February Issue 2021

Volume 61, Issue 6

T H E THE

THUNDERBOLT Friday, February 26th, 2021

The Thunderbolt

Mills High School Publication www.millsthunderbolt.com

Editors-in-Chief: Karine Chan ‘21 Anjuli Niyogi ‘21 Leanna Yu ‘21

Combatting Hatred and Violence

Faculty Advisor: Kelly Hensley

NE

What’s Next for the Black Lives Matter Movement

News Editor: Justin Condevillamar ‘21 Features Editor: Angela Dimaano ‘21

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Center Spread Editor: Bianca Reyes ‘21

nce Malcolm X once said “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” Unlike the aforementioned, black people still face systematic disadvantages in the United States. In 2020, the George Floyd protests, which became the largest movement in American history, revitalized demands for change across policing, education, and government.The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has been the primary catalyst of this movement, and were able to influence some major changes.This year, BLM looks to continue the fight for racial equality continues as leaders turn beyond the demonstrations and hashtags.

With a huge online social media presence, especially within the last year, BLM has been able to spread its message to millions of citizens across the country. On the BLM website, there is a list of “BLM’s 7 Demands” that supporters can co-sign by adding their name. These 7 demands consist of:

Opinions Editor: Madison Wong ‘21 Sports Editor: Misael Gomez ‘21 Entertainment Editor: Anjuli Niyogi ‘21 Media Coordinators: Leanna Yu ‘21 Karine Chan ‘21 Staff Writers: Melissa Catpo ‘24 Katelyn Chang ‘23 Joshua Choe ‘24 Jordan Hasty ‘21 Magdalene Ko ‘23 Katelyn Lam ‘23 Rita Li ‘22 Nagham Masarweh ‘24 Flora Oliva ‘21 Maxwell Zaninovich ‘24

• • • • • •

Instagram: @millsthunderbolt Twitter: @thunderboltmhs Youtube: MillsThunderbolt

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Convict and ban Trump from future political office Expel Republican members of Congress who attempted to overturn the election and incited a white supremacist attack Launch a full investigation into the ties between white supremacy and the Capitol Police, law enforcement, and the military Permanently ban Trump from all digital media platforms Defund the police Don’t let the coup be used as an excuse to crack down on our movement Pass the BREATHE Act.

Some of these demands have been met, such as Trump’s social media presence has been banned from nearly all platforms. However, many of these demands have yet to be met, with a lot of demands being pushed back. For example, although the House passed articles of impeachment on Trump a second time, he was acquitted by the Senate. The BREATHE act is a federal bill proposal that will serve as a means to defund the police and fundamentally shift the criminal-legal system by investing in new approaches to community-safety. In other words, police funding (as well as prisons and punishment systems) will be severely decreased and will instead go into an alternative safety program, powered by people of the community.

Other legislations are currently being pushed by BLM, such as the Vision for Black Lives Policy, a policy that aims to put an end to the “war” on black people. It dictates holding whole police stations responsible for the “criminaliza-

News: New Local Job Openings for Students (Pg 4)

Features: Millbrae MCTV/ARC Black Heroes Project (Pg 6)

Center Spread: Self Love Isn’t Selfish (Pg 11)

tion, incarceration, and killing” of black people. This policy is continuing to develop from its origins in 2016 and states multiple demands listed on the website. The People’s Justice Guarantee is a piece of legislation introduced in late 2019 that states many more promises for change, and overall guarantee, “shared power, freedom, equality, safety, and dignity” for black people. The End Racial and Religious Profiling Act legislation is centered around police misconduct. Proposed around 2019, this act prohibits law enforcement from discriminating against individuals based on “actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation without trustworthy information that is relevant to linking a person to a crime.” Data collection will also be increased to ensure the abundance of relevant information to a crime as to not profile a suspect. The act will also further train and educate officers in training to not use racial profiling.

BLM has made significant gains towards their objectives of racial equality and ending racial discrimination over the past year. However, as new threats and challenges to their goals from an emboldened opposition arises, BLM plans to continue to fight for social justice.

How can you help to support BLM? BLM can be supported in numerous ways, including donating to a number of funds that support the rights of black people, you can protest, sign petitions aimed to support BLM, and show your support on social media by raising awareness through posts that link to petitions and fundraisers. Alternatively, you can support businesses owned by black individuals, and utilize your votes to pass legislations centered around supporting BLM.

BREATHE ACT:

M4BL

The act seeks widespread reforms.

By Joshua Choe and Maxwell Zaninovich, Staff Writers

Opinions:

“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace until he has his freedom”

Students Recognizing Teachers (Pg 15)

Sports: Everyday Struggles of a Student Athlete (Pg 16-17)

-Malcom X

Entertainment: Senior Reflection Podcast (Pg 18)

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The Thunderbolt

Poplar Avenue Graffiti Hate Crime

EWS O

n January 27-28, trees, cars, and alleyways on the intersection of Poplar Avenue and La Cruz Avenue in Millbrae were vandalized and spray-painted with swastikas, other hate symbols, and crude sexual imagery. According to a victim, a toolset worth $150 was also stolen.

This hate crime occured on International Holocaust Remembrance Day and has directly affected two families. Although deputies have located the owners of the vandalized vehicles, there are no leads for this case, as of February 8th. Millbrae City Public Works notified the Millbrae Sheriff Department that the graffiti would be cleaned off the trees after the incident occurred.

There have been similar incidents of evident white supremacy and anti-Semitism across the Bay Area recently. In late 2019, Logan Stone, a 20-year-old Burlingame High School alumni, was charged with a felony for vandalism and hate crime. On the morning of September 5th, 2019, Stone graffitied swastikas, racial slurs, anarchist symbols, and homophobic messages on the walls of BHS. Another example of the surge in hate crimes is the death of an 84-year-old in San Francisco. On January 28th, Vicha Ratanapakdee, an elderly Asian American man, was on his morning walk when he was brutally assaulted

Raquel Catpo The Thunderbolt

HATE CRIME: Poplar Ave. trees vandalized.

By Raquel Catpo, Staff Writer

“Incidents like these are unfortunately not rare and we are not immune to these occasions. Although these are world-wide issues, they are alive and well in the Bay Area. As an educator, I believe it is our duty to discuss it and use this as an opportunity to grow. The conversations are uncomfortable and upsetting, but we must talk about them to grow and heal.”

-Serena Arge

Sexual Assult Claims on MillBrae School District

by Antoine Watson. In video surveillance footage, Watson can be seen abruptly charging and slamming into Ratanapakdee before walking away. Ratanapakdee was severely injured and passed away a few days later inside a hospital.

In response to the increase in hate crimes, Serena Arge, a visual arts teacher at Mills stated, “Incidents like these are unfortunately not rare and we are not immune to these occasions.

Although these are world-wide issues, they are alive and well in the Bay Area. As an educator, I believe it is our duty to discuss it and use this as an opportunity to grow. The conversations are uncomfortable and upsetting, but we must talk about them to grow and heal.” Furthermore, she explained that if we excuse these harmful behaviors and brush them off as “jokes,” hate crimes will only escalate and worsen.

Hatred comes in countless forms, from anti-Semitism to homophobia, racism, or xenophobia. Although the Bay Area has made much progress in the fight towards equality, hate crimes are still very much prevalent in our local communities. To improve as a society and country, the Millbrae community must stand up against discrimination, regardless how big or small it appears, rather than overlook or disregard it.

“I had her in [the] 7th grade, and during weekend or after school rehearsals, the girl who she had a relationship with (who was a freshman at Mills during the time) always visited. They were always really touchy, but [Butts] got along with everyone [...] so nobody really saw it as a red flag.”

-Madison Wong

By Bianca Reyes, Center Spread Editor

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n February 1st, two former students from Taylor Middle School filed a lawsuit in San Mateo County Superior Court againstthe Millbrae School District, alleging that they were both sexually assaulted by a past teacher and that the school failed to intervene.

The lawsuit details that the school employed Ethel Molina who, according to The Mercury News, “engaged in inappropriate contact, including groping at least two of the seventh-grade students in the 2013 to 2014 school year.” Following the incident, the plaintiffs claim that they attempted to file a complaint with the school office.

However, the school failed to act, because, according to the plaintiffs’ attorneys Robert Thompson and Kristen Vierhaus, they told the former students that “[Molina] was not coming back next year anyway.”

Nearly eight years later, the plaintiffs have filed a suit against both the school and its district for “negligently fail[ing] to monitor and supervise” the situation. Superintendent Debra French told the SF Chronicle on Monday evening that they had yet to be served with the lawsuit and that she plans to investigate the allegations once served. She also added that, “[the] Millbrae Elementary School District is deeply committed to fostering positive learning environments, preparing our students for success and ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of all students entrusted to our care.

We do not tolerate any behavior that undermines those values.”

This is not the first time that the middle school has encountered this situation before though. Nearly four years prior, Heather Butts, a former drama and English teacher at the school, was arrested on the suspicion of committing lewd acts with a 15-year-old high school student. Similar to the lawsuit filed on the first, several students went to the middle school office to report the abuse, however, the suit claims that the alleged abuse was not reported to child welfare services or local law enforcement.

