The Prospector April 8th In-Depth

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in-depth

FREE TIME: The power of motion

THE PRO

Unique ways students and tea

After eight hours of school, school sports or clubs, SAT classes and endless amoun selves. However, when they do, students find ways to destress from their hectic l many exciting and undiscovered places to attend. Who kne

Tired of nothing to do in

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Student’s dedication to sign language proves fruitful and enlightening

Cupertin dramatic fornia or $10-$120

Upcomi 5/4-6 — Ben Zan musician

SUNWOO JEONG sports assistant

While the average student is texting on their phone, typing away on their keyboard or strumming a guitar in their free-time, senior Amy Wyckoff has taught her hands a different way of communication: Sign language.

Wyckoff ’s sister first introduced Wyckoff to the American Sign Language (ASL) after taking sign language classes in college. After learning a couple signs from her sister, she was intrigued and started taking an interest in that area as well. While surfing through Youtube, Wyckoff stumbled upon a video of a guy performing a sign language interpretation of the song, “Party in the USA,” by Miley Cyrus. After watching that video, she was inspired by an MTV’s true life episode about a deaf high school student who really wanted to talk to people and connect with them, but could not because no one else understood sign language.

“I thought that was heartbreaking because everybody needs someone to talk to no matter who you are,” said Wyckoff.

Not only did the video and TV episode inspire her to start learning sign language, but her past also shaped her desire to help the deaf. “I had speech problems when I was in preschool, so I had to make signs with my hands to my parents and teachers because otherwise, they couldn’t understand me,” said Wyckoff. Since she too, faced communication problems at a young age, Wyckoff is able to empathize with the deaf and the situations that they face daily.

Although Wyckoff hasn’t started taking classes for sign language yet, she has a sign language dictionary and learns by herself with online resources. At first, she started learning and practicing sign language with songs, as she found it easier to learn sign language set to a specific melody or song.

One aspect that Wyckoff loves about sign language is the expression that goes into it. “I love how sign language is so expressive. Since you can’t tell how a person is feeling about what they are saying by their tone of voice, facial expressions are very important,” said Wyckoff.

Even though Wyckoff faces many struggles in the course of mastering sign language, she works hard to get better whenever she has the time and opportunity. Although she isn’t good enough to interpret or fluently converse with others, she hopes to help the deaf in the future. Wyckoff looks to continue sign language as a possible major or minor in college and keep the skill for the rest of her life so that she can give those who have no one to talk to a chance to communicate with someone. “I hope that some day I can become fluent and meet a deaf person and we can hang out. That is my goal for now.”

5/10 — Th Dr. Seuss ders as a Center d

5/14 — P The Peni JOANNA LEE

De Anza’s Fujitsu Planet

A hush falls across the audience as the lights dim, but the silence is sic and rapid-fire flashes of neon light immediately illuminate De Anz etarium. Fujitsu’s laser light shows are lively and engaging, featuring liv by backstage laserists. These stunning presentations of abstract laser d ally remixed music are met with much applause and never fail to bring Fujitsu features a wide variety of astronomy shows as well. For th showings, the night sky is projected onto the domed ceiling while leg universe are unveiled. On a rainy day, there is no place better to sp under the stars.

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L and path feath ous a walk dogs

ALEX POMMIER

APRIL 8, 2011

OSPECTOR

achers utilize their free time

nt of homework and studying, students barely have any free time for themlives through technology, friends and hobbies. Even in Cupertino, there are ew CHS had so many unique students and teachers?

One tab at a time The dilemma of the internet and how it eats up all our free time NIKHIL KANTHI in-depth assistant

n Cupertino? Try something new!

e Anza’s Flint Center

no’s very own Flint Center for Performing Arts showcases a variety of musical, cultural, and c performances every month. Enjoy outstanding musical spectacles by symphonies across Calir attend a broad range of exciting cultural productions for a ticket price ranging anywhere from 0.

ing shows in May: Celebrity forum nder is a world famous conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra who inspires young ns and other leaders.

TheatreworksUSA “Seussical” s’ whimsical worlds and characters come together in a magical and musical tale. With such wonan elephant bird, a colony of Whos and a lush Jungle of Nool, “Seussical” is sure to please. Flint does not sell tickets to Theatreworks’ programs.

