How to Support the Victims
GoFundMe Websites
Veronica Frias | bit.ly/1TjOVSM Fremont Family Recovery Act | bit.ly/26BG2hc Alyssa and Kevin | bit.ly/1YWrJy4 City of Sunnyvale | bit.ly/1SzhJus
Or donate clothes or other materials in the Red Cross Box in the Library.
Fremont High School
the
PHOENIX
Fire at Twin Pines Manor Apartments displaces 110 residents
Nadia Anees | The Phoenix The interior of the Twin Pines Manor Apartment showing the top floor, where it is believed the fire started on April 15.
by Nadia Anees Staff Writer
“I looked through the hole in the door and I saw everything was black,” Lorena Perez said. “The lights were closed and the alarms were going off. Then I looked at a window in one of the rooms and I saw glass falling down everywhere.” Fremont High School junior Perez was among the estimated 110 people who were left homeless after a fire burned down a large portion of the Twin Pines Manor Apartments on April 15, according to the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. The Sunnyvale Fire Department stated that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The fire was put out approximately an hour and a half after the firefighters reached the site at around 1 p.m. Although the fire was contained in only four apartments, the water damage and smoke made the remaining 81 apartments unsafe to enter for all residents, according to the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Perez was home alone with her younger sister Adi, finishing breakfast. Suddenly, she heard several fire alarms and was in immediate shock. Tenants of
the TPMA tried to assist in evacuating the residents. “I was a little frightened, but I had to go up
Now, Perez and her family are moving from different homes and shelters. They have been able to rent
Nadia Anees | The Phoenix
and see what I could do,” Manager of TPMA Brennan Polley said. “I went knocking on people’s doors trying to get people out until the fire department came.” Perez safely evacuated with her sister with her phone, their shoes, and the clothes they were wearing.
an apartment for; however, they are unsure of how long they will be able to stay there. Perez claims living at TPMA was convenient and the rent was affordable. Finding affordable housing is now a major concern not only for Lorena, but for the other victims too, as the
rental market in Sunnyvale is already extremely high. Since the fire had occurred, four GoFundMe pages were created to help the victims. Stephanie Fujii, Perez’s AVID Teacher started a GoFundMe page originally for Perez and her family however after finding out that more FHS families were also affected, donations were opened up to all the affected FHS families who had lost their homes. “I was just thinking about how to help with what she was going through at that time,” Fuji said. “I just wanted to make sure that she and her family were able to eat and take care of their basic needs.” Perez also appreciates her teachers’ understanding and care by giving her additional time to finish schoolwork. “Academically it’s just a hard time with finals and the end of the school year coming up,” Fujii said. “I think of the six students who were affected, Lorena was the only one who lost everything. Possessions are one thing and those are replaceable, but things that can’t be replaced so easily like heirlooms, photographs, videos, cameras and all that stuff I’m sure is a really difficult loss.”
Vol. 4 Issue No. 7 may 3, 2016
Community rallies to raise $58,000 by Mira Dhingra & Michael Wang Collaboration
Since the fire at Twin Pines Manor Apartments displaced about 110 tenants on April 15, there has been overwhelming community support for the victims. In less than three weeks, people have raised over $58,000 for the fire victims across four GoFundMe fundraisers. Set up by friends of the residents and the City of Sunnyvale, the fundraisers were created to cover the costs of essential food, clothing and personal care items the residents lost. As the fundraisers were online, they soon began overflowing with donations and support. Stephanie Fujii, a teacher at Fremont High School, witnessed the community support after organizing a GoFundMe fundraiser for her student, Lorena Perez, with the goal of raising $3,000. However, Fujii raised more than $17,500 to support not only Perez, but also other FHS families impacted by the fire. “It has been really inspiring,” Fujii said. “I knew the Fremont community was a really special place, but I think everyone has been really surprised at the outpouring of donations and the concern.” Support also came from FHS students. Leanne Loo, President of the Red Cross Club, held a bakery fundraiser and created a box in the library to donate clothing. In one day, she raised $80 and donated another $100 from club funds to support the victims. “Those affected by
the apartment fire are our fellow classmates; it’s great that everyone is coming together to help people who happened to be somewhere at the wrong time,” Loo said. Jesus Ramirez, Family and Community Liaison, has also supported students. Ramirez’s office is always open to students who need help with food and clothing, regardless of the circumstances According to Ramirez, the displaced students are ensured educational stability and federal funding under the McKinney-Vento Act. FHS is also required to provide certain services like free lunch and bus passes to homeless students. The Phoenix does not know the extent to which these services are provided, but we can confirm the services are being provided. “Fremont is a tight-knit community and we all want to support each other,” Fujii said. “I just think it was perfect timing. Right time and right place.” Many other organizations have also helped the victims. Executive Director of Sunnyvale Community Services Marie Bernard stated the Emergency Service Agency is assisting the victims by providing emergency food and access to transportation. The City of Sunnyvale has provided hotel rooms for the victims for three weeks. The Salvation Army gave families clothing vouchers and some churches are collaborating to offer meals. The Red Cross also opened a shelter from April 15 to April 17 at the Senior Center. Many organizations and individuals continue to offer heartwarming support, and efforts are still being made.
Expensive Bay Area rental market leaves victims homeless by Chau Nguyen Editor in Chief
Financially burdening them with finding affordable housing in one of the most expensive rental mar-
kets, a fire at the Twin Pines Manor Apartment on April 15 has created financial roadblocks. According to Stephanie Fujii, the Fremont High
School English teacher who set up one of four fundraisers, six Fremont High School students not only lack permanent housing, but also lack space to keep
their belongings. Half of these students also have younger siblings. The limitations of cooking in temporary housing impose even more
financial constraints on the residents. According to Fujii, the temporary housing in motels only offers a mini fridge and a microwave. Students reported to
staff members April Perez and Jesus Ramirez that they were eating out due to the difficulty in cooking, which typically costs more money Continued on page 2
News 2
May 3, 2016
Future hardships Continued from front page than cooking at home. With questions on how the long-term recovery process will assist the victims in finding housing, residents are concerned about their future in finding permanent housing. “This area is among the most expensive rental markets in the world, and many of our neighbors are low income,” Kevin McEvoy, a ‘08 FHS alumni who lived at the TPMA, said. “Others will be able to transfer to another property in San Jose for the same rent. However, it will be a tough road for many.”
if they were Low income and paying less than market rent, they now lost that opportunity. Manu Changotra It’s true. Santa Clara County is one of the most expensive rental markets, according to the Silicon Valley Business Journal. From five apartment search engines searching apartments within the vicinity of FHS, few or none offered onebedroom or two-bedroom apartments for low-income households. According to Manu Changotra, a MaxReal Real-
tor for Silicon Valley Professionals, the rental market in Sunnyvale is extremely high due to the prominence of high-tech jobs, safe location and convenience to commute to various places. “It’s what everybody wants,” Changotra said. “Do you want to live far away, drive to work here and be stuck in traffic? Everyone wants to live there. People want to be closer.” According to Trulia, an online real estate site, the average rent in Sunnyvale is $3,724 per month. Combined with the financial burden of losing their possessions and the fact that a majority of tenants are low-income households, residents will encounter significant issues when relocating because they will likely have to pay a higher rent. “If they were low income and paying less than market rent, they now lost that opportunity,” Changotra said. “So the [City of Sunnyvale] should make arrangements to find a rental opportunity of what they were paying before, or they have to move out of Sunnyvale or move farther away.” According to an anonymous Red Cross caseworker, tenants may also face difficulties in commuting to school and work because they may have to relocate farther from their workplace, school, or the bus stops they use to commute. Brennan Polley, the Twin Pines Manor Apart-
ment Manager, is currently assisting residents retrieve possessions. According to Polley, the complex has not been updated significantly to meet modern construction guidelines since it was built in the 1970s. For example, Polley believes the apartments possibly contain asbestos, a mineral fiber used for insulation that has been criticized by the Environmental Protection Agency for increasing the chance developing lung cancer and other respiratory problems. “Nowadays, all buildings have to have fire sprinklers, but when this was built, it wasn’t required so that’s going to have to be added,” Polley said. “They didn’t really notify us [about the new requirements for apartment complexes]. They have to come to us and do inspections and they’re telling us what they are requiring now.” However, the amount of time needed to remodel the apartment complex to meets modern construction guidelines will take a long time, according to Polley. “We are talking months that these people will be without homes,” Polley said. “They have a long struggle ahead of them,” an anonymous Red Cross caseworker said. “Taking a positive step after a tragedy is always difficult.”
