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Volume 62 Issue 3 || Dec 2021 ||

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Tips for Successful Finals Handling Stress

no experience with high school finals. But simply worrying about something will not improve the situation. With will and commitment to efforts, all can be confident in doing just fine in their exams. However, it’s important to be wise and avoid doing things that might hinder success. When it comes to finals themselves, be sure your prioritization game is strong. There are some finals that can only be done in class, especially with APs, but others allow time to study and prepare for them. Some are like projects that can be done before the intensity of finals and studying increases. It’s up to you to decide what to do first, but be wise. Do pay attention when a teacher makes a comment about a topic being on the final, even if you’re familiar with it. Unless the teacher refuses to tell the class until a certain time, make sure you understand exactly what to expect for the final. And be sure to take advantage of all the time you have; there’s

studying, skimming over your notes and watching some YouTube videos on topics won’t be enough -- you need to formally assess yourself in order to solidify your understanding. When you just review, it can be easy to think you understand everything. After all, you’ve already seen it before. But when you don’t have anything to refer to but your memory, you are really challenging yourself to engrain the concepts in your head. 3. Choosing the wrong study partner It’s tempting to ask a friend to be your study partner. Being in the company of people you are close with helps you feel more comfortable, especially in a situation you don’t want to be in (like cramming for finals). This is not to discourage having a friend as a study buddy, but it’s important to pick someone that will help you stay focused and motivated and can provide proper help with subjects you might not be proficient in yet. Maybe you could even go as far as to ask someone you know is good at the subject to help

with studying -- while it would be a bit out of the comfort zone, it might help you a lot more than you’d expect and could even lead to making a new friend. 3. Not asking for help Something that we all encourage and support is asking for help, but how often do we do it ourselves? It can feel a little overwhelming or embarrassing asking the teacher for help in something you feel like you should understand or handle yourself. Maybe you don’t particularly like the teacher or fear them thinking little of you. But the truth is that if whatever you’re struggling with could be resolved and handled by yourself, then it wouldn’t be something you would still be struggling with. Sometimes having another person explain a topic to you might also give you another way to look at something. Asking for help can also be done in different, more minor ways, such as asking for clarification or repeating of something in class. 5. Not using your resources The internet is a great resource in itself. It can provide you with practice problems, tutorials that might be easier to understand than the textbook, or good resources to use as reference. While many teachers only slightly comment about it, Tutor.com is also actually a rather helpful tool in studying. Not only can you use it anywhere, as there is a downloadable app, but it feels more like a casual texting conversation with someone rather than a lesson. It also covers every subject, including languages! Sometimes it’s easier to get help when it’s not face-to-face interaction or when you don’t have to do a ton of outside research. The idea of final exams can seem daunting, especially with them usually having a decent effect on your semester grade. But anticipation often scares you more than the situation itself. Having faith in your abilities and doing everything you can to prepare yourself can eliminate some stress. Even with the importance of academics, the most important is your own well-being. If your health is not well, then it will affect you as a whole. Elizabeth Chen does an excellent job of talking about the importance of stress management, which you can find in the same section as this article. And, lastly, remember how much it will be worth it when you hear the final bell of the year ring through the school and feel the weight of school worries being left behind as you exit campus. Give it your all, you’ve got this!

Features

entertainment

OpiniOns

Chloe Ho Staff Writer

ith the arrival of winter comes the arrival of the much coveted two-week winter break: a time to de-stress and enjoy the holidays. The drop in temperatures bring chic, cozy sweaters and the homey warmth of hot drinks in porcelain mugs. But before students are released to cherish the leisures of wintertime, they must endure the four-day final exam period. Naturally, there are rising levels of stress among students of every grade level, but they are particularly high among underclassmen who have little to

always less of it than expected. What to avoid when studying: 1. Not having a set spot to study Always be sure to designate a place to study. This place should be quiet and distraction-free, and have plenty of space for you to get things done. It should be a comfortable place, but it shouldn’t be too comfortable. Having a designated place is much better than just sitting down anywhere you feel like studying because you have determined that that place has all qualities of a good studying environment. A place with too many distractions or too little space for you to work will make it harder for things to get done. 2. Just reviewing, not quizzing When you do get around to

chloe ho

STUDYING: Students each have their own studying method for finals.

Are parents open to their children going to vocational schools? What about projects over breaks? Or homework load? pg. 5

Learn about the many different cultural holidays celebrated in December pg. 9

Student thoughts on the harmful stereotypes of eating disorders in society pg. 7

Elizabeth Chen Staff Writer

ental health has become a rising concern over the years, as it has come to the forefront of conversations about teens’ overall health. We now have more mental health assemblies and resources for us to use and learn. Rather than be shamed for it, we no longer have to worry about caring for our mental health. Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure and can be presented in many different ways. It can come from homework, tests, school in general and family. But, while these reasons might seem mundane to many, stress can actually be very harmful to our bodies. In the long run it can lead to conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses. You may also end up with problems with sleep, depression, anxiety and headaches. Minor things can have a bad effect on lifestyles. Students’ eating habits are one of the most unknown affects on stress. “I walked into class

is a physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. When students overload and don’t take care of themselves, they crash or have emotional breakdowns. It’s better to reach for attainable goals than hurting your health. Looking towards the bright side, there are some ways you can handle your stress. For shorter term solutions you should use a planner to stay more organized to make your consuming tasks manageable. Taking short breaks can also help you decompress and clear your mind. If your stress becomes a bigger problem then you should seek guidance. For example, Mills has a wellness program with counselors that are there for your assistance. You can also go to a trusted adult or friend for counseling and de-stressing. Taking breaks from social media and the news can be very beneficial. Lastly, making time for yourself to unwind can help you clear your mind and have a better mindset. Homework and school can be very stressful for students. To combat this teachers have been adjusting their curriculum and grading to alleviate stress. When asked, teachers said that they changed the work

elIzabeth chen

STRESS: Many students are stressed from the amount of homework given.

and saw people eating out of packages” stated Mr. Hensley. Stress eating can be very harmful because you are using food as a coping mechanism and it becomes an emotional issue. The high cholesterol and sugary foods are harmful long term. Lack of sleep also increases stress, since sleep keeps the body well rested, improves concentration and regulates mood. An almost immediate effect of too much stress is burnout. Burnout

so students could show their knowledge in different ways. Ms. Kovacs, a math teacher, stated “We went slower through review topics so everyone can relearn. We’ve made sure there’s always opportunties for redemption” Others have decreased homework or made due dates lenient so students still submit work. Stress can be hard to handle but there are ways to combat it. Remember that there will always be people there for your support.

spOrts

WOrd search

This winter season’s predictions and rising stars pg. 10

Enjoy a classic holiday themed word search pg. 12

news

The Thunderbolt

The Need for Emergency Drills Jake Meyers Staff Writer

Mills High School Publication 400 Murchison Dr. Millbrae, CA 94030 editors@millsthunderbolt.com www.millsthunderbolt.com

Thunderbolt Staff Faculty Advisor Kelly hensley

Editor-in-Chief Katelyn chang ‘23

News Editor magDalene Ko ‘23

Features Editor Katelyn lam ‘23

Center Spread Editor nagham masarweh ‘24

Opinions Editor Joshua choe ‘24

Sports Editor maxwell zanInoVIch ‘24

Entertainment Editor Katelyn chang ‘23

Staff Writers elIzabeth chen ‘25 samantha chen ‘25 mIchaela gonzalez ‘24 hanson han ‘23 chloe ho ‘24 mIa Khan ‘25 zhIyuan ma ‘25 JaKe meyers ‘25 Vanessa nguyen ‘25 brenDan PhImsoutham ‘23 Phoebe PIserchIo ‘25 cIara whIPPle ‘22 KalIya wIllIams ‘22 JulIa xIa ‘25 tIffany xu ‘25

