Volume 56, Issue 7

MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL VOLUME 56 ISSUE 7

38 PROM LOOKBOOK

MVHS couples describe their prom outfits

JUNE 2026

21840 McClellan Rd. Cupertino, CA 95014 elestoque.org mv.el.estoque@gmail.com Editors-in-Chief: Jonah Chang, Radhika Dharmapurikar, Meghna Dixit, Sana Karkhanis, Zaid Naqvi, Aprameya Rupanagunta Head of Design: Angela Poon Head of Graphics:

LETTER FROM THE

EDITORS PHOTO | MELODY LIN

Grace Lin Visuals Editor: Elizabeth Yang News Editor: Grishma Jain Features Editors: Maahi Dev, Suryansh Gupta, Lora Lee, Emma Ma Opinion Editors: Shreejay Arja, Fiona Chen, Olivia Zhang Entertainment Editors: Emmy Harimoto, Alexandra Qiu Sports Editors: Nylah Gehani, Leo Lee, Ritik Shenoy Staff Writers: Sophia D’Sa, Leah Desai, Rafaella Fantine Vargas Machuca Vento, Jillian Ju, Vaishnavi Katukam, Anish Khinvasara, Isabelle Kok, Corinna Kuo, Joyce Li, Melody Lin, Juju Ling, Liz Liu, Lucas Liu, Owen Liu, Suhana Mahabal, Sania Nadkarni, Divina Pandita-Raina, Alex Perrault, Stella Petzova, Ananda Singh, Amberly Sun, Raj Thapliyal, Kai Tsuchida, Ellie Wang, Asha Wojciechowski, Ethan Yang, Kate Yang, Benjamin Zhang 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.

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To the Class of 2026 — After swinging your way into the year with your “Spider-Verse” homecoming skit, we have seen you navigate the next stage of your life with poise and precision. Even as acceptance letters, waitlists and portal astrology turned your futures into question marks, you still showed up every day with resilience and humor.

In this issue, our Arts and Entertainment section dives into different aspects of your interests, from music taste to fashion sense. Our Features section also examines your high school experiences, forever embedding your unique personalities into each one of our lives.

As you leave behind what seems like emptier MVHS parking lots and hallways, you’ve set the standards we aspire to live up to. Our Opinion section’s senior columns guide us through your high school journeys and impart us with your wisdom.

Whether you noticed it or not, underclassmen were always paying attention to how you handled pressure and carried yourself through uncertainty. Our Sports section highlights your sporting careers as they come to an end, forever a part of MVHS history.

We’d like to dedicate this year’s final issue to the graduating editors. From bus rides around San Francisco to friendly banter inside our second home, A111, you have instilled in us the maturity to lead El Estoque, and we will forever be grateful for your contributions.

As we prepare to walk in your footsteps, it’s impossible not to recognize how difficult your shoes will be to fill.

Jonah Chang

Radhika Dharmapurikar

Meghna Dixit

REPORTING COVER | SANA KARKHANIS AND APRAMEYA RUPANAGUNTA

02 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

Sana Karkhanis

Zaid Naqvi

Aprameya Rupanagunta

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS

JUNE 2026

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDERSON WANG | USED WITH PERMISSION

Pause the game 04 AI in education 06 Formulated fraud 08

FEATURES MVHS in the arts 1 0 Crafting community 1 2 Your decision is... 1 4 Senior summer spirit 16 TV memories 18 Seniors in 4 S’s 19

OPINION The senior tax Curveball Philz (un)flagged Losing ctrl Changing my mind(set) On stage Writer? I hardly know her Stepping in Growing off script Growing branches 11:11

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

ARTS & ENT

42

TEACHING TAEKWONDO

PHOTO | EMMY HARIMOTO

PHOTO | STELLA PETZOVA

40

12

PHOTO SPRING | AIDANSPORTS RUAN RECAP

CRAFTING COMMUNITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE HWANG | USED WITH PERMISSION

Senior mementos 34 Senior wrapped 36 Senior style 37 Prom lookbook 38

SPORTS Spring sports recap 40 Teaching taekwondo 42 Balling into CMU 44 Senior athletes 46

34

SENIOR MEMENTOS

JUNE 2026

03

Trigger warning: This story mentions gun violence.

A student source will remain anonymous due to potential legal concerns and will be referred to as Source A.

S

enior Assassin, a game commonly played by high school seniors across the country, faces scrutiny by the community after a social media post on April 18 by the Fremont Police Department warned residents about students carrying realistic-looking toy guns during gameplay. The post was a response to an incident in Fremont where officers reportedly drew guns on students participating in the game, sparking discussions among community members regarding safety risks surrounding the senior tradition and proposed regulations.

The Senior Assassin game involves students “eliminating” assigned targets using water guns while protecting themselves from getting eliminated. Players gain immunity to elimination by wearing designated safety items such as goggles, floaties or helmets. Some rounds, referred to as “purges,” temporarily allow participants to eliminate any participant in the game rather than only assigned targets. According to

Student A, the co-host of the MVHS discourage them from trespassing. game, 128 seniors participated in To ensure these rules are followed, this year’s independently organized the hosts have everyone participating game, which costs $10 to join. share their location on Life360, a “We had everyone fill out a location-sharing app, so their activity Google Form, and can be monitored then they paid us during the game. through Venmo,” However, Santa Student A said. “We Clara County Sheriff’s randomly give them Officer School WE’RE their assignments, WE’RE Resource Deputy and then we’ll text Aalok Patel believes RESPONDING them with their even senior traditions assignments every TO SOMEBODY with good intentions week.” can have unintended GETTING According to consequences if Student A, the SHOT VERSUS students fail to game is specifically consider how their SOMEBODY organized to actions might appear prevent dangerous GETTING SHOT to others. He says situations and involving WITH AN ORBEEZ situations misunderstandings; realistic-looking toy it includes rules, GUNS AS A guns can quickly regulations and a escalate if community PRANK requirement for members believe SENIOR a real weapon is brightly colored equipment to show LAUREN MOORE involved. they are toys and “The issues that we not real weapons. Student A adds deal with are when kids sometimes that locations such as libraries, dress up and approach somebody school campuses and extracurricular and sneak up on them,” Patel said. activities are considered to be safe “Parents have no idea what it is, and zones, with players notifying the hosts it comes off as, ‘Oh my gosh, my beforehand about private spaces so daughter just got shot,’ and now we’re hosts can update the players and responding to somebody getting shot

“

PAUSE THE

GAME After police confronted Fremont students, discussions of the risks, rules and culture surrounding the popular senior tradition rise with the game being played at MVHS

BY GRISHMA JAIN AND KAI TSUCHIDA

04 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

PHOTO | GRISHMA JAIN

VOLUME 56 versus somebody getting shot with Orbeez guns during a senior prank.”

Patel says officers responding to reports involving possible firearms are trained to assume weapons are real until proven otherwise. Although participants may see toy guns as part of a harmless game, Patel says officers are forced to judge the situation based on what appears dangerous in the moment, not what students intended.

“Even if it has an orange tip on it, you can spray paint an orange tip on a real gun,” Patel said. “Every day in America a police officer gets killed. We watch a lot of training videos, and we train to react to that threat. No police officer wants to hurt somebody. But when someone presents a weapon to us, it is concerning, and we just hope that the kids drop the weapon right away and realize what they’re doing is a mistake. ” Law enforcement emphasizes dangers surrounding water guns, noting that any weapon-like object, especially dark or metal replicas, can prompt a defensive reaction. While bright-colored water guns are less likely to be confused for real firearms, it can be risky in low-light and highstress situations. Student A says they warn participants using realisticlooking water guns, especially after similar incidents involving senior assassin games were reported in other communities.

“We genuinely advise this at the beginning to please have brightly colored guns and not carry them around and have your equipment on too, so it looks a little more playful,” Student A said. “We’ve seen it on the news. The students also know about incidents like this that happen. So we try our best to avoid it.”

Senior and participant Lauren Moore agrees with Student A and emphasizes that the organizers actively try to avoid dangerous

NEWS situations. However, she says that the debate around the senior assassin game reveals a larger problem between how students experience the game and how it can appear to the larger community. While Moore sees the activity as a lighthearted senior tradition that should continue, she understands why realistic-looking equipment should bring up safety concerns.

“With the current state of everything in America, seeing someone run around with what you could deem as a realistic gun is very concerning for the community,” Moore said.

“But I do think that a majority of kids do not have a realistic gun.

Even if they do have a realistic gun, it’s a crazy color. And banning the whole activity would be overkill. But I do think that the police department is right to worry about the safety of both the kids and the community.”

Moore says she joined the game after hearing upperclassmen discuss it last year in her AP Chemistry class. She recalls one of her most memorable moments from the game was when she was caught by one of her attackers after visiting Ranch 99, resulting in her running a mile barefoot. Despite the controversy surrounding the game, Moore hopes the tradition continues in the future, provided students remain responsible and aware of safety concerns.

“It just sounded really fun,” Moore said. “Especially with really not having anything to do second semester senior year, it gave me something fun to fill my time. Some people take it too seriously, and some administrations don’t like the game, but it doesn’t take away from my school time at all. I know a lot of parents don’t like their kids playing it and see it as distracting, but I think having fun is never a waste of time. I just hope that future generations can continue to play Senior Assassin and have fun.”

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128

Total participants

47

got out in the first week

HOW I GOT

OUT

I ran for almost a half a mile barefoot but I ended up getting out SENIOR LAUREN MOORE

AI IN EDUCATION MVHS students and staff discuss the CSU AI initiative and the impact of AI on education

BY GRACE LIN

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GRAPHIC | GRACE LIN

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alifornia State University wariness about fully relying on AI. As excuses, saying they’re using it to help launched an AI initiative to a result, Carpenter notes they never them,” Bergendahl said. “I think it’s provide free access to AI trust AI to provide final drafts or obvious when you’re using it to make tools and training through its CSU AI versions of any project, instead asking study guides versus giving answers to Commons program in February 2025 the program for opinions on the get full credit on homework. There’s to all students, faculty and staff. The effectiveness of certain assignments. a very big difference between using initiative is part of a broader effort Regarding student usage of AI, it to scrape by and cheat your way to integrate artificial intelligence Carpenter believes that relying on through high school versus using it to into higher education, designed to such programs hinders true learning help you.” prepare students and development.

Senior Noora Kiiski, who is for an increasingly M o r e o v e r , committed to San Jose State AI-driven workforce Carpenter says University for Mechanical Engineering, while also the challenge is shares a similar opinion regarding the promoting ethical ensuring students implementation of AI into everyday and responsible use THE QUESTION continue to life. As a student entering a STEM of the technology. develop critical field, Kiiski recognizes the growing HAS TO BE, ‘IS THIS According to thinking skills as AI role AI will likely play in engineering CSU’s recent AI ABOUT THE WORK, tools become more and other technical careers. Kiiski also survey, “over THE PROCESS OR advanced and believes misconceptions surrounding 4,300 faculty accessible. lazy dependence on AI contribute to have completed THE PRODUCT?’ “The question the negative reactions many students v o l u n t a r y ENGLISH TEACHER has to be, ‘Is this and educators have towards its use in professional about the work, academics.

MARK CARPENTER development in the process or “I think AI overall just has this ethical and effective AI use. Training the product?’” Carpenter said. “If bad stigma to it,” Kiiski said. “People emphasizes equity, critical thinking, students are supposed to be learning immediately have the thought like, and academic integrity.” With CSU’s a process, and they hand that process ‘Oh, you’re using AI. You didn’t do 18-month contract with OpenAI over to AI and it generates a product, it yourself, so that means you don’t to license ChatGPT for campuses that’s not acceptable. I want them actually know how to use it.’ But the approaching its expiration in July to be able to construct a strong issue is, in the real world, people do of 2026, the $17 million partnership argument. And if they’re not actually use it. And if you don’t use it, you’re has divided students and educators practicing doing it, they’re not going behind in a way.” across California, with some calling to be able to recognize it, and they’re However, as universities such as for CSU to end its partnership with ultimately going to be ignorant and be CSU continue adapting to rapidly OpenAI due to skepticism surrounding easy to take advantage of.” advancing technology, educators AI’s effectiveness compared to its The CSU AI survey revealed like Carpenter, as well as students risks in education, while others argue widespread acceptance of AI’s growing like Kiiski and Bergendahl, agree that AI literacy is essential in modern role, but also reported concerns that the focus on the implementation education and the workforce. For about its consequences, with “about of AI into education systems should many students, the debate centers 82% of staff not only be on SCAN FOR MORE teaching students less on whether AI should exist in respondents, education and more on its responsible 78% of faculty how to use AI, usage. and 69% but also ensuring For English teacher Mark of students that they continue Carpenter, AI serves as a tool that believing AI will become an essential to develop critical thinking and students can easily manipulate. part of most professions … 82% of independent problem-solving skills Carpenter, who began using AI for students, 78% of faculty and 74% alongside it. curriculum-based project testing of staff express concern about AI’s “The position that I have taken with after the FUHSD provided a free impact on job security.” Similarly, my students recently is that AI is a ChatGPT subscription for all teachers, senior Jenna Bergendahl, who is powerful tool that is only going to get quickly discovered the unreliability committed to Cal Poly for Agricultural better, and it isn’t going anywhere,” of AI as an undeveloped program. Business, believes AI remains a Carpenter said. “The main question ChatGPT frequently hallucinates controversial tool that should be that I then raise for them is, ‘Do they answers to fact-based questions, strongly regulated. want to be able to say the same thing contributing false responses that can “A lot of people don’t think there’s about their brains?’” mislead users, paralleling Carpenter’s a hard line because they just make up

“

COVERAGE

NEWS | JUNE 2026

07

GRAPHICS | GRACE LIN

Allegations of cheating cast doubt on the integrity of elite, academic olympiads

BY ANISH KHINVASARA process for the country’s numerous national olympiad teams.

