Carlmont Highlander Vol. 15 Issue 4

MARCH 2024

CHASING LUCK read it on page 21

VOLUME XV, ISSUE IV

CARLMONT HIGH SCHOOL BELMONT, CALIFORNIA

CARLMONT MEDIA Carlmont Journalism is a nationally renowned media arts program run by the students of Carlmont High School. Our staff works to deliver the latest news to our student body, their families, and the community.

We are committed to delivering information, current events, and thought-provoking ideas to our audience through storytelling. In our magazine, you will find the passions of writing, intricacies of design, and action of photography all on one page. We hope that the Highlander helps you engage with information in a new way and broaden your perspective on local topics.

Keep it on a shelf, in your bag, or under the bed for years to come—our magazine is timeless.

HIGHLANDER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lucille Sanders HIGHLANDER MANAGING EDITORS Clementine Cunningham Inaaya Omer HIGHLANDER EDITORS Rei Baxter Serenity Corbett-Richardson Samantha Crowther Elaine Jiang Kara Kim Alice Lan Sienna Reinders Daniella Smit Isabella Zarzar Katherine Zhang SCOT SCOOP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gabrielle Shore SCOT CENTER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sydney Tao

STAFF Kian Bhatt Audrey Burnley Hailee Byun Alexandra Chan Elizabeth Cruz Piper Diehn Audrey Finigan Emma Goldman Myles Hu Urvi Kulkarni Nicholas Lee Alexander Menchtchikov Stella Pavao Adelaide Reinshagen Benjamin Romanowsky Masha Rozenfeld Jasneh Sasan Sophia Schreiber Abigail Sinarle Aimee Teyssier Emma Yin Arianna Zhu

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Piper Diehn FACULTY ADVISER Justin Raisner

advertising inquiries: carlmontads@gmail.com other inquiries: highlanderscotscoop@gmail.com

DEAR READER, As luck would have it, Issue IV of Highlander is all about, well, luck.

For some of us, it is our greatest treasure, for others, a greatest enemy.

Regardless, we often cross our fingers and wish on eyelashes based on the chance that we will get something in return. Even those of us that don’t believe in luck hold out our hopes that one day, it will work in our favor.

As we come up on our four-year anniversary of the pandemic, we would like to say that with luck on our side, anything is possible. We never thought we would be shopping in grocery stores without waiting in line, going to concerts, or attending basketball games again. Yet here we are, enjoying life as our own versions of normal, for we know at this point, that life can never truly be normal. There always seems to be something around the corner that we don’t expect.

So, whether or not you get into the college you have been dreaming of or you get that million-dollar lottery ticket, know that failure shouldn’t deter you from dreaming of success. Choose to be unrealistic with your goals — you never know what luck might bring you.

Warmly,

CONTENTS Moments 01 Scots shoot a great season Shots of the season

03 Cautious conduct continues

People remain covid-conscious in public spaces

06 Spring blooms

Explore some of the season's offerings

Community 07 Seniors' next steps

Blossoming seniors pursue unique collegiate futures

09 Ghost kitchens: Not here for the boos How COVID-19 forever altered the culinary landscape

11 Eco-friendly spring cleaning Sustainable cleaning products

Arts & Culture 15 Spots in the Bay to spend your day The perfect day in the Bay

17 Saint Patrick's Day cheer and charm

Discover the cherished traditions of Carlmont's Irish students

19 Live music's comeback

Musicians and fans bring back concert community

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Scotlight 21 Place your bets

Opinion

23 Rolling the dice

27 Post-pandemic poverty

Going "all in" on college admissions Is it worth going all in?

The failure of short-term economic solutions

28 2024 LOLitics Jasneh for president!

29 It's time to cut ties with astrology The nonsensical nature of astrology

Features 31 COVID's Anniversary

The challenge of returning to normal

33 Scratching the surface Temptation of the lottery

02

35 Soliciting scholars

Colleges pander to the next generation

01 MOMENTS MARCH 2024

Scots shoot a great season

Girls Varsity co-captain Willow Ishibashi-To jumps through the air to make a layup. Her teammates stand in awe as they wait for the ball to make its way into the basket. Photo by Audrey Burnley

MARCH 2024 MOMENTS Senior co-captain, Alessandra Nelson jumps through the air to make the basket while facing pressure from MenloAtherton's defense.

"I'm constantly seeking opportunities to improve and adapt to challenges," Nelson said. Photo by Audrey Burnley

Junior Tyler Southworth reaches for the ball in the tip-off against Burlingame High School. As the referee blew the whistle, the crowd roared with excitement. "It's important for everyone on the team to be focused on a specific goal so that we can play together as a unit," said Southworth. Photo by Audrey Burnley

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03 MOMENTS MARCH 2024

Cautious conduct continues Thomas Lee, an employee at Lunardi’s Markets, wears a mask and gloves while sorting vegetables into the produce aisle. “I only wear a mask to work. Custumers often come into the store and cough; I know the virus is mostly gone but there is still the flu and other variants that you have to watch out for,” Lee said. Photo

by Aimee Teyssier

MARCH 2024 MOMENTS

04

05 MOMENTS MARCH 2024 While packing out in a Lunardi’s Markets aisle, a clerk replenishes products while wearing a mask. “Around two-thirds of our employees, 10 to 12 of them, continue to wear masks daily. We used to have shoppers request the employees to be masked, but that had already eased up by mid-2022,” said Ian Moore, supervisor and clerk at Lunardi’s Markets. Photo by Aimee Teyssier

A Transportation Security Officer screens a passenger as they go through security at the San Francisco International Airport.

“I deal with a lot of passengers within the airport, and because of that, I have gotten sick a lot of times. Now, I wear a mask every day, but I still don’t wear one outside of work,” said Joshua Roe*, an American Airlines customer service agent. Photo by Aimee Teyssier

*Last names with the asterisks were changed due to company and hospital policy for the respective last names of the interviewees.

MARCH 2024 MOMENTS

Spring blooms Explore some of the season's offerings The Aloe ferox isn’t afraid to make a statement with its bright orange flower heads contrasting the grey wintery clouds. In California, the peak flowering season is usually January to March.

