The Epitaph, Volume 59, Issue 4, 2021-2022 by The Epitaph

The Epitaph

Read about

Cultural journeys on page 8-9

Homestead High School 21370 Homestead Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014

Vol. 59, Issue 4

Friday, February 4, 2022

NEW COVID PRECAUTIONS IMPLEMENTED ON CAMPUS Weekly average cases drop from 105 to 40 after a surge from break

By Aiko Charon, Lia Klebanov and Keshav Kumar In light of the recent surges in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant, the district has ad-

ministered new regulations and safety measures to maximize prevention from the virus, principal Greg Giglio said. “We’re still maintaining our HVAC systems as well as changing filters to pull in fresh air,” Giglio said. “We’re still mandating masks with [stricter enforcement]. If you look a r o u n d , there’s always a handful of kids who have them down, and they have started to receive consequences for that.” Assistant principal Brian Dong said the rise in cases was caused by students’ heightened exposure during new year celebrations and large family gatherings held over winter break. However, despite the recent surge in cases, with approximately 105 students infected be-

tween Jan. 3 and Jan. 9, Giglio said the percentage of infected students is not high enough to justify closing school, especially since the weekly average between Jan. 17 to Jan. 21 has decreased by more than half, and is down to 40 cases. Another resource available to all district members is rapid antigen testing administered daily at different sites within the district, which has been in place since the beginning of the school year, Dong said. To combat direct exposure, the district provided every student with five KN95 masks and five brown paper bags for sterilization in between uses, according to an email sent out by FUHSD. KN95 masks are more effective than cloth or procedural masks, according to the CDC. Within classrooms, each teacher has their own routines established for students to follow to ensure maximum safety. AP biology teacher Dara Alleyne-Levy said she is especially strict on following safety rules. “If students want to take a drink of water, they have to step outside.” Alleyne-Levy said. “I always keep the doors open and if somebody is coughing or anything like that, they either have to step outside or if it seems like they’re really sick, then I would ask them to go home.”

In addition, due to the rigor of AP biology, Alleyne-Levy said she expects students with mild symptoms to continue doing their work by referring to materials available on Schoology. She now allows weekly quizzes to be made up, which is a policy she only implemented this school year. As a science teacher, Alleyne-Levy said she values teaching students about new information concerning the virus, since many look up to their teachers for guidance during this uncertain time. “It is up to us as educators, whether we’re science teachers or not, to help students wade through all the information that’s out there,” Alleyne-Levy said. “There is a lot of misinformation so we [teachers] should

try to understand it ourselves and to model the best practices to give students the best information so they can make better choices for themselves.” Even with all the safety precautions and resources available, junior Alice Yu said she still is not comfortable with the idea of going to school during a COVID-19 surge. “I don’t feel comfortable [at school],” Yu said. “There are so many people around me that are getting COVID-19 and because I have a lot of people that I care about, I wouldn’t want to become infected.”

Photo by Lindsey Steel

RAPID COVID-19 TESTING: FUHSD

has been providing all district members with free testing daily at different sites in hopes of easy access, as well as immediate result efficiency.

SURGE OF CASES: Junior Alice Yu said despite

new regulations instated to combat the rise in cases, she does not feel safe on campus.

Photo by Mae Richardson

Photo by Madhavi Karthik

All about course selection

Superintendent Polly Bove announces retirement Search for replacement begins By Naomi Baron

MESTEAD • LY N

lege.” She said because she genuinely cares about bettering the district and wants to listen to her community, the years have gone by in the blink of an eye. “It has to be a real passion,” Bove said. “If you think of it that way, and it’s not about making a name for yourself, it’s about trying to bring the district together, and with that mindset, I think it’s easy to last.” Bove said she never strove to become superintendent and was happy with her prior job

WHAT’S ONLINE?

ONTA VIST • M A

N PERTI O • FR E

•

The average time a superintendent remains in office ranges from two to three years, principal Greg Giglio said. But Polly Bove, FUHSD’s superintendent, is an anomaly, being in her position for 15 years. In an email sent out Jan. 7, Bove announced she will be retiring before the end of the 2021-22 school year and the new superintendent position is now open. Bove described her 15 years as superintendent as a “privi-

FREMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOLS

F O U N D A T I O N

See TEENAGE LOVE, Web

as the deputy assistant superintendent. After a falling out between the board and superintendent ensued, Bove was asked to step in as interim. “I love this district and because I wanted to be sure we continue to support schools, principals and kids, I said yes,” Bove said. “I presumed it would be temporary, but six months later, the board asked me if I would do the job permanently.”

See BOVE RETIREMENT, Page 2

News Opinion Lifestyles

Photo courtesy of Polly Bove

SUPERINTENDENT RETIRES:

Bove said her time with FUHSD has changed her perspective.

INSIDE

1 4 7

Arts & Culture Sports Spotlight

12 14 16

Scan this QR code to read about this year’s virtual course selection format. This package includes information about deadlines, the course selection process and new course offerings.

hhsepitaph.com @hhsepitaph

The Epitaph The Epitaph @epitaphHHS The Epitaph

PAGE DESIGN BY NICOLE KIM AND RITAJA SUBRAHMANYA

News

Friday, February 4, 2022

NEWS IN A MINUTE By Madhavi Karthik

Local:

California to expand health care among undocumented immigrants: Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a plan to allow more undocumented immigrants to

enlist in Medi-Cal, the statewide health care system for low-income individuals, according to The New York Times. As of now, the majority of the state’s uninsured population is comprised of undocumented individuals. Undocumented Californians under the age of 26 are insured through the program and those over 50 will be covered starting May. The extended plan will let the remaining 700,000 immigrants be eligible for health coverage. If approved, California will become the first state to implement universal health care and will take effect in January 2024. According to The New York Times, the potential budget for the plan will be finalized in the upcoming months.

National:

Maya Angelou featured on quarter as first Black woman: As part of a project initiated by the American Women Quarters Program, the U.S. Mint will issue five quarters each year for the next four years featuring women from various fields encompassing the arts, sciences, humanities and civil rights, according to The New York Times. Writer Maya Angelou is the first to be depicted in this year’s series of quarters on the “tails” side. Created by Emily Damstra and Craig A. Campbell, the likeness portrays Angelou’s arms spread out against a bird’s wingspan with sun rays shining from behind. According to the Mint, the likeness symbolizes Angelou’s inspiring lifestyle.

Angelou was known for her empowering writing style, with her memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” — discussing her childhood experiences when Jim Crow laws were instituted — gaining immense popularity. In 2011, The New York Times reported, the writer received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. California Democrat Rep. Barbara Lee — a supporter of the bill constituting the new coins — said she was proud to have partaken in such an effort to shine light on underrepresented women, according to The New York Times. The rest of this year’s featured monumental women include Nina Otero-Warren, Wilma Mankiller, Anna May Wong and Sally Ride.

International:

Canada outlaws conversion therapy: As the new year commences, Canada passed a law banning conversion therapy — the practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation or identity — that went into effect Jan. 7, according to The New York Times. The law prohibits individuals from promoting or forcing others to partake in the practice. Those who infringe this law face up to five years of imprisonment. Since 2020, there have been three attempts in the Parliament to protect citizens against conversion therapy. According to The New York Times, the new law is an expansion upon the previous propositions as both minors and adults are protected.

Singing their way into students’ hearts

Choir students discuss excitement to perform in person By Amber Birrell and Niyatee Jain Singing valentines are a beloved and long lasting tradition at HHS since 2009. Choir teacher Jeff Morton said choir uses the valentines to raise money for its general fund. On Valentine’s Day, during third period, choir groups move around campus to different classes to serenade recipients with love songs. Sales to purchase a valentine will begin Jan. 31 and end Feb. 10, with each valentine costing $2, Morton said. As singing valentines are mostly a student-led activity, Morton said it allows choir members to feel a unique sense of ownership over their pieces. However, Morton said he does manage and supervise groups to provide help when needed. “We’ve been working on the valentines outside of class time, so students send me their arrangements,” Morton said. “I’ve helped get the right arrangements for students, tweak the ones they have and find stuff that’s effective.”

Each year there are around 16 groups who perform around 20 to 30 valentines, choir leadership member, senior Shyla Krishnappa said. “We usually get assigned specific buildings to do,” Krishnappa said. “It’s always fun when you get to sing to one of your friends, and this year, since I’m running it, I get to assign what building each group gets.” Choir leadership member, junior Mikaela Kwan said she is looking forward to working on the valentines because they give her the opportunity to meet and form new bonds with people outside of her choir section. “I don’t really interact with people outside of my section unless I know them prior,” Kwan said. “But singing valentines allows us to get to know each other better, especially since the guys are in different periods.” Last year, singing valentines were performed over Zoom due to distance learn-

classroom of people is mortifying,” Kwan ing. Kwan said because of the format, she said. “I’ve got more friends in choir this did not enjoy it as much and is relieved year, so I just assume even if it will be emchoir will be performing in-person again. barrassing, I will still have a lot of fun do“Putting together a song over ing the valentines with them.” Soundtrap, the software we use to combine tracks, was really finicky,” Kwan said. “It’s Photo by Ritaja Subrahmanya difficult for voices to mesh well if they’re individually recorded.” For Kwan, singing valentines was her first exposure to the performing arts. In addition to helping her realize the satisfaction of learning a new skill and performing in front of others, Kwan said choir has taught her to explore outside her comfort zone. “I’m not the most outgoing person, so the idea A MUSICAL SURPRISE: Choir students prepare for their of singing in front of a third period perfomances on Valentine’s Day.

Bove retirement

Continued from Page 1 Even though being superintendent was unintentional at first, Bove said she was exposed to a new perspective that will forever be valued. “One of the downsides to this job is that you’re more removed from students and schools than you’d like to be. But on the other side of that, you get to represent the schools and the students to the broader community, and you get to advocate at

other levels for public education, which I have such a belief in,” Bove said. “You get to know the community in intimate ways that you can’t as a teacher, or even a principal. I am endlessly fascinated by getting to know people and what families and students value and find important.” Closing this long chapter in her life brings tears to her eyes, she said. After retiring, Bove said she hopes to spend more time with her grandchildren, her friends, reconnect with some of her favorite hobbies, like reading, and find new ways to give to the community. “I think I need career counseling for retirement. One of the things about this job is it keeps you kind of busy,” Bove said. “I figure I’m going to have to just let myself fall off the cliff of not having something to do and then figure out what it is that I like.” Photo courtesy of Polly Bove Bill Wilson, who is a COLLABORATION SKILLS VALUED: Superintendent member of the Board of Bove featured second from the right with board members attending a graduation at an FUHSD school. Trustees and is tasked with

selecting the new superintendent alongfill out to share their opinions as well as side his four colleagues, said Bove has ceran email address for community members tainly shown them which skills and values to use. they are looking for in the next superin“[Bove] hired a bunch of amazing peotendent. ple all across the campuses, so she literally “Ms. Bove has created a very collabohas her fingerprints on everything,” Giglio rative work environment where teacher said. “She has built this place and we will groups work together and where voices never get another person like her. She is of all stakeholders are listened to,” Wilson amazing. I do feel a little sorry for whoever said. “The spirit of collaboration is very has to step in there. It’s going to be tough important and this district has a unique filling in for a legend.” relationship with its teachers and staff Wilson said the board plans to have a union, which allows everybody to work todecision made about which applicant to gether in setting the direction of the dishire as the new superintendent by April, trict. Finding someone who appreciates which will allow for an overlap with Bove the value of continuing that relationship and make for an effective transition periand honoring the voice of teachers and od between superintendents. administrators in making decisions is very “The board has a very tough decision important to the board.” of deciding which applicant to hire at The board has taken this as an opporthe end of the selection process,” Wilson tunity to get input from lots of perspecsaid. “It will be a difficult decision for tives to inform their decision, Wilson said. us both because there are very big shoes One part of that is conducting a series of to fill, and also because I am certain we Zoom meetings where staff, students and will have a number of good applicants to community members at large can give choose from. The problem won’t be findtheir input on what they would like to see ing someone who is good and qualified, in the future. it will be deciding which among the good Additionally, the board has provided applicants we choose.” an anonymous google form for anyone to PAGE DESIGN BY ZEINAB RAKHSHANDEHROO AND MAE RICHARDSON

News

Friday, February 4, 2022

Revisions to tutorial policy follow community survey results

Changes encourage students to prioritize self-care By Nicole Kim A revised tutorial policy was released Dec. 14, allowing students to use tutorial sessions for certain types of nonacademic work. According to the revised policy, students are now encouraged to take time for their mental health. Additionally, certain clubs and co-curricular activities can hold meetings and students are free to switch classrooms until the last 10 minutes of tutorial. “With the pandemic happening, we didn’t touch tutorial policies for two years,” principal Greg Giglio said. “This year, we were like, ‘we’re back to normal-ish, so let’s start having these conversations.’” The new policy is the result of a survey sent out to parents, teachers and students during first

semester regarding their thoughts on how to best utilize tutorial time, Giglio said. “The good news is everybody had the same opinions,” Giglio said. “When you look at it as a whole, there is a lot of agreement that mental health is something we need to focus more on.” Following discussions with department leads and results from the survey, the new policy was crafted, Giglio said. Prior to releasing the updated policy, school therapist Sarah Loyd said teachers received classroom posters with resources to assist students in practicing selfcare during tutorial. These posters include self-care tips such as grounding techniques and offer quizzes to help students recog-

nize areas to focus on, Loyd said. Under the revised policy, choir teacher Jeff Morton said he began hosting open sing, a Tuesday tutorial where all students can come sing. Morton said he started open sing to encourage students to focus on mental health, take a break and do something different during the school day. Choir member, senior Hunter McDivitt attended the open sing and said he values the break given during the school day through the updated tutorial policy. “I think one of the best ways to handle mental health struggles is just trying to be part of a community,” McDivitt said. “Both open sing and choir are great ways to do that.”

