Issue 7 - May 2025

THE PROSPECTOR

1460 DAYS WITH 2025 A recap of our past four years of high school

Senior Showdown pg. 4

LIFESTYLES

Long Distance Friendships pg. 6

SPORTS

Senior Athletic Commits pg. 12

ISSUE 7, VOL 67 | MAY 2025

NEWS

IN THIS ISSUE

news

Senior Showdown ........................04

lifestyles

Long Distance Friendships ..........06 Class Poll .....................................08

sports

Senior Athletic Commits................12

22:

Sopho Journo

Class of 2025 Senior Nights .........14

senior issue

Quotes from The Prospector Staff...16 Advice to Your Freshman Self.........18 1460 Days With 2025......................20 Sopho Journo..................................22 Column: Introvert’s nightmare.........24 Column: Behind the Scenes & On the Sidelines......................... ................25 Column: shaonaphoto.....................26 Column: Flowering into Fulfillment........................................27 Tino Bingo........................................28 Slow: A Farewell Comic...................29

4:

Senior Assassin

2024-2025 Staff Photo.................... 30 Front and Back Cover Designed by Shaona Das Cover Photos Credit: Evelyn Liao, Joyce Lee

THE PROSPECTOR

STAFF 2024-2025

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Dear Readers,

editors-in-chief

special thanks to

Benjamin Liu Joyce Lee Shaona Das

Aaron Luc, Amrita Brar, Angela Kim, Anshika Jain, Atrisa Rahgozar, Ashley Qi, Cathy Wu, Celine Zhang, Chloe Choe, Katie Mak, Laura Chen, Madalina Zheng, Mason Lien, Miya Widman, Nikhil Krishnaswamy, Nimrit Gandhi, Nitya Dhulipala, Rebecca Wawda, Rosa Lee, Saba Shariff, Scarlett Guy, Victoria Hunt, Yeechen Pang, Zain Haseeb

page designers

Alexander Liu Brian Kuo Evelyn Liao Hailey Ryu Joe Zheng Katie Kim Noah Kang

advisor Ann Shriver-Peck Editorial Policy

“The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy.

“The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad in accordance with its advertising policy.

Contact Us: chsprospector@gmail.com The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014

We made it to the end. To those who’ve been counting down the days: congratulations, you did it! To those hoping for more time: savor these last moments.

As the year draws to a close, The Prospector has been reflecting on the special memories, challenges and achievements that have shaped our high school experience. This final issue of the year is brought to you by the Class of 2025 seniors on our staff.

Hailey Ryu kicks off the issue on page 4 with a feature on Senior Showdown, a spin-off of the classic Senior Assassin game. On page 6, Joe Zheng explores the potential challenges and solutions of maintaining long-distance friendships, a reality many of us will soon face.

Joyce Lee continues the theme of reflection, diving into her journeys of self-discovery and identity throughout high school on page 27. Finally, Alexander Liu’s farewell comic on page 29 brings the issue to a thoughtful end, embracing the moments of slowness we often overlook.

To our readers, whether you stumbled upon this magazine during fifth period or have been religiously reading each issue, thank you. Your engagement means the world to us, and we hope you are able to connect with the stories we’ve shared. From thought-evoking columns to quirky comics, every story in The Prospector aims to highlight the diverse voices, passions and perspectives that make CHS such a special place.

It’s been a privilege to help tell them as your Editors-in-Chief.

We wish you a meaningful end to the year and an exciting new beginning, as we all embark on journeys still waiting to be written.

Cheers, Benjamin Liu, Shaona Das, Joyce Lee Editors-in-Chief, The Prospector

Dear Class of 2025...

Letters to the senior class of 2025

ASB president

D

ear Cupertino High School, How do YOU feel? In just a couple of days, it will be the last time I hear these words. As I reflect on my time here, I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to the people at this school. Without a doubt, Cupertino is truly special because of the community that makes up its heart and soul. Whether it be in sports, academics or even in the relationships we build, the unwavering energy here to grow, excel and uplift one another is what I love so much about this school. I am so incredibly thankful to have been surrounded by such a driven and exceptionally talented community, from the students to the teachers on campus.

To the Class of 2025, you will always hold such a special place in my heart. As we prepare to flip the page to start a new chapter, I encourage you to always remember to “work hard to play hard.” Find that balance between striving for excellence and enjoying its journey. Remind yourself that success is never just about the destination — it’s equally about taking the time to appreciate the path we take to get there and the scenic views that we overlook when pursuing our goals. But more importantly, thank you. I am immensely proud to have shared this chapter of life with all of you, to have lived and grown alongside you, and I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things I know you will undoubtedly achieve beyond Cupertino.

