Issue 7 - May 2024

PRINCIPAL KAMI TOMBERLAIN RETIRES

“JOYFUL L” JOURNA pg. 22

LETTERS TO THE CLASS OF 2024 pg. 4

MAY 2024 | ISSUE 7, VOL 66

pg. 16

IN THIS ISSUE

senior issue Letters to Senior Class.............. 04 Class of 2024 Timeline ............. 07 Tinopoly..................................... 08 Four C’s of Cupertino................ 10 How to (Not) Get Into CMU....... 12 Life Through My Lens................ 13 Dear... ..................................... 14 Principal Kami Tomberlain Retires....................................... 16 What 18 Means to Me............... 18 Digging For Motivation............... 19 Letter to Underclassmen........... 20 The Paths We Take.................... 21 Joyful Journal............................ 22 Questions.................................. 24 Retiring Teachers....................... 25 #Supertino................................ 26 Journalism Seniors.................... 27 COVER DESIGNED BY JOLIE HAN BACK COVER DESIGNED BY LISA ZIVANIC

THE PROSPECTOR

STAFF 2023-2024

editors-in-chief

copy editors

Jolie Han Lisa Zivanic Sania Mehta

Anika Rao Anoushka Gokhale Joyce Lee Lisa Zivanic Riya Malik

page editors Angie Li Andrew Qin Evan Lu Jolie Han Lisa Zivanic Rishita Shah Sania Mehta

advisor Ann Shriver

writers Angie Li Andrew Qin Anika Rao Anoushka Gokhale Evan Lu Jolie Han Lisa Zivanic Rishita Shah Riya Malik Sania Mehta

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

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Dear Reader, You made it! After four years of classes, clubs and well chaos, the class of 2024 is finally checking out of Cupertino High School. As we bid farewell to our high school journey, this issue celebrates the culmination of our senior year and the enduring bonds forged along the way. First up, “Letters to Senior Class” serves some truthbombs from senior class advisors Sean Cryan and Zachary Jacobs who watched you blossom from fresh-faced freshmen to seasoned semi-adults.

Their memories and well-wishes capture all the feels on page 6. This sentiment is also reflected in statements from Associated Student Body President Kabir Mishra and Class Council President Tahlia Wu. Flipping to page 16, we’re bidding an emotional farewell to the ultimate Cool Mom, Principal Kami “Mama T” Tomberlain. Her legacy of compassion and school spirit will be missed. That’s so not fetch.

In a tragically ironic twist, “What It Means to Be 18” lands on page 18.

Riya Malik dives deep on this precipice where childhood finally ends.

Spoiler alert: Suddenly you’re expected to, like, know things. Ugh, as if!

Finally, we recorded all the juicy truths in our very own Burn Book, the “Joyful Journal” on page 22. You can’t sit with us if you don’t read about all the fetching things that made CHS a place to call home.

Fetch is gonna happen, just watch!

To the seniors: after dominating the high school scene for years, your clique is breaking up. Whether you ruled the school as a Plastic, excelled as a brainiac mathlete or just rolled with a crew of hot messes, you all brought something unique to this community. So as you graduate and take on the real world, please remember the lessons you learned here. The future is so incredibly fetch, you all!

Yours fondly, Sania Mehta, Jolie Han and Lisa Zivanic P.S. While the Plastics may have scoffed “you can’t sit with us,” at CHS you’ll always have a seat – because this high school home is forever yours.

LETTERS TO THE A LETTER FROM THE CLASS PRESIDENT

4 | DESIGNED BY LISA ZIVANIC

D

ear 2024, “Are you ready to graduate? What are your plans for the future?” Lately, these questions have seemed inevitable in our conversations with friends, family and teachers. We’re entering adulthood in under a month; we should know the answer, right?

But to be honest, even I—someone who is supposed to have it all together—falter when answering these questions. But I’m not worried. Throughout all of high school, we’ve felt uncertain, but we didn’t just survive—we thrived.

As freshmen, we entered high school uncertain about how online learning will work, and uncertain about the random breakout room assignments every class.

As sophomores, we felt like freshmen, experiencing student life traditions for the first time. Our class was uncertain about what homecoming even was, but as a result, we created our own new traditions and created a lasting first impression as 2024.

As juniors, we became the upperclassmen as teacher assistants, club officers, and sports captains. Evolving as leaders through tackling uncertainty, we developed our own ways to care for our underclassmen community.

Now we are seniors. We’re leaving these red and gold colors, packed rallies, and each other. What’s going to happen? Some of us have a ten year vision for the future while others don’t even know what their plan is for dinner tonight. But for all of us, as we journey away from Cupertino High, let’s enjoy these last weeks together. As for the future, things will work out. Trust. (Seriously though.)

Signing out, Tahlia Wu

CLASS OF 2024 A LETTER FROM THE ASB PRESIDENT

D

Signing off, Kabir Mishra

SENIOR ISSUE | 5

ear Cupertino High School, As the school year comes to a close, I’ve had the chance to reflect on the work and experiences I’ve had my senior year as well my high school journey as a whole. Cupertino High School is a truly special and unique place, one that will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am eternally grateful for all the staff and students who made these past four years the incredible time that it has been.

