Volume 64 Issue 3 || November 2023 ||
Ameena Stringer Staff Writer
Highschool football is such an
Saratoga. Nearing the end of the season, the traditional Battle of the Strip, an annual competition between Mills and Capuchino, takes place. Unlike any other football event of the season, students from both schools put in the extra mile to support their respective teams in taking down their rivals and taking home the win. But this year, out of left field, the Mills Vikings forfeited the Battle of the Strip, causing a stir with Capuchino and other affected students. A decision was made for a purpose none of us, especially being caught up in the moment, would have understood. That is, until now. Ethan Vuong (12), one of Mills’ varsity captains, remembers what prompted the discussion: “[After a rough second to last game against Cupertino] We tallied up all of the remaining “healthy” bodies and we came up with 14.” Vuong emphasized that the term “healthy” was to be taken lightly in this instance. “Many of those 14 had lingering injuries that they could’ve theoretically played through, but not against Capuchino… They [Capuchino] had size and numbers. On their varsity team alone they have around 50 players,” Vuong finished. After a long discussion with the players and coaches, the team voted and decided that varsity would forfeit. Alongside injuries and sickness, numbers have been an overlapping
Noor Abdullah / Mills Thunderbolt
exciting experience: the electric atmosphere with cheering fans, halftime performances by the cheerleaders, and intense matchups between rival schools. It’s a fun way to support your school and create lasting memories. However, the reality of high school football beyond the Friday night lights isn’t as glorious. The annual Battle of the Strip pitting the Mills Vikings against rival Capuchino Mustangs on the field–an event highly anticipated by SMUHSD students alike– was suddenly canceled on November 3rd, 2023. Overall, this year was a better year than the 21-22 and 22-23 seasons for the Mills Vikings, with the previous endings being 0-8 (no wins) or 4-6 (4 wins) respectively. This year the team had a 5-5 score, with 5 games lost and 5 games won, exceling those years. The improvement was attributed to the players’ dedication throughout the season’s practices, as well as the enhanced team spirit and community. Some standout athletes this season included Ghanim Mashni (12) for having three interceptions over two games, as well as Justin Kang (12) for carrying out a touchdown with only four seconds left in a game, resulting in a dramatic win against
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problem with Mills’ football team. The Mills varsity team struggled to field a team against Capuchino, who refused to play a varsity game unless Mills played varsity. Continue reading on millsthunderbolt.com
Features
Center Spread
Opinions
Learn about the Mills Interact Club
Top 10 books and movies that taught us gratitude
Student thoughts on affirmative action
Sports
Cross country makes it to CCS and State
Entertainment Revival of the Hunger Games
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- NEWS -
David Huang / Mills Dragon Team
MILLS DRAGON TEAM RETURNS
Mills Dragon Team performing at the 2018 SF Lunar New Year Parade.
they eventually went on to make a name for themselves, taking home 1st and 2nd places in the SF Lunar New Year Parade. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the team was forced to disband, and members who previously led the team had graduated Mills. It wasn’t until just this year that the club was revived again. President David Huang (12) recounted, “While I focused on other clubs, the Mills Dragon Team was something that I remembered as being an iconic part of Mills High School, something that
Amelia Naughten NeWS editor
In 1995, Mr. Phillips, Mills’ former
international relations teacher, advocated for a cultural day to be formed. Eventually, interested parents introduced the idea of a dragon dance team at Mills, and the Mills Dragon Dance team was born. Dragon dance is the traditional Chinese art in which a team of performers collaborate to maneuver a long, jointed dragon puppet in a parade. In ancient China, the dragon dance was created as a means to worship ancestors and pray for rainfall, but in modern times the dragon dance has become a popular festival entertainment representing ushering in of good fortune for the community. The 101 foot dragon that members of the Mills Dragon Team used to parade with was crafted entirely by Mills students by hand. At the height of the team, they performed in the San Francisco Chinese New Year parade and the Millbrae Lunar New Year festival, traversing a 1.3 mile route. The team carried on for the following 25 years, in which
herself) to receive support in rekindling the club. Although planning of the club’s reinstallment took more time than anticipated, resulting in them missing the club fair, they found ways to pick up the slack. “We brought in board members and found ourselves trying our best to publicize and get the club up and running,” Huang stated. With the help of passionate others, the team quickly set up an Instagram account (@mhs.dragon) to begin spreading the word. They held their first general meeting on October 13th during lunch in Ms. Chong’s room 144, and following that on November 2, members brought out the dragon head to showcase to the incoming freshmen 8th Grade Night. One of the students that joined the club board was Celena Yu (10). Yu joined the club because she was looking for new opportunities to become involved in the Mills community. Yu also remembers, “I grew up watching Lunar New Year parades, festivals, [and] events and was in awe every time the beautiful traditional dance came on my TV.” From a young age, Yu saw the beauty in cultural traditions like the dragon dance, and today she recognizes the importance of sharing this practice with the Mills community: “We are a historical club with deep roots in Millbrae; there’s no other club like ours on campus and we are so excited to have the opportunity to revive it.” Despite being the first year back, the Mills Dragon Team plans to participate in local community events. Members can also look forward to practices during the weekends in preparation for these events. As a last remark, the team sends out a warm invitation to any interested students, especially underclassmen and freshmen, to join. Being that the dragon demands a sizeable crew to operate, the more members the merrier, and the team also looks forward to the many future memories to be made.