Student A, a high school student who has participated in the AMC fter the 2023 American and the American Invitational Math Mathematics Competition Examination, was made aware of the exams were leaked online and cheating issue in late 2024, posting circulated by thousands of students about it on the Art of Problem Solving before the test, many students and forums, attracting attention from educators began to question the many like-minded students. He then legitimacy of the results. A few years started amcchange, an initiative to later, skepticism has only risen as petition the Mathematical Association score distributions on these exams of America — which administers the have shown an unusually high number AMC and AIME exams — to strengthen of perfect and near-perfect scores, cheating prevention. The website fueling allegations of widespread features score distribution graphs cheating on some of the nation’s most displaying a disproportionate number prestigious of perfect scores exams.

SCAN FOR MORE on recent exams, T h e significantly higher American in comparison Mathematics to older exams.

Competition Student A alleges series, F=MA and other academic that it is evidence of cheating. olympiad competitions are seen by “The score distributions show that many as rigorous indicators of strong the mean, median and the shape problem-solving and STEM skills as of the middle of the graph haven’t well as prestige for the nation’s top changed much between 2023 and high school students. Many of these 2018,” Student A said. “The issue exams serve as a part of the selection comes with the right tail of the graph, A student source in this story is anonymous due to potential backlash and will be referred to as Student A.

A

COVERAGE

08 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

with the extremely high and perfect scores that weren’t there in the 2018 score distributions. It isn’t definitive evidence, but it’s still suspicious.”

In addition to analyzing score distributions, Student A says there are groups of students on Discord and other platforms dedicated to distributing exam leaks. Student A says they have heard rumors that these groups include students who own proctor accounts to get the tests beforehand and international students who take the tests early and distribute the exam to test-takers in the U.S. One way Student A hopes to prevent these incidents is by limiting testing sites to schools and trusted centers. Similarly, Manish Mishra — chief operating officer and co-founder of Random Math, a math school in Cupertino — believes that the strict testing regulations at his center should be the standard nationwide. This includes transitioning competitions to paper-only and mandating that devices be put away during testing, instead of allowing testing centers to choose between paper or digital formats. He also calls for more transparency from

the organizations that host the tests. then the integrity of the test is their This year, cutoff scores to qualify for responsibility.” the USA (Junior) Math Olympiad were The MAA was not available for not publicly announced and individual comment within the timeframe scores from the F=MA exam were not provided. Sophomore Rohan Agarwal, released to students, leaving many who has participated in the AMC, confused about their scores.

AIME, F=MA and teaches competitive “Not publishing cutoff scores is math to younger students, says he pathetic to say the least — they should has spent years since middle school be published,” studying for these Mishra said. exams, even working “In addition, up to 15 to 20 hours the scores of a week during each USA(J)MO peak competition qualifier should THOSE WHO season. He enjoys be published. FORCE THEIR WAY the problemPeople should solving nature of know that if INTO SELECTIVE competitive math. somebody had UNIVERSITIES “It’s definitely 150 in AMC 12 a morale hit,” and 12 or 13 WITHOUT DESERVING Agarwal said. “It’s in AIME, what TO WILL SUFFER. demotivating to see was the reason yourself have so COO OF RANDOM MATH much that they got a experience zero in USA(J) MANISH MISHRA and exposure to the MO? We want competition, only to to know who those students are. We find people who’ve not spent as much want to get their names. Even if MAA — or any — time preparing and still publishes its intent to do that, cheating do well. Obviously, some people just will stop to a large extent. People will take to it really quickly, but I’ve seen not want to go to USA(J)MO and show the score distributions and what they that, ‘I was a cheater and I got a zero.’” suggest makes me think a little bit In the past, the MAA has made more is involved.” changes to its policies by shortening Agarwal acknowledges that the test-taking window for the although it can be tempting to get USA(J)MO in 2024 and using human sucked into cheating, one should resources and artificial intelligence to stay honest to get more out of the detect anomalies in individual scores, process of preparing for Olympiads. according to an email from the MAA. Mishra agrees, believing that, in the Student A believes that although long term, honest kids will benefit the MAA has taken some steps to much more from studying hard and address the cheating, they still need developing their problem-solving to go further by further shortening the skills rather than cheating and not testing window. Mishra adds that he gaining anything from it other than a has witnessed students lose interest resume-booster. in competitive math due to the lack of “We live in the world of AI now,” integrity.

Mishra said. “Capability is important, “Now, I do not know the goal of the result is not. Your college is not MAA,” Mishra said. “Is it to encourage important. Your degree is not mathematics in society or is it to just important. What you are capable select the six students for the U.S. of doing is important and International Math Olympiad team? If motivated, honest students their goal is just to select a few top are just going to work students, then they are fulfilling their even harder because objective. But if the objective is to the number of promote problem-solving and math, seats for honest

“

students has shrunk further.”

According to Mishra, cheating doesn’t just hurt honest students’ motivation — it’s disastrous to cheaters in the future. According to a study by researchers from Harvard University and Duke University, cheating allows many students to trick themselves into believing that they are more capable than they actually are and go through mental gymnastics to justify their actions, which damages professional and academic habits in the future.

“I know many students at MIT, and many of my students attend MIT,” Mishra said. “From them, I know a lot about what happens not only at MIT, but at many of the top universities.

Those who force their way into these colleges without deserving to get there suffer. They suffer from depression, are not able to graduate and are not able to socialize properly because if you speak to other genius students, they will figure out who you are — you will feel isolated.”

NEWS | JUNE 2026

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MVHS students and alumni pursue creative careers in film, music and animation

BY LIZ LIU AND EMMA MA KAIA YUAN

MVHS alum ‘25 Kaia Yuan has enjoyed capturing and recording the moments around her since she was very young, but her interest in professional filmmaking was first sparked when she attended a church summer retreat. Someone from her church created a video detailing what they accomplished there. She initially hadn’t thought much of it, but when she watched the video, she began tearing up.

“He paired the video with music, and everything fit so satisfyingly,” Yuan said. “But it’s also cool because I know all these people, and these are all people I love, and people who love me, and this guy has taken all of these pictures and videos and created a story of what we did at this retreat. I realized this is something that you can make a n d

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give to people, and it will give them an emotional reaction.”

As a freshman at Biola University in the film and Torrey Honors program, Yuan is taking two film classes, Production One and Production Two. These courses cover documentary, narrative and short form or commercial media. Currently, Yuan is directing a short narrative about her experience with anaphylactic food allergies and allergy anxiety, which is her favorite project so far. Before Biola University, Yuan felt the only course at MVHS that impacted her filmmaking journey was Writing for Publication, when she was assigned to make a documentary.

“I brought my iPhone gimbal I got for Christmas,” Yuan said. “None of the shots needed a gimbal. It was really extra. But I just felt like, ‘Wow, I feel so professional, I’m a filmmaker, I’ve reached my filmmaking peak.’ Writing for Publication was really the only class that taught me anything about filmmaking or sound stuff.”

During her time at MVHS, Yuan never took the Film and Animation class due to scheduling conflicts. She described the arts opportunities and classes offered at MVHS as limited, as the focus in the MVHS community centered primarily on

STEM and academics. However, she acknowledged that low student interest made it difficult for the school to offer more courses. Despite few opportunities at MVHS to foster her interest, Yuan’s filmmaking passion remained strong throughout her high school years, serving as a way for her to connect with other people.

“The chance that I make it big and successful is not fantastic,” Yuan said. “The starving artist stereotype is very real. There’s always a little small question of, will I go into financial debt if I pursue something that gives me a lot of joy? But I think my purpose in life is to love God and to love others well, and filmmaking is how I express that. The films I want to make are things that will connect people or raise awareness or raise empathy. I have a very strong funneling purpose towards why I want to make films.”

NOAH VIN

MVHS alum ‘24 Noah Vin first started playing cello when he was 5 years old. By the time he was in sixth grade, he was committed to playing for the rest of his life. Now, as a sophomore majoring in cello performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Vin aspires to become a professional cellist.

“As soon as I started playing in the orchestra in Kennedy Middle School, I really loved it,” Vin said. “I don’t think

VOLUME 56 there was a specific moment in which it clicked. Over time, I just saw myself pursuing this, and I couldn’t really see myself doing anything else. My parents were extremely supportive, and I’m very grateful for them and the mentors I’ve had.”

During Career Days at MVHS, Vin found himself disappointed by the lack of arts professionals presenting on their experiences.

Although Vin deeply appreciates the instrumental music department at MVHS, which played an important role in solidifying his passion for cello, he also notes that it was difficult for him to ask questions and find answers about a musical career in an environment where pursuing music wasn’t viewed as a possibility.

“I felt like I was alone going into music,” Vin said.

“People don’t see this great music department as something that’s a possibility to explore after high school.

They just see it as an extracurricular, as something to put on their resume for college. I was weird for not doing the norm.”

Now at NEC, Vin feels at home connecting with fellow music students who share similar interests and passions.

Compared to traditional universities, he explains that conservatories like NEC expose students to world-class musicians and are more tight-knit and musicfocused, with classes centered on performance, theory, orchestra and one-on-one lessons with a primary instructor. Although Vin has faced rejection, he has never regretted his

FEATURES decision to pursue a career as a cellist.

“I want to make it known that majoring in the arts is definitely a possibility,” Vin said. “There are so many opportunities that people can explore besides what’s expected of them at MVHS. I think it’s important to really use the resources you have at MVHS. There’s Mr. Gilchrist and these great teachers you can talk to that will help explain and debunk some of the myths that are around these kinds of subjects.”

CLAIRE MA

Growing up, senior Claire Ma noticed her favorite Disney princesses had the same “hourglass” figure. Despite dressing up as them every Halloween, she was never able to truly identify herself in them. This sparked Ma’s interest in portraying different body types in media and film, especially for women, through majoring in Animation and Digital Arts at the Cinematic Art Department at USC. “There’s a common stereotype that as an artist, you’re gonna go broke,” Ma said.

“My parents were like, ‘Oh, I d o n ’ t know about this major. It’s either biology or engineering.’ But I was able to convince them, like look at my teachers, look at all these films, there had to be someone to create these films, and I want to be a part of that. They did their own research, and they really supported me in that.”

As a rising freshman, Ma is excited for USC not only for its strong film program, but also because of its industry connections, noting that many students come from

families working in Hollywood. She says her path to the prestigious college was supported by MVHS art teachers and private instructors, who broadened her exposure to different art forms and helped her develop her art portfolio. For example, Ma says Art teacher Brian Chow was the first person to teach her to draw a selfportrait.

“Before, I avoided self-portraits because I was scared that I would be unable to capture my features, but then I realized the importance of selfportraits isn’t about that,” Ma said.

“It’s about the story you tell based on your own experiences. For example, I have an art piece called ‘Looking Back Into The Past,’ and that art piece is me opening a childhood drawing, looking through it, and looking back into the past. Specifically, it’s just me telling everyone that we should value our time.”

Ma is interested in a career in animation as well as being a concept artist, whose role is to design and plan the visuals for a film or video game.

For Ma, USC is an opportunity for her to pursue both of these interests and hone her technical skills.

“In animation, you can also create concept art and you can also create characters,” Ma said. “I used to think animation is just frame by frame, just drawing until it makes a character move. But my teacher taught me that different perspectives, different shots and different colors really tell a story without audio. He was able to show me that, and it opened my eyes within this industry.”

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Uncommon Threads teacher and employee Erin Laser works with a customer on improving a stitch.

Local craft store owners speak about the inclusive community they’ve fostered

BY LORA LEE AND STELLA PETZOVA

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raft store owners in Palo Alto look up from their stations as a quiet bell rings from their store doors. As new and familiar customers walk in, perusing folds of fabric, unique selections of yarn and piles of colorful buttons, a heartwarming smile blooms across the owners’ faces at the tightknit community they’ve created with their love for hands-on art — one that continues to bloom amid a difficult time for small businesses.

For fabric store Needles Studio founder and owner Erica Harrington, opening a fabric store has always been about encouraging inclusivity in a field that has been limited by categorical labels — regarding gender, profession and age — throughout her life.

“When I went to high school in the 80s, girls took Home Economics, which was cooking, cleaning and textile arts, and boys took Auto Shop

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and Welding,” Harrington said. “It was a lane that you had to be in, and I was enraged by it as a kid. I went to the principal’s office and said, ‘I don’t think girls should have to take that class.

That’s baloney.’ So, I went to the auto shop class instead and did welding, which was really fun. Ultimately, I probably would have enjoyed Home Economics. I just resented being told that that’s what I needed to take.”

As a Bay Area resident, Harrington saw an opening in the broadly tech-focused market to found a store that challenged stereotypical biases. Her goal was to give diverse, everyday people the opportunity to learn how to sew, not just the conventional older female generation or fashion students. To create a welcoming environment in her store, Harrington shares that

she developed a gender-neutral curriculum with gender-objective materials such as utilitarian sewing machines and classes ranging from sewing shirts to carving wooden spoons.

“A lot of times when I see beginner classes, it’s like, ‘Here’s your first class, make a skirt,’” Harrington said. “But not everybody wants to make a skirt. So I try to have our beginner class very neutral. We might sew a sunglass case or a pillowcase — something that all humans need. So it’s something that everyone can relate to and be excited about. Ultimately, when you sew something, nobody wants to sit down and spend their time sewing something that they’re not excited to create.”

