College acceptance rejections

wSelf-care is the perfect way to pamper yourself on a stressful day. Instead of focusing on the love in the air, treat yourself to a massage, manicure or even a haircut. Something fun and make sure to book in advance Valentine’s Day may be a busy day so make sure to think ahead.

Creative Commons/ REIKHAVOC

wNetflix all day with some snacks or catch up on some Youtube or revisit some of the classics Disney movies or shows and movies.

NETFLIX.COM

wSingles Parties are a great way to get your mind off of Valentine’s Day. Getting with some single friends and making it a single party, binge watching some movies with popcorn and soda, or jam out to music and painting nails or playing some board games and doing some arts and crafts.

Creative Commons/ NightingaleVoice

BY JULIA GOLOVEY jgoloveygazette@gmail.com V alentine’s day is either seen as a celebratory day with your special someone or its just seen like any other days for others without that special someone,“I’m just probably going to go get my braces tightened and watch Netflix all day,” said sophomore Jenna Wolfe. Just because the day is dedicated to lovey dovey things it doesn’t have to be an annoyance or a reminder of being single the day can be spent doing as normal tasks as getting braces tightened and just chilling with friends or watching Netflix. Or maybe it can be celebrated with loved ones its love but a different kind of love it does not necessary have to be celebrated

the stereotypical way and more of a family twist on it. Even going out with some friends showing your appreciation for their friendship.

Gazette illustration/MAYA SNOW

wDrive in Movies are the perfect way to show a significant other that you care about them. They are a really fun and cute way to spend time together.

CreativeCommons/Remysharp

wWatching Sunsets on a picnic blanket at a perfect sunset spot is a really special way to show your boyfriend or girlfriend that you love them.

Creative Commons / SandiAdams

wDinner dates are a great way to show your significant other that you love to spend time with them. To make the dinner a little more special, try cooking the food in the safety of your home.

BY MAYA SNOW msnow.gazette@gmail.com V alentine’s Day is a very special day for many couples around Granite Bay High School. Seniors Bella Gennuso and Ethan Case have been together for about 6 months. For Valentines day, they plan to do something fun and special.

Creative Commons/ WWW.LEONBPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

“We are going out to dinner, and watching the sunset,” said Gennuso. Her boyfriend, Case, wants to do something special for her, and wants to make her a food of his own at home. “Making meals at home make them way more special,” said Case. Valentine’s day will be very special for many couples around campus, including Gennuso and Case.

BY ALI JUELL ajuell.gazette@gmail.com

wOrder: Totino’s Pizza Rolls (three cheese ) wPrice: $4.29 wPurchased from: Walmart Neighborhood Market Quick Take: Pizza rolls haven’t earned their hype due to the fact that they lack good flavor and a good “crust”.

Totino’s

BY MAREESA ISLAM mislam.gazette@gmail.com

wOrder: Three Cheese Bagel Bites wPrice: $2.50 wPurchased from: Safeway Quick Take: Bagel Bites are an easy and quick snack when you crave a cheesy delight. Bagel Bites seem to be the perfect go-to snack, easy and quick, when you find your taste buds crying for a savory treat.

Ore Ida

wGenre: hip hop/ rap wProducer : Thebe Kgositsile; Alchemist; ovrkast wSkip To: Tisk Tisk/ COOKIES Quick Take: Feet of Clay appears to be a piece of self-expression and is a collection of music well suited to those looking for an insight on Earl’s life. Unfortunately, the tracks in Feet of Clay are largely unintelligible and relatively uncomfortable to endure more than once. Clearly not for those without an appreciation for Earl’s lyrical and musical style, Feet of Clay has claimed an hour of my life that I will never get back. BY BELLA KHOR bkhor.gazette@gmail.com

Tan Cressida

wGenre: Hip Hop/ Rap wProducer: RandomBlackDude wSkip To: Cold Summers Quick Take: On “Some Rap Songs,” Earl doesn’t flex his wealth or fame; instead, he dedicates 24 minutes to flexing his penmanship, taking on issues such as depression, anxiety and racism in America. BY JJ HILL jhill.gazette@gmail.com