Like choir open sings, Loyd said future tutorials will include various workshops open to all students. Loyd said these signup based workshops will occur a few times a month and cover nonacademic topics like coping skills, study habits and executive functioning skills. Loyd said she or another knowledgeable staff member will lead these workshops; however, there is no set start date yet. “I would hope that mental health breaks would become a norm of tutorials,” Loyd said. “Academics are important in a school setting, but so is our overall well-being as a human and finding the balance between those.” Looking forward, Giglio said he hopes tutorials will allow

Photo by Nicole Kim

SELF-CARE TIPS: Every class-

room is equipped with a poster outlining possible resources.

students to stay on top of their studies while simultaneously allocating time to take care of themselves. “Having a whole day of structure isn’t always good,” Giglio said. “Tutorial is a chance for students to choose where they want to go.”

Literary journal embraces Leadership to hold wildfire charity event, give back to community reading community By Seoyoung Hwang

By Karuna Chandran and Madhavi Karthik

Lattes n Literature, a club focused on creating a community for book lovers, is compiling their first literary journal. Set to be published in early February on their website, the literary journal is composed of various types of writing submitted by club members and non-members through email, co-president, sophomore Sahana Santhanam said. The club decided to create a literary journal to give people the opportunity to branch out and be exposed to different types of writing specifically, in contrast to other clubs on campus, head of competitions and contests, junior Kate Jelfs said. “I think this is really important because in school, we don’t have as much opportunity for creative writing or reading other people’s writing,” Jelfs said. Santhanam said the club received many deep poetry submissions for the journal, as well as novellas and flash fiction. Drawing inspiration from

What stemmed from discussions about making homecoming an inclusive event evolved into a fundraising campaign to support wildfire relief funds. Earlier this year, ASB president, senior Nikki Liu said ASB sent out a survey to students with various charities to determine this year’s charity partnership, with California Fire Foundation being selected. ASB secretary, junior Nicole Lee said she pioneered the project’s direction once she realized she wanted to use the resources available to her through leadership to make a greater change within the community. “In the beginning of the year, I was looking for charities we could work with that could help Homestead make more of an impact on the community outside of just the Homestead community,” Lee said. “The reason the California Fire Foundation was listed was because at the time, it was super prominent to see fires on the news spreading and people being dislocated.” Leadership teacher Jessica Kirby said she hopes this event, which is currently scheduled to happen in early February, will not only provide money for wildfire relief, but also make students more aware of the issues regarding fires in California. “This is an issue that’s ongoing as climate change becomes more of a problem,” Kirby said. “Hopefully people look into the issues and see what’s going on, but also at the same time, we’re trying to bring fun to the Homestead community.” Initially, the fundraiser was planned to be part of homecoming, Kirby said. However, leadership members wanted students to partake in the festivities without feeling obligated to donate money and decided to postpone the campaign. “After looking over everything,” Kirby said, “We decided to set this [fundraiser] aside for a time where we can actually really focus on the organization and educate people rather than

Greek mythology, Jelfs said she submitted a limerick about a ship, since the siren was a memorable motif to her. “I really enjoyed the experience since it was a lot different from what I have been writing,” Jelfs said. “Normally, I don’t enjoy reading or writing poetry, but limericks interest me more than other poetry forms. I think it was good for me to branch out and I actually enjoyed it a lot, so maybe I’ll get into poetry more.” Sophomore Nilofer Yu submitted three poems about imagery. Yu said she appreciated the liberty of the process and the ability to submit any type of writing she wanted. “I felt pretty comfortable submitting my own work because the club is very accepting when it comes to sharing other people’s writing,” Yu said. Through the literary journal, the club aims to foster a community for readers and writers at HHS, allowing members to share their work freely with each other, Santhanam said. “We made the literary journal as an outlet for our members as well as ourselves], co-president, sophomore Harshitha Vijayakumar said. “We wanted our creative works to be showcased and seen by others in order to inspire them and create Photo courtesy of Harshitha Vijayakumar a welcoming literary COMPILING LITERARY JOURNAL: community.” Lattes n literature club compiles a literary journal with different types of writing.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Lee

WILDFIRE CHARITY CAMPAIGN: Leadership

aims to become more involved in the community.

Mission Statement

Editors & Reporters Editor–in–Chief Naomi Baron Editor–in–Chief Shreya Partha Managing Editor Leila Salam Senior News Madhavi Karthik Junior News Erin Loh Senior Opinion Macy Li Senior Opinion Ritaja Subrahmanya Senior Lifestyles Karuna Chandran Junior Lifestyles Lia Klebanov Senior Arts & Culture Amber Birrell Junior Arts & Culture Christine Kim Senior Sports Josh Cantwell-Nahrung Junior Sports Hope Saena Senior Design Seoyoung Hwang Junior Design Ashley Orozco Plata Senior Multimedia Mae Richardson

just adding it on to an event where it’s not really meaningful.” The structure of the fundraiser is in a play-towin format, Kirby said. The ASB team is planning on giving out ASB T-shirts as one of the raffle ticket prize options. In order to prepare for the event, Kirby said they had to examine what fundraising looked like in a modern world, something that is often in the form of Chipotle fundraisers, which typically do not yield a large sum of income. “In terms of fundraising, we’re learning how to go about doing that in a way that’s creative, but is also actually going to provide us with enough funding,” Kirby said. “I think there is the concern that we’re not going to be able to provide enough, so Nicole and I have talked about what that means.” Liu, who helped oversee the proposal stages of the event, said that with this fundraiser especially, leadership students focused on involving the student body. “For this project, we really wanted to cater our actions and projects to student voices and directly serve what they want,” Liu said. “We understand that as leadership, our platform is big and we can have an impact, so we wanted to use this opportunity to gather our community for this cause.”

Senior Social Media Junior Social Media Junior Social Media Business Manager Junior Business Manager Web Master Copy Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter

Bobby Gorelick Saira Ahmed Niyatee Jain Yukari E. Hernandez Ariana Juliette Tejeda Moreno Jack Xu Bobby Gorelick Joss Broward Aiko Charon Gaby Cristancho Nicole Kim Keshav Kumar Anushruti Nagarajan Dan Penalosa

Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter

Nicole Pimenta Innecco Raymond Ranbhise Zeinab Rakhshandehroo Brevin Reed Olivia Shen Lindsey Steel Nina Vasquez Cruz Rajiv Venkatesh Harshitha Vijayakumar Esmeralda Villalobos Soriano Chloe Wong

Adviser

Natalie Owsley

Advertising

The Epitaph is a non-profit publication at Homestead High School, 21370 Homestead Rd., Cupertino, CA 95014. The Epitaph is a forum for student expression and not subject to prior review, in accordance to Education Code 48907. The staff is comprised of HHS Journalism students. Views expressed do not necessarily represent views of the school, its staff or the district. Editorials are opinions of the editorial board. The Epitaph welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to edit submissions. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Include contact information. Unsigned letters cannot be published, but names will be withheld upon request. Send via homestead. epitaph@gmail.com, or drop letters in the newsroom or the office mailbox. If The Epitaph has made an error, please send corrections to homestead.epitaph@gmail.com. The corrections will be published in the corrections box for the next issue. To reach the Epitaph staff in C102 call (408) 522-2572

One email and you can reach over 2,400 students, teachers, administrators and community members from Nothern Sunnyvale to Southern Los Altos. If your target market is between the ages 14 to 18, contact The Epitaph at epitaph.ads@gmail.com, and we can make it happen.

Corrections Audrey Magpantay illustrated the InDepth of Volume 59, Issue 3, yet the name was not easily readable. Maia Lee’s Instagram handle was spelled wrong in the article (it should have been @maiadrawss). We regret these errors.

PAGE DESIGN BY YUKARI E. HERNANDEZ AND OLIVIA SHEN

Friday, February 4, 2022

Opinion

STAFF EDITORIAL

Voices of the student body lack diverse representation of authoritative stance on a topic, it is important we look within and examine how we can continue to work to better serve our student body. Each issue, The Epitaph interviews students to voice their opinions on various social and academic issues. Yet, analyzing the races of these sources has revealed a lack of proper representation. Based on a survey of sources from issue three, 54.1% were Asian, in comparison to the overall school demographic being 45.4% Asian. Although Asians make up the majority of HHS students, including other voices will help uplift marginalized students. In fact, only 10.8% of interviewees identified as Hispanic or Latino, a group which makes up 18.2% of our school. This number is significantly smaller and must be amended. To be truly inclusive, UPLIFTING THE UNDERREPRESENTour paper will work ED: Publications must include diverse student voices to promote inclusivity. to make the voices of Illustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya

If these past two years have taught us anything, it is to see the stark inequities in our society, which specifically affect marginalized communities. As a newspaper, we often use our editorial space to discuss issues related to our school and our research on how to solve them. However, if we are going to take any sort

Hispanic students heard. This disproportionate data encourages us to make further efforts to interview students of various races and ethnicities. To track racial demographics, we will create a diversity audit, which will record the race of the sources we interview each issue. Upon the completion of a cycle, we will analyze the records to determine which groups we need to better represent. Tracking this data will ensure we are being intentional with our selection of interviewees. As a publication that serves the student body, it is also critical that our news staff reflects the diversity of students’ values. After conducting a race audit of The Epitaph’s staff, it is apparent that as reporters, we must work to create a more diverse publication with students of varying backgrounds. To achieve this, we plan to speak at cultural club meetings and emphasize the importance of sharing a variety of perspectives from all communities. We will also take into account issues students care about to improve our pa-

ASB must amplify student voices

Leadership should aim to better serve community

per’s integrity by utilizing our letters to the editor platform. Through opinion articles and staff editorials, The Epitaph offers its members the opportunity to share their unique perspectives on a variety of issues. If we encourage students with marginalized backgrounds to join, they can share their opinions on what matters to them. Similarly, leadership is a school-wide organization that serves to amplify the voices of the student body and works to address student concerns. Currently, the class has 40 students enrolled, yet only 2.5% identify as Hispanic or Latino and 7.5% identify as multiracial. Student organizations on campus need to make conscious decisions regarding the representation of our student body in order to better serve the community. For example, The Pegasus should make an effort to recognize who they are photographing. A yearbook is created to represent the entire student body. If publications are unintentionally excluding a group of students in our campus, we

have failed at our job. To represent the students at our school, the Pegasus staff should consider adding diversity pages to the yearbook, which would be dedicated to showcasing different cultures at our school. Taking the time to create these pages would create a more inclusive environment where everybody feels seen. Ultimately, diversity within organizations on campus matters, because it promotes inclusivity and allows for the proper representation of the school community. To address our current shortcomings, we will actively implement our proposed solutions and cultivate change. We encourage other clubs, organizations and publications on campus to do the same.

Letters to the Editor Have questions or comments about an article? Scan this QR code to write a letter to the editor with your thoughts.

The Epitaph recommends elective courses

By Nicole Pimenta Innecco Leadership. That is the word HHS connects to its Associated Student Body and class officers. Students elected to these positions are responsible for leading school events and representing the student body. However, as a student myself, I only see their impacts when they hold events like rallies and dances. ASB has the duty and opportunity to engage the student body in much more. They should connect students to the administration, use their platform to fight for what is important to the community and push the school to take action against issues that concern the students. Throughout the years, leadership’s main goal has been to increase school spirit. This was emphasized this year, due to disconnect caused by distance learning, sophomore class officer Aditi Ghosh said. As important as school pride is, there are other pressing issues on campus ASB should address. It is exactly because of distance

learning that students have been able to observe the campus with fresh eyes and the changes they wish to see in it. Despite having only been in person for one semester, I have seen many student-led movements grow, such as those advocating for free menstrual products, adding an LGBTQ+ section in the library and constructing more gender neutral bathrooms. The brunt of these efforts have fallen onto clubs, which have limited outreach and funding. If ASB helps raise awareness for these issues and communicates these concerns to school authorities, these movements can gain more traction, and administration will feel more pressure to comply. While planning events, leadership focuses on promoting school spirit and avoids discussing these types of issues, because they are “less comfortable” and the topics are “more touchy,” leadership adviser Jessica Kirby said. In reality, these topics are not “uncomfortable,” but rather impactful. Gatherings like rallies are a great opportunity for clubs to promote their movements. If ASB acknowledges and helps mitigate problems that affect students, it would lead Illustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya to a more REACHING FULL POTENTIAL: ASB should use its involved influence to fight for what is important to students.

