The Phoenix Vol. 8, Issue 1

Developing an Identity in High School See Pages 6 & 7

The Testaments

My experience at a Climate Change March See Page 8

See Page 4

Fremont High School

the

PHOENIX

Vol. 8 Issue No. 1 OCT. 4, 2019

special education at fremont high school

by Michael Wang and Thomas Poplawski Collaboration

Many students do not have the opportunity to learn about the special education curriculum here at Fremont. However, despite this limited awareness, the special education class is a vital part of FHS and other California public schools.

About 10 percent of students enrolled in California public schools receive some form of special education, as reported by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office. According to the California Department of Education, about 800 thousand people were provided with some form of special education from 2018-2019. Special education is not offered only at the high school level; they can be found in daycares, preschools

and even workplaces. In order to shed some light on the subject, special education teacher Sunny McCain provided her insight as a special education teacher herself.

“I like the way [the students at FHS] welcomed me but also the way they greet my students on campus,” McCain said.

“They smile; they give them a high-five. Some of them call my students by name, which makes them so proud and happy. I also enjoy the support that I get as a new staff member from the other staff. That’s one big strength that I notice at Fremont that you don’t find everywhere: a community of support where everyone is respectful and kind.”

In order to provide additional assistance to those who need it, McCain moved from general education to teach special education. She was inspired by her mother, who taught special education, and her brother, who has special needs, to become a teacher

They Smile; they give them a high-five. some of them call my students by name, which makes them so proud and happy.

Sunny McCain

in this specific field.

McCain’s teaching experience is diverse, having taught in South Carolina, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and California. Her time at FHS has been positive for both her and her students.

“I wanted to take my love for teaching to help those that are even more in need of academic support,” McCain said. “My goal is to take information and break it down, so I can help them understand it easily.”

Additionally, senior Dominique Santiago Fessenden, who is a student in special education, shared her opinion on the curriculum and FHS. She said she enjoys working with her peers and the staff and enjoys the design and cleanliness of the school. “[The teachers] help us

a lot,” Santiago Fessenden said.

Regarding the courses themselves, special education and general education share many similarities.

For one, both curriculums attempt to prepare students for life after high school no matter where their aspirations will lead them.

In special education, the students are taught many life and community skills in order to help them obtain meaningful employment within the community when they graduate. The teachers utilize surveys and assessments to gauge the students’ interests and skills in certain areas. Based on the results, the teachers are able to clearly discern which career each individual student has a preference for or strength in.

“One of my students is interested in working at a Ross, so we’re trying to make sure that we teach them about giving eye contact [and] having nice

manners,” said McCain.

“Of course, they’re going to need to know how to make change and do stocking, so they have to know how to sort items and know which items go into which department.”

McCain stated that students who are in special education have “dreams and goals,” just as those in general education. At the end of the day, both general and special education students depend on the assistance of FHS teachers to guide them and further their knowledge towards their career goals.

“My favorite thing about teaching for Special Ed is seeing [the students] happy when they come to school, seeing them have goals that they set and [...] achieve [and] seeing the smile that brightens their face,” McCain said. “It just makes my whole day to see them successful at what they’re attempting to do.”

Hana Duus | The Phoenix Jay Ghate| The Phoenix Photo courtesy of Kayla Balentine

The effects of Climate Change on the Earth

by Yashvi Rawat Staff Writer

Climate change is an ongoing issue that will continue to affect the planet unless major steps are taken. The growing crisis is encouraging many people, particularly the younger generation, to speak out and take action to protect the planet’s future.

Climate change has major implications on the health of people, the environment and the economy.

Currently, over 800 million people are vulnerable to the effects of climate change and will become refugees if it continues. Global warming is being powered in part by natural causes, such as

variations in sunlight and volcanic eruptions, but humans are greatly accelerating this process by releasing billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the environment per year. This has caused the global temperature of Earth to go up by 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 150 years. Scientists say we now have only 11 years before the damage done to Earth is irreversible.

Due to these drastic changes in the Earth’s temperature, people are taking action through dozens of worldwide climate strikes.

The purpose of these latest strikes, which occurred on Sep. 20, 2019, was to raise awareness about the

climate change crisis and to demand change.

“I feel like it’s important to attend this strike because I really want our planet to be okay, and currently, it’s at a really bad point,” sophomore Leora Feinsmith said.

She, along with other Fremont High School students, are working to advocate for the strike and get more people

involved.

Millions of people showed up to strikes around the world, with thousands of people protesting in San Jose alone.

Most of the crowd consisted of students, but many older people came to show their support. The protesters have created a list of demands, including protecting and restoring

of biodiversity, ending deforestation and investing in farmers and regenerative agriculture. Climate change activists also emphasize the importance of making changes in a way that respects indigenous people and protects their land.

Their main objective is to ensure that the Green New Deal is enacted.

The Green New Deal is a law proposed by Representative Alexandria OcasioCortez. It simply states that the US will make the usage of clean energy a priority.

Advocates for this plan hope to implement said Green New Deal goals by 2030.

However, none of these goals can be met without

every person contributing to this cause. Each individual can make an impact in the fight against climate change.

Changing everyday habits, such as choosing organic, locally produced foods and reducing air travel, can help minimize one’s carbon footprint. Getting involved can be as easy as spreading the word and educating others or attending a climate strike. Every small action helps play a role in the fight against climate change.

My experience at a Climate Change march, Page 8 Graphic courtesy of Tumblr

News

OCT. 4, 2019

2

The National Student Leadership Conference

by Quinten Seghers

News Editor

What major do I want to pursue? All high school students eventually have to answer this question for themselves one way or another, especially seniors, who are already beginning to finalize their college lists this school year and starting the arduous application process.

One opportunity that all students across the nation can take advantage of to help combat this task is by applying to the National Student Leadership

Conference (NSLC). The NSLC hosts six to 18-daylong programs on 13 different well-known campuses across the nation. The duration largely depends on which subject the program focuses on. The universities that students can visit under the NSLC program

include Yale University, Harvard Medical School, the University of California Berkeley and many more.

“I ended up going to a different program called the Summer Springboard at Yale University in Connecticut, and I took the medical track,” sophomore Sophia Suon said. “I think that [the NSLC and Summer Springboard] are really similar opportunities.”

Select high school students are given the opportunity to experience the university lifestyle by sleeping in the university’s dorm rooms, while also being able to learn about specific careers. These careers range from medicine, law, business and more. All of these programs include various workshops and lectures from leaders in these fields, giving students an up-close

and personal view of what their selected field of study would entail.

Students who do decide to attend the program or programs like it find that it does truly help them figure out what they want to do in life.

“We got to go to the hospital a lot, and we learned about CPR and we also took bio-science classes,” Suon said. “I think that I came back from that program more interested in medicine, and I figured out that I enjoyed it.”

These exclusive programs always take place over the summer, starting in early July and ending in early August. The deadline to apply for the NSLC program for high school students for the upcoming summer is March 12, 2020.

All of this raises the

question of, how does one get into this program?

First off, for a high school student to be eligible for the NSLC, they must have a “B” average or higher. Next, one can either be nominated for the program by a teacher, counselor or by a NSLC alumni member.

If a student is not nominated, one can still apply for admission via the NSLC’s website as a merit applicant.

Merit applicants require a teacher or counselor recommendation and must have leadership potential and be academically inclined. Once accepted, one can enroll into any NSLC program of one’s choice, if there is still space left.

One of the downsides to attending the NSLC is the cost. These programs can range anywhere from 2495 to 5295 dollars to attend.

The majority of scholarships given by the NSLC can only provide so much aid due to the fact that a significant proportion of applicants apply for financial aid. According to the NSLC website, the majority of NSLC scholarships, are need-based and rarely merit-based and range between 250 to 750 dollars.

Either way, the NSLC can still be a great opportunity for students who are interested in learning more about a specific career field, and for those who want to experience the college lifestyle. All it takes is a certain level of dedication towards being a strong, academic, community leader.

Graphics courtesy of Pinterest

How to take the SAT and ACT while on a budget

by Hannah Azur

Staff Writer

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Test (ACT) are important parts of the college application process for many students, due to the fact that most colleges require these exams as a part of the application.

The SAT in total, excluding the optional essay portion, has four sections: two English sections and two mathematics sections.

The English portion covers critical reading and writing skills, and the mathematics sections cover trigonometry, radian measure, geometry and complex numbers.

The ACT has an English section and a mathematics section—which covers algebra, trigonometry and planar geometry—as well as a reading section and a science section, along with an optional writing section.

Both exams are intended to provide a measure of an individual’s readiness for college.

There are three main differences between these two tests: the cost, the number of questions and the scoring system.

