Expressing Creativity See Pages 4 & 5
Dealing with death
DramapaloozA Review See Page 3
See Page 6
Fremont High School
the
PHOENIX
Vol. 7 Issue No. 8 MaY 31, 2019
Intentional Car crash devastates by Suryan Bhatia & Vivien Su Collaboration
On April 23, 2019, a devastating attack occurred on the Sunnyvale Saratoga and El Camino Real intersection. The crash took place on a Tuesday evening at around 6:40 PM, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Eight pedestrians were waiting at the crosswalk when a car ran into the pedestrians. The driver behind the wheel was Isaiah Peoples, a 34-year-old man, a resident of Sunnyvale. Although there were no fatalities, many were severely injured with one of the victims being a student at Fremont High School, who was on his bike at the moment of impact. His 24-year-old cousin was also severely wounded. Both of them sustained leg injuries and will have to use crutches for an unspecified amount of time. Police and firemen were
immediately called in to attend to the victims. The youngest and most seriously injured victim was a 13-year-old student from Sunnyvale Middle School, who was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. At the time of the crash, the victim was with her 45-yearold father and nine-year-old brother. The student, along with five other victims, were hospitalized. “We all are worried,” said Aarti Chendake, the young girl’s neighbor. “We are waiting for some news that she should be fine, she should be okay.” According to KTVU Fox 2 News, Peoples, the attacker, is an Iraq War veteran who was undergoing PTSD treatment. As for the motives behind the attack, police are treating the crash as a hate crime as they believe that Peoples targeted those who he believed were
Muslim. Jim Choi, Captain of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, spoke with The Mercury News after the incident. “All evidence obtained indicates this was an intentional act,” said Choi. “That the driver purposely sped up and ran into the crosswalk and purposely tried to hit the pedestrians.” Even though it was intentional, Peoples is not known to be associated with any terrorist organizations. On the morning after the crash, Peoples’ Sunnyvale home was searched by the local police department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Peoples is currently charged with eight counts of attempted murder and is in the Santa Clara County’s Main Jail. The FHS administration also shared their viewpoints on the situation. “It seemed like he
[Peoples] intentionally drove into people,” said Principal Bryan Emmert. “That’s horrifying. What’s more horrifying, I would say for the admin team, is when we think about could anyone that’s connected to the school be involved.”
All evidence obtained indicates this was an intentional act. That the driver purposely sped up Jim Choi Thankfully, FHS provides plenty of resources for students who may feel traumatized by these events. “On the whole, we have an amazingly caring and dedicated staff,” said Emmert. “I would hope and my sense is that most students on campus have
someone they can talk to, an adult that they trust and share their concerns with. We have a mental health team where I know a lot of students take advantage of.” Emmert hopes that all students are able to find suitable care for their various needs, whether it be through the school or elsewhere. “[Hopefully], they’re [students] able to deal with their concerns, issues, anger, mental health challenges through support [systems] in place through our school and through our district,” said Emmert. Deirdre Louie, a Student Advocate at FHS, shares similar sentiments and encourages students to talk about their thoughts, opinions and feelings. “After a traumatic event if you’re having a lot of emotions about it or can’t stop thinking about it, then it’s important to talk about it and not just hold it in,” Louie said. In addition, the city of Sunnyvale, in partnership with Islamic Group Network, community members and nonprofit organizations, held
a Unity Gathering event on May 29 at the Senior Center. The goal of the event was to support the victims of the attack and to heal and strengthen the community’s ties. “Sunnyvale takes pride in the incredible diversity of people who form the rich fabric of our city,” a message on the city’s website said. “We stand in solidarity with our residents and embrace our community of many backgrounds and beliefs. We will continue to define ourselves by openness and acceptance for all. We are heartbroken that hate and fear exist here, and invite you to join us as we find a path forward for our community.”
Natalie Wolff | The Phoenix Graphics courtesy of Sccpre
The rise of new anti-abortion laws across the US by Trixie Rodriguez & Natalie Wolff
Collaboration
On May 15, 2019, Alabama signed a new law that bans abortions at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions even in cases of rape or incest. The law does not take effect for six months. However, it is likely expected to be challenged in court soon. According to The Inquirer, getting an abortion will be considered a felony if the law is enacted. Doctors are also said to face up to 99 years in prison if they perform an illegal procedure. The patients will not have to face charges. Along with this law, the heartbeat bill will also be put into effect in. According
to The New York Times, the heartbeat bill means abortions will be prohibited after six to eight weeks of pregnancy due to the fact that at this time, doctors can start hearing the fetal heartbeat. Many abortion clinics have vowed to fight these new anti-abortion laws in court. The new laws are in direct opposition to the landmark Supreme Court case Roe V. Wade. In 1973, the Supreme Court decided in a 7-2 ruling to protect a women’s right to get an abortion. The court decided that states could make no laws regarding abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. During the second trimester states can make laws about abortions with in reason. The third trimester is when states
get to make any laws about abortion so long as they make exceptions for cases where the mother’s life is in danger.
being taken to the Supreme Court, which is currently more conservative than ever. If the ban makes it to the Supreme Court, it is
The lawmakers behind the new abortion ban are well aware that the bill is in conflict with Roe V. Wade, in fact this was the Alabama bill’s intent. The law was created in hopes of
very possible that Roe V. Wade could be overturned. Social media has been filled with students, celebrities and politicians speaking out both in support of and in opposition to the new laws.