To the underclassmen reading this, always be intentional as you explore the community around you.

Align your actions with your beliefs and values. Along the way, don’t fear failure — embrace every challenge. Though they might feel hard at the moment, turning those moments into opportunities for growth can lead to some of the most valuable lessons in your life. Every experience — whether a success or a difficulty — plays a role in your journey toward becoming a stronger, more confident version of yourself. Trust that it will all work out in the end. Remember, in the blink of an eye, high school will fly by, so don’t forget to have fun along the way!

With my letter coming to a close, I want to emphasize that no matter where life takes you beyond these walls, I hope you all carry the spirit of Cupertino with you. And remember, “don’t be a stranger.” Tino, I wish every one of you nothing but success, love and happiness in all your future endeavors. Good luck to everyone, and I hope to hear from you all soon!

4 | DESIGNED BY HAILEY RYU

With so much love, Annabel Liu

D

class president

ear Class of 2025, Where’d all the time go? It seems as if it was just yesterday we were eager freshmen, stepping onto Cupertino High School’s campus as the first class to experience high school fully in-person after lockdown. After four long years, all 477 of us will soon embark on our own journeys and finally graduate from Tino. Although many of us have already experienced the first of our lasts, it really hasn’t hit me yet that these are the final few weeks we’ll be spending together. Needless to say, I am very proud of the growth we have all experienced.

As freshmen, we were ready to join every single club and participate in every class event. I remember many of us learned an entire three minute long partner dance the night before our first Clash of the Classes rally, which proved how dedicated our class was from the beginning. We slowly found our footing on campus throughout sophomore and junior year, enjoying the freedom of no mandatory P.E. or trying out for our first leadership positions. Now, as seniors, we’ve grown to be the loudest class in the gym when we’re asked, “Hey 2025, how do you feel?” and we’ve set an example for the underclassmen looking up to us as the oldest students on campus. The past four years may have been filled with lots of hard work, stressful times and some disappointments, but we’ve also made lifelong memories, friends we’ll never forget and have grown in ways we never imagined when we first stepped into these halls.

2025, I hope that you remember how far you’ve come since freshman year, and I know that the future is bright for each and every one of you. Some of us may know what we want to do in the future while others may still be figuring it out. Embrace uncertainties but also don’t be afraid to take on new challenges and live life to the fullest. Things will work out in the end! I am so grateful to have been able to lead a class that is so involved on campus, whether it’s in academics, athletics or school events. The amount of unity, spirit and camaraderie our class has shown throughout the past four years is something I will never forget. Thank you, class of 2025, and congratulations!

Signing out, Hailey Ryu

C

advisors

Wishing you all the best!

Ms. Jackson & Ms. Nguyen

THE PROSPECTOR | 5

ongratulations Class of 2025!

You’ve survived COVID, countless class dance practices, late nights studying (or procrastinating), the digitization of AP testing and all the temptation that comes with using ChatGPT. It has been incredibly rewarding to see the growth of this class over the past four years. We had the chance to have so many of you in our own classrooms, and we observed your perseverance, grit, and hilarious (though sometimes disconcerting) Gen Z humor that helped you cope with the stress of school and life.

We are so grateful that we received the opportunity to advise the Class of 2025 and though we are sad to say goodbye, we are excited to see where you all will end up after graduation. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to figure it all out now. You have time!

Enough reminiscing. These were some fun years, but they will definitely not be the best years of your life. Look forward to the future! Some last thoughts and advice: • Seek connection and solidarity with each other. You all have more in common than you realize.

• Remain curious and continue to learn! Utilize your critical thinking skills.

• Look back fondly on your high school memories, but do not get stuck there. There is plenty more to experience in college, work and life.

• Be intentional with your time. Not everything and everyone deserves your attention and affection.

Keep in touch and update us on your achievements and milestones. We are all rooting for you!

NEWS The goals, successes and setbacks of the Class of 2025’s two senior-only competitions

E

HAILEY RYU

6 | DESIGNED BY SHAONA DAS

postscript editor

very year, seniors are seen equipped with water guns, floaties and swim goggles, playing the widely-known game of senior assassin.

Senior assassin is a highly anticipated elimination game that high school students all over the nation play during their senior year, where the objective of the game is to eliminate an assigned target with a water gun within a given time frame. Like many other seniors, Cupertino High School seniors used to participate in these games. However, school administrators strongly advised students to refrain from playing even if it’s not officially affiliated with the school, since students have gone to extreme lengths to eliminate their targets in the past.