Instagram: @millsthunderbolt

Spotify: @thunderbolt records The Mills Thunderbolt

eing prepared for any emergency on campus is a priority for all schools. Students must know what to do and where to go in case of dangerous situations. To prepare for emergency situations, Mills conducted two drills this year. This school year Mills has conducted two drills including The Great California Shakeout and a secure campus lockdown drill, which were drills implemented to help students and staff prepare for two different emergency situations. The Great California Shakeout is an earthquake drill that schools across California participate in. This drill has students and staff drop, cover, and hold to tables and desks. Eventually, students and staff are evacuated to an open area, such as our football field. After the earthquake drill, Mills had a secure campus lockdown drill, which was a drill to protect students and staff from a potential outside threat. This drill had classrooms to be locked and barricaded with heavy objects such as chairs and desks. Both of these drills can protect us from emergency situations, but there are also three more drills that schools use to protect us students. These five drills are nicknamed “The Big Five.” The Big Five is a term used to describe the five different drills schools use to protect their students and staff faculty. The shelter in place drill has students and staff stay inside of classrooms to protect from external threats like the past gas leak on Millbrae Ave. Teachers are supposed to close windows and vents. Fires or unhealthy air quality could also cause a shelter in place procedure. As explained above, the drop, cover, and hold on is used for if an earthquake or explosion were to happen, which has students to take cover under desks, and to hold on. This protects students from falling debris, and is the best protection against earthquakes. If this happens during an earthquake, everyone must be aware of possible aftershocks. Secure campus is to keep all doors locked and protected. This drill is used to protect from potential external threats such as violence in the nearby community, but teaching continues. Classrooms are locked, but the outer doors are only closed. Lockdown/barricade is to completely put all rooms on lockdown, preventing any person from entering

or exiting rooms until law enforcement says otherwise. This happens if there’s an active shooter on campus or extreme violence outside. Since this would normally happen without warning, any action to protect students and staff can be taken. Hiding or escaping should always happen rationally and carefully, watching out for potential threats. Lastly, an evacuation drill is to have all students and staff evacuate campus, and retreat to a safer location. This drill could be used if there was a fire, gas leak, or when any other emergency has happened. If there is falling debris, however, students should first hide under desks to protect themselves. With these drills, some people question if they are actually safe and effective. When emergency drills take place, teachers play a big part. Having teachers participate in these drills raises different opinions. “I don’t like the drills because they take a lot of time, and half the time students don’t listen, but they are a necessary evil,” says Ms. Campbell. Drills often take a long time and become a waste of time if no one’s paying attention. All teachers see the pros and cons of having different drills. “Some of the drills are useful. During fire drills when we evacuate can be useful in a real fire emergency, but getting under desks in an earthquake drill does not seem as useful,” says Mr. Hensley. Another thing Mr. Hensley says that teachers often adjust their own teaching schedule after the drills are scheduled. Not only do teachers have mixed opinions, but so do students. “The students often don’t take the drills seriously, and they are not effective because of that,” says Zhiyuan Ma (9). Many students see drills as a way to get out of class or talk with friends. Even though some students don’t think these drills are effective, others would disagree. “Emergency drills are effective in a way because if we didn’t have them, what would we do?” says Brendan Phimsoutham (11). Though people have different opinions on these drills, we still have to conduct them. According to the California State Government, all of the Big Five drills are required to be conducted in all California schools. Elementary schools and middle schools conduct more emergency drills than high schools. As for now, emergency drills will not be going away even if some people don’t think they help us much.

Message from The Thunderbolt Staff T

o our readers: We want to first thank you for taking the time to read our newspaper and support us. It’s always encouraging and validating to see our classmates reading and talking about our articles and giving us feedback. Hearing your comments and thoughts are more appreciated than you know. Also, a thank you to all our subscribers for donating to our newspaper and helping us stay in print. This year was a year unlike any other. Not just because we were online last year, but because every editor on our current team, and every staff writer, is new to the class. Normally, there are upperclassmen and experienced editors guiding newer writers, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen this year. Our editor team, and especially our chief, has had to learn how to run a newspaper and guide others with only a year of

distance learning to rely on. While last year’s team did everything they could to prepare us for the coming year, publishing online and over Zoom is completely different than in person. We entered this school year not knowing how to raise money, how to print, or even what a normal class schedule should look like. Despite our newness at publishing, we have still managed to publish two issues in print and one online. Ultimately, we just want to thank all of you for your patience and understanding as you follow us on our journey while we learn and grow as a team. You might have noticed that last month, we didn’t publish an issue as usual. Rather than only focusing on deadlines and publishing, we decided to take a month to slow down and learn more about writing a newspaper. We wanted to improve writing, knowing our newspaper was reflective of all our effort. Again, thank you so much for your

continued support as we fix our mistakes and try to constantly improve. Our entire team has learned so much together as we tried to write interesting articles for you, and we promise to continue growing so you can always have better content to read about. A special thank you to Ms. Duszynski, Ms. Schlax, Mr. Gomez, the Mills PTO, and all the teachers who have helped us in more ways than one. Thank you for answering our interviews, for giving us the encouragement we so desperately needed, and for listening to what we have to say. It is an honor to speak on behalf of the student body and to bring Mills news to the entire community. We could not have published without your support. Of course, an extra special thank you to Mr. Hensley, our Faculty Advisor, for watching our chaotic confused discussions, teaching us proper article writing, guiding the activities for

the class, giving us article ideas, and so much more. Thank you for being so flexible as we tried to figure out what we were doing, and always encouraging us to push our comfort zones so we can learn. Now, at the end of the year, we look back on the past year, but more importantly, forward to the coming year. We are excited to continue to write about the Mills community, and hope you will continue to support us. We are looking forward to publishing more than we have last year, and to cover all things important to the Mills student body. Watching the school continue to make improvements and change for the better has been amazing, and we are excited to write about all upcoming news. We promise to give you the best newspaper that we can, with the most relevant content. We hope you enjoy this December issue and have a great rest of the year. See you in 2022!

news

The Thunderbolt

The Constantly Changing Bell Schedules Ciara Whipple Staff Writer

t’s Monday. I know I have all of my classes today. Oh wait, I don’t. It’s only even classes today… or maybe it’s only odd classes? I could’ve sworn this was different last week. As we all know, the bell schedule at Mills changes quite frequently, whether it’s due to assemblies, holidays, finals, rallies, or even teacher meetings. It’s hard to even define a regular bell schedule at this point. Both students and teachers have found issues with the constant changes. Students find it annoying and confusing not to have a solid schedule to rely on. Especially with double block schedules this year, many struggle with knowing which classes to plan and what homework to prioritize with different schedules. They often walk into the wrong period, losing the email about schedule changes in the many other emails

they get. They are too used to simply ignoring canvas emails, or read the emails late. By the time they actually see the email, it might be the night before the schedule change, or even afterward. Many have to be told by their friends right before class starts or even after their first class that the day has a different schedule. Students often complain about not knowing the actual Monday schedule because it changes so much. Although many regard it as a joke, most students don’t know the Monday schedule well, and constantly ask for dismissal times. Teachers also find it hard to work their lesson plans around these constantly changing schedules when changed at the last minute. They must change their lesson plans to fit the different period lengths while making sure everything is orderly. On top of that, teachers have to accommodate all students who forget the schedule for that week, like constantly reminding them or accepting late work. They have to be prepared for the influx of students explaining

‘sorry I’m late, I thought it was a different period today’. Ultimately, teachers face the same struggles as students, struggling to plan ahead for tests and lessons because of undecided schedules. At Mills, we need to realize that a regular bell schedule is not a schedule guarantee. We need to be flexible and resilient and do our due diligence to check the class schedule each week and plan accordingly. The changes tend to be minor and for students’ good, like rallies and assemblies, so we need to become more adaptable. Before complaining, we should think about the work that goes into every schedule change, and the intentions to help the school improve behind them. The extra breaks, teacher educational days, and assemblies are all a vital and necessary part of school. It might seem hard to keep track, but there are ample resources available to stay updated on the schedule, including the Mills website, the PTO weekly newsletter, and even your Canvas dashboard.

Update on the Rebuilding of the Community Center Max Zaninovich SportS editor

fter the Millbrae Recreation Center was tragically burned down in the summer of 2016, the community was incredibly disappointed. Many citizens used the recreation center for events, meetings, classes, or whatever else was happening on any given day. Immediately following, many community members embarked on reconstructing a new community center. And after thorough planning, fundraising, and construction, their hard work is bearing fruit, with much of the building’s structure and exterior completed. The Millbrae City Council

received the Final Conceptual Design Report for the new community center on April 19, 2019 and Construction began in October of 2020 when members of the community were invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on October 1st. The brand new recreation center is set to be completed in June of 2022, marking roughly 6 years after the old structure burned down. The new building will no doubt be an upgrade from the old one, and the new facility will provide a beautiful space to nurture every Millbrae resident from seniors to children, for years to come. In total, there will be 24,000 square feet of community oriented

space, and the building itself 2 stories tall. The first floor will include a lobby, staff area, game room, fitness and wellness studio, preschool, and large room equipped with a full service kitchen perfect for weddings and other events. The second floor contains a senior lounge, an art classroom, conference rooms, and two additional classrooms. The wide array of rooms and spaces will host numerous programs such as cultural and educational programs for all ages, including cooking classes, music lessons, and movie nights. As well as, sports and fitness activities such as yoga, dance classes, and fitness classes. There will also be a quiet, dedicated place

for seniors to enjoy the social and physical activities that keep them healthy, including aerobics, painting, quilting, Tai Chi, Mahjong, and opportunities for intergenerational fun and learning. Additionally, the community center will bring about youth learning and social engagement in the form of essential preschool programs and after-school tutoring and classes (especially for middle-school students) and safe places where teens can socialize. City hosted public events will be held to celebrate our city and there will be flexible space for recreational programs that can also be used by community groups for their meetings and programs.

