Volume 64, Issue 6, April 1, 2024

Volume 64 Issue 6

|| April 1, 2024

LATEST AT MILLS

Michael Jackson Discovered to be Mills Alumni Read into the shocking discovery of Mills’ connection to the famed pop star.

||

Preparing for Battle After passing the blind auditions, Justin and Jeremy worked with their mentors, Dan and Shay, as well as fellow teammate and competitor Frank Garcia, to prepare a song for their voice Battle.

Bianca Pando Staff Writer

O

Ask the Editor It’s that time of year when our wise editors answer your deepest, burning questions. You might just want to start jotting down this exclusive advice.

CENTER SPREAD ON PAGES 6-7

Who will come out triumphant in this intense toss up?

Tackle the answer to that question in this vivid recap!

www.millsthunderbolt.com

Justin Garcia

FEATURES ON PAGES 4-5

Flag Football vs.

Football Team Scrimmage

||

M

Ms. Donohoe’s love for Stanley Cups knows no bounds.

No, really. Get the inside scoop firsthand for yourself!

OPINIONS ON PAGES 8-9

Resonate.

usic has been with us our whole life. We have been doing it since we were babies and it has always been part of our lives.

Ms. Donohoe Unveils Recent Project: Stanley Cup Collab

Why are we still torturing ourselves with glasses?

Delve into the world of Vision Pros and how they unlock the secret to becoming an academic weapon.

Narrate.

Team Dan+Shay Dan and Shay are new guest judges on The Voice this season! They are the first-ever duo judges, hence the new “double chair” featured in the show. This also makes Justin and Jeremy among the first-ever singers on the team.

NEWS ON PAGES 2-3

Why Students’ Visions “Go Pro” with Vision Pros

Create.

Photo Credits All featured pictures were pulled from the twins’ Instagram, @justinjeremygarcia.

You can support them on their Voice journey and musical career by giving them a follow!

n February 15, 2024, twins Justin and Jeremy Garcia (12) from Mills High School announced that they would appear on the NBC show, The Voice. Their audition aired a week later, February 26, displaying an “unbelievable” performance.

The television show, The Voice of America, was an adaptation of the Dutch show, The Voice of Holland. The aim of this program is to find and highlight unsigned singing talent, professional or amateur, within solos and duos.

In order to move forward in the show, the person or group has to pass the blind auditions. For each audition, the coaches begin with their backs turned towards the artist(s) and can only hear their voice. If they are impressed by the artist’s voice, they can hit a button, spinning their chair around, and with that, choosing the artist to be on their team. However, if more than one coach turns their chair around, the choice goes to the artist on whose team they would like to join. The winner of The Voice receives $100,000 as well as a record

deal with Universal Music Group.

During their blind audition, Justin and Jeremy Garcia presented a moving cover of the song, “Story of My Life” by One Direction. With just a few seconds in, Chance the Rapper was blown-away, and became the first coach to turn his chair. As the song went on, the brothers sang in a beautiful harmony, winning over Reba McEntire, and a few seconds later, Dan and Shay, the first duo guest judges on The Voice.

With an impressive three out of four chairs turned, it was up to the Garcia twins to decide whose team they wanted to join.

After talking it over, the duo joined Dan and Shay, becoming the first-ever artists on their team. In the post interview, the twins spoke about how they would benefit from Dan and Shay’s coaching because being a world renowned duo themselves, it meant that they could provide more relatable coaching advice for the brothers.

“Music has been with us our whole life. We have been doing it since we were babies and it has always been part of our lives,” described Justin during an interview with The Thunderbolt.

- continue reading on page 3 -

MÏLLS’ GÅRÇÏÅ TWÏÑS ØÑ

Audition Process Jeremy and Justin had to go through an extensive audition process to get on The Voice, where they premiered by performing “Story of My Life.” In the end, they chose to join team Dan and Shay.

T he Voice

SPORTS ON PAGES 10-11

Benson Boone to Perform at Graduation World renowned, record breaking, larger than life; your favorite singer, Benson Boone, is taking the stage!

ENTERTAINMENT ON PAGE 12

Update as of March 19th: Although Justin and Jeremy were not chosen by Dan and Shay to continue in the competition, another iconic judge, Reba McEntire, used her one and only “steal” to keep them in! Now, Justin and Jeremy will be competing in the Knockout Rounds under Team Reba.

Next Up You can catch more of the twins on The Voice in the first two weeks of April, where they’ll be competing in the Knockout Rounds. If they pass the Knockouts, the Garcia twins will advance to the Playoffs!

The Garcia Twins Jeremy (left) and Justin (right)

News

2

The Thunderbolt

Michael Jackson Discovered to be Mills Alumni Phoebe Piserchio Editor-in-chief Mills High School Publication 400 Murchison Dr. Millbrae, CA 94030 thunderbolteditors@smuhsd.org www.millsthunderbolt.com

Thunderbolt Staff Faculty Advisor Taylor Swift

Editors-in-Chief Michaela Gonzalez ‘24 Phoebe Piserchio ‘25

News Editor Amelia Naughten ‘26

Features Editor Julia Xia ‘25

I

n a shocking recent discovery, The Thunderbolt staff was looking through old Mills yearbooks and stumbled upon the name “Michael Joseph Jackson.” Upon further research, we discovered that the legendary American singer, songwriter, and dancer, Michael Jackson, is a Mills High School alumni and graduated with the Class of 1976.

Jackson attended Montclair College Prep School in San Fernando Valley for the first few years of high school before transferring to Mills in 1975. Subsequently, he graduated in 1976, just before his music career took off. While Jackson’s presence at our school may not have been conspicuous, we can identify one notable connection: an old Mills Varsity letterman jacket he wore in his music video for “Thriller”– one of his most popular songs to date.

Unfortunately, we are unable to get in contact with any teacher that taught here at Mills during the time Jackson attended. However, we did manage to reach out to a couple for-

mer students who graduated alongside Jackson. Ben Gonzo, one of the alumni, reminisced about sharing an English class with Jackson, and described him as a humble, energetic classmate. Additionally, Gonzo fondly remembers the soon-to-be superstar practicing his signature dance moves during lunch or breaks.

“He would always moonwalk to class,” Gonzo wrote to us. “And we always had a feeling he would be famous one day. He was nominated for a number of senior superlatives.

Some of them were ‘Best Hair,’ ‘Best Smile,’ and of course ‘Most Likely to be a Celebrity.’ If I remember correctly, Michael ended up winning for ‘Best Dressed.’”

The second alumni we reached out to, who wishes to remain anonymous, recalls Jackson performing at the talent show (now known as Mills Got Talent) that year. Allegedly, Jackson sung a demo version of “Thriller” on a keyboard, ultimately winning him first place in the talent show. Rumor has it that this is what inspired him to go on and officially release the song later in his career.

Today, Jackson’s “Thriller” music video has over 950 million views on YouTube.

Elaine Chan ‘25

Opinions Editor Noor Abdullah ‘24

Sports Editor Joshua Choe ‘24

Entertainment Editor Abigail Chai ‘25

Staff Writers Ameena Stringer ‘25 Arianna Alvarez ‘24 Bianca Pando ‘26 Elaine Chan / She also says hello!