For the underclassmen reading this, cherish every moment you have here. I know it sounds cliche, but before you know it, you’re gonna be planning senior trips and trying to find college roommates, wondering how all that time slipped away. Continue chasing your goals and never let fear get in the way of something you want. Most importantly, don’t be too attached to particular benchmarks or goals - keep putting in your all and let life work itself out. Always remember the bigger picture and stay committed to it.

For my fellow seniors reading this, congrats! Wherever you’re heading after grad, I truly hope you are excited for it and are able to make the most out of it. Our class lost a lot of quality time our freshman year, so I hope we can make the most of these last couple of weeks we have together. Ultimately, our class proved that COVID does not define us - we were able to connect and achieve our goals regardless. Thank you to all my senior friends and those I have worked with, you have all played an indelible role in the person I am today. Here’s to all the amazing things that we are yet to accomplish 2024!

All in all, I hope that this past school year was one that inspired growth and learning.

Whether you plan to continue formally studying, explore your passions, or take some much-needed rest, please never stop learning and growing, and you’ll be sure to succeed. I wish you all the best of luck in all your endeavors

A LETTER FROM THE CLASS ADVISORS

6 | DESIGNED BY LISA ZIVANIC

D

ear 2024, Reflecting upon this group’s time at Tino has been such a trip.

Not in recent memory has a collection of students had to deal with such milestone-moments as during the last four years: The first group to begin the school year during a global pandemic, learning from kitchen tables, family couches, bedroom offices, and every space in between; The first group to balance upon the razor-thin challenges of individual intelligence versus artificial intelligence, to avoid the danger and damage of being on the cutting edge of paradigm-breaking technology; The first group in decades to witness at once such extreme levels worldwide uprisings, resistance, rebellion, protest, power-grabs, and persistence.

It’s been such a trip meeting first behind neatly-labeled digital boxes via computer headphones; then behind barriers of masks, hair, and hoods; and finally behind the collective weight of all those experiences.

We are so proud of the obstacles you’ve faced with poise, pride, and perseverance.

Your class in many ways represents a period of great transition, both globally and locally.

Your class marks the end of an era at Cupertino High, as our leader, Ms. Tomberlain, follows you to greater opportunities. Pioneers, now and forever, prepare to forge your paths.

As you ready to walk across the stage during graduation, think back to all that you’ve done, massive and mundane, and consider the journey. Every new step follows the one that came before; without an end, there can be no fresh starts.

It’s been such a trip working with each of you. And while this trip has reached its conclusion, your next adventure awaits. We’ll be here, cheering you on, as we’ve always done Congrats!

Your advisors, Mr. Cryan and Mr. Jacobs

FIRST YEAR BACK

EXPRESS LANE

COLLEGE APPS

SENIOR ISSUE | 7

ROAD ENDS HERE

CLASS OF 2024 TIMELINE ZOOM

You spent hundreds on your outfit, but it’s worth it for this night of Tech Museum silliness!

+1 breathability.

-2 self-confidence.

Junior year is really taking its toll on you.

You’ve already failed two tests... can we go back to distance learning?

JUNIOR PROM

You’re brave enough to take your mask off!

MASK OFF?

EYEBAGS

MAIN STREET

Your first time at the trademark Tino lunch spot! You’re so excited you spend all your earnings.

RETURN TO $0

How does in-person learning work again?

Can I stay home?

-$4

“2024, how do you feel?”

You don’t know how to respond.

FORGOT YOUR UNSUCCESSFUL PENCIL RALLY

-$4

1. Obtain a 3-sided dice or random number generator.

2. Roll the dice and match the number with the archetype on the lower right.

3. Start with $24.

4. Roll the dice and advance that many spots.

5. If you land on a spot with your archetype’s color, you get a 1.5x multiplier.

6. Keep track of how much money you have!

7. The player with the most money after reaching GO again wins.

JOLIE

IN-PERSON LEARNING

Everyone looks so different. You have to relearn their names.

But hey, to new beginnings!

$5

L K O C O G BA CH PIN -S P O O T SH 15

-$

8 | DESIGNED BY JOLIE HAN

$2

-$5

-$10

T G O O S B H O A PP C K I N G

m Yo a u ac ny fo t ua su rgo lly pp t h ne lies ow e y d ed ou .

RULES (1 or more players)

HAN

f

-in-chie

editor

TECH ISSUES PT. 2

PE? YOU MEAN SLEEPING?

JOIN A CLUB (OR 10)

AGAIN???

You’ve given up on actually working out.

You click every link in the clubs spreadsheet and either last for two meetings or the end of senior year.

When will it end?!?

-$5

-20 fitness.

-$2

$3

ARCHETYPES

The one who should not be a CS major but is

The somehow successful slacker

PET SPOTTED!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

The wifi won’t work...

Your computer just shut down...

How much worse can it get?

A rare(?) spotting of your classmate’s cat, dog or even parakeet!

Say hi to your classmates and their rooms/Zoom backgrounds!

-$3

$8

$2 Being a 2nd semester senior is amazing. You finally get to recharge and relax (except for that Econ music video).