This species holds commercial significance as the extract derived from its leaves serves similar purposes to Aloe vera, including the production of healing ointments, skin creams, shampoos, and more. Photo by Sophia Schreiber

The vibrant green charm of clovers symbolizes the arrival of spring and the festive spirit of St. Patrick's Day. Amidst the sea of three-leafed clovers lies the elusive four-leaf clover, a rare find believed to bring good luck and fortune. In fact, the probability of finding a four-leaf clover is around one in 10,000. Photo by Sophia Schreiber

This statue signifies wisdom, understanding, and fulfilling destiny, and is welcomed by the Buddhist culture to add to your garden. To symbolize spiritual rebirth and expansion, it is recommended to position an outdoor Buddha next to or near a body of water and close to a blossoming plant.

Photo by Sophia Schreiber

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07 COMMUNITY MARCH 2024

Seniors' next steps Blossoming seniors pursue unique collegiate futures MYLES HU

M

arch is a crucial month for many seniors, as it coincides with when most colleges release their admissions decisions for regular decision applicants. These applicants in the class of 2024 will likely hear back from schools throughout March and early April and are generally considered the “typical” college applicants. However, the following seniors are just three of the numerous Carlmont applicants who deviate from the “typical” experience.

Student athletes Sydney Niles decided her future very early on, in July of 2023, when she committed to the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for swimming. Like many other student-athletes, she first corresponded with coaches and colleges she was interested in through email and questionnaires. During this process, she connected most with UCSD’s vision, both academically and athletically.

“I liked the recruitment process at UCSD because it felt really friendly and I could really talk to the coach. It didn’t feel like an interview, but like I was talking to a real person. I chose UCSD because of the great academics and its focus as a STEM school, which I’m interested in pursuing,” Niles said.

Because her decision began as a verbal commitment, Niles still submitted the complete UC application, including responding to their PIQs (personal insight questions), but only applied to UCSD. While she committed to UCSD months before most people even applied, her acceptance letter will come at the same time as regular applicants.

“I signed a letter of commitment, which basically means the coach tells the admissions office to put my application in the ‘accepted’ pile. I get the letter at the same time as everyone else when it comes out in March,” Niles said.

MARCH 2024 COMMUNITY

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Performing arts Marlo Lewis applied to colleges for regular decision like most other seniors, but with one caveat. As an aspiring theater major, she had to submit two applications to each school: the standard one and an additional theater-specific application with two parts, a pre-screen and an audition.

“Your pre-screen is like your portfolio, usually consisting of two songs from musical theater canon, a dance combo, and possibly extra essays, your resume, and your headshot. Then, if you pass your pre-screen, you audition. But you have to get in academically and artistically to be part of that program,” Lewis said.

Lewis’ first show was when she was eight and she recently played Ariel in Carlmont Drama’s The Little Mermaid in January. When choosing colleges to apply to, Lewis applied to multiple types of theater programs due to the uncertainty of being accepted both academically and for theater.

“You could be certain you’re going to get into a school academically, but it’s such a toss-up for getting in artistically. So, I applied to a lot of really big programs and a lot of smaller ones that are still amazing programs but maybe not as well known,” Lewis said.

Early decisions Joshua Lin did not submit any regular decision applications, as he was accepted to Northwestern University in mid-December as an early decision (ED) applicant. Applying for ED has an earlier deadline and an earlier release date, but a student is bound to that college if they are accepted. Lin decided to ED to Northwestern due to positive word-of-mouth from his sister, a Northwestern alum, and the university’s excellence in his desired major.

“When she visited, she said things like ‘Northwestern has a lot of people doing multiple different passions, and they have people doing double majors and minors,’ which is something that really interested me. It also turned out to be the best fit for me in terms of what they offered for my major, engineering,” Lin said.

While being accepted for ED lifted a weight off Lin’s shoulders, he encourages potential ED applicants to be 100% sure of their decision.

“If you’re looking at the schools you want to apply to and you really want to go to multiple schools, then don’t ED to one of them. Having a lot of options is a good thing,” Lin said.

Photos by Alexandra Chan

09 COMMUNITY MARCH 2024

Ghost kitchens: Virtual restaurants flourish How COVID-19 forever altered the culinary landscape HAILEE BYUN

A

s we near the four-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can reflect on all the changes that were brought on by the it, both good and bad. The culinary world is one of many areas that faced such change. In the face of issues such as a lack of in-restaurant dining due to lockdown, some restaurants decided to go down another path: ghost kitchens.

Ghost kitchens, also known as virtual kitchens or quick-service restaurants (QSRs), are flourishing due to COVID-19.

These types of restaurants focus primarily on delivery and takeout rather than the conventional dine-in experience.

In the wake of the pandemic, many restaurants saw business plummet and had to change tactics to stay afloat, leading them to embrace the idea of the virtual kitchen. According to Euromonitor, virtual kitchens have the potential to be a multi-trillion-dollar industry by 2030.

“Quick service restaurants allow us to focus more on quality ingredients and operate a number of brands as opposed to just one. With the kitchen structure, there’s more flexibility to focus on the food and not on other challenging aspects of a restaurant,” said Aviv Gattenuo, director of marketing at Salted, a parent company for several quick-service restaurants.

In addition to these benefits, according to Forbes, virtual kitchens are more cost-friendly and allow for entrepreneurs to test concepts and expand their businesses without

the heavy costs of running a dine-in restaurant. Salted has six established restaurants, all with different food concepts. QSRs give more free range to the parent company to expand and dive into multiple different culinary endeavors. Despite all the benefits, QSRs come with their fair share of negative connotations.

“The biggest challenges are that we don't get that same interaction that you would have with a client or a customer when you deal with them face to face. Personalization and relationship management is lost because we don't get to interact with our customers on a face-to-face basis,” Gattenuo said.

To combat this, Salted puts an emphasis on customer feedback.

“To make up for not having that face-to-face contact, we're overly communicative. Customer feedback is one of the most important things that we hold in our business. With every order that you receive, we reach out with a text message or an email asking for feedback. We have what we call the happiness guarantee. If you're not happy with any part of the order process, we're going to do whatever we can to make it right,” Gattenuo said.