Madison Wong (12), a former student from Taylor Middle School, reflected briefly about the situation when she was a student under Butts. “I had her in [the] 7th grade, and during week-

The Thunderbolt

Bianca Reyes The Thunderbolt

SEXUAL ASSULT: Multiple sexual assult accusations were reported here.

end or after school rehearsals, the girl who she had a relationship with (who was a freshman at Mills during the time) always visited. They were always really touchy, but [Butts] got along with everyone [...] so nobody really saw it as a red flag.” She then continues on, revisiting those memories after the news broke about Butts, saying, “Now looking back at it, their relationship was a little too close and I’m surprised [that] I didn’t see it coming.”

Currently, the victims of the lawsuit are seeking compensation for psychotherapy and general damages due to trauma. An incident of this magnitude is one that will ripple throughout the community as a whole, and we can only hope that it will be dealt with appropriately. Although we don’t yet know what’s in store for any of the parties involved in the current lawsuit, The Thunderbolt plans to monitor the situation and provide any updates as they come.

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Around The Community

NEWS

New Local Job openings for students

By Jordan Hasty, Staff Writer

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or several high schoolers, the past year has met them with challenges that have never happened before, reshaping their lives drastically.

From lifestyle alterations, to graduation plans, to merely adjusting — it has been a one of a kind experience. As high school students continue to face new realities, they find themselves inclined to search for a job. Stemming from financial uncertainty or pure boredom of living through indistinguishable days, some students are looking to be employed. For those who are interested in taking on a new career during this time, applying is highly beneficial. Teenagers particularly have an advantage making this choice as employment serves as an ideal opportunity to encourage productivity in your day, allow for independence, and learn valuable new skills. However, this year the coronavirus pandemic has made it so that many traditional jobs may not be an option for high school students. Already, many students who work part-time at restaurants, cafes, small businesses, and other stores have wound up laid off or unable to work due to health guidelines. But, with recent local job openings and internship opportunities, now is the ideal time to seize the set of circumstances, and begin the application process.

Many types of different jobs are available now and can be found online, Indeed for one is a great, quick search engine to use. Simply upload your resume, and let employers find you. Local suitable part-time job options can be found here, including: Chipotle, Starbucks, Mathnasium Tutoring, Panera, and more. The website also provides an internship finder, offering internship options across the Bay Area. Most of the entry-level positions will likely entail working at the register, conversing with customers, bagging groceries, maintaining stock/inventory, store upkeep, or answering the phone. At first glance these tasks may appear frightening, but with training and practice you will find yourself more than capable of completing such duties. Jaelin Aguilera-Balisi (12) commented on her experience working her first job at the clothing store, Hollister. She notes that “Getting the hang of things was surprisingly easy, I got to pick up things fast with the help of my coworkers and working a lot.” Each business has different requirements in terms of their hiring procedures. For the optimal first impression, the first step is to go inside the store and request an application if that possibility is accessible to you. This will allow for them to put a face to your name and get a sense of your character, hopefully increasing your chances of nailing the spot. As a teenager, looking for and nailing your first parttime job can seem like a difficult task. Finding a job is hard to begin with for anyone. When you have not had much, or any experience in a workplace, have never been through an interview, and have no clue where to start with writing your first resume, the task can seem even more daunting.

Luckily, Mills offers career services for students who are on the search for a new job. Just head to

the Mills website, and under College and Career Counseling, you will find a detailed presentation that includes all Career Center Opportunities, ranging from: work permit sources, internship opportunities, volunteer openings, programs, job hiring spreadsheets and more. Each aspect is an asset to beginning a career. If you, or anyone you know would like to meet virtually with a counselor, you can contact your school counselor, Ms. Murtagh, or Ms. Woolsey who are here to offer support. “Having a career in high school is essential to building developing communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills,” Career Coordinator Nina Woolsey emphasized; “Meet with your school counselor, or reach me for any questions about beginning your career path or to get in touch with an employer today.”

Finally, Woolsey suggested “The next time you are out, keep an eye for businesses near you that are looking for new employees, you’ll be surprised at the number of opportunities out there.”

geneous experience. Be sure to have a few, if not various options under your belt whilst applying to avoid entering a similar sticky situation. While job hunting can be intimidating, being well-prepared can severely decrease that. Simply, a good habit to develop is practicing answers to common interview questions that one might receive. By learning what employers ask and how you answer them, you can give yourself a better chance at landing the job. “The key tip is to not give up.

Even if you get rejected, stick to it and don’t lose confidence.” Balisi explained. Searching for a job requires both patience and persistence, the process is not linear, but it is important to keep trying, with confidence and a positive attitude.

In the event that you do not receive the desired job you were hoping for, do not be discouraged, instead congratulate yourself for the work that you have done thus far. Other opportunities are still out there. Additionally, don’t be too quick to turn down a position — sometimes

MILLB JOB OPENINGS:

Jordan Hasty The Thunderbolt

There are many resourses that can help teens find job oppertunities.

Landing a job that is well-fitting, but that also empowers you is important. Keep an eye out for positions that bring you out of your comfort zone and challenge your abilities, ultimately pushing you to perform your greatest. Consider the environment of the workplace, whether it is predominantly interactive or individual, consider if it would be an atmosphere that will allow you to flourish. Bear in mind that no two jobs are the same, one may be a far better fit than the other.

Student Luisa Mindel (11), when entering her first summer job, found herself in a debacle. “The job was a blast,” she emphasized, “I loved it but I had no free time, and I wasn’t getting paid enough.”

Despite the favorable circumstances, she felt compelled to quit. Similarly, I myself had a homo-

a job may not be exactly what you are looking for, but it puts you on the right track towards building skills to help you create a brighter future with the knowledge that you gain. Having a job in high school can not only be a great experience in and of itself, it can also set you up to get even better jobs in college and beyond. The most important thing is to remember that having a job is not for every high school student; many teenagers already have jam-packed schedules between school, sports, and clubs. However if you are interested, there are numerous benefits to be gained by having a job, whether it be: earning some money, meeting new people, or gaining some more responsibility; it is a highly insightful experience that you won’t forget.

“The next time you are out, keep an eye for businesses near you that are looking for new employees, you’ll be surprised at the number of opportunities out there.”

-Nina Woolsey

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The Thunderbolt

Changes to the College Board AP Exams By

Rita

Li,

Staff

Writer

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or the second consecutive year, SMUHSD and College Board made changes to the AP Exams to accommodate social distancing protocols. The decisions made by the College Board and school boards intend to protect the health of educators while helping students stay motivated to earn college credit.

CollegeBoard is offering three different testing periods that reflect the characteristics of each exam. If health conditions allow, the first administration will be held in the first half of May, which will be the traditional pen and paper exams administered in school.The second administration will take place in late May, with some test takers at home and others on campus.

Additionally, Mills is going to have a third administration involving all students taking full length digital exams in early June. The school is allowing students to take the exam at school if they face at-home distractions, while most students will be taking the exam from home.

Students will get the opportunity to answer practice test questions on the 2021 exam app beginning in April. Before taking the test, students will have to install the digital exam application which will not be on the same platform as last year and will not need to install the lockdown

browser. According to SMUHSD, the AP Literature and Computer Science exam will be on Tuesday, May 18th. The European History, United States History, Macroeconomics exams will be on Wednesday, May 19th. American Government, and Psychology exams will be administered on Thursday, May 20. AP Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and other foreign language exams will be done digitally on a computer on campus on Friday, June 4. The English Language and Computer Science Principles exams will take place on Monday, June 7. The Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Physics 1, and Physics C Mech exams will be administered on Wednesday June, 9. Chemistry, Physics C E&M, Statistics, and Physics 2 will be on Thursday June, 10. Last but not least, the Biology and Environmental science tests will be on the final testing date, June 11.

All teachers are now putting in their best effort to make sure students are fully prepared for the AP exam and free from distractions. For some teachers, the push back of the AP testing date by a few weeks has allowed them to spend more time working through material, such as the AP Biology teacher, Steven Wang. Others simply needed more time to get through the curriculum in time.

Still, these differences are only a few weeks and minor, so students should have no problem making additional adjustments. Make the best use of your time to prepare for the exam Vikings!

BRAE

Rita Li The Thunderbolt

AP EXAMS: Testing occurs in May and June.

SAT Testing Session for Juniors on April 27th

“Unfortunately we will not be able to offer the ACT to our 11th graders this year as we had hoped. Our only option with the ACT would have been an By Raquel Catpo, Staff Writer early April test lasting three days. n Tuesday, April 27th, 11th grade students -Kevin Skelly will be able to take the SAT free of charge. This

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College Board Exam Dates:

SAT for Juniors: April 27th AP Exams: English Literature and Computer Science: May 18th European History, United States History and Macroeconomics: May 19th American Government: May 20th Spanish, Japanese, Chinese: June 4th English Language: June 7th Calculus and Physics 1: June 9th Chemistry and Statistics: June 10th Biology and Enviormental Science: June 11th

Remaining Asynchronous Wednesdays: March 3rd March 24th April 28th The Thunderbolt

day will be asynchronous for all San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) schools in order to allow those students taking the test to come onto campus if health conditions allow.

