Epic Issue 4, 2018 by the Epic

or the past three decades, the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition has been recognized as the epitome of pre-collegiate STEM achievement. On Jan. 9, seniors Jasper Huang, Rohan Mehrotra, Advait Patil, Vinay Senthil, Melissa Wei and Bill Zhu were announced as part of the Top 300 semi-�inalist scholars; on Jan. 23, Patil and Mehrotra advanced as Top 40 �inalists. The selection process is highly tedious and competitive, requiring applicants’ research paper grades, letters of recommendation, essays, test scores, extracurriculars, transcripts and more. This narrows the contestant pool down to a small but highly gifted group of scholars. Wei primarily worked on an online application to �ind electron transfer pathways within proteins. “It is important to discover these

MELISSA WEI

[paths] because currently it is pretty hard to �ind electron transfer pathways,” said Wei. “This is the �irst automated application platform to �ind electron transfer pathways.” Encouraged by the academic environment at Lynbrook, Mehrotra began emailing professors at various colleges and soon started working with a chemistry professor in the Stanford University labs. “Whenever you take a drug, you’re taking an oral pill or getting an injection, but the issue is that it causes the drug to be distributed all around your body and not just where it is needed,” said Mehrotra. “What I developed is a nano�ilm that can be implanted at the location of the disease in your body, and when electric stimulation is applied, it releases the drug directly at the site of infection.” Patil �irst expressed interest in science when he began researching in seventh grade, spurred on by his participation in elementary school science fairs. He completed his submission, a computational framework that analyzed the stem of interactions and created networks for how different types of cells in different populations interact, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “When you do research, you normally experiment on one type of organism, and you can’t really understand how it actually applies to the natural world,” said Patil, “So I created a computational framework that

ROHAN MEHROTRA

BY ASHLEY SONG

VINAY SENTHIL

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY NEWS SECTION AND JONATHAN YE

ADVAIT PATIL

Lynbrook celebrates Regeneron STS scholars BILL ZHU

JASPER HUANG

analyzes the stem of interactions and created networks for how different types of cells in different populations interact.” Zhu spent nights stargazing as a child, endlessly fascinated by the cosmos. He visited observatories regularly and kept updated on new discoveries and breakthroughs. For his project, Zhu utilized a stacking procedure to systematically bring out the signal of the galaxies to study their overarching properties. “Despite all the signal-boosting techniques, there was very little residue left over, meaning the host galaxies are likely very close to their neighboring quasars,” said Zhu. “I ran simulations to constrain the impact parameter (distance between quasar and galaxy) to be around 4 - 7 kiloparseconds.” Huang’s project focused on analyzing the sounds of peoples’ footsteps using several machine learning techniques. He was inspired by the realization that he could recognize his family member’s distinct footsteps around the house. Huang was ecstatic when he found out he quali�ied for RSTS’s Top 300. “I felt the same sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and exhilaration when one gets a new high score in Crossy Road, Flappy Bird or the like,” said Huang. Senthil was inspired to design his project when he saw doctors at the Bay Area Robotics Symposium struggling to view the inter-

nal passages of lungs. Senthil said, “Currently, doctors examine lungs using a �luoroscopy machine that emits radiation, affecting doctors and patients, but only making 2D-images. With yoga mats representing the insides of lungs and a webcam, I built an algorithm. It constructs 3D models of bronchioles from videos of bronchoscopes without radiation and at a fraction of the cost.” For Senthil, landing a spot as a semi-�inalist was particularly special because, unlike his peers who had the help of professional lab equipment, he worked on his submission solely at home. These scholars have represented Lynbrook exceptionally; their achievements re�lect their hard work and ambition. “Never give up,” said Zhu. “Do not let any competition result de�ine your work and grit.” Watch the projects at tinyurl.com/lhsrsts

SADHANA SARMA — EPIC

FUHSD faculty votes for new bell schedule BY HSIN YEN HUANG

UHSD recently released two new schedules, to take effect in the 2018-2019 school year, after following recommendations from the FUHSD Community Wellness Task Force, a committee formed by superintendent Polly Bove to address student mental health. From Jan. 19 to Jan. 23, teachers at each school voted between a two-block and four-block option, with each school adopting the choice that received the majority of the faculty’s votes. Lynbrook and Monta Vista will be using the two block schedule, while Homestead, Fremont and Cupertino will be using the four-block option. Notable changes have been made to suit the lifestyle and needs of both students and teachers. Under the new schedule, schools will start later than 8:00 a.m. every day to follow the advice of major medical groups such as the American Association of Pediatrics, who recommend later start times to improve student alertness and performance. Consequently, school end times will be pushed back, impacting the schedule of sports games. The passing periods between consecutive block periods will also be extended

from �ive to ten minutes to allow students a short break before classes. Students will receive a third tutorial period, and a committee has been formed to discuss possible plans and workshops for students to attend during the extra tutorial. For teachers and administration, morning collaboration periods have been split into two shorter sessions. “Hopefully, students sleep more, because whether a student is an at risk kid or a kid who wants to get into top schools, there’s these drives to not sleep,” said teacher Patrick Kitson. “Those are the concerns and that’s why we would do this as a district.” Since there will only be two different schedules across FUHSD, students planning on taking Career Technical Education (CTE) classes on other campuses will have an easier time traveling to class; an improvement from current conditions, where every school has its own schedules, making district wide staff meetings inconvenient to organize. “The district is trying to �ind ways for students who want to take a CTE class like biotechnology, which is something some Lynbrook students are taking,” said principal Maria Jackson. “If schools have less variation in schedules, it gives students the opportuni-

ty to take those classes.” While the deferred start time may be welcomed by sleep deprived students, student athletes will miss out on valuable class time for games. To address this issue, the Wellness Task Force has recommended that the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League schedule games no earlier than 4 p.m. to accommodate for athletes with later class end times. “I think the new schedule will be okay overall, because the day is relatively the same, just pushed back,” said junior volleyball and basketball player Kavitha Thirumaran. “The downside is that sports and other after school activities will start later, which could mean going to bed later.” Prior to the vote, parent and student surveys were sent out to gauge the opinions of the community; response rates, however, were low. The schedules were created by the district of�ice, who sent the two choices to each of the �ive schools, where faculty members held multiple meetings to suggest improvements before schedules were �inalized. With numerous changes to grow accustomed to, the new schedule will be another component to keep in mind once the next school year begins.

OWEN LAI// pg. 13

ASB determines second semester goals BY JUSTINE CHEN

icking off the semester with the week-long Second Semester Shenanigans event from Jan. 2 to Jan. 5 has set high expectations for ASB events for the rest of the school year. During the week, students participated in a variety of fun activities, such as hunting for churros around campus and bringing their own bananas to make ice cream sundaes. ASB’s main focus for this semester revolves around responding to student concerns. The Student Input Campaign (SIC), which was implemented last year to generate feedback and suggestions from the student body, will be used to address the school’s areas of improvement, for example, improving bathroom conditions. To execute these suggestions, each member of ASB takes on a Personal Capstone Project (PCP), in which he or she creates an event or task that emphasizes a speci�ic focus. In addition to bettering the Lynbrook campus, ASB will also be introducing several new events. While con-

tinuing to host annual events such as Staff Appreciation Week, Hearts Week, Movie Night and the Coffeehouse Talent Show, ASB will also be launching events such as Lynbrook Loves and Autism Awareness. Lynbrook Loves, a two-week charity event, took place from Jan. 16 to Jan. 26 in collaboration with the nonpro�it LifeMoves, a homeless shelter that provides aid to families and individuals in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. During this time, students were encouraged to donate gently used items, clothes and toiletries. Lynbrook Loves is just one example of the donation drives and charity events that will take place this semester. ASB aims to increase Lynbrook’s community impact, speci�ically in fundraising as well as raising awareness for mental health and autism. “It’s good for Lynbrook to give back and for us to be aware of our surroundings,” said junior Diya Jain, a Community Link Commission member. “By donating to those in need, especially people who are so close to us, it’s bene�icial to them and to us. This semester, we’re focusing on really connecting Lynbrook to the community.” Another event is Autism Awareness Month, which will take place in April. Though

ASB is just beginning to plan this event, students can expect speaker series and interactive activities with ACT students. Senior Kai Tsao and junior Kathryn Huang, Community Link Commission and Recognition members respectively, are leading the awareness campaign. “We’re brainstorming a lot at the moment,” said Tsao. “Overall, it’s an awareness campaign and less of a competition like most of our events. I want to focus on making it a school effort and really raise awareness.” Events to raise awareness for serious mental disorders or illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder will occur in May. “One of the dif�iculties you have doing that will de�initely be trying to make sure we phrase it correctly because at the same time we’re not doctors and we have very little idea of what we’re talking about in the scheme of things,” said ASB vice president senior Sally Kim. “We’re trying to �ind a balance between showing awareness and showing respect.” This year, ASB will also be bringing back IDC Fantastics, the FUHSD intra-district rally, on March 23 at Homestead High School. Due to logistical information and dif�iculty coordinating a single date where all �ive schools

in the district were available, the event was not hosted last year, so freshmen and sophomores have yet to experience the exciting games and rally. At the moment, IDC representatives from each school, including Lynbrook’s IDC representatives and seniors Anushka Srivastava and Alison Chen, are working together to create relay games and contests. Not only will the event include new activities, it will place more emphasis on district unity rather than inter-school competition. To even out the playing �ield, pre-training for events may be prohibited. “A lot of the time, many people forget we’re also trying to promote district pride,” said Srivastava. “Yes, it is about Viking Pride but we also want to emphasize that together we’re strong. This year we’ll try to put a little more emphasis on unity as a whole.” ASB is currently working on coordinating events and implementing necessary changes on campus to ensure a memorable second semester, looking to revamp old events in addition to launching new ones.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY NEWS SECTION

Competitive clubs achieve big wins BY CHLOE LEE

Letter from the Editors Dear readers, Welcome back from break! We hope that you had a wonderful time off. Check out the news section for stories about ASB’s plans for second semester (pg.2), as well as San Jose’s introduction of tiny homes, an effort to accomodate the city’s rising homeless (pg.3). Be sure to read opinionated stories about censorship of online streaming sites in the light of YouTuber Logan Paul’s controversial video (pg.4), and Apple’s lack of communication to consumers regarding the slowing iPhone batteries (pg.6). Flip to the features section to read about senior Margaret Lu’s journey through developing a passion for art (pg.7), and a selection of possible Valentine’s Day gift ideas from a staff writer (pg.8). In the in-depth section, get a closer look at the signi�icance of the repeal of net neutrality (pg.11) or the psychology behind rewatching nostalgic �ilms (pg.12). Go to the sports section for stories of senior Owen Lai’s freerunning experience (pg.13) and the different fundraising methods of sports teams (pg.15). Happy reading, Catherine Huang and Eshani Mehta

s competition season begins for many clubs on campus, such as DECA, Speech and Debate, MUN and Mock Trial, members hold last-minute meetings and add �inal touches to their plans. Each club has their own unique way of preparing for their respective competitions, each resulting in exceptional achievements. Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) is a business club that trains emerging leaders. In their most recent competitive conference, Silicon Valley Career Development Conference (SVCDC), which took place from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7, Lynbrook had 160 members attend the conference and took home 37 percent of the �irst place

