Students have the opportunity to enroll in dance classes this year with state mandated VAPA class.
FEATURES ON PAGES 4-5
Falling Back: The Romaticization of Fall
Whether it be through the clothes, the food, or the traditions, this feeting feeling of nostalgia always follows autumn.
CENTER SPREAD ON PAGES 6-7
An Opinion on the New Rally Style at Mills
Rallies have undergone several adjustments this year. Read into student thoughts on the changes put in place.
OPINIONS ON PAGES 8-9
Lainey Tsai Plays Volleyball Alongside Olympia
Tune into senior Lainey Tsai’s experience playing volleyball alongside Olympian Wong-Orantes
SPORTS ON PAGES 10-11
It Ends with This
At the end of last August, the Phone-Free Schools Act—which would require school districts to limit at-school phone usage— passed the California State Legislature and is now on its way to be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. In accordance with the act, the San Mateo Union High School District is planning to use student feedback to develop a district phone policy for implementation this spring semester.
More formally known as Assembly Bill 3216, the act seeks to amend Section 48901.7 of the California Education Code, which previously allowed school districts to control phone usage if they desired. Under the bill, that would change to a requirement. The act states that school districts “shall, no later than July 1, 2026, develop and adopt, and shall update every
Exploring the controversy behind the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book, “It Ends with Us.”
Create. Narrate. Resonate.
SMUHSD to Make New Phone Policy by Spring for PhoneFree Schools Act
fve years, a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones while the pupils are at a schoolsite or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district.” Following its passage on Aug. 28, the bill was enrolled and sent to Gov. Newsom on Sep. 6, who is expected to sign it into law given his pro-phone control public stance on phones in schools.
“Building on legislation I signed in 2019, I look forward to working with the Legislature to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day,” he had said in a statement in June. In mid-August, he also sent a letter to schools across the state urging them to minimize phone usage on campus.
His opinion on this issue refects a larger trend of politicians and educators growing concerned over younger generations’ phone usage. Teachers at Mills are already
expressing their worries. “I think we’re getting to the point now where it’s beyond just a distraction in the class,” history teacher Barbara Campbell said, commenting on phones’ mental health efects on students. “It’s like any other addiction.”
As a response to the PhoneFree Schools Act being passed, and more generally due to increasing worry over phones in school, the SMUHSD Board of Trustees decided to incorporate a discussion on district phone policies into their Sep. 11 board meeting. According to the action plan included in the board’s presentation, the Panorama survey this fall will include four new phone-centric questions; a focus group with parent and staf organizations and student representatives will also be made to further involve the community. The policy would likely be drafted in early 2025 and adopted that spring, Superintendent Randall Booker said.
After the presentation, Principals Yvonne Shiu from San Mateo High School and Ron Campana from Peninsula High School gave statements on their schools’ Yondr policies and answered questions from the trustees. With Yondr, students lock their phones in a magnetic pouch for the whole school day.
“It works for San Mateo,” Principal Shiu shared in the meeting. “I realize it’s probably not for everyone. Students hate it but at the same time realize that it is important to be aware in the moment, being able to talk to one another without everything being on the phone.” Both San Mateo and Peninsula wish to continue using Yondr with the
new policy.
Principal Pamela Duszynski, however, is unsure about how well it would work for Mills. “My main worry with Yondr is the amount of the time we would put into managing Yondr,” Principal Duzynski emphasized. From having to make students lock up phones during frst period to dealing with students who circumvent the pouches, she believes Yondr enforcement would take away time better focused on helping students learn.
On the potential of Yondr being enforced at Mills, Principal Duszynski thinks it’s one possible direction of many. “... what I gathered from what Dr. Kempkey said last night is that all schools are actually, you know, doing already what the state is asking us to do. So it may not change at all,” she said. “There may be an interest in having a uniform policy across the school sites where cell phones are locked up with a Yondr device. It may be [that] every site is going to decide what their policy is, even if it’s just the existing policy.”
In the meantime, teachers at Mills have their own opinions as to what a district-wide phone policy should look like. Anjali Abraham, who teaches physics, would like for SMUHSD’s phone policy to refect what she used in Santa Barbara High School, where she used to teach before Mills. Currently, Abraham does not allow students to use phones in her class aside for educational purposes but lets students keep their phones on them.
“So the way it [Santa Barbara’s policy] worked is that during a semester, if a kid had their phone out in class, a teacher would give a warning, and then the next time it would get logged as an intervention, and then the teacher would keep the phone for the rest of the class period,” Abraham explained. She went on to explain that by the fourth strike, the phone would be kept for the entire semester.
Similar to Principal Duszynski, Abraham also expressed concerns over stricter enforcement methods like Yondr. “I think that students need to be able to access their phones if there is an emergency. I think if there’s a shooter on campus or something like that, that kids need to be able to
- continued from page one -
communicate with their parents, and so I would rather have an enforcement policy similar to what I’ve done before.”
Among the student body, Ann Zhou (11) believes the best course of action would be for Mills teachers to continue using their phone pockets. “I feel like, for the most part, it’s good at striking that balance between regulating but not being too controlling,” Zhou said. “I can understand the sentiment that people are annoyed by them, because I’m also a little annoyed ... but honestly, at the same time, I still feel overall it’s been for the better, just because it is kind of depressing when everyone’s on their phones and not doing work.”
But Zhou also thinks increased regulation of phones is a somewhat misguided. While they do think phones have had a negative efect on attention spans, they don’t believe it’s
a problem school phone bans alone can fx. “I think it’s good that administrators are thinking of policies to regulate these things, but also they’re gonna happen anyways. Like, you can’t stop kids from using AI. You can’t stop kids from using
way to work with them, rather than just putting a lid over it, because no one’s happy because of that.”
Principal Duszynski also wonders if increasing phone limitations really addresses the root of the problem. “Should the question be, for our students, about mental health, or should it be about cell phones? ... You know, I would like to see maybe more time devoted to really talking with students about their mental health and the causes for the mental health issues we see in teens right now from their perspective,” she said. “I think we just have a lot to
Restricted Entrance to Football Games
Kalyssa
Chu Staff Writer
The Mills administration is prohibiting the entrance of nonMills high schoolers—excluding visitors from the opposing school—into football games as part of new safety procedures implemented during this year’s football season. The rule will be enforced with mandatory ID checks at entrance, requiring all students to show a physical student ID to confrm their identity.
This decision emerges from safety concerns following a series of unsafe incidents around Mills last year, including a gunned robbery on the nearby Spur Trail after a home football game against Saratoga High School.
“It’s our job to ensure safety,” Mills’ Assistant Principal Johnathan White stated. “More
measures…put in place to prevent incidents from happening will [allow for] a safer environment that our students and fans can enjoy when going to the games.”
This restriction comes as part of a multitude of safety measures implemented at football games, including mandatory bag checks and partnership with the San Mateo County school resource ofcer.
Mills student Lucy Esquivel (10) said she’s glad that Mills is practicing safety precautions at the games. “Things like bag checks make me less worried about people bringing in stuf that’s not cool and possibly harmful,” she stated.
However, Esquivel is worried that the new rule forbidding outside students from attending games will hinder the spirit of the classic Friday night lights.
“All kinds of people should be allowed to enjoy our games and help us build a bigger community of support,” she noted, “I think that if we’re invited to other people’s games, other people should be invited to our games, as well.”
For now, this rule only applies to football games. However, it may be implemented
for other athletic contests that anticipate large crowd sizes, such as basketball quads in the winter. Regardless, White emphasizes that Mills’ main priority is to ultimately “be able to provide the most secure environment for all sports that we possibly can.”
A Letter from the EICs
A warm welcome to the student and staf community at Mills from your Editors-in-Chief at The Thunderbolt, Phoebe Piserchio and Elaine Chan. Being our senior year, we are so honored to have the opporunity to serve our community through student journalism. This edition marks the beginning o a new and exhilarating year for the Thunderbolt and as your Editors-in-Chief we will strive to present relevant and honest news alongside our team o Editors and Writers. The September Issue entails the summer refections and fall aspirations o the vibrant student body all around us. As the fall season is upon us, we look forward to fostering a safe creative outlet at Mills that harbors school spirit, unity, and the student voice
The Thunderbolt would no be possible without our incredibly hardworking student-staf and o course our advisor, Mr. Preto. Throughout our years in Journalism we have witnesed the team grow and bond together in boh the journalistic and academic world and are truly appreciative o their utmost dedication to this publication.