Current Events: What’s going on around you?
Fremont News - Fremont’s Future Business Leaders of America attended a state competition over spring break. The group received nine awards and the six students who advanced to the national competition in June are Manikanth Movva, Niyati Sriram, Shaina Chen, Quynh Nguyen, Crystal Tan and Frank Wang. - In a recent FUHSD Board of Trustees meeting, John Magee and Leslie Cannon were named Certificated and Classified Employees of the Year respectively.
U.S. News - 25 year old Edward Thomas Mackowiak., an Apple employee, shot himself in the head and was found dead at the company headquarters in Cupertino on April 27. - Almost half a million Calif. voters might be unable to participate in the presidential primaries due to confusion in the voter registration process. Many who wanted to register as independents instead registered accidently with the American Independent Party. In a Los Angeles Times investigation, it was found that “nearly three-in-four people did not realize they had joined the [AIP].” - Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced April 20 that a redesign on the $20 bill will include Harriet Tubman on the front and some kind of homage to Andrew Jackson on the back. The $10 bill will be redesigned to include a gallery of women on the back, but will still contain Alexander Hamilton on the front. The $5 bill will now include portraits of people who were involved in historic events at the Lincoln Memorial, like Marian Anderson, Eleanor Roosevelt and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The $10 bill is expected to enter circulation in 2020. - The city of Cleveland has agreed to a $6 million settlement in response to a federal lawsuit filed by the family of Tamir Rice, a 12 year old boy who was killed by police in 2014.
World News - A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador on April 16, killing at least 480 people. In Japan, the death toll from two earthquakes and aftershocks is at least 50 as of April 25. - April 26 was the 30 year anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The explosion released more radioactivity than the atomic bombs in Japan and over 350,000 people had to resettle. The final stage of cleanup may start next year. Compiled by Emily Wright Sources: Fremont High School website, LA Times, CNN, The San Jose Mercury News and The New York Times
CAASPP testing participation fails to reach 95 percent by Momina Nadeem & Allyson Wilbur
Collaboration
Last year, approximately half of all Fremont High School juniors opted out of taking the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress test. This year, however, roughly 85 percent of juniors took the test as of April 29. CAASPP participation is important to FHS because test performance impacts the school’s reputation and the amount of federal funding it receives, according to Principal Bryan Emmert. According to statistics from the Fremont Union High School District, FHS scored the lowest out of any other school in the FUHSD last year which was impacted by the lack of student participation and other reasons. While other schools in FUHSD had a 97.3 percent average student participation in English and 98.6 percent participation in math, FHS’s participation was 63.1 percent for English and 52.3 percent for Math according to FUHSD. The administration did several things differently this year to encourage more students to participate. Emmert and Assistant Principal Noe Ochoa spoke to all
juniors in their US History classes about the importance of the test. Students were also given the incentive of a pizza party if they attended all four testing days. These efforts made a difference. According to Emmert and Ochoa, roughly 70 percent of the students participated in the test this year, which increased to 85 percent after make-up testing. However, there is still room for improvement. “We need to be at 95 [percent of the juniors participating], but considering that we were somewhere in the 50s last year, it has gone up,” Emmert said. There are several reasons why juniors opted out of the test. “[The test] was in the morning and it doesn’t impact me at all because I’m not going to a state school,” senior Nils Frederick Franc said. “The only thing that matters for this test is that you get to skip something for state school, but you can take that same test in the state school that you go to. So it doesn’t matter if you skip it or not.” Many students at FHS also claimed they wanted to study for Advanced Placement tests. However, there is a two-week gap between
the CAASPP and the AP tests. “We’re not taking any more AP tests than Monta Vista, Lynbrook, Cupertino, or Homestead and yet they’re at a 95 to 98 percent participation rate,” Emmert said. “Do we need to say as a school, ‘Oh, we need more time to prepare for the tests than other kids at Monta Vista?’ I don’t necessarily think that’s true.” In addition, there was a misunderstanding among several juniors regarding administrative action if the test wasn’t taken. “[The administration] said they wouldn’t write letters of recommendations [if you didn’t take the test],” junior Yana Ulitsky said. However, according to Emmert, this was not the case. “I never said that they wouldn’t get a letter of recommendation, but I said that if they’re looking for letters of recommendation and they don’t take the test, then the administrator or guidance counselor who writes the letter would ask them about it,” Emmert said. In the future, Emmert hopes to better inform students about the incentives and importance of the test.
News 3
May 3, 2016
Medicine in water poses potential threat by Caroline He Staff Writer
Right now, detectable traces of pharmaceuticals can be found within wastewater of the Santa Clara Water District. While a small amount, specific effects of these compounds on humans are still being analyzed. “We know it’s an up and coming issue,” Johanna Castro, Santa Clara Water District representative, said. Pharmaceuticals enter the water system via sewage and runoff from farms, then enter wastewater plants to be filtered. This precaution is a result from past events. During the 1970s researchers found significant amounts of pharmaceutical drugs in
public water sources. These substances had negative impacts on surrounding ecosystems. “Twenty years ago, it was not uncommon to hear stories about fish that were being affected by hormones getting into the water,” Castro said. “I remember reading articles about fish that were both male and female, or things like that just because of all the hormones in the water.” In response, guidelines were created to control said amounts of hormones. The legislation greatly improved the situation, but the problem did not disappear. Today, traces of pharmaceuticals can still be found in public water sources. “Agencies may use dif-
ferent methods in treating water—not everyone has the same processes,” Castro said. “Not everyone has the same technology. Some technology is more effective than others.” Research conducted by the International Joint Commission in 2013 found that “six chemicals were detected frequently and had a low rate of removal in treated effluent: an herbicide, an anti-seizure drug, two antibiotic drugs, an antibacterial drug and an anti-inflammatory drug.” Wastewater plants had a low removal rate for 11 of the 42 chemicals tested. “The problem with antibiotics is that it builds up resistance, making the antibiotics less and less effective,” Ben Lowell, Envi-
ronmental Science teacher, said. Even at low levels, antibiotics may be problematic. However, it is not the most problematic pharmaceutical. In another study by the Associated Press in 2008, sex hormones were detected in San Francisco’s treated water. “The biggest pharmaceutical issues are hormones, especially birth control getting into the wastewater,” Lowell said. “And what could happen is wildlife exposed to some testosterone or estrogen could start expressing secondary sex traits, which mess up their reproduction system—they become sterile, and then they can’t reproduce.”
However, the Santa Clara Water District does not collect data on specific pharmaceutical levels in their water. “I don’t think anyone’s actually measured [the level of each pharmaceutical in water], in this specific area,” Castro said. Currently, the water district is in the analysis stage for this problem, so there is little to no data on the subject. “We’re still at the stage where we know that they [the pharmaceuticals] are there, so the next step is to try and determine what impact it has,” Castro said. The levels generally detected in the Santa Clara water district are low—less than one part per trillion. “At the moment it isn’t
an issue,” Castro said. “The amount is so small, the average person is not going to drink enough water to for it to have any impact.” As it is, there is currently a push for the general populous to be mindful of their pharmaceuticals. “There’s more of an effort now for there to be more areas where people can drop off their unused medication, rather than dumping it into their sink or flushing it down the toilet,” Castro said. The process for fixing this issue is still in the works. An average person can help control this problem by dropping off unused medication in specialized locations to come.
Recognizing Student Teachers by Sami Jin Staff Writer
Grace Liao is a student teacher for one of John Magee’s biology classes who attends Stanford Graduate School for a master’s degree in education. She decided to become a teacher after realizing she finds joy in interacting with students and seeing them make personal connections to new ideas. From student teaching here at Fremont High School, she has been exposed to many new ways of teaching and a diverse student population. Liao hopes this experience will shape her into a more patient and passionate teacher. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, swimming and eating. Liao can easily be spotted at school munching on her favorite snack, Hot Cheetos.