AVID community. There are many obstacles ASB faces in addressing this disconnect. While ASB officers use social media to connect with students and listen to their opinions, they often receive few responses, ASB president Nikki Liu said. This is likely due to a lack of transparency, resulting in the student body feeling unable to rely on this organization to address its needs. In order to establish trust, ASB should outline its power to promote its causes. Officers can do so by using social media, emails and the platforms they already use successfully to communicate about events. If they successfully meet students’ demands and publicize their achievements, students will continue reaching out to officers. However, ASB’s disconnect from the student body is not entirely its fault. The administration should do more to support our student leaders. ASB’s purpose at school is murky in most students’ minds. There should be as much importance placed on ASB as there is on guidance counselors and deans. Through advisories, emails and posters, students are aware of these staff members and their responsibility to support us. Why don’t we feel the same about ASB? The administration should realize ASB’s value and properly relay its role to the students. Ultimately, influential organizations should utilize their power to benefit the student body. ASB must use its voice to amplify ours.

The Advancement Via Individual Determination program is more than just a place for academic support, college preparation and field trips. AVID is a community where its members uplift, support and educate each other throughout the entirety of high school. Recommendation by Hope Saena

Law Law is a great class for all, not just those who want to enter fields related to politics or government. Law teacher Byron Lee does a great job of keeping lessons engaging by conducting a variety of activities, from telling stories during his lectures to guiding student-run mock trials. Recommendation by Anu Nagarajan

Photography The perfect balance of creative and technical, photography is an elective that enables students to explore and experiment with various techniques in a comfortable and relaxed environment. No prior art skills are needed to participate in the class, making it accessible to all students. Recommendation by Zeinab Rakshendroo

Drama Not only is drama a great class for students to practice their public speaking and creativity skills, it also provides a place to workshop acting talent. Those who are interested in performing in plays and musicals at HHS should consider taking this elective to further their acting capabilities. Recommendation by Brevin Reed Infographic and illustrations by Ritaja Subrahmanya

PAGE DESIGN BY NICOLE PIMENTA INNECCO

Opinion Addressing community concerns: exploring benefits of in-person versus remote school By Ashley Orozco Plata With COVID-19 cases rapidly rising on campus, students are forced to choose between their health and their studies. In order to ensure the safety of students, staff and their families, it is essential to offer an online learning option. Ultimately, our safety must be our utmost priority. One in six people in California currently has COVID-19, and the omicron variant is highly transmissible, according to Los Angeles Times. Across the California, there have been a total of nearly 6.5 million cases and 77,500 deaths, according to The New York Times. These statistics encompass our families and friends. More than 2,000 schools were prepared to close for at least one day due to a surge in cases nationwide during the first week of January, according to Burbio. By the second week, at least one school district in around 21 states had closed or was converting to remote learning. HHS must do the same and allow students to learn remotely. With a continuation of inperson school, students are pressured to keep attending their classes, which jeopardizes the health of both themselves and their families. However, if students decide to prioritize their safety by staying home, they will inevitably fall behind in their classes. It is wrong to place students in this position, where they must choose between their safety or their academics. Seeing half the students

Friday, February 4, 2022

By Esmeralda Villalobos Soriano Throughout the COVID-19 out sick in multiple of my pandemic, HHS has taken classes has been alarming and multiple precautions, such as unsettling. Yet, we are expected offering free COVID-19 testing to act like this is normal. Living and publicizing opportunities to with the pandemic for almost receive vaccinations, principal two years has caused us to Greg Giglio said. With these become desensitized to the measures, HHS should remain rising cases and deaths. open and continue supporting Noticing these empty seats those who prefer learning in has made me question how person. many more students will be Remote learning places affected by COVID-19, and students at risk of facing how long this will continue distractions that will before HHS decides to hinder their learning take proper action. abilities. A number Many benefits of technological come with challenges, such switching as internet to remote connectivity school, one issues, serve of which is as obstacles. flexibility. Additionally, Although students often many may have trouble be critics focusing in their of remote online classes, learning, and many lose it does offer i Illus o tration by Emily Ch motivation flexibility and as a result of ensures safety. PROPOSING A SOLUTION: The safety the various Remaining and education of students matter. distractions in person is in their home environments, also highly detrimental to according to U.S. News. teachers, many of whom have As a result, they fail to meet their own families to care for. class expectations and fall Being confined in a compacted behind, negatively affecting space with up to 30 students their performance and grades. throughout numerous class Although there have been periods jeopardizes their a number of COVID-19 cases, safety, as well. HHS must HHS is taking the necessary also take their well-being into actions to keep students safe. account. Free COVID-19 testing is It is time for HHS to offered to students before or transition to online learning. after school, principal Greg This is undoubtedly the best Giglio said. Students were decision for the community.

recently given two at-home tests and told to quarantine if they received a positive result or felt unwell. Additionally, there have been many opportunities for students and their families to receive the vaccine or booster shot through weekly emails with links to register. Students were also provided with five reusable KN95 masks, Giglio said. In Santa Clara County, 84% of residents 12 years and older have received their first vaccine, and 78% have received at least two doses, according to the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. With more members receiving vaccinations, the school environment is becoming increasingly safer. HHS should avoid transitioning to online school, as it will negatively impact students and their learning. Instead, HHS can continue implementing precautionary measures. To further ensure the safety of the community, HHS can expand its on-campus testing sites, so students do not have to wait in long lines, and as a result, are more inclined to get tested. Additionally, providing students with more at-home tests if they do not have the chance to get tested at school would be beneficial to the well-being of students and staff. By strengthening safety policies and procedures, students can continue learning in person with peers and teachers in an environment where they feel safe.

Lack of mental health resources is alarming Administration must work to address mental health issues

By Keshav Kumar and Lindsey Steel With the weight of rigorous courses, social anxiety and impending adulthood on their backs, teenagers are burdened by so much, yet have such little support. In fact, half of American youth with mental health issues do not receive treatment due to the lack of resources and societal stigma, according to the University of Michigan Health Lab. These trends are reflected in our student body. Even though many students struggle with mental health, few end up reaching out for help. To further aggravate these issues, school-pro vided mental health resources are woefully inadequate. While HHS has school-based therapists and other coun-

Illustration by Shreya Partha

ENDING THE STRUGGLE: Administra-

tion oversight is necessary to encourage students to seek help.

selors, their effectiveness is limited by a lack of confidentiality. If a student is considering harming themself, harming others or is being harmed, school therapists are obligated to bring in parents and an outside party, principal Greg Giglio said. Because of this, a student might not feel comfortable seeking help, as their transparency will not be met with privacy. If a student is experiencing suicidal thoughts and speaking with a school-based therapist is the only viable option, they may feel discouraged from reaching out for help. This stems from a fear that the lack of confidentiality will harm them or lead to backlash from families or peers. While HHS does have the bare minimum of resources, therapists and counselors are not flexible enough to deal with students’ issues. School-based therapists are not enough to deal with the diverse array of mental health challenges faced by the student body. For example, issues like eating disorders and substance abuse require more specialized help. Because of this, more substantive measures are necessary. First, the administration should institute regular check ins for each student to ensure that ev-

erybody’s needs are addressed. and partner with them to help If they find that a student needs student’s mental health improve. specialized help, that child While this may seem like a lot should be referred to an external to ask, the well-being of students professional free of charge. should always be the priority. Secondly, while the mental Unfortunately, it is not currently health modules disseminated being treated as such. If we want through advisory are helpful, a happier and healthier campus, they often only scratch the sur- meaningful action must be taken. face of the issues they address. To ADVERTISEMENT make a deeper impact, HHS should bridge the gap between school and outside resources. It can consider partnering with 1/16 Ad an organization like the HAERT Program, which teaches students strategies to manage anxiety and stress. In addition, the program provides counseling to teachers struggling with burnout. Leigh and Lynbrook High schools have partnered with them. HHS should follow their footsteps

THE POLITICAL ARENA By Macy Li

The mirage of nonpartisanship in the Supreme Court has begun to dissolve. Partisan politics has swept the court, and the decisions of justices are frequently driven by political agendas, rather than legality. Traditional ideas of law hold that Supreme Court justices should be nonpartisan and issue decisions through an unbiased application of the law, according to the Library of Congress. However, this idea is simply an illusion, and justices have long served as politicians, who utilize the law to fulfill their political aims. The power vested in the Supreme Court reveals the dangers of this notion. These justices, who serve for life, possess authority over all other government institutions and the American population. This is why a nationwide uproar occurs every time a new justice is appointed and why a liberal vs. conservative majority matters. This is why justices like Ruth Bader Ginsburg feel the need to proclaim their wishes for their seat from their deathbeds. Ultimately, the impartiality of the Supreme Court is a myth, and numerous incidents have revealed the flaws in that conception. For instance, in his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, justice Brett Kavanaugh vowed to take revenge against “the left,” according to The Atlantic. Additionally, studies by the University of Chicago revealed the political ideologies of justices influence their voting patterns and the outcomes of cases. This is a problem. Justices with the power to determine the constitutionality of laws and make influential decisions should not be swayed by political biases. The Supreme Court is fundamentally broken and anti-democratic. It is time for America to reevaluate the power of the Supreme Court and push for reform. PAGE DESIGN BY JACK XU

Friday, February 4, 2022

Cafeteria consumption causes commotion

Opinion

Students, administrators must work to reduce cafeteria food waste

By Amber Birrell

By Ritaja Subrahmanya

Suppose you are a pig — raised for slaughter, you live out your days with barely enough space to lie down in your pen. Sounds miserable right? But in 2018, California voters voted to protect animal rights passing Proposition 12, which required farm animals such as calves, hens and pigs to be able to lie down and turn around in the space in which they are confined, according to The New York Times. The revolutionary proposition went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Animals deserve basic rights too, and it is wonderful to see California voters have taken action to reduce the cruelty animals face. Although the law is already in effect, angry pork farmers are still petitioning the courts to repeal the proposition. The Supreme Court will now hear a case challenging the propositions regulation on outof-state businesses as much of the pork sold in California comes from out-of-state farms, according to the LA Times. The plaintiffs claim the proposition violates the Commerce Clause. Under the Commerce Clause, states may not erect barriers to interstate commerce. California, however, is not erecting a barrier against interstate trade but is imposing the same limitations on all farms, regardless of their location. The changes required by Iowa farmers also apply to California farmers. Therefore, the proposition does not violate the Commerce Clause. Ultimately, this case is not about a violation of the Constitution. It is about being considerate and understanding. There is no doubt that changing operations to comply with the new regulations will impact hog farmers, but it is the price that must be paid to protect animals’ well-being. The Supreme Court must come from a place of empathy and preserve this proposition to give these animals the humane treatment they deserve.

sult, when students scan their ID cards, they are required to take fruit because the free meals are part of a state program, principal Greg Giglio said. In order for meals to count as a “reimbursable meal,” every student must take a half cup of fruit or vegetables, according to the California Department of Education. This is completely irrational because although schools are getting reimbursed for the meals, it is promoting an unacceptable amount of waste. Forcing students to take food is not going to make them eat it because they never wanted it in the first place. The state needs to change these requirements to fit more realistic standards. Instead of requiring students to take specific foods, they should offer the food and teach kids the importance of eating balanced meals. To help reduce unnecessary food waste, HHS provides a place in the cafeteria to put unwanted

food. However, this practice is Ultimately, HHS needs to put unsanitary, especially during a a greater emphasis on creating an environment with less food waste. pandemic. Instead of just providing a bas- While providing free food for stuket to place unwanted food there dents is important, there needs to should be a larger area, whether be a balance between taking food a larger bin or a separate table because you need it and taking it entirely. This would immediate- because you can have it. In doing ly bring attention to the bin and so, the HHS community will crestudents would utilize it more, ate a more mindful environment together. creating less waste on campus. A d d i t i o n a l l y, while separate bins are provided – trash, recycling and compost – trash and food waste are often not thrown in the correct bins, defeating Photos by Amber Birrell the purpose. Having people enforce the proper disposal of trash could prevent a significant amount of waste. Instead of go- Photo by Keshav Kumar ing straight to land- WASTE OF FOOD: The new meal program fills, items could be has generated an unacceptable amount of properly disposed of. food waste.

Hole in schedule, or hole in curriculum?

More elective options needed to explore future career paths By Saira Ahmed and Anushruti Nagarajan I have always been interested in psychology. However, as an incoming freshman last year, I was shocked to find no psychology courses offered at HHS. Many other helpful and desired subjects in arts and sciences are lacking or missing entirely. Students need more course options in order to find how they can be suc-

Illustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya

BARRIER IN PATH: Limited

elective options block students from pursuing their passions.

cessful in career paths they are passionate about. Based on a survey of 146 students, 48% of students said HHS does not provide enough resources for their dream career. Although dual enrollment is an option, it is not accessible to everyone due to the cost of textbooks and extra out-ofschool time commitment. It is HHS’s responsibility to provide students with choices so they can figure out their post high school path, preparing us to be successful in any career. For example, in the arts, a film production class could teach students the basics of how to produce video content and movies. Students can learn skills including camera handling, props, scripts

and post-process editing. This course would work alongside the drama department and stagecraft technology and students can create their own films. Although we have a variety of art classes, certain arts like animation and digital art are ignored. Many students are interested in digital art and a course tailored to that interest would be beneficial to them. Options are also lacking in coding classes as HHS only offers Java and neglects other popular coding languages such as HTML, CSS and Javascript. Having web development classes would help those who want to learn more about creating websites. The topic of artificial intelligence has also become more prominent in recent years.

Teaching high schoolers the possibilities of technology can lead to greater advancements in the future. The introduction of artificial intelligence in the curriculum through elective courses would allow students to further their interests, branch out and experiment with their interests in technology. The lack of course options curbs one’s ability to explore their interests. HHS should add more courses to help support the student body in any career path they want to pursue. More students would find their passions earlier on rather than after high school. As a result, students would feel more encouraged to do their best in classes and will find more success later on in their lives.