David Huang / Mills Dragon Team
Former advisor Mr. Phillips and Ms. Wu pose with the dragon. David Huang / Mills Dragon Team
These two characters found painted on the back of the dragon’s head mean “dragon gold.”
demonstrated the culture and spirit of Mills.” In the summer of 2023, Huang along with co-captains David Meng (12) and Jun Lu (12) set a goal of trying to bring back the team. They branched out to alumni and other teachers such as Mr. Phillips, their advisor Ms. Chong, Principal Duszynski and Ms. Donohoe (a former Mills Dragon Dance member
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-David Huang
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- NEWS -
Mills Student Representatives Attend District Meeting Phoebe Piserchio editor-iN-Chief
Julia Xia featureS editor
Originating in 2017, United Against
Every month, our school district holds a
Hate Week (UAHW) is set to mark its sixth annual observance from November 12 to 18, 2023, as communities unite on a mission of unity and resilience. What started as a response to white supremacist rallies has now blossomed into a nationwide movement, spreading to approximately 200+ communities. This week-long campaign urges individuals to stand up against threats to our community. The Mills Leadership has been recognizing this week for several years now; keeping up with tradition, they took another creative approach this year by organizing a variety of fun, engaging activities. From vibrant stickers to hands-on bracelet-making sessions, these activities encourage active participation to bring the Mills community together. Additionally, media arts teacher Ms. Arge contributed to this week in hosting free portrait sessions in room 219. These sessions served as both artistic expression and a way for students to express themselves diversely with numerous anti-hate messages that resonated with them. For example, “Love is stronger than hate” or “No racism at Mills”. Leadership student Jessica Lee (11) emphasized the significance of UAHW, sharing its crucial role in reminding people the importance of standing against issues such as bullying. “Leadership organizes this week of activities with a goal of unity and inspiration among students,” Lee said. She went on to say that an inclusive environment is one that matters the most; it is a place where students can not only learn, but be motivated.
board meeting at the district office in San Mateo. The goal is to always discuss plans to improve the overall functionality of the school district. However, student perspectives are essential to increase student awareness about school district policies and to be a direct channel for student representation in any decision-making process. If you want to talk about improving the school, you need to get the student’s perspective; that’s why Zurine Cheng and Bianca Santos were selected to speak on the behalf of the 9,000+ students in the district. The district selects two students to be the district student board members. Their job is to provide feedback and ideas that will im-
Zurine Cheng / Mills High School
Media Arts Class / Mills High School
Staff and students pose with custom United Against Hate posters.
While this week emphasizes unity, it also recognizes the ongoing fight to combat any and all forms of hate; it prompts reflection, inspiration, and inclusion. As we commemorate UAWH, it’s essential it is not just a momentary event, but a long term call for action. We should continue to encourage others in contributing to a community that stands against injustice.
Jayden Duong (11), Kellen Duong (11), Bruce Ma (12) / Leadership Arts
This mixed-media United Against Hate poster can be found in Mills’ entrance hallway, and depicts people of color standing together in unity.
Santos (left) and Cheng (right) speak on behalf of students at district meeting.
prove the school district’s student experience and overall functionality. They also act as a bridge to connect to every school in the San Mateo district. Our student board member representatives attend all board meetings, participate in discussions, and provide their input on issues that will directly affect their fellow students. Every school has student representatives who serve on the district student board council; the coordinator of this council is Mr. Hudelson. 17 students are part of the council; Zurine and Bianca were chosen by the San Mateo School District from this council to represent the 9,000+ students in the entire school district. It is a long process to be considered for the job, with an extensive application and an interview. However, it is necessary to go through this lengthy process to ensure the right students are chosen. Continue reading on millsthunderbolt.com
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m e b v e o r N H n o w l iday o n k By: Eduardo Galindo Aguilar, Staff Writer
s
With Thanksgiving over and people already preparing for Christmas, other
important holidays are often overlooked during this time of year. This is a collection of November holidays that are important to remember!
This year on the first day ing a nap can relieve stress. have. So we need to keep a
Eduardo Galindo Aguilar : High School Student.
ONE OF THE HOLIDAYS:The Holiday lands on November 1st.
of November, is when National Stress Awareness Day is celebrated. It happens on the first Wednesday of every November; Wednesday was chosen for this holiday since the middle of the week is the most stressful time for some people. And so, on this day, do something that will help you relax. Physical activity like exercise or yoga could help with that or spending time to yourself reading a book or tak-
The purpose of this holiday is to inform people on how to recognize and manage stress. It is important to recognize stress as it can affect us negatively and cause lots of issues physically and mentally. Especially in school where we are expected to do well even if we have a lot on our plate with schoolwork, sports, extracurriculars, or a job that can give us more stress and anxiety than we should ever
watchful eye on ourselves to prevent stress from being too impactful on us. This is a holiday that should be remembered and celebrated because managing stress is very important for us to maintain a healthy life. So informing others of stress can help others with their struggles and stress that they are dealing with. To celebrate, talk to others about stress and its effects and together find ways to relieve that stress.
