he was a However, during the pandemic, with Georgetown basketball fan. I watched more free time, Ang proposed Twrl Georgetown basketball, too, and he Milk Tea with a focus on a low carbon ended up buying three cans from footprint and being accessible to us, just because it was a really good a broader audience. According to conversation. I gained more selftwrlmilktea.com, the products are a confidence, just being able to connect “regenerative plant-based milk made with a lot of people in different ways.” from pea protein that enhances the Hong hopes to see more Asiansoil it grows in,” allowing for 85% less owned businesses and Asian-inspired water consumption and a composition foods in the United States to expose low in sugar. more people to the rich culture.

“Pauline is a vegetarian, so she Moreover, the mother-son duo believe started concocting all different types that this business has connected them of drinks,” Chen said. “And then she with their Asian American heritage and was like, ‘Olivia, I found a formulation. has given them a platform to share I think it might work.’ We are very that with others. Chen notes that, as focused on sustainability, so kind of many consumers of the product might the idea of moving to an aluminum not be as familiar with their Taiwanese can and having something that’s grab cultural background, promoting Twrl’s and go from the home. It’s gluten-free, products allows them to spread that dairy-free, allergen-free, unless you’re knowledge. Furthermore, the company allergic to peas, but pretty much aims to uplift other groups. One such

ARTS & ENT | MAY 2025

41

RENEWING THE TURF Construction on the MVHS fields brings new improvements in safety but negatively impact sports

BY ERIN LIU AND ETHAN YANG

A

s part of a new modernization project to renovate the nearly 15-year-old turf across FUHSD, construction began at the MVHS lower field on Monday, March 17, and is scheduled to expand to the upper field the day after the Class of 2025’s Graduation Ceremony. The project was made possible through the Measure G Bond Program, which funded the $6.9 million construction.

Besides providing a replacement for the fields’ worn-down turf, the new turf includes several changes aimed at improving both the fields’ safety and functionality, including painting new lines for Girls Flag Football.

According to site superintendent Alex Islas from Robert A. Bothman Construction, the construction company working on the renovation, the MVHS fields had a lot of noticeable

Construction workers make progress on the demolition phase of lower field renovations, removing existing turf infrastructure.

PHOTO | ETHAN YANG

42 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

wear and tear, highlighting that the damage could even be seen from satellite pictures on Google Maps.

In addition to the turf being at the end of its service life, Superintendent Graham Clark said the district deemed the replacement necessary through the conduction of G-Max tests, which measure the turf’s ability to absorb impact when a person falls on top of it, something that is lost over time. Islas adds the field drained water slower than the 10 inches-per-hour standard during percolation tests. According to Islas, this was fixed through the replacement of the original turf’s Class Two Perm Rock drainage layer with drain rock, which allows water to drain faster due to its lack of fine stones.

The addition of a rock pad, a one-inch cushion layer underneath the turf, also helps guide water to drains while

reducing the impact of the players of hitting the turf should they fall.

Islas notes that at the time of the construction of the original fields, this rock pad was not yet widespread.

Similarly, Clark explains that new turf will include olive pits rather than crumb rubber, which Islas says is a more environmentally-friendly alternative that stays cooler in the heat.

“At that time, the government kind of encouraged us to use crumb rubber,” Clark said. “But since that time, we’ve decided to go with more organic fill.

All of those little black things that the turf used to have, they’ll all be gone.

It will be all a pit. And so if that does come out and blow out in the wind it’ll naturally degrade.”

While efforts have been made to address the environmental and safety concerns surrounding turf,

SPORTS such as the presence of harmful chemicals, CARPET Clark notes that there Visible playing surface was still opposition to the use of synthetic ORGANIC turf present at board INFILL meetings. However, after Stabilizes blades consulting landscape architects from Verde CUSHION Landscape, who have LAYER experience working Softens impact with both synthetic turf and natural grass, as DRAINAGE well as a 2023-2024 study conducted by ROCK Enables water flow the Interdisciplinary Research and Design class at MVHS, the SUBGRADE Foundational district continued with its Support decision to use turf for its athletic fields.

