December Issue 2020 by The Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt

4 VOLUME 61. ISSUE

NEW ISSUE

The

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16TH, 2020

The Thunderbolt

Mills High School Publication www.millsthunderbolt.com

Editors-in-Chief: Karine Chan ‘21 Anjuli Niyogi ‘21 Leanna Yu ‘21 Faculty Advisor: Kelly Hensley News Editor: Justin Condevillamar ‘21 Features Editor: Angela Dimaano ‘21 Center Spread Editor: Bianca Reyes ‘21 Opinions Editor: Madison Wong ‘21 Sports Editor: Misael Gomez ‘21 Entertainment Editor: Karine Chan ‘21 Media Coordinators: Leanna Yu ‘21 Karine Chan ‘21 Staff Writers: Melissa Catpo ‘24 Katelyn Chang ‘23 Joshua Choe ‘24 Jordan Hasty ‘21 Magdalene Ko ‘23 Katelyn Lam ‘23 Rita Li ‘22 Nagham Masarweh ‘24 Flora Oliva ‘21 Maxwell Zaninovich ‘24 Instagram: @millsthunderbolt Twitter: @thunderboltmhs Youtube: MillsThunderbolt

Features: Technological Resources for Online Learning (Pg 11) Student Opinions on Distance Learning (Pg 12-13)

Center spread:

News 2nd Unite Against Hate Week Held Virtually By Leanna Yu, editor-iN-Chief

The Thunderbolt From December 3rd to 6th, the San Francisco (SF) tumultuous times through “an inspiring and emotionally complex range of feature-length and short documentary -

uring United Against Hate Week, every Bay Area community joins together in a call for local civic action to stop hate and implicit biases in the area. United Against Hate Week was created by community leaders in direct response to the growing expressions of hate in local communities, with hopes of empowering residents to take action in their own communities and promote tolerance. The movement began from a United Against Hate poster campaign in response to white supremacist rallies in Berkeley and San Francisco in 2017. Since then, cities across the Bay Area have committed to an annual week of action and awareness, with over 60 other cities across the nation. From November 30th to December 4th, Mills students, teachers, and administrators designed virtual campus-wide United Against Hate Week activities for students in replacement of last year’s annual hands-on activities and events. In the week before United Against Hate Week, Principal Duszynski invited students to share their anti-hate message with the school community through creative mediums consisting of posters, poetry, artwork, speeches, and essays. Six original student submissions were showcased on the Mills High School website, each receiving a spe-

school administrators recommended students to watch

Kuang (9), displayed “GSA stands against all hate towards

Give became an immediate YA bestseller and was adapted into a motion picture a year after its release in 2017. The story centers around 16-year-old, Starr Carter, who learns the importance and costs of speaking out against social injustices after witnessing her childhood friend murdered by police. Both the novel and movie discuss topics related to activism, interracial relationships, police brutality, and racism towards African Americans. Katherine Liu (10) attended the screening, stating, “After the movie, I felt a bunch of emotions and it really made me change the way I view the world. The movie talked about a real world is-

from the Pride Flag. Kuang commented on the symbolism behind her drawing: “The lip stands for humans because it is a feature that all humans have. It’s meant to remind us that all humans are the same, that we are all equal.” She also elaborated on the reasoning behind her drawing, sharing, “I want [the LGBTQ+] community to know that they don’t need to be afraid because there are always people supporting them. I learned [from this project] that we are born not to be hated, but to be loved.” Similarly, Anastasia Skyriotis (11) submitted a “We stand united against hate” poster with two hands forming a heart in the center. Skyriotis was inspired to create her artwork by “trying to send the message that everyone needs to realize that we can all be friends with one another, no matter our race, gender, or color of our skin… I wanted to do something to be a part of making a difference at school.” All works of art from students of 9-12 grade levels were also displayed in the PTO Newsletter and the @mhsvikings Instagram page. On Tuesday, December 1st, students and staff participated in a Zoom photo challenge to change their offscreen avatars to United Against Hate Week messages and representations. Students and staff were able to eion Zoom or use example images that Ms. Dove provided to show their commitment to being an upstander and standing against hate in our community. Teachers took screenshots of their classes with these messages as a visual mural to demonstrate Mills’ engagement with allowing others to speak their truth. Additionally, Staysha Veal and Wellness Counselors also hosted a panel and Q&A on “The Impact of Racism, Discrimination, and other Inequities on Mental Health” after school.

How to Give Back This Holiday Season (Pg 15)

OpiniOns: What Determines a Gift’s Value (Pg 16)

starting. According to the SF Film Society, the documentary “exposes the ways that AI systems have developed algorithms that can infringe on our privacy and threaten color to HR systems that reject applicants with ‘ethnic’ or female names, the impact of these technologies canchallenging algorithmic bias, uncovering the unchecked power of data collection in everyday lives. Students were also given the opportunity to attend a live Q&A with the Coded Bias Filmmakers on Saturday, December 5th. On Friday, December 4th, Ms. Schlax held a movie screening of The Hate U Give for students and staff to watch after school. Author, Angie Thomas, published The Hate U Give as her debut young adult (YA) novel in reaction to the police shooting of Oscar Grant— a 22-year-old African American man killed during an encounter with BART

on Amazon Prime Video, is available to rent for $3.99. On the @mhsvikings social media account and United Against Hate Week community calendar, staff recommended students to join the “Wear Out the Silence” campaign, supported by Bay Area Showing Up For Racial Justice. The Wear Out the Silence project, started by 14-year-old Maya Nichols and her aunt, asks white people to wear Black Lives Matter t-shirts as a way to deepen racial-justice conversations and understanding of anti-racist thinking and behavior in communities. Supporters are encouraged to buy and wear Black Lives Matter t-shirts every Friday, shirt is $15). In a statement about the campaign, Wear Out the Silence released, “Accountability is very important to us and before moving forward with this campaign sought feedback and support from people of color and movement leaders about the use of the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ in a campaign aimed in part, at white people.We want to use these conversations to move more white people into action, and to make visible the many people supporting the Movement For Black Lives.” The project also provides personal stories from allies, conversation guides, and resources from news articles and videos on their website. Throughout the entire week, teachers were given lesson plans on social studies to share with their classTeaching Tolerance, ADL, and Museum of Tolerance. The Escalation of Hate, a worksheet tailored towards middle and high school students, teaches the Pyramid of Hate for students to examine the escalating nature of gression once it begins. The Pyramid of Hate has 5 levels, starting with biased attitudes, acts of bias, discrimination, bias-motivated violence, and genocide. Other lesson plans were provided through several online platforms, where teachers could choose various social justice topics in the form of videos, worksheets, or articles. By learning from each other during United Against Hate Week, students have gained new knowledge and depth of understanding on social justice issues through discus-

Is California as Progressive as we Think it is (Pg 17)

spOrts: Skateboarding in the Bay Area During the Pandemic (Pg 18)

entertainment: A Letter to my Future Self (Pg 20) LeaNNa Yu The Thunderbolt

THE HATE U GIVE: This movie depicts racial injustices.

becoming socially aware through this one week event, the local community must now put words into daily actions.