Best, Elaine Chan & Phoebe Piserchio
Thak you to our patrons... The Forensis Group - Viking News Hero Ignatius Cha & Marife Cha - Viking News Warriors
Elaine Chan (lef) & Phoebe Piserchio (right)
BAG CHECKS: AP White gives a bag check to a student at a football game.
KALYSSA CHU / The Mills Thunderbolt
PHONE POCKET: Ann Zhou (11) places their phone into a pocket before class.
TIANYOU LEE / The Mills Thunderbolt
Taste Tests
As summer comes to its end and autumn closely approaches, I fully embrace the many festivities and trends that the season brings. From cable knit sweaters to warm apple cider, I am especially excited for the many fall inspired products that hit the stores each year. Trader Joe’s, which especially shines in its fall themed products, often ofers a wide variety of delicious snacks and meals for fallenthusiasts to indulge in!
Initially, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this product. The scent of the cofee grounds were a bit of putting and only had a whisper of that beloved pumpkin spice scent. While the brewed cofee wasn’t awful, it wasn’t my favorite. It tasted like a combination of various spices, rather than having that anticipated pumpkin favor. (2.5/5)
Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese ($3.79)
An internet favorite, there’s no question as to why it’s so popular. A seemingly simple, microwave dinner, it’s both cozy and delicious! While nothing about it is out of the ordinary, it’s its simple favor that makes the dish. However, I do wish there was just a bit more of that butternut squash favor!
As someone who loves yogurt and pumpkin spice, this is the best of both worlds. When topped with a medley of fruits and a little sprinkle of granola, it makes for the perfect start to the morning, with a strong essence of pumpkin in each bite. While I can understand why some people may not enjoy it as it has a pretty strong greek yogurt taste, it is a personal favorite of mine and something I look forward to each year! (4.5/5)
Harvest Blend Herbal Tea ($2.49)
A melange of various fall spices like cinnamon and ginger, the Harvest Blend tea hits you with an explosion of favors; however, not a favor to be desired. While a soothing tea, it’s just a bit too sweet for my liking! I found it difcult to fnish a whole mug of it, however, I could see the appeal behind the tea.
Mills Construction Due to Finish in Nov.
Elijah Caatic Staff Writer
The construction in front of Mills is projected to be fnished by November and will include a complete redesign of the front of the school and the total removal or encapsulation of the remaining transite in the school.
Thanks to Measure L, passed four years ago which aimed and gave funding for improving the infrastructure of the schools in the San Mateo Union High School District. Mills specifcally had many walls made of transite, a mix of concrete and asbestos, a known carcinogen. “During that period of time when Mills was built … 1958 included this transite material”, Principal Duszynski said, “What I’ve learned throughout the time I’ve worked on the project in the front of the school there, aside from the walls, [is that] there’s not any asbestos that I’m aware of.”
The transite panels have all been removed or encapsulated (covering them with other materials) meaning that they are not a risk to Mills students. Mills decided to take advantage of this funding to also redo the front of the school. They were able to remove the facade walls that fanked the entrance and gave the landscaping a refresh.
Included in this landscaping are the large metal structures that were up over the summer. According to Principal Duszynski, “The committee that worked with the architects to design the front of the school included these shade structures, which are kind of meant to look like the sails on a Viking ship.”
She also said, “I think, after the pandemic, we had a lot of students who were spending brunch and lunch out in front of our school and for pickup, you
know, and there’s…not a lot of shade out there at all.” She said that there would be new benches, plants, and sitting rocks for the front of the school as well for students to enjoy lunch or wait for their parents to pick them up.
When asked about the completion date she said “we’re hoping by November.” The renovations in front of the school will help bring a new look to the now over 60-year old school and create a more enjoyable environment.
The main users of the front of the school are the students and their opinions seem generally positive based on the renderings given to the Thunderbolt by Principal Duszynski.
Junior Jayvis Choy who thought that the original front of the school looked nice. When shown the rendering of the school he said, “I might say it is actually better because if I look at these pictures I can see there is more space...for people to sit so I like that. ”
For Junior Valerie Or who often ate lunch in front of the school she said, “The construction has greatly impacted me since my friends and I have been displaced from our regular lunch spot. For some reason, it’s extremely windy in that front area by where the tables used to be, so my hopes for new features would be that the construction will somehow change that.”
Principal Duszynski said, “I just want to thank the committee that helped put the design together, which included parents, students, staf, teachers, the district, for supporting the project and, you know, making it happen for us and creating a more student friendly space and something we can, you know, be proud of and really use on our campus.”
Millbrae Art & Wine Fest.
Emily Wu Staff Writer
TheMillbrae Art and Wine festival took place from August 31st to September 1st, showcasing local vendors with their crafts and businesses. The annual festival was located on Broadway, downtown Millbrae and featured handmade goods, bags, jewelry, clothes, and collectibles.
One of the highlights that people look forward to is the variety of food stands. “My favorite booth was the one selling crab sandwiches,” Elijah Cabatic (11) said. “The crab sandwiches were very good and the garlic fries were decent.”
In addition to the savory options, the Treats by the Bay Food Truck was a favorite with its excellent sweets. “I loved their
‘Vietnamese afogato’ which was just a cup of vanilla soft serve with a shot of Vietnamese cofee poured over it,” Abigail Chai (12) added. “It was super refreshing and a fun treat to have during the day.”
At the same time, it wasn’t just the excellent food booths that attracted Art and Wine festival goers. This year’s festival featured returning booths alongside new vendors and products. As usual, the crochet stands are always attracting a cluster of people.
“My favorite booth was the crochet booth,” Mikayla Ho (9) recounted. “There were so many uniquely crafted fgures. They sold crocheted dolls, characters, wallets, purses, and so much more.” Beyond the popular crochet stands, other booths ordered a range of interesting fnds, from handcrafted jewelry to vintage posters and signs. Despite the diverse array of
2024: A Gallery
food and artisan products being a big hit for the crowds, students also observed a noticeable diference in the energy at the event compared to past years.
Students recalled that past years had provided and ofered them more entertaining and enjoyable experiences. Sara Meng (11) mentioned, “A lot of people but the stalls felt empty.”
Continuing on this note, Madison Lin (9) stated, “I think last year was funner because there were more booths.”
It has been noticed that there have been fewer booths this year.
“The festival this year was overall just underwhelming with the amount of stalls there were, and the majority of the stalls were all selling either the same or similar stuf.” Suri Rastani (9) stated.
Although there have been opinions about the lack of energy at the fair, some people thought that there were reasons
behind it. “When I volunteered at the Arts and Wine, they had lots of internal disorganization because the lead from last year left so lots of businesses and organizations missed out on the opportunity from how out of order everything was. There was a noticeable shift and energy of the event was mainly due to this but they will probably have all of their stuf worked out for next year,” Amelia Naughten (11) recalled. Even though there were some challenges that made the atmosphere feel empty, crowds were still able to enjoy their time at the festival.
“Overall, I would say that the Art and Wine festival still found a way to prove to be a big attraction to the Bay Area,” Mikayla Ho (9) said. As always, the festival remains to be a lively and exciting event that brings Millbrae and surrounding communities together.
CONSTRUCTION RENDERINGS: Sketch-ups of the Mills new front area.
ELIJAH CABATIC / The Mills Thunderbolt
Pumpkin Spice Coffee ($8.99)
Pumpkin Yogurt ($0.99)
popular crochet booth (left), freshmen event-goers browsing the stands (middle), and the Boba Bots booth (right).
Abby Chai Center Spread Editor
Meaga So Staff Writer
Michaela Gonzalez, a past Editor-in-Chief and 2024 Mills graduate was interviewed for this month’s Alumni Adventures column. During my interview with her, she answered questions about her life after graduation and shared advice for current high school students. Here’s what she said: What was your high school experience like?
Gonzalez said, “...my entire freshmen year was online. This meant I was not able to connect with my peers, besides the ones I had already formed friendships with in high school…. I always felt like I was behind and unft in the environment. My time at Middle College was where I made the memories and friendships that made me emotional at graduation.”
How was the transition from high school to college?