Civic Engage :Chelmsford, MA.
GRAPHIC OF ONE OF THE HOLIDAYS:The Holiday lands on November 16th. Eduardo Galindo Aguilar : High School Student.
GRAPHIC OF ONE OF THE HOLIDAYS:The Holiday lands on November 8th.
Next on November 8 is how we can teach them to National Stem/Steam Day which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, (Arts), and Math. This holiday is to encourage kids to be more interested in steam and to get minorities which have been underrepresented in steam to be more involved. Steam is important to be teaching kids because this is
think outside the box and find solutions to problems. These skills will help them solve larger problems surrounding our world. This is why it’s important to celebrate National Stem/Steam Day. By celebrating it will give kids a gateway to learn steam and express creativity.
Next is internationa tol- open mind to ensure peoerance day on the 16th and it’s all about listening to others. It’s about hearing others’ ideas and world views that are different from our own and respecting those ideas and views even if it’s hard. Without respecting the ideas of others people won’t be able to express parts of themselves that are important to them. Which is why it’s important to keep an
ple can express themselves. This is important to remember because to connect and bond with others we need to keep an open mind and let others be themselves. This holiday should be celebrated to spread more positivity around the world and in our community. To celebrate this holiday, create something that represents these ideas and share it.
Holidays are ways to cel- when they happen but they ebrate important events but don’t only need to be celealso to remind ourselves brated that day. You could to be glad for the things do these whenever you want. we have and for the relationships we have with others. Remember to celebrate these holidays when
Continued on the Mills Thunderbolt Website!
5 By: Arianna Alvarez, Staff Writer
New Mixed-Housing In Millbrae In Millbrae, new mixed-use hous-
ing is now being built. According to the San Mateo Daily Journal, La Quinta and Millbrae Lucky’s are being renovated into affordable new mixed-use residences. Some Millbrae residents have mentioned that they are worried about their safety. They believe that the temporary housing will be unsafe near residential areas and should be established near medical facilities and other amenities. Others are supporting the city’s decision and believe that the housing will be a great use for stabilizing those who are experiencing homelessness. In San Mateo County, the bart station has caused the population of homeless people to increase. This is because, other than walking, this is the only means of transportation available and cheap to the homeless. Around Millbrae, some homeless people hangout in the downtown area where middle school and highschool students often hang out after school with friends. A Mills student, who wishes to stay anonymous, has shared that she thinks more housing in Millbrae is a good decision. This is because there would possibly be more options for people looking to move
THE
LUCKY
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out to Millbrae. The student believes that the Millbrae community will be affected by the new housing in a good way. “I think there will be less burglary and less crime happening. Maybe the more people who move out here could help out the community.” Since there was a lot of thievery going on and police calls were being made prior to Lucky’s permanent closure, she believes that there won’t be as many crimes or burglaries as there were when Lucky was open.
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Another Mills student has shared her opinion about the new housing in Millbrae. She has said that she doesn’t think it’s really needed, because as of right now Millbrae is in a good housing situation. “The extra housing most likely will drive more people into the community, which will increase the population. The additional housing not only can cause Millbrae to be more crowded but it is also getting rid of our local grocery store Lucky and hotel La Quinta that many tourists
closed
Arianna Alvarez: High School Student.
lucky
store
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Millbrae.
stay at when they come visit.” There are a lot of mixed feelings on the newly planned mixed-use housing. Some think it will be unsafe near residential areas due to population growth of homeless people. Others believe the housing will be a great use for stabilizing those who are experiencing homelessness. At the end of the day, the new mixed-use housing will affect the Millbrae community both positively and negatively.
very year, Mills offers a variety of clubs for students to partake in, with some clubs garnering larger crowds than others. However, one club has always remained a popular choice amongst both old and new students each year: Mills Interact Club. The club, now led by Ian Lin (10), Becky Liu (10), and Megan Leung (12), has been proudly serving the community since its establishment in 1987, offering the school a plethora of volunteer and leadership opportunities to partake in.
Beside its continuous contributions to the neighborhood, the club provides its members the chance to socialize and interact with a wide range of students and individuals across the Bay. Due to the strong group aspect of events, it’s nearly impossible to avoid socializing with others within the community, as volunteers are often required to cooperate with others. Member, Stephy Li (11), is one of many who has met students in nearby schools from the club’s various activities. She mentioned
Abby Chai: High School Student.