“This is absolutely unbelievable,” said Chris Evans. “If you’re not worried about roe v wade, you’re not paying attention. This is why voting matters!!” Many people have pointed out that banning abortion does not make abortions go away. It just limits women’s ability to access safe abortions. Other parts of social media argue that aborted babies do not have a chance to grow up and have a life. Alabama is not the only state that has recently passed restrictive antiabortion laws. On May 9, 2019, Georgia became the fourth US state to pass the heartbeat bill, with exceptions in the case of rape or incest or if giving birth would seriously harm the
mother. While other states have passed bills that limit abortion, Alabama’s bill is the first outright ban. The abortion conflicts have caused uproars nationwide, and the debates show no sign of slowing down.
Graphics courtesy of iStock and Sccpre
News
may 31, 2019
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Mr. Kokotovich will be missed by all of Fremont by Quinten Seghers
News Editor
With Fremont High School boasting an impressive near 2000 students enrolled for the 2019-2020 school year, it is no wonder as to why FHS also has such a large staff, with nearly 200 teachers, administrators and other staff members. But life at Fremont must go on, but not without saying goodbye first. This year, FHS is saying good-bye to a teacher. That teacher is Tim Kokotovich. Kokotovich’s entire teaching career has spanned a total of five years, with his
first year teaching in San Jose and his last four years at Fremont. Throughout his career, he has taught students Geometry, Geometry Enriched and Algebra 2. During his short yet sweet time at FHS, he has already touched the hearts and minds of so many people, as many students can attest to. “I think that Mr. Kokotovich is honestly a nice guy, who just loves to teach and help kids,” freshman Ella Seghers said. “He is a great teacher. I and everyone else who had him will undoubtedly miss him.” Kokotovich has not
just left a major impact on his students, but also on his fellow co workers. “I wish him all the best, but as a fellow Minnesota transplant, he’s a little piece of home, so it’s sad he’s leaving,” Monica Dery, a English teacher, said. “I will see him in the snowy Minnesota landscape.”
Kokotovich has decided to let his free and kindhearted spirit take him to more schools around the globe with his wife, Brittany Leknes, who is currently a seventh and eighth grade math teacher at Sunnyvale Middle School. “I wasn’t really deciding to leave Fremont; it was like trying to go and have an experience with international teaching, and
to do that, I need to leave Fremont, so it’s really just the opportunity to go and learn about another culture and that kinda brought my wife and I to this decision,” Kokotovich said. “So my wife and I are going to go work for two years at the International School of Panama in Panama City, and we will be teaching math there and exploring that area of the world.” But before leaving for Panama, Kokotovich wishes to give all of his students one last parting piece of advice. “Work hard and be kind to people and try to
show as much kindness as you can to the people around you,” said Kokotovich. “That’s how we make this [world] a better place to live in.” Good luck Kokotovich! May your numerous adventures and experiences in Panama be delightful. Safe travels!
Photo courtesy of Tim Kokotovich
The evolution of LGBTQ rights in modern times by Alexis Rodriguez
Staff Writer
All over the world, it seems like there is constant controversy over lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) rights. Across the world, there are dozens of protests and rallies, such as the San Francisco Pride Parade, where people join together to fight for LGBTQ rights. Over the years, the United States, as a whole, has seen tremendous changes in the way that people treat members of the LGBTQ community. Every
year, thousands more show their support by rallying at protests, holding festivals and so much more. For example, the San Francisco Pride Parade takes place every year on June 29. However, there are many individuals who feel negatively towards members of the LGBTQ community. “Sometimes I’ll have my makeup done really nice and have my outfit look really good, but when I walk down the halls, some guys laugh at me,” junior Darion Dizon said. “Honestly, I’m used to it, but it
shouldn’t [have to] be something I’m used to.” According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, hate crimes against the LGBTQ community have
Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex marriage in 2015. Data has shown that after same-sex marriage became legal in the United States on June 26, 2015,
increased in recent years. Despite these incidents, the LGBTQ community has enjoyed many landslide achievements, such as the
hate crimes against the LGBTQ community actually increased from 11.7 percent in 2014 to 17 percent in 2017 according to NBC News.
“How do we expect the world’s perspective to change when even the United States president is homophobic?” sophomore Yasmine Hirech said. A large portion of the LGBTQ rights debate is fueled by common misconceptions. Many long-standing prejudices against the LGBTQ community have been proven misleading or false in recent years. “A lot of people don’t realize that it is actually really common for people to think that there’s something genetically wrong
[with individuals who identify with the LGBTQ community] when there actually isn’t,” sophomore Paulina Martinez said. “I remember having to explain to my mom that people who were part of the LGBTQ community did not have anything genetically wrong with them.” It is important to remember that no matter one’s own beliefs, it is crucial to treat everyone as a human being and with respect, which applies to members of the LGBTQ community as well. Graphics courtesy of ArlingtonVA
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Arts & Entertainment
may 31, 2019
Summer fun in the Bay Area by Maddy Garcia & Aoibhe Walczak Collaboration
Summer is often the highlight of a student’s year. For Firebirds, summer means no school, no homework and good weather. Finding new ways to keep yourself entertained can be very difficult at times. Of course, there is always the expected “ideal” summer, like going to Disneyland or Universal Studios, but there are so many things to do closer to Sunnyvale that will make this summer extra great. Living in California,
FHS students have the option to go to a beach. In only about an hour by car, students can go to the coast. Twin Lakes State Beach is a popular beach and state park. Twin Lakes not only has a beautiful view of the ocean but also of a lighthouse, a boat dock and volleyball nets. The nets are never as crowded as the ones on Santa Cruz or Capitola beaches. Another great aspect of Twin Lakes is the lack of seaweed. The ocean at Capitola and Santa Cruz, on the other hand, have lots of seaweed in the water. For those who don’t enjoy going to the beach or are just looking for a way to avoid sunburn, going to the
movies is a year-long way of entertaining yourself for at least an hour. This summer, several nostalgic movies are coming to theaters, such as Toy Story 4 and The Lion King. For action lovers, Spider Man - Far From Home, Men in Black: International, Dark Phoenix and Godzilla; King of Monsters will be hitting theaters soon. Students can also ride the CalTrain to San Francisco. In the city, there are countless things to do such as watching the sea lions on the piers, shopping or getting food. This summer, San Francisco will again hold their annual Fourth of July & Celebration firework show.