Chris Fox is a student teacher for Brian Irvine’s second block U.S. History class. He chose to student teach at Fremont High School after he heard about Irvine’s unique teaching style that he wanted to learn more about. From student teaching, Fox has learned how to guide students better in meeting their educational goals. While Fox finds it challenging to balance student teaching and attending Stanford full time, he continues to do so because he believes that teaching is rewarding.
Sami Jin | The Phoenix
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Douglas Hosking is a student teacher for Daniel Perez’s AP Language and Composition class. His passion for helping young people, particularly high school students, led him to become a teacher. Teaching at Fremont High School gave him an opportunity to see how a large comprehensive school works, to teach a diverse group of students and get feedback on his teaching everyday. Hosking hopes to understand the education system more clearly and become an empathetic teacher open to communication. Outside of school, he enjoys running, singing and making films. He’s also a big fan of the San Francisco Giants, the 49ers and the Golden State Warriors.
PHOENIX
Fremont High School 1279 Sunnyvale Saratoga Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (408)-522-2200 | fremonthighphoenix@gmail.com Advisor | Stacey Stebbins Mission Statement:
The Phoenix, protected under the California Education code, is a public forum for the students of Fremont High School. The Phoenix staff will publish features, editorials, news and sports in an unbiased and professional manner. The Phoenix is the official student newspaper and is distributed free of cost to the students. The Phoenix publishes eight issues throughout the school year.
Imagine yourself behind the wheel in one of our safe and modern vehicles with a patient and professional driving coach at your side, as they create a positive and comfortable learning environment tailored to your learning style. This is the Bay Area Driving Academy experience! We offer: convenient online driver’s education, comprehensive 6-hour teen training program, and highly skilled and educated instructors!
For enrollment information:
info@bayareadrivingacademy.com
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Editor in Chief
Chau Nguyen
Staff Writers
Managing Editors
Jasmine Salik Sarah Arkoh
Michael Alva Nadia Anees Manavi Chandra Mira Dhingra Caroline He Sami Jin Jessica Lara Momina Nadeem Jenny Nguyen Dana Nissan Susannah Schulze Sam Tumkur Ambika Vaidya Michael Wang Allyson Wilbur
News
Kelly Zhong
Opinion
Julie Wi
Entertainment
Emily Wright
Sports
Essam Rao Maggie Bernauer
Copy Editor
Nicole Stibbard
Online Editor
Hannah Butay
Editorial Policy Editorials are the official opinion of The Phoenix. Opinions and letters are the personal viewpoints of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Phoenix. All content decisions are made by the student editors and do not reflect the official policy of Fremont High School, nor the opinions of the administration, faculty, or adviser. Advertise with The Phoenix Contact us for more details at fremonthighphoenix@gmail. com or call at (408)-522-2200. Want to be part of The Phoenix? Letters to the editor and questions for Ask Esteban may be submitted online through our website, room 145, Ms. Stebbins’ mailbox, or emailed to us. Identities of those who submit questions will remain anonymous. The staff reserves the right to edit letters to conform to styles and policy.
Opinion Respect the decisions your friends make
may 3, 2016
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by Dana Nissan Staff Writer
G
iving your friend unwanted advice can hurt more than just yourself. Once you say something, you cannot take it back. You are stuck with the words “I think you are making a mistake” once you tell them to your best friend. Friends are essential to one’s life because we confide in them, look to them for support and celebrate with them when we experience success. Understandably, when you’re afraid of speaking up to your friend, some might say that keeping quiet may actually hurt your friend more. However, although you want to protect your friends from making bad decisions, mistakes, and horrible choices in their relationships, you can’t do everything for your friends. The best decision is to just be there for them, but you still might wonder if it’s enough. Though you think you know the correct decision for your friend, you are also risking your friendship by
speaking out about their decisions without their asking; however, letting them face their troubles alone could mean you aren’t there for them through thick and thin. On the other hand, if you point out your friend’s mistakes to them, what if that’s not what they want, no matter how good your intention was? What if they only want you to support them, not protect them? So the question is, should you give your friends advice knowing it can ruin the friendship? My friends learn from their mistakes, but the experiences they go through are hard to watch. Personally, I still struggle with whether I should tell them how I truly feel about some of their decisions. I don’t want them to get hurt by their choices, but they may also get hurt if I tell them my opinion. If I tell them, I might think I will be protecting them, but in reality they may think I’m judging their capability of making their own decisions. They would appreciate my concern for them as a friend, but they wouldn’t be okay with me if I tried to make life decisions for them. Essentially, silence can protect you more than you think. It could save a friendship, which, in my opinion, is more important than making sure your friends don’t get hurt from the bad things and people in the
world. You love them too much to hurt and potentially lose them. Seeing your best friend get hurt is painful, but pointing out their mistakes
enough to choose their own path in life. I understand that they might not be able to see what others see because they’re simply too involved in the situation, but they might also take your opinion the wrong way and think that you don’t support them.
could be worse for them because it tells them they aren’t capable and responsible
Even if you’ve stuck with them through all their bad hair days, guy problems and intense gossip, speaking up could shatter all of it in just mere seconds. You are pointing out their flaws, proving them
wrong, hurting their feelings and making them think they are not smart enough, pretty enough, or just enough. I understand that the only thing you don’t want is your friend to encounter a broken heart, but that’s not up to you. You aren’t responsible for protecting them; they need to learn from their own experience, even if it hurts to watch. In my opinion, staying silent is better because it not only allows your friend to face the world on their own, but also shows that you are accepting their life decisions instead of judging them. You cannot save your best friend, but you can love them and stand next to them when times get hard. Rather than voicing your opinion, keeping things to yourself is better than losing a long lasting friend and friendship.
Illustration by Dana Nissan
Thoughts from the end of high school
by Julie Wi
Opinion Editor
dergoes different changes. It was coming from a small place to a big one that made the biggest change in me. I came from a private school with about twentysomething kids in my entire grade to a school with hundreds of faces I’ll never even put a name to. It was my worst nightmare; crowds of
people, unfamiliar faces everywhere, and I was completely alone. Fear turned into self-sabotage, and I isolated myself, kept quiet and avoided the glances of those
S
enior year. For those just beginning their years in high school, it can be hard to imagine what it feels like on the other side, when you’re about to leave and make plans to start the rest of your life. To current freshmen, 2019 might seem light years away. That’s how 2016 seemed to me four years ago—graduation seemed like some abstract concept that I wasn’t even sure would ever happen to me. But here I am now, four years later, and I feel exactly the same and completely different at the same time. Four years isn’t a lot of time, but it is during these four years that you undergo some major growing up without even realizing it. Everyone’s experience is different, and everyone un-
Illustration by Dana Nissan
around me. In my bubble of loneliness and fear, I convinced myself that I couldn’t fit in because
there was something inherently wrong with me. Projecting my own insecurities and self-disdain onto other people, I isolated myself even more by assuming the worst of everyone, thinking I was rising above them but really I was just afraid. In the process I probably shut out a lot of people who might have actually turned out to be really nice people. So my high school experience consisted mainly of me attempting to accept myself and learning to be comfortable around other people. It was overcoming a dislike of myself and in turn learning how to be a little less pessimistic about both myself and other people. Most of all it was learn-
ing how to smile a little bit more, and realizing that being around other people could brighten my day instead of ruining it. Some might relate to this story, and some might not, but the point I’m trying to make is that for each and every student, regardless of who you are or the types of experiences you have, high school presents an opportunity for you to face your biggest personal obstacles and experience something that will change you. It’s the introduction to a long journey of learning who you are. It’s the first time in your life when you’re given the power to make your own choices, and it’s the last time you get to explore who you are before you enter the adult world, where you can’t always afford to waste time figuring things out. Right now, you’re supposed to make mistakes; you’re just now starting to learn how to be a functional person. No one starts driving for the first time without almost backing into a parked car or nearly hitting a bicycle (that’s not just me right?). So why would anyone expect a teenager to know instantly how to make the right choices?
Trying the best you can and learning from the results— that’s progress. All that’s important is that you make your mistakes now and not later, because being a bad driver is understandable for a teenager but once you become an adult, it’s just embarrassing. The process of growing up is strange, because it happens so slowly you don’t even know it’s happening. It starts with doing things on your own for the first time, driving to places on your own, making your own money, buying your own food, and one day you realize that you can do things by yourself. Most seniors I know can’t wait to get out of high school, and that just says something about how natural a process growing up is. As natural as childbirth. You’d think you’d want to stay tucked in that cozy little space forever, but before you know it, you’re already kicking on your mother’s womb and dying to experience life. So if you’re afraid of what you might see at the end of the road, I hope to comfort you by telling you that at least for me, that isn’t as scary now that it’s right in front of me.