The SAT will take place in a socially distanced environment inside the school gyms, similar to the way the current seniors took the SAT at Mills in October 2020. Students that choose to take the SAT were required to complete a google form before 6 P.M. on February 22nd.

Meanwhile, the ACT will not be offered this school year. In an official statement released by the SMUHSD, Superintendent Skelly stated, “Unfortunately we will not be able to offer the ACT to our 11th graders this year as we had hoped. Our only option with the ACT would have been an early April test lasting three days. We simply could not coordinate this given the potential for significant numbers of other students to be on campus at that time. Instead we plan to offer the ACT to this year’s juniors (the class of 2022) in the Fall Semester 2021.”

Both the SAT and the ACT take around three hours to complete and are mainly used for college applications. However, because COVID-19 has significantly impacted students’ education, most colleges and universities in the United States have either made these tests not applicable, or optional. In May of 2020, the University of California Board of Regents unanimously approved the suspension of the SATs and ACTs requirements until fall of 2024. The California State University System has also temporarily suspended the use of ACT/SAT examinations, and it will not be a factor in determining admission eligibility for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The distribution plan for the April SAT will be similar to the October 2020 SAT, ensuring that all students follow proper precautions before entering campus. When students arrive at their

scheduled time to take the test, they will show the Health Aid their LiveSafe results. LiveSafe is a mobile safety app used for COVID-19 health assessments and mitigation. Once completed, a high speed infrared camera will take their temperature. Students are required to place their phones and other electronic devices into ziplock bags until they leave the building. In addition to the school gym being 20-30 feet tall with appropriate HVAC systems, the testing desks are disinfected and spaced more than 6 feet apart from each other, in grid formation. The April SAT will likely implement the protocols listed above from the October 2020 SAT to protect students and staff members. The SAT is divided into four sections plus the essay. Students get a 10-minute break after the first section, after the third, and a shorter break before the essay. During breaks, students can eat their snacks, but are not permitted to leave their desks unless they need to use the bathroom. The majority of the SAT tests start at 8 A.M and finish around 12-1 P.M. Among 60 other juniors, Sara Catpo is taking the SAT in April. When asked to share her thoughts about taking the April SAT, Catpo replied, “I think it’s really helpful and great that Mills is offering SATs for anyone, even though it’s not required for [most] applications. Because the option is there, I figured I might as well do it.” Regarding the decision of select universities suspending the SAT and ACT requirements, Capto added, “We are all struggling with our own situations amid the pandemic, so I think this decision is fair. This will definitely take away a lot of stress students would have had to face with studying for the tests.”

With the availability of the SAT being offered for free in April, more students will be encouraged to take the test. The appropriate protocols and the socially distanced environment provides protection to staff and students from COVID-19. Testing sessions like this one are important because they give students more educational opportunities and experiences, while still ensuring everyone’s safety.

SAT

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Being connected during quarantine is a struggle for all high school students, and although everything is online now, it doesn’t mean you’re alone...People have found many different ways to stay connected to people and with the internet it can be only a couple of clicks away.

-How to Cope with Loneliness As a Student

A

fter almost a year of staying at home and social distancing, the weight of the pandemic has dampened student social life. Finding ways to communicate and socialize with others is greatly aided by the internet, but is still much harder than simply going to school and seeing your friends or going to other activities. It’s consistently difficult to find a place to talk with others while still physically distancing, but many have been working to find new ways to connect with others and adapt with the new environment.

With the stress of online school on top of the restrictions due to the pandemic, it has become increasingly harder to form any real personal connections, and is especially difficult for those who relied on school activities to make new friends. If you feel uncomfortable reaching out to someone directly, clubs are a great way to explore new interests and meet new people with the same passions or hobbies as you. There are plenty of clubs to choose from, such as chess club, the Environment Action Team (EAT) club, photography club, and more. A complete

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list of all 2020-2021 Mills clubs can be found on the school’s website and in a previous Thunderbolt article.

It may seem uncomfortable at first, but everyone is learning how to navigate through socializing online at the same time. Leadership and the Mills counseling center have made a peer support group called Breaking the Ice that is dedicated to helping with the feelings of isolation students may have, and serves as a casual conversation with a group of people, helping students feel more connected. Student organizations like the Mental Health Advancement Initiative (MHAI) focus on the wellbeing of students and help them learn more about psychology from professionals. As an advisory committee that focuses on mental health and social activism, they also spend time fostering positive connections between members.

Striking up a conversation with the people you see often is a good way to talk with people face to face, whether that be in-person or virtually. If you happen to be put in breakout rooms during a Zoom class, it’s a perfect time to talk with someone and get to know them, especially if you both have not talked before. It may be awkward at first, but once acquainted, it’s not that different from meeting someone new in-person. A short conversation with someone at a store that you frequently visit or the person that delivers your mail is always refreshing to have, as many of us have become accustomed to socializing with faces over a screen. A light “Hello” and “How are you?” can brighten up someone’s day, and even your own.

For many, it’s nerve wracking to go outside with the pandemic, so Zoom calls or Facetime are a great way to communicate while still social distancing. Video games are something almost anyone can use to connect with others. There are plenty of games that allow you to interact with new people, even if only for that one round or game. Genshin Impact is a good example of a game you could play with others. You can join other peoples worlds and although no one may be talking, it’s still nice to play with a real person. Games like Among Us have plenty of players online and it requires communication to play.

With its open lobbies, you don’t need to have friends to play with; you can just join any random room and play with someone new.

Talking through Zoom may still be awkward for some people. For those who want real human interaction without a screen in the middle, especially for those who find talking through zoom to be awkward, it is possible to meet up with your friends in person too. As long as all COVID-19 guidelines and protocols are followed, you can do outdoor activities with a small group of friends while staying safe. It is necessary to check with others first before meeting up, as people may have

How to cope with loneliness as a student By:Katelyn lam, staff writer

different views on what may be considered safe under their personal circumstances. Outdoor picnics, socially distanced walks, biking, and drive-in movie theatres are just a few in-person activities you can safely do with your friends.

Being connected during quarantine is a struggle for all high school students, and although everything is online now, it doesn’t mean you’re alone. Don’t be afraid to reach out to teachers, friends, or family when you feel isolated during this time. People have found many different ways to stay connected to people and with the internet it can be only a couple of clicks away.

FEatu

ures

Millbrae MCTV/ARC Black Heroes Project By: Katelyn Chang, Staff Writer A

s highschool students plan the path they will be taking after they graduate, many start taking up internships. By learning valuable skills, internships help students better understand what their major in college should be, as well as potential careers. They provide invaluable job experience as students learn how to interact with authority figures and stay on task. However, this year, COVID-19 has forced many employers and interns to readjust to follow social distancing regulations.

Despite being online, students are still given a unique situation in which they can interact with adults and learn from them. Leanna Yu (12) reflects on the chances an internship offers, saying they “are a great learning opportunity for all high schoolers because it gives you an idea of how real world work operates.” She gets to experience a professional atmosphere different from her usual life, preparing her for her future job.

Her training introduces her to a more serious type of interaction with others. Katelyn Chang (10) also believes that her internship gave her many new opportunities and resources, including providing her with important connections she could use later in the future.

Internships include a wide variety of jobs, and can be both paid and unpaid, depending on the employer and position. As a student working for the U.S. Department of State, Yu works for the government agency of Montenegro, making monthly newsletters for the Balkan citizens of Podgorica. She “creates advertisements and flyers for events, activities, and promotions.”

Her newsletter normally takes between a few days and a week to make, as she gets content from her boss and organizes it in an appealing manner. Also participating in a digital internship, Chang worked at an ambassadorship program from August to October creating social media posts to spread awareness about the 2020 census. She interacted with people across the Bay Area, learning about viewership engagement and outreach, as well as hosting giveaways. For Madison Wong (12), her paid internship, which she participated in for two years (one in person and one virtually) taught her practical life skills such as applying for colleges. She filed paperwork for the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection and “realized [she] would not enjoy a desk job.” During her second internship, affected by COVID-19, she only attended workshops instead of working

Students Participating in online internships By: Magdalene Ko, Staff Writer

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n honor of Black History Month, Millbrae’s MCTV (Millbrae’s local news network and non-profit Public, Education, and Government station), in collaboration with the Millbrae ARC (Anti-Racist Coalition) has embarked on a new video series titled the “Black Heroes Project”. Black History Month originally began as a way of remembering important people and events from the African diaspora, and a time to celebrate African American achievements and recognize their central role in American history.