While the city secured 30 million dollars for the construction of the structure, 1.75 million dollars is still needed to purchase furnishings, fixtures, and equipment, including electrical systems, such as security, audio/visual, phone and data systems, as well as public art and landscaping. Since the building is for the community, the city is also asking citizens to donate to the project. So far 200,000 dollars has been raised, and you can donate at millbraerecreationcenter.com/helpus, where you can also learn about the community center. Hopefully, if all goes to plan, the public will soon be able to once again have a place to hold programs and classes as a community.

chloe ho

PLANS: The city is hopeful the new community center will be even more useful than the previous one, and are working hard to make it available for a wide variety of programs and activities.

features

Mills

High

Zhiyuan Ma staff writer

s most students know, Mills sometimes sends out a Panorama survey for students, parents, and staff to complete. However, what is unclear is what happens to the responses. Do they have any impact? Does the school even look at the responses? Those questions will be answered, but first, let’s look at how a survey is made. The school district determines when to send out a survey and what the focus will be. For instance, the focus of the survey sent out this semester was back to school and therefore filled with general questions asking if they felt connected to other students and teachers. People from the school district and Mills collaborate to decide which questions to include. The receiving window is determined and the surveys are published. After receiving the responses, the school makes sure that there are enough so that the results accurately reflect the population. In the last survey, there were 1,019 student responses and 221 parent responses. The number of parent responses was “less than what we would hope,” Assistant Principal Schlax said, “but we understand very much that there are a lot of surveys and emails that get sent out. It’s not always easy to pick out what are the things that are

Mills O

really important...But 221 responses give us enough information to be able to notice some trends.” Panorama validates the data and creates a report which includes the percentages of favorable percentages and areas for growth. The report is then

n December 10, from 7-9 P.M the Mills Music Department closed out the year with their annual Winter Concert, showcasing all of its members’ talents from singing to instrumentals. The winter concert was the second musical event of the year excluding Athena’s Island, a collaboration between drama and the music department that happened back in September. Filled with both fun music and a festive spirit, the lineup this year consisted of songs ranging from traditional holiday songs like “Last Christmas” to the

Panorama

you probably wouldn’t feel much impact. But sometimes the responses can have an incredible amount of impact.” In the 2020 fall survey, many students said that they experienced enormous amounts of stress. After receiving the data, the school tried to

Surveys

project where students can demonstrate mastery.” Only 20 percent of students felt “quite connected” or “extremely connected” according to another survey last year. The administration and the tier one team attacked this issue by encouraging

Katelyn lam

PANORAMA:

Panorama

Survey

reviewed by multiple groups, including the administration team, tier one team, site leaders, the principal, the academic senate (which consists of all the department heads), and faculty meetings. When asked about the impact of the responses, Assistant Principal Schlax replied “If all the responses say ‘You’re doing great! Everything’s perfect! Keep it up!’, then

Music

Katelyn Lam features editor

School

The Thunderbolt

welcome

Katelyn lam

WINTER CONCERT FLYER: Flyer with information on the Winter Concert posted.

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figure out how to alleviate some of the pressure. AP Schlax said, “What we have seen is a change in the bell schedule so that students don’t have their classes quite so often, meaning there is more time to get homework done. And we are seeing teachers assigning less homework and instead having the homework be completion of work that they have started during class or continue work on a

Department

more unconventional “How To Train Your Dragon” and the Pixar Medley. With the combined efforts of both the Music Director Mr. Gregoric and the students in the music department, it was an amazing experience for everyone in attendance. The Winter Concert consisted of 18 songs played and sung by the concert band, jazz band, concert choir, and string orchestra, with amazing performances in between, coming anywhere from Madison Schoening on the piano, to the string quartet. The Concert Band performed first, and when asked about their thoughts on the songs Stella Baltazar (11) on the bassoon commented that “ I think the band’s

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holiday opening piece “Sleigh Ride” really starts off our performance in a fun and interactive way with a song that the audience is familiar with that also fits the holiday season”. The cheery and nostalgic holiday song set the perfect mood for the rest of the concert, leading the way for the rest of both the holiday and more unexpected songs. Beginning with a speech from the Master of Ceremonies Nils Headley, math teacher here at Mills, the Concert Band started the performance, leading into other acts from The String Orchestra with a twist on the Classic Trepak from “Nutcracker Suite” and both solos and group performances from the Concert Choir. As the audience we only get to see the final result, but behind the two hour performance lies hours upon hours of practice. When asked, most of the responses from the students consisted of “practice practice practice”. “We spend each period practicing for the songs and we also have sectionals, usually during flex or even after school so we have each section ready for rehearsing during class. We also individually practice like at home and on our own time,” Erika Kita (11) commented. While practicing the pieces was a big part of the preparation process there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that the audience isn’t aware of. “Besides practicing pieces, a big part of the process of preparing for the concert was just organizing the chairs and managing sound mixers, we also had to practice literally bowing.” JR Baria (11) added. Preparing for the concert since the beginning of the semester, performing took everyone a lot of time and dedication to make this happen. From preparing sets to making sure everything ran smoothly, all of it together made for a seamless experience. They had to take time out of their schedules to practice almost every day, especially as the clock ticked down for both finals week and the concert. With that amount of dedication put in, it’s important that they chose songs that not only the audience

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check-in questions and educating teachers on ways to facilitate bonding between them and their students. In this school year’s survey, 93 percent of students said that their teachers gave them assignments that helped them understand the subjects. While not the exact same question, AP Schlax claimed that a student wouldn’t feel connected to the teacher if the teacher didn’t help

2021

the student learn. “And yes, some of that is about the fact that we are all back together because being together in community matters. But also it is about the fact that we have been pushing and working and trying so hard to figure out how do we help students and teachers connect with each other and how do we help students connect with each other and feel like they belong.” The creation of the Youth Catalyst Liberatory Workshop, a discussion group where students tackle racism at Mills, was in part due to the results of another one of the Panorama surveys. The focus of one of the surveys last fall was identity and whether students feel safe in their identity at school. 61 percent of students have experienced “casual racism” and 19 percent of students have been “the victim of hate-motivated speech or behavior.” A more recent concern is that 27 percent of students responded to one of the questions on this school year’s survey that in the last six months, they have felt so dejected for two weeks or more that they stopped doing their usual activities. This is one of the major signs of depression. AP Schlax said, “That is a big deal and it is not something we are going to ignore.” Even though many students are depressed, we are confident that the school will do something to solve this problem.hank you, Panorama surveys, for illuminating this issue!

Winter

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Katelyn lam

PAMPHLET:

Winter

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would like, but the students playing as well. Although Mr. Gregoric, the music director, had the final say, everyone still had a hand in the decision making process. From “Fantasy On a Japanese Fold Song” to “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing”, everyone had their favorites. “My favorite piece for Symphonic Band would be How to Train Your Dragon because I just like the cinematic experience of it and it’s a very nostalgic childhood movie,” Erika Kita (11) stated, and although there were still some songs

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that maybe not everyone was confident in, with the amount of hard work that has gone into perfecting everything, it was a fantastic performance. The members only had positive things to say about each other and it was a wonderful experience for everyone who got the pleasure of attending. Don’t forget to be on the lookout for the next musical performance and follow @mhsdmusic_ their official instagram, for more updates!

“Kudos to all our hardworking student musicians and leaders, MMAG and Mr. G for making the concert happen!” -Stella Baltazar (11)

“Kudos to percussion section for always showing up to sectionals, our band president Stella Baltasar for always supporting band, and rhythm section in Jazz band for all their hard work as well. I am very proud of everyone in the music department making the concert a success and I hope our next concerts will be just as great or even better!” - Erika Kita (11)

features

The Thunderbolt

Parent Views on Academics at Mills Samantha Chen staff writer

Katelyn lam

WINTER CONCERT: Concert Band opening with “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.