$50

$7

The ASB-involved, schoolspirited classmate

Lots of thinking lately.

You’re worried about your major, your future, your roommate, your new mascot... but everything will be okay.

THE FINAL PRIZE

opoly

THE THINKER

24 T $ YOU C E LL AS O Y C AR ASS L P SA

$20

AKA college results.

You will shine wherever you go (and bring a bit of Bay Area energy with you), but it’s still nerve-wracking.

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

-$10

The last stretch is not stretching. Another B introduces itself in your gradebook. At least you’re having fun(?).

SENIORITIS

CAREER FAIR BURRITOS!

Fun!!

E G E LL PS O P C A

LEADERSHIP

TECH ISSUES

$5 $10

You remember nothing though. Did it actually happen?

The legendary burritos have made their first appearance. They’re free, too.

-$

eth it’s a Lo nd r. g . 1 a ve n i e fy ay jo rri . D dy e T me ea r so al 30

You hold some sort of leadership position, most likely as a club officer. How does it feel?

AC 024 tw

$5

ss of 2 a l c S H Mon ist on

SENIOR ISSUE | 9

O G

4 C’S OF CUPERTINO A look into the class of 2024 from a survey of 37 responses

of seniors are going to the Cupertino Big Three (Purdue University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, any University of California)

of seniors are attending college in California

have a Crunch Fitness membership

of seniors are intending on majoring in engineering or business

of them wipe down their machines after use

have participated in recreational marijuana use

is the average senior rice purity score

have a GitHub account

have ingested alcohol in a non-religious group setting

have ditched class before

have participated in a hackathon DESIGNED BY RISHITA SHAH | 11

have coded before

Rishita Shah Mrs. Tartan AP Admissions 5/18/2024

N

Shah 1

How to get into CMU

^ not

ot a founder of a non-profit organization that aimed to solve education

club leadership. Not a LinkedIn warrior. A letdown to the Cupertino comm

inequalities in developing countries. Not on any

unity, I found myself in crazy situations that all

somehow worked out at the end of my time in high school.

My time in high school felt overwhelmingly short. After I received 12

letters that were sent home about missing too much

school, I realized I was barely ever in those halls, rarely experiencing brunch

I even got the chance to attend an attendance meeting at the distric

lines and passing periods. It got to the point where

of those most consistent things throughout my high school career. My

t office! Attendance, or the lack thereof, was always one

more often than I was ever at school.

field hockey coach can attest to that; I was at practice

Tino Student Doctors? More like Tino student sees doctors. I manag

ed to contract three concussions in the

span of four years, which explains my love for brain rot on TikTok. And

more often than being home, posting on

my spam account wins the award for where all my time went. I have never

posting on this account to keep my followers updated, the only exception

insane withdrawals. If I collected all that time lost, I would’ve known

“System.out.println” before my AP Computer Science A exam.

made it through five minutes of not

being AP tests where I’d experience

that it’s not “java.print,” but rather

Sports, my biggest extracurricular, even took its own turn in high school . I was

in my senior year, which left me to try soccer to fill my time. Learning

12 | DESIGNED BY ANDREW QIN

year of high school was a life-changing experience. A mix of “why am

I should’ve done this earlier” changed my whole perspective on rejecti

a brand new sport in my last

I even doing this” and “wow

on being redirection. And

finally to go down in the charts, my most defining moment in high school

lations and concerns from admin about my mental health. The iconic El

post, which did me so dirty, led to a series of events, including postin

you post on Instagram.

was getting specu-

Estoque field hockey

g on my spam and

it getting reported. In the end, my time in high school had some interes

I wouldn’t change. It taught me a lot. You don’t need to go to school.

cut from basketball

ting turns that

And watch what

SANIA’S SNIPPETS Life through my lens

SANIA MEHTA editor-in-chief

but to truly see and honor its lasting significance.

So whatever person I have yet to become, whatever profound connections or revelations await me, whatever sublime acts of being human I’ll experience on my journey ahead, I vow to keep living and seeing the world one vibrantly present frame at a time – all to be documented in Sania’s S n i p pets: Vol. II

SENIOR ISSUE | 13

As I prepare to graduate high school, I can’t help but look through the photos on my trusty Canon PowerShot SD4500 IS one last time. Swiping through the digital collection “Sania’s Snippets” makes me feel like that uncertain young girl in the photos again – both comforted by nostalgia and gutted by the weight of the familiarity I’m leaving behind.

Whether it was Dhadkan’s annual showcase Riyaaz, camping adventures gone awry in Piercy with my family friend group MIBA, memories from school trips spanning from as near as Sacramento to Georgia and Boston or candids from school events and rallies – this camera has lived it all with me. It documented each awkward phase, private triumph and pivotal step in my growth, becoming as essential as any good friend.

In a way, curating “Sania’s Snippets” taught me to take my life’s million little fragmented moments and weave them into the narrative of who I am. Photos with my friends and family capture the unbreakable bonds that became my home base through every silly milestone and late-night heart-to-heart together.

Now, as I get ready to walk across that graduation stage into the great unknown, I can’t bring

myself to tuck this Canon away without one last scroll through this viewfinder into my childhood. Each photo serves as a tiny stepping stone that chronicles those beautiful, yet sometimes brutal, years of grappling with my identity.