News 3 San Mateo County Announces Move Back to Purple Tier

The Thunderbolt

By Katelyn Chang, staff writer

n the state of California, every county is assigned to a different tier determined by test positivity and adjusted case rate. Ranging from least to most extreme restrictions, there are four categories: yellow, orange, red, and purple. San Mateo County re-entered the purple tier after months in the orange/red zone, shortly after Thanksgiving, which meant enforcing the state’s most restrictive policies in order to reduce the rise of COVID-19 cases. State representatives and leaders are now stating that it is necessary to have the county back in the purple tier based on the latest the recent news that San Mateo County recorded over 2,628 new cases since November 22. Upon hearing this information, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors member, David Canepa stated, “It wasn’t totally unexpected but it’s a total bummer.” This comes after the San Mateo health department reported an 85% spike in new COVID-19 cases from October to November. As of November 28, the county’s new adjusted case rate is 7.6 per 100,000 population. Canepa continued, “We need to make sure we’re still doing the things we’ve been doing, wearing

PTO Plans Mills Mania for Spring 2021 By Rita Li, staff writer

n previous years, Mills Mania was an event that allowed students and their families to buy a variety of foods and participate in various activities to raise money for Mills’ student-run clubs and organizations. Due to the pandemic, ensure the safety of Mills community members. Mills Mania also serves as a way to raise more money for the Mills Annual Fund. The Annual Fund, which is organized by a subcommittee of the Mills PTO, is dedicated to raising money to provide student counseling, clubs, and classroom technology such as Chromebooks and calculators to support student needs. Mills is also seeking to acquire additional classroom technol-

Seasonal

the mask, social distance and washing our hands”. Like the majority of California counties, San Mateo County now has a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through December 21. This curfew does not affect people traveling to or from work, or performing other essential activities such as grocery shopping, food delivery and dog-walking. Other purple tier restrictions allow only gyms, churches and movie theaters to operate strictly outdoors and retail stores are reduced to 25% capacity. Many small business owners having to cut hours and staff due to the curfew and new restrictions. On the other hand, medical professionals believe that this curfew will help curb case numbers. However, there are still some business owners that remain optimistic. Garrett Greene, owner of Gator Games and Hobby in San Mateo, states that he does not think going to 25% capacity will cause a huge hit because most people are doing “destination shopping” rather than coming in for a “leisurely browse.” From a student perspective, moving back lihood that the SMUHSD board’s current plan to re-open school campuses for in-person instruction will be implemented. In a November 30 press release by the San Mateo County of

ogy in order to meet the challenges of distance learning and future hybrid in-person models. This year, the Annual Fund Committee decided to reinvent the traditional Mills Mania by turning it into a celebration of the end of the Annual Fund Campaign. Mills Mania will be held in early March of 2021, with a goal to raise $100,000 from online fundraising before the end of the spring semester. As of December 8th, 2020, over $10,000 has been raised already. Mills Mania and Annual Fund CoChairs, Claudia Choy and Amy Liu, stated their ideas for the Mills Mania replacement: “We are committed to following county guidelines and protocols with either a safe, socially distanced in person event, like a drive-in movie, or a live online event.” The PTO is committed to following San Mateo County’s established safety guidelines in every school wide event. To keep the fun and excitement alive, there will still be prizes, performances, and special appearances. To donate to the Annual fund, go to this website: https://www.millshspto.org/annual-fund. Credit and prizes will be given to the student as a thank you for supporting the Annual Fund. Another effort that PTO has been working

Depression

By Angela Dimaano, features editor

easonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or more commonly known as Seasonal Depression, is a condition that affects approximately six in every one hundred people. SAD more often occurs during the sunlight depleted winter months, but psychologists are still not fully sure on the direct implications of lacking sunlight intake. The driving reason for why SAD occurs in to the winter months as the prime time for experiencing SAD. According to KidsHealth.Org, experts point to two key chemicals in the brain that are thrown off by the change in sunlight. Melatonin is produced in our body to make us sleepy and this generally occurs at night, when we are supposed to be sleeping. However, in the winter months, sunlight becomes scarce as we push back the clock and the northern hemisphere of the Earth tilts away from the sun. Melatonin is produced at earlier hours, leading us to feel sluggish and tired when we attempt to be productive during the afternoon and early evening. The other chemical that is affected by the lack of sunlight is Serotonin. Serotonin reg-

and

How

ulates and affects many of our bodily functions ranging from sleeping to digesting. Increased exposure to sunlight is known to increase our levels of serotonin, improving our overall mood. As the sun sets earlier than before, we are exposed to less sunlight overall during the winter months. Low levels of serotonin causes negative moods and an increased chance of depression. As the winter months progress, teens all over the world are experiencing seasonal affective disorder without even realizing it. Some general symptoms of seasonal affective disorder are changes in mood, lack of enjoyment, low energy, centrating, and less socialization. In my personal motivated the further we are in the semester. Although this may be burn out from working, the simple as the sun not being out. I don’t really notice a time where my mood does a complete 360, but instead the change in my feelings come gradually or in waves. Some days, the sun is out and everything is going well. Some other days, the sky is gloomy and nothing feels as if it’s going my way. A student at Mills commented sim-

Education (SMCOE), they listed the remaining options for school’s to return under the current restrictions. The SMCOE determined that all schools that that had already returned students to campus for in-person instruction could continue to operate under their plan, but, if an individual school had not yet begun implementing its plan for returning to in-person instruction, it had to pause until the county was in the Red Tier unless it was eligible to apply for a waiver. On top of this, schools that had not yet returned students to campus for in-person instruction could apply for a waiver, but only to bring back students in grades TK-6 only, but all schools could return small groups of students to campus for limited instruction, academic and social emotional support, or other small group activities But, as San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy advises, “We have not seen numbers like this in quite a while and we really need to reverse this incredibly troubling trend. What’s important to remember is that we can reverse the trend as long as we follow common-sense health and safety practices.” By remembering to follow safety guidelines including wearing masks, we can safely lower the number of cases we see within our city and county.

on has been the Rapid Relief fund. When the pandemic initially struck, the Rapid Relief Fund port to school members who were without a reliable income, facing illness, extreme household needs, or family issues. The PTO announced that the Rapid Relief Fund raised $50,000 during the spring of 2020 and spent over $25,000 supporting families in need. During the holiday season, there are plans to distribute holiday gift cards and grocery cards within the next few months. Students can support the Mills PTO by joining the PTO using this website. You can also check out the PTO’s Instagram account which is called @millshspto. Their Facebook page is called Mills High School PTO. Students and parents can sign up for their email list at tinyurl.com/ millspto or text MILLSPTO at 22828 to receive regular updates. You can email president@millshspto.org for the Zoom link to attend PTO meetings every third Wednesday of the month at 7 pm. in its efforts to continue the beloved Mills Mania and altering it to make it safe and fun for everybody. Mills will continue raising funds to support its students and clubs.

Affects

Students

ilarly, “it’s something that doesn’t really “begin” so much as just sort of happen; you just start to wake up feeling awful and having a lot of changes in attitude”. While sunlight and chemical levels sion, social media can also enhance and perpetscrolling through social media, looking for a boost of Serotonin in our times of isolation. By staying on social media for extended periods of time, we may be isolating ourselves even more, avoiding social contact with those we live with. Seasonal Affective Disorder is something that we all feel in different magnitudes and it may support in their times of trouble such as reaching out to our Wellness Counselors or talking to another trusted adult. Some other ways to cope with SAD is going on a walk, listening to your favorite music, or even eating some good food. If you believe you are suffering from severe emotional distress, see your primary physician for a treatment plan. Don’t be afraid to reach out when you need it, as there will always be people who can support you in your times of need.

2020 R

lO CA

COV time

l MARCH 16, 2020 MARCH 12, 2020 The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) announced the decision to close schools and deliver athome learning to students effective March 16th.

San Mateo County issued the first â&#x20AC;&#x153;shelter in placeâ&#x20AC;? order until April 7th. Students expected to return to campus on April 13th.

MARCH 25, 2020 SMUHSD extended school closure until May 4th, which furthered to the end of the semester.

April 17, 2020 SMUHSD voted to adopt Credit/No Credit grading for the spring semester 2020.

January 21, 2020

March 2, 2020

The United States of America (USA) reported its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus.

San Mateo County health officials announced their first case of coronavirus. The number of Bay Area cases was at least 26.

SAN MATEO & BEYOND

*Sources Cited: World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SMUHSD Superintendant Updates

Aug

SMU state two C the D nity

IN SAN MATE

May 14, 20

San Mateo Cou nounced that i providing free testing (by app starting May 18

Recap

September 10, 2020 The SMUHSD Governing Board decided that distance learning instruction continue virtually through the remainder of the fall semester 2020.

gust 26, 2020

DEATHS

UHSD released a ement regarding COVID cases in District commu-

EO COUNTRY

020

unty anit will begin e COVID-19 pointment) 8th.

*Source: The New York Times

THOUSAND

VID-19 eline

TOTAL CASES IN SAN MATEO COUNTY (As of December 15th)

ARTICLE COVERAGE: - Discrimination Towards Asians Due to COVID-19 (Sept) - Impact of COVID-19 on Local Businesses (Oct) - San Mateo County Moves Back to Purple Tier (Nov. 28) - Should We Take the COVID-19 Vaccine? (Dec) + Read these and more at millsthunderbolt.com

November 9, 2020 Drug maker, Pfizer, published early data showing the COIVD-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective. *Photo Credits (Left to right): Cottonbro/Pexels, iStock Getty Images, Walmart Corporation *Top Graphic Credit: The National Environmental Education Foundation

*Sources Cited: The New York Times, CBS SF Bay Area, The Mercury News, Palo Alto Online

December 10, 2020 Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine was authorized by the Food and Drug Administration’s advisory panel in a vote of 17 to 4.