Opinion
May 3, 2016
Hormones in food: not as harmless as you think
by Nicole Stibbard Copy Editor
F
ood can be deceptive, whether it is due to the delicious flavor, the labeling or simply the lack of knowledge on behalf of the consumer. Often times this deception comes in the form of added growth hormones. This technique can be used in almost any type of edible substance. In regard to added growth hormones, according to the Food and Drug Administration, since the 1950s, steroids have been approved to be used and injected in various forms of livestock. These steroids include estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and often their synthetic versions. In our bodies, these hormones manifest themselves in all different types of ways. For women, estrogen is the central female sex
hormone and is responsible for growth and regulation of the reproductive system as well as secondary sex characteristics. Also for women, progesterone is a steroid hormone which is released by the corpus luteum (a hormone-secreting structure that develops in an ovary after an ovum has been released) that stimulates the uterus to prepare for pregnancy, and if the ovum is not fertilized it will deteriorate. In terms of men, testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group that is secreted primarily by the testicles. Testosterone can be also found in different types of mammals as well, and to a small extent, in the ovaries of women. There also are the synthetic versions of these selected natural hormones which are used in our foods. Some of which are trenbolone acetate and zeranol. Trenbolone acetate is a man-made steroid hormone that promotes muscle growth in livestock. Zeranol is actually not a steroid, it is a mycotoxin which comes from fungi. Zeranol acts as a stimulant to estrogen. According to the FDA,
Illustration by Julie Wi
all of these hormones listed are in fact safe and do not pose any real health threats against those who ingest them. Despite this, is there not some type of consequence to ingesting the hormones that already exist in a normal and regulated amount within our bodies? There are a variety of reasons companies decide to plump their livestock with these hormones. Due to growth hormones, animals are able of gaining weight faster and more of it. More weight means more fat and muscle, and more
product to sell. Animals grow and mature faster so the process of growth and development is shorter which results in the product arriving quicker to shelves in grocery stores. Is the general increase in size of animals worth the risk of certain health effects on humans? According to Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, in terms of women’s health, added hormones can actually be quite a threat. Hormones are fat-soluble molecules, but when added to our food in
amounts unneeded to our bodies, fat can be stored to a possibly harmful degree. Generally, women have more body fat than men to begin with, therefore, this puts women at an even higher risk of accumulating more fat. Excessive fat is known to cause a large array of health issues. Breast lumps that often times are, or can become, cancerous are a result of imbalanced hormones. So a woman who maintains a diet of foods high in added hormones may only be adding to her chance of developing breast cancer. In reference to adolescents, which generally is perceived as ages 12 to 18 who are still undergoing development, also face a threat when it comes to added hormones. During this age, hormones are constantly fluctuating and being processed in what’s called a pituitary gland to help one’s body grow to its proper size. According to The Science of the Total Environment, zeranol is found to block estrogen due to the fact that it is an endocrine disruptor. For this reason, adolescents, girls especially, face growth rate abnormali-
5
ties. In their study, 78.5 percent had levels of zeranol. These girls were also shorter and displayed lesser rates of breast tissue development than other girls with zero levels of zeranol. Doctor Lindsey Berkson, a hormone scholar and nutrition expert, as well as author of Hormone Deception: How Everyday Foods and Products Are Disrupting Your Hormones and How to Protect Yourself and Your Family, found that chemicals, such as xenoestrogen, (a chemical compound that imitates estrogen and is naturally occurring but often its synthetic version is used) can be linked to immune dysfunctions and certain types of cancer. She also found that farmers who use these types of chemicals have been discovered to have high rates of leukemia, stomach, prostate and brain cancer. So next time, when it comes to buying groceries, be sure to look out for labels claiming there are no added growth hormones so you can avoid unbalanced hormones in your body as well as other illnesses that arise as a result of these hormones.
Money doesn’t buy happiness edly takes for granted, such as family and friends. The moral of the story is we should appreciate what we have because money doesn’t equal happiness, but at some point it starts to feel like a cliché. As we mature, we find money is actually worth much more than those cartoons said it did. We see by Hannah Butay homeless people on the Online Editor street, our parents stressed out over bills and rent and oney doesn’t the clear economic divide buy happibetween some countries. ness.” These are things we typiHow many times cally overlook when we’re have we heard this, from younger, but now, our view our parents, our teachers of the world isn’t quite as or by the protagonist of a optimistic and hopeful as it Disney show? In at least used to be. one episode of any show, With most of us headthe protagonist encounters ing on the path to college, an immensely wealthy kid we’re all realizing the dream and becomes jealous, only of having a job that will to find out the immensely wealthy kid is actually a lot make us happy is not as easy less happy than the protago- to reach as we think. According to a survey nist is. The reason for this kid conducted by Forbes Magabeing unhappy is something zine in 2013, 52.3 percent of Americans are unhappy the protagonist suppos-
“M
with their job. The article cites the main reason for this is because people are uninterested in their work. So why would someone take a job they had no interest in? The answer is clear—money. Money makes the world go ‘round. I won’t lie and say money isn’t important, because it is. Money, especially in our capitalist economy, defines everything, from our living conditions to how society perceives us. It’s a necessity to live comfortably in America. Nevertheless, having more money doesn’t exactly mean you’ll be happier. I know what it’s like to be poor. I know what it feels like to skip a few meals because your family couldn’t afford to buy groceries that week, to feel embarrassed because all your clothes are from Ross and Walmart and to put on excessive perfume because your family didn’t pay the water bill. My family is a lot better
off now both mentally and financially, and from my experience, I’ve found that once you’ve reached the level where your family is earning enough money to pay for a home, electricity, food, clothing and transportation, happiness is subjective. Being able to have a home cooked family dinner after spending a year eating takeout and living off food stamps made me happier than when I got a new cell phone for my birthday. The feeling of relief, of knowing I no longer had to constantly monitor how much I spent and knowing my family could get on by comfortably for the first time in what felt like forever was one of the happiest points of my life. The bare necessities in life are all you really need to survive. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. You don’t need the newest iPhone or Mercedes Benz. You may want them, but you don’t need them.
Don’t get me wrong. It isn’t bad to have nice things. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to afford those luxuries and still have enough money to get by in life, then go for it. But, you should still know those items are a luxury and not a necessity. They make life a bit easier and more entertaining, sure, but they shouldn’t be what you pour out your entire life savings into. In some ways, more money can have a negative effect. Having money causes people to be less appreciative of what they have. In reality, we are still more fortunate than many people in the world. According to Pew Research, the lower socioeconomic class of America still earns more money than seven percent of the world. In numbers, that’s approximately 498 million people, more than the population of the U.S. Statistically, you aren’t really as poor as you think you are. While the
standards of living are much higher in United States than it is in lower income countries such as Bangladesh or Ethiopia, it still does not change the fact that most Americans are still better off in terms of money. Even our lower class is better off than seven percent of the world. Since we’re so used to having food, healthcare and shelter available at hand, we forget we’re actually pretty lucky to be living in America instead of a third world country. We let the things we want, the luxuries, take over, so we start to think that since we don’t have those things, we’re poor. The reality is once you’re at the point where you’re financially stable enough to get by in life, you don’t need anything else. Money really doesn’t buy happiness—it buys stability.