Where do I even begin to find the words to say goodbye to my childhood? This camera taught me real magic isn’t just photographing each picture-perfect sunset or landmark. It’s in training my lens on all of life’s beautifully imperfect, raw, honest moments – both the breathtaking heights and the harsh lows, the extraordinary and the utterly mundane. Like stumbling into that surreal FanimeCon with my friends, or witnessing the high-energy, loud celebration of Dhadkan rehearsals that became my heartbeat over the past four years. It taught me to not just passively capture each moment

14 | THE PROSPECTOR

D E A R...

JOLIE HAN editor-in-chief

RooM

314,

LOCKER 205,

You started off as room 723. I stumbled over my words the first time I was with you, forgetting what I was supposed to say (something about machine learning agents). In the years following, half my lunches were spent in your arms. I’ve met each and every one of your computers, though I don’t love them all equally. You knew of my passions, you witnessed my love and you watched me as both a member and officer. Selfishly, I hope to visit again and see that you’re still using HDMI cables for presentations instead of AirTame. But things will change. I know the Game Development Club poster we spent hours on may not stay pinned to you forever, but I hope you’ve tattooed it — and me — to your memory. I’ll miss you.

THE PROSPECTOR,

From my era of carrying around two computers to storing my backpack during my last Advanced Placement test, you’ve always been there for me.

I’ll still never forget that time a moth landed on the lock and I didn’t realize until it was under my finger.

You’ve been shared with so many people; I hope the collaborative culture of Tino continues through you.

2024,

We’ve really changed, don’t you think?

In middle school, I was one of the tallest. In sophomore year, I had to look up to talk to some of you.

That number has only grown with every year.

We were welcomed to Zoom Tino at the tiny age of 14; we’re leaving as adults (and my cat is already 10!). Four years didn’t seem like a lot, especially having upperclassmen friends, yet the difference in everything — our maturity, our physical selves and our futures — is astounding. We’ve seen almost all the hallways go under construction and tasted the immaculate burritos. We’ve made and lost friendships. Towards the beginning, we’d all wave to each other in the halls; more recently, it’d been so long only awkward eye contact would be present as we both wondered if we should be waving.

Our presents (now pasts) were tied, although briefly. Take care of the future staffers for me. Tell them that whatever happens now will make for a great story in the future (but also to get a headstart on brainstorming). Show them that life will be okay. For now until whenever I gain a sense of fashion, I will proudly wear your name on my back.

We’re far from the end of it all, but it doesn’t feel that way. At the very least, we’ve all found something we love and probably succumbed to senioritis at least a little. In 10 years, some of us will be married, or have kids, or be some successful CEO or something crazy I can’t even think of now. The future holds it all, but we have to remember to enjoy the present as well. I hope you enjoyed these last four years with me. Leave your regrets on campus; there’s no need to dwell on them anymore. Write a letter to the you a year (or four) from now. Tell your friends you love them. Above all, I’m grateful for you. Good luck! I know wherever you go, you’ll do great.

DESIGNED BY JOLIE HAN | 15

There are friendships you’ve given me that I’m more grateful than anyone for. But there were also times I hid out on the bench outside crying, though you may not have noticed. It was a blessing in disguise; after that first time of crying at school, I noticed people didn’t really care about others, in the best way possible. We’re all too worried about ourselves. I shared with you my secrets: how I hated my body, the time I was too in shock to say no, my broken friendships, the idols I once loved. I’ve changed so much since first meeting you, yet you still feel like the same big, immovable force I’ve come to smile about.

PRINCIPAL KAMI

TOMBERLAIN RETIRES Last words and favorite memories from CHS’s beloved principal of 17 years ANGIE LI | JOLIE HAN

A

of staff to balance the academic body and my mind need some fter 55 first days of school, rigor with students’ wellness and rest. I don’t feel as creative as Principal Kami Tomber- health. A huge part in the balanc- I used to be or as energetic as I lain’s journey as a student, ing act has been advisory lessons, want to be,” Tomberlain said. “I’m teacher and administrator at var- which began at CHS in 2015. still in decent health, young and ious schools around the nation Said Tomberlain, “We want- vibrant enough [...] I could probcomes to a close with the end of ed to have ably go at the exthe 2023-24 school year at Cuper- some school pense of my health tino High School. wide lessons [for] another three I’VE HAD THE OPPORTomberlain started her journey around wellyears. But I don’t TUNITY TO HIRE ALMOST at CHS 17 years ago, after being ness [and] want to — I’m ready EVERYONE WHO’S IN referred to the position by one of coming toto let somebody THE BUILDING NOW. I’M her former professors. Formerly gether as a else take on the big SUPER PROUD OF THE working as a middle school assis- c o m m u n i t y weight of it.”

TEACHERS AND THE HUtant principal and then a teacher around cerThough she MAN BEINGS THEY ARE at James Logan High School, she tain ideals is not sure exactTOMBERLAIN knew she was ready for the job. and [...] being ly what she wants From a pool of 90 applicants, one together here as to do, Tomberlain is interview became a second, and a community.” excited for the start then a job offer.