SADHANA SARMA — EPIC

prizes in the events they competed in. “Conferences are such an incredible experience,” said junior and DECA co-president Abinaya Srikant. “Not only do you get to experience the joys of cramming for events with your roommates the night before, but you also get to interact with students from across the district, state and nation! The adrenaline rush that comes with DECA conferences is irreplaceable.” Model United Nations (MUN) is an educational simulation activity based club in which students roleplay delegates in committees from assigned countries and help solve world issues. Lynbrook MUN attends �ive conferences per school year; their most recent one on Jan. 11 at Columbia Model United Nations Conference and Exposition (CMUNCE). “I can walk into a room full of strangers and talk con�idently,” said sophomore secretary and treasurer Sanjana Narayanan. “MUN is unique, because it’s not a pre-planned thing or something you study for and it’s not just debating or arguing with someone.” Mock trial is an introductory legal club in which students act out civil or criminal cases and form teams that take the position of

either the prosecutor or defense. Lynbrook Mock Trial competes in two competitions per week from late January to March until they are either eliminated or qualify for states. “To be able to compete in a real courtroom, with real attorney scorers, using real evidentiary rules and evidence, is an incredible experience that can’t be emulated in any other club,” said senior and Mock Trial president Alina Wan. Lynbrook Speech and Debate helps members build argumentation and public speaking skills. Members participate in about �ive to 15 competitions annually in events from impromptu speeches to debates about policy. With their most recent major competition from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19, the speech team had four �inalists, while the debate team had one quarter �inalist and one double octos �inalist. “I love social justice, so I did Oratorical Interpretation and performed a speech in the voice of sexual assault victim,” said senior and co-president Neha Palvai. “I have sung as an off-key ‘opera’ singer for my humorous interpretation piece. The sheer variety of events that cater to all interests makes this club so fresh, fun, and everlasting!”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY HSIN YEN HUANG

Blue Pearl Dance The 14th annual Blue Pearl Dance is on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the gym. Tickets are on sale for $15 for singles and $25 for couples at the top of the quad during brunch and lunch. All proceeds go to LIMB. There will be live jazz, drinks, desserts and lots of dancing so be sure to save the date! Spring Sports Begin Be sure to anticipate the beginning of spring sports such as track and �ield, badminton and swimming!

Elective Night If you are curious for more information about Lynbrook’s various electives, join upcoming freshmen on Thursday, Feb. 1 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the auditorium. Coffee House Talent Show Come out to the Coffee House Talent Show hosted by ASB on Friday, Feb. 9 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the library. Enjoy a night of live musical performances, poetry and more in a cozy atmosphere. by Risa Mori

BY AILEEN XUE

ollowing soaring housing and rental costs, homelessness in the Santa Clara County has been rising at an astonishing rate, resulting in more than 7394 people without a home. This 185 percent increase in homelessness since 2015 has led the San Jose City Council to approve a plan to build the �irst of three possible tiny home villages, each comprised of 40 sleeping cabins. While the plan was passed by the city council with a 9-2 vote in favor of building the village, it has been faced with controversy from homeowners across San Jose due to health and safety concerns as well the high cost. Santa Clara County currently has the third highest percentage of unsheltered homelessness in the nation. This is in part due to the skyrocketing prices of homes as demonstrated by the $1.12 million median price for a single family home and an average rent of $3,514.. Only nine percent of single family homes are being sold for less than $500,000, leaving many families without affordable housing options. “Increasing housing prices leave youth in particular unable to �ind a new residence they can afford on their own,” said Mario ES BY CLARA FERNAND

Winter Rally Get ready for the �irst rally of the year, which will take place on Friday, Jan. 26 in the gym. Show your class spirit as you watch dances performed by each class.

San Jose passes plan to build tiny homes

ART ILLUSTRATION

News in Brief

Rocha, director of training at Stand Up for Kids Silicon Valley, a homeless youth center in San Jose which provides services such as hot meals and one-on-one mentoring for youth. “It becomes another obstacle for them to overcome and keeps them on the streets for longer.” In order to combat homelessness, San Jose, where over 4000 people are homeless, is set on completing the construction of its �irst tiny home village by January 2019. Modeled after similar tiny home communities in Fresno and Oakland, San Jose’s tiny home village will consist of community restrooms and showers, a dining area, laundry facility, meeting space, dog park, garden area and 40 sleeping cabins. These homes, however, will cost taxpayers $2.3 million, one of the a main reasons why two council members voted against the plan. The sites for tiny homes will be located at least 1320 feet away from schools and 530 feet away from residential homes. There are still complaints from homeowners, however, that the tiny homes will negatively impact neighborhoods

by raising crime rates and threatening health, sanitation and safety. There is also the concern that property values will drop as a result of homeless communities being in close proximity to homes. The city council is still deciding on where to build the tiny homes, but will decide on three possible sites by the end of January. “Many of the people are opposing the project out of fear,” said Andrea Urton, CEO of HomeFirst. “But what they don’t realize is that the average homeless person is not on drugs or mentally ill. They are the working poor, the janitor at your school who is sleeping at the shelter, or a formerly homeless youth who is now the CEO of a local nonprofit (yes, me). These folks will not negatively impact any neighborhood, but add to it with their success.” Regardless, homelessness is undeniably at an all time high in the Santa Clara County. Despite the controversy surrounding the tiny homes, these tiny home villages are an opportunity to help the homeless get back on their feet.

Policing viral videos turning difﬁcult in digital age

YouTube not to blame for Logan Paul incident despite controversy BY MEERA BALAJI

hen he saw a dead man’s body hanging from a branch in the Aokigahara Forest in Japan, colloquially known as the “suicide forest,” all Logan Paul could do was laugh while he recorded the tragedy on Dec. 31 for another video to upload. YouTube removed the video after it hit 6.3 million views. This delayed response was only YouTube adhering to its own policies, allowing Paul to receive his just deserts. Logan Paul made an egregious error by posting a video of a dead man’s body, and due to the sensitive nature of the dead man’s cause of death — suicide — it was both insensitive and disrespectful to the deceased’s family along with others who have been in similar circumstances. “What Logan Paul did was cruel and completely absurd,” said junior Marie Karpinska, a beauty vlogger on YouTube. “He should have turned the camera off, or not have uploaded the video at all.” Paul’s video was up for no more than a day; YouTube did not take it down or alter it in any form, since it would have been a violation of the platform’s policy, which states that graphic or violent content is permissible in a news or documentary context. Although Paul’s content was insensitive and revolting, having a dead body on the screen is not a direct violation of YouTube’s guidelines. Furthermore, YouTube was quick to disenfranchise Paul, posting an apology on Twitter to highlight the indecency of his content, removing him from a show and deleting his projects from Google’s preferred content page inde�initely. “I think that [Paul] built his reputation himself, and YouTube should choose who they want to be represented by,” said Karpinska. “Logan Paul deserved his punishments, since his video was inappropriate for many of his young subscribers.” While YouTube is a strong model of an open forum, Facebook has not been able to maintain the same standard since it currently does not have

CHELSEA LI//IN MY OPINION

SSS: Semester of serenity or stress?

s I submitted my last college application on Dec. 31, I felt like a new person. At long last, I could come out of my house to the bright sunshine and sound of birds chirping, �inally breathing a sigh of relief. As I toiled through essays, developed a strong hate of the Common App and watched

the technology to automatically detect inappropriate content the same way that YouTube is able to monitor copyrighted and harmful content. Facebook Live, however, only regulates malicious content when other users feel compelled to report what they see. “I’ve had times where parts of my video were muted, so I know that YouTube has the ability to monitor videos,” said Karpinska. “It’s good because it protects me from copyright issues, since it is better to have the audio removed than be faced with a lawsuit.” For instance, in April 2017, a father in Thailand livestreamed a video of him killing his infant daughter, as the mother watched online and cried. His pro�ile remained up on Facebook for a few weeks, and his video for over a day, gaining approximately 200,000 views. In March 2017, �ive Chicago teens live streamed themselves sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl as more than 40 people watched online. Although the girl’s mother and uncle reported the video, it was not taken down until police of�icers contacted Facebook. Letting graphic videos gain views despite numerous reports and �lags indicates nothing but Facebook Live’s inability to adapt in order to avoid similar situations. While live streams may offer an interesting perspective into another’s life, the misuse of the tool paired with a lack of technology to monitor content only leads to scandals. “Even though live streams are awesome, there is no way for Facebook to censor videos of murder and suicide during one,” said junior Greg Gontier, who posts music covers on YouTube. “Right now, Facebook Live does not have something like an algorithm to detect inappropriate videos.” Painting YouTube with the same brush as Facebook Live due to one mistake is unfair to a site that has provided many with educational and insightful content for years. Although people were quick to scrutinize YouTube for Paul’s actions, its efforts in reprimanding him and making an example out of his unacceptable behavior clearly shows that the site is learning from its mistakes and forging a new path in the emerging world of audiovisual content. jealously as my classmates vacationed in various tropical places, I reminded myself of the light at the end of the tunnel. However, as the new year dawned and school started up again, a statistics quiz my �irst week back, a time-consuming new job and AP Government darkened the horizon, causing me to wonder whether being a second semester senior was really worth the anticipation. Since I was an underclassman, I always imagined how my last semester of high school would go. I envisioned acceptance letters, senior prom and of course, graduation, free of the burdens of standardized testing and applying to summer programs. In my freshman imagination, my friends and I embark on spontaneous road trips or hit up fast food restaurants at 2:00 a.m. Flash forward a few years, and not only have I procrastinated on obtaining my license, but my parents have also instated a curfew despite the fact that I had, unsurprisingly, been holed up in the house almost all of �irst semester. At last, I have reached the promised

SADHANA SARMA — EPIC

land, and to be frank, the view is quite underwhelming. Once again, I am caught up in homework, tests and quizzes. As your average Lynbrook student, I’m accustomed to putting effort into all my classes and meeting deadlines obediently, as I had always done. Sure, I had extra time that had previously been taken up by college applications to spend any way I wanted, but instinctively, I continued to dedicate most of my efforts to school. Sure, there were times I slacked, hastily skimming over a couple reading passages and scribbling some illegible notes, but the rebellious teenager in me rarely found its way out, and even the dawn of second semester couldn’t change my inherent nature. It seems that every other senior is on the job hunt, and I am no exception. Thus, when my piano teacher offered me a well-paying job as an accompanist for a choir, I couldn’t refuse. I realized too late that I had to internalize a vast amount of music in an extremely short time, and I had not legitimately touched the piano in the past two weeks. Being an ac-

companist is no easy job, and before I knew it, I had acquired yet another responsibility. So much for having fun on Friday nights. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad to have made it out of the tunnel alive. Throughout my journey, I felt uncertain and afraid, and seriously wondered if any colleges would accept me. It was primarily the promise of SSS that kept me on the grind. Now, although my quality of life has risen considerably, I can’t say I’ve let go of all my stress and entered the paradise I dreamed of as a non-senior. So what’s there to do? Nothing much, except to play the waiting game and be ready to face any new obstacles that come my way. I have had more time to re�lect on my goals, to develop my friendships and to maybe even pursue some newfound interests. Like any other senior, I’m looking forward to graduation, a major turning point in my life. Of course, those fateful letters from colleges are yet to come, but before I hear from any institution again, I am determined to wholeheartedly enjoy SSS as much as I can.