She said, “…living in a dorm is the most extreme change for me. I went from living with my mom in our house in Millbrae, to living with a roommate, sharing a bathroom with 4 people, and living in a house with 400 college kids on a university campus. It defnitely took some time getting used to, but the best part is having a space and creating a life of your own.”
What are some tips or advice you would give to high schoolers, EICs, and student journalists?
Gonzalez responded, “For high schoolers, I would say really try to diverge out of your comfort zone and try new things. Whether that be socially such as being closer with someone in your grade you haven’t been friends with before, or academically, and joining a club you wouldn’t usually be interested in...”
Finally, advice for our very own Thunderbolt team, she said, “As for journalism students, please keep giving the real and honest news to your community, you are needed more than you think.”
Introducing Our Newest Teachers at Mills!
Sar Meng Staff Writer
New teacher, Mr. Jonathan Lee joins the math department this year. Outside of class, he is an athletic person who enjoys running, swimming, and playing mobile games. Mr. Lee, also recently began helping coach the cross-country team and is excited for the upcoming season. After teaching at Taylor, he saw Mills as a great opportunity to reconnect with his former students and continue supporting their journey. Looking towards the future, Mr. Lee shares his hope for the school year. He says, “I’m excited to help my students— both old and new—be successful.”
“I’m excited to help my students, —both old ad new,— be successful.” -Mr. Lee
10th-grade
English teacher, Ms. Brown currently teaches English 2. In addition to being the chair of the Multilingual department, she’s involved in the English and CLA (Content Language Acquisition) departments. She explains how CLA helps develop and refne academic skills across reading, writing, speaking, and listening, with the ultimate goal of reclassifcation. At the start of 2024, Ms. Brown discovered a newfound interest
“I’m looking forward to geting all my students to pass {my} class...also excited to atend sports games this semester!” -Mr. Maasala
in sewing. A long-time crocheter, she enjoys how sewing doesn’t require starting from scratch and views it as a creative outlet and stress reliever. After previously teaching at San Mateo High School, she found the community there lovely and was eager to bring that same energy to Mills. So far, she feels extremely welcomed here. Finally, she shares her hopes for the semester: “I’m excited to get to know the Mills community— students, faculty, and staf—better as the semester progresses!”
Mr. Nyah Manasala Smith, a 12th-grade teacher in the Social Science Department this year. He specializes in American Government and Economics. Being a very athletic person, Mr. Manasala enjoys a multitude of sports in his free time. Recently, he has been interested in playing pickleball, soccer, basketball, and going on long hikes. Now what attracted him to Mills? Mr. Manasala expresses that he loves the tight-knit community of the school along with the physical location and overall student body. He fnishes by saying, “[I’m] looking forward to getting all my students to pass Government class! I’m also excited to attend sports games this semester.”
“I’m excited to get to know the Mills community--the students, faculty, ad staff--—beter as the semester progresses!”
-Ms. Brown
FCCLA Shines at STAR Competition
Eduardo Galindo Copy Editor
OnJune 29, FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) headed for a fve day journey to Seattle, Wash. for a national conference with fellow FCCLA groups and competed in the STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) competitions, winning gold in Food Innovations and silver in Interior design.
FCCLA is a nationwide organization that provides students with leadership potential and opportunities that develop lasting life skills. This summer they competed in the STAR competitions representing California. “There were a lot more people, I think, than all of us expected,” said Dr. Reyes, the club’s advisor, “and it was the frst time we all went there so it was like a learning experience too.”
The STAR competitions are made up of multiple contests that each demonstrate diferent skills and knowledge of the participants. “There are hundreds of diferent competitions you can do. There’s salad prep, there’s baking, cake design, interior design, fashion design,” said Ally Man (12), President of FCCLA.
To qualify for the national competitions in Seattle, FCCLA had to rank high enough in regionals and then the state
level. In the state competition that took place in April, FCCLA placed frst and advanced to the national conference.
Man alongside her partner, Cady Lee (12) competed in the Food Innovations category where they were tasked to create a snack from scratch. “It was geared toward teenagers. So we had to make the formula, get the packaging, get the consumer feedback,” said Man, “We had to design all that, and then we got to bring our products to present to the judges.” At the national conference in Seattle, Lee presented their snack to the judges, placing in the top ten and won gold.
FCCLA members Giancarlo Monroy Aceituno(11) and Bryon Perez Duran(11) participated in the event for the Interior Design category, where they designed a dog house. In their competition they placed within the top ffthteen, winning silver for their chapter.
The event wasn’t solely competitions, “The conferences are usually two to three days, and there’s a lot to do at the conference, besides competing,” said Man, “you get to walk around the city, get to see other people present.” At these conferences they provide workshops for various leadership topics, including networking or running meetings.
Besides all the conferences, FCCLA is now planning a fall leadership meeting in October.
To prepare, they’ve been “meeting over the summer, to kind of get everything together,” said Reyes. This event will take place in Windsor, and there FCCLA has planned workshops and more to make the event
great. After their spring 2024 victory, the FCCLA team is in high spirits as they continue to work. The Thunderbolt wishes them good luck to all upcoming endeavors!
EDUARDO GALINDO / The Mills Thunderbolt
INSIDE A MEETING: Ms. Hulse (right) , speaks as new Mills FCCLA advisor.
JANELLE PANTILON/The Mills Thunderbolt
AN FCCLA SWEEP: STAR competitors from this past spring return victorious.
New Beginnings & Final Chapters: Student Mindsets
Mikayla Ho Staff Writer
The new school year marks a major turning point for freshmen and seniors at Mills. Freshmen are starting their journeys, while seniors are fnalizing their last year in high school. These two groups have unique challenges and opportunities, leading to diverse opinions and experiences.
Many freshmen, like Mira Youssef (9), haven’t interacted much with seniors yet.“I feel like
they are just more powerful than us – they probably did a bunch of volunteering over the years, which taught them so many diferent things,” she says.
Right now, Youssef’s main focus is her studies and strives to make academic achievements
“[I worry] About my grades honestly, really a lot about my grades and how I do in school because I know that’s going to be a really big factor later in life. It might be the reason for me getting into a specifc college.”
Let’s hear what the idea of college is like for seniors at Mills.
Jeckie Ng (12), also has college on her mind. “I want to try to go for top UCS, maybe some privates. Just like, in general, create a more, like, balanced college list. Realistically, it’s all a chance of luck,” she says. Regardless of the grade, students of all ages experience similar
feelings throughout their time as a student.
Ng, who is a peer tutor for freshmen, values how friendly and engaged they are. “I feel like, you know, as a freshman, I wasn’t able, I was really, like, scared more, like, intimidated,
but it’s good that like they feel more comfortable,” she explains, refecting on when she was a freshman.
Some seniors, like Eddison Hue (12), see freshmen as the future. “I think they are pretty cool people for the future of our generation. They have the capability to be something great, to learn more due to new technology, and they will become smarter than anyone else.”
Hue is most concerned about college applications. “Currently, I’m most worried about college applications to begin the new chapter in my life,” he shares.
Hue also explains how important it is to maintain good grades. The importance of both working hard and still having fun. Suri Rastani (9) has big dreams for her future. “I’m aiming for MIT, even though I highly doubt I’ll get into it, because I love engineering,
and I would love to get into the best engineering school in the world,” she shares. The early years of high school are often the times to explore your interests and learn about others and yourself. Rastani explains one way she can learn from seniors is by understanding their attitudes. “I can learn what mindset I’d want to have for senior year or for the beyond years that I have - doing as I will and what I want to do for school,” she says. It’s great to seek other perspectives because you can develop a better understanding of those around you.
Despite their diferences, both freshmen and seniors at Mills have similar concerns about their futures. They realize the importance of grades and college preparation. It’s interesting to see how much they can learn from each other, showing that
it’s never too late to make new friends and connect with peers from diferent grades.
Moreover, high school is a continuous learning lesson and provides various experiences and opportunities for students of all grade levels. Networking and getting to know people closest to you or inside your circle allows the opportunity see through a broader lens that’ll allow you to gain advice, knowledge, and overall more friendships. It’s interesting to see the way students of diferent ages view one another and their outlooks on the future. The connections
and friendships we make throughout high school will continue to shape who we are. This only goes to shows how, despite being diferent ages or having diferent responsibilities, there is always someone who may feel the same way as you.