According to Gattenuo, Salted was one of the first brands to operate out of the virtual kitchen.

"Because of COVID-19, we obviously saw a big increase in sales because when a lot of companies were figuring out a way to operate under those restrictions, we were already doing it in a successful manner,” Gattenuo said.

This success is also noticed by consumers. “[During the pandemic] my family definitely started to order food to be delivered way more often compared to before,” said Anthony Paré, a Bay Area resident.

There is more than one area of revenue for the QSRs. According to Eater, not only can culinary businesses gain profit, but there is also a lucrative market in the real estate industry for ghost kitchens. One example is CloudKitchens. Started by Travis Kalanick, founder of Uber, the company has multi-million dollar investments and is growing at a significant rate.

“I think that even though people go out to eat, a lot of the time they end up just ordering because of how easy it is. It makes sense that you don’t need the dine-in aspect of a restaurant to necessarily succeed,” Paré said.

MARCH 2024 COMMUNITY

Unlike regular restaurants with a dine-in option and servers, ghost kitchens deal with little to no customer interaction.

At San Mateo Food Mall, the chef places the packaged food on a locker-like shelf. Once the customer confirms, on a separate screen, that their order is ready, the locker will pop open. Geovanny Leiva, an employee, makes sure that the pick-up process runs smoothly. “People will pick up their orders by themselves, but my job is to make sure that everyone gets their orders if they do have any problems,” Leiva said. Photo by Alexandra Chan

Art by Urvi Kulkarni

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11 COMMUNITY MARCH 2024 spring cleaning products 3

Eco-friendly spring cleaning MASHA ROZENFELD

W

ith the season of spring cleaning coming up, switching to eco-friendly cleaning products is essential. However, many household cleaning supplies are not sustainable and can be hazardous to humans and pets. Here are some eco-friendly cleaning products you can use for this year's spring cleaning!

Seventh Generation laundry detergent

Seventh Generation laundry detergent is a great eco-friendly alternative to other laundry detergent options. 80% of the bottle is recycled and the detergent is made up of 97% plant-based ingredients. Additionally, their product is biodegradable, which means that once it re-enters the environment in wastewater facilities, it will naturally break down without polluting the earth. According to the Seventh Generation website, it is also good at removing stains such as ketchup, wine, and grass stains. “My family and I wanted to switch to an eco-friendly laundry detergent to do our part in helping the environment. I don’t see much difference between Seventh Generation and the other brands. It does a good job of cleaning our clothes and removing stains,” said Luana Tellez, a junior at Carlmont.

Viori shampoo and conditioner bars

Instead of constantly buying new shampoo and conditioner that comes in plastic bottles, you should try Viori shampoo and conditioner bars. According to their website, their packaging is biodegradable and made from recycled paper. All the ingredients they use are sustainable as well. Another benefit is that when you travel, you don’t have to pour the liquid into smaller containers to fit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) standards. “I have been using Viori shampoo and conditioner bars for almost two years now. It leaves my hair feeling so silky, and it feels good to know I am not hurting the environment while I wash my hair,” said Liza Sukahoenko, a sophomore at Nevado High School.

Vinegar: a multipurpose cleaning spray

Making a natural vinegar cleaning spray is an affordable and sustainable alternative to chemical household cleaners. Simply mix equal parts vinegar and water, add a few drops of essential oil, pour into a spray bottle, and you have a natural multipurpose cleaning solution. You can use this spray for bathrooms, kitchens, carpets, and more. Vinegar is effective at removing household stains as it is composed of 5% acetic acid, which breaks down mold, grease, and bacteria. “My roommates and I use this spray to wipe down kitchen counters, clean the bathroom, and get rid of stains in the carpet. I like that I don’t have to go to the store and buy a new cleaning spray every time I run out,” said Polina Golikova, the marketing manager for Urban Adamah, an educational farm and community center.

Art by Alexandra Chan

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15 ARTS & CULTURE MARCH 2024

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Spots in the Bay to spend your day

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ABIGAIL SINARLE

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pring break reminds people of relaxing, beach photos, and days in the sun. While this may be true for some Bay Area residents, in 2023, 23.9 million people traveled to the San Francisco Bay Area. This proves the Bay to be an excellent destination. Often, residents forget about the beauty of the Bay because it has become familiar. So be sure to check out the spots below to take full advantage of our backyard!

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Art and photos by Elizabeth Cruz

MARCH 2024 ARTS & CULTURE

Just 12 minutes from Carlmont, Central Park in San Mateo is filled with multiple playgrounds and grassy areas. A lush Japanese garden within the property features koi ponds, beautiful plants, and bridges.

Only 1.1 miles from Carlmont, Twin Pines Park in Belmont features multiple playgrounds and is home to a series of tunnels with art-lined walls. To find the tunnels, walk on the designated paths and follow the slope to the creek.

A car ride four minutes from

5 San Mateo’s Heidi’s Pies makes

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4 Carlmont, Top of the World in San

Carlos is the perfect spot to watch sunsets, stargaze, and view cityscapes.

Visitors can explore the upper part or wander the wide footpath on the lower side.

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A mere 13 minutes from Carlmont,

preservative-free desserts and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with options everyone would love. The restaurant hours vary depending on the day, so be sure to check their website.

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Less than 13 minutes west of Carlmont is the historically rich Pulgas Water Temple in Redwood City. Around the monument celebrating the engineering of Hetch Hetchy, the manicured grounds make for a beautiful place for sweet, treat-filled picnics and photos.

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Six minutes from Carlmont,

6 CreoLa Bistro in San Carlos

makes the perfect spot for Cajun cuisine. The tasty dishes and beautiful interior make eating there a memorable experience. It's also a family-owned business open seven days a week.

17 ARTS & CULTURE MARCH 2024

Saint Patrick’s Day cheer and charm

Discover the cherished traditions of Carlmont's Irish students PIPER DIEHN

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hether it's the magic of St. Patrick's Day, the aroma of delicious food, or the family found within the Irish dancing community, students' heritage thrives here at Carlmont, as students Lauren Elliot, Colby Laser, and Claire Kettwig each reveal how they connect to Ireland's culture in unique ways.