In response to admin’s orders, the 2025 Senior Class Council

created a spin-off version of senior assassin called Senior Showdown. This competition consisted of five mini-games — Sticker Tag, Spy vs. Spy, Minute-to-Win-It Field Day, Babysitting a Balloon and Photo Scavenger Hunt — with one game each day and the overall winners receiving free tickets to prom. Teams consisted of two players, and they were ranked with a point system, with the winners of each game winning extra points. Many students were interested in playing because of

the free prom tickets as a prize.

In Sticker Tag, each team received a sheet of dot stickers. The objective of this game was to stick as many stickers onto other contestants without getting caught for three seconds, and the teams that were able to get rid of the most stickers by the end of the day earned the most points.

In Spy vs. Spy, teams were assigned “targets” — similar to senior assassin — where they had to catch their target teams performing

they would be more points.

awarded

On the final day of the games, teams played a scavenger hunt, but with photo and video tasks. A long list of tasks was posted, with certain tasks being

“

ON DAY ONE I WAS TRYING TO HAVE FUN, BUT THEN WE PLACED HIGH AND WE HAD A CHANCE OF WINNING.

DARIN KAO

associated with different point values, and teams were awarded points based on which tasks they were able to complete.

Darin Kao, a senior and one of the winners of Senior Showdown, enjoyed playing the photo scavenger hunt the most.

Kao said, “On day one I was trying to have fun, but then we

NEWS | 7

certain actions that were worth different point values depending on the action. More points were awarded to teams that were able to catch their targets doing actions that are not frequently performed.

For Minute-to-Win-It, teams competed in five mini-games: cup stack, cookie eating, water balloon toss, ping-pong race and red light, green light. Teams were split up and played against a smaller group of teams at each game, and rotated until all five games were played. Points were awarded based on the team’s performance in each game.

For the Babysitter Day, teams were given a balloon with the objective of keeping their balloon inflated throughout the day. Teams were given an incentive — if they popped another team’s balloon,

”

placed high and we had a chance of winning. I didn’t expect to be placed high either. Also, I was trying to win for Jason mostly, because he’s a good friend. If I were to just not give it my all it would be super unfair to him.”

“I think Showdown was kind of comparable to Senior Assassin, but it was only a week. If it was longer I think it could definitely replace assassin. Also, the concept was there and people were really competitive about it, so I think it was a good idea,” said Kao. “People started giving up after realizing they couldn’t win after a certain day, so I think it just needs to be expanded.”

LIFESTYLES

MAINTAINING

LONG

DISTANCE

8 | DESIGNED BY JOE ZHENG

FRIENDSHIPS Reflecting on the relationships we have built and how to counteract growing apart after graduation

JOE ZHENG writer

O

ver the past four years, all of us have developed relationships with our peers through classes, clubs, sports and friend groups.

Whether it be with the person we occasionally wave at in the hallways or the best friend that we spent every waking minute with, high school ending creates a complication in our relationships. Once we go our separate ways, how will we maintain the relationships we’ve grown in the past years?

The Concern Some of us may want to distance ourselves from high school. We want to separate ourselves from the relentlessly competitive culture we have been a part of these past few years. We want to get as far away as possible from that one toxic friend who really didn’t care about anyone at all. Of course, most of us don’t want to completely cut everyone off, but we would like to grow as individuals away from the social bubble of the Bay Area. Even with this sentiment of wanting distance, most of us would still like to maintain our close relationships past Grad Night. Although we want to grow as individuals, we are scared that we will grow apart from our relationships.

Within a month, we will lose the thing that has kept us together in many ways — school. We will lose Cupertino’s cheer-filled rallies,pictures with friends during brunch on spirit days, lunch trips to mainstreet turned into trips to Taco Bell and Popeyes after more friends got their driver’s licenses. Losing the structure of our friendships can be frightening, but it’s up to us to counteract our dissolving relationships.

One way to avoid losing friendships is by making the most of the time we have left physically together before we venture off to our distant post-grad

Senior trips can introduce us to becoming in-

dependent as most do not involve parent chaperones. Students get a chance to decide for themselves what they want to do for the day, where to visit and what to eat. While training independence, students are able to create unforgettable memories as they share the responsibilities of living together.

Although high school will come to an end, our relationships don’t have to. The social media and communication apps at our fingertips allow us to keep in touch with people even if they are across the country, or even the world. Even with these tools, it’s important for us to plan communication routines if we truly want to maintain our cherished relationships. Some questions to consider are: How much should we text each other each day? How often should we FaceTime? During which school breaks should we meet up and hang out in person?

Maintaining long distance relationships — whether platonic or romantic — will be difficult. To prepare, we can make plans on how to spend our last months together and how to deal with the physical distance between us. But even if your relationships do fall apart, you will be okay — if you were able to make friends at our chaotic clique-filled high school, you will probably be able to make friends anywhere

LIFESTYLES | 9

The Solutions

plans. We can spend more time with family and friends — going on impromptu matcha runs or planning soccer scrimmages weeks in advance. We can also immerse ourselves deeper into the communities we are a part of.