Owner of yarn store Uncommon but strong form of connection and Threads Stephanie Heim shares that expression. For club activities, Fam crafting activities — namely knitting, says that the club’s officers buy all sewing and crocheting — have been the supplies for members and spend gaining popularity among Gen Z and a whole semester going over the younger Millennials in the Bay Area. basics, removing the barrier to entry into textile arts.

At MVHS, interest “It forms in hands-on crafts a welcoming can be seen at environment for Crochet Club anybody, because meetings, where we want to just students learn CROCHET IS OPEN spread the joy new crocheting of crocheting to techniques while TO ANYBODY OF everybody,” Fam conversing every ALL AGES AND said. “Even if you week, according aren’t a beginner, to sophomore GENDERS, BECAUSE you do get to and Crochet Club IT’S JUST A SAFE meet beginner officer Adeline crocheters, and Fam. SPACE FOR YOU TO that’s really fun, “I do think EXPRESS YOURSELF. because you can that the youth help teach them.” are becoming SOPHOMORE Like the club, more involved in ADELINE FAM Heim shares crocheting, but that the craft it’s still primarily stores in the Bay considered an ‘old woman’ activity,” Fam said. “I think it’s Area have also built a “third space” really important to let people know community. She defines this “third that crochet is open to anybody of all space” as a place outside of work ages, and of all genders — it doesn’t and home, where people can connect matter who you are, because it’s with one another by bonding through just a safe space for you to express a shared interest in crafts. In this space, individuals feel more yourself.”

Fam also shares that she sees comfortable sharing details the art form as an often overlooked about their lives, which PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS | STELLA PETZOVA

A customer peruses Uncommon Threads’ yarn collection on April 25, Local Yarn Shop Day, a holiday meant for celebrating small, independent local yarn stores.

helps foster the formation of a close community.

“We get to know more about their lives,” Heim said. “The reason that brings customers in is not always good. Sometimes it’s sad, but it’s still something that ties them together.

Sometimes it will be that someone is having a new baby, going through chemotherapy or celebrating a new daughter-in-law or son’s wedding.

They say, ‘I need to make this thing for that life event.’ It’s really special.”

However, a rise in technological advancements and import pricing threatens the closure of craft stores like Needles Studio and Uncommon Threads. Crafts chain Joann Fabrics closed over 500 locations in the past year, including one on Stevens Creek Boulevard, due to bankruptcy.

As a result of these recent changes, Uncommon Threads teacher Erin Laser emphasizes the unique individuality each of these shops brings to their towns.

“I still want to foster the teaching community and the knitting community instead of just doing it all online, because it will bring people into the shop,” Laser said. “The faceto-face connections you get in-store create a community that you’re not going to get online.”

Heim agrees that locally owned craft stores still hold their value, not only materialistically and in terms of quality and expertise, but also socially, as a place for people to come together, support one another and make new experiences as a community.

“I love that there’s so much to learn about yarn, knitting, crocheting and all that stuff, so we always have a lot of classes running,” Heim said. “I think we forget, as adults, how humbling it is to not be good at something. So in these stores, you’re kind of in a space where you have to be vulnerable, and it opens you up to making connections with other people. My customers say, ‘We had such a great experience.

What are we doing next?’ and they come back again and again.”

FEATURES | JUNE 2026

13

GRA PHIC S|

COR INNA

KUO , SIH

YU (MELODY) LIN AND AMBERLY SUN

E C D ISION R U O Y IS...

As college portal astrology becomes popularized, students weigh the benefits and detriments of finding out their admission decisions early

BY CORINNA KUO AND SIH YU (MELODY) LIN

E

very spring, seniors across the nation wait anxiously for the moment they learn which college they will attend for the next four years of their lives — and when the time comes, college portals crash, cursors hover hesitantly over the “status update” button, and finally, the decision appears. Whether it’s showering confetti or the dreaded, “We regret to inform you…” behind the button, anxiety-inducing wait is often overwhelming as students anticipate their decision.

14 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

To deal with many of these emotions, especially anticipation, student applicants might turn to portal astrology to find out their admissions status earlier. Portal astrology is an unofficial term invented by various students on platforms such as Reddit and College Confidential to describe the act of “scrutinizing” or “investigating” university applications or student portals to observe slight changes between admissions pages to predict a student’s acceptance or rejection before the official admissions

decision date. These changes range from the ability to view a student ID to the presence or disappearance of a banner on an admissions page, and are often unreliable.

Senior Mahathi Rajkumar utilized Reddit to meet students with similar grades and extracurriculars to hers, in order to compare portal astrology results. While she has only tried a few college portal astrology tips that involve logging into official, public student portals, such as financial aid or student account portals, she

emphasizes the confusion and things you can’t control, and because uncertainty that portal astrology still of that, you should just try your best, comes with. and just leave it.”

Additionally, Rajkumar emphasizes Although MVHS College and that, because of the lack of official Career Counselor Rogelio results or correlation, there will always Calderon has no personal be some variation between different experience with portal college portals. She mentions how astrology in college communities online, such as the admissions, he has still ApplyingToCollege thread on Reddit, heard students talk often create forms for applicants to fill about it in his classroom in their GPA or extracurricular ratings, during breaks. Calderon believes and use the data to make histograms students turn to portal astrology to see if there is a correlation between because of the overwhelming buildup their ability to log in to a page, the of anticipation leading up to college strength of the applicant and their admission decision dates. admissions decision.

“There was one time where I asked According to MVHS ‘23 alum the students who were talking about and UC Berkeley junior Anusha trying portal astrology, ‘Why were they Sainarayanan, portal astrology has focusing on these things?’” Calderon become increasingly prevalent with said. “A decision is a decision, and for the expansion of social media. She some students, trying portal astrology cites that she would occasionally might not necessarily be helping the come across videos or articles students at all, and instead, it induces featuring various ways students are a little bit more stress added to their experimenting with college portals plate by paying attention to those to find a pattern and correlation with details.” their admissions status. However, Calderon acknowledges that some when Sainarayanan was applying for students will still choose to invest colleges, she never thought about their time after college applications trying any portal astrologies, as she on the internet, but cautions them did not want to to ensure they are know her results taking care of their beforehand, with mental health. the exception of He also notes one school that she that it’s important tried for fun during THERE ARE CERTAIN for students to school on the focus on other school’s decision THINGS YOU CAN’T aspects of their release date. application journey CONTROL, AND “Obviously, it as well, such as was hard when I BECAUSE OF THAT, investing time with applied to college, YOU SHOULD JUST family and friends, but it’s definitely or exploring new getting harder and TRY YOUR BEST, opportunities, harder in recent AND JUST LEAVE IT. rather than fully years, because focusing on people care more MVHS ‘23 ALUM unofficial research and more about ANUSHA SAINARAYANAN and sources on which schools they patterns between get into,” Sainarayanan said. “Many portals and admissions decisions. people might find their happiness or “When you decide to try these worth through acceptances into these things, such as portal astrology tips schools — especially because of all for college admissions, you usually the hard work they’ve done — but have to think, ‘To what extent is doing at the same time, there are certain all this worthwhile?’, and if you feel

“

content at the end of the day doing this,” Calderon said. “When you hear the truth about something, finally, after you’ve done so much investigation, does it actually make a difference in a student’s life? And if the answer is yes, then, by all means, go for it. But if it doesn’t make that big of a difference, then I think that’s where it’s worth thinking about, ‘What’s the point of looking at it this way?’”

Although she did not initially intend to try portal astrology, Sainarayanan ultimately says she does not regret the one time that she did. As she videotaped herself opening all of her admissions results, she says her uncertainty about the portal astrology’s legitimacy still allowed her to experience her full, raw reactions.

However, she also feels that people should wait to open decisions on their intended date.

“I’m a firm believer of the idea that if you work hard, then you’re going to go where you’re meant to go, especially because you can only work so hard,” Sainarayanan said. “I feel like part of that feeling of college decisions is from opening the actual letter on the day of the decision, and it doesn’t make sense for colleges to tell you, ‘Oh, a decision is going to be available on the 22nd,’ and you going on the third of that month and finding out beforehand. There’s a beauty in getting the decision, and then you start following all the social media pages, and ultimately, you get to experience what it’s like to open your decision with millions of other people.”

FEATURES | JUNE 2026

15

GRAPHIC | GRACE LIN

SENIOR SUMMER SPRINT MVHS seniors balance summer plans with their ambivalence about the transition ahead

BY YIXUAN (JOYCE) LI

F

or seniors, the weeks between graduation and college move-in carry a particular weight — too short to waste and too long to hold their breath through. This summer, students are filling that space with symphonies, surfboards, part-time jobs and flights abroad. Underneath each plan is the quiet reckoning of who they’ve been in high school and who they’re about to become in college.

The feelings universally resist easy categorization. Excitement and nervousness go together in roughly equal measure, according to senior Dan Cooper, who is heading to Northwestern University for music performance and economics.

16 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

“I feel like it will be very scary, and in college, I’ll definitely miss my high school days when I look back with a nostalgic lens,” Cooper said. “But I’m ready for the next step.”

For others like senior Abhi Kotari, a Computer Engineering major heading to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the transition reads as a step that simply needs to be taken. What he’ll miss most though, Kotari said, is the way high school consolidates around a shared moment. Events like Homecoming still exist in college, but fragment across a bigger campus and larger student body, relinquishing the unified quality that makes it feel like something everyone is doing together.

For senior Tashvi Bansal, heading out of state for college is its own kind of challenge: no familiar places and no existing social scaffolding.

“It’s a completely new environment,” Bansal said. “I’m going to miss being in the Cupertino bubble that I’ve been in for the last four years. Cupertino definitely keeps you sheltered: You have your parents with you throughout high school. I’m going to miss them, and I’m going to miss all the familiar places.”

Therefore, Bansal plans to treat this summer as one of the last stretches of time that belongs entirely to her.

“My goal for the summer is to maximize all the relaxing time, since it’s probably gonna be the last

summer in the next four years that I’ll For Cooper, the value of the focused on L.A., India, her friends, get to relax and re-energize,” Bansal summer extends beyond the concerts and on protecting this summer from said. “I’m trying to table those other themselves. He sees all of it — playing expectation and pressure. expectations and pressures.” his instrument for a month straight, “I want to remember all the fun I The common thread is an navigating foreign cities, being away had in the second semester of my awareness that this finite from home — as preparation for senior year,” Bansal said. “Senior window — where high what’s coming in September. ditch day, senior sunrise, all the rallies school is finished “By being away from my — all the senior things. That’s what I but college parents for a while and having want to remember most about at this hasn’t started to find my way in the world, moment.”

— is unlike these two tours will definitely any summer help me mentally prepare ABHI KOTARI I’M TRYING before it. for college,” Cooper said.

Senior Abhi Kotari’s summer started For Cooper with a job offer that never materialized.

TO TABLE in particular, TASHVI BANSAL He had applied to HMart, gotten the THOSE OTHER the priority S e n i o r position, then waited on an offer letter is presence Tashvi Bansal’s that never came. He moved on, found EXPECTATIONS AND o v e r summer has a lifeguard listing at the Cupertino PRESSURES. preparation. three chapters. Sports Center and submitted an “I want to First: Los application to work for the city. If it SENIOR remember just Angeles with comes through, he’ll undergo CPR TASHVI BANSAL how grateful I am friends.

Then: and water rescue training before for the people around a month in India taking on pool rotations. me,” Cooper said. “I want with family. Finally: His motivation is straightforward: he that peace of mind, being able college. wants money for the parts of college to live freely without any of those The L.A. trip came together the that don’t show up on a tuition bill, the worries bothering me.” way most senior trips do — group parts of college that happen outside chats, competing suggestions and of class. He plans to find another job DAN COOPER eventual consensus. Hawaii was ruled once he gets to campus, too.

Senior Dan Cooper wasn’t out over cost; L.A. won for having “the “I want money going into college,” supposed to be a member of the best vibes.” Each person took a day Kotari said. “I think it’ll be more like California Youth Symphony. But when to plan, mapping out everything from finding a balance between my job and the ensemble needed extra French downtown shopping to Disneyland. school. By having extra money, I plan horns for their Japan tour, his name Coordinating it all while finishing to go to a decent number of sporting came up through friends in the San senior year proved its own struggle. events at UIUC, and there is definitely Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.

“It’s been a little challenging in going to be some cost to that.”

He auditioned and got in. the sense that school’s ending and Before that, there’s San Diego.

This summer, Cooper will perform we’re all kind of second-semester Kotari and his friends have been across Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and seniors, totally demotivated,” Bansal loosely planning a senior trip Nara — immediately following a said. “None of since around separate European tour with the us wants to sit November, SCAN FOR MORE g r a d u a l l y MVHS Orchestra, with only three days down and plan between them. The back-to-back anything.” booking an itinerary wasn’t accidental. Cooper The India Airbnb and has been deliberate about the kind of trip carries locking in flights. musician — and person — he wants to different stakes. It’s been five years Beyond the trip, his goals for the be going into college, and both tours since Bansal’s family last visited, and summer are mostly practical. fit cleanly into that vision. the plan is to see as many relatives “I think for me it’s going to be “If you pursue a professional career as possible, especially her maternal more like achieving self goals, maybe in music, musicians have to tour grandparents. Since she’s heading learning some curricula before I go to around the world with their symphony out of state for college, Bansal wants college,” Kotari said. “I also have to and perform at various venues,” to reconnect with the people who somehow figure out how to force my Cooper said. “I feel like it’s going to be matter most before distance makes friends to meet up.” a good opportunity to get experience even a phone call harder to find time as a musician and get immersed in for. For now, though, Bansal isn’t different cultures.” focused on what comes after. She’s

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COVERAGE

FEATURES | JUNE 2026

17

TV MEMORIES

How nostalgic childhood TV shows shaped students’ and teachers’ upbringing

GRAP HICS | ELLI WANG E

BY ELLIE WANG AMANDA CHEN — “WILD KRATTS” Growing up, senior Amanda Chen’s main TV network was PBS Kids. Out of all the shows on the network, she gravitated most toward the fast-paced adventures of “Wild Kratts,” an animated series following zoologist brothers Chris and Martin Kratt as they learn about animals with futuristic technology. Because of the show, Chen notices how she can often corroborate what she learned from “Wild Kratts” with her own experiences while exploring wildlife and traveling.