Tan Cressida

wLead Actors: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels wDirector: J.J. Abrams wFavorite Moment: Voices of Past Jedi communicate with Rey Quick Take: “The saga is complete.” After 42 years, three trilogies, and nine films, the Skywalker Saga concludes with The Rise of Skywalker, an action-packed adventure sure to please casual and die hard fans alike. BY BRENT EVANS bevans.gazette@gmail.com

Disney

wLead Actors: Will Smith, Tom Holland wDirector: Nick Bruno Quick Take: Lance Sterling, and the scientist Walter Becket, are completely opposite personality-wise, and struggle to work together. They try to save the world from Masi Oka who plans to steal a deadly drone from the government. The guys have to stop the bad guy. BY JULIETTA GOLOVEY jgoloveygazette@gmail.com

Disney

Awkwafina slays the Golden Globes Celebrated Asian American actress becomes first ethnic professional to win the award BY MAREESA ISLAM mislam.gazette@gmail.com N ot to be confused with Aquafina, the water bottle company, actress Awkwafina has snatched a Golden Globe win. Awkwafina made history on January 5th, 2020 after receiving a monumental Golden Globe award, contributing to the diversity of the film industry. Awkwafina won a Golden Globe Award in the lead actress in a musical or comedy category for her performance in the movie “The Farewell”, being the first actress of Asian descent to win such award in a lead actress film category. Junior Anoushka Mohindra watched this nominated film and displayed her support for Awkwafina. “She does a fantastic job of taking her experience as an Asian American woman and implementing that in her acting,” Mohindra said. Students of Granite Bay High School also shared their reaction after hearing about Awkwafina’s Golden Globe award. “I felt really happy for her because I felt (...) she deserved it and it’s obviously not something that happens often,” sophomore Areanne Dy said. Junior Sophia Harimoto had similar views on Awkafina’s recent triumph. “Her win, as well as the win of many other actors and actresses of diversity, also proves that anyone can be successful in whatever they do, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation,” Harimoto said. Harimoto acknowledged the fact that lingering problems are still present in the film industry, although they are slowly being improved on. “I’m not saying that inequalities and racism do not exist in the workforce today, but rather we as a community are learning to embrace and acknowledge the talent and achievements of a greater variety of individuals,” Harimoto said. Viewing individuals similar to oneself, whether it be race, gender, or other admired characteristics, can be very impactful to audiences. “Personally, as a female Asian American, it brings me hope for a brighter future knowing that we as a society are taking steps forward in terms of embracing diversity and celebrating the success of those diverse individuals,” Harimoto said. Zachary Weidkamp, the GBHS Film and Media director, believes that, although Awkwafina’s achievement is a step towards universal representation on film, more action is needed in order to further broaden the spectrum of those represented on screen. “I think it helps but the trend of viewers wanting this type of content has to continue,” Weidkamp said. Awkwafina’s success will hopefully act as the beginning of a more inclusive and diversifying film industry. “In general, the media and film industry has the gracious ability to influence others with their work, whether it be positively or negatively,” Harimoto said. “I think that the inclusion of a more diverse set of individuals on-screen is one example of Gazette illustration/MAYA SNOW

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Gazette photo /MAYA SNOW Gazette photo /DARYN CONNER Gazette illustration/MAYA SNOW

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Just as Valentine’s Day begins to creep up from around the corner, the air begins to shift, and everyone’s hearts grow ever fonder of one another. During this time, it is expected that many students may lose sight of their grades when their eyes get stuck on the guy or girl of their high school dreams. How cute. Though for the lonelier students on Granite Bay High’s campus, this vivacious atmosphere may be just the thing to make them feel miserable this month. “People tend to put a lot of pressure on other people for not being in high school relationships,” senior Mark Agustin said. He believes that this pressure to snatch someone up into a relationship can be very toxic, rather than fun and exciting. “It can affect people, it can cause stress, anxiety, and some serious health effects,” Agustin said. “It’s unspokenly overrated.” Other students have similar opinions, knowing others their age to throw themselves into a relationship just for the validation of the title. Plenty of students in high school relationships often end up having to pay the price, sacrificing their privacy and even hapPIPER BACON pbacon.gazette@gmail.com