Mills High Debuts Our Brand New Dance Program
Abigail
Chai Center Spread Editor
Each year, students can select from a wide range of ofered electives to fulfll their visual and performing arts (VAPA) credits, with choices such as media arts, drama, and ceramics being a popular choice. However, this year there’s a new addition to the list. As for the frst time in Mills history, students will have the chance to partake in a year-long dance class.
With two levels of dance being ofered- intermediate and beginner- students of any expertise and grade are able to participate under the guidance of brand-new teacher, Jessica Himes. Intensely dancing since she was just 12 years old, Ms. Himes early-on became immersed with the art of improv and choreography, a passion which only grew as she entered college. After leading a dance class to a few of her peers at 19 and fnding inspiration from college professors, Himes “fell in love with choreography” which then “translated into teaching others.”
Coming to this realization, she decided to pursue a career in dance education, embarking on the journey to earn her teaching credentials at California State University, East Bay. She had her frst brush with highschool education at the San Mateo High School dance program, describing the experience as “baptism by fre”, being that she
was the sole substitute of the program for the frst semester despite just being a studentteacher herself. However, her time at San Mateo allowed her to grow her skills as an educator and tackle the many difculties that come with teaching dance.
A physical form of expression and creativity, dance is an intimidating task for many. With beginner students often struggling with learning techniques and the prospects of performing in front of an audience, Ms. Himes helps create an environment where students can fnd confdence within their abilities whilst developing a passion for dance. “I try to fnd a way for students to see themselves personally in a dance class,” she shared. “It’s just like fnding ways that each student can realize how important and amazing dance is.” Some of her methods include creating class playlists, connecting students’ heritage to cultural dances, and more; ceaselessly striving to engage students on the dance foor.
Yet, in spite of the dauntingness of beginning dance with little to no knowledge, the class has drawn numerous individuals with a curiosity for the form of art. Senior Matthew Situ (12), one of the several students trying dance this year, joined the course excited to end his highschool career on a high note. “Taking a dance class with my friends seemed like the perfect way to have fun,” he expressed. With many other students sharing a similar
sentiment, it creates for a lively and immersed environment when paired with Ms. Himes engaging teaching methods.
While just a few weeks into the school year, Ms. Himes and her two dance classes have a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Throughout the year, beginner-level students will learn basic techniques, whilst also developing the knowledge to support both themselves and their peers. Moreover, the intermediate class will perform in various school events and even have the chance to choreograph their own potential routines for the upcoming Spring performance; an event for both classes to display their expanded skills to parents, faculty, and friends.
LEO PALOMO Mills High School
CLASS TIME: Ms. Himes presents a fun presentation on the art of dance.
MIKAYLA HO / The Mills Thunderbolt & Mills High School Instagram
FROM FRESHMAN TO SENIOR YEAR: From the left, Mira Youssef (9), Jeckie Ng (12), Eddison Hue (12), and Suri Rastani (9) express their sentiments about their own and their opposite experiences.
Summer is the time when highschoolers get a break from their rigorous workload and routines–it’s when we relax and spend quality time with friends and family. It’s also when students get jobs, look for internships, explore new passions, and apply for summer programs. But what happens when the season creeps up on you and you realize you haven’t planned anything at all?
That’s what I was faced with freshman year, when I was new to all the extracurricular opportunities I had around me. By the time most applications were closed, I had just started to understand how the system worked. So instead of applying to programs, I applied myself to college.
Over the Summer: Success or Stress?
By: Amelia Naughten, News Editor
First of, I realized that my experiences freshman summer vs. sophomore summer were very diferent. Freshman year, my whole summer was pretty much free aside from these courses–I had a lot of fun and wasn’t too overwhelmed.
The summer of 2023, I took three courses: Astronomy 100, Astronomy Lab 101, and Art History 101. All three were asynchronous courses that high school students in the SMUHSD district could take for free at local community colleges (Skyline, Canada, and CSM). These were condensed, six week classes that I spent my whole summer working through.
When August fnally came to a close, I told myself I would be more proactive with scheduling next year.
But again, in the midst of preparing for fnals and rushing to fnish the endless pile of homework and projects late last spring semester, I felt a pang of guilt as I realized that I missed important deadlines.
So again, I took college courses, this time with Human Bio 130 and International Relations 101. Flash forward to the present, and I’ve ofcially completed my second consecutive summer of college classes, adding more experience under my belt. But now I wonder, “Were college courses over the summer worth it?”
Before I share my thoughts, I want to make a disclaimer that there are pros and cons to both sides, and that everyone’s personal situations vary; what may have worked for me may not work for you, and vice versa. So instead, I want to share three pieces of advice I have to help you determine whether this path is worth your while (especially if you’re like me and often fnd yourself behind on summer planning).
Sophomore year summer was a diferent story, though. Even though I only took two classes, I felt like I was constantly stacked with work. It’s good for applying to other programs because I listed the Astronomy Courses I took on my application to get into COSMOS (I took an astrophysics cluster). So it’s a mixed bag, it depends where you take it, what courses you take, [and] who you take it with. As in Zhang’s case, college courses can provide a wealth of experiences, credits, and other benefts to be applied elsewhere throughout your academic career, but only if you approach it with purpose. which took these courses because I thought my summer would be more laid back like freshman year. I took these classes because of a “why not” mentality, and my lack of purpose/ intrinsic drive negatively afected my experience.
Sharon Zhang (11) took Astronomy 100, Astronomy Lab 101, and Psychology 100 over the summer as a rising sophomore. Like me, they had similar intentions with exploring their interests. They also suspect that taking the courses were a contributing factor to their acceptance into the UC COSMOS program the following year: “The courses were more enrichment courses than anything else. I was doing them to fll up my summer. I had fun.”
As time went on, I found it more and more difcult to focus on the lectures and stay engaged. As soon as I would get home from art, I would sit at my computer for hours until 12am just to be able to watch all the lectures and complete my assignments. I was working myself to exhaustion everyday, and even on the weekends, I barely had time left to spend with family and friends. I never got a “brain break” over the summer, and it defnitely wore on me coming into this fall semester.
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Lights, Camera, impress: How One game dominated summer
By hayden bunce, Staff writer
Are you ready to dress to impress? Over the summer, the Roblox game Dress to Impress took every household by storm with its pop culture impact.
In November 2023, a game appeared with the name Dress to Impress. The game was developed by a group of high schoolers, perhaps boosting relatability to teen and young adult players. The game’s concept is rather simple as it is an energized dress-up game. Throughout the summer, the game’s popularity boomed, with memes about it appearing everywhere. Dress to Impress shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. With practically the entire internet playing the game at least once or twice, we want to know what the students and teachers of Mills think about it. With the game getting so popular over the summer, why are people so drawn to it? Junior Celena Yu answers, “You can make cute outfts and stuf - it’s also become kind of a meme like playing dress to impress with my baddies.”
feminine clothing oferings, they responded, “Then I’d probably play for like a week because I prefer to dress more masculine.” I found this personally really neat as fashion is truly subjective and sometimes games don’t apply to that aspect most of the time. Whether you have or have not played, all good things must eventually come to an end. So will we see the fall of Dress to Impress soon?
Yu also briefy mentioned how multiple celebrities play, such as singer Madison Beer and streamer CaseOh.The added attention ultimately afected the rise of the game, along with the ofcial Brat collab by singer Charli XCX. This ofcial collaboration with Charli XCX and the Dress to Impress team was very impactful because it was a combination of the summer’s most popular memes on TikTok. Despite the immense popularity of such a game with its timeless pieces, there is a fraction of people who have not yet played it.
On one hand many believe that the success will linger, with Mr. Burdette stating, “Well, I mean it has so many possibilities that it seems like something that could stay around and if you already got celebs everyone’s gonna want to check it out.” While Case-Oh was able to draw in a teenage boy population, Madison Beer was able to make the game more known in mainstream media as a famous pop singer. Sophomore Sarah Aqleh adds that it will likely stay popular, “because there’s so many diferent themes like, I haven’t gotten the same one yet.” The Dress to Impress creators constantly are adding themes to keep their player base entertained. If the player base is given the same themes over and over they are bound to get bored and not return.
To understand both sides on the rise of Dress to Impress, it’s important to see what the people who haven’t played the game think.