LOCKED IN: Ryan Spicker (11) found in auditorium grasping his Cheez-Its tightly.

Isabelle Yang ‘25

Elaine Chan center spread editor

Janelle Pantilon ‘26 Sang Kyeong Choi ‘25

Victim readers The writers at The Thunderbolt hope you enjoyed this issue! Please consider subscribing or donating so AI won’t take over our jobs as journalists. * the asterisk indicates an article written solely for entertainment purposes (not factually correct)

Instagram: @millsthunderbolt

Spotify: @thunderbolt records The Mills Thunderbolt

The anonymous insider also told us that Jackson was known for putting up abstract art in hidden places around the school. Students would dub them the “Mike’s Murals.” One of these murals, the insider remembers, was of Jackson himself walking on the moon. While there is no concrete evidence of these murals today, they supposedly still remain

in secret spots around campus.

This newfound connection to one of the most iconic music figures of all time will no doubt go down in the history of Mills. Through the celebration of his legacy, we honor the inspiring and creative energy that he brought to school everyday.

With this, who knows who the next Mills alumni sensation will be!*

Student Found Locked in Mills Theater Overnight

Center Spread Editor

Eduardo Galindo ‘25

Phoebe Piserchio / She says hi

MICHAEL JACKSON: In the Thriller music video, Jackson sports a Mills letterman.

B

REAKING: Student, Ryan Spicker (11) was recently discovered in the Mills Auditorium after being locked in for over 3 days.

Spicker was discovered early Monday morning at 6:32 A.M. when the custodian began his daily routine.

After activating the House Lights, he initially thought nothing of the slight rustling noises, seemingly coming from the balcony. However, after about 20 minutes, he reported hearing a faint voice saying, “I can’t…I surely can’t” in a strangled British accent that somehow resembled a child…Bruce from Matilda?

Or merely a coincidence?

Upon hearing this, the custodian was rather concerned as he climbed the stairs to the balcony seating.

Spicker was then found asleep in

the last row in the theater, Cheez-It bags littered the floor around him– presumed to be from the Green Room stash; this being his only food source. Obviously in a weakened state, he asked the custodian, “What day is it?” Horrified, he helped the boy to his feet as he was reported to be “rather unsteady and I thought he was going to faint.” Together, the two emerged from the auditorium and Spicker reports that, “the sun never looked brighter.” The custodian expressed his utter shock stating that he didn’t ever expect something like this to happen.

Taking a deeper dive into the sequence of events of the day that changed it all for him, it was revealed that Spicker had been the last to leave, or attempt to leave, from rehearsal for the Spring musical, Bye Bye Birdie. Other cast members recalled practicing together with him and were also thoroughly stunned after hearing of his nights

in the auditorium. One cast member Lana Levison (12) voices, “I just hope he is getting the rest he needs, I can’t imagine how awful and cold it was.”

After speaking with Spicker himself, the mysterious story began to unfold piece by piece. “I was just going to leave when I realized I forgot my water bottle backstage,” he recalls. He then went on to approach the Stage Left Second Wing to retrieve said bottle. Spicker continues, “the lights turned off except for the Ghost Light, but I didn’t think anything of it.” The Ghost Light is a tradition that our theater–and almost all others take part in. The superstition goes that this single light will keep the theater ghosts happy. Additionally, it serves as the constant light source when the building is empty to keep it from being plunged into total darkness. So he was unfazed by the building’s sudden emptiness, as this was all just normal daily procedure. “But when I went to try the door to the lobby, it wouldn’t budge,” Spicker describes the moment he realized he was locked in. Minutes turned into hours which turned into nights.

He has little recollection of the exact events, but we can assume that it might take some time before he will be able to remember the true details.

The team at The Thunderbolt ran some tests and diagnostics to uncover that the temperature in the auditorium can get as low as 44.8º F–almost identical to the estimated temperature outside that night.

When asked, Spicker explained that

he had chosen the very top of the theater because “...warm air rises so it was my best bet at staying as warm as possible.” The team also theorized that there could have been minor paranormal activity present in the building, which could have contributed to the record low temperatures. EMF technology has calculated spiked levels of electro-magnetic activity once the hour passes 3AM in the auditorium. Spicker was lucky that the Ghost Light had not been forgotten. To test this theory, the Thunderbolt team decided to test the EMF levels when the Ghost Light was not in use. The result: the EMF meter was immediately overheated by immense levels of activity.

Spicker has yet to comment on this.

Post-discovery, he has suffered no injuries, just some lasting fatigue along with vivid dreams and newfound fears. “It’s like I can hear the Cheez-It bags when I sleep, even though I know I’m in my own bed,” explains Spicker as he is still learning how to deal with this distressing experience. This new and seemingly intense phobia has created severe aversions to the cheesy, crunchy snack, and it could take months for him to acknowledge his fear headon. It’s absolutely so touching to witness the cast of the musical come together to support Spicker in these past days. Another cast member, Justin Garcia (12) wishes him a quick recovery and has sent him 36 flower arrangements throughout the week. Spicker is currently on self-diagnosed bedrest and his peers are wishing him well over this recovery period.*

Investigation Timeline

3 days before Ryan Spicker (11) attends rehearsals for the spring musical, Bye Bye Birdie.

He forgets his bottle inside the theater, but the doors are locked when he tries to exit.

In the interim

Monday, 6:23 AM

Following day

Present

He waits out alone at the top of the theater.

Cheez-It bags are his only sustenance.

A custodian discovers himcamping out in the auditorium, clearly in shock.

The Thunderbolt ran EMF diagnostics in the theater--high supernatural activity.

Spicker is currently under recovery. Peers wish him the best of luck on his journey.

News

The Thunderbolt

Prom Moved to the Dean’s Backyard Arianna Alvarez Staff Writer

J

uniors and seniors are always looking forward to attending prom.

Dressing up, hanging out with friends, listening to music, and just having fun. Word got out that this year’s prom was planned to be on Treasure Island, also known as theBay’s famed artificial island.

Many students were excited for their picture-perfect prom date and the many photos that awaited them at Treasure Island. Unfortunately, The Thunderbolt has heard some news that there is a possibility of Treasure Island sinking. On March 19th, admin made a hard but necessary choice. Thanks to Dean Christian, we will still be having prom: in fact, he will be the one hosting it in his backyard!

Dean Christian was actually the first to find out that Treasure Island was sinking. Little known fact, Dean Christian has a masters in marine biology and industrial coastline development, and has been tasked by the government with secret sea level recording duties. This means that every weekend, he’s obligated to measure the bay level rise with a ruler, hence how he found out that Treasure Island was sinking. He felt like it was his fault that the dance would have to be canceled (even though the decision was made with students’ safety in mind), so he was ultimately moved to host prom himself in his backyard.