“One episode I recently recalled is this orb weaver spider episode where the fashion villain tried to steal all spiders’ silk to make clothing,” Chen said. “The main characters stated facts, like, ‘These are some of the strongest webs on Earth, and it can catch birds for the spiders to eat.’

I just recently remembered it because I’m going to Taiwan over the summer, and they have a lot of orb weaver spiders over there.”

Beyond the series’ educational aspect, Chen also appreciates its characters. She explains how each character was distinct enough that viewers could connect with them for di!erent reasons. She particularly enjoyed the four recurring villains Zach Varmitech, Donita Donata, Gaston Gourmand and Paisley Paver.

“One of the villains was a tech guy who would chop down nature for his own inventions and technology, and it’s something that even happens to this day for technological advancement,” Chen said. “We also take from nature, and that reminds me of him and how they made that one of the main focuses of the show.”

18 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

SHAWN VOIGT — “HEY ARNOLD!” One of Guided Studies and Study Buddies coordinator Shawn Voigt’s most memorable childhood shows is “Hey Arnold!” The series follows Arnold, a young boy navigating life in a city. According to Voigt, the show stood out because of its oddness — a defining feature of Nickelodeon shows.

“It wasn’t typical in the family dynamics,” Voigt said. “I liked the main character, Arnold, who lived in a boarding house with his grandparents, who were very quirky. I also liked Arnold’s best friend, Gerald.

He had a pet pig named Amber, and, you know, it wasn’t a dog. It was a pig.”

Voigt says the show remains nostalgic for him and that he hopes to revisit it in the future, both for himself and his son once he is older. “‘Hey Arnold!’ holds the softest part of my heart because it just kept it real,” Voigt said. “It gave real lessons and explored di!erent emotions in a lighthearted manner. Even if it was Arnold trying to find his parents or something heavy like that, the show made it more digestible and entertaining for a kid. It takes a lot of talent to be able to do that.”

“SportsCenter” was another show Voigt watched frequently. He notes that while he enjoyed the program growing up, he is disappointed with its recent direction — prioritizing profit instead of substance. He hopes that shows like “Hey Arnold!” do not follow a similar path.

“It would go against their essence,” Voigt said. “It would just ruin my appreciation of how cute and mindful the stories were.”

ALICE TIE — “MY LITTLE PONY” Freshman Alice Tie discovered “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” through YouTube videos of people recreating the show’s characters with Play-Doh. The series follows a group of six magical ponies as they navigate friendships, conflicts and everyday life together.

Out of the main characters, Tie says she especially liked Rainbow Dash for her energetic personality and Rarity for her sassy, queen-like attitude. Beyond the main series, she also watched the franchise’s “My Little Pony: Equestria Girls” movies and particularly enjoyed the animated muscal “Rainbow Rocks.” Tie believes she would still enjoy the franchise if she rewatched it today.

“I might think it’s a little more childish, but I probably will still find it interesting,” Tie said. “I honestly will view my childhood shows the same, but just in a more mature way, because even though I grew up, I still resonate with them. They bring out my inner child.”

Due to the franchise’s popularity, Tie says the show also helped her connect with others who grew up watching it. She adds that the relationships and lessons in the series taught her the importance of acknowledging di!erent perspectives and viewpoints on life. “‘My Little Pony’ was about the power of friendship, and that motto stuck with me,” Tie said. “I learned that friendship is important, and even though it’s a little cliche, it’s still kind of heartwarming. The group of six was all tightly knit together, and I kind of just grew up with them.”

SENIORS IN 4 S’S A closer look at the class of 2026 through a survey of 62 seniors

BY BENJAMIN ZHANG

86%

SCH OO L

of seniors have copied someone else’s homework

SEX

39% 26% 27% SU 52% BS 32% 73% 81%

of seniors have had their first kiss

of seniors have used AI for a homework assignment

of seniors have lost their virginity

of seniors have been high

N TA

of seniors have been drunk

of seniors have pulled an all nighter

CES

of seniors have fallen asleep in class

SL EE P FEATURES | JUNE 2026

19

VOLUME 56

OPINION GRAPHICS | ASHA WOJCIECHOWSKI

THE SENIOR TAX Is the price of senior activities justified?

S

enior year is often viewed as the pinnacle of the high school experience by students; between senior prom, Senior Assassin and Senior All Night Party, it represents both the end of the academic grind and students’ final chance to fulfill the American laid-back, memorable high school experience. However, the price tag of a socially fulfilling senior year that hits all the “traditions” is a reality we don’t consider until we have to pay up.

This year, a prom ticket cost $190, Senior All Night Party was at least $200 and to participate in Senior Assassin you had to yield $10. Paired with self-driven activities like senior trips, the totals can be daunting.

Even though many of these costs are optional, there’s an invisible pressure to participate in the brigade of senior activities. In order to fulfill the American dream of an easy-going high school experience that we’ve grown up seeing, we feel the need to participate. This might be seniors’ last chance to live out their High School Musical dreams, and as human nature dictates, FOMO is rife — we don’t want to miss our last opportunities to spend time with the people we experienced the highs and lows of high school with, and leave with regret.

While many of us at MVHS are far from economically disadvantaged, spending so much money at once is not something many can do thoughtlessly.

Cupertino’s living cost is notoriously high, and some seniors may pay for senior activities with their own earnings. Additionally, while financial aid infrastructure does exist — like fee waivers — it is often unclear who qualifies for aid and social pressure may discourage people from even applying for it.

Experiences like prom are considered central to the high school experience, which many of us plan on participating in at one point, but the price tag can plant a seed of doubt.

The prices set by ASB and the school administration are not for profit. High prices mean more amenities, like a buffet table, a photobooth, dinner, the prom boat and more. Without these, people may not enjoy the event as much and may even choose not to attend. And yet, we can’t help but question if the experiences justify the price. It’s a vicious cycle — the higher the prices, the fewer people decide to go and prices may rise again.

Still, as many of these prices remain non-negotiable, perhaps we shouldn’t be looking to diminish the cost immediately — especially since financial aid and fee waiver infrastructure already exist — but rather for greater transparency

within the process. After all, students and parents not knowing what they are paying for could contribute to lower attendance, if they don’t feel as though the experience makes up for the price. We often don’t get to see all the amenities behind the price tag in the student store, which can be discouraging.

When they are advertised through social media, students who don’t use social media miss out. To tackle this, we should also push for more inschool awareness.

If there were more transparency around the price tags of such activities, it may help students justify the price to themselves, their parents and their wallets. For example, ASB should post a price breakdown of the costs going into each part of an activity so we know what we’re paying for. ASB could also utilize the morning announcements, especially for students who don’t use social media. ASB could also open its planning process to the student body. This could be done by sending out Google Forms to poll people on which amenities they want at activities, allowing them to make budget decisions, and also to gauge attendance numbers. We need to work to ensure that the financial costs of participating in senior traditions aren’t an additional burden.

OPINION | JUNE 2026

21

Students and staff discuss the bounds of academic meritocracy and what constitutes fair teaching

BY ISABELLE KOK AND ETHAN YANG n recent years, elite college admissions have grown increasingly competitive. To outcompete other applicants, high schoolers work diligently to form an attractive profile — including a grade point average, standardized tests, essays, extracurriculars and recommendations — that will earn them acceptances. Among these, GPAs are arguably the most crucial component, but its subjectivity has become controversial.

“Grade inflation” refers to when schools adopt overly lenient grading policies so that average grades shift upwards without a corresponding increase in student work quality.

Conversely, “grade deflation” refers to when schools have strict grading policies that limit the students that can earn high grades, so that grades fall within a rigid curve. The middle ground between these two poles has been the subject of debate.

While grades are intended to measure mastery of class material, economics teacher Scott Victorine says that teachers often use them to maintain institutional rigor by artificially limiting the amount of high grades that students receive.

He says certain policies like capping retake scores or grading by relative performance restricts learning and penalizes student improvement.

“At MVHS, there tends to be an idea that I have to make this hard,” Victorine said. “Students say that college was easier than MVHS. That doesn’t seem right — that seems like the expectations are too high. Why are you doing that to a student?”

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22 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

Victorine says this is an example teachers that they get,” Gupta said. of how variable grading policies “Some teachers overlook students’ can be across schools. He believes stress — students are not robots, and that colleges can evaluate GPAs as they have a lot of things to do. That standardized measurements, despite class, although it matters, is not the major differences in grading systems only thing they have on their plates.” between schools. According to Victorine states that a higher Victorine, this disconnect incentivizes number of strong grades should students to optimize grades indicate more prepared students, strategically, since, amid national rather than weaker course rigor. grade inflation, a B in a challenging “As educators, we forget we’re MVHS course can feel catastrophic not the final step in your journey,” when competing against perfect Victorine said. “If you’re going to learn GPAs from less competitive areas. it again in college, it’s not necessary “It’s a flawed system because to put all that pressure on. I remind the common thread is, ‘What’s your myself as a teacher that I’m just one GPA?’” Victorine said. “Grades look of your classes every day. I’m not so very different in West Texas than naive to think you’ll go home and keep they do in a thinking about competitive area economics.” like Cupertino. It Victorine makes students says that rigid obsessed with grading limits grades instead of opportunities learning.” for students to S e n i o r participate in Rajvansh Gupta other parts of also argues that student life, and overemphasis on believes academic difficult grading expectations can trade off with have a GPA from 3.75-4.0 can coexist with other aspects opportunities of college *According to data as of Aug. 25, 2025 for social preparedness, development. such as interpersonal skills and “I don’t feel like it’s necessarily a extracurricular activities. Gupta views healthy balance,” Victorine said. “I’d curves and relative grading systems like my daughter to get an educational as unpredictable because they force where she’s going to work hard and students to compete with each other do well in school, but I don’t want her instead of mastering content. to feel like, ‘I just spent four years of “The teacher determines your high school — and I only get to do it grade in that class, and some students once — so focused on academics that switch courses because of the I missed the rest.’”

of MVHS seniors

U ILL

S

Philz (un)flagged

TR AT IO

N|

SOPHIA D’SA

Philz Coffee’s recent decisions regarding the pride flag in stores spark backlash

BY FIONA CHEN AND SOPHIA D’SA hen senior Archana Kakar decisions should be made by the heard that Philz Coffee had workers at each respective store, removed Pride flags from rather than corporate leaders.

“They’re the ones that are working stores, her reaction was immediate.

“I initially really did not want to one-on-one with their customers keep going,” Kakar said. “I’ve always every day,” said Pangelina. “They’re believed that you don’t just vote with the ones building the community and ballots. You vote with dollars as well, setting the vibe for the place, so most and I don’t like giving my money to of the responsibility and option to put things out there should come from the places that I don’t agree with.”

The controversy began earlier this employees, because they’re the ones month, when Philz Coffee removed on the front lines on a daily basis.”

After backlash from employees pride flags that employees had and customers, including a chosen to display in certain Change.org petition that stores. CEO Mahesh drew thousands of Sadaragani said in a signatures urging public statement the company that the move to reverse was intended to course, Philz create a “more INCLUSIVITY IS NOT reconsidered consistent, its stance. inclusive SOMETHING TO Sadaragani ex p e r i e n c e ” BE AFRAID OF. IT’S later said that across all the decision locations.

SOMETHING TO BE to put the P h i l z , EMBRACED, AND flags back up founded in came after a San Francisco PRIDE STANDS FOR meeting with in 2003, THAT. San Francisco built much of SENIOR Pride Executive its reputation Director Suzanne around creating a ARCHANA KAKAR Ford and Jupiter community focused Peraza, a member of on the culture of San Francisco’s Trans coffee. In 2021, founder Advisory Committee. In the Phil Jaber stepped away from leadership, and Sadaragani became same public statement, Sadaragani CEO. In August 2025, private equity apologized, referring to the original firm Freeman Spogli acquired the decision as “a mistake” and company while retaining the existing announcing that every Pride flag that is up stays up, and any Pride flag that leadership team.

For MVHS library media specialist was previously removed can be put Maria Pangelina, who frequents Philz back up.

The company reversed course several times a week regularly during summers, the company’s explanation within days, announcing that stores contradicted the atmosphere she would once again display pride flags. had long associated with the brand. The rapid reversal, however, did not Pangelina believes that these erase questions from customers.

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“They’re trying to be politically correct,” Pangelina said.

“They did it because they got caught, and they’re trying to backpedal so that repercussions don’t take them down.”

BASIS Independent School student and Philz Coffee customer Vienna Li says that although she noticed the change at the Cupertino location both when the flags were taken down and when they were hung back up, she did not consider it a major issue. To her, the explanation for the takedown and the subsequent petitions to reinstate the flags were justified in their own right.

“I thought it was a bit odd, but considering it’s not Pride Month, I hadn’t thought too much about the constant need to acknowledge or accept LGBTQ+ community members,” Li said. “It’s more of a public space, kind of like a park.”