Mr. Burdette, a history teacher at Mills, shared, “ I usually like to play games where I shoot stuf and save the world, but with my kids, it would be hella fun.”
Avery Fong (11) asked, “What type of clothes do they have? Is it more feminine or, masculine?”
After being informed of the more
On the contrary, many believe that success isn’t going to last long. With a majority of the players being in school most of the day, people will be shifting their focus more on school than they would on Dress to Impress. Violet Martin (11) added, “People don’t really have as much time.” Whether it’s homework, sports, plays, or any other extracurricular activities, there’s this constant business faced at hand.
However, Dress to Impress has been showing no signs of slowing down for the time being. The game is the currently third most played game on Roblox, has frequent updates, and a variety of items that keep people returning to the game. So play that round with your friends, partners, and most importantly, play Dress to Impress with your baddies.
AMELIA NAUGHTEN / The Mills Thunderbolt
SUMMER COURSES: Amelia Naughten completes assignments over summer break.
Falling back The romanticization of fall
By: Noah Ung, Staff Writer
As the air turns crisp and colors begin to shift, we follow suit and transition into a time of gratitude, sharing, and warmth. The fall season has become the epitome of happy, comforting, and nostalgic times, but why is that? Is it the activities, the fashion, the food, all three, or is it something else?
This “romanticization” of fall is deeply rooted in the sense of nostalgia we derive from the season. Autumn life consists of a large range of things, from comfy cozy sweaters to Thanksgiving dinners and carving pumpkins. These activities are extremely prevalent in the season of autumn; nearly everyone takes part in this “romanticization of fall.” Whether it be through the clothes, the food, or the traditions, this feeting feeling of nostalgia always follows.
While fall is at the end of the year, why does it feel like new beginnings? Well, one reason is that, historically, fall has come hand-in-hand with many celebrations that mark renewal or change. Various harvest festivals are held in many diferent communities and, like the one we hold here in Millbrae, focus on the harvesting and selling of crops signifying the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Similarly, a large variety of Asian Moon Celebrations, a more well-known one being the “Mid-autumn festival,” are held centering around familial gatherings, thanksgiving, and most importantly the cyclical nature of the moon as it is typically shown brightest at this time. Due to this, we associate this time of year with the commencement of these holidays, and in turn a new beginning.
Fall also acts as a subtle but powerful catalyst for change. As the leaves turn and the air becomes cooler, we often feel an internal shift that mirrors the external world. The season’s unique blend of endings and beginnings pushes many to refect on their lives and make adjustments, whether big or small. The changing colors of the landscape, paired with the crisp, fresh air, inspire a sense of renewal and drive that summer’s more relaxed atmosphere often lacks. The start of the academic year is a prime example: as school resumes, students and teachers alike fnd themselves embracing new routines, setting fresh goals, and embarking on new challenges. But it’s not just in school—across various aspects of life, people fnd themselves motivated to reassess their habits and set new intentions. The natural rhythm of fall encourages this introspection, urging us to prepare for the year ahead while also taking stock of the year that’s passed. This seasonal shift invites us to embrace change and growth, even as we seek comfort in familiar routines.
We even feel these changes in the Bay Area, despite our notorious lack of shifting climates. The days get shorter and colder, and nights become longer, forcing us inside a lot earlier. Our days begin to feel a lot more structured than we are used to causing us to fall into a comforting routine of controlling what we can. Many people fnd this control and comfort in things such as a nice cozy movie enjoyed with a hot pumpkin spice latte, bundled up in a soft, oversized sweater and a warm blanket. The experience is not just about the activities themselves but the feelings they evoke—familiarity, safety, and a sense of being grounded. Simply the act of watching a movie with which you have built fond memories and the cocoon-like feeling of being wrapped in a blanket provides you with not only physical but emotional warmth. Small moments like these allow people to feel in control of their lives, a feeling that is especially needed during the season of change.
Across the world, fall represents a transition between the freedom of summer and the chill of winter. As the landscape changes, the weather cools, and the days shorten. To a lot of people, this could feel like “new beginnings.” “We’re coming of summer, a lot of new things are beginning, like [the] new school year,” as Tara Donohoe, a teacher in the Mills High School History Department puts it. So it seems to be the case that as the seasons shift and school years and fall sports begin to kick of, we as people feel called to remain comfortable in our routine as things change.
Does Millbrae Have a Boba Shop Infestation?
Jada Pa Staff Writer
TP Tea has recently opened on Broadway, adding to the eight other boba shops already in Millbrae—T4, Teahut, Bambu, Ume Tea, Wanpo, Bundow Boba, Grapeholic, and TeaEver. This counts a total of nine boba shops.
“Why are there like 10 [boba shops] on each block? Or it’s like one on every block on El Camino and Broadway,” said student Kayla Chow (11). A new concern has been raised for some: Are
there too many boba shops in Millbrae?
Originating from Taiwan, boba has taken the Bay Area, especially Millbrae, by storm over the past few years. The combination of sweet, chewy black sugar tapioca pearls balanced with slightly bitter milk tea in each sip has become a favorite treat. For many teenagers, boba isn’t just a drink or dessert. Like cofee,
it has become more of a social experience as people get boba with friends to catch up with each other.
Millbrae business owners have caught on to the wave of boba popularity since then with the ten establishments downtown. However, too much of a good thing can quickly become a bad thing. While teenagers are drawn to boba, its new favors, and the social experience of visiting trending spots with friends, regular boba consumption has raised questions about potential health complications. Studies have shown that its high sugar, calorie, and carbohydrate content is linked to long-term health conditions such as diabetes.
Students also felt that cost was an issue, especially with inconsistent quality and taste. “They’re all ridiculous to the overpriced like, why is this seven bucks for a drink?” stated Lo. “You had to add extra money for boba… you order from a screen, and then it has the audacity to ask you for a tip.” She also mentioned that T4 once served her a drink with expired milk, souring her experience.
Moreover, the limited variety of food selections in Millbrae leads to customer fatigue as new boba shops keep popping up. “Instead of boba shops, they open
While interviewing students, most shared the same sentiment about the saturation of boba shops in Millbrae. “There’s too many of these random boba shops,” said Natalie Lo (11). “We even get [boba] from school, and we sell it here,” said Ann Zhou (11) “There’s a boba infestation of Millbrae.”
up actual food restaurants… like Sweet Indulgence,” said Maizie de Guzman (11). She expressed frustration over the openings of new boba shops as they sell similar sweet beverages rather than substantial food options like dessert dishes.
Consequently, boba shops are occupying space that could be used for more diverse restaurants. This lack of diversity not only restricts choices for
residents but also opportunities for new restaurants to share diferent cultural cuisines in Millbrae.
On the other hand, some students brought up the point that some boba shops do ofer unique menu options that add to their appeal. ”I’ve liked seeing boba shops expand a little outside of just a typical, milk tea and pearls style, because, for example, there’s Bambu,” shared Zhou. She explains that boba shops like Bambu specialize in Vietnamese desserts while T4 ofers popcorn chicken, appealing to more customers.
These specialized menu items justify the presence of so many boba shops in Millbrae. However, despite these varied options, each shop ultimately ofers the same thing. All boba shops blend into the same experience, making their overwhelming number of options feel redundant rather than unique.
When asked what they would like to see in Millbrae, many students strongly expressed
interest in having a frozen yogurt place. Naia Germain (11) explained that there have been no frozen yogurt shops in the area since the closing of Nubi Yogurt. “The closest YogurtLand is 35 minutes away in Mountain View,” she added. Some students also shared that they would like to see more grocery markets after the closing of Lucky’s, preferably Asian-oriented options.
Overall, Millbrae’s boba scene refects a more general trend of boba’s popularity that I, as a Taiwanese-American, am proud of. However, I believe the sheer amount of boba shops has
gotten out of hand. As students are infuenced to consume boba more frequently, valid health concerns are raised due to the high sugar content and low nutritional value. The lack of diverse options aside from boba also overshadows other cultural identities of our community. With nine boba shops, I feel that many missed opportunities exist for a wider range of cultural favors to be shared in Millbrae.
Weighing the Real Value of Out-of-State Colleges
Deciding where to go to college is one of the most signifcant choices any student will make in their time as a high schooler. It is the next step in furthering your education, and you want to make sure you are picking the school that is perfect for you. For a lot of students, this means considering out-of-state schools, choosing whether or not to stay in the state they know best, or stepping out of their comfort zone and exploring what diferent states have to ofer.