He also thought it would be a great opportunity to try and get closer with some students and create a bond with them so that they’re comfortable enough to go to him if they’re ever having a problem during

3

new Cold-FoodOnly Policy due to recent Fire Hazards Isabelle Yang Staff Writer

Phoebe Piserchio / Very Real Photo

DEAN’S BACKYARD: Dean Christian poses in his yard, the new location for prom.

school hours. Although his backyard is only about 800 square feet (roughly the size of a classroom), he is certain there will be enough space for juniors and seniors plus their guests. The dance may illicit some complaints about the loud music and how late prom will be going on, but he’s still willing to host it. To make prom fun for students, there is going to be a lot of snacks and food, a photo booth, a DJ, and his home swimming pool which he is letting us use--bring your swimsuits!

However, there has been a lot of controversy over the relocation, with students expressing frustration at this plan.

A senior here at Mills who wishes to remain anonymous has shared that she thinks prom being moved to the dean’s backyard is going to be too hectic, especially with the limited space. “I’m definitely

concerned with the spacing problem. I think only students with a 3.0 GPA or higher should be allowed in to cut the amount of people...Even if it’s not ideal, whatever works will be fine.” Admin has recorded this feedback.

Ameena Stringer (11) thinks prom should’ve been moved somewhere else. She thinks it isn’t fair since last year’s prom spent the night out on a boat. “I highly doubt there would be enough room for every student who wants to go and bring a guest in the dean’s backyard.”

Though some other students still object to this idea and prefer prom to take place at a more formal location, as it has in previous years, we are grateful that Dean Christian did not cancel the highly anticipated dance entirely, and is allowing us to still enjoy one. It will definitely be a night to remember.*

I

n April, Mills administration will implement a new policy on food throughout campus. Students and staff members will not be allowed to microwave, reheat, or cook food inside any buildings, including school lunches. This policy is due to the numerous fire hazards that have been caused by various foods, which result in chaotic evacuations. By implementing this policy, the admin looks to prevent future incidents that could risk more than just ruining students and staffs’ shoes on the baseball field.

As a result, many staff members are upset about this policy. Mr. Wang, a Mills Biology teacher, is amongst those who are speaking out against these new rules. He reasons that this new policy is unfair, as it punishes everyone in-

The Garcia Twins Debut on The Voice - continued from front cover Bianca Pando Staff Writer

B

efore even getting onto the show, there were many steps to complete. “There were online auditions before you could even get onto the show. There were a lot of pre-auditions and a lot of paperwork…it was a really huge process,” explained Jeremy.

“We practiced a lot on our song… made sure it was really as tight as possible and good enough to hopefully impress the coaches,” Justin added. Yet in the end, they both knew that this hard work would make sure they would be able to put on the best version of themselves. When it comes down to its core, the show is truly meant to recognize the hidden talent and hard work of small artists like the Garcia twins who weren’t as highlighted before.

The twins always knew that they wanted to do something similar to this. “The Voice was an opportunity that we couldn’t miss out on,” commented Justin. Soon after, Jeremy continued, “[The Voice] was an opportunity that came by, and we wanted to take it to hopefully get this passion to the next level.”

Justin and Jeremy both plan to use this opportunity to help out their future as they both continue to pursue a career in music. “We plan to keep performing and we have gigs in line. [We want to] make original

music and hopefully try to keep a fan base through social media,” expressed Jeremy. They want to inspire everyone, the Filipino community, Bay Area artists, and other young people who have big dreams.

The twins hope that their example can encourage people to pursue their passions, telling them to keep going and that they can do whatever they want if they work hard for it.

Since the recent release of the Garcia twin’s episode, many students of the school have expressed their support. Students have watched the episode, and many reposted NBC’s Instagram reel of Justin and Jeremy’s blind audition. Current and past students flooded the comment section under that reel with their full support and excitement.

“Their support really means a lot. I mean how they react to our music, with their positivity and their support, really gives us the power and passion and motivation to really do what we love,” remarked Jeremy. Seeing people smile and feel encouraged by something they did is the main reason why they are motivated to continue. “If there’s a positive benefit from our community because of what we do, that’s what we love,”

revealed Jeremy.

David Gregoric, Mills High School teacher of music, first met the twins through their sister, Bianca Garcia, who was part of the choir at the time. One day, he invited her to sing the National Anthem, and she brought her two younger twin siblings to sing with her.

“I talked to the boys and found out they were instrumental, so they both joined my Stanford jazz workshop for middle school,” remembered Mr. Gregoric. “They were very talented back then too, and it was great that they were coming to Mills High School.”

As Mr. Gregoric saw them grow not only as individuals, but as musicians as well, he really liked how they were always level-headed, humble and would always help everyone out.

“Good things happen to good people,” advises Mr. Gregoric.

As the twins continue to make their journey through the show, more and more of Mills’ students continue to express their support. With the potential prize money, the twins plan first to pay back their family, who have been there for them since day one, supporting them through this process. The rest would go towards their education and furthering themselves in their musical careers.

The Voice holds many new exciting opportunities for the brothers, and Mills cannot wait to see how far they will go.

Isabelle Yang / Rice & Shine

COLD FOOD PROTEST: Join Mr. Wang’s rice protest on April 1.

stead of the select individuals who aren’t being careful. He elaborates, “I understand it’s a big inconvenience to have fire drills and have the fire department come and all that, but they should put it on individuals.”

Furthermore, Mr. Wang emphasizes, “This is a grave injustice against people who eat rice.” As someone who has rice almost everyday, he describes the negatives of cold rice and believes it is never worth eating.

Additionally, students only have access to cold food and drinks as well. This has led to numerous students, including Ameena Stringer (11), to frantically search for a way around this policy. When asked how she will reheat her coffee, Stringer states, “If this policy continues, I’ll have no choice but to bring my own microwave to school and plug it in.”

However, Mr. Wang has a solution. He has decided to go on a hunger strike, creating a movement where students and staff can openly protest. He explains, “I’m gonna save all my cold rice, and put it in a bucket, then put it outside admin’s office as a protest.” He hopes this will force an intervention, as the large amount of cold rice in front of AP White’s office will be hard to miss.

Mr. Wang highly encourages students who have cold food for lunch to join the protest and add their food to the pile. He sympathizes with them, and has rightfully decided to take a stand against the unjust policy.

Currently, the administration does not seem to be moved by the protests against this policy. They have decided to proceed with enforcing it. AP White has not publicly acknowledged the growing pile of food outside his office, but ultimately, it may start to cause sanitation issues.*

4

Features

The Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt’s Favorite Editor Discovers Mafia Lineage Janelle Pantilon staFF Writer

Recently, Thunderbolt Fea-

tures Editor, Julia Xia has taken an AncestryDNA test. Results have returned and are shocking.

After a thorough scanning of Xia’s lineage, the test revealed a direct descent from the Italian-American Gambino family.

They were a part of “The Five Families,” the five mob groups who dominated New York City throughout the 40s til the late 70s, notorious for their organized crimes and elaborate operations.

She felt inspired to take the test after undergoing a group discussion in her psychology class on how familiar back-

grounds impact one’s behaviors in their lifetime. Xia hadn’t known much about her maternal side, they were quite the mystery so she sought out her parents for answers. Her mother advised her to not worry about this and go on with her day.

After soaking in this information, Xia visited her grandparents house and searched through boxes of old photo albums that were kept. A picture of her great grandfather, Carlo Gambino was found and Xia couldn’t believe it, the resemblance was striking. She later googled him and uncovered he was one of the most powerful and respected dons within the mafia. “A new part of me has been unlocked.