Katelyn lam

WINTER CONCERT: Madison Schoening playing “Easy On Me” on the piano.

any parents, from all grade levels, had some different thoughts on their children’s academics. Some have a mindset of pursuing what you’re good at and pushing your interests on the side, while others advocate for the opposite and just want their child to do what they’re passionate about. When asked for their opinions on the workload given to their child, many parents felt that their children were given a reasonable amount of work during the week. They felt that since last year was so relaxed due to online school, it was necessary to have the students catch up on what they missed last year. Many parents also have different thoughts on whether or not children should be given homework over the weekend. Some parents stated that they don’t prefer to have their child get homework over the weekend as it should be used for spending time with family, not school. But, they do understand that even if it is annoying, it’s also a part of life and part of the responsibilities that come with being a student. Since a handful of teachers place a heavy emphasis on tests, some parents think that although tests are necessary, it shouldn’t be held against them as hard since everyone learns at different paces. People shouldn’t be forced to learn at a certain pace just to get ready for a test. Stress and nerves also play a big part in whether or not a student succeeds and grades, in some parents’ eyes, don’t capture the students’ full abilities. Depending on the parent, the opinion over the overemphasis on grades varies. Some believe that it isn’t an accurate measurement of their knowledge while others think the

current system works fine the way it is.Though grades are important, some of the ways used to evaluate their knowledge such as test taking aren’t always accurate. Students can get nervous and stressed on tests and end up blanking out which doesn’t give a good representation of what they’ve learned. It’s also important that a student doesn’t sacrifice their learning for their grades and grades should only represent how hard a person’ trying. Many things have changed and recently there has been a decline in people attending Vocational schools. A Vocational School is a school where people learn how to do jobs that require special skills such as being an Electrician, Plumber or Carpenter. These jobs are not as valued despite their importance because in society it’s seen as more desirable to have a four-year college degree landing a white collar job. Many parents are open to the idea of their child attending a voca-

tional school as long as they’re good at it since college may not be for everyone, though there is a mix of responses of if their child should do what they are good at or what they enjoy. Some say that if it makes their child happy they are acceptant with their child doing what they want. On the other hand, some parents believe that although they may enjoy doing those things, they should focus on what they are good at and do what they enjoy on the side. Many have mentioned that it’s good to have other skills and explore things that you aren’t good at, but even if you enjoy it you can’t always get what you want, saying it may not be sustainable in the long run. Parents of children from all grade levels and ages have expressed many different stances on their children’s academics, good or bad. Many parents had mixed feelings about certain topics such as grades, work load, and the future of their child.

Mills Club Fundraisers and Events Katelyn lam

WINTER CONCERT: Concert Choir singing “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds.

Mia Khan staff writer

“S

Katelyn lam

WINTER CONCERT: String Orchestra playing “Forest Incantation” by Alan Lee Silva.

ervice above self. Empower change.” The Mills Interact club motto sets the goal for many student clubs at Mills. Among many others, the Interact, WOW Christian, LMP, and Boba Bots clubs are hosting events and fundraisers to unite the Mills community. Interact is a club that allows students an opportunity to serve the community while providing a stepping stone to continue on in the future. There’s always something to look forward to in terms of service events and always more opportunities to take up a leadership role with the large board membership. An

Katelyn lam

WINTER cert with

CONCERT: Jazz Band closing “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” by

the Stevie

conWonder.

upcoming fundraiser was just introduced at the district Fall Leadership Conference (FLC) where they will be collaborating with other Interact Clubs in the San Francisco and San Mateo districts to create a clothing drive to help less advantaged people in Mexico. The WOW Christian club collaborated with Samaritan Purse to initiate the fundraiser Operation Christmas Child this winter holiday. Club members packed shoeboxes filled with necessities such as hygiene products, school supplies, clothes, and gifts to send to impoverished children in third-world countries. Between the Millbrae Bible Church in collaboration with the WOW Christan club, they hope that Operation Christmas Child will help people who are less fortunate

Katelyn lam

WOW packs

CHRISTIAN shoeboxes for

CLUB: WOW Christian Club Operation Christmas Child .

this holiday season experience some joy as well. The Latina Mentorship Program is a Mills club that emphasises the significance of Hispanic culture and represents the student body embracing their heritage. In late November, LMP hosted a retreat for their members to bond through creative art projects, salsa dancing, and traditional food and activities. Every Tuesday and Thursday, they have Hispanic folklore ballet in the dance room. Students can help support the LMP club by contributing to their candy fundraisers which are used to expand their club and promote the safe, open community that represents the Latina community. The Boba Bots is a student-led FIRST Robotics Competition team. The club promotes STEM education among youth, teaching robotics, constructing competition robots, and allowing students to have fun while learning skills applicable to future careers. In the off season, four departments consisting of construction, electronics, programming, and operations, teach members the skills required for build season. During the build season, all departments work together to build a robot for the competitions. The team attends 4 competitions total every season, with two upcoming competitions in March and April. They hope to attend the regional robotics competitions in San Francisco and Central Valley as well as continue to sell chocolates and merchandise to fundraise. Mills clubs are excited to contribute this year and host community-building events. Come join and support the clubs at Mills High School!

ENTER 6

EntErtainmEnt

The

Problem

with

“Sexiest

Man

Phoebe Piserchio

Alive”

ful.” Academy award-winning actress Julia Roberts alone has won the title more times than women of color have. The same negative effects as “Sexiest Man Alive” can be caused by these results; insecurities, false beauty standards, and low self-esteem. The overall problem is that the winners do not fully reflect the diversity of our society. Rather than getting rid of the issue, People Magazine has to consider how damaging it can be, and why. The only way to solve it is by recognizing the causes and effects that the history of this award has. Their goal needs to be to emphasize diversity, as well as acknowledge the perpetuation of beauty standards that people shouldn’t feel the need to meet.

staff writEr

f you’ve been keeping up with the media, you might’ve seen People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive”. If you haven’t, People Magazine has been releasing an annual issue where they give one lucky man the title of being the year’s “sexiest man alive.” However, it’s not so much luck as it is meeting a certain beauty standard that conforms to society’s stereotypical, heteronormative, cisgender ideas. If you take a look at People Magazine’s previous “Sexiest Man Alive” winners, starting with the first winner Mel Gibson in 1985 to the newest winner Paul Rudd in 2021, around 85 percent of those chosen are white and cisgender. The entire list is highly influenced by the same blueprint of a male. The lack of representation adds to the criteria that perpetuate toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is based on stereotypical gender norms; some examples include the thought that men being “tough” means being violent and obnoxious, or that men should hide their emotions for fear it makes them weak. Different concepts like these can be reinforced when Peo-

The Thunderbolt

issue portrays “sexy” as white, cisgender, and typically strong, or muscular, men; the fact that the list is highly dominated by men described like this can tell people that they are better than those who don’t meet these certain “expectations”. Not only does it send the message that looks are all that matter, but it creates many harmful insecurities, specifically for those who are marginalized. The issue is not with the men

who have won, but rather with the men who haven’t. With little racial and ethnic diversity, it can set a self-image for people that your skin color is valued less than others. Not only this, but nearly all the winners have been Hollywood actors. No athletes, scientists, architects, or practically any other career (with the exception of a few musicians) have taken a spot on the list. This suggests that white, cisgender, Hollywood stars are superior to those

who wish to pursue other careers. For instance, it can maintain the conventional stereotype that people who are scientists, engineers, and so forth are “nerds”, while actors are praised for their talent. Regardless, People Magazine continues to feature a majority of actors, despite the absence of various professions. This isn’t the only article People Magazine releases that has an impact like this. They also have an issue called “World’s Most Beauti

