The Epitaph Volume 60, Issue 4, 2022-23

The Epitaph

SOUND THE ALARM

Series of fire alarms disrupt class time, cause inconvenience for first responders

By Zeinab Rakhshandehroo, Hope Saena and Harshitha Vijayakumar

Three consecutive fire alarms went off at HHS during the week of Jan. 23. In all three instances, students vaping in the bathrooms set off the smoke sensors, triggering the alarms, dean Anthony Nguyen said.

When a fire alarm goes off, there are several steps that go into ensuring the safety of all staff and students. Administrators and other staff members perform specific tasks to ensure safety, Nguyen said.

“Student safety is of our utmost concern,” Nguyen said. “Administrators are responsible for checking certain buildings to make sure that they’re completely empty of people, just in case someone trips and can’t get up.”

While administrators check their assigned buildings for any students left behind, facilities manager Elder Fagundes checks the panels to see which sensor is activated, Nguyen said. Once the location is identified, staff check for smoke, fix the sensor and reset it. After the buildings are clear and all students are on the field, everyone can return to classrooms.

“It’s all a team effort,” Nguyen said. “I can’t do this by myself.”

Nguyen said he encourages students to report misbehavior they see in the restrooms to an administrator to prevent large-scale disruptions.

“We want students to feel safe on campus, to use the restrooms as they’re intended and to report to us [since] everything stays confidential,” Nguyen said. “It’s not about getting in trouble. It’s about respecting educational time.”

The fire department also goes through an extensive process when an alarm goes off at a school, fire captain for the Santa Clara County Fire Department Colin Mulloy said. Since schools have a large number of occupants, they are considered target hazards. The fire department has pre-planned binders for such locations, which contain a map of the location, exit routes and the location of alarm panels, Mulloy said, allowing the fire department to offer assistance efficiently during an emergency.

In the event of a false alarm, however, Mulloy said the fire department’s resources are wasted, leaving the rest of the community potentially more vulnerable.

“In a false alarm, a fire engine is responding to the high school,” Mulloy said. “That means they can’t respond to other emergencies. If we’re on scene trying to

find out what’s going on at the high school and someone has a medical emergency close to our station, the next fire ap paratus that’s going to respond to that is going to be coming from farther away.”

In addition to the impacts on administration and the community, the false alarms greatly impact students and teachers, math teacher Katie Heaney said. Heaney, whose AP statistics class had a test during fourth period Jan. 25, said both she and her students were concerned about how to handle the disruption.

“I usually give a full class period for tests, and that day we were out on the field for about half an hour, which is a significant amount of time to lose from the class,” Heaney said. “It was stressful for my students, who weren’t really sure what was going to happen, and it was stressful for me to figure out how we were still going to do the test but dis rupt the class as little as possible. It puts a lot of stress on the staff and students to make up that time.”

Though she understands the importance of smoke sen sors working effectively, Heaney said the false alarms are frustrating for teachers.

“If somebody’s smoking or vaping in the bathroom, there should be consequences for that,” Heaney said. “We all have to walk out and evacuate and be stressed out just because of the actions of a few students.”

While the false alarms impede class time, AP environmental science teacher Jessica Wakefield said they also affect students outside of the classroom.

“It’s super unfortunate that the alarms were set off in the gender neu tral restrooms, limiting the availability of those for students that use them for what they’re intended for,” Wakefield said. “What we need to do is figure out a way to curb the behavior that is setting off the alarms, because students are smoking in the bathrooms.”

Though the procedure for dealing with the alarms can be tedious, Nguyen said he appreciates students and staff for taking them seriously.

“I’m deeply sorry for the missing class time,” Nguyen said. “But I’m very

Inflation impacts HHS community

Sunnyvale’s may not solve all inflation woes.

“Take restaurants for example. If eggs are more expensive, restaurants may have to raise prices to cover the cost of their inputs,” Gonzales said. “If they also have to pay their workers more, they would have to raise their prices even more. The combined effect this may have is that people may decide it is not economical to eat out, which may result in businesses closing.”

grateful that our staff is doing what they’re sup

Dance studio undergoes changes

Space to be used as multipurpose classroom

By Zeinab Rakhshandehroo and Hope Saena

Hidden among the hallways near the girls locker room, HHS’ dance studio is being transformed. Although the room will still serve as a dance studio, it will be a flexible classroom meant to accommodate 40 to 50 kids during the day, principal Greg Giglio said.

The changes being made to the dance studio allow it to transition easily from being a dance room to a classroom, and vice versa, Giglio said.

“We brought in desks and tables and we put curtains up to cover the mirror,” Giglio said. “So when somebody needs to use it as a dance room, they can open the curtains, pull the furniture out and it’s a dance room again.”

dle the amount of bodies that need to be in there,” Giglio said. “[The other option for] where they’re going is the field house, which is humongous and doesn’t have adequate places to write. So really, this is just a compromise.”

PE 9 teacher Shawn Hook said that many of his previous classes have struggled with using the old PE classroom due to its small size.

chasing power of consumers in the future. Meanwhile, global factors such as the war in Ukraine continue to affect the supply of goods, Gonzales said.

In terms of combating inflation, Gonzales said minimum wage increases such as

The classroom will primarily serve PE classes, Giglio said. It is specifically geared toward providing a classroom environment for the freshman PE classes during their health and safety unit.

“The current PE classroom is too small, and the HVAC system is not able to han-

Students qualify for prestigious math competition

AIME brings students closer to national team

By Evelyn Wang

After taking the AMC 10 and AMC 12, 18 HHS students qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, math club adviser and algebra teacher Michelle Yuhara said.

The AIME — the intermediate round of a series of math competitions — was held at HHS on Feb.

7.

competitions, the United States selects participants for its math olympiad team, junior and AIME qualifier Alex Zhang said. The team participates in International Mathematical Olympiad, an annual math competition for high school students across the globe.

The students who qualify for the AIME are those who have the top 5% of scores from AMC 10 and 12 across the nation, Yuhara said.

Inflation

“If you can think about the correct way to approach them, you’re golden.”

Additionally, Zhang said AIME problems feel more like brain-teasers versus homework.

Although the AIME might appear to be a standard math competition, for Kulkarni, it means much more than that.

Based on this series of math

In terms of organization, Yuhara said the AIME is hosted through math club, which does practice problems during club meetings to help students prepare for the exam.

THE MATH OLYMPIAD PATHWAY

International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP)

United States of America Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO)

United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO)

American International Mathematics Examination (AIME)

American Mathematics Competition 10 (AMC 10)

American mathematics Competition 12 (AMC 12)

AIMEisthesecondsteptowardqualifyingforthenationalmathteam.(InfographicbyEvelynWang)

Dance studio

Continuedfrompage1

The new PE classroom provides the needed space to accommodate the large freshman classes, Hook said.

Although PE classes are benefiting from this change, it is inconvenient for dance teams, who utilize the studio for practices, KREW treasurer Seoyoon Hwang said.

“The studio really is important because we use [it for] formations,” Hwang said. “It’s really important for us to check in the mirror to see if we have the right formation or if we’re doing the right moves. The dance practice room also lets us have enough space to move around, even if we have 20 people.”

Though the exam is three hours long with 15 questions, senior and math club president Arindam

Kulkarni said he finds the competition questions more engaging than math tests at school.

“AIME problems are not equation heavy or formula based; it’s more about the way of thinking and problem solving,” Kulkarni said.

“It’s a way where I can display everything I’ve learned,” he said. “You can apply AIME concepts to other classes or you can use these concepts in different ways and I think that that’s really valuable.”

Aside from being an enjoyable experience, AIME can also be a good way for students to distinguish themselves, Zhang said.

“Taking the AMC and qualifying for AIME is fairly impressive in the grand scheme of things,” Zhang said. “It’s a good way for people who are interested in math to do it outside of school.”

Because students are competing against high schoolers across the nation, Yuhara said it is a very prestigious and rigorous exam.

“A lot of colleges look at this to see how mathematically proficient the student is and how passionate they really are about mathematics,” Yuhara said. “It’s a way to measure their mathematical competency.”

To prepare for the AIME, Zhang completed many practice problems and used competition math textbooks, he said.

“Most people who make it into AIME are generally quite self-driven,” Zhang said. “It’s just something they enjoy doing by themselves outside of school.”

Thefollowingthreesectionsdetail ways in which inflation affects differentmembersoftheschoolcommunity.

Working students

Senior Katherine Alvarez has been working in the school cafeteria since her junior year. Alvarez said she was introduced to the job by a friend and decided to join to earn money for her college fund. As a first generation student, Alvarez said going to college is important to her, especially since her mother works hard to provide her with the opportunity to pursue a post-secondary education.

In addition to earning money, Alvarez said working has helped her realize her passion for helping the student community and cafeteria staff. Working above minimum wage at roughly $18.50 an hour, Alvarez said she is not surprised to see minimum wage increases in several Bay Area cities. For instance, the minimum wage increased from $17.10 to $17.95 in Sunnyvale on Jan. 1, 2023 to combat effects of inflation, according to the City of Sunnyvale. Similarly, the minimum wage increased from $17.10 to $18.15 in Mountain View.

“Especially since the area that we live in has very high pricing, affording to live here is very crazy,” Alvarez said. “And for some people, it’s impossible to find a steady income. So the fact that I’m able to have a job right now at school is really nice.”

Low-income families

KREWpracticed“Blessed-Cursed”byENHYPENfortheJan.27IDCFantasticsrally.Havingcurtainsclusteredinthecornersofmirrorsmakesitdifficulttomaintainformations,juniorSeoyoonHwangsaid.(PhotobyZeinabRakhshandehroo)

By limiting the amount of usable space in the dance studio, these changes negatively affect KREW’s performances, Hwang said.

“There isn’t one large curtain across the mirror, they are in small clutches so [even when we push them aside] the mirror is divided into sections, which makes our performances not as clean,” Hwang said. “The tables and chairs take up almost half of the dance room. Even if we push them on the side, we don’t have as much room to practice anymore.”

The PE department also did not have an opportunity to give input before making the changes, Hook said.

“It was presented to Mr. Bonvechio, the department lead, [after it was built],” Hook said. “He’s

in there right now teaching the health unit and he really enjoys it.”

With the studio being such a key element to KREW’s success, Hwang said she felt the administration should have notified the club of the changes being made before reworking the dance room. This would allow students and staff to express their perspectives, Hwang said.

“We don’t have anywhere else to practice other than the dance studio,” Hwang said. “This really affects us a

lot, and if they had told us earlier we could have planned better to adjust to the changes.”

When going to the grocery store with her mother, junior Desiree Carranza said that due to inflation, they typically end up spending more money than she expects because groceries her family commonly uses, like eggs, milk and vegetables, are so expensive.

Over the year, overall prices in the Bay Area rose 4.9%, according

to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result of these high living costs, families in the same situation as her can end up pushed out of the area, Carranza said.

“The only reason why my family still lives here is because I go to HHS and they want me to go to a good school,” Carranza said. “If HHS wasn’t a good school, then I wouldn’t live in this area.”

To afford their current standard of living, Carranza’s father works long hours as a UPS driver in Fremont. Carranza said he doesn’t come home until 11 or 12 at night, and he works far too hard just to live in Sunnyvale.

“I know he needs to work and I’m grateful that he works just so we can live here, but I wish I got to spend more time with him,” Carranza said. “I don’t see him that often throughout the week because he’s working so much.”

Teachers Math teacher Matthew Guevara has been working at HHS for 12 years and commutes every day from Hollister. Along with high gas prices, he said he has to spend two and a half hours per day driving to and from school.

“The biggest problem with this commute is mostly my time and gas being used,” Guevara said. “It takes a lot of gas when I drive my truck, and costs way more to be driving all this way. I do have an electric vehicle, which I purchased because of the prices, so it’s really helpful in terms of money.”

Guevara said traffic and weather often make the length of his drive unpredictable. If housing prices were lower around HHS, Guevara said he would move closer to avoid the commute.

“I’ve been working here for so long and really like the community, but I also like where I live. I’m just trying to make it work,” Guevara said.

Which effect of recent storms has impacted you the most?

According to the survey, most students and staff said recent storms affect them the most when it comes to transportation.

“I can’t drive, there’s no bus near me and I live too far to walk,” sophomore Ingrid Gresham said. “It can be difficult for my parents to find time to take me to school.”

Principal Greg Giglio said the school has been fortunate enough to remain in session during the storms.

“We’re hearing horror stories of other districts having to close because their classrooms are flooding,” Giglio said. (Infographic by Anderson Picone, Mackie Vu and Veronica Zhao, based onasurveyof210students).

JuniorDesireeCarranzasaidherfatherworkslonghourstoprovidefor theirfamily.(PhotocourtesyofDesireeCarranza)

FUHSD creates HHS to MVHS transfer program

District aims to mitigate ongoing decline in enrollment

By Karuna Chandran, Madhavi Karthik and Macy Li

To combat the issue of declining enrollment at MVHS, the FUHSD Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) will launch a pilot program for 30 incoming freshmen in the HHS attendance area to transfer to MVHS next year, MVHS principal Ben Clausnitzer said.

Composed of staff and community members from each site, the CAC reconvened at the beginning of the school year to stabilize enrollment across the district, Fremont Education Association (FEA) representative Jason Heskett said. The CAC advised the Board of Trustees to approve the Monta Vista School Supplemental Assignment Program (MSSAP), an initiative modeled after a similar program created by LHS to alleviate the school’s ongoing declining enrollment.