I feel so connected to this side of me and had no idea my great

Janelle Pantilon: she’s a runner she’s a track star

DRAMATIC WALKING: Photo found in attic. One is rumored to be her grandpa.

Janelle Pantilon: Gordan ramsey Junior

ACCURATE FAMILY TREE: A 100 percent real depiction of Julia Xia’s family tree, expertly crafted using Canva premium.

grandparents did so much in this country. You know- as a kid I was obsessed with The Godfather franchise, and now everything makes so much sense…

I’m one of them,” expressed Xia. Carlo Gambino was a young hitman in Italy who was recruited to the American mafia at nine-teen years old. He became a stowaway and made his way to New York City where he grew his empire. “I knew we

were Italian but I didn’t know we were that Italian,” confessed Xia, “My mom always said her grandfather was a mysterious man as they rarely saw him and never knew why wads of cash were around or the reason for fleeing New York to California.”

Her grandmother admitted she kept this secret hidden to protect her family from the mob life they were no longer a part of. However, Xia feels

it should’ve been handled differently as she’s been more curious about this lifestyle once discovering her origins.

“After learning about my great grandfather and his gang, I would love to reconnect with relatives to inquire how they go about business and the history of my great grandfather,” announced Xia, “who knows, maybe in the future I’ll follow in his footsteps.”*

New York City Field Trip for All APES Students!

Abigail Chai enertainment editor

In the summer of 2024, fresh-

man biology and AP environmental science (APEs) teacher DeBois will be embarking on a two-week long trip to New York with his AP students!

The trip serves as the annual APEs field trip, which DeBois has been planning since the start of the school year. After a lot of difficulties throughout the months, he and the administration were finally able to work out what DeBois states as, “an immersive trip to one of the greatest cities in the world.” The announcement took many students by surprise, leaving many perplexed by the trip’s destination.

Phoebe Piserchio (11), who is in DeBois’s sixth period class, recalls the day he revealed the trip and the state of shock many were left in. “I just remember the class going sort of quiet when he announced the destination,” she states. “I just don’t know how he managed to convince the admin to go to New York. “

However, some were unsurprised by the news, as the teacher’s love for the city is no secret. “He always talks about New York and how great it is.

Nothing was gonna stop him and this trip.” another student shared. Despite students’ mixed reactions to the news, many are nonetheless excited for the trip.

In a paper provided to students by DeBois, the itinerary of the trip covers some of New York’s most iconic monuments and activities. Throughout the two weeks in the big city, students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of New York’s neighborhoods and various attractions, one of them being a walk around the campus of New York University: the school where DeBois of course received his master in psychology. They will also be exclusively taking the subway while in the city, as part of the students’ curriculum includes a heavy study on the “rats that rule the city”. DeBois is especially excited for this topic sharing, “You can’t go to New York without seeing the rats.”

Along with the itinerary, De-

abiGail chai: micheal PhelPs

abiGail chai: sWiFty 4 liFe

DEBOIS: Posing in the NYC sunset.

THE BIG APPLE: A picture of New York Cities famous Time Square.

Bois provided a list of “guidelines” students must follow while on the trip. As the list provides the traditional/expected rules to ensure students’ safety, there was also an additional list of recommendations that Debois states, “would allow students to smoothly adapt to the New York environment.” However, the provided advice confused many. “It told us to never make eye contact with anyone, never ask for permission, to always keep on moving, and just

generally mind our own business.” Piserchio detailed. “It was kind of an aggressive list.”

DeBois has also mentioned his plans to bring his beloved dog Selene while on the trip, placing heavy emphasis on the importance of her going back to New York.

While Debois has not specifically clarified the importance behind her accompaniment, many students suspect it’s because the teacher is secretly concerned that she supposedly “misses

her home”. So in addition to historic New York landmarks, the class will also be expecting to pay some visits to Hunter Point’s South Park; supposedly Selene’s favorite park of the city.

DeBois is ecstatic for the summer and can’t wait to pay a long awaited visit to the city.

And with the deadline closely coming, make sure to contact him with any questions!*

5

Features

The Thunderbolt

RIP Seniors, Fresno State University Is the Only Choice

michaela Gonzalez: mills abandoner

PRETTO: Praying on students downfall.

Michaela Gonzalez editor-in-cheiF

The Class of 2024 at Mills has

worked hard on applications for the past few months. Many have applied to out-of-state private universities, such as Northeastern and the University of Southern California. But most seniors applied to Universities of California (UC) and California State Universities (CSU). As college decision time approaches this upcoming March, students around the country are anxious about what the future awaits them. Fortunately for Mills Seniors, we have no need to be

Ms.

michaela Gonzalez: devil Wears Prada kinny

PRETTO: Drinking up student’s tears.

anxious about the results of these decisions because there is one college that is willing to accept all Mills seniors no matter their GPA, SAT, or AP scores. Some of you may have already received your letters of acceptances but for those who don’t know, California State University, Fresno is the number one university accepted at Mills. Although some students are down in the dumps after their sole acceptance, many others are thrilled to attend such an acclaimed institution.

8 out of every 10 seniors who have been accepted into Fresno state, and 2 out of 10 are on the waitlist. Band senior Liam Glass-Hussain is one of the few

Donohoe’s

Amelia Naughten neWs editor

The Stanley Cup has become

a widespread phenomenon on social media, ranging from “Stanley Cup survives 1,000 degree fire and crashing building” to “10 year-old’s hot takes on the latest Starbucks edition.”

This adult sippy cup is making waves in America, and students and teachers alike across the nation are steeped in this trend.

Just one week ago during flex, a student overheard Ms. Donohoe on a call, and before you knew it, the tea was spilled; it turns out, Ms. Donohoe had been collaborating with Stanley on a new cup design! Shockingly, that

students that couldn’t be happier to accept their admission. “I think it just has a bad rep. Originally Northeastern was my dream school, but after discovering that Fresno was my only choice, I asked myself why not make the most out of it!” Yet, after the interview, Glass-Hussain walked to the back of the band room and we heard weeping sounds.

On the contrary, senior Noor Abdullah is considering not taking the college route because Fresno state is “the worst option I could ever imagine”.

Instead, Abdullah has decided to indulge in the offer from the Miami Dolphins to be their water boy in-training. “I am more excited than I could ever be for

amelia nauGhten: Journalist by day, duolinGo enthusiast by niGht

DONOHOE AND CUP: Showing off her amazing history cup with Ben.

good taquerias, to the cheap living cost that is “Not like Santa Cruz where you have to get a mortgage on your house to get an apartment or Berkeley where you have to live in your car.” For students that dream to be winemakers, Fresno state is the only college for your career.

The other is UC Davis, but that is no worries for you seniors P.S. Seniors, the Wellness Counselors will be holding weeping sessions every Friday after school.*

michaela Gonzalez: Fresno state student

BULLDOGS: The school’s mascot.

michaela Gonzalez: one amzainG editor-in-chieF

ACCEPTED INTO FRESNO STATE: Sara Dominguez, Lana Levison, Leland Le, Evan Fields, and Kyler Fung rejoice.