Gerrymandering endangers democracy

Practice increases polarization, decreases quality of representation By Rajiv Venkatesh The voters choose their representatives. The representatives choose their voters. Notice anything? Politicians hope you don’t. Across the country, legislative districts are being drawn for the next decade, according to The New York Times. At the same time, politicians are working harder than ever to gerrymander these districts, drawing them in a way that gives one party an unfair advantage. One consequential impact of gerrymandering lies in the decline of competitive districts, which can be won by either party in future elections, according to Roll Call. If elections are competitive and representatives must earn the votes of those across the

ideological spectrum, they will be more likely to work hard for the communities they represent. Sadly, districts skewed toward one party are becoming increasingly common, according to The Washington Post. The end result is representatives whose only threat of defeat comes from a primary, and consequently become more extreme in order to remain in office. In the long run, the impact of this sort of representation is increased polarization and governmental dysfunction. Gerrymandering serves to make the House less representative of the American people. For example, in Alabama, Ohio and North Carolina, Republicans

have drawn legislative maps to voices represented. silence the voices of communiGerrymandering erases the ties of color, according to The voices of the American people. New York Times. This reduces the It is imperative that every state likelihood of politicians catering takes the power to draw political districts out of the hands of polto their needs. This tactic is not just occur- iticians and gives it to indepenring nationally. The Santa Clara dent commissions of citizens. Board of Supervisors has created new districts that divide up racial and ideological communities to prevent them from voicing their opinions, according to San Jose Spotlight. These districts are arguably the most important, since the supervisors control issues THREAT TO DEMOCRACY: Legislative such as education, mak- districts are being drawn to favor political ing it crucial to have all parties at voters’ expense. PAGE DESIGN BY MADHAVI KARTHIK AND RAYMOND RANBHISE

Illustration by Macy Li

THE COURT DECIDES

Students rush to the cafeteria to grab brunch, piling untouched fruit across nearby tables. Over half a million tons of waste is produced by California schools each year, half of which is composed of organic waste such as cafeteria food, according to CalRecycle. This is not acceptable. California is now providing free brunch and lunch to all students, according to The New York Times. While this can relieve low income families of the stress of needing to provide food for their children, it has created a large issue on our campus: food waste like never before. This program has led to many students taking food regardless of if they need it, or are going to eat it. Students need to find a balance between not restricting what they take and being more conscious of whether or not they will actually eat the food. However, this is made harder to do because the free meals are a part of the state program. As a re-

Lifestyles

Friday, February 4, 2022

Liberty and justice for all

Amnesty club strives to inform students about current world affairs By Gaby Cristancho, Ariana Tejeda Moreno and Anushruti Nagarajan When life gives you a voice, start a club. The journey of starting Amnesty club began when senior Isabel Matta worked with Coalition Z, a political organization, and felt HHS needed a forum to address ongoing injustices in the community. “In this organization, I felt we were confined to politics and I wanted to expand beyond that,” Isabel Matta said. “This drove me to want to do something within the Homestead community and [start a club].” Amnesty is a human rights club that serves as a platform for students to share their opinions on various topics, freely. The club was founded by Isabel Matta in August 2020 but only became official in the Spring of 2021, she said. When it comes to discuss-

ing heavy topics such as sexual harrasment, officer, senior Jayden Legeard said they ensure there is a strong foundation of respect among the community. “People want to discuss and it is a really great space to share opinions,” Legeard said. “All the officers have done a great job creating a welcoming environment where everyone’s opinions, thoughts and experiences can be explored and shared in a safe and respectful [manner].” Long-term member, sophomore Leila Matta, Isabel’s sister, said she can attest to this feeling, as she said she believes these meetings are extremely welcoming and a great way to talk openly about various issues. “Amnesty opens up the conversation for things that you think about but don’t necessar-

ily talk about with other people,” Leila Matta said. “It is a safer space to [express] without judgment and affirm your beliefs.” Before having members begin discussions, there is an informational presentation so they can form a better opinion and have a better understanding of the topic. Within this discussion, members are able to educate others through their own experiences and opinions, Legeard said. “Members come together to discuss how situations impact the HHS community and give everyone a place to be heard,” Isabel Matta said. “Amnesty is full of people with different perspectives, coming together to make prejudices seen.” The club has grown from barely having enough people to form an officer team to a forum

where many can communicate freely, Legeard said. “We are people that want to make change,” Isabel Matta said. “And we are people that want to have those hard discussions. It is our job to bring injustices in our community and the world to light.” Photo by Olivia Shen

THE SAME GOAL: Jayden

Legeard and Isabel Matta promote inclusivity through club.

Beyond the books: students discuss impactful, inspirational teachers By Madhavi Karthik and Ritaja Subrahmanya

JAMES RATTI:

As a member of the AVID program, junior Alice Yu said she has known world literature and AVID teacher James Ratti since her freshman year. His individualized attention toward each student makes him approachable, she said. “During times when I was struggling, I knew I could come to him,” Yu said. “He would give me advice and comfort me.” Photo by Mae Richardson

Yu said Ratti’s kindness made her feel comfortable talking to him about any of her issues ranging from academic to social. This trust has made Ratti seem more like a friend than a teacher, which allowed her to form deeper connections with him, she said. “During my sophomore year, I had some family issues and I was able to talk to Ratti about them,” Yu said. “He was able to give me support when my family wasn’t there for me.” Yu said Ratti’s advice is unique as he encourages students to prioritize their mental health, making compassion his greatest quality. “Although I’ve made mistakes, he is always forgiving,” Yu said. “He’s a teacher who feels like a father figure to me.”

GABRIELA BALAS:

A COMFORTING PRESENCE:

Alice Yu said she loves Ratti’s bear hugs.

Initially entering high school with limited knowledge of Spanish, senior Jessica Lee said Spanish teacher Gabriela Balas

opened her eyes to the excitement of learning the intricate language. “She taught me about how broad learning a language can be,” Lee said, “You can talk to a lot of people and you can learn about so many cultures in just one class.” Lee, who is currently in Balas’s Spanish 3 class, said Balas stands out from the rest of her teachers because of her willingness to establish connections with students. “She doesn’t see me as only a student,” Lee said. “She goes out of her way to ask me about my hobbies and ask questions like ‘How’s your art? What are you reading right now?’ She really sees me as a person. ” Lee said she is grateful for her class experiences. The various activities and games played in class made the class engaging. “Balas is super spirited all the time,” Lee said. “That really hangs on me because I [was] eager to be in her class.”

MELISSA MORRISON:

Inspired by the distinctive class structure, junior Alan Jian said American literature teacher Melissa Morrison’s teaching style has allowed him to have an enjoyable experience in her class by being able to independently scout out the various mediums of writing. “She gives us a lot of liberty to explore on our own, “ Jian said. “With other teachers, the course may be organized but you have to do what they instruct you to do instead of having the opportunity to explore what you want to learn about.” Jian said Morrison’s supportive nature enables students to engage in an ideal classroom environment filled with encouragement and self-growth. “She goes out of her way to help students with their writing,” Jian said. “You will always have the opportunity to reach out to her to ask about work and she gives out a lot of chances for improvement, as well.”

POV: Keep your enemies close, your friends closer By Christine Kim

From the moment I stepped foot into high school, I could sense the collective goal in many minds — college. Not just any college, but the more prestigious, the better. This is an objective that turns friends into foes. I could see it through the hesitation in giving friends homework help or the secrecy in college application lists. Unfortunately, I was no exception. I had that same goal in mind as everyone around me. I wanted to succeed so everything began to feel like a competition. It felt crushing to feel less worthy than others and I started to hate the small sense of satisfaction I got whenever I scored higher than a friend on a test. Ambition is

healthy, but crossing the line to selfishness is not. What finally brought me to my senses was the Netflix documentary “Operation Varsity Blues.” It dove into the college admissions scandal of 2019, highlighting the methods the wealthy used to get into esteemed universities. Of course, I was nowhere near that level, but the film opened my eyes to how the whole process is not as black and white as it may seem. There are factors out of a person’s control that can determine acceptances, such as how some individuals can pay to get in or how it feels like applying is a game of chance. The admissions system is definitely flawed to a certain extent, so why stress

about what you cannot change? It was difficult to rewire my brain out of the mindset that had become my second nature, but I learned college is only a competition if it is made out that way. I stopped my mental tallying of other people’s accomplishments and did some much needed introspection. The college you attend doesn’t determine the rest of your life, so placing it on a pedestal was wasting time I could spend enjoying my high school experience. I’m still working on correcting my mindset, but I’m already happier and more genuine than I was freshman year. It is important to surround yourself with people that want

Photo courtesy of Yu jiun Chen

THE UNDERLYING RIVALRY:

It is crucial to remember other students are not the “enemy.”

the best for you and it is equally important to support others. Getting into college is not the be-all and end-all, and I’m grateful to recognize there is life beyond school and sacrificing your morals is not worth it.

REAL TALK By Lia Klebanov

My mind works at a million miles per hour — constantly. Not knowing what the future holds is a terrifying thought to have since most of my day is planned out to the minute. Wake up. Go to school. Do homework. Go to my extracurriculars. Sleep. Repeat. The one word that sticks out to me is repeat: how do I absorb everything that has happened to me until now and how can I make tomorrow impactful? The quote, “You are only here now; you’re only alive in this moment,” by Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic, is one I think back to when I’m trying to fall asleep, coupled only by the constant stream of thoughts that analyzes everything I did that day. I’ve learned overthinking about the future is not always the right approach since it can direct me to answer questions that may not have answers, yet or at all. I consider myself to be a determined person who works hard to achieve my goals. However, it can become overwhelming when so many things are occurring at the same time. I’ve noticed myself becoming distanced from what is going on around me. It is an out-of-body experience where I begin to question everything. Being a junior comes with its own challenges as the high school experience starts to pinnacle into AP classes and college applications. Taking the future seriously but not overanalyzing is a difficult line to tread. When I noticed how one’s stressful thoughts can have an effect on all aspects of life, I realized the present is the true gift. Life comes around only once and living in the now is all we can do to make everything count. Worrying excessively about aspects that are out of our control, such as getting a math test back or college acceptances is a common habit, but we can dictate our perspectives to change this rationale. Sometimes taking a breath, listening to music, doing a fun activity or even taking a walk can do wonders. All the things that occupy my mind today are probably not going to be prominent in a few years. Kabat-Zinn was right; we should live every day like there’s no tomorrow. PAGE DESIGN BY CHRISTINE KIM

In-Depth

Friday, February 4, 2022

n d a m l ark of life A

The journey of a DACA recipient

Natalia Esparza (11)

U.S. born junior, Natalia Esparza lived in Mexico for 10 years before moving back in fifth grade. “My parents thought that I should have a good education and a good shot at a career,” Esparza said. “In Mexico, I wasn’t going to have that.” Although Esparza said her family struggled financially their first two years in Mexico, she enjoyed the community there. “I love Mexico,” Esparza said. “There is a lot of struggle while living there, but people are so nice.” Esparza said the accessibility of food, jobs and transportation make living in the U.S. easier. But, she said, being raised without these comforts made her a stronger person. “Living in Mexico, the world’s not pretty over there,” Esparza said. “Mexico made me more mature, and I can handle myself in various situations because I lived there.”

To an average person, the landmarks on this page represent countries around the world. But to the students featured here, these places represent a second home.

Teacher Hector Almendarez shares immigration story

Jessica Zhao (10)

For sophomore Jessica Zhao, China is a second home, she said. “Even though I was born here, I can say that when I go back, it reminds me of everything I came from,” Zhao said. Food has been the gateway to spending quality time with the family she rarely sees, she said. “When we’re not eating noodles, we are cooking at home with family,” Zhao said. “I don’t see them often, so I feel happy when we cook together.” If ever in China, Zhao said to stop by the Great Wall of China and see the Terracotta soldiers to get a glimpse of the country’s rich history. “These monuments are a great representation of the country because they come from a lot of history,” Zhao said. “It reminds us of what we’ve been through and helps strengthen our connection to the past.”

Chichén Itzá Yucatan, Mexico

Mathilde Bride (12)

Sinhagad Fort Pune, India

Shivani Varma (12)

Transitioning to life in India was difficult for senior Shivani Varma when she moved there three years ago. Now back in the U.S, Varma said she is grateful to have experienced India for herself. “[Stereotypes] like India being dangerous and dirty didn’t make me excited to move,” Varma said. In addition to learning more about her birthplace, Varma said she was able to truly find herself in India. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and because of that, it made me more comfortable in my own skin,” Varma said. To those who hope to travel to India someday, Varma said to visit with an open mind. “India is filled with amazing people, places, history and knowledge,” Varma said. “There is something for everyone.”

Mason Carter (11)

Before COVID-19, junior Mason Carter spent summers in Canada visiting family. Although Carter said he now catches up over video calls, they do not measure up to his former in-person interactions. “It’s sad because my grandpa’s old and it’s going to be harder to see him because he has dementia,” Carter said. “It’s hard to talk to him via video because sometimes he doesn’t remember me.” Carter said it is important to visit family frequently. “It’s good to see family a lot, because at some point you’re not going to be able to see that family anymore.” Carter said. Although family is Carter’s main purpose in visiting Canada, he said Canada is worth visiting, regardless. “There are provinces where you can see different attractions,” Carter said. “It’s a multicultural place made up of immigrants from everywhere.”