Spread designed by: LEANNA YU, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

...

BL M

...

Black Lives Matter is a decentralized political and social move=ment advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against black people.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor.â&#x20AC;? - Desmon Tutu

Mapping Black Lives Matter Protests Around the World

in may, protests occured in places such as new york, ohio, atlanta, los angeles, and chicago. the protests did not slow in june as they occured in california, iowa, arizona, maine, new jersey, and more! During july, many refused to celebrate independance day. instead, dedicated the day to the BLM movement through peaceful= protests. Significant marches throughout the past months have happened. some of which are: Million man march on washinton george floys memeorial march and Black out march

SAY THEIR NAM SAY THEIR NAME SAY THEIR NAME

SPREAD DESIGNED BY KARINE CHAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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MES ES ES

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Ele c tion Re cap U.S. House of Representatives, District 14

Jackie Speier

California Propositions

Democratic Incumbent Race called on Dec 2, 2020 79.2% majority gained with 95.01% of precincts

that passed

reporting

Proposition 14 For Stem Cell Research Proposition 17 For Formerly Incarcerated Parole Citizens Proposition 22 For App-Based Drivers Proposition 24 For Protecting Consumer Information

VOTE

GO VOTE!

VO TE

President Elect

Kamala Harris

Joseph Biden

46%

Vice President

of Americans voted with

Mail-In Ballots

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Mills Students Participated in Student Democracy Program: Volunteers at Poll Booths

See article on millsthunderbolt.com

Spread Designed By Anjuli Niyogi, Editori-in-Chief

Features

The Thunderbolt

Spreading Holiday Cheer: Millbrae Style Bianca Reyes, Center Spread Editor T

he holiday season is upon us, but with it comes the creeing feeling that this year won’t be like the past few years. In the past, holidays in Millbrae were often spent surrounded by friends and family, but with this year’s conditions, the likelihood of being around loved ones seems far-fetched. Nevertheless, our community has done its best in ensuring that we still feel the warmth of the holidays by carrying on with classic traditions along with some new ones as well! This year, it was decided to continue the age-old Millbrae tradition of lighting up the Christmas tree in front of Millbrae City Hall, only this time, the event was held virtually. Typically, our community gathers around with blankets,a warm cup of hot cocoa, and a plate of cookies to watch the tree lighting, but due to the circumstances that this year presented, we had to resort to a safer alternative: livestreaming! The livestream was held at 5 P.M. on December 5th on both Zoom and Millbrae Community Television (MCTV). The event consisted of choir performances, a visit from Ol’ Saint Nick himself, with the main event, of course, being the tree lighting. Although some attended the lighting in person, most

chose to watch from the comfort and warmth of their own home. Being held simultaneously just a few steps away was a new event in the Millbrae community: the Lights of Hope Luminara Event! Sponsored by the Millbrae Anti-Racist Coalition and the City of Millbrae, the event was held in order to collect donations for those who have been adversely affected by the pandemic. All proceeds from the event were donated to The Samaritan House San Mateo, which provides food, clothing, medical and housing assistance. For every $10 that was donated, five luminarias, which are essentially small paper lanterns that are set on the ground (think: the lanterns scene in Disney’s Tangled!), were lit. Those who donated also had the option to decorate the outer part of the luminaria, as well as the option to light the luminaria in the name of someone else. Seeing the front of City Hall surrounded by paper lanterns truly was a beautiful sight, but knowing the meaning behind each lantern can truly make one feel the holiday spirit of giving. Even though this year isn’t conventional in the slightest, we hope that our community can still bring you some (socially-distanced) joy. Happy Holidays, from The Thunderbolt to you!

Bianca Reyes The Thunderbolt

FESTIVE: Millbrae’s Iconic Light Decorated Tree is pictured with Luminaras in the foreground.

To: Ms. Duszynski From: The Thunderbolt Staff

Happy Holidays! Thank you so much for promoting the release of our newspaper. Thank you for always going above and beyond for Mills students. We hope you stay safe, surrounded with love ones this winter break.

To: Mills Teachers and Staff From: The Thunderbolt Staff

Happy Holidays! Thank you for all your continual hardwork and patience throughout the semester. We appreciate your willingness to work with us on countless articles. Have a safe winter break, filled with much deserved rest.

Features

The Thunderbolt

Technological Resources for Online Learning Joshua Choe, Staff Writer O

nline learning keeps many students on a digital screen for hours on end and often, there is no reprieve for the physical body because of copious amounts of work. A few solutions can be utilized to remedy this, and these items will be useful in the long run as distance learning continues. There are numerous technological items and software pieces available to enhance your online experience. A wifi-extender can help with a spotty connection in spots of your home where the connection doesn’t reach well. Tp-link’s wifi extender can provide full connectivity at an affordable price of only 30$ and can be found on Amazon. Along with wifi-extenders, extra monitors can contribute to a more efficient workplace. These monitors provide larger screens for easier viewing and help with organizing information to see multiple sources at once. With an extra monitor, a student is able to view their Zoom call, as well as their digital assignment on two different screens. If you use a compatible browser, AdBlock can be downloaded for your computer to get rid of annoying ads that may slow down your computer. Personally, AdBlock does wonders for me, as it helps websites load faster and prevents advertisements from interfering with any work or reading I’m doing. As well as technological items, there are more physical

items that help preserve your body’s overall wellness. Standing desks can help reduce fatigue on the back and shoulders from sitting down all the time, as well as help with fidgeting. Feeling antsy? Just shift your feet around and stretch to shake off those feelings. Blue light glasses help keep your eyes safe during long work sessions of looking at a screen. Any digital screen emits large amounts of blue light in an effort to keep on-screen colors appearing crisp. However, this is unhealthy towards your eyes, causing them to be dry and fatigue. The light also tricks your brain into thinking it’s daytime, interrupting your natural sleep schedule as well. The glasses are specialized in filtering such blue light out of the waves emitted, thus reducing eye fatigue from long work sessions. Lap desks can also be utilized for completing work from the comfort of your bed. If you’re someone that can’t bother to trudge out of a warm bed in the morning to hunch over a desk for class, a lap desk may be perfect for you. Depending on the design, the desk will sit over your legs or balance on them, so you can work from the comfort of bed. With these items, an online work experience can be enhanced, keeping you safe and helping to reduce mental fatigue. All items above can be found online on Amazon, Ebay, or at most retail companies all of which offer a wide selection of items to choose from.

Joshua Choe The Thunderbolt

TECHNOLOGY: Lap Desks (Left) and External Webcams (Right) are Useful Tools for Online Learning

To: Frontline Workers From: The Thunderbolt Staff

Happy Holidays! Thank you for everything you have done througout the course of the pandemic. There is nothing we can do to repay the work you have done. We wish and hope you find moments of deserved rest, safely this holiday season.

To: Our Wonderful Readers From: The Thunderbolt Staff

Happy Holidays! Thank you for your continual support of our newspaper! We could not exist without our readers and always strive to create high quality content. Have a restful and safe winter break. See you next semester!

Features

The Thunderbolt

Student Opinions on Distance Learning NEws editor, Justin Condevillamar F

or the first time, students took their classes at home through scheduled video conference calls on Zoom. This radical alteration to the school structure has resulted in a complete change to the student experience in which students have varying opinions over distance learning and differing understanding of what’s happening within the Mills community. In a student questionnaire conducted by The Thunderbolt, students answered a series of questions about their distance learning experience, and their opinions on the successes and failures of distance learning this semester. A series of student polls were also held where students voted on the difficulty and success of distance learning, as well as if they prefer to continue distance learning next semester or transition into a hybrid model.

“

I believe that distance leaRning works for some people, and does not work for others... it's just hard for not only students but staff as well to stay motivated when they’re staring at a screen for 3-12 hours a day.