In addition to improving the of this new chapter and hopes “[The district] has good val- balance of academic culture and to travel with her husband while ues [and] over the years: it has wellness, Tomberlain is also very spending time with their moms been flexible, proud of the work she has and kids. adaptable done to accomplish great“It will be nice to be able to and trying to er inclusion, diversity and host them more often and not be I’VE GOT A THOUmake inclusive integrity in and out of the exhausted about it,” Tomberlain SAND BOOKS [I decisions,” classroom. said. “I’ve got a thousand books [I WANT TO READ] Tomberlain One aspect of CHS want to read].”

TOMBERLAIN said. “I was so that Tomberlain will miss Even though Tomberlain will drawn to that most is the people. “I’ve not be at the forefront of CHS anyand I [also] loved the people on had the opportunity to hire almost more, she hopes that the school the interview. Once I did the first everyone who’s in the building will continue to grow and prosper. interview, I was like, I want that now. I’m super proud of the teachSaid Tomberlain, “I hope that job.” ers and the human beings they the collaborative culture continues Tomberlain has seen CHS are,” Tomberlain said. “I could not because we’re all better when we grow and change plenty over the work with better people [...] I’m work together. I hope that Cuperyears, oscillating between popula- going to miss [them] a lot.” tino continues to be a place that tions of 1500 and 2400 students.

Despite everything she will nourishes and nurtures kids in all The academic culture, having miss, Tomberlain feels it is time to kinds of ways [...] and that our new evolved to an intense environment retire. leadership focuses on the humaniafter Tomberlain’s arrival, also re“I’ll be 60 in August, and my ty of our staff and students” quired work from her and the rest features editor| editor-in-chief

“

”

16 | THE PROSPECTOR

“

”

CRANES | “This

SUPERPROM | The class of 2010 decided that

instead of fundraising for prom, they would fundraise and donate to schools and education efforts in Kenya. Coincidentally, in their senior year, Dell held a nation-wide contest to win a $100,000 “super prom,” which, because of the class’s efforts and selflessness to help those in need, they won. “I was on the news all these times because I got to be [the] PR person. I got interviewed tons of times and the kids were just amazing. [...] [It] was pretty spectacular that all of their hard work had led to this really cool reward.”

was made by the National Japanese Honor Society kids. In 2019, I had breast cancer for the second time [...] They made all of these cranes for me, and it was beautiful.”

PANDA PLUSHIE | “I got [it]

from [two students] when I was leaving James Logan High School as a teacher [...] That was 20 something years ago, and I can look up and still remember those guys [and] that conversation.”

SENIOR LAWN | A big grass circle that was

for “upperclassmen only” used to be in the quad, but had to be removed due to renovation. “A group of [horrified] seniors scavenged the neighborhood [curbs for furniture to set up in the quad]. I’m sure [Mrs. Rodriguez and I] were supposed to be outraged by their bad behavior, but we thought it was hilarious. So when they came out for brunch that first day, the two of us were laid back in the recliner, just chilling.”

LOVE RALLY | When Steve Jobs

died, the Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group unaffiliated with the Baptist denomination, decided to come and protest at the funeral. “[When] they came with their horrible signs, we had a love rally inside. We came together as a community to express our love and support for one another [...] It was just such a powerful coming together moment for the community and that’s another favorite, favorite memory.”

MAMA T FUNKO | “Last year, all the ladies

in the office had Funko Pops made for each of the administrators. So I’m Mama T and I’ve got my suitcase because I [love] traveling [and] a book.”

TRAVELING | “I love rallies,

DESIGNED BY JOLIE HAN | 17

games or dance [and] cheer competitions. I got to go to cheer camp one year, which I loved.

I’ve gotten to travel with band and choir multiple times all over the country, even in Canada.”

WHAT 18 MEANS TO ME

RIYA MALIK

W

18 | DESIGNED BY EVAN LU AND ANGIE Li

copy editor

hen I turned 18 years old last month, it didn’t feel like a momentous transformation; not like we all expected it to be. It was a slow turning, the idea of something fitting into place after months of thought.

In my senior year, thinking about driving, graduation and college, turning 18 was the final piece. Somehow, the age simultaneously changes everything and nothing; I feel the weight of responsibility while depending on my parents; I’m no longer a child, but my mind remains unchanged.

In other words, 18 is a precipice. I’m dangling off the side of a cliff where everything below is new, grand, and what I’ve been working towards for years. But behind me, clutching the rope holding me back and protecting me all at once, is everything I’ve had on my side all these years. I can’t let go or go back; 18 is a purgatory.

But it’s not just 18: all my life, every age milestone has been a battle between the past and the future, making it difficult for me to take comfort in the present. Every action I take seems to be a reflection of what it means, socially and culturally, to be at this age of legal adulthood. Not having a driver’s license means I’m holding back,

voting means I’m grown up; 18 is a box I’m not fitting in.

But I accept the responsibility turning 18 has thrown at me. It’s a responsibility that gives me a voice and a place in society as more than just a student or a daughter.

My actions have consequences, but it’s up to me to choose how and who they can impact; 18 is a burden I’m grateful for.

Since becoming an adult, I’ve begun to feel more empowered.