Taking the SAT at Fremont normally costs around 47.50 dollars and around 64.50 dollars if one were to take the essay portion. The ACT costs 46 dollars without the essay section, but 62.50 dollars with it. Registering late also adds 29.50 dollars to the original price.

All in all, taking the SAT or ACT can be expensive.

Even preparatory classes for the SAT and ACT range anywhere from 75 to 1,000 dollars. Fortunately, FHS offers a lot of help, whether that is financial assistance or college planning support for students.

College and Career

Center advisor Lupita Yanez has a word of advice for students who are financially struggling or currently preparing for these exams.

“We have fee waivers that can be provided to students that qualify for either ACT or SAT or both,” Yanez said.

Students who are eligible and registered for the waiver are allowed to take either the SAT or ACT twice per year. This fee waiver includes the optional essay on both tests, and students will not be required to pay. Students can determine if they are eligible for the waiver by applying for an application.

Another additional resource that students can use is the College and Career Center.

The College and Career Center has a lot of free resources for students to use such as the SAT and

ACT booklets which include questions pulled from tests given the previous year and are a great resource for students to study from.

Senior Keerthana Ananda recommends using Khan Academy as well when preparing for the tests due to the online program’s effectiveness and free cost.

“You could also ask people who have already finished their testing for their prep books and practice tests, so you can reuse them,” Ananda said.

Although there are no preparation classes offered in the fall, FHS will host SAT and ACT classes starting in the spring. The classes will last for two to three months and will be held once a week. The price for this varies from 50 to 100 dollars, although the fee waiver also covers this cost. The Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) is

also a way to help students prepare for the SAT. The PSAT is also available and administered at FHS. “The practice SAT test, we’re having this year October 20th, it is an opportunity for sophomore and juniors to be able to take that practice SAT,” Yanez said. “Sophomores don’t have to pay for it, they are automatically registered.”

The PSAT gives students great insight into the structure of the real SAT, and how they would score

on it.

Overall, whether one decides to take either the SAT and ACT or both, one’s financial status should not and will not have a negative impact on students at FHS.

Graphics courtesy of PinClipArt, Katherine Miller Education and BoiseState Public Radio

The influx of freshman at Fremont High School

by Sarah Madden

Staff Writer

This year, Fremont High School has been attempting to deal with the ramifications of a sudden and large increase in the freshman class sizes and general newcomers.

The new freshmen class greatly outnumbers the graduating seniors. This has been problematic for multiple teachers across campus, due to the constant re-scheduling of classes and shuffling of students. Fresh-

man teachers, like math teacher I-Heng McComb, have had trouble with the massive influx of students arriving after the first day of school.

“On the Friday before school started, my class list had 24 students, and by the time school started on Monday, it had jumped from 24 to 33 and by the end of the first week, it was 45,” McComb said. “That meant that a lot of students were arriving at the school who did not register before school started.”

McComb teaches math and sheltered classes, which typically have a much smaller student count than regular classes. This year, she had the biggest class in her 12 years of teaching and had to split the section into two separate classes.

The rise in the student population has been partly attributed to demographic patterns, with the student population having risen gradually over the past few years.

“Often when you are immigrating, you might

not necessarily be ready for school at the same moment that school starts,” McComb said. “If you are not moved here and ready to go yet, you might enter school a week late, two weeks late, three weeks late, so students keep coming.”

This is made clear by the vast number of students arriving during the first week of school.

The Fremont Union High School District’s projections of how many new students would be arriving at school were off, and as a result,

teachers and administrators were taken by surprise.

“It was really the surprise that threw everybody [off], and I think everyone worked hard to make this workable,” McComb said. “I got a Paraeducator [teacher aid] in the classroom to help after I taught the class by myself for a couple of days they added another adult [to help] teach the class and then a couple of the other teachers student tutors and TA’s.”

The staff’s and the school’s handling of the

excessive number of new freshmen demonstrates the school’s readiness to handle any situation effectively. The administration feels that if this were to ever happen in the future, the school will be more prepared to deal with it.

“I think they are going to learn from this, and as long as that happens, then I think future projections will be more accurate,” McComb said.

Good luck to the class of 2023, go Firebirds!

Photo courtesy of Teen News

News

OCt. 4, 2019

Pathways for FHS students

by Steven Bhirdo Staff Writer

For some high school students, the idea of going to college may be the only thing on their minds. For others, it is the last thing that they think about.

No matter where a student falls on that spectrum, there are various opportunities waiting for them.

Fremont High School has many students who wish to take these paths.

“I actually really don’t know what my plan is for high school, but all I know is that I just want to go to college,” junior Ryan Yoo said. “Any college really, most likely a state.”

Yoo has chosen to go to college after high school.

This is a valid option for

students. By going to college and finding a major, students can get a leg up in applying for high-paying jobs. “[Some pros of colleges are that] they have a diverse amount of sports [and] clubs, and you can meet many more friends,” Yoo said.

Colleges do indeed allow students to expand their friendships and allow students to explore new hobbies.

College may seem scary or intimidating to some students, especially to those who may be the first in their family to attend. Nowadays, colleges are looking for the best of the best. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a class students can volun-

tarily take at FHS. Literature teacher Stephanie Fujii is one of eight AVID teachers at FHS. “AVID is for predominantly first generation college students or students who are the first in their family to go to college,” Fujii said. “We teach study skills; we teach critical thinking, how to solve problems. We do test prep; we apply to college together. We take field trips to colleges, all of those things.”

AVID continues to help steer students in taking the right steps towards college.

Taking the class has consistently improved students’ grades. The students that enroll in the AVID class had a national acceptance rate of 78 percent in the 2013 to 2014 school year.

However, there are some cons when it comes to attending college.

“Some cons [of attending college] are you can really struggle in college since the classes are bigger, and you can’t get help from the teachers,” Yoo said.

However, college is not the only option for high school students. There are students who have made the conscious decision to not attend a college or wait a year or two before going.

For these students, there are still many opportunities for them to take advantage of.

They can visit foreign countries, or they can find an internship and get some job experience before pursuing their educational career.

Koning wins TI Stem Award

by Isaac Tiscareno Staff Writer

Introduction to Engineering Design and AP Statistics teacher Derek Koning was recently awarded the Texas Instruments (TI) Innovation in STEM Teaching Award. This award is part of a TI corporate citizenship and is given out to Santa Clara County teachers who find new ways to help advance science, technology and engineering and mathematics education and programs.

Teachers are nominated by their school’s principals, for FHS the nominator is Principal Bryan Emmert, and are subjected to a rigorous application process.

This year, five teachers

from across the Santa Clara County were chosen. The awards this year were given during the 50th Annual Santa Clara County Teacher Recognition Celebration, which took place on Oct. 3, 2019. This event is the oldest and largest celebration of teachers in California, and the awards given there are the most prestigious awards given to local teachers. According to the Santa Clara County Office of Education website, it was created with the purpose of helping people become more aware that teachers contribute a lot to the general public.

“It’s a really big honor to have that recognition for the work that I’m doing for Engineering Design and AP Statistics,” Koning said.

Through winning this

award, Koning joins an exclusive group of teachers who have won the TI award, with the only other two recipients at FHS being fellow engineering teacher Robert Capriles, who was recognized in 2014, and math teacher IHeng McComb, who was recognized last year. Koning has been teaching at FHS for seven years, with FHS being the only school he has ever taught at. In fact, he grew up in the Fremont Union High School District and went to Lynbrook High School.

Many of Koning’s students believe that he deserves the TI award.

“He is a nice teacher, and he helps everyone with everything,” freshman Omer Lahan said.

This award is important and receiving one is a special feat. According to the TI website, these

by Leann Bast Online Editor

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 | Michael Wang

Staff Writers

awards are given to teachers because TI believes that supporting education is very important to the community and business success, and STEM proficiency specifically helps power innovation.

“I love [teaching] and being able to make a difference in students’ lives, that’s what brings me to school every day,” Koning said.

Photos courtesy of Derek Koning and PR Newswire

- Youth around the world participated in strikes, inspired by activist Greta Thunberg, in hope of bringing attention to climate change on Sep. 20, 2019.

- Creators are being unverified by YouTube as per its new verification rules.

- Citizens of Hong Kong are protesting against an extradition bill.

- On Sep. 14, 2019, one of Saudi Arabia’s oil factories exploded following an alleged attack.

-A college student died in his dorm room and wasn’t found for nearly two months at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

- Scientists have found a new species of 10-foot-long crocodile, Crocodylus halli.

- A transgender man from the UK loses case to be registered as a father instead of a mother after he gave birth to his child.

- Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri urged attacks on the West on the 18th anniversary of the Sep. 11 attack.

U.S. News:

the

Copy Editor Lauren Panzer

World News:

Current Events

3

- The Trump impeachment inquiry is underway since people found out that Trump withheld aid money from Ukraine while trying to find potentially harmful information on Joe Biden and his family.