Special Feature 6
May 3, 2016
Healthy Eating treat your body Healthy diet, healthy mind What you eat can impact your mental health
by Jasmine Salik Managing Editor
There’s more to a healthy mind than a good amount of sleep and regular exercise. Unfortunately, more often than not, teenagers forget that a key to staying sharp and feeling mentally and physically well is maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet. According to mentalhealth.org, one of the most obvious, yet underrecognized factors that affect one’s mental health is nutrition. Evidence indicates that the foods one eats plays a crucial role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. WebMD states that nearly two thirds of those who do not report daily
mental health problems eat fresh fruit or fruit juice every day, compared with less than half of those who do report daily mental health problems. This pattern is similar for fresh vegetables and salad. “Recent studies have shown the risk of depression increases about 80 percent when you compare teens with the lowest-quality diet to those who eat a higherquality, whole-foods diet, and the risk of attentiondeficit disorder
(ADD) doubles,” psychiatrist Drew Ramsey, MD, an assistant clinical professor at Columbia University, said. A balanced mood and feelings of wellbeing are ensured when our diets provide adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and water. “A very large body of evidence now exists that suggests diet is as important to mental health as it is to physical health,” Felice Jacka said, president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research. “A healthy diet is protective and an unhealthy diet is a risk factor for depression and anxiety.” Nearly one in four Americans are diag-
by Susannah Schulze Staff Writer
According to the National Health Service, the term “superfood” is used to describe foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Antioxidants help protect cell damage, reducing the risk of some cancers and diseases. Some fruits and vegetables are superfoods because of
nosed with some type of mental illness each year according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is also predicted by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that by 2020, depression will rank as the second leading cause of disability, after heart disease. It’s not just a problem for adults. Half of all long-term mental disorders start by age 14. Today, childhood mental illness affects more than 17 million kids in the U.S. “We are, quite literally, what we eat,” Roxanne Sukol, MD, preventive medicine specialist at Cleveland
the large amounts of antioxidants (beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium) and vitamins they contain. Tomatoes and blueberries both have high amounts of lycopene,
Clinic’s Wellness Institute said. “When we eat real food that nourishes us, it becomes the protein-building blocks, enzymes, brain tissue, and neurotransmitters that transfer information and signals between various parts of the brain and body.” According to WebMD, certain foods may play a role in the cause of mental disorders, or they may make symptoms worse. A nutritious brain diet follows the same logic as a heart healthy regimen or weight control plan. You want to limit sugary and high-fat processed foods and opt for plant foods like fresh
which may reduce the risk of cancer and hear disease. Blueberries are also loaded with phytofla vinoids, which are compounds that help protect your body from stress. Both are rich in vitamin C and potassium too. Kale is unique for containing phytonutrien that reduce the risk of dif
fruits, vegetables and whole grains while swapping butter for healthy fats like olive oil. The key is to choose foods that pack as many nutrients in while containing as few calories as possible. Although our lives are constantly on the move, fulfilling one obligation after another with barely any time left for ourselves, what’s more important than our own mental health? Putting time aside to plan and eat a nutritious meal as well as forming healthy habits will guarantee positive short and long-term results that you will be proud and thankful for.
Nutrients Your Body Needs B Vitamins: People with low B12 levels have more brain inflammation and higher rates of depression and dementia. Falling short on this vitamin has long been linked to low moods.
Iron: Too little iron in the blood, or what is called iron-deficiency anemia, has been linked to depression.
Omega-3: These healthy fatty acids improve thinking and memory and, pos-
sibly, mood.
Zinc: This nutrient helps control the body’s response to stress. Low levels can cause depression. A great source is oysters, which pack 500 percent of your daily need of zinc but have just 10 calories a piece. Mussels, which are rich in brain-healthy selenium, are also a good choice. Illustrations by Julie Wi
Special Feature
May 3, 2016
7
g:
Going Vegetarian:
right
Choosing not to eat meat because of health, religion, ethical reasons or otherwise
k rt e a-
t
C
nts f-
By Kelly Zhong
Types of Vegetarians: Lactoovovegetarian Most common type; eats dairy products and eggs
ferent cancers. Broccoli has also been shown to lower the chance of some cancer while also providing a source of vitamin C and folic acid. Some healthy ways to incorporate these superfoods into your diet are smoothies, oatmeal, raw fruits and vegetables and fish.
by Kelly Zhong News Editor
As the saying goes, “too much of one thing isn’t always good.” Aside from watching the food you eat, you also have to
Lactovegtarian
ovovegetarian
Eats dairy products, but not eggs
Eats eggs, but not dairy products
Vegan Does not eat eggs, dairy products, or any other animal product
pescetarian Does not eat any meat except for fish
Cons:
Pros: - Better weight management - Improved cardiovascular health - Lower blood pressure - Ingesting more antioxidants - Ingesting more fibers - Promotes more self-control
- Possible nutrition deficiencies - Proper exercise needed to be healthy
“Too much of one thing isn’t always good” be wary of the portions you consume. For example, even though walnuts contain healthy omega 3 fatty acids, one cup of walnuts contains about 523
calories, according to the US Department of Agriculture, which is as many calories as a Big Mac contains. If you’re eating handfuls and handfuls of walnuts while you’re
watching TV, the calories can add up quickly. That being said, the blame isn’t completely on the unawareness of consumers; restaurants and businesses are to blame
as well, especially in Western Culture. Portion sizes of common foods such as burgers, soda and bagels have been growing larger over the years. Back in the 1950s, a
standard burger was only 3.9 oz, while burgers now are about 12oz, according to Daily Mail. In fact, restaurants have incentive to enlarge their portion sizes. According to Restaurant. com, when restaurants and fast food chains spend a little more money making their portions bigger, they are able to charge a higher price as well. Larger portions also satisfy customers who think they are getting more for their money. Scientists argue that the gradual increase in portion sizes, including plate sizes and tableware, has played a role in growing obesity rates as well because many people are unaware of how much they’re eating. On the other hand, American portion sizes are larger compared to that of other countries. According to Buzzfeed, an American “medium size” soda at McDonald’s is larger than Japan’s “large size.” Paying attention to how much you eat is beneficial and can help prevent unwanted weight gain and risk of disease.
Arts & Entertainment
May 3, 2016
8
The evolution of the antiheroes throughout media by Jenny Nguyen, Manavi Chandra & Caroline He Collaboration
Every story has a hero and a villain. The hero of the story is usually full of likable qualities while the villain is malevolent and has bad intentions. Everyone knows that the hero is supposed to be good and the villain is supposed to be bad. The only question is, whose side are you on? In the early ages of the superhero-villain era, it was simple. Superheroes were undoubtedly good and always the main character. Supervillains were side-characters who were present in the story only to give the hero something to do. To fulfill expectations, villains would be defeated in the end. Righteousness triumphed over evil and the villain would always be overshadowed by the protagonist. Light and dark, day and night, hero and villain—the contrast was clear. Nothing could make the two any more different. But somewhere along the way, the line between trademark hero characteristics and trademark villain characteristics began to blur. Comics like Watchmen, shows like Pretty Little Liars and movies like Harry Potter began to humanize the villain.
It was in the 1960s that the flawed hero began to proliferate. In 1962, Marvel unveiled a new hero in their gallery: young, good intentioned, but rash Spiderman. Peter Parker is a good person intent on doing good, but screws up and does bad instead. With this acceptance of a flawed hero also came more nuanced storylines focused on societal controversies like the Vietnam War, political corruption, poverty and racism. The good guys were treated as bad guys and the bad guys were treated as good guys. Gray perspectives were explored, and a question emerged: What if the people thought of as villains are actually the misunderstood and flawed heroes? This question carries on into the 1970s and 1980s, where the antihero truly starts to come to fruition. An example of this is in Watchmen by Alan Moore, published in 1986. The main protagonist, Rorschach, is an antihero that sees morality clear cut and absolute. It is this exact perspective that leads him to do morally dubious things, like drenching a criminal in gasoline, handcuffing them to a building and then subsequently setting that building on fire.
antihero
noun a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose, and the like.