Another way we can explore our newfound freedom after high school is taking “Senior Trips,” where groups of friends go on vacation together shortly following graduation.

Class of 2025

BY THE NUMBERS

The senior class of 2025 answers 10 questions about their high school experience. Results are collected from a sample of 53 responses.

USED CHATGPT TO “HELP” WITH HOMEWORK

79% 60% ATTENDING COLLEGE IN CALIFORNIA

S

10 | DESIGNED BY BENJAMIN LIU

% 6 9

OM T P YM ITIS S T OR NIOR P E E R OF S ITIS R O I SEN

64%

USED THE HALLWAY PASS FOR TOO LONG

DITCHED CLASS FOR FOOD

57%

77%

CRIED OVER A TEST

62%

CAN DO 15 PUSH UPS

45%

65%

BEGGED A TEACHER FOR A GRADE BUMP

HAVE BEEN IN A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP HOW HAPPY ARE YOU WITH YOUR POST GRAD PLANS?

26%

25% 15.1%

11% 9%

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

LIFESTYLES | 11

4%

4%

1

6%

SPORTS

CLASS OF 2025

ATHLETIC RECRUITS Reflecting on CHS senior athletes’ recruitment journeys KATIE KIM, JOYCE LEE social media manager | editor-in-chief

ethan chung - yale Senior Ethan Chung was recruited to Yale University for tennis, announcing his verbal commitment in February 2024. Chung began playing tennis in South Korea, where the culture of collegiate sports is not as prevalent. “I wasn’t planning to get recruited until sophomore, junior year,” said Chung. “I was more of a late bloomer. [...] I always had that as a goal, but I really didn’t think I would be able to get there. And even then, I didn’t imagine that I would get recruited to play Division I sports.” Though Chung felt pressure from both the high-stakes tournaments and the expectations he set for himself, the offer from Yale, his dream school, brought both happiness and relief. As he continues his tennis career throughout college, he tries to maintain a mindset of sustaining joy and passion for his sport. “At the end of the day, your development comes first,” said Chung. “If you’re constantly becoming a better player, the results and the offers will follow.”

ALLISON HSIEH - CARNEGIE MELLON

12 | DESIGNED BY KATIE KIM

Senior Allison Hsieh was recruited to play tennis at Carnegie Mellon University. Hsieh began playing tennis by following in her older brother’s footsteps and started competing nationally at age 9. During the recruitment process, she felt pressure to perform well in tournaments while keeping up with her academics. “Sometimes you don’t do as well as you expect to, and then you feel like you’re falling behind compared to all the other people you’re competing against,” Hsieh said. “I think I held high expectations for myself.” Amidst the challenges, Hsieh credits her father as her greatest supporter — both as a parent and as her personal coach. She ultimately chose Carnegie Mellon for its strong balance of academics and athletics, which is especially important to Hsieh, who plans to major in neuroscience and pursue a career in the medical field.

winston lee - uc berkeley

Senior Winston Lee was recruited to play tennis at the University of California, Berkeley, and announced his verbal commitment in February 2024. After competing in a major national tournament, Lee began receiving interest from college coaches. While he enjoyed connecting with different programs, he found the pressure of making a decision difficult. “The reason why I committed early was because of my parents — they were feeling very rushed,” Lee said. “I could have taken a bit more time to see other colleges, but it worked out.” Lee credits his father for helping him navigate major decisions during the recruitment process, while his younger brother supports him by preparing his equipment before matches. Berkeley’s location also influenced his choice, as Lee prefers playing tennis in the sunny weather. After college, Lee plans to pursue a professional tennis career.

LIST INCLUDES ALL RECRUITED ATHLETES THAT THE PROSPECTOR ARE CURRENTLY AWARE AND WHO RESPONDED FOR AN INTERVIEW

MISSING: SHELBY APOSTOLO (SOFTBALL AT SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE) AND LILLY ROMAN (SOFTBALL AT OHLONE COLLEGE)

jett hattori - redwoods

Senior Jett Hattori was recruited to play baseball at the College of the Redwoods and plans to enter the Division I transfer portal. Hattori began playing baseball at age 9 on a Little League team with his friends, where he fell in love with the sport and realized he wanted to compete seriously. His recruitment process involved emailing coaches and using online recruiting platforms. “I think the most difficult part was getting that first coach to email you or text you, but from there it was pretty smooth,” Hattori said. Although he initially committed to a Division III school, Hattori later chose to pursue Division I through the College of the Redwoods’ junior college program with encouragement and guidance from his college coach. “As a player, I think I have the potential to play at the Division I level,” he said. “This coach definitely knows what he’s talking about and how to get to that level of success.”