For the ‘Black Heroes Project’, student volunteers, with ages ranging from Elementary schoolers to College students, who had signed up to participate in the series, were invited to pick one inspirational Black American hero to speak about during their video segment. Some historical figures that students had chosen to speak about included Harriet Tubman, Madame CJ Walker, Muhammed Ali, and Mae Jemison.

With production taking place in-person at MCTV’s studio and recording sessions taking roughly 30 minutes each, participants were asked to research the hero/es of their choice and prepare a short 1-minute script. They were then filmed reciting their scripts in person, while maintaining all COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines. During the process, MCTV crew member Anthony Balunsat, conducted the directing through the entire process and led students through filming clips and cuts, giving them a taste of a real production experience.

When asked about her experience with being a part of the video series, An Dang (10) stated, “Working with the MCTV and Millbrae ARC on this project was a new experience that was both fun and made me more aware of the many heroes that have fought together for equality.” Lilian Chang (12), who chose Harriet Tubman as her hero added on, citing, “I was able to deepen my knowledge and understanding of the contribu-

tions Black Americans have made to better our society.”

Sara Johnson, Executive Director of MCTV, mentioned that the goal of this project was to increase community engagement by working with the Millbrae ARC as well as spread the message of Black History Month to Millbrae residents. Johnson hoped that these videos would continue the movement of breaking down racial barriers which was started within Millbrae through June’s George Floyd Black Lives Matter march.

You can watch the Black Heroes Project videos on MCTV’s Instagram, Facebook, or on TV on Comcast Channel 27, and AT&T Channel 99. Videos will be released all throughout the month of February to honor Black History Month.

In addition to the video series, Johnson is also beginning another initiative at Mills focused on Youth Civic Engagement.

Still in the early developmental stages, the group’s mission statement is described as: “It’s our mission and responsibility to be the bridge of encouragement; fostering civic engagement through community members to express their voice and vision for all residents, businesses, and grassroots organizations. Documenting and preserving the evolving local history to include diversity, representation, transparency, inclusionary, and leadership through the use of media.”

With a goal and vision to provide low cost and/or free media services to local groups and organizations that represent the diverse community of Millbrae and promote public participation, this new organization is both youth-led and supported by MCTV in order to create community involvement that will foster leadership and shape the future city council and environment of Millbrae. Johnson is currently seeking more youth to be involved with the group; Any Mills students interested in bridging communication by providing media services and content that creates stronger community bonds, should contact Johnson at sara@mctv.tv.

at the office. Both years, she was taught how to write resumes, pay bills, approach interviews, and more.

Yu’s favorite part about her internship is being given the freedom to express her creativity. Each month, she gets to make a unique design for each newsletter, allowing her the chance to experiment with her digital design interest. Both Chang and Wong stated that what they enjoyed most about their internships was the experience of meeting new people. Their internships enabled them to make connections with a much more diverse group of people, as virtual meetings made it even easier to interact with those physically farther away. However, that was also a downfall, since there was much less actual interaction between interns. Wong felt that not seeing people in-person was the part of her online internship she liked the least, while waking up at 5:30 was her least favorite part of her first

internship. Since she worked in San Francisco, she had to take Bart early every morning to get there. As it was summer, she did not have to worry about schoolwork, and was able to focus completely on her internship. Her second internship, affected

by COVID-19, focused solely on workshops. Chang, on the other hand, learned how to balance her work and school assignments. She “used a calendar to plan her meetings and her schoolwork, as well as learned how to manage time to ensure she completed all her responsibilities on time.”

Students have been able to adjust to the pandemic, continuing to work hard and pursue their interests despite limited resources. The online format might be different, but many are able to take advantage of the unusual situation to learn something new, through virtual internships. Although we are quarantined at home, there are still many opportunities to pursue our interests.

“

Internships are a great learning opportunity for all high schoolers because it gives you an idea of how real world work operates.

-Leanna Yu, Senior

“

“

-Katelyn Chang, Sophomore

My internship gave many new opportunities and resources, including providing important connections I can use later in the future.

“ 7

39

39% of Mills students said they spent 5 or more hours of their daily screen time “just scrolling”

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in the golden Age of Content Try getting comfortable with the discomfort and boredom that comes with removing yourself from constant stimulation. With this, growth will follow.

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9

Digital Minimalism Y o u r

T i m e

your time is still in the palm of your hands

or a lot of us, our devices have served as escape. After a zoom class or working on assignment, many of us instantly resort checking our phones, whether it be Tik k, Youtube, Instagram, Spachat, Netflix, some other site. They offer us instant re, a passive source of entertainment. But en you think of it, when was the last time ur escapism wasn’t related to technology? hen was the last time you didn’t seek out tant relief but took a few minutes to stare o space? To do nothing? To feel silence?

According to data from the End of the Fall mester 2020 Viking Check-in Survey, 31% Mills students reported that social media them feeling worried, anxious, unmotivattired, upset, or unsafe. The same survey nd that over 42% of students felt the same y when they watched TV/Movies/News/ deos or other mass media. Not to mention, er 47.9% of students reported spending less n 2 hours outdoors in a week. This survey orded responses from 865 Mills students. e most shocking piece of data was that about % of students said they spent 5 or more hours their daily screen time “just scrolling”.

With this data in mind, phones and techogy are still not our enemies. It wouldn’t fair to live in a world of technology and mply say to stop using it altogether. After we’ve built and reprogrammed our lives surround technology: it’s controlling transtation, food, entertainment, work, eduion, and, nowadays, much of our leisure e. The pandemic has made it extremely y to find comfort and relief in technoloBut looking forward, when life begins eturn to normal, do we want to be spend5 hours of our days “just scrolling”?

If you’re thinking about making changto how you spend your leisure time and opting more minimalistic digital habits, first step is identifying what you can con. For the last year, so much has been out our control. We’ve been constantly lookfor answers. When’s the vaccine going be ready? What tier is my county currentn? Can I safely see my friends? At a time

Anjuli Niyogi, Editor-in-Chief where so much is out of our control and we find ourselves scavenging the internet for answers, know that the one thing still in the palm of your hands is your time. You still control how you spend your leisure time - the chances you have to be away from your computer or phone. So first and foremost, know that your time is still in the palm of your hands.

Secondly, identify your current behavior. How do you spend the first 10 minutes of waking up? You may be checking your phone right away, getting up to make yourself breakfast, or rushing to get some last-minute assignment done. But how do you want to be spending your mornings? Implementing minimalistic digital habits is not about cutting down on screen time and limiting distractions, it’s about the addition of positive habits that add value to your life. If you want to be spending less time on your phone, what do you want to be doing instead? What do you want to be doing instead of achieving your 3, 4, or 5 hours of scrolling? What’s a hobby or habit you want your future self to be doing or a current one you want to do more? It might be reading, exercising, practicing a musical instrument, writing, creating something, or anything that you enjoy. Once you’ve found your answer, little by little, you can begin to fill your time with these positive habits. Before you know it, you’ll begin to realize how easy it was to reduce your negative habits by simply adopting new, positive ones.

If you find yourself struggling to start these positive habits, know that you are not the only one. Our phones and laptops are extremely easy to pick up; every minute of every day you’re just a few taps away from that instant relief. But by creating more resistance between your screen use and less resistance between your positive habits, you may find it much easier to acquire your better habits. For instance, try setting screen time limits on certain apps on your phone, setting your phone to grayscale, or leaving your devices in another room or drawer. Something that works for me is shutting my phone down completely if I don’t need to be using it in the next few hours. That way, if I’m tempt-

ed to pick it up and check something I may not need to check, I’ll think twice before spending those extra 10 seconds to restart my phone. To create less resistance between your positive habits, keep the tools you need to do them handy and ready to use. Personally, I take the book I’m currently reading around with me in my house and make sure it’s by my bedside table before bed. That way, the easiest thing for me to do is to pick up my book and begin reading, even if that’s only a few pages before I have to do something else.

At the end of the day, if these simple tricks are not working for you, ask yourself these questions every time you find yourself mindlessly scrolling or passively watching something.

1. Do I need to be using my device right now?

2. Is what I’m doing now contributing to my values and goals?

3. How can I maximize the benefits of this technology and minimize its harms?

Along your journey, there will be times of hardship. You might be feeling anxiety, an itching pain to check your phone, or find it hard to resist glancing at a notification. Try getting comfortable with this discomfort and boredom that comes with removing yourself from constant stimulation. With this, growth will follow. As author James Clear wrote in his New York Times Best Seller, Atomic Habits, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”

Every day is about small steps, trying new systems, and adjusting your goals. More importantly, adopting digital minimalism is all about getting to a place where you’re comfortable living in a life that you don’t want to escape from, where you’re finding comfort within yourself and the habits you have developed.

If you’re interested in this topic and want to learn more about how to reduce screen time, you may enjoy Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism. This book was published in 2019 and talks about how to live a more focused life in “an increasingly noisy world” by identifying the common practices of digital minimalists (Goodreads).