THE CLUB MEMBERS : Mills Interact Club members posing for a group photo.
while she didn’t create close friendships with others, she’s nonetheless thankful for the connections she created with others through provided events. Behind the scenes, Interact is heavily engaged with neighboring organizations, many of which they have worked with in the past. The club, which often assists in events they’ve previously participated in, continues to actively search for new opportunities each year. The clubs’ presidents are careful when reaching out to groups, seeking those that “align with our goals”. They also cited importance in contacting affiliations with the purpose of continuing to participate in their events in the foreseeable future. And while playing a significant role in the community year-round, the club is especially busy during the holiday season. During the months of November and December, Interact holds some of their most important events of the year, many of which they partake in annually. Such events consist of Rise Against Hunger, assisting in the creation of stars for the Millbrae Christmas tree, and most recently, Interact members volunteered at the San Bruno Catholic Work-
er House this Thanksgiving, serving and donating food to the community for the holiday. Along with the customary holiday events, the presidents’ plan on creating more opportunities to give-back to others during the winter season. Just last year, the club introduced Christmas in November, an event where they both pack and collect necessary resources for families in need. The presidents are enthusiastic about the event’s second year at Mills, and hope to initiate similar events in the ensuing years. The club which goes by the motto, “service above self”, has clearly shown through the past decades their strong commitment to the wellbeing of the public. Currently, the club is striving to “foster a welcoming and inclusive environment” where students can both cultivate and establish a passion for community service, a goal which is strongly reflected by the continuous deeds they contribute every year. It’s evident that their dream to extend their impact beyond Mills is now more than achievable, as the club continues to grow and establish themselves as a core pillar of the community.
By: Abby Chai, Entertainment Editor
What Is The Mills Interact Club? E
Center Spread
“I’m incredibly thankful for the support and patience that I’ve received from my family and friends. It means a lot to me that I have such a close support circle around me and there’s nothing I’m more grateful for.”
-Tala Pantua (11)
Books & Movies That Taught Us to Be Thankful As Thanksgiving is coming up, so is the season to be thankful
and remember which characters or movies have taught us about gratitude. What does it even mean to be thankful? Could it be writing cards to the people around us? Or could it be shown in other ways? Thankfulness is sometimes overlooked, yet it plays a huge role in one’s character. Being grateful for something helps build positive emotions all around, whether it be within yourself or others. Lori Kwong (10) expressed, “It shows affection and it’s important to socialize with one another.” Allowing yourself to express your gratitude helps keep you humble and grow strong relationships with others. But, as kids, what were the examples we were given that displayed how thankfulness could be shown? Here is a list of the top ten books, movies and characters that taught us how to be thankful. Within children books, the two best books displaying the importance of thankfulness could be seen in “The Giving Tree” written by Shel Sulverstein and “Llama Llama Gives Thanks” by Anna Dewdney. In the “Giving Tree,” we see a kid growing up with a tree that gives him everything he asks for, at some point even the tree wood itself. Although the boy, himself, doesn’t display any form of gratitude until the end of the story, it is a wonderful tale that shows how one should be thankful for the things they are given. The book, “Llama Lama Gives Thanks” is a rhythmical book, showing how the character Llama Llama shows his gratefulness all year for his food, autumn leaves, down to pies and the skies he sees. This book became a wonderful example of one of the many ways to show thankfulness, not only near thanksgiving but all year round. In terms of characters, the most well known grateful characters are Olaf and Piglet. During the movie, Frozen, the character Olaf is seen to always be happy, even when he is melting or when he doesn’t understand something. So, it is not wrong to say that Olaf is always thankful for the moment, whether in the snow or the sand. Once he finally gets to go outside of the cold, his gratefulness grows, through his constant excitement. And through the series of Christopher Robin, Piglet is seen always
By: Bianca Pando, Staff Writer
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thankful for his friends and the time they all have together. He is seen many times getting over his fear for his friends. Both characters show their gratitude by not taking it for granted. Finally, there are many classic movies that display gratitude. Films such as “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” “Mr. Holland Opus,””Forrest Gump,””Freaky Friday “ and “Up “ are great examples of different ways to express thanks. Within the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey realizes the value of his life, and those around him, coming back with a new sense of gratitude towards existence. In the movie “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” we see the characters showing their thankfulness and getting ready for their Thanksgiving meal. Charlie Brown and his friends realize why it is good to be thankful, because it is important to show appreciation towards the things one has. “Mr. Holland Opus” shows how the students are forever grateful for their music teacher Glenn Holland, who worked so hard for them. The film “Forrest Gump” talks about a young boy, with legs that cannot walk without support. Later on in the movie, Gump discovers his love for running, and never stops. At the end of the film, he displays how thankful he is for his legs because he can use them to run. As for “Freaky Friday,” a mother and a daughter switch spots for a day, and both understand the difficulties the other person goes through daily. Because of this, at the end of the day, they understand each other more, and are grateful for the things the other does despite their tiresome lives. Finally, in the movie ‘Up’ Stan shows his appreciation for Russell, because he allowed him to step out of his comfort zone and live his life to the fullest. All of these movies display acts of thankfulness, whether it be appreciating others, or being thankful for what they have. It is important to have good examples of gratitude in the media because it plays a key part in the development of character. Many kids grow up watching these movies, and having a visual window into what others go through, and these top 10 examples are great forms of art that help us learn about thankfulness.