- An American Airlines flight was forced to land due to a passenger smoking cigarettes and yelling, “You’re all screwed!” The passenger was taken off the plane, and the flight proceeded as planned, without any problems.

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Fremont High School 575 W Fremont Avenue, 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.

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Arts & Entertainment 4

Finding hope in tantalizing The Testaments

by Diana Piper

Centerspread Editor

As modernized misogyny prompts legislation against reproductive rights, women’s rights have become a subject of refreshed debate. Margaret Atwood, building upon her classic novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, responds to these issues in the sequel, The Testaments.

She negates the hopelessness and depression in the first novel by detailing the resistance against the oppression of women, creating an effective sequel.

In the realm of The Handmaid’s Tale, the country of puritan Gilead has replaced the United States in a violent coup. Women have been categorized into roles based on their perceived utility. The assembly of women that receives the majority of the focus is the Handmaids, fertile women whom the Commanders, the leaders of the nation, attempt to impregnate.

The first novel expectedly revolves around a Handmaid, Offred, and her quiet rebellion in the suffocating state, three years after the country’s inception. The Testaments follows Offred’s story, 15 years later, as Gilead’s unified front begins to crack with rebellion. This is achieved through the lens of

the three women: a wealthy daughter of the country’s elite, a Canadian native watching from afar and the most powerful woman of Gilead, Aunt Lydia. They all possess a different story of rebellion, reaching the same conclusion.

A woman clothed in bright green is emblazoned upon the cover of The Testaments, instead of the foreboding red on the first novel’s, suggesting the vitality of the new story.

For those who reveled in the expansive terminology and symbolic colors in the first book, The Testaments will not disappoint. Atwood fosters a greater perspective of this regime with her skillful use of language. She expands on the customs of a tyrannical government in a descriptive and enthralling manner. The wealthy daughter Agnes recounts, “We are custodians of an invaluable treasure that existed, unseen, inside us; we were precious flowers that had to be kept safely in glass houses, or else we would be ambushed and our treasure would be stolen.” With this Gilead jargon intended for marketing its viability for citizens, the reader can see into how the citizens have been indoctrinated, as if you’re living through it yourself. The beautiful wording creates a vivid image of the country that builds upon the original’s.

The comparison and contrast between different women’s perspectives, values and notions are pervasive throughout the novel, amending a limitation of The Handmaid’s Tale. The story is told with three views and three voices, making it easier for the reader to comprehend the foreign universe and its implications for groups other than the Handmaids, which are almost too prevalent in the first novel.

Although the three women’s stories combine as the plot proceeds, their voices are clearly differentiated by their experiences, highlighting the different manners Gilead impacts people close to the regime. You can see the resentment, mistrust and fear prevalent between and within every group of women as each voice lends their experiences. Conversely, The Handmaid’s Tale has one narrator, dominating every facet of the story.

One can only examine the characters from Offred’s eyes, which can only permit an infinitesimal look at the other characters’ true motivations.

This shift is most transparently emphasized

by Aunt Lydia, who was present in both novels. The reader could only have one perspective on the woman in The Handmaid’s Tale.

On the other hand, in the sequel, the reader can delve into Lydia’s thoughts and experiences, examining the nuances in her character, which allows them to come to their own conclusion about her. This is replicated with the other two characters as well. This cultivates a stronger and more nuanced depiction of the world that is so entrancing in its horrors.

Ironically, although the transition to several narrators made the story more nuanced and captivating, it lost what made the classic novel compelling in the first place. The Handmaid’s Tale was written as a less composed recollection than The Testaments. The writings were meandering paths of Offred’s thoughts, inherently incoherent and wonderfully messy. It was intimate and raw; one could see into Offred’s heart. It emphasized the innate feelings of hopelessness one experiences under a dictatorship, and details the person’s

Oct. 4, 2019

crazed fears of insanity and oblivion. Although this is present in The Testaments as well, every narrator is addressing someone. Their messages are collected and formulated, which makes it easier to follow, but less unembellished, which is a rarity in most books that is found in the first novel.

The sequel is still worth a read, but readers should be cognizant of this transition to a more conventional style of writing.

The Testaments compensates for The Handmaid’s Tale’s restrictions in several ways, and creates a vaster world of the darkest human impulses. However, it loses a sliver of the intimacy and rawness of the first book, which limits its impact on the reader. It is certainly a successful sequel, and will surely merit a read for anyone who enjoyed the first novel.

Photo courtesy of Amazon

The rise of TikTok’s popularity in high schools

by Coral Sheffer & Natalie Wolff Collaboration

And I Oop-- everyone seems to always be following the most popular trends, and students here at Fremont High School are no different.

Recently, an app called TikTok, originating from Musical.ly, has taken over social media, filling the void left by the demise of Vine.

TikTok is a place where anyone (in reality, mainly teenagers) can make up to one-minute-long videos.

The videos vary in types of

content; some feature dance trends or lip-syncing while others are more comedic in tone. The creators of these videos are branded “TikTokers.” Those with enough views can gain popularity among high schoolers, who can spend hours a day on the app.

TikTok has become so big that its influences are seen everywhere, especially FHS. Just like magazine or Instagram models, fans want to look like the creators on the app. Fashion trends seen on TikTok are now hitting the halls of high

THE black top layered over the long white sleeves and the silver chains is an example of a typical Egirl aesthetic.

schools across the world.

There are three distinct fashion aesthetics on the app. The first major category of TikTokers is “soft girls.” Those who follow this aesthetic usually wear pastel colors, butterfly clips (circa 1996), over-applied blush on the nose and cheeks, dainty gold jewelry and an ungodly amount of floral. They are always smiling, and they embody the classic “girl or guy next door” trope.

The exact opposite of a soft girl is an Eboy or Egirl.

That trend is very similar to the emo trend back around

the 2000s. Their aesthetic is black, white and, occasionally, red. The Eboys or Egirls on TikTok are usually lip-syncing to dark songs, unlike the soft girls and guys that lip-sync to more joyful tunes. To be a part of this trend, one could wear the following: a striped shirt layered with a dark shaded T-shirt, silver chains, several silver rings, a lock necklace and black nail polish. They are usually seen with a dark expression on their face and a black heart on their cheek.

Of course, there is no forgetting the infamous

THE light colors mixed with a floral grid is a clear example of a soft girl.

VSCO girls. VSCO girls have become one of TikTok’s most popular trends. People trying to impersonate a VSCO girl will usually be seen wearing the following: a puka shell necklace, scrunchies, oversized shirts or hoodies, Birkenstocks, wave rings and friendship bracelets and have their hair tied up in a messy bun.

A VSCO girl usually owns a Fjall Raven backpack, a Hydroflask, Burt’s Bees lip balm and a metal straw.

When they are together, you can hear their battle cry, “Save the turtles!”

While TikTok is undeniably the biggest trend out there right now, trends are meant to fade, so enjoy TikTok while you can because its time is limited. TikTok goes the popularity clock.

Photos courtesy of Pinterest and Aliexpress

WITH the shell necklace and oversized T-shirt, this example of a VSCO girl can be recognized from miles away.

Arts & Entertainment A guide to the perfect Halloween season 5

OCT. 4, 2019

by Jay Ghate & Maddy Garcia Collaboration

Spooky Season is upon us, which means crunchy leaves, bulky warm sweaters, apple cider, pumpkin pie and, of course, Halloween.

Halloween is an old tradition that has been cel-

ebrated for thousands of years with many variations.

The Celts celebrated Halloween as a way to prepare for the winter, according to History, and the Catholics celebrated this holiday to honor saints. However, modern Halloween came from the Irish, who have celebrating this festival for thousands of years. They immigrated to America after the Potato Famine in 1845. They brought jack-olanterns, costumes, apple bobbing and trick-or-treating. Many of these traditions are still alive and are practiced today.

Halloween costumes are a great way to express your inner you; no one is

ever too old to dress up!

The original purpose of costumes was to scare away the spirits of the dead. Now, costumes are used to impress people and win competitions. Popular costumes include princesses, pirates, witches, etc.

So you got a killer costume (maybe literally), but what about the candy?

Popular treats are candy corn, Skittles or Snickers and great places to buy treats are Target, Walmart, Safeway, and if you are looking for a bulk packs, Costco.

Make sure to account for children with nut allergies.

And please don’t be that neighbor that hands out carrots to kids.

If you think you have outgrown your trick-ortreating phase, there are still more ways you can have

an enjoyable Halloween.

For example, you can invite your friends over and watch a Halloween spook. Movies such as Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown and The Nightmare Before Christmas are family-friendly must-sees.

For the horror movie fanatics, some classics include IT, The Shining, Pyscho and Silence of the Lambs.