Lauren Elliot

Born in Belfast, Ireland, senior Lauren Elliot has enjoyed Irish food throughout her life.

Living in Ireland has allowed Elliot to bring traditional Irish foods to the United States. Elliot enjoys preparing Irish dishes, whether it be soda bread, stew, or trifle.

"Since I was a kid, I have always had porridge for breakfast and still make it every morning," Elliot said. "I have great memories of making [it] with my family from a young age."

With a family rooted in Ireland, Elliot's connection to Irish cuisine is also shaped by her relatives.

"Sausage rolls are a more special type of food because I only eat them when my grandparents are here," Elliot said.

According to the Irish Canadian Cultural Association of New Brunswick, 2 million Irish citizens emigrated during the Irish Potato Famine to escape the starvation and disease caused by this period of crop failure. Most went to North America and brought their unique cooking style to the New World.

For Elliot, eating Irish cuisine means more than just enjoying the delicious pastries and meals. It is a way of remembering her roots.

"Making and eating Irish food always reminds me of where I come from and how it is important to stay connected to my culture," Elliot said.

Art by Elizabeth Cruz

MARCH 2024 ARTS & CULTURE

Colby Laser

Many students at Carlmont celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Junior Colby Laser partakes in this lively holiday every year with his family.

According to the American University of Health Sciences, St. Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and brought to Ireland in 432. There, he became determined to convert Ireland to Christianity.

Although some people view St. Patrick's Day as a religious celebration, others, including Laser, enjoy participating in the cultural traditions associated with the day.

"We would set leprechaun traps, have corned beef and cabbage, wear green clothing, and listen to bagpipes," Laser said.

For Laser, food is a significant part of St. Patrick's Day. One of the most popular meals on this holiday is corned beef and cabbage, a dish of slow-cooked tender corn beef brisket.

"The dinner would be the most memorable part of St. Patrick's Day because it was good food," Laser said. "We've had it every St. Patrick's Day." From leprechauns to colorful green outfits, St. Patrick's Day emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage and celebration for Laser.

Claire Kettwig

Claire Kettwig, a senior at Carlmont, has been Irish dancing since she was 6 years old.

According to the Boland School of Irish Dance, traces of modern Irish dancing can be found in the religious rituals of the Celts. Celtic communities emphasized the celebration of music, dance, and art.

"My favorite part of Irish dancing is the family the sport has created for me. Even though we all compete against each other, the girls from the other schools around here are super encouraging," Kettwig said.

Irish dancing requires strength in the feet, legs, and core, and dancers must keep their arms at their sides.

"The complex steps and tricks you learn as you get older become so fun to do, and I love to teach my family and friends random Irish dance steps," Kettwig said.

Kettwig has been dancing for over a decade; however, she will end her Irish dancing career this year before heading to college.

"I will dance in my last San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade in March," Kettwig said. "It's a bittersweet ending to my official dance career, [but] I will always love this sport, no matter if I'm competing or not."

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19 ARTS & CULTURE MARCH 2024

Live music's comeback from pandemic to pandemonium

A popular option for online concerts during the pandemic was using Zoom. Since people had to social distance both indoors and outdoors, online concerts were the closest thing to live ones. Art by Elizabeth Cruz

ADELAIDE REINSHAGEN

T

he top 100 performances during 2023 experienced record-high ticket sales and prices, marking a couple of years of concerts opening up since the pandemic.

Following many forced concert cancellations brought on by the pandemic in 2020, the live music scene is experiencing a resurgence in demand for concerts.

Immediately after all in-person events got canceled, artists

were forced to find new ways to interact with their fans.

Schools and music teachers had to find new ways to teach with their classes being pushed online.

According to Pollstar, the global live concert music industry experienced a $30 billion loss that started in 2020 and moved into 2021. New innovative ways to stream concerts came about, and many artists digitally streamed concerts to

MARCH 2024 ARTS & CULTURE interact with fans and offset the decline in ticket sales.

“During the pandemic, when I couldn’t go to any concerts, I found many that I could stream at home,” said Carlmont senior Ainsley Colt.

In addition to concerts shifting to virtual platforms, music lessons, and school concerts were also moved online.

Teachers and students became creative by finding new ways to teach through platforms like Zoom, which were previously uncommon for concerts.

“Online music education is different, but not lesser in value.

I think an online element to teaching is here to stay. The potential for online make-up lessons, connecting with students who can’t travel easily to your location, and eliminating the commute aspect of scheduling lessons is all incredibly interesting,” said Claire Allen, a music teacher.

During 2021 and 2022, a significant shift in social distancing restrictions allowed venues to begin hosting larger-scale concerts again, while schools were back in person.

“I’m hopeful that our world is going to value in-person presence and performance more than ever,” Allen said.

The quick transition from no in-person live music events to many concerts suddenly selling tickets significantly boosted both ticket prices and ticket sales. Because fans were only allowed to see their favorite artists in person for a short period of time, the demand for concert tickets increased.

“I think throughout 2022, I went to about five concerts. After a year where I was listening to music at home all of the time, I had so many new artists I loved that were performing that I wanted to see,” Colt said.

Artists are beginning to take a new approach to hosting live performances in the post-pandemic concert scene. In 2023, many artists performed mega shows at places like SoFi stadiums, with around 70,000 seats in the whole arena.

There were many mega shows that were played throughout 2023, including Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks, Grupo Firme, Romeo Santos, Taylor Swift, Metallica, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, and P!nk.

With an increase in demand, there has also been a shift in ticket prices. During the first half of 2022, shortly after live performances were reopening, the average ticket price for the top 100 American concert tours was $108 (Pollstar).

Along with the increase in demand for concert tickets, demand for festival tickets has gone up as well. Major music festivals, such as Coachella and Lollapalooza, had a surge in sales in 2022 during their first years back post-pandemic.

Smaller festivals, like Outsidelands, also have seen a rise in tickets, with 210,000 tickets sold during 2021 in their first year post-pandemic.

“Even though ticket prices were really high this past year, I feel like it was worth going to the concerts because so many big artists were performing this year that I may not be able to see for a long time,” Colt said.