“The Lynbrook program has been great, and it’s really helped stabilize Lynbrook,” FUHSD Board member Jeff Moe said. “We hope to

have that same smoothness and cooperation this time. I kind of expect it — I know our community, and I know our students.”

With HHS currently being the largest school in the district and 74 students over projections this year, all five principals, FEA representatives and 16 of the 20 voting CAC members supported this plan, according to the CAC Board presentation from Dec. 6.

“We started off [informing the Board] what the ratios are, how we determine what classes are at each site and the effects if we had declining enrollment at one school compared to another,” Heskett, a member of the reconvened CAC, said.

“The board agreed the least effect on the community would be to just involve Homestead and Monta Vista as a pilot to see how it works. It was a three-month process of meetings every other week, where we broke it down until we came to the final decision.”

To determine whether the program is effective, Heskett said the CAC will review the results next year and discuss whether the criteria should be altered, depending on how many students apply to transfer.

As MVHS suffers from declining enrollment, fewer classes are

available for students to enroll in, Clausnitzer said. Next year, MVHS will have approximately 120 fewer students, which results in more singletons and doubletons — courses that are only offered during one or two periods. Due to the shrinking student body, some MVHS teachers have begun teaching at other schools in the district.

“[The program] doesn’t solve the problem of declining enrollment, but it means that fewer classes are singletons or doubletons, [leading to] fewer conflicts [for students],” Clausnitzer said. “It means better access for kids. It would be good for our programs, teachers and community.”

Declining enrollment is a complicated, broad issue that is not necessarily fixable, Board member Roy Rocklin said. Therefore, working toward balancing the schools is a way to ensure the district is equitable in the quality of education.

“You can [potentially] change boundaries, which requires

students to go to a different school, or you can ask for volunteers, but changing boundaries is very controversial,” Rocklin said. “A lot of families move into a particular area because they like the school, and they don’t want to send their children to a different school, so asking for volunteers is much more publicly acceptable.”

On Jan. 25, a family information night was hosted to provide students with further insight into the MSSAP, Clausnitzer said. Pro -

spective students will be invited to course selection nights at MVHS, as well as school-wide presentations from counselors and administrators, before they join the MVHS student body next fall.

“Having been at HHS, I know HHS is a special place,” Clausnitzer said. “We’re going to be honored to be able to welcome with open arms students who would normally attend HHS to MVHS. We’re looking forward to those students being here.”

Whilethedistrictpreviouslyexperiencedsteadyenrollment,therehasbeenacontinualdeclineoverthepastthreeyears.(InfographicbyMadhaviKarthik)

Students, staff process loss of senior

Community members reflect on Shreyas Kelkar’s life, character

By Saira Ahmed, Lia Klebanov and Erin Loh

In light of senior Shreyas Kelkar’s presumed passing, students and staff reflect on his life and remember his positive impact on the HHS community. After going missing the evening of Dec. 13, Shreyas was presumed dead three days later, according to emails sent by principal Greg Giglio. He is believed to have died by suicide.

Shreyas’ father, Ashish Kelkar, said his son enjoyed learning math and solving the Rubik’s cube. Additionally, Kelkar said Shreyas could pick up new languages quickly. Shreyas’ friend, senior Caden Chai said his experiences with Shreyas in their Spanish 3 class reflected this sentiment.

Chai said that in class, Shreyas would speak Spanish to practice the language while his peers would often switch back to English. Chai

said Shreyas was a hard-working student who was naturally curious about learning and would enthusiastically participate in his classes.

Reflecting on one instance of Shreyas’s kindness, Chai said an injury he had last year hindered his ability to walk, preventing him from participating in hallway activities with the rest of the class. However, Chai said he was kept company by Shreyas, who stayed behind in the classroom with him.

“Since I couldn’t go in the hall, I would have to wait inside for people to come to me,” Chai said. “If I had no partner, he’d always come up to me, do the activity with me, ask how things were going. That was really helpful, because I had a lot of stress around, ‘What if I don’t get a partner,’ or, ‘What if I don’t have enough information to do what we’re doing?’”

Chai said his older brother also experienced the loss of a friend due to suicide while he was a student at HHS.

Having a family member who understands what he is going through has helped him cope with

his grief, but the shock still remains.

“[If I could, I would have told Shreyas that] whatever he was going through, it was not worth losing your life, and there are ways you can get help,” Chai said. “I know it seems extremely bad, because I’ve been in that position myself, but give it some time, and it will get better. While you’re in the moment, it’s extremely hard to see any other way out, and you get tunnel vision, but it’s something that you will regret.”

Clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Kalehzan said tunnel vision causes most suicides to be impulsive. While loved ones of victims often blame themselves for not foreseeing a suicide, Kalehzan said it is not their fault.

“Tunnel vision tells people that there’s no other choice, that this is a good choice,” Kalehzan said. “The way to think about suicide is that somebody decides to do something that is not logical. But at that moment, it served their purpose, and they did not survive it. But it’s not your fault. It’s nobody’s fault.”

Kalehzan said young people may be afraid to reach out for help due to cultural reasons or fears that adults may call the police or send them to psychiatric wards. However, for anyone feeling hopeless, Kalehzan said the most important action to take is to tell someone.

“If a patient tells me, ‘I’m feeling suicidal,’ I say, ‘We want to keep you alive. This will pass, but right now, depression is speaking to you in a way that is giving you bad ideas,’” Kalehzan said. “I keep saying, ‘Wait one more day. You’d be surprised how different things look after one more day.’”

Kyle Bonvechio, Shreyas’s PE teacher, said he hopes to be someone students feel comfortable reaching out to for help. One way he builds trust is by fostering relationships with students, he said.

“I always tell them, ‘Even though I’m your teacher, I’m always here for you regardless of what is needed. Even after you have my class, I am a resource,’” Bonvechio said. “I hope [students] can always find me if they need me.”

Bonvechio said Shreyas was always a personable, easygoing and dedicated student. Bonvechio said Shreyas always greeted him when he entered class, which is not something he typically expects from students.

“We had him [in class] three times a week, and every day, he made sure he always came up to me and said hi. It was always nice to have someone do that,” Bonvechio said. “One thing that always stood out to me is he always came and said thank you at the end of class. Having him go out of his way every single time meant a lot to me.”

As Shreyas’s teacher, Bonvechio said it is still difficult to comprehend what happened, and he continues to remind himself of the positive interactions he had with Shreyas throughout last semester.

“It was a pleasure to be his teacher, and I truly enjoyed the interactions we had together,” Bonvechio said. “And I want to say, ‘Thank you, Shreyas.’”

According to the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention, schools often withhold information about a death or prevent memorials from being erected in honor of suicide victims to limit suicide contagion, the notion that a suicide within a community often spurs others to act on suicidal ideation.

Kalehzan said while she understands a school’s need to take precautions against honoring suicide victims, she still believes schools should do more to encourage discussion around mental health.

“I know there’s fear of suicide contagion,” Kalehzan said. “But I think what we need more of is a discussion about what the factors

are that lead a person up to making a rash decision.”

Kalehzan, who went through episodes of depression as a teenager and suffered postpartum depression as an adult, said an important step in making progress on the “public health emergency in this country” is to normalize mental health struggles.

“It was crazy because here I’d been a researcher specializing in depression, but when you’re in it, you have to trust that there’s somebody else that can see it more clearly than you do,” Kalehzan said. “I think everybody, at some point in life, feels suicidal, or at least has the thoughts.”

Kalehzan said when a peer confesses to feeling suicidal, it is important for students to take them seriously and help them find resources. To foster a more informed community. Kalehzan said she hopes high schools will one day have a class that teaches life skills and mental health coping mechanisms, such as going outside, exercising or caring for a pet.

As students, Chai said, it is everyone’s responsibility to get to know their peers and listen to one another, since one never knows what others may be going through. Additionally, Chai said this event is a wake-up call for all community members to be grateful everyday for their lives.

“We all have a ton of plans after we go to college like [finding] a job or [starting] a family,” Chai said. “The fact that it can all end so quickly is sobering, and we shouldn’t take anything for granted.”

Speaking on behalf of both parents, Ashish Kelkar said in an email that the family is thankful for the outpouring of love and compassion from the HHS community.

“While we will never know the exact reasons why Shreyas took this drastic step, we believe it was depression or anxiety,” Kelkar said. “As parents, we would like all teenagers to share their feelings/anxieties with parents, friends, counselors or medical professionals. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness and suicide is never a solution.”

As parents, we would like all teenagers to share their feelings/anxieties with parents, friends, counselors or medical professionals. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness.”

Ashish Kelkar, Shreyas’s father

Data provided by Roy Rocklin

The Epitaph

Editors-in-Chief

Madhavi Karthik

Macy Li

Managing Editor

Karuna Chandran

Production Manager

Hope Saena

Senior News Editor

Erin Loh

Junior News Editor

Nicole Kim

Senior Opinion Editors

Keshav Kumar

Anushruti Nagarajan

Lindsey Steel

Senior Lifestyles Editor

Lia Klebanov

Junior Lifestyles Editors

Saira Ahmed

Brevin Reed

Senior A&C Editor

Amber Birrell

Junior A&C Editor

Rajiv Venkatesh

Senior Sports Editor

Niyatee Jain

Junior Sports Editor

Harshitha Vijayakumar

Senior Design Editors

Seoyoung Hwang

Christine Kim

Junior Design Editor

Mackie Vu

Senior Multimedia Editor

Zeinab Rakhshandehroo

Junior Multimedia Editor

Veronica Zhao

Senior Social Media Editor

Saira Ahmed

Junior Social Media Editor

Annabelle Yip

Photo/Illustration Editor

Joss Broward

Web Manager

Seoyoung Hwang

Copy Editors

Joss Broward

Rajiv Venkatesh

Reporters

Ella Chan

Parth Dhaulakhandi

Manya Girivasan

Nathan Gu

Patrick Hao

Nicole Pimenta Innecco

David Lin

Brian Ling

Anderson Picone

Gabriela Salazar

Helen Tam

Evelyn Wang

Faith Watters

Emma Yu

Adviser

Natalie Owsley

Mission Statement

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.

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Staff Editorial

Mental health crisis demands immediate action

One issue has a cost on our community that is massive yet invisible. At HHS, many students struggle with their mental health in silence, without access to the support that could save their lives. To tackle this issue, we must work as a community to engage in open discussions about mental health and ensure all students have the resources they need.

According to a survey by The Epitaph, 75.7% of 187 respondents stated they are currently struggling with their mental health, primarily due to academic pressure and familial stress. To combat this crisis, HHS must begin by destigmatizing mental health and cultivating an environment where open, honest conversations are embraced.

Administration needs to raise awareness for the struggles of students now, instead of waiting until another mental health-related tragedy occurs. During school hours, it is imperative for administration to host campus-wide discussions for students to share their own concerns and solutions.

Although HHS offers a variety of mental health resources, 70.6% of surveyed students said they would not be comfortable using available resources, such as the school-based therapist. Because of this, administrators should raise awareness for external resources offered to students. For example, Stanford University offers three free, virtual counseling and psychological sessions for all students, available

To tip or not to tip?

By Niyatee Jain

The barista flips the iPad around. 20%? 25%? 30%? Do I want to tip the barista, who only warmed up my cookie? I avoid eye contact as I press “No thanks,” but should I feel ashamed for not tipping? Although it feels like recent tipping culture has grown extreme, businesses and customers should recognize this is due to a lack of compensation for service workers.

The history of tipping traces back to the nineteenth century,

when wealthy Americans saw Europeans pay workers for exceptional service, according to TIME. But that’s exactly where the problem stems from — it was something only rich Americans could do, since many lower-class citizens could not afford to pay a tip on top of their dining experience. Ultimately, a practice rooted in classism is not sustainable because wealth disparities have only increased.

Furthermore, modern tipping culture has caused the definition

Administrators can also support students by revising the Wellness Check-In Form, which allows students to schedule appointments with school psychologists and therapists. The Wellness Form should be changed so students can refer their friends and peers in need of support, ensuring that those who are unable to reach out themselves can get the necessary help. Additionally, the Wellness CheckIn Form should be more widely publicized and promoted so this valuable resource does not go unnoticed.

The Check-In Form is currently displayed in the corner of the HHS website on the “Students” page. Given its importance, it should be placed in a more prominent location. Moreover, staff are currently required to undergo suicide prevention training, principal

Greg Giglio said. In addition to staff, students should also receive suicide prevention training through mandatory, periodic modules on the subject so they can better identify and help those who are at risk.

Students must be made more aware of the variety of resources available to them. To accomplish this, the guidance counselors and school-based therapists can deliver a presentation in every English class at the beginning of the year to introduce themselves and show students where to locate resources.

This change will ensure all necessary resources are made accessible, allowing us to provide support to peers who need it and save lives.

As a community, we must fight for the resources we need to be happy and healthy. Creating a culture of healthy communication, as well as promoting the quality and accessibility of mental health care, will ensure nobody feels alone in their most difficult times. It is our responsibility to create the change we need.

of exceptional service, which constituted a tip in the first place, to shift. Initially, tipping was reserved for sit-down restaurants, where one waiter served for the entirety of the meal, or for salon trips, where a manicurist would spend over an hour perfecting a client’s nails. But now, even someone just pouring a cup of coffee feels like it warrants a tip. In an expensive area like the Bay Area, customers can end up paying an appalling amount for a cup of coffee.