Claire’s case highlights lack of FDA oversight BY MEDHA UPADHYAY

hile looking for makeup, shoppers often consider brand, price and quality. But it may be time to add a new factor: toxicity. In America, where a sense of false security is common among consumers due to the numerous committees and laws dedicated to their protection, most believe that the products they buy have undergone strict examination. This, however, is not always the case. On Dec. 28, Claire’s, a makeup and accessory store, issued recalls for several of its makeup products after Kristiana Warner, a Rhode Island woman, claimed that she had found asbestos in several Claire’s products, including eye shadows, blushes and compact powders. Asbestos is a mineral that was popularly used in building insulation for years, but was proven to be toxic in 1973, and has since been linked with cancer and mesothelioma, a deadly lung disease. Warner mailed her six-yearold daughter’s makeup to the Scienti�ic Analytical Institute, a North Carolina lab that specializes in testing for toxic substances, and the results revealed traces of tremolite asbestos, which is known to cause cancer. “Harsher regulations, more restricting guidelines [should be put in place],” said art teacher and InDesign club advisor Charlotte Kruk. “That’s a really negative thing. Nothing can have asbestos by today’s standards.” After the recall, Claire’s came forward to say that it had sent its products for testing, and had found these products to be asbestos-free. Despite Claire’s �indings, the Scienti�ic Analytical Institute continues to back their own, claiming that the exact product they tested has not yet been re-tested by Claire’s. Additionally, Claire’s has not speci�ied which labs tested their products, which has led many to question the products’ safety. “It is unsafe, if there is even a possibility of asbestos being in the products,” said senior and InDesign club president Christina Chen. “If a person bought makeup, and they are not sure about [what the ingre-

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OPINION SECTION

dients are], then it is not fair to them because no changes are made to the product in they are buying something without being question. Even terms like “organic” and told what is in it. If the company is not saying “hypoallergenic” are unregulated, giving the truth and being honest to their consum- them little to no meaning in the cosmeters, then it should not be a safe brand that ic industry. All this may tempt shoppers to throw people trust.” Although it is unclear whether or not as- their makeup out the window, but such drastic measures bestos was present are not yet necin the Claire’s prodessary. Avoiding ucts, this case brings fragrances is to light numerous “THE FDA SHOULD IMone way to steer discrepancies in the clear of toxins, as Food and Drug Ad- POSE HARSHER REGUit can take hunministration’s (FDA) LATIONS ... [COSMETIC] dreds of chemregulations. Although COMPANIES SHOULD icals to create a the FDA’s job is to pro- NOT BE ALLOWED TO single fragrance. tect consumers from SELL DANGEROUS MAKEare potentially dangerous UP — THAT’S SO TERRIBLE.” Lipsticks also notoriously cosmetics, companies known to contain are still able to sell Charlotte Kruk lead, a dangerproducts with harmful Art Teacher ous neurotoxin. substances by exploitCustomers would ing loopholes in FDA be well-advised regulations. Currently, companies can easily avoid sharing the ingre- to stay away from ingredients such as dients used in their products by claiming that mineral oil, paraﬃnum liquidum, petrodoing so would give away “trade secrets.” Ad- latum, petroleum jelly, propylene glycol, ditionally, the U.S. only bans about ten chem- polyethylene glycol and polysorbates. icals in cosmetics while the European Union These are petroleum derivatives, meanhas over a thousand banned, and consumers ing they are extracted from crude oil. They have a nearly in�inite shelf life, and are paying for these lax regulations. “The FDA should intervene in cases like are cheap and abundant, but can also this, as it has the ability to affect many peo- lead to allergies and are known toxins. ple’s lives” said sophomore Aayushi Jani. Parabens, phenoxyethanol and benzyl “The government should impose stricter reg- alcohol are preservatives that can lead ulations because an incident like this should to disruptions in hormones and nerves. “We’re living in a poisonous world,” not occur again.” The FDA mainly relies on direct reports said Kruk. “I think that with makeup, it’s from customers in order to launch investiga- buyer beware. None of that stuff is good tions into potentially harmful products. Even for you. I just wish that the message we after customers have �iled complaints, how- were sending our young people is that ever, the FDA has no legal authority to recall they are gorgeous without all that nonthe product, so it is entirely possible that sense.” While these cautionary steps may these harmful products are still available on seem unnecessary, it is becoming inthe market. “The FDA should impose harsher regu- creasingly clear that each consumer lations, more restricting guidelines,” said must watch out for his or her own health Kruk. “[Cosmetic] companies should not be and safety, even if it is something as simallowed to sell dangerous makeup — that’s ple as choosing what makeup products to purchase. Shoppers must take matso terrible.” In fact, companies are not even required ters into their own hands, as relying to forward complaints to the FDA, meaning solely on the government is no longer a that such concerns often go ignored, and viable option.

HSIN YEN HUANG//IN MY OPINION

The injustice of test skipping

he frustration I feel when a teacher is waiting on one student to make up an important test before passing it back is unparalleled. Yet classrooms always feel emptier on test days, as students often don’t show up to risk their grades by taking tests for which they aren’t ready. While I completely understand missing a test once or twice during the year due to workload piling up, test skipping turns into a problem when it becomes habitual. Not only does test skipping encourage ineffective time management, but it also undermines the fairness of academic assessments. Students who are unprepared for tests may come to school late, leave early, fake illness or not come at all, to avoid them. Lack of preparation may stem from overwhelming schoolwork, club tasks or sports practice. Thus, students don’t study for tests so that they have time to complete more pressing assignments. Before I come off as a goody two shoes, I would like to present a disclaimer: I realize that school can be stressful at times and taking a day off to recharge can be tempting when you’re struggling to understand your homework at 2:00 a.m. To be honest, I’m guilty of procrastination myself, often wondering where all my time has gone after an afternoon of catching up on TV shows and leaving every assignment for the last day. The practice of test skipping allows students extra time to study, and when a grade-determining test is coming up, every second matters. Absent students have a huge advantage over their peers who take the test no matter how prepared they were. To combat this problem, some teachers create a new make-up test; however, devising a new test is inherently unfair because teachers cannot guarantee that the new test will have a dif�iculty level that is appropriate for students who receive extra time to prepare. Skipping tests further compromises exam fairness by inviting cheating. Friends often share test questions with each other, and extra days only prolong the period that information exchanges can happen, allowing students time to give more detailed hints. Many teachers also wait for all students to take a test before passing the test back. As a result, an entire class ends up waiting on a small handful of students to take the test before knowing their scores. If teachers do give back the test on time, students who haven’t taken the test yet are forced to sit outside while the teacher goes over the test. This method, while effective in allowing students to view their scores and understand their mistakes when the information is still fresh in their brain, has no measures put in place to prevent students from telling test questions to others. The bene�its of test skipping only promote the behavior that is at the root of this problem: bad time management. By granting extra days of study without penalties, teachers are essentially rewarding students for procrastinating. Students need to learn to value the time that they are given to prepare themselves suf�iciently for tests. Test skipping, at its core, teaches students to run away from problems, and without hard enforcement of test dates, students will never learn to confront their problems. This issue will only worsen if nothing is done about it. One student failing to show up for a test may bene�it himself or herself, but it also impacts the teacher and fellow classmates. Sure, test skipping is permissible at times when students are sick or on trips, but students need to learn to use the time they are given wisely.

Apple in hot water for draining older iPhone batteries BY JOCY HE

he rumor is con�irmed: Apple has been slowing down older iPhones, causing users to experience longer app launch times, shorter battery life and lower speaker volume. On Dec. 20, the tech giant’s statement af�irming many theories that it has been slowing down phones sparked outcry even among its most loyal fans. In response, Apple has offered $29 battery replacements for iPhone 6 and later models; this, however, does not adequately justify Apple’s actions. In its statement, Apple admitted that the design of their iOS software updates weakened the performance of their phones, claiming that the lithium ion battery in iPhones naturally degrades over time. Additionally, the chemistry of the battery can cause unexpected phone shutdowns, another common complaint of iPhone users. In order to save iPhones from unexpected shutdowns, Apple decided to slow down the phones instead.

“Devices need a certain amount of voltage and current. As you draw more current out of a battery, the voltage that the battery supplies goes down,” said math and computer science teacher Mark Kwong. “So, if I’m running a lot of stuff [on my phone], it is going to draw more current. When it draws more current, the voltage in the battery goes down. If the voltage goes below a certain level, the device just stops working. To solve that, [Apple] slowed down the processor as a way of reducing the current draw. Therefore, when you don’t draw as much current, the voltage stays above the critical shutdown level.” To counter the shutdowns, Apple created the iOS 10.2.1 update for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE models and iOS 11.2 for the iPhone 7 line, which instead caused phone processing time to slow down. In order to restore their iPhones to peak performance, users would have to replace their old lithium batteries with new ones. Apple sought to remedy the issue by offering a $50

discount from their original $79 price tag. The public has shown its dissatisfaction with Apple due to the announcement, raising over 26 lawsuits against the tech giant since the day Apple released its statement. The lawsuits primarily request free battery or new phone replacements, as well as increased transparency on iOS slowdowns. The lawsuits �ind Apple’s biggest mistake to be their delayed communication regarding iOS updates and degrading batteries. Apple should have informed users about their batteries instead of allowing consumers to purchase entirely new phones when they could have simply switched out their batteries. Additionally, Apple is only offering the discounted battery for one year. Its statement did not promise the development of a new battery, signifying that Apple’s newest models, the iPhone X and iPhone 8, will likely face the same battery problems in the future. If the discount is only offered for a year, phones will be caught in a cycle that forces users to

replace their batteries once they reach their maximum capacity. The company should be able to extend longer warranties for the batteries to protect users against this defect. “I have an iPhone 6, and the battery has been performing really badly,” said senior Sameera Aluri. “For example, if I use my phone for a few minutes on Snapchat, the battery would go down 10%. Before, I would charge it once a day, but now I have to charge it once I go home or the battery dies. I think Apple [delayed communication] purposely, because people would not usually upgrade unless their phones are broken.” Despite its prior miscommunication, Apple is taking steps towards �ixing its issues. In the next iOS update, Apple CEO Tim Cook promised more visibility of battery health and an option to turn off the slowdown feature. Although the updates are a positive trend toward the right direction, Apple should have been more transparent earlier. Apple caught itself in a web of lawsuits after its inability to communicate to users about the shutdowns. Furthermore, its $29 battery solution in response is only temporary at best. Without a new lithium ion battery, iPhone users will continue to face this problem in the future. Apple is not justi�ied in its incapability to provide more information earlier about the phones and charging customers $29 for its mistake.