piness just to have the title of being in a relationship. Sophomore Eleise Griffith has a lot to say about the toxicity of selfish relationships. “(A relationship will seem) fully broadcasted to everyone around you,” Griffith said. “It feels like everything you’re doing is being watched.” Griffith says that she’s seen relationships that have gone really well, but in the shoes of someone who’s on the unlucky side of high school relationships, it’s easy to get stuck dwelling on personal insecurities. It’s easy to get fooled by a perfect visage other couples may put on. In reality, relationships are rarely perfect, and most come with loads of drama. For those who get caught up in the glory of high school dating, there’s going to be drama whether you’re in a relationship or trying to secure one. “I feel like a lot of people just date someone because they can,” Griffith said, “or for scandalous reasons.” For those who have been able to avoid the turmoil, they’ve gained some valuable wisdom on high school dating. “My friends don’t really glorify (high school relationships),” sophomore Rita Sabbagh said. Sabbagh believes it can be a distraction even from your work. According to her, most of her friends advise her not to get into a relationship. “It’s not worth it,” Sabbagh said. “If you’re really good at keeping yourself focused then I guess you’re fine.” Sabbagh mentioned that short-lived high school relationships can lead to a lot of sadness and bitterness between two people, which is why she feels it’s not worth the time. The truth of the matter is that even if it feels like everyone is in a relationship this time of year, it’s less likely than many may think. In a recent Instagram poll by @granitebaytoday, 78% of participants said they were not in a relationship, leaving only 22% of the school to have a significant other. So Valentine’s Day isn’t really as lonely as some make it out to be. “My song to sing to the people who have nobody on Valentine’s Day is that you don’t really need anyone to be happy,” Griffith said, “because in the end you will be more unhappy when someone leaves you broken-hearted the day after Valentine’s Day.” So to those lonely folk out there, save your love for someone special later in life and spend it on the friends and family you have by your side now. Make it a sweet year, not a sour one.

Gazette illustration /LINDSEY ZABELL

I would definitely say there isn’t a pressure to be in a relationship on campus cause honestly there aren’t that many around.

I don’t think people necessarily feel pressured by others, but it’s more that they might feel the need to want to be in a relationship.

I do feel as if there is pressure to be in relationship because of what time of year it is. With Valentine’s Day coming up and Senior Ball right around the corner, people are naturally feeling like they need someone.

Continued from page 17

“It was met with a lot of resistance, which was shocking, but I guess it makes sense if you have mixed classes and you don’t want to make another test or something,” Westberg said. “I think they’re also worried the other kids, the freshmen, sophomores, juniors, (might not) be motivated to come to school the next week.” At this point, most teachers are still unsure about exactly how they will address this issue with finals, but all seniors should be finished by May 22. “Different teachers are planning on doing different things, but I think overall they’re having their students that aren’t seniors take their finals the normal time they normally would,” Kleinbach said. Some teachers, mostly those who teach only seniors, will be with the seniors throughout senior week, as they have gone to events such as senior picnic and graduation practice in past years. “I’m doing all the things with you guys, but I do those every year anyway, so when we go to senior picnic, which was usually a week or two before graduation, I’m (going), but I always went before,” Westberg said. McGregor said he believes it will be a positive change, and seniors will enjoy how it all turns out in the end. “I’ve loved working in schools where you get to have the ‘senior week’ to be able to handle senior business after we take care of the education side,” McGregor said, “so whether it’s checkouts, graduation practice, or senior picnic, putting those together at the end makes it a fun time where (seniors) just get to celebrate and enjoy that achievement of finishing high school successfully.”