malachi perez - southern nevada Senior Malachi Perez was recruited to the College of Southern Nevada for baseball, and plans to pursue a career as a firefighter or in Division I sports after junior college baseball. Though Perez had always hoped to play sports at the collegiate level, the initial lack of exposure in his baseball career was challenging. “I love baseball. I’ve been playing since I was 6, and it’s my escape from everything going on outside,” said Perez. “But it gets really hard sometimes — athletes struggle physically and emotionally. So there’s been lots of times where I’ve been very close to quitting and hanging up the cleats, but my love of the game keeps pushing me forward.” Throughout the process, Perez’s mother, friends and coaches were his greatest supporters. Said Perez, “My teammates pushed me to work even harder, because they all knew how much I wanted it. My coaches pushed me, and my mom really pushed me [...] I wouldn’t change anything.”

william hawkins - san jose city

Senior William Hawkins was recruited to San Jose City College for football. Hawkins originally began playing football at Cupertino in his sophomore year, seeking a community and more team-based sport after previously running cross country. “With football, it’s more brotherly, family based,” said Hawkins. “Everyone’s super close with each other. [...] Football, it becomes a part of your life, and you learn how to overcome challenges with your brothers, going through blood, sweat and tears with each other.” Hoping to see what college football would be like through San Jose City College’s two year program, Hawkins began attending practices and connecting with the collegiate coaches, making the team. Said Hawkins, “Just trust the process, honestly. Follow what you love.

Don’t let other people tell you any different. Give it your 110%.”

siomara hernandez - menlo SPORTS | 13

Senior Siomara Hernandez was recruited to wrestle at Menlo College. Introduced to wrestling at a young age by her father, Hernandez realized in middle school that she wanted to pursue the sport more seriously. “I just love wrestling,” Hernandez said. “I feel like wrestling made me into the person I am today because it taught me to be strong and to have a strong mentality.” Hernandez faced challenges competing in higher weight classes and managing the demands of cutting weight.

Training up to three times a day became her routine. Still, the intensity of the sport never damaged her relationships with fellow wrestlers. “On the mat, you’re a whole other person, and off the mat, you’re a whole other person,” Hernandez said. “I wrestled one of my friends a couple times, and on the mat, we just wrestled hard. At the end of the day, we’re still friends.”

SPORTS

CLASS OF 2025 FOOTBALL - FALL

CROSS COUNTRY - FALL

FIELD HOCKEY - FALL GIRLSVOLLEYBALL TENNIS - FALL GIRLS - FALL

GIRLS GOLF - FALL

GIRLS TENNIS - FALL

BOYS WATER POLO - FALL

GIRLS BASKETBALL WINTER

14 | DESIGNED BY JOYCE LEE

BOYS BASKETBALL WINTER GIRLS SOCCER - WINTER

BOYS SOCCER - WINTER

WRESTLING - WINTER

SENIOR NIGHTS BADMINTON - SPRING

BOYS GOLF - SPRING

GYMNASTICS - SPRING BOYS BOYS TENNIS TENNIS -- SPRING SPRING

SWIM - SPRING

TRACK & FIELD - SPRING

BOYS VOLLEYBALL SPRING

BASEBALL - SPRING

SOFTBALL - SPRING GOLDEN SPURS

MARCHING BAND

SPORTS | 15

CHEER

16 | DESIGNED BY EVELYN LIAO AND BRIAN KUO

SENIOR ISSUE

SENIOR ISSUE | 17

"Don’t let

people tell you that things are

impossible."

NOAH KANG

18 | DESIGNED BY NOAH KANG

lifestyle editor

“You’ll end up losing a lot of sleep and brain cells from stressing yourself out. It’s high school. It’s not that bad. Focus on being organized and on top of things. You’ll be able to make room for the important things in life if you do.”

***

(

“Make good study habits, and enjoy the small moments, they make it all worth it.”

To My Freshman Self...

“Nothing’s ever that deep. When you make choices it’s okay to be cautious but never have one foot in and the other out of the door.”

|

“There’s life outside of the Cupertino city borders and outside of school, so stop worrying, you will be fine.”

“Don’t be so uptight about what others think.”

ANONYMOUS STUDENT

”

SENIOR ISSUE | 19

“

DON’T STRESS TOO MUCH, IT AIN’T WORTH IT.

“To take risks, put yourself out there, and stop being scared of everything in order to work towards your own happiness.”

“That it works out exactly like it should.

Even if it’s hard and the world is crashing, you will end up exactly where you need to be eventually.”