Art by Elizabeth Cruz

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21 SCOTLIGHT MARCH 2024

PLACE YOUR BETS Going "all in" on college admissions

MARCH 2024 SCOTLIGHT

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ARIANNA ZHU & BEN ROMANOWSKY

I

Photo by Nicholas Lee

n the high-stakes game of college admissions, students often find themselves rolling the dice, hoping to secure a spot in their dream college. The pursuit of that coveted acceptance letter becomes a gamble, where the teenage years of each student are the chips on the table.

From sleeping past midnight doing homework to juggling a plethora of extracurricular activities, students must go the extra mile to show that they are all in. However, the idea that doing mountains of work will pay off for a chance to be admitted into a prestigious college only emerges in high school.

Think back to elementary and even middle school.

Elementary schoolers are seldom asked what colleges they’re thinking of applying to. Middle schoolers are almost never asked about the amount of volunteer hours they have.

Before high school, life was filled with playdates and fun after-school activities; stress over school and the future was rare.

“I remember how nice it was to not have anxiety surrounding college. I could fill my life with the things I actually enjoyed. That is why I liked elementary and middle school so much more than high school. Now that I am constantly worrying about college and applications, I don’t have as much time to do things I enjoy,” said Iris Dobrer, a junior at Sequoia High School.

If our lives were relatively stress-free then, why can’t we continue doing what we love without burning out for the chance of acceptance into a top college?

Inevitably, as individuals mature, the innocence of their youth goes away. Playdates evolve into hangouts, and the nature of these gatherings starts to shift. Soon, hangouts become study sessions, and the carefree atmosphere of one’s childhood is gradually replaced by the growing awareness of the competitive college admission process.

Despite the unavoidable changes of maturing, such as the fast-paced workload a high school education brings upon teens, we have the choice to challenge ourselves in the areas that interest us without overworking ourselves. The cards are entirely in our hands.

“You need to know your balance. You don’t want to overwork yourself, but at the same time, you don’t want to party all the time. I knew people who just spent all their time ‘stacking’ their resume, so much so that they looked miserable,” said Alexandrea Li, a former Carlmont student and current freshman at Pitzer College.

When it comes to the notion that dedicating time to building a strong resume will guarantee acceptance into a dream college, all bets are off.

23 SCOTLIGHT MARCH 2024

ROLLING THE DICE W ARIANNA ZHU & BEN ROMANOWSKY

ith an ever-increasing number of students applying for college and acceptance rates decreasing, the amount of activities a high school student needs to receive their coveted acceptance letter continues to increase.

From starting non-profits to authoring research papers, the competition to enter a prestigious college grows more intense.

To get into a dream college, students feel that they must be all in.

“I think it's worth devoting some of your time to taking hard classes and participating in extracurriculars, especially if they're relevant to what you're actually interested in. I don't regret the majority of the classes I decided to take, especially high-level STEM classes,” said Ciana Jin, a senior at Carlmont High School.

Some view the college acceptance landscape as one that is similar to gambling. Students must devote all their time and energy to work toward the goal of getting accepted into their dream school. The “chips” are their teenage lives; in sacrificing the opportunity to have a carefree adolescence, students hope to enter a prestigious college.

A student’s grade point average (GPA) is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ideal college applicant’s resume. Although every high school student has a GPA, they are often measured differently from school to school. According to Judi Robinovitz, an educational planner at Associates Educational Consulting, not all high schools use the same weights for a student’s weighted GPA. The same student could have two different weighted GPAs at different schools.

“I went to Crystal Springs Upland School, and Crystal didn’t have APs,

Pick colleges that you think you would be the best fit in. It's the experiences you have in the next four years of college that are truly important.

ALEXANDRA LI, CARLMONT ALUMNI

but we had some honors classes that I took. I know taking these classes and doing well helped me get into good schools, which made them worth my time. Taking challenging classes also prepared me for college classes in the sense that I had a somewhat better idea of what to expect when I got here and could find my footing more easily,” said Hilary Linden, a senior at Washington University in St. Louis.

By taking the most challenging courses her school offered, even without the AP courses, colleges could see Linden’s devotion to learning and her longing for a challenge.

About 75% of colleges see grades in high school courses as considerably important, and 73% see grades in college preparatory courses as considerably important, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

Not only do universities want to see applicants excelling in standard-level courses, but they also expect students to excel in AP courses.

“I took four AP classes my junior and senior year while making sure that I had a balance and wasn’t overworking myself. I knew people that were taking six AP or honors classes back then, so there was definitely a mix,” Li said.

On top of maintaining a high GPA, having ample community service experience is important for a strong profile. According to a survey of 264 admissions leaders at U.S. colleges conducted by Interactive Educational Systems Design and x2VOL, 58% stated that listing community service as an activity on a college application positively impacts acceptance.

Additionally, the same survey found that 53% of admissions leaders see community service as a “tie-breaker”

MARCH 2024 SCOTLIGHT

Photo by Nicholas Lee

24

25 SCOTLIGHT MARCH 2024

% OF COLLEGES THAT SEE APPLICATION FACTORS AS CONSIDERABLY IMPORTANT STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES

ESSAY OR WRITING SAMPLE

4.9%

18.9%

HIGH SCHOOL GRADES

74.1%

*Information sourced from the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

between equally qualified students.

“I took nine AP courses and a few honor courses throughout high school.

I still maintained a social life and had plenty of free time to spare, which I spent on extracurriculars. I would say some of my most demanding extracurriculars included writing research, teaching autistic children English in China, research internships, and part-time jobs I took during the school year,” Li said.

Community service is not the only extracurricular that a high school student needs on their resume. From competing in academic competitions to demonstrating leadership skills, students need outlets outside of school to show colleges who they are as a person and their academic prowess.

“I started focusing on extracurriculars my sophomore year of high school, which was when I started thinking about what I wanted to study in college. I had a strong focus on research and created

a qualitative independent study in my junior year on Asian American high school students and the Model Minority Myth,” Li said.

But is spending these teenage years on academic and extracurricular achievements worth it, considering the selectiveness of top universities?

“The most important thing is to choose what you are passionate about.