Peninsula Symphony “Great Moments in Opera” insula Symphony presents musical numbers from shows like “Carmen”, “Aida” and more!

COMPILED BY JOANNA LEE AND JAMIN SHIH

In the midst of textbooks and tabs, teenagers have to take rain checks on social activities to lighten their loads. “Not today, I have a 20-page lab due tomorrow,” or “I can’t play Black Ops bro, this essay is eating me alive.” However, gTalk is open next to your Google Docs tab, and it is the former, not the latter, that is actually taking your social time away. If there was to be pure study time, completely free from social distractions, there would be more social time later.

Students condone the use of social networking by claiming that it is for academic purposes. Sophomore Siddhanta Dange said, “If I have a question about chemistry, I just go on Facebook.”

However, once online, students often find themselves vulnerable to checking out their pages and photos. “I try to go on for ten minutes max, but I always end up spending more time than I planned,” said junior Meetali Kashikar. During a student survey, it was a unanimous vote that if the students had not gone online, their work would have been finished thoroughly much faster.

A brief check on Facebook, albeit for academic purposes, commonly turns into a timesucking death-trap. The minutes spent multi-tasking are coming from your social minutes later, who are decreasing with every pointless refresh. Quite soon, there will be no free time left, and deep into the night both tabs will exist parallel to each other.

The sad truth is that multi-tasking simply does not work. The human mind cannot focus exactly 50% of its energy on social excursions and the other 50% on trigonometric identities.

In fact, every time a new activity is started, the mind loses more than 70% focus on the previous activity. The real culprit of the C’s could be pointed out just by going to one’s Wall.

By closing all the distracting tabs during the crucial hours of productivity, homework would pose no threat and friends would get the attention they deserve. In the middle of all of these tabs, honest to goodness free time is martyred. A little patience and consistency can deliver both.

Social networks have put on a veil of academic support, but beneath the facade they are still the perilous distractions they are notorious for. Most people do not get to experience the feeling of being completely free at 11 p.m. every night. Many have to dish out ‘brb’s to their besties because there are business problems to tackle underneath the chat-box. Real free time is a rare and invigorating notion. Multi-tasking delivers less than the sum of it’s parts, but focusing on one task yields solid results. Take life one tab at a time....

tarium

s temporary. Blaring muza College’s Fujitsu Planve performances staged displays and professiong the planetarium alive. hese short but insightful gends and myths of the pend the weekend than COMPILED BY VICTORIA DUAN

Social Networking Blogging

JOANNA LEE

18.5%

Online Videos

18%

an Antonio Ranch

Located in the old town of Monta Vista, Rancho San Antonio provides exercise for the mind body. A trail built to appease those of all physical strengths, Rancho is paved into multiple hs, each requiring different levels of stamina. The main road leads to a farm, where animals — hered, fluffed and furry — are all on display for those to watch. Other paths are more strenuand lead to incline trails for those looking for more challenge than a leisurely Sunday morning k. Rancho’s terrain and array of trails allows people to exercise on feet, on wheels, with their s and in the fresh air.

COMPILED BY NATALIE HOANG

35%

How do you waste your TIME ?

COMPILED BY HARINI JAGANATHAN 60 STUDENTS POLLED

Online Games

16%

Instant Messaging

13%

in-depth

APRIL 8, 2011

THE PROSPECTOR

Prom dress guru helps girls dress to impress Chloe Woods is one of the master minds of prom fashion AZADEH RONGERE lifestyles assistant

The drama of prom season is prominent in most formal dress stores.

From March to June, dress shops are responsible for providing the best necessities, such as a pair of dazzling four-inch heels, personality-shining dresses and sparkly accessories. Often, stressed employees are forced to reassure their customers’ fears. Most people are not qualified for this high-pressured job, especially not during their free time. Leisure is meant for relaxation and exploring different hobbies; therefore, forfeiting spare time to such a demanding and active job is challenging. However, in a city known to lack exciting activities, Chloe Woods, an independent sophomore, enjoys her free time in an unconventional way. Woods currently works at Bay Area Bridal and New Things West on Stevens Creek Boulevard, where she becomes a prom dress guru for many hopeful girls. As she bonds with her new clients, trying to match their exquisite outfits with ravishing accessories, she has only one goal in mind – to make them look strikingly gorgeous.