Continued from page 20 best teams ever, (so) we’ve had to adjust,” he said. According to Hall, the team is ready. Motivated by a close playoff loss last year, the team has had “a lot of preseason training and practice” going into this season. Stunt Stunt, a counterpart to traditional sideline cheer, features two teams competing in a four-quarter match that includes jumps, tosses and much more. The team had a good season last year, but the squad has more participants this year, “so it won’t be as much pressure on each athlete,” senior Savanna Cuthbert said. Baseball After a rough year, the varsity baseball team is ready to get back in action. Senior leadership is something the team lacked last year, according to current senior Ty Peterson, who is looking to change that this season. “We’re very senior heavy with a lot of experience, (and) we’re fired up to prove the doubters wrong,” Peterson said. With a few scholarship athletes leading the charge, the team is primed for an exciting 2020 season. Softball With the new season approaching, the Grizzlies team is looking to get back on track after losing key pieces this offseason. The team lost its head coach, pitcher and catcher according to senior Lauren Gaughan. “Frankly,” she said, “I don’t know where it’s going to lead us.” Despite the challenges, the team is expecting “a lot more girls … than last year,” Gaughan said, along with a new head coach. Ultimately, however, Gaughan is optimistic – “we definitely have the potential,” she said, “to have a better season than in the past.” Despite the challenges, the team is expecting “a lot more girls … than last year,” Gaughan said, along with a new head coach. Ultimately, however, Gaughan is optimistic – “we definitely have the potential,” she said, “to have a better season than in the past.” SPRING: Stunt team had a good year in 2019, and 2020 now looks stronger CONDUCT: Some critics say process is designed to try to force compliance Continued from page 17 during their final moments in high school. “Personally I have not experienced any negative treatment from administrators in any way, regardless of my senior conduct status,” Earhart said. “The way I see it it’s nothing personal, I was late like a lot which is my bad, so I understand why I’m on senior conduct.” However, some view the process as a more forceful method to get seniors to complete tasks in order to satisfy district and school standards. “It might give (seniors) motivation but at the end of the day if they want to get it done, they’ll get it done either way, so I don’t think taking away big events such as Senior Ball, Fifth Quarter and everything – even graduation – is necessary,” Cole said. “Many things are blown out of proportion and senior conduct is one of these situations, it’s just too much.”

Continued from page 16

“There is not yet confirmation from the district that our graduation day will always be on Thursday at 3 or if there will be some sort of rotation among the six schools,” Birch said. Despite the recent turmoil, the event committee remains dedicated to organizing and helping seniors celebrate. “We are hard at work and excited,” Birch said, “to plan a safe and memorable night for our seniors.” We are hard at work and excited. – Margot Birch, Sober Grad Night committee

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GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL 1 GRIZZLY WAY GRANITE BAY, CA 95746 GAZETTE Granite Bay Senior Editors: Cori Caplinger Bella Khor Angelina Kolosey May Lin Dylan Rowe Ashley Yung Lindsey Zabell

Assistant Editors: Piper Bacon Heba Bounar Sophie Criscione Shreya Dodballapur Kate Fernandez Emerson Ford JJ Hill Mareesa Islam Ashley Lucia

Illustrations Editor: Juliette Golovey

There is no pain as great as the feeling of a tremendous loss. When I say “pain” I mean the true and unbearable feeling of losing someone you loved, knew or admired. This loss manifests inside each and every one of us, because as humans we cannot escape our emotions. We try to, but we are never successful. The universe works in mysterious ways, and with the recent loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, we are reminded of the brutal reality of losing legends that have influenced our lives. My generation grew up with saying “Kobe” whenever we tried to make a shot. We were reminded of his influence when he won a Grammy, and when he used his money to help fight homelessness and give people another shot at life. Now, Kobe is gone. But his spirit is not, and his legend will live on. There is a valuable lesson to be learned from this horrifying tragedy: to always love and cherish your loved ones and to not hide from your feelings, because everything can change in the blink of an eye. We as humans try to break away from our emotions, as we believe that it will make us stronger. But the reality is our emotions are the essence of our characters. The people we value and the people we love will always be with us in some form or the other, but it is my belief we need show our loved ones we care while we still can. We need to face our emotions and communicate them rather than shy away from them. Sometimes the scariest of emotions and feelings are the very ones that shape us and make us who we are. Tell the special people in your life, your family, and your friends that you love them. Tell them you care while you still can. Don’t be afraid to tell them how you feel. For those are the moments you will remember when one is gone. And since we must face our emotions, we must accept them as well. Emotions don’t equate to weakness. The more in touch with your emotions, the more you accept them, the more joy you experience. Pain is normal, everyone feels it. Sometimes we feel it more than other times. But being in touch with this pain can make you stronger, not weaker. The feeling of loss shapes us, it makes us who we are. I’m sad to say it, but this feeling creates a light inside all of us. A light we can either nurture or turn off. My point is: loss can either break us, or help us grow. No one deserves to feel as much pain as they do when they lose someone in their life. Everything happens for a reason whether we like it or not and it is our job to grow from our pain. To accept it as it is. Love what you have and what’s been given to you. Loss may be an unbearable feeling, but love will always be more powerful.