Rather than relying on the generosity of customers, workers must receive greater compensation. In fact, excessive tipping culture seems like a cry for help from the service industry.

More than 50% of wait staff and bartenders’ salaries are tips, according to the National Employment Law Center. Instead of depending on customers to pay the other half of a living wage, businesses should pay their employees higher salaries.

(IllustrationbyGabrielaSalazar)

Currently, the federal minimum wage is only $7.25, while in California, it is $15.50 or an annual salary of $31,000, according to

Test retakes facilitate growth

By Annabelle Yip

When I was in sixth grade, I received a three out of five on my math test. Today, I would not bat an eye at that score, but at the time, it was agonizing.

Luckily, my teacher gave our class the opportunity to retake tests we scored poorly on, and the following week, I found myself anxiously knocking on the door to her classroom at lunch.

My teacher’s test retake process was different from what I had experienced in the past, since we were required to review our mistakes with her before returning to retake the test. The idea of spending my lunch reviewing math problems with my teacher

seemed illogical when I could have skimmed through them by myself at home.

It wasn’t until later that I understood my teacher’s intentions. Through this process, I gained the courage to ask my teachers questions, but more importantly, I recognized the value of making mistakes. By instilling a growth mindset in her students, my teacher encouraged us to treat our mistakes as learning opportunities.

However, this is not the only benefit of test retakes. In addition to facilitating growth, the opportunity to retake tests can reduce students’ test-taking anxiety. In fact, 80% of students reported experiencing less anxiety when given the option to retake an exam, accord-

ing to a study from the University of Wisconsin. Test retakes allow students to focus on mastering concepts and strengthening their knowledge, instead of fixating on a test score.

While I don’t remember the score I received on the test retake, I was able to take away more than just a grade — it was never about the test score itself, but instead about putting effort into learning from my mistakes. When students see their errors as opportunities to improve, they build a growth mindset that will improve the ways they handle hardship in the future.

Ultimately, it is

the Department of Labor. Raising the minimum wage decreases the amount people feel like they need to tip, and it also allows servers to gain a constant source of income, as tips are left to the customer’s discretion, according to the Census Bureau.

For countries with no tipping system, like Switzerland, there is a higher minimum wage, where workers make almost $4,000 a month according to BBC. As a result, most tipping is reserved for hotel and salon workers. In addition, other countries, like India, incorporate the tip in their prices. While this may increase costs, it eliminates the awkwardness of not giving a tip and provides employees with an acceptable amount for their work.

Of course, if possible, giving a tip shows appreciation for those serving you. However, if most servers need to rely on tips to sustain themselves, the blame should be placed on businesses and the government. Tips should only be seen as what they are — an extra thank you — and not the customer paying someone’s salary.

more important to learn from mistakes than to get everything right on the first try, which is why test retakes are such a valuable opportunity for students — young and old.

Moresupportmustbeofferedforstudents’mentalhealth.(IllustrationbyAnushutriNagarajan)

Raisingtheminimumwagewillcombatout-of-handtippingculture.

Make no assumptions

By Anushruti Nagarajan

Let’s face it — people talk. Gossip is spurred by out-of-the-norm events in our community, causing a small-scale event to erupt into campus-wide talk. At HHS, many students spread rumors about situations without being fully informed. A perfect example of this is the gossip spread about a recent fight between two students.

On Dec. 2, two students got into a physical altercation near our campus a few minutes after school ended, Principal Greg Giglio said. Shortly after, Dean Maria Trejo was alerted and arrived at the scene to check out the ordeal, and in accordance with California Ed. Code 49005, stepped in to stop the students from causing each other further harm, according to the California legislative information.

The physical interaction between the two students prior to Trejo’s arrival was in need of in terference, according to a student who witnessed the altercation and asked to remain anonymous to protect her privacy.

When a student is hurting themselves or others around them, administrators are legally allowed to physically intervene, Giglio said. In FUHSD, administrators are trained in trauma-informed care and safety care through an online safety course. In the course, administrators are trained to inter-

Let’s be honest about academic

vene in an emergency to protect a student from imminent risk of serious physical self-harm or from inflicting harm to others. Trejo did what any administrator should have done: stopped a fight that could have led to far worse repercussions.

Ultimately, the HHS community’s reaction to this situation reveals the harmful effects misinformation can have on our school.

As I walk through campus, I often hear insensitive comments being thrown around about the altercation, which perpetuates this cycle of speculation and misinformation. Our community is built on values of kindness and trust, and gossip can erode valuable relationships at HHS.

Speculating about incidents, especially at the cost of jeopardizing someone else’s reputation, is a line we must not cross. Getting caught up in drama is a draining, unfulfilling experience and a disservice to yourself — let alone others. Keep in mind that while you are gossiping about someone today, it could be you in their place tomorrow.

From small talk to controversial pictures,gossipspreadslikewildfire.

(IllustrationbyAnushrutiNagarajan)

Riots in Brazil mirror American history

By Nicole Pimenta Innecco

On Jan. 8, I was sitting on the living room couch when my dad walked in. Displayed on his phone was a video: people bearing nationalist flags and storming a government building. It felt like a replica of the Capitol breach two years ago, when I sat in that same seat and watched American rioters threaten our democracy. But this time, instead of red, white and blue, the people were clad in green, blue and yellow.

These Brazilians were proudly looting political buildings and tearing important documents, all while displaying the Brazilian flag, which reads “Ordem e Progresso” — order and progress. However, despite their efforts, the attempt to reverse the peaceful transfer of power to the new president, Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, ended up failing, according to CNN. This was the biggest assault on democracy in Brazil in decades, shocking many people across the world who witnessed the riots unfold.

It is a possibility some Bra zilians felt inspired by the American attack on de mocracy, according to The Hill. In both cases, a far-right president with an affinity for Twitter encourag es citizens to react with aggression. He contests defeat in a democratic election, propagates conspiracy theories to his faithful base of fol-

By Rajiv Venkatesh

Forgot to study for a test? Easy fix. All you have to do is find a friend who took it before you and ask them for the answers. This is just one of the types of academic dishonesty that have occurred at our school.

HHS is certainly not the only school with this problem. Wherever there are competitive students and grades to be earned, cheating will exist. In fact, in the past four full school years, there have been a total of 246 reported academic dishonesty cases, according to data provided by Dean Anthony Nguyen.

While many students cheat because they feel it is the only way to earn the grades they need to be accepted to college, the consequences for being caught are far worse than those for a lower-than-desired grade. For example, many teachers will not write letters of recommendation for students who have been involved in an academic dishonesty incident, and repeated violations can show up on a student’s transcript, Nguyen said.

At the end of the day, cheating in classes ultimately harms the students themselves. When students plagiarize assignments or share answers to a test, they rob themselves and others of the opportunity to learn.

Taking these shortcuts also impedes their ability to prepare for college, where academic dishonesty can cause a student to be expelled immediately.

In my view, academic dishonesty is partly the product of a constant push for achievement from

all sides, which has detrimental effects that extend far beyond cheating itself. Peer pressure, high expectations from parents and a competitive learning environment cause students to develop an overwhelming desire to succeed at any cost.

When students feel the need to achieve the extraordinary but lack the drive to actually put in the effort to be extraordinary, cheating is inevitable.

To address this issue, teachers can place a greater emphasis on academic honesty. In particular, teachers of AP classes can ensure tests are not identical across class periods. By making it harder to share answers, students will be compelled to prioritize learning the content of a class, rather than attempting to cheat.

Students and their parents can also reduce the pressure that often causes students to cheat by

focusing on the work necessary to achieve the grades or achievements they desire, instead of purely prioritizing results. By choosing a more manageable course load and having reasonable expectations, both parents and students themselves can help solve this problem.

Ultimately, this will serve to alleviate the academic stress that can have profoundly harmful impacts on mental, emotional and physical health, according to the National Institutes for Health. By valuing integrity, the HHS community can create a fairer learning environment for all students.

Whether helping a friend cheat on a test or doing it yourself, the consequences far outweigh any benefits.

So, the next time you feel like you need to take the short route, stop for a moment and choose to be honest with yourself.

lowers and sparks a dangerous revolt.

At the heart of both riots is a nationalist ideology with a dangerous history of resisting democratic transfers of power. Consequently, both Biden and Lula fiercely condemned the protesters, labeling them as extremists and threats to national security. The Brazilian president went even further, calling the rebels “fascists,” according to The Wall Street Journal. This is a strong word U.S. leaders have shied away from using.

Conservative Brazilian leaders have also condemned this insurrection. More American leaders need to rise to that occasion and prevent history from repeating itself, instead of only caring about their own political agendas.

The U.S. needs to reassess the impact it has on the world and take that responsibility seriously.

As a Brazilian-American, it is embarrassing to see the humiliation happen twice:

tries I love making a fool out

Keep national parks natural

Economic incentives should not interfere with national parks

By Nicole Kim

I have a personal goal of traveling to all national parks in the United States. While on this journey, I have seen everything from towering trees to glowing volcanoes. After visiting 34 of the 63 national parks across the U.S., I can attest to the quality and uniqueness of these lands. Based on my experiences, there is one point that must be made: politicians need to keep their economic agendas away from national parks.

The title “national park” has long been considered a high honor, but the addition of recent parks has tainted this designation by including unqualified lands that are better off as national monuments or historic sites.

Gateway Arch National Park, formerly known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, is a perfect example. Gateway Arch was recognized as a national park by an act of Congress signed by former President Trump in February 2018, according to Congressional records.

In 2021, 297 million park visitors generated $20.5 billion while visiting National Park Service lands, according to a visitor spending report. That year, the Gateway Arch National Park’s total visitor spending was $126 million. Despite these obvious benefits, it is

important for legislators to prioritize the qualifications of the land instead of the economic benefits a new title will bring to the area.

When politics and economics become reasons for designating land as a national park, the value of what a national park stands for is compromised. National parks are defined as containing “a variety of resources” and encompassing “large land or water areas to help provide adequate protection of resources,” according to the national park service.

Politicians and legislators need to consider this definition when creating new national parks. Gateway Arch National Park does not fit this description, and instead should be deemed a national monument, similar to the Washington Monument or Statue of Liberty.

National parks have always been a source of pride for many Americans, given their natural beauty. The tradition of national parks needs to be preserved

by maintaining the standards for these lands and ensuring only deserving regions are considered national parks.

In my 17 years of life, I have visited numerous national parks and countless other lands within the national park service.

I know firsthand that the beauty of sheer granite cliffs and underwater gardens surpass anything human-made, no matter its historical significance. These majestic lands are those deserving of their national park titles — not lands that will conveniently bring in revenue.

Students must recognize the harmful effects of gossip

The speaker silenced,

Harassment reporting needs to

democracy defeated prioritize student comfort

Kevin McCarthy’s concessions to extremists threaten democracy

By Keshav Kumar

These days, our nation’s politics seem to be dominated by people with malicious intent. It feels like every week, our leaders abandon another political norm and stray further from their civic duties, serving only themselves instead of the people.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy was finally elected Speaker of the House on Jan. 7, after 15 rounds of voting. This unprecedented gridlock was caused by a group of extremist Republicans, who leveraged their voting power to snub McCarthy and expand their influence in Congress, according to Reuters.

Unfortunately, the concessions McCarthy made to this group are a recipe for a dysfunctional and unstable government.

To obtain the votes he needed to become speaker, McCarthy promised that if just five members of his party are dissatisfied with his leadership, they could hold a vote to oust him as speaker, according to The Hill.

This means that just five legislators could essentially start another speakership election at any time, and for any reason. This will force Republican leaders like McCarthy to placate the demands of the most reactionary and dangerous factions of their party to stay in power.

One of the fundamentalists McCarthy needs to appease is Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, who has used her platform to promote the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to The Washington Post. Another is Florida Rep. Matt Gae-

President Donald Trump to preemptively pardon him, according to The New York Times.

Shockingly, McCarthy gave both Boebert and Gaetz spots on the influential House Oversight Committee, which in theory, serves to prevent abuses of power by the Biden administration, according to Politico. This increased influence will allow right-wing Republicans to undermine the legitimacy of our government with frivolous, politically motivated investigations.

This far-right power grab is also playing out through the debt ceiling, a limit on how much debt the US government can owe. In the past, whenever the debt ceiling was reached, Congress worked out a deal to raise it after some political wrangling.

This time, radical Republicans like Gaetz have been emboldened to push for aggressive cuts to social spending to meet the debt ceiling requirements. And, if the moderates follow their lead and refuse to compromise, America could face a complete economic collapse, according to Roll Call.

This is only a glimpse of what the future might hold. Although McCarthy is a staunch conservative, the fringe elements of his party take his ideas to a new extreme. They are willing to gain power and prevent progress at any cost.

If Boebert and Gaetz’s histories in politics are any indication, these politicians will lie or break the law to achieve their ends.

We have a civic duty to get involved in politics and advocate for the ideals we believe in. Although the political situation may seem hopeless and chaotic, the only way we can remedy it is by fighting for change. We must stay vigilant and ensure we are choosing leaders who will represent our interests and defend democracy at all levels of government. The very fabric of

By Lindsey Steel

The decision to report harassment is a difficult one that requires courage. However, the current harassment reporting process creates a rift between students and administration, further isolating students. To ensure all students can feel safe and respected when they choose to share their stories, administrators must expand and improve support for victims of bullying, bigotry or assault.