Center Spread
for the harvest of the year. People spend time with family and take part in fun activities. On Thanksgiving people don’t only thank the harvest of the year but can also think about things that they are thankful for in their own lives. The importance of gratitude is everpresent for Thanksgiving, and not only for this holiday but also in everyday life. It can help people think more positively and strengthen relationships with others. Then the question arises, do people have enough gratitude? If there is a survey about gratitude most people will answer that they have enough gratitude, because most of them really do express gratitude. Gratitude’s definition is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Many people have events to be thankful
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sgiving Tra k n a dit h T io
for in their life. It could be small or big but it is still important to be thankful. After experiencing that event most people experience grateful emotions. Still, this is not the only aspect of gratitude. “To show appreciation for” is the next step of gratitude. Expressing thankfulness like saying “thank you” is showing appreciation. These are obvious things. Obvious things are what many people do. Then for the question “do people have enough gratitude?” the answer could be yes. Could it really be yes? People can’t remember all their thankful moments. Gratitude only exists in that present moment they experienced and after that people often forget
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By: Elaine Chan, Center Spread Editor
-Amani Rizvi (12)
“
gratitude: the quality of being thankful
their appreciation. Then do people really have enough gratitude? The answer to this question is also obvious. People forget gratitude, yet it never disappears. Gratitude remains and fills people with warmth. It allows memories to flourish, so gratitude is enough. It is enough but expressing gratitude is not enough for some. Expressing gratitude to others can be successful for people but some can have problems expressing appreciation to their close circle like family and friends. People can forget their gratitude for people near and close to them, time and again. They are almost always with them, so people can express gratitude anytime. This can lead to the idea that acts of gratitude are obvious because they have a close relationship. But still remembering to express thankfulness for those close to you is important in maintaining valued relationships. During Thanksgiving, expressing gratitude to our communities keeps the spirit of thanks glowing bright.
“I am extremely grateful for my friends and family. Their unwavering support inspires me everyday.”
Thanksgiving is coming, when people give thanks
By: Sang Choi, Staff Writer
Comefriends Thanksgiving, the colder months bring warm memories as familyand gather together. In the United States, we typically celebrate this holiday on the fourth Thursday of November with foods like roast turkey and mashed potatoes, and in most homes, the TV will most likely be streaming the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. All across the globe, Thanksgiving traditions may differ but they all bring people together in the spirit of gratitude. In Japan, their variation of Thanksgiving is called, “Kinro Kansha no Hi” or Labor Thanksgiving Day. This celebration originated from an ancient rice harvest festival and is now celebrated on November 23rd annually. Differing from the American feasts that usually occur, in Japan this national holiday encourages the citizens to celebrate the fruits of hard labor and the importance of community involvement. A common practice for children is the creation of “thank you” cards for public service staff in their local communities. As American Thanksgiving was born out of the year’s harvest, China has a similar celebration called the MidAutumn Festival often nicknamed, Mooncake Festival. On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, families gather together and prepare for the meal. Traditionally, round foods are most valued as to bring the family prosperity and fortune, and mooncakes are prepared with a bright egg yolk center to emulate the full moon. All across China, houses are illuminated by delicate paper lanterns strung together in the night. This festival shows great similarities to the Korean “Chuseok Festival” which also celebrates the full harvest moon. Families make Korean rice cakes together prior to the festival and offer gifts to friends and family on the 15th of August in the lunar calendar. Come autumn in Germany, the festival of Erntedankfest is celebrated among Christian and Protestant families. While it is not officially dated on the calendar, families honor the fall harvest and crown a Harvest Queen. Much like America, it is a day reserved for community, feasting, and gratitude for the harvest. Countries like Austria and Switzerland also take part in this celebration! Celebrations of gratitude are present in all cultures and despite the differences, they all share the same wonderful qualities. These celebrations bond us together in shared thankfulness and around the world we can all take
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Opinions snoinipO Is Black Friday Worth It?
B
By: Josh Choe, Sports Editor
lack Friday sweeps by on its annual course every Friday after Thanksgiving. A day marking the start of seasonal shopping, businesses nationwide participate in an average of a 33.5% discount on store inventory. Millions of people nationwide rush to get the best deal that they can on the notable red and black, shopping spree themed day. Its history dates back to the late 1950’s where Philadelphia would dub the Friday “Black Friday”, for the day following Thanksgiving, animated shoppers and tourists would flood the city in anticipation for the Army vs. Navy football game held in the city the following Saturday annually. By 1961, this annual bedlam and the name Black Friday became known nationwide for its antics. In 1980, retailers would take this date and turn it into something more profitable; the Black Friday we know today. Retail holidays would soon spawn as spin off ’s of Black Friday, and frantic holiday shopping with discounted deals and crack of dawn opening businesses would become all the rage. Students at Mills are not unfamiliar with this annual tradition of stockpiling a wishlist and waiting for certain desired items to get this best deal on Black Friday. I know fully well how much I personally take advantage of this anticipated date. From making wishlists in the Notes app of my phone, any item that is particularly expensive or item that is not part of a good deal throughout the year, I wait until Black Friday for. It’s something I do annually, and I’m sure that many others do as well. Items that I particularly like to wait for since they don’t get much deals are: equipment and various items for working out, health supplements, and all ranges of clothing. Personally, I’m waiting for websites such as New Era Cap’s, YoungLA, and general retail shopping stores such as Amazon. Other Mills students also agree on my (and millions of other people’s) opinion on taking advantage of these sales. Austin Wong (12) says, “I do shop on Black Friday, every year annually. I mean, the sales and prices are too good not to, why would anyone not be taking advantage of it?”. Other students also agree with this statement.