Ultimately, Li believes that the company’s decision to reinstate the flags is the one that deserves the most weight, and the controversy has not changed her opinion of the company or how much she wants to buy from it. Although Kakar plans to continue buying from Philz, the recent controversy continues to negatively impact her view of the company and its culture. She emphasizes that consistent messaging, especially when trying to portray the company as inclusive, is essential to maintaining consumer trust.

“Always make sure that your company reflects your true values,” Kakar said. “Inclusivity is not something to be afraid of. It’s something to be embraced, and pride stands for that.”

OPINION | JUNE 2026

23

Students begin to question the stability of computer science as layoffs and AI influences grow

BY SHREEJAY ARJA AND JILLIAN JU

I

n the Bay Area, a tech hub technological advancements do not over 7,000 practicing engineers, a known for housing major erase an industry, but rather change majority of engineers ranked qualities companies like Google, Apple, the skills required to succeed within it. like integrity, responsibility and NVIDIA and Meta, it’s common for When the spreadsheet was introduced, resourcefulness above pure technical many students in the area to major in repetitive accounting work was skills, suggesting that success as a computer science, involving several automated, transforming a significant computer engineer is not based solely years of analyzing algorithms and part of the industry. Yet, accountants on coding knowledge. advanced mathematics. Enrollment continued to be important, as their Similar to how communication and in undergraduate CS programs at skills and work extended beyond collaboration remain important as AI UCs even peaked at around 14,000 just manual calculations. In the same becomes increasingly prevalent in students in the 2022-23 school way, AI is unlikely to erase the need the workplace, qualities like strategic year, accounting for nearlyof the UC for computer scientists altogether, thinking and problem-solving may undergraduate population. Since but rather push engineers to adopt also grow in significance. Although AI then, enrollment has decreased by new technologies and increasingly can automate basic tasks efficiently, almost 10% to i m p l e m e n t it struggles to consider the broader 12,652 students AI in their implications of a project and make in the 2025work. decisions holistically. Adobe VP of AI 26 school year, T h i s Transformation GTM Bob Yang argues returning to sentiment is that these larger design choices 2021 enrollment r e i n f o r c e d will continue to depend on human levels. by the data. engineers.

H o w e v e r, According “Start in a modular fashion and f u t u r e to the World figure out what high-level thing predictions of E c o n o m i c you’re trying to achieve,” Yang said.

CS enrollment F o r u m , “The fundamental design, which is consider pursuing CS as a drop rates around 40% actually the hard part, and the part profession or major far exceed of workers’ that requires a lot of higher-order current drop c o r e thinking and creativity is going to stay *According to a survey of 129 people rates. Studies skills are with the software engineers well into from The Daily expected to the future.”

Californian change by As concerns around AI continue predict that 2030 due to to influence CS enrollment, many Berkeley’s CS the growing students have begun to question the e n r o l l m e n t will drop by prevalence of AI, and engineers who long-term stability of the industry.

59% within the next school year, can adapt to the changes and utilize AI While changes like the rise of AI will contrasting a predicted nationwide will be less affected by rapid shifts in inevitably shift what opportunities decrease in CS enrollment by 8.1%. the industry. For example, proficiencies are available, MVHS students need This decrease in enrollment has like soft skills have proven to be to focus on developing adaptability, often been attributed to AI replacing i n c r e a s i n g l y creativity and entry-level CS jobs, as many tasks important in the soft SCAN FOR MORE strong are easier to automate and utilizing computer science skills. Instead AI can significantly lower company field. As technical of considering expenses. As AI becomes more tasks become technological ubiquitous, people are beginning to more automated, developments doubt the viability of pursuing CS, engineers who can collaborate, as a deterrent, we should focus on the especially as unprecedented layoffs communicate and adapt effectively strengths that AI is unable to replicate continue in the tech industry. amid the growth of AI will have a and be prepared to work in tandem Although AI is increasingly distinct advantage. Charles Riborg with it to progress efficiently in the automating coding work in the Mann’s book “A Study of Engineering unpredictable future of CS. CS industry, history suggests that Education,” asserts that in a poll of

27%

of MVHS students

COVERAGE

24 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

CHANGING MY MIND(SET) Rethinking what “mindset” means has allowed me to make changes to my life

BY CORINNA KUO It was the type of word adults liked to throw around, expecting it to fix everything.

During a stressful period of my life, I found myself buried in self-help books from my parents, more relatable to people going through midlife crises.

I used to hate the word I left them all half-read.

“mindset.” ... that I realized I needed to slow down and figure out the methods that worked for me.

I’m ashamed to say it was only after the stress abated...

Because changing your mindset doesn’t require you to focus on that scary word, “mindset.”

What matters is finding the ways you can improve yourself.

So, when the stress did eventually increase, I wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed by it.

I hope to bring this realization to college, and though I’ll inevitably lose a few lessons on the way...

I know I can always pick them up again — though hopefully before my next graduation.

End. OPINION | JUNE 2026

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ON STAGE Choir friendships taught me to let go of embarrassment

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t my first choir camp, my part in my group’s skit was to sit. Just sit. As a sixth grader, I felt awkward doing anything embarrassing in front of even five people, let alone the nearly 300 at camp. Thanks to a very enthusiastic high school boy who went all-out impersonating one of our teachers (complete with a towel on his head for hair), the skit killed. I, on the other hand, walked away feeling exactly as awkward as when I’d walked in.

For most of my school years, I’ve been known for being put-together: taking detailed notes, managing my life on spreadsheets and never getting caught without my power bank. For most of that time, I dreaded anything that felt at odds with that identity — antics that should have felt fun registered to me as embarrassing, too far out of my control or comfort zone.

As a result, in choir, I stayed stuck in a catch-22, lacking friends as well as the self-confidence to make them.

Post-pandemic, I started bringing a book to read at break time every rehearsal, finding it preferable to

26 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

trying and potentially failing to fit in with a new friend group.

I told myself a whole slew of reasons why I’d rather be alone, one of the most persistent being that I was the only Indian kid in class — my classmates had grown up attending the same after-school programs and coming to choir with family friends. I simply did not fit that bill. Though there was a nugget of truth to that, it didn’t change that I hated the isolation, nor that I was selling myself short by not trying to fix it.

Around my freshman year, I willed myself to attempt conversation with some new people, starting with other freshmen in my section. In a series of events I wish I remembered, we created a story spanning several months, with the main character being one of our puffer jackets. Initially, I was still reserved — I remember my horror at some of their additions to the storyline in comparison to my tame, logical plot points — but this group was wholesome and unapologetically silly in a way I was unfamiliar with, but liked. At various points in the following three years, we put googly eyes and penciled eyebrows on a hotel room lampshade, stayed up until 3 a.m. at camp gossiping and making up unhinged stories, and belted Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on a walk through a very residential, very quiet neighborhood. Though I continued to be the “put-together one,” I had begun learning to balance that with embracing the chaos and quirkiness that allowed me some of my most cherished friendships. I’ve even brought some of that mindset with me to my other activities, and in doing so, I’ve enjoyed

my senior year so much more than I thought I could.

When planning the skit for my final choir camp, I felt the shadow of my sixth-grade awkwardness the entire time, especially since my group planned a nonsensical kidnappingturned-choir-game-show-tragedy based on our ice cream theme.

I wanted the plot to make sense and people to know their lines, but more than that, I wanted my group to enjoy camp, even if that meant a fever dream of a script. Although our skit was a mild disaster of unfunny jokes and awkward pauses, we got just enough laughs to walk off stage giggling and satisfied. Seeing my group laugh through the chaos made overcoming my embarrassment worth it — the chaos was what made it fun.

Though I don’t wish for college years defined by chaos, I know building my community from scratch will feel a lot like my early years in choir. Except this time, I’ll go in less reserved, more willing to make friends and explore. I’ll be the first to reach out to more people, finally start my soloing career in a cappella, or, as some of my college friends have been telling me, learn to skateboard. Even if I go in feeling a little silly, at least I know I’ll enjoy it.

WRITER? I HARDLY KNOW HER How being the “writer kid” taught me the value of iterating

I

hate small talk. My voice gets unnaturally high, I suddenly forget everything interesting about myself and I anguish over whether or not to risk a joke. Unfortunately, my immediate future is full of it.

It’s ironic that, after four years of high school, I’m still exactly where I started when it comes to small talk — exceedingly awkward. But between writing columns and investing more in fashion, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to define myself in increasingly specific ways.

Now, I’m about to restart in a new setting, with no established expectations. What’s the first thing people should know about me?

Defining myself to others used to feel straightforward. I’ve always been the “writing kid,” a title that originated with an unrecognizable version of me. I picture myself looking back on a long road filled with stills of my life — scribbling in my Claire’s d i a r y, typing up my first poem, leaving comment after comment on my old work just to convince myself that I’d

changed. Like the centerline, writing runs through all of it.

But as my confidence developed, so did my fragility. While writing was my “thing,” it was also the extent of my relevance. Coming into high school, I was terminally insecure, convinced that if I didn’t maintain my reputation, I’d become a betrayal to my potential.

High school was an intangible test of my willingness to take the plunge, and of my writing habit to continually cushion those falls. I was convinced I’d crash and burn.

At the same time, writing’s continual role in my life has shown me how much I’ve grown around it. Now, I’m excited, not intimidated, by my future as a writer. While visiting an advanced poetry course, I was overwhelmed by the feeling that that was the kind of intellectual environment I wanted to be in. Regardless of my proficiency right now, I won’t back down from the challenge of ending up there eventually.

I still grapple with a lot of those writerly crises that I mistakenly thought would define me. After months of procrastinating on my college essays, a friend remarked that I was often paralyzed by the idea of writing one because I didn’t think anything I wrote could be a culmination of everything I was. I still don’t think I can, though I’ve tried, and this column is another version of that. At this juncture — the end of high school, which feels like it

THAT WOULD MEAN PEAKING WHEN I STILL HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN.

should be a definitive boundary — I’ve realized that there never will be a complete culmination of who I am in one essay. After all, that would mean peaking when I still have so much more to learn.

While I can appreciate how far I’ve come, I can’t grow complacent in my cycle of passive reflecting.

Toni Morrison famously advised her creative writing class at Princeton that “I don’t want to hear about your little life.” The irony isn’t lost on me, though as I leave the Bay Area bubble, I’ve been aspiring more to this standard — not to rely on writing as an egotistical crutch, but to articulate topics beyond myself and expand past the comfort of self-centered rehashing. Though my little life has gotten me this far, I need to push my skills further, so that my work — and my impact — can create a life of its own.

So I’ll bear the temporary awkwardness of small talk if it means being able to connect with someone on that next leg of my journey. Though I know I’ll continue to write, I hope I’ll be just as unrecognizable four years in the future as I am now to my past self. Sometimes, I imagine how I would introduce myself to that version of me. There are a million things I could explain — how to believe in my abilities more, how to layer clothing, how to cherish the priceless moments ahead — but one thing remains consistent: I know she would be proud of me.

OPINION | JUNE 2026

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STEPPING IN How growing into my sister’s position changed the way I see myself

I

’m driving back home from my favorite drink place, Cere Tea, with my favorite drink: a hojicha einspänner topped with Oreo crumbs.

My older sister Sarah sits in the passenger seat with her strawberry matcha latte, scrolling on her phone and complaining about a collegerelated problem I only half understand.

At the red light, I catch myself glancing at her. She just came home for break, and she is so barely recognizable from the sister I wrote about two years ago, in my first column as a new staff writer on El Estoque.

I wrote about being terrified of her leaving for college. I was scared I would lose my friend, my protector, my teacher and thus to some extent, a part of myself. I am now a senior, an editor-in-chief of El Estoque — the same position she held two years ago.

And now I’m writing again, not to my sister but to the girl I was when I wrote that column, to tell her what I learned.

Some of your fears were valid. All of junior year, you’ll keep reaching for the old habit of glancing at the strip of light under her door, waiting to hear muffled Instagram reels through the wall, and finding nothing. You and Sarah rarely call, and when you do, it’ll be short. She’s busy, high-strung and often impatient (that much hasn’t changed).

28 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

You wrote about being afraid no one would bake you chocolate chip cookies the way she did. You were right — you’ll miss them awfully (sometimes more than you miss her). It’s this feeling that drives you to learn to make your own, developing a recipe that everyone who tries it agrees is the best they’ve ever had.

From there, you’ll move on to brownies, then banana cake, then everything else, which is a good thing because one day she’ll come home having forgotten all her recipes, leaving you as the only baker in the house.

One of the strangest parts will be El Estoque itself. To you right now, this newsroom is her domain.

The managing editors are Sarah’s close friends, people you’ve watched grow up alongside her. When you joined as a staff writer, you entered a room whose people knew your name only through hers.

Things change after she graduates.

For the first time in your life, a room knows you for you and your actions only, without her shadow hovering.

Still, a gap remains between what other people see and how you feel.

Externally, you’re making decisions, and everyone sees them as just something you do. Internally, you’re still measuring everything you do against an invisible standard, wondering if your sister would’ve made the same call.

Often and with worry, you don’t think she would’ve, but you still develop your own style in interviews, approach to leading and place in this community. And all of it works, works well, which is actually the most disorienting part because you’re still unsure if you’re doing this right, even as the evidence

shows that whatever you’re doing is working. With each decision, you start to trust more this new version of yourself taking shape in her absence.

Still, for every achievement you’re proud of, you’ll call her. It’s different now — before these conversations were like a confirmation to rid yourself of self-doubt — now you’re just letting her know. You’re still worried about growing apart, but even that fear has matured from the desperate, clinging kind into a mellower, I like what we have, and I wouldn’t want to lose it.