As someone who has experienced the harassment reporting process, I know it is never easy to ask for help when situations between students demand adult intervention. And, while I am grateful for the mediation that resulted from an administrator’s involvement, the harassment reporting process was ultimately an uncomfortable experience.

In accordance with California law, administrators are responsible for investigating and issuing disciplinary consequences when students report they are facing harassment or bullying, or feel unsafe, said Dean Maria Trejo. Throughout this reporting pro -

cess, Trejo said confidentiality is critical, and when serious misconduct occurs, victims in these situations must speak to the deans one on one. As a result, students are not allowed to bring a third party, like a friend, into these discussions.

When I went to the deans to file a report, I felt embarrassed revealing intimate details about my personal life. Although I knew the deans would be able to handle the situation professionally, I would have felt significantly more comfortable if I had the support of a friend or teacher when I spoke to administrators.

Thecurrentharassmentreportingprocessis intimidating.(IllustrationbySeoyoungHwang)

Confidentiality is imperative when it comes to these situations, but it should not come at the expense of a student’s comfort. While the law requires harassment reporting to remain confidential, victims should have the opportunity to include an additional person for support, thus

This is everyone’s fight

Racism among minorities hinders fight for equality

By Zeinab Rakhshandehroo

America is home to countless ethnic groups, each with its own culture and identity. These communities are disadvantaged in society, economy and politics, according to the Brookings Institution. The discrimination they face unites all minority groups, in spite of their differences.

The Black Lives Matter movement is an example of solidarity among certain minorities. This movement inspired individuals to rise up together and fight for change. People across different groups, such as the Latino and Asian American communities, joined the Black community in their fight, according to the Pew Research Center.

speak out and stand up for what they believed in. The involvement from different minority groups helped strengthen the efforts and impacts of the BLM movement, creating the potential for greater change.

Although communities have rallied together numerous times, tension still exists between them. In fact, I have witnessed these rifts in my own family. Once, my cousins from Texas mentioned they felt unsafe in their neighborhood because many Black people live there.

creating a more open and honest discussion for all parties involved. Had I been permitted to bring a third party into the harassment reporting process, I would have sought help earlier. If this gap between students and administrators is not bridged, victims will be discouraged from coming forward with their stories and holding those who have caused them pain accountable. Increased student support during the reporting process will not only allow current victims to feel more at ease, but will also encourage others to find the

a recipe fordysfunction.(IllustrationbyMacyLi)

The BLM movement also coincided with the Stop AAPI Hate movement, spurring some members of both communities to work together through unified acts of demonstration, such as holding joint protests, according to The Washington Post. The support from different groups for BLM empowered individuals to

Electric vehicles: a false promise

Electric vehicles still emit, just indirectly

By

Brian Ling

The world has recently developed a massive craze for electric vehicles due to their supposed environmental benefits. With California banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, EVs are seen as a fantastic alternative for a greener future, according to The New York Times. However, EVs still have a long road ahead of them before they can become a viable or realistic alternative for the vast majority of people.

Although EVs do not use gas-

oline, they can still harm the environment since the process of manufacturing EVs emits intensively. EV batteries require metals like lithium, cobalt and nickel, and their extraction further contributes to total fossil fuel emissions, according to NPR.

EVs are also much more expensive than gas vehicles. The cost of manufacturing the battery is passed on to consumers through higher prices. This markup makes EVs too expensive for the majority of Americans who are looking to buy a new car, preventing many from purchasing them, according to The New York Times.

Furthermore, charging EVs is more burdensome than fueling

gas vehicles. EVs take much longer to charge than gas vehicles, which limits their range. Additionally, charging the car indirectly emits, as the electricity used typically comes from sources such as burn ing coal or natural gas, according to CNBC.

Despite these flaws, people who can afford electric vehicles should still invest in one to sup port their develop ment. As more people begin to purchase EVs,

United,minoritygroupscansparkfar-reaching change.(IllustrationbyHarshithaVijayakmar)

In another instance, my parents bought into the model minority myth, joking about how all my brother’s co-workers at a tech company were probably Asian. Even I am guilty of this, having once been afraid to travel to Mexico because of the portrayal of its gangs and drugs in the media.

These beliefs, fueled by the ideals of white supremacy, only divide us and prevent us from understanding or collaborating with one another. By turning on each other, we ignore the real issues, such as discrimination and unequal opportunities, that affect all of us. In a

they may become cheaper and even better for the environment as their batteries are improved.

EVs have the potential to leave a

society where we are all underprivileged, prejudice against one another only hinders our fight. Our voices, alone, may be considered insignificant — but, together, our message rings louder. Rather than tearing each other down, minorities must work together to create change.

By sharing our culture and finding common ground, we can better understand each other and bring down the barriers of racism within our communities. If we hope to improve our place in society, we must rally together and support each other in our collective fight for equality.

significant, positive impact on the world’s net carbon footprint. However, more needs to be done before electric vehicles can become a wide-scale catalyst to limit pollution and prevent climate change.

The increasing powerof far-right Republicans is

POV: Embracing my Tamil heritage

By Madhavi Karthik

As I enter the kitchen, I know dinner is ready. The strong aroma of cumin and mustard floods the house, initiating a battle between my brother and me to get the first taste. My comfort meal — vendakkai poriyal — is the ultimate cure to anything and everything, whether I am down with a cold or stressed about school.

Classified as one of the oldest languages in the world, Tamil is spoken by millions across India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia, according to The Times of India. From a young age, my parents have instilled Tamil culture in my daily life by constantly speaking in the language and cooking up dishes essential to Tamil cuisine.

As much as I love my heritage, I dreaded one thing whenever my grandparents visited or I traveled to India: speaking the language. I built the habit of responding in English when my parents spoke to me in Tamil, afraid of embarrassing myself by making basic grammar mistakes.

I was tired of the giggles and imitations of me trying to speak Tamil from my extended family, so I figured I would shield myself from mortification by not trying at all. I spoke my Americanized version when absolutely necessary, and even though my grandparents could understand me, our conversations were only about ba-

The Epitaph

Living life on the cutting edge

AI club explores future of technology

sic things, like what I learned at school.

It wasn’t until recently when I went to dance class that my perspective about the language changed. I learn an Indian classical dance called Bharathatyam, an art form originating in Tamil Nadu, India. To deepen my understanding of a piece, my teacher assigned me the project of analyzing the song lyrics, which were in prose, or formal Tamil.

To tackle what seemed like a daunting task, I started defining the words I knew, which were admittedly not many. After getting help from my teacher and parents, I was able to recite the English translation of the song. Not only was I able to memorize the movements more efficiently now that I knew what I was conveying, but I developed a newfound appreciation for this intricate language.

After nitpicking every foreign sound, I no longer viewed speaking Tamil as a chore. I made a conscious effort to practice by responding to my parents in Tamil and calling my grandparents often.

I ignore the “you speak so cutely” comments from bystanders, and I am not afraid to sprinkle in an English word here and there.

I now take a weekly Tamil class to improve my speaking fluidity, and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I cannot wait for my next trip to India to show off my skills as a Tamil ponnu

By Rajiv Venkatesh

When junior Pranav Gunhal first developed an interest in STEM and began looking into future careers in the field, he saw that many future jobs were in artificial intelligence. Gunhal said he believes this is because many traditional opportunities in fields including writing, art, coding and medicine can be replaced by AI in the future. After realizing the potential of the technology to impact nearly every field, Gunhal said he joined AI club to further explore its possibilities.

Vice president, senior Ben Song said his interest in computers and their use in biology led him to learn more about artificial intelligence. The synergy between AI and biology is a common interest among many members of the club, Song said, with club president Alex Wang developing a project that uses AI to determine whether a person has COVID-19 based on scans of their lungs.

On the other hand, co-workshops director Jiaming Situ said he is interested in deep learning technologies like ChatGPT, which has the ability to respond to questions posed by users in a style that mimics human writing. In order to help members understand these more advanced technologies, Situ said the club provides a solid foundational knowledge of AI by teaching the basics of the technology.

“As a student, ChatGPT is a very helpful resource when there’s something you want to know an answer to,” Situ, a junior, said. “For instance, when I was writing my research paper, there were semantics that I was unsure about, and ChatGPT pointed me in the correct direction.”

However, Situ said ChatGPT and other innovative AI technology come at a cost. In ChatGPT’s case, Situ said he is worried students will become overly reliant on the technology when writing essays.

Song said ChatGPT deserves the attention it has received due to its groundbreaking nature, but believes it is still an imperfect product that currently lacks all of the capabilities of humans. In particular, Song said AI models can dis-

tinguish ChatGPT’s specific way of forming sentences from human writing styles, reducing the present impact of the technology on education.

“The outputs I’ve seen for ChatGPT don’t show an incredible amount of capability and critical thinking,” Song said. “It’s able to emulate underclassman-style essays, but I don’t think its writing would be acceptable in college.”

Additionally, Gunhal said he is concerned about other AI products, which have made antisemitic and racist comments. This usually occurs when AI models are trained using data from social media sites, according to The Intercept. Although he feels ChatGPT is doing a better job of detecting potentially offensive questions compared to past AI products, Gunhal said he thinks there is a lot of work to do to make AI technology free from bias.

health insurance or anything. I definitely think AI has the capability to emulate human behavior a lot more accurately in the future.”

AI involves making a machine do random tasks, and then looking at what works and keeping it. You have to do that over and over again until the machine does what you want it to do.”

To expand its appeal, Gunhal said the club caters to tech-focused students by incorporating hands-on coding events, as well as to those interested in discussing the role of humans in this time of rapid innovation in artificial intelligence. In addition, Gunhal said these workshops are created in such a way that students with limited knowledge about AI and those familiar with the field can both learn from the club.

In spite of these efforts, Song said that as a relatively new club on campus, AI club has struggled to gain members due to competition with other STEM-related clubs. Song said the club strives to differentiate itself from others by delving deep into a specific aspect of computer science, yielding an important lesson for him.

As artificial intelligence technology continues to improve, Song said he can envision a future in which companies create intelligent algorithms that can one day replace human workers.

“Programs are much easier to maintain than humans,” Song said. “You don’t even have to pay them

“AI involves making a machine do random tasks, then looking at what works and keeping it,” Song said. “You have to do that over and over again until the machine does what you want it to do. It teaches perseverance because there’s a lot of trial and error involved in that process.”

To the ranch: junior shares love for animal rescue

By Saira Ahmed and Harshitha Vijayakumar

Five turtles, two chickens, two dogs, 20 saltwater fish and a horse. These are just some of the animals junior Vivian Van Zandt has taken care of at her home and the ranch she visits often.

Taking after her father, Van Zandt has always had a soft spot for animals. If it were not for her mom, her home would be filled with the random animals Van Zandt and her father find, she said. In fact, she and her father have been collecting and rescuing animals for years because it brings her happiness to help them out.

“I like animals because they are so innocent and pure,” Van Zandt said. “They don’t judge you, and I really like spending time with them. Animals do not deserve anything bad. Humans do the worst, and they deserve the worst, but animals never do.”

Van Zandt said she has rescued a wide range of animals, all coming from various backgrounds.

“I have had over 30 turtles that I have rescued, nursed back to health and relocated,” Van Zandt said. “I have had [some of them] since they were babies, and we just wanted to keep them because they were too domesticated to release back in the wild. They wouldn’t be able to feed themselves.”

Rescuing and rehabilitating these animals,

Van Zandt said, is what she is meant to do in life. As a result of these meaningful interactions, Van Zandt said she now feels more connected to her surroundings.

“I am thankful for my encounters with the squirrels, roosters, turtles, cats, lizards and crows that I have rescued,” Van Zandt said. “But caring for these animals really is the bare minimum, so it doesn’t make me feel like a better person. I just wish others would [have a similar mindset], and start doing the bare minimum for our local wildlife.”

Van Zandt also rescued her horse Sweetie, who has now passed away, from a racetrack. Due to the abuse Sweetie faced as a former racehorse, Van Zandt said her knees suffered extensive injuries from having been forced to run fast from a young age.

In order to take care of all of these animals, Van Zandt said it requires a lot of patience and knowledge about each animal’s individual needs. Through her years of experience, she said she has learned valuable lessons about strengthening relationships with animals, and even people.

“Taking care of animals has allowed me to be able to read people’s and animals’ body language better,” Van Zandt said. ”Since animals do not have a voice, you have to read their body language and know what they are feeling. That has helped me with humans as well, and being able to read people has made me more compassionate.”

GunhalsaidheisexcitedaboutAI’sapplicationsinmedicalresearch andself-drivingcars.(PhotobyDavidLin)

VanZandtsaidshehasrescuedawiderangeofanimals,includingturtles,horsesand parakeets.(PhotosbyHarshithaVijayakumar)

SpeakingtomygrandparentsinTamilallowsmetodeepenmyrelationshipwithmyheritage.(PhotocourtesyofMadhaviKarthik)

Ben Song AI club vice president

DO YOU EVEN LIFT?

Staying healthy is no easy feat. From lifting weights to practicing mindful commitments to wellness.

BREAKING A SWEAT: talking fitness

By Nicole Kim

During the early morning hours before school to late weekend nights after studying, many students with a variety of interests and schedules come and go through one common location — the gym.

Junior Jazmin Lorenzo said her fitness journey started in eighth grade. After being overweight most of her life, Lorenzo said in quarantine she decided to start working out.