With every new chore or responsibility, I’ve also gotten new opportunities. Jobs I could never access, events I could never participate in, and control I could never take are now just waiting; 18 is a gift.

In the eyes of the law and society, turning 18 is like flipping a switch. You wake up with new obligations and expectations. But really, turning 18 is deliberately

steady. It’s something you prepare for months, if not years. It’s a cumulation of all your years thus far to package and divide into lessons. It’s an ending necessary to begin what’s next. In many ways, 18 is magical

Riya Malik

DIGGING FOR MOTIVATION

ANOUSHKA GOKHALE

G

copy editor

o to work go to work go to work.” As a child, Spongebob Squarepants’ innocuously humorous, never-ending to-do list echoed in my head, bringing a fear of the future. But along with that nagging voice came another voice: the one that told me to procrastinate work or better yet, not to do it at all.

I have always struggled with being motivated in school. Even in my hobbies and extracurriculars, which I’m truly passionate about, I frequently lose traction.

Like anyone else in the Bay Area,

I wanted to be successful, and I ended up taking countless AP and honors courses to do so. Yet, I often found myself deliberating their true value. For any joyless activity or homework assignment, my nihilistic inner monologue went something like this: “Should I even bother doing this? It hardly matters anyway. We are just on a big spinning rock. OK, I guess I’ll just watch Gilmore Girls again!”

My senioritis, paired with my sudden complete loss of enthusiasm for activities, only further exacerbated this issue. After many years, I think I’ve realized the issue.

I constantly seek joy in major ways, thinking that if I finally take an exciting vacation or that once I go to college, then I can truly be happy. Throughout high school, I would get through the week by looking forward to the hangout on Friday or Saturday. I told myself to get excited for the weekend rather than being present and finding motivation even in things that

Gokhale

THE PROSPECTOR | 19

Anoushka

seem difficult and annoying.

I realized that my joy and motivation can also come from the smaller things. Going to the gym with my friend, making posters for celebrations and even late-night AP cram sessions are what have truly brought me connections with others and encouraged me to work harder. By investing time into my relationships with my friends and simply being friendlier to my peers, I realized how much happier I can be.

At the beginning of senior year, I heavily involved myself in school activities like homecoming and expanded my social circle extensively. In all this chaos, I forgot where my true passions were. I don’t have to always go out or avoid my homework in order to have fun. It’s so important to have a strong balance of both.

Second semester cemented the importance of working hard and playing hard. Maybe it really is true to say “pain is gain.”

I guess my own to-do list can be more like this: “Go to school, go out with friends, stay passionate”

No Regrets

A letter of advice to underclassmen

ANGIE LI

I

20 | DESIGNED BY ANGIE LI

features editor

t’s your first day of high school!

A completely new environment, but you do your best to adjust. Making new friends, joining sports, going to your first football game and suddenly, it’s your first ever finals week, marking the first eighth of your high school career!

Soon enough, it’s your last day as a freshman and you’re walking into sophomore year thinking, “Man, the freshmen look like babies this year!” The new year passes quickly and you sign up for your first Advanced Placement classes, wondering if you should be doing more. You spend the summer studying for the SAT or ACT in a desperate struggle to catch up before junior year’s madness begins: the stress of getting a letter of recommendation, writing college applications and making college lists. You think senior year will be a breeze, but you are now stuck with a horrific combination of senioritis and five APs to study for. Through all of that, you spend so much time being stressed over school that you hardly realize that everything fun is coming to a close. Your last first day of school, your senior night, last game, last practice, last homecoming rally, last concert, last competition, last performance and just everything is your last. You realize that you’re saying goodbye to all the things that brought you joy outside of schoolwork the last four years and your biggest regret is that

you didn’t spend more time with the people you love and making memories with the people who make you happy.

I used to be purely focused on school. I put all my energy into finishing my homework, studying for tests, sleeping early and having free time to watch YouTube or TV shows or to do hobbies all without truly getting to know my peers. I participated in marching band and winter percussion, but I never really took the time to really connect with those people. This year, something changed. I went to one post-practice Cafe LaTTea run and rather than a 30 minute chat, we had a five-hour-long bonding.

That conversation turned into late night conversations after practice till 11 p.m., learning new things about each other and becoming friends with people that I’d barely even spoken to before.

As the winter percussion season came to a close, all I wished for was to relive those happy memories. Time flew so fast and I wished I spent more time with these people I truly bonded with.

While it is a cliché to hear from a

i L e Angi

senior to do more activities beyond schoolwork, there is a reason why everyone says that. You will feel burnout. You will not want to plan activities and events because what does it matter? You’re out of here anyway. The reality is however, that you won’t miss those things until they’re gone. So take it from someone who only realized too late the beauty in having fun and being happy. Focus on school, but at the end of the day, take the time to discover who and what brings you joy. Spend time with friends, make connections and have conversations with those you want and participate in activities that aren’t strictly academic. Don’t be afraid to indulge in those parts of life, appreciate those moments and take advantage of every second because before you know it, you’ll be walking down that aisle, leaving this school forever. Don’t leave high school with regrets of what you could’ve done earlier or done better. Your high school experience only happens once

The Paths We Take

Reflecting on how small decisions in high school shifted my intented 5-year plan

LISA ZIVANIC

C

editor-in-chief.

an everyone please turn their video on please?”