COMMENTARY cori caplinger ccaplinger.gazette@gmail.com

Staff Writers: Daryn Conner Ria Dhamejani Brent Evans Alexandra Juell Rebecca Nolan Sean Turner

Administrative Assistant: Andrew Martinez

Adviser: Karl Grubaugh

The Gazette is published eight times per academic year by students in the advanced journalism class at Granite Bay High School. Content is determined by the staff and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Granite Bay High School’s faculty, administration, adviser or student body. Students are protected in their exercise of press freedom by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and California Education Code 48907. Signed editorials and columns reflect the views of the writer. Letters to the editor and guest commentaries are encouraged and must be signed, although anonymity can be granted on a case-bycase basis. The editorial board reviews letters to the editor, advertising and guest commentaries and reserves the right to edit and refuse material. Reasons can include length, clarity, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process at Granite Bay High School or violation of copyright laws.

Identification Statement GRANITE BAY GAZETTE PUBLISHED EIGHT TIMES PER ACADEMIC YEAR c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746

Gazette illustration/CORI CAPLINGER Vaping epidemic faces changes

Nowadays you don’t need to go far to find a teenager addicted to nicotine. If it wasn’t already obvious enough to the average observer, this epidemic has been duteously covered by the media, and continues to be a hot topic on nearly every news channel. In recent months especially, the topic of using e-cigarettes and other tobacco related products has been heavily debated, since there have been multiple injuries resulting from the use of these products. Despite the apparent dangers that accompany the usage of e-cigarettes such as Juuls or Puff Bars, products like these have taken the United States by storm, particularly affecting teenagers. Due to this rise in e-cigarette use and the injuries that have followed, the federal government has stepped in, and on December 20, 2019, President Trump signed legislation that raised the minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 years old. This change in legislation not only raised the purchasing of e-cigarettes, but also the purchasing age for all tobacco related products such as regular cigarettes, cigars, etc. Needless to say, there was a significant backlash that came from young tobacco product users. For those who were of age before the ban, it was commonly argued that the changes were not fair, and were actually pointless. For those who were underage however, there was a greater conflict. It is so easy for teenagers today to access nicotine, it’s almost ridiculous. In addition, it’s so easy for these teens to conceal their addiction, that they have been seemingly uninterrupted in their journey to get a nicotine buzz. This legislation was passed in an attempt to lessen the severity of this issue, and while I recognize the good intent of the ban, I ultimately think that it will be ineffective in the long run. If an addict is looking for a nicotine fix, they’ll get it, despite the recent changes in the age requirement. And it certainly seems that the previous age restriction didn’t stop anyone. I myself and many others are able to say that we’ve seen dozens of teenagers under the age of 18 vaping, and most often it’s been without a care, with seemingly no fear of getting caught. If young teenagers weren’t affected before, I wholeheartedly believe they won’t be affected by this new change. Tragic though it may be, the cold truth is that teenagers, and thousands of them, are hopelessly addicted to nicotine, and this new legislation, while it seems to be in good spirits, will likely remain ineffective on those who are truly addicted. And so the dilemma remains. If the law isn’t able to stop those who are truly attached to their vapes, it seems that there is nothing that can do so. At least, as of right now. That isn’t to say that this legislation should not have been signed, that is not the narrative I am pushing. I am simply saying that it can’t possibly be enough in the broad scope of things. New legislation attempting to end the rising infamous teen fad has good intentions, but fails to realize consequences

While the situation may be dismal, I do have hope that someone will find a solution, that someone will find a way to halt the insidious monster that is teenage addiction. Something more needs to be done. Whether that’s a more strict method of enforcement or a complete ban of the sale of these products, something else will need to be done if the government truly wants to solve the problem of teenage addiction to nicotine.