None of the heroes in this story are conventionally heroic. There is Dr. Manhattan, a veritable god among men accused by the populus of America of causing cancer. Other antiheroes include the Comedian, one of the few government sanctioned heroes who beat and attempted to rape another hero and Ozymandias, an ex hero who fabricates an alien invasion by killing half of the population in New York to bring humans together against a common enemy. Watchmen does not frame these people as flawless, like the early comics did. Instead of being spoonfed morality like in the 50s, Watchmen carried a diverse gallery of perspectives with the pitfalls of each illustrated. The reader is given the power to decide and question what is moral. Antiheroes continue to be popular and persistent in the media today. Now, more and more legions of antiheroes are emerging from movies and TV shows. Another example of a show depicting antiheroes is the ABC show Pretty Little Liars. The plot follows the lives of Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin and Emily Fields after their split when ringleader Alison DiLaurentis is thought to be dead. But a sudden reunion occurs
when each starts to receive threatening messages from the notorious blackmailer A. The original mastermind behind the A-team sees morality as doing anything to win over one’s best friend after drifting apart. However, the complexity of this vision increases in great amounts as the show continues. Similarly, Professor Snape from Harry Potter is revealed to be a doubleagent working for Headmaster Dumbledore, while acting as Lord Voldemort’s most trustworthy follower— on Dumbledore’s orders. Even though Snape does not conventionally commit heroic acts, his actions prove to be brave and valiant. A possible reason why Snape is a favorable character is because audiences watch his relationships evolve along with his actions as the series progresses. Antiheroes will continue to evolve into more complex characters and audiences may find themselves continuing to sympathize these antiheroes. At one point the selfless hero and the nefarious villain become cliché so it is the antihero with both personalities who will bring the plot to life.
hero
noun a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal
Illustration by Sam Tumkur
villain
noun a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel.
Comic Book History Timeline
Definitions from Dictionary.com
1930’s - 1940’s The Golden Age
1950’s- 1960’s The Silver Age
1970’s - 1985 The Bronze Age
1986 - 1990’s The Iron Age
Beginning with the creation of Superman in Action Comics #1, this age spanned the entirety of World War II. Storylines from this era are characterized with overt patriotism and seen with overt support given by the heroes of this era to the Ally forces against the Axis powers. After World War II, this type of story lost steam, and by the 1950’s, the Golden Age officially died out. Something to note, the comic code of authority was introduced during this time, banning any controversial information from comic books.
This is called the ‘campy’ era of comics. Mostly due to the comic code of authority, storylines could not be controversial, so they became goofy instead—think Adam West as Batman. Characters lost their seriousness, even when they were in dire situations —Robin was kidnapped so much he got nicknamed Boy Hostage, Lois Lane tried multiple times to force Superman to marry her, etc. However, by the end of this era, story arcs become more political, and the comics code of authority eventually lost power, opening up writers to more controversial stories.
The arguable beginning of this age began with Marvel writer Jack Kirby moving to DC. Stories in this age were highly politicized and focused on drug use, war and racism. Heroes became more flawed, stories became more gritty and situations became more dire. This is where the antihero truly emerged.
Essentially, it’s the continuation of trends established in the Bronze Age. The overall mood of this era was more gritty, dark and controversial. The antihero became a staple at this point, and stories reflected this.
2000’s - 2010’s The Modern Age
It began in 2000 with the publication of Ultimate Spiderman #1. It is debated whether or not this can be seen an entirely new age, or just a continuation of the Iron Age. The mood of stories in this era are very similar to that of the Iron Age, but less extreme. The media used to convey stories has moved from the comic book to movies.
Information courtesy of TV Tropes
Arts & Entertainment 9
May 3, 2016
Jungle Book, a thrilling retelling of a Disney classic by Ambika Vaidya Staff Writer
Mowgli, the man-cub, makes his return yet again, in an epic and impressive remake of the old Disney classic, The Jungle Book. Produced by Jon Favreau and Brigham Taylor, and starring Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson, this movie provides an all new experience into Mowgli’s adventures. This remake displays the animals via ComputerGenerated Imagery instead of the traditional animation, making the creatures and the scenery extremely life like. Every detail counts, and this movie has included all those details from the expressions and body language of Mowgli’s animal friends, making the film all the more enjoyable to watch. Sethi stars in the role of Mowgli, an orphaned
boy who is brought up in the jungle and raised by wolves. His wolf mother, Raksha—voiced by Lupita Nyong’o—considers the man-cub as one of her own and always encourages him in his attempts to do things the “wolf way”—performing things the way a wolf is supposed to. The plotline of this remake runs along that of its 1967 predecessor: When Mowgli learns that Shere Khan, the fierce, bloodthirsty tiger vows to kill him, he reluctantly accompanies the black panther, Bagheera, to the nearby human village. En route, he meets Kaa, the hypnotizing Indian python; escapes King Louie, a humongous, fire obsessed orangutan and befriends the jolly, carefree bear, Baloo. This latest Jungle Book, however, comes with a few other changes. In this film, Baloo is a Himalayan brown bear instead of a gray sloth bear. He is also rather sly and a little demanding. He
only befriends Mowgli after the latter collects honey for him from a high cliff, in return for Baloo saving him from the jaws of Kaa, a rescue that does not take place in the 1967 Jungle Book. Kaa, unlike in the 1967 version, is a female—voiced by Scarlett Johansson—is not the scared, quivering, humorous and hypnotizing klutz we saw in the original Disney Jungle Book. Instead, the new Kaa is crafty and history-revealing: she provides Mowgli with a flashback of his past, while slowly scheming him to be her next meal. Though some of these changes are not very significant, they enhance the movie further. However, this movie also has its cons. The remake, however tech-heavy it is, does not incorporate the lightheartedness of its predecessor. While the 1967 version is happy-go-lucky, this remake is more intense. And frankly, there is a reason it is rated PG instead of G. While some of the older
audience might view this extra intensity as a pro, for the younger audience it is likely to be a little daunting. The 1967 version might be more appealing to its younger audience also because of the movie’s bright, colorful background and animation. The remake’s scenes are realistic, so within the deep jungles, the background appears to be a bit dull in some scenes. The technicolor usage in the 48 year old Jungle Book results in the vividity of the Indian forest and makes the scenes really pop out. But, all said and done, this movie proves to be one of Disney’s most successful remakes. One of the factors I found most mesmerizing about the movie was the musical score. The soundtrack of the film includes an instrumental and lyrical reprise of the old favorite, “The Bare Necessities,” composed by Terry Gilkyson, along with songs, “Trust in Me” and “I Wan’na Be
Like You,” composed by the famous Sherman brothers: Robert M. Sherman and Richard B. Sherman. Composer John Debney adds in many other instrumental scores, ones that enhance the film and blend in well with the instrumental reprises of songs from the 1967 version. The intensity or lightheartedness of the music matches with whatever is going on in the scene. The enhancing score of the film contributes to its several positive factors. Now, since all the animals are made through CGI, there isn’t much of an acting issue, although Sethi could add more to his character, by displaying his feelings in a stronger way, or talking with more conviction. Kingsley’s deep, low voice matches Bagheera’s stern and cautious nature, while Murray’s voice defines
Baloo’s carefree, cheerful manner. All the actors and actresses make their characters come to life. Thrilling, powerful and captivating, the 2016 version of Disney’s The Jungle Book is a film that will entertain and impress all of its audience.
Photo courtesy of Disney
Chen’s creativity wins art award by Michael Wang Staff Writer
In early March, sophomore, Shaina Chen, earned a California Honorable Mention award for her artwork titled, “Quantifying the Possibilities” in the Scholastic Art and Writing Foundation. In this nationwide contest individuals submit artwork and can potentially be honored for their talents. “I thought winning would be a great honor,” Chen said. “The contest is very prestigious and the organization Scholastic is known around the world, so that’s why [I participated].” Shaina felt surprised, as well as honored to be given the honorable mention because she entered this contest for fun, and was not expecting anything out of it. She thinks her art piece’s uniqueness made it stand out from the rest. “I feel like the techniques I used were pretty unique and the [use of sewing thread] is not something that most people do,” Chen said. The process of creating this masterpiece took place during the previous summer, when she went to an art summer camp. “We were asked to create a piece of artwork that described how we thought about how people’s brain operates,” Chen said. “I was inspired [to create this piece] because I felt like
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Drawing courtesy of Shaina Chen
humans had a specific goal they have in mind, but they usually are willing to look beyond that goal.” Shaina’s artwork took ten hours to finish, and her work paid off. “I was pretty surprised with the result and I didn’t expect it to come out the way it did,” Chen said. “The teacher I worked with at the time was also very happy with it, and that was part of the reason why I decided to submit it for the art awards.” The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards was the first large scale contest Shaina participated in. However, her aptitude for
art goes back to when she was young. At five years old, when testing for her interests, her parents signed her up for art classes. She has continued ever since. “I like art because it allows you to express what you’re saying in just one piece of artwork,” Chen said. “Like they say, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’”. From there on, she has been successful. That included winning first place in a contest for an institution called Institute for Global Environmental Strategies for a tiger she drew when she was in elementary school. Her artwork was
later featured in a calendar made by the same institution. Now, because of her passion for art, it has a large place in Shaina’s life. “[Art] allows me to use my creativity in a different way than you usually do at school,” Chen said. “Art plays a significant role in my life because I spend so much time doing it. It’s basically what I like to do in my past time or free time; it’s relaxing and rewarding. I don’t think that I will take on an art related career, but it’s definitely something I want keep doing during my free time after high school.”