If you choose an extracurricular just for the ‘hours’ or so that it ‘looks good,’ but your heart isn’t into the project, it shows. I never regretted what I did in terms of extracurriculars; as a matter of fact, I wish I explored my interests even further,” Li said.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there are 5,999 colleges ​​in the U.S. that serve 15.9 million undergraduate students.

This also doesn’t account for the students who choose to go abroad for higher education.

“Pick colleges that you think you

would be the best fit in. Don’t just apply for the name. I know so many people who chose one school for the name and are unhappy with it. It’s the experiences you have in the next four years of college that are truly important. For me, I chose the Claremont Colleges over the UC’s because of the small professorto-student ratio and the resources offered, and I am very satisfied with my decision,” Li said.

Students must ask themselves if the time and energy they put into school and extracurriculars are worth the possibility of getting accepted into a dream school.

Will you prioritize a work-life balance, or will you go all in? If you don’t go all in, will the cards be stacked against you?

Place your bets.

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27 OPINION MARCH 2024

Post-pandemic poverty: COVID-19 recovery fails lower class ALEXANDER MENCHTCHIKOV

W

hen faced with the opportunity for growth and the long-term betterment of society in the post-pandemic world, it seems every developed nation has instead chosen a short-term route toward stability that ignores much of the inequality across the globe.

In these developed nations, stable employment and falling inflation rates have defined a successful recovery.

However, in developing countries, high inflation and increasing debt are hampering an economic boom, trapping these nations in a cycle of low growth and high debt, according to the United Nations.

This contrast is one of the many examples of the widening gap between the rich and the poor and shows that a different course of action should’ve been taken.

The pandemic provided a prime opportunity for a shift in economic approach: prioritizing prolonged resilience over short-term gains. The former would have provided a stable backbone for an equitable recovery through plans such as investing in sustainable infrastructure, enhancing social safety nets, and focusing on green technology. However, the latter approach often results in quick fixes that overlook deeper

systemic issues in favor of immediate stabilization.

For high-income countries and the wealthy, the consequences are limited, with inflation being the only notable hindrance to these nations’ economic growth. The United States’ economy in particular has grown to 5% above its 2019 level, with the European Union echoing this trend. These countries maintain strong labor markets and household spending is back up to normal rates. Furthermore, U.S.

US Billionaires increased their cumulative wealth by

$2.071 trillion while 700 million people make less than

$2.15 per day

billionaires increased their cumulative wealth by $2.071 trillion between March 2020 and October 2021, while most people faced economic challenges.

The inequality becomes staggering when compared to lost progress suffered by countries in low-income countries. Rising interest rates have led to a decrease in public spending and tight financial regulation, leading to the first increase in extreme poverty in 30 years. Approximately 700 million people

live in extreme poverty, earning less than $2.15 per day, and nearly half of the world’s population lives below $6.85 per day.

Regarding what the next steps should be, U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Head Li Junhua said, “The global community must urgently address the growing shortages of funding faced by many developing countries, strengthening their capacities to make critical investments in sustainable development and helping them transform their economies to achieve inclusive and sustained long-term growth.”

While post-pandemic recovery has been defined by a multitude of missed opportunities, there is still room for growth and cross-border cooperation in an effort to establish long-term solutions. The vulnerabilities that COVID-19 exposed continue to be present in developing countries, and without making investments toward long-term growth, as argued by Junhua, they will continue to plague countries all over the world.

Therefore, as inflation decreases and the American economy continues on this positive trajectory, the focus should shift toward what’s happening in nations that don’t have as much of a safety net when it comes to such situations.

Increasing awareness and political pressure should be the first of many steps in eventually building long-term solutions to the problems exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the inequitable recovery that followed.

MARCH 2024 OPINION

28

2024 LOLitics: Americans are stuck between a rock and a hard place JASNEH SASAN

D

onald Trump is back on the ballot for the 2024 presidential primary elections and is steadily trumping his opponents by a significant margin.

Who would have imagined that, after eight years of voicing concerns about senior citizens in the White House, we find ourselves with a 78-year-old and an 82-year-old dominating the ballot? It seems I've stumbled upon my retirement plan—destination: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C. However, it appears that there's much to learn before I consider a run for office. Fortunately, I have some exemplary candidates to serve as a source of inspiration.

Just look at former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s genius foreign policy plan. On the campaign trail, Ramaswamy said, “Taiwan, we are coming for you. We are with you. Put a gun in every household, Xi (Jinping) ain’t got nothing on us. That is what it means to be Americans.”

Obviously, if the world were to adopt anything from America, it should be our incessant obsession with rifles and revolvers. Forget white flags, diplomatic talks, and olive branches, Ramaswamy quite literally derived his foreign policy plan from the movie, “Rambo.”

While Ramaswamy, our resident Trump-wannabe, is ready to eliminate China, his idol, Trump, is drawing

inspiration from China’s border arrangements.

In an interview about the Mexicanorigin U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, Trump said, “I think I’m going to do very well with Hispanics. But we’re building a wall. He’s a Mexican. We’re building a wall between here and Mexico.”

If you thought the Republican candidates were off their rockers—the Democratic presidential nominee needs to be in one. Joe Biden made a lot of campaign promises in 2020, but he hasn’t successfully fulfilled any of them.

I can’t even blame him; he probably doesn’t remember them.

If you missed tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, you can still hop onto what Biden calls his national “Bidenomics tour,” where he desperately tries to convince Americans that he did more than stumble on his words during his presidency. Unluckily for him, Biden’s approval ratings chart definitely shares a stark resemblance with his health reports.

In an interview, former presidential candidate Chris Christie said, “I pray every night for Joe Biden’s good health—not because he’s our president, but because of who our vicepresident is.”

As if America wasn’t already becoming the laughingstock of the world, Christie is correct; it could be much worse.

Kamala Harris, however, doesn’t share the same sentiments. In an interview with the Associated Press, the vice president enthusiastically and all too quickly said that she

would be ready to assume the role of commander-in-chief “if necessary.”

I don’t know about Harris, but I feel like, at this point, I’m ready to assume the role of president as well, seeing as there is no longer a standard for leadership in the United States.