*** Kate Fernandez, a senior, is an assistant editor. kate fernandez kfernandez.gazette@gmail.com

Voices Page 30 Granite Bay Gazette wFriday, February 7, 2020 I magine for a moment that you’re a comedian. You’ve spent months, maybe even years, working on your new material, and you finally have the chance to present it to your dedicated fanbase. You’re on stage, your jokes are killing, and people seem to be having a good time. You say a joke or two which you know crosses the line, but that’s reflective of the point of comedy, right? You arrive home exhausted, lay down for a good night’s rest, and drift off to sleep. Little do you know, however, you’ve been tossed into a storm that little survive. The next morning, your phone has a seemingly endless barrage of notifications, Twitter knows your address, and your texts are full of people either pitying you or ranting at you. The unthinkable has happened: you’ve been cancelled. Cancel culture has evolved in recent years. In 2017, Twitter embraced the #MeToo movement, and for good reason; it had come forth that numerous high-ranking executives and key players in Hollywood were systematically oppressing and abusing those in the industry for personal gain. This movement was essential in uncovering the horrific stories of abuse from sleazebags like Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby. However, as we were popularizing the stories of those abused and began to learn from them, another branch of the culture was created. This branch, unlike those who helped expose Hollywood, doesn’t want justice for the wounded; instead, they rely on falsified and incomplete sources to completely destroy the lives of others. For example, back in early 2016, a YouTuber named KeemStar falsely accused a 62-year-old streamer of the game RuneScape of grooming underage girls through his account. Mere minutes after the accusatory video was uploaded, thousands of accounts flooded the man’s stream to tell him to commit suicide and to send his address to the chat to be swatted. Swatting, in which someone gives false information to police with the exact location of the streamer in the hopes that armed police will come on camera and arrest them, is one of the main tools used by Twitter warriors. However, instead of just giving the streamer a good scare, the action will typically result in serious consequences, such as when a Call of Duty wager for $1.50 ended with the death of an innocent man in 2017. Back when Monica Lewinsky was “cancelled” for her involvement in an affair with at-the-time president Bill Clinton, she was ridiculed, but eventually was able to revive her career. Nearly two decades later, being lied about online results in death wishes and, sometimes, just plain death. Cancel culture has reached beyond the point of no return. Yes, I understand it’s interesting and, to an extreme, enjoyable to see justice come to those who have done wrong. However, when someone is cancelled for telling an offensive joke on Twitter seven years before it resurfaced, we need to let time be the teacher, not getting someone fired. I’m not suggesting that progressivism is negative in society. In fact, the opposite tends to be true; we need to learn from our mistakes for the betterment of the lives we lead. However, when we’re completely ruining the lives of people for minor infractions, we need to take the time to reflect if they really deserve it or if the news needs headlines. *** JJ Hill, a senior, is an assistant editor Cancel culture in media has gone too far Rather than boycotting a person’s content, we should let them learn from their past mistakes

COMMENTARY jj hill jhill.gazette@gmail.com

What is the ideal body type? This is a question we’re asking ourselves on a daily basis. Some idolize the hourglass figure, however clothing stores haven’t quite been able to match the shape just yet. If a brand’s clothes fit around the hips, they’ll be too wide around the waist— be careful of this, because if you want to avoid making your body look awkward, an hourglass figure might not be the way to go. I would ditch this old-fashioned look. Curves are for whores anyhow. We now live in a day and age where the cute, skinny girl is new sexy, the new gorgeous. A flat stomach is all you need to get your start to becoming an influencer. You see it all over Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, VSCO— it’s everywhere. Clothes these days aren’t meant to fit girls over 125 pounds, anyhow. Heck, the last time I went into a PacSun and tried to buy some pants, I had to try on the largest size, and it still didn’t fit! How cute. Girls like me have to be fine with fitting the new norm. It’s the way of life. It’s what society demands. It’s disgusting if you don’t even try. You’re disgusting. But that’s alright! Humans are always meant to change and adapt to their surroundings, it’s in our blood. I would recommend doing ab workouts to strengthen your core and flatten out that stomach. Ignore what they tell you about that little pouch you have on your stomach. Yes, there are organs in there, but that’s just an excuse for having weight that’s necessary to cut down. If you want to be pretty it needs to go. There are girls out there working harder than you do to achieve this. You have no reason to not even try. Maybe you should put that chocolate down and eat a salad. You don’t even need the salad. You don’t even need to eat. Convince yourself that you don’t need to eat. So with a bit of diet and exercise, you can have the perfect body, too! Not only is your figure important, but you need to care for your skin as well. What you don’t know is that the majority of girls around you have fabulous skin by just using a simple face wash and some moisturizer. Doesn’t that sound ideal? Unfortunately, you’re not the same. You’ll never be the same. That’s why I recommend as many skin care products as money can buy! Spending less that $100 is too prude. Most girls like you splurge on their skin care products. You need an exfoliator, toner, moisturizer, some Vitamin C serum… I could go on for ages, but no matter what, you’ll still feel like you’re not worth it. Anymore, that seems to be the intent, doesn’t it? Keep buying their products. Feed the gluttonous desires of media. It’s the only thing you can try to do to fit the status quo. Don’t bother protesting, or fighting for true equality. You’re just a feminazi if you even think about opening your mouth. Stay in your place. Don’t even look at men. If a man wants to sleep with you, then your life might as well be over. Ironically this is the only time you ever get a choice: you can be a slut if you sleep with him, or a prude of a tease if you don’t. Your reputation is everything. Even if you are nothing. If you frequent Starbucks, you’re basic. If you wear hoops and style your edges, then you’re ghetto. If you wear makeup, you’re just like every other girl, and it’s disgusting. If you choose to skip the mascara, you’re nauseating; you don’t even try anymore. You’ll get taxed for having a period, mocked for cutting your hair short, and turned into a sex object for wearing a skirt. Eventually you will start to feel your wrists burn and bleed from the chains that hold you down. You’ll have become a wretched addict to every like, comment, and share you receive, itching for your next fix, satisfied only by the buzz of a notification coming from your pocket. And one day, when you look into your daughter’s eyes, what will you tell her? She’ll be born with NAS, force-fed an addiction that she’ll never be able to shake. And what will you do but perpetuate it? You could make a stand and help her shed the impossible standards that she could never even dream of meeting. Maybe, just maybe, she’ll achieve the genuine happiness every little girl deserves. But that’s impossible without standards. It’s impossible without the perfect figure, the perfect face, the perfect laugh and the perfect mind. At least, that’s what society will try to tell you. So in turn, I’ll ask you again, what will you tell her? Now after all that is said and done, make sure you have an Instagram account, that is where you’ll get most of your following. Use a light beauty filter, and make sure to find good lighting. You’ll seem perfect after all. Smile for the camera!