Since she began regularly exercising, Lorenzo said she lost over 100 pounds. After spending most of her time working out at home, the junior said she decided to step out of her comfort zone and join a gym.

Now, Lorenzo said she goes to the gym six times a week, lifting weights for the first five days and doing cardio on the last.

“The gym community is so loving and so supportive,” Lorenzo said. “Yesterday, this guy came up to me and said, ‘You live at the gym, don’t you?’ and I’m like, ‘How come?’ and he was like, ‘I see you every day and you do such an amazing job. I see your workouts are slow and controlled.’ It was such a friendly and sweet interaction.”

While Lorenzo felt like she belonged at the gym from the beginning, freshman Noah Rockmael said it took her longer to adjust, as she initially preferred working out alone and free from judgement.

However, trying out various machines at the gym made Rockmael feel more comfortable, she said.

“I actually started using the machines and found a routine that works for me,” Rockmael said. “That’s when it became fun, when I did stuff that correlates to something I like to do.”

Similarly, after going to the gym for the past year, sophomore Fuad Dweik said he feels more confident about himself and his body.

“There’s the physical benefits of working out and there’s also mental benefits,” Dweik said. “I feel a lot more well-minded and at peace after I started working out and additionally, a lot more confident.”

While the negative aspects of gym culture do exist, Dweik said for him, gym culture is more of a stereotype.

“There are people who will be very toxic and there are [toxic aspects] of gym culture, but my goal is just to help people and obviously workout,” Dweik said. “I’d say it’s definitely more of a stereotype and people take the term a little too seriously.”

While many find going to the gym the best way to stay fit, sophomore Atticus Belt said he prefers to use his home gym and the weight room at school.

“I think the best way to stay healthy is cardio,” Belt said. “Just being really big doesn’t necessarily mean

What’s for luncH?

Rangingfromleanproteintoheartyvegetables, studentssharehowtheirmealplansupports healthylifestyles.

“[As a wrestler], if I don’t get proper nutrients, I won’t be able to perform well on the mat. Eating food high in carbs and protein helps me because it prevents my muscles from getting tired quickly.”

-Alfredo Villanueva (10)

you’re going to be healthy. If you keep your metabolism going and burn calories, that’s a better way to stay healthy.”

Belt said he maintains his health by eating well and staying active. For Belt, this comes in the form of the two sports he plays: football and track and field.

Along with the various health benefits of going to the gym, Belt said as someone who does not go to the gym, gym culture is fairly prevalent around him.

“I think there are both good and bad parts of gym culture,” Belt said. “I think trying to get better is always a good thing, but I feel like some people are too focused on how they look instead of actually being strong or performing well.”

PE teacher Shawn Hook said he aims to create a positive gym culture within his PE weight training class. Hook said he first learned the benefits of working out in the gym from a high school coach and hopes his students can experience the same thing.

“My gym culture is making this weight room friendly to every student,” Hook said. “I want them to come in here and be able to do something that improves their mind and body.”

InPEweighttraining,sophomore

Fuad Dweik uses the benchpresswhile seniorJoshChoi spotshim.(Photoby NicoleKim)

35.7% of students drink boba once a week

13.7% of students drink energy drinks once a week

32.7% of students drink coffee once a week

PE teacher

GYM BAG

mindful eating habits, students discuss their

luncH?

vegetables, supportstheir nutrithe protein muscles

“My family decided to go vegan for environmental and health reasons. I usually eat a lot of vegetables and grains, and I love tofu.”

“I like foods that are light and give you a lot of energy while keeping you full. I carbo-load before [track] meets so I can have more energy before my events.”

-Mika

Students stay active

Clubs on campus support active lifestyles

Senior Kaleb

Headphones are great for blocking out the noise from your surroundings and staying in the zone.

outside world, checking it in-between sets.

Il-

Kim is the president of the bicycling club and has been a part of the community since freshman year. Since he joined the club, Kim said he has expanded the variety of events offered by incorporating activities with a collaboration emphasis, like bicycle repair workshops.

“It used to be a much more niche club that was centered around intense cycling,” Kim said. “Once I took over, I wanted it to be a more inclusive club to come.”

President of the wilderness club, senior Laura Robleto said the club strives to teach students about the world around them and how to take care of it. The club educates members about topics such as native plants and animals.

“We’ve already done a camping trip this school year,” Robleto said. “I’d like to go backpacking where you can stay out there longer and experience [nature] more deeply.”

Health and fitness club member, senior Nicholas Guidi believes the weight room is a quintessential area on campus for students to find a community. Anyone can go for a quick workout, which is a privilege to have at school, Guidi said.

“It [weight room] being open has helped me during lunch when I want to try to squat five plates,” Guidi said.

An Apple watch can log calories burned and keep track of heart rate, which can help you achieve your goals for a workout.

Be sure to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated and take small sips to prevent cramping.

A pair of sneakers is essential to prevent potential injuries.

Cohen (10)

-Mahima Maru (12)

Nicholas Guidi (12)

Laura Robleto (12)

Kaleb Kim (12)

Strands of beauty

Students show off eye-catching hairstyles

By Erin Loh and Anushruti Nagarajan

From intricate french braids to luscious locks, hairstyles can make a powerful statement about one’s identity.

Junior Grace Yin said her love for braiding her own hair started in fourth grade, after she had to do her own hair for school every day.

“It took a lot of trial and error. Now, I do it all the time for myself,” Yin said. “It’s a nice mindless activity.”

Unlike Yin who can change her hairstyle on a daily basis, senior Jack Peterson’s hairstyle is more permanent. Peterson has an undercut, which extends all the way around. Then he takes the hair that is left on the top, and puts it all to the right side, Peterson said.

“Originally it was going to look like a normal undercut, but I was like, ‘You know what, I want to try to put it all on one side,’” Peterson said. “It was a spur of the moment decision.”

Peterson said he changes his hairstyle every couple of months. For example, last October, he made the decision to bleach his hair. The senior said he regularly receives compliments from peers as a result of his frequent restyling.

“It’s fun to experiment [with my hair] because it lets me express myself in different ways,” Peterson said. “I feel like with the amount of hair I have, different hairstyles make me look completely different as well.”

On the other hand, Yin styles her hair for convenience purposes. Yin plays field hockey, and said without braiding her hair, her bangs would block her vision. Beyond braiding hair for her own benefit, however, Yin said her braiding has allowed the entire

Curtains close on ‘One Acts’

field hockey team to bond.

“On senior night, I braided six of our ten seniors’ hair in my minivan,” Yin said. “They all wanted the same hairstyle for their last high school game and I’m glad I was [able to] make that happen.”

While Yin only needs a fraction of a day to braid her hair, freshman Mirabelle Brathwaite requires nearly a full day, around 9 to 10 hours, she said.

Brathwaite wears her hair in box braids, a hairstyle of African origin featuring three-strand braids divided into square sections, according to Afrocks.

“I am actually not African American, I am Caribbean American, but we share some of the same customs [with African nations],” Braithwaite said. “My mom used to braid my hair when I was little. It took three to four hours, and was a way for us to bond.”

Brathwaite said she braids her hair about once a month. Before braiding, Braithwaite must part her hair, which she said is the most time consuming step of the routine due to the high precision it requires. Despite the tiring process, Brathwaite said the effort is worth it in the end.

“I like how box braids look, and they are really convenient because I don’t have to do my hair every day,” Brathwaite said. “I don’t have to brush my hair, and it looks presentable all the time.”

Brathwaite said she tried out braiding her hair about two years ago, and has loved the style ever since.

Similarly, Peterson said he encourages students to try out new hairstyles, because they never know which looks they might end up fond of.

“If you are worried about trying something new, I would say just go for it,” Peterson said. “Because the worst that can happen is [it does not work out], but hair grows out again.”

Behind the scenes of student assembled productions

By Gabriela Salazar

Curtains fall back, actors take the stage, the backstage crew prepare themselves to move furniture on and off the stage. It is time for ‘One Acts’, a collection of student-directed and -written productions, which are separated into two different sections, divided by a 10-minute intermission.

Sophomore Mixie Morton wrote the production “A Night in La.” The play tells the story of two detectives from the Los Asbestos police force who soon discover more bodies than expected.

“[Typically], the hero is the main protagonist, and the ‘Lancer’ is their secondary character,” Morton said. “I thought of a story where there’s the main character and the Lancer ends up being better than [the protagonist], so as revenge, the main character completely breaks free from the story.”

Aside from being student-directed and -written, ‘One Acts’ are an opportunity for new theater students to meet current members. They also can experience the welcoming embrace of the drama community and their first ever production in front of a live audience, Morton said.

This year, due to the small number of people who auditioned,

some directors took minor roles in their own shows and in the shows of their fellow directors.

As a techie, or backstage crew member, senior Avantika Varma said the team plays a significant role with coordinating the show logistics and working alongside the cast to bring the production to life.

“We run every single show for around four to five hours with lighting and set cues,” Varma said. “The week leading up to the show, we have to practice taking props on and off at the right time. New techies have a tradition where they stick band-aids to their foreheads and [shout] away the nerves before a show.”

In preparation for opening

Studying semester one

By Saira Ahmed and Parth Dhaulakhandi

While the first semester is all about establishing a routine, the second semester is about rectifying past mistakes and building upon the foundations that were previously set up. It is a new beginning of its own.

Junior Madara Linde said they had some negative academic experiences in the first semester because they felt rushed to get work done, especially in their literature class, where they would quickly write drafts, run them through Grammarly and then turn them in without thorough review.

“Last semester, my goal was to just turn something in, so this semester, my goal is to turn something in that I’m proud of,” Linde said. “I want to put in a little bit more effort into the schoolwork I turn in, maybe turn some B’s into A’s.”

Freshman Dhruv Solanki’s priorities during the first semester included getting to know his teachers better and adjusting to the high school rhythm, he said.

Solanki said the first semester was rough due to the increase of homework assigned, but with time he was able to adapt to the larger workload. To improve his freshman year academic experience and mitigate some of his concerns, Solanki said he hopes to become more organized and diligent this semester.

“I’d like to be more efficient with my homework and just do assignments a week before to avoid procrastinating,” Solanki said. “As soon as I [am assigned] homework, I’ll just do it. I can plan out my day after school and say, ‘From this

night, casts came together to participate in diction and volume games. This allows for actors to refine their projection skills and improve their body language – both of which are essential to the productions, senior Yenting Lin said.

After the final show, the casts gathered together at BJ’s to celebrate their successes. With each performance, Lin said her excitement alleviates much of the stress that comes with performing in front of a live audience.

“During the actual show, if we have mic issues, we just project and we deal with it,” Lin said. “If it’s lighting issues, we just go for it. And if we mess up our lines, because it’s only the two of us, it’s dependent on us. Just continue.”

FreshmanDhruvSolankiisplanningtostaymoreorganizedthissemesterbyutilizingaplanner.(PhotobyParthDhaulakhandi)

hour to this hour, I’ll focus on math homework, then after I’ll focus on another subject,’ and so on.”

As a French and literature teacher, Kelly Ronsheimer said she noticed students were able to work well together in class, as well as have insightful discussions last semester.

Specifically, when her studentsread “The Hate U Give,” the books’ themes of racism and microaggressions provoked thoughtful discussion amongst the class, Ronsheimer said.

This semester, Ronsheimer wants students to read more fiction and gain multiple perspectives on different topics such as love and personal growth. Reading fiction can urge students to reflect upon their own life through a new lens and help them in other school subjects, she said.

Ronsheimer also said that reading skills serve practical purposes for students. This applies especially well to the current unit being ex-

plored in the literature and writing course, digital literacy.

“Right now, we’re reading nonfiction articles and we’re trying to figure out if there is a specific perspective that it’s aiming toward right, center, or left [politically],” Ronsheimer said. “If they have these keen reading skills, they can start to connect quicker with what the article is saying and ask themselves, do they agree?”

With this being Ronsheimer’s first year teaching literature to freshmen, she said she has loved it and hopes she can encourage her students to read more this semester, especially by making them read two books outside of class instead of just one.

“The most important goal behind this is to give them a passion for reading,” Ronsheimer said. “A passion for reading fiction is important to know how to effectively approach a text so you can really get the most from what you’re reading.”

Students, staff reflect on first semester, share academic goals

JuniorGraceYinseesstylingherhairasastressreliever. (PhotobyAnushrutiNagarajan)

‘One Acts’ presents their first show “A Night In La” directed by Mixie Morton.(PhotobyZeinabRakhshandehroo)

Ballin’ on a budget

Behind complex finance process for ASB, clubs, classes

By Lia Klebanov

The senior class cabinet is meeting to organize senior prom, arranging everything from ticket prices to venue selections. Months of hard work and planning boil down to a single night students will never forget. Costs are adding up, but luckily, a plan is in place.

In contrast to the separate club and class budgets, the ASB budget encompasses a wide variety of events, ASB treasurer, junior Grace McGoran said. Using the budget, ASB funds rallies, spirit weeks, club support, homecoming, multicultural week and student publications.

School-sanctioned events are supposed to serve as fundraisers for future events, school financial specialist Candida Marugg said. For example, winter formal costs and profits are split between juniors and seniors. Spring fling, which is hosted in preparation for junior prom and senior prom, is largely funded by the profits from the previous year’s prom. ASB’s sole fundraiser to cover the entire

school year’s needs is the sale of ASB memberships at the beginning of the year, and at least 1,400 memberships have to be sold.