“

-Sophia Baltasar, Senior

The transition from in-person to distance learning classes during the previous semester has garnered generally negative reactions from students. The transition was generally described as “difficult,” “not smooth,” and “sudden.” Many students described a learning curve with online classroom software and routine changes they had to undergo to adjust to distance learning. Motivation was also a factor in the transition, as students adjusted to changes with the course curriculum. The limited interaction between students and teachers also made transitioning more difficult for students. This was further complicated by speculation over if students would be able to resume in-person classes also added to the uncertainty over the structure of distance learning; Gabriella Handoko (12) commented on the transition, stating that “Initially when we thought this would only last for 2 weeks, it wasn’t as bad because we thought of it as a break. But as we realized this may go on longer than expected, both students and staff were not prepared to do distance-learning. It was hard to suddenly adjust to something that wasn’t normal at the time, and distance-learning posed a lot of uncertainties”. When asked to describe problems within distance learning, students described a wide range of issues from internet problems, home environment, learning struggles, and especially, student mental health problems related to distance learning and social isolation. Some students are reliant on the Chromebooks that Mills provides, as well as portable hotspots for home internet. Students have endured poor internet connections and limited technological capabilities, which hampered their ability to participate in classes and accomplish online school work. Many students also did not have an ideal home learning environment. Oftentimes, students would be in Zoom classes while their siblings and parents were also online for school and work which slowed down their home internet connection. Some students had to share spaces with other family members while in school, which made their learning environment cramped and noisy. Students who were inexperienced with distance learning software like Zoom or Canvas also faced a difficult time using them which resulted in lower engagement and increased stress over the changed learning. Students were asked to rate their experience with dis-

tance learning on a 1-10 scale with 1 being the worst experience, 10 being the best, and 5.5 being average. The average rating among all students was slightly above average at 5.8. Around 63.9% of respondents rated between 4-7, 23.4% rated between 8-10, and 12.7% rated between 1-3 indicating that the majority of students found their distance learning experience to be relatively average. Seniors generally had a better distance learning experience with an average rating of 6 while the other grades had an average rating of around 5.5-5.8. The indication that students found distance learning to be slightly above average was supported by the distance learning success poll. This poll was conducted on whether students believed that distance learning has been successful this semester, which 36.1% of students did, 55.1% found it partially successful, and 8.8% did not find it successful. These polling splits were found among all grades, with upperclassmen finding it a bit more successful at 38% and underclassmen finding it a bit less at 36%. When students were asked about their stance on the success of distance learning this semester, students provided different reasonings from personal experiences to speculation on how distance learning affects the student body as a whole. Students who saw distance learning as partially successful this semester often understood and appreciated the efforts that the district made to improve distance learning for students. Sophia Baltasar (12) gave a nuanced opinion on why she believed distance learning has been partially successful, stating that “I believe that distance learning works for some people, and does not work for others. I’m fortunate enough to have what I need to do well in distance learning, but distance learning creates a disparity between those who have the resources to succeed and those who don’t. I appreciate that the schools in our district have done their best to make accommodations, such as chrome books, WiFi hotspots, and other online resources. However, it’s just hard for not only students but staff as well to stay motivated when they’re staring at a screen for 3-12 hours a day”. Other factors that resulted in a mixed opinion on the success of distance learning included the struggles that some students have with a distance learning environment, the efforts that teachers had to make to adjust their classes to distance learning, and the ability of students to adjust to distance learning classes. Students who held a negative opinion on distance learning’s success, often cited their difficulties with distance learning, which included their academic struggles and mental health strain. They also pointed out that the majority of students are or have struggled with distance learning this semester, and that some students are treated unequally through this system. Students who believed that distance learning was a success viewed the efforts of the district as an overall achievement. Gabriella Handoko (12) gave credit to the school district,

55% Partial Success

stating that they “have been working hard to find models that will work for us. I appreciate all of our staff’s efforts to make distance learning successful. I know it’s difficult for teachers to be teaching on Zoom, but their efforts to engage their students and make school fun does not go unrecognized. Unlike in the spring, we now at least get to see people through Zoom”. Noah Ku (12) added that “I feel that the distance learning experience makes it very convenient for a lot of students. The workload isn’t as bad as in previous years and there’s a lot more time for students to work on their school projects or homework”. Another poll was held over whether students believed that distance learning made school easier or more difficult than in-person classes. They were also asked to rate the difficulty of distance learning on an 1-10 scale, with one being very easy and ten being very difficult. Among all respondents, around 52% of students found distance learning more difficult, 31% found it to be as difficult as in person, and 16% found it to be less difficult. Around 24.5% of seniors, 17.1% of freshmen, 5.2% of sophomores and 4.8% of juniors found distance learning to be less difficult. Alternatively, 50-52% of seniors, freshmen, and sophomores found distance learning to be more difficult, while 61.9% of juniors found it more difficult. The student ratings indicate a similar trend with the average difficulty rating being a 6.3 which is significantly higher than the average of 5.5. 44.1% of all respondents either rated a difficulty of seven or eight, 28.4% rated five or six, 17.2% rated four through one, and 10.3% rated the difficulty a nine or ten. Seniors found distance learning to be relatively average difficulty with a 5.6 consensus rating, sophomores rated the difficulty 6.21, freshmen rated it a 6.33, while juniors found the most difficulty with an average rating of 7.29. When asked why students held their position on the difficulty on distance learning, they cited a variety of reasons from workload, home and class learning environments, communication between students and teachers, leniency on classwork, time management, learning ability, access to student help and resources, usage of distance learning software, and difficulty of distance learning classes. Students who felt that distance learning made school harder generally found problems with the reasons above. Evan Field (9) found communication difficult, saying that “I feel like the communication between teachers and students isn’t as clear as it usually is in in-person school”. Madison Schoening (11) found learning and access to teacher health more difficult, stating that “I feel like it is harder to understand the material in the distance learning setting, it’s harder to get help, and the help isn’t as effective since we can’t talk face to face”. Yoerujo Kusayama (9) viewed student motivation to be problematic, saying that “Distance learning doesn’t bring much motivation to learn unlike “physical school” where you can physically interact with teachers”. Teachers are less able

Of polled students say Distance Learning was a

Disclaimer: Poll was completely voluntary. statistics are based on 205 recieveD responses

“

-Keefer Yip, Senior

I was feeling saddened by the fact that I would spend some of the last months I had before leaving for college in solitary, which had an impact on both my mental health and attitude...

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lems with member engagement and enrollment, club meeting times, and functionality as many club activities are only possible in person. When describing clubs this year, Cameron Li (12) commented “The clubs part of the school has been lacking. Not only can we not meet in person, but students are really limited to the clubs that they can join because the “official” club times all happen at once, so you can only really go to one club on a given day.” For Mills athletics, the fall sports season has already been pushed back and winter sports are also likely to be pushed back also. However, many sports teams at Mills still held conditioning during the fall semester, which student-athletes generally appreciated. Sports games were also a major student event at Mills and the removal of that disappointed some students. Kevin Mungunshagai (10) described having sports as having “a big impact, especially with the whole covid thing. I went to mills as a freshman and I’m so used to being local and just talking with my friends whenever but now I’m not able to because they can’t come out due to the covid 19”. Some of the larger extracurricular classes such as Music and Drama continued despite some difficulties with distance learning. The Mills Music Department was able to transfer their events such as the Groove-A-Thon and the winter concert to a virtual setting and Mills Drama held an Audio play of The Crucible this semester.