“Do what genuinely interests you from clubs to hobbies and you’ll see that you actually end up way more happy and successful than in things you’re forcing yourself to do.”

TV Shows

Movies

Recently Added

Favorites

1460 Days with 2025

20 | DESIGNED BY EVELYN LIAO

Play

Welcome to Cupertino, California. Join the Class of 2025 as they tackle high school together and learn lessons of love, life and loss.

Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1): Cupertino High School welcomes the Class of 2025, a group of kids fresh out of online learning middle school.

Clash of the Classes (Season 1 Episode 2): The freshmen take on the sophomores, juniors and seniors amidst a whimsical, magical film-themed battle.

Pioneers v. Matadors (Season 1 Episode 3): Will the Pioneers return home victorious against the Monta Vista Matadors in the annual Helmet Game?

Sun, Sand and … Turf??

(Season 1 Episode 4): Cupertino High School tackles COVID-19 restrictions with outdoor rallies.

Search

Capy

May’s Flowers (Season 1 Episode 5): The freshmen class of 2025 closes out their first year with Springfest, an underclassmen dance.

Return of the Sophomores (Season 2 Episode 2): Join the dark side with 2025’s Star Wars-themed homecoming.

Afterglow (Season 2 Episode 3): Cupertino High School celebrates the end of the fall semester with Winter formal at the DoubleTree by Hilton.

Glow In the Dark Rally (Season 2 Episode 4):flashlights gleam and neon beams cross the floor as students dance and cheer at the rally.

DON’T FORGET THE PICA BOX TT --> copy paste it in the v end :) replace the period!!

Juniors, Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? (Season 3 Episode 2): Juniors impress at homecoming with a rendition of the film Frozen.

Sparks (Season 3 Episode 5): Sparks fly at the San Jose Museum of Art as the class of 2025 dances the night away.

The Final(s) Countdown (Season 3 Episode 6): The juniors battle through AP classes and wrap up final exams, but an even bigger obstacle is looming ahead.

A Senior’s Whole New World (Season 4 Episode 2): Make a wish! The senior class performs Aladdin at their final homecoming rally.

Always (Season 4 Episode 6): As the night of nights comes to a close, the class of 2025 promises each other Always.

Class of 2025, How Do We Feel? (Season 4: Episode 8): NEW EPISODE OUT JUNE 5th!

SENIOR ISSUE | 21

Senior SZN (Season 4 Episode 1): The sun rises on the last first day of school for incoming seniors.

NONCHALANT GAME DEVELOPER JOINED JOURNALISM: SOPH YEAR He’s drawn basically every Prospector comic in the past three years

N

OA

BE

U I L N

DTM JOINED JOURNALISM: SOPH YEAR He’s a little too out-ofpocket a little too often

LI

U

H KANG

ALE

X

FORMER K-POP TRAINEE...?

JOINED JOURNALISM: JUNIOR YEAR He may or may not be a compulsive liar

SOPHO

Meet the 2025 journalism seniors, JOYCE LEE, BENJAMIN LIU, SHAONA DAS

B RIAN K

editors-in-chief

U

JOINED JOURNALISM: SOPH YEAR She likes editing essays more than she likes writing them

His hobby is scaring introverts (talking to JOINED JOURNALISM: random JUNIOR YEAR people)

STARBIRD LOVER

C Y JO

E

22 | DESIGNED BY JOYCE LEE

O

5 AM: SLEPT OR WOKE UP?

E E L

MATCHA-OBSESSED PREZZIE

IE K I M T A K

JOINED JOURNALISM: SOPH YEAR She’s choreographed for every class rally dance since freshman year

es

RYU

80% CHIPOTLE JOINED JOURNALISM: SOPH YEAR She knows most of BLACKPINK’s choreography by heart

t. 2022

JOURNO

who’ve stuck together from “sopho” to senior year

E

LIA O N Y L VE

DA S

SHA O NA

HAILEY

PRIME MALDINI JOINED JOURNALISM: SENIOR YEAR He likes thrifting and posting random selfies of himself

HENG E Z J

O

PHOTOGENIC PHOTOGRAPHER

JOINED JOURNALISM: SOPH YEAR She’s captain of both her sports teams and has photographed many more SENIOR ISSUE | 23

She’ll remember everything you’ve ever JOINED JOURNALISM: mentioned to SOPH YEAR her

CLASSY CUTIE

I’m an Introvert’s Worst Nightmare I’m an introvert’s worst nightmare: here’s why you should be as well BRIAN KUO

H

24 | DESIGNED BY BRIAN KUO

news editor

ave you ever been scared to talk to someone? You know how building up the courage to talk to customer service can feel impossible? Like, yes, I need to find the milk section, but I don’t really want to bother someone that’s busy. Or bringing it up to the waiter that your order was done wrong?