Different Holidays in December Winter Break Plans Julia Xia staff writEr

sually when you think of December the thought of Christmas and jingle bells fills your mind, but in reality there are tons of different cultural celebrations and holidays that happen during the 12th month of the year. In December there are many holidays celebrated by different cultures and people, some of which you’ve probably never heard of. For example, there’s Rohatsu, Hanukkah, and the Winter Solstice. These holidays are often overlooked by others simply because of the impact Christmas has had on the world. Therefore, it is even more important to learn about the different holidays that happen during this time of year. Rohatsu, also known as Bodhi Day, is celebrated by Japanese Zen Buddhists, it’s a time when they observe the enlightenment of the historical Buddha. Rohatsu is the last day of a week-long sesshin. While they are awake they spend their time meditating, when they aren’t in a meditation hall they stay in meditation focused while eating, cleaning, doing chores, etc. They also stay silent throughout the ordeal. The story behind the enlightenment is after years of trying to find peace, the future Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama realized enlightenment through meditation. While meditating he was tempted by the demon Mara to give up the quest. He taunted him and tried over and over again to break him out of his meditation but Siddhartha refused to move and eventually, he realized enlightenment and became the Buddha. Whether you refer to this eightday long celebration as Hanukkah or as The Festival of Lights. Ha

nukkah is a Jewish holiday that remisses on the recovery of Jerusalem and the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This year, the holiday began on November 28 and will end on the 6th of December. The reason why Hanukkah begins on a different day almost every year is determined by the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev and can start anywhere from late November to December. During the eightday celebration, it’s common to eat oil-based foods and sing traditional Hanukkah songs; many Jewish families will also give gifts each night. One of the most important parts of the Hanukkah celebration, however, is lighting a candle each day. The Jewish light a single candle on their menorah each day to commemorate the time the Maccabees lit a lantern after their victory against the Greeks. They only expected it to last a single day but it mirac-

The Winter Solstice or Yule is a pagan holiday that’s celebrated on the twenty-first of December and was celebrated in Britain long before Christianity even existed. Many traditions from the Yule have been passed down and blended into modern Christmas traditions. Since oak was sacred and mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months, Celtic priests would cut the mistletoe and give it as a blessing. Another Yule tradition that has since been incorporated into Christmas tradition is the Yule tree. Pine trees were chopped and brought into the homes of worshipers to be decorated with foods and treats to give the wood spirits something to eat. In summary, the Winter Solstice or Yule is a celebration of the return of light and the fulfillment of Light birthing out of Darkness. Article Continued at TheThunderbolt.com

Nagham Marsweh CEntEr sprEad Editor

inter break is a great holiday for all. People love to go on family vacations, fun little outings, etc. Now you do not have to go to hawaii to have a cool winterbreak. There are things around the Bay area that are fun and affordable for young students. The Bay Area has many nice and affordable activities. There are a few nice museums around the bay area that are unique and can lure people in with their fascinating insight. If you are a history fan and always thought of history as your favorite subject, I have the perfect place for you. The De young Meauseam is a place where you can get a peek of the countries lively cultures and traditions that are showcased through a collection of American Art spanning from the 17th and the 21st century. You can find famous pieces like the “Cover Pot” for the Teotihuacan Show and the “Rainy Season in the Tropics” by Frederic Edwin Church (1866). The largest meaueam in the United States, Sanfransico measueam of Modern Art. It showcases a greta variety of modern and contemporary art that is very influential and beautiful. California Academy of science is a museum that is very well known, usually used as a great place for schools to have field trips and can be a great place to visit on a cloudy day. If you are interested in reading and more of introverted activities there are great things to do for you in the bay area. Book readings at the famous city lights bookstore, having a painting lesson near burlingame plaza at Art Attack, meditating at sanbruno park, baking christmas sweets(recipes you can find in an article on the Mills Thunderbolt).

For people who love outdoors and use running,wlaking, or jogging to ease their mind and have a great workout. Millbrae is actually quiet known for the astonishing 12 mile trail that has a great view of the lake, mountains, and stunning amounts of trees and plants. The san andreas lake is a very peaceful and great way to have a peaceful day. The bay area is greatly known for our beautiufl beaches. This winter break can be great way to take advantage of that. Having a surf lesson, boating, fishing. Going out to pier 39 to see th see lions or the aquarium that has a great showing of fascinating species of sea animals and while your there you can catch maybe a magic show, have a ferris wheel ride, etc. Winter break doesnt have to be boring. The Bay Area is full of places to explore that are quiet affordable for students and families for fun little vacations.

EntErtainmEnt

The Thunderbolt

The Recipes for your favorite Holiday Desserts Kaliya Williams staff writEr

With Christmas around the corner my mind goes to the festive and delicious desserts that have become an annual tradition in my home and many others. Since the season of giving is coming up I will be sharing a couple of recipes that I personally love to make and award my friends and family with. Let’s keep it simple and traditional for our first recipe. We will be making decorated Gingerbread cookies! Whether or not you’re a fan of the actual gingerbread they’re very fun to make and result in a festive decoration. The recipe I will be sharing is one of my favorites from Sally’s Baking Addiction To start, we can organize our ingredients:

For my second recipe, I will be sharing how to make Peppermint Bark. This holiday treat contains only 4 ingredients making it the perfect recipe if your looking for a simple yet delicious dessert. This recipe is inspired by a recipe from delish. Here are the ingredients you will need:

Instructions are as followed: 1. In a large bowl using either a hand-held mixer or stand mixer, beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar and molasses and beat on medium high speed until combined and creamy-looking. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Next, beat in egg and vanilla on high speed for 2 full minutes. If the butter separates that’s ok. 2. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves together until combined. On low speed, slowly mix into the wet ingredients until combined. The cookie dough will be quite thick and slightly sticky. Divide dough in half and place each onto a large piece of

Instructions for this recipe are as followed: 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Fill the bottom of a large pot with 3” water and bring to simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, then place a large heatproof bowl on top. Add semi-sweet chocolate and stir occasionally until

plastic wrap. Wrap each up tightly and pat down to create a disc shape. Chill discs for at least 3 hours and up to 3 days. Chilling is mandatory for this cookie dough. I always chill mine overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

chocolate has melted. Stir in extract. Pour into prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.

These are a couple of my biggest problems in my daily life and I would like to fix them. As I have less time at home because of school and extracurricular activities, my room has gotten more messy and cluttered. It bothers me every time I come home, which is why I chose to have this as my resolution. I also have a big problem procrastinating most of my assignments and work, and never really find myself focusing fully on the work.

2. Over the same pot of barely simmering water, place another large heatproof bowl. Add white chocolate and stir until melted. Pour over set semi-sweet chocolate then top immediately with candy canes. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.

4. Remove 1 disc of chilled cookie dough from the refrigerator.

Generously flour a work surface. Roll out disc until 1/4-inch thick. Tips for rolling– the dough may crack and be crumbly as you roll. Picking it up and rotating it as you go may be helpful. Additionally, you can use your fingers to help meld the cracking edges back together. The first few rolls are the hardest since the dough is so stiff, but re-rolling the scraps is much easier. Cut into shapes. Place shapes 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Re-roll dough scraps until all the dough is shaped. Repeat with remaining disc of dough. 5. Bake cookies for about 9-10 minutes. If your cookie cutters are smaller than 4 inches, bake for about 8 minutes. If your cookie cutters are larger than 4 inches, bake for about 11 minutes. My oven has hot spots and yours may too- so be sure to rotate the pan once during bake Once completely cool, decorate as desired. Cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week.

This ends up with me having to rush the assignments at the last minute, and most likely, not finishing them correctly or as well as I could’ve done it. Hopefully, in this upcoming year, I will be able to fix my bad habits and create new ones. With new tips and thoughts added to making new year resolutions, it will strive to help you and everyone else become better people. It is a great way to put together 2022 and make new goals to make it the best year possible.

Hopefully these recipes are helpful for you in the upcoming season. Take this opportunity to give back to your friends, family or even teachers! Enjoy decorating your holiday treats and Happy Holidays!

New

Year’s

Tiffany Xu staff writEr

With 2021 closing to an end, it’s time to start a fresh new year on good terms. To kick off the beginning of 2022, new year resolutions are a great place to start. Many people have resolutions, and most of them are similar in one way or another. Some common but smart resolutions are being productive, organized, learning new hobbies or skills, and eating healthy and exercising. As these are the few resolutions that are very common between people, they are still also some of the best resolutions at the same time. But why not spice up 2022 by mixing some creative ideas also? More clever ideas could include traveling on a smaller budget, sanitizing your belongings,

Resolutions

listening to a new song everyday, and to make new friends. Creative or not, all resolutions can help you become a better person in general. Now having ideas in mind, you may feel excited to start the new year, but most people don’t end up following their resolutions. You could start by exercising more, but then after a week, you gave up on exercising. It is much easier to say than to do which lots of people can do. In fact, about 43% of people who set resolutions are expected to give up by next month. As this is only for one month, more people could end up forgetting or giving up making resolutions very hard to keep up with. One very big reason why most people fail to keep their resolutions is because it is not specific enough. A resolution of exercising more would only last you very little time since

it is not specific. A way to narrow it down is to specify how long you would exercise for, when, and what you are planning to do as exercise. Another reason people don’t keep their resolutions is because of not being consistent. Resolutions don’t just last a week, they should last the whole year or even more as it would result into a good habit. For example, you make a resolution to make your bed every morning. After a week, you start to forget or get lazier by not bothering tomorrow. Thinking you would do it the next day, when in reality, you most likely won’t, which ends the resolution. Consistency is key, especially to be successful. Personally, a few of my own resolutions are to be more organized, not procrastinate, and to not do assignments last minute.