A major problem during distance learning that students endured was the degradation of their mental health through distance learning. The pandemic has already taken a large toll on students’ mental health as many were isolated from their peers and they couldn’t do many outdoor activities that they enjoyed. The heavy usage of technology during distance learning has harmed students, with some having to use the internet for six or more consecutive hours per day for school. Students who have a poor internet connection or are inexperienced with Zoom and Canvas often reported increased levels of stress over completing school assignments and engaging in their classes. Alterations to student routines have also been a source of mental health troubles. On his distance learning troubles, Jayme Daijo (11) states that “My mental health has taken a large toll of all of this, for me, I feel a productive day requires me to wake up, do online school, eat, take a small break, get back to work, eat dinner and go to sleep. While we feel that now we have all the time in the world, it is still difficult to prioritize and find the time that I need to set aside without feeling like that will result in me falling behind”. Daphne Situ (12) commented on her being stuck at home all day, stating “As my bedroom has become both my work and resting space, I felt like I needed to be constantly working because I could always see my desk/laptop.” It has been especially difficult for students to handle being socially isolated during this semester. When describing his final year at Mills, Keefer Yip (12) says that “I was feeling saddened by the fact that I would spend some of the last months I had before leaving for college in solitary, which had an impact on both my mental health and attitude…” With many of the more enjoyable aspects of high school reduced or removed, many students no longer have an outlet to relieve stress and anxiety, which builds up over time and causes mental health issues. The concluding poll in the student questionnaire asked students whether they preferred to continue distance learning next semester or if they wanted to return to the classroom under a hybrid model. Around 54.1% of all respondents were in favor of continuing distance learning while 45.4% were in favor of transitioning into a hybrid model. Seniors and freshmen were mostly in favor of continuing distance learning with 59% of freshmen and 58% of seniors voting for distance learning. This correlates with the previous two polls which indicated that seniors had the most positive distance learning experience, the highest rate of distance learning success, and the least difficulty with distance learning classes. Freshmen also generally rated distance learning positively, and had a higher rate of people who believed that distance learning was successful. Sophomores also slightly favored distance learning with 53% voting for distance learning and 47% voting for hybrid models. Juniors were the only grade to favor returning to in-person classes as 52% voted for a hybrid model system and 45% voted for distance learning. This also correlates to their responses in the other polls in which juniors reported the lowest average distance learning rating and the highest average difficulty rating. When asked why they believed that distance learning should continue or Mills should transition towards a hybrid model, students often cited the pandemic and student health risk, changes to in-person classes, social interactions, quality of student education, the concept of “normalcy” and student routines, and the resumption/increase in extracurriculars. Students who preferred distance learning nearly all showed concern over student safety under the hybrid model, and many did not want to expose their households to the virus. Other students questioned the quality of education under a hybrid model, with Anjuli Niyogi (12) arguing that “the hybrid model might put more stress on teachers to tackle DL students and in-person students at the same and make it more confusing for teachers”. Some students who held this position did hold mixed or negative views on distance learning but believed that controlling the spread of the virus is most important. Others have pointed out instances of other schools having to “see-saw” between distance learning and in-person classes due to school-wide outbreaks, showing concern over students’ ability to maintain social distancing protocols. A few have also argued that altering a school structure that students have adjusted to would cause stress and uncertainty over adjusting back. Students who supported the hybrid model next semester often believed that the district and student community is capable of creating a relatively safe environment for students and staff and that the quality of student life would improve. Marc Sanna (11) argued for a hybrid model, stating that “ many people need the genuine experience of going to school again. It’s hard for some people or learns through a computer as well, so having a chance to go to

Great

school could help with improving some students’ grades”. Madison Schoening (11) argued that “it is beneficial for students while staying safe and with proper protocol, to be able to have the choice to return to school in some capacity. Students need some sort of normalcy back in their lives”. Students who were severely affected by the isolation during distance learning supported the hybrid model to allow for greater student and teacher interaction. Others argued that student engagement would increase and that extracurricular activities would be improved. A few have argued that student grades would improve overall as many students are struggling with engagement and classwork under distance learning. At the moment, the district is heavily leaning towards a hybrid model targeted to begin in Febru-

ary, but that is only if the current health conditions improve. Mills also offered Independent Studies (IS) Classes for all students, which around 11% of students polled took this semester. Independent Studies was most popular among seniors, with around 27% of polled students taking at least one IS course. Around 10% of sophomores, 7% of freshmen, and only 3% of Juniors reported taking IS classes this semester. When students were asked about why they chose IS classes, they cited several reasons. The most common reason is that a student didn’t like a particular distance learning class, and wanted an alternative to receiving course credits for that class.

Hy br mo id de l Dis Le tan ar ce nin g

% Prefer

“

I feel a productive day requires me to wake up, do online school, eat, take a small break, get back to work, eat dinner and go to sleep... It is still difficult to prioritize and find the time that I need to set aside without feeling like that will result in me falling behind.

Average

Students

to pressure and “chase” students into engaging in their classes and to complete work, which can result in some students being disengaged. Students who believed that distance learning is as difficult as in-person classes viewed that some aspects of school were made more difficult, while others were made easier. Cameron Li (12) found distance learning to be more convenient overall, but found time management and the learning environment could be difficult for some, stating that “I think there’s a lot more responsibility on us to be able to manage our own time. I think it’s also a Worst lot easier to get distracted during class since we’re in our own homes”. Gabriella Handoko (12) views distance learning as more lenient and less workload heavy and found the shorter schedules to be easier. However, she sees that “these adjustments come with a pay-off: learning online, in general, is pretty difficult. It’s hard to stay motivated, to retain information, to interact with other people, and we often fall victim to ‘zoom-fatigue’”. Students who found distance learning easier found multiple aspects of school less difficult during distance learning, especially including decreased workload and increased leniency. Sophia Baltasar (12) found distance learning easier, stating that “Teachers are a bit more lenient with work than they would have in-person. The comfy environment of my bedroom made taking tests a less stressful experience than in a classroom. I am an older student, so taking AP classes is mainly based on lectures. I can make up for what I don’t understand in class with YouTube videos or even Khan Academy videos.” Students who have previously gone to Mills before distance learning were also asked about how other aspects of the Mills student experience were altered or replaced during distance learning. This included extracurriculars, clubs, hangouts, student activities, and events, and sports. Many students described the reduction and removal of various extracurricular activities including club meetings and sports-related activities. The lack of interaction between students during distance learning classes has made it difficult for students who aren’t already close to each other. Freshmen in particular have fewer opportunities to integrate themselves within the Mills student community. Many clubs at Mills have continued through this semester with varying levels of success. They often face prob-

-Jayme Daijo, Junior

Features

The Thunderbolt

When describing her motivation for taking Independent Studies’ CP Government class, Alexis Lin (12) said that “I was having difficulty focusing in the first few classes so I knew it was better to be enrolled in a course I could focus in”. Some students who had busier schedules took IS classes to relieve some pressure. Others liked the freedom concerning scheduling and pace that those classes provide, and believed that they could handle taking a class without direct teacher assistance. Students who took Independent Studies (IS) this semester were also asked about their opinions on their. IS classes Using a 1-10 rating system, students rated their experiences with their IS classes with one being the lowest and the being the highest. The respondents reported a positive rating average of 6.9 which is significantly higher to the distance learning average of 5.8. Around 41% of students rated IS a seven while 27% rated it from eight through ten; 32% of students rated it from six through four and no students gave IS a rating of three, two, or one. When asked about why they liked or disliked their Independent Studies classes, students generally found their IS classes easier and less workload heavy than their distance-learning counterparts, but less engaging and rigorous. Sophia Baltasar (12) described the advantages and disadvantages of her Independent Studies classes, stating “I like my government Edgenuity class. It’s simple and straightforward, However, my AP Lit Edgenuity class is not easy. It’s hard to improve my writing when I read and annotate alone and when my essay feedback is minimal. I feel that since the system is a bit outdated, the content I am receiving is not adequate to prepare me for the upcoming AP exam”. Junar Lansang (12) describes the disengagement issue with Edgenuity, stating that “Since Edgenuity classes remove the live human element completely from the students’ learning, they have removed the curriculum’s ability to curate a genuine interest in the content. This results in a distaste and an apathetic attitude towards the instruction being received on Edgenuity”. On whether IS students still preferred their independent courses over distance learning, most said that they still preferred IS classes for the same reasons as above. Sebastian Law (12) commented, “If I can minimize the amount of time spent in subjects I don’t enjoy while still retaining the same amount of course curriculum knowledge, my mental health suffers less”.

Center

Misael by article an santa?: about

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articles mentioned on the sides are available to read (for free!) on our website, millsthunderbolt.com.