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6 Center

ALL LOVE ABOUT

from the editor: for the month of february, it only fitting to choose the theme of lo then i realized, why is it that love s always be centered around loving er person? why is it that we almos associate the word “love” with r feelings? shouldn’t we think o ourselves when we first think of of these reasons were why i though was fitting to choose misa’s articl focuses on self love and how to lo self) to be the focus of this partic sue. i’m a big believer in the fact must first love yourself before anyone else, and what better way that than highlighting an arti shows you just a few ways of how t

hard feelings // lov lyrics from track 06 off of artist lorde’s second studio album, melodrama.

i light all the candles

these waves come after

cut flowers for all my rooms i call from underwater i care for myself the way

when you’ve outgrown

i used to care about you.

the whole world knows

these days,

it’s time to let go of this

we kiss and we keep busy.

summer afternoon.

6

11

Spread

all about love.

y seemed ove. but, seems to g anothst always romantic of loving love? all ht that it le (which ove yourcular isthat you you love y to show icle that to do so?

veless.

r midnight

“

- misael gomez

“

volume six:

you have to remember that at the end of the day, you’re the only person who should decide how you want to carry your life and what/who you want to carry it with.

self love isn’t selfish

misael gomez, sports editor To some people, self love may seem like something that’s too selfish or materialistic. But, in all honesty, self love is not exactly what it’s typically perceived to be. Self love doesn’t mean only caring for and doing things to please yourself, but rather it means to be confident, comfortable, and at balance with yourself. Self love means to surround yourself by those who care about you, even if it’s just yourself, if it means you as a human can achieve happiness.

Loving yourself isn’t the same as loving your parents, your friends, or your significant other, as it’s more about doing things that make yourself happy rather than doing things that make someone else happy. However, you can’t just say you love yourself and expect everything around you to change. Just like forming relationships with others, you have to take time and effort to care for this relationship. One of the best ways to build up self love is by gaining confidence. This confidence is achieved through personally recognizing your own accomplishments without needing to hear validation from others. It may seem difficult at first, as you may feel like you’re being cocky or selfish by flaunting your successes, but as long as you don’t rub every accomplishment in other peoples faces, it could have a glowing impact on other peoples opinions on you. However, you must keep in mind that there will always be “haters”. You may get glares from others or hear them talking behind your back, but it’s important to understand that their judgement comes from a place of jealousy. As long as you are happy with the way you are carrying yourself, the opinions of others will naturally fade away from your life.

Don’t just take my word for it, though, as many Mills students feel the same when it comes to achieving self love.

Ayman: Self love is the most important thing in life, especially in a relationship.You have to be able to love yourself first more than anyone else and it should be all about taking care of yourself and trying to improve on yourself rather than being someone who you choose to be.

Nick: Self love is taking care of your physical and mental health and not tearing yourself down. I think it’s very important to love yourself because you can’t love anyone else before you love yourself.

a lover

s but you

s endless

Anastasia: Self love is knowing your worth. Having confidence in your decisions but most importantly in yourself.

The most important thing to remember is that the truest form of self love is being yourself. This gradually comes with time and surrounding yourself with people who want the best for you and your well being, even if it means you are the only person around you. A lot of people take self care for granted, but you have to remember that at the end of the day, you’re the only person who should decide how you want to carry your life and what/who you want to carry it with. It may sound selfish, but putting everything aside for your well being is a natural thing that comes with loving who you are.

Self love is a very achievable goal that every human being should strive to set for themselves. It can start by giving yourself compliments and wearing the clothes you want to wear. That leads to finding people who like you for who you are, which expands into having confidence in yourself and ultimately being yourself. These are just examples, as every person has their own journey to finding themselves. It just takes a little bit of time and effort to find the love you need within you. The Thunderbolt wishes everyone a great rest of the school year, and self love to all.

What is Considered Market Manipulation?

A

By Maxwell Zaninovich Staff Writer round January 25th, seemingly dying companies’ stock prices such as Gamestop (GME) and AMC increased by 10 times their value from just days earlier. But how, and why? Well it all started when many Redditors on the popular subreddit r/wallstreetbets noticed that large hedge funds were shorting stocks and if they all got together and collectively raised the stock price, they could cause billions of dollars in losses to large exploitative hedge funds while making a lot of money in the process.

A hedge fund is basically a large company that people pay to invest in, and if a hedge fund gets large enough, they have enough money to manipulate the market in their favor. Of course, the hedge funds did not like that they were losing money, so they got together and put a stop to it.

First of all, what is short selling, or, it’s more common term, shorting a stock? Shorting a stock is when you choose to make a bet, thinking that a company is going to fail. Shorting the stock market and stocks is typically a healthy thing that helps keep the market balanced. There have even been situations when scams have been discovered due to shorting. The problem with shorting a stock is that it is very high risk, and there is a maximum on how much you can make because when you short a stock, you can only gain however much the stock was worth when you shorted it, and amount of potential losses is infinite. For example, if you short a stock when it’s valued at $20, you can only gain a maximum of $20 if the stock falls all the way to $0 . But if the stock rises, you have to buy back in, and depending on how high the stock rises, you can lose $5 all the up to a billion dollars and more. In this case, the hedge funds didn’t just short the stock - they shorted more shares than existed, which completely drove the stock price down, leading many of these over-shorted companies to go bankrupt. It also means that if the stock goes up, they will have to buy back in at incredibly high rates because there aren’t many stocks to be traded and they are in high demand. And using the basic concept of supply and demand, we know that the more people want a small number of something, the higher the price is.

Many hedge funds invested massive amounts of money into shorting these stocks. The largest of these being Melvin Capital, an investment firm founded by Gabe Plotkin. Using that information, a subreddit aptly named r/wallstreetbets knew that if they could push the stock high enough, they could cause billions in dollars in losses for the hedge funds and huge profits for themselves. And that’s exactly what they did. Reditors banded together with “GME to the Moon” declarations and rocketship emojis. After Melvin Capital lost all of that money, another large hedge fund, Citadel, bailed them out with a $3 billion investment. And lucky for Melvin Capital and other hedge funds, Citadel is one of the leading investors in Robinhood, which is the leading website to trade stocks. Shortly after Citadel bailed out Melvin Capital, Robinhood paused all buying of GME, AMC, among others, but didn’t pause selling. This decision led many to believe that Robinhood did this on purpose to make Citadel more money, as Melvin Capital was no longer losing money. Many lawmakers agreed that Robinhood was in the wrong. Democrat from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called their actions “unacceptable.” Rashida Tlaib, a democrat from Michigan, demanded a hearing on it saying, “They’re blocking the ability to trade to protect Wall St. hedge funds, stealing millions of dollars from their users to protect people who’ve used the stock market as a casino for decades.” Even Ted Cruz (weeks after inciting a terrorist attack and just before flying to Cancun while people in his state were dying) condemned Robinhood’s actions on twitter. Eventually a hearing did come and Robinhood and its CEO, Vlad Tenev, were the ones who were mainly under heavy fire. He was grilled meticulously for 5 hours, with many members of congress criticizing his actions.

This whole ordeal is another example of Wall Street trying to manipulate the market, and when somebody calls them out for it, they are shut down. Retail traders have been subject to the hedge funds authority for far too long.

12

Opin

nions

Double Masking

By Angela Dimaano Features Editor

A

s the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, there is a multitude of research being conducted on the effectiveness of masks and whether double masking is beneficial or not. As the name implies, double masking includes wearing two or more face masks in order to provide more layers of protection between you and the virus. In a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), double masking (with a cloth and medical face mask) is shown to be up to 30% more effective than a singular surgical or cloth mask.

From the start, the advantages of wearing masks has been heavily debated. The CDC had initially reported that masks were not effective in mitigating the spread of the virus, but as more research was conducted, masks were found to be successful in slowing the spread of the virus. Current research, originating from medical organizations such as UCSF, states that masks are said to reduce the spread of the virus from one infected person to another healthy person through bodily particles. Research was continued after the findings of mask effectiveness, and on February 10th, 2021, the CDC released a report on experiments testing the efficiency of different masking techniques. One experiment tested the layering of masks, while another tested facial fit of masks to overall effectiveness. The CDC found that a standard medical mask blocked 56.1% of particles from a simulated cough and a standard cloth mask blocked 51.4% cough particles. Testing for the effectiveness of double masking, a medical and cloth mask were layered on top of each other, generating a

blocking of 85.4% of particles Looping the strings of a mask and tucking the mask was another method that was tested. Compared to the 56.1% from wearing a medical mask normally, a tucked and knotted medical mask blocked up to 77% of particles (more than 20% increase in effectiveness). From these experiments, the CDC concluded double masking and mask tightening to maximize mask performance.

From the start, the entire issue of mask wearing has always been started by those who refuse to wear masks and those who comply with mask mandates. Even with these new findings on the effectiveness of double masking, those who already believe in the effectiveness of masks are more likely to accept the notion. Some non-believers already find masks to be restricting, contributing to a loss of breath or an unproven increase in inhalation of carbon dioxide. Though having multiple layers of protection is arguably common sense, there is no doubt that these mask deniers will rebel equally as much as they did towards one mask.