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New bell schedule allows for better use of additional tutorial Staff Editorial The Voice of the Epic we use tutorial now,” said principal Maria Jackson. “You only get one chance to start something the �irst time. With three tutorials, we have an opportunity to really look at how students can use them. ” During these tutorials, teachers can support students both academically and personally. In addition to its current use of meeting with students, teachers might hold study

sessions a few times a semester during tutorials to promote active student participation in smaller groups. Guidance counselors and the College & Career Center could also hold workshops for students to explore extracurricular activities and jobs. In order to provide students guidance on pertinent issues that are often under-discussed, such as mental health, time management, sleep

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o address concerns regarding student stress and sleep deprivation, the Wellness Taskforce assembled by FUHSD proposed new schedules for the 2018-2019 school year. At Lynbrook, school will start at 8:00 a.m. at the earliest and end at 3:25 p.m. at the latest. The new schedule consists of two teacher collaboration periods per week instead of one, and three tutorials instead of two. The implementation of this new schedule should be used as an opportunity to improve student wellness at Lynbrook by making more effective use of tutorials and using teacher collaboration time to discuss the effects of homework on students. “One of my concerns, when I was principal at Lynbrook, was looking at how hard our students worked and hearing stories from many kids about how much they struggled to complete homework, how much pressure they were putting on themselves and how much pressure they had from other students and parents,” said FUHSD Director of Stakeholder Engagement, member of the Wellness Taskforce and former Lynbrook principal John Dwyer. “We wanted to look at ways to make students’ lives better.” The extra tutorial in the bell schedule also provides an opportunity for students to connect with teachers. Students who miss class due to extracurriculars such as sports are given more chances to make up missed work. “With three tutorials, we will have more time to develop relationships with teachers and get more academic and personal help,” said sophomore Catherine Huang. “Right now, we have two tutorials, but what if I need to ask a teacher something important on a non-tutorial day? If there are three tutorials, I will have more chances to do that.” Lynbrook administrators have formed a committee of teachers to discuss how to help students make better use of tutorial. This committee discusses how students and teachers are currently using tutorials, what seems to be working well, what needs to be improved upon and different ways to make the most out of that time. “We decided to form the teacher committee because we wanted to take a look at how

hygiene, substance abuse and sex education, the school can invite guest speakers to educate students on these issues. “If students are stressed, it’s important for them to talk to mentors such as teachers,” said junior Maithreyee Vatsan. “A lot of students need trusted adults to talk to.” Because of the importance of mental health, substance abuse and sex education related issues, those workshops should be mandatory for students but held only once or twice a semester. Academic and extracurricular related information sessions should be optional but held more frequently and discuss a broad range of topics, from volunteer opportunities for underclassmen to advice for current seniors from Lynbrook alumni. Excessive homework has been a pervasive issue at Lynbrook for many years. Community members have mentioned to the Wellness Taskforce that they did not believe later start would result in students getting more sleep as long as the homework issue persisted. “One of the things the Wellness Taskforce talked a lot about was that more work is not necessarily better,” said Dwyer. “It is generally agreed that the quality of instruction and learning is more important than the quantity of work students are doing.” In regards to improving student wellness, small actions by teachers and administrators as well as logistical changes can make a difference based on student needs. “Ultimately, I think teachers having compassion for and being sensitive to student needs is important,” said physical education and world history teacher Thomas Hammond. “It doesn’t hurt to shoot out a survey occasionally, �ind out what students need, what they are struggling with and then adapt your curriculum to suit their needs.” Although Lynbrook students and staff members may �ind adjusting to the new schedule challenging, it is also a chance for students and staff to recognize the many factors that contribute to stress, and work to address these factors. This new schedule is an opportunity for Lynbrook to focus more actively on physical and mental wellness. *the Epic staff voted 31-2 in favor of this stance

Margaret Lu designs her future in art BY BELINDA ZHOU

her work, an analysis of a concept rather than an emotional stance. “I respect [Margaret’s] art for being minimalistic and universally understandable,” said senior Rhee Kang. “She does a lot of graphic design related artwork, and she is able to make it easy to understand with effective color schemes and her own stylistic nuances.” Apart from creating an art portfolio, Lu has also undertaken various side projects. During the staff homecoming of 2016, Lu was interested in creating a design for apparel for the staff’s Wild West themed apparel, and approached art teacher Matthew Reynolds, who had mentioned that the staff was looking for student-based designs. Despite the contest being open to the entire school, Lu’s design was ultimately chosen to be displayed on the staff t-shirts. In October 2017, Lu decided to take advantage of an “art block,” a period of time when she did not know what to create. She

MEERA BALAJI –EPIC

As a toddler scribbling and doodling on the walls of her home with her �irst ever pack of crayons, senior Margaret Lu had no idea that the action her parents discouraged would translate into something much bigger: a future in art and design. Lu’s interest in art was sparked at a young age by coloring books and small packs of crayons at restaurants she went to, giving rise to the curiosity she had for art and design. “I got my artistic background from my dad, who was an artist,” said Lu. “However, he wasn’t allowed to pursue art because of his parents, so he was forced to not be an artist. When it came to me, I was given the choice

of pursuing art or pursuing STEM.” Lu began taking traditional art classes in elementary school, starting with the basics: sketching, oil painting, watercolor and ink drawings, and progressed to more formal art courses in the preceding years. In junior year of high school, with the prospect of college applications just one year ahead, Lu began to prepare and assemble her art portfolio. Most of Lu’s work is digital, so she tends to use Photoshop the most. When it comes to video-based work, Lu utilizes Adobe After Effects or Adobe Premiere Pro. When Lu initially began using these applications, she relied mostly on experimentation and online tutorials to guide her. “The �irst program will always be the hardest, but the learning curve won’t be too steep by the third or fourth program,” said Lu. Through years of training, classes and practice, many artists develop a style of art, but Lu believes that she has yet to adopt a particular style of art. Lu imagines that not having a distinct style has allowed her to push and expand her creative boundaries, as she is able to experiment with new styles of art. Lu tends to sway toward an intellectual or theoretical-based theme to re�lect through

pushed her boundaries by creating unique designs for clothing items, such as t-shirts and hoodies, through RedBubble, an online marketplace for people to purchase merchandise designed by artists who submit their artwork. Lu has released two clothing lines since starting her RedBubble account, one called “Stress Culture” and the other called “SubtleT.” “Stress Culture” is inspired and in�luenced by the environment that surrounds Lu, the excessive amount of stress people are under due to competition, technological advancements and the strive to be successful. Lu’s “SubtleT” line is geared toward fandoms, which are communities of fans. “SubtleT” is also a re�lection of her personal interests, consisting mainly of anime and Korean pop music. The designs are created so that only people in the fandom understand the concept behind the design, allowing for a more personal connection between people in those communities. For Lu, art has proven to be more than just a hobby or an activity to pass time, it serves as a passion and a creative escape. Artistic success comes in all styles, and Lu’s journey began with a pack of Crayola crayons.

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“The Hate U Give” rewrites issues about race BY MEDHA UPADHYAY

he plethora of Young Adult (YA) books that were released in 2017 are de�initely worth celebrating. These wonderful books bring new characters and stories to life, but most notably, raise awareness about racial diversity. One such novel, “The Hate U Give” (THUG) by Angie Thomas, follows an African-American teenager named Starr Carter, as she witnesses a policeman shoot, and ultimately kill, her childhood best friend. The media quickly labels her best friend as a mere drug dealer; thus, Starr is thrown into a media circus, unsure what to do with her newfound rage and fear. The reader is thrust into high-stakes emotional turmoil, waiting on the edge of their seat to �ind out what happens next. One may consider “The Hate U Give” a modern “To Kill A Mockingbird;” it encompasses topics such as deep-rooted racism, activism, grief and family. THUG, however, was written for the young adults of today, as it is full of cultural references and issues that plague today’s teenagers. For example, Starr is in awe of a classmate who complains about visiting Harry Potter world every year, is an avid Tumblr user, bonds with her boyfriend over “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and is afraid of Khalil becoming a hashtag and nothing more. Teenage readers will �ind similarities between their lives and events in the book, making Starr seem more like a friend than a faraway �ictional character. While THUG is classi�ied as a realistic �iction novel, the story can be enjoyed by all teenagers, no matter

which genre they prefer. THUG gives the reader insight into a harsh reality that may be completely different from theirs. Starr’s day-to-day life differs greatly than one of a standard Lynbrook student. It is nearly impossible to fully understand Starr’s experiences without knowing the entire story. Thomas shows the whole truth about Khalil, and how he loved Harry Potter and fought with his mom, not just how he sold drugs to make ends meet. The plot itself is full of twists and turns, keeping readers

hooked. With heavy subjects such as police brutality and systemic racism, a happy ending is out of the question, but Thomas does give the reader closure. While Starr’s struggle to achieve justice for Khalil is the main highlight, Thomas manages to weave in several side plots that draw in other characters as well. The characters in the story are realistic and three dimensional. They are complicated, lovable and pull readers into

the storyline. The story features a realistic crew that affects Starr and her decisions. Key players include Starr’s step-siblings, neighbors and complicated private school friends. The fact that Starr goes to a fancy suburban private school also sets her apart from other teenagers in her impoverished neighborhood of Garden Heights. She looks at the world from two different perspectives, giving her a deeper understanding of her environment and racism in particular. She �inds herself interacting with people from all different backgrounds, allowing her to be more empathetic to the people around her. After �inishing this thought-provoking novel, don’t forget to watch the movie adaptation starring Amanda Stenberg, Regina Hall, Anthony Mackie and Sabrina Carpenter that is yet to be released. While many noteworthy books were released last year, The Hate U Give stands out as a book that not only features a woman of color, but also makes the reader think and hope for a better world. If stories like this reached more people, perhaps we would be all be more understanding and empathetic, and have fewer problems with hate, anger and devastating violence. THUG is a moving story about today’s young adults, and those who pick up this book will surely be inspired to create change in their own way, whatever that may be.

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Camila Cabello launches solo debut BY HATIM SAIFEE

New year; new-ish me

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How to give gifts this Valentine’s BY TZEN-HAO NG

alentine’s Day is just around the corner. During such a happy time of joy and appreciation, it makes sense to give gifts to others, so if you’re strapped for gift ideas, consider the following.