Jittery students from all over Cupertino anxiously enter Bay Area Bridal and New Things West hoping to find that jaw-dropping gown that will make a flawless statement at their memorable prom. However, the stress that follows this goal is inevitable starting from the decision between an up-do or flowing hair, to a strappy sandal versus a stiletto for the gown.

Trying to pamper such frazzled ladies who often worry about, “Does this dress make me look fat?” or deciding between a classy long dress or a shorter, informal dress could be a chore, but Woods respects their perspective.

“A lot of girls are coming in for their senior prom, so they want a dress that is the dress and perfect, which is understandable. Also, we are usually able to find their perfect dress,” said Woods which for some match eye color but for others hide faulty complexions.

Despite the tense side-effects, Woods distinguishes working as accomplishing a good deed that is superior to just lazily staying home and watching re-runs of her favorite shows during her spare time. In addition, the dress parlor finds her an advantageous worker because she is a peer with an eye for contemporary fashion.

“In Cupertino there is nothing to do. So working is fun, and I get to help students from Cupertino pick out their prom dresses. When I see them around the campus, I can say, ‘I know what your prom dress looks like!’” said Woods.

“

In Cupertino there is nothing to do. So working is fun, and I get to help students from Cupertino pick out their prom dresses. When I see them around the campus, I can say, ‘I know what your prom dress looks like!

-Chloe Woods

Like her fellow employees, Woods craved the cash to build a strong college fund for her bright future. She did not expect that beyond helping her finances, she would be rewarded with a gratifying and enjoyable experience. Therefore, Woods considers finding stunning dresses for people not an obligation, but a way of giving back and making them feel beautiful.

“If I sold three dresses that day, I feel really good that I helped people get the dress of their dreams,” enthused Woods.

Although initially leisure was a time to play sports or hang out with friends, Chloe Woods makes her free time more enjoyable and satisfying by helping excited prom attendees find ideal dresses for their memorable nights. Her fun job also includes benefits, such as employee discounts, which Woods hopes to take advantage of for her prom next year.

Teachers do not live at school?

Taking a peek at how teachers spend their weekends

ZACH JACOBS

“

“

I am a part of a group that meets twice a month to discuss the state of human trafficking on a global scale as well as on the local realm, and brainstorm ways to broaden public awareness, increase social engagement and uncover ways that we can support trafficking victims in the fight against modern-day slavery (the key buzz word is “restorative justice,” but that’s a loaded term all by itself.) The people in our group consists of two high school teachers, a chemist, a writer and a lieutenant deputy officer. Together, we read, talk about and research the latest news about what other folks are do-

ing in the international fight for social justice, as well as plan local events to promote fair trade and demote slavery.

On a different note, I’m also working towards a certification that will allow me to teach English to ESL students in foreign countries. I spend my weekends learning and practicing methods to teach students abroad. I’m currently planning a trip to Pakse, Laos in the upcoming summer to work on a clean water project, where I’ll be training some local people to perform water testing at a water laboratory I helped set up two summers ago.

There, I might also have an opportunity to take part in a local summer English camp as a guest teacher!“

One of my favorite weekend activities is to take my motorcycle out for rides into the mountains and along the coast.”

BRUCE CHEUNG

DANIEL STAVIS

“

One of my favorite things to do is go hiking in the foothills. I’m always amazed at how much there is to explore in the Bay area within fortyfive minutes in almost any direction. Of course I also enjoy exploring the beaches, although the freezing water keeps me on the sand. I used to sail small dory sailboats on the bay from the Stanford boathouse but since moving down to San Jose from the peninsula I haven’t had much chance to get out and do that. Another thing I like to do is home improvement projects; I added a loft to my garage last summer and we’re always doing little stuff to make it a more comfortable place to be. Finally, when the weather doesn’t agree, sometimes it’s nice to just stay home and clean out the ole DVR. Also sometimes I fly RC (radio controlled) helicopters and gliders.”

COMPILED BY ALYA OMAR