For the sake of getting our world and country out of the pandemic, people need to begin following the CDC’s up to date guidance on how we should be wearing our masks. New research can easily overturn anything we know about the virus, calling for the public to be understanding rather than abiding by personal feelings. By adding the small inconvenience of another piece of material on our faces, the public will be able to slow the spread of the virus, allowing a swiffer return to normalcy.

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G N E O N R D M E S R

W

e are in a generation where gender norms have evolved in more ways than anyone could have imagined. Gender norms are social norms defining “acceptable” and “appropriate” actions for women and men in a given group or society. They are embedded in formal and informal institutions, nested in the mind, and produced and reproduced through social norms.

In this generation, individuals are given the freedom to explore their self-identity in their own way.

When we talk about gender norms, we talk about more than just females and males dressing or acting differently. In our generation, social media, protests, and more have had a big effect on gender norms these days.

Protests have happened all over the world exposing people’s thoughts on gender norms. There was a recent February protest in Belarus, Minsk where women shattered stereotypes and gender roles. The protest was aimed to gain attention from the president, Aleksander. G Lukashenko, who has openly scoffed at women, saying they were too weak for politics and told them their places were in the kitchens. Women said that the protest was their safe place, showcasing how they thought it was unfair how they were treated even by their own leader.

There is also a global movement in which males wear skirts to school to protest the sexist and discriminatory dress codes. In October 2020, Colin Renaud, a high school student at Villa Maria, wore a skirt to school and a whole kerfuffle ensued. “The movement has two objectives,” Renaud explained, “One is to fight against the hypersexualization of women’s bodies, to allow them to wear what they want, and break the codes of our society — to stop saying there’s a gender for everything, that this is for boys and this is for girls. It’s also to attack dress codes that are deemed sexist and degrading for people who wear skirts, and all parts of a uniform that could be seen as non-egalitarian.” Renaud didn’t think his attire would be a problem. Villa Maria High School has had a mixed uniform policy since 2015, wherein all students are allowed to wear skirts or pants, as they choose. But upon arriving at school, he was reprimanded by a monitor — who asked him if he was transgender or gay — and brought to the principal’s office, where a secretary told him skirts are for girls. Things changed once assistant director Françoise Dubuc was made aware of the situation and Renuad was sent back to class. Social media has also shown huge effects on gender roles. Men are told, by society, not to wear makeup or paint their nails, and now men all over social media are painting their nails and putting on makeup despite the chances of receiving cyber bullying. hate for it.

Celebrities have also joined the fight against gender norms. Some of the celebrities include Harry Styles, Jaden Smith, Miley Cyrus, Olly Alexander, Troye Sivan, Demi Lavato, and more. Styles is known for stepping out of the box when it comes to fashion and it has been strongly supported by fans. With chunky necklaces, nail polish, flowy tops and traditionally feminine prints, Styles seems to wear everything with confidence. Smith was featured in a Louis Vuitton campaign for womenswear in 2016, and he also wore a dress to his high school prom. When Smith was in an interview with Nylon he was asked he wore dresses and skirts by, he responded saying it was so future generations of non-gender conforming children won’t experience bullying. Smith wants to push gender norms boundaries to help future generations. Troye Sivan came out as gay on a YouTube video back in 2013. Like Smith, he also likes to defy society’s gender norms in the way he dresses and presents himself. “I’m done with your gender norms,” he tweeted back in 2019. Sivan’s music videos, for songs such as Wild and Heaven, frequently feature LGBTQ couples in starring roles.

Although I grew up in the United States, I would often go to Jordan and Palestine in the summer. There, I was always told how to act, dress, speak, and even laugh like a girl by my family members. Sometimes, I would be dressed in masculine clothing and be called out on how I should dress more “like a woman.” I was also told what was supposedly the right way for women to live. It was upsetting to hear some of these gender norms because I didn’t agree with them. With their strong opinions, I always assumed that they would want my future to include getting married and staying home cooking and cleaning for my husband and children instead of going to college and getting a degree. I remember my male cousins could always hang out whenever they wanted, but when any of us female cousins would ask to hangout, we would be told to stay in the house because we were girls and we had to help around the house. When my male cousins played sports, I would often have to sit out because I was told “sports were for guys.” This was really upsetting to me because in my eyes, I could do the same things any of the guys could do. In other non-Western countries, these assumptions and expectations are ingrained in the culture of daily life. In the United States, it is easier to stand up to gender norms and protest for equal rights. Although there are more freedoms than in the past, Palestine and Jordan, still seemen are seen as the superior sex.

Gender norms tell us how males and females should feel, dress, and act. But how can emotions or actions belong to females or males? While the world is evolving, gender norms really do seem out of place since gender norms only go directly to females and males. These are only a mere two genders with norms associated with them. Compared to now in 2021, gender is so much more than a 2 sided coin; it is a fluid spectrum.

Gender socialization operates as a concept that is exclusively composed of two parts. In other words, individuals are socialized into being either masculine (male) or feminine (female). Identities are therefore normally constructed along this single parameter. However, some individuals do not feel that they fall into the gender binary and they choose to challenge the male and female binary. For example, individuals that identify as transgender feel that their gender identity does not match their biological sex. Individuals that identify as genderqueer are challenging masculine and feminine stereotyes, and may identify as somewhere other than male and female, in between male and female, a combination of male and female, or a third or so on, or gender altogether. When we live in a society that changes every day, and gender norms start becoming a problem because gender norms don’t include any other genders but female and males. Gender norm identities demonstrate how people think the flow of gender should happen, which is so frequently thought to be biological and unchanging. Gender fluidity also shows how gender norms are either learned or rejecting gender norms.

At the end of the day, the world is evolving everyday and sometimes we need influences to make people snap out of the fantasy of having gender norms that make no sense and are unfair and derogatory.

By Nagham Masarweh Staff Writer

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Opin

nions

Recognizing Teachers’ Work On Zoom

By Jordan Hasty Staff Writer

ensure students’ comprehension to gather a sense of how students feel and check their understanding. It is no longer as simple as scanning the classroom to see if any child is struggling, disengaged, tired, or overwhelmed. Jokingly, Ms. Tutaj, a history teacher here at Mills who was met with a similar experience, explained that the new teaching style n the event of the Coronavirus pandemic, the 2020-2021 school year “feels like walking on land with full scuba gear on.” Fortunately, Tutaj, has urged formidable changes in everyone’s lives. Teens, particularly, as well as many other teachers, have been able to view this matter from have been drastically affected, causing a deep and immediate change a positive perspective, but it does not erase the subconscious awareness no one was prepared for. With the wide-ranging detriments the virus of feeling “alone” on Zoom. For social teachers, making the adjustment has inflicted, adolescents have found difficulty coping, becoming tun- is especially testing, as student-teacher bonds are nearly unachievable nel-visioned on the disruptions occurring in their lives. This is a normal in the world of virtual instruction. Forming a connection with a mere response, as the impact of the pandemic has led to significant amounts 20% of their students, as opposed to a regular school year, according to of distress — yet with students caught up in their hardships, we have a recent study done by My Teaching Partner-Secondary (MTP-S) profailed to keep in mind the jarring actuality that most teachers are feeling gram, has unequivocally taken an emotional toll on educators. Despite one and the same. Just one year ago, teachers were greeting students en- this, even when there is no direct face to face interaction with students, thusiastically as they entered their classrooms. Now, with the absence most teachers still try to provide the ideal environment they can over of side-conversations, being able to notice when students are visibly a Zoom call. Whether this be creating interactive and creative classstruggling, and face-to-face interaction coming to a halt, teachers have work assignments or simply showing up with an enthusiastic attitude been met with various challenges this virtual school year. More than — a little goes a long way. For some students at home, class is their ever, teachonly escape, ers have felt so a teachthe stress er’s bright with learnattitude can ing how to inflict a effectively more positeach online tive impact while also in hindsight. maintaining Though this their perchange has sonal daily been unfalives.