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am willing to bet that 97.34 percent of the world’s population woke up on Jan. 1, of 2018 with the brilliantly original thought, “New Year, new me!”. The beginning of the year is a period supposedly geared toward self-improvement through making new year’s resolutions, which is an extremely unavailing tradition. When I looked back on my high school career at the start of the school year, I decided that I would work toward what can be summed up in two incredibly cliché words: my “glo up.” A “glo up,” for reference, is a play on the phrase “grow up” and refers to a person’s transformation. After doing some serious self-re�lection this past holiday break while scrambling to describe who I am in under 350 words for college applications, I had an epiphany: I was wrong thinking this was something I could accomplish in a year. I had naively believed that a “glo up” was a one and done deal, completed after shallow tasks such as gaining a sense of style. No, a real “glo up” requires patience and persistence when developing not only what’s on the outside but also the inside. This can be anything from learning how to be a better friend or working on self-love. And here’s the catch that most people, including myself, fail to realize until much later: the “glo up” never ends. Personal development isn’t something you can achieve just by making a list at the beginning of the year, only to check it every 365.25 days. Whether we like it or not, we are constantly changing with every choice we make each day. That is why the ritual of creating New Year’s resolutions is a vicious cycle that never fails to pull in its victims with alluring terms such as “a fresh start,” “the best is yet to come” and “stop procrastinating.” After many years of this tradition being hammered into our minds by culture and Facebook event reminders, even cringy memes online: we’ve created a tradition that chooses to distract ourselves from realizing that our resolutions are the reason we feel disappointed at the end of every year. Rather, we should be taking more time to set goals that can be realistically accomplished within a year so that we can actually begin thinking of the new year as a chance to level up rather than as a reset button. So here are my resolutions for next year. I want to roll out of bed and feel completely comfortable as I am: unkempt and probably in some really embarrassing pajamas, I want to be able to say I feel good about myself… before I get up to wash the grossness from my face. You might notice that my list is incredibly short. That’s because it’s the one goal that I know I always want to strive toward every year. Though fashions and my interests will change as time goes on, I know that I will, without a doubt, always want to develop a greater sense of self. Over time, as I discover my own priorities, the list will undoubtedly grow. Though my self-perception may �luctuate from year to year, I will always have room to improve myself in multiple ways. So no, the “glo up” doesn’t end when I �inally �igure out how to style bell-bottoms and berets. Rather, I will always �ind opportunities to discover myself in small ways that allow me to work towards the development of my character, and even if I fail… Oh whale, I know I’m not quite done trying yet.

ith her new singles topping the Billboard charts of 2017 and her music videos trending on YouTube, Camila Cabello has taken the pop world by storm. “CAMILA,” her �irst solo album after splitting from the all-girl group Fifth Harmony, was released on Jan. 12, marking a major milestone in Cabello’s career. Cabello’s single “Havana” held the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s “Top Pop Songs” chart for seven weeks, deeming it the longest reigning single by a solo female artist in �ive years. The massive success of “Havana” led to some changes in the album and a postponed release date. The album had been in the making since she was still a part of Fifth Harmony. After she left the group in December 2016, Cabello announced that her album would be titled “The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving.” In December 2017, however, Cabello revealed that she had decided to change the title to “CAMILA” to re�lect a new state of mind. “I decided to call it by my name because this is where this chapter in my life ended. It started with somebody else’s story, it ended with me �inding my way back to myself,” said Cabello in an Instagram post. Consequently, Cabello removed her initial singles “Crying in the Club” and “I Have Questions,” songs about heartbreak and unhealthy relationships that were released in the beginning of 2017, from the album in favor of the majorly successful and cheerful “Havana” as the lead single. “Even if other songs like ‘Questions’ or ‘Crying’ represented me in the beginning parts of the year, I have grown more as an artist and as a person,” said Cabello on Apple Music Beats 1’s World Record. “It felt like [the album] needed to represent the most recent snapshot of my life.” The album as a whole portrays the contrast between love and heartbreak. It represents Cabello’s growth as a person as she searches for the truth in people’s personalities and, undoubtedly, herself. The album begins with the song “Never Be The Same,” in which Cabello chooses a style of music different from the status quo, combining the �low of an electric tune with

powerful bass and beats. In “All These Years,” she switches to an acoustic guitar accompanied by backing vocals, employing a tone of reminiscence as she recalls an encounter with an ex. In this �irst part of the album, Cabello sings about �inding someone she truly loves and her life, consequently, being completely transformed as she gives her all to this relationship. Shifting to sultry upbeat songs with references to her Latino roots, Cabello sings about taking control of her life in the reggaeton dance track “She Loves Control.” The Spanish guitar tune and thumping bass paint the picture of a sexy summer. After warning potential lovers of wanting control, Cabello �inds a bad boy in “Havana,” her lead single. The song is rich in Latino �lavors and includes a rap verse by Young Thug, making the song a perfect blend of pop and hip hop. The album then turns somber when Cabello shares her heartbreak(s). In “Consequences,” the delicate piano accompaniment, along with her soft voice, make the song the perfect ballad. She then questions her toxic relationships in “Real Friends,” where she switches back to acoustics as she sings about “feeling lonely and disillusioned by people in LA while [she] was away from home.” With “Something’s Gotta Give,” Cabello sings with the piano about how “[she] should know by now” that she was naive about love, and that “all [she] did was give, and all [he] did was take.” Leaving her sorrows behind, Cabello looks forward to a new budding romance in “Into It,” which is perhaps the most sultry track of the album with her soft vocals and choppy lyrics against fast-paced beats and minimal music. She urges her lover to be part of “whatever trouble that [he’s] thinking.” The album ends with a remixed version of “Never Be The Same,” where she is in�luenced by her lover. This time, however, she is not naive anymore and “[she’ll] never be the same.” Her chapter comes full circle, and even though she’s in a relationship again, she has learned from her previous experiences. Overall, “CAMILA” is an album that re�lects Cabello’s struggles with loneliness and her relationships. If you enjoy relatable lyrics in fresh new music in�luenced by Latin pop, then this is the album for you.

Family

Because family members are such important �igures in one’s life, it may be dif�icult to �ind a proper gift that re�lects their special position in our lives. Good gifts are given with thought and love, whether they are items that your family member has had an eye on, or something that you know they’ll like based on their personality. However, the greatest gifts that you give to your family are not store-bought. Rather, homemade gifts show your appreciation by presenting a gift that you created rather than merely a box of chocolate or a card. What, then, are good gifts to make on your own? One option is to surprise them with a home-cooked meal. If they are usually busy, they will de�initely appreciate something to lighten their load and take their mind off of work. Another gift to consider is rather than buying chocolate, to make some of your own! After all, what is Valentine’s without chocolate.

Friends If family is the white rice, then friends are the other ingredients that spice up the metaphorical food bowl of life. It’s important to give back to those who add color to your life. One common gift for friends during Valentine’s is chocolate, given to af�irm and strengthen relations. While this is a good option, it feels a little impersonal with all of the options out there. Instead, try to go for a gift that is a little more speci�ic to each friend. The best gift for a friend is one that commemorates the time you have spent together and the memories that you have made; one that represents your friendship and

how much they mean to you. This could be a gift that commemorates something you did together, from a picture of an event, or a souvenir from a theme park that you visited together, to ticket stubs from a concert you went to together.

A Special Someone Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without gifting that special someone. As the day of the year most closely associated with couples, some may wonder what would suf�ice as a gift for that special someone. However, �inding the perfect balance between hackneyed and abstract can be challenging, as many common Valentine’s ideas have been driven into the ground. What to do? In this case, why not gift �lowers? Instead of purchasing a generic bouquet of roses, pick up speci�ic ones with meaning from the �lorist. There exists an entire language within �lowers, with meanings ranging from purity to health. Some lesser-known �lowers that would make a great gift or addition to another gift are the Ambrosia, a symbol of reciprocated love; the Dandelion, a symbol of faithfulness and happiness and the Orchid, a symbol of beauty and love. There are hundreds of �lowers with different symbolic meanings; pick one that most accurately re�lects the message you want to portray, and it will surely be transmitted to the recipient.

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Paper Airplanes en route to education

Learn more about Paper Airplanes BY RISA MORI

ince the outbreak of civil war between the Syrian government and opposing rebel groups in 2011, more than 5.4 million Syrians have �led their homes. Now, in the seventh year of war, only 1 percent of refugees are enrolled in university, according to The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Lynbrook’s chapter of Paper Airplanes, a nonpro�it that uses Skype to connect English-speaking students with Syrian refugee students, provides oneon-one English tutoring sessions. Most of these refugee students aim to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam so they can pursue higher education, and ultimately, secure a job in America. The Paper Airplanes organization, founded in 2014, hosts English, Turkish and Women in Tech programs that are run by adults; however, high schools with at least seven tutors can also be involved through its Youth Exchange Program, which was opened last year. Tutors and tutees, who are generally around the age of 16 to 17, are then matched based on their language abilities, age, gender and personal interests. “In the culture of many of the students we work with, female students must be matched with female tutors, so I matched pairs primarily based on gender,” said Youth Exchange Program director Chase Small. “But in the future, we want to collect more information on tutors and students, such as academic interests, to improve matches.” While tutors are provided with curriculum materials complete with lesson

activities and homework, they are encour- their lives following the calamity of the war. aged to adapt their material to the student’s Besides learning the English language, the goals, from studying for the TOEFL or SAT program also provides the opportunity for to improving their English speaking skills. two young adults to learn about each other’s Tutor-student pairs have the freedom to set lives, their respective cultures and how globthe time of their sessions, but are required to al events have impacted them, promoting meet online for at least one hour per week. compassion between students that extends Junior Meghana Kumar was struck by beyond their digital screens. the reality of the Syrian refugee crisis after a After going through a semester of lessons, trip to Greece in 2016. Looking for a way to Lynbrook tutors have become more acquaintget involved, she heard about the Paper Air- ed with the tutoring process; however, they planes program from her co-coordinator, ju- faced numerous challenges in the beginning. nior Patricia Wei. Kumar and Wei exchanged Tutors had dif�iculties communicating while several phone calls with the organization teaching an entirely new language. Unlike throughout the summer of 2017 to set up the language classes at Lynbrook, tutors and a Lynbrook chapter of the Youth Exchange tutees often do not speak the same language. Program. As stuTheir varying dent coordinators time zones for Lynbrook stu- “BEYOND HELPING THOSE AFalso made it FECTED BY CONFLICT IN THE dent tutors, they dif�icult to began recruiting MIDDLE EAST, WE WANT TO GIVE schedule sesLynbrook stu- THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS sions. Using an dents in SeptemInternet calTO CONNECT WITH A FRIEND.” ber, successfully endar tool has gathering a group helped tutors Meghana Kumar, of around 25 stuand their tuJunior dent tutors of all tees to convert grade levels. Currently, the Lynbrook chapter times and coordinate meetings, but commuworks with Syrian refugees who live in Syria, nication still remains a large issue. Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, and is one of the “We had some dif�iculties with communiseven schools across the U.S. involved in the cation and internet problems,” said Kumar. Youth Exchange Program. “A few of the students were forced to quit “Beyond helping those affected by con- and sometimes students can’t make it for a �lict in the Middle East, we want to give the variety of reasons. It’s just one of the chalopportunity for students to connect with lenges that come with working with students a new friend,” said Kumar “We all come in who have a lot going on and whose lives can with some preconceptions about refugees, sometimes be a bit unpredictable.” but one thing we learned is that we have far With practice in sorting out initial commore in common than we do differences.” plications, the tutoring process becomes easIn modern times, familiarization of En- ier to carry out as tutors and tutees become glish is a doorway to higher education and comfortable with each other. Many tutors future employment, which is critical for found that, through teaching their students, Syrian refugees who are looking to rebuild they also learned valuable lessons.

“Something I learned is that we shouldn’t pity our students, because they’re de�initely capable and are quick learners,” said freshman Zahra Aziz. ”They’ve already been through so much at such young ages, and I don’t think any of us have experience with something like that. Seeing what they can do has inspired me to stay motivated too.” Students are also able to kindle friendships through the experience. “We actually have more similarities than differences,” said senior Kristin Lee. “[My tutee] listens to a lot of music I listen to; she loves Ed Sheeran, so I also introduced her to Sara Bareilles. We talked about a lot of things that normal teenager girls talk about. They tell you to be prepared for a lot of cultural differences, but I think if you go through the process you’ll see that we’re quite similar.” As of now, Lynbrook’s Paper Airplanes chapter functions simply as a group of passionate students on campus. The current ongoing program �inishes in May, but Kumar and Wei hope to continue their program as an of�icial Lynbrook club to gain more student involvement and attract more tutors to join the cause. As for the Paper Airplanes organization, the youth program director is actively improving the communication issue that many face, and is working on expanding their new youth curriculum. While many students found dif�iculties in the beginning when adjusting to the process, the tutoring experience has blossomed friendships between student tutors and Syrian refugees. Despite being separated by a distance of 7,000 miles, students are able to overcome language barriers and cultural differences to bond over the common interest of education.