Senior Mathilde Bride was born in France and has moved between France and the U.S. multiple times. When not living in France, Bride said she still visits annually to see family. “Visiting frequently helps me keep in touch with France because things change,” Bride said. “It’s not like because I’m not there anymore, nothing is happening. Also, seeing my family members is super important to me.” Bride said American and French culture differ drastically, with the U.S. being more progressive and France having more traditional values due to its longer history. Living in both countries has broadened her perspective and helped her grow as a person, Bride said. “France is more of my home,” Bride said. “That’s where my family lives. That’s where I’ve grown up, and that’s where I want to live out my life.”

i f Ch o ll Wa hina t a Gre jing, C Bei

READ ABOUT

illus ration t

Eiffel Tower Paris, France

Photos courtesy of Mathilde Bride, Mason Carter, Erin Loh, Shivani Varma and Jessica Zhao

Jo ss

ard Brow

CN Tower Toronto, Canada

Friday, February 4, 2022

By Joss Broward The immigrant experience is one that cannot be easily characterized, as it is unique to every individual based on where and how they immigrate. Distinctive stories come together to form communities, such as the Bay Area, filled with diverse immigrant experiences such as those of DACA recipients. DACA, or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, allows undocumented child immigrants living in the U.S. to be protected from deportation and continues to provide protection into adulthood, according to Associated Press. Additionally, DACA provides opportunities for young immigrants to acquire work permits when older. English teacher Hector Almendarez is a DACA recipient who immigrated from Nicaragua as a two-year-old. “The reason for moving was mainly because my mom didn’t have anything,” Almendarez said. “It wasn’t worth staying in Nicaragua anymore. She decided that it was best to move to the U.S. to start again and try to get the best opportunities she could for my brother and me.” Almendarez said his mom helped him become a DACA recipient as soon as the program was passed by the Obama administration. With his DACA status, Almendarez said he has been given opportunities he otherwise may not have had. “We found a lawyer and we got everything squared away with my DACA status,” Almendarez said. “It allowed me to have a job for the first time in high school. Without it, I also wouldn’t have been able to go to college because I wouldn’t have been able to afford it.” However, Almendarez said he acknowledges the restrictions that come with being a DACA recipient, such as not being able to travel outside of the U.S. and constantly being aware that his legal status can be jeopardized by any illegal activity. “There are certain things I have to pay more attention to,” Almendarez said. “I have to make sure I don’t get in trouble with the law. That is something I do think about often.” Almendarez said his connection with politics has been impacted through being a DACA recipient due to varying opinions on the program by different presidential administrations. Some administration’s beliefs threaten his status, which would affect his life greatly, he said. “It’s definitely frustrating how misinformed some people are about DACA, especially this idea that we’re stealing people’s jobs,” Almendarez said. “Especially in the last six years, the U.S. has taken this anti-immigrant stance, specifically toward people from my part of the world, Latin America. My immigrant experience has been coping with that and recognizing the limitations I have.” After former President Donald Trump was elected, Almendarez said he witnessed a close friend break down out of fear of how the administration would handle the status of DACA recipients and other immigrants. “There are other people who are in the same boat as I am,” Almendarez said, “trying to grapple with achieving their dreams and what they’re striving for while also dealing with the baggage that comes with it — specifically because of the politics surrounding DACA.” Almendarez, who has not been able to travel to Nicaragua since moving to the U.S, said he hopes to one day be able to go back to where he was born and experience it as an adult. “For me, Sunnyvale has been my home for a long time,” Almendarez said. “I would like to go back to Nicaragua, but I’m not in any rush to go back. It’ll come when it’ll come. I’m just happy being here.” Photo by Joss Broward

Culture Shock ON PAGE 11

THE DACA EXPERIENCE: Almendarez shares how being EXPERIENCE: a DACA recipient has shaped his experiences. DACA Almendarez shares the ways being a

DACA recipient has shaped his experiences

PAGE DESIGN BY JOSS BROWARD, ERIN LOH AND HOPE SAENA ILLUSTRATION BY AVA MAGHSOODLOU

In-Depth

Friday, February 4, 2022

n d a m l ark of life A

The journey of a DACA recipient

Natalia Esparza (11)

To an average person, the landmarks on this page represent countries around the world. But to the students featured here, these places represent a second home.

Teacher Hector Almendarez shares immigration story

Jessica Zhao (10)

Chichén Itzá Yucatan, Mexico

Mathilde Bride (12)

Sinhagad Fort Pune, India

Shivani Varma (12)

Mason Carter (11)

i f Ch o ll Wa hina t a Gre jing, C Bei

READ ABOUT

illus ration t

Eiffel Tower Paris, France

Photos courtesy of Mathilde Bride, Mason Carter, Erin Loh, Shivani Varma and Jessica Zhao

Jo ss

ard Brow

CN Tower Toronto, Canada

Friday, February 4, 2022

Culture Shock ON PAGE 11

THE DACA EXPERIENCE: Almendarez shares how being EXPERIENCE: a DACA recipient has shaped his experiences. DACA Almendarez shares the ways being a

DACA recipient has shaped his experiences

PAGE DESIGN BY JOSS BROWARD, ERIN LOH AND HOPE SAENA ILLUSTRATION BY AVA MAGHSOODLOU

Lifestyles

Friday, February 4, 2022

Breaking down barriers one outfit at a time

Fashion club works to educate members, help with expression through art By Karuna Chandran and Lia Klebanov Dress to impress: fashion is a constantly shifting industry, with trends flowing in and out of popularity. The new fashion club, which had their first meeting in early January, hopes to provide exposure for students looking to get more involved in the fashion world, co-president Grace Huang, a junior, said. “In the future, we’re probably going to also talk about how each member can develop their own style and how not only certain people with certain talents can develop a fashion sense: it’s something everyone can do,” Huang said. The idea of the club originally

came from Huang, who said she was very interested in vintage fashion. However, after talking with co-president Andria Cao, she said they were able to develop the idea and make it what it is today. “Definitely [the club is meant to be] a place where you can be yourself without being judged and you can meet other people who are also finding their own identities and becoming more confident themselves,” club treasurer, sophomore Anna Dobbelaere said. The club hopes to tackle a broad variety of topics such asvintage fashion, sustainability and fashion history, Huang said.

“Learning about the impact that fashion has on the world can really be an eye opener in terms of what fashion means,” secretary Kevin Zhao, a sophomore, said. “It’s not just what you wear. It’s your impact on the world: how the fashion industry affects our planet and society.” Throughout the semester, Dobbelaere and Huang said members will be contributing to the club’s captivating end-of-year fashion show, which will be open to the HHS community. Additionally, a magazine is currently in production showcasing student trends and collections from the upcoming show. “Anyone who wants to con-

Photo courtesy of Anna Dobbelaere

tribute to the fashion show will be able to contribute whether it’s sewing clothes or modeling,” Huang said. “We’re pulling a lot of people together to make this fashion show happen. But ultimately, the end result will be accessible to everyone, including parents and students.” The first general meeting was held Jan. 11, which Huang said was a success due to the amount of attendees and expresses interest. At the same time, club officers are still trying to find the right balance of activities so as to not take up student’s lunchtime, Huang said. “It looked like a lot of people

showed up,” Huang said. “It was just really nice to see that people are interested in our club, and we just hope to be able to keep up that interest and keep engaging our members.” Overall, with upcoming general meeting events, such as a workshop for sewing tote bags, Dobbelaere said the main goal is educating students about discovering themselves while simultaneously empowering them. “Fashion is a way to express yourself through clothing, makeup and jewelry,” Dobbelaere said. “When you walk around, people already know you from what you’re wearing and it also helps build confidence in yourself.”

Photo courtesy of Anna Dobbelaere

Photo courtesy of Andria Cao

Photo courtesy of Anna Dobbelaere

Photo courtesy of Andria Cao

Photo courtesy of Kevin Zhao

Photo courtesy of Andria Cao

STRIKE A POSE: Fashion club officers show off their unique sense of style, which is a skill they hope to pass on to their members.

Q & A with Treats 4 Goods business owner Taylor Elich

Photo courtesy of Anna Dobbelaere

Photo courtesy of Taylor Elich

By Niyatee Jain

The Epitaph sat down with Taylor Elich to discuss the junior’s life experiences and how they have helped contribute to her new business. Elich is a middle college student with HHS who uses her business Treats 4 Goods (promoted through her Instagram account @treats4good) to raise money for a local homeless charity, LifeMoves. When did you start baking? I started baking when I was in elementary school because I loved being able to do something where I take a bunch of basic ingredients, combine them together and create something that brings family and friends together. I’ve always liked the creative aspect of baking where you can take a recipe and really put your own twist on it. Who or what inspired you to start baking? My dad inspired me to start baking. When I was little, my dad would always make breakfast on the weekends and teach me how to make simple things, like pancakes and waffles. I started off just measuring the ingredients or mixing the batter, but from the first time I tried it, I was hooked. I loved that after we were finished cooking, the food we made brought my whole family together. As I grew up, I shifted from breakfast to baking. I also enjoyed how baked goods are really easy to share with friends and family and they bring people together and make them smile.

When did you start your baking business? I started a couple of months ago because I was thinking that I love baking, but it doesn’t really make too much of a difference in my community. I wanted to do something with it that is a little bit more impactful [than what I had done before]. I thought if I can combine my passion for baking with a business, then I can reach more people and make more of an impact.

ty and learn business strategies along the way.

How did you choose LifeMoves? I picked LifeMoves because I have volunteered there before. I like their mission. They are also a local nonprofit here in the Bay Area. It was an organization I already knew and valued.

What experiences do you get out of baking that other things don’t give you? I really love the creativity involved with baking. You have so much freedom to experiment with different flavor combinations, baking techniques and decorating styles, and that is something I really enjoy. I also find baking really relaxing because when I bake, I give it my sole focus and my other thoughts and worries just drift away because I am just enjoying focusing on getting a recipe or decorating technique right.

What type of products or baked goods do you specialize in? I sell jumbo cookies, which are my favorite to bake and sell because a lot of people like them due to the nostalgia. I feel like there are some foods that are comforting. Simple, wholesome treats like homemade chocolate chip cookies freshly baked, are things that remind people of when they were younger, or of good times they have had. What is your goal for your business? I don’t have an exact monetary goal right now. I just want to grow this and donate as much money as I can. Also, [I want to learn how] to bring my margins down so I can donate more of the profits to chari-

Is this something you hope to be doing in the long run? I hopefully see this being long-term because baking is already a big part of my life. I sell my baked goods to benefit the community already, so it’s not a big burden for me. I’m hoping to continue this in the future.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Elich

How do you want others to perceive your business? I don’t know if this is cheesy, but [it is] heartfelt because this is something I really take joy and pride in doing and something that I care about and value. Everything I bake and do with the business, I try to put a lot of my heart and soul into it. With Treats 4 Good, I am able to combine HELPING THE COMMUNITY: Elich my love for baking, so it is something I uses her passion to make a lasting love doing. impact. PAGE DESIGN BY LINDSEY STEEL AND ESMERALDA VILLALOBOS SORIANO

Lifestyles

Friday, February 4, 2022

Where we stand a year after riots

New country, new self

By Macy Li

By Chloe Wong

Students voice opinions on Jan. 6 committee The echoes of the U.S. capitol breach last year are still reverberating throughout the nation today. Following the attacks, a select committee of the House of Representatives was formed to investigate the incident, according to The Washington Post. Recent discoveries and committee activities have prompted varying opinions from students following the latest turn of events. Senior Mallory Mitton said she believes the capitol breach revealed the deepening polarization in the U.S., as well as a growth in political violence. “What the older generations have come to expect, such as a peaceful transfer of power, is all gone these days,” Mitton said. “I think it’s just going to worsen over time, especially as people use social media more, which is a divisive tool.” Over 725 people involved with the insurrection have been arrested in almost all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Roughly 225 have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding employees. “If you were active at the riot or partaking in any way, you should go to jail,” Mitton said. “It’s not fair for these people to be walking around without charges.” Mitton, who identifies as a Democrat, said she was deeply impacted by a hearing conducted by the Jan 6. Committee last month, which involved the testi-

mony of a police officer who was claims that they facilitated the assaulted during the riots. spread of extremism and misin“The actual body camera foot- formation, according to The New age was also released,” Mitton York Times. said. “I had never seen anything Junior Alan Jian said he has like that. In the footage, you could heard many debates over this hear everyone screaming and the decision. He said he believes the police officer’s body being pulled use of various social media platinto the Capitol after he lost con- forms significantly influenced the sciousness during the riots.” breach last year. On the other hand, sopho“I have heard there were more Andrew Li, who identifies whistleblowers, so I think the soas conservative, said he believes cial media companies definitely the capitol riots cast light on the should have notified the authoriamount of people in the U.S. who ties or sought help,” Jian said. were dissatisfied with the governAs part of the investigation, ment as well as the election of the committee has been evaluatPresident Joe Biden. ing the role of these apps in stimAs part of its investigation, the ulating violence, according to The Jan 6. Committee discovered a New York Times. “Ultimately, I think steps could series of text messages between government officials during the have been taken to prevent the riots, according to The Washing- breach from occurring, so I hope the committee brings those to ton Post. “It’s been digging up a lot of light,” Jian said. “This way, we can messages from conservative fig- work to ensure similar attacks do ures who were close to Trump,” Li not occur again in the future.” said. “Even his own son was urging him to condemn the riots.” With these new discoveries, Li said he is still shocked the government struggled to prevent the riots from occurring. Recently, the Jan 6. Committee issued subpoenas Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons to four social media A DIVIDED COUNTRY: Many are still grapcompanies, under pling with the repercussions of the attacks.