In the 16 minutes it takes to drive home from Cere Tea, you still always drain your cup.

As I’m licking my straw, trying to extract the last bit of flavor, I notice Sarah, ever the slow drinker, still has half a cup of matcha. She sees me watching her. She turns to me and says she’s full. Without fail, she always gives the last bit to me. I smile.

I’ll take it.

GROWING OFF SCRIPT I’ve learned that what I needed out of high school was not what I wanted

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t the beginning of eighth grade, were nothing but a side my therapist suggested writing quest. I hadn’t even heard of a letter to my future, post- El Estoque until the spring middle school graduation self: a way of freshman year. Now, to catalog all of my accomplishments, I can’t fathom what my academic or personal. In it, I listed out high school career would a handful of goals I wanted to achieve have looked like without

by June. Following suit, I wrote one El Estoque: I’ve been able every year of high school. Since to grow as an editor, I went then, I’m proud to say that I have to NYC and spoke in front of 40 other not managed to accomplish almost journalists (inconceivable to freshman anything I manifested. year me!) and I’ve written stories that I I’ve never been in a relationship. I referenced on my college applications. don’t have a 4.0 GPA. I didn’t get 5s I’ve learned how to be more succinct, on all of my AP tests. I’ve never had rhetorical and vulnerable. Four years a date to a dance. ago, I couldn’t have I didn’t grow any written a column like taller. I didn’t make I AM WHO I AM this one. countless new TODAY BECAUSE OF I haven’t made friends. I’m not countless new going to college WHAT I’VE DONE AND friends, but I have out of state. I didn’t WHAT’S HAPPENED. made friends that I morph into a social love and will carry butterfly. with me in the most As for my ultimate goal, I didn’t end unexpected places. From my coup loving high school. Sure, it was editor, who I initially despised after marginally better than middle school freshman year, to my sophomore — but I’m not leaving it feeling sad or year random roommates at a speech sentimental. tournament, who I connected with Despite my list of failed goals, almost immediately, I’ve met people a marked reminder of everything I who have taught me so much about didn’t achieve, I’m not leaving high the need to put myself out there, and school feeling regretful either. I’ve consequently, the kind of person I found that what I wanted out of high want to be. school as a wistful 13-year-old was More than anything, when I look not what I needed. My takeaways back at the past four years, I can from high school are things that didn’t see how much I have grown. The even occur to middle school me to experiences that defined me as a consider. preteen don’t anymore. I used to want When I started high school, I to go to college out of state because I wholeheartedly believed I was going felt like the only way I would grow was to go into a STEM field. I was convinced if I ran away. Now I’m going to college I would go into astrophysics (a dream an hour away by plane. And yet, I AP Physics quickly dissuaded), and so know that location and people don’t the writing clubs and classes I joined define who I am — I do. Maybe that’s a

realization that wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t gone through high school in the same way, if I hadn’t learned to put myself out there and find vulnerability within my life.

I didn’t achieve what I considered the essential hallmarks of a perfect High School Musical-esque experience, but I did ultimately get what I needed out of high school. I don’t think I would have been more fulfilled if I’d been in a relationship or graduated with a perfect GPA. If someone asked if I wanted to go back and redo these past few years, it would be a resounding no. You truly don’t know where life will lead you until it happens, and I’ve found that more often than not, it will be exactly where you need to be. I am who I am today because of what I’ve done and what’s happened, and I am incredibly happy and proud of myself, something I was markedly not in eighth grade.

When I write a letter to myself at the end of my freshman year, I don’t know if I’m going to accomplish everything in it, and I kind of hope I don’t. I have so much more faith that I will end up where I need to, even if it doesn’t fit into the puzzle I’ve mentally crafted.

Whether life fits my set path or it deviates, I will have grown from the experience.

OPINION | JUNE 2026

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GROWING BRANCHES

How my Native American step-grandfather influenced my upbringing and identity

W

hen I grow up, I want a tattoo.

The best part? My family will allow me to get it. Not that they can prevent me from getting one once I turn 18, but the point still stands.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my step-grandfather at his shop, which specialized in traditional Native American — particularly Anishinaabe — tattoos and piercings. I vividly recall the spiraling tree drawn on his arm in rich black ink, its branches seeming almost alive.

I used to think grimly that, beside him, I was plain and incomplete.

My branches were nothing like the beautiful patterns coiled around his strong arms.

My mom’s side of my family ran away from my abusive biological grandfather by immigrating to the U.S., so growing up, my parents had no intention of assimilating into the new environment’s culture. When I was born, they intended to raise me just like how they were raised: a quiet, perfectly studious daughter who was good at math and would eventually become a doctor of some sort. A tattoo wasn’t even considered in the equation.

When I was 5 years old, my stepgrandfather was introduced to me in the most anti-climactic way.

There was no wedding or any grand celebration with all my relatives — the marriage license was simply signed and tucked away. But it was those documents that catalyzed my growth from a stagnant seed to a sapling.

After becoming accustomed to my East Asian-saturated environment, his appearance, voice, demeanor and values rattled my world.

30 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

He was Ojibwe and had moved to California from Minnesota’s White Earth Nation, so naturally, he was unlike anyone I’d ever known.

He lived the word “whimsical” cranked up to the max.

Whenever I was with him, my day would be filled with sketching impossible tattoo designs and plastering them on his shop’s walls, skipping along the babbling brook beside his cabin in the woods, playing with his seven dogs and learning about Indigenous folktales.

It wasn’t that my family was against the idea of me forming my own interests, it was that none of us knew how. I explored many different hobbies — soccer, piano, swimming, dance and art, which I’ve decided to keep in my life. However, I only viewed them as one-and-done tasks.

I never felt a conviction to stick with them. But my step-grandfather’s unconventional lifestyle and ability to appreciate the carefree while staying grounded and passionate inspired me to view each experience as an opportunity to expand my identity.

I wasn’t the only one who gained new perspectives on life because of him; my entire family reevaluated what it meant to live and not just survive.

Having a personal connection with someone who wasn’t an echo chamber encouraged them to look beyond what they’ve always known. I noticed how, gradually, the tense reservedness my grandmother used like a shield dissipated. My mom, whose interests I couldn’t have guessed before, rediscovered her love for arts and crafts.

Lonely nights I spent wondering how to draw horses became nights my mom taught me how to sketch unicorns. I started to view my family, who once felt so distant, as people I could learn from and bond with.

Although my step-grandfather has passed, the ways he has inspired me to build my identity remains. I’m shaped by the people I love and admire — my friends, family and even strangers I’ve only met once. Even though I don’t need physical markings on my body to show the intersection of cultures that has made me who I am today, it is something I want to do in memory of my step-grandfather.

As I enter college, the next big step of my life, I will have more opportunities to meet people who are vastly different from me. I am moving forward knowing that their experiences and values will teach me more about the world and myself. So, despite being a little afraid, I’m looking forward to growing more branches.

And mark my words; one day, I will get that tattoo. Or two.

11:11

How an angel number taught me to stop fearing uncertainty

F

or someone my mom swears can’t stick to anything, I’ve gotten my 11:11 routine down pretty well.

1111 is supposedly an angel number — a recurring number sequence believed to carry messages from higher beings — that represents manifestation. Some people believe that if you make a wish at 11:11 p.m., the universe will listen. I am one of those people.

Which is quite surprising, considering that I had never been the typical spiritual type. My closest encounter with religion came from spending an evening with a biblical coloring book after a friend invited me to church.

Instead, I had always considered myself someone grounded in logic.

I trusted logic. If I came home from school and noticed my mom giving me a withering glance, for example, I would immediately run a mental calculation. What did I do this time — lose my water bottle for the third time this year? And which response out of the million I saved would give me the best chance at escaping quickly?

Thinking through these situations analytically is what helped me feel prepared for whatever came. If I could map out how one thing would lead to another, I could always know what the best move is.

But as much as I hated to admit it, my need to eliminate uncertainty was less about getting the best outcome and more about avoiding the worst. I didn’t

just kept making 11:11 wishes. As silly as it is, making a wish every night before I go to bed quiets the overthinking doubts that I used to fall asleep want to admit with. It is a small reprieve when I I was scared — scared of stop trying to calculate a series of the uncertainty of making new friends unfortunate events, and instead, give after moving, of others’ perceptions myself the luxury of hoping that things of me in certain extracurriculars and would turn out OK. Now, every night at of whether my teachers judged me 11:11 p.m., I light a stick of incense and when I just wanted to make small talk. wish for the things that sit heaviest on Growing up only amplified the my mind to end well. amount and magnitude of uncertainties In all honesty, I’m not sure 11:11 has I faced, but the uncertainty I now any supernatural powers. It definitely faced was no longer rooted in lost can’t teach me physics, nor does it water bottles. I had a paralyzing fear make any uncertainty disappear. What that every step I made might ruin my it does do, however, is remind me that life, and it was even scarier to know uncertainty doesn’t always have to that I might already be unknowingly be a bad thing. Making wishes helps living with the channel my mind consequences of a to a more positive SO I CLOSED MY bad decision I had place, a place where EYES AND MADE A I can put my full made.

One night, after effort without being WISH. hours of studying paralyzed by the for a physics test, I was desperate to fear of being wrong. It was through go to bed. It was already 11 p.m., but this process of putting myself in my mind kept circling the idea that what I used to consider “harm’s way” one more hour of studying would that I discovered some of the most make or break the score I wanted. meaningful experiences I’ve had to Yet, the exhaustion of junior year got date, and found people, classes and the best of me, and I could feel my conversations I would otherwise be eyelids dropping. At that moment, I too afraid to choose. remembered the superstition a friend As I look toward my college had mentioned in passing earlier that years, I want to let go of the need day. I glanced at my digital clock, its to have everything figured out. I’m bright green digits cutting through the learning that not everything needs dark: 11:11 p.m.. to be calculated or proven, and that So I closed my eyes and made a sometimes, it’s enough to be confident wish. that it will all work out. And yes, I still Maybe 11:11 really is a message don’t know if I entirely believe in the from angels. I actually did very well idea of angels — but I’d like to think on that physics test, and afterward, I that they believe in me.

OPINION | JUNE 2026

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PHOTO | RADHIKA DHARMAPURIKAR

PHOTO | NYLAH GEHANI

ILLU

STRA

SENIOR SEASON The Class of 2026 reflects on the staples of their senior year

BY EMMY HARIMOTO, ALEXANDRA PERRAULT, ANGELA POON AND DIVINA RAINA

TION

| EM

MY H

ARIM

OTO

SENIOR MEMENTOS

Seniors feature objects that remind them of home and their high school years

BY EMMY HARIMOTO

A

s the class of 2026 prepares to leave high school and begin a new chapter, many seniors are carrying more than just their dorm essentials with them. From sentimental presents to childhood creations, these objects reflect memories, passions and relationships that shaped their high school experiences. Although each memento showcases something different, they all serve as reminders of home — and for the important people and memories that shaped them as they move forward.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE HWANG | USED WITH PERMISSION

At the Homecoming Rally, seniors Courtney Masli, Katie Hwang and three others pose with heart fingers.

one of the first times at a fifth-grade science camp, senior Katie Hwang got her first silver Canon digital camera, KATIE HWANG which has followed her through Away from her parents and every stage of her life since. Passed surrounded only by her friends for down to her by her dad, the camera became more than just a way to take photos.

As Hwang captured latenight cabin moments and snapshots with her friends, the camera became a way for her to preserve the memories with the people around her.

“It captured a lot of my high school m e m o r i e s ,” H w a n g said.

“I use it for rallies, Homecoming PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE HWANG | USED WITH PERMISSION and other events like

34 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

that, and it’s something that I plan to use and bring to college with me as well.”

Among the many photos captured on the camera, Hwang especially cherishes the ones depicting moments she shares with friends, which instantly bring her back to specific memories and milestones of her high school journey.

“One of my favorite pictures is when my friend Courtney won Homecoming Royalty,” Hwang said.

“And at that specific football game, we posed with the finger hearts. I just love those pictures with my friends.”

Beyond the photos themselves, the camera has also become a symbol of connection within Hwang’s family. Hwang said the camera now represents a generational bond, once carrying her father’s memories, and now her own.

“My dad captured his memories on it but I’m growing with it now,” Hwang said. “There were so many times where I captured when I felt independent, or when I took pictures with people that maybe I’m not friends with anymore. But still, I love those memories, and the memories I made with them.”

MIYA SAKURAI

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIYA SAKURAI | USED WITH PERMISSION

Fluffy and friendly, senior Miya Sakurai’s memories are represented by a collection of plushies throughout her senior year. Among them, the big bunny plushie from Jellycat especially evokes the memories and comfort of her final year in high school — feelings she hopes to bring with her into college.

“The big plushie is from when my boyfriend asked me to attend his Winter Formal,” Sakurai said. “It’s special to me because I did not know he was planning on doing that at all. We have a smaller bunny, and that’s kind of what it was based on, because he knows how much we really like that bunny.”

Over time, the stuffed animals became connected to many of the memories she made during high school.

Another stuffed animal that helps her is a small penguin named Peanut, which wears a mini GAP sweatshirt that Sakurai and her boyfriend bought in San Francisco.

Sakurai shares that these plushies will help support her as she adjusts to a new chapter in her life.

“I’ve gotten so many more stuffed animals this year,” Sakurai said. “They’re all very comforting because they hold good memories throughout my high school years.

Unfortunately, I definitely won’t have space to bring the big bunny, but I’m going to college close by, so I can always come back and get it whenever I want. But for my smaller ones, I’ll take them with me to college, and they’ll help me ease my way into my new school.”