Two sets of fireworks go off at the same time, so if you are anywhere around Pier 39 and Municipal Pier, you will surely get an amazing view of this 30-minute show. During the summer on Wednesdays, the local farmers market has more than just its regular fruits and veggies stands. The downtown Sunnyvale farmers market has live music, jewelry booths, plants and much more. Many local restaurants offer special deals during the farmers market as well. One great snack recommendation is making a meal out of french fries at Santa Clara’s new #getfried fry cafe, VITALITY BOWLS and Nektar. These are great local places to grab a refreshing summer fruit acai bowl. Psycho donuts and Rocko’s Ice Cream Tacos are excellent dessert shops to satisfy your sweet tooth. Summer is almost here, so get excited! There are lots of fun things students can do this summer to stay entertained. Graphic courtesy of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Dramapalooza is a smash hit by Suryan Bhatia Editor-in-Chief
Every May, Beginning Drama gets its chance to shine in Dramapalooza. Dramapalooza features multiple one act plays, each performed by one of the two Beginning Drama classes. This year, the plays were “21 Guaranteed Ways to Get Detention” and “14 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interviews,” both by Ian McWethy. Tanya Misfeldt, Beginning and Advance Drama teacher, believes the students did an amazing job. “It’s [BeginningDrama’s] first experience with a full theatrical production, and they absolutely knocked it out of the park,” Misfeldt said. “They did a phenomenal job today.” Both plays have a similar structure, where
authority figures, such as vice principals and college interviewers, talk to a wide array of quirky students tied with an over arching narrative. The plays, themselves were hilarious. The characters were your standard high school stereotypes, such as the nerd, the jock, the leader, etc, with slight hyperboles, which made each interaction fun and unique. The high school and college interview settings of each play made it relatable to the experiences of Fremont High School students. Each play was roughly an hour long, and at first, I was concerned that the similar structure of the plays would get repetitive and boring. These concerns however, were quickly disseminated by the skill of those performing. “[The students] have
been working very very hard,” Misfeldt said. “They are diligent students, and they had all their lines down quickly. So I got to sit back and relax as they were doing this phenomenal job.” The actors were amazing. Each actor was full of energy and enthusiasm, which made the plays even more enjoyable. Their effort, emotion and dedication were visible each and every time they were on stage. My only complaint would be
that it was hard to hear the actors at times. Stagecraft has nearly perfected their art; all set pieces, lighting, sound and much much more perfect and only had a few minor errors. Overall, Dramapalooza was a great experience, and I enjoyed it a lot. Advanced Drama will have their final play, New Play Festival, on May 31 in the Shannon Theatre. This event will feature seven plays written, directed and acted by Advanced Drama students. According to Misfeldt, New Play Festival will also act as a competition: the top three plays, voted on by judges, will receive cash prizes. Hope to see you there! Graphic courtesy of Etsy
3
the
PHOENIX Editor-in-Chief Suryan Bhatia | Vivien Su
News Thomas Poplawski | Quinten Seghers Arts & Entertainment Trixie Rodriguez | Natalie Wolff Sports Kiana Thelma Devera | Emily Wilson Opinion Anahi Ruvalcaba | Sonia Wadher Center Spread Shira Agmon | Diana Piper Online Leann Bast | Maddy Garcia | Michael Wang Copy Editor Lauren Panzer Staff Writers Enrique Alfaro Clarissa Bunker Nevaeh Campos Jay Ghate Anastasiia Klymenko Vikash Kumar Abby Mingus
Maximillian Palli Atharv Panditrao Alexis Rodriguez Asaf Shchory Sophia Suon Sampreetha Tumkur Aoibhe Walczak
Fremont High School 1279 Sunnyvale Saratoga Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (408)-522-2400 | fremonthighphoenix@gmail.com Advisor | Emer Martin 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.
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 A-206, Ms. Martin’s 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.