Matthew Yu (12) talks about his experience with Black Friday, “This year in particular, I’ve been looking at different clothing item drops, hoping to get some new hoodies and pants. Stores I’m hoping to see on sale are Carhartt and Dickies. Personally, I’d just Google online to see the best deals.” Of course, there’s many other items that get good deals on Black Friday, after all, all items do. For gamers out there, monitors, keyboards and mice, or computer parts all get good deals on Black Friday on stores such as Amazon or Newegg, and if not, on Cyber Monday, a few days following Black Friday. For those who wear makeup, stores such as Sephora are going to have good deals. Now, obviously, it’s no debate that Black Friday is totally worth it. After all, money doesn’t come by easily and for some, this is a chance to finally have some financial freedom in buying livery. Storewide discounts on all inventory is not a typical event either. As everyone takes advantage of this worth, however, some problems become very prevalent; which is why it’s a good idea to prepare. The moment that item prices are slashed on Black Friday, it’s a common problem for items to be sold out quickly; so quickly that you may not even get a chance to add it to your virtual cart. Some advice to combat this problem would be to have a list written down somewhere, whether it’s like me on my Notes app, or a physical paper, and to have the according items on the website you’re buying it from open in multiple tabs. Items should also be already in your virtual cart, so you can anticipate being ready to pay as opposed to rushing against others to be able to get ahold of whatever item you’re waiting for. Deals are also different across websites; do your research! Google searches such as “best Black Friday deals for ___,” and whatever item you want, will lead you to the best chances of getting the lowest price. As a last piece of advice, it’s a really good idea to create a budget and stick to it. It’s easy to get carried away by the slashed prices but it’s definitely not easy to get that money back when you realize you’ve spent more than you should have; especially with the delayed returns because of the amount of sales.
Long Weekends or Seasonal Breaks?
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By: Biannca Pando, Staff Writer
ould you as a student rather have many three day weekends or have a long break for a week? While many would think about these questions as having a simple answer, there are a few points that they should keep in mind. For starters, it is a common fact that many students always find it harder to come back to school after a long week away. But, at the same time, at least the week was spent enjoying time away with family. Then again, could that have just taken place in the span of a three day weekend? Students within San Mateo County get two long breaks per school year, known as Winter Break and Spring Break. This leads to the only other days off of school being longer weekends, which are more common throughout the school year. But, should the school take out some long weekends for maybe one more long break? Although spending time away from school sounds like fun, coming back to it is a very different story. Because of the starting habit of staying at home, coming right back to school after maybe a vacation becomes harder. The impact of being hit with homework right after a whole week away hits like a brick. Yet, can the same be said for long weekends? When hearing that the school week will be cut by a day, students are more likely to be motivated to finish the week as soon as possible. Because of this energy, they tend to be more awake during class. The excitement pushes them to focus a little more, because in a few days, Friday or Monday will be off. That means an early start for the weekend. Having this free day comes as a stress reliever to many because
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this can either be used as a well deserved mental break day, self-care day, or for others, a day to catch-up on work, and spend the other 2 days resting away. However they chose to use it, it comes as a pleasant treat. The same could be said for Winter and Spring break. A whole week off makes everyone excited, planning what they will be doing with all of their new found freetime. And who could blame them? It starts to feel like summer break all over again. But, the difference comes when students have to go back to school. Compared to longer weekends, week breaks make it a disappointment to come back to school because now you have spent too much time away from your reality. It’s painful to say that this is the time where most students don’t find school enjoyable, because they do every other day of course. While long breaks make the vacation plans out alive and in action, longer weekends allow for balance between mental breaks without throwing off a student’s routine entirely. That extra day serves enough for the original weekend to be fun, having plans back to back. Then, you realize you have to get ready to get back to school, and the pattern repeats. One could see the case that long breaks serve a purpose of a long vacation, whether it be overseas, or in the states. With this, a student doesn’t have to worry about missing school or falling behind on homework. And even though that sounds really good, many studies prove that three day weekends improve one’s motivation more than before, to either do better in school, or to finish everything and have family time on the weekends. Overall, the benefits of having more long weekends outweigh the few long seasonal breaks.
Affirmitive Action Cancelled; Students React
O
By: Michaela Gonzalez, Editor-in-Chief
n June 29, 2023, the highest court of the land decided to ban race-based admission exercises in public and private universities. The Class of 2024 is the first to experience the absence of affirmative action since the pre-Civil Rights era. I am a part of that class and a woman of color who is one of the first to apply to private universities within my family. I assumed that many of these historically white universities would be more submissive to accept my application to add to their diversity. But, without legal pressure to value race during admissions, I am unsure how to predict my results. With this nationwide ban, what does this mean for Mills students? But first, a history lesson on affirmative action. The diversity in colleges and universities began to be sparked as conversations during the fight for civil rights in the 1960s. Affirmative action emerged during the Civil Rights Movement to ensure ethnic minorities and women have equal educational opportunities in high education. It was first signed into law in 1961 by John F. Kennedy that “applicants are treated equally without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin”. Over multiple years, predominantly white students have challenged college admissions policy and said that faced discrimination. This happened in 1978 at the University of California, 2003 at the University of Michigan, 2013 at the University of Texas, and the most recent one against Harvard University in 2018, accusing their admissions practices of unfairly discriminating against Asian Americans. Some have even argued that the use of race in college admissions goes against the Fourteenth Amendment: “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property” meaning that universities may not limit a student’s freedom in order to increase their diversity rankings. In California specifically, affirmative action was banned in 1996, affecting the class of 1998. Compared to the diversity at many UC campuses before the ban, it completely plummeted with Latinx and Black student admissions dropping by 40%. California universities are still attempting to catch up with the national diversity average. This also means Latinx and Black people earn 5% less across all industries
and are less likely to earn graduate degrees in STEM fields, according to NPR. This is also a reason that the UC system banned SAT and ACT scores for admission. Mills High School has 86% minority enrollment and 22% are economically disadvantaged, according to U.S News Rankings. With this, what do Mills students think of affirmative action, and how it will affect them? Finish reading on !"##$%&'()*+,-#%./-!