Throughout the year, it is the responsibility of each class cabinet and their advisers to ensure a profit is made through correct ticket pricing and venue costs, Marugg said.

“[ASB] tries to [guide class officers in their money management], but that is the advisers of

that group’s job,” Marugg said. “If they have questions, or if they need guidance or clarification or want our opinion, we [ASB administrative staff] are always here to help that process.”

Megan Lucas, a member of the senior class cabinet, said unforeseen food costs during last year’s junior prom caused the class budget to fall into a deficit. At the end of the year, the graduating class has the option to split their excess

Taking business to Bakersfield

By Keshav Kumar and Lindsey Steel

While there are many business courses offered at HHS, virtual enterprise takes business out of the classroom and into the real world, teacher Graeme Logie said.

To give its students greater experience with business and leadership, the class attended a trade show competition in Bakersfield from Jan. 25-27.

and virtual products that are sold in the virtual economy,” Logie said. “When they leave the class, they should have an idea of what it’s like to do sales, marketing or a human relations job.”

This year, HHS’ virtual enterprise is called Max Out, VE student, senior Josie Cho said. This sustainable exercise company has products that include water bottles and athletic wear.

resources, marketing, sales and information technology.

In Bakersfield, students participated in a trade show where virtual enterprise programs from schools all over California set up booths to showcase their products, Muret said.

funds among all grade levels or allocate it to just one, Lucas said. Luckily, contributions from the class of 2022 boosted their finances, she said.

“We did not raise [enough money] from junior prom last year, so we were in the negatives,” Lucas said. “Ultimately, the seniors gave their money to us. We aren’t in debt anymore, but this year, we definitely need to allocate our money better so we are not in debt at the end of the year.”

Lucas said around 200 junior prom tickets were sold on the last available day, but it was still not enough to completely sell out. Since ticket sales and fundraisers cover most of the spending budget, the senior class cabinet has learned to start advertising earlier to sell as many tickets as possible and maximize revenue while avoiding the risk of another deficit.

“We were in the positive range last year with around $5,000 going into prom,” Lucas said. “This year, we have about $3,000 in our account right now. We don’t necessarily estimate [accurately]. We

always bank on selling out, and we need to change [our estimates to be more realistic] to the number of students that will actually show up.”

To ensure clubs are also budgeting properly, McGoran said, ASB club commissioners conduct mandatory training sessions each semester for club officers to be aware of how to get their expenses reimbursed and follow guidelines.

McGoran said her experiences learning about the budget process have taught her valuable lessons about the complexities of money management, and she hopes to continue increasing transparency in the school community for fund allocation.

“Besides the budget, there is a process,” McGoran said. “Before, when I would submit a form to get reimbursed, I thought I would send this form off and get the money back, but I didn’t realize how many steps there are and how many approvals have to be done. I didn’t know there was so much that goes on behind the scenes of all the financials before I was treasurer.”

Hard work pays off

By Ella Chan and Helen Tam

Virtual enterprise closely simulates a real-life business, allowing students to create a company, for which they produce and sell their own products, Logie said.

“The kids create a company

Similar to a real company, Max Out employees specialize in different areas and hold separate positions, VE student, senior Tanner Muret said. These positions are divided into six departments: administration, finance, human AnayaPatel(12)andVictorTsai(12)sellproductsduringvirtualenter-

“You get to advertise your company in person, which is a rare experience, so a lot of sales and money can be made through trade shows,” Muret said. “I was looking forward to exploring all the other companies and seeing what ideas they’ve come up with.”

The trip included competitions based on different departments of the virtual business, Cho said. As part of the human resources department, Cho participated in competitions for employee handbooks and monthly business newsletters, she said. These events involved giving presentations that were scored by judges.

Although Maxout performed well in Bakersfield, Logie said, they failed to qualify to present their business plan at a national conference in New York, the highest level. However, Max Out is waiting for results from past online competitions that would allow them to attend nationals and participate in events related to marketing.

“Last year, we had five students qualify to go to New York for a marketing competition,” Logie said. “The growth those students [experienced] from the time they found out they were going until when they actually presented was tremendous.”

Virtual enterprise and its competitions, such as the one in Bakersfield, aim to give students the motivation and mindset they need to succeed in the world of business, Logie said.

“I’ll have kids come over, and they’ll say to me, ‘Mr. Logie, I just made a $5,000 sale!’ and that’s great,” Logie said. “It’s $5,000 your company didn’t have before you came here, and [that helps make payroll]. That’s really what we have to focus on — making sure every month your company makes payroll, so you got to sell.”

Every year, seniors can apply to college throughearlyactionor early decision plans. These students gen erally submit appli cations by early No vember, and receive admission decisions before January. We sat down with a few seniors who were ad mitted early. Here are their thoughts.

Harry Guan Senior Harry Guan applied to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, through early decision and is now committed to attend the Bienen School of Music. Guan said he is happy to attend a school that is known for both music and other academic programs.

Seniorsadmittedtocollegethroughearly deadlinesshareexperiences.

(PhotosbyEllaChanandHelenTam)

“As a musician, I’ve been to many national festivals, and I’ve been playing for various youth orchestras across the bay,” Guan said. “I also teach students who have gotten into the all-state honor band, and I really like doing things to focus on my musical progress.”

Guan said he feels more relaxed and secure after commiting.

“I’ll be taking more time to myself and maybe exploring new hobbies, like journalism,” Guan said. “For next year’s applicants, I wish you guys the best of luck!”

Roshni Martins

As a lover of STEM, senior Roshni Martins said she is excited to be admitted to Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Martins has not committed to a college yet, as she is still waiting for decisions from the colleges she applied to for regular decision.

After visiting campus for a competition a few years ago, Martins said she enjoyed the friendly and energetic atmosphere she found at MIT. Throughout the application process, she has learned more about herself, especially when working on essays, she said.

“Writing essays requires introspection,” Martins said. “You just write about the best part of yourself, and you have to piece together parts of yourself to figure out what you like and want to pursue.”

Abby Berwick

Senior Abby Berwick has committed to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, after being accepted to the college through early decision.

Last year, Berwick visited colleges on the East Coast and met alumni who welcomed her onto Brown’s campus, she said. Berwick said she is hoping to explore different academic interests at Brown.

“What I really appreciated about the school was the open curriculum,” Berwick said. “It allows me to venture outside the disciplines I am used to studying and explore subjects that interest me without the consequence of getting a bad grade.”

During the application process, Berwick said, students should apply to colleges that best suit them.

“Each student has something different to offer, and each university is unique,” Berwick said. “Students are bound to find a school that really fits them and will contribute positively to their educational experience.”

Theseniorclasscabinetgatherstoplanlogisticsforseniorprom. (PhotobyLindseySteel)

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Order #214

February 14, 2023

12:00 AM

LEGO FLOWERS

Go to the Lego store and buy a bouquet that can last forever.

CUSTOM PLAYLIST

What a bargain! This is a thoughtful gift that still speaks volumes.

CUSTOM T-SHIRT

In the spirit of love, create a personalized shirt on Custom Ink.

HOMEMADE COOKIES

So yummy! Shape your handmade treats into hearts for a festive touch.

Total:

‘Stay True’ hits close to home

By Emma Yu

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15.00

12.99

If Hua Hsu were born 30 years later than he was, he could easily be one of our classmates, which might be why his newly released memoir, “Stay True,” hits so close to home. Detailing his teenage and college years as a second-generation Taiwanese American in the Bay Area, where he attended Lynbrook High School and UC Berkeley, Hsu’s poignant and lovingly written memoir is much more than a coming-of-age story. It is also an ode to music, a reflection on being Asian American, a contemplation of academia and a stunning eulogy for his late friend.

glance, they are polar opposites — Ken is a confident, extroverted, polo-wearing frat boy, whereas Hsu is a quiet and philosophical music snob who “dresses like a grandfather.” Yet, they make it work, spending their time messing with people in AOL chat rooms, bumming cigarettes off each other, browsing record shops and talking about nothing in particular.

Three years after they meet, Ken is killed in a carjacking. The memoir becomes something else entirely.

As another Asian American

87.98

POV: you don’t have a valentine

Feeling lonely? Listen to this playlist as you shed a tear in your room alone.

By Amber Birrell and Christine Kim

Hsu, now a staff writer for The New Yorker and a professor of literature at Bard College, was a precocious teenager with a strong moral compass, intent on carving out his own identity. In a time before social media, he does this through music, carefully curating his tastes, one record at a time. He discovers Nirvana before everyone else, then separates himself from the posers who hum “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in class.

Throughout his memoir, Hsu’s subtle humor and clear-sighted observations seamlessly pair with his musings on identity, memory and education, making “Stay True” a joy to read.

However, Hsu’s friendship with Ken, a Japanese American classmate he meets at UC Berkeley, lies at the heart of “Stay True.” At first

‘Avatar 2’: an otherworldly venture

By Veronica Zhao

There is a saying that cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the newly released sequel to 2009’s “Avatar,” whisks viewers away to the captivating planet of Pandora — whose inhabitants, the Na’vi, live in harmony with breathtaking nature. Released on Dec. 16, the sci-fi film truly surpasses the standards of modern cinematography. Through stunning CGI and heartwarming scenes, viewers are immersed in this world of adventure, excitement and culture.

Jake Sully, a transformed human-avatar who lives with the Na’vi, resides peacefully with his family 15 years after the events of the original movie. A montage of the subsequent years focuses on Jake’s new responsibilities as a father. The theme of family shines brightly throughout the film as Jake and his wife Neytiri work together to shield their children from harm. The tight-knit bond between the family members touched me, inspiring me to appreciate the power of familial love and boundless loyalty.

The movie’s action is sparked by the “sky people,” sinister humans who were banished from Pandora after they attempted to steal Na’vi resources in the first movie. The “sky people” return to Pandora to permanently occupy the land, causing the Sully family to flee to the underwater Metkayina clan. This migration introduces the movie’s central focus — water. The element is depicted as a primary source of life, death and spirit. Eventually, the family learns

that the way of the water is to embrace it.

The film’s underwater scenes draw the audience to this mystical planet. All underwater shots were filmed with the actors submerged in the water, according to the LA Times making their movements and facial expressions much more realistic. In one touching moment, we get to see a Na’vi boy and a sea creature develop an emotional connection, all underwater.

The underwater aspect of the scene holds great significance because the boy uses special underwater sign language to communicate with the animal, showing how the way of water can connect even the most different characters.

My jaw dropped when I first saw the vast ecosystem of Pandora’s ocean — the underwater

animals, vibrant colors and luminescent caves. Although water is a crucial element in the visual effects of the film, it also possesses a greater meaning: the cycle of life. The way of water is undeniable, so the more we can embrace its truths, the more we can find acceptance in both the good and the bad.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” weaves the importance of family with the essence of water, producing a fascinating film. The movie sets a new standard for cinema in the digital age, and I would highly recommend seeing it in 3D for a breathtaking experience among the creatures of the great sea.

Movie: “Avatar: Way of Water.” Grade: A. Rated PG13. Watch in theaters.

teenager on the cusp of college life, I felt everything about this book down to my core. I smiled when Hsu described his successes and wept when he recounted his losses. The events in “Stay True” are centered around a different era, but the sentiments and bonds are timeless.

In “Stay True,” Hsu illustrates the relationships that got him to where he is today. From his friendships at UC Berkeley to his high school correspondences with his father in Taiwan, the male friendships in Hsu’s life are warm and loving — a refreshing perspective given how pervasive toxic masculinity is in popular media. As Hsu traces the course of these relationships, he illuminates the path through which people learn to grow, love and mourn.

So, as the clock ticked down on the date of UC application deadlines, I wasn’t churning away to finish my essays — I was reading “Stay True,” wiping away my tears while my UC Berkeley application lay ironically unfinished. There was no better way to spend that night. “Stay True” is a painful read, but it’s also a joyful one — a celebration of growth, friendship and music — and it is essential reading for any Bay Area student.

HuaHsucaptures‘90scollege friendshipsandgriefinadifferentBayAreawith“StayTrue.” (PhotobyEmmaYu)

The funniest thriller

‘M3GAN’: a clever comedy or trashy horror?

By Brevin Reed

“M3GAN” is not a horror movie. If you go into the theater expecting to be terrified from start to finish, then take a hard pass on this movie. But if you want to enjoy a comedy and laugh until your stomach hurts, then “M3GAN” is definitely the movie for you.

The film follows Gemma, a genius scientist who invents a robot doll with artificial intelligence to entertain her niece while she works. The doll, M3GAN, is designed to rapidly adapt to a child’s needs and protect them at all costs. This, in true horror movie fashion, leads to a series of gruesome murders perpetrated by the doll. It has all the key components of a classic, run-of-the-mill sci-fi horror film. But one thing separates this movie from the competition — M3GAN herself.

I am not sure what I expected to see when I walked into the movie theater, but a nine-year-old child galloping on all fours through the forest was not one of them. My favorite part of the film would have to be when M3GAN attempts to comfort Gemma’s niece, then sud-

denly bursts into song, singing her own cover of “Titanium” by David Guetta. One iconic scene has even gone viral on TikTok, during which the murderous doll prances down the hallway, body-rolling and holding a knife while her soon-to-be victim looks on in confusion.