Cryptocurrency: Dawn of Digital Commerce Virtual cash creates new possibilities, new concerns

BY NOELA BAE AND SRINIDHI SESHADRI

n a time of rapid innovation and modernization, cutting-edge technology has made a decentralized digital cash system a reality. The use of cryptocurrency, has ushered in a wave of dependable and ef�icient digital payment systems such as Bitcoin. With its easy accessibility and unique system, Bitcoin has become the de facto standard for cryptocurrencies and has taken the world by storm. Created in 2009, Bitcoin became the �irst decentralized peer-to-peer payment network with no institution or central authority controlling it. Because users of this system stay anonymous, buyers and sellers connect with each other through encryption, which is the process of encoding a message or information so that only certain people have access to it. Bitcoin, along with other cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin and Ripple, works similar to a credit card. Both are backed by a complex system that issues currency, records transactions and allows people to exchange money electronically. The difference, however, is that cryptocurrency is issued by an algorithm, not by a bank or the government. “It is an interesting idea since there’s no bank involved,” said Economics teacher David Pugh. “It’s like a primitive barter system. It’s taking it back to the most unsophisticated market where somebody brings in an ox and trades directly.” Regarding its use, Bitcoin users install a “Bitcoin wallet,” a software program where bitcoins are stored. The wallet allows users to create Bitcoin addresses, which are shared with those the user wishes to transfer money to. The way Bitcoin addresses work is similar to how email addresses works; each payment made is shared to the entire network and con�irmed on a public ledger, which is a record of all the transactions that are made. Transactions are then veri�ied and added to the ledger by “miners” — volunteers from around the world who complete complex mathematical problems to ensure that a transaction is legitimate. The complexity of these problems ensures security in volunteer credentials, and since the ledger — which is publicly available online — is not controlled by a single person, one cannot cheat the system. Bitcoin’s lack of a central authority �igure adds advantages to the system, allowing for increased freedom in payment, as users can make transactions anytime and anywhere in the world without going through a middleman, such as a bank. This increased freedom eliminates the need for transaction fees. Also, because Bitcoin allows all transactions to be anonymous, users are protected from fraud. “Bitcoin is useful because when someone sends in money using Bitcoins, he or she cannot chargeback,” said sophomore Jake Brown*. “There were several people who scammed me by paying me [in regular currency], then charge backing using their bank. Bitcoin ensures that that does not happen.” Although Bitcoin was created in 2009, it was not until 2017 that this �inancial instrument surged in price and popularity. This rise in its usage can largely be attributed to regulation changes in Asia. Japan, for example, formally recognized the Bitcoin in April

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE ZEMLYAK & TZEN-HAO NG

2017, giving the system more legitimacy, prompting investors to rush to banks and swap their yen for Bitcoin. In other Asian countries alike, heavy investment in the Bitcoin has caused the currency to soar in popularity. The hype surrounding digital currency is yet another example of why many have turned their attention to Bitcoin. Because social media and news outlets have been buzzing about the surge in the Bitcoin’s value, consumers have been investing in the currency, further in�lating its value. Moreover, this form of payment has been rapidly gaining acceptance in multiple industries. From small eateries to larger companies like Microsoft many businesses have accepted Bitcoin as a form of payment, and it is likely that the number of businesses that accept Bitcoin transactions will continue to rise. “The Bitcoin seems to have gained prevalence because of the thought of convenience,” said senior Amber Hsu. “We’re moving to a digital age — we have Apple Pay, Venmo and other payment services to make everything easier, removing the hassle of credit cards and cash.” The public’s increased interest in cryptocurrency caused Bitcoin’s value to boom exorbitantly, peaking at $19,000 in December 2017. Its value was only in the hundreds in early 2016. This boom has attracted millions of in-

vestors, with thousands creating Bitcoin accounts in response to the currency’s soaring value. The technology, however, also brings a handful of drawbacks. The currency is extremely volatile, with its price constantly �luctuating. The currency, which was valued at 1 bitcoin to $19,000 at its peak in December 2017, now has a value well under $13,000. Its small supply but high demand is one of the main factors behind this volatility, as many retail investors are investing in Bitcoins despite having only a limited number of total available Bitcoins. Additionally, since the currency is relatively new, many are still uneducated about the system. This makes it infeasible for the public to solely rely on the Bitcoin as a currency. Because the Bitcoin does not take on a physical form, it cannot be used in stores and must always be converted into another currency before its use. Since using bitcoins as currency would require for the sender to have the receiver’s cryptocurrency address, stores would have to release that information to the public or may even have to create a new account each time a transaction is made. “If someone has money that was obtained illegally, they could put it into Bitcoin and nobody can trace it. Bitcoin seems to be replacing the numbered Swiss bank account,” said Pugh. “However, the Swiss have been pressured to release some names of people involved in organized crime. But who do you pressure if they’re using Bitcoin? There’s no central authority. That makes it a lot more dangerous.“ The future of Bitcoin is uncertain. The crash in Bitcoin’s value immediately after its soaring prices caused many to be skeptical about cryptocurrency. With its wavering value, Bitcoin investors are unsure of whether it is the future of the economy or ifwhether it will wane away. Some experts believe that Bitcoin can reach the value of $500,000 by 2020, while others state that it will drop to under $100 if it cannot overcome dif�iculties. Although Bitcoin is currently the most successful cryptocurrency, other forms, such as Ethereum and Ripple, have also begun to gain prevalence and may take over Bitcoin as the leading cryptocurrency. “People are looking for a safe haven for money,” said Pugh. “Bitcoin is safe, but volatile, so it does cause some level of economic uncertainty.” It is no doubt that cryptocurrencies such as the Bitcoin have been gaining rapid prevalence. Though it is unsure whether the Bitcoin will collapse under the weight of �inancial speculation or become the medium of international investment in the future. In the meantime, the currency will continue to stay in the business vernacular.

FCC votes repeal of net neutrality

The uncertain future of a restricted web BY MEERA BALAJI//IN MY OPINION

BY MICHELLE LUM AND NICOLE ONG

acing the threat of net neutrality’s disappearance in 2017, many scrambled to contact Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to voice their dissent. Nevertheless, on Dec. 14, the FCC, spearheaded by Chairman Ajit Pai, voted 3-2 to eliminate net neutrality. As internet users around the world react to this, it is important to take a step back and examine exactly what net neutrality is and what its repeal means. Before net neutrality, there was no regulation of how internet service providers (ISPs) analyzed or manipulated data transmitted over the internet, unless said data was strictly illegal. ISPs, such as Comcast, which provide consumers with internet access, had almost unrestricted control over users’ online usage. For example, if an ISP had been af�iliated with a video streaming service, it could have charged more for access to other streaming services while keeping its own free, pushing consumers to use its own. “The way I like to think about [net neutrality] is it’s non-discrimination,” said Paddy Leerssen, Open Internet Fellow at Stanford Law School. “[ISPs] have to treat internet users equally without trying to interfere with how people use the internet.” Though it is unknown when the �irst case of throttling, or changing the speed of data transmission, arose, one of the �irst cases to spark the net neutrality debate surfaced in 2005 when Madison River Communications blocked online calling. In 2008, Comcast was found to have slowed BitTorrent, a website used to share large �iles between users. Comcast apologized but later sued the government to dispute whether the FCC had the authority to enforce net neutrality rules since the classi�ication of the internet as a Title I service under the Communications Act of 1934 prevented the FCC from enforcing net neutrality. Following this incident, net neutrality emerged. Introduced by the FCC in the Open Internet Order of 2015, these were landmark regulations meant to curb the power of ISPs. The order reclassi�ied ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, thus allowing for the legal basis to enforce net neutrality rules. Since then, internet users have been able to retain their right to surf the web without content restrictions. Net neutrality, a term coined in a 2003 paper by Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu, is often seen as the key to the open internet, one unhindered by looming ISPs. It prevents ISPs from throttling or blocking online content and from performing paid prioritization, or charging customers more to access one website over another. “Net neutrality affects everyone

because it protects the way we use the internet,” said junior Rohan Goel. “I have become so used to using the internet for free I will not want to suddenly start paying for every Google search or Snapchat [as a result of the repeal].” When the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality and reclassify the internet as a Title I service, an era inwhich ISPs have uncontrolled sway over internet usage began. The repeal of net neutrality gives ISPs free reign over online content, allowing them to offer paid prioritization or block content as a whole, and the revocation is detrimental to many communities. Some argue a repeal of net neutrality will sti�le innovation; for example, small businesses reliant on online marketing may be subject to higher prices, leaving them unable to compete with larger corporations with greater capacity to pay. “Net neutrality has the potential to allow major companies to separate themselves further from smaller companies,” said math and computer science teacher Bradley Fulk. “It hurts the entrepreneurial spirit, especially in Silicon Valley, because it makes the mountain for small startups even bigger. It’s a harder hill to climb when that gap is already hard enough to bridge.” Although the FCC released the of�icial version of the net neutrality repeal order on Jan. 14, it is unclear when the repeal will of�icially go into effect as it has not yet been published in the Federal Register, the of�icial journal of the U.S. government containing proposed and new government rules, regulations and public notices. The of�icial repeal will come into effect 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. Until then, net neutrality regulations apply. Americans who regard the discontinuation of net neutrality as a threat have met the FCC’s vote with outrage. Petitions encourage Americans to write to Congress to use the Congressional Review Act as a means of reviewing and reversing the FCC’s decision. 21 state attorneys have joined efforts to sue the FCC to prevent the repeal from occurring. States, including California, are working on their own net neutrality bills. It is, however, important to note that if the repeal does go into effect, there may not be as large of a change as many of these groups have been saying. “If these rules get implemented, I don’t think we should expect ISPs t suddenly start blocking things left and right,” said Leerssen. “It’s likely they would do this slowly because if they do it suddenly, it’s the easiest way for there to be backlash. The risks are long term, and ISPs are going to do everything they can to keep discrimination hidden.” Although the FCC’s decision to repeal net neutrality is the �irst step toward the rollback of open internet protections, Americans have already started to �ight for their internet use rights. Only time will show what lies ahead for the future of the internet.