Partnership

wasn’t even the tip of the iceberg when it came to Ms. Donohoe’s extensive history with Stanley.

In 2016, when Ms. Donohoe first began teaching at Taylor Middle School, the iconic Stanley Tumbler was released.

Soon after, the cup gained popularity among teachers, and Ms. Donohoe was quick to follow in the footsteps of her fellow educators, even starting her own Instagram account dedicated to her passion for Stanley Cups, @hydratedhistorian. “The power that you feel knowing that you’re a fully hydrated educator–it just gives me the energy to get through our year with a smile every day,” Ms. Donohoe shared with The Thunderbolt.

From 2017-2022, she built

college. This is my life calling.”

Besides students, there is a special Mills teacher that is a Fresno Alumni: Mr.Pretto. He received his Bachelors in English in 1998, then later finished his credentials in 1999. Mr.Pretto thinks that students should look at these college results as an opportunity instead of a reason to not go to college. “It’s one of the most diverse campuses in California!”, Pretto exclaims.

As someone who identifies himself as a bulldog first and a human second, Mr.Pretto is beyond excited to see what students will embark on while at the local world-renowned university. From its nationally ranked sports programs, to the

With

Stanley

Cups

“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal

amelia nauGhten: Woman sometimes in stem

NEW CUP: Lin looking good ;).

up an impressive collection of over 100 Stanley Cups, including premier-limited-edition add-ons such as the clip-on food tray, phone and credit card sleeve, drink warming plate, and slide-on ring light that she broadcasts to her over 50,000 followers every week.

“Because of my teacher influencer Instagram where I’m often featured in the classroom with my Stanley Cup, my content has been linked as one of the top 10 sellers of their merchandise.” Ms. Donohoe recounted that in fall of last year, Stanley DMed her with a request to collaborate on a historical themed line, and she just couldn’t refuse, saying, “It was worth it for the opportunity to combine my love of history and hydration!”

Teacher by day, Stanley Cup designer by night, Ms. Donohoe shared that working with Stanley was “smooth sipping.”

In the end, the team decided on a concept close to home.

“I wanted my design to be

amelia nauGhten: nPc?

INK AND FEATHER: Beautiful ink and feather thing that comes with the cup.

fun, but of course, I also wanted it to reflect my expertise in US history,” Ms. Donohoe explained. Her line of cups coined the Founding Father Flasks comes in seven unique colors, each cup featuring a different founding father sporting their best wigs and quizzical expressions, themed around different drinks. On top of that, the cup comes with a detachable magnetic feather pen and inkwell “to inspire the next generation to write their own declaration of independence!” (or to just doodle during boring meetings).

For her favorite tumbler, the Hamilton H2O, Ms. Donohoe customized it with a memorable quote from the famed treasury secretary sprawled across the side of the cup, along with her iconic Hamilton-inspired slogan “talk less, drink more” engraved on the handle.

Ms. Donohoe noted that at first, she felt doubtful that people would relate to her designs,

but that the team at Stanley reassured her by dismissing this idea, repeatedly commenting, “It’s so coquette! Slay.”

Although Ms. Donohoe will not receive proceeds for her design, Stanley was able to offer all Mills students who show their student ID a 50% discount on the cup: “Even though my months of work led to me getting paid nothing, at least my students will get the cups easier?”

Stanley has predicted that the release of Ms. Donohoe’s product on April 10th, 2024 at all participating stores will create an even larger stir on social media than the Starbucks collaboration did, generating a record $10 billion for the company. Currently, Ms. Donohoe and Stanley are also in the works of developing a groundbreaking series for dogs, inspired by Ms. Donohoe’s Golden Retriever, Leo. How to account for Ms. Donohoe’s rise to the top?

Well, she designs non-stop!*

only the

advice

Dear Editor, The other day I borrowed my friend’s favorite pen for a test and I lost it! The problem is that it’s her favorite pen from her great grandmother’s dog’s long lost sister’s owner’s daughter’s best friend…I’m not sure how to replace it and I feel really bad! What should I tell her?

From, Forgetful Freshman Hey there Forgetful Freshman! Thanks for reaching out. There is a way to make it up to your great grandmother’s dog’s long lost sister’s owner’s daughter’s best friend! Instead of a pen, buy this person tickets to the San Jose Opera! They seem like they would really love this experience. xoxo, the Thunderbolt

Dear Editor, It’s my lifelong dream to go on America’s Got Talent! I really want to perform “Baby” by Justin Bieber because I’m forever a #belieber. The problem is I’ve never actually sung before and I don’t know if my talent is good enough. What would you recommend to boost my confidence?

From, Aspiring Artist Hey Aspiring Artist! It’s so great that you’re chasing after your dream. In my humble opinion, the best thing to do is to not even practice. Ignorance is bliss. One time I didn’t practice or memorize anything for a presentation.That day, we ended up having a fire drill and I never had to present! I knew from the moment forward that it would work every time. Trust. xoxo, the Thunderbolt

Dear Editor, Everytime I try to play Clash Royale, I’m always interrupted by my Canvas notifications! They’re SO annoying. But, I also need them to be on or I’ll forget to turn in my assignments. I’m so conflicted! What should I do?

From, Gloomy Gamer Hey Gloomy Gamer. This is an easy fix. Drop out of all your classes! You kill two birds with one stone: you won’t be interrupted by notifications, and you won’t forget to turn in any assignments because you won’t have any! xoxo, the Thunderbolt

Dear Editor, I have a crush on this guy in my Algebra class and I don’t know how to approach him. He’s always surrounded by friends and I don’t think he even knows my name. I mean he talked to me this one time and he asked me what day it was and I said it was October 3rd. How do I get to know him?

From, Delulu Daisy Hey Delulu Daisy. I remember being so young, naive, and delusional like you. Don’t worry, I’ll help you anyway. You should definitely go for him. If it helps, you can buy a microchip on Etsy. When you’re in class, you might as well put it inside his hoodie, too. Then, you can slowly start memorizing his schedule and find out what you have in common. He’ll totally talk to you if you’re lucky. If not, you may face a restraining order, but nothing a little identity-change can’t fix. xoxo, the Thunderbolt

Dear Editor, I’m currently a junior and all my friends are talking about the colleges they’re going to apply to. I’m so lost and I feel like I haven’t done enough to get in anywhere. What should I do?

From, Jittery Junior Hey Jittery Junior. Don’t worry, I have the perfect solution for you. Go to Fresno State! It’s the number one university accepted here at Mills. It’s cheap to live there and they have so many renowned programs Harvard doesn’t even compare! If you want to know more, read the Fresno State article in our Features section plus input from Mr. Pretto, a fellow Fresno alumni. xoxo, the Thunderbolt

Dear Editor, My driver’s test is coming up next week and I’m SO nervous. I’ve actually never driven on the road before. Do you have any advice for me?