AINMENT

OpiniOnS

The Thunderbolt

The Big Issue with Capitalism and Christmas Michaela Gonzalez Staff Writer

hristmas is a broken record meant to empty your pockets and blind you from the product you are becoming in this capitalistic world. Yes, this might sound like a Grinchlike statement, but deep down, we all know how true this is. Annually, the unlocking of winter is accompanied with productions of thousands of wrapping paper, toys, food, decorations, deforestation, cars, and covers of the same songs are produced. As singer songwriter Sufjan Stevens (yes, the Call Me By Your Name, Mystery of Love Sufjan Stevens) claimed, “By now, it’s no mystery that Christmas has become an incalculable commodity in our material world—an annual exploitation of wealth, a festival of consumerism, and a vast playing field for the voyages of capitalism.” In other words, do we even remember why we celebrate Christmas? This annual mindless consumerism never truly began with Christmas, it’s the entirety of it. Think about: imagine a Christmas without paying for or buying anything. No tree, no ornaments, no holiday movies, no baking, and no eggnog, no shelter to even celebrate! On the materialistic side of an average American Christmas (which is almost every side of Christmas), you just have to have money. If you don’t have a disposable income to buy decorations, which many of us and our neighbors do, you are only left with the “jolly”. Andrea Filler defines a common thought for families living

Michaela Gonzalez, The Thunderbolt HAS CAPITALISM GONE OVERBOARD IN OUR CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS?: Capitalism stole Christmas, the r eal Grinch is Cap italism

in poverty on Talk Poverty by stating, “When people say that the holidays are stressful, I want to say, ‘Define stress.’ For me and many others, the fullest meaning of peace and joy is simply this: not having to worry about how we will provide food, shelter, and heat for our loved ones.” Especially in 2021, 42.8 million Americans have classified as impoverished, the Salvation Army is also bracing for a holiday season similar to that after the 2008 financial crisis. Last year, as many as 12 million Americans lost their unemployment benefits on Dec. 26. Imagine spend-

ing Christmas not knowing how rent will be paid or food warm on the table? Families in situations like this will see Christmas in a non-consumerist point of view, which was how it was believed to be celebrated long before the triumphs of capitalism took on a griphold. The first celebrations of this Christian holiday are believed to include food, drinks, and loving people. How this holiday came to be: we don’t truly know. Although December 25th is the believed date of birth of Jesus Christ, the origins of this chosen day appear unclear.

Christian historians and writers have argued that recognizing birthdays of martyrs is disrespectful, while others insist December 25 was a Christianized Roman Winter Solstice holiday dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”). This could possibly be the root of the fuzzy reasons of this day, birth of the son and birth of the sun being very similar. None of the traditions we know today derive from the birth of Christ, the first recorded custom of putting fir trees inside arrived in 1494, and the first commercial advent calendars were first produced

in Germany in 1851. As for good ol’ Kris Kringle, he was a marketing tool Coca-Cola created in 1931 for their Taste Knows No Season campaign. These facts, along with the extracting of Pagan winter solstice traditions, shows how we don’t celebrate the Christmas we thought we did. It’s a fusion. Although western civilization has grown to consumerism, other non-christian cultures and religions all around the world tend to celebrate the winter solstice, also known as the longest night of the year, or the end-ofyear harvest. In Toji, Japan, residents there believe bathing in yuzu citrus fruits that will bless you with a refreshment of body, spirit and smooth winter skin. In Iran, residents celebrate Shab-e Yalda. “Yalda” meaning birth, occasion is marked with a feast of special nuts and fruits, as well as poetry readings. To contradict everything I just mentioned, I still willingly believe in the joy and spirit of spending time with friends and family during the holidays. We, as consumers, have the power to change the entire market if we can simply realize Christmas is a representation of white capitalism, and nothing of what America should represent. Celebrate these holidays how you want your culture. Decorate your house with black or gender neutral santas, eat some Vietnamese or African food, exchange some lovely handmade gifts, and help those in need. You just have to believe!

Eating Disorders: The Toxic Stereotypes and Fallacies Vanessa Nguyen Staff Writer

or decades, social media has painted a picture of the “perfect” body type. Young girls and boys sculpted an idea for how they assumed their body should look; seeing models online and envying their thin waist and flawless skin or broad shoulders. For most, when exercising and diets weren’t working, they resort to increasingly unhealthier methods. Eating disorders become ways to cope with stress and body image issues. Along this rough road, with the persistent pressure manifesting from each persons’ own minds, comes the whispering and hurtful assumptions from other people. To define an eating disorder: persistent behavioral conditions that lead a person to distressing thoughts and emotions. There are six most common types of eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, pica, rumination, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder; each one of these are extremely dangerous for one’s physical and mental health. Eating disorders don’t necessarily have signs but instead have red flags: patterns that show up over and over again that show an eating disorder is emerging. There are no real, singular causes for eating disorders either. It could come from someone’s experiences with their environment, family, friends, and/ or genes. It could start from pressuring yourself or being pressured by others to fit the “beauty

Vanessa Nguyen, The Thunderbolt

BODY IMAGE: Body image often leads to unhealthy mindsets that derive from other peoples’ opinions, leading to self-hate

standard” and forcing yourself to pick apart your features and hide the flaws people see like thicker thighs or a wide rib cage. Once the disorder starts, it’s hard to control your habits around food and it’s hard to go back to how things were when the restricting or the binging starts. Often, when people hear of an ED, they assume it’s about women. But, anyone could develop an eating disorder; any age, gender, or size. It has been stereotyped that it’s not common

for men to have eating disorders and assumed that women care more about beauty standards and are required to look a certain way. People oftentimes think that feminine women develop EDs in order to be perceived as thinner. However, the truth is, anyone could develop an eating disorder. Although it’s more common in women than men, the disorder doesn’t pick and choose who it wants to be it’s victim. Whether it’s men or women or any other person, it affects everyone on a

psychological level. Another one of the many stereotypes that come with eating disorders is when people see a “midsize” or “overweight” person and assume they’re healthy. They ignore the fact that there are different types of disorders and assume that a victim of ED is skinny. Some people aren’t educated on the topic of EDs, so their assumptions could immediately turn into stereotypical comments. There are also different types of eating disorders meaning that the

person with the ED could be of different weights. A binge eating disorder is one of the top six eating disorders and can affect the increase in the amount of food you consume. This could cause you to overeat or continuously binge even if you’re guilty with the binging that’s out of control. The truth is that eating disorders aren’t restricted to one size/ weight. Although body image can have a huge effect on someone struggling with binging, it can be hard for them to stop. Therapy can also be oftentimes very hard to come by. A person affected by an ED might refuse to believe they have one, or be too ashamed to go seek help. Sometimes, they might treat having an ED as normal. This may deepen the problem of self-doubt and thus make the problem worse. It’s a very hard situation to be able to “deal with” or fix in the first place. The reality of struggling with an eating disorder goes far deeper than what’s on the outside. Everyone deals with stress in different ways and not everyone’s destressors are healthy. The best thing you could do is be patient with your friend and understand they’re dealing with things that are out of their control. The toxic stereotypes could lead to making bad assumptions and leaving a friend dealing with overpowering thoughts and the false belief of achieving a “perfect body”. There is no such thing as a perfect body. Instead of jumping to conclusions, find the healthy parts of you or your friends, the part of you that is reaching out for help, and beat the beauty standard.