On vorable for one hand, many, it is they’re vital that as juggling students and grading asteachers, we signments learn how timely, takto succeed ing calls, ret o g e t h e r. sponding to While it is emails from important students/ for teachers colleagues, that they let meeting their stuone-on-one dents know with stuthat they dents, and are always curating there for remoteBag with thank you note onebooth.com them, it is ly formatted assignments and lesson plans. On the other, they’re also dire that students give back and convey their appreciation. grappling with upholding their mental health, keeping up with Aside from the numerous changes made within the classroom household duties, maintaining personal obligations, and tak- for teachers, catching up with their personal lives has become a great ing care of their families. Despite the contrary, teaching from concern to boot. The unprecedented difficulties accompanied by home is not easy, and that is made exceptionally clear this year. the worldwide pandemic has only added to the pressure that teachBut teachers are not alone, students have undoubtedly struggled er’s face everyday. Naturally, educators are geared to put others’ too. Since the last day in the classroom on March 13, 2020, some have needs first, particularly their students. Yet, now more than ever, it is found themselves slipping into unhealthy lifestyles, thus experiencing a critical time for teachers to make their own well-being a priority. rapidly sinking mental health levels. The interference of COVID-19 has However, adapting to the new “normal” at home can pose quite an increasingly consumed the lives of teens daily, triggering a blind eye to- issue as well in terms of finding a balance. With children in all-day wards the difficulties teachers have been dealing with simultaneously. preschool and daycare, Tutaj herself is quite familiar with the obstaIt is absolutely acceptable that adolescents are feeling this way, and the cles of parenting and teaching alike. “If we couldn’t afford it, and resilience that has been shown upon the younger generation during this if daycares and preschools weren’t open, there is no way I could be pandemic is immensely empowering. That being said, it is important teaching right now,” Tutaj expressed. Luckily, the convenience in her to acknowledge what our educators are forced to contend with as well. situation merits a less strenuous level of difficulty, although it might There are new challenges presented while teaching virtually that are not be the case for all. Even so, it is a struggle for teachers to not not necessarily present when teaching in person. Moving to instructing only teach and grade online, but virtual learning also means an inentirely online, the social aspect that the classroom brings utterly di- crease in emails from both students and other colleagues. Figuring out minishes. Instead, classic classroom interactions are narrowed down to a work-life balance on its own is puzzling in itself during normal times. teacher’s speaking in non-verbal clues such as raising a thumbs-up to To read the full article, go to millsthunderbolt.com.

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16

Sports

The ThunderbolT

everyday STruggleS of a STudenT aThleTe Justin Condevillamar News Editor

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he lives of student athletes’ are often more complex and strenuous than what most people would perceive it to be. Being a good student and being a good athlete both take a significant amount of time and effort and can sometimes conflict with each other. This can be further complicated through the presence of various injuries and medical problems related to being an athlete. In a questionnaire sent out by The Thunderbolt, students were able to discuss lesser known issues related to being an athlete, and how it has affected them and their teams.

A significant challenge described by many respondents is the amount of time they have to dedicate to athletic activities, whether with the team or without. The general schedule for student athletes during their sport season consists of: going to school from morning to early afternoon, homework/ conditioning/break time between school and practice (except on game days which take the entire afternoon), practice/games midafternoon, then homework/conditioning/other activities during the evening and often at nighttime. Even during off days and the offseason, a significant amount of time is allotted to conditioning to stay in shape. The packed schedules leave less time for student athletes to work on their schoolwork and other obligations, and even less time to spend on their personal lives. The scheduling can also consume a lot of energy as described by Karine Chan (12), a cross country and track athlete who states: “practice everyday after school was also extremely strenuous and going home so tired and worn out from the day made it difficult to focus on homework.” The time balance between school and sport related activities has also been problematic for some athletes, as sports related activities take up a large portion of a student’s daily schedule. A basketball player stated that “There were definitely times where I was up at 3am trying to either finish an essay or project that was due the next day.” Keefer Yip (12), a badminton player adds that “It can be difficult, as sometimes I have hours of work or studying to do and can be tempted to skip practice or leave early. Alex Sin (10), another badminton player states that “after coming back from sports you usually feel a lack of motivation because of the fatigue that results from practice.” The physical exertion from athletic activities can leave some very tired after events which can affect other daily activities. An anonymous student stated that “After hours at the gym and practice I can get emotionally and physically drained leaving me unable to interact with family and friends.” Naomi Wong (12), a volleyball player adds that “With games and tournaments, it takes extra time out from studying and doing homework, [so] there will be late nights and there will be head pounding headaches in the morning.”

Unfortunately many athletes were forced to make difficult choices on how to spend their limited amount of free time, which led to certain activities being limited or cut out. A soccer player describes the academic limitations that she faces as a student athlete, stating: “In past years I’ve wanted to take dual-enrollment classes or get a job but wasn’t able to because I had sports for most days after school.” Karine Chan explained the social limitations that were placed on her as an athlete, stating: “It kind of diminished my social life. I am naturally not the smartest kid in school, so during cross country or track season, I would have to spend any free time I had studying and attempting to catch up in classes.” These time management related issues are often not seen unless someone knows the athlete well. Many student athletes have reported some sort of disconnect with their friends and family due to their sport as well. It can be difficult for athletes to find time for themselves or even have the energy to do things outside of their sport and other responsibilities. Time management is often a significant mental strain on a student athlete, which can be worsened by physical strain.

Depending on the sport you play, certain types of minor and severe injuries can occur during athletic activities, which can have consequences for both the player and the team. While people may know an injury that a student athlete endured, they often don’t fully know the full extent of the effects of the injury. The most common type of severe injury reported are on the knee and ankle ligaments, which often goes through the most amount of strain when someone is practicing or competing. Although not common, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and meniscus tears were reported across several sports which had adverse effects on both the players on the team. A Mills basketball player tore her meniscus and missed most of the season. She was a starting player who filled a role that the team needed and struggled to adjust to after the injury. She is currently recovering, but will have to go through rehabilitation and conditioning in order to play at the same level. A torn ACL on a Mills badminton player prevented them from playing for a year, and eventually caused them to quit the sport. One Mills football player broke

his ankle and was forced to be sidelined for 6-7 months, although he still showed up to practices and games. Concussions have also been an issue for players in certain sports such as volleyball and soccer, which can have effects on a player both on and off-field. A Mills volleyball player endured a concussion during her junior year, which forced her to leave school for a week.

She described having difficulties catching up with schoolwork when she returned which caused a significant amount of stress.

Although not as severe, plenty of minor injuries happen to the vast majority of players across all sports. The most common minor injuries described are tendonitis, joint sprains, cramping, and soreness. Tendonitis is the inflammation of the connecting tissue between muscles and bones which can cause irritation and pain on various joints. Volleyball players endre rotator cuff tendonitis from repeated arm motions. The rotator cuffs can become really irritated, but most players are able to rest, ice the joint, and play through the injury. Soccer players usually get tendonitis on their knees and shins, but are able to play though with knee and leg braces. Tendonitis can also prevent swimmers from using certain strokes that would increase strain on their bodies. Ankle and wrist sprains are very common among basketball players; although most players are able to play through their injuries, it has a significant effect on their game performance. Cramping is a very common phenomenon across all sports. Gabriel Solano, a swim team member, described his experience with cramps, stating “it feels like sometimes I can’t walk because I can’t breathe or it’s in my leg and I can only feel my leg hurting.” Soreness is also very common among all sports. In golf, extended periods of play can cause back soreness, which can make other activities difficult.

Certain contact sports, such as water polo and football, can have players endure bruising from physical contact from opposing teammates. Shin splints are very common among track and cross country athletes, which can cause severe pain and make it very difficult to walk or run. Even communal diseases can pose a threat to certain teams, especially in contact sports. The girl’s basketball team has to deal with the flu, which can spread across the team and take multiple players out, depleting their roster.

Unfortunately, injuries are an unavoidable aspect of all competitive sports. Depending on the type or severity of the injury, a person or team can be affected in different ways, sometimes even altering their lives outside of sports. Many injuries can be hidden to the naked eye, but the symptoms still affect the student athlete.

These types of physical strains can also contribute to the worsening of mental strains that a student may face, which can lead to mental health issues.

The strains that come actively competing in a sport can have adverse effects on a student athlete’s mental health. These effects can range from motivation issues, stress, and other issues which negatively affect the health and performance of a student athlete.

Being a good student and a good athlete requires a significant amount of time and effort, which can cause athletes to develop motivation issues. Many respondents said that obligations outside of the sport, particularly schoolwork, can cause some to become less motivated to train and compete in that sport. When describing her motivation issues, a volleyball player states that “it’s difficult to stay motivated since the season feels long especially near the end. It’s tiring especially with long practices and two games a week during the peak of the season.” The end of season motivation problems are common, with a basketball player adding it’s hard to keep going to practice everyday. (Read more on MillsThunderbolt.com)

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Sports

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Madison Wong Opinions Editor

hile it’s the shortest month of the year, February has many significant events and celebrations including Valentine’s Day and Groundhog Day. February is also Black History Month, a time to educate ourselves and others about black history. However, one event that is often overlooked during this time is Healthy Heart Month, or American Heart Month, a time to encourage others to adopt healthy heart behaviors.

In February of 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was a heart attack survivor, declared the first American Heart Month, addressing cardiovascular disease.

You probably hear about these diseases and think, “I’m young, I’ll be okay,” but heart disease affects more people than you think. Along with being the number one killer in Americans, 1 in 3 women are diagnosed with heart disease annually. According to the Center for Disease and Control, in 2019 alone, 523.2 million cases of cardiovascular disease were reported worldwide (26.6% increase over 2010), and of that, 18.6 million people died (17.1% increase in the past decade).

In fact, nearly 805,000 Americans will have a heart attack this year; that’s one every 40 seconds. Not only does heart disease affect the patient, it also affects their loved ones. Nobody wants to see someone they care about suffer.