Target 298 West McKinley Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Minimum Age: 16 Apply at https://jobs.target.com/job/sunnyvale/ cashier-team-member/1118/1915616 In-N-Out 604 E El Camino Real Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Minimum Age: 16 Apply at http://www.in-n-out.com/employment. aspx McDonald’s 615 Mathilda Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Minimum Age: 16 Apply at https://mylocalmcds.com/ Safari Run 1180 Kern Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94085 Apply via email to sunnyvale@safarirun.com or call 408-579-9218
Arts & Entertainment
May 3, 2016
10
Heroes get remembered, but legends never die by Maggie Bernauer Sports Editor
On Thursday, April 21, the music world lost an iconic artist. Prince Roger Nelson died at the age of 57. Prince came out with his first album “For You” in 1978, while the last album he produced was “HitnRun” in 2015. For over 35 years, Prince has impacted the music world. He released over 20 albums, according to iTunes, with his most famous being “Controversy,” “Emancipation” and “Purple Rain.” During an interview on The View in 2010. They brought up how younger artists are in awe of Prince. It is unbelievable how long he has lasted in the music industry; Prince was no one hit wonder. Prince was a music producer, a songwriter, a musician and a singer. He embodied a true performer and other artists, even society, noticed how strange, yet talented, he truly was. Prince is known for his controversial lyrics and his flashy performances. Prince’s artistic license has caused great change in the music world as well as controversy. Explicit warnings and the hatred of streaming were all impacted by Prince. His advice for younger artists is to “learn every aspect of music that you can.” The War on Rock that was started by the second lady Tipper Gore in 1993 was based off of the profanity in Prince’s music, according to The New York Times. This led to parental warning on CDs, clean and explicit versions of songs and radio appropriate versions as well. Even through his profanity filled lyrics, Prince is very popular to this day. As the news spreads about his death, younger generations have become curious as to what the big hoopla is. All of his music has been removed from YouTube and streaming sites such as Spotify. His music can only be enjoyed the old fashion way—by purchasing it. This makes it harder for younger generations to be informed. Prince removed all of his music because he was a firm believer that an artist should get paid for their work. Prince has had multiple different names over the years and was never afraid to stay true to himself. He experimented in names and for some time, went by an unpronounceable name that was a symbol created by the girl sex symbol and the male sex symbol. The mystery of Prince was always a factor in his artwork and he was never a part of the conformity seen in the music business. He will forever be missed.
Photo courtesy of WDET
Prince Roger Nelson June 7, 1958—April 21, 2016
“Lemonade”: Infidelity, police brutality and black power by Sarah Arkoh Managing Editor
When life gave Beyoncé lemons, she made “Lemonade.” The visual album left jaws open, hearts pounding and a whole lot of speculation. “Lemonade” opens peacefully, with shots of Beyoncé in an abandoned building sporting cornrows. There are also clips of open grass fields, abandoned buildings and lyrics like, “you can taste the dishonesty.” The video soon cuts to images of Queen Bey bashing car windows, rapping angrily in a parking lot and being fiercer than ever with amazing backup dancers. The album wraps up with more serene images of water, fields and Beyoncé’s beautiful family. To put it simply, “Lemonade” is a beautiful piece of artwork. We see numerous clips of an empowered Beyoncé throughout each of the 11 chapters. “Lemonade” features countless images of strong, black women alongside Beyoncé throughout the entire, one hour album. Her unannounced cameo guest stars include Serena Williams, Amandla Stenberg, Zendaya, Chloe
Screenshot from Beyoncé’s “Lemonade”
In “Hold Up”, Beyoncé wields a baseball ball and bashes cars while walking through the streets of New Orleans.
and Halle Bailey, former America’s Next Top Model contestant Chanelle Winnie Harlow, dancer Michaela DePrince and “Queen of Creole Cuisine” Leah Chase. Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, Lezley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown and Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, all make appearances, carrying pictures of their police brutality-victimized sons. The images are sobering, further emphasizing Beyoncé’s stance on police brutality. The video to her
song “Formation,” which was released a day before this year’s Superbowl, also depicted Beyoncé’s view on police brutality. Throughout the video, a young black boy is seen dancing in front of police officers in riot gear. Towards the end of the video, a spray painted “stop shooting us” pans across the screen. The “Formation” video plays after the credits on the visual album. Adding to the grandeur of the entire album, Beyoncé wrote each of the 12 songs herself while
featuring a few musical guest stars, including The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar. The diversity of the songs on the album reveal just how talented Beyoncé is. From caribbean vibes to headbanging anthems to guitar acoustics, Beyoncé can do it all, and she really does slay. She is also the Executive Producer on “Lemonade”. The imagery, lyrics and music all make “Lemonade” legendary. But what really makes the album iconic is its message. With lyrics like “This is your final warning.
If you try this sh*t again, you gonna lose your wife”, it is no wonder that the entire world believed that “Lemonade” was Beyoncé’s way of calling out Jay-Z’s rumored infidelity. In fact, with chapter titles like “Denial”, “Anger” and “Forgiveness”, it seems that the album goes through the different phases of what it is like to have a cheating significant other. However, “Lemonade” does much more than talk about infidelity. Quoting Malcom X’s “the most unprotected per-
son in America is the black woman”, Beyoncé highlights the struggles that many black women face today, including abuse, neglect and yes, infidelity. Beyoncé may have been telling her own story, but she was also telling the story of many other black women. Along with shots of her dancing side by side with amazing backup dancers, Beyoncé includes older, real life clips of women going through their everyday lives, living the very lyrics that Beyoncé is singing. Her album is meant to tell a story but also empower black women. “Lemonade” premiered on HBO Saturday, April 23. Currently, the visual album is only available to stream through Tidal, a music streaming service created by Jay-Z. Tidal requires a $10 monthly subscription (or you can sign up for a free 30day trial and watch to your heart’s content for a limited 30 days). “Lemonade” can also be purchased on iTunes for $17.99 and physical copies of the CD/DVD can be pre-ordered through Amazon for $18.98. Words cannot describe how incredible Beyoncé’s new “Lemonade” album is. If you haven’t seen it already, drop everything you are doing and go watch it. It absolutely slays.
sports
11
May 3, 2016
Destined from the start by Michael Alva Staff Writer
Tusiupu Jr. Reuben Solomona III knew he was destined to be a baseball player from the first time he picked up a bat and a ball. “As a kid I was a troublemaker,” Solomona said. “I could never stay still, so my mom told me got do something and I decided to pick up a bat and a ball.” He started when he was four years old through a church t-ball program and that is when he fell in love with the game. After t-ball, he played for Sunnyvale National Little League, and then he went to play for Lakewood Pony baseball. Then, Solomona started playing travel baseball. “I love everything about baseball,” Solomona said. “It’s a game of failure, you have to learn how to accept failure, there are times when you are going to fail and you have to learn how to pick yourself up.” Solomona practices Monday through Friday and participates in games on the weekend with his club team. During the baseball school season he has at least two games a weekly and he still finds time to practice and train around his game schedule. “I have morning workouts with my club team,” Solomona said. “I wake up at five a.m. to travel down to San Jose to workout and do conditioning and then
after school I practice with Fremont.”