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My Opinion of the Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Brendan Phimsoutham Staff Writer

he anger and frustration of anxious Americans spread across the nation while others celebrated as Kyle Rittenhouse (17) was acquitted of all charges on November 19, 2021 in his trial for the shootings of three white men on August 25, 2020. Kyle Rittenhouse, a teenager from Antioch IL, shot three protestors on the night of August 25, 2020 in Kenosha WI. According to Rittenhouse and other sources such as video evidence, the shooting of Joseph Rosenbaum (36) and Anthony Huber (26) was an act of self defense. In the main segment of all video evidence recorded, Rosenbaum had attempted to grab the barrel of Kyle’s AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and was shot at point blank range. Rittenhouse tripped soon after shooting Rosenbaum and while on the ground shot Huber who had attacked him with a skateboard. A third, Gaige Grosskreutz (26), was shot and injured after raising a gun at Rittenhouse and failing to pull the trigger. Although seeming justified on multiple accounts such as video evidence, witnesses and Rittenhouse himself, much debate and controversy has claimed otherwise. On November 19, 2021 Rittenhouse was acquitted of all five charges and found not guilty by the jurisdiction of the Kenosha Courthouse. An uproar of both cheering and fury was let out by both sides as a result. Before the final decision was made, demonstrators outside of the courthouse had gathered in

hopes that Rittenhouse would receive a verdict and be convicted of all charges. Therefore Rittenhouse’s release was not taken kindly by many of those who sought his punishment. “The guy shouldn’t have even been there, let alone with a rifle. Of course out of fear someone was going to jump him and try to disarm him,” an anonymous individual stated from an interview. “He is too young to legally own a gun. Why wasn’t he charged for that?” another anonymous person said in a second interview. Rittenhouse claimed that business owners in Kenosha were begging residents to protect their businesses from looters and rioters who

were mixed into the protestors of the Jacob Blake shooting just days before. He also claimed that he was at the scene to provide medical assistance for any person that had gotten hurt. Others claimed that he was there to kill. Kyle Rittenhouse should not have been at the protest that night, despite how good his intentions may have appeared. Despite the calls for help in Kenosha, Rittenhouse, a minor who was not at a legal age to own a gun without adult supervision, or frankly own a gun in the first place, should not have taken initiative to take up arms and induct himself as a “peacekeeper.” However, this does not justify the attacks that were taken out on

him that night and comes to show just how violent some of the people in the crowd were, making Kyle look like a hero for his act of self defense against “leftist radicals.” What most people who oppose Kyle believe is that he is a relentless “White Supremacist” without even hearing as to why he claimed to be in Kenosha that night and knowing that he was attacked first. In fact, a lot of the people that want him to be punished don’t even realize that what he is being punished for is the illegal possession of a weapon amongst his murder charges. Nonetheless, as heartbroken as I was to hear that two people were killed by the gunfire of Rittenhouse, I later found out that the people

Brendan Phimsoutham, The Thunderbolt

killed weren’t exactly “perfect angels’’ who represented the “innocence” within the protestors that night. Rosenbaum was apparently charged for multiple crimes before the shooting, including a case of rape of a minor. Huber was also guilty of multiple crimes such as domestic abuse and, ironically, the use of a dangerous weapon. As much as I believe in people being able to change and learn from their mistakes, it’s hard for me to try and defend their deaths after researching and finding out that Rosenbaum was screaming racial slurs - including the n-word - at police forces on the very night of the incident. In conclusion, the individuals Rittenhouse had killed that night were not model citizens that justified the said “innocence” of the crowd. Their actions against Kyle that night were not justified either and were rightfully accounted for in the self defense case of Rittenhouse as an individual. However, the charges of the illegal possession of a lethal weapon still should have been charged to Rittenhouse. He is not a hero but not a coldblooded murderer as everyone claims. I believe that the 17 year old that went out that night watched as adults failed to take control of the situation and felt like he wanted to help without fully understanding the situation. I find it very disappointing that the ignorant actions of what should’ve been the wiser adults lead to minors like Rittenhouse wanting to be involved in solving problems that they cannot solve.

KYLE RITTENHOUSE: Kyle Rittenhouse was cleared of all five of his charges, including three counts of homicide

The Meaning of Our Town: A Short Analysis of the Play Brendan Phimsoutham Staff Writer

n November 19, Mills put on a play in the auditorium. Rather than a fun, easy plot, the drama team decided to tackle a storyline filled with intricate details and deeper meanings. The commitment of the drama team was evident in the result. Personally, my favorite part was Act 2, seeing Emily and George fall in love. It was fun to see them go to the ice cream parlor, and watch as George flusteredly tried to ask Emily out. The wedding was also entertaining (especially with additions from the audience.) Rather than try to sugarcoat love, the story had George and Emily both struggle in their decisions to follow through with the marriage, something that happens in real life. The love from their parents is also evident as the parents guide their children through every small thing: breakfast, teaching responsibility, and so much more. Overall, Act 2 touched on the most powerful human emotion: love. However, Act 1 and 3 also had plenty of surprises. When the actors first came on stage and started playing the home life, I was shocked and confused by the lack of props, that they were just imitating the actions. As the play continued, I could see how much effort everyone put in so the audience could understand their actions. (Side note: I probably paid more attention to their acting than I should have.) Act 3 was just a complete shock when I found out Emily was dead. Emily’s feelings mirrored my own, and her emotional turmoil was touching. As Act 3 progressed, I finally understood why this play is so powerful.

When the audience is first introduced to Grover’s Corner, the Stage Manager explains the time period: quiet, quaint, and very removed from the rest of the world. Everyone knows each other and everyone is friendly. While the play continues, Grover’s Corner also moves forward with time. Cars become the new norm and people start locking their doors. The imminent change and passage of time hits especially close to home as our entire world is currently changing. We had never expected to have a global pandemic, nor could we have ever imagined how much everything would change, and is still changing, because of it. At the last moment, when Emily asks Mrs. Gibbs “They don’t understand, do they?”, and Mrs. Gibbs responds “No, they don’t” is a powerful moment as I finally realized the play is trying to tell me that life is short and precious. Emily wants to go back and see her life again, but the emotions are too powerful for her to handle. Often, we are so busy with our lives that we forget to take a step back and enjoy ourselves for a bit. With the past distance learning and quarantine, many of us have had the chance to follow our hobbies and do things we’ve always wanted but never had the time to. Rather than leave that for only during corona time, we should continue to take a step back every so often and simply appreciate those around us. Many might have been confused with the ending of Our Town, or wondered why the overall plot was a little bit straightforward and boring. Ultimately, the interpretation of Our Town is up to each audience member, but I hope each person was able to enjoy it and derive their own lessons from it. Big kudos to the dra-

ma team for putting together such a hard play, and I’m excited to see how Footloose will turn out in the spring!

Magdalene Ko, The Thunderbolt

OUR TOWN: Our drama team put on a stunning performance for our theater, capturing a popular play for our own

SportS

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Winter Season Forecast Hanson Han Staff Writer

all sports are over, ushering in a new season of exciting winter sports. Many people are wondering how different the winter sports season will be, considering the drastic changes due to Covid-19 during the previous season. This article is going to cover the previous season as well as a forecast for the current season for both boys and girls basketball and soccer. It will also spotlight a few important players, worthy of mentioning. Last year, boys basketball had a tough season. . According to varsity guard/forward Aaron Ngo (11), their performance in the previous season was “ok”. There were no fans in the stands due to Covid-19, taking away the most exciting part of the sport. No cheering fans when someone hit a deep 3, no standing ovations for a buzzer beater shot, just the small celebration between teammates. With this season, all of the fun and excitement gets returned, uplifting the hopes of many of the players. A prediction for the current season shows that performance would be better than the previous season, due to the return of fans, as well as an improved team from last year. We could expect to see players such as Jonathan Shim (11) and Nareg Aristakessian (12) to lead the Vikings to a better season. For girls basketball, the previous season was “average”. Their record almost broke even, but eventually settled at a losing one. According to Serena Mezzetta (11), they are going to be better this season.. A lot of players have made drastic improvements and team chemistry has improved. It is safe to say that this year’s season will be a winning one. As far as star players go, there are none. Not because the team is bad, but because the team is good. “There are too many good players on the team to pick a star. Everyone on the team relies on other players to put up points, really making it a team sport” (Mezzetta). This is surprising, and goes to show how