ANDREW ZORKO

At 10 years old, senior Andrew Zorko sat behind a 3D printing software, searching for something “cool” to create. Among many designs, Zorko chose to print a 3D pyramid, engraving his name and those of his three siblings on each side. For Zorko, the object symbolizes how home is defined less by a place and rather by the people closest to him — his family.

What began as a childhood memory eventually developed into a long-term passion that persists today.

Zorko’s passion for 3D printing continued through his involvement in the Project Bridge Club, where mentors from the General Education Department work one-onone with students from the Special Education Department to create passion projects together.

Beyond representing creativity and passion, the pyramid also serves as a reminder of Zorko’s family and how they hold an important factor in his life.

“The pyramid grounds me, because your family is basically the backbone of your existence,” Zorko said. “It supports you all the time, even when anyone else might not support you; it comforts you for the same reason; and it motivates you because you want to make them proud.

I think what this will really keep reminding me of is my awesome family and just all the awesome connections that I’ve had with my family over the past many, many years of my life.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW ZORKO | USED WITH PERMISSION

ARTS & ENT | JUNE 2026

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SENIOR WRAPPED

MVHS seniors describe their senior year with a song

BY ALEXANDRA PERRAULT SUBIN KO

“Blinding Lights” by The Weekend

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUBIN KO | USED WITH PERMISSION

“The song starts with a really silent melody and it starts bumping up,” Ko said. That building up represents me and my whole four years in high school because as I built up my career in the U.S., I also created more friends, built friendships and all those crazy events I was able to experience.”

JENNA BERGENDAHL “Rollercoaster” Brothers

PHOTO COURTESY OF REPUBLIC

by

the

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bbb

Jonas

“I’ve been wrestling with a lot of excitement and also a lot of sadness,” Bergendahl said. “I’m leaving my family and each little thing that I have to let go of brings a lot of emotions. The song is validating; I can be playful but I also have sadness. I’m moving on to a new stage in life.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNA BERGENDAHL | USED WITH PERMISSION

JOCELYN ZOU

“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa ft.

Charlie Puth

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOCELYN ZOU | USED WITH PERMISSION

36 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

“It makes me feel nostalgic,” Zou said. “It talks about looking back and how far you’ve come.

Throughout high school you make friends or you become closer with people. I’ve started to talk to more people since freshman year and it’s great to meet new people.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ATLANTIC

SENIOR STYLE

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COVERAGE

The Class of 2026 share memories of their most worn outfits

BY DIVINA PANDITA-RAINA SAYUJ MASURKAR Senior Sayuj Masurkar wears his dad’s brown jacket that he stole in 8th grade. He typically pairs his brown jacket with a V-neck T-shirt, baggy blue jeans, a chunky black belt and bulky white headphones. While Masurkar does not keep up with many fashion trends, he admits to adopting popular fashion trends inspired by an indie aesthetic, styling a white collared shirt under a sweater. Masurkar explains that his indie aesthetic gave him a sense of his personalized style.

“I really like when people incorporate a white collar shirt with a tie,” Masurkar said. “I think it elevates an outfit to make it look 10 times better than it would in a regular situation where you’re wearing everything else without that kind of setup.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEONARDO DHAMIJA AND SAYUJ MASURKAR | USED WITH PERMISSION

LEONARDO DHAMIJA Walking down an archery trail, a nature based walking course consisting of different archery targets scattered throughout the path, senior Leonardo Dhamija dons a fish hat, layered shirts and green khaki shorts. Dhamija prefers to wear eyecatching clothing, since it encourages conversation with those around him.

“People say that they dress for themselves sometimes, but I do like to stand out with my hats,” Dhamija said. “There have been a few times that people say my hats look like characters from TV shows. I think it’s really cool that people can make conversation about it. I also feel like this school is a very boring place and no one has whimsy at all. People should wear silly hats and dye their hair to be a little bit colorful.”

ARTS & ENT | JUNE 2026

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PROM LOOKBOOK MVHS couples describe their prom outfits

BY ANGELA POON ‘Wow, everyone’s wearing red this year.’ I feel like red, burgundy and that whole shade of colors is not only timeless, but you also can’t go wrong with it, and it looks good on everyone.”

Lamfalusi is renting a tuxedo from Men’s Wearhouse and complementing it with a white shirt, black pants, a black vest and polished black shoes.

He also has a burgundy bow tie to match Jeleva’s dress. Jeleva is pairing her dress with flowery, golden sandals and gold jewelry as she believes gold and red complement each other.

After attending prom together last year, Jeleva and Lamfalusi are doing some things differently. Lamfalusi intends to get ready earlier, as his hair was still wet when they took photos before prom. Jeleva and her friends also decided not to book a photographer, as this gives them more flexibility on when to take photos.

This year will be Jeleva and Lamfalusi’s first time experiencing prom on the SF Belle, and they each have high expectations. Lamfalusi explains that last year’s prom at PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER LAMFALUSI | Gilroy Gardens was fun because of USED WITH PERMISSION the plethora of activities, such as the themed rides and carnival games, NICOLE JELEVA & CHRISTOPHER Jeleva’s dress is a burgundy red and hopes for an equivalent amount LAMFALUSI and has a pleated skirt, a lace top and of entertainment on the boat. While Seniors Nicole Jeleva and a halter neck. The dress’s unique style the entertainment piques Lamfalusi’s Christopher Lamfalusi are attending appeals to her, and she chose the interest, the more sophisticated prom together for the second year in color because she believes her junior energy of the boat appeals to Jeleva. a row. Since Jeleva wanted her dress year’s baby pink prom dress clashed “I think it’ll be more elegant, in a to be more interesting, she looked with her skin’s undertone. Jeleva way,” Jeleva said. “Because I feel like for intricate designs or features, such likes burgundy people had low SCAN FOR MORE expectations with as lace and beading. After seeing a as a color for its dress on TikTok that she liked, Jeleva versatility, and Gilroy Gardens decided to order it despite believing her volleyball last year, and I the website was questionable: there t e a m m a t e s ’ was pleasantly were no reviews, no tax when she choices of red dresses further inspired surprised because I liked it a lot. But purchased the dress and comments her to pick a burgundy dress. this year, it’s a boat in the bay, and on Reddit were mostly negative.

“Red is such a timeless color,” it just sounds so much more elegant However, she was pleasantly surprised Jeleva said. “Red’s a really big color, and elevated. I have a little bit higher when the dress arrived within a week at least for me and all my teammates; expectations than I did last year for and was of good quality. they’re all wearing red, and I was like, sure. I think it’ll be fun.”

COVERAGE

38 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

ABIGAIL RAN & JASON KWON

PHOTO COURTESY OF ABIGAIL RAN | USED WITH PERMISSION

EMILY GUILLIER NGUYEN & JOSEPH MURAI

Junior Joseph Murai opted to rent a classic black tuxedo from a store recommended by a friend, who rented their prom suit years earlier. He is pairing it with a crisp white shirt, black trousers and black dress shoes to achieve the classic look. Murai is going to prom with sophomore Emily Guillier Nguyen, who purchased her dress from Windsor.

Nguyen didn’t have many criteria when looking for her dress and wasn’t particularly drawn to any color, so she kept her choices open. However, she knew she wanted a leg slit: a personal stylistic choice she preferred. Nguyen went inperson shopping with her mom and tried on several dresses, especially liking the way a plain and simple yellow dress looked on her. She intends to pair it with her mom’s golden heels, which are open-toed and have an ankle strap, since the colors pair well together.

Although Nguyen doesn’t know which jewelry items she wants to wear yet, she placed an order for a corsage and boutonnière three weeks in advance at a small business.

Murai also has a yellow tie to match Nguyen’s dress. Murai and Nguyen agreed on their outfits because Nguyen picked the dress she liked, and Murai just matched his tie to her dress. Still, Murai gives advice on how to coordinate and resolve differences when choosing prom outfits if one arises.

“Go with what you want,” Murai said. “But also, if you’re going with a date, you should communicate with them in advance because the dress and the tie have to match.

Someone would have to be willing to give up what they want.

The suit color can differ, but you’d have to compromise on the dress.”

Although sophomore Abigail Ran and junior Jason Kwon were in different sections of the marching band last year, they became well-acquainted with each other when a mutual friend brought them closer together. This year, they are attending prom together after Kwon’s promposal.

Kwon will be wearing a black Calvin Klein suit with a red tie to match Ran, who opted for a red dress from Lucy in the Sky. Ran didn’t have specific features or criteria in mind when shopping for her prom dress, but a flowery red fabric ultimately caught her eye due to its vibrant color and textured floral details that popped out from the rest of the dress.

Both Kwon and Ran are borrowing items from their family members out of convenience and to save money.

For example, beyond the black heels her mom bought for her and a Kendra Scott bracelet, Ran plans to ask her sister to borrow her Hermès bracelet since it’s a similar color to her dress.

Drawing from her own shopping experience, Ran advises those searching for their prom outfits to stay flexible while shopping because being too selective can make it harder to find a dress that meets their criteria.

“Be open; don’t have an exact style or color you’re specifically looking for, because that makes it a lot harder,” Ran said. “Have an idea of what you want, but don’t completely restrict it to just those aspects of your outfit.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY GUILLIER NGUYEN | USED WITH PERMISSION

ARTS & ENT | JUNE 2026

39

SPRING SPORTS The spring sports wrap up the 2025-2026 MVHS athletic season

BY LUCAS LIU AND SANIA NADKARNI

Sophomore Kevin Chen loads his racket to hit the ball. Varsity Boys Tennis defeated Lynbrook High School 6-1 on March 17.

Sophomore Aidan Wong lunges forward to return a shot. MVHS tied Palo Alto 15-15, but eventually won due to winning more total games in the match on March 17.

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Senior Neel Kansara drives the ball during his round. Varsity Boys Golf won 237-268 against Santa Clara High School on March 3.

40 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

Junior Adarsh Inampudi jumps over the 5′ mark during the Varsity Boys High Jump event.

Varsity Track and Field defeated MacDonald High School 184-60 on April 1.

VOLUME 56

SPORTS

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Junior Jasper Qiu takes a breath as he swims a 100-yard breaststroke.

MVHS defeated MacDonald High School 126-17 on March 13.

With a tight pass to the net, sophomore and setter Ethan Lin tips the ball over the net.

The Matadors defeated Mountain View 3-0 on March 13.

PHOTO | RITIK SHENOY

PHOTO | JUJU LING

Junior and pitcher Luciana Atwell Gonzela pitches the ball.

MVHS lost 23-0 against Gunn High School on March 5. School lost to MVHS Varsity Boys Baseball 14-0 on April 7.

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Sophomore and pitcher Ryoga Aiuchi releases the ball. MacDonald High School lost to MVHS Varsity Boys Baseball 14-0 on April 7.

SPORTS | JUNE 2026

41

T

he MVHS Taekwondo occasionally teaches technique and is Club began last year as a an active club member. She is training way for sophomores and to become an officer for the 2026-27 co-presidents Kolina Law and Kai school year.

Tsuchida to spread their love of a “We like to break it up into parts relatively uncommon sport to MVHS because Taekwondo is a sport with students. Since then, many different it has grown into a aspects to it,” club with roughly 20 Park said. “It’s members of varying nice because if backgrounds in someone wants to I HOPE THAT MORE practice sparring, Taekwondo, a Korean form of martial arts can go with STUDENTS AT MVHS they emphasizing kicking Kai, and if they FIND OUT ABOUT techniques. want to practice Law, a third poomsae, they can TAEKWONDO degree black belt go with Kolina.”

THROUGH THIS that has been To Park, one doing Taekwondo of the main CLUB AND FIND IT since 2019, enjoys goals of the AS A NEW PASSION Taekwondo Club teaching members different techniques. is to increase the OR INTEREST FOR Freshman and sport’s exposure Taekwondo Club THEM. among the MVHS FRESHMAN c o m m u n i t y . member Jaime Park says that at their JAIME PARK She hopes that meetings in the meetings can MVHS wrestling room on Tuesdays help teach members new skills from and Thursdays, officers typically split different forms that they might not up into two different groups: sparring, have learned otherwise. which is contact practice with a “I hope that more students at MVHS partner, and poomsae, which focuses will find out about Taekwondo through more on learning techniques without this club and find it as a new passion contact. Park or interest for them,” Park said. Maybe officers can also teach them how to

“

do certain skills and techniques that they might find useful in the future.”

Law recalls a time when a new member came in wanting to learn Taekwondo after having experience with other forms of martial arts. To expand on his previous martial arts skills, co-president Kai Tsuchida was there to assist him.

“A new member recently joined us who boxes and does Muay Thai,” Law said. “He joined our club because he wanted to learn more about kicking.

We have a lot of members in our club that don’t know Taekwondo at all, and they’re just starting to learn from us.”

The world of Taekwondo comprises multiple different styles, the main two being World Taekwondo — the style used to compete in the Olympics — and the International Taekwon-Do Federation, which emphasizes selfdefense and power. As the club grows, Law hopes that the teaching can too.

“We hope that we can eventually expand and teach so that new officers will know ITF,” Law said. “I hope we can teach ITF in the future as well.”

Outside of their meeting, club members advertise the club through demonstrations to further promote Taekwondo. Law reaches out to local establishments and coordinates dates and times for the club to perform.

For sophomore and vice president Antonella Rojas, the club’s trip to the Asian

teach ing taekwon do With various outings and volunteer opportunities, the Taekwondo Club is itching to expand

BY LEAH DESAI

42 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

American Community Involvement’s senior wellness center was very memorable.

“We taught the seniors some simple skills and also performed a demonstration,” Rojas said. “We also got to perform board breaking for the audience, which was really fun.”