When discussing out-ofstate schools, the main issue that comes into play is the price. If you did not already know, the majority of out-of-state schools are more expensive than instate schools. The reason is that outof-state public schools require kids to pay even more in tuition fees than if they were kids within that state. Public school funding mainly comes from state taxes, and the students going to colleges within their state have already contributed to funding their state’s public schools; since out-of-state students have yet to contribute to the school funding, they make your tuition higher to compensate.
Julia Xia Opinions Editor Fortunately, there are a few ways to lessen or even avoid these issues. A program called the Western Undergraduate Exchange details agreements that California has with certain outof-state schools that lessen the need for more expensive tuition. Mills counselor Jonathan Fong provides more insight about the program. “There are about 160 schools across the country that are a part of the exchange. They basically say that even though you are an out-of-state student, you can apply to them, and they are not going to charge you out-of-state costs.” Colorado, Arizona, Hawaii, and Oregon are a few states with schools on this list. If none of the schools on this list interest you, you can still apply for fnancial aid programs like FAFSA and CSS for help. There are also many scholarships that you can apply for that will also help with your fnancial aid.
Students have also raised other concerns about considering out-of-state colleges. “I feel like if I apply to a college out of state, I’ll really miss my family and feel homesick most of the time. I just don’t know if I’m ready to leave them,” Julie Martinez-Mora (12) says.
Many Mills senior students share this sentiment. The idea
of moving to a diferent state and spending most of the next four years of your life there can be daunting; students could have personal family reasons that put them of to the idea of ever leaving, or they aren’t yet comfortable with leaving. While these worries make sense, leaving the state does not have to be all that scary. Moving to a diferent state for college opens kids to a plethora of new cultures they’ve never experienced before. Living away from your family also pushes students to be more independent and self-sufcient. Learning to live relatively on your own helps you prepare for
the future. It teaches you how to handle issues yourself and makes you more conscious of how you live.
Out-of-state colleges are something that every student should at least consider when applying for college. Diferent majors and their repsective schools defnitely have an impact. When it comes to a major, your state might have few schools that have the best programs for what you are interested in. Colleges in other states might have more indepth programs for your major than colleges in California do not have.
Another issue is that the
schools in California that do have good programs for your major are too competitive for you or just need to ft into your image of a dream school. “Obviously, I want to apply to the UCs in California, but most of them are really competitive, and I want to make sure I have enough options if I don’t get into one of them.” Sara Meng (12). Ultimately, it’s up to each student if they want to go out of state; each student has their own priorities for college. However, it’s always important to give yourself as many options as possible to ensure success in the future.
JULIA XIA / The Mills Thunderbolt
COLLEGE SCALE: A scale that demonstrates weighing in-state colleges and out-of-state colleges benefts.
JADA PAN / The Mills Thunderbolt
MLLBRAE’S NINE BOBA SHOPS: All of the boba shops, nine in total, that currently occupy Millbrae’s surrounding downtown area. TP Tea, the newest one, is quickly attracting crowds.
New Rally: New Controversial Changes
Administration and ASB have been making some changes to the rally format this year, which students were able to get a small preview of in the frst rally on August 23, 2024. It was a little disappointing, and wasn’t as entertaining and fun as I had been led to believe.
I had previously been told by upperclassmen that rallies were super exciting school events to really look forward to every week, so the disorganized, boring rally I attended wasn’t what I had been expecting at all. Fellow student, Suri Rastani (9) agrees, saying, “I personally think that the rally was underwhelming while also being overhyped. The games were also under-prepared and boring to watch.”
My interview with Siena Landucci (10) had a similar response. She said, “Before this year, everyone had a seat. The current rallies kind of suck. I don’t really like their new games. It was really boring and I don’t want to stay on the foor next time.” Another student, Nour Halloway (9) also agreed, saying, “It wasn’t as cool as I expected it to be, or fun. I felt like it was a waste of time because I could have been in Flex doing my school work.” I defnitely agree with their opinions and relate to some of their remarks, and this had me wondering why these changes were happening in the frst place.
Some of the reasons for these changes were because of dangerous things that happened in past rally events.
ASB president, Kalyssa Chu (12)
talked about the issue, saying, “...last year there were a couple incidents at our rallies where our administration believed students demonstrated, I guess, just unsafe behaviors.” One of the incidents she was referring to was a fght that had happened last year between some of the old sophomores and seniors. After interviewing Kylie Hyunh (11), she explained the situation, saying, “From what I heard, someone ripped up the 2026 sign and there was a particular sophomore that rushed towards the seniors. Eventually, both classes ended up rushing towards each other.”
“[Admin] decided that they didn’t like the competitive aspect of our rallies, and they wanted to focus more on building community, rather than having grades compete against each other.” Kalyssa commented. It would make sense to change parts of school rallies that were dangerous, but did the administration really have to take away all our fun?
I completely understand that the safety of Mills students is extremely important, but with admin completely ridding our rallies of anything that could have even the slightest chance of hurting someone’s feelings, it might have a much diferent efect than its original intention. These rallies could have been events that kept students going and motivated them, but now, with all the fun aspects of it gone, student complaints about extreme changes might be doing more harm than help.
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Why Our Brunch Needs to Be Longer
Mathew Du Staff Writer
Have you ever felt rushed while you are eating? Well, that is the case for Mills High School students as they are rushing to brunch everyday to try to get their food early so they don’t get stuck behind the long lines during their 10-minute break.
Brunch is a nice, free 10minute period where students can take a break, eat, go to the bathroom, go to
their lockers, prepare for their next classes, and hangout with friends. There are some students who argue that their brunch time isn’t long enough because of the lack of time to eat and it feels rushed.
I believe that brunch should be longer for students for numerous reasons. Brunch is the most important meal and part of a student’s day. Brunch is crucial for students as they should have enough time to eat and go to the bathroom. If a student gets out of class late, they will have to wait in the back of a long line for their food, which ultimately doesn’t give them too much time to eat. By the time they get their food and eat, the bell rings and they have half-eaten food in their hands.
The problem is that students aren’t allowed to eat in class
so that food could end up in the trash can.
A few students and staf gave me their thoughts on this matter.
Ethan Wong (9), expressed his frustration when asked about brunch and he said, “I wish they would give us a little more time. You really only have time to eat and head to class and you don’t have enough time to hang out… Sometimes I don’t even get enough time to fnish my food!” Wong also added, “After I get out of my classes, I have to get ready for my next few classes so I really only have 5 minutes left to eat and hang out with my friends.”
Michael Kwan (9), commented, “It can help with your academics to some degree and gives you more energy throughout the day. When you’re hungry, you can’t focus. So when you eat brunch, it makes you full and helps you focus better. It can help you lock in. It helps you to pay attention in class.”
I asked Dean Christian for his thoughts on this situation.
Hayden Bunce Staff Writer
On September 10th, 2024
Dave Grohl, world-renowned lead singer of Foo-Fighters and drummer in Nirvana announced on his most recent Instagram post that he did something that could only be perceived as absolutely despicable. In this post, he announced that he had a baby out of his marriage. He cheated on his wife of 21 years and that his mistress recently had given birth to a baby girl.
Dean Christian noted, “I am very supportive of students wanting a longer brunch. He also said, “If they want a longer brunch, there would have to be some kind of tradeof. The tradeof would have to be either they end the day later or end the school year in June instead of May.”
When asked, Assistant Principal Ding expressed understanding while still feeling conficted by the district policy,“I think students should get enough time to eat brunch, but the Bell schedule is created by the district and every school in the district has to follow their schedule. If we change the brunch time, that would extend the day. Their brunch time is 10 minutes long and 17 minutes if you count the passing period.”
Nathan Lau (9), protested, “I think brunch is too short and we should get an extra 5 minutes. Brunch is an important part of our day and it’s an important meal so we would want more time to fully digest our food.”