10
SportS
2023-24 winter sports season
forecast
by Isabelle Yang; Copy Editor
As fall sports come to an end, winter
sports conclude tryouts and prepare for this year’s upcoming season. Boy and girls basketball and soccer have begun practices and preseason. Let’s take a look at what some of the players have to say about last season and the year ahead. The 2022-2023 season was “disappointing”, according to Ray He (11), a midfielder for the boys varsity soccer team. Reflecting back on last season, a moment he chooses to highlight was a close battle in a game against Serra High School ending in a tie. The team’s season ended with an overall record of 6-6 and 5 games ending in a tie. Despite his thoughts on last season, He is looking forward to winning league and believes that it will be a challenging season. He adds that it will be exciting to incorporate multiple new players into the team. For Amaya Moore (10), midfielder for the girls varsity soccer team, last season was “okay”. Personally, she didn’t enjoy the season very much, but was grateful for the opportunity to play with a positive team, including some teammates from middle school. Moore has high hopes for this season, believing that the upcoming season can be better than last year. Tyler Ngo (11), JV’s previous point guard, states that last season went well, ending with a 6-6 record in league. As Ngo reflects on his favorite memory, the team’s last game against Capuchino, he remembers how the atmosphere and environment in the gym was amazing, even though the team suffered a tough loss. This upcoming season, he looks forward to playing under a new coach on varsity and alongside the seniors who were his previous teammates. Although the team can always improve, Ngo believes the team will have a winning record or better this winter season. Sofia Kwan (11), a transfer from Notre Dame Belmont and shooting guard for the girls varsity basketball team, is thrilled to begin a new season at Mills. She is looking forward to playing under new coaches, and hopes she can improve and develop as a player. She also mentions that she is excited to play in quads, as her previous school did not have these events. Kwan believes that this season will go well, as the majority of her teammates are now upperclassmen. She elaborates, “We have experience, we have the skill, and we have teamwork.” Overall, many players are looking forward to the upcoming winter season, many teams already beginning preseason. Good luck to all winter sports!
The Thunderbolt
11
SportS
The Thunderbolt
Wrapping Up the
Flag Football
W
ith an outstanding record of 8-2, Mills’ newest sports team, Flag Football, ended the season on a sensational note placing 3rd in the league. They have brought home awards ten-fold, and as the season ends, it is time for the players to reflect on their 2023 fall season. Team captain, Kalyssa Chu (11) shares her gratitude for the team. “I am proud of our whole team, coaches included, for being able to learn this new sport in the amount of time we were given.” As the season kicked off, the players nor the coaches knew much about the sport of flag football. Going in blindsided, Chu shares “We were able to adapt and pick up things relatively fast.” This year’s team, the first of its kind at Mills, is known to be very tightknit, their dynamic being a big factor in their milestone record. “We all have different skills that work for our certain roles and as a team we mesh well together.” Other team captain, Reece Roach (11), adds their multiple setbacks did not set them up for success, but they continued to defy the odds. ““Despite it being a new sport for everyone and we
Season
didn’t have as many people as other schools, we still persevered and it was a lot of fun. We ended 8-2!”. The team consists of 13 players: 2 freshmen, 5 sophomores, 4 juniors, and 2 seniors. The flag football team has done a phenomenal job during their season. Considering the team members were brave enough in order to participate as flag football is a newly introduced sport this year, the successful seasons is highly rewarding. The underclassmen within the team look to improve upon their skills during the offseason and to come back harder and look towards finshing first in the league next year. As the season comes to an end, the team’s 2023 debut fall season will not only be remembered for their notable 3rd place finish in the league, but for their impressive resilience and growth shown on the field and within the team. To read more about the Flag Football team, check out our other article on millsthunderbolt.com!
by Michaela Gonzalez; Co-Editor-in-Chief
Varsity Cross Country Runners Make CCS O
n November 11th, 2023, eleven varsity runners raced their way through the CIF Central Coast Section Championships, similarly known as CCS at Crystal Springs course in Belmont. At PAL Championships, a week prior, four varsity boys: Kevin Ren (10), Kaden Ren (10), Kyle Venook (9), and David Eberspactcher (9) placed in the top half of the race, advancing to CCS. Followed by the varsity girls team: Jackie Pan (12), Alyssa Draheim (12), Katie Yee (11), Miya Cheng (11), Chloe Amayun (10), Janelle Pantilon (10), and Alexa Dunn (9) who took a fifth place standing among the seven schools who would further continue on. These young athletes have made lots of noise from the successes throughout their season. Freshman, Kyle Venook recalled the meet being great as he ran well alongside teammate David Eberspactcher (9): “We stuck together and if one of us fell back then the other sped up. We just pushed each other.”