Special Feature
May 31, 2019
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expressing The Saviour of the Sensitive By Diana Piper Ever since I was a child, I have been completely obsessed with writing. I remember rummaging for binder paper that had not already been written on to manifest my new story idea. I even started several novel plans loosely based on the adventure books that were piled precariously on my little desk, even though those plans never amounted to anything. I had some innate feeling that writing was going to be an integrated facet of my life forever. I was right. My passions have all developed from a fundamental part of me: an eagerness to learn. I am a part of Speech and Debate because I love researching and learning about a prominent issue or topic in the present. I enjoy the news because I revel in being informed and being able to take my own stance on political and divisive issues. This pleasure I describe from
learning is present in my writing as well. I write articles for this newspaper because I get to learn more about a subject that is important to me, and then I get to present my findings to an audience. I write poetry to attain clarity about my own feelings and thoughts and I write analytical essays so that I can dissect something and make sense of it as my written musings develop. My pleasure derived from learning is not the only reason I write, however. I am a very sensitive person. This had made me very observant and adaptive but also extremely emotional and self-critical. The only way I have been able to
release my negative emotions is through writing. As I weave my words, placing them delicately and exactly in cascading sentences, sadness, anger and annoyance runs out of me. That is why most creative people are very emotional and sensitive. Creativity is a way to let out emotions because it connects to something deeply within oneself. I derive an innate and quiet pleasure, one that engulfs my heart and challenges my brain. It almost shocks me when people complain about writing or when my class
groans after being assigned a writing prompt. I understand that analyzing a quote is not the most enjoyable activity, but it is still compelling, at least for me. This is because, no matter what type of writing it is, it connects to me. There is no greater happiness for me than finding the perfect word or ordering a sentence to make it flow, captivating the reader. I believe that imagination also plays a role in my love of writing. A palpable example of this is when I describe an event. I imagine the occurrence along with the words that etch onto the page with my decisive fingers. But this is not the only time I imagine with my writing. Even when describing a feeling or analyzing something, my brain concocts an image that guides me. It is in my subconscious, so this creation is rather passive, but it still sets the course for my writing. Writing has been my
My Different Forms of Art By Natalie Wolff
People have different ways of having fun or relieving stress. Going out with your friends or even going on a run can be a great way to relax. Personally, I have always found it nicer to just take out my drawing pad and sketch for hours on end. When I think about the bad grade I got on that math test, the drama with my friends or the stress I feel in my own home, I will simply close the door to my room, grab my number two pencil and draw. Sometimes I will reference a drawing I found online or just draw one simple design over and over until it fills up the entire page. I have experimented with several different styles of drawing and painting that I enjoy practicing in my free time. There are many things I like about a certain type of art and some things that I find quite frustrating. Besides drawing, I also have a lot of experience with acrylic painting. I have been taking painting lessons
since fourth grade and have painted hundreds of landscapes and cartoons. At the time, I was not very good at traditional drawing. What really got me into painting was the fact that you don’t have to look at the full picture at first. You start off with painting the background and then slowly
start adding smaller and more intricate designs. I learned that you can paint anything you want by making several small, simple shapes and just adding them all together, one by one, until your canvas is filled. One thing I find
frustrating about painting is that it can get incredibly messy and time-consuming when it comes to setting up supplies. It also takes up a lot of space. That’s why I switched to drawing at home. I didn’t really start drawing until a few years ago. After all the art lessons, I simply did what I would do on a canvas and
traded my brush for a pencil. I found that it is a lot easier to get and set up supplies for drawing than it is for painting. Drawing can be really fun, but most of the time I end up scrapping my work and don’t put as much effort into it. I like to draw when
I just want to do something light and simple. Along with painting and drawing, I recently got into digital drawing. Digital drawing is somewhat similar to painting and is a nice alternative. With digital drawing, you can easily fill in all of the blank spaces with just one stroke. Digital drawing is also a lot easier to set up than painting, and it is much cleaner.
Evolutio By Sonia
Art allows for a visual interpret specific event, or simply creative exp about artists like Leonardo Da Vinc and many more. But art comes in va painting. From paintings to music t us with endless opportunities to sho
Throughout the years as societ in art. Different time periods broug enced by the culture. The Renaissan from the Middle Ages to modernity the 17th century and was the transit modern day as we know it today. Re awareness of nature, a revival of cla alistic view of mankind. It also has a plague and war.
Leonardo Da Vinci became a h sance period after his iconic art piec Renaissance artists paved the way fo art had a lasting influence on mode allowed for cultural expansion and It broke social borders and gave peo the chance to pursue a career in the the printing press was created, whic people who wanted to write.
Digital expressionism marks th Photography is a form of art that ha artists such as Henri Cartier-Bresso pieces using their creative vision. H very first people to use 35mm film a candid photography. He was the fou which took charge on cultivating hu
Nan Goldin is famous for her p bodies, the HIV crisis, and the opio influenced by Andy Warhol, Federi immersed herself into the city’s gay created her very first art show accen and sexuality.
A pain about digital drawing is that if you don’t already have the supplies, it can be incredibly expensive. You first need an iPad or drawing monitor, and later you need to buy pens and a drawing program. If you do end up buying all of those gadgets, you still have to learn how to actually use those programs. If you do not have the patience to learn digital drawing or don’t want to invest hundreds of dollars, then it is not a good match for you. All in all, art is definitely an amazing escape from the world. It allows
Photos courtesy of PNGkey, chairish.co
Special Feature
may 31, 2019
5
g creativity What Theater Means to Me By Trixie Rodriguez
on of Art Wadher
etation of life, a commemoration of a xpression. I have grown up learning ci, Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe various forms, not only drawing and to literature to theatre, art provides howcase artists’ skills.
ty advanced, we have seen a change ght changes to art that were influance Period marked the transition y. It lasted between the 14th and ition that created the beginning of enaissance art was influenced by assical learning and a more individua darker past as it was influenced by
household name during the Renaiseces, the Mona Lisa in particular. for future modern day artists; their ern generations. The Renaissance d societal class divisions to be broken. eople who weren’t part of elite classes e arts. Also during the Renaissance, ich gave more opportunities to
he art era that we are in right now. has been around for years now, and on and Nan Goldin created masterHenri Cartier-Bresson was one of the and became known as the master of ounder of Magnum Photos in 1947, humanistic photography.