Band heads for All-State

Record number of students selected for honor band By Lindsey Steel

sive tryout process by coaching the musicians and listening to them play. Still, Burn said preparation is mostly in the hands of the students. Preparation for All-State auditions required numerous hours spent perfecting pieces, euphonium player, sophomore Rohan Venkatesan said. In contrast to All-State tryouts in previous years, this year’s process required students to send in a recording rather than attend a live audition, which Venkatesan said was frustrating. “It took a while to get a recording I was happy with,” Venkatesan said. “I spent seven hours one weekend trying to get a good one that had no errors.” Despite the painstaking audition process, All-State is an important opportuPhoto courtesy of John nity for musicians to learn from the best, saxophone player, junior Ayaka Fujita said. “It’s definitely really inspiring to be surrounded by people who are really good at what they do,” Fujita said. “That has been a motivating factor for me and has encouraged me to get better.” Aside from meeting other BEST IN STATE: California’s most talented musicians, Burn musicians perform together annually.

Every February, 300 of California’s best student musicians convene at the Fresno Convention Center and perform as part of the All-State Honor Band. Selection, band director John Burn said, is an honor bestowed upon the most talented and dedicated of young musicians. “All-State has great players from across the state, some of which they may know from their school or from across town, but most of them have never met before in their lives,” Burn said. “They spend the weekend together to prepare for a concert on Sunday, and then it’s over.” This year, 18 musicians were selected, which is a record for HHS, Burn said. Burn said he assisted in preparing the students for the exten-

said another important element of All-State is the resources provided that allow musicians to grow beyond what HHS is able to offer, including guest speakers, renowned conductors and scholarship opportunities. “The conductors are usually college or university music educators that are chosen because they’re some of the best in the country,” Burn said. “Many colleges and universities also have booths and offer music scholarship opportunities to All-State band students.” For Fujita, she said she is eager to see what her first in-person high school All-State experience will hold. “Last year, it was online, but it was fun to perform and have that video of our performance that I can listen to whenever,” Fujita said. “I don’t know how it’ll be this year in-person, but I’m excited to meet and learn from other saxophonists across the state.” Similarly, Venkatesan said he expects his first in-person AllState experience in high school to not only be an opportunity for him to gain new experiences, but to improve, as well. He said he hopes this will shape him into a better musician and equip him with a diverse set of skills. “I feel like there is going to be a really high level of musicianship,” Venkatesan said. “I’m looking forward to meeting people who are as dedicated and have the same goals and passions as me.”

Experiencing culture shock Entering Japan as a bewildered college student and exiting as an employed woman with a family, Japanese teacher Lisa Nakamatsu said she is grateful for the many possibilities Japan has provided her. Originally, she received an offer for a ten year leave of absence in Japan, but initially had no intention of following through with it. Moving to Japan for ten years felt like an unfair bargain, she said. However, Nakamatsu said her resolute opinion was swayed when her friend offered an interesting proposal. “I was complaining to my friend about how ridiculous the idea of moving to Japan was, but she said she actually knew of a modeling agency that was hiring,” Nakamatsu said. “I scoffed at the idea because I’m not modeling material, but my friend said they wanted American looking people. Sure enough, I went to the cattle call and I got the job.” Still viewing Japan through an apprehensive lens, Nakamatsu said she had a rocky start. She said she knew segregation was inevitable, but it was still difficult to deal with. The intensity of the discrimination was tempered because she was working hard to learn the Japanese language, Nakamatsu said. “You expect to be discriminated against, so when it doesn’t happen, you’re pleasantly surprised,” Nakamatsu said. “I didn’t always have it as bad as everybody else because at least I was trying to learn the language. But there were times where I would be met with absolute reproach because I looked like a foreigner.” Adjusting to the environment while trying to learn the language was an uphill battle, but Nakamatsu said everything completely changed when she met her husband in Japan. “I met my husband with literally three months left on my visa,” Nakamatsu said. “Three weeks after we met he asked if I would marry him and I said yes.” With her husband’s and modeling agency’s support, Nakamatsu said she began to feel more comfortable building a life in Japan. Her modeling job provided not just a one way ticket to the new country, but also an opPhoto courtesy of Lisa Nakamatsu

portunity to skim the surface of fame. “I did a lot of TV work, commercials and modeling,” Nakamatsu said. “I met a lot of famous people in Japan from the agency. I appeared quite a few times on a show called ‘Unbelievable’ where we did reenactments, so I got to be the main character a couple of times. Sometimes I would chat with some really famous people and I wouldn’t know until afterwards.” After her ten year exploration of Japan, it was time for Nakamatsu to move back to the U.S. Nakamatsu and her new family moved into her parent’s house, and she said her children had a difficult time trying to adjust. A surreal moment of disconnect from reality occurred to her children, which Nakamatsu said was jarring. “My kids were completely still and unresponsive,” Nakamatsu said. “They weren’t reacting to anything. Then I realized, when was the last time they had Japanese food, or even heard me talk to them in Japanese? Immediately, I spoke to my youngest in Japanese and she perked up. When we moved in with my mom and dad, everything was suddenly American. They were in culture shock. I quickly drove them over to Mitsua and they got baskets full of Japanese food. To this day when the kids are not doing well, I can always tell because they’ll have natto and jasmine tea.” Reflecting on her entire journey from the U.S. to Japan and back, Nakamatsu said there were valuable pieces of knowledge she was able to pick up. The moments of culture shock quickly transitioned to moments of awe and appreciation for the way human life transcends yet intertwines all cultures. “After Japan, I traveled to 21 different countries,” Nakamatsu said. “Traveling definitely sparked something in me to keep looking for and then appreciate similarities and differences. Life is interconnected because it’s a human condition. When experiencing something new, you’re living life, and it can add so much more flavor to your existence.” Photo courtesy of Lisa Nakamatsu

HOMESICK FOR JAPAN: Nakamatsu said her children often

crave the tastes of Japan.

PAGE DESIGN BY AIKO CHARON AND MACY LI

Arts & Culture

Friday, February 4, 2022

Lackluster lunch fails to serve students

Wide shortage of vegetarian options is a serious problem I was hesitant to try school lunch because as a vegetarian, my options are limited. However, I was filled with anticipation and excitement at the prospect of trying — what I thought would be—a diverse school lunch palette. What I received was anything but.

Monday

I started off the week strong by requesting some stir fry tofu over rice but soon discovered the piping hot tofu over my cold rice was not enough to satisfy my hunger. The tofu was adequate, and although I picked up a bag of carrots to compensate for the abnormally small portion size I still would have preferred a more filling meal to suffice my hunger.

School lunch Vegetarian

Tuesday

Come Tuesday, I was again disappointed with the execution of my meal. Upon entering the cafeteria, there were no options left for me to choose from. After asking around for the vegetarian meal, I was given a piece of pizza. Upon close inspection, I realized it had pork on it. That day, I went lunchless, which is unacceptable. Hungry, I was unable to get the energy needed to focus in my classes.

Wednesday

The lunch on Wednesday salvaged my previously shattered views of the school lunch. I was served a delectable parmesan bowtie pasta dish complete with a sprinkle of cheese on top. Although the portioning was too minute for my already small appetite, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and presentation of the pasta. It was hot, ready and made for a delicious lunch for me to consume.

Thursday

Thursday’s lunch satisfied my hunger but to a cost. The food, although filling, felt like sandpaper in my mouth. The coating on the nuggets was brutally rough and quite frankly unpalatable. The fries saved this dish and were the only part I would intentionally consume. The last portion of the lunch should have been a garlic knot but was instead of a dry breadstick that I dreadfully tried to choke down. After Thursday’s lunch, I needed to chug a gallon of water.

Friday

Fridays are usually my favorite day, not only because it signifies the end of the school week but also because it contains my favorite school lunch, the fiesta burrito bowl. But this particular Friday was different. When I asked for a vegetarian option, I was told it was not available. For the second time that week, I went lunchless. The cafeteria should always have food available for every student and it is irresponsible to not have enough vegetarian meals.

‘Sing 2’ defies expectations Do not judge a movie by its studio By Brevin Reed When I first saw the trailer for “Sing 2,” I was scared. Illumination has never been adequate at making sequels, especially in recent decades. The first and worst movie that comes to mind is “The Secret Life of Pets 2,” which bombed at the box office, but at least “Pets 2” had a solid movie for inspiration. In the case of “Sing 2,” the original “Sing” is the most generic pop culture film of the 21st century, and it did not seem like it left much room for any new plots. Needless to say, I was expecting another cash grab turned dumpster fire. But this is the most thrilling movie I have ever seen, and I mean it with my whole heart. The characters? Entertaining. The dialogue? Realistic. The plot? Engaging. The finale? Flawless. This movie is nothing short of incredible. Each aspect of “Sing 2” blends perfectly to form one of the best movies of this century. Let’s start with the characters. In the original movie, it feels like every character is desperately trying to be relatable to Illustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya

STRIVE FOR GREATNESS: The

film’s main character Buster Moon sets his sights on fame, bringing in a host of new characters and problems.

‘Sing 2’ Genre: Animation Release date: Dec. 22, 2021

Photos by Harshitha Vijayakumar

the audience. Rosita is clearly stereotyped to be relatable to overworked mothers. But rather than feeling sympathetic, I felt bored watching her go through predictable struggles. Despite having six main characters, Illumination fails to make them interesting each and every time. By contrast, in “Sing 2,” the writers took time to explore unique challenges for each character. Johnny’s unexpected character develops into becoming confident in himself; instead of feeling recycled from the first movie, it feels relatable. Even Buster Moon learning he cannot please everyone felt natural for his character as a music producer. They also get rid of the most annoying character from the original “Sing,” Mike the Mouse, replacing him with the infinitely more interesting and antagonistic Mr. Crystal. Most of his charm comes from his shock value, where he tries to murder Buster Moon not once, but twice within 30 minutes. He also makes the character versus character plot conflict feel more like an actual conflict. Speaking of plot, the most appealing part of the movie is the character development progression that honed in on specific plot lines and realistic weaknesses each character is able to grow from. It never felt like they were spending too much time on someone or completely disregarding other characters. Even the new characters have their own plot lines, and no one feels stagnant, which is one of the reasons why many other Illumination sequels and even original movies have felt stale. It can be difficult to give such a huge cast of characters an equal amount of screentime, but throughout the whole movie and especially at the end, everyone gets their moment to shine. This is such an incredible experience. I do not think I will ever be able to enjoy anything ever again without comparing it to this movie. It was just that good. If you can, watch “Sing 2” and experience the greatest sequel of this century for yourself.

VEGETARIAN LUNCH LACKING: On the left is a vegetarian

sandwich, on the top right is stir fry tofu over rice and bottom right is a fiesta bowl, all may look palatable but looks can be deceiving.

Overall, the lunch this week was inadequate, especially because vegetarian options were not available some days. The fact that new lunch features are being added, like the tortilla bowls and tortilla chips, make it clear

the resources are available for the school to use. Despite this, HHS is not prioritizing students with dietary limitations and is instead focusing their efforts on food options that are not consumable to many students.

End unrealistic home cleaning expectations By Yukari Hernandez

Cleaning is one of those tasks that feels never ending. Once you clean your room, then the bathroom needs cleaning, dishes have to get done and the cycle continues. Nowadays you cannot go on social media without seeing someone inspired to deep clean their house and make it look perfect. The standards made by social media influencers for constantly keeping a clean home are simply unrealistic for a variety of reasons, the main one being the pressure to not only keep a clean home, but a well structured and organized one. There is a fine line between a clean home and an organized one. Keeping your home clean is not too hard, as it mainly consists of picking items off the floor and putting them where they belong. However, maintaining an organized home is something different. An average day looks different for all. For some, their day is filled with free time to do whatever it is they want to do, while others don’t have enough time in a day to spend it how they want to. Society has pressured people into spending hundreds of dollars on nice containers and fancy labels in order to make their homes look exemplary. However, there is nothing nice about having a picture perfect life. The more ideal things get, the more boring everything else becomes. Having an organized home can be convenient as everything you need is clearly labeled and accessible, but how long do those systems of restocking bins last? Have these people never experienced a morning rush? This is where the line from expectations to reality lies. Pictures of influencer-cleaned kitchens do not always stay organized. It is incredibly important to know what we see on social media is not life. Not a single person

has a flawless life, yet social media fails to show that. As long as you feel content with what your home looks like, cleaning and organizing should not be pressurized. Constantly having a clean home is not a reality for PRESSURE IN ORmany. Our GANIZING: Keeping u n r e a l i s t i c a clean home has been forced into peoschedules to ple’s minds to fit into clean after society’s standards. just ourselves every single day sometimes does not work out. Bigger things come up that make us forget what we wanted to finish. Now, this does not mean people who blast their perfect homes are wrong, as it can motivate people to clean. However, it is wrong to promote products that are ridiculously overpriced. You do not need a Dyson vacuum to clean your home or have a robot to do it for you. A cheaper vacuum can do the same thing. What is the point in buying a Rubbermaid Reveal when a toothbrush can also clean your grout? Cleaning should never have standards. The basic point of cleaning was made to please people into thinking you have a balanced life. Most of the time, that just is not the case. Living spaces are made to represent you and make you feel safe. A structured and clean home to you might be a mess to someone else but that is OK.