*** Piper Bacon, a junior, is an assistant editor Women are suffocated by society’s expectations Current beauty standards are impossible to achieve COMMENTARY piper bacon pbacon.gazette@gmail.com Gazette illustration/KATE FERNANDEZ

Voices Granite Bay Gazette wFriday, February 7 , 2020 A pproaching my first election, I have begun to familiarize myself more with politics than I had in the past. Watching presidential debates, reading about candidates policies and participating in discussions in political clubs on campus. Through my government class and personal research outside of school, I have tried my best to learn what I can about elections. Now obviously I haven’t learned enough to claim any sort of mastery over politics, but even with my inexperience I found myself at a disheartening realization: just how undemocratic our democracy really is. The amount that stands in the way of voters and who controls our government became alarmingly apparent to me after even the slightest amount of observation of politics. The electoral college suppresses Californian Republican votes, the current president was elected by only 27 percent of eligible voters in the nation, and the Democratic party has repeatedly sabotaged candidates through debates and super delegates. Voters are forced to funnel their opinions into one of two opposing political parties who favor specific candidates if they want their vote to count in any meaningful way, putting a stranglehold on the ideas that can be presented in politics. Though it might seem like an extreme claim, I believe that the current American system of democracy is broken to the extent that proper representation of the American people has become nearly impossible. Many candidates have called for reforms such as the abolition of the electoral college and stricter regulations on campaign financing. However I don’t see this as properly addressing the issue, as the problems with our archaic system run deep. In my opinion, we need large-scale and radical change to the way American democracy is run. The broken system cannot be changed from within its own rules. For real change to be brought on the issue taken on directly through mass protests, petitioning and any way Americans can show politicians that it is an important issue. For so long we as Americans have known the corrupt nature of politics and the powerlessness of the voter, accepting it with apathy, but we now need to take action. *** Sean Turner, a senior, is a staff writer. Our democracy should be reformed Changes need to be made for the outdated system COMMENTARY sean turner sturner.gazette@gmail.com D uring my sophomore year, an administrator at GBHS provided the quotation: “Sometimes it just comes down to families and culture,” as a response to government data outlining racial disparities prevalent on this campus. Perspectives such as these are why the system is broken. Despite being an institution intended to serve everyone, the public education system fosters institutional systemic inequities at the expense of many students. Our schools are not set up for everyone to succeed. Achievement gaps are prevalent not only within Roseville Joint Union High School District, but also across the country as there are disproportionately fewer minority students with access to Advanced Placement/ International Baccalaureate enrollment. According to the College Board, just 4 out of every 10 African American Students eligible enroll in AP courses. Only one state in the country has fully closed these achievement gaps. There are still 49 to go. In addition, inequities in discipline practices are apparent as students of particular racial backgrounds are suspended and expelled far more than their white counterparts. According to the United States Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, although Hispanic students only make up about 20 percent of total enrollment, they account for over 40 percent of expulsions and almost 30 percent of suspensions. Unfortunately these statistics are for our very own district. RJUHSD has attempted to combat unfair treatment through the use of controversial practices such as restorative justice, hoping to lower suspension rates for certain groups of students. These groups not only include both African American and Hispanic students, but also students with disabilities who were reported to be suspended more often than their peers. I often contemplate what it would require to fix everything. I reflect on my own enrollment in SAT Prep classes, something you must pay for. Something many students don’t have access to. Many of my peers boasted about their utilization of college coaches, at a significant cost, unaware of their nearby peers who were unable to indulge in their privilege. There are college essay prompts that require students to recount on shows, exhibits or entertainments attended such as Columbia University’s admission essays. This discourages some students and gives others an unfair, inequitable advantagewhy? Socioeconomic status dictates a significant portion of your education. While those unaware of the truth, control a system confined by inequity such as the individual I encountered: “Sometimes it just comes down to families and culture.” *** Ashley Lucia, a senior, is an assistant editor. The school system is unfair Inequality is a common problem