Moments like these take you out of the plot’s semi-realism and make you realize how truly ridiculous the whole scenario is. The humor in this movie creates a constant cycle of tension and release, relaxing the audience with a joke before scaring them back into unease. But when the tense scenes are interlaced with humor, it lessens the impact of what should be a genuinely terrifying moment. M3GAN scampering around on her hands and knees is funny in theory, but when you realize she is chasing down a child to kill him, it does not seem as funny or scary.

Do I recommend that you see “M3GAN?” Absolutely. Grab your friends, get some snacks and put it on the old telly. This is not your typical movie, so do not think of it as one. “M3GAN” is a comedy first and a sci-fi thriller second, so I challenge you to see how long you can take the movie seriously before breaking out into laughter.

Movie: “M3GAN.”

Grade: C. Rated PG-13. Watch in theaters.

Moviesaboutkillerdollsarenothingnew,but“M3GAN”managesto

JamesCameronusesvividCGItoevokeasenseofdepthinPandora’s underwaterecosystem.(PhotofromDisney)

Hua Hsu’s newly released memoir chronicles a Bay Area coming of age

Book: “Stay True.” Grade: A+. Buy at your local bookstore.

Street music: a universal language

Street music unites communities, displays diverse talent

By Anushruti Nagarajan

As I walk through the farmers market, I feel the cool breeze ruffle my hair, see fresh fruit stands and smell the sweet pastries on display at bakery booths. A rhythmic tune fills the air. There sits a street musician, with a guitar case open for tips, singing a melodious song.

Street music, also known as busking, is practiced all over the world. It blends cultures and unites communities through a language everyone can understand: music.

Not only does busking connect individuals from different communities, but it also allows musicians to gain recognition for their talent.

Street music provides them with a platform to showcase their skills and receive tips from onlookers, whose strolling experiences are made more pleasant. Developing musicians can use this valuable exposure to reduce performance anxiety and promote their work.

When I walk around Pier 39 in San Francisco, I often stop to listen to music. As someone who thoroughly enjoys singing, composing and playing the piano, I have immersed myself in various types of music along my musical journey. Every street musician has a differ-

ent take on music, which helps me expand my own musical horizons. Busking encourages us to take a step back and enjoy the moment. Whether we are touched by the impactful lyrics or the catchy beat of a song, absorbing the sounds of music can reduce our overall stress levels, according to Fusion.

Ultimately, street music unites the world on a small scale. Music serves as an escape, a form of creative expression and a unique style of art. But the true beauty of music is that it inspires individuals to connect with one another. After all, what is more rewarding than tapping your feet and making others smile, while doing something you are truly passionate about?

Debunking cancel culture myth

Cultural phenomenon falsely portrayed as anti-free speech

By Joss Broward

Whether you love it or hate it, you have probably heard of cancel culture. Yet, how often does a celebrity truly get canceled?

The idea that cancel culture is a severe, harmful issue is misguided. “Cancel culture” rarely causes celebrities to lose their careers, and experiencing a temporary dip in income is often the worst-case scenario, Ligaya Mishan writes for The New York Times.

Nevertheless, far-right conservatives have weaponized the term in recent years, positioning it as a danger to democracy and the antithesis of free speech, with the apparent goal of fearmongering and avoiding accountability.

“Cancel culture” rarely generates tangible, far-reaching repercussions for celebrities — in fact, many people tend to recover. Take Dave Chapelle and Louis C.K., who

both were deemed to be canceled yet have successful careers.

The former released a Netflix special that, even after facing intense backlash for its transphobic content, is still up on the streaming platform and received two Emmy nominations. Even the latter, Louis C.K., who admitted to sexual harassment, won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 2022, according to CBS News. “Cancel culture” usually fails to dethrone problematic celebrities.

Alt-right conservatives like Kyle Rittenhouse have even managed to make careers out of the idea of being canceled, going on national TV and podcasts to say they have been treated in an unfair manner by “the mob,” according to Rittenhouse on Fox News.

If that does not scream irony, then I don’t know what does. Ultimately, the seemingly exponential rise in familiarity with and animosity toward “cancel culture” is a result of rampant alt-right

messaging. In fact, Americans who consume far-right media sources, such as OANN and Newsmax, are 14% more likely to have heard about “cancel culture” than those who do not, according to a poll by Data for Progress.

Furthermore, data from Pew Research demonstrates that between 2020 and 2022, there was a 7% decrease in the belief that “cancel culture” holds people accountable for their actions. Instead, there has been an increasingly popular belief that it wrongly punishes them.

Ultimately, this illustrates the conservative weaponization of “cancel culture.” The passionate right-wing hatred of “cancel culture” is indicative of their fear of accountability for bigotry and a desire to play the victim.

In actuality, “cancel culture” represents free speech in its purest form. While people will likely continue to spew bigoted rhetoric disguised behind the veil of comedy, marginalized people now have more power.

After decades of unchecked racism and hateful ideology, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people have a way to fight back, which is making conservatives uncomfortable.

This is not the “end of free speech,” but rather just the beginning, and individuals who have hidden behind the weaponized term of “cancel culture” must now face the music.

Indie band shines with ethereal music

By Saira Ahmed

COLUMN — Singer-songwriter Tim Bettinson started Vancouver Sleep Clinic 10 years ago. Since then, the band has continuously created relaxing, atmospheric music similar to artists Bon Iver and Novo Amor.

Bettinson’s musical evolution can be traced back to 2013 with the release of “Vapour,” but my journey with his music only started in 2018 with “Ayahuasca.” This is one of the only 8-minute songs that is not a waste of my time.

“Ayahuasca” weaves everything Vancouver Sleep Clinic excels at into a multifaceted story. It starts off slowly with a lo-fi beat, muted vocals and mellow guitar. In the third minute, the beat changes into a sadder, orchestral interlude, which transitions into a faster rhythm. In the sixth minute, the entire tone of the song transforms, combining elements of the latter parts of the song to create an eerie mix of longing and mystery.

There are not many songs that feel like a movie the way “Ayahuasca” does, but Vancouver Sleep Clinic still shines with a more common approach to indie songs.

“Silver Lining,” “Stakes” and “Closure” follow more typical structures, with consistent beats and

‘SOS’ captures intense emotions in many, many words

SZA’s typical R&B melodies with elements of hip-hop, jazz and pop.

By Rajiv Venkatesh

SOS. Three dots, three dashes, three dots again. A seemingly meaningless sequence transformed into a powerful message. On her latest album, “SOS,” SZA replicates this idea to capture all-too-familiar emotions, drawing inspiration from her own raw, unfiltered thoughts.

Earnest reflections and bitter musings are portrayed in such unflinching detail that almost every song is memorable — an important quality for an album that includes 23 of them. By featuring an eclectic mix of artists, the album effortlessly surpasses traditional genre boundaries, combining

The features are consistent highlights on the album. At first glance, Phoebe Bridgers’ feature on “Ghost in the Machine” seems ill-considered due to the two artists’ vastly different styles, but the song manages to blend them together while showcasing both SZA’s conversational yet powerful sound and Bridgers’ ethereal tone.

The features are consistent highlights on the album. “Open Arms” would be incomplete without Travis Scott’s verse, and an Ol’ Dirty Bastard sample brings life to “Forgiveless.” Even the advice from Indian spiritual teacher Sadhguru sprinkled across the album feels oddly comforting.

Although I appreciate

nearly every song on the album, there are a few standouts. “Kill Bill” was a favorite with listeners, and it is easy to see why. Yes, it is a song about murder and revenge,

which might not seem like the recipe for a hit, but it exudes pure fury in an irresistible, fascinating way, making it my personal favorite song on the album.

Another song, “Special,” provides a clear look into SZA’s psyche and her struggles with body image. By revealing her deepest insecurities in her signature brutally honest style, the singer taps into a whole array of ways in which people are conditioned to feel as if they are not enough.

With a variety of styles and themes, “SOS” evolves constantly. Just when it seems that SZA has reached the boundar-

repeating courses. Despite their traditional structure, they stand out from other indie-electronic songs, each embodying Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s unique approach to music.

Although his earlier songs are reminiscent of folk and indie genres, his later works have exhibited electronic influences. He strays away from the organic sounds of the piano and guitar and begins experimenting more with special effects as time goes on. This growth is especially prominent in his 2017 album “Revival,” although there were hints of it in his 2014 EP “Winter.”

Recently, Vancouver Sleep Clinic has ventured into a new world of covers that still emanate his style. He has covered “As It Was” by Harry Styles, “Yellow” by Coldplay and “Somebody Else” by The 1975. Vancouver Sleep Clinic elevates these songs to create beautiful, relaxing versions with his signature vocals and electronic production. Vancouver Sleep Clinic has mastered ethereal indie-electronic music and consistently releases creative singles, EPs, albums and now covers. Those who are already familiar with Bon Iver, RY X and Billie Marten may fall in love with Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s music — and even for those who are not, I highly recommend giving his music a listen.

ies of her genre-hopping abilities, she surprises me yet again. In particular, with “F2F,” the singer ventures further into radio-friendly pop music than I thought was possible, creating a more upbeat, unique song.

However, not every song is quite so innovative. Some tracks like “I Hate U,” “Good Days” and “Too Late” are too similar to previous songs, which feels unnecessary on an already packed album where nearly every song brings something new.

Although there are certainly downsides to the album’s length, it allows SZA to showcase numerous sides of herself. This allows every listener to find at least one to identify with, making “SOS” a universal album from a truly singular musical mind.

Album: “SOS.” Artist: SZA.

Grade: A-.

Far-rightconservativeshavesuccessfullyweaponizedcancelculture.(IllustrationbyJossBroward)

SZA’s genre-bending album offers glimpse into singer’s psyche

SZAmakespop-culturereferencesthroughoutthe album,withthealbumcoveralludingtoanimageof PrincessDiana.(PhotofromRCARecords)

Streetmusicbringspeaceandharmonytocommunities,whileinspiring metopursuemyownmusicaljourney.(PhotobyAmberBirrell)

Sebastian Saborio discusses overcoming adversity

By, Nicole Kim, Gabriela

Wang

From his childhood in Costa Rica to his senior year of high school, soccer has been a vital part of, senior Sebastian Saborio’s life. For him, playing soccer has entailed one thing — perseverance.

Sebastian was born deaf but at 5 years old, he was the first person in Costa Rica to get cochlear implant surgery for free.

Sebastian’s passion for soccer started at a young age, when his

dad taught him the basics and introduced him to some local teams in Costa Rica, he said.

Sebastian cannot play with his cochlear implant on, so he is fully dependent on his other ear’s hearing aid, Sebastian’s sister Val said. But even with it on, he cannot hear much other than the referee’s whistle. Because of this, Sebastian relies on reading his teammates’ body language.

“I try to be spatially aware of what the game plan is and follow my coach’s direction throughout the game,” Sebastian, a right midfielder said. “I have to work harder and this pushes me to be a better player.”

Varsity boys soccer coach Adam Clarke said from the time he first

Flags up

saw Sebastian at tryouts, Clarke knew he was special.

“His style is different from other players, [and it is] beautiful,” Clarke said. “If you play this sport well, you have to play with your head up and see everything, and he does that.”

Despite adversity, Clarke said Sebastian’s vigilance allows him to overcome challenges.

“He doesn’t say no and doesn’t quit,” Clarke said. “When I talk, he comes up and reads my lips really well. All the boys are pretty focused, but he just can’t skip a beat.”

Aside from playing soccer with his teammates, Sebastian also plays the sport with other students during lunch.

“He started playing with just one friend and little by little more students started to join,” Val said. “Now he has a very nice community with more than 15 students who play together.”

Many of these students did not know a lot about soccer, so Sebastian taught them more about new plays and working together as a team, she said. This has also helped him make new friends in the United States.

Off the field, Clarke said Sebastian is full of life and always gives his all.

Sebastiansaidhisloveforsoccerhashelpedmotivatehimthrough

“He inspires the team,” Clarke said. “A lot of the boys have inspirational stories, but he’s overcome communication difficulties. It can’t be easy, and yet, he does it with a smile.”

Basketball bromances bloom

Creating chemistry on the court through friendships

By Nicole Pimenta Innecco, Annabelle Yip and Emma Yu

When it comes to varsity boys basketball, bonding with teammates is an integral part of their playing chemistry, as working together will lend itself to more success on the court, guard, junior Ishaan Musunuri said.

“Players have to learn how to operate as a team not only on the court but also off, like learning each other’s personalities and how to help each other succeed,” Musunuri said. “You’re not always going to have the most athletic or skilled guys on the team, but if you can work as a unit, that’s going to get you places.”

For captain Ryan Ohara, facilitating friendships is an important

part of his role on the team. To accomplish this, Ohara, a guard, said, he tries to talk to each teammate to make sure they are prepared for practices and games.

“In the beginning, we weren’t as connected and I felt like everyone was afraid to talk to each other,” Ohara said. “Then as the season went on, we grew closer and started winning more games.”

Assistant coach Shawn Hook said the team’s dynamic faced a turning point after beating Wilcox, who was undefeated in the league.

“The kids are enjoying being around each other more, and I think it’s a tribute to how much better we’re playing,” Hook said. “I feel proud, because we talk about it all the time: how having respect for each other and getting together outside of basketball will make us a better team, and they are starting to see it.”

As sustaining a close-knit, friendly community helps the team’s overall performance, center and power forward Frank An has

A passion worth fighting for Getting

improved his own playing through new friendships, he said.

“Being friends with everyone makes me play better on the court,” An, a junior, said. “Whenever I play badly, I know they’re going to be there for me, and when I play well, I know they will dap me up once I get to the bench and be excited for me.”