Myself and my circle of friends feel terrible for his wife Jordyn Blum, Violet, Harper, and Ophelia. His actions don’t afect his wife but it also afects his children. Ghrol’s announcement on Instagram led to Harper and Violet deleting all of their social media accounts. Ophelia, who is only 10, might not know what to think of this situation. Meanwhile, Harper and Violet have what I presume to be a better understanding of what their father did. At 55, It almost seems like Dave Grohl still has that rockstar mentality. His “young and crazy” behavior reminds me of Jason Bateman’s character in Juno. Jason’s character was about to have a child and he still believed that he was going to be a rockstar and cling to his youth. With the backlash, comes the trolls of the Internet. Many memes were created as there was one which was the “Girl so Confusing” white album cover but with Dave Grohl’s statement. Also, whether you agree with his actions or not does not mean you can’t still support and enjoy his music. He has created incredible music over the years, in that way it’s the concept of supporting the art and not the artist. I hope that Grohl’s family can work out the situation in private as dealing with cheating is so emotional and personal that it shouldn’t be aired out on exploitative paparazzi news organizations.
MATTHEW DU / The Mills Thunderbolt
STUDENTS AT BRUNCH CARTS: Students crowd cart for brunch food.
ISABELLE YANG / The Mills Thunderbolt
HOCO RALLY: Mills students join in the gym for the second rally of the year.
Lainey Tsai Plays With TEAM USA Olympian
Isaelle Yag Sports Editor
Over Labor Day weekend, Lainey Tsai (12), varsity volleyball player, had the opportunity to join Justine Wong-Orantes’ 9-man team and play in the Back to the Bay 79th Annual North American Chinese International Volleyball Tournament (NACIVT) hosted by the San Francisco Chinese Athletic Association. At Moscone Center in San Francisco, teams from around the country competed in a three-day tournament with rules slightly diferent than normal volleyball.
Through her mom’s friend, Tsai was recommended for Team Raki after being watched during club volleyball season. She was hesitant to play initially, due to not knowing any other players on the team and was intimidated by playing with an Olympian she had watched on TV. Tsai refects, “I ended up having a lot of fun and learning that players of any age can play the sport competitively.”
Despite meeting her teammates on the frst day of the tournament and having low expectations, Tsai seamlessly played Wong-Orantes’ position, libero. She was surprised at how easy it was to develop connections with her team and credited it to the amazing amount of college, professional, and club experience on the court. “Everyone was really patient and supportive which made adjusting really easy,” says Tsai. “Court chemistry was
surprisingly smooth and felt like I had been playing with the team for a long time.”
On and of the court, Tsai enjoyed getting to know the women’s USA volleyball team’s libero. Wong-Orantes has played for the team since 2017, earning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver at the Paris Olympics. She’s a Nebraska Cornhuskers alum, where she won an NCAA national championship.
Tsai describes WongOrantes’ gracious and humble
personality, along with impressive skills on the court. She strives to learn from WongOrantes’ leadership skills, which she hopes to transfer into her play during school volleyball season. “Watching her playing so calmly yet having a big presence on the court was very inspiring,” explains Tsai. “She was covering more than half the court and diming every pass, which made me realize leadership isn’t just about being loud but also leading by example and being really supportive towards teammates.”
Looking back, Tsai had an incredibly fun experience at the tournament. Some special moments she mentions were her former coaches, teammates, and grandparents coming to cheer her team on. Tsai highlights, “It was a cool experience getting to play with such amazing people, but also getting to see others support each other and be united by the common interest of competitive volleyball.”
Although the three-day tournament challenged the team’s stamina, with only seven
core players and limited breaks, Team Raki won fve out of their eight matches. They fnished ninth place overall, working hard to climb from their initial ranking of 77th out of 83 teams.
Lastly, Tsai adds, “I saw on social media how many Olympians were raving about a delicious chocolate mufn at the Paris Olympics, I asked Justine if she had the chocolate mufn and she replied excitedly, ‘Yes, it was very tasty!’”
Sports Guide to Tryouts: Key Information
Elizaeth Paiagua Staff Writer
It’s the start of our semester here at Mills High School and our Mills athletes have begun their fall sports with a variety of diferent sports, which means lots of trying out.
“Go for it” is some of the advice that our athletic director, Mr. Keller, gives us. Students should have a good experience here at Mills so he highly encourages people to try out if
they’re interested in a sport. Some key things you need to remember before trying out is to attend the sign up meetings before the season begins. This can help coaches know who you are and know that you are interested in trying out. Make sure you are medically cleared through the health ofce, your parents need to complete a health packet that can be found on Sportsnet or also found on our school website. Make sure you are academically eligible maintaining a GPA of 2.0, and lastly try to stay in shape
before the season starts.
Amaya Moore (11), wide receiver on fag football and left winger on girls varsity soccer for winter sports, tells you to try your best no matter what. Don’t overthink it or focus on what other people have to say, just try. For people that are new to sports, she recommends doing it if you like it or if you’re interested. If not, you can always try something diferent.
Kristian Lopez (9), freshman cross country runner, says almost the same thing as Amaya.
Try your best and try to become friends with your teammates, it will make your experience a lot better. Some things he does advise you of however, is to not to eat a big meal before practice.
LUCK!
Lainey Tsai / Mills High School
TEAM PICTURE: Lainey Tsai (12), Justine Wong-Orantes, and Team Raki snap a team picture after their matches on the last day of the NACIVT tournament.
MATCH: Justine Wong-Orantes and Lainey in serve recieve. Lainey Tsai / Mills High School
JERSEY: Lainey poses with Justine and her newly signed jersey.
Lainey Tsai / Mills High School
ACTION SHOT: Lainey Tsai (12) jump serves during a game.
Lainey Tsai / Mills High School
Mills’ Underwater Hockey World Competitors!
Warren Shiu Staff Writer
Over the summer, twins
Kellen Duong (12) and Jayden Duong (12) participated in the Underwater Hockey Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) 6th Under 19 World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, putting their best foot forward in a sport where walking isn’t even an option.
The Duongs’ journey to the tournament started years ago. Both siblings dedicate countless hours to training in and out of the pool while balancing schoolwork and extracurriculars. But what even is underwater hockey? In this fast-paced sport, players use snorkels, fns, and short sticks to push a puck across the deep pool
foor, scoring in their opponent’s goal while repeatedly diving and holding their breath. And after eight years in this tough sport, their eforts put them in a spot on the international stage.
“There’s a long selection process,” said Kellen Duong. “There were three or four tryouts, then we had multiple scrimmages and a training camp that followed a strict schedule.”
Although the twins had competed in various types of matches over the years, they still felt nervous about competing halfway across the world and facing new opponents.
“It was a really big experience,” recalls Jayden Duong. “It was the frst time we were in a world-level competition. But we learned a lot and interacted with a lot of diferent players.”
But getting to the national tournament was only the
beginning. Competing on such a large stage brought its own set of pressures, and the Duongs knew they were about to face their toughest competition yet.
“It’s really challenging,” said Kellen Duong. “There were a lot of teams who were better than us. We felt like the underdogs.”
Despite the hardships faced at the tournament, the twins and their team did their best to persevere, remembering why they love the sport.
The sport was really unique in that a lot of people hadn’t heard about it,” states Kellen Duong. “But there’s a good community that plays and it was diferent because it’s a sport that no one can ball hog because you’re holding your breath and coming up for air all the time.”
In addition to underwater hockey, the Duongs also juggle two other demanding sports, water polo and swim, during
the school year. By balancing all these activities, it has given them a unique perspective on the physical and mental demands of each.
“Compared to water polo and swimming, I feel that underwater hockey is harder because you have to hold your breath,” said Kellen Duong. “It’s also easier in terms of teamwork, because everyone has to come together. No one person on the team can do everything.”
Their commitment to their underwater hockey careers while maintaining good grades and two other sports demonstrates their dedication. Their passion goes beyond competition, as they fnd pride in not only the challenges of the sport but also in the opportunity to connect...
Kalyssa Chu Staff Writer
Nearlyeveryone has dealt with some sort of obstacle preventing them from reaching their best potential— whether in sports, school, or beyond. Varsity cross country captain Miya Cheng (12) is no exception.
Having gone to state with her team last year and recently winning an individual medal at the 2024 Lowell Invitational meet, Cheng has proven to be an exceptional athlete.
in the October Issue! Continue
However, this success hasn’t come without struggle. Last year, Cheng unknowingly grappled with an iron defciency that hindered her athletic performance.
Since recently discovering and addressing this condition, Cheng notes, “It took a while to see the improvement in my running, but it’s been really nice to see myself get better.”