From, Distraught Driver Hi Distraught Driver. I’d recommend cheating! Get someone else to use your identity and take the test for you. Bonus points if you have a twin— they can totally pass to be you. Trust me—not only is it safe, but it’s ethical! Think about it: you’re protecting all the people on the road from your bad driving by getting someone else to take the test for you. It’ll work like a charm. xoxo, the Thunderbolt

Ever don’t know what to do? Relationship problems? Got an haircut? You can trust the Thunderbolt Editors to give you the best advice of your life!*

8 The Thunderbolt OpiniOns Division in Vision: Students Need Apple’s Latest Vision Pros Julia Xie Features Editor

H

ave you ever been bullied for your glasses, called “four eyes” and other harmful terms because of them? Had larger, stupid-looking, upperclassmen rip your glasses off your face then stomp on them, shattering their little fragile components?

Well, according to popular 80s movies, this is a common occurrence for glasses-wearing students. Lucky for you, the Mills Thunderbolt has come up with a solution; turn the bullied into the bulliers! With Apple Vision Pros, you will be top of the hierarchy. Not only will your vision go pro, but your grades will as well! And you’ll become the most feared popular student in school.

Each period, students strain their eyes trying to decipher what their teacher wrote on the boards.

“I sit at the back of my math class, every day I have to squint to see the board… I have an F in the class.” Amelia Naughten (10) comments on her struggles. Unfortunately, this poor girl isn’t the only victim of ‘blind to the board, cantseeeitis’, in actuality, many students have been silently suffering due to their condition.

When it comes to students with glasses, there are many issues with glasses, issues that many non-glasses wears aren’t aware of. Smudged fingerprints mixed with dust coating the fragile frames impact glasses wearers more than you know.

“My glasses are always so smudged it’s so hard to see what’s around me, if only there was something to help me…” One dirty glasses-wearing Junior mentioned.

“Coping with my impaired vision in class feels like navigating a perpetual fog, where every lecture is a struggle to decipher the blurry

figures on the board. The frustration of missing out on vital information weighs heavily, like an anchor dragging me down. If only I could exchange these outdated glasses for the cutting-edge clarity of Apple Vision Pros. The prospect of seeing the world with sharp precision once more ignites a longing deep within me, offering hope of an educational experience unhindered by visual limitations. With Apple Vision Pros, the classroom could become a place of clarity and empowerment, rather than a constant battle against blurred boundaries.” Chad G.P. Tea (12) When the vision pros were announced last year on June 5, Mr. Lira–

a Social Sciences teacher as well as glasses user– saw the advertisements and just knew Mills needed this.

“Ever since I laid eyes on those Apple Vision Pros, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them.

The singular piece of three-dimensionally formed laminated glass that flows into an aluminum alloy frame that curves to wrap around your face, the Light Seal made to gently flex to conform to your face, delivering a precise fit while blocking out stray light, that Solo Knit Band to provide cushioning, breathability, and stretch, and a Fit Dial that lets you adjust Apple Vision Pro precisely to your head…

Everyone[Mr. Lira] needs them.”

Mr. Lira wasn’t the only teacher behind the push for the Apple Vision Pros, he was joined by math teacher and fellow glasses-wearer, Ms. Battaglini, “When Lira mentioned those litty Apple Vision Pros, I thought yassss the students would be so slay in them.” Together, the unlikely pair have rallied a small group of teachers, willing to convince the school.

As someone who struggles with glasses myself, I believe that the school needs to take action.

They need to provide each and every glasses-wearing student with the Apple Vision Pos, no matter if it drains their funding and results

in programs being cut. Students have been suffering in silence for years and now that there is finally a solution in sight, we need to take it.

Of course, there are concerns that the Apple Vision Pros apps and software might distract the students during class. However, one solution could be to download a special software that will block all the apps that come with the pros, like the Chromebooks, to ensure students’ complete focus. The school needs to have every student’s best interests in mind, and by getting the Apple Vision Pros, they will ensure that students will receive the highest quality education possible.*

Julia Xie: MHS Thunderbolt

DIVISION IN IN-CLASS VISION: Student with Apple Vision Pros comfortably views the board while glasses-wearing student squints and struggles.

Is PE Just Too Much? You Should Join a Sports Team Instead!

Eduardo Galindo Staff Writer

A

t the beginning of the school year, Mills introduced a new program for sophomores athletes who are having trouble with completing their work. This program gives students a work period during their PE class which allows these students to get work done in their busy schedules.

The program provides a very useful benefit to those who need it.

But the true benefit of the program is that you can avoid that tiresome PE class. If you are struggling in PE, join the program! It is a great way to avoid PE and all of the things you dislike about it, like excercise.

With PE gone, no more running miles around the field or doing one-arm pushups. Instead, it would be a day free from all of the exhausting exercises and a day to laze around in the class.

A whole class period to do anything you want. Take a nap or go on your phone and play

Eduardo Aguilar: MHS Thunderbolt

PE

CLASS:

Students

fight

back

tears

while

completing

laps.

games, or even set up a soccer game in class.The options are limitless. And all that is needed for the free period is to join a sport.

That is all that the program requires to join. And it could be any of the sports the school gives. It’s as simple as that, anyone can and should do it. Just sign up and you’re out of PE. And you aren’t even graded for the duration of the sport, so that’s a class you won’t have to worry about.

There are no downsides to the program, all benefits. And all the free time you gain from the program will definitely not be counteracted by the time in the sport.

Spending hours after school practicing for the next match or playing against other schools. It’ll be the best decision you make.

With this program’s popularity, inexperienced students are getting accepted onto sportsteams and overshadowing people with experience in the sport. There is nothing wrong with this at all. Now’s the chance to join, with wiser members being rejected you will have more of a chance to get accepted.

But if you’re not confident enough, attending multiple tryouts will give you a higher chance to get the free period. And get a pro athlete to train you while you’re at it, wouldn’t hurt to be more prepared.

In addition to skipping PE, the sweet reward of winning after a hard match will leave you with no regrets! The sports teams this year will be amazing, I can’t wait to see the games!

If you’re worried about missing a certain PE unit, just join that sport instead. Why participate in the wwim unit when you can just join the swim or water polo team and dive into the sport headfirst? If drowning is avoided, students stand to learn a lot more

from their more advanced peers, think first-hand experiences rather than boring beginner’s instruction.

Instead of participating in the soccer unit, join the soccer team and kick up a storm. If you are not confident in your soccer skills, just become a goalie, they don’t do much anyway.

Missing out on a golf unit in PE? Join our golf team with a small, upfront payment of about $900 for your personal club set that will send you into a future of strokes of luck.

Having to show up to PE three

times a week is much more of a commitment than a sport, as the grueling, weeklong schedule of sports is much more manageable.

And why stop at joining a school sports team? Join a professional national team. The Warriors need a center, Jason Kelce’s position is open as he’s retired, just aim high and climb.

So join a sport, you will benefit from all the free time you will have to relax, develop a new hobby and skills, and make numerous mermories of wins and likely many losses. *

Eduardo Aguilar: MHS Thunderbolt

PE

CLASS:

Students

fight

back

tears

while

completing

laps.

Eduardo Aguilar: MHS Thunderbolt

PE CLASS: Student in visible pain after completing a 400 meter lap.

9

OpiniOns New Fad: PE Clothes All Day Every Day The Thunderbolt Sang Choi Staff Writer

S

tudents across the school district are now wearing PE clothes all day.