With my eyes glued to my glowing laptop screen, I listened to my Spanish teacher list her yearly expectations. Having just moved to Cupertino and now starting high school online, I had no expectations for what the people or the school would be like.

I entered high school having finished eighth grade with mostly Bs and Cs. My entire family was on board with my plan to attend culinary school instead of college due to my evident hyper-fixation with walking around Williams Sonoma and watching two-hour in-depth recipe tutorials, while simultaneously being unable to watch any 5-minute videos required for history, math or science.

Going through my freshman year on Zoom, all I could do with my quarantine was apply myself academically, and for the first time, I was

Lisa Zivanic

tional post-grad plans, I didn’t relate heavily to my peers about academics — they were all enrolled in all Advanced Placement classes, while my only advanced class was American Literature Honors. From not joining the National Honors Society or holding multiple officer positions to not being a Kumon warrior, I was often outside the Tino norms by default.

Due to the amount of pressure I felt at school, starting junior year, I was insistent that leaving the state and leaving the Bay Area for college would solve my symptoms of chronic annoyance induced by an oversaturation of computer science and engineering majors.

But the absolute irony of being accepted into a university that everyone had always called “Tino Part Two” just a year later taught me to let go of my tunnel vision view of what college would be like for me.

Despite doing nearly everything differently from what most Tino students were doing, I somehow managed to finish with everyone else while forging my own path

SENIOR ISSUE | 21

thriving. But when course selection came around again, I was intensely reading the course information guide, stuck between taking culinary careers, what I was most passionate about, or applying to The Prospector as a writer, given my enjoyment of the Literature and Writing course. Funnily enough, I was still leaning towards culinary careers at the time.

Ultimately, with encouragement from my parents, I decided to join The Prospector — this decision shifted my entire high school career. I entered the class and fell in love with it. I could talk as much as I wanted and write about things I was interested in, differing from every other course and extracurricular I was in at Cupertino. Then, from my interest in journalistic writing and the prioritization of the class, I realized that culinary school was no longer the plan I wanted to pursue, and attending a 4-year college was.

Partly due to my initially unconven-

22 | DESIGNED BY RISHITA SHAH

RISHITA SHAH video editor

This warm burrito with eggs, cheese and potatos curses the school at exactly 11:35 a.m. every Tuesday. They make everyone sprint towards the brunch line like a freshman running late to class.

Just in case we feel extremely thirsty every lunchtime, Main Street Cupertino has got our backs. Simply cross the street for 17 boba shops and not enough real food options.

The senior activites were so fun and long-lasting. The memorable senior assassin game was shut down within just one day after it started!

SENIOR ISSUE | 23

QUESTIONS “Life is so much better when you realize its futility”

ANIKA RAO

P

24 | DESIGNED BY ANGIE LI

business manager

eople will go to great lengths to receive answers to unanswerable questions. Some people pay exorbitant amounts of money for tarot readings declaring the characteristics of their future spouse. Others choose to adopt beliefs and behaviors to ensure the peace of knowing what comes after death. Like many in the Bay Area, I devoted myself to worshipping the question of success.

While I never had the term “success” properly defined for me, I felt my parents and society had instilled in me a rigid understanding of what it should look like:multiple degrees from highly selective institutions, large homes in gated communities and a highly lucrative career, regardless of the satisfaction I gained from the work.

In freshman year, I naively assumed my path to this idea of success to be feasible. Earn straight As, join a few clubs and find online medical internships which would ensure a pristine resume and immediate acceptance into my future alma mater of Stanford Medical School.

By the first semester of my senior year, however, I strayed so far from my initial path that I unconsciously ended up carving out a new future. I found that I hated math, but loved writing, arguing

a k i n A Rao

and learning about the earth; I had also grown unfortunately squeamish at the sight of blood. With my grades being far from perfect and my attendance even worse, the question carried with me was at the epicenter of every panic attack and photo addition to my shared “snr yr cry” album: “Can I be successful?”

From the start of senior year, before I even applied to college, I was convinced I had failed. I devoured any and all TikTok admissions’ content. College subreddits became my scripture. I firmly believed that my future four-year university would determine everything about my life. The months of October to January were marked by thousands of “chat am I cooked?” text messages exchanged between my friends and I in mind-numbing college discussions.

As decisions rolled out, I realized I was, in fact, “cooked.” As rejection after rejection piled up, I slowly stopped caring. Through speaking to prospective transfer students and attendees of the schools I did get into, I received some semblance of an answer to my question of “Can I be successful?”

Watching “successful” people as old as 58 attend community

college to further their education or witnessing friends w h o flunked out of school receive their GED’s showed me that as long as you are actively trying to push yourself to grow and become a better version of yourself, you have succeeded.

Extraneous factors aside, once you stop prioritizing prestige and comparing yourself to your peers, you can realize your full potential outside of what is presented to you in conventionality.

To 2023 Anika, answering your question: yes, but only if YOU STOP CARING!!!!