According to Clark, a key take out dirt, and bring in new soil for consideration in the district’s decision grass to grow in,” Clark said. “We’re to continue with turf is the field’s use certainly saving water, and we have a for athletics, which makes it different lot of droughts and water restrictions. from other grass areas such as private It takes a lot of effort to keep natural lawns or public parks. Clark says grass. Across the district, we have 15 that turf is better able to keep up fields, so you would have to get grass with the constant demand from both mowers for that.”

P.E. classes and sports teams, and is However, despite the improvements well-suited to handle rain and harsh that new turf could offer, the process of weather. renovating the turf negatively impacts “You can’t play an organized game sports teams that require the field on grass until it dries out, because for practice, according to Senior and if you do, you just tear it up and it Varsity Baseball player Sravik Sajja, turns into a mud pit,” Clark said. “The who mentions the team currently demand of the field is pretty great. only has access to the batting cages You have P.E. classes during the day for practice, after the field was and as soon as school ends, you have demolished. He adds that the team’s athletic teams out there practicing. defense either does not have a place Some of those teams even practice in to practice or is forced to practice the rain. With grass, you can’t do that on the Kennedy Middle School field, — you have to let it rest.” which negatively impacted their Another consideration was the performance throughout the season. financial and logistical complexity that “I thought it was terrible timing, would be associated with switching because this is one of the best teams to a grass field. Not only would we’ve had in six years, and especially the change itself be costly, but the because it’s my senior season,” Sajja additional maintenance required to said. “The grass is so thick because keep the fields in a playable condition they don’t mow it, so the ball just slows would add a burden to the district. down. We’re not really practicing “To go back to natural grass you realistically. We just lost a couple of have to put a new sprinkler system in, close games, which, honestly, if we

NEW

OLD ILLUSTRATION | ALETHEIA JU

had practice, we could have made a couple of changes.”

However, Clark says that the district’s priority was to schedule the construction around major school events like the Class of 2025’s Graduation and Homecoming football games, and to ensure that at least one field is open during the sports seasons.

Additionally, Islas mentions that the construction process is as optimized as possible to ensure the construction is finished relatively quickly.

“This is a pretty quick turnaround,” Islas said. “We’re only going to be here for seven months. Two of these fields are getting demolished, recycled, with new header boards, improvements on the drainage, the new rock, the grading, the turf, the cushion — everything is pretty much as efficient as it can be.”

SPORTS | MAY 2025

43

COMMITTED! MVHS athletes plan to continue playing their sports at the Division III level

BY LEAH DESAI AND ALETHEIA JU PHOTO | MALCOM SLANEY

TANAY PARIKH Senior Tanay Parikh is committed to do Division III Cross Country and Track & Field at Carnegie Mellon University starting in the fall. After realizing he would be able to continue running at the next level, Parikh began the recruiting process.

“I really enjoyed running throughout my high school years,” Parikh said. “And since I was pretty good at it, I got the opportunity to continue into college, so I wanted to take advantage of that.”

While he visited other colleges such as CalTech, he ultimately decided on CMU due to the camaraderie of their team.

He enjoyed his experience on the MVHS Cross Country and

Track & Field teams and wanted to continue running in a similar environment where teammates support and push each other to improve.

In addition to wanting to make the most of his athletic ability, Parikh also opted to play at a DIII institution due to his desire to balance both his academic and athletic life.“I really liked the campus and the facilities, and the team environment there was really nice,“ Parikh said. “One of the things I’m most looking forward to would be competing at the next level and being able to improve my times, and also to compete in bigger events.”

“Senior year was a pretty hard time because I was already planning on playing collegiately,” Ang said. “I’m grateful that CWRU continued talking with me, and they allowed me to recover while being a part of the team.