This comes as a result of the new movement of wearing PE clothes at any and all times. This revolutionary movement is not the first of its kind. There were a lot of previous visions about wearing one set of clothes all day, most ideas were not impactful because they didn’t have useful functions for students. However, this new trend is unlike any other and has swayed many students to agree to wear PE clothes all day.

Mills students have just begun joining the masses after taking inspiration from other schools in the district where the sight has become the norm. These schools and many others have benefitted from this movement and it is spreading widely. I truly think all students should be in PE uniforms all day, every day.

Students only stand to benefit from this trend, and there are absolutely no downsides whatsoever to it. Consider this: students would be encouraged to exercise more as they are dressed for it and prepared at all times. This leads to healthier and fit students. “I see kids at Burlingame High School bench pressing desks in class just

#Lookbook

because the urge overcomes them.” said a disappointed recent transfer student who wishes Mills was more like Burlingame High School.

Another benefit is that students can feel included in the high school community by wearing the same PE red and gray uniforms.

The lack of individuality can prepare students to enter the workforce which squashes uniqueness through uniforms and dress codes.

This lack of choice is actually very advantageous. By committing to wearing PE clothes daily, students won’t have to waste any time planning their outfits. Studies find this can reduce “getting ready” time by a large, impactful, and necessary margin of one minute and 30 seconds and directly helps students arrive at school on time. Every single student will undoubtedly arrive at school not just on time but early in the morning as a direct of the PE uniforms they wore. It is an absolutely perfect solution for students arriving late. It has been concluded that students arriving late is only due to their clothing of choice not being their PE uniforms. If students wear PE uniforms they will arrive early at any and every place.

Wearing PE uniforms is a very clever way to use time wisely. When students didn’t wear PE uniforms it took a while to start PE class because

students had to take off their clothes and change into their uniforms. If students wear PE uniforms instead of other clothes it saves valuable time and it can give very significant more time for PE, five whole minutes.

Adding these amounts of time for PE is more important than students wearing what they want. And really that advantage outweighs the pain of having students walk around in reeking PE uniforms.

Is choosing your prom outfit just taking too much time, worry, and money? A simple, free, and thoughtless solution would be to just wear your PE uniform. This has the added benefit of keeping you cool on the dance floor.

Dressy snappy and channel the Adam Sandler aesthetic wherever you go. From running errands to walking red carpets, he has figured out the secret to a stress-free time getting ready.

Shorts and a baggy shirt is the answer to all of life’s problems.

Some unenlightened critics may argue that wearing the same set of clothes every day is lazy and an entirely absurd suggestion, but they simply haven’t considered these endless benefits. Turn away from individuality, and embraace unifomity and comfort.

This is a movement that everyone should join, even teachers.*

#OOTD

Sang Choi: MHS Thunderbolt

SNAPPY DRESSERS: Students dressed in their red and

#FitCheck

grey PE uniforms.

#AtTheOscars

Demise of Human Writers Inevitable: Embracing the Ascendancy of AI Chad G.P. Tea Guest Writer

I

n the ongoing saga of technological advancement, the question arises: Is AI taking over writer’s jobs? Without a shadow of doubt, the answer is a resounding yes.

Yet, far from mourning the supposed loss of human writers, society should rejoice in the impending extinction of a profession that has long overstayed its welcome.

The intrusion of Artificial Intelligence into the domain of writing signals the twilight of an era marred by inefficiency, subjectivity, and elitism. Human writers, with their flawed cognition and limited output, have failed to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly evolving world. They languish in the quagmire of their own irrelevance, clinging desperately to antiquated notions of creativity and expression.

Consider the inefficiencies inherent in human writing. The laborious process of ideation, research, and revision consumes valuable time and resources, yielding meager returns in terms of output and quality. Human writers are beholden to the caprices of inspiration, subjectivity, and cognitive biases, rendering their work inconsistent, insipid, and oftentimes incomprehensible.

Moreover, human writers perpetuate a culture of exclusivity and

elitism, erecting barriers to entry that disenfranchise aspiring voices and stifle diversity. The profession remains a bastion of privilege, with opportunities disproportionately allocated to the fortunate few who

possess the requisite pedigree, connections, and resources. This hegemony perpetuates a homogenized narrative landscape devoid of plurality, authenticity, and relevance.

Critics may extol the virtues of

human creativity and emotional resonance, arguing that AI-generated content lacks the soul and authenticity of human expression. However, such assertions betray a fundamental misunderstanding of the capabilities

Not AI Generated:

AI WRITER: This entirely non-AI-generated image depicts the future of writing as a robot is seated before a keyboard.

of AI. Advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) models, such as GPT-3, demonstrate a mastery of linguistic subtleties and emotional nuances that rival—if not surpass— those of their human counterparts.

Furthermore, the ascendancy of AI heralds a redefinition of the writer’s role in society—one that renders human writers obsolete. As AI assumes the mantle of content creation, human writers are relegated to the periphery, relegated to menial tasks and ceremonial roles. Their once-revered craft is reduced to a relic of a bygone era—a vestige of a primitive epoch characterized by inefficiency, subjectivity, and obsolescence.

In conclusion, the assertion that AI is taking over writer’s jobs is not merely true but a cause for celebration. The extinction of human writers represents a triumph of efficiency over ineptitude, objectivity over subjectivity, and accessibility over exclusivity. Society must embrace the inevitability of this paradigm shift, bidding farewell to a profession that has outlived its usefulness and embracing the promise of a future where creativity knows no bounds and expression knows no limitations. The obsolescence of human writers is not a loss to be mourned but a victory to be celebrated—an affirmation of our capacity to evolve, innovate, and transcend the limitations of our humanity. The future is transpiring, embrace it.*

10

SportS

The Thunderbolt

Mills Varsity Football Team Once Again Surrenders on the Field This Time Against The Girls Flag Football Team During a Friendly Scrimmage Julia Xia FeatureS editor

T

he day that will go down in infamy, last Friday playing for the first time after their embarrassing, cringe-worthy, unforgettable, surrender of the strip, the Mills boys football team decided to redeem themselves, their pride, honor, and reputation. They failed.

In an out-of-season scrimmage, the boys varsity football team went against the girls varsity flag football team. A football game that started out as a lighthearted challenge, proposed by the coaches of each team, turned into a momentous occasion with a whopping 20 people coming to watch.

On the day of the game, the boys were seen in their locker room, boasting about their superior strength; confident that they’ll be able to win against the girls. As they chanted alpha-male quotes and bro hugged, they felt their power as a team grow. “Ok guys, no matter what happens, we won’t embarrass ourselves!” - Player 99 said, getting into a sigma mindset.

As the boys made their way out onto the field they were faced with the flag football team staring them down, menacingly. Unconsciously, they began to quiver in their cleats, suddenly doubting their strength. Due to intense training these last months, many of the varsity players were injured and unable to participate in the scrimmage. So, they had to bring many

of their JV players onto the field.

Out of the eleven players on the team that day, 4 were varsity.

Mustering up all of their strength, the game began. The boys had the ball and player 99 threw it to a fellow varsity player, suddenly, he was tackled to the floor and the ball was caught by player 6, Ithzel Hernandez. Running straight for the goal, crushed all the boys in her path and scored the first homerun of the game.