AND FAMILY during th holidays: AN ARTICLE BY NAGHAM MAsarweh

Gomez

TIPS FUN INDOOR ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH FRIENDS

the

Spread

HOW TO GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON a (not so) short but very sweet guide. for more info and links, visit millsthunderbolt.com

by jordan hasty, staff writer

or many people, the holiday season is widely known as a time of giving and joyful togetherness. While the traditional form of celebrating is through wrapped presents, lightening the load of those who are struggling and bringing in much needed reprieve is the best gift you can give. Luckily, there are various ways to go about supporting your community during this time. Volunteering at local/national nonprofit organizations for human services has been one of the most popular ways to help those in need in previous years, with most instances taking place in the form of serving/donating food, clothes, and more common necessities. The opportunities don’t stop there—donating to charities such as Toys for Tots, the Make-AWish Foundation, The Wish Project, and Heart to Heart International will instill strength, hope, and transformation within the lives of many. Similar charities are offered locally, one in particular being The Family Giving Tree, which is dedicated to serving children in need with a backpack of school supplies and gifts wished for every holiday season. The 2020 holiday season will greatly differ from others, but while we maintain public health guidelines to plan safe ways to stay in touch with loved ones, it is crucial to think about ways to give back, ensuring everyone feels some holiday spirit this time around. As we near the close of an unexpectedly chaotic year, everyone could use a little joy, and a little generosity can go a long way. A great place to begin with volunteering efforts is locally. With the steady rise of the Coronavirus pandemic taking place this year, many organizations have shut down. Those who have reopened have found themselves with a scarce amount of volunteers, especially this holiday season. This sparse support has made it difficult to provide to the less fortunate efficiently, minimizing the potential of the non-profit organizations. The Family Giving Tree is a local donation program that is best known for “Granting Children’s Wishes for Joy and Learning,” committed to being of service to those most in need for the past 30 years. Essentially, underprivileged children are given a chance to make a holiday gift wish, which will then be provided to them through the program. Being the largest holiday gift and backpack donation organization in California, TGT believes that everyone should experience the joy of the holidays through the receipt of a gift with no one forgotten. Although The Giving Tree has already accomplished assisting various underserved people, there are still thousands more local families and children who still need your support. By participating in their annual Holiday Wish Drive, an opportunity to personally, positively influence the lives of people who need the extra lift in your area will be presented. If you, or someone you know is interested in supporting their Holiday Wish Drive, you can volunteer here online, and help sort, wrap, and prepare wishes for distribution to their partner nonprofits and schools. To fulfill the desired holiday gift wish of a child, adult, or senior in need on the surface may not seem like much, but for someone who may not otherwise receive a gift — it’s everything. That single, specially chosen gift lets them know that someone in the community is thinking of them, and spreads a little holiday cheer. Not only can you make a change locally, but you can expand your impact nationwide. Toys for Tots, for one, has donated more than 556 million gifts since 1947, making it an extraordinary charity for children. Fortunately, they have many methods of supporting the charity: you can donate funds online which includes a personal thoughtful message to a child in need, drop off a new toy or game at the nearest dropoff location to you, or host a campaign in order to collect donations from family, friends, and coworkers this season. Make A Wish is another incredible organization, targeted towards creating unforgettable experiences for children with critical illnesses, depending on their own individual dreams. The outcome of contributing to programs such as these can help improve the child’s quality of life, as well as providing them a perspective of hope. With your support, a child’s holiday dream can come true. In addition, this organization has sponsors such as TopGolf, Best Western, and Discover Card and receives a percentage of each purchase made at those businesses. [READ MORE ON MILLSTHUNDERBOLT.COM]

Opinions

The Thunderbolt

Should We Take A COVID-19 Vaccine?

n November alone, there were four million new, reported COVID-19 cases in the United States. This resulted in hospitals facing shortages on staffing and personal protective equipment. The first COVID-19 vaccine shot was administered December 7, a historic landmark in the fight against this virus. Scientists are now predicting that a vaccine will be ready by the end of 2020 for frontline health workers in the United States. In light of all this, will you join me in taking the COVID-19 vaccine? A vaccine is a weakened or inactive strain of a virus. When it enters our bodies, our immune systems react and learn how to fight the virus off. When or if we receive contact with the virus, our immune systems will recognize them as invaders and produce antibodies to keep us healthy. Two companies, Pfizer and Moderna, have applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for emergency approval for their vaccines. To ensure that a vaccine is safe for use, it must first be tested and evaluated by the FDA, as well as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even after it has been distributed and used, it is still monitored to ensure there are no negative effects. Although trials and regulations have been used, many Americans still doubt the safety or efficacy of such a quickly developed vaccine, as well as the necessity of one. Less than half of Americans take the flu shot, a well-tested and proven vaccine, so even less might want to take this completely new one. My family has wondered about the side effects of this vaccine, and whether it was tested thoroughly. Encouragingly, both Pfizer and Moderna have vaccines that are over ninety percent effective in clinical trials, without anyone reporting extra illnesses and only mild side effects. The effects that have been seen include fatigue and minor muscle aches for a short period of time, which would not worry me enough to avoid taking a vaccine alto-

gether. Throughout the entire making process, the vaccine is reviewed and scrutinized by scientists to ensure its safety. As a teen who gets restless and wants to meet friends, I would take the vaccine when it is offered to the public. Staying at home reminds me of how much I enjoyed the small things I used to take for granted before sheltering-in-place. With the vaccine, I could stop sitting in front of my computer doing activities, like my piano lessons, virtually. Passing my friends in the hallways during school or going for a quick shopping spree were things I never knew I would miss. Taking the vaccine would enable me to return to a life of relative normality of going back to being a regular high school girl stressing over homework and hanging out with friends. I trust that the trials for this vaccine tested every single aspect to ensure its safety for all Americans. Before even starting clinical trials, a vaccine is tested on animals for side effects. After it passes, it then enters Phase 1 trials, where it is administered to small groups of people to ensure its safety. Phase 2 would be administering it to hundreds of people to check for dosage and immune system responses. I know that if a vaccine is ineffective or has problems, trials would be stopped and re-examined. While COVID-19 will not disappear from our lives by taking this vaccine, it will help significantly stop the spread. To reach herd immunity, experts estimate that 80-90 percent of the population must be vaccinated. Taking the vaccine would save many lives, as well as reboot the economy and restart jobs. This injection has been reviewed and scrutinized by scientists across the world, who understand the dangers of even one small mistake. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves and our communities by taking the vaccine, thus keeping others safe from COVID-19.

Magdalene Ko Staff Writer

ot all gifts are determined by their monetary value; they can be determined by the thought, time, or effort put into the gift. For example, when weighing the differences between an expensive bag or a thoughtful handwritten letter, which one is more meaningful to you? That’s a question many people try to answer when they go to pick out a gift. Gift giving can be guesswork in finding something that the person would like, while not looking as if it were last minute. It’s hard to place an exact value on a gift, since it can vary by person, but in general, effort and meaning are important factors as well as the relationship between the giver and the receiver. Some gifts are valued more for what they represent, rather than the cost or monetary value. For example, when I got my

first phone, I didn’t think about how much it cost or how much time my parents spent on it— I was focused on the fact that I finally had a little more freedom. I was given the responsibility that comes with having a phone. It was a milestone in my life, and something that I asked for for a long time. It was a rite of passage, marking the change between a child and a teen, at least in my case. It represented something important between my parents and me. With gifts like these, the price doesn’t play as big of a factor. It meant my parents acknowledged that I was growing up. Along with that, there are other factors that play into a gift. The perceived effort put into the gift plays a big role in how it’s received. Sometimes, the effort put into a gift may not be immediately noticeable at first glance, but as you take the time to look at every

detail of what they got you, it becomes easier to see if this was something the giver purchased last minute or something they thought you would genuinely appreciate. Maybe it’s something you’ve been asking for for a while, or a thing that you mentioned in passing, which are the type of gifts that show that the giver listened and paid attention to what you wanted. For a lot of people, the gift itself may not matter, but the effort and meaning behind it does. The value of a gift given by different people may change depending on the giver. The expectation you have while opening the gift plays a big part in the value. A gift given by a distant relative, for example, may already hold value simply because they bothered to send a gift, as generic as the gift may be. The same gift given by a closer family member or friend, on the other

hand, may be disappointing because the gift wouldn’t hold the same value coming from someone closer and the gift could have been given to anyone. The standards set for different people hold a big importance when determining the value of a gift. But even between a closer group of people, a gift from someone may be heartfelt, but the same gift from another person in the same group may seem as if they weren’t trying at all. A gift card or cash is a safe gift to give someone, as you don’t have to put as much time and effort into the gift, and they won’t be disappointed when they receive something they would have no use for. But when it’s someone you know well giving you a gift card, it may not mean as much to you. Gifts come in all shapes, sizes, and price tags, but the thought and effort put into it weighs heavier than any of those. A gift is more than something to give, rather it’s a show of appreciation for the person and a sign of your relationship. Gifts vary in value and meaning depending on the recipient, and although there is never a concrete way to tell how someone might receive your gift, it’s always good to try your best and find a gift that’s both thoughtful and meaningful.