With COVID-19, we have to be especially careful of our cardiovascular health, given that the virus attacks the heart and vascular system, making people with pre-existing heart conditions more susceptible to infection. Since people are stuck at home with nothing to do, many have resorted to binge eating and drinking. People are also less inclined to workout since many gyms are closed, further diminishing their cardiovascular health. Not to mention, those with poor vascular health are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19, so during this time, people often delay going to the hospital after having a stroke or heart attack in fear of

catching the virus.

While part of preventing heart disease is spreading awareness, the main goal of American Heart Month is to motivate Americans to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent heart disease. With the pandemic, this year’s American Heart Month will look different from that of the past years.

Although there are no big events promoting vascular health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggested fun, impactful activities we can do safely. To further spread awareness, they encouraged people to wear red on the first day of February and post a picture of themselves doing something to prevent heart disease with #ourheart. They also suggest we have a step contest between friends, family members, co-workers, etc. to promote cardiovascular health and a healthy lifestyle.

Heart disease prevention doesn’t need to only be in the month of February, however. There are many simple things we can incorporate into our lifestyle that can prevent heart disease, or at least catch it early. A few easy ways is to have a balanced diet, get screened regularly for heart disease, and exercise. Exercise doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym or going on a run - it could be simply jogging in place while watching TV or doing a few push ups before your next class.

Taking care of your cardiovascular health doesn’t have to be a chore, but rather a fun challenge to keep in the back of your mind.

While American Heart Month is coming to a close and most events have already occurred, one thing that you could do to support the cause is to donate, or encourage others to donate to one of the nonprofits listed below. Instead of buying your morning coffee, donate those few dollars to nonprofits who will use that money to help others and potentially save lives. No donation is too small, and you could change someone’s life with it.

Swimming Workouts Return

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tarting on January 19th, swim workouts have resumed and are currently being held from Monday to Friday from 3:45 pm to 5:45 pm. There were also recent time trials for different events to sort swimmers into JV and Varsity.

To ensure student safety, swimmers have to arrive at practice ten minutes earlier than scheduled to take their temperature and answer all questions regarding COVID-19 exposure outside of the pool. This same protocol is followed by all other Mills athletic teams, where students must respond “No” to all the questions asked before they are permitted to workout. Once on the pool deck, swimmers have to stand six feet apart wearing their face masks while uncovering and covering the pool before and after practice.

Swimmers usually follow a “circle etiquette,” which is the practice of swimming through the right-hand side of the shared lane to avoid bumping into an oncoming swimmer head-on. However, swimmers must now start swimming from opposite ends of the lanes to social distance. The lane will be split horizontally instead of vertically, where many swimmers have never been exposed to this new concept of swimming. Coach Wong has to sanitize all equipment used, such as kickboards and lap counters. Though not officially decided, COVID-19 testing may be done every week, with the most recent day for testing on February 2nd.

Tina Lam (12) stated, “I am really happy I got to come back with my friends for my last year of high school swim! It was cool meeting new underclassmen and mentoring them after I finished my sets. Our team is definitely way smaller than before, but that is fine too.”

Due to the proper chlorination of the pool water, the

Rita Li Staff Writer likelihood of contracting the virus is very low. According to experts at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is currently no evidence that Covid-19 spreads throughout water since pool disinfectants like chlorine and bromine should kill the virus. Unlike bacteria, viruses need a host to survive so they do not fare very well with water, air, or surfaces. However, there is still a potential risk for getting infected if the virus spreads from physical contact and respiratory droplets in the water. Despite the risks, Sophia Baltasar (12) believes that returning to regular practice has its benefits as swim practice is probably the first time swimmers have had a consistent exercise schedule and social interaction since early last year. Baltasar wakes up every morning and looks forward to swim practice after school because not only does she get to swim, but she also gets the thrill of in-person socialization with her classmates. Baltasar commented, “I really appreciate how much time and effort our coach, Mr. Keller, and the district have put into creating the opportunity for Mills students to participate in sports once again.”

The return of swim practice is an exciting time socially and physically for the swimmers remaining on the Mills swim team. Swim is permitted in the purple tier and swim meets are projected to occur from March to June as a CIF Season 2 sport.

Baseball Workouts Return

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Joshua Choe Staff writer

he Mills JV and Varsity baseball practice is in full swing, with the expected season to last from March to June. California’s red tier sports list includes baseball, as it is a moderate contact sport. With practice in session, players are getting back on the grind in an environment different from what they’ve seen in the past years. To ensure the players’ safety, there are procedures that players must follow to be admitted to practice.

Seniors, Nikolas Janke and Ryan Nakasu, describe practice as being “no different from normal practices with the exception of having to wear a mask.” Before practices, Coaches McWhirter (JV) and Adornetto (Varsity) takes the players temperatures, prior to being admitted onto campus. Similar to other sports teams, students must also check-in on the “LiveSafe” app, which asks questions regarding prior exposure to COVID-19. As per the usual baseball practices,, the team practices throwing, running, and infielding. There has not been any changes to the normal practice routine. Both Janke and Nakasu are excited about practices starting again. (Read more on the MillsThunderbolt.com)

The ThunderbolT

DIY Workouts: How to Excersise From Home

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Magdalene Ko Staff Writer

ith limited access to exercise equipment due to gyms temporarily closing, working out has gotten much harder. However, even at home, there are plenty of low-cost substitutes for the equipment normally provided at a gym.

Regular items around your house can easily be turned into weights. For light dumbbells, water bottles or canned food are an easily accessible replacement to tone your biceps, triceps, and shoulders, employing them for exercises like the bent-over row. These can be substituted for small bags of rice or beans, which can vary according to your weight choice. These small pieces together in a bag come with an extra advantage: if you don’t like the stiffness of a dumbbell, they mold to fit the shape of your hand.

A quick replacement for medium-sized weights like kettlebells are gallons of milk. The advantage of using an empty gallon is being able to fill it with other materials, like water, dirt, or sand. If you only use medicine balls for balance, sports balls like basketballs or volleyballs are good replacements. Other possibilities for bicep curls or weighted lunges include paint cans or a jug of laundry detergent. As a heavy medicine ball substitute, bags of books or canned food come in handy. Costco type bags of rice also double as weights for weighted squats. Another option using a bag of rice is putting it on a barbell if you have one. Instead of only carrying a book or water bottle, a backpack filled with heavy items is an easy way to add weight to your workout. A full backpack or duffel bag is an amazing addition while doing squats or good mornings, as it serves multiple purposes since it can also be used as a weighted vest if you want to maximize your workouts.

If you don’t have a jump rope at home, a garden hose is a nice replacement. Although a bit heavier, it certainly gets the job done. A towel is an easily accessible item to use during workouts instead of resistance bands. Comforters are a nice stand-in for battle ropes. Take both ends of a heavy comforter, then treat it like any normal battle rope. A heavy cast-iron pan is a great object to use for weight plates.

Holding the pan in front of you, you can do exercises like Russian twists or single-leg deadlifts.

Regular stairs in your home or apartment building are the perfect substitute for a StairMaster, as well as doing wall exercises at your home. Supine hamstring stretches and elevated push-ups are just a few of the flexibility and regular exercises you can do on a wall. If you miss your treadmill or stationary bike, do mountain climbers, burpees, or jumping jacks. A situp machine can easily be replaced by simply doing planks on the floor.

A rolling pin can serve double duty as a foam roller to alleviate all the stress from staying at home all the time. Gliders are a great way to increase your range of motion and can be used even at home. Try substituting coffee filters or paper plates under your toes for an increased ab workout. All stretches, especially in yoga, feel better with something soft padding the floor. If a yoga mat isn’t available, a rug or blanket on a hard surface is just as comfortable to use to do those pigeon poses and downward dogs. Following on the yoga line, yoga straps are vital to those either new to the routine or not as flexible. A tie or belt is just as effective as a yoga strap in achieving the proper poses. Benches are almost a must-have in every workout, useful for exercises like step-ups or box jumps, but they can just as easily be done at home.

Chairs, couches, and stools are all great resources to achieve the proper split squats or elevated push-ups.

No matter the type of workout, there are still substitutes available. There are plenty of replacements for gym equipment to stay healthy at home.

Remember to make the most out of lockdown and continue your workouts!

“ “I had the time to fiinally f try new things that I can guarantee I wouldn’t be doing right now if COVID didn’t happen.”

“I messed myself up that way by not enjoying my school years before, since [events] kind of just got taken away from us.”

- Misael Gomez

- Angela Dimaano

Senior Reflections: A Look Back On The Thunderbolt Editor Team’s 4 Years at Mills scan to listen

Featuring Justin Condevillamar, Angela Dimaano, Misael Gomez, Anjuli Niyogi, Bianca Reyes, Madison Wong, Leanna Yu

Thunderbolt Record Releases

New Podcast Episode Stream on Spotify by visiting

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“Take advantage of your time when we do get to go back ... take advantage of the things you’re given when you’re given them.”

- Leanna Yu

- Madison Wong

“Do everything like it’s your last time doing it because you never know, it might actually be your last time.”

- Madison Wong