A key contributor to Cheng’s positive outlook is perspective.
“I feel like when you’re struggling with something you go into a rabbit hole and aren’t able to fnd a solution,” Cheng said, “I would say to take a step back. Try to widen your perspective…and the way to do that is talk to other people or self-evaluate.”
For those facing barriers of their own, Cheng advises, “[Don’t] rush…and always remember to be nice to yourself.”
Read more of Athlete’s Advice with
MHS Alum Returns As Spirit Squad Head Coach
Nicki Moreno, also known as Coach Moreno or Coach Nicki, is a former Mills student and cheerleader, now returning as Mills High School’s spirit squad head coach.
Being a cheerleader can be either an amazing experience or a bad experience. Coach Moreno has been through it all; she is currently a third year student at the College of San Mateo (CSM) studying business marketing and a cheerleader on the school’s cheer team over there as well. She is also local to the Mills community having graduated from Mills of class of 2022 and has a little sister who is currently a sophomore at Mills.
Madyson Tag Staff Writer her cheer squad team this year is, “They are all diferent in their own ways and they each have their own special talent and I love each and everyone of them for their little things but to describe them as a whole energetic, adaptive, and their just great and very understanding of me especially since this is my frst year coaching and they understanding that I’m new to this experience and they’re just very welcoming.”
Lauryn Lige (9), on her frst year on the cheer team, says, “Since I was in elementary school, I’ve always wanted to be a cheerleader like I love the dance aspect, I love stunting, and literally everything: the uniforms, the community, the hair and from a young age I’ve always wanted to do that and I’ve waited like a long time.”
Coach Moreno said, “The Mills [Cheer team] was fun; I met a lot of people and it made me build a lot of connections and got me really involved.” When asking Coach Moreno about why she likes coaching she stated, “I want to put the love I have for the sport into the girls and show that I genuinely want to be here and for no other reason and show them that being involved is good.”
Some things she said about
Lily Aidi (11) is in her third year of being on the cheerleading team. She answered the same question and mentioned, “When I joined the cheer team, I did it before my freshman year— so the summer of eighth grade— and it was kinda spontaneous. I’d never done cheer before and some of my friends were doing it, so it looked like something fun where I could meet new people at my new school.”
When asked about Coach
Moreno, Lige said, “She is really nice, strong, and has good leadership skills, and is really supportive. You can tell she knows what she is doing and her love for the sport.” Aidi added, “She has really brought the team together and united everybody… so I think she has been a really good change in a more positive and structured direction.”
When asked about the girls about their experience on the MHS cheer team, Aidi explained, “It has been really fun and also is just also a fun activity and I feel like we do more team bonding than maybe other teams. So I feel like it’s not just about the sport it is about the extra activities that come with it.”
Lige went on to say, “It helps you kinda branch out so I think if you love dance and you love working as a team and traveling to diferent schools for games and stuf like that I think it’s a good opportunity.”
Within it all, this year’s cheer team has been rooting for the Vikings at every football game no matter the school, showing their lively spirit for Mills. There is no doubt that Coach Nicki Moreno is an amazing spirit squad coach and we look forward to seeing the cheerleaders take over the feld this school year!
PRACTICE: Kellen Duong (12) and the other captains speak with the team before a match.
Warren Shiu/ The Mills Thunderbolt
HUDDLE: Jayden and Kellen Duong gather with their team.
TEAM PICTURE: Spirit Squad poses for a team picture before performing. Madyson Tag / The Mills Thunderbolt
TEAM PICTURE: The team during the national anthem before a football game. Madyson Tag / The Mills Thunderbolt
Warren Shiu/ The Thunderbolt
Kalyssa Chu
Microtrends & Their Use in Political Marketing
Luis Makila Staff Writer
Microtrends, as much as we may not like to admit it, seem to be following us everywhere. These brief yet signifcant cultural shifts are currently in works of reshaping consumer behavior and social media as a whole, now prompting brands and even politicians to adapt and change their marketing behavior ,
suiting the ever changing needs of the public eye.
Whether it be about people’s style of clothing, an up-and-coming newly released popular game, or whatever the newest TikTok challenge is, microtrends seem to have an globally unshakeable grip on the public, having greatly afected the younger generation who it has been catered for, and having an impact within their social media lives.
but they are social media in a kind of way.” She later added that for her, microtrends just refect what people are interested in during that period of time.
Now, because microtrends have grown in popularity, it’s not only students who are afected by them, but also our voters, both young and old. Mr. Don Burdette, a history and psychology teacher at Mills, vocalized that “Microtrends represent a new way to take the passions of people... associated with a candidate or an issue... to convince people to act politically.” He also remarks that any politician not willing to use microtrends to their advantage is willingly putting themselves at a disadvantage.
While asking Mills Students for their thoughts on microtrends, many shared the same opinion, saying that they’re “chill” and that they “are not that big of a thing” because they only stay around for a short period of time. A junior here at Mills, Katie Chun (11), commented “I think [microtrends] don’t afect social media,
When asked about
It ENDED With This
to the dynamic of Bloom’s parents as she recounts and rekindles with frst love and friend Atlas Corrigan.
The highly anticipated movie adaption of the novel “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover, has faced a lot of criticism since its release on August 9th, 2024. It received a rotten tomatoes score of 57% from the Tomatometer, representing the percentage of positive ratings from professional critics. Whether it was the lines, costume design or overall plot, the movie was messy.
Actress Blake Lively who stars as protagonist Lily Bloom, plays the role of a young woman who’s navigating life after moving to the big city of Boston and opens a fower shop following the death of her estranged father. In the process she meets Ryle, played by the producer Justin Baldoni. The flm follows the whirlwind of their relationship and uncovers similar patterns
The storyline revolves around the topic of domestic abuse and its cycle however specifc advertising choices leading up to the release left an unclear and misleading message.
Initial criticism came long before the release, starting with casting. The characters were originally described to be young adults in their early twenties but the ages of those casted were older. Heavy disapproval laid on Lively’s role as the audience expected someone with Bloom’s infamous red hair.
And costume
the ethics of politicians who use microtrends to their advantage, Burdette believes that there are two sides to it; a beautiful side and an ugly side. Elaborating on his answer, Burdette adds “You’re trying to connect with people ... connect with younger generations ... But there’s a dark side ... cynically preying on people and taking advantage of their proclivities.” He gave an example of that ‘dark side’, citing Donald Trump and his campaign runners faking endorsements from infuencers in hopes that people who pay attention to these infuencers would be convinced to vote for him.
Burdette mentions how even though microtrends are very infuential in today’s landscape, they do not substitute for the more
signifcant things people need from relationships. “But I know for some people, microtrends can be a big part of their lives, and I think...we need to learn how to add it to our lives responsibly and not let it substitute more important interactions.”
Microtrends are going to stay relevant, as they continue to grow, yet it is important to understand both sides, the pretty and the ugly of it all.
choices then sparked chaos after surfacing the media. While it was written in 2016 but made into a 2024 adaption, the fashion was stuck in the past, leaving viewers wanting an more updated look. Yet, the outfts did not complement each other, formed with endless colors and patterns upon patterns, earning constant hate through social media. However, the backlash didn’t stop there, as another
controversy continued.
Viewers noted the glamorization of this flm was not only problematic, but outwardly disrespectful towards victims of domestic abuse.
Not only was there turmoil among the fans but among the actors? During the ‘It Ends With Us’ press tour, fans began to speculate confict between Lively and Baldoni after seeing Baldoni do his part of the press tour alone without fellow castmates and walking the premiere carpet with only his
People believe the issue lies right between Lively and Baldoni involving Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds’ huge involvement in the making of the movie such as writing scenes or making production decisions, possibly overstepping their boundaries. An interview hosted by Reynolds featuring Brandon Sklenar, actor of Corrigan, caused question why Reynolds is so involved if he was not a part of the production team. Lively also received heat from the media during the ‘It Ends With Us’ press tour as she’s simultaneously promoting her new haircare brand, “Blake Brown.”
What’s angering viewers is that to them, Lively’s mannerisms and attitude towards the movie’s true message is somewhat dismissive and looks past the seriousness of the focus on domestic abuse despite love being involved.
Image courtesy of Harris Walz Website HARRIS: Microtrends in campaigns.