Katelyn Lam Staff Writer

What Determines a Gift’s Value?

The Thunderbolt

Prop 16: Affirmative Action

Opinions Prop 22: Uber and Lyft Drivers

n recent memory, California has been portrayed as a “big blue banner,” but that isn’t necessarily the case. While California is nearly always a safe state for the Democratic presidential nominee, when you dig deeper, you find that California has a history of moderate senators. Many progressive state propositions have been struck down, while conservative propositions have passed. And we cannot forget California supplied Donald Trump with a great deal of 5.5 million votes. The Senate situation in California is complicated. While the last republican to represent California in Washington was nearly 30 years ago, the senators since then have all been relatively moderate. For a state that is supposed to be the furthest left in the United States, this is quite surprising. Senator Dianne Feinstein has been a California senator since 1992, making her one of the most powerful Democrats in the Senate. She has not, however, shown that she is willing to stick up for many progressive values and policies. She is the ranking member (most powerful chairman from the minority party) of the Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for the hearings of Supreme Court nominees. Since 1993, when Feinstein joined the committee, she has been nothing short of disappointing when it comes to her service. In 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee was deciding on whether or not to confirm Judge Brett Kavanuagh. Feinstein knew about a sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh and decided not to report it until the end of the hearing, which led many congressional democrats to question her values with many calling for her job. Her role in the 2020 Amy Coney Barrett Senate confirmation hearings enraged many grassroots organizations. Many democrats and even some republicans around the United States wanted the hearings to be postponed until after the election, similar to in 2016. However, she did not push very hard to postpone the confirmation, and after Barrett was confirmed, she publicly congratulated Chair of the Judiciary committee, republican, Lindsey Graham, stating “Mr. Chairman, I just want to thank you. This has been one of the best set of hearings that I have participated in, and I want to thank you for your fairness and the opportunity of going back and forth. It leaves one with a lot of hopes, a lot of questions, and even some ideas, perhaps some good bipartisan legislation we can put together to make this great country even better. So thank you so much for your leadership.” This led to many groups calling for the democratic party to appoint a new leader to the Judiciary Committee. Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America said, “Americans — whose lives hang in the balance — deserve leadership that underscores how unprecedented, shameful and wrong this process is. The Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Dianne Feinstein, failed to make this clear and in fact offered an appearance of credibility to the proceedings that is wildly out of step with the American people.” But that isn’t where her shortcomings end. She has supported the war on drugs for most of her political career, which was started by Richard Nixon in 1971, and was a ploy to help Nixon win reelection. The war on drugs predominantly targeted blacks and anti-war leftist hippies who were Nixon’s main opposition in the upcoming election. In a 1994 interview with Harper magazine, Nixon’s domestic policy chief, John Ehrlichman, stated, “We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course, we did.” To see California’s and one of the Democratic Party’s most powerful senators support a policy targeted against black and leftist communities is, at minimum, disheartening. Feinstein has recently gone back on her previous comments on the war on drugs when primary challenger Kevin De Leon was critical of her stance. Feinstein is not the only California senator to support the war on drugs either. California Senator

Prop 25: Bail System

Barbara Boxer, who was elected in 1992 and served until 2016, still supports the war on drugs, and soon to be Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, supported the war on drugs up until about 2017, when the next proposition for the decriminalization of marijuana in California was gaining traction. Harris does not only approve of the war on drugs, but as California Attorney General, she acted upon her words. She often called herself “top cop,” which is not exactly something many progressives like to hear, as many support the term ACAB, an acronym for “All Cops Are Bastardized.” ACAB is essentially saying that cops are contributing to a broken system, therefore making them bastardized. And while the term ACAB came to popularity recently, it is still hypocritical of Californians to support a former contributor to the broken justice system. As California’s Attorney General, many were unhappy with Harris’ seemingly lack of conviction to fight for what she believed in. Robert Weisberg, a law professor and co-director of the criminal law center at Stanford claims, “She really was a sideline player in all the decarceration efforts.” During Harris’ time as San Francisco’s District Attorney, a white police officer was murdered by a black gang member. As lead prosectutor, she decided that she would not pursue the death penalty to the dismay of many, including Dianne Feinstein, Former Governor Jerry Brown, and California Senator. However, through the years, her stances have shifted. Harris has been an advocate for the death penalty, an example being in 2014 when she appealled a ruling that would have provided great help in eleminating the death penalty for all of California. In another situation withheld information that could have freed an innocent man from death row. And as a black woman, her record on holding police accountable is absolutely embarrassing. In 2015, she refused to back a bill that would have required police officers to wear body cameras and the Attorney General’s office to investigate lethal shootings involving police officers. In her 5 years as California State Attorney General, over 1,500 people were imprisoned for marijuana related offenses alone. Californians could have voted for the more progressive senate candidates, such asLoretta Sanchez in 2016 or Kevin de Leon in 2018, but instead they chose to vote for a centrist and a woman who I would state is spineless. Moving on from the Senate, we find even more evidence to prove that California isn’t as far left as many may think. This year there were 12 statewide propositions on the ballot. 5 of the 12 passed, however, the propositions that passed versus the propositions that did not may surprise you. Propositions like more funding for STEM cell research and approving app based drivers to be independent contractors rather than full time employees passed, while propositions like affirmative action and replacing cash bail failed. It seems like many Californian voters took the commercials that they saw on TV and voted based on that without doing much research on who paid for those commercials and the real meaning behind all of the propositions. For example, I saw a lot of commercials for proposition 19 this fall, so I looked up who was funding those commercials. Prop 19 would allow qualified groups to keep their property tax breaks if they move. I was unsurprised to see that those commercials were paid for by realtor companies who would want more houses bought and sold, therefore creating more money for themselves. I saw that being a strong factor in prop 22 as well. Californians also voted against the end of a band of affirmative action, which would help minorities, specifically black and latinx, get into college and land better jobs. And prop 16 was rejected with a 57% vote, a very large margin. So, Californians will refuse to vote for affirmative action but will vote anything they see in a commercial and a bunch or senators who either contribute to racism or fail to stand up for it. Then they will then turn around and post a black box on their Instagram and add “BLM” to their bios. That’s performative activism if I have ever seen it. We Californians only like to ride our high horse, but when it gets down to the nitty-gritty, we have to be better.

Is California As Progressive As We Think It Is?

Maxwell Zaninovich Staff Writer

Sports

The Thunderbolt

Skateboarding W

its pandemic popularity

ithin the past few months, the popularity of skateboarding has soared due to social media, skate park accessibility, and quarantine. Countless people have taken interest in this sport because of recent trends, not to mention it being COVID-19 friendly. With the influence from social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube, many have decided to make skateboarding their new hobby or passion during quarantine. Through these online platforms, professional and amateur skaters post new tricks and skills, as well as their many failed attempts. Some notable skaters on social media are Dylan Jaeb, Clive Dixon, and Tristan Funkhouser, also known as T-Funk. Combined, they have amassed over 537,000 followers on Instagram. Each skater posts their own unique style and form, leaving thousands in admiration of their talent. Due to these viral videos, many teenagers in the Bay Area have been inspired to start their own skateboarding journey. The skateboarding community in the Bay Area was originally small, but over the last few months, it has grown into a culture for teens. Nowadays, there can be up to 30 people in the skateparks around Millbrae and San Francisco. Although a majority of skaters are males, there are also female skaters who partake in the sport. Unfortunately, they go through backlash and criticism solely for being female. A primary example of this is Asiya, (@asapasiya on TikTok), a skater with over 608,000 followers on her page. Now, she has an immense amount of support but when Asiya first started, she received tons of hate comments. “Poser” was a frequent insult thrown at her, suggesting she isn’t a real skater, but rather someone doing it to impress others. Some users even commented that she shouldn’t skate or is talentless simply because she is a girl. In response, Asiya consistently posts her elaborate tricks and turns, silencing those with negative comments. Additionally, there are people of all different races, cultures, and ages that bond and form friendships over this growing sport. Because of the mainstreaming of skateboarding, cities all over the