Michelle Avvakumovits Retiring after a lifelong connection to Cupertino

RIYA MALIK

A

copy editor

fter 32 years as a teacher at Cupertino High School, Michelle Avvakumovits will be retiring. Over the years, Avvakumovits has had several roles as a staff member on campus, teaching a variety of English courses, serving as a school counselor and working as a new teacher mentor.

Avvakumovits’ decision to retire is for her children. Avvakumovits and her husband plan on retiring and moving to Arizona together this year to be closer to her sons, who permanently reside in Arizona.

Since the beginning, there was no doubt that Avvakumovits would be a teacher. “My father actually taught here at Cupertino High School for 25 years.

So I grew u p o n the

to be completely smooth. I’ve learned in my time here to just accept that there are going to be blips in the day and that doesn’t mean the day was successful or not.”

From her childhood to her lasting career at Tino, Avvakumovits has always been tied strongly to campus.

“I have to find a way to unravel my connection to CHS, which is going to be very challenging [...] Being here as a daughter of a staff member, being here as a mother of someone who is a graduate, having my best friends here, loving teaching English and students, I’m struggling with how to unravel that and let that go,” said Avvakumovits, “I would just say CHS has been a wonderful home, family, learning, growth place that I’m going to miss immensely.”

Despite retiring from Tino, Avvakumovits and her husband Tom Avvakumovits, the Associate Superintendent of FUHSD, still plan on being involved in education.

They also plan to have fun relaxing, reading and going on lots of hikes.

“We have worked on getting our credentials transferred. While we’ll not go back full time, there are opportunities to be in the substitute pool [...] We’ve looked at exploring [Arizona State University] with their teaching credential programs,” Avvakumovits said

SENIOR ISSUE | 25

campus, spent a lot of time in the back of his classroom and [at] events, and I just always knew that teaching was the profession I wanted to pursue,” Avvakumovits said.

During her time at Tino, Avvakumovits has formed long-lasting relationships with students and colleagues alike. Her favorite part of the job is interacting with kids and making them feel like they have a place of safety and success on campus.

Another important aspect of teaching for Avvakumovits is creativity and the opportunities to collaborate with friends and colleagues.

“I’m going to miss the student interaction. I get energy from people and I am going to miss my colleagues immensely. I have formed some lifelong, true best friends who are so supportive,” Avvakumovits said.

Although she appreciated the ability to go to conferences and continually learn in her profession, some of her most memorable moments include when her son was also a student at Tino.

Said Avvakumovits, “I loved having the opportunity to be on campus and watch him grow and be involved in so many activities.”

To incoming students and teachers, Avvakumovits’ advice is to let go of perfection and focus more on small moments of joy.

Said Avvakumovits, “You have to let go of being perfect and [the idea] that every day is going

#SUPERTINO Big Shah (ft. Lil’ Lu)

I could tell that you came with the Tino flow Y’all thought Tino was super... ah heck no Dropping all these bars See, it’s easy when none of y’all got cars The closest to a license you are is when a man walks on Mars Might have Main Street, the other schools can’t compete But the story not complete, It’s cause y’all cant drive without your mommy in the passenger seat This flow is gonna put you out on the street The street? More like Tino... No roof on our heads And even worse... The one hallway that smell like feet

26 | DESIGNED BY EVAN LU

3:46

PROSPECTOR SENIORS SIGNING OFF

THE PROSPECTOR | 27

I, Jemian Lam, bequeath Mr. McLeod for spending so much of his own time after school during my junior year to help me further understand programming and giving me a taste of what it's like to interview for a job. Those whiteboard problems were admittedly really fun to tackle. Mr. McLeod, you're the best! (not even squidding) You're clearly very passionate about teaching CS. May you and your family enjoy Catan until the end of time!

I, Vivian Lin, bequeath the pollen filled physics luscious lawn to my Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 future colonizers.

I, Anish Krishnan, bequeath sending people brainrot reels to Saicharan Kailasam, intimidating scoring attorneys to Anushree Mishra, making pointless objections to troll everyone to Sean Liang, the dream of hitting 225 to Rithvik Rao and Atrey Wadiwaker, being a handsome, talented, and successful man to Jai Sivaya, talking to your relatives to Manya Jayaraman, and a future you can be happy with to all underclassmen.

I, Anoushka Gokhale, bequeath mad dance skills to Dristi Brubaker and Aadya Hebbar my goats, and crazy writing skills to next year's journalism class.

I, Sam Natarajan, bequeath continued dreams of me in the shower to Preethi, the chair in Coleman to MJ, my luck to Laurier so he wins his 50-50 for Dottore, my insane Cards Against Humanity talent to Mark, my brain and the Chair of Crimping to Ella, my dreams of a sliding Ikea cabinet electrical board to Fake Sam and Shiv, and my sugar addiction and no right to the real Sam name to Fake Sam. I, Jolie Han, bequeath the art of dad jokes and pickup lines to my favorite underclassmen (you can decide who that is).

I, ANONYMOUS, bequeath Shine Chang $500,000 cash in unmarked, non-sequential bills buried underneath the money tree in the garden, and the best fifth year of high school and a 5 on AP Physics 2 to Prarthan Ghosh.

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