Voice of majority ignored

he FCC’s recent repeal of net neutrality was alarming for a number of reasons, not just because our access to the full extent of the internet has been compromised. Although 80 percent of Americans believed in the importance of having unrestricted access to every corner of the internet, the FCC disappointed us all by ignoring our desires as a nation. While the American government has never been perfect, their policies have begun to infringe upon the very tenets of democracy, as the will of the majority is ignored in favor of individual interests. As a member of Generation X, unrestricted access to the internet has been a part of my entire life. For those in my generation and beyond, the internet has become a way for us to message our friends near and far, learn about places we never may visit and connect with others who share similar interests. Privatizing the biggest forum in the world is a threat to everyone who enjoys partaking in the aforementioned activities. I am truly upset that in this new world without net neutrality, many of these activities will gradually become more expensive or restricted if ISPs choose to slow down sites. An ISP is just another utility provider, such as the water or power company. That automatically implies that the same way the water company cannot dictate which faucet I buy, my ISP should not dictate which search engine I should go to. Permitting such providers to regulate more than they should can lead to less innovation and creativity. Had there been a preferential treatment to search behemoths like Yahoo and AltaVista when Google was a nascent startup, it could not have evolved into the technological giant it is today. By introducing a pay-to-play concept to use different facilities that the internet has to offer, ISPs would unfairly harm small companies and startups who cannot afford to pay their way to become accessible to the public. ISPs could legally be allowed to squash the core of innovation and hurt our economy in unimaginable ways. The majority opinion was against lifting net neutrality primarily due to its restrictions on upward mobility. The current administration’s disregard for the voice of the people, however, does not stop at this FCC ruling. While 62 percent of Americans oppose cutting �inancial aid to Planned Parenthood, the federal government has proposed a series of bills to cut all funding for Planned Parenthood and similar entities that require government assistance to provide care for women. This precedent set by the repeal of net neutrality concerns me for numerous reasons, as this pattern of disregarding the majority looks like it is here to stay. Infringing upon the people’s ideals to pass harmful legislation is unacceptable. For a country that prides itself on being the strongest democracy in the world, this trend of putting the desires of a few over the wishes of many alarms me and should alarm others who value autonomy as well. In this of age of information, the voice of the majority is crucial to the progress of democracy. When we favor the opinions of the elite over those of the common man, we move further away from the basic principles of our nation.

Binging on nostalgia: why we replay TV from our youth BY KELSEY LU AND DIVYA NELAKONDA

itting in front of the television screen, wondering what to watch next, one may feel a spontaneous desire to skip past the new programs available and revisit an early 2000s Disney show or 90s cartoon movie. By impulse, one may choose a “classic” movie or TV show over new releases. While this feeling may seem to stem from simple curiosity, there are deeper psychological reasons driving such behavior. Besides rewatching a program simply out of enjoyment, one tends to revisit movies and TV shows for either therapeutic or nostalgic reasons. Therapeutically, rewatching shows and movies helps heal previous emotional wounds, tapping into good memories to reconcile sadness or pain during hard times. Some may also feel nostalgic while watching old shows, remembering their past memories and experiences. For example, the 90s show “Friends” could remind people of their youth and watching it with their families. “It’s refreshing to rewatch programs because I get taken back to when I was younger,” said junior Dianna Shen. “Also, because I rewatch TV shows years later, I �ind some of the jokes funnier than I had years ago.” Another cause of rewatching is predictability. Some people may like to rewatch an old movie or TV show because they already know what’s going to happen, and they can prepare themselves for the worst. For example, if someone watches a horror movie multiple times, they will know who the killer is or who is lurking in the basement, lessening their fear of the unknown. In

any genre of entertainment, rewatching also allows people to skip the parts they don’t like and focus on the ones they do. They can ask deeper questions about the characters and plot. In turn, people start to notice and understand previously unknown qualities of a TV show or movie. “‘The Of�ice’ is really funny so whenever I want to watch something that makes me laugh, I know ‘The Of�ice’ is really good at that,” said sophomore Anna Paaske. “After watching it numerous times, I get really connected to the show so it is fun to go back and rewatch it.” Studies have shown that elderly people often recall disproportionately more memories from when they were 10 to 30 years old than at any other age. This is known as the reminiscence bump in which thoughts become enduring memories because the experiences are stored during a period of brain stability. They become memories that contribute to one’s sense of identity. As they are created during an individual’s peak physical performance, the memories from one’s youth have greater signi�icance and will likely factor

MICHELLE ZEMLYAK — EPIC

into one’s decision-making process when picking a show to watch. The signi�icance of childhood memories can make an individual feel compelled to watch shows or movies from that period of their life. “Events that are tied to emotions are much more memorable than other pieces of our past,” said Dr. Lindsay Hallaway, assistant professor of psychology at Santa Clara University. “Adolescence is a time when not only is the brain still developing, but young people often face emotionally-charged events and when people really begin to shape who they are as a person. So you’ve created a situation where watching a show from your junior high days may stir up nostalgic memories that activate our brain’s reward system.” Rewatching favorite movies and TV shows has also been proven to give individuals a mental boost. Researchers at University of Buffalo have found that when watching a rerun of one’s favorite show, one does not exert as much effort in controlling their thoughts or actions, thus conserving one’s mental energy for selfcontrol and willpower in more important tasks. Generally, watching an old favor-

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY CLARA FERNANDES

ite show has been proven to have mentally and physically restorative effects, explaining why some have a craving to watch their favorite show after a long day. “Already knowing the storyline of a show reduces our cognitive load or mental effort,” said Hallaway. “This gives the brain a chance to restore some energy, creating what you could think of as a mental recharge. While watching a new TV show requires a certain amount of mental effort to pay attention, process information and listen to what’s being said, watching a rerun or a favorite movie requires far less mental effort by comparison. We already know the story line and don’t have to try very hard to interpret the sights and sounds we’re taking in, giving us a sort of mental-boost after our minds have a chance to ‘relax.’” While many adults rewatch old childhood movies and TV shows, some also decide to watch current cartoons such as “Rick and Morty,” “Big Mouth,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons.” One reason to explain this phenomenon is that watching these programs allows adults to escape the stress of adulthood. Cartoons allow them to disconnect from reality and enter imaginary realms of Pokemon and �ighting turtles. These programs are also easy to enjoy as the plots are simple. As people grow older, they may still continue to fall back into habits of watching their favorite shows and movies from their adolescence; this desire to reach for older pieces of entertainment is no coincidence. Although one might dismiss the natural gravitation to nostalgia-evoking shows and movies as habit or pattern, their therapeutic, nostalgic and even mind-boosting effects can be more meaningful than one may realize.

Owen Lai takes parkour to new heights BY JONATHAN YE

double front�lip, then a back�lip, followed by two 360 degree spins and a jump through a narrow crevice. For senior Owen Lai, these stunts are part of his strict, daily training regimen. Lai practices parkour, which is an acrobatic and athletic discipline that combines martial arts with gymnastics. As a young child, Lai always wanted to learn how to do �lips. In ninth grade, he decided to begin parkour, and has decided to continue pursuing the sport throughout high school. When he �irst started, his main motive was to look cool with �lips and tricks. As he became more invested, however, parkour and breakdancing became two of his true passions. “The motivation is mainly intrinsic,” said Lai. “I think most people start doing parkour or breakdancing to look cool. But I soon actually became passionate about parkour and started doing it for myself. It’s fun, and it gets me up in the morning.” Lai initially trained at a parkour gym called Sessions Academy of Movement. Parkour gyms are �illed with obstacles such as bars for gymnastics, airbags for safe landings and trampolines for �lipping. His training schedule usually varies, but he trains at least once a week in order to consistently improve. “I go to an open gym on Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m.,” said Lai. “There are airbags, walls, mats and spring �loors, and I can train wherever I want.” In parkour, most of the moves appear extremely dangerous and intimidating. That is why the open gym sessions are especially useful to Lai. “To progress to a move to muscle memory, I �irst have to learn those moves in the gym,” said Lai. “I can progress to tricks on concrete and the outside that are seemingly dangerous and risky, but I have to take those progressions on mats �irst. After developing the muscle memory, I can do those parkour moves anytime and anywhere.” Unlike other athletic disciplines and sports, parkour and breakdancing don’t require any special equipment. “Parkour is a natural way of human movement,” said Lai. “A lot of it is about your body and your mind, and a lot of it is psychological.” Lai believes if one can do parkour or breakdancing, one can do anything athletic in any situation or circumstance, as these disciplines are very versatile and can be used with walls, obstacles, the ground or just one’s body. In the end of August 2016, Lai broke his

SADHANA SARMA// IN MY OPINION

The unexpected costs of school soccer

t’s a dark and stormy night under the non-existent lighting on Stober Field. Another school soccer practice has come to an end and the team is gathered to listen to announcements. The melancholy voice of a team captain sounds, as she pleads the team to bring “this check” and “that check” soon.

tibia after an unfortunate landing during a back�lip from a raised obstacle at open gym. Lai was immediately hospitalized and had to miss school for a few months to recover from his injury. Three days after his �irst semester of junior year, Lai broke his jaw from a mistimed front�lip on a slanted concrete wall. The accident was �ilmed, and Lai was again hospitalized. “In regard to my broken tibia, I needed a lot more rehabilitation because it was my leg,” said Lai. “I do not need my face for �lips, so I could continue doing them. For my tibia, I needed surgery, screws and a plate, but after four months, I could start doing �lips again. I was a bit traumatized from the move that broke my tibia, so I couldn’t do it for a while, but I was fortunately able to mentally recover from it.” Although Lai suffered two devastating injuries, he continues to pursue his disciplines because he has a genuine passion for parkour. What Lai especially enjoys about the sport is landing moves he did not intially believe he could do. In eighth grade, Lai’s biggest dream tricks were the back�lip, front�lip and aerial. These moves, however, have now become fundamentals he merely works off of. “Seeing myself improve so much has really boosted my self-con�idence,” said Lai. “It helps me see that my goals are never as big as I plan them out in my mind. Just because something seems so daunting and scary, doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I’ve seen that happen with every trick that I never thought I would do, but ended up doing. It’s very ful�illing.” Parkour is not the only unique discipline Lai specializes in. Lai also practices breakdancing, an athletic style of street dance. Lai is a member of Lynbrook’s B-boy team, and he borrows many of the techniques he learns from parkour into his breakdancing routines, such as back�lips, front�lips and martial arts kicks. “Owen’s a really energetic person and it’s amazing to see what he can do,” said senior and former breakdancer Isaac Hou. “My most memorable moment with him is dancing, but also how he supported me even after I quit breakdancing and chose to pursue choreographing.” For Lai, parkour and breakdancing are not simply physical training disciplines — they are a lifestyle. Through parkour, Lai has considerably developed his self-con�idence and physical prowess. He has learned that he can accomplish more than he could ever imagine, as long as he put his heart into it. Even though his discipline is extremely dangerous, Lai will continue to run, jump, �lip and kick.

One would think that quitting competitive soccer and only playing school soccer would reduce the amount of hefty payments to play the sport. But with new uniforms, apparel, donations and bus fees, school soccer has continued to rack up expenses for its players. While the cost of playing school soccer cannot be compared to that of competitive soccer, it is still not cheap. Because soccer is underfunded, the team relies on the players to cover any costs that fall short. I often �ind myself bombarded with writing checks and making pleas to my parents for more money. I recently quit competitive soccer due to time limitations and a desire to focus on other activities. For years, my parents told me that if I truly desired to play, they’d pay for an activity that would bring me genuine joy. Anytime I complained about going to practice, they seemed relieved because my comments insinuated the end of soccer fees. If I didn’t fully love the sport, they were more than happy to take their money elsewhere.