Seeing as the constitution has proven to be a slight hindrance to my campaign, I suppose I’ll just have to patiently wait another four election cycles for my name to be on the ballot. Vote Sasan in 2044 for a younger, semi-coherent president in office.

Art by Emma Yin

29 OPINION MARCH 2024

It’s time to cut ties with astrology addictions EMMA GOLDMAN

A

strology has gotten out of hand. A few days ago, while I was scrolling on TikTok, I came across a video titled “NYC Neighborhoods by Signs.” The video went through different zodiac signs, assigning them to different neighborhoods within New York City.

For example, the creator said that Libra belonged in Gramercy Park and Sagittarius belonged in Hell’s Kitchen.

I went to check the comments to validate that I wasn’t the only one rolling my eyes at the stupidity of the content.

Shockingly, I was met with quite the opposite reaction. The comment section was filled with TikTok users chiming in or giving their two cents on the matter, like “As a Pisces I’m offended.”

Despite its nonsensical nature, astrology only continues to grow in popularity, and we should be concerned.

In 2021, the astrology industry was

valued at $12.8 billion, and this number is expected to grow to $22.8 billion by 2031, according to a study by Allied Market Research. Further, according to Scientific American, 70 million Americans read their horoscope daily.

Despite this ever-increasing interest and reliance on astrology—yes, predicting our behavior based on star movement—we need to shift our focus away from dependence on thousandsof-miles-away celestial bodies.

Simply put, astrology relies on various celestial concepts like the movement of planets as well as zodiac signs relating to one’s birthday to predict future events in one’s life and connecting their emotions to planetary movements. So why, in the 21st century, when science is more advanced than ever before, do we rely on a concept that even lacks scientific backing to supposedly predict our futures?

The reasoning behind astrology’s popularity isn’t necessarily inconceivable—in an otherwise uncertain and unpredictable life, we turn to astrology, which we think can provide some stability and comfort.

Rather, though, we can take our lives into our own hands. Stability in life shouldn’t rely upon a couple of stars we’ll never even see with our own two eyes. Instead, we should turn to real, proven and evidence-backed ways to feel comforted.

Dozens of alternative methods, like going on a walk or hanging out with our friends, will allow us to shift our

focus from potential future events to cherishing the present moment. Instead of seeking validation and comfort in our zodiac signs and horoscopes, we should contrarily seek comfort in other ways, like surrounding ourselves with supportive friends and family or seeing a therapist.

Proponents of astrology may argue that it is simply a form of amusement not taken seriously. However, people nevertheless get carried away. Even in the case that predictions don’t deal with major life events and rather, even using astrology for simple tasks and information, like a certain zodiac being known for a personality trait, only furthers society’s overdependence.

Life is inevitably unpredictable, so why should we focus on countless possibilities of the future? Overall, it’s time we stop depending on a concept that lacks even basic scientific backing to validate our life’s issues. Rather we should focus on the things we alone can control in our lives.

Art by Rei Baxter

31 FEATURES MARCH 2024

Life in lockdown: The challenge of returning to normal MASHA ROZENFELD

F

our years ago, the world was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic and shut down for nearly two years. This shift greatly altered people's daily lives, leaving a lasting impact on their eating habits and screen time.

Alex Dimitriu, the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, says that COVID-19 was challenging for all types of people.

“We saw a massive shift in our daily routines, a loss of social contact, increased pressures for parenting, and a blurring of the typical boundary between work and life at home,” Dimitriu said.

Before quarantine, when people went to school and work in person, many set an eating schedule and would pack a lunch for the day. However, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), once the world went into lockdown, many turned to home cooking since they couldn’t go out to eat. People tried new recipes — baking bread became a big trend.

Studies by the NLM show that an increase in cooking during lockdown has driven household food waste.

Additionally, the analysis highlights public hesitance towards eating out after the pandemic.

Others saw themselves snacking more often than usual. According to the Pacific Medical Center, people frequently snack out of boredom, a feeling that afflicted many during quarantine.

Additionally, another study by the NLM Art by Urvi Kulkarni

found that 51.8% of people admitted to eating snacks more frequently between meals. Many snacks that weren’t normally accessible at school or work were suddenly a few feet away.

Jenny Fowler, a local certified holistic nutrition consultant located in San

"I was in middle school when quarantine began, and I started to see my phone as more of a comfort item than a tool."

MAHIKA REDDY, STUDENT

Carlos, provides another explanation for the increase in eating — people often find emotional comfort through food in times of loneliness or despair.

“I've seen that snacking increased

during the pandemic due to everyone being at home more, with fewer activities available and often full access to the kitchen.

Many people eat when feeling bored, stressed, or anxious — all of which were feelings amplified by the pandemic. If you experienced this, you're not alone,” Fowler said.

According to the NLM, the disruption of healthy eating patterns can lead to obesity or malnutrition in children and teens.

Dimitriu suggests several strategies to manage stress eating more effectively. First, create a list of activities that make you happy so you can turn to them when the urge to snack out of boredom arises. By having a diverse range of options readily available, you can redirect your focus away from food and towards more fulfilling activities.

Additionally, if you sense a feeling of hunger all the time, take a moment to think about what you have eaten throughout the day to become more mindful of your eating habits.

“Eating complete meals gives your body the fuel it needs so you feel satisfied for longer and don't always feel hungry,” Dimitriu said.

These tips are strictly to reduce snacking when you're feeling bored,

MARCH 2024 FEATURES 32

Art by Urvi Kulkarni

devices over Zoom.

Reddy said.

People filled up Due to the increase in screen time their spare time with and poor dietary habits, depression screens, whether it was rates in teens increased tremendously.

FaceTiming friends, According to the National Coalition watching TikTok of Mental Illness in New York City, content, or playing the number of callers seeking help trending video games with stress or anxiety increased by such as Fortnite.

60% during the pandemic, and the “I was in middle school average call time increased by 15 when quarantine began, and I minutes in the weeks following the started to see my phone as more of a implementation of social distancing comfort item than a tool. Before that, I measures. only used it to play games when I was Dimitriu says that life after the bored or to text my friends.

It became pandemic was stressful for many as stressed, or anxious. When you are truly something that I depended on not only they attempted to transition back into hungry, don’t be afraid to have a snack! to communicate but to connect with the their old lives.