Bonds between teammates are different from typical friendships since not everyone on a team has common interests, Musunuri said. Even if players are not best friends outside of basketball, when they come in to play, they show each other a lot of respect Musunuri said.

“We’re almost like a family,” Munsunuri said. “We’re always having fun out there and even if we lose, we can always [root for each other].”

the ball rolling

By Karuna Chandran, Parth Dhaulakhandi and Patrick Hao

When Mustangs become part of the varsity girls soccer team, for many of the players on the field, it isn’t their first rodeo. For outside wing Nicole Lee, playing for the Mountain View Los Altos soccer club from 8 years old to the end of freshman year was an entirely different team dynamic compared to school soccer, the senior said.

“In club soccer, there’s not a lot of room for mentorship or any-

thing, since everyone is on the same level,” Lee said. “My team was pretty close and we still had team bonding [activities], but it definitely wasn’t to the extent of school soccer where you’re with the [team] for so long that you understand them.”

On the other hand, outside and center back Jordyn Ortiz said she felt incredibly connected to her club team, who she has grown up with.

“With high school soccer, we get new girls every year,” Ortiz, a senior, said. “It’s still

a pretty tight-knit experience, but it’s different in that when we play

By Manya Girivasan and Veronica Zhao

As flags are tossed in the air, dancers embody the striking movement of sun rays. This winter, JV winter guard is working on a show inspired by the concept of the golden hour — a time frame when the sun rises or sets — which they will perform in competitions until late March.

Freshman Vivienne Gra ham said since the JV program is open to members with no ex perience in the sport, the team learns the basics of flag work, weapons and dance while si multaneously choreographing a competitive show.

As a veteran color guard member, Graham said he is responsible for helping those around him and en suring newcomers under stand what to do.

Like the returning fall members, the JV captains play a considerable role behind the scenes. JV co-captain, sophomore Briana Holquin said her role involves helping people refine techniques and supporting them

through motivation and maintaining a positive attitude.

“While teaching comes down to the coaches, [the captain’s job] is to support everyone and ensure everyone’s getting along,” Holquin said. “I’m really looking forward to watching the new members learn.”

In addition to helping the other members, Holquin said she hopes to improve her own performances this winter season. “I really want to get more confident,” Holquin said. “Even though this is my third season in color guard, I’m not very comfortable performing.

The guard members train and compete for long hours together, forming a closeknit community, JV co-captain, sophomore Kimia Hekmatnejad said.

JVwinterguardrehearseschoreographyfortheupcomingshow. (PhotobyManyaGirivasan)

“I’ve made so many new friends. I spend almost 12 hours with these people on show days,” Hekmatnejad said. “I have bonded with people I would have never met.”

(PhotobyKarunaChandran)

together, I’m not entirely sure of each of [my teammates’] playing styles, and it takes seasons to achieve that.”

While her club team, Sunnyvale Alliance, does not specifically target team building, freshman, center striker Selene Gruyere said she values her time with them and found varsity soccer to be a more competitive experience.

“The more comfortable you are with someone, the easier it is to yell at them on the field and tell them what to do without being anxious,” Gruyere said.

In addition to being

on varsity all four years, Ortiz has been playing for Elite Clubs National League, one of the most competitive leagues in the country, for five years and has been on MVLA prior to that. While the senior said she found her club soccer experience to be much more rigorous and competitive, Ortiz said it was easier to form connections on the HHS team without any of the tension that comes with playing at such a high level.

“[Participating in athletics is] a new dynamic of friendship and if you don’t play sports, you really don’t understand that level of camaraderie,” Ortiz said. “What high school soccer offers that club soccer doesn’t offer is the lack of intensity, which allows for there to be no hidden animosity. ”

Ortizsaiditisoftenchallengingbringingtogether playersfromdifferentbackgrounds.

setbacks,includinglanguagebarriers.(PhotobyGabrielaSalazar)

The varsity boys basketball team finds success on the court by cultivating strong friendships. (Photo by Nicole Pimenta Innecco)

JV winter guard members share aspirations for new season

Girls soccer team compare club backgrounds to HHS

Salazar and Evelyn

Running up the score

Varsity girls center

Tatum Leuenberger surpasses milestone

By David Lin, Zeinab Rakhshandehroo and Lindsey Steel

Few athletes can say they have scored 1,000 points over the course of their high school career. But for center, senior Tatum Leuenberger, this major feat became a reality in a game against LHS on Jan. 5.

Tatum, who started playing basketball in kindergarten, said she began her high school journey as a freshman on varsity. Even as a freshman, her athletic potential was evident, varsity girls basketball coach Becky Chiu Yee said.

“This girl came to Homestead, and I had no idea who she was,” Chiu Yee said. “I feel like if you’re going to be a freshman on varsity, you should be [ready to play], because if you’re not, why not play a year on JV? I remember the first time I saw her at open gym, I said, ‘Oh, my God, this girl is ready.’”

Chiu Yee said Tatum is the only HHS athlete to have scored 1,000 points. Her achievements can be attributed to her mentality while playing and her dedication to the sport, her father and childhood coach Greg Leuenberger said.

“Tatum can focus really well on the court, and she’s able to remain calm,” Greg said. “She doesn’t hear the crowd or get frazzled. She’s a natural shooter in basketball and generally makes good decisions on the court.”

Scoring her thousandth point was a highly anticipated moment, and seeing the culmination of her work was extremely rewarding, Tatum said.

“I had been keeping track of the score count up to the [LHS game], so I knew we had six points left to reach 1,000 points,” Tatum said. “We had a slow start to the game, and I only made two shots, so I was putting a lot of stress on myself to reach that mark. After the first half, I was only two points away, and when I made that shot in the third quarter, my family and friends all started cheering.”

To reach the 1,000-point mark, Tatum would have averaged 12 points per game, a feat made even more impressive given the setbacks she has faced throughout her career, such as the shortened season in 2021 and playing fewer games than other high school students, Greg said.

While her athletic accomplishments are noteworthy, Chiu Yee said Tatum’s positive attitude and adaptability set her apart as an athlete.

“The last four years, Tatum’s been one of our anchors for the

Athlete of the Month

Freshman Jaden Ouyang persists through injury

By Faith Watters

While injuries prevent some athletes from reaching their full potential, freshman Jaden Ouyang has worked to surpass these obstacles. As a right-wing on the frosh-soph soccer team, Ouyang injured his ankle during the season’s first game, he said. However, he is recognized as the latest athlete of

the month because of his optimistic attitude and unwavering support for his teammates.

“He still shows up to games and comes out and supports the team,” frosh-soph soccer coach Nathan Hanner said. “I know the team really appreciates that.”

Despite his injury, Ouyang said he is working to recover and return to the field.

Boys Basketball

8 - 13

Our season has been filled with highs and lows. There were moments when our team seemed unstoppable, but then we couldn’t beat teams we were supposed to. If we balance it out, we will be more successful.

- Ryan Ohara (12)

BAsketball Highs

By Niyatee Jain

Triple-Double

In a game against Wilcox on Jan. 13, varsity boys guard, senior Ryan Ohara achieved a triple-double, which is 10 or more of the following: points, rebounds, assists, blocks or steals. With 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, Ohara is the first player for varsity boys coach Matt Wright who has obtained a triple-double, Hustle was a huge factor to rebounds,” Ohara said.

“Whenever I had an open lane I would take it and pass out for an open three if help came to my side.”

Buzzer Beater

In a close game against LHS on Jan. 26, varsity girls guard, sophomore Danica Lim scored a winning 3-point buzzer beater, meaning the ball went in the hoop as the buzzer rang at the end of 4th quarter, changing the score from 53-54 to 56-54.

“I was not prepared to shoot the ball, but I knew I didn’t have time so I went for it,” Lim said. “After it went in, I was more shocked by [the ball] going in than by us winning the game.”

the athlete said. “I’m trying to get better by doing physical therapy.”

Ouyangmaintainsapositive attitudedespitechallenges. (PhotobyFaithWatters)

Although he has had limited playing time on the field so far, Ouyang said his time on the sidelines has provided him with meaningful skills. Being on the team has taught him the importance of communication, especially as soccer relies upon effective teamwork and collaboration.

Both on and off the field, Ouyang’s teammates and friends said they are grateful for his support. As a player on the soccer team, forward, sophomore Aiden Sung said he is grateful for the positive energy Ouyang radiates.

“Jaden always comes to matches, even if they are away games,” Sung said. “He encourages our teammates at halftime or whenever they come to the bench.”

Furthermore, his fellow athletes said they admire his work ethic and dedication to soccer.

“I think Jaden is very hardworking,” freshman Thomas Shimizu

updates Season

Wins/losses as of Feb. 3

Wrestling

Our team’s pretty young, but we worked really hard, and our season is going well. Overall, we have a positive record.

-

We played as many subgroups instead of a whole team, which caused us to fail in games, and we need to work 10 times harder to make that up.

-

Xochitl Neely

(12)

Girls Basketball 11

Tyler Tamura (12)

said. “He’s really inspirational and is a very fast runner. And at the same time, as a person, I think he’s modest and a calm guy to be around.”

Both Hanner and Shimizu said they are proud of Ouyang for what he has accomplished in spite of the obstacles he has faced. They both said they look forward to seeing what he accomplishes in the future.

“He wants to do great things,” Hanner said. “[I’ve seen] the passion he has for the sport, not only for being an athlete, [but also] for being a team player and thinking of everybody else on the team.”

Girls Soccer

4 - 8 - 2

We need to start focusing more on our teamwork and collaboration on the field. We have so many different strengths that we can bring to the team.

-

Carlie Breiner

(10)

We’re doing all right this season but our records are not great. We could be winning more, but we need to get better at home [games].

-

Adrian Juillard (11)

- 10 Boys Soccer

6 - 6 - 4

(PhotocourtesyofGaryYoshida)

(PhotobyKeshavKumar)

Think like a scientist Navigating the world of science

Physiology

Pro: “Physiology gives me a greater understanding of what’s going on in my body. You learn how to prevent yourself from getting sick and take care of yourself from a biological standpoint.”

Con: “There’s a lot of memorization. It does get hard [to remember] at some points.”

AP Biology

Pro: “In labs, we’ve done experiments involving real-world techniques. Those are fun and interesting.”

Con: “Sometimes there can be quite a bit of work. It’s usually manageable, but with other classes, it can become too much work. Although it’s not too stressful, it takes up quite a bit of time.”

Searching for suitable science

Future scientists

Students

Q: What sparked your interest in science?

AP Chemistry

Pro: “A lot of seniors take AP chemistry after taking physics [for two years], so you can make lots of senior friends.”

Con: “The curriculum is really fast-paced, and nearly all of it [involves] self-learning so it’s really hard.”

APPhysicsI KenshoTakahashi,12

Pro: “I am genuinely interested in physics, especially because it’s good for my engineering major.We do a lot of experi ments that are fun, and my teacher tries his best to make the content fun.”

Con: “I don’t really like how the quizzes are graded in the class because they are graded [by students], making them prone to error.”

Science and Society

Pro: “There’s a lot of group work, and you get to collaborate and [talk about] new ideas. It’s a good way to develop your communication skills and to get to know more people.”

Con: “The class would be better if we got to choose our groups, because sometimes it’s better to work with people you’re comfortable with.”

AP Environmental Science

Pro: “I like how applicable the class is to future careers, and [it teaches me about what] I can do in my personal life to help the environment.”

Con: “There are a lot of quizzes that happen every week, and it’s a lot of reading.”

I’ve always had an interest in environmental science since elementary school. Then, I began taking more time to explore the issue and see how individuals can actually make an impact, [as well as] the connection between research and legislation. Policy is what makes things come to life, but in order for us to make good policies, we need science-backed research, especially for climate change.

Q: What environmental-science-related projects have you worked on?

Last year, my friends and I founded the International Climate Science Olympiad. It opened my perspective to how climate change is about environmental justice, the environment, equity, economics. It was a really cool experience because we got to meet a lot of people from all over the world who were all there to learn about climate change.

Nicholas Guidi, 12

Q: Why did you start collecting rocks?

A: It all started when I was around 5 years old. I was in Stevens Creek and saw these cool rocks, and I wanted to learn what they [were]. I got a book from the library. There were so many cool crystals, and I got addicted to learning about minerals and geology. Everything just spurred off from there.

Q: What is your favorite place you have visited?

A: My favorite place I’ve been to was an abandoned mine near Death Valley. I drove out with my friend, and there [were] actually old cabins where you could stay while exploring the mineshaft. I found some cool titanium crystals, like titanium dioxide. Those are really cool and rare, and I like exploring them.

AP Physics C

Pro: “I like the projects we have done, like the Rube Goldberg machine, [as well as] the activities we have done in class, such as plate spinning.”

Scientists discovered that ants can smell cancerous tumors in mice from their urine due to their sensitive olfactory system, which are structures that help organisms smell. Scientists want to further test this ability to see if they can find cancerous tumors in humans, according to Scientific American. (Jan. 24, 2023)

Con: “It is definitely a challenging class, so it takes a lot of time to try to understand the content.”

Elisa Floyd, 11

PhotobyEvelynWang

Alan Jian, 12

Emily Choi, 12

Payton Chung, 11

Anna Jensen, 11

Abigail Cho, 11

Brianna Busta, 10

PhotocourtesyofNicholasGuidi