JOSHUA ANG It showed what type of team Senior Joshua Ang is they are, and I appreciated the committed to play on the Mens opportunity.”

Soccer team at Case Western In addition to the positive Reserve University. Ang began team environment, Ang chose playing soccer at a recreational to play at CWRU due to its level when he was 4 years old, strong academic program but began competing at a higher and supportive staff. Since level when he was in middle he hasn’t been able to play school. His passion for soccer yet. Ang is looking forward to ultimately drove his decision to competing again when he gets continue playing. to college, since he has spent a Although Ang began his few months recovering from his recruiting process during his injury already. sophomore year, an ACL tear “I found my love for the injury at the beginning of his sport again,” Ang said. “I’m senior year severely impacted really missing it. So I think just his process. As a result of his getting the opportunity to play PHOTO | THADDIUS EGUORERA injury, Ang lost contact with is probably what I’ll appreciate many of the coaches he talked the most.”

Case Western Reserve University Mens Soccer to, except for the CWRU coach.

Carnegie Mellon University Cross Country and Track & Field

44 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

LUCY YUNG Senior Lucy Yung is committed to the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) to play Division III Womens Tennis.

While she was initially interested in schools on the East Coast, after visiting a few over spring break, she decided that they were not going to be a good fit for her.

I ended up telling PHOTO | ARUSHI SINGH all the coaches on University of California at Santa Cruz Womens Tennis the East Coast that I didn’t want to go to school there,” Yung said. “They were all private schools and they gave me no financial aid, so it was going to be $90,000 a year. Plus, since they were liberal arts schools, they weren’t great for my major [economics] either.”

Yung has been playing tennis since she was 5 years old. She originally started under the guidance of her older brother, but she began playing more competitively when she was 13. Yung wanted to begin the recruiting process because she felt an obligation to continue her sport.

GERAD LEE Senior Gerad Lee is committed to play Division III Golf at Pitzer College on the Pomona Pitzer team. He began speaking to colleges about recruitment his sophomore year, eventually deciding on Pitzer due to its good weather and solid program.

“I just really liked the campus itself, the people, and it felt very lively,” Lee said. “All the training facilities and everything looked really nice as well, so that really just brought me in.”

Lee began his recruiting process before June 15 (the day that college coaches can legally get back to the emails from potential recruits) of last year when he started emailing coaches from various schools. He recalls the Pitzer coach’s passion

“I spent all that time working and getting better from ages 5 to 17,” Yung said. “So I was like, ‘It kind of feels like a waste if I don’t go play college tennis.’

But also, I really liked high school tennis and being on a team, so I think college tennis would be really fun.“ Yung says her ultimate decision to commit to UCSC came from the enjoyment she had while playing high school tennis. Yung says she values playing in a team environment, and she is looking forward to traveling with the team to matches.

“Santa Cruz was my top option academically,” Yung said. “But also, the fact that I was able to pursue tennis while going there was a definite bonus for me, and it made my decision really easy.”

and enthusiasm about the program, saying that it solidified his choice.

“I had a call with the coach where he just talked about the program,” Lee said. “He basically pitched the program to me. I found it really interesting — Pitzer, and the Five C Colleges [Claremont Colleges] in general.”

While he started casually golfing at 5 years old, Lee began to play more competitively in high school. Lee says he chose to play at a DIII school so that he could prioritize his academics while also competing. He is looking forward to his new teammates and coaches in college.

“For Pitzer in particular, you can take classes anywhere,” Lee said. “I thought that was really important.

I really liked the coach and saw how passionate he was, so that made me want to play DIII golf.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Golf is usually an GERAD LEE | USED WITH PERMISSION individual sport, so playing in that Pomona Pitzer Mens Golf team environment will be really fun.”

SPORTS | MAY 2025

45

SPRING SPORTS recap MVHS athletes bring the spring season to a finish

BY ARCHANA VENKATSEN AND BENJAMIN ZHANG

Junior Lelani Laruelle clears the 5’4” bar in the high jump during the 9th annual RustBuster Invitational on Saturday, March 1, helping MVHS place eighth in the tournament.