I love everything about baseball. It’s a game of failure, you have to learn how to accept failure, there are times when you are going to fail and you have to learn to pick yourself up. TJ Solomona This year, Solomona posted a .375 batting average, with a total of 18 hits, which is well over the national average. He also has 11 RBI’s, and an on base percentage of .531. “I play the game with a lot of attitude,” Solomona said. “I am always competing whether I’m at the plate batting or behind the plate catching. What differentiates me is my competitiveness and my desire to strive to be great.” “I think about my family when I play,” he said. “I want to succeed in baseball and hopefully I can play at the next level so I can retire my parents and help out my little
sister.” Solomona received more than a couple of letters from colleges. He got letters from Johnson and Wales, Lewis and Clark, University of Pacific, Oregon State and many more. His top choice right now is Johnson and Wales in Rhode Island. Other than baseball, Solomona’s hobbies are hanging out with his sister and family as well as with friends. When he takes breaks from baseball, he likes to play
Warner and two years of football for Fremont High School. But he did not have the same passion for football as he does for baseball. His passion for the game of baseball is on a different level. In his eyes, nothing’s comparable to baseball. Solomona’s goal for college is to not only to focus on baseball, but to earn the education that has been provided for him. So if his dreams don’t come true and he doesn’t make it to the big leagues, he will always have a backup plan to be successful.
Sports World NBA Finals: The NBA Finals is wrapping up the first round. Round 2 West Coast Conferance VS.
VS.
or
Injuries: For Clipper fans it is devastating that in Game 4 game 2 players were injured point gaurd Chirs Paul broke his hand and Blake Griffin is out with a quad injury. Both are done for the season. Curry is out for two weeks due to a sprained MCL. It is the best case senario after his freak acadent on Sunday April 24.
NHL Stanley Cup:
The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is in progress. With the San Jose Sharks playing the Nashville Predators. The Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 in a seven game series.
MLB Season Opener: other sports like soccer or basketball. In the past, Solomona played football for Sunnyvale Pop
Baseball season has been going on far a month now and many teams are starting off strong. The San Francisco Giants and the Okland Athletics have a record over .500. Michael Alva | The Phoenix
Photo courtesy of NBA.com
The more competitive side of Suri by Chau Nguyen
ter—their mental game was so much stronger than mine “For the people who that they could beat me,” think I’m cocky or overcon- Suri said. “I wasn’t mentally fident, I let my numbers mature enough. I played speak for me.” inconsistently and didn’t Posting a 10-2 record as topspin or brush the ball. a varsity two singles player, I wasn’t thinking strategijunior Aman Suri has domi- cally.” nated the tennis courts. His Suri also dealt with anrecord’s barely budged from ger problems during freshhis 10-1 record last year. And man year, which he believes he knows it. caused him to lose most of “I’ve beaten almost his matches. everyone I’ve played,” Suri “I lost my temper and said. “The losses I’ve had got angry a lot,” Suri said. “I were all very close matches. would throw my racket on At some point, you’ve got to the court, throw my hat on have confidence in yourself. the ground. I tried to punch And if that comes off as through the strings of my overconfidence, then I really racket one time, and my apologize.” knuckles were bleeding all But even though over the court. There was a he’s been dominating the lot of profanity too.” 2015-2016 season, he wasn’t He eventually realized always performing at this this hard hitting game was high level of play. Just look taking him nowhere except at freshman year. losses. So he tweaked his Suri posted a 4-8 record playing style. But it wasn’t as a varsity two singles about improving his agility player as a freshman, and or dexterity—it was about he was confused. He didn’t his mentality. understand why he kept “I knew something losing; he always swung the needed to change,” Suri racket as hard as he could. said. “It needed to change “Having more talent soon, or I didn’t know how than them didn’t really mat- much longer I’d be playing that singles two position. Over that off-season, I had Editor in Chief
made a committed change. I said ‘OK, I have seven or eight months until season starts again. I might as well try playing with this new style.’” After freshman year, his new private coach focused on tennis’s strategic element. His new coach’s suggestions on breathing deeply and focusing on the present elevated Suri’s skills.
FOr the People who think I’m cocky or overconfident, I let my numbers speak for me.
Aman Suri “Peak athletic performance requires peak mental performance,” John Musser, Fremont High School varsity boys tennis coach, said. “You have to learn how to get the emotions in check.” With his perspective altered, Suri not only kept his title, but also showed he was worthy of it. He attri-
butes his success in flipping his record to his private group of coaches, Musser, and summer clinics at Eagle Fustar Tennis Academy, one of the most premier tennis training academies in the Bay Area. “I chalk it all up to his growth in maturity and not succumbing to the dark place,” Musser said. “The dark place is the emotion creeping in.” But Suri doesn’t believe it’s just talent or maturity that separates him from others. What separates him is something you cannot find a substitute for. “It’s my commitment in the offseason to getting better,” Suri said. “A lot of players, it’s high school season and they think it’s done until seven months later when high school season starts again. But for me, there is no off-season. Once the high-school season ends, I’m back on the
court.” Yet even though Suri’s improved drastically, he believes tennis has caused him to suffer mentally. Losing matches and the difficulty of juggling school, sleep, and tennis has been the uglier sides of Suri’s love for the game. “Being on that court on singles, one on one, you don’t have a team to
rely on,” he said. “You don’t have support. It’s just you on that court. All blame is put on you when you lose a point. It’s not a team that lost— it’s you that lost. Just the pressure of wanting to be the best, and the mental toll that losing takes is really hard on the body.” Suri blames some of his anger issues on his love for tennis. But despite this, he’s accepted the mental strain it’s had on his life. “I had to love everything about it,” Suri said. “While it’s causing me
mental problems, it’s also developed a lot of mental strength for me. When brought into other scenarios where it’s high pressure, I’m able to cope well with it.” “It was a huge contributor to his success as soon as he got his head in the game,” Musser said. “He’s still not perfect. He broke his racket yesterday. So it’s still a work in progress.”
Maggie Bernauer | The Phoenix
sports
may 3, 2016
12
by Maggie Bernauer Sports Editor
After all her work with Associated Student Body and a full workload at school, junior Olivia Owyeung finds time to go to the ranch to train for the sport she’s most passionate about—horseback riding as an equestrienne. “I like everything about it,” Owyeung said. “It just takes so much focus and hard work and I also just like being around the horses.”
Its taught me a lot about hard work. There is so much dedication and time that has to go into it. I’ve learned how to motivate myself to reach my own goals because it’s not just going to happen if you wish for it - I really have to work for it. Olivia Owyeung Owyeung participates in dressage, which is where a horse and a rider perform from memory a series of predetermined movements. She rides at Rancho Viejo in Portola Valley six days a week. “It’s almost like dancing because you do different
Owyeung reveals her hidden talent and rides to the Junior Olympics movements and when you compete you do these tests where you have to do specific movements to receive a score,” Owyeung said. The scoring is based
on a scale from one to ten, ten being the highest, and a calculated percentage is given for the riders’ final score. “I’ve been around horses for as long as I can remember,” Owyeung said. “My grandfather has a ranch in Florida and every spring break we would go there and get
to ride. I always would beg my mom to take riding lessons and when I turned eight, she finally gave in.” Even though Owyeung
started taking horseback riding lessons at age 8, but she didn’t start competing until age twelve. In January Owyeung started her competi-
tion season for this year and since then, she
has been working toward qualifying for the Junior Olympic team. “I tried out last year but I didn’t make the team,” Owyeung said.“I actually think it was beneficial in a way because it motivated me to work harder and be more focused and drive.” Owyeung is in the process of getting qualify-
ing times, meaning she is practicing harder and competing for scores. The top four girls in California and Nevada who qualify get to go to the final competition in Colorado, where they will compete for a spot on the Junior Olympic team. The competition is against girls and guys from all over North America. “It’s taught me a lot about hard work,” Owyeung said. ”There is so much dedication and time that has to go into it. I’ve learned how to motivate myself to reach my own goals because it’s not just going to happen if you wish for it—I really have to work for it.”
Photo courtesy of Olivia Owyeung
Powderpuff: Girls play, guys cheer w
“I did powderpuff becuase it’s fun. I just love to get out there and show my firebird spirit.” Junior Kyanna Gonzalez
JUNIOR Doryn Gomez attempting to make a pass.
“I like powderpuff becasue I’ve never been on the coaches side. I’ve always been a player. I really enjoy coaching these girls. They love winning, I love winning. It’s just fun being on the other side of the spectrum.” Senior Jordan Hendy
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SOPHOMORE Yuval Rachman tries to go for a touch down.
JUNIOR Efrat Avidan-Antonir goes for the tackle against the freshmen.
THE JONES SISTERS battle it out on the field.
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“ It was my last year, and I really wanted to participate. It definitely was awesome that I got to score a touchdown.” Senior Annah Jones
Maggie Bernauer and Susannah Schulze | The Phoenix