If staying in does not sound appealing, there are some really cool local Halloween attractions that are sure to give you a scare.

California’s Great America has a special event, called Halloween Haunt, that is filled with haunted mazes and scare zones. This event ends on November 2. To make things even more exciting, the park’s usual coasters and attractions are still running.

Another fun destination is the Winchester Mystery House. Tour guides make a point to tell you it is not haunted, and the Winchester Mystery House hosts a Halloween party.

Their impressive, scary Halloween-themed event, UNHINGED, runs from late September through early November.

The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is also a great fall destination. The festival kicks the Halloween season off in mid-October and includes a huge pumpkin contest, as well as other fall-themed activities for all ages.

One final festivity is Oktoberfest, which takes place in San Francisco at Pier 35 from September 21 to September 23. Oktoberfest ticketed event where

general admission includes entrance to the park and entertainment. Food and desserts are available at an additional cost. Desserts range anywhere from three to 12 dollars.

If you are willing to go venture out further, Universal Studios in Hollywood throws a Halloween event that has movie-quality mazes. The mazes are quite scary and are not recommended for anyone under 13. Disneyland also throws an after hours “Mickey’s not so scary Halloween party,” which is targeted more towards younger kids.

The Halloween season is full of fun and possibilities, so this year, treat yourself and adventure outside the comfort of your home.

Graphics courtesy of IMDb

Friends: 25 years of laughter and love

by Shira Agmon

Centerspread Editor

Could we be more in love with this show? The beloved sitcom, starring Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and more, has reached its silver anniversary. Friends first aired on Sep. 22, 1994, and audiences have been loving it ever since. All over the world, people have watched the show and followed the cast on their decade-long journey.

At the core of this show is a group of 20- and

30-something-year-olds navigating through life in New York City. Everyone in that age group, no matter how long it has been since the show aired, can relate to the characters and their experiences.

Friends has had a lasting effect on those who grew up watching it. From shaping our sense of humor to consoling us during tough times, Friends has acted as a guiding presence.

It has also given us so many great memories. From the classic one-liners like “he’s her lobster” and “we were on a break” to iconic moments such as the black-

out in season one, everyone who watches the show has a memory they are fond of.

Even though the show aired 25 years ago, many of its current viewers are teenagers, most of whom weren’t even born when the show first aired. The reason it remains one of the most popular shows on TV is that people will always be able to relate to the characters.

Whether you are sarcastic like Chandler or a perfectionist like Monica, the show still resonates with the viewers of this generation; the producers created a truly timeless show.

The show also reminds

Generation Z kids of a simpler time, before social media became the main after-school activity; it encourages them to make memories instead of documenting them on Instagram stories. For those who feel addicted to social media, viewing a group of young adults enjoying themselves without high-tech phones is refreshing.

Another reason people like Friends so much is because unlike modern sitcoms, it has a hopeful, uplifting tone. The show virtually ignores the political and social climate of the time. Some may argue that

the show is being ignorant for not showing the reality of living in New York City at the time, but this setup allows for a timeless haven.

Friends portrays a life that is significantly more carefree and completely separated from the horrors of the outside world, which is rare for a TV show nowadays.

The show ended in 2004, which may leave some fans wondering what has the cast done since the show ended. Since the show ended, most of the actors have had fairly successful television careers, but the only one who has really branched out into movies is

Aniston, who played Rachel Green. Aniston has become a Hollywood sweetheart and continues to make successful movies. However, Friends remains as all of the cast members’ biggest accomplishment.

Throughout all the crazy ups and downs, the Friends gang always went out of their way to help each other get out of crazy situations. Just like the iconic theme song says, the show is always there for any viewer in need of a laugh.

A review of the Bay’s best coffee shops

by Lauren Panzer Copy Editor

Urban areas are the perfect places for a coffee addict. The Bay Area, which is chock full of unique cafés, is a great example of this.

One-of-a-kind coffee houses are dotted all around the Bay, each having their own marks on the California food scene.

Big Mug, located on 3014 El Camino Real, is an example of a great café in the Bay Area. Big Mug has a wide variety of specialty drinks, both hot and iced.

It also serves pastries and toast. This café has a quiet, calming vibe and is

a perfect place to work and study—in fact, most of Big Mug’s patrons are in front of a computer or open book.

The quaint café also has a bookshelf where customers can donate their books and other customers can read them. Big Mug’s artisan coffee is sourced sustainably from what is called the “coffee belt,” which are the regions around the equator where the climate is optimal for growing coffee beans.

Nestled between buildings on 1222 Noriega Street, San Francisco is Home Café.

Boasting 4.5 stars on Yelp, Home café is a great place to relax. This café serves

delicious, reasonably-priced drinks. Home café is known for its “creative menu.”

These items are artfully made with intense flavors and beautiful designs. Their latte art is what adds to their unique, unrivaled flair.

Another coffee shop in the Bay in Beastea. Beastea isn’t a traditional café but still deserves recognition for its delicious drinks and incredible service. Located on 2785 El Camino Real, it is not too far away and is a great place to cure a boba craving. Beastea serves freshly brewed milk tea with boba and other delicious toppings like strawberries

and mangoes. Beastea also serves hot beverages, like their classic Vietnamese coffee, which is sweetened with condensed milk and steeped using a drip filter. Hot water is poured on coffee grounds, which absorbs the coffee’s flavor, and then drips slowly out through a coffee filter at the bottom. This method is what makes Vietnamese coffee unlike any other kind of coffee. Beastea has an entire menu of comfort food, as well; the food is both savory and sweet. All of their menu items have a unique Vietnamese twist, which makes this café all the more special.

These coffee houses are a perfect reflection of Bay Area culture. They showcase the Bay’s vast culinary diversity even with something so

simple as coffee. The coffee houses serve delicious coffees and teas for low prices and have their own cultural take on the art of coffee.

Graphic courtesy of Etsy

Special Feature 6

OCt. 4, 2019

developing identit Finding myself in family

by Tori Sheaffer Everyone is their own person; some people try to hide from who they are, but every day, we choose who we want to be, not our parents, our teachers or our friends.

They do affect our identity, but they do not control who we choose to be. Our hobbies, pleasures and family play a part in shaping our identity. Our family helps us shape our identity by teaching us right from wrong which influences the way we act or feel about some things.

I’ve always loved to play sports, especially soccer and football. I think of them as an art form, an art of competition and fitness.

Soccer players control where the ball goes using their body and mind and they are competitive. Football, where the sport is not just being aggressive, you have to use your mind. Sports have been my way of distracting myself from all the struggles in my life; sports are my

happy place. Being competitive and rough have helped me get through my anger issues and anxiety by giving me something to focus on, something in my life that I can control.

Painting is another way I express my feelings. I would take whatever canvas I could get, whether it be a piece of paper or an actual canvas, and use that to paint anything I could find that put me in a good mood.

Painting is a way to show how you feel using colors you like and places that make you feel happy, and expressing those feelings onto a canvas. I always paint the sunset over an ocean, because it represents the peace and beauty

of the beginning of the night. The way the colors blend over the ocean and the waves of the water make for a great scenery, it makes me happy and it makes me feel better.

I was born here in California, nearby at Stanford hospital, but I did not always live here. I moved to Arizona with my parents and siblings when I was four years old. I moved back to California with my mom and siblings a few years later a few days after Mothers’ day when I was nine, after my father had gotten into some trouble and went to jail. He lied to my family, creating distrust among us. These things are what breaks families apart, trust is what helps us stick together.

I do not trust

him anymore and he is no longer a part of my life because of what he did. I do not know how many siblings I have, but of what I know I have a brother who is 16 and a sister who is 10, with whom I live with. I also have a half-sister around my age but I don’t really know much about her, she is my sister from my father’s side. I get German and Irish ancestors from my mother’s side and I do not know my father’s heritage because he was adopted.

My family includes some of my aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings and mother, who have been with me my whole life and I love them all. But, my family isn’t just people related to me by blood. It is my close friends and people I trust.

I have had struggles in life with my parents splitting and my aunt being sick, while dealing with bullies and struggling with school.

My close friends have been

How social media hinders us

by Abby Mingus Living in Silicon Valley, where everyone, even children, have phones and access to the internet, makes it, nearly impossible to escape social media and the pressure that comes with it. Balancing high school with trying to get the most likes on Instagram makes the idea of school harder than it already is.

Although the social media world seems normal to us and it would be weird if it were to go away, it has created a toxic mindset for many people. Having pictures of “flawless” celebrities and influencers shoved into the faces of young people does the opposite of making people feel good about themselves in many cases.

Social media, at times, can seem like the answer to our problems.

It makes you laugh and even inspires you, and most importantly, it is the key outlet for communication. Whether it be through Instagram or

YouTube or anything in between, media has given people a place to express themselves. But the problem with this is that there are too many people out there who have begun to use social media as an opportunity to express themselves poorly against others. Hate comments and cyber-bullying have become a norm, something that we’re simply numb to as a society.