COMMENTARY ashley lucia alucia.gazette@gmail.com

“It’s like they should just know from the start what they’re gonna do and what’s (going to) happen.”

“No, because they had no control over the situation so they (couldn’t) do anything about it.”

“Yes (it wasn’t fair), because they don’t have as much time to plan for it.”

“I think it was fair, I guess? It didn’t really bother me that much. I figured I’d go to Sober Grad Night regardless.”

Senior year has been full of uncertainty I t was supposed to be fun. This year was supposed to be great. But for seniors, it’s been full of uncertainty about graduation, and everything centered around graduation. Senior year is always made out to be a year full of fun and adventure, with lighthearted events. Graduation was supposed to be the cherry on top. This hasn’t been the case, though. In the beginning of the year, graduation was up in the air regarding where it was to be held and what time. After much deliberation, it was moved to an event center in the middle of Roseville, to be the first off-campus graduation in Granite Bay High history. To say the senior class was frustrated would be an understatement. Between the lack of communication, springing the changes on seniors at the last minute and ignoring any appeals by students, the district confirmed graduation was to be at 3 p.m. on a Thursday, making it difficult for family and friends to attend the ceremony. Then, district officials moved up the date for seniors to complete the Personal Finance Course, not considering the fact that seniors might still be applying to colleges and scholarships, adding another burden onto seniors’ shoulders. The Personal Finance Course itself is a great mess, with spelling errors and weak content. Seniors struggled to get through the class because of the poorly planned content, quizzes and tests. And finally, Sober Grad Night hasn’t been finalized until recently. With the moving of the graduation dates, our traditional Saturday night Sober Grad Night at Sunsplash was almost non-existent until a vote was raised (finally consulting seniors) between spending Sober Grad Night at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk or Sunsplash. So, what should we do from now on? CONSULT THE STUDENTS. It’s our last year here and we just want to make it as memorable as possible. EDITORIAL The voice of the Granite Bay Gazette

“It’s unfortunate. We understand why they moved graduation from Saturday to Thursday which caused this.”

 Senior Jeremiah Onyango becomes Buffy the Cheerleader and hypes up the crowd while mesmerized by hypnotist Russ Peak, top left. Class of 2020 seniors, top right, show off their best dance moves at an imagined dance party. Middle left, Reagan Dolan and others furiously scratch at itching sensations brought on by the hypnotist. Alonzo Cannon and Isael McCall, middle right, are convinced under the hypnotist’s influence that they are giving birth to and caring for a child. Bottom left, seniors fall into a deep sleep, clustered in careless arrangements on the stage floor. Lindsay Konieczny hits the gas and swerves right in her imaginary car, bottom right. Gazette photos by Piper Bacon and Daryn Conner