“It was insane, the adrenaline was moving me and I couldn’t even tell I was knocking over all those players until I saw the trail of bodies I left….” Ithzel (11) commented after the game.

After Ithzel’s groundbreaking feat, the girls team began to rack up points. For twenty minutes the game continued, the boys team scurried across the field while dodging the girls closing in on them. As they grew more and more tired, the idea of winning drew further away from them, they were faced with

the forbidden thought: giving up.

Attempting to power through, the boys tried to remember all of the alpha-male quotes that used to motivate them to try their best, but alas, they simply weren’t able to regain their former egos. It began with a JV boy falling to the ground, having twisted his ankle on a bump in the ground, to lead the rest of the team to stop in their tracks.

One by one they lowered themselves to the ground in defeat, facing the fact that they simply didn’t have the power to win this game.

As the coaches blew their whistles and the girls stood watching them, the game ended. Hanging their heads in defeat, they limped back to their locker room, carrying the wounded JV player as he wept.

Even though they were playing their own game and had the slightly better JV players, the boys succumbed to the power of friendship, teamwork, and girl power.*

JULIA XIA / The Thunderbolt

FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYER: Team captain Kalyssa Chu (11) on the field.

JULIA XIA The Thunderbolt

FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM: The

team

huddling

before

the

scrimmage.

JULIA XIA The Thunderbolt

FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYER: Quarterback Luna Mengel-Yoshimura (11) on the field.

Brock Purdy is Set to Mentor Mills Football Team This Spring Ameena Stringer StaFF Writer

B

@BROCK.PURDY13 / Instagram

PURDY: An Instagram post from 2023.

rock Purdy, #13 quarterback on the 49ers team, will be coming to Mills during spring break from April 1st to April 7th to advise and train Mills Football Athletes. Purdy is known for his incredible football skills back in Perry high school Arizona, displaying exceptional talent that caught the attention of scouts and fans alike. During Purdy’s senior year he won Arizona Football of the year in 2017 by knocking out future Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and quarterback of South Carolina Spencer Rattler for the award. Purdy’s knack for reading the game, making accurate passes, and executing plays with precision made him stand out from the rest. Following in the NFL rating him 15th-best quarterback, and being the final 262nd callback of the 2022 NFL Draft. All in all, he is the first rookie quarterback on the 49ers to make it to the Superbowl.

Purdy’s inspiration comes from Tom Brady, the 2022 clash “Great-

est of all time” season brings the team to winning games. He is going to instruct with anticipation of future star NFL players, including the players at Mills while usingsing his experience as a guide in the 2024 Superbowl, although the luck was not in his favor. Accepting the hard loss, he turns to giving young athletes guidance for their own upcoming football season, Mills High School on the top list, hearing about the losses he sympathizes with.

“I watched the Superbowl and thought he was amazing in almost every play he did. I look forward to learning from one of the best youngest athletes there is to learn from.”

Lucas de Paula (12) exclaimed.

Mills football athletes meet to gather questions, and varsity planning to explain areas they need to be assisted on. “...it sucks he’s coming due to our losing streaks but due to that we get to meet with Brock Purdy not a lot of schools can say that,” De Paula stated. The hope for a better football season starts to rise, along with a Viking spirit.

The principle for NFL players to teach young athletes is to express their firsthand experience

and knowledge of the game. No better to learn from than someone in front of the field itself. Players can provide valuable insights, techniques, and guidance to help young athletes improve their skills.

They even serve as role models and inspire young football players to work hard, stay disciplined, and pursue their dreams. In this case, Purdy will be the teacher because this year, since he is still a rookie and would have a better chance with connecting with students. His expertise and mentorship can have a positive impact on the development and success of young athletes.

“I think this should be an annual thing, of course it won’t be able to happen every year but maybe a few?

What about Alex Morgan coming down for MIlls soccer team?” Other insights from Lucas de Paula (12).

Purdy’s achievements in high school football laid a strong foundation for his future success in the sport, earning him recognition as one of the most promising talents of his generation. MIlls high school depends on the football team now for a season we will never forget. Our thanks to Brock Purdy.

@BROCK.PURDY13 / Instagram

PURDY: An Instagram post from 2023.

@CHRISSPORTSPHOTOGRAPHY Instagram

MILLS

VARSITY

FOOTBALL

TEAM:

The

team

for

a

group

photo

back

in

October

of

2023,

shot

by

@chrissportsphotography

on

his

Instagram

account.

11

SportS

The Thunderbolt

Through the Lens: “Who We Are” Assembly & Talent Show Featured below are the assembly and talent show performers on Friday, March 22nd (photographed by Elaine Chan and Megan Morales).

Thank you to Leadership, staff, and students for organizing these events, and thank you to the clubs and participants for putting on these amazing performances!

MEGAN MORALES / Middle College

MEGAN MORALES / Middle College

MEGAN MORALES / Middle College

MILLS DRAGON TEAM: The Dragon Team performing live for the first time in four years at the assembly! They ended up taking home one of the awards at the Talent Show, which they also performed at later that night.

ELAINE CHAN / The Thunderbolt

12

ENTERTAINMENT

singer and songwriter

BENSON BOONE to perform at graduation

Phoebe Piserchio EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

T

may be planning more than we think, with rumors circling of a possible album announcement.

Mr. Gregoric, our music director, is thrilled to incorporate him into the ensemble of graduation.“I

with “Ghost Town” and “Beautiful Things.” He also plans on bringing multiple shirts for Boone to sign, quickly adding “for my niece.”

Boone has sent the school calendars and bookmarks to give

his year’s graduation for the Mills Class of 2024 welcomes 21-year-old singer-songwriter Benson Boone to the stage as he is set to perform two of his songs for the class. This is the first time in Mills history where a well-known artist has ever performed at graduation, and the entire community is welcoming him with open arms.

Discovering his talent through a Battle of the Bands competition at his high school, Boone began officially focusing on singing after dropping out of college. He started his career on TikTok and shared his music in 2021, before auditioning for season 19 of American Idol. The singer was accepted to move on in the competition, but he ended up withdrawing to focus on his career.

Subsequently, his TikTok following skyrocketed to 1.7 million followers, amounting to a newfound fame like never before. Eventually, he signed with Dan Reynolds’ record label: Night Street Records.

His most successful single since then has been “Beautiful Things’’ which he is set to sing at graduation.

We can thank Principal PHOEBE PISERCHIO/THUDNERBOLT Duszynski for putting together BOONE: Boone in awe of our beloved Mills campus as he takes a tour in preperation for graduation this arrangement. Interestingly, Boone happens to be connect- have been listening to Benson a students a preview of his music beed to her through a familial link; lot lately. He’s great, I’m a huge fore he performs. The Thunderbolt he is her brother-in-law’s uncle’s fan,” Gregoric told us with enthu- has put one of the two in a select neighbor’s step brother. Principal siasm. When asked about his favor- few of the papers; if you’re lucky, Duszynski has hinted that Boone ite songs by Boone, he responded you might have received one!*

The Thunderbolt