“Managing your basic needs will world because I wasn’t able to go out,” “Most fundamentally, COVID-19 always be helpful. All animals need said Mahika Reddy, a junior at Carlmont impacted our social ties. A large body sleep, exercise, a healthy diet, time in of research supports the importance nature, and time with friends and family. High School.

According to the NLM, total screen of socialization for happiness, health, Minimize screen time as much as time increased by about 30 hours per and emotional well-being, and a lot possible, exercise regularly, and make week.

What used to be at least two of this was lost with COVID-19. In my sure you sleep at least seven hours per hours a day increased by 23.6%. work, I have observed an increase in night,” Dimitriu said.

“Even though life for most has gone depression, as well as anxiety due to Another lasting effect of the back to how it used to be and despite the major life shifts that occurred with pandemic is a reliance on devices. my attempts to stop associating that COVID-19,” Dimitriu said.

Screen time skyrocketed since the feeling of comfort with screen time, that whole world went digital during habit of going to my phone for comfort quarantine. Students and adults often and connection hasn’t gone away,” had to work and attend class on their

33 FEATURES MARCH 2024

Scratching the surface...

AUDREY FINIGAN

B

"Some people who are more vulnerable economically see the lottery as the only viable way to escape a life of poverty."

DAN FIELD, GAMBLING ADDICTION THERAPIST

amount of money. According to a 2011 survey by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the United States, the bottom 20% of people in terms of socioeconomic status gambled an average of 26 days in the past year.

In comparison, the upper 60% of the socioeconomic category gambled an average of 10 days.

While some think the money spent during those 26 days could have been saved or invested, many ticket buyers see the lottery as an implied investment, with the chance of winning enough money to change their lives.

“Some people who are more vulnerable economically see the lottery as the only viable way to escape from a life of poverty,” said Dan Field, a gambling addiction therapist with Westside Gambling Treatment.

Similar to the lottery, many people lay their financial hopes in gambling.

According to Forbes, casinos recorded $60 billion in revenue in 2022.

While some aspects of casino gambling involve some skill or knowledge, customers bank on the roll of the dice or the luck of the draw to win. Because of the luck involved, many people see no difference between gambling versus buying lottery tickets.

One reason for the disparity in lottery spending by socioeconomic class is the availability of vendors.

The Howard Center studied lottery venders in 44 states and Washington D.C. In every researched location, neighborhoods with lottery retailers had a higher impoverished population than neighborhoods without retailers.

MARCH 2024 FEATURES 34

Temptation of the lottery “The lottery goes after vulnerable populations. If they see impoverished people playing the lottery more, they will buy more ad space and billboards in those areas,” Field said.

According to Field, the lottery puts flashy and colorful machines in the neighborhoods of impoverished communities to draw people in. The marketing focuses on the enormous prize, leading many to justify spending a little extra money.

The lottery’s marketing strategy calls into question the ethicality of the lottery as a government-sponsored event.

Critics argue that the government uses the lottery to prey on impoverished populations. However, some abide by the reasoning that the lottery is entirely optional, so the government is not at fault for customers’ spending choices.

Despite the personal choice of participation in the lottery, people of lower socioeconomic status average hundreds of dollars of lottery ticket spending every year. According to Big Think, the lowest-income households spend an average of $412 per year, more than four times that of the highest-income households.

The disparities in lottery spending reveal that the people who spend the most on the lottery are the ones who have the least money to afford it.

Neighborhoods with lottery retailers had a higher impoverished population than neighborhoods without retailers.

Illustration by Kian Bhatt

35 FEATURES MARCH 2024

Soliciting scholars: Colleges pander to the next generation STELLA PAVAO

F

rom inbox to mailbox, advertisements from prestigious universities bombard prospective college students. But these schools are not sending these solicitations exclusively to the best and brightest.

Colleges now cast a wide net in their advertising and hope to receive recordbreaking numbers of applications.

“Even though we’re a small school, the admissions department has

definitely been focused on trying to get more applicants and reaching out to more students,” said Gargi Nigam, a student admissions representative from Bryn Mawr College.

To incentivize applications further, many schools have simplified the application process by waiving fees, test scores, or supplemental essay questions to persuade high school seniors to try their hand at a school

they might not otherwise have been interested in.

“I applied to lots of schools I didn’t even think about before because it was a free application,” said Carlmont senior Zhanna Paredes.

Prestigious universities often vie for top billing on various college ranking lists such as the U.S. News and World Report Best College Rankings.

Surveys from Strada, Gallup, and

MARCH 2024 FEATURES 36 the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) determine the many factors used to determine the rankings published by U.S. News and World Report.

In the 2018 Factors That Influence Student College Choice survey conducted by the NCES, academic quality and reputation were the most crucial factors for students deciding on their future college home, with 74% of surveyed students deeming academic quality and reputation as very important.

The U.S. News and World Report quantifies academic quality and reputation using academic and social data. Academic quality is determined using statistics such as average standardized test scores and retention rates, but peer assessment characterizes reputation.

Peer assessment is the most

substantial category, weighing 20% of a university’s total evaluation. Provosts, presidents, and top academics grade other universities in innovation and overall academic quality to decide a school's score.

Thus, by lowering their acceptance rates, schools can appear more prestigious and garner heightened attention from peers. Colleges are now sending mass mailings to prospective students in hopes that more will apply and the acceptance rate will lower.

The result has been a boom in university spending on advertising and outreach. Research conducted by The Brookings Institution found that from 2001 to 2017, spending on university advertisements increased dramatically, peaking at $1.2 billion.

The high advertising budgets result in more applications being sent in and

as acceptance rates drop, students are padding their application lists to combat the increased competition.

“I applied to over 20 schools and added five safeties just in case,” said Carlmont senior Bradly Ho. “I probably won’t go to one of my safety schools but I’m still relieved I applied and gave myself that option.”

As the number of applications to universities continues to rise, institutions can be more selective about their admitted student population.

“Most colleges are looking to build the most well-rounded student body, and to do that, we want to make sure that we are reaching as many people as possible,” Nigam said.

Photo by Kian Bhatt