The

Toxic

Josh Choe opinionS editor

impressive the girl’s team chemistry is.. This would make this year’s season a fun one to watch, with many expected wins with many high level plays happening. For boys soccer, the previous season could’ve been better. They held a fairly even record, but their season was cut short due to Covid-19. According to team captain Masaya Miyake (12) the goal for this season is to have a winning record, as well as winning the league. The competition for this season is going to be good, as well as filled with fun, with the Vikings being one of the better teams in the league. In terms of CCS, Miyake reports that there is a 50% chance of them making it. A few important players include Jason Habash (12), and Miyake himself. Miyake has been varsity ever since he was a freshman, and has seen consistent improvement during his time at Mills. Last year, the girl’s soccer team struggled. They finished with a record of 2-10 in the regular season. According to team captain Anjali Marwah (11), the current season brings about better hopes. There has been an influx of new players, ranging from all grades, creating an extremely diverse and never before seen team. This season will be a memorable one. Marwah noticed that among all the players, the team seems to have excellent team chemistry, even with all the new players. With all the amount of players on the team, there seems to be a few that stand out, most notably Jayme Daijo (12). Marwah reported that there were many players worthy of this spotlight, but Daijo was her final choice. Their goal for the end of the season is to win the division, as well as making it to CCS. We could expect Marwah and Daijo to lead the team to an interesting and hopefully fruitful season. At the end of the day, all of the predictions of the current season could be subject to change. Since most of the teams are still in their preseason, with the official season not starting yet, anything could happen. It will take the full support of Mills in order to help our winter athletes perform to their potential.

ll sports possess a copetitive nature; it’s how sports are supposed to be. Most of the time there are two types of competitive behavior you can find. There’s a natural competitive nature from each athlete’s personal competitive level in wanting to win or play well in a game. Then, there’s a competitive nature that’s most often taken on from professionals. Players from any sport look up to professionals in their respective sports, and will pick up some of the same behavior and habits, such as yelling at a teammate excessively over a bad play or perhaps a missed basket. However, throughout all of these “competi-

Basketball “Quads” Cancelled Magdalene Ko Staff Writer

ow that basketball seasonis here, a staple activity for the Mills community would be to cheer on our teams during quads. Quads are when all four basketball teams played consecutively: jv and varsity for both genders. They were a great place to bond with each other, united in support of our basketball players. Unfortunately, this year the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) has decided to remove quads because of Covid concerns. Quads this year would significantly increase the risk of contacting Covid, since the games would be too many people for too long in too small a space. The county health office mandated that schools can’t have over 1,000 people in the gym at the same time. Since quads can come pretty close to that number, PAL made the ultimate decision to change from quads to double headers. Athletic Director Mr. Keller explained that it was “to ensure we are safe in the gym with the number of people we’d be bringing into the space.” Previously, each school would host three quads and play

Mentality

tive” natures, a common theme of toxicity is found, and it’s often too much. In a study conducted by Montana State University, it was found that 21% of male athletes and 28% of female athletes had some varying level of depression, along with anxiety and stress. Involvement from a multitude of subjects contributes to these statistics, and among one of the top involvements was stress/anxiety induced by toxic teammates and mindsets. All athletes feel pressure to perform well on the team and in games yet will not always be able to indeed do so. Bad performance will almost 100% of the time result in maltreatment from teammates. This is common within competitive sports, yet, at the same time, it is terrible for the subject of this maltreatment, especially when this continues for extended

periods of time. Losing the will to play and self-doubt manifests, thus causing even worse performance, and another cycle of maltreatment. Teammates often lack the compassion or thoughtfulness to think about the reason behind a bad performance. It could be stress from a personal situation, something wrong at home, or even simply that the athlete was simply just not “in it” that game. Someone in any one of these listed situations is not always willing to open up to someone else about it. Of course it makes it worse, when they are already feeling down and to be put down further by none other than the very team that’s supposed to be supporting them. There definitely needs to be some change and a higher emphasis on athlete’s mental health. It’s not only the victims that receive harsh words and energy from team-

three quads at other schools. The atmosphere would be excited and intense, surrounded by friends and other Vikings. Now, instead of playing four games in a row, two games will be hosted each Friday night, either a boy or girl team. Many students were in shock when they found out quads weren’t happening this year, while others were sad about the loss of such a vital part of high school life. Overall, they were mostly confused about what would happen to basketball season without quads, and were reassured to find out games would continue, albeit differently. Everyone conceded the need to stay safe, despite the sacrifices. Quads are just one more on the long list of victims of COVID, and it’s loss caused general anger amongst all. However, basketball players felt most strongly about the change of schedule. Overall, the majority were saddened but knew they would do their best either way. Vincent Lew (11) said “I felt very sad because we didn’t get quads last year either, again because of COVID.” Many students haven’t even experienced a real quad because of COVID’s long effect. Even though Juniors and Seniors had the chance to go as underclassmen,

many now have more friends and know more people, which would change the experience of a quad. Gali Ramirez (10) also felt quads were indispensable. “I’ve been to quads when corona wasn’t a thing and they were one of the most fun things I’ve been to as a teen. Honestly, they’re kinda more interesting than football games.” Having doubles as a replacement might be fun, but can’t compare to the previous glory of quads. Ramirez suggested that rather than have one gender play a double, a good option would be having the two varsity teams play together. “We should have quads” he stated with conviction. Another player, Michelle Tang, (10) simply felt sad. “We’ll do our best anyway” she resolved. All wanted the return of quads, yet determined to play their best even with a smaller audience. Although this year has resumed some normalcy, COVID is still prevalent and lurking around the corner. Everyone might want to move on and keep going with regular activities like quads, but changes must be made just to keep what we already have. Despite the changes to the basketball games schedules the Mills team is bound to try the best and make their school proud.

Competitive mates but those responsible for these actions. It’s understandable when teammates that are better than their peers are often more prone to yelling at their teammates or treating them badly for making more mistakes, yet it still does not justify it. Positive mindsets should be established so that athletes support and build each other up.

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Recommends Zhiyuan Recommends:

Six of Crows: Leigh Bardugo

The Dutch House: Ann Patchett

“Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price— and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone... Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.”

“Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together.”

Katelyn L. recommends Young Adult fantasy novel, “Mask of Shadows”, written by Linsey Miller. Katelyn explains that she loves Six of Crows bceause it brings in a fantastical and thrilling change of pace to the Shadow and Bone trilogy, bringing in a new resurgence to the 2015 release. She also enjoyed the pace and aventure of the book. It was her favorite book that she had read this year.

Zhiyuan recommends 2019 fictional novel, “The Dutch House”. Created as a dark fairy tail, this comeplling story symbolizes emotional and psychological realms as two characters come together throughout the story. Zhiyuan recommends this novel because of the wonderful sibling relationship and its suspense as a thriller, yet its capability of still being emotional and moving throughout.

Magadalene Recommends:

Books

Katelyn L. Recommends:

Little Women: Louisa May Alcott “Loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters, Little Women details the stories of the March sisters. Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.”

Movies & TV

As an avid reader, Magdalene recommends highly regarded Classic, ‘Little Women”, written by Louisa May Alcott. She states that she loves it because it isn’t too emotional, but still manages to talk about life in a sweet way. Recently also given a film adaption, this novel is a heartwarming and beautiful read for those across many age groups.

Josh Recommends: The Walking Dead: PlutoTV “The Walking Dead tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by former police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home.”

Josh recommends TV show, ‘The Walking Dead’. Based on a series of comic books and found for free on PlutoTV, he loves this show specifically because of the the characters and their releationships with each other. Full of adventure and suspence, this 10 season show is definittely binge worthy and brings a lot of excitement to the viewer.

Katelyn Recommends: Shadow and Bone: Netflix “Ravka, a fantasy kingdom based on the Tsarist Russian Empire, is set in a war-torn world plagued by the Shadow Fold, permanent darkness separating East from West Ravka which is inhabited by carnivorous winged creatures known as Volcra. Dark forces conspire against orphan mapmaker Alina Starkov when she unleashes an extraordinary power that could change the fate of her war-torn world.”

Katelyn recommends newly released ‘Shadow and Bone’and loves how this fascinating world draws you in with magic, mischief, and darkness. The plot is fast-paced and leaves you wanting more! Even the very first episode had her so emotional, she may have shed a tear in the first hour of watching. She hopes that everyone loves it as much as she does!

Max Recommends: New Girl: Netflix, Hulu “After a bad break-up, Jess, an offbeat young woman, moves into an apartment loft with three single men. ... Jess, a bubbly, off-beat teacher, who is known to burst into song, catches her boyfriend with another woman. Newly homeless, she moves into a loft with three single guys she’s never met before.”

Max both loves and recommends ‘New Girl’ because it holds the perfect mix of humor and heartfelt scenes. Cuerrntly on his 5th rewatch, he loves the relationships between all the characters as the writers and actors have done a phenomenal job at creating very real and personable relationships between everyone. Overall, a top notch show!

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