Illustration by Seoyoung Hwang

By Harshitha Vijayakumar

PAGE DESIGN BY SAIRA AHMED AND HARSHITHA VIJAYAKUMAR

Arts & Culture

Friday, February 4, 2022

Representation severely scarce in fashion industry

More sizes, accessibility needed

By Ritaja Subrahmanya

rience. For example, last August, Old Navy launched its Bodequality project, which will produce its women’s apparel products in sizes 0-28 in person and 0-30 online, according to CNBC. This is pleasantly rewarding news, as plus size women now have increased access to a wider variety of styles in mainstream shops making it easier for them to shop for the clothes they like. It is essential more stores join this trend so all customers feel welcome in stores and are able to find the clothes they want in the sizes they want. However, beyond a few brands adding sizes, the fashion industry as a whole has fallen painfully short when it comes to body representation. Over 90% of Paris and London Fashion Week designers did not include any body diverse models, according to Women’s Wear Daily. In order for plus size people to feel part of the fashion commu-

nity, inclusion of all body types should be a norm, not an ask. Additionally, plus size women make up 19% of the entire U.S. women’s apparel sales, a whopping $113.8 billion, according to the NPD Group. By choosing to not include plus sizes, brands are excluding almost one fifth of their customers, something they cannot afford to do, financially and ethically. Increasing sizing can have tremendous benefits to profit, as seen through designer Christian Siriano tripling his business after including plus sizes in his brand, according to The Insider. In fact, according to a study published in the International Journal of Fashion, the average size of American women is now 16 to 18. It is unaccept-

able for plus size people to continue to have such limited options in sizes that fit them. The fashion industry needs radical change to fit the needs of an ever changing world. While the first steps have been taken, there is much more the industry can do to be more inclusive toward plus size people.

INCLUDING ALL BODIES: The

fashion industry must increase options for plus size people.

Illustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya

Imagine you are at the mall with friends on a Friday afternoon. You browse through the racks of Loft, glancing aimlessly until you find the perfect pair of ripped jeans. You ask a nearby worker if they carry size 20 and they inform you they do not. Your face burns with humiliation. As of fall 2021, Loft said it would no longer offer sizes above size 18, according to Women’s Wear Daily. This is a blow to plus size women who deserve the same fashionable styles as their skinnier counterparts. As fashion movements toward diversity and inclusivity have increased in the past few years, many brands have increased their plus size representation both at runway shows and with in-store options. But ultimately, a lack of size options shows the continual exclusion of plus size people. Some companies have made positive steps toward creating a more inclusive shopping expe-

Van Gogh: The immersive experience underwhelms Exhibit builds anticipation, ultimately oversells By Josh Cantwell-Nahrung My mom and I visited the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit in San Francisco, and it ultimately ended up being quite a pleasant day trip to the city due to the illustrious artwork of Vincent Van Gogh. Prior to the visit, we discussed reviews we read online, the message the exhibit was supposed to send and more, but neither of us knew what to expect once we got there. I assumed it would not be too far off what to normally expect at a modern art showing. Perhaps there would be a tweaked walkthrough gallery slightly out of the ordinary, much like the Banksy exhibit. However, the exhibit differed from a standard modern art showing. From an “immersive” standpoint, it is underwhelming. I did not anticipate much from the word “immersive” added to the front of an art exhibition, simply because I did not understand how it could be.

I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised by what an immersive art experience could possibly be, but the bar stayed on the floor. The outside walls of the building surrounding the exhibition are painted with unique interpretations of Van Gogh’s artwork and the entrance to the building is followed by a long, mysterious hallway leading to another line into the actual exhibit. I started to become intrigued as only a few people were being let into a seemingly dimly lit room at a time with ominous music playing. Once I entered the open warehouse room with digital art projected on the walls and circles on the floor to sit in, I was fairly disappointed. That is not to say it was not a cool experience. If I knew what to expect going into the exhibit, I would have been saved from the disappointment of my expectations.

The art projected was not just a slideshow; each piece flowed into the next seamlessly on the walls and created a small movie of sorts, perfect to sit back and enjoy. A lifetime of his pieces was displayed, and each work spoke measures to his artistic capabilities, allowing the viewer to feel as though they were, in a sense, immersed into the experience. While I was enjoying taking in the plethora of artwork and interpreting each piece, I could understand why some people seemed to be distracted or slightly bored during the display. Overall, the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit was an enjoyable experience. Despite its pitfalls, I left with a better understanding of Van Gogh’s art.

Photo courtesy of Vicki Nahrung

AN AVERAGE EXPERIENCE:

Although a beautiful showing of art, the exhibit lacks interactive aspects, failing to live up to expectations.

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Studying the stars A common misconception about astrology is it is only determined by your

Although there are many different forms of astrology around the world,

sun sign, which is traditionally found in western astrology. However, there are

they all use calendars, stars and planets to determine characteristics. Based

many other planets, stars and other aspects used to explain everyone’s unique

on the lunar calendar, astrology includes animals, and 5 elements: water,

personalities. It is important to consider the many different forms of astrology

wood, fire, earth and metal. Unlike western astrology, the Chinese zodiac is

like Chinese astrology and Vedic astrology.

determined by the year you were born.

Your sun sign comes from western astrology and is one of the most known signs as it is only determined by your birthday. The sun sign is the main sign in your astrology chart and describes how we create and our self expression.

ARIES Mar. 21Apr. 19

TAURUS Apr. 20May 20

GEMINI May 21June 20

CANCER June 21July 22

LEO July 23Aug. 22

VIRGO Aug. 23Sept. 22

Your moon sign takes a little more information to determine like your birthdate, the time you were born and geographic location of where you were born. Your moon sign tends to cater towards your emotional side, reactions and feelings. The ascendant sign is also determined by the same information as your moon sign. This sign is more apparent compared to your sun sign because the ascendant sign can reflect a person’s appearance, behavior and mannerism. Infographic by Ariana Tejeda Moreno, Illustration by Emily Choi

LIBRA

Sept. 23Oct. 22

SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS Oct. 23Nov. 21

Nov. 22Dec. 21

Dec. 22Jan. 19

Jan. 20Feb. 18

PISCES Feb. 19Mar. 20

Astrology can be much more than a sun sign, you can use your birth information to find your astrological profile and how it affects different aspects of your life.

FASHION POLICE

By Amber Birrell I have to admit I have been quite shocked with the weather recently. I mean, lots of rain and weeks consistently under 60 degrees? It is not the California weather I am used to and I definitely do not own thick enough clothes for my intolerance to the cold. Luckily there is a great solution: layering. I was incredibly opposed to layering because I always found it uncomfortable, but desperate times calls for desperate measures. And let me tell you, I have not looked back since. One of the most prevalent combinations of layering I have seen this past fall was a plain turtleneck underneath a graphic tee or sweater vest, a great way to still show off your favorite T-shirts or sweaters while staying warm. But as it is getting colder, more layers are required to stay comfortable. On windy, cold days, my favorite way to stay warm requires quite a few layers and is fairly simple but effective. I generally start with any shirt and quickly throw on a hoodie, used to trap body heat and help stop the cold air from reaching my body. To top it off, I put on a puffer jacket, which acts as a windbreaker and supplies me with that last bit of warmth needed. The key is to always start with thinner inner layers and gradually add on thicker layers. This removes any possibility of discomfort as your clothes are not awkwardly layered. Layers are also convenient because as the day warms up, just shed a layer and you are dressed perfectly for the temperature. It is vital to make sure every layer works on its own, so if you choose to take off a jacket, everything still matches and looks great together. While layering is not a revolutionary idea, it is a great way to battle the cold since it is so adaptable by nature.

PAGE DESIGN BY JOSH CANTWELL-NAHRUNG AND BREVIN REED

Sports

Friday, February 4, 2022

Pushing through difficulties to achieve success Athletes discuss dealing with different sources of pressure By Karuna Chandran and Seoyoung Hwang

RAYMOND RANTS

By Raymond Ranbhise After getting into a disagreement with the Tampa Bay Bucs head coach, Bruce Arians, wide receiver Antonio Brown stormed off the sideline in a game against the New York Jets, taking off his equipment as he left in the middle of the game, continuing his problematic behavior. His career has to be over. Brown has done countless horrible things throughout his career, but this has to be the last straw. What first started as a disagreement between the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Rothisberger, and Brown spiraled into drama after drama, resulting in the Bucs cutting Brown. Brown’s troublesome career first began when Brown and Rothisberger had a feud in 2018, resulting in Brown skipping practices, even missing the final game of the season, Sporting News reported. The Steelers then traded Brown to the Las Vegas Raiders, where the issues continued. During the 2019 offseason, Brown had a helmet grievance issue with the NFL. The problem began after helmet regulations changed, meaning teams would use new helmets. However, Brown claimed the new ones “interfere with his vision,” Sporting News reported. After missing games and practices, Brown was cut from the Raiders in September 2019. Shortly after, Brown signed with the Patriots. After all the drama, anyone would think his career is over. But it wasn’t. Brown’s trainer then accused him of sexual assault, causing the Patriots to cut him, Sporting News reported. In the same season, he signed with the Bucs to help win the super bowl. Brown has had endless chances for redemption, but blew them all. If there is one thing known about the NFL, it is that general managers are willing to sign good players no matter what.

Sports by their very nature are a competition designed to see who is the best athlete in their game, and when a player reaches a high level in their chosen activity, the pressure often comes with the territory. Participating in archery for nine years, junior Claire Oh said she has definitely felt heightened pressure due to the sport, largely stemming from the need to outdo her performance in every competition. “I hate the pressure because it makes me very uncomfortable and sad,” Oh said. “Even if I didn’t feel the pressure, I probably would have done just as well, but the stress and pressure just made it worse.” For archery specifically, Oh said the stress comes from online scoring in which everyone can see everyone else’s scores. As the competition goes on, Oh said the contestants can keep an eye on the leaderboard, putting more pressure on the athletes especially when it comes to closely matched points. “The best way to stop feeling pressure is to stop caring about placing,” Oh said. “Getting first place doesn’t really mean anything in the end. So if you are able to find satisfaction in just shooting for yourself and the ex-

perience, the pressure goes away.” Like Oh, gymnast, junior Amelia Craciun said wanting to perform better as she rises in gymnastic difficulty coupled with her coaches’ expectations make the feeling of pressure a regular one for Craciun. “Sometimes I am tired or not feeling it, but my coaches pressure me to do really well anyways, making me feel pressured since I don’t want to disappoint them,” Craciun said. Pressure, while usually regarded with a negative connotation, can also be seen in a positive light, Craciun said. “It can be negative because you could seriously injure yourself [due to pressure] when you aren’t paying close enough attention, which is dangerous,” Craciun said. “But sometimes it’s positive because it does push you to be your best and do your best, which helps me.” Pressure does not always come from within oneself or authority figures. Varsity basketball player, sophomore Elaine Cao, said playing in a team sport can mean feeling pressure to prove oneself, especially to upperclassmen. “Sometimes I feel like you have to prove yourself just because everybody’s older, and it’s Photo by Joss Broward

Photo courtesy of Caleb Leung

kind of scary because most of my friends are on JV,” Cao said. Playing in a codependent team sport can lead to a sense of pressure to perform well, Cao said. ¨Everybody’s counting on you to at least do your part in playing,” Cao said, “And every time you do something that you weren’t satisfied with, there’s this sort of pressure that ‘oh, I have to come back and do better.’” Track and cross country runner Caleb Leung is one of the only sophomores on the varsity team in both sports and said it’s purposeful. The coaches try to limit too many lowerclassmen from joining the varsity team because they want to prevent the

runners from getting discouraged. “When you’re at a high level with seniors, you kind of mentally don’t go for it every time because you might not be in the front of the pack all the time,” Leung said. While the pressure to consistently perform well can have its negatives, Leung said he thrives in high-pressure situations and copes by pushing himself to keep going. “[When I was competing for CCS], the stakes were high just because it was a chance to qualify for the state meet and the pressure is definitely there,” Leung said. “You feel it, but every time you step on the start line you just want to give it your all.”

Photo courtesy of Claire Oh

Photo courtesy ofAmelia Craciun

Photo by tktktkktktktkt

COMPETITION IN ACTION: HHS athletes continue training for various sports and push their skills to the next level.

Sibling synergy: family connections through sports

Youngs, Yins, Gomards share impact of sports on their relationships By Harshitha Vijayakumar Most siblings regard each other as irritating or unbearable, but after entering the court or field alongside a sibling, a newfound sense of respect arises. Siblings Bryce and Brooke Young, Faith and Grace Yin and Thea and Ingrid Gomard have found this to be true. For senior Bryce and sophomore Brooke, playing soccer together has strengthened their connection as siblings, Brooke said. “Bryce’s soccer advice has greatly impacted my performance,” Brooke said. “He gives me another point of view during my games and lets me understand what is happening from Photo by Harshitha Vijayakumar

CELEBRATING THE WIN:

Brooke joins Bryce on the field to commemorate his win.