So awkward. When I’m out and about, my introverted friends always look at me like I’m a freak when I talk to a stranger in public. So why do I live my life this way? There’s a couple of reasons. But inadvertently, I embarrass not only myself, but my friends around me — making myself the perfect, introvert’s nightmare.

My opinions: I enjoy taking life less seriously.

You know those random people that you pass by on the streets, that just annoyingly feel the urge to say something to you, a complete stranger? Some person you’ve never met before just decides to say “good morning,” or “have a nice day.” That person is me.

More than a kind of way to release my energy into the world, I feel like it’s a reminder that I crank down the “serious meter” on my life. Why take every little thing so seriously?

Each little “embarrassment” in public shouldn’t be some-

thing that you hold onto forever —- instead, use it as something to brighten your day! And while you’re at it, try to make someone else’s day.

Being scared doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Overcoming fear makes you stronger and more confident. I think talking to people is one of those things that will always be intimidating — it’s scary to think about being judged or making other people annoyed. But for the same reason so many people join clubs like Speech and Debate, overcoming your fears of speaking in public is definitely possible. And that confidence will come back to benefit you in so many ways, from better interviews to making more friends in college, and so much more.

Strangers you never meet again are basically NPCs. There are obviously exceptions, but in general, I think that thinking about people around you in a more casual way decreases the pressure to act a certain way in public.

Don’t worry about being judged!

You’ll never interact with most of these people again. And even if you do, your greeting to them will do nothing but make a better impression of yourself.

I only live once, so I’m going to try my best to not let caring about public appearance and fear change the way I act around others

Behind the scenes A tribute to the two things that made high school bearable HAILEY RYU postscript

S editor

sine, because I was helping set up instead.

Being a part of the decision making process behind events that almost every high schooler looks forward to has been time-consuming and a lot of work, yet seeing my classmates’ eyes light up when they walk into a venue and hearing laughter from my friends is so rewarding. I hope that my classmates were able to experience as much joy attending the events as I did planning them!

The biggest lesson I’ve learned from both council and dance is to do what you’re passionate about.

It’s not worth it to go through four, long and grueling years of high school without having one or two things you truly enjoy doing. If you partake in activities that you truly find fulfillment in, you won’t have any regrets. Dance and council were both things I wanted to do and I did them. I wouldn’t change anything about how I spent my high school years. I am genuinely grateful for all of the opportunities and self-growth that both council and dance has provided me, and I will never forget the experiences I’ve had throughout high school thanks to them

& on the sidelines

DESIGNED BY HAILEY RYU | 25

poiler alert: High School Musical is NOT an accurate representation of high school. As a bored eighth grader living monotonous days throughout the pandemic, I would watch movies and YouTube videos about high school religiously, ready to move on from going to school online. Since then, I had already made up the reinvented high school version of me in my mind — I wanted to join student council and become a student athlete, all while enjoying the freedom of being older. Fast forward to four years later, I’m about to graduate after being senior class president and an officer of the dance team.

Sometimes I wonder what I would’ve done in high school if I hadn’t joined the dance team.

Maybe I would’ve started a new club or devoted my time towards studying more. Maybe I would’ve experienced watching a football game with my friends or standing in the bleachers for a rally without having to be in them. I will say, though, the bleachers at our athletic events were never as full as the bleachers in the championship game b e -

tween East and West High in HSM 3. Yet, hearing my friends chant my name and cheer for me as I took the floor to perform at a rally and the exhilarating feeling of winning an award with my team made the tiring hours of practice a week and the soreness I felt every morning worth it. I’ll never forget the memories I’ve made with the people that became my second family — there was even one month where we were together for over 60 hours! Although it was both physically and mentally draining — I managed to almost get a concussion and fracture both feet at some point — I’ll never forget the memories I’ve made and people that I’ve met through the dance team.

Hearing my name getting announced as one of the eight new members of freshmen student council was a dream come true.

Homecoming dance practices, early morning rally set-up, begging our friends to come to fundraisers and setting up for almost every school event are the sources of some of my fondest memories from high school. As class president, it was finally senior year, planning all of the senior activities we see on social media like Senior Sunrise, Senior Games and Senior Prom, concludes the four years of my time on student council. Prom was nothing like what I saw in the movie — I didn’t take hours to get ready or get picked up in a limou-

My experience photographing student life over the past three years SHAONA DAS

26 | DESIGNED BY SHAONA DAS

editor-in-chief

Through my lens, I saw the stage bathed in golden light, the movements of the actors captivating the audience during our drama program’s rendition of “The Great Gatsby.” I focused my camera on the lead actor, shifting my angle to encapsulate the warm highlights and stark shadows that framed his commanding expression. This assignment for The Prospector was the one that truly drew me into photography — while intense action was fun to capture, I also discovered that covering moments of stillness allowed me to experiment with my technique.