by Janelle Pantilon; Staff Writer Eberspactcher built on how, “It was nice but it also felt weird running with seniors and people much older and bigger than us.” That concluded their third run of the season at Crystal Springs yet to run it again the following week at CCS Championships. The moment was significant for the girls because just last year, current seniors Alyssa Draheim and Jackie Pan were the only two lady vikings to attend. For the boys, while they did not make it as a team, they were close, merely one runner short from qualifying as one. Leading up to CCS, the team continued to work hard and remain conditioned. On meet day, while the rest of the runners’ seasons were over and they were not required to go, a number came along with their parents in support. Fellow runner Jocelyn Kwan (10) expressed the importance of being
there for her teammates: “That day I skipped an extra credit opportunity [for school] because the cross country team is like my family,” adding, “it makes me happy to watch them and be there for support.” Varsity boys ran first and although for a few, they felt it wasn’t their best race day, the day’s spirits were still high. There was an elevated level of competition in the race, with a little over a hundred notable runners from division four’s best teams. The girls ran next and it was a whirlwind. With a little under a hundred participants, the competition was fast and Mills had to push through, running in the same division as high-level schools such as last year’s CCS champions, Scotts Valley. There were a few bumps and similar to the boys, some of the girls didn’t feel their
a-game. However that did not stop them, as leading runner Jackie Pan finished third overall, followed by Chloe Amayun in thirteenth place, Katie Yee in twenty-sixth, and the remaining four trailing close behind. Miya Cheng (11) reflected on her run and spoke how, “At that moment I wasn’t feeling really well. My performance is really affected by my mental state which I think many cross country runners face.” Undoubtedly, every athlete has endured the strain created from an afflicted headspace. All aside, scores were tallied and results were posted, Mills ranked third, following Scotts Valley and Carmel. At that moment, their goals to state came true! This is the first full girls team to go to state in five years since 2018. The energy was ecstatic as congratulations and pride filled the air. “It is not o n l y
a wonderful feeling but an honor to see a group of athletes reach their goal that was set at the beginning of summer workouts,” beamed head coach, Larry Cappel. He continued, “The varsity girls have done fabulous. They are only the 4th team in Mills history to reach the State meet.” The abundance of excitement toward this meet was heartening. The team’s hard work and efforts brought them to the state level, such a way to spend their Thanksgiving weekend in Fresno and close their season. Going to state will forever be a memorable time for each runner. In hopes of becoming an annual occasion for both groups Coach Larry concluded, “We have a wonderful group who are passionate about their running and know what it takes to build a winning team. As I said earlier, it is really an honor to be lucky enough to be a part of their legacy that was forged by Jackie Pan and Alyssa Draheim over the past three years.”
by Noor Abdullah
THE HUNGER GAMES resurgence
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Read the rest at mills thunderbolt
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For some, November 1st marks thestart of holiday spirit andChristmas
cheer. The smell of holiday treats fills the air, colorful decorations furnish houses inside and out, and Christmas music blasts throughout the day. On the other hand, others believe November is strictly for celebrating Thanksgiving and the fall season. Many students, along with Angelina Komashko (11), begin to celebrate and listen to Christmas music starting November 1st. Komashko insists that it’s the perfect time and explains that it is not too early. She fondly remarks, “I love people who celebrate early.” In the past, Christmas has waited until the first of December. Nowadays, stores have begun holiday sales in October and are selling their Christmas themed products as Halloween decorations are still on the shelves. Emi Li (11), has accepted that November is the right time to start celebrating the holidays. She reasons that, “...after Thanksgiving is still technically November.” which validates celebrating earlier than December. Although she does appreciate celebrating during this time, she partially feels like she is forced to be in the Christmas spirit, as she’s noticed that stores explode with decorations at the start of
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November. Li states, “Youwalk into a store, and it’s Christmas everywhere.” Additionally, statistics prove that starting your holiday season early can result in more happiness. According to an article from the Washington Post, people enjoy holiday music and entertainment so much because it’s nostalgic and brings back “treasured memories” from their childhoods. There are an unlimited amount of activities that get everyone excited for the holiday season, especially music. Data displays that one particular song quickly gets increasingly popular in the months leading up to December. As Christmas approaches, Mariah Carey makes her annual comeback with her 1994 song “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. Her wellknown Christmas song has reached number 21 on Spotify’s Top 50 list as of November 12, 2023, which is the highest it has ever been this early. Along with several other Christmas songs, Carey’s song has always been ranked on the Top 50 list around this time of year. After Christmas is over, the holiday music drops off the list again. Every holiday season, Christmas songs climbing Spotify’s Top 50 list and decorations overflowing stores during sales is a recurring cycle. Everyone celebrates the holidays in various different ways, whether you start in November or December.