Law also recently organized an upcoming trip to the One-Stop Learning Center. She hopes that by reaching out to these establishments and choreographing these martial arts demonstrations, she can promote Taekwondo to younger children.

“First, we ask club members to see who would be interested in going to the event,” Law said. “Then we have to coordinate with everyone who is available, and we start to work on choreographing our demonstration and figuring out what music to use.

We meet twice a week every week until the demonstration.” Law, Park and Rojas all hope to grow the size of the club as well as the number of community events they attend during their time at MVHS. Rojas points out that the club has become an outlet for her.

“It relieves stress for me because I am able to put a lot of strength into my punches and kicks,” Rojas said. “It is kind of like an art form.”

Similarly, Park finds Taekwondo club to be a great opportunity to share her common interests with people.

She is grateful to be able to improve her skills while also learning new ones.

“I feel like Taekwondo is a very niche sport, and not a lot of people know about it at MVHS,” Park said.

“I already practice a lot at my studio, but finding opportunities to share this sport with our community through Taekwondo club has made me feel really good.”

Sophomore and co-president Kolina Law holds up a target for a club member to practice kicking.

The seniors at the AACI Wellness Center stretch before the MVHS Taekwondo Club demonstration.

MVHS Taekwondo Club members stretch in a circle ahead at the beginning of their meeting in the MVHS wrestling room.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDERSON WANG | USED WITH PERMISSION

SPORTS | JUNE 2026

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LOE CHE N|U

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hasing a decade-long goal, senior Chloe Chen committed to play Division III volleyball at Carnegie Mellon University this fall.

Chloe, a setter and opposite hitter on the MVHS Girls Varsity Volleyball team, has spent the last nine years of her life working her way up through club and school rosters to earn herself a spot on a collegiate team. As a freshman, she started on the MVHS Junior Varsity team, later moving up to Varsity and eventually leading as a captain for her final two seasons.

Chloe grew up watching her sister play volleyball, which initially drew her to the sport. Chloe started taking volleyball lessons when she was 8 years old before joining her first club team when she was 9. Although interested in volleyball, Chloe found it difficult to commit to training at first, requiring her parents to push her to keep attending practice.

“I think my parents really wanted me to commit to it when I was young,” Chloe said. “They knew that I had the resources and the opportunities to get better and they thought it was something that I could work on long term. They encouraged me, but they would basically force me to go to practices even though I didn’t like it that much at first. But after I met a lot of people on the team and became more familiar with the community, I ended up really liking it, so I continued to pursue it as I got older.”

The sense of community that Chloe felt in her first club became something she’d continue to experience throughout her volleyball journey. From joining the Vision Volleyball Club in San Jose when she

was 11 years old to playing volleyball at Kennedy Middle School, Chloe continued playing for competitive teams before ending up on the MV Girls Varsity Volleyball squad.

“Mixing my middle school friends and volleyball friends made me enjoy it a lot more,” Chloe said. “It made me realize how much I appreciate the community that I found within it. I think I had a similar experience with the community when playing for MVHS.” Chloe’s mother, Kay Chen, has been a constant presence in her volleyball journey, attending nearly every single game. As one of the driving forces behind Chloe’s early development, Kay noticed Chloe’s interest in watching her sister play back in third grade. She was also the one who first signed her up for lessons and pushed her to stick with it.

“Even back then, she just kind of fell in love with the sport,” Kay said.

“She was like: ‘Oh, my dream is to play volleyball in college.’ And of course we didn’t exactly know what that actually meant. It was just like taking one day at a time and then putting in the hard work. And she also had a lot of fun doing it.”

Despite the welcoming community, Chloe’s journey was far from easy, with two serious ankle injuries causing her to be unable to play for much of her first two years in high school.

Even then, when she was unable to walk, Kay often found her practicing modified drills at home, doing sets against the walls to keep her skills sharp while she recovered.

“It was kind of demotivating because I saw all my friends practicing and I had to sit on the sidelines,” Chloe said. “But in junior year, when I was able to play a full season, our team did really well. Everyone on the team

BALLING INTO CMU Senior Chloe Chen dives deeper into her volleyball journey leading up to her commitment

BY RITIK SHENOY AND KATE YANG

44 EL ESTOQUE | JUNE 2026

got to go to states and our team got environment at her volleyball club, a lot closer. Everyone really wanted where coaches were involved in the to work towards a common goal, and commitment process and the majority everyone was really serious about of players committed to collegiate it. That was a really fun and unique athletics, served as a motivator for her experience.” to be recruited. Being informed of the Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach Nadia commitment process by her volleyball Lan, who coached Chloe during her club also helped Chloe realize that freshman year on the Junior Varsity recruitment was a realistic possibility team and for her junior and senior for her. year on Varsity, commends Chloe’s In her freshman year, Chloe began diligence and fast recovery from her connecting with college coaches over injuries. Lan’s first impressions of email in order to make herself known Chloe’s prowess on the court were as a potential recruit, and would of her intelligence when it came to send monthly progress updates, volleyball and of her high skill level including transcripts and test scores. on the court, By sophomore often discussing year, coaches game plans and began attending strategies with her her tournaments coaches. Moreover, to scout her in Lan acknowledges NO MATTER WHEN person and by Chloe’s dedication WINNING OR junior year she was to improve, visiting schools saying that Chloe LOSING, SHE KEEPS and receiving attended extra HER COMPOSURE, offers. After CMU practices when reviewed her junior offered and was AND THAT’S A year grades, they devoted towards VERY IMPORTANT sent her a likely advancing her letter, allowing FEATURE OF A skills as a hitter.

Chloe to officially Lan’s connection GOOD PLAYER AND commit in July with Chloe extends before her senior off of the court too A GOOD ATHLETE. year.

— she was able Chloe explains VOLLEYBALL COACH to get closer with that she was NADIA LAN Chloe personally initially attracted due to her friendship with Chloe’s to playing at CMU because of the dad, and says that their shared university’s academic rigor, and the cultural background also draws them warm welcome that others gave her, closer. Lan says that she is honored telling her about their love for the whenever Chloe asks her for advice, team, coaches and school. When it and has noticed Chloe’s respect for comes to balancing CMU academics her as a coach. with her volleyball responsibilities, “No matter when winning or losing, Chloe plans to utilize the discipline she keeps her composure, and that’s and organizational skills that she’s a very important feature of a good acquired so far to stay on top of her player and a good athlete,” Lan said. work. For hopeful athletes looking to “You need to be able to keep your get recruited, Chloe strongly believes mental status stable and then be able in maintaining relationships with to react to all kinds of situations.” colleges and coaches, and to identify Though Chloe has received support academic and athletic priorities. and mentorship from Kay and Lan over “Stay consistent with reaching out the course of her volleyball career, the to schools and be proactive with it,” commitment process was ultimately Chloe said. “Start as early as you can her decision. Chloe says that the to make the connections you need,

“

and to build a solid foundation when you’re reaching out so coaches know who you are and to have a better first impression that you’re starting so early. Depending on what division you’re trying to commit for, know what to prioritize — your sport or your academics — so that you can commit to the type of school that you’re aiming for.”

2016 Chloe begins playing volleyball after seeing her sister play the sport. While she didn't enjoy playing volleyball at first, she grew to like it after she found her place in the community.

2017 Chloe joins her first club team, the Stingray Volleyball Club in San Jose.

2018 Chloe begins playing elevens (for players aged 10 to 11) at Vision Volleyball Club, and has remained with the club since.

2019

Chloe joins the volleyball team at Kennedy Middle School, and plays on it from sixth through eighth grade.

2022 Chloe joins the Monta Vista Girls Junior Varsity volleyball team; she also begins emailing coaches of collegiate teams with updates on her progression in the sport.

2024 Chloe advances to the Monta Vista Girls Varsity volleyball team, where she serves as a Captain for two years.

2025 Chloe received a collegiate offer from and commits to Carnegie Mellon University. Chen appreciates the academic offerings and sports community at CMU, and has committed to playing D3.

SPORTS | JUNE 2026

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SENIOR ATHLETES Seniors who have participated in a high school sport for four years reflect on the ways their respective sport has impacted them

BY VAISHNAVI KATUKAM NAVYA PARVATHANENI

Senior Navya Parvathaneni began playing basketball with her older brother on her elementary school’s courts. Soon after, in middle school, she began playing for a local league called Cupertino Hoops, an experience that set the foundation for her involvement in basketball as she grew older. Although she didn’t make her eighth-grade school team, this setback only motivated her to practice harder and refine her skills, leading her to land a spot on the MVHS Junior Varsity Girls Basketball team her freshman year. Parvathaneni’s main motivation for pursuing basketball in high school was to find a community. ”I just did a bunch of stuff to

find a place that I liked,” Parvathaneni said. “I did cross country and I liked the community that came with it, but I didn’t have the time to do both cross country and basketball. I picked basketball. I thought it was the most fun and tight-knit sport for me.”

As the only senior on the varsity team this year, Parvathaneni shares how she was initially sad to see so many of her former teammates, last year’s seniors, leave. With less stress about academics her senior year, she was able to commit more of her time and fully enjoy her last season.

Girls Varsity Basketball Coach and English teacher Sara Borelli was instrumental to Parvathaneni’s high school experience, propelling

her to expand her abilities and work better with the team. Now, as Parvathaneni goes off to college, she hopes to continue to play basketball intramurally so she can have fun with the sport, acknowledging how playing for a college or club is a significant commitment.

“I learned a lot of discipline,” Parvathaneni said. “If I played any other sport I wouldn’t be as disciplined because Borelli really pushed us to be on time, to put our all into it. She’s always said, ‘be a necessity not an accessory, to be someone the team needs, not just someone on the team.’”

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this, it taught her to study around her schedule, because her time during the season was largely consumed by practices and games. As she heads off to college, Lele plans to focus more on her academics, but is open to being involved with water polo recreationally.

“I had to learn how to manage my time effectively,” Lele said. “Walk into my house, start studying and not just slack off after practice. Having friends on the team, I was able to connect with them and we were able to support each other academically as well.”

team was a lot closer, because we would often have class together and practice everyday.”

In Zou’s experience, club volleyball helped her refine and improve her skills, which she could then showcase on the school team. Even with volleyball occupying her time year-round, balancing volleyball with academics hasn’t been a struggle for her. Zou looks back at the moments she got to bond with her team outside of games and practices fondly.

Some of my favorite moments include traveling with my team last year,” Zou said. “We got the opportunity to go to Southern California to play in state championships, which was really cool. Just being able to be there on such a big stage, being able to go to Irvine Spectrum and hang out was really fun.”

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Although senior Sara Lele ended up on the water polo team all four years of high school, she initially thought her mother was signing her up for synchronized swimming. She was in eighth grade when she arrived at the class, and was shocked and confused to see people moving around with a ball. Regardless, combining swimming with other skills in a team sport sparked her interest and she began regularly attending classes.

She says she was drawn to water polo because she found it more fun being a collaborative sport.

“My favorite moment was making my first goal freshman year because my whole team was celebrating,” Lele said. “My last goal was also amazing because we were behind during that game and it gave us a chance to turn the game around.”

Although Lele looks back at her experience with water polo fondly, playing the sport left her with little free time on her hands. Despite

Senior Jocelyn Zou has been playing volleyball since the sixth grade, on both school and club teams.

Her elementary school summer camp experience playing volleyball made Zou curious enough to try out for her school team.

Being part of both club and school teams keeps Zou on the court yearround and ensures that she constantly works to improve her skills.

“Club volleyball was definitely more competitive and we would travel to go to tournaments,” Zou said.

“But in school volleyball our

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CROSSWORD

BY SANA KARKHANIS & APRAMEYA RUPANAGUNTA

ACROSS

1 Fast Amtrak train 6 Score after deuce 11 Temporary break 12 “Tiny Bubbles” singer 13 Houses known as “hop kilns” 14 To complete 15 World’s largest coral reef system 20 Orch. section: Abbr.

21 Spielberg sci-fi character 22 T-shirt size: Abbr.

23 Portal ____ (pg. 16-17) 27 Grade _______ (pg. 24) 30 National Aviation Academy: Abbr.

31 Early action: Abbr.

32 Last name of “Diet Pepsi” singer 35 What gets the worm 40 Referring to public image 41 Golfer ____ Palmer, to fans 42 Artifact 45 State north of Calif.

46 Sister’s daughter 47 That is, in Latin

DOWN

1 Media type attributed to the depletion of creative majors 2 One who inspects a location prior to a crime 3 “At Last” singer ______ James 4 Desire 5 “__ It Was” by Harry Styles 6 Postcard essential: Abbr.

7 Way out 8 Light switch position 9 Hesitant sound 10 Honors program that MVHS alum ‘25 Kaia Yuan attends (pg.

12-13) 11 Doesn’t share 16 To improve 17 Of the heart’s upper chamber 18 U.N. workers’ grp.

19 Frittata ingredient 23 ___-Jazeera 24 Cape Town, _____: Abbr.

25 Speech event; Name of an NMIXX song

26 Natural log in math: Abbr.

27 Apprentice 28 Another way of saying no 29 Mythical winged beings 32 What a telephone does 33 What you might call someone hilarious 34 Biblical garden where Eve took the forbidden fruit 36 Super cool 37 Research nonprofit located in Cairo: Abbr.

38 Equals three feet 39 ____ Van de Kamp from “Desperate Housewives” 43 Per the jingle, order of vowels only after C 44 French definite article (masculine) 45 British slang to grab one’s attention

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CROSSWORD ANSWERS S. KARKHANIS & A. RUPANAGUNTA: If the answers are just out of sight, scan this QR code to find the light!