46 EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2025

PHOT O

| DYLA

N NGU YEN

PHOTO | ELIZABETH YANG

Sophomore Michelle Lee swims in the 100-yard breaststroke event on Senior Night, where MVHS Varsity Girls lost 95-71 to Wilcox High School on Thursday, April 10.

PHOTO | VARUN SINGH PHOTO | ETHAN YANG

Senior Praneel Shah jumps above the net to deliver a powerful hit against Cupertino High School, driving the Matadors to a 3-1 win on Wednesday, March 26.

Senior Na 7-0 loss eyan Selva ju mp to Lynb rook on s to send a p owerfu Tuesda l serve y, April to his o 29. ppon PHO TO | O WEN LIU

ent dur ing a

PHOTO | STELLA PETZOVA

Senior catcher Elizabeth Trotter gets in stance and catches a fastball during the Matadors’ unfortunate 13-0 loss to Saratoga High School on Wednesday, May 14.

SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE

Junior Amish Tyagi jumps to hit an overhead shot in a match on Wednesday, April 23, where MVHS fell to Homestead High School 19-11.

PHOTO | GRACE LIN

Senior Aiden Koppes fires a pitch from the mound, helping MVHS secure a 5-4 victory on the road against Saratoga High School on Thursday, April 24.

SPORTS | MAY 2025

47

CROSSWORD

@elestoque

BY JILLIAN JU

ACROSS

1 Roll with it!

4 Olivia Chen’s boba business (pg. 41) 8 ___-yo 11 Mind challenge univ. (pg. 9) 12 Mozart’s “___ kleine Nachtmusik” 13 It’s crude at first 14 House Kathryn Foo lovingly refers to (pg. 33) 17 West Coast evergreen 18 Podcast interruptions 19 Thunder, on scoreboards 20 Beverage facing shortage (pg.

40) 23 Vintage film channel 25 “Persepolis” setting 27 Off course, for short 28 Olympic gymnast Raisman 29 Diplomat’s asset 30 Mil. officers 31 She played Kelly on “Charlie’s Angels” 33 Fall Out Boy genre 35 Citation style (Abbr.)

36 Like “moose” but not “goose” 39 Brainy baked goods?

42 Twenty Questions answer 43 Where to order a Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity 44 Org. that sticks to its guns?

45 ‘60s protest grp.

46 Newly elected Leo (pg. 8) 47 Appreciated, as a joke

DOWN

1 Tape type 2 Madonna’s “La ___ Bonita” 3 Frugal flier’s favorite 4 Persistence 5 “John ___” (film franchise starring Keanu Reeves) 6 Genetic messenger 7 The Once-___: “The Lorax” character 8 Vibrant ingredient RFK wants to ban 9 “Ba-dum-tss” 10 World Cup cheer

15 What may have quite a stir?

16 Monopoly token 20 Apple computer 21 Quick buck?

22 Crunch targets 23 ___ Mahal 24 Shut (up) 26 Sought office 32 West Coast NFL team, on scoreboards 34 Slimey purple Pokémon 36 Word before deck or emoji 37 Dynamic start?

38 Exam for a future atty.

39 Part of iOS 40 Something worth waiting for?

41 Comedian Margaret

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PLATINUM SPONSORS: Naomi Byrne, David Chang, Michael McSorley, Ertai Tai, Alex Yang, Yue Yang, Hong Yao GOLD SPONSORS: Ryan Fu, Tachung Lin, Naren Nayak, Dinesh Nettar, Dinesh Prabhu, Stephanie Shi SILVER SPONSORS: Han Kim Teo, Brandon Tiongson

CROSSWORD ANSWERS S. D’SA AND J. JU: We hope you find this puzzle rooty, tooty, fresh and fruity! (Whatever that’s supposed to mean.)