country have been building or upgrading skate parks to build a pandemic-safe environment for skaters. The impact of the coronavirus in skateboarding hasn’t had a significantly negative impact, as a matter of fact, quarantine has attracted more people to try it out. Skateboarding is a COVID-19 safe activity as it is done, for the most part, individually, outside, and normally with masks and social distancing. With the pandemic causing everyone to stay at home, participating in low-risk sports, like skateboarding is a much more appealing activity. Some may skateboard to spend time with friends, while others find skateboarding is a liberating and stress-relieving escape. When discussing why skating is important to him, Mason Myers (10) explained, “I love skateboarding because of the freedom and new experiences. Also, because of the people I’ve met and the memories I’ve created.” Furthermore, Myers added that he has been skating for around 2 years, originally inspired by his brother and friends. Similarly, Leo Valdez-Denton (9) took interest in skateboarding because of his friends and family. He shared, “I’ve been skating for about a year, and I like how fun and exhilarating it is. Because of quarantine, I was able to practice more and get better.” This seems to be a frequent theme, as quarantine has inspired many to try new hobbies or practice more. Finally, Christian Kwan (12) stated, “I enjoy skating since I usually do it with my friends and it allows us to be 6 feet apart, considering we are always moving. Also it is fun trying to learn certain tricks, it almost feels like a game.” These teenage skaters all agree that practice makes perfect and it is important to have perseverance when it comes to skateboarding. Skateboarding has gained traction incredibly quickly throughout these past few months in quarantine. Some reasons behind this are increased social media coverage, more skate parks being built, and because skating is a COVID-19 safe sport. Even though this sport is time-consuming and daring, the pride of mastering new tricks makes all the falls and attempts worth it.

melissa catpo, staff writer

page designed by karine chan, editor-in-chief

Sports

The Thunderbolt

espite being new to the Viking family, freshmen Maria Duquette and Dayna Kurniawan are no strangers to the sport of dragon boat racing. Dragon boat racing is a traditional Chinese sport that has edged its way into communities around the world, including countries like Australia, Thailand, Korea, Germany, and America. Essentially, teams of paddlers race to the finish line in long, narrow boats, cheered on by the beating of drums. To put it simply, Duquette compared the sport to a more wellknown aquatic activity; “it’s sort of like paddling, but it works differently. There’s one person on each side [of the boat] and people usually practice one side more than others.” Kurniawan explained in detail that “there’s [about] 20 people paddling and a drummer who sits on the front and helps maintain the rhythm, and there’s also a steer on the back.” Duquette continued to describe how a dragon boat team usually aims to perform during a race. Once an announcer calls the start time, “you want to get the boat moving as fast as possible to have momentum, and in the middle, you try to be consistent, and at the end, you want to go as fast as possible again.” Only when the tip of the boat passes the final flags of the finish line is the team’s time recorded. Much of what has been difficult for Duquette, Kurniawan, and many dragon boat racers has been the technique of paddling. Trying to get your best technique is the first step, “and once you get your best technique you just have the focus on performing it well,” Duquette emphasized. The most common racing stretches are 500 and 200 meters, with longer races being held over 2,000m, 12km, and 25km. Duquette

Spotlight: International DragonBoat Athletes Anjuli Niyogi, Editor-in-Chief

and Kurniawan noted that most of their racing distances have been 200m stretches, though they have competed in a 2000m. These two racers typically practice with their team nearby ─the Oyster Point Dragons. Located in South San Francisco, the Oyster Point’s practices on the Marina are “a nice way to get out there and paddle with everyone” for Kurniawan. For Duquette, much of the sport is also about the team; “I really enjoy paddling with a team [...] doing it with other people makes it a lot better”. As well as competing in triad competitions in Los Angeles and another in Long Beach, Duquette and Kurniawan were recruited by Team USA’s dragon boat Junior team to compete in international competitions. Their first international race was held in Szeged, Hungary, in 2018, where 6200 paddlers from 140 clubs from 28 different countries competed for 6 days. It was this 11th International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) Club Crew World Championships that led to Duquette and Kurniawan’s continued interest in participating in other international competitions. Their most recent international race was from August 20 - 25, 2019 in the 14th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships and was located in Pattaya City, USA placed third with Duquette and Kurniawan competing. Read the rest of this article at millsthunderbolt.com

Best Gifts for

Student-athletes

by Madison Wong, Opinions Editor

he holiday season is coming up, meaning many people are scrambling to get gifts for their friends. Buying gifts can be stressful and difficult, but if your friend does a sport at Mills, follow this gift guide to ensure that your friend will get a thoughtful gift that they’ll love! Tennis: Tennis players generally need two things for them to play their sport: tennis balls ($3) and a racket ($20+). With those two things, they can go to any public tennis court to practice.

Cross Country: Buying gifts for a runner can be difficult, but any runner would appreciate receiving a pair of running socks ($20) to help them stay comfortable while running long distances. They may also like a foam roller ($25) to help them stretch out after hard workouts.

Soccer: To practice on their own, soccer players need a soccer ball ($20). A pair of cleats ($40+) and shin guards ($20+) would help prevent any injuries and make playing much easier.

Baseball/Softball: Every baseball or softball player needs a baseball/softball ($5) to practice with. Plus, they’re small, so you could never have too many. More equipment that they may need are a bat ($20+) and a mitt ($15+).

Football: Any football player would love to receive a ball ($20-40) to practice with and cleats ($50+) to make sure they don’t slip while playing. If your friend is a receiver, you could also get them a pair of gloves ($20-40) so they can easily catch the ball.

Badminton: A few easy things to get a badminton player are a racket ($20+), birdies ($10), and a portable net ($35) for them to practice at home.

Basketball: There are many things you could get a basketball player, the main one being a basketball ($15). A more creative, but more expensive, gift would be a membership to a gym with a basketball court ($50+). Golf: A simple, inexpensive gift for a golf player is golf balls ($20), because you can never have enough. Another relatively cheap gift idea is golf gloves ($20), which will give the player more control of the club.

Track and Field: If your friend is a runner, their own baton ($5) will allow them to practice hand-offs and will be a reminder of the fun times they had running. If your friend is a thrower, weights ($20+) would help them bulk up.

The Thunderbolt

HAPPY

Entertainment

2020 2021

image by RESEE

new year

To My Future Self In all honesty, I’m not doing good mentally and emotionally. Everything feels up in the air, I have no direction and am honestly scared for what’s to come. The whole world feels so surreal. But this has to end eventually, right? Karine, by the time you come across this again, I hope you have found happiness. I hope you have realized your self-worth and that you deserve to nourish your body. I hope you never stop being bright-eyed and optimistic about life. And hey, I really hope you finished your personal statement responses by now! With all the craziness going on, please don’t forget to tell your friends and family how thankful you are for them. Never stop showing admiration for the people that mean the world to you. Getting wrapped up in your own life is so easy to do but remember: relationships are a two-way street, never neglect your loved ones. It’s been way harder to keep in touch with people lately—thank god for our technology riddled world. Hey, how are your friendships that have prospered from quarantine going? How’s Mateo doing? Did he ever find two pretty best friends? Have Migs and Jonah walked their dogs recently? Has Brian taken anymore fisheye lens photos—if the answer is yes, have you printed them out yet? And what about your older friendships? Have you checked on Raphael recently? You should probably

get on that. Also, don’t forget to make plans with the Wongs and Munenos! Did you guys keep up the yearly tradition of going skiing during winter break? (I sure hope so). These past six months have been tough with not being able to see my grandma. I miss her so much. Hopefully by the time 2021 rolls around things will come to a calm and you’ll be able to visit her and other extended family. Maybe we will all even be able to get together for Christmas! It won’t be the same if we can’t do our yearly Secret Santa with the cousins. Maybe we’ll even get to do it at our new house. Speaking of our new house, how’s moving going? The hope is that you’re pretty much settled in by now. Have you had any friends or family over? Did you decorate your room yet? Please get on that, I know you’re tired but it’ll be so worth it. Don’t forget to thank your parents for everything. Never stop being grateful. Life is crazy. And I don’t think it’ll ever not be, but no matter how badly you want to quit, don’t you dare. The possibilities for what you can achieve are endless; my one hope is that you never forget that. Until next time, Karine Chan