Unrealistic expectations that we strive for cause individuals to put others down in an attempt to pull themselves up.

Barbie doll bodies with perfect skin and straight teeth give us an unrealistic view of what we should look like. Feeling like everyone around you is already judging you in your day-today life, just to

find that you feel the same way online, almost defeats social media’s supposed purpose (to be a place of relaxation and fun).

Though there are aspects of the media that seem incredible, from influencers on YouTube to inspiring activists on Instagram, there’s a hidden issue that some people tend to skim over.

Though it may feel great to post a photo of yourself you feel confident in or even a tweet that you thought was funny, no matter what it is, there are people behind the screen judging every little detail. Even if it is as small as commenting about your crooked teeth,

it’s still relevant. Due to these unhealthy expectations, we as a society, specifically teenagers, pick ourselves apart in an attempt to match the “ideal” features and characteristics. Being in an environment where judgment is normal, especially as a young adult, is beyond unhealthy.

Throughout the last four years of high school, I’ve figured out something of key importance: even though you feel as if everyone is judging every little thing you do, you must stop and look around and ask yourself if you’re doing that to others. The answer may be “yes” here and there, but the likelihood that you are judging everyone on every little thing, such as the way their eyeliner looks, is smaller than we could ever imagine.

For the first couple of years of high school, I told myself and

everyone around me that I didn’t care what they thought, even though I did. That was what I cared about more than anything. I won’t lie and say that now I never think about what others think of me, but as I’ve gotten older, I understand now that strangers don’t care enough to point out every single one of your flaws because they are focused on their own.

Beauty is something that is individual and has a different meaning for everyone. Social media has a way of stripping us of our confidence, adding to one of the many reasons I hardly post on any platform. But it can also lift us up. Media is all about what you make of it, just as life is. We can’t let the fear of judgment run our lives. Remember that if someone breaks you down, it’s only because they’re trying to build themselves back up. Social media can be

Special Feature

OCt. 4, 2019

ty in high school

7

Finding myself in friendship

by Anoushka Samant One of the biggest issues people face during high school is trying to find their identity. It’s an issue almost everyone goes through; you decide who you are as a person and what you want to be in life. For me, it was less of a crisis and more of an experience. I owe that mostly to my friends who were always by my side.

I have always been an incredibly social person.

I’m always open to meeting new people, and I’m able to get along with everyone.

Due to this trait, I have been incredibly fortunate to have many strong friendships with so many amazing people. These friendships have made my life so much easier, as they have made such a positive impact on me. My friends have always been there for me, offering me their never-ending support and always making me feel loved and cared for.

My friends and their own

experiences have inspired and influenced me to make the right decisions.

A while back, I was having some trouble getting along with my parents, and I was at a loss at what to do. However, one of my best friends aided me and advised me, which helped me reach a better place with my parents. This is just one of the countless examples of the friendships I treasure so

much have helped me out.

This has taught me that the right types of friendships can be an incredibly beneficial and positive factor in your life.

However, the wrong types of friends can be toxic and damaging to yourself, so not all friendships have your best interests in mind.

For example, just a few months ago, I recognized that I was friends with an

incredibly toxic individual, who was saying mean things about me and my other friends behind our backs, and constantly trying to exclude me out of hangouts and events. At some point, my friends and I became fed up with being treated like this, and we realized we could no longer be friends with that person, as we had reached the point where our friendship was detrimental.

In retrospect, I would have never continued the friendship if I had known of the mental toll it would take on me. As a result, I have realized that friendships can provide immense benefits, but the wrong types can also cause harm, so it is important to stay wary of that.

Despite that, when you have found the right friendships, these friends can help you discover who you are and what your plan for life is. I can definitely say that the friendships I have today and the ones I had

The pitfalls of peer pressure

by Emaan Rao

Fitting in and gaining peer acceptance is the primary objective of young high school students. Constantly trying their best to do what other students are doing, wearing what everyone is wearing and talking like everyone else is talking, high schoolers are known for feeling the need to belong, which ultimately leads to behavioral changes.

However, what we as high schoolers don’t understand is that we lose ourselves in the process. Almost always, a high schooler’s mindset revolves around these priorities: doing whatever they can in order to get other people to accept them, along with giving in and conforming to the idea they have of what an ideal high school student should be like. Personally, over the years, I found myself trying to be someone who I was not and it is a tedious battle in which I lost parts of myself in the process.

The majority of students this age have the exact same mindset as I did, commonly known as the high school mentality. It revolves around social value and how individu-

als use these values to judge others and determine their own self worth. At the heart of this mentality is forming opinions, not based on people’s traits or the company they have to offer, but their social value. It then snowballs into a never-ending competition for higher social value.

This usually begins in middle and high school, when people can be easily persuaded by friends, family and the media to be anyone but themselves. There is a common misconception that you have to act, think and be a certain way in order to belong in the typical high school atmosphere. Students constantly watch what they do and say in order to avoid being judged, trying to fit in with who they want to be instead of embracing who they are. Throughout my freshman and sophomore years, I did everything I could to get my friends to accept me by completely

changing who I was. I gave into peer pressure, and it was not until junior year that I realized that I shouldn’t change who I am for people who won’t matter in a few years. I learned that if you find yourself trying to change for your group of friends, they most likely aren’t the right group for you.

Putting up with people who are trying to fit in, themselves, can often be draining because the effort it requires to be someone you are not.

Fitting in also heavily relies on the concept of what you do and don’t have, and high school students have the tendency to start childish trends. Ranging from the kind of shoes you have to what bottle you drink from, we have

established that the products you use somehow determine your worth and placement in the inefficient social structure. Materialistic students are usually the ones that start these trends, as a way to assert their place at the top of the ladder and make sure they stand out from the rest of the population. As someone who has given in to these trends a number of times, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is not worth the effort because it is a never-ending cycle.

Students should always remember that in the end, no one’s opinion matters except their own. With never-ending social competition and trends popping up quite often, it is a waste of time trying to keep

Photos courtesy of Clipart Library, Kiss Clipart, Giphy, OpenCPD, IntelligentHQ and Pinterest

Opinion

Oct. 4, 2019

8

Kakes on the impact of booing during rallies because it goes against the purpose of the rallies.

by Jeff Kakes ASB teacher

The Phoenix: What is the issue that’s been going on at these rallies?

Kakes: Rallies are meant to be a time of unification for the school where we come together and we have a chance to have fun and participate and see what’s going on around school. A lot of students, and I noticed myself, that in the first rally of this year, there was a lot of booing from people attending especially when the freshmen were introduced.

That is something that we want to try to discourage

The Phoenix: Did this booing start this year, or has it been occurring for the past couple of years?

Kakes: It has been a smaller problem at previous rallies, usually kind of a one-off, but it seemed particularly loud at this one, especially because it was the first one of the year. [The booing was most prominent] when the freshmen were introduced.

The Phoenix: Has there been any monitoring on this, or will there be any policies established?

Kakes: Booing, in general, goes against the theme of the rally. We’re not at this point yet. If it becomes an issue, then we would stop the rally and speak to the crowd or stop it [the rally] entirely. I really hope it’s not going to get to that point; I don’t think it will. We’ve got

great students here. We just want to catch it early before it becomes a real problem.

At this point, it’s not a massive issue.

The Phoenix: What is the general effect of booing at these rallies?

Kakes: We’re doing some interaction with the freshmen class through ASB. We’ve heard from more than a few that they noticed the booing going on and just thought that it was the way we did things here at Fremont. It’s kind of the opposite of what we want. We get it. We want

to be competitive. There’s pride in your class, but that can be shown through cheering for yourself rather than booing. In fact, [a freshman] said, “I can’t wait to get to that point where I get to be the one to boo.”

And I’m like, “Oh no, that’s not what we’re trying to do.”

We want it the other way.

Cheer for your class as loud as you possibly can. We just don’t want it to be negative towards another because at the end of the day, we’re all firebirds here, and we’re proud of that.

The Phoenix: If the booing was to continue, what impact would it have at the rallies? Would rallies be canceled or become less frequent?

Kakes: Those are all possibilities, I don’t want to get into a place where we’re threatening that yet because it’s really not that big of an issue, it’s just something we see starting to happen, and we just want to remind people that we are all on the same team here, that we are all here to take pride in our school, pride in ourselves and to be welcoming even when we are competitive.

So, I don’t want to get into this would happen or this would happen, but it is possible, down the road, we would have to figure out how to treat rallies if they become a place for negativity and that defeats the point.

students do to stop the booing?