Through my assignments for The Prospector, I quickly realized how much I enjoyed capturing moments for other students. It wasn’t just about documenting an event — it was about conveying a feeling. Ever since the play, photography has motivated me to explore. However frustrating it was to take 100 photos and o n l y have one turn out well,

however tedious it was to edit countless pictures within a fewday timeline, I was hooked.

As my sophomore year progressed and I continued taking photos for the publication, I met many new faces — and documented them on an Instagram account, @shaonaphoto. A student who balanced his passion for engineering and the performing arts, a wat e r polo

player who led his team to their first victory in years and a dancer who helped rebuild their dance team after COVID. My SD card became a mosaic of unique perspectives and passions.

While I loved striving for those action shots, I found true joy in capturing blink-of-an-eye emotions. My favorite shots capture raw emotion: a dancer sobbing while hugging a graduating senior goodbye, football players chest bumping in the air after a touchdown. My main goal in every photography endeavor has developed from just taking photos of action to using a photo to tell a story.

From senior nights to prom to annual showcases, I’ve become passionate about capturing moments in time for others, clipping raw emotions and candid moments for others to cherish.

So now, when I get an email from our Assistant Principal or a text from a friend asking me to photograph an important event, I jump at the chance. Through photography, I’ve met so many influential people, and I take bits and pieces from everyone I meet, shaping the person I am today

JOYCE LEE

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editor-in-chief

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g w i r o f l intoe n fulfillment

Learning to embrace life’s timing

DESIGNED BY JOYCE LEE | 27

hatever the opposite of a green thumb was, I’ve always been convinced I had it. I was the type of amateur gardener who managed to kill a cactus — and I actually did during the COVID-19 lockdown, by overwatering it. No matter how hard I tried to grow flowers on our third-story apartment balcony, I was never successful.

For much of my life, I’d also struggled with growing something else that wasn’t a plant — true and genuine contentment.

Throughout middle and high school, I felt as though I was chasing an appeal that seemed to dim every time I’d actually accomplished something, leaving me lost. Middle school Zoom plays, creative writing awards, s u m m e r programs, college applications — every achievement, big and small, was haunted by the nagging thought of “What if I can do more?”

Although I continued to struggle with this mindset

throughout high school, what for myself. turned it around for me was work- It’s so natural to be disappointed ing in a team — particularly in when life doesn’t go the way that The Prospector. Leading a staff you’d like or expect. But over the of over 30 people, I past few years, I’ve learned how to cellearned to plant my ebrate each staffAS I EXERCISED flowers in healthier ers’ achievements, EMPATHY AND GRATI- soil — approachno matter how small TUDE FOR THE PEOPLE ing challenges with they might seem to AROUND ME, I BEGAN a mindset of gratthem — from showTO GROW MORE EMPA- itude rather than ing up to their first anxiety. Although THY FOR MYSELF. class period to writI know that weeds JOYCE LEE ing their first articles and rocks and to packaging their stormy weather will first spreads. As I exertry to bash down my cised empathy and flowers, I’ll contingratitude for the ue to shield them people around with thankfulness, me, I began watching as the to grow more buds of my pasempasions flower into thy beautiful blossoms

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G O G N N i i BB

O N I T

28 | DESIGNED AND ILLUSTRATED BY ALEXANDER LIU

SE ACTIVITIES E H T O D U DID YO HOOL YEAR? C S E H T G DURIN

Bought strawberry matcha latte

Stayed up until 2 AM studying

Lost your student ID

Got a borderline grade

Ran to get to the front of the lunch line

Made a TikTok

Participated in a rally dance/ game/performance

Attended a senior night

Submitted an assignment at 11:59 PM

Went to a school dance

Read The Prospector

Visited a club 10+ times

Read The Prospector (free space)

Studied for 4+ hours in a row

Got more than 5 tardies in one class

Celebrated an achievement with you family

Took an AP test Participated in a fundraiser

Took a BeReal

Got to school before sunrise

Played Connections/Wordle in class

Ran to school

Aced a test

Misspelled your teacher’s name

Made someone laugh

slow clouds. the slow seconds before the bell rings.

slow walks with the dog.

slow piano wafting through the streets.

slow things,

like little jewels

in a world that’s going faster and faster.

SENIOR ISSUE | 29

30 | THE PROSPECTOR 8

THE PROSPECTOR CLASS OF 2024-2025 Thank you all for a fantastic year! (including staffers not pictured Brian Kuo and Rebecca Wawda)

OPINIONS 9 SENIOR ISSUE ||31