[that] perspec- Photo courtesy of Thea Gomard “I watch learn from each other to become tive.” how she por- better than one another.” For Bryce, trays herself As each sister has her own set w a t c h i n g as a leader of weaknesses, Ingrid said that Brooke’s games and I try to gives them the opportunity to has been essenemulate that teach each other on how to imtial to his growth type of be- prove in those areas. as an athlete, he havior in my “I’ve learned she is better at said. own team,” racing and going fast down hard“I think Grace said. er slopes, while I am better at about what she “I look up to technique,” Ingrid said. TOGETHER IN UNFORM: can do to im- Thea and Ingrid celebrate the her in order When putting their rivalries prove, and then start of a competition. to become aside, Thea said she sees the same I can think as great of a potential in her sister as her sisabout my own playing style in the leader on the field as she is on ter sees in her. same way,” Bryce said. the court.” “I do believe that when you While playing the same sport Faith said she and Grace learn disregard the many flaws,” Thea as a sibling allows for a stronger from each other’s achievements said, “We are both good in each bond to form, playing different and failures to better each other. other’s eyes whether we fully adsports can also allow for a differ“I believe being older gives mit it or not.” ent view to emerge. me more experience to pass onto For senior Faith and sopho- Grace to use to be a better lead- Photo courtesy of Grace Yin more Grace, being captains for er, and I even learn from her at basketball and field hockey has times,” Faith said. allowed them to exchange their However, sometimes playing knowledge on leadership. the same sport as a sibling leads Faith started playing basket- to interfamily competition. ball in first grade while Grace Sophomore Thea and freshstarted playing field hockey in man Ingrid both started skiing 9th grade. young and since, have seen each Although their sports differ other as competition, Thea said. AFTER THE GAME: Grace greatly, their ability to lead as “We both have strengths and takes to the court to celebrate captains is similar, Grace said. weaknesses,” Thea said. “But we Faith’s win. PAGE DESIGN BY KARUNA CHANDRAN AND NINA VASQUEZ CRUZ

Sports

Friday, February 4, 2022

Winter season update

Varsity girls soccer

Varsity boys soccer

Wrestling

Infographic by Hope Saena

Varsity girls basketball

Varsity boys basketball

5-5-1 3-9-1 0-1 11-4 8-9 Varsity girls soccer took a tough loss facing Gunn in their away conference game Jan. 21, ending with a score of 0-4. They currently hold sixth place in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

NEXT GAME: FEB. 9 AT LOS ALTOS

In a home conference game against Gunn Jan. 21, varsity boys soccer won by a long shot, ending with a score of 3-0. The team remains sixth in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

The varsity wrestling team lost against the Cupertino Pioneers Jan. 20, leaving with a score of 30-34.

With seconds left on the clock, varsity girls basketball stole the win from Los Gatos Jan. 22, ending with the close score of 46-45.

Varsity boys basketball scored a close win against Mountain View Jan. 20, ending with a score of 52-48.

NEXT GAME: FEB. 7 AT HOME VS PALY

NEXT MATCH: FEB. 8 AT HOME VS WILCOX

NEXT GAME: FEB. 9 AT HOME VS PALO ALTO

NEXT GAME: FEB. 5 AT HOME VS MILPITAS

Sports adapt to new COVID-19 obstacles Masking policies updated in light of new variant By Amber Birrell, Mae Richardson and Ritaja Subrahmanya As COVID-19 cases across FUHSD continue to rise due to the Omicron variant, safety regulations have become stricter for HHS sports teams, athletic director Mallory Lantz said. The Santa Clara Valley Athletic League voted to enforce keeping masks on during indoor sports on Dec. 17, Lantz said. Wrestling is exempt from this rule due to masks being a safety hazard, principal Greg Giglio said. School administrators are supposed to enforce masking regulations by pausing the game to give warnings to players who violate the protocol. Currently, county regulations require a negative COVID-19 test or proof of full vaccination for indoor events with over 500 attendees, Giglio said. Since most indoor sport games do not exceed this limit, it is unlikely HHS will

have to restrict spectators, Lantz said. “There’s been some conversation about whether we should go back to just families,” Giglio said. “But the students are already with each other in school so the chance of spreading the virus is not a big deal.” Indoor sports also have mandatory testing procedures, Lantz said. All athletes test on Tuesdays, although many athletes choose to test multiple times throughout the week to ensure team safety, Lantz said. During school breaks, athletes received rapid test kits to use after traveling. “If you become infected with COVID-19 you have to sit out for at least five days,” Lantz said. “Then after five days, you’re able to come back to school but you’re not able to come back into sports.”

Athletes can return to play after receiving a negative test once their isolation period ends, assistant principal Brian Dong said. JV girls basketball coach Megan Fong said their protocols have essentially remained the same. “We have a general rule that if you’re too tired and want to pull your mask down, then you need to step outside of the game,” Fong said. “Within our program, everyone understands pretty well that we play with our masks.” While Fong acknowledges basketball players are at a higher infection risk due to its indoor location, she said she still feels safe. “I think at Homestead we’re doing the best job I know,” Fong said. “During games and practices we’ve been very strict about the masks.” Many sports have also faced

cancellations due to the rise in season, girls varsity soccer player, cases. Other schools like Palo junior Emerson Zufelt said. “The game cancellations have Alto High School and Lynbrook have canceled games due to too a negative effect on many athmany positive cases, Lantz said. letes. For me, soccer is one way As a result, many sports at HHS I can get out of the house and paused practices for short peri- not worry about school,” Zufelt said. “So having games and pracods of time, Lantz said. “We’ve done modified shut- tices canceled is disappointing.” downs,” Lantz said. “JV boys basketball Photo by Amber Birrell was given a whole week off because we ended up having to cancel the games, but at a varsity level, we can’t really give a varsity team a week off.” The cancellation of games has caused many athletes to feel upset, as they are facing a simiLACK OF PLAY: Athletes grow frustrated as lar situation as last games continue to be rescheduled.

Reaching for the stars

Varsity baseball to cut returners

By Saira Ahmed and Anushruti Nagarajan

By Niyatee Jain

Sophomore Gili Cohen wakes up at the crack of dawn to go to swim practice, which begins at 5:3O a.m.. After practice, Cohen rushes back home to get ready for school and must leave within an hour. As soon as school ends, Cohen prepares for evening practice. By 9 p.m, Cohen finally returns home to complete homework, eat and sleep, only to repeat the same rigorous routine the next day. “Since swimming is a very quiet sport, it is an escape for me. It is hard but it also clears my head,” Cohen said. “The amount of time I spend on it does cause stress related to school and getting my work done on time.” Cohen began her swimming journey the summer after kindergarten, she said. She continued to swim for fun and quickly gained a passion for being in the water. As Cohen got older, she joined the Santa Clara Swim Club’s intensive swim team, attending two-hour practices twice a day. With this hectic schedule, Cohen said good time management is crucial to maintaining a balanced schedule. Even though Cohen said she is focusing more on swimming this year, she still strives to challenge herself academically. “Balancing good grades is a hard thing to do. I don’t always get my homework done on time, but I use the weekends to catch up,” Cohen said.

During tryouts, many sports follow an unspoken rule: returning athletes, dubbed “returners,” have a higher chance of receiving a spot on the team. However, this year, varsity baseball faces a dilemma: there are around 30 returning juniors and seniors, but only 18 open spots, head coach Travis Sunseri said. Since the baseball program is part of the CCS De Anza Division, there is no junior varsity team. Instead, it is called the freshmen-sophomore team, coach Curtis Currier said, meaning returning upperclassmen, if cut, will not be able to participate this year at all. “Going back to my first season as the head frosh-soph coach [in 2019], we had 17 freshmen join,” Currier said. “At that point, I wasn’t interested in cutting athletes, so student-athletes continued along through their sophomore and junior years in the program.” When it comes to choosing who will make the team, Sunseri said he would not be biased and make his selection based on skill, not grade. “There are a few major things we look at like leadership, their knowledge and being able to perform at a high level,” Sunseri said. “The first thing I told the athletes is that I don’t know any of them and they have to prove to me why I should put them on the field or why they should make the team. I’m not going to play any age bias, as it’s more of whoever deserves and earns that spot.” Senior Simon Kirschenbaum who

Gili Cohen strives for Olympic dreams “Most of my teachers are understanding and others not as much.” Being born into a water sport family, Cohen said there is pressure to perform well during her swim meets. She said she likes the extra push of motivation from her family and enjoys challenging herself to improve with every stroke. “Practice is really hard, but that’s how you get better,” Cohen said. “In the next three years, I’m working for an Olympic trial cut. That is the goal.” With her strenuous swim schedule and juggling sophomore year of high school, Cohen said the key to balancing it all is passion. “It’s all about how much you want it. If you push yourself daily and strive to get better, you will achieve your goal,” Cohen said. “That is what makes me different: I know I can, and I know I will.” Photo courtesy of Gili Cohen

DESIRE TO SUCCEED: Cohen (right)

balances work with swimming intensity.

Too many upperclassmen try out

plays shortstop said he thought it was fair if returning players were cut this year because decisions should be based on merit. However, Kirschenbaum said the problem could have been better avoided if the cuts were made during his freshman year in 2019. “I think the large number of people trying out is a product of a soft coaching style that wants to give everyone a chance and doesn’t cut people,” Kirschenbaum said. “With four years and four different varsity coaches, our team has lacked competitive spirit. I feel like we haven’t been able to develop a good program, and player development has lacked because of it.”

Photo by Niyatee Jain

CUTS TO COME: With many trying out,

varsity will make some tough decisions.

PAGE DESIGN BY LIA KLEBANOV AND CHLOE WONG

Spotlight

Friday, February 4, 2022

Teacher Hall of Fame Students appreciate teachers in their lives who deserve recognition

Illustrations by Ritaja Subrahmanya and Karuna Chandran

Most Inspiring

Nicest

Once a Mustang, always a Mustang Teachers look back on their time as HHS students By Rajiv Venkatesh

Illustrations by Ariana Tejeda Moreno

When precalculus honors, AVID and applications of Advanced Math teacher Niloofar Vakili decided to become a teacher, she said her first thought was to return to HHS, the school she graduated from in 2005. She spoke with The Epitaph about her time as a student and her advice for current students. How has HHS changed since you were a student? The campus itself has changed a lot! Although some of the buildings are the same, there are a lot of new features, like the cafeteria, the football stadium and the GSS building. The bell schedule is also different.

Lisa Clausnitzer

Sam Fung

“The passion and energy Ms. Clausnitzer shows every day motivates me to work hard and put in the same effort. She really cares about her students’ mental health and success”

“Mr. Fung goes an extra mile to help his students. He does his best to make sure they enjoy chemistry by giving breaks between his lectures. He’s always there to help.”

Eda Ozen (11)

Harshdeep Singh (10)

English

Most Likely to be Mistaken for a Student

Science

Funniest

What was your best memory from high school? The rallies and other school events were really great memories. My graduating class was really spirited. Even if people didn’t know each other well, they always came together to help with decorating the quad – that’s what made it so fun! What is your advice for current students? Take advantage of all of the opportunities the school has to offer. Check out the different clubs on campus, participate in school events like rallies and homecoming and be curious about the different electives offered at Homestead. It’s a great way to learn about what you enjoy and you’ll meet a lot of people while doing so. French teacher Kelly Ronsheimer returned to Homestead as a teacher and found a school that was larger and more diverse, but with the same amount of stress and pressure she had become familiar with as a student. She spoke to The Epitaph about her experiences as a teacher and as a student in the ‘90s who participated in cheer. What was your best memory from high school? For homecoming, the quad had a kiddie pool that was full of water and had little ducks in it. The principal [at the time] got thrown in the pool. It was so funny, but he got really mad and everyone involved got suspended. Also, in my junior year, the cheer team went to nationals and I got to go to Disneyland with all my friend. It was a lot of fun to be on a really good team with all my friends, flying on an airplane down to Los Angeles. It was a really special trip.

Harry Unsinger

English

Social studies

“I went to a club meeting, and when I saw her in the back of the classroom I thought she was a student.”

“Mr. Unsinger’s jokes, random comments and personal anecdotes were the best part of my sophomore year.”

Jacob Chen (10)

Josue Sanchez (12)

Before & After

Rosie Nguyen

Photos courtesy of Niloofar Vakili

2002-2003

Niloofar Vakili

Photos courtesy of Kelly Ronsheimer

1992-1993

Kelly Ronsheimer

What inspired you to come back to teach? I did not want to be a teacher at first, and I definitely did not want to be a teacher at HHS. I used to work in sales, finance and as a program manager, but I found all those jobs to be very boring. Even though I was making a lot of money, I still felt very empty, so I asked myself, “what is the one job that I liked?” I [remembered that I] used to be a tutor at San Jose State and I figured I should try teaching, but I felt I could not be in my high school again. After [I worked at Monta Vista for] six years, I became a French teacher at HHS, thinking I would go right back to Monta Vista the next year. That was 14 years ago. What would be your advice to students at HHS right now? Don’t forget to [enjoy life]. High school students almost get turned into mini adults, and everything is so serious they start to forget how to do something for fun, not for a grade or competition. Find out what you like to do and do it.

READ MORE ABOUT INSPIRATIONAL TEACHERS ON PAGE 7 PAGE DESIGN BY ARIANA TEJEDA MORENO AND RAJIV VENKATESH