photographs highlighting LGBTQ+ oid epidemic. She was heavily ico Fellini and Helmut Newton. She y and transgender communities and ntuating love, gender, domesticity
om, PNG arts, Pinterest, unixTitan and PurePNG
Without the Ancient Greeks, modern life would be almost unrecognizable, at least my life. I mean, there’s just so much to thank those toga-wearing ancestors for, such as the Olympics, democracy, the existence of the Percy Jackson series and theatre as it’s known today. Western theatre got its start some thousands of years ago in Ancient Greece, and today, it can be seen globally. As the world has changed, theatre has grown and adapted unlike any other medium of art. Theatre is special because it is the union of so many different forms of creativity. It gives writers and poets a place where their words can come alive and touch the audience directly. It gives actors a chance to escape the real world and completely immerse themselves into a world of art. It gives artists an entire stage as a canvas and designers a story to tell through fashion. There is a role for everyone in the theatre community. Theatre also has an
uncanny ability to reveal its power to the people who need it the most. I was 10 when the stage made its way into my life. Growing up, I was a horribly over-dramatic child who desired nothing more than attention and maybe a can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup. I had little interest in school and everything associated with it. This meant reading and writing, among other things. But then in third grade, my class put on a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and I instantly fell in love with Shakespeare’s language. As I kid, I didn’t fully understand the meaning of Shakespeare’s words, but I did understand that they were beautiful, which at the time was enough. This early introduction to Shakespeare sparked my interest in literature and poetry. That was also the year I discovered the joy of performing. For me, acting has never been about becoming someone else. It’s taking
my most fundamental traits and molding them to tell a story. Controlling an audience yields a sense of euphoria that is quite literally addictive. This addiction is what brings people back to the stage despite the ache and hurt that so very often accompanies theatre. I could go on for hours about the magic of theatre but more often than not theatre is fraught with frustration and entropy. I’ve been in more bad productions than good ones and even when everything does fall into place and things go as planned the process is messy at best. There have been many times when I’ve wanted to quit theatre but the hope of creating art is what brings me back. I couldn’t escape the hold drama has on my life even if I wanted to. Something that people who do theatre always talk about is the community. Over the years, I have met wonderful, talented and caring people through theatre. I have also met literal demons who think being a
Why I Love Writing By Neveah Campos
When I was in elementary school, my favorite subject was always math. But what confused me was that I would get better grades in English. It wasn’t until seventh grade when my passion for writing finally came into play. I think my interest in writing sparked when it did because middle school was a very tough time in my life, and writing was my escape. I remember carrying around a black journal in my backpack, and in it, I would write down all my “works.” Sadly, the journal was damaged due to a beverage spilling in my backpack, so I transferred my writing into notes on my phone. Ever since then, it has been my virtual diary. Usually, diaries are supposed to be private, but once I finish a piece of writing I’ve been working on, I can’t wait to share it. As I got older, my writing style started to evolve. Before, I would write long passages, but now I write short poems. I am very particular when it comes to writing styles and genre of books. I read about two hours
daily, which strengthens my vocabulary. When I write, I usually don’t write for myself. I write for the people who are reading it, so they are able to relate to it and understand it. When writing poetry, wisdom plays an important role, and it is usually inspired by experiences, which is what truly gives meaning to the words. Some of my favorite poets are Atticus, r.h Sin and Amanda Lovelace. All of these writers have a very clear and concise writing style that I am very fond of. In only a small passage, they can tell a whole story. Writing is a very powerful thing. Because of it, we have songs, movies, shows, books, et cetera. Creative writing is more present in our lives than we realize. I am fortunate enough that writing comes easy to me. My favorite thing about writing is that you don’t always have to be inspired. Sometimes your best writing comes when you have nothing to do but write. I think that now writing has especially become more accessible in our lives. Instead
of using a pen and paper, you can simply type on your phone or laptop. You don’t need to love writing to be creative; all you have to do is just write.
drama kid means you have to belt the entire soundtrack to Dear Evan Hansen in crowded public areas. But ultimately, being part of a theatre community means being surrounded by artists who all share a holy desire to simply make people feel.
Opinion
May 31, 2019
6
My healing from a best friend heartbreak
by Anonymous Anonymous
People always say that ending a friendship with a best friend is worse than going through a breakup, and even though I have never been in a romantic relationship, I still know a little bit about heartbreak. Up until January of last year, my life was incredible. I had really good grades; I was on good terms with everyone around me, and I had an amazing best friend.
We hadn’t known each other for very long, but we clicked so fast, and we understood each other so well. It just felt right. But at the end of that month, we started to drift apart. She started making excuses to avoid hanging out with me and barely looked at me when we passed each other in the hallway. I thought she was just going through a tough time, and she needed to be alone, so I let her be. I didn’t bug her too much, and I tried to check up on her, not that she replied. On February 19, 2018, we were coming back from a camping trip that was a week long. The entire time she kept ignoring me and always went to hang out with other people. But this time there was something different about her behavior; it was as if she was going
out of her way to ignore me. On the last day of camp, I decided to confront her about it and asked if something happened. I wanted to know if we could talk about it because I didn’t want to lose her. She told me that it was something I did and that she would talk to me about it sometime during the ride home. The ride was eight hours long. Around the fifth hour, she sat me down and told me that lately, people have been talking to her about how they didn’t like me and how they found things that I did irritating. She said she tried to ignore those things, but then she started noticing them and slowly started to dislike me. I was very hurt and confused, but I kept listening. She started telling me what those people said— a moment that I have
completely erased from my mind. After ten minutes of humiliation, I told her I hated her, and I cried the rest of the way home. The months that came after were rough because I didn’t have any friends here anymore; all of my good friends went to Homestead. I remember spending lunches alone in the library, just crying because a new reality sank in: I have been betrayed, and I am now alone. Then, I got mad, and I wanted revenge. I just couldn’t believe that she would hurt me like this. I trusted her with my life, and she knew everything about me, from a little crush I had to my deepest desires. Maybe I just needed closure; all I wanted was to know why she did what she did. Now, a year later, I have found people who truly
love me for who I am, and I am so thankful for them. The road to recovery is long and sometimes frustrating, but it is worth it in the end, please remember that. A few weeks ago, we started reading The Kite Runner in class, and during a discussion, my teacher asked us if we think a flawed character deserves redemption. I immediately thought of my friend from last year, who is now nothing more to me than a memory. I remembered how she humiliated me on that ride home and how she said all the right things to make me feel terrible about myself. But I also remember the one thing I didn’t like about her: she never thought about the consequences of her actions. She always did things without caring about how the people around her
would be affected. I never said that out loud or wrote it down until now. Maybe I did move on from what happened, and her words are just wounds only time will heal, or maybe I haven’t moved on yet but just accepted the fact that she did. Even though I am not as happy as I used to be, and I might not have closure, I am glad I saw her true personality before it was too late. I got to make better friends who are there for me and who I place my full trust in. If you are going through something similar, remember that it is okay to be alone for a while before opening up to people. For a long time, I was really scared to let people in, but eventually, I learned that when the right person comes along, everything just works itself out.
Disconnected from my culture: how it feels
by Lauren Panzer Copy Editor
The day my grandfather died is a foggy memory; When I recall it, I feel as if my senses were dulled like I’m drowning and docile, unable to hear anything but the water in my ears. I sat in the master bedroom of my grandma’s house, a little,
cornflower-blue villa that always smelled of sandalwood. Nestled between palm trees in suburban Santa Barbara, my-home-away-fromhome stood humbly. I sat on the dark green carpet of the master-bedroom, playing with brightly colored stuffed animals. It was 2007; I was barely three years old. I was young and oblivious as my grandpa suffered a heart attack on the couch. I was unaware enough that I didn’t know he had died until years later, when the time had erased all the memories I spent with him. I don’t know that much about him because I was so young when he passed.
My mother told me many things about him, like how he enlisted himself in the Navy during the Vietnam War, how he raised her with tough love and how he didn’t speak a word Spanish, even though his mother did. My mother told me that my grandma spoke more Spanish than he did because of her career as a nurse. He didn’t speak a lick of Spanish, even though he looked the part. Because of prejudice, my mother said, because great-grandma wanted the best for her children. She only wanted them to speak English so they could get into good schools—so they didn’t have to suffer through
racism and language barriers like she had. I’m angry about that. They’ve taken my own culture away from me and buried it with my ancestors. My own culture is so distant from me that I’m reluctant to call myself Hispanic. I don’t fit in with the white kids, and I don’t fit in with the Hispanic ones. I am a grey-area, an amalgam of the two that seems out of place wherever you put it. I witness my relatives turn on their own people. Whether it be rooted from self-conscious hate or other influence, I see the threads of culture break away from the hearts of those close to me.
My uncle. He’s a six-foot-tall conservative who loves beer, Trump and the protection of his 2nd amendment rights. His ancestors are the Californios that came from parts of annexed Mexico. His skin is tan like my grandpa. The tension in the air is thick on Christmas Eve as he talks about his job— about how he “doesn’t work with those Mexicans”. I can feel my breath catch in my throat as he dehumanizes his own ancestors—The heart of the precious culture I try so hard to protect. He says those things because he’s scared. He’s doesn’t want to accept himself because he knows that preju-
dice isn’t skin deep. It festers in you like a sickness and makes you hate the blood that runs in your veins. It makes you hate your own heritage. I don’t want him to be scared anymore. I don’t want to be scared anymore either. Hispanic culture is so diverse and rich. It shaped who I am today and gave me a new curiosity of those who came before me. My heart beats for Christmas tamales and masa flour and for the ruined missions where my ancestors once lived. I am proud to be Hispanic, despite the prejudice of the world. I have had my culture taken away from me, and I want it back. Viva la Raza.
Grandma, I miss you
by Jay Ghate Staff Writer
Sometimes the inevitable happens: a loved one passes away. The experience can be hard especially if you were close to that person. But one must remember that life will continue to go on. Coping with a loss is hard and it is completely normal to have a wide range of emotions. Death will happen to everyone. But why does it take parents a really long time to educate their children about death? According to Psychology Today, a parent should tell their child the truth about what happened right away. That way, it gives the child an idea of how to mourn because the parent is being open and honest. If a child becomes sad or even angry about the loss, these emotions should be accepted because the child is processing the trauma. Psychology Today recommends sharing the information in small doses,
that way the child can handle what was just told. It is also advised to avoid using words like “passed away”, “went to sleep”, or “crossed over” and use words like “died” or “death”. When I was four, my grandmother died. She was only 61 and died in a motorcycle crash. I would remember sometimes seeing or hearing my mom crying in the middle of the night, and it took me a while to understand why. I don’t really remember much of her but many people say that we were very close. During family gatherings, I would notice that she was nowhere to be found and my relatives always told me she was out of town. A few months or maybe a year later, I fully understood that my grandmother was gone forever. I know my parents had the best intentions, but it still frustrates me that they never told me the truth. What were they afraid of? That I would not comprehend death? I would become hysterical? Never recover? She may have died over ten years ago, but I still spend hours finding answers to my questions. I have asked my parents multiple times, and they have said the same thing over and over: I would not get it. I knew I was never going to get a different answer. Unfortunately for me, it took me a long time to understand death because of my parents. But hopefully, the new generations will be more aware of what death is at a younger age, because it is something that happens to everyone.
Opinion
May 31, 2019
Spoiler alerts: viewer discretion is advised
by Abby Mingus Staff writer
Film has become one of the largest influences on the young people of today. The superhero movies and television dramas that are watched and debriefed hours after release are the center of conversations for all age demographics and will continue to be, for generations to come.
Movie universes, like Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, and popular tv dramas ,such as Game of Thrones, This Is Us, Greys Anatomy and teen dramas like Riverdale, are often spoiled too soon. It is well known to anyone scrolling through social media that there is a chance a film could be ruined. Spoilers are not uncommon, and as long as websites like Vox and Movie Spoiler are around, having a movie ruined is highly likely. There are many individuals who isolate themselves from the media after a work is released with the intentions of staying away from spoilers. It has become a com-
mon trend for many to make spoiler edits. This entails a compilation of clips from important scenes, placed together in an aesthetic manner with the beginning showing a large “Warning: Spoiler Alert”. This has been seen frequently after the recent release of the fourth Avengers film, Avengers EndGame. After the third movie, Avengers Infinity War, caused many issues when it came to spoilers, many people were very cautious. The concept of widespread spoilers has become such a big deal that even the makers of the movies themselves are sending out messages. The cast of EndGame released a video on Marvel’s
Music festival blues
by Sophia Suon Staff writer
In 2017, I attended my first music festival the Rolling Loud Bay Area. I had the time of my life vibing with my best friends and other people who shared the same love for rappers and artists as me. However, I didn’t understand how much of a danger zone music festivals and concerts could potentially be. My key items to surviving music festivals include: a hydro flask for dehydration, a fanny pack or small backpack for pepper spray, money and other important necessities and be cautious about your surroundings and be aware of the drug activity around you. Dehydration was a prominent problem not only at Rolling Loud but also at other concerts I’ve been to as well. The hectic crowds cause you to become drained from being constantly pushed by others. Remembering to keep water bottles on you is an absolute necessity. In 2016, at the HARD Summer Music Festival, three people died of dehydration and drug
overdose, according to Los Angeles Times. The following year, a 19-year old man died due to the same causes at HARD. Being aware of your surroundings is very important to keep yourself safe at music concerts. I’ve heard endless stories about people getting drugged by others. Normally, large backpacks aren’t allowed at music festivals or concerts but bringing a small bag is really important. Small necessities, like portable phone chargers to avoid getting lost or losing your group, is also a must. Also, bring hygiene products like chapstick and sunblock. Another struggle at music festivals is staying clean. Since most festivals are outdoors, the area conditions can cause your body to get dirty. Usually at festivals, people sweat. Not only does it affect them, but it also affects the people around them. When being rubbed up against other people at these festivals, you can get their bacteria which can cause fungal infections like ringworm. The concept that everybody is just trying to have a good time is something many don’t understand. I’ve seen so many people getting pulled out of crowds by security because of fights that broke out and people getting injured, as a result. I, myself, have gotten into arguments with the people around me. Individuals
get extremely fed up with standing in the same place for hours. Those with long hair constantly get their hair pulled and tugged on. Security isn’t much of a help either because they can’t really do anything besides try to calm down the crowd, which is nearly impossible when the crowds are filled with over 40,000 people. “Mosh pits” are another reason people end up with injuries. Mosh pits are exactly what they sound like: a pit of people moshing and raging with each other. Surprisingly though, it is usually bystanders that get hurt from people swinging and throwing their bodies around. Although there are few struggles I’ve dealt with at music festivals and concerts, a lot of people like me believe the struggle is seriously worth it and somewhat an experience. Even after hearing a few of the precautions of music concerts, if you have an insane love for music as much as me, there are upcoming festivals in the Bay Area this year, Outside Lands in San Francisco on August 10-11th and Rolling Loud Bay Area won September 28 and 29.
Sophia Suon | The Phoenix
Instagram where they all said in a compilation, “don’t spoil the EndGame.” Of course, it is very common for “trolls” to only discuss the outcome of movies with the sole intention of upsetting people. This is seen on various social media platforms like Instagram, as people post things that are not true about a movie plot line, hoping people will believe them and become upset, as they think the work has been spoiled for them. This has also become a large issue with large long running television dramas like HBO’s Game of Thrones. With a television show so big that 500,000 people signed a petition to
keep the show going a few days prior to the series finale being released, it is known that it will be talked about in articles, posts on social media and of course word of mouth. There are many magazines and websites whose sole purpose is spoiling movies and TV shows, so that the individuals who do not intend to watch the film or show can be caught up. Although many spoilers are considered to ruin the point of the film, according to research by University of California San Diego psychology professor Nicholas Christenfeld says, “Spoilers don’t ruin a story, they simply make it more enjoyable.” and that “Having
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extra information about artworks can make them more satisfying, as can the predictability of an experience.” Further research indicated that having something spoiled made them want to watch it more. Whether spoilers personally affect an individual to watch a film, it is still societally rude to spoil something. Wait until everyone has seen it, until then, stay off of social media.
Summer soulmates
by Alexis Rodriguez Staff writer
For so many years, millions of people have had the desire to find a love so grand that it absorbs their ability to sleep, eat or even breathe. Love is a beautiful part of life that many strive for, but as many of us know, love is hard and gives us the greatest pain of all. All over the world, social media, cinematic films and written publications have given the youth a false depiction of what love really is and how it affects us. As our world of technology has grown, there has been a significant increase in the use of social media, which is where many children and adults interact online. As amazing as social media is, there are many things wrong with the objective of it and how we present parts of our lives. Social media is one of the leading pressures of premature love, given that many relationship accounts post about love and the excessive longing for it. There are also couples who post daily vlogs on their so-called “private” relationship. Our world and media have created this illusion of love that seems almost
impossible to even compare to, especially as teenagers. As beautiful as love seems, many of us let the bliss and beauty of the phantasm of love blind our abilities to acknowledge the pain and suffering that comes with it. Whether we choose to accept it or not, teenagers do have a harder time controlling their emotions. Many of us often struggle between reacting too much and reacting too little based off of our immediate feelings towards a situation. Often times, teenagers overreact when they even come remotely close to love. As our media presents this false reality of teenage life, it causes us to believe in something that may never happen. Even movies that most of us consider classics, such as Grease, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and so many more, create this false connotation of love that isn’t reality. Women and men torture themselves to find a love that mimics these scenarios that these characters seem to find: a type of love that was initiated in the most peculiar, but in the most relatable way possible. Whether it be receiving a detention citation or falling for someone from afar, love is unpredictable, but what we need to understand is that love is patient. Love is something that we can, in no way, rush or control but is rather a gift that life may give us. Time is one of love’s biggest challenges and may have us thinking that we may never find love or be worthy of it, but this is far from reality. Believe it or not, we all are beautiful in our own ways and are worthy of love, we just have to be patient, and let it come to us.
Photo courtesy of 80svintagecomics
sports The new Fremont jersey replacement policy
mAy 31, 2019
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by Emily Wilson Sports Editor
Recently, sports articles in The Phoenix have sparked interest, specifically from Fremont High School Athletic Boosters President, Lenora Heuchert. She offers a perspective not included in the previous articles— the perspective of the Athletic Boosters. Heuchert brought to our attention a recent change in the jersey replacement policy, or lack thereof,
according to FHS Athletic Director, Jason Townsend. “[I am] not aware of a new policy,” Townsend said. “I look at the needs of each and every team at FHS and try to work with them individually to come up with a way to support them.” However, Heuchert, along with select coaches and parents, are under the impression that there is a policy, or at least a certain approach to replacing jerseys. According to Heuchert,
teams with enough money have to pay for 50 percent of their jerseys. Teams who do not have enough money simply do not have to pay. For example, the varsity girls soccer team recently had to pay for their uniforms. Fred Stahl, a parent of a FHS soccer player, has strong opinions on the subject. “As a parent, I think every team should be given the same exact rotation of uniforms,” Stahl said. “[FHS] should not take
money away [from teams who have enough money] and use it for uniforms [for teams who don’t have enough money].” As a parent who has donated money to the team, he also believes money donated by parents should not go towards jerseys, which are an essential part of the game. Rather, the donated money should go towards “extras,” such as new balls, team jackets, etc. In addition, Heuchert addresses the Athletic
Booster’s involvement in which sports team gets what, in terms of uniforms, equipment or anything else the team might need. The Athletic Boosters exist to help fund teams, but they do not pay for the uniforms. Instead, they pay for various team expenses such as tournaments and special coaches, among other things. The Athletic Boosters put a lot of effort into their work to fund the FHS athletic teams. “Volunteers do conces-
sions [among other things] to make money for the Boosters,” Heuchert said. “We try to help the teams.” Jersey replacement is generally decided by which teams require them (often immediately). FHS Athletic Boosters help fund the teams as much as they can as well, though they do not pay for the uniforms. Parents can also donate to help pay for extras.
Fremont seniors playing sports in college by Kiana Devera Sports Editor
ASHLEY MA
Ashley Ma has been swimming since she was three years old and she has not stopped since. The Santa Clara swimmer has enrolled into the University of California Davis and is majoring in neurobiology and physiology and behavior. She plans to become a physical therapist. Ma started the recruiting process her junior year and went on recruiting trips during the beginning of her senior year. Recruiters then watched her swim in CCS or state finals and then they would come talk to her. Ma chose UC Davis because she liked the team atmosphere, academics and what they offer. She says it was a good fit. Ma has been participating in competitions since she was five years old and has continuously wanted to improve her times. Not even her asthma could hold her back. She was put into swimming by her mom when she heard that it would help her lungs. Ma hopes her swimming career would lead to the NCAA’s and maybe later to the Olympics. “I have a dual citizenship in Taiwan so I’m going to try to see if I can represent Taiwan at world [...] and if I do get my Olympic trial cut,” said Ma. “[But only] if I’m fast enough. We’ll see.”
ADRIAN PEREZ Adrian Perez was scouted by the Santa Barbara Community College soccer coach John Sisterson during one of his club tournaments in Los Angeles. Perez has played soccer since he was four years old with his dad, who is also one of his biggest inspirations. He is majoring in biology and after his two years at SBCC, he hopes to transfer to the University of California Santa Barbara. Perez then plans on going to dentistry school to achieve a DDS. “Maybe just in college [I’ll play soccer], but if [I get an offer for professional soccer] I would definitely play,” says Perez. “I’m just hoping to do my best in college. Whatever happens, happens.”
Photos courtesy of Allison Morgan and Gretchen Parenteau, QuickCycle Photo