Kakes: I think the biggest thing is to just remind people that’s not how we do it here at Fremont. We are proud of our class, but that doesn’t come with the form of putting other people down. For myself, as someone who cares a ton about this school, and for my students, not just my ASB students who care about this, all they ask is if someone boos, and we get it, they’re not trying to be mean, just letting them know “hey, hey, hey, keep it positive.” If we can do that, I think we will be just fine.

Interview conducted by Suryan Bhatia and Vivien Su. Photo Courtesy of Jeff Kakes

The Phoenix: What can

Passion vs money and their consequences

by Kiana Devera and Alexis Rodriguez Collaboration

For most of my life, the decisions I made were to help guarantee me success after high school. I took advanced classes even if it made me unhappy, did

summer programs for many years and worked endlessly to improve my softball skills for possible scholarships.

I’ve always had tunnel vision for school work and sports. I missed out on movie dates with friends to finish that one project, skipped family get-togethers because I signed up for college softball clinics and went to martial arts tournaments because a national team recruiter was there.

You could say I had no social life, that I’m the person that prioritizes work over everything else; someone who only follows their heads and not their hearts.

But most things in life don’t come easy. Success includes sacrifice and hard work and if passing by what’s new or trendy gets me there, then that’s okay.

In today’s world, especially here in the Bay Area, the competition for a highpaying job is constantly increasing and becoming more difficult to achieve. My impossibly high standards is what keeps me pushing myself higher and higher, even when I don’t have a place to aim. Working hard now will pay off in the long run, and it has been the driving force of what’s gotten me better and stronger.

As we go through this experience of life, we are forced to make many difficult decisions that will change the outcomes of our lives. One main aspect of our lives is school, we spend years of schooling to prepare ourselves for the job that we will decide to obtain. However, there are many mixed feelings unto whether students should strive for success or happiness.

Happiness is a necessity; it helps maintain a healthy mindset and physical status. There have been multiple reports

demonstrating the statistics between the lives of people who enjoy their jobs versus people who do not.

According to Cultivated Culture, “85% of people hate their jobs and, in the United States alone, 70% are emotionally disconnected and not engaged with their careers.” The mindset that many people in this world have is money can essentially buy happiness, and to a certain extent it can, but at what cost? The cost of your family, happiness, joy and so much more are the result of us spending our lives working for wealth instead of happiness.

Along the way, we often lose who we are as people, trying to maintain this image of success and power when in reality, our minds are next to nothing.

We allow ourselves to carry on ignoring the unsatisfied portion of our minds and for what: to achieve the materialistic qualities in which money brings.

Money is definitely an advantage especially in the world we live in; however, I have found that the best and most content people live for serenity instead of money.

My experience at a Climate Change march

by Anahi Ruvalcaba Opinion Editor

“This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be in school on the other side of the ocean.

Yet you come to us young people for hope. How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,” Greta Thunberg.

These words resonated with me. I was fighting for what I stood for but always what I stood on (literally).

September 20 will go down in history forever hopefully as the time the youth was finally heard and the moment that resulted in action. I

have always been interested in politics, interested in what I felt was morally right or wrong, interested in the idea of having hope. I firmly believed that if I didn’t like something, I could change it. But the movement for action against climate change was different. This was no longer about debating whether or not it was important enough; this was no longer politics. This was survival.

For the longest time, I grew up in Castroville surrounded by fields and oceans. In school, I learned about global warming and how important it was to take care of the Earth, but briefly like you could “reuse, reduce, and recycle” and that was the whole picture.

It seemed simple. Nobody explained greedy fossil fuels or emission companies.

Nobody explained that the land my families’ generations had lived on could someday be gone—that

those earthy artichoke fields where I learned to ride my bike, the sunny beach days that allowed me to bury my entire body in the sand with only my head peeking out or those waves from the ocean that crashed as my mom and I tried to jump over them would be gone. The world never took it seriously that one day the Earth could not exist, and that we would leave with that destruction.

I felt robbed of my life, unable to comprehend that my parents could be part of the last generation that dies of old age—that generations before, humans, real humans, who had the power to change did nothing, decided my fate and that their money in their lifetime was more important than the livelihoods of future generations.

Now, it is the youth who is fighting because those before us didn’t. I want to be a part of that.

I have the opportunity to

save my life, and so I am.

September 20th was a global day of youth protests where children gave up their education on this matter.

Students like us walked out of their school, giving up their education to draw attention to something that matters!

I joined a protest march in Mountain View.

The protest had a turn out of over 150 people. Adults, who held posters saying “I stand with youth” and I’m 40, and this is my first protest, joined students.

The group marched to Mountain View City Hall from the Cal train station.

We walked back and forth yelling, “Climate change is not a lie, please don’t let our planet die.” Occasionally we got response from civilians, some of whom commented that we should just “vote”. It confused us; had they not heard of the environmental movement of the 1970s? Of Theodore Roosevelt estab-

lishing the national park system? The Green party?

Woodrow Wilson signing the National park act into law? This destruction is not new; the world is on fire and just voting will not solve the issue People volunteered to speak at the rally, and I realized that I was surrounded by those who cared; those who believed in proven facts and in science. I stood proud with other teenagers, getting their photos taken and being recognized for and refusing to accept the incomprehensible. I left fulfilled that I did not just sit around and wait for others to do something about it, the mistake many generations before us had made.

Although I am not satisfied, I will continue fighting until I can live a life that allows me to experience falling in love, growing old and dying of old age. I want to experience taking that year off after college and touring the

world, visiting all of Earth’s treasures, watching my brother grow into a young man, making an actual change and saving Mother Nature.

Greta Thunberg is an inspiration and one whose words resonated with me because I was fighting for what I stood on. I was out of school trying to get the attention of people, who so many times neglected the lives of future generations and the future of our planet for money. This should never have been my responsibility; I should never have had to worry about this.

As Greta says “with action comes hope”. It is our turn to take action.

Opinion

Oct. 4, 2019

9

Accessory navicular bone surgery: my story

by Dalia Levy Staff Writer

Accessory navicular bone surgery. These are words I never thought I would have to hear.

When I was 11, I started experiencing intense pain in my foot. At first, I thought nothing of it because I was dancing and it is common for dancers to experience pain. After prolonged periods of pain, my family and I decided to seek out a medical expert.

After an examination, I was diagnosed with accessory navicular bone syndrome, which is an extra bone in both feet. I was presented with a series of steps I could take: putting an insert to have more of an arched foot in order to help cope with the pain, getting a custom insert made for my foot or receiving a cast and then surgery.

The idea of surgery haunted me because I had never been in any accidents or had any major medical problems. I never considered that I would need something removed from my body. I tried a variety of options that were available, but after two years of not being able to do PE or Ballroom Dancing because I was in constant pain, I decided to have the surgery.

In July 2019, I had my surgery. It was a huge moment for me because this was one step towards not having pain some day. When I came out, I looked at my foot in a cast, all bundled up and thought, “what if I can’t walk after this? What if something goes wrong?”

Surgery was a big decision for my family and I. Not only was it physically difficult to move, constantly drink medication or put any extra weight on my leg, but it was also very difficult

to not be able to play cello for one month. Cello is my favorite thing to do; it’s my passion. Since I constantly had to put my leg up, I was not able to play.

And it didn’t stop there. I had to be helped with everything, from going upstairs to getting food from the fridge.

Things that came naturally for people became a challenge for me.

Having to put my leg up constantly in order to avoid swelling made it impossible to play cello. At one point, I tried to take the cello and just try to play, but I was in pain and suffering. Every time I looked at my leg, it made me question if the surgery was worth it.

Sometimes we take what we do in our everyday life for granted. When I got the surgery, my whole life changed. It became difficult to do everything. I could not move that much since I was on crutches and had to ask help for everything.

Instead of getting up in the morning and going to the restroom normally, I had to get my crutches and jump with them all the way to the bathroom without putting any weight on the leg. It was difficult to get around the house, let alone go out, and everything took so much time. I had to constantly keep my leg up to prevent swelling and even on one occasion, my pain was so bad that I was holding onto the couch and crying in pain to go to the doctor.

Since having surgery, I have learned some valuable lessons. Before the surgery, I thought everything was going to go smoothly and safely, and what I actually experienced was so much worse than what I expected.

I was dependent on my parents and family more than I had ever been. I also learned that no matter what you go through, there is always a light at the end of the tun-

nel. I found that light after almost three long months of recovery when I realized that I would no longer be limited by my legs soon. In the future, I will be able to go on hikes, swim, dance — things that I wasn’t able to do before because of my limitation. Even though sur-

gery is an extremely tough experience, the light at the end of the tunnel beats all the hard times.

Dalia Levy | The Phoenix Photo courtesy of PNGRiver

Life as a second generation immigrant

by Jael Ramirez Staff Writer

The United States of America, known famously as the land of the free, the home of the brave, the place for second chances, is the dream destination for many.

My family is from Mexico.

My siblings, mom and I were born in the US, and my father was born and raised in Mexico. My father immigrated here when he was 16 and moved in with his uncle because life in Mexico wasn’t great. He had originally planned to work and save until he had enough money to move back to Mexico, but his plans changed when he met my mom, and later, my siblings and I came along. Many could say he had received the “second chance” that the US gives, but like most things in this world, nothing is ever free. My parents are the most hard-working people I know. My dad came into this country to work, and his mentality hasn’t changed since. Because he was an undocumented immigrant at the time, he didn’t have many job opportunities. This caused finan-

cial problems for a while.

No one wanted to give a job to an undocumented immigrant, and every time he managed to get hired, he would get fired as soon as his employer learned he was illegal. But my parents held on to hope and worked through it. My dad has since become a citizen and now has a thriving business.

“Me and your father never had the opportunities you have right now,” my mom would always remind me. “Take advantage of them. Don’t let them go to waste.”

Growing up, my par-

ents lived in poverty, and their window of opportunity was very small. Their parents also didn’t have many opportunities either, and although they grew up poor, their parents always worked their hardest and tried their best to provide for them. I remind myself to do my best in my schoolwork, so I can get a hold of opportunities, like scholarships, and live the life my parents never had the chance to live.

I remember first experiencing racism when I was in fifth grade, and this kid was angry for reasons I don’t remember. All I remember

him saying was: “I hope you and your parents get deported.” I was shocked, shocked that someone could hate my family because my parents are immigrants.

Back then, my experiences with racism weren’t very frequent, and it wasn’t until President Donald Trump started his campaign that the harassment grew.

He attacked immigrants: my family, me and 47 million other immigrants were in his line of fire. This showed me that someone who doesn’t even know us could hate me and almost everyone I love. All this

harassment caused a fear of being deported by immigration to spread like wildfire.

Every other undocumented immigrant I knew was in a rush to obtain immigration lawyers and start studying for their citizenship tests.

Among them was my dad. If you are an undocumented immigrant, it doesn’t matter if you have children, a wife, husband, a job or a home, they are dealt without compassion and sent back to wherever they came from.

They look for compassion from all the bystanders watching, as thousands of other undocumented im-

migrants are being deported or are living in deportation camps without soap, food, water or even a blanket to cover themselves; these unaffected bystanders will look at them coldly and say: “if you didn’t want to be deported then you should not have came here illegally.”

When I was little, I thought nothing of these things, and I thought my race and who my parents are did not matter. As I grew up, I have come to face the harsh realities of what it means to come from a family of immigrants. Immigrants come to the US for a second chance, but they pay a price for that second chance. They have to pay by enduring hatred and opposition. Despite this, many immigrants, including my family obtain a beautiful quality: hope. The characteristic of hope is what led us to this country and the quality of hope is what will help us endure. No matter what happens, we will remain hopeful, honest and hardworking. Why? Because that is what an immigrant is.

Jael Ramirez | The Phoenix

opinion 10

OCt. 4, 2019

A feminist’s defense of the bachelor series

by Trixie Rodriguez A&E Editor

Ok, admittedly as an elevator pitch, this concept is enough to make a feminist shudder. The usual cast of uniformly beautiful bleach blonde glamazons doesn’t exactly ease the dirty feeling that The Bachelor is simply

a show that perpetuates the stereotypes our suffragette and activist ancestors have worked so hard to break.

Two years ago, before I started watching TV shows within The Bachelor Franchise, I thought the same thing. I wasn’t exactly wrong, but I was missing the point. This is my feminist journey to becoming a Bachelor fanatic.

I have always loved Reality TV. It’s fun. It’s messy.

It’s entertaining. There is no better feeling than ignoring all your responsibilities and laughing as someone else goes through a ridiculous televised mental breakdown. But for some reason, The Bachelor always seemed

different. I could justify and find joy in watching competition shows like America’s Next Top Model or Survivor, but the idea of watching 30 different girls get their heart broken by some mediocre white boy just sounded depressing.

All that time I was overlooking a very important part of the series, The Bachelorette, a show with the exact same concept, except this time, a woman is calling the shots. That was a show I could get behind.

After one episode of The Bachelorette, I was completely hooked. The Bachelorette takes the world’s most insecure men and places them in a mansion

with no phones, no books, just testosterone. Oh yeah, they’re also all dating the same woman. The dynamics are meant to be a pressure cooker, making for drama and the jaw-dropping content that people sign up for when they decide they want to turn on Reality TV. I had the realization that what had been holding me back from watching dating TV shows was the societal stigma around them. The stereotype is that young girls watch shows within The Bachelor Franchise because they buy into whatever unstable romance TV producers try to shove down our throats, but the reality is that every teen girl

I know who watches The Bachelorette does so for two reasons: for the grown men throwing tantrums and for the Twitters reactions. With newfound confidence in my viewing habits, I watched The Bachelor and was able to find just as much entertainment in the petty drama between the girls.

The Bachelor is also unlike any other show, in that it has a distinctly dedicated fan base and talking about the show can lead to automatic connections. The personalities on the show are so dynamic that everyone who watches has opinions ready to go. The discourse around who is “husband/wife” material and the specula-

tion around who is in it for “the right reasons” is what makes the show so damn fun. Bachelor Mondays have become my sabbath. So let this be a lesson that a show being “trashy” doesn’t mean it doesn’t slap.

Photos courtesy of PNG River

Teenagers have sex, it’s natural; get over it

by Gianna Vargas Staff Writer

Teen pregnancy can be a difficult topic for young mothers or even fathers to talk about. Most teens that experience a pregnancy can undergo many struggles.

These struggles consist of earning money, attending school, having time for the baby, dealing with parents, or even handling other peers.

But today, dealing with societal expectations can be one of the hardest difficulties teen parents have to experience. Most people choose to shame others for having a child at such a young age. Rather than

shaming young teens for their choices, teens should be welcomed with support from as many sources as possible.

Unfortunately, information about teen pregnancies are always negative because people do not support it. Of course, teens making big decisions like having a pregnancy is not always the smartest choice. But, I think others should understand that teens are still maturing.

The rates of teenage pregnancy have decreased greatly since 2000, indicating that more teens are becoming aware of the safety procedures they can use. “38% of schools taught pregnancy prevention as part of required instruction; 50% taught that abstinence is the most effective method to avoid pregnancy, HIV and STDs; 26% taught about contraceptive efficacy; and 10% taught students how to correctly use a condom,” Guttmacher states.

According to American Adolescents’ Sources of

Sexual Health Information, most teens are not even taught how to prevent pregnancy besides abstinence so rather they learn on their own time.

But why humiliate teens for getting pregnant when they were not taught how to prevent?

There are many teen pregnancy prevention programs but not as many teen pregnancy support programs. Teen pregnancy support programs inform teens of their medical rights and ways to support their child, which are actually extremely helpful.

As these support programs help teens as much as they can, teen parents can feel more encouraged to not give up. Nurses work with programs to teach mothers how to raise and support their child.

Some nurses can even be the most supportive friend for expecting teen mothers.

Sophonie Celestin, a teen mom who is now

successful and in college shares her experience with programs.

“After I arrived in Delaware, I got my very own personal nurse, named Sabree, with the Nurse-Family Partnership program.

Sabree was always there to encourage me that I could be a mom, no matter my doubts,” said Celestin.

Clearly, teen parents will not have to stress about the worries of failing if they have sources helping them with their struggles.

If people can agree that students should get greater knowledge of sexual education to prevent teen pregnancies, why is the discussion of teen pregnancy so negative?

Many websites about teen pregnancy give examples of all the bad situations that can happen to teens: abortions, not finishing school, health risks, or even mental illness. The effects of teen pregnancy should, of course, be announced to the public, but there should

be more recognition on the positive effects. Most mothers that were teen mothers look back on their experiences in a positive light. They explain how they followed their career plan, learned to be responsible, and give birth to their child successfully. Some even say motherhood drags teens away from trouble.

My very close friend happened to experience a teen pregnancy. When I asked her about the struggles she went through, she replied, “It was really scary, it stressed me. The pain not even as much physically but mentally. Especially having anxiety, the pregnancy lead me with depression. The father of my child left and I was all alone. It was traumatizing and unbearable.”

I felt this was heartbreaking to hear from such a close friend and could never imagine it for myself.

My friend then told me more about her experience, ”I was so young and codependent but this experience

made me wiser and more independent. Unfortunately, I lost my baby through miscarriage, which was the worst thing a future mother could hear from her doctor.

Planned Parenthood also gave me a major help.”

I believe my friend’s story can inspire other teen mothers to get help from Planned Parenthood or a similar source.

The rates of teenage pregnancies will always be unpredictable. But whether that rate increases or decreases, the amount of support from programs and others should increase.

The programs should not inspire teens to become pregnant but should inform them that if they do end up in that situation, they will get help. This help could very well lead to teen parents finishing school, succeeding in a career, and taking good care of their child.

I am not a product of society’s body shaming

by Anonymous Anonymous

We are told that in order to be beautiful, we need to be tall and skinny.

Major clothing brands such as Victoria’s Secret help promote these unrealistic body images with their advertisements and social media posts.

Brandy Melville recently received backlash for their “one size fits all” policy. Victoria’s Secret also received backlash

after Chief Marketing Officer Edward Razek made controversial claims stating that transexuals and plussize models would never be considered to walk the infamous runway as those aren’t the right examples of female beauty.

Although the predominantly white, tall and skinny woman is what we are used to seeing on runways, many women in the industry have been open to their struggles with body image and their own insecurities.

In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Victoria’s Secret model Bridget Malcolm revealed how the company focuses solely on how their models’ looks rather than on their health.

She comments on how she lived off of vegetables and protein shakes, which, in the end, led to a series of

health concerns such as eating disorders and a ruined digestive system. Although starving herself had caused damage to herself, her modeling agency and clients were “amazed and proud” at what she had achieved in a short amount of time. She had worked herself to the point of destruction in order to succeed in an industry held together by controversial ideals.

Growing up, I had always believed that there was a certain way that my body had to be in order to fit into our society’s expectations of body image. I was never confident in my body because I would compare myself to models on Instagram or to the random girl in my yoga classes who didn’t need to work out to be skinny. I had always believed that in order to succeed in any ca-

reer, I would need to fit into society’s standards for what a woman was supposed to look like.

I increased my workouts, limited foods in my diet and made sure to get validation from other people who noticed how I had become so drastically “skinny.”

I felt disgusting. My size two jeans suddenly dropped to a double zero.

My already extra small shirts were big on me and what used to be voluminous hair lay flat on my head.

Everything felt like a blur; I believed that I was achieving that I thought every girl needed to be: tall and skinny.

I never would have thought that I would be so influenced and caught up by what other people thought of me, especially because

most people know me as a strong, independent person who doesn’t take things lightly from other people.

But it all stopped when I went to my grandparents’ house and looked at my family. They were happy; they were smiling and laughing and living life the way it’s supposed to be lived. No one looked alike; no one looked or fit society’s image of a “perfect body,” and no one looked for the validation that I was seeking from other people.

So, yes, we have body type stigma. Yes, we have a certain portrayal of what the ideal person is supposed to look like but at what cost?

Why do we need to fit that stigma and have a continuous cycle of self-deprecating thoughts?

I look at myself now, in my size two jeans and size

small shirt, slowly rebuilding what took only months to destroy.

I am happy at the choice I made to stop putting other people’s opinions and ideas aside and focus on myself.

The validation I seeked to boost my self-confidence is no longer needed as I am happy with the decisions I have made and will continue to make.

In the end, the pictures we see posted don’t give a clear representation. It’s time that we stop focusing on what society deems acceptable for our body image.

sports Wage gap in professional sports still exists

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OCt. 4, 2019

by Asaf Shchory Staff Writer

An athlete’s income has always been dependent on their gender if they play a professional sport. Some sports, depending on popularity, have higher wages for men than for women.

Athletes are being paid unfairly because of their gender. Male players make over 10 times more than female athletes. Even today, in a society where women and men are mostly equal in the eyes of the people, there are still a lot of cases where gender makes it more difficult for female players to provide for their families.

These cases happen on a daily basis and typically, remain unnoticed. For example, the top Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) salary was

$117,500 last season while the top National Basketball Association (NBA) salary was 37.4 million dollars.

In addition, more popular sports, such as football and basketball, tend to have a bigger fan base, which means that the income for that sport is larger. This results in increased income for leagues, which allows for increased income for players.

On the other hand, this means that athletes who play less popular sports have a smaller fan base, less income and may have to worry about their finances more than other players.

Even though the leagues of the less popular sports have a lower income they

should still make an effort to pay the players what they deserve. Being a professional athlete is a full time job.

Athletes need to practice in both the off-season as well as during the season. This means that they cannot hold down a regular 9 to 5 job and their financial state can be troublesome if they

FHS girls volleyball

by Emily Wilson Sports Editor

“I’m seeing lots of improvement over the course of the season,” girls JV volleyball coach and Fremont High School science teacher Colleen Carey said. “It’s been going well in terms of the [team’s] growth and development.”

Carey focuses on improving upon the team’s skills, rather than concentrating on mere wins and losses.

“We’re not really focusing on the results, so much as what we’re doing in the matches,” said Carey.

The team also recognizes the importance of refining skills that they can control in the games, such as always being in rotation, calling the ball, and where to go on the court.

“We’re [also] slowly and steadily improving our serve-receive which is a big part [of the game],’’ said Carey.

Carey also plans for her players to improve individually. She hopes her players continue to play volleyball after their experience on the JV volleyball team. She also hopes that her JV players will impact the program as a whole in the future.

“I don’t think [varsity volleyball players] understand that it’s correlated, like play time, it’s earned,” said girls varsity volleyball coach, Annika Janson.

So far, varsity volleyball’s team record has been lacking this season. According to Jansen, the team has been losing often.

“In my opinion, I [feel] like it’s a struggle,”

said varsity volleyball captain, Keala Kolasinski. “I mean, you’re as good as your worst player, [...] so you have to really talk it up with your teammates, and know your teammates.”

Kolasinski believes the best way the varsity team can improve their game is communication. Volleyball is a team sport, and without communication, there’s no point in playing at all.

Though varsity volleyball has struggled a bit throughout the season, they still maintain a sense of kinship. “I still love my teammates,” says Kolasinski. “It’s still fun to play with them.”

do not have a stable income in the sport they are playing.

“It is really unfair how boys get paid more than girls and that football players get paid more than volleyball players,” an anonymous sophomore said.

This sophomore thinks that all athletes should be paid the same since they are

all making a commitment to that sport and are part of the team. Lastly, they discussed how athletes who play more popular sports and have a larger income get to enjoy more luxurious lives. Players whose income is lower do not have enough money to enjoy.

“I don’t understand why the less popular sports get a lower income even though they work just as hard or harder than other players who play other sports,” the anonymous sophomore said.

After the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team won the 2019 FIFA World Cup, 28 players sued the U.S. soccer organization, in hopes to

seek equal pay between men and women that play soccer.

Another case that has happened recently is WNBA players having to play offseason to supplement their low WNBA income.

Compare this to NBA players who have an income of more than one million dollars per season.

Throughout history, there has been a lot of unfair pay between different professional sports. This evident wage gap has caused people to take increased action to make the pay between sports equal.

Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times

Upcoming Sporting Events Girls Varsity Volleyball

Tuesday, October 8, 6:45 PM at CHS

Girls Varsity Water Polo

Tuesday, October 8, 5:00 PM at MHS

Girls Varsity Tennis

Tuesday, October 8, 4:00 PM at MHS

Boys Varsity Water Polo

Tuesday, October 8, 3:00 PM at MHS

Varsity Football

Friday, October 11, 7:00 PM at PAHS

Cross Country

Saturday, October 5, 9:00 AM at HMBHS

Fremont High’s Cara Mason is in it to win it

by Nivi Khatana Staff Writer

“You got me!”

Sophomore Cara Mason calls out to her team, anticipating the game winning pass and shot into the goal. She shoots and she scores.

Mason has been playing water polo for four years since she was in seventh grade and has dedicated much of her time and energy to girls water polo.

“I started playing water polo in seventh grade,” Mason said. “I started because my sister [Caley Mason] introduced me to water polo.

She played all four years of high school. I grew up watching her games since I was in fifth grade.”

Although this is only her second season on the

Fremont girls water polo team, Mason does not lack in skill.

“My greatest accomplishment in water polo is making it on varsity in freshman year with Ruby Solomon,” Mason said.

Mason said that her favorite part of playing polo is competing against people she used to play club with at Stanford Girls Water Polo Club. She says she will continue to play polo with Stanford during their winter and summer seasons.

“Freshman year when I scored the first goal of the season and I scored the only four goals of the game,” said Mason, describing one of her favorite moments from playing polo at Fremont.

Winning was the one word Mason said was her goal for this season. In the

season so far, the water polo team has won games against Cupertino High School and Milpitas High School.

My greatest accomplishment in water polo is making it on varsity in freshman year Cara Mason Mason plans to continue playing water polo for the rest of her high school career and hopes to play in college. No matter what Mason undertakes after high school, Fremont is happy to have her on the team with a victorious season ahead.

MASON preparing to pass to her teammate Photo courtesy of Gretchen Parenteau, QuickCycle Photo

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