I �inally decided to quit out of a culmination of many different emotions. It was time to move on, but it felt weird not playing the sport that I had grown up with. My parents were quick to console me, reasoning that if I did not want to give my all to this sport, there was no point in forcing myself to give up other parts of my life that I enjoyed. Once I calmed down, my parents took their cue to say what was really on their mind: “Thank god we don’t have to waste our money on those crazy fees anymore.” At that moment, the image of my parents huddled next to each other at my games �lashed into my head, as they whispered their predictions for when my competitive soccer career would end. Well, it turns out my drama ended up being for nothing. I quickly got over the initial shock of quitting something I had been a part of since I was 5, and realized how much time it had eaten away. I also remembered that I still had school soccer to play, so it was not the end of my relationship with soccer.

WATCH OWEN IN ACTION USED WITH PERMISSION OF OWEN LAI

I had been playing school soccer since freshman year. However, this year has proven itself to be especially fee-heavy compared to past ones. No, there are not $3000 checks to write, but I often �ind myself still having to ask my parents to give me money for soccer-related fees. Some of these fees are choice-based, such as the sweatshirts and warm-up jerseys that we decide to buy. We also decided to get new uniforms this year, but we were forced to do so because our past uniforms were so worn. Players who don’t even take the bus have also found themselves paying bus fees. Consistently relying on players to pay out of pocket becomes troublesome. The players are generally happy to do so, but one would hope that the school would make more efforts to lend us a helping hand. I’m not asking to be exempt from fees and donations altogether. I’m simply asking that some often overlooked sports, like soccer, get a little TLC — Tons Less Cost — or even some LLC — a Little Less Cost.

Senior athletes commit to collegiate sports teams BY ARUL GNANASIVAM

ASHLEY SONG–EPIC

rom long nights to early mornings, athletes understand the dedication needed to succeed at their sport. For a select few, their hard work pays off as colleges recognize and recruit them for their talents. With the help of their family and friends,

these athletes were able to secure spots in some of the nation’s best colleges. Long days in the gym earned senior Amy Steinmetz a spot on the UC Irvine volleyball team; senior Nathan Lee’s hard work in the pool secured him a position on the UC San Diego swimming team, and Andrew Shao’s speed convinced the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to select him for their track and �ield roster.

Q: How long have you been running track and �ield? A: I have been running since fourth grade. It’s been almost eight years.

Q: When did you �irst realize that there was a chance you would be recruited into a college? A: Probably my freshman year, maybe sophomore year. I’ve been in contact with MIT coaches since the summer between my freshman and sophomore year. But I never thought it would actually happen until last year, when I actually met the qualifying standards that the coach wanted me to hit to get recruited. Q: How have your parents helped you with the recruitment process? A: My mom helped me a lot by encouraging me to contact coaches early on and always reminding me to respond to emails and calls that I might have forgotten about.

Q: What was you parents impact on you during your athletic history? A: I was lucky because my parents were always really supportive of all the time that I put into track, even though they knew that it was not something I was going to pursue past college.

Q: When did you �irst get the offer and what was your reaction? A: Since MIT is a Division III school, the individual sports teams cannot offer acceptances, but they can offer support for the admissions. I got the letter at the same time as everybody else [who applied early action], which was Dec. 14. Obviously, I was very happy.

ANDREW SHAO

Q: How do you expect the leap to be from high school track to college track? A: Unless you’re actually really good, you have to realize that you’re not going to be able to run forever. That’s not going to be the goal to base your life on, even though that’s what I used to think when I was younger. I think that compared to high school track, the time commitment and overall intensity will be a lot higher, but I’m looking forward to it because it will help me improve and become faster.

USED WITH PERMISSION OF AMY STEINMETZ

Q: When did you �irst realize that coaches were scouting you? A: My sophomore year I joined this travelling club team that’s super popular, and people who join this club team usually get recruited. This helped me out because we’re the number one club team in NorCal, so once I started playing more competitively, I got a lot of offers and I had to start trying to �igure out what type of school I wanted to go to. Q: How have your parents helped you in the recruitment process? A: My parents played a large role in my recruiting process. They helped �ilm my games, edit highlight clips, read over my emails to coaches and supported me regardless of what happened. They were always there for me! My sister, Angela, also supported me throughout the process. She saw me emailing coaches very late at night, and told me to keep pushing through. When I �inally got recruited, she was just as happy and excited for me. I’ve never seen it before that moment, but she seemed so proud to have me as a sister.

Q: What was your parents’ impact on you during your athletic career? A: My parents have always pushed me to do better, and expected me to keep pushing to improve. They would be on the sidelines cheering me on, critiquing me, and just giving me great support. My parents always believe that I can improve, so they put their standards very high for me. Q: When did you �ind out you got recruited and what was your reaction? A: In the summer between my sophomore and junior year. The recruiting process is a long time, but that’s when they gave me the of�icial offer. UC Irvine was not my �irst offer, but they were the biggest offer because I’d always wanted to go there. I was pretty surprised; I didn’t know what to say to the coach. I was just shocked after it happened. Q: What is it like transitioning from high school volleyball to college level volleyball? A: I like having the competitive aspect, and having to keep on working harder and harder to get playing time on the team. In high school, it seems a lot more laid back; in college, they expect you to be doing your best every single time, which is harder.

AMY STEINMETZ

USED WITH PERMISSION OF NATHAN LEE

Q: When did you �irst learn that there was a chance that you could get recruited? A: I started learning about this late junior year. A lot of coaches started contacting me about wanting to meet me.

Q: How have your parents helped you during the recruitment process? A: My parents really let me do it all myself since this was really new to them and they trusted me. I always asked them for reassurance on a school or advice but overall it was ultimately my choice.

Q: What were your parents’ impact on you during your athletic history? A: The way I started swimming was pretty funny. I asked my mom if i could go down to Rancho and chill in the pool and hang out with my friends during summer vacation. She took it upon herself to then sign me up for competitive swimming in 2012. I didn’t do much at the swim club and it later got disbanded but then she wanted me to continue staying in shape so I did it in high school season as well

Q: When did you get your recruitment notice and what was your reaction? A: Well, for UC San Diego, I was in SoCal for vacation and visiting schools, when one of the swimming coaches called me. I was incredibly shocked yet excited to �inally be in contact with one my top schools. After the call, we met up and discussed the possibility of me swimming there. I was hesitant at �irst, but after meeting the team and hanging out with the Triton family, I knew this was the place for me.

Q: What were your parents reaction to you getting recruited? A: When I told them that colleges wanted me, they were at �irst in disbelief but then were extremely excited and so happy that hours of swim practice paid off.

NATHAN LEE

Q: How do you expect the transition to be from Lynbrook’s swim team to a college swim team? A: Being on the Lynbrook’s swimming team is a lot easier. Transitioning from Lynbrook to a college level team was a huge leap. I almost drowned a few times because I couldn’t withstand it. But I kept on going, because I really wanted to be good at something, and eventually it worked out. Originally at Lynbrook, our practices were around 3000 yards. On a regular day at my club team, it would be around 6000 yards, and a hard day would be like 8000 to 9000 yards.

Sports teams implement unique fundraising methods BY MICHELLE ZEMLYAK

hough Lynbrook athletes make use of their frequent practices and bonding sessions to create a more tight-knit community, fundraising is another crucial aspect that helps bring the team together while �inancing their sport. To effectively raise money, Lynbrook’s Valkyries, wrestling and basketball have been straying away from generic fundraising methods, creating new ways to raise money. The Spring and Winter Shows are the Valkyries main sources of funds, with the team selling tickets for $7 and raf�le tickets for an additional dollar. The money raised is used to fund upcoming competitions, trips and transportation. In addition, the Valkyries have been selling their popular baked potatoes at Lynbrook home football games every Friday. This unique method of fundraising takes hours to plan, as it requires a monthly parent meeting to delegate which team members will bake the potatoes, and determine the fundraising goal for each month and what the earned funds will be used for. Selling the baked potatoes at the football games is also an opportunity for the Valkyries to bond with their teammates. “At football games, when we’re waiting for customers to arrive, we have time to talk and not stress about our dances,” said freshman Megan Hong. “We can just get to know each other better and become closer.” This team spirit carries over into Lynbrook’s wrestling team as well, where team members compete with each other to sell caramel apples, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate almond bark and fudge to the Lynbrook community. The wrestlers aim to sell either 20 food items or $200 worth of food. They work with a company called the Chocolate Dipper that specializes in fundraising throughout California. “Even though we aren’t together when selling concessions or apples and pretzels, there is a lot of competition when fundraising,” said senior Lucas Hong. “The top three wrestlers that sold the most also received cash prizes.” Wrestling also hosts several girls, JV and Varsity tournaments throughout the year; most of

the pro�its from tournaments come from selling concessions donated by the wrestling families, admission costs, as well as from the fees that wrestling teams from other schools pay to enter their athletes into the tournaments. In previous years, the team used several different fundraising methods, including selling tamales and cookie dough. Fundraising through the Chocolate Dipper for the past two years, however, has been the most successful, as the products from the Chocolate Dipper are less perishable and generate greater pro�it than the cookies and tamales. The funds raised by the team from hosting tournaments and selling Chocolate Dipper products are used to send the wrestlers to ten tournaments throughout the season. The team aims to raise over ten thousand dollars a season, as each of the ten tournaments the team attends cost a thousand dollars in registration and transportation fees. The Lynbrook boys’ basketball team has also been experimenting with new fundraising methods. For instance this year, they started with two new ideas: selling basketball t-shirts and participating in the 25-by-25 challenge. The 25-by-25 challenge involves attempting 25 shots from 25 different spots on the court. Spectators can donate �lat donations, a single sum of money or choose to donate a certain amount for every shot a player makes. By designing and selling basketball t-shirts for $20 to teachers and students, the team has been aiming to raise $1000. The funds would then go toward new equipment, gear and practice jerseys for JV. “I designed the t-shirts with my friends because we wanted something that fans could wear to our Friday night basketball games,” said senior and team captain Joseph Liow. “We worked together, and we ended up bonding a lot because we had to sell and design [the t-shirts] as quickly as possible.” From selling homemade baked potatoes to working with the Chocolate Dipper to creating the 25-by-25 challenge, the sports teams view fundraising as an opportunity to be creative, all while effectively raising money for their teams.

ASHLEY SONG – EPIC

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SPORTS SECTION

ARUL GNANASIVAM – EPIC

ASHLEY SONG – EPIC

BY KELSEY LU AND SADHANA SARMA

As students walk between classes, they may be unaware of the many hidden talents their peers and teachers have. We decided to showcase a few of these many talents and how they were acquired. With sophomore Nandini Ratnam, junior Kathryn Huang, senior Leia Chao and math teacher Jeremy Dybdahl, there’s no doubt that Lynbrook is full of talented people.

“When I was a kid I always Iiked drawing and woodworking. Nowadays, I spend most of my time with 3D art. I have a little woodshop in the back of my house.”

“I started getting into magic tricks when I was young and my dad would make me think I was changing the signals from red to green.”

“I think bullet journaling has been a really great way for me to explore design. It is also a good way to practice little doodles and calligraphy pieces.”

“Everytime I make balloon animals for little kids I get super happy. Their expression is always so heartwarming because they’ve never seen anything like that before.”

CHECK OUT sOme eXTRA COVERAGE OF TALENTS AT: lHSEPIC.COM/2405/PRINT/HIDDENTALENTS