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Palo Alto Unified School District Henry M. Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306

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Friday, May 22, 2026 Volume 63, Issue 7

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Gubernatorial primary reflects national politics PREFERRED GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES among GUNN STUDENT POPULATION 20%

Other (25.7%)

25.7%

Chad bianco (5.7%) TOM STEYER (14.3%)

8.6%

5.7% 25.7%

Xavier Becerra (25.7%) katie porter (8.6%)

14.3%

matt mahan (20%) Steve hilton (0%)

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from May. 11 to May. 18 with 35 responses.

40%

27%

Of decided voters for the gubernatorial primary say they could change their mind and vote for someone else

of registered young voters believe that their vote is insignificant in elections

Source: Emerson College Polling

Source: University of California, Berkeley

CALIFORNIA 2026 Gubernatorial elections race Xavier Becerra

19%

Steve hilton

17%

tom steyer

17%

Chad bianco

11%

katie porter

10%

matt mahan other undecided

8% 6% 12%

Source: Emerson College Polling

Sarah Grupenhoff and Vaani Saxena Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editor

A

s the California primary election approaches on June 2, polling projections have undergone various shifts in light of recent disclosures of candidate behavior. Campaigns ref lect p ol it ic a l nat iona l i z at ion a nd have incentivized youth civic engagement.

Following the withdrawal of former leading candidate Democrat Eric Swalwell, who faces multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, other candidates have gained his votes, allowing new leaders to emerge.

As of May 10, Democrat Xavier Becerra has moved ahead, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer tied behind him, per Emerson College Polling.

California’s top-two primary system establishes that, unlike federal elections, all candidates are in the same primary race, and its open voting process allows voters to vote without being registered with a political party. Regardless of political party, the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the general election, potentially overturning a longstanding pattern of two Democratic candidates ending up on the final ballot.

According to Stanford political science doctoral candidate Brian Wu, these projected voter trends demonstrate a broader trend of increasing polarization across the U.S., and with that pattern, a shift in voters’ priority from platform policies to party identity.

“A lot of people have started to ignore candidate characteristics or candidate qualifications when they’re choosing who to vote for,” Wu said. “Most people focus on just partisanship. So, even with allegations of sexual misconduct, or even criminal allegations, a lot of people have either become numb to these things, or they no longer have the same amount of care about (them).”

This exacerbated polarization has given rise to campaigns that involve political nationalization, a practice where national

issues are discussed at a statewide or local level. Wu says this has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. “(Local and state elections) used to be much less polarized and much less partisan,” he said. “(Now,) you’re seeing mayors talking about Trump, immigration (and) taxation, when really, they have nothing to do with that. But it’s because they know that party and partisanship have become such contentious issues, and people have become so attached to these identities that saying these things actually gets them a vote.”

Socia l st udies teacher Benja min Beresford views this increased adherence to partisan identity as a divisive force that has extended beyond political conversation, overshadowing daily interactions as well.

“Political affiliation (has) become so wed to people’s identities,” Beresford said.

“The stakes of it are perceived to be so high that our ability to see humanity in other people really runs a risk of disappearing.”

Wu a lso has concer ns about t he excessive platforming of addressing national issues as part of local and statew ide campaigns. But freshman Aspen Gonzalez Sonderhoff, who manages social media for the Civic Engagement and Education Project club, believes this trend of political nationalization is a positive, necessar y change that has pushed politicians to advocate for programs aligned with voters’ interests.

She holds that local or state roles, such as the governor, partially exist to serve as a check on federal power. “ We shou ld pu sh back on some (federal programs) like ICE,” Gonzalez Sonderhoff said. “A lot of the people that ICE is deporting (are being deported) inhumanely, and I think the governor should fight back on that because it does happen in California.”

Social media, Wu said, has contributed signif icant ly to nationa lizing loca l candidates’ campaigns as well.

“In the past, the way you advertised a campaign — newspapers, radio, television — cost a lot of money, but social media is Governor’s race. —p.4

California governor candidates

xavier becerra (D)

chad bIanco (R)

steve hilton (R)

matt mahan (D)

katie porter (D)

TOM STEYER (D)

News 2 Village portables removed, to be replaced with plaza, shade structure, extra bike parking THEORACLE

focus on student safety. Holm highlights that this part of the construction project will involve creating a smoother transition from the off-campus bike path to the oncampus lane.

“We’ll be able to strengthen the connection (between) Gunn entered the final phase of the Village construction the bike lane (and) the bike path,” he said. “(The bike project during spring break, beginning with the removal path) comes all the way from Bol Park, and (the plan is of portables for a new student plaza and an enhanced to) run (the lane) along as a protected bike lane, separate bike lane. from the traffic and get you into campus if you come via According to PAUSD Facilities and Construction bike, because a lot of the community comes that way.”

Director Eric Holm, the new plaza, featuring benches and The remaining space will be used as an additional bike shade structures, will serve as an entrance to Titan Gym parking area. These new features will not only provide and a space where students can extra room, but also increase easily gather for lunch and other protection for students. events.

“We always are trying to find “While the main lunch area I was like, ‘How can we work ways to make it easier to bike, is over by the new food service, around that tree to make it and having a place to park your we know the students go all over beautiful, promote belonging bike is a big part of that,” he said. campus and find their little nooks and allow teachers (to teach) “Ultimately, the next phase (of) the and crannies to hang out with an outdoor class by having enhanced bike lane (will) improve their small group of friends,” he some (outlets) in some of the student safety.” said. “This would be another area structures?’

Assistant Principal of Facilities with benches where they can find Dr. Mycal Hixon says this project some shade and hang out during —Principal Dr. Wendy Stratton requires increased communication lunch.” between the construction team and Principal Dr. Wendy Stratton school faculty to provide the most benefit for everyone on notes receiving input from English teachers Diane campus.

Ichikawa and Jordan Wells to incorporate concepts such “This is a positive move in the right direction for as a Zen garden, a mindfulness labyrinth and Greek our school,” he said. “We have to make sure that we’re mythology in the new structures. To integrate these ideas, supporting students and staff as well, (and that we’re) Stratton worked closely with PAUSD Senior Construction coordinating with our teachers and our students and our Manager Mohammed Sedqi when planning the project. staff in terms of how we can help support that need now “The whole process of imagining (the possibilities for) that (the village is) gone.” that space that would serve our community and bring According to Holm, with the completion of A-, B- and a certain energy to it (was cool),” she said. “The shade K-buildings, the decade-long construction projects on the structure is a very (sunny) area and there is a really temporary portables will end when the construction of beautiful tree out there, but I was like, ‘How can we work the additional features finishes. The remaining portables around that tree to make it beautiful, promote belonging are projected to be transported and repurposed at the and allow teachers (to teach) an outdoor class by having district office in the summer. some (outlets) in some of the structures?’”

Next to the plaza, improvements to the bike lane will

Melody Na News Editor

”

Source: Mohammed Sedqi

Multiple rows of V-building portables were removed from campus the week of April 6. The area that previously housed the portables is planned to be revamped with a plaza, new bike parking and a shade structure.

Local representatives write legislation, develop initiatives sam liccardo (congress)

Marc berman (state assembly)

•

•

•

•

Voted to extend the government’s ability to collect electronic information of non-citizens outside the country, as originally authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Survey Act. Alongside other California representatives, pushed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to provide more federal infrastructure funding for non-motorized transportation.

Introduced the Save Willy Act, establishing a “Whale Desk” at San Francisco Coast Guard station to report sightings and prevent whale deaths.

• •

Introduced Assembly Bill 2003 to develop free, standardized suicide prevention training for staff in K-12 schools.

Introduced Assembly Bill 1810 to apply stricter requirements for registered firearms dealers.

Introduced the Defending Student Equity and Access Act, allowing community colleges to exclude expenditures that use school money to maintain programs that were previously funded by federal grants from their “Current Expense of Education” (CEE) calculation.

Allows community colleges to compensate for missing federal funding without raising instructor salaries, which must make up 50% of CEE value.

Source: Marc Berman

Source: Sam Liccardo

josh becker (state senate)

Margaret Abe-Koga (County)

•

•

•

•

Authored Battery Integration and Grid Reliability Act, allowing electric vehicles to support the electrical grid using vehicle-to-grid technology.

The stated goal is to avoid spending money on electrical infrastructure by using batteries Californians already own.

Working to permanently extend his 2022 Free Community College Pilot Program, which provided free tuition at San Mateo County community colleges for county residents.

Introduced Digital Dignity Act, requiring ‘online platforms,’ with AI tools that can generate digital replicas of people to create a way for individuals to report deepfakes that violate identity fraud laws.

Source: Josh Becker

•

•

Currently deciding how to divide Santa Clara County’s $2.8 billion discretionary budget — money the county can decide how to use — facing “a devastating (economic) downturn” and a $787 million budget deficit as a result of federal funding cuts.

Despite budget difficulties, oversaw the opening of a county-run mobile health clinic at De Anza College, providing healthcare for adults and students regardless of insurance.

Pushed to approve $1.75 million in funding to keep allcove Palo Alto, a free youth mental health center, open.

—Compiled by Melody Song

Source: Margaret Abe-Koga

THEORACLE 780 Arastradero Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 354-8238 www.gunnoracle.com

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Sarah Grupenhoff Managing Editors Vaani Saxena Melody Song News Vin Bhat Melody Na Fiona Wu Forum Olivia Lee Michelle Zhou Features Arjum Ahluwalia Noa Zeitlin In-Depth Ezra Rosenberg Cici Zhang Sports Mayher Dulani Athena Gao Lifestyle Annabel Brown Ellen Kim Yuji Song Social Media Athena Gao Ellen Kim Noa Zeitlin Photo Editor Laura Wang Graphics Editor Dani Massarweh

Staff Business/Circulation Olivia Lee Graphics Artists Vin Bhat Kai Knutson Sophie Kou Alexandra Liu Sahana Mahadevan

Friday, May 22, 2026

3

Rick’s Ice Cream acquired by local chain Pints of Joy “I’m just glad to see that it hasn’t been swallowed up by a big chain,” he said. “I’m sure Ezra Rosenberg (the new owners) will put their own spin on In-Depth Editor it, and I think that’s totally fine, hopefully they’ll keep (Rick’s) a community fixture.”

The classic Palo Alto ice cream parlor Rick’s Social studies teacher Laurel Howard Rather Rich Ice Cream underwent an ownership grew up in Palo Alto within walking and name change in early 2026. Here’s the scoop. distance of Rick’s. A childhood staple Pints of Joy, a three-location ice cream chain of hers, Rick’s was where she enjoyed co-founded by ‘mommypreneurs’ Ketki Dandekar a sweet treat after dance classes and Arshiya Shaikh during the COVID-19 and performances. While Howard’s pandemic, merged with Rick’s at its 70-year-old longtime favorite flavors include location in Charleston Shopping Center.

Rainbow Sherbet and Chocolate While the previous Chocolate Chip Cookie staff stayed on, changes Dough, she is also a are coming to the fan of the new Indian establishment, including we absolutely just want twist brought by Pints a rebranding of the store to welcome as many of Joy flavors. She is open and its merch. The new customers (to rick’s ice to the changes that Pints owners are keeping 25 to cream & pints of joy) as of Joy has implemented, 30 legacy Rick’s flavors, we can. there are a lot but also believes it’s including classics like of fun things to try. important that popular Computer Chip, Industrial and original flavors Chocolate and Blue Moon, —owner are kept in the freezers while making room in the ketki dandekar and that the shop freezers for Pints of Joy maintains the originals like Alphonso traditional Mango, Malai Kulfi and Black Sesame. Customers Rick’s vibe. at Rick’s Ice Cream & Pints of Joy now have an “I think creativity expanded range of flavors to select from. is always cool,” The shop, which previously closed at 8 p.m., she said. “I would now operates until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 hope that they p.m. on weekends. The store is also more active maintain some in the community, with an increased number of of the flavors outreach and promotional events like their Spring that I really Fling Flavor Day, which featured an in-store raffle associate with and various discounts. According to Dandekar, Rick’s.

There’s while some business operations will now be based some classics that on Pints of Joy strategies, the look and feel of the you always want. location will still be the same.

I think the current Dandekar emphasizes the shop’s goal of being owners have done a open to anyone looking for a tasty treat on a hot great job of keeping it true day, and is proud of how Pints of Joy has handled to roots, but also giving it new customers in the Palo Alto area. space to grow.”

“We absolutely just want to welcome as many customers as we can,” she said. “There are a lot of fun things to try, so really the message is to come by. We’ve enjoyed serving a different community.”

Junior Ronan Seidel has been a customer at RIck’s ICE CREAM & PINTS OF JOY HOURS Rick’s on multiple occasions with friends. Seidel 12-9, SUNDAY THROUGH THURSdAY likes that the establishment is staying small and 12-9:30, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY he wants to continue buying ice cream from a community-centered location.

”

News

% 5 .

7 7

VEYED OF SUR e visited hav & STUDENTSice cream ’s fore rick oy be j f o pints sent survey elected by The s lf e S : ts Source unn studen to May 18 G out to from May 11 Oracle responses.

9 with 8

Photographers Inaaya Ahmed Vin Bhat Adviser Kristy Blackburn Mission Statement The Oracle seeks to serve the needs of the community and thereby publish the most accurate information and provide content from diverse perspectives.

Freedom of speech and of the press is also a vital component of the process in order to foster intellectual freedom within a complex community.

Photos by Ezra Rosenberg

Left: Rick’s Ice Cream & Pints of Joy is located in the Charleston shopping center complex. Center: A Rick’s Ice Cream & Pints of Joy employee prepares an ice cream order for a customer. Right: Owner Ketki Dandekar stands behind the counter, ready to scoop ice cream.

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Vin Bhat

—April 3, 2026—

4

News

THEORACLE

California gubernatorial primary election projections demonstrate national polarization, spur statewide engagement

17%

may 2026

11% 9%

10%

10%

4%

10%

11%

14%

15%

17% 12%

16% 10%

11%

14% 11%

14%

13% 11% 8%

10%

April 2026

March 2026

3%

4%

4%

5%

5%

Xavier Becerra

officials and opened up opportunities for meaningful conversation.

Beresford nevertheless stresses that young people who have the power to vote should exercise that privilege and responsibly educate themselves before doing so. Withdrawing from political engagement under the assumption of being powerless, he says, is a missed opportunity to shape the future they will live in.

“The irony of lower levels of political participation among youth is that they’re the ones who have the most to gain or lose from the changes that happen, because it’s very likely they are going to outlive other voting populations,” he said. “They have more at stake, and their voice matters. Voting is one of the great levelers.”

8%

Feb. 2026

16%

Dec. 2025

do what they can, but also they are meant to be neutral, so they can’t talk about current (events) that much. You need to be able to learn (somehow) so that you’re making informed votes.”

Beresford echoes these sentiments, pointing out that there are civic activities beyond voting that are still effective.

“Even if you’re not old enough to vote yet, there are lots of things that you can do in your community, whether that’s getting involved with an organization or knocking on doors,” Beresford said.

A s par t of his U.S. Government class, Beresford guides students in completing civic action projects to increase their active engagement with the community and demonstrate their ability to make an impact, despite their age group’s legal limitations.

Some of these projects, he notes, have received unexpected responses from city

17%

Oct. 2025

19%

Sept. 2025

explains this pattern, reporting that 47% of registered young voters feel young voters’ lack of education will result in a low turnout in the June primary, 33% feel pressure from special interest groups, 31% don’t have time and 27% believe their vote is insignificant.

Gonzalez Sonderhoff has noticed this pattern of scarce civic engagement among her peers, most of whom cannot vote right now but will likely maintain such a level of political apathy even when they become legally eligible.

While she recognizes the limitations of the school curriculum’s ability to incorporate modern politics, she stresses the criticality of being educated on these matters to push back against low voter turnout.

“It’s important that we know what’s happening in our government,” Gonzalez Sonderhoff said. “The teachers at school

17%

relatively free,” Wu said. “(Candidates can now) take a bigger stance and become more of a nationalized image, because (social media) allows them to reach out to more people.”

Beresford notes t hat t hough a candidate may be a proponent of uncontroversial policies, their popularity and established public image still hold more influence over voters.

“Social media has made (elections) even more about media and popularity,” Beresford said. “It’s more like public relations, so successful candidates are ones who have effective media campaigns.”

Though they are the heaviest social media users, young voters remain one of the lowest turnout blocks, Wu said.

The Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley,

13%

Governor’s race. —p.1

chad bianco

steve hilton

Katie porter

Tom steyer

Source: Emerson College Polling

FORUM

Forum

Friday, May 22, 2026

5

EDITORIAL: The Opinion of The Oracle Qualities for future superintendent: transparent, attentive PAUSD has spent the better part of the last couple of actually understand this district — not from a briefing They must also treat transparency as a baseline, not a decades lurching from one leadership crisis to the next. document, but from showing up. Austin’s failure was, concession. Where is the money going? Why? Those are Former superintendent Don Austin’s tenure was defined at its core, a lack of connection. PAUSD has a specific not unreasonable questions, and this community has been by top-down decision making and a persistent disconnect culture, a specific set of pressures and a community that waiting too long for answers. Fiscal accountability and from the community can immediately tell when its leader is present honest communication through regular budget updates he was hired to serve. versus performing. The next superintendent are not, and should not be, extras.

Trent Bahadursingh’s needs to be someone who listens and stays close Mental health resources must be a genuine priority, b r i e f , t u r b u l e n t the next superintendent needs to students, teachers and families. Not someone backed by real funding. This is not a new problem, st int of fered lit t le to be someone who listens who manages from a distance. and the incoming superintendent should arrive with a correction before it, and stays close to students, concrete plan. The too, collapsed. The teachers and families — not pressure students revolving door at the someone who manages from a face in this This time, hire someone who has district is serious. top of this district distance. taught, who understands this The institutional is destabilizing, and community’s culture and who response has to students are the ones paying the price. sees the students of PAUSD not match it.

The Board of Education now has an opportunity as metrics to manage but as to change the way they’ve done things and select a F i n a l l y , people to serve. superintendent that truly values community input. st udents need Whether they squander it the way they have before to be heard. Not is up to them. through a student advisory committee that meets a couple PAUSD is not a broken district. Its teachers of times a year and changes nothing, but gathering input are dedicated, its academic achievement that gets built into how decisions are made. Our next is real and the community’s investment is superintendent should be willing to immerse themselves genuine. That foundation is worth protecting in the Palo Alto community, visit our schools and gather — which is exactly why the leadership failures student-focused data that informs their decisions. of the past few years are so frustrating. Poor You have hired for credentials before, Board. communication, a lack of transparency and fiscal You have hired for impressiveness. You have seen decisions that never seemed to prioritize students where that leads. This time, hire someone who has have eroded the trust this district depends taught, who understands this community’s on. Students struggling with their culture and who sees the students of menta l hea lt h have PAUSD not as metrics to manage watched resources but as people to serve. fall short year after We a r e a sk i ng year. Transparency f o r a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, h a s b e e n a b a c kconnection and leadership of-mind issue. A nd that is actually here. care Transparency through it all, student —Un s igned editor ial s voice has been treated re pre s e nt the major it y as an afterthought opinion of the staff (assenting: rather than a starting 17; dissenting: 0; abstaining: point.

0).

The Board must do better.

”

”

Here is what should be prioritized.

The next superintendent must

Graphics by Dani Massarweh

Third spaces should be more publicized, utilized by students Olivia Lee Forum Editor For most students, school and home are the two places where they spend the most time. At school, they worry about grades and face academic pressure. At home, they rest, spend time with family and study. But students need spaces beyond home and school, where they can connect with people, besides family, in non-academic settings.

Third spaces should be publicized more, and students should take advantage of the ones available to them.

Libraries, parks, cafes, student lounges and community centers are all examples of third spaces. In sociologist Ray Oldenburg’s book “The Great Good Place,” he describes the importance of such spaces in allowing individuals to “put aside concerns and simply enjoy the company and conversation around them.” This means third spaces are not just places where people unwind, but also where they build and maintain meaningful relationships.

Without third spaces, students become more isolated.

They spend a majority of their free time scrolling on social media — a University of Rochester Medicine survey shows an average phone screen time of 5.4 hours for teens. This does not always create real connections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public places like neighborhoods, workplaces and parks and recreation centers support and strengthen social connections. The Atlantic International University states that in-person communication “offers deeper emotional connections and more nuanced communication,” while digital connections have limitations like loss of nonverbal cues, tendencies to disengage and inattentiveness.

The CDC also states that safe access to public spaces encourages connection, less social isolation and community engagement and altruism, ultimately strengthening social bonds. If these third spaces are more widely publicized and well-known throughout student communities, they are more likely to be utilized and benefit students.

The availability of third spaces should also be emphasized because many students do not have the equal resources and opportunities at home and school. While some students have the privilege of a quiet place to work at home, others don’t, exemplifying the importance of providing other environments for students. According to Skyted, a headphone company, “low-level background noise subtly drains mental energy. The brain must repeatedly reorient attention, breaking concentration cycles that typically take 20 minutes to restore.” Since some students do not have access to the proper studying environment at home, it is important to have third spaces and provide equity.

Some may argue that students already have enough spaces available to them, especially on school campuses.

However, having a space available does not mean that students are aware of it or feel entirely comfortable using them, and third spaces on school campuses are often not open beyond school hours. In a survey related to awareness and belonging, Tyton Partners found that of 2000 students from 900 different institutions, only 60% were aware of the available third spaces at their institutions. If poorly advertised, these spaces will not maximize their potential.

Promoting third spaces not only raises awareness of their availability, but also ensures that students feel encouraged to use them.

Schools and local community members can make third spaces more visible through simple actions like mentioning them during announcements or hosting events in them. While third spaces will not solve every social or mental health challenge that students face, they provide

opportunities in ways that schools and homes cannot offer: relationships beyond families, friendships without academic comparisons and environments where students can find a sense of belonging. Third spaces should be more publicized, and students should take advantage of the valuable resources that are part of their community.

Third Spaces Popularity SAC 8.9%

Other 3.9%

Park 26.6% School Library 68.4% Cafe 27.8% Outside library 55.7%

Source: Self-selected survey sent to Gunn students by The Oracle from May 11 to 18 with 84 responses

6

Forum

THEORACLE

colorful clothing defies social media trends, expresses personality, boosts confidence monotone shades, it would be harder to be unique.

This can be explained by enclothed cognition, which is Not to mention, dressing in maximalist explosions of the psychological term for outfit color choice playing a role colors, patterns and textures stimulates the brain. A 2025 in cognitive processes, mental well-being and behavior. study by Ahead Magazine found that wearing clothes that When individuals wear vibrant colors, it releases align with personal image causes the brain’s reward neurotransmitters like dopamine Mayher Dulani center to light up. Moreover, a 2025 Hyperflux and serotonin, the brain’s Sports Editor article adds that human beings “feel good” chemicals, naturally crave variety and vibrancy, throughout the body.

Bright colors and intricate patterns a ­ re key indicators with maximalist design offering a This act of “dopamine of childhood. As the years pass by, personal styles evolve constant source of visual dressing” — and are influenced by the media. This evolution, however, interest. Dressing colorfully wearing bright oftentimes results in the loss of in a way that resonates with colors to unique, vibrant clothing. one’s personality keeps the achieve a of s Social media promotes tude brain’s senses engaged. sense of calm nt to w neutral colors and plain clothes, Although some find and happiness ear s prefer c o neut fostering an atmosphere lore neutral colors to be their from a release r d where wearing color can be colo cloth alpreferred form of selfof dopamine — es th rful seen as childish or out of place. expression, wearing color raises moods a Sourc c n loth e However, wearing color is a form stude : Self-selec has the potential to make by stimulating a es nts by ted su of expression — one that people rv The O anyone feel happier, positive feedback racle ey sent to with should consider when assembling 88 re from May Gunn regardless of one’s loop that boosts spons 11 to 18 es. their wardrobe. usual style.

Similar confidence. hink Clothing is the most to how rainy, gloomy Even incorporating small ents t e d u t s powerful form of nonverbal r a of s weather can trigger seasonal splashes of color in outfits d n re communication, and societal Melody that t y leaning depression, wearing dull colors can can be beneficial. This is not Song pressures can repress one’s true all ist have the same effect. to say that neutral colors cannot gener inimal self. Color offers an outlet for m s In fact, fashion and mental health be representative and empowering. Rather, a maximalist d r a w to people to express themselves, are far more connected than they approach to the wardrobe increases confidence and selfstyles and outfits depict personal to Gunn t n may seem. According to a study expression. se y d surve to 18 characteristics and stylistic lf-selecte le from May 11 e S conducted in 2024 by the Journal Although today’s fashion industry embraces a safer, : e c r rac Sou choices.

by The O nses. of Environmental Psychology, more neutral approach, individuals should embrace riskstudents with 82 respo According to internal project self-esteem and emotions shift taking in their clothing choices and in their personal style, axena data from the research-compiling Vaani S depending on what an individual as it encourages a culture where individuality thrives. agency Digital Silk, branding wears. Color of clothing influences mood, with requests citing “quiet luxury” bright, vibrant clothes being linked to higher reported principles have increased by more levels of happiness and confidence, and darker or muted than 60% from year to year. But if everyone dressed in shades lining up with lower emotional energy.

64.8

%

46.3%

Collecting evokes nostalgia, fosters sense of community Annabel Brown Lifestyle Editor Collecting is an activity humans have been doing since the beginning of our existence. Before currency, certain items were an indication of power and were cherished as opposed to being thrown away. Fastforward to today, the trending hashtags #Minimalism and #DeclutterYourLife seem to challenge the hobby we have stuck to for so long, pressuring viewers to only keep the “essentials.” Although collecting is now seen as a disorganized lifestyle, keeping items evokes nostalgia and fosters a sense of community through trading culture and establishing authentic connections, both of which act as mood boosters.

According to Dr. Jennifer Brown from Cottonwood Psychology, a team of professional psychologists, identity is formed through memories, and photos act as cues to initiate them.

Keeping objects brings humans joy and serves as a physical reminder of various memories.

For example, m e m e n t o s remind collectors of personal experiences and defining moments.

People who find joy in keeping things are also more open to new experiences, per a 2025 study conducted at the

University of California, Berkeley, by assistant professors Ellen Evers and William Ryan. While many people may consider collecting a passive hobby, the study finds that it actually shows curiosity and willingness to explore new activities that may not have been considered before. Most collectors keep things for to preserve experiences even though the stereotype links the hobby to materialism and physical accumulation instead of sentimental value.

Communities often form around finding a common interest, and this is reflected in collecting culture. These groups are incredibly popular, as demonstrated

in highly regarded franchises like “Pokémon.” The iconic video game and trading card empire is currently the biggest media franchise on the planet, according to The British Times, with 489 million game units sold in 90 countries. Its popularity didn’t surface out of nowhere: People began hopping on to the trend, and many began to love searching for rare cards and trading with their fellow card connoisseurs.

Building a sense of belonging across diverse groups of people to find a common interest is extremely beneficial, and participating in collecting-oriented groups can also mitigate loneliness, a significant risk factor for depression, as stated by Psychology Today. Having the opportunity to experience authentic human bonds adds to one’s identity.

Collecting, however, does not imply keeping all of one’s possessions — there are always strategies to cherish belongings while also remaining tidy. The minimalism movement’s original intent was to eliminate meaningless “junk” while still keeping memorabilia. Still, it has snowballed into extremes, as people have begun to throw away items holding personal significance to achieve the “clean” look.

Marie Kondo, a pioneer of the organizing empire who rose to popularity from her cleaning methods, always said to “take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’” Kondo, known for her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” does not instruct us to get rid of our cherished belongings but to hold on to the ones we value most and care for them.

While it is beneficial to occasionally take a peek into the disorderly nooks and crannies of our living spaces and tidy up here and there, we must remember that the things we choose to keep reflect out memories and who we are.

Annabel Brown

FEATURES

Features

Friday, May 22, 2026

7

Students’ family history influence activism in foreign policy Freshman Emma Chen: Model United Nations Growing up surrounded by both Japanese and Taiwanese culture, freshman Emma Chen often felt conflicted and ashamed of her multicultural heritage. But through her experience representing a variety of countries in Model United Nations, Chen has found pride for her culture and hope of future change in the world.

With the rise of the Stop Asian Hate Movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people questioned Chen’s ethnicity and assumed she was Chinese. Because of China’s tense history with Taiwan, when she revealed her heritage, she felt her identity was being questioned.

“I felt ashamed that I couldn’t really go outside and say I’m Taiwanese,” she said. “There’s this stigma about (being) Taiwanese and Chinese.”

The different social expectations of her two cultures have only exacerbated this view of her identity. For Chen, the traditional social expectations in Japanese culture of being reserved contradicted the outgoing nature of Taiwanese people. Despite this, Model UN has taught her that her culture and authentic personality were limitations but rather valuable assets.

“Taiwanese people, we’re loud, we talk,” she said. “Now after (exploring) more foreign policy, (I

understand) that (the reason) I had felt ashamed of myself (can) actually make a difference in how we approach the world.”

At her most recent conference, Chen represents Estonia, a small, northern European country she describes as the “Silicon Valley of Europe.”

Representing Estonia has revealed to her that small countries, like Taiwan, have just as many ambitions as larger ones. “(Small countries) have a spot in the world,” she said. “(They) have goals, people and (shouldn’t) be overlooked just because (they) are small.”

Prior to representing countries in Model UN, she was introduced to foreign policy by her mother. Since then, she has been hooked by the potential to make real change in the world through international collaboration.

“Seeing (solutions being developed in Model UN) gives me hope that maybe someday I’ll be there,” she said. “Maybe someday what I’m doing now will actually make an impact.” ­—Written by Noa Zeitlin

Photos courtesy of Emma Chen

Junior Gabriel Espinoza: U.S. FOREIGN POLICY HONORS

Photos courtesy of Gabriel Espinoza

Migration, diplomacy and political change shape family histories, leaving indelible marks on the cultural inheritance of future generations.

These experiences often shape how people understand themselves and their relation to global issues. For junior Gabriel Espinoza, hearing about his family’s intercontinental experiences — from living abroad to stories of government service — has sparked a curiosity about global relationships and how they can shape people’s lives. Espinoza’s family on his father’s side immigrated to the United States through the Bracero Program, a system that contracted Mexican laborers to work in the U.S agricultural industry during World War II. On his mother’s side, he has an uncle who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency during the height of the Cold War. “Hearing stories about (my uncle’s) work, such as his involvement with the ‘Bridge of Spies’ hostage exchange, makes working in diplomacy or intelligence intriguing to me,” he said. “I also have family that still resides in Mexico, and connecting with them makes me very interested in our countries’ relationship, which is something I’m currently researching for (my foreign policy class).”

These family experiences also deepen how Espinoza understands global relationships and cultural differences, exposing him early on to

cross-cultural perspectives and the connectivity between separate countries. Due to this perspective, Espinoza pays closer attention to current events and the government decisions.

“I think (my relation to foreign policy) definitely makes me more conscious about decisions that are made at the federal level, and how these decisions affect people within or outside a country,” he said.

His awareness has only increased in U.S. Foreign Policy Honors, a class where Espinoza has been able to connect his personal interest in international relations with formal academic study.

“The class gives you a lot of segue to further interest in foreign policy,” he said. “It (provides) a good learning opportunity for anyone who wants to get a better sense of how the world works.”

As he continues exploring the subject, Espinoza has also begun to see how his passion could shape his future. “(I’ve become) interested in working in a career in public service,” he said. “I think being in (U.S. Foreign Policy Honors) has really made me more interested in working in something connected to diplomacy, and I want to be able to impact and help people around the world.” ­—Written by Fiona Wu

Sophomore Erin Tsutsui: Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education While many childhood memories relate to vacations or school, for sophomore Erin Tsutsui, it was her grandfather’s stories. Tsutsui’s grandfather, Kōki, was four years old when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima where he lived. With immediate death tolls estimated at 70,000 to 80,000 people, Kōki and his family were very fortunate to have survived.

Since then, Tsutsui has heard firsthand accounts of what transpired, and those stories, filled with both resilience and loss, left a lasting impression on her. These accounts have helped her develop an interest in foreign policy. “(I’m interested in) how we can shape a future that’s oriented towards peace, especially (stepping) away from nuclear weapons,” she said.

For Tsutsui, these global issues aren’t distant headlines. Hearing about the horror of nuclear weapons from someone who experienced it themselves gave her a perspective that most people never see. To share her family’s history, Tsutsui delivered a TED Talk. She feels that despite their youth, teenagers can still contribute

to moving in a positive direction globally.

“I think that we are able to change the trajectory of our world,” she said.

True to her word, Tsutsui ventures outside the classroom to participate in the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education, where she takes part in discussions regarding relations between the U.S. and Japan, with a focus on how the U.S. and Japan can cooperate in a global context.

Tsutsui has also used her passion to try and create real change: she has spoken with California Congressman Sam Liccardo to discuss current legislation about limiting presidential power to launch nuclear weapons and is currently working on a research paper on atomic bomb survivors and nuclear policy within the U.S. and Japan.

Rooted in her grandfather’s survival, Tsutsui is turning inherited memory into actions, working to ensure that the ­—Written by Arjum Ahluwalia Photos courtesy of Erin Tsusui

8

In-De

THEORACLE

California legislation reforms urban deve

Bay Area responds to local impacts of racial biases and shortsightedness in Athena Gao and Noa Zeitlin Sports Editor and Features Editor

T

he lack of affordable housing options in California has caused a statewide crisis in which low-income communities especially struggle to afford homes. The current shortage of housing is rooted in racially motivated urban zoning codes that historically targeted minorities and mandated massive plots of land for single-family housing. This has forced cities to grow out in an “urban sprawl,” a network of spread-out, car-dependent cities, leading to an increased carbon footprint and a deficiency of space for dense, affordable communities. Although the Fair Housing Act outlawed these exclusionary urban zoning codes in 1968, the effects of discriminatory policies still contribute to California’s current housing deficit. The lack of available homes leaves few options for vulnerable communities: according to the Public Policy Institute of California, the state faces a three-million-housing-unit shortage. Now, as policymakers push to end the housing crisis, conversations about urbanization have shifted to include racially and socioeconomically diverse community voices to pursue more sustainable and equitable legislation.

History of Housing IN CALIFORNIA According to an article by news nonprofit Berkeleyside, urban planner Duncan McDuffie spearheaded California’s first discriminatory zoning laws in 1916. He implemented these zoning laws to preserve wealthy, white communities at the expense of density. Zoning laws reserved one-acre plots for single-family homes, resulting in a statewide network built on urban sprawl. McDuffie’s policies also included legally enforceable contracts that prevented homeowners from renting or selling their homes to people of color, called racial covenants. Even after racial covenants were outlawed in 1948, McDuffie continued to champion exclusionary zoning codes targeting the type of housing permitted, shutting out people based on income instead of race.

Urban planner and Stanford University urban studies lecturer Dehan Glanz says those zoning codes primarily affected people of color. “(They) were policies born of racial bias,” he said. “The thought was that if you only zone for single-family homes and one-acre lots, that’s going to mean wealthy people (will be) in your neighborhood, and you’re not going to have ‘poor people,’ which was a kind of dog whistle (to exclude) people of color.”

These codes have driven up the demand for and therefore the cost of existing homes.

Nonprofit news organization Davis Vanguard reports that 56% of the 2.8 million coststressed households in California devote more than half of their income to rent, a figure 50% above the national average.

INCOMING REFORMS New urbanization legislation taking effect on July 1 includes SB 79 and AB 130, bills that will reform the California Environmental Quality Act. CEQA is a state law that requires state and local agencies to identify, disclose and lessen any significant environmental impact from proposed infrastructure projects, such as building homes.

Not following CEQA results in severe legal and financial risks, which can halt projects for years or force complete cancellation. SB 79 and AB 130 simplify infill development and make it easier to build concentrated housing on unused urban land areas, such as parking lots or abandoned buildings. For California policymakers, infill development is ideal for combating the housing crisis due to its low infrastructural cost and environmental benefits compared to suburban sprawl. Infill development is also environmentally beneficial in that it is less reliant on cars. It facilitates a communal shift toward greener modes of commute, including biking, walking and public transportation. In Executive Order N-224, a 2024 initiative to improve infill development, Gov. Gavin Newsom emphasized that streamlining infill development will encourage inexpensive housing production and achieve California’s climate goals.

SB 79 SB

Also 79

known as the promotes infill

Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, development across California by overriding local

zoning laws to allow for high-density housing within half a mile of major transit, including Bay Area Rapid Transit and Caltrain. To use SB 79, development projects with more than 10 residential units must provide varying affordable housing units based on the median income of the area.

According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, around 53% of San Francisco households earning under $100,000 have no access to a personal vehicle.

As SB 79 develops more accessible housing near public transportation, surrounding communities stand to benefit the most, particularly low-income households without access to a personal vehicle. Increased public transportation usage is also directly linked to lower city carbon footprints.

Glanz maintains statewide initiatives for infill development and improved transportation such as SB 79 stem directly from youth interest.

“People, young people especially, don’t want to live in the suburbs,” he said. “There’s a strong market demand (from youth) for more diverse, integrated and dense suburban areas, (which is) why we’re seeing so many of these new (infill development) policies.”

SB 79 has garnered significant support from nonprofit community organizations, including Yes in My Back Yard. YIMBY Action has mobilized 10,303 new calls to state legislators and organized 35 people from across the state, including young and diverse people, to testify for the approval of the bill at the Senate Housing Committee hearing in Sacramento. YIMBY’s inclusion of a variety of voices successfully pressured California policymakers to pass SB 79, marking a step towards supporting underserved communities.

AB 130 Supporting SB 79, California Assembly Bill 130 speeds up affordable housing initiatives by allowing qualifying infill development projects to skip CEQA’s lengthy review process.

AB 130 will also establish the Vehicle Miles Traveled Mitigation Bank that provides developers in need of meeting CEQA transportation requirements the opportunity to pay into a state fund, financing affordable housing and transit initiatives. While the program is voluntary, the VMT Mitigation Bank will to consolidate CEQA’s transportation review process, prevent the delay of infrastructure and provide higher-quality transportation.

Palo Alto councilmember and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority board member Pat Burt believes that quality transportation is extremely valuable, not only to people limited by income or location, but to the entire community.

“Some people may argue that the housing issue is so important that nothing else matters, and we don’t need to worry about parks and transportation and retail, but that is poor urban planning,” he said. “We can (improve) both housing and transportation and not repeat eras of the past (with harmful legislation).”

In an effort to ensure the well-being of all community members, AB 130 includes additional protection for tribal and cultural resources. Infill development is often built upon previous and current tribal land, as many of today’s major cities were built directly on top of historical tribal sites. AB 130 establishes limitations to prevent this. According to the environmental consulting firm First Carbon Solutions, the bill ensures that the creation of these homes under infill development includes input from indigenous tribes by requiring local governments to consult tribes within 14 days after the project application is approved. If tribal cultural resources are identified, the project must include measures to prevent damage to cultural heritage.

CEQA SB 79, AB 130 and similar initiatives use infill development to build more low-cost housing, as well as more housing in general. Created in 1970, CEQA’s original purpose was to hold state and local agencies accountable for the environmental impacts of their projects. However, CEQA’s review process for mitigating these environmental impacts can take several years to complete, causing delays in affordable housing initiatives.

Documents that infrastructure developers must obtain to meet the CEQA environmental review process can take up to seven years to produce, says environmental law and land use lawyer Shaye Diveley. Even after a city council approves a development project, public opposition groups referred to as Not In My Backyard’s can sue the city and often do on the basis of CEQA, arguing that the project should not be completed because of significant environmental effects, such as noise pollution or traffic. If NIMBYs can prove the city missed a significant environmental effect in the Environmental Impact Report, the court can order further review, thereby slowing the progress of the entire project by several years. According to the California Center for Jobs and the Economy, anti-housing CEQA lawsuits affected more than half of California’s annual housing production in 2020,

epth

Friday, May 22, 2026

9

elopment policies, combats housing crisis

n historical zoning codes with an emphasis on affordable housing and equity significantly impeding the process of approval, which prevents vulnerable communities community in conversations about urban development to support social and environmental from securing a home. equity. Kos urges students to be engaged in conversations on urban policy.

NIMBYs’ lawsuits against affordable housing initiatives are a local occurrence. In “Unless youth are involved in (urban development) conversations, they’re going to 2013, the Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved Palo Alto Housing Corporation’s be left out and subjected to whatever older generations impose upon them,” he said. “I development project of 60 affordable senior apartments and 12 to 15 market-rate homes would very much encourage students to get involved in discussions around shaping urban on Maybell and Clemo Avenues, an approved exemption of the density limit allowed in that policy.” zone. However, local NIMBYs threatened lawsuits over how the dense infrastructure of At Gunn, students are already participating in local environmental advocacy. Green the project would increase noise pollution and traffic, negatively impacting a single-family Commissioner senior Doyoon Kim’s research on heat mapping in Palo Alto is one of many neighborhood’s character. The NIMBYs successfully petitioned to put the rezoning to a student-led sustainability initiatives in the area. She believes focusing on smaller-scale citywide vote, leading 56% of voters to reject the proposal and effectively end the initiative. issues in outreach, such as heat mitigation, is key to increasing community engagement.

In 2014, PAHC sold the land to another developer who, in accordance with existing zoning “Although difficult, grassroots outreach is so much more efficient in convincing residents codes, as well as community support and city approval, finished construction of 16 luxury (to engage in environmental issues),” she said. “(Educating people about) smaller issues single-family homes in 2020. is so much better to talk about than focusing on the macro level to help people become The story behind Maybell and Clemo interested.”

Avenues demonstrates one of many Within PAUSD, there is an active effort to statewide patterns delaying affordable include community voices in the development housing: NIMBYs use CEQA to sue or SOME PEOPLE MAY ARGUE THAT THE HOUSING ISSUE IS SO IMPORTANT THAT of the district’s climate action plan. PAUSD’s threaten to sue the city to challenge dense NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, AND WE DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT PARKS first-ever sustainability manager Karina affordable housing initiatives. NIMBYs AND TRANSPORTATION AND RETAIL, BUT THAT IS POOR URBAN PLANNING. Takemoto believes reaching out to all members claim that these projects will damage the WE CAN (IMPROVE) BOTH HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION AND NOT REPEAT of the community, including PAUSD staff, character of their neighborhoods, which ERAS OF THE PAST (WITH HARMFUL LEGISLATION). vendors, utility management and students, is are often single-family communities built —PALO ALTO COUNCILMEMBER AND SANTA CLARA VALLEY crucial for the plan’s success. on urban sprawl. Dense infrastructure “It’s really important to try to take input TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER PAT BURT like high-rise buildings can not only from everyone that you can, not just the loudest appear unpleasant but can also block natural light from neighboring homes, leading to voice in the room,” she said. “Go out there and give people who wouldn’t have reached you increased heating and artificial light costs. However, for California policymakers, the otherwise a microphone.” housing crisis outweighs NIMBYs’ concerns. According to the Terner Center for Housing SB 79 and AB 130 are just a few of many future laws aiming to end the growing climate Innovation, 65% of California communities met statewide standards of housing projects crisis while accommodating the urbanization of cities. Urban and environmental issues that supported infill development and inclusive housing initiatives in 2023. In 2026, the affect every community member, whether in the form of not being able to take the bus to State of California reported increased pressure from the state has led to 92% of California work or struggling to find affordable housing. communities complying with these standards. This 27% increase in the last three years The complex history behind California’s housing crisis, namely discriminatory demonstrates how affordable housing initiatives have taken state priority over NIMBY zoning laws, reveals that exclusionary planning leaves lasting generational impacts. concerns of neighborhood character.

Now, California policymakers have shifted to prioritize hearing different groups in the Complex land use attorney and former chair of the Oakland Planning Commission planning and application of urbanization legislation to support the growth of equitable Amanda Monchamp asserts that because of increased priority and financing from the and sustainable cities. state, more affordable housing projects have been progressing in the last year and a half.

Program Director of Equitable Development at Urban Habitat Amanda Chang believes However, this does not mean NIMBY input was not taken into consideration. During her that to make meaningful progress, all need to be heard. time on the commission, Monchamp balanced NIMBY community input with necessary “If we want to get past (a history of non-inclusive legislation), we need to keep including affordable housing initiatives. Most of the time, the commission would prioritize the (all) voices to make sure that we are not repeating (the past) in development of our cities, development project moving forward, but made some modifications and concessions to counties and regions,” she said. satisfy the neighbors’ concerns with what was being developed.

“The public coming forth and complaining is a valuable part of the process,” she said.

“I do think that there are also some people who come to the planning commission, and what they really want is for no (housing) to ever be built, usually because of their (NIMBY) view. That’s just not realistic — change happens, and if we’re going to solve the affordable housing crisis, we have to build more homes.”

”

Community engagement and diverse voices California policymakers have shifted to include more community voices in the conversation of urbanization to achieve more equitable urban legislation. In 2009, the San Francisco Better Neighborhoods program initiated a housing and infrastructure development project in the West of Twin Peaks area. In 2015, district supervisor Norman Yee supported the project by creating an advisory committee of park, residential, high school, utilities, local business and neighborhood representatives. Statistics from the San Francisco Planning Organization reveal that, after the project’s unanimous approval by the planning commission and board supervisors in 2020, 1,100 units are now under construction and scheduled for completion in 2031. Of those units, 50% were affordable and 150 were intended for education staff. All of the project’s buildings are required to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold or Platinum certification standard, ensuring infrastructure with premier energy efficiency. The input from these groups helped inform this sustainable and low-cost housing initiative, which is intended to benefit those very community members.

To urban planner and Stanford University sustainable cities professor Rick Kos, it is an urban planner’s ethical responsibility to include all aspects of a

90.7%

of students THINK that BAY AREA HOUSING should be more affordable as opposed to less affordable Source: self-selected survey sent to Gunn students by The Oracle from May 11 to May 18 with 86 responses.

Kai Knutson

10

Features

THEORACLE

Humans of Gunn: Sully Rawashdeh on belonging, friendship, prioritizing fun Dear Reader, There are a lot of humans at Gunn. How many of them do you think you know? The Oracle’s “Humans of Gunn” series aims to showcase the unique personalities, inner lives and interests of the community. Inspired by the series Humans of New York, we hope you learn that everyone has a story to tell.

This is sophomore Suleiman Rawashdeh, but you can call him Sully. He plays volleyball as an outside hitter and football as a wide receiver. When he’s searching for a good bite to eat, his go-to spot is Marugame Udon in downtown Palo Alto.

“I’m a big man,” he said. “I like food. I do prefer Asian cuisines. UMe Tea has really good popcorn chicken at Cal Ave. This is a really weird one, but the Safeway sushi (is also really good). I just have weird taste. I like food that other people don’t like, sometimes.”

As it turns out, Rawashdeh likes a whole lot of things besides food. He likes the Japanese pop singer Ado and reading fantasy books. He likes watching TV shows like “Attack on Titan,” “Haikyu!!” and “When Life Gives You Tangerines.” He likes keeping things clean, sanitary and organized, though the state of his room says otherwise.

He likes sports, and working out at the gym. He likes third period orchestra where he plays cello.

Rawashdeh feels that building a community through participation in orchestra and volleyball programs has contributed to his sense of belonging. “(In orchestra), in the least corny way possible, we’re just one big old family,” he said.

One of Rawashdeh’s most treasured memories is the Instrumental Music program’s recent trip to Hawaii. “(The trip) was one of the best weeks of my life,” he said. “It was incredibly fun. After one of our performances (the orchestra) headed to the beach and that was really fun. We were all in a huge circle playing volleyball. I really lived in the moment (on the trip) and didn’t stress about what (would come) tomorrow.”

Fitting with his wide range of interests, Rawashdeh finds that rather than excelling in one area, he is more of a jack-of-all-trades type.

“I’m not really good at anything,” he said. “I’m just decently good at everything.”

Especially in an environment that emphasizes college applications, he sometimes feels jealous of those who are very talented at one specific skill and wishes he was different.

“I’d say that I get pretty jealous when other people are really good at things that I love, too,” he said. “It does kind of suck that I’m not great (at) anything and just good at everything. There are some times where I do wish

that I was really good at one thing so that I could just (differentiate) myself.”

But when he gets discouraged, Rawashdeh finds it helpful to r e m i n d himself of the reasons he chooses to do the plethora of activities that he does: to have fun and to be able to see himself making personal progress.

“There’s no need to get so worked up because the reason why I started in the first place is just to have fun,” he said. “So if I start getting worked up over something that I can’t really control, I’m just like ‘it’s not that serious.’”

Rawashdeh says that having fun is one of his main motivations in life, and that tends to be easier because he is a natural optimist. But at the beginning of this year, when he struggled to feel a sense of connection to others and occasionally self-isolated, he had to learn to overcome his tendency to overthink, and to lean on his friends.

“There was this point in time where I felt as though I wasn’t cared for or thought of and I felt left out of a ton of things,” he said. “(It was) really little stuff, like let’s say I drop something, bend down to pick it up, and (my friends) keep walking away. It’s so minor that it’s not something I should (have been) overthinking. I’d be with a group, but I’d feel like a ghost.”

To overcome that feeling, Rawashdeh decided to talk to a close friend about it.

“I talked to a friend (from orchestra) first and they helped me open up my feelings to everyone else,” he said.

“It felt great because it was stuff that I had been bottling up for a long time, and having that come out in the open made me feel like a huge weight was off my chest.”

Having his friends help him through this experience led Rawashdeh to redefine what he values in his friendships.

“I think friendship means being able to share memories with the (people) that you care about deeply,” he said.

“Being there for them when they’re having a tough time or just things like that.”

Remembering how others made him feel and using it to inform his own behavior has made Rawashdeh a better friend.

“I feel like I have started to care a lot more for everybody and try to be mindful of what I do or say just not to bring anybody down,” he said. “And nowadays I don’t expect (the little things) from other people, but that’s who I am as a person so I will do them (for others).” ­—Written by Ezra Rosenberg

Courtesy of Suleiman Rawashdeh

Sophomore Gia Vakkalaganti finds joy in jewelry For sophomore Gia Vakklaganti, an outfit is never complete without at least one piece of jewelry. Whether it be through adding a pair of glittering gold earrings or a dazzling necklace, Vakklaganti’s passion for jewelry extends beyond her outfits and into her online business.

Vakklaganti’s interest in jewelrymaking began with a casual visit to her mom’s friend’s house where she noticed a set of tools lying around, and quickly blossomed into a passion she is deeply invested in.

“I literally fell in love with (jewelry-making) as soon as I (was introduced),” she said. “I bought so many materials, and I just kind of redid what (my mom’s friend) had taught me to do over and over again, and it just evolved from there.”

While her journey began with beads and wire, a popular introductory medium, Vakklaganti now finds her favorite material to be resin. Resin is a versatile, clear liquid material that can be dyed or shaped using molds and cures into a glass-like solid. Although she prefers resin, her style is inspired by the florals and intricacy of clay jewelry.

“I think resin is such a creative medium to use because it allows me to literally do anything,” she said. Obviously, there are some restrictions, like the molds that I use, but you really don’t have to limit yourself (when designing) so that’s why I feel like I embody it.”

Vakklaganti’s process begins with a search for inspiration either in her head or on Pinterest if she is struggling to think of an idea. Afterwards, she begins to pick out her molds. Since Vakklaganti’s style is inspired by clay jewelry, she often uses a mix of clay and resin molds

to create her decorations and bases for her jewelry.

Colors depend on what she imagines she would want as a customer herself, or a selection from various color palettes she sees in the environment around her and online.

Assembling jewelry requires a steady hand and an eye for detail. While Vakklaganti loves her pieces and ensures each one reflects her passion for creating, she wouldn’t personally wear it.

“I’ve always said this, and I’ve always heard mixed responses, but I never wear my own jewelry,” she said. “I would love to, but it’s really not my style. I feel like my jewelry definitely doesn’t reflect who I am, but it definitely reflects my creativity.”

Vakklaganti finds that the style of her jewelry better suits her audience, which consists of mainly people around her mom’s age. Although she did not initially plan on turning her hobby into a business, the support from her friends and family encouraged her to start selling her jewelry online and at markets. Handling her business can be challenging, but Vakklaganti finds it to be an avenue for her to express her creativity and divert her attention from school.

“Obviously, marketing is a pain, managing the website’s a pain, and it’s also expensive, but making the jewelry is just so fun that it can be used as a break from studying or a break from everything,” she said. “I just turn on my music and do my thing.” ­—Written by Michelle Zhou Learn more and shop Gia’s jewelry at giasgems.shop

Courtesy of Gia Vakklaganti

Features

Friday, May 22, 2026

11

Alumni discover passion in new career paths, build connections

Naya Lee: Computer Science to pre-med

Na y

In her junior year, Lee was offered an opportunity to shadow a family friend in a primary healthcare clinic.

Observing patient-doctor interactions opened her eyes to a side of medicine she had never known.

“I was really impressed by how (my family friend) was able to connect with patients and help them in ways that they didn’t necessarily go in for,” she said.

What struck Lee was not just the intriguing science behind medicine but also the social connections and critical thinking involved. Realizing that medicine combined many of the problem-solving skills she enjoyed in computer science with a level of human connection she hadn’t unlocked, Lee was set on pursuing medicine.

However, by her junior year, Lee had taken too many computer science related courses to fully switch into a common pre-med major. Instead, she pivoted into data science, which allowed her to stay with her technical background while keeping medicine in sight.

After graduating from Berkeley, Lee applied for a Columbia University’s post-baccalaureate program to complete undergraduate science courses required for medical school.

“You hear horror stories about how difficult medical school is, and I was never the type of student that was really dedicated to academics,” she said. “Looking back, pre-med (was a) really difficult (path).”

Now applying for medical school, Lee says she still uses the computer science and data science skills she developed at Berkeley in her current major. Her experience taught her that career paths do not need to be solidified from the start, and growth comes from fostering change in direction even when it feels uncertain.

­—Written by Yuji Song

aL

It’s common for freshly minted high school graduates to step into college with the overwhelming pressure to have their lives perfectly planned out. But for many, college becomes a realm for exploration and discovery rather than the panic of certainty. Gunn alumna Naya Lee’s journey at University of California, Berkeley, serves as an example of how career paths can change unexpectedly and reflects a larger reality for stressed high school students: Interests can always change, and, as cliche as it sounds, just go with the flow.

Throughout high school, Lee recalls herself as a student who excelled more in math and problem-solving classes than in science classes. Upon arriving at UC Berkeley, she spent most of her freshman year experimenting with different classes in search of her interest and at first, was drawn to computer science.

“One of the really popular majors at Berkeley was computer science,” she said. “I decided to take the introductory computer science course, and ended up really liking it, because it had a lot of problem solving aspects.”

With her major already established, Lee foresaw herself entering software engineering or data science after college. But during the summer of 2021, she decided to intern at the Palo Alto Veterans

Affairs hospital as a data analyst during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Little did she know, taking this job would completely change her perspective on her future.

There, Lee helped analyze healthcare system operations to improve clinical efficiency and patient care. While she enjoyed the analytical aspect of the job, her lingering curiosity of the healthcare field still stayed with her.

“Being in the healthcare system made me realize that I wasn’t as passionate about computers as I might want to be for a career,” she said.

ee

40.7%

Most people expect their career after high school to be picture-perfect: graduate high school, choose a college major and build a life around that field. However for Gunn alumna Lisa Waltuch, reality was different from.

She spent years after graduation in a series of creative jobs, each one outlining new curiosities, adapting to family circumstances and developing a growing interest in helping people navigate change.

After graduating, Waltuch followed the creative. She first attended the UCLA to study design but ended up transferring to Stanford University, where she received a general design and art history major. Her interest in art and design started when she taught art to her class in third grade. She later joined the yearbook, and eventually became the editor-in-chief. “(Being on the yearbook in high school) was such a fun experience for me that when I went to college at UCLA, I also became part of the yearbook staff,” she said. “That influenced choosing graphic design as a major.”

After college, Waltuch worked in graphic design for several years before attending the Rhode Island School of Design to get a Master of Fine Arts degree in graphic design. RISD sparked her interest in the relationship between people and technology, and in how digital interfaces could feel engaging to users.

This interest led her to pursue creative and technologybased jobs. She worked as an art director for the Discovery Channel Online, creative director for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website and in multiple roles at Walmart, including working on their in-store kiosks and becoming head of trend and color, a role focused on identifying visual and consumer trends for product development.

Although Walmart had been a part of her successful career in design, her career shifted after having children.

Leaving Walmart was not just a professional choice, but also one to balance work, family and personal fulfillment.

W

Lisa Waltuch: Graphic designer to Life Coach

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from May 11 to May 18 with 91 responses.

L is a

Graphic by Kai Knutson

ch u t al

of surveyed students feel that they must decide their career path prior to graduating

Waltuch’s decision to leave Walmart came from realizing that the structure of her job did not fully align with the style of family life that she envisioned.

“I hadn’t expected Walmart’s maternity leave to be so short, and I wanted to be able to decide what I wanted to do with my time with my family,” she said.

During her career transition, Waltuch experienced many mixed emotions about her experience.

“I felt excitement, fear and uncertainty, and there were times when I felt frustration,” she said.

After leaving Walmart, she became an entrepreneur in making visual art out of children’s artwork and old clothing, creating personalized pieces for major life events by painting on silk. While she and her family lived in Costa Rica for three years, silk painting became a portable form of her work.

While Waltuch’s graphic design career reflected her life circumstances at this time, after moving to Palo Alto, she moved toward a different career path: life coaching.

The transition was gradual, based on her deep interest in people, collaboration and personal growth. “(It was based on) having kids, wanting more flexibility

with my time and being able to live in Costa Rica with my family,” she said.

Looking back, Waltuch said the roots of her interest in coaching started at Stanford, where she worked as a resident assistant, where weekly meetings with residents introduced her to how people build a relationship of honesty within groups. This interest continued at RISD, where Waltuch focused her master’s thesis on collaboration. For the project, she worked with jewelers, actors, writers, artists, professionals and experts. Through this process, she discovered that she thrived when working with others and bringing different perspectives together.

“It was all about group dynamics and developing people as individuals,” she said.

Her interest in coaching also developed while she was living in New York City, where some of her friends went through the Co-Active Institute program where she developed stronger communication skills, learned transformational coaching and relationship-building skills. She was intrigued by what they were learning, leading her to go through the same program herself.

During the pandemic, Waltuch moved back to Palo Alto, where she was invited to lead storytelling workshops at a women’s retreat in Mexico. The workshop inspired her to continue helping people. She started running women’s retreats with a friend, focusing on guiding women going through life transitions. She used Stanford’s “Design Your Life” coaching methodology to do the work, while also taking classes on becoming a leadership and life coach.

The process of becoming a life coach took around four years. It required training, mentorship and fulfilling required courses to earn her coaching certification.

Throughout this process, Waltuch has wondered what her career would have looked like if she had stayed in interactive design as it has grown immensely since she left. However, Waltuch does not view her career change as a mistake in any way. Rather, she views it as a part of a larger process of learning, experimenting and growing.

“Life is long,” she said. “It’s fun to experiment, try new things and evolve with your interests or as new opportunities arise.” ­—Written by Olivia Lee

12

SPORTS

THEORACLE

Internationally competing archers strike balance between academic, athletic requirements Sophomore Max Hernandez

Freshman Chloe Hong

Arrows whiz downrange as sophomore Max Hernandez assumes his position on the shooting line, slinging a quiver across his hip. His bow — complete with a stabilizer, a sight and a small metal device called a clicker — creaks as he draws back and fires.

Aside from school, archery is the most time-consuming activity in Hernandez’s life. He was previously a competitive swimmer in New York, but switched to archery during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it was the only sport that met the mandatory social distance requirements. Now, he shoots for an average of three hours every day, building strength and stamina in a separate gym session from 6 to 8 a.m.

On weekends, Hernandez may spend as many as eight hours at the archery range, methodically loading, firing and retrieving his arrows.

“I cross-train by going on runs and lifting weights,” he said. “I’m currently working on my nutrition plan and setting health and fitness goals.”

Hernandez trains at Hye-Youn Park, an Olympic recurve archery club named after its founder. Youn is a former Korean national team member, the head coach of the club and Hernandez’s role model. For Hernandez, her kindness and diligence

For freshman Chloe Hong, archery isn’t simply a sport. It’s a discipline that has changed her approach to school and her personal life.

After suffering multiple concussions from playing soccer, Hong looked for a new sport that could bring her the same excitement soccer did but with less physical contact. At the suggestion of a family friend, she settled on archery last summer and has become increasingly competitive.

Despite transitioning from soccer to archery not long ago, Hong has been able to find motivation i n how her efforts can produce tangible results. Her growth has been manifested in her recent achievements, having placed second in the 2025 California State ranking and third in the 2026 International Vegas Shoot.

“This (past) summer, I started practicing every single day,” she said.

“During competitions, (my efforts) reflected what I was practicing, and I started doing better.”

Alongside the skill improvement, Hong highlighted the formation of new, unique friendships as a meaningful aspect of competing in tournaments.

Despite communication challenges, meeting new people has allowed Hong to expand her global perspective at international competitions.

both on and off the shooting line inspire him to train harder.

“I’m most inspired by my coach; she works hard everyday and cares so much about her students,” he said.

“She is always so nice to us (students) while still helping us to compete well.”

Although technique and stamina are both important qualities for an archer to possess, mental strength plays a crucial role in the sport. Hernandez comments on the intense atmosphere of competitions, sharing the strategies that he uses to stay calm.

“Competitions are a lot more stressful and high-pressure (than practice),” he said. “I try to stay calm and focused (by) taking deep breaths to ensure that my heart rate lowers.”

Currently, Hernandez competes at the state and national level. If given the opportunity, he would like to make the U.S. Archery Team.

“It would be a big commitment and take up much of my life,” he said.

“However, it would also be an amazing experience.”

—Written by Cici Zhang

Courtesy of USA Archery

“A difficult part is (the) language barrier,” she said. “I (met) this girl from China, and she couldn’t really speak English that well, but we tried getting past that. I think making new friends from different places around the world and learning about their lives is really cool.”

However, this high-level competition requires a balance in Hong’s two lives as a student and as a competitive archer. She faces difficulties in allocating enough time for both, as competing has led to missing multiple school days. Despite this struggle between school and archery, Hong has learned to apply the principles of her sport in her academic and personal life, enabling her to retain the same focused mindset and forge ahead.

“For archery, it’s one arrow at a time,” she said. “If there’s a tiny distraction, (it) could change where the arrow goes drastically, so I think (that is) one skill I’ve learned. This helps with school, too, because I am able to focus on one thing at a time, and then move on, rather than multitask or (get distracted) while studying.”

—Written by Melody Na

Courtesy of USA Archery

HUMOR: The Oracle staffer takes a shot at NBA Draft predictions

A.J. DYBANSTA Darryn peterson Cameron BoozER

Photo illustration by Dani Massarweh and Laura Wang

I am positive that most NBA fans have spent months meticulously analyzing player statistics and studying mock drafts to predict the next NBA draft. On the other hand, I have spent maybe about ten minutes on TikTok scrolling through highlights and listening to energetic commentators yell about the way 10 different hoopers played on the court.

With this expert level of research, I can confidently predict that the three future stars of the NBA draft will be A.J. Dybansta, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer.

Let’s begin with A.J. Dybansta on the Brigham Young University Cougars, whose name already sounds pretty professional. Based on short clips of his playing, he seems like a difficult target to guard, with the agility of a cheetah and the hops of a kangaroo. Even though I have barely ever touched a basketball, I am sure that a player who can leave his opponents in confusion each time he passes is a perfect asset to have on the court. His footwork seems pretty elite, accompanied with his 6’ 9” strong frame he uses to bulldoze his way to the rim.

Next up is Darryn Peterson, who currently plays as a guard for the Kansas Jayhawks. Peterson seems know he was meant to be in the NBA since birth. In every highlight I’ve seen of him play, his eyes were locked on the ball, followed by his smooth, quick

movements as he dribbled across the court. His tough act works — the defenders always look at the camera for help. Beyond his natural athleticism, Peterson demonstrates strong leadership skills that can empower a team’s confidence. Peterson once said that he wanted to bring “a leader and a hardworker” mentality to the team during Big 12 media day. He is a smooth operator and is fearless when it comes to taking difficult, hard-angled shots.

Lastly, Cameron Boozer, playing for the Duke Blue Devils, completes the ultimate trio. As one of the few freshmen in National Collegiate Athletic Association history, he was nominated as National Player of the Year with his sharp, efficient shooting precision and averaging of twenty-two points. I didn’t even have to know what a pick-and-roll was, but I knew whatever he did was working.

Even though I am not the most devoted basketball fan out there, one glance at these players’ talents and personal fortes is enough to indicate their success.

Like they alway say, it’s best when you look like you know what you are doing. No one questions it if you have good form. If my prediction is wrong, that just means it is a rebuilding year.

—Written by Yuji Song

13 ‘Alysa Liu Mindset’ Challenges Typical Competitiveness

Sports

Friday, May 22, 2026

When Oakland native Alysa Liu won the women’s article by the American Academy of Pediatrics states that individual figure skating gold at the 2026 Winter while more than 60 million children and adolescents Olympics in Milano, what captured the hearts of fans was participate in organized sports, over 70% of youth athletes not just her striped hair and shining medal, but her fresh quit by age 13, with injury and burnout among the top approach to competition. reasons. Elevated physical and mental exhaustion from The “Alysa Liu mindset” refers to Liu’s new mentality overwork call for a prioritization of rest in approach around competitive figure skating, focusing on balancing to competition. necessary breaks with ambitious drive and prioritizing Stanford sports psychologist and former Yale personal fulfillment over results. At just 16 years old, football player Dr. Roy Collins believes that a more Liu had retired balanced approach to sports minimizes after the 2022 burnout and can lead to higher rates of Beijing Winter success.

Olympics, where “We’re meant to be, as human beings, getting a chance to express all your she placed sixth, well-rounded to a certain extent,” he different identities and care for them citing burnout said. “Getting a chance to express all your like plants in the garden overall and frustration different identities and care for them leads to better performances, as over her career’s like plants in the garden overall leads to we’re able to be multidimensional and lack of control. better performances, as we’re able to be true (to ourselves).

However, in multidimensional and true (to ourselves).”

2024, she Many believe the pressure placed on —stanford sports psychologist returned to the child athletes is especially prevalent in dr. roy collins sport on her figure skating, where skaters, mainly young own terms. In girls, face pressure to peak as teenagers an interview with the NBC after winning Olympic gold, and endure extreme training for the promise of success.

Liu described her approach to skating as focused on Liu’s experience with these standards is a key factor, enjoying the process of competing instead of the reward, as to why her return became so widely discussed within prioritizing mental and physical health over scores. the figure skating community, even before the Olympics.

“Winning isn’t all that, and neither is losing,” Liu said. At 13, she made history by becoming the U.S. National “It’s just something that happens. It’s the outcome. But Champion, the youngest to ever do so, after landing a what matters is the input and the journey. And I would historic three triple axels. At 14, she landed a quadruple say take a break. I take breaks even now, and I think lutz in competition, making her the first American woman that’s the way to (succeed).” to land a quadruple jump. From a young age, Liu had felt Varsity volleyball player junior Richard de la Garza outside pressure to fulfill her role as the American previously struggled with comparison to others in his hope for figure skating, no matter the physical toll. sport and feeling as if he was behind. Now, Liu’s success Liu broke free from this cycle at 16 when she while keeping a balanced attitude proves to him that he announced her retirement due to mental and can achieve his goals on his own terms. physical exhaustion. For two years, she remained “(Liu) is living proof that you may fail the first time, completely removed from the figure skating world, until but if you come back with a different mindset, and when her sudden comeback announcement in 2024. Many you live in a way that you know you can fans doubted she succeed in, rather than what other people could replicate her think, you can accomplish a lot,” he said. former success, Liu’s radical competition mentality, arguing that she combined with her mastery in For (Liu) to really become that skater would never be performance despite an unexpected that people felt she could always be able to compete return, has skyrocketed both her and to succeed in ways that people with current, international and local media impact. thought no one would ever do younger skaters.

Especially in the Bay Area, the teen was huge. She really was able to Yet Liu surpassed mental health crisis has called attention understand that at the end of the day, public expectations to stressors in teens’ everyday lives, this is just figure skating. It’s not a by winning the including burnout. Burnout is defined life or death situation, and it should 2025 World as physical, emotional or mental really never become that.

Championships exhaustion, accompanied by decreased and eventually, the —STANFORD FIGURE SKATING CLUB MEMBER Olympics. motivation, lowered performance and Audrey akkerman increased negativity.

For Stanford According to the student-led research figure skating club initiative AIM Youth Mental Health in 2025, 75.5% of Bay member Audrey Akkerman, Liu’s success showed how Area students know of peers struggling with high stress age shouldn’t be a limit to success. levels or burnout. These high levels of burnout directly “For (Liu) to really become that skater that people felt result in a decline of youth participation in sports. An she could always be and to succeed in ways that people

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thought no one would ever do was huge,” she said.

“She really was able to understand that at the end of the day, this is just figure skating. It’s not a life or death situation, and it should really never become that.”

—Written by Athena Gao and Michelle Zhou

”

daily exercise improves student brain function, mental health How exercise benefits the brain and body: •

Exercise increases heart rate, delivering oxygenrich blood to the brain

•

Releases proteins that promote the growth of new neurons and STRENGTHENS learning and memory

•

produces various types of neutrotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, improving mood

Many students receive lectures from their parents about the benefits of exercise and venturing outdoors.

Guardians wrestle their elementary-and-middleschool-aged children into hockey uniforms, swimsuits and basketball jerseys every afternoon, hoping that they will reap the mental and physical benefits of participating in sports.

Indeed, a 2025 study done by the Center for Disease Control found that regular physical activity can improve memory, reduce anxiety and depression and even improve brain health. Consistent, short bursts of physical activity have been correlated with increased neurological functions of memory and thinking skills. Physical activity aids the development of children’s mental health and cognitive function, as children learn to rely on an increased working memory and critical thinking skills when transitioning to secondary education. These perks can translate directly into the gradebook. According to the National Library of Medicine, students who exercise daily are 30% more likely to pass classes than other students.

Exercise changes how a child’s brain develops, as steady exercise is directly linked to longer attention spans and memory retention.

Working out can also significantly support mental health, a major aspect of student and adult life. An article by Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada states that the type of activity has minimal impact — just 10 minutes of any form of exercise such as walking, biking or team sports has been reported to make people feel happier. During exercise, the

body naturally releases endorphins, a feel-good hormone that reduces pain and discomfort, and endocannabinoids, a molecule produced by the body’s endocannabinoid system to improve mood. This has led exercise to be a key component of recovery for people suffering from mental health disorders.

Student-athletes have felt the benefits of an improved working memory, less anxiety and better critical thinking skills. Sophomore Lily Oralevich, varsity dancer and junior varsity swimmer, considers herself better equipped to handle schoolwork after participating in sports.

“I usually feel less tired after practice,” she said.

“It’s the combination of being with my friends and moving my body that energizes me.”

As many students in the Bay Area face societal pressure to sacrifice mental and physical health for academic achievements, participating in sports can provide an outlet for stress while simultaneously building healthy habits. P.E. teacher Paul Medeiros says sports can not only reduce stress and lead to better cognitive function, but also offer skills that carry into all areas of life.

“When I was an undergrad, I had a professor who challenged me to look at sports as more than just competition,” Medeiros said. “This made me reflect on my own journey (with exercise). Sports shape how we perceive the world.”

—Written by Cici Zhang

LIFESTYLE Recent exploration, community involvement,

14

THEORACLE

‘Project Hail Mary’ creates connection between art, STEM communities Whether it be in high school cliques or college applications, students are often pushed into two categories: creative or analytical, an artist or an engineer.

Rarely are the two treated as compatible, but “Project Hail Mary” manages to blend the two into something all audiences can enjoy.

Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film follows Ryland Grace, a former science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As his memories gradually return, Grace realizes he has been sent on a mission to stop astrophage – a sun-eating bacteria — from killing all life on earth. Using scientific experimentation and the help of an unexpected friend, Grace must piece together a solution to save humanity from extinction.

For many viewers, one of the film’s most compelling aspects was that it maintained a realistic portrayal of science while conveying an out-of-this-world wonder. Freshman Noa Neufeld appreciates how the film shows Grace working on his scientific discoveries through a process of trial and error.

“It wasn’t just this ‘Eureka!’ moment where he would hear a word and (immediately understand what to do),” she said. “Instead, you got to actually see him test all these things, which is so important in science and also funny to watch.”

The film’s attention to STEM problem-solving extends beyond scientific research and into communication, particularly through the way it approaches language development between Grace and his alien companion Rocky.

“Rocky doesn’t have vocal chords or a tongue, so it isn’t physically possible for him to make any of the sounds we can,” Neufeld said. “So, it was really interesting to see how Rocky would talk, and it got me really interested in linguistics and how humans (rely on tonation) to communicate.”

Beyond its scientific and logical depth, “Project Hail Mary” offers something science fiction films don’t always prioritize: a strong sense of artistry and sentimental warmth. Sophomore Ben Blauwkamp notes that the film’s use of visuals and color creates a distinct emotional impact.

“I really liked how they portrayed the space scenes,” he said. “In the scene where Grace is surrounded by all the astrophage, it lights up in this brilliant pinkishred color, and I find it very calming. It kind of takes (the viewers) away from the whole harsh story about this guy

in space who’s fighting for humanity, and gives him a moment to breathe.”

While the movie stands out for its visuals, its soundtrack also plays a major role in shaping the film’s ambience. Through orchestral pieces that utilize crystal organs, glass harmonicas and steel drums, the score emphasizes both the magic and mystery of space exploration. According to sophomore Marie Frank, the movie’s music further amplifies its emotional impact.

“It definitely added to the atmosphere a lot,” she said.

“This might sound like an obvious answer, but I feel like (the film) used music or certain instruments to express his awe really well. When Grace entered the Petrova line, the music swelled and showed his wonder towards (being in) space.”

The “Project Hail Mary” resonance with audiences comes from its ability to blend technical ideas with emotional storytelling through character writing, stunning visuals and a striking soundtrack. Especially during a time where people are increasingly placed into boxes of being STEM or art-oriented, a successful film that highlights the value of combining both serves as a reminder of how interconnected those strengths can be.

“I think it’s not very often that we can find media that has accurate science-related topics while also appealing a lot to the emotional side,” Frank said. “And while I don’t know exactly how accurate it is scientifically, I just think that it’s really impressive how the movie was able to balance both aspects while doing each part well.”

—Written by Fiona Wu

Sahana Mahadevan

Robotics Space Cookies team competes at national competition, harnesses leadership skills, builds community with other teams From Apr. 28 to May 3, the Space Cookies First Robotics Competition Team 1868 took on the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Championship in Austin, Texas, placing 23rd in the Andromeda Division overall. The team, formed in 2006 as a partnership between the NASA and Girl Scouts, is comprised of around 50 high school girls in the Bay Area interested in STEM. To be eligible for Champs, Space Cookies participated in three state-level qualifying competitions. According to project manager sophomore Kavya Mathan, there are four main divisions that each member falls under during competitions: mechanical, electrical, programming and operations.

“You don’t need to have any sort of mechanism to participate. Even if your robot just drives, there’s still something you can do to help out,” she said. “I think our team isn’t just good at one (division and) that’s why we did pretty well.”

Space Cookies spent the eight weeks before Champs, the “build season,” designing, building and prepping their robot. The team’s lab is located at NASA’s Ames Research Center, where several staff mentors provide insight to ensure the robot is as successful as possible.

Space Cookies’ robot, dubbed “Supernova,” was built with a fixed double shooter designed to propel balls into baskets as quickly as possible. The shooter features two synchronized, stationary launching mechanisms.

Sophomore programmer Anika Datta says that Space Cookies’ success can be attributed to this powerful instrument.

“I’m really happy with our performance this year,” Datta said. “Especially if you look at our robot, our design is really unique…Originally, with our strategy, there was a lot of variation, and then everybody converged onto one main strategy that worked really well.”

Beyond building robots for competitions, Space Cookies also gives back to the community through outreach events. They have won the Regional Impact Award several years in a row, which recognizes robotics teams that are exemplary in community service.

Programming director junior Caitlin Cai appreciates the importance of incorporating Girl Scout values such as civic engagement and cultivating inclusion into Space Cookies’ activities. As part of this mission, they help elementary and middle-school-aged Girl Scout troops participate in hands-on science and engineering projects

through workshops and badge-earning opportunities. “(These community events help) harness our leadership skills and our teamwork and encourage (young girls) to go into STEM,” Cai said. “I think that women tend to be a very marginalized community within STEM, (but Space Cookies) has given me a way to exercise my experience and skills.”

During Champs, the team participated in several other activities besides robotics, including Robo Prom, a stand-in prom for students who had to miss their high school prom to compete, as well as team dress-ups. Drive Team member freshman Ellie Hu’s favorite parts about the competition are how Space Cookies gets spirited by dressing up in light blue, their team color, and bonding with other teams through dinners.

“Especially when you go to competitions of larger scale … you get to meet a lot of new people on different teams,” she said. “It’s really cool to get to socialize (because) you see teams from (all over). Apart from having a competitive robot, we’re also competitive in the sense that we make a really strong impact on the FIRST community.”

—Written by Annabel Brown

Courtesy of Spaces Cookies FRC

Left: Space Cookies team inserts match load balls into robot on the practice fields, preparing it for the competition. Center: The Space Cookies robot competes on the field on the Red Alliance team. Right: Sophomore Kavya Mathan does maintenance on the robot at their pit by drilling screws onto the side, getting the robot ready for their next match.

Lifestyle

Friday, May 22, 2026

15

media representation inspires space intrigue Artemis II mission breaks scientific records, societal standards After Apollo 17’s successful mission to the moon in 1972, space exploration seemed to have come to a standstill. For fifty years after, no country sent any astronauts to the moon. But half a century later on April 1, 2026, the NASA Artemis II space mission finally broke the spell. The 10-day mission sent four crew members aboard an Orion spacecraft looping around the moon, within 4,600 miles of its surface. They traveled 250,000 miles away from Earth, breaking the record for the furthest any humans have ventured into space. It was also the first mission to take a crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17.

Gunn Robotics member sophomore Shrishti Sinha watched the launch during a robotics competition, which was exciting as a student in STEM. “In one of our (robotics) competitions, there were so many students from different schools working and they played the Artemis II landing,” Sinha said. “It was this moment where everyone dropped what they were doing to watch the launch of Artemis in awe.”

Conceptual physics teacher Laurie Pennington emphasizes the importance of the space mission, especially having grown up hearing discussions centered around space travel and watched the 1972 launch of Apollo 17.

“When I was a kid, everybody was pretty excited when we would go to the moon,” Pennington said. “I think that interest has been lost since Apollo 17, (because it’s) ‘out of sight, out of mind.’”

Junior Aeronautics Club president Tony Wu views Artemis II as a huge accomplishment and says the launch has altered his club’s perspective on space.

“The only impressive launches in our lifetimes as high schoolers were just random SpaceX rockets, but to see an actual NASA rocket go to the moon (is huge),” he said. “I thought we were never going back (to the moon).”

According to Sinha, from a robotics perspective, the Artemis missions are what young engineers like her aspire to work on one day.

“It’s just really cool,” Sinha said. “We’re just working

on robots, and it’s a very small space, no matter how big it seems in Silicon Valley. It’s barely the tip of the iceberg, and Artemis II is kind of what we could be.”

From monitoring human health to materials engineering for the rocketship, every detail was carefully thought out and backed by cutting-edge science.

“The mission aimed to check out human long-term health (in space) using Avatar, which tracks conditions with a wristband and Archer, another thing that tracks sleep health and deep space,” Wu said. “There’s a lot of technical stuff that went into it.”

A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response was an investigation that studied the effects of microgravity and increased radiation on human health using organ chips, and one of the many health studies completed for Artemis II. Other studies analyzed the blood and saliva samples of crew members to track biomarkers of stress and immune suppression, to monitor their health and study the biological reactions of humans in space.

that they’re the kind of people who (can make) these big scientific achievements,” she said. “This type of representation (allows) young people (to) see themselves in those people.”

To Sinha, the mission showcases curiosity and how discovery can bring people together.

“It’s great that we can put (political controversies) aside for the sake of discovery and innovation,” Sinha said. “We really are just on this one earth in the middle of the universe. It shows us what really matters.”

Pennington emphasizes the significance of Artemis and returning to space exploration for young people.

“I think it’s about the possibilities it opens up for future generations,” Pennington said. “I’m really happy that we’re still thinking about it.”

Wu is excited for the future of space exploration and what the Artemis II mission means for it.

“I’m hopeful,” Wu said. “The success of Artemis II means that Artemis III, IV and V — the ones that plan to launch onto the moon and make it so we can potentially live on the moon — are still in the realm of possibilities.”

—Written by Ellen Kim Beyond s p a c e exploration, the mission contained OF many other firsts. Mission SU out RVE specialist Christina Koch was loo YED the first female astronaut to fly into STU k fro D deep space. Pilot Victor Glover was the m ENTS th first Black astronaut to fly into deep space ga e Arte ined Sou and was previously also the first black rce s m : t ud S is I a pos astronaut to live aboard the International Ma ents elf-se Im l b y1 Space Station. Mission specialist Jeremy iss itive 8 w y The ected i D s i ani on Hansen was the first Canadian and nonth 8 Ora urv Ma ey cle 0r se ssa American to participate in a lunar mission. esp f rwe ons rom M nt to h G Pennington is optimistic for future racial and gender es. ay u n 11 t n breakthroughs in space exploration. o “Sometimes, younger generations don’t think

61.

3%

Sophie Kou

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Lifestyle

THEORACLE

The Oracle’s retirement tribute crossword (see 48 across) ACROSS 1. She don’t need no stinkin’ ___ 6. Food service giant 11. Home state 14. What she does best 15. What else she does best 16. ___ glance (2) 17. Her two favorite subjects (2) 19. Hesitation of speech 20. Not her retirement org.

21. Element 26 22. It’s AGFA, don’t ask me what that is 23. Supporter of instructors (2) 28. I hope she’ll do this with 30. John of Three’s Company 31. Rodeo horse 32. Awards show 35. Indent five spaces 36. Scavengers on Tatooine 37. Boba 40. Part of the electronics lab 42. Dramatic singing 44. Move over a bit 47. Do this loudly at a graduation 48. ___ is retiring! (2) 53. _ _ therefore I am full (2) 54. One cent (in the H-1) (2) 55. High card 58. Double helix 59. _-_ years of teaching (2) 63. What Leo says 64. Flood barrier 65. Avarice 66. Curvy shape 67. Teacher certifs 68. Pasteur’s theory

DOWN 1. Hidden recipents 2. Appreciative sounds with 10 down

3. Teaching? (2) 4. Alexandrite for June 5. Psychic’s claim 6. (C8H8) with foam) 7. _ _ no? (2) 8. Virtuous one 9. V x LX 10. Appreciative sounds with 2 down 11. Captured 12. Pay for money (2) 13. Actress and inventor 18. Blockbuster 22. Parts of a play 24. A long time 25. The big apple 26. Swift’s tour 27. 80% N2, 20% O2 28. Acronym with “And Learning” 29. The other Gunn’s lobby group 32. Gluten free grain 33. Neighbor of Nor. 34. Learn this from Ms. Granlund Moyer 36. Mr. Pennington 37. Her specialty age group 38. Poetically before 39. Research class 40. Source of tension 41. H2O(s) 42. With ane for gasoline 43. Beef rice noodle soup 44. Just a little 45. Send her a thousand ___ 46. Hot ones in astrophysics (2) 49. Innocent 50. After 20 years at Gunn, most of her wardrobe ____ (2) 51. Fill her mail box with thank you ___ 52. Mr. Smiley on Sesame Street 56. Her original subject 57. SJO numbers 59. Special care, for short 60. We will miss __ 61. __ drop project 62. Wrath

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

14.

18.

20.

21.

21.

23.

24.

8.

9.

10.

11.

26.

32.

33.

37.

38.

39.

55.

56.

57.

27.

30.

34.

36.

45.

13.

22.

30.

40.

12.

19.

29.

35.

11.

16.

25.

31.

44.

7.

15.

17.

28

6.

41.

42.

46.

43.

47.

48.

49.

53.

54.

58.

59.

63.

64.

66.

67.

50.

51.

52.

60.

61. .

62.

65.

68.

—Crossword by Heather Mellows

Finished the crossword? Come to P-115 during lunch or 5th period with your completed puzzle to collect a prize!

HUMOR: Vin lives his ideal summer day My alarm goes off at 5:43 a.m. because 5:45 is for quitters. I wake up completely fine and not at all like a raccoon that got hit by a Waymo (true story — Vin has actually seen this).

First up on my agenda: gymmaxxing. I do pull-ups until my arms stop working, chug something called “Alpha Surge Pre-Workout” that I bought because the guy on the label has abs along with a Celsius and finish with a seventeen-minute mobility flow I found online. I don’t know what mobility means. I do the moves anyway. And of course, I’m at the YMCA with the teen summer membership because who doesn’t love free stuff?

By 7 a.m. I am built different.

Then I open the APUSH summer packet.

Chapter 2: Colonial America. I read the first sentence four times before accepting that this isn’t going to happen. I open Jocz Productions on YouTube like every other APUSH student in America (he’s better than Heimler, trust) and watch Mr. Jocz explain the Columbian Exchange in eleven minutes while I eat cereal directly from the box. Honestly? Better than the textbook. Jocz gets me.

I write two sentences of notes and decide I’ve done enough for my future.

Time for boba. I deserve it. I survived Colonial America, and I also managed to read a sentence about Jamestown. I bike to Boba Bliss in Mountain View, which — as my sources had not warned me — is permanently closed. The sign says “Thank you for your support!” I did not support them enough, apparently. I stand outside in the sun like an idiot while a man in a Rivian drives past and doesn’t help.

On the bike ride home I pass Alta Mesa Cemetery, which hits different in July. During prep you at least go with a few people, united in avoiding whatever’s happening in the J-building bathroom. Alone in summer it’s just me, the silence and the awareness that Steve Jobs is buried fifteen feet away — even he couldn’t have shipped my Chapter 2 packet on time.

I’m home by noon. The day is young. The packet is not done. Life is good?

P.S. to the boba addicts: Boba Bliss in Mountain View is not actually closed.

—Written by Vin Bhat

Staffers recommend summer music Although the ice that Alysa Liu skated on at the Winter Olympics gala may have melted away, the fiery epicness of her performance song “Stateside + Zara Larsson” is still hot as ever.

Listen to the pure heat of this upbeat 2026 remix this summer as PinkPantheress sings about the thrill of a cross-continental crush.

—Written by Ezra Rosenberg

“NORMAL,” the ninth track from BTS’s long-awaited tenth studio album, “ARIRANG,” is fiery and loud — definitely a summer song.

The growly, sizzling bass brings to mind brutal heat and steaming pavements; the reckless, aggressive lyrics (“kerosene, dopamine, chemical-induced…”) convey the liberation we’re all bound to feel with the absence of school.

—Written by Melody Song

“Tongue Tied,” indie band Grouplove’s most commercially successful song, communicates the summer-like warmth of both platonic and romantic love through its strumming beat and hopeful instrumentals. The song captures the freedom that I associate with the holidays, and “Tongue Tied” has livened plenty of monotonous days filled with relentless heat.

—Written by Cici Zhang Alexandra